Best Budget Laptops for Graphic Designers & Creatives in 2020
If you’re on a budget, you know that splurging on a piece of technology for your business can affect your long term goals. We thought that it would be time to take another look at our choices for the best budget laptops so you get the best options out there for your needs in 2020!
Before we take a look at our choices, let’s start with why a budget laptop can be helpful.
Ready? Let’s get started!
More Top Gear for Designers
- Best printers for designers
- Best monitors for designers
- Best tablets for designers
- Best earphones for music-lovers
- Best cameras for designers
- Best microphones for designers
- Best office chairs for designers
- Best external hard drives for designers
- Best monitor calibrators for designers
- Best pens for creatives
- Best phones for designers & creatives
- Best powerbanks
- Best laptop bags & backpacks
Reasons Why Buying a Budget-Friendly Laptop is Right For You
For many, the idea of having to buy a budget laptop means that they are likely not going to have any success without having the high-priced tech that others have. However, starting with a budget laptop can be beneficial.
Makes you work harder
Having to start your business with anything less than the top of the line equipment gives you that drive to reach your goals and to make your ideas succeed. Starting with the best tech you can get might not teach you to grind your way through the hard times or the difficult times when your tech has an issue.
Makes you thankful
A budget laptop or any equipment you can only afford on a budget teaches you how to be thankful or what you do have and the people around you who supported you when you started your business. It’s those people you thank first when you turn into a Fortune 500 company.
Related Posts:
The Best Budget Laptops of 2020
- HP Chromebook 11 — $178
- Dell Inspiron 11 3180 — $239
- Acer Aspire Switch 3 — $493
- Samsung Chromebook 3 — $149
- Lenovo Chromebook S330 — $239
- Acer Chromebook R11 — $249
- ASUS VivoBook L203MA — $245
- Acer Chromebook 15 — $350
- Microsoft Surface Go — $449
- Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1 — $239
Prices are approximate and regularly change.
Best Cheap / Budget Laptops of 2020 Compared
Thumbnail
Lightweight and Affordable
Best Ultra-Budget
Best 2-in-1
Best Overall
Great 2-in-1 Choice!
Title
Newest Lenovo Flagship Chromebook S330, 14" HD Display, MediaTek MT8173C Processor, 4GB Memory, 32GB…
Samsung Electronics XE500C13 Chromebook 3 2GB RAM 16GB SSD Laptop, 11.6"
Acer Chromebook R 11 Convertible Laptop, Celeron N3060, 11.6" HD Touch, 4GB DDR3L, 32GB eMMC,…
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 8GB RAM, 128GB) (Renewed)
2019 New Dell Inspiron 11 Convertible 2 in 1 Chromebook , 11.6" HD Backlight Touch IPS Display,…
HP Chromebook 11, 11.6", Celeron, 4GB, 16GB, Chrome OS
Prime Status
-
-
-
-
-
Star Rating
Reviews
12 Reviews
2,393 Reviews
728 Reviews
16 Reviews
55 Reviews
152 Reviews
CPU
2.1 GHz MediaTek_MT8127
1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060
Intel Celeron N3150 — N3160
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
Intel Celeron N3060
1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060
Graphics
Integrated Mediatek Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 400
Intel HD Graphics 400
Intel HD Graphics 615
Intel HD Graphics 400
Intel HD Graphics 400
RAM
4 GB DDR4
4GB DDR3
4GB
4GB — 8GB
4GB
4 GB LPDDR3
Screen
14-inch HD (1,366 x 768) anti-glare
11.6 inch (1,366 x 768), 16:9
11.6" HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 IPS
10.5-inch 1,800 x 1,200 PixelSense touch display
11.6-inch, HD (1366 x 768) touchscreen
11.6-inch diagonal HD SVA Anti-glare WLED-backlit
Storage
32GB flash memory solid state
16GB flash memory solid state
32 GB Flash Memory or 32GB SSD
64GB eMMC — 128GB SSD
32GB-64GB eMMC
16GB eMMC
Price
Price not available
$229.00
$291.00
$481.57
$314.96
$219.00
Buy Now
Lightweight and Affordable
Thumbnail
Title
Newest Lenovo Flagship Chromebook S330, 14" HD Display, MediaTek MT8173C Processor, 4GB Memory, 32GB…
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
12 Reviews
CPU
2.1 GHz MediaTek_MT8127
Graphics
Integrated Mediatek Graphics
RAM
4 GB DDR4
Screen
14-inch HD (1,366 x 768) anti-glare
Storage
32GB flash memory solid state
Price
Price not available
Buy Now
Best Ultra-Budget
Thumbnail
Title
Samsung Electronics XE500C13 Chromebook 3 2GB RAM 16GB SSD Laptop, 11.6"
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
2,393 Reviews
CPU
1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 400
RAM
4GB DDR3
Screen
11.6 inch (1,366 x 768), 16:9
Storage
16GB flash memory solid state
Price
$229.00
Buy Now
Best 2-in-1
Thumbnail
Title
Acer Chromebook R 11 Convertible Laptop, Celeron N3060, 11.6" HD Touch, 4GB DDR3L, 32GB eMMC,…
Prime Status
Star Rating
Reviews
728 Reviews
CPU
Intel Celeron N3150 — N3160
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 400
RAM
4GB
Screen
11.6" HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 IPS
Storage
32 GB Flash Memory or 32GB SSD
Price
$291.00
Buy Now
Best Overall
Thumbnail
Title
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 8GB RAM, 128GB) (Renewed)
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
16 Reviews
CPU
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 615
RAM
4GB — 8GB
Screen
10.5-inch 1,800 x 1,200 PixelSense touch display
Storage
64GB eMMC — 128GB SSD
Price
$481.57
Buy Now
Great 2-in-1 Choice!
Thumbnail
Title
2019 New Dell Inspiron 11 Convertible 2 in 1 Chromebook , 11.6" HD Backlight Touch IPS Display,…
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
55 Reviews
CPU
Intel Celeron N3060
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 400
RAM
4GB
Screen
11.6-inch, HD (1366 x 768) touchscreen
Storage
32GB-64GB eMMC
Price
$314.96
Buy Now
Thumbnail
Title
HP Chromebook 11, 11.6", Celeron, 4GB, 16GB, Chrome OS
Prime Status
-
Star Rating
Reviews
152 Reviews
CPU
1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 400
RAM
4 GB LPDDR3
Screen
11.6-inch diagonal HD SVA Anti-glare WLED-backlit
Storage
16GB eMMC
Price
$219.00
Buy Now
HP Chromebook 11
A great laptop in a small package
CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4 GB LPDDR3 | Screen: 11.6-inch diagonal HD SVA Anti-glare WLED-backlit | Storage: 16GB eMMC
While it might not look like much, the Chromebook 11 from HP isn’t the newest kid on the block but the specs inside earn it a place on our list with an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory, a beautiful display make it great for work or streaming your favorite movie on lunch. The affordable price makes it a must-buy for anyone who is on a very tight budget.
Latest Price on Amazon:
152 Reviews
HP Chromebook 11, 11.6", Celeron, 4GB, 16GB, Chrome OS
- 11.6" HD UWVA anti-glare LED slim (1366 x 768)
- Intel Celeron with Intel HD Graphics 400(1.6 GHz/2.48GHz, 2M cache)
- 4 GB DDR3L-1600 SDRAM
- Chrome System
- Max Memory: 4 GB
$219.00
Dell Inspiron 11 3180
For anyone looking for something other than Chrome OS
CPU: 7th Generation AMD A6–9220e | Graphics: Integrated graphics with AMD APU | RAM: 4GB DDR4 | Screen: 11.6-inch HD (1,366 x 768) TrueLife LED Backlight Non-Touch IPS display | Storage: 64GB eMMC
With a Windows 10 S operating system, the Inspiron 11 3180 from Dell is the answer for anyone who may not be a fan of Chrome OS. While it’s not the fastest laptop on the planet.if you’re on a budget, it has more speed than other budget laptops. With good battery life, you won’t have to worry about it dying out on you in the middle of your work and the ports include a microSD reader, which isn’t very common these days. Most of all it feels durable, meaning it will survive the day to day abuse you put it through.
Latest Price on Amazon:
Sale
8 Reviews
Dell Inspiron 11 I3180-A361GRY-PUS Laptop (Windows 10 Home, AMD A6–9220e 1.6GHz, 11.6" LED Screen,…
- 11.6" HD LED backlight anti-glare Display 1366 x 768 resolution; AMD Radeon R4 Graphics
- AMD A6–9220e @ 1.6GHz, Dual-Core, up to 2.4GHz
- 4GB DDR4 SDRAM 2133 MHz, 32GB eMMC + microSD slot supports up to 128GB SD Card (card not included)
- HDMI output expands your viewing options; Wireless and wired network connectivity; Built-in HD webcam with microphone; Microphone-in/headphone-out combo jack. Note: This laptop does not include a…
- Windows 10 Home, Microsoft Office 365 Personal Activation Card and McAfee LiveSafe 12 Month Subscription
$205.85
Acer Aspire Switch 3
A Surface Book 2 alternative at an affordable price
CPU: 1.10GHz Intel Pentium Quad Core N4200 — Intel Core i3 7100U | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 505 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 12.2-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 IPS LCD touchscreen | Storage: 64GB — 128GB eMMC
A Surface Book 32 from Microsoft is a pretty expensive piece of tech. However, the Acer Switch 3 is an excellent choice especially if you’re a fan of saving money. The biggest plus that the Switch 3 has in comparison to the Book 3 is that the keyboard is included already. With multiple configurations, a USB-C port, up to 8GB of memory, and Intel Core 7100U processor available at a slightly higher price, the Switch 3 is a great option if you like the Surface Book 2 but not the price.
Latest Price on Amazon:
1 Reviews
Acer Aspire Switch 3 SW312–31 Win10Home,Intel Pentium N4200 1.1GHZ,4GB LPDDR3 ,128GB…
- IntelDualBand Wireless-AC 802. 11ac 2x2 MIMO WLAN, Bluetooth 4. 0, two webcams (frnt/bck), Active Stylus Pen
Samsung Chromebook 3
For anyone looking for a water-resistant laptop
CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB DDR3 | Screen: 11.6 inch (1,366 x 768), 16:9 | Storage: 16GB flash memory solid state
While not many people may be searching for a water-resistant keyboard, anyone with kids knows that it can be extremely helpful. The Chromebook 3 from Samsung comes with up to 11 hours of battery life giving you plenty of time to work unplugged. With a design that is reminiscent of premium laptops, Chromebook 3 is a high-quality, tiny laptop that you can use to get all of your work done without the hefty price tag.
Latest Price on Amazon:
2,393 Reviews
Samsung Electronics XE500C13 Chromebook 3 2GB RAM 16GB SSD Laptop, 11.6"
- Up to 11 hours battery life on a single charge
- Built in security Features ensure you’re protected from viruses and Malware
- 11.6 inches HD anti reflective Display
- Spill resistant keyboard protects against accidental Damage
- Intel Celeron N3060 Processor with 2G Memory and 16GB storage
$229.00
Lenovo Chromebook S330
A lightweight and affordable laptop
CPU: 2.1 GHz MediaTek_MT8127 | Graphics: Integrated Mediatek Graphics | RAM: 4 GB DDR4 | Screen: 14-inch HD (1,366 x 768) anti-glare | Storage: 32GB flash memory solid state
With a reputation for building premium laptops, the Chromebook S330 from Lenovo delivers the excellent performance that consumers have become used to. The S330 is one of the best laptops available under $200 with its lightweight, durable, and long-lasting design. While it is a great laptop, it’s nowhere near perfect. The display could be better, although for a few more dollars you can upgrade to a 1080p display. For the price though, with its 180-degree hinge, solid set of speakers, and anti0gkare coating, the Chromebook S330 is a great laptop for the budget-conscious.
Latest Price on Amazon:
12 Reviews
- MediaTek MTK8173C Processor (2.1 GHz), 4GB LPDDR3 Memory, 32GB eMMC SSD, Integrated MediaTek Graphics
- 14” HD (1366 x 768) Display with Anti-Glare Technology; 720p HD camera with integrated microphone, NO Optical Drive
- Open/Edit MS Office Files Using Free Embedded Quick Office Editor or Google Docs for Free,
- 802.11 AC (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 4.1, 1x USB-C (Power Delivery & DisplayPort), 1x USB 3.0, 1x HDMI, 1x Micro-SD Card Reader, 1x Audio Jack,
- Google Chrome OS, Not Compatible with Windows OS, 3 Cell Li-polymer Battery
Acer Chromebook R11
A great 2-in-1 at a great price
CPU: Intel Celeron N3150 — N3160 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6" HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 IPS | Storage: 32 GB Flash Memory or 32GB SSD
The overall design of the R11 from Acer may not cause consumers to run out the door to get it but for a 2-in-1 laptop at such an affordable price, the overall build is pretty solid. That being said, this laptop has a few tricks up its sleeve including a battery life of 10 hours, a touch display that’s as vibrant as any out there, the 2-in-1 design that allows you to use the R11 like a tablet and a keyboard that is as responsive as anything out there.
Latest Price on Amazon:
728 Reviews
Acer Chromebook R 11 Convertible Laptop, Celeron N3060, 11.6" HD Touch, 4GB DDR3L, 32GB eMMC,…
- Chromebook runs on chrome OS an operating system by Google that is built for the way we live today. It comes with built in virus protection, updates automatically, boots up in seconds and continues…
- All the Google apps you know and love come standard on every Chromebook, which means you can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets and slides
- With the Google play store, you can access a rich library of apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines, and more, All from your Chromebook
- Chromebooks come with built in storage for offline access to your most important files and an additional 100GB of Google Drive space to ensure that all of your files are backed up automatically
- Intel Celeron N3060, 11. 6 inches HD touch Display, 4GB memory, 32GB eMMC, 802. 11AC Wi Fi, up to 10 hour battery life, convertible laptop
$291.00
ASUS VivoBook L203MA
An affordable laptop packed with features
CPU: Intel Celeron N4000 Processor | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600 | RAM: 4GB LPDDR4 | Screen: 11.6-inch HD (1,366 x 768) display | Storage: 64GB eMMC
With an ultra-thin design that could make it one of the best Ultrabooks out there, the VivoBook L203MA from Asus not only is small in stature but is full of features that are more than capable of handling your computer needs from word processing to searching for the latest movies online. With an ergonomic keyboard, a good amount of storage, ports that include an HDMI and USB-C plus a 180-degree hinge, the entire package firmly plants it on our list.
Latest Price on Amazon:
762 Reviews
ASUS VivoBook L203MA Ultra-Thin Laptop, 11.6” HD, Intel Celeron N4000 Processor (up to 2.6 GHz),…
- Efficient Intel Celeron N4000 Processor (4M Cache, upto 2.6 GHz)
- 11.6 inch HD (1366 x 768) display
- 64GB em flash storage
- 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
- One year of Microsoft Office 365 included
$348.90
Acer Chromebook 15
An affordable 15-inch laptop
CPU: Intel Pentium N4200 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 505 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 32GB eMMC
Designed with a chassis that could draw comparisons to Apple’s MacBook line, the Chromebook 15 from Acer has an incredible battery life of 17 hours, lasting far longer than any of its competitors. With a large 15-inch screen, Intel processor and a decent amount of storage space, the Chromebook 15 is a great option if you’re in the market for a budget-friendly laptop.
Latest Price on Amazon:
242 Reviews
Acer Chromebook 15 CB515–1HT-P39B, Pentium N4200, 15.6" Full HD Touch, 4GB LPDDR4, 32GB Storage,…
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS — an operating system by Google that is built for the way we live today. It comes with built-in virus protection, updates automatically*, boots up in seconds and continues…
- All the Google apps you know and love come standard on every Chromebook, which means you can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
- With the Google Play Store, you can access a rich library of apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines, and more, all from your Chromebook
- Chromebooks come with built-in storage for offline access to your most important files and an additional 100GB of Google Drive space to ensure that all of your files are backed up automatically
- 15.6” Full HD Display, Intel Pentium N4200, Aluminum Cover, 180 Degree Lay Flat Design, Up to 12-hours Battery Life
$389.99
Microsoft Surface Go
The best budget-friendly laptop
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4GB — 8GB | Screen: 10.5-inch 1,800 x 1,200 PixelSense touch display | Storage: 64GB eMMC — 128GB SSD
While the Surface Go is the little brother to the Surface from Microsoft, it doesn’t mean that it won’t meet your needs and do with a compact and portable design. Not only is the Surface Go a great laptop, but its also one of the best tablets available with Windows 10 S available right out of the box that lets you use applications such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. If you’re looking to buy a Surface but afford it, take a look at the Surface Go.
Latest Price on Amazon:
No products found.
Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1
The best affordable 2-in-1 laptop
CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6-inch, HD (1366 x 768) touchscreen | Storage: 32GB-64GB eMMC
2-in-1 laptops can get expensive so finding a 2-in-1 Chromebook at an affordable price is an incredible steal. The Inspiron Chromebook from Dell isn’t the most powerful out there but it can be exactly what you’re looking for: easy to use, durable and budget-friendly. With a beautiful 11.6-inch screen, the Inspiron Chromebook 11 is a great laptop for anyone’s needs.
Latest Price on Amazon:
Sale
55 Reviews
2019 New Dell Inspiron 11 Convertible 2 in 1 Chromebook , 11.6" HD Backlight Touch IPS Display,…
- 11 6 inch HD(1366 x 768) Trulife LED Backlight Touch IPS Display Intel HD Graphics 400
- Intel Celeron N3060 Dual Core Processor (1 6GHz with turbo upto 2 48GHz) with 4GB Memory 32GB eMMC
- 1x Audio Jack 1x Volume Control 1x HDMI 2x USB 3 1 Gen1 1x SD card Reader
- With a 360-degree hinge this 2 in 1 adapts to your needs moment by moment Build-in HD Webcam
- Chrome OS 3-Cell battery Color Black Item weight 3 16lb
$314.96
The Best Budget Laptops of 2020
Choosing the right budget laptop doesn’t mean that the laptop you’re getting is a lesser quality by any means. As you start your business journey, the tools and gear you use will only improve with time but with our list of the Best Budget Laptops of 2020, we hope we’ve been able to show you what your first step on that journey will be.
