Looking for a cheap laptop to see you through 2019? In this list, you’ll find some excellent picks, ranging in price from $150-$750 and covering every scenario and type of person. Somewhere here is your new computer for the year ahead!
Best Cheap Laptops for 2019
Surface Go
The Surface Go from Microsoft is in many ways an ideal option for those looking for affordable-yet-premium computing in 2019. It is our number one pick of the best cheap laptops for 2019. The idea behind the Go is to provide a more mobile and cost-effective alternative to the Surface Pro line. Unlike the ill-fated Surface RT series before it though, the Go is essentially the same product except for its diminutive stature and slightly lower specs (most models are powered by a Core M3, which is still powerful enough for most tasks).
The Surface Go has a svelte form factor at just 10 inches with a detachable keyboard and stylus. This makes it work well as either a laptop or a tablet, and also makes it a great choice for students and artists. Unfortunately, the keyboard does not come included, but it can work with a host of other Bluetooth keyboards if you want to keep the price right down.
Best of all about this product though, is that it boasts the precision engineering and attention-to-detail that Microsoft puts into its own products. This is reference hardware for Windows 10 and it shows – performing significantly better than its price and specs would suggest.
Gemini TC10
For less than half the price of the Surface Go, the Gemini TC10 is another 10” convertible. It has lower specs with just 64GB of storage and the under-powered Intel Atom X5-Z8350 being the real bottlenecks. But it’s also well designed, fun to use, and serviceable for browsing the web, watching Netflix, or light word processing.
This may not be the best cheap laptop for 2019, but it is one of the most affordable.
HP Chromebook 11
Chromebooks offer a somewhat different proposition to other options on this list, but manage to come in at some very low prices as a result.
Essentially, a Chromebook is a ‘laptop’ that doesn’t run Windows. Instead it runs Chrome OS, which in itself is a slightly beefed-up version of Chrome browser. This will let you run Chrome apps though (and now Android apps), as well as web apps. Half of what we do on our machines these days is done through a browser anyway!
The rub is that you need to be connected to WiFi to get much use from a Chromebook. If that’s not an issue though, this is a very cost-effective way to compute. And if you’re not a fan of the Chromebook 11, there are many more Chromebooks around. These include many of the best cheap laptops for 2019.
Lenovo IdeaPad 120S
Lenovo are well-known for manufacturing high quality-yet-affordable laptops. The IdeaPad 120S is no different, sporting a great design and a shockingly low price. The Intel Celeron n3350 is also capable of handling basic tasks, while the 4GB of RAM is ample.
But there are also caveats here. The big issue is the storage, which is incredibly low at just 32GB. This may be a problem even when trying to download Windows updates – and you might find them hogging all the available space on your machine!
Lenovo tries to work around this issue by marketing the product as a ‘cloud book’, suggesting that you store all your files online instead. That’s good and well, but due to the aforementioned issue, it’s still going to pose some challenges. The good news though – and the reason that this is still on the list – is that you can opt to download Windows updates onto expandable storage.
Lenovo A12 Yoga
The A12 Yoga meanwhile is something completely different. This is a laptop that has been around for over a year now, and that was underpowered when it launched (running an Atom x5 chip). What’s unique about it though, is that it actually runs Android, uses a ‘touch’ keyboard, and is incredibly razor thin.
Combining lower specs with Android makes a lot more sense, allowing you to install smaller, lighter apps rather than full-fledged desktop programs. It also means the laptop will spring to life when you need to use it. Meanwhile, apps like Microsoft Office ensure that you can still actually get some work done on the machine.
The nice thing about the A12 Yoga is that it’s not just a ‘cheap laptop’. This is a unique machine that looks beautiful and does something different. In that way, it is one of the best cheap laptops for 2019. The price reflects the fact that it isn’t for everyone, but if it suits your needs – it’s a great buy at this price.
The same goes for the last entry.
GPD Pocket 2
The GPD Pocket 2 is not the cheapest option on this list, but for what it is, it’s still fantastic value.
This device comes from little-known Chinese brand GPD, and aims to provide a full computing experience that is small enough to fit in your pocket. The most amazing part is that it actually delivers on that promise, thanks to the combination of an M3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128-256GB of storage! That makes it beefier than the Surface Go, with superior cooling as well.
The small size actually will fit in a pocket, making it ideal for being productive on the move. While the keyboard can get a little cramped, and the mouse-replacement is definitely a compromise, you always have the option of plugging it into a larger monitor and using it like a full desktop PC.
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