Key takeaways
- Best under $400: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15 (Ryzen 5 / Core i5) ($399 – $549).
- Best Chromebook under $400: Acer Chromebook Plus 515 ($349 – $399).
- At $400, insist on an SSD, 8GB of memory or more and a Full HD screen.
In this article
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The best laptops under $400 deliver real everyday performance: a modern Ryzen 5 or Core i5 processor, an SSD and a Full HD screen. Spend carefully, though, because this price range still includes many slow machines. These are our picks for 2026, from Chromebooks to Windows laptops.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price on Amazon. Some picks list higher, but sell under $400 frequently.
Quick answer
- Best laptop under $400: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15 (Ryzen 5 / Core i5) ($399 – $549)
- Best Chromebook under $400: Acer Chromebook Plus 515 ($349 – $399)
- Best family laptop under $400: HP 15.6-inch Laptop (Intel Core i5) ($379 – $549)
- Best compact laptop under $400: ASUS Vivobook 14 (Core i5) ($349 – $499)
- Cheapest Ryzen laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15 (Ryzen 5) ($299 – $399)
Laptops under $400 compared
| Product | Best for | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15 (Ryzen 5 / Core i5) | Best laptop under $400 | Buy | 8.2/10 | $399 – $549 |
| Acer Chromebook Plus 515 | Best Chromebook under $400 | Buy | 8.1/10 | $349 – $399 |
| HP 15.6-inch Laptop (Intel Core i5) | Best family laptop under $400 | Buy | 7.9/10 | $379 – $549 |
| ASUS Vivobook 14 (Core i5) | Best compact laptop under $400 | Buy | 7.8/10 | $349 – $499 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15 (Ryzen 5) | Cheapest Ryzen laptop | Consider | 7.6/10 | $299 – $399 |
Our picks in detail
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15 (Ryzen 5 / Core i5)
Best laptop under $400 · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.2/10 · Typical price: $399 – $549
Key specs: AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5, 8GB–16GB memory, 512GB SSD, 15.6-inch Full HD display
Why we picked it: When it hits $399, the IdeaPad Slim 3 with a Ryzen 5 or Core i5, 512GB SSD and Full HD screen is the most capable Windows laptop at this price, with full compatibility for every Windows app.
Pros: Strong everyday x86 performance for the price · Full compatibility with Windows apps · Number pad · Decent build
Cons: Average battery · Dim display on some models · Plastic chassis
Buy it if you want a capable Windows laptop around $500 with full app compatibility.
Skip it if you want a bright, color-rich display.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515
Best Chromebook under $400 · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.1/10 · Typical price: $349 – $399
Key specs: Intel Core i5-1235U or Core i3, 8GB memory, 256GB storage, 15.6-inch Full HD display
Why we picked it: A Core i5 Chromebook with 256GB of storage and a 15.6-inch screen for about $350 to $400 is fast, roomy and simple to manage.
Pros: Fast Core i5 Chromebook at a low price · Large screen · Good storage · Number pad
Cons: Battery is only average · Plastic build · Basic display
Buy it if you want a fast, roomy Chromebook under $400.
Skip it if you need long battery life.
HP 15.6-inch Laptop (Intel Core i5)
Best family laptop under $400 · Verdict: Buy · Score: 7.9/10 · Typical price: $379 – $549
Key specs: Intel Core i5 or Core 5, 8GB–16GB memory, 512GB SSD, 15.6-inch Full HD display
Why we picked it: HP’s 15.6-inch Core i5 laptop includes a number pad and plenty of ports, making it a practical home and homework machine when it is on sale under $400.
Pros: Affordable Core i5 performance · Number pad · Decent port selection · Widely available
Cons: Dim screen · Average battery · Basic speakers
Buy it if you want a no-fuss family or office laptop at a low price.
Skip it if you need portability or a bright screen.
ASUS Vivobook 14 (Core i5)
Best compact laptop under $400 · Verdict: Buy · Score: 7.8/10 · Typical price: $349 – $499
Key specs: Intel Core i5 or Core 5, 8GB–16GB memory, 512GB SSD, 14-inch Full HD display
Why we picked it: The Vivobook 14 is smaller and lighter than most budget 15-inch laptops, so it suits students who carry it every day.
Pros: Low price · Compact and light for budget laptop · Full Windows compatibility · Good port mix
Cons: Dim screen · Average battery · Plastic build
Buy it if you want a compact budget Windows laptop for school or home.
Skip it if you need an excellent display.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15 (Ryzen 5)
Cheapest Ryzen laptop · Verdict: Consider · Score: 7.6/10 · Typical price: $299 – $399
Key specs: AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 3, 8GB memory, 256GB–512GB SSD, 15.6-inch Full HD display
Why we picked it: The IdeaPad 1 with a Ryzen 5 is quick for its price, but its dim screen and 8GB memory limit it to lighter tasks.
Pros: Very low price for a Ryzen laptop · Full-size keyboard · Fine for schoolwork and browsing · Lightweight for a 15-inch
Cons: Dim, washed-out screen · 8GB memory limits multitasking · Basic build
Buy it if you need a cheap Windows laptop for documents, video calls and browsing.
Skip it if you need strong battery life or a good screen.
What $400 buys in 2026
Memory and storage costs rose in 2026, so $400 buys slightly less than it did a year ago. Still, you can expect:
- A Ryzen 5, Core i5 or Core 5 processor (or a fast Chromebook chip)
- 8GB of memory, sometimes 16GB on sale
- A 256GB to 512GB SSD
- A Full HD 14-inch or 15.6-inch screen
The weakest areas are usually screen brightness, battery life and build materials.
Which laptop under $400 should you buy?
If you need Windows, buy the IdeaPad Slim 3 or the HP 15.6-inch for home use with a number pad. If you mostly use Google apps, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is faster and simpler. Students who walk between classes should consider the lighter Vivobook 14. For more battery life, stretch to our best laptops under $500, where the IdeaPad Slim 3x appears.
Should you spend a little more?
The jump from $400 to about $450 is the best-value step in the whole laptop market, because it often buys 16GB of memory and much longer battery life. If you can wait for a sale, the IdeaPad Slim 3x is the laptop we would stretch for. If $400 is a hard ceiling, the picks above are the safest bets.
What to check before you buy
- Confirm the processor generation; older 11th-gen Intel chips are much slower and less efficient.
- Look for at least 250 nits of brightness.
- Make sure the laptop has USB-C charging if you want to use one charger for everything.
What to skip
Common mistake: choosing a laptop with a bigger hard drive (HDD) over a smaller SSD. Hard drives make even fast processors feel slow.
When to buy
Back-to-school season and Black Friday are the best times. Many $500 laptops drop under $400 for a few days during those events.
Compare more options
Search laptop under 400 on Amazon See top-rated laptop under 400 on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What is the best laptop under $400?
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15 with a Ryzen 5 or Core i5 is our top pick when it sells around $399. The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is the best ChromeOS option.
Can a $400 laptop run Microsoft Office?
Yes. Any Windows laptop on this list runs Microsoft 365 smoothly, and Chromebooks can use the web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Is 8GB of RAM enough for a $400 laptop?
For everyday tasks, yes. If you often have many tabs and video calls open together, look for a 16GB model on sale.
Should I buy a refurbished laptop instead?
Manufacturer-refurbished premium laptops can be good value, but make sure they include a warranty and a battery in good health.