Best Laptops Under $100 – Not Cheap But Worthy!

Having a laptop today means more than just emailing and Facebook browsing. We have entered a time where having a modern laptop can mean the difference between meeting your monthly goals and possibly failing a term at college.

As diverse as our lives have now become, we need our technology to fall in line. Luckily there is a vast array of options in the market today suited to the various requirements we have.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest problems we face is the price we pay for the features we will get. This article on the best laptops under 100 dollars will give you some insight and put your mind at ease.

We will evaluate a range of products that will give you functionality, last for long periods, and save you some money along the way.

Here is an in-depth look at new or refurbished laptops in the more affordable price range.

Best Laptops Under $100 in 2022 – Not Cheap But Worthy!

1. HP Chromebook N2840 – Editor’s Pick

Do you really use your laptop to its full potential?

Let us ease into the article with a laptop for 100 dollars or less with a more simplistic view of functionality. The N2840 is wonderfully suited to online work and simplistic usage but still has the performance to impress.

Chrome OS

Deciding not to run with the full Desktop OS, the N2840 runs on Chrome OS. All the applications on this laptop get applied through the Chrome browser with the benefit of offline mode for when you cannot log in.

The HP N2840’s outer casing has been reinforced with metal to give it a more realistic look and feel.

Efficient CPUs

One of the problems cheaper technology faces is a lack of performance. Chromebook decided to make use of the dual-core Samsung Exynos 5 Dual ARM-based SoC.

Had this been a Windows-based laptop, this may not have worked, but luckily ChromeOS is made for efficient CPUs making sure that they did not cut corners in functionality.

Screen Time

Your screen is of utmost importance for your viewing and working pleasure. The N2480 has an 11-inch IPS high-resolution with a full-screen mode that boasts high resolution and easy reading capabilities.

The screen cannot tilt back 180 degrees but has fantastic viewing from any angle and vibrant colors.

Well, yeah, nowadays, it’s hard to find out a good mobile or cellphone for $100 while you’re getting a complete full fledged computer functionalities within nearby range. Now, you say! Shouldn’t we include this product as one of the best laptops under $100 list here? Well, yeah, we should! And, we’ve included it here for that same reason.

Product Specifications:

• CPU: 2.16 GHz Intel Celeron N284
• Operating System: Google Chrome OS
• Manufacturer: HP
• Resolution: 1366 x 768 HD
• Webcam Installed: Yes

2. HP Stream Intel Celeron N4000

Style is not everything, but it is something that we can embellish when purchasing a laptop. The HP Stream N4000 is a stylish, affordable, and portable laptop that looks good and performs well.

Equipped with Office 365, this beauty will have you working, studying, or relaxing with a movie in style and on par with the competition.

Dual Speakers

With a laptop under 100 dollars, you would expect subpar applications. The Intel N4000 comes fitted with dual speakers in front of the keypad panel for stereo quality sound.

These tuned speakers will offer you the best results when listening to music or watching Netflix. You will not be left feeling wanting.

Long-Lasting

Nowaday’s we are all on the go taking our laptops everywhere with us. The last thing that we need is a battery that does not keep up the pace.

The N4000 has a battery life of over 8 hours to ensure that whether you are at home or working from the local coffee shop, you have power.

Multitasking

We all like to rely on our laptops to be able to multitask for us. When you have a dual-core processor and 4 GB RAM you can run multiple applications without a hitch.

To complement your graphics there is an Intel UHD Graphics 600 processor. This coupled with the stereo speakers, gives you flawless visuals and sound.

Product Specifications:

• CPU: 1.1 GHz Intel Celeron N4000
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Manufacturer: HP
• Resolution: 1366 x 768 HD
• Webcam Installed: Yes

3. Samsung XE310XBA-K02US Chromebook 4

We are all looking for a laptop that will last the whole day without us having to plug it in for power.

The Samsung Chromebook 4 is a mini laptop for under 100 dollars which offers incredible performance and a long-lasting battery.

Students Choice

The Samsung Chromebook 4 is for the student market with curved edges displayed in a silver hue.

The body comes encased in a plastic body that lends itself towards the student market look and has an aluminum top. This laptop is light and slim so that it is portable.

Connections

The Chromebook 4’s left-hand side panel comes fitted with a USB-C port to power up the machine. Next to that is a microSD and headphone jack. The right panel comes with a USB 3.0 port and a security slot.

Durability has passed testing for transit drop tests, vibration tests, high and low temperatures, and dust.

Camera and Battery Life

The webcam runs with 0.9 megapixels that produce great clarity. Even when snapping pictures, the laptop lasts for over 10 hours.

You will be able to go mobile with this device without worrying about it crashing, but there is also the USB charger that is compact and easy to take along.

Product Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Celeron N4000
• Operating System: Google Chrome OS
• Manufacturer: Samsung
• Resolution: 1366 x 768 HD
• Webcam Installed: Yes

4. Samsung Chromebook 3, 11.6-inch XE50013

When you are looking for laptops for under 100 dollars, you need to look no further than the Samsung Chromebook 3.

This lightweight device protects your data with built-in security and enjoys easy access with a simple Google login.

Splash Resistant

Is a laptop that has a water-resistant keyboard something we look for? Not necessarily, but it cannot hurt finding one.

The Samsung Chromebook 3 does come fitted with a water-resistant keyboard just in case the cat knocks over that glass of water while you work. A nice little bonus feature for you.

Looks matter

The Chromebook 3 is for budget-conscious buyers. That does not mean it is cheap and nasty. It comes fitted with a black plastic casing, which pulls off a professional metallic look.

Compact in size, this is the ideal device to have with you on the go and not weighing you down, is also quite strong and will withstand being dropped and not breaking apart.

Graphics

Coming in close to full HD resolution, the Samsung Chromebook has 1366 x 768 resolution and features a bright enough display that is visible in most environments.

There is no touchscreen here. All Android apps need to be accessed through the laptop the same as any other application.

Product Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Celeron N3060
• Operating System: Google Chrome OS
• Manufacturer: Samsung
• Resolution: 1366 x 768 HD
• Webcam Installed: Yes

5. Dell Latitude D830 15.4 Inch Laptop

The Dell D830 is the successor of the D820 with the new Santa Rosa Platform and is of medium size. With a light and thin body, the D830 comes covered in a business-like grey casing.

The outer shell of this laptop is pressure-resistant has flexural rigidity that is a great cheap laptop for under 100 dollars.

Keyboard Setup

Installed with a typical Dell keyboard, the keys have a good amount of travel and feedback. The touchpad is responsive and easy to use with buttons that have a softer click.

There is also a pointing stick that requires a steady hand for use. It has buttons for the TrackPoint that also has a smoother click.

Screen Display

The screen of the D830 is visibly brighter than its predecessor casting a good amount of light onto the keyboard. Horizontal view angles on this Dell are pretty good without much distortion.

The screen is certainly not washed out with full brightness with no fading giving your images a near-perfect display.

Sound Surprise

For a laptop, the D830 performs well when playing a movie or listening to some music. From close to the laptop, the sound is not distorted and rings clear. It also travels well across the room to give you a rounded experience.

Bear in mind that this is an entry-level machine that gives you an all-around performance.

Many people even shared their experience with us by mentioning that this is a good lightweight gaming laptop in their opinion. Well, we’re not sure about their claim but yeah, it has some great performance capabilities.

Product Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7700
• Operating System: Google Chrome OS
• Manufacturer: Dell
• Resolution: 1680 x 1050
• Webcam Installed: Yes

6. Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible Laptop N4020

Talk about a wow factor, a laptop that has a screen that can rotate 360 degrees. Passive cooling makes sure that this laptop runs soundlessly and is arguably the best laptop under 100 dollars.

The N4020 gifts you with a 45W Type-C power cable and a dedicated stylus.

Design

The Acer Spin is silver which already makes it more stylish than others in this range. It comes in what feels like an aluminum casing.

Installed with Corning Gorilla Glass that protects the screen, the lid is flex-resistant and made from antimicrobial materials killing microorganisms. There are also two cameras, one in the upper hinge and one on the top.

Dedicated Keyboard

Tablets usually do not have dedicated keyboards. But this spin laptop does when you convert it from the traditional laptop to the tablet style.

The keyboard has long key travel that varies between easy clicking and some stiff keys. There are also dedicated “Alt” and “Control” keys due to the lack of “Fn” and “Windows” keys.

Ports

To the left, we have the Power button and a USB Type-C 3.1 port that doubles up for power, as well as a MicroSD card reader and the headphone jack.

On the right panel, you will find another USB port and a protruding volume rocker. There is also a Type-A port or receptacle.

Well yeah, all these premium range specs make it a good rated 2-in-1 laptop among its user for a reason.

Product Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Celeron N4000
• Operating System: Chrome OS
• Manufacturer: Acer
• Resolution: 1366 x 768
• Webcam Installed: Yes

7. Acer Chromebook 315 N4000

Acer has been producing some of the best laptops under 100-dollars, and the Chromebook 315 is no exception.

With anti-glare, a dedicated number pad, and a fast CPU, the N4000 will work for longer with more powerful technology behind it. The battery also gives you extended usage with its longer-lasting capability.

Numeric Keypad

The Acer N4000 has an easy-to-use keypad that comes with its dedicated number pad as well. The number pad is ideal for anyone needing to do figures or spreadsheets and sets this laptop apart from the rest.

The keyboard itself is easy to use with an efficient layout. The keys are not stiff and do not stick.

Camera and Speakers

The N4000 comes with a 720p webcam that produces standard pictures but is not top of the range. The camera works well with video chat and conference calls.

Acer speakers allow sound to travel through a relatively well-sized room when playing movies and music but cannot be cranked up to high to avoid sound distortion.

Multiple Applications

The Acer will have no problems running multiple browser pages, Google Play Store, and the Android app without suffering a breakdown which is good news.

The screen is a touch screen which is of benefit when applying apps and browsing. There are twin USB ports on both sides making it priced right with great benefits.

Still not impressed with this product? Well, then in our opinion, you’re looking for some good range and functional laptop that lets you play high end games as well. And, in that case, you should take a look on our curation for some best gaming laptops within 500 dollars range. Yeah, those are a bit pricey, but we’re sure you’ll open up your budget and buy something cool when you’ll see our curation.

Product Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Celeron N4000
• Operating System: Chrome OS
• Manufacturer: Acer
• Resolution: 1366 x 768
• Webcam Installed: Yes

Some amazing secondary features not to overlook

• External Ports

Most laptops come fitted with some external ports. It is nice to have more than one USB port dedicated to charging the device.

An SD Card Reader is also valuable as it provides additional storage capacity. With all the laptops under the 100-dollar price range, we have reviewed, having a mic jack for headphones is also a bonus.

The mic jack will allow you to have conference and video chats without external noise interference.

• Reflection Reduction

The screen’s capabilities are important, especially when it comes to the color and pixels of the images it takes. So too is the glare that affects your ability to see what is happening on screen.

Reflection reduction will improve your visibility when working both indoors and outdoors and allow you hassle-free usage.

• Trackpads

When working on the go, you want to be able to come and go. You don’t want a massive bag stuffed with all your device’s accessories.

Trackpads make all the difference. Working in place of a mouse Trackpad enables you all the functionality that you would ordinarily get with less hassle and baggage.

• Tablet Capability

When your laptop can convert into a tablet, you know that technology is winning and so are you. Being able to rotate your screen allows you more flexibility and, it also looks cool.

Not all laptops can rotate their screens. If you can find one that’s in this price bracket, you should add it to your device collection.

How do you select the best laptop?

• Operating System

When you buy a new laptop, you need to make sure that the operating system does what you need to do. This will determine your working capabilities and environment.

Some popular operating systems in the laptops that we have looked at are Windows which is ideal for work and study and, Chrome OS which is more of an app-compliant system.

Both have different capabilities, and you need to do some research to make sure that the OS matches your needs.

• Screen Size

Screen size may seem like an obvious choice but, the screen is essential to your needs. If you are looking for a laptop to do light work on and browse or watch videos, a smaller screen is suitable.

For more intense needs, you may want to consider a larger screen. Keep in mind that this will make the laptop itself bulkier and less mobile.

• Battery Life

Battery life is the most important feature when buying a new laptop. The longer your battery can last without a power supply, the more flexible your working capacity will be.

Some newer ranges can last up to 12 hours under minimal pressure, and this benefits you as you do not have to worry about plugging in after only a few hours of working.

• Specs

The CPU or processor is the brain of any laptop and controls all calculations and activity. To determine how good the processor is, look at the clock speed shown in gigahertz.

Another important spec is RAM which is what controls how much thinking the laptop can do. More RAM means more browser tabs can be open simultaneously, and more apps can run together.

The graphics processor is for gaming and videos. Look at what GPU comes installed if you are buying with graphics in mind.

Maintenance tips for your laptop

• Padding

We have all dropped our laptops or bumped them in some way. If you are the on-the-go type, you travel quite a bit with your machine. Packing it into a padded laptop bag will protect it from all that movement and even if you drop it.

There are different kinds of bags with various levels of protection ranging from simple to high levels of armor.

• Scrambled Cords

Keeping your cables in order is not something we tend to do often but, it is something that we should be taking care of. Messy cables are at risk of being nicked or even developing kinks that damage the wiring inside.

Here are some helpful organization tips:

• Color coding your cable will organize them to know what goes where and they do not get tangled.
  
• Cable Clips can be attached to your desk, wall, or floor to secure all your cables and keep them there.
  
• An organizer panel will keep all your cables in place on the side of your desk and avoid crimping.

• Overcharging

Optimizing your battery power is essential to your laptop’s longevity. It is important to switch off your device when it is not in use and avoids overcharging it.

Overcharging your laptop can lead to regenerative capability deterioration, which means the machine will no longer hold its charge.

It is advisable that you charge your laptop to 100% and then unplug it and allow it to run flat or close to flat before you recharge it again.

FAQS

1. Are pre-owned laptops reliable?

Instead of throwing an old device out, some people choose to sell it and then replace it. Buying a pre-owner laptop through Amazon is perfectly safe as they are all checked over and cleaned up.

Buying a pre-owned laptop is perfectly safe and will save you some money. All the settings will be reset to original factory settings and, the machine will perform like new.

2. Will a laptop priced at a hundred dollars be a quality buy?

Although the basic functionality of the laptop will be on par with most other, traditionally cheaper laptops compromise on apps and gaming capacity.

If all you are after is writing documents, browsing, and watching videos, then a cheaper model will more than suffice.

3. Do laptops come in different colors?

Pre-owned laptops traditionally come in standard black or silver. Most low-end laptops have the same color range. Some allow you more flexibility in terms of color but not often.

If you are looking to spice up the casing of your laptop you can investigate purchasing colored cases. Here you will get an array of colors and designs to suit your personality.

4. How do features affect the price of my laptop?

The price of your new laptop boils down to the core functions that the machine offers. Here, you need to look at the power behind the core processor. Can it accommodate more complex programs?

Memory is also vital because it works hand in hand with the functionality of the processor and provides storage and faster-thinking capabilities. More memory means more expensive.

Different operating systems support various functions. The more complex the application, the pricier the laptop will be.

5. Is my laptop compatible with a monitor?

Should you wish to plug your laptop into a monitor, you need to purchase an HDMI cable that will connect the two. Check the ports on the machine to make sure it has this capability as well.

Many of the laptops discussed here have smaller screens. Plugging them into a monitor is the perfect solution to enhancing your viewing capabilities.

6. Should I Buy a Refurbished or Second-Hand Laptop under $100 budget?

If you’re planning to buy worth to have a laptop then we’d say NO. Yeah, avoid falling into such traps where they market their useless laptops with some cheap tactics. And yeah, we’d also suggest you open up your budget range a bit and go for a good laptop that works.

7. Who is a sub-$100 laptop really for?

A laptop priced under $100 is actually good for those who are either in need of a backup device, just to make sure that their work keeps flowing. It can also be good for students, who are looking forward to just getting a basic device to browse, take notes and do some assignments on. These laptops also work out well for schools who wish to provide their students with a laptop for online classes. Lastly, if you are looking to give your young kids a laptop to familiarize themselves with computers, you might just want to start off with an inexpensive device. 

8. Can I play games on a laptop under $100? 

Technically speaking, the answer to ‘can you’ is ‘yes you can’. But the real question lies between the lines – should you play games on these laptops? We’d strongly recommend that you do not use these laptops for gaming because most laptops that are priced so low are generally using cheaper products for heat dissipation as that is one of the first things that manufacturers consider ignoring. Besides, a laptop under $100 won’t really have a lot of memory or a powerful CPU/GPU, so gaming is actively discouraged on these devices. 

9. Where can I buy the best laptops under $100? 

The best place to get hold of laptops under $100 is Amazon. While chances are low that you will find a new laptop priced under $100, you can certainly get hold of some of the best renewed and refurbished devices that work really well. In our list above, we have listed some of the best options that you have at this price point – and we have also connected them with their Amazon web pages so that you can buy them in just a couple of clicks. It is safer to buy renewed devices from Amazon which performs quality checks upon these devices rather than getting it from someone you don’t really know. 

10. Can I get a 2-in-1 laptop under $100?

Yes, you can get hold of a 2-in-1 laptop under $100 – but it will most likely be a renewed/refurbished product on Amazon. However, there is a chance that you can get a tablet along with a bluetooth keyboard at that price, which sort of acts like a 2-in-1 while not actually being a 2-in-1 laptop. However, unless you really want to use it for tasks that require minimal processing power, or use it as a backup device, you might want to go for better products. You can check out some of the best 2-in-1 laptops under $200 here.

Final Words

It is essential to match your laptop with your needs. We looked at the best 100 dollar laptops that you can find. Some are new and some pre-owned but all of them are fully capable.

When shopping in this range, you need to make sure that you find a laptop that provides the functionality you need.

For us, the winner is the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible laptop. For starters, you can flip the screen around and work at any angle you like. You can use the Chromebook as if it were a tablet. That alone makes it the best under 100-dollar laptop purchase.

Besides the screen flip, the Acer is touch screen enabled and has an extended battery life of up to 10 hours. You can also rest assured that your data will be safe from malware and attacks with built-in virus protection.

Added to this is the Wi-Fi functionality that provides a consistent signal throughout. The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible laptop is in a class of its own and makes sure that you are too.