The Best Laptops for Under $800
Every month, Notebookcheck reviews various affordable devices that have to undergo the exact same tests and identical review process as their premium siblings. The price bracket of less than 600 Euros is occupied by a number of notebooks made by various manufacturers competing for the price-conscious customer’s attention. Constant marketing emphasizing Gigahertz and Gigabytes carries the risk to lose sight of what is really important in a notebook. The following top lists might be interesting for your purchase decision as well:
The Best Cheap Notebooks For Less Than 600 Euros (old v7 Rating)
Position | Total Rating | Date | Image | Model / Review | Size | Resolution | Screen | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83.6 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2024 |  | Ninkear A15 Plus (16+512) AMD Ryzen 7 5700U ⎘ AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000) ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | matte | 18.2 mm | 1.8 kg |
| 2 | 82 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2024 |  | SCHENKER Work 14 Base Intel Core i5-1235U ⎘ Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 500 GB SSD | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | matte | 20.2 mm | 1.3 kg |
| 3 | 81 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2024 |  | Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-31P-34JP Intel Core i3-N305 ⎘ Intel UHD Graphics 32EUs (Alder Lake) ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | matte | 18.9 mm | 1.7 kg |
| 4 | 79.5 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2024 |  | Asus BR1104CGA-N00007XA Intel Processor N100 ⎘ Intel UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 128 GB SSD | 11.60" | 1366x768 | matte | 21.2 mm | 1.6 kg |
| 5 | 79.5 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2024 |  | Asus BR1402FG Intel Core i3-N305 ⎘ Intel UHD Graphics 32EUs (Alder Lake) ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | glossy | 20.8 mm | 1.7 kg |
| 6 | 78.5 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2024 |  | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 CB 14M868 MediaTek Kompanio 520 ⎘ ARM Mali-G52 MP2 ⎘ 4 GB Memory, 64 GB eMMC | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | matte | 19.3 mm | 1.3 kg |
| 7 | 75.2 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2023 |  | HP 250 G9 7N029ES Intel Core i3-1215U ⎘ Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) ⎘ 8 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | matte | 19.9 mm | 1.7 kg |
Note: The switch to a new rating system took place in June 2024. In the new v8 rating, the criteria were adapted to current hardware developments, new points were added and individual measurement methods were changed. As a result, the v8 ratings are slightly lower than under v7. The new v8 rating is not directly comparable with previous versions. For this reason, we are listing two tables with the best devices according to v7 and v8 rating here for the time being. Further information on the new v8 rating can be found here.
The table above contains an overview over the best notebooks for less than 500 Euros reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed
Editors' Comments
New in the list: Schenker Work 14 Base, which can also fall below the 800 euro threshold depending on the configuration.
Alternatives that just did not make it into the list:
- Acer Aspire Vero 14 (85%, 01/23 - depending on equipment also available for less than 800 euros)
- HP ProBook 455 G10 (85%, 10/23 - also available for less than 800 euros)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Convertible (699 Euros, 85%).
Former top ten devices up to 600 Euros:
- Dell Inspiron 14 7435 2-in-1 (85 %, 08/23)
- ACEMagic Ace AX15 (78 %, 07/23)
- HP Chromebook 15a-n0008TU (77 %, 08/23)
- Huawei MateBook D 15 2023-53013BSJ (03/23, 84 %)
- Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (83 %, 02/23)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 (83 %, 01/23)
- Asus F415EA-EK115W (78 %, 01/2023)
- Asus P1511CEA (76 %, 01/2023)
1st – Ninkear A15 Plus (R7 5700U)
"Surprisingly good and inexpensive" was the title of our author's review of this Chinese banger. The Ninkear A15 Plus has more than enough power for everyday use, is quiet, has a powerful keyboard and an attractive light metal casing. Our version of the Ninkear A15 Plus is available from various retailers for a good 500 euros. In our test, the laptop is clearly a top performer in terms of price/performance, although there are some compromises to be made compared to the inexpensive device with AMD Ryzen 7.
The Ninkear A15 Plus proved to be a useful laptop for the home office in our test. Good performance meets an appealing design. The loudspeakers, WLAN and screen brightness have to be compromised.
Unfortunately, our 16+512 configuration of the Ninkear A15 Plus is currently out of stock almost everywhere. Another configuration currently costs around $615 at Tomtop with shipping from a German warehouse.
Price comparison
2nd – Acer Aspire Go 15 (i3-N305, UHD 32 EUs)
Alder Lake, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, FHD panel result in a simple office notebook for a small budget. Very good battery life and USB-C power delivery make the 15.6-inch laptop even more attractive.
With the Aspire Go 15, Acer delivers an office notebook for a small budget that has revealed some weaknesses.
The Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-31P is widely available from online retailers, such as Amazon.
Price comparison
3rd – Asus ExpertBook BR1104CGA (N100, UHD 24 EUs)
Powered by Intel's efficient N100 CPU, this rugged notebook for education offers excellent battery life, quiet operation and robust connectivity. For under €400, Asus also delivers 8GB of LPDDR5 4800 RAM, 128GB SSD storage and an 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 pixel display.
The high CPU efficiency, quiet operation and great battery life recommend the Asus ExpertBook BR1104CGA as a reliable solution for students on a budget.
Exactly this variant is not available in stores, as it is intended to be ordered by schools or universities at a discount.
Price comparison
4th – Asus BR1402FG (i3-N305, UHD 32EUs)
The new Asus BR1402FG is designed for robustness with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass and US military standard MIL-STD 810H certification. Coupled with the 2-in-1 design and good repairability, this notebook is the ideal companion for everyday school life.
The Asus BR1402FG targets the education sector with its rugged design and price-performance ratio, but faces challenges in system performance.
At the time of writing, the Asus BR1402FG is not yet available in North America.
Price comparison
5th – Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 CB (MediaTek Kompanio 520, Mali-G52 MP2)
For 250 euros, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 CB 14M868 can only really be a Chromebook. A Full HD display, 8-core CPU, thin and visually appealing casing sound tempting for the cheapest notebook on the market. We bought the laptop new from Amazon for an incredible 100 euros on Black Friday.
However, the long battery life and the silent and cool operation, even under load, are pleasing.
We bought the IdeaPad Slim 3 CB from Amazon for an unbeatable 100 euros on Black Friday. It currently costs 170 euros there. The 128 GB version is only listed at around 300 euros and the version with IPS touchscreen is currently not available in Germany. Depending on the price and requirements, the IdeaPad can definitely be a bargain.
At the time of writing, Amazon US offers the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim CB for $220.
Price comparison
6th – Asus Chromebook CM14 (MediaTek Kompanio 520, Mali-G52 MP2)
The Asus CM14 is an entry-level Chromebook. However, it also has advantages such as 12 hours of battery life and a 10-year update guarantee. The Asus CM14 (CM1402C) has an RRP of 299 euros, but it has also been sold several times for 150 euros by well-known retailers. This makes the CM14 one of the cheapest notebooks, and its performance must be rated accordingly.
If you can live with the dark display and slow memory, the Asus CM14 is a durable and affordable Chromebook with long-term update support.
The Asus Chromebook CM 14 is available through the usual retail channels, including Amazon US. Alternatively, users can order the laptop via Asus's official online store.
Price comparison
7th – HP 250 G9 (i3-1215U, UHD 64EUs)
With the 250 G9, HP offers an affordable 15.6-inch office laptop that is equipped with a Core i3 processor from Intel and a matte IPS display for around 400 euros. The Core i3 processor in particular sets the laptop apart from other laptops in this price range, which are often only equipped with Celeron or Pentium chips.
An inexpensive laptop for the home office: HP 250 G9 offers sufficient performance for everyday use with the Core i3 processor and the subjective image quality of the matte IPS panel is okay. However, the fan can quickly become annoying.
Currently, the device is currently unavailable on common retailers.
Price comparison
Test Results
| Ninkear A15 Plus (16+512) | SCHENKER Work 14 Base | Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-31P-34JP | Asus BR1104CGA-N00007XA | Asus BR1402FG | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 CB 14M868 | HP 250 G9 7N029ES | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | |||||||
| Display P3 Coverage | 39.04 | 72.4 | 39.4 | 43.19 | 37.87 | 43.3 | |
| sRGB Coverage | 58.06 | 99.8 | 58.9 | 64.95 | 56.7 | 54.35 | 64.8 |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 40.34 | 73.8 | 40.7 | 44.62 | 39.15 | 37.54 | 44.7 |
| Response Times | |||||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 25 ? | 60 ? | 32 ? | 37.68 ? | 39 ? | 39.3 ? | 31.9 ? |
| Response Time Black / White * | 14 ? | 34.7 ? | 26 ? | 20 ? | 30 ? | 9.4 ? | 21.6 ? |
| PWM Frequency | 25000 ? | ||||||
| Screen | |||||||
| Brightness middle | 254 | 402 | 321 | 290 | 278 | 281 | 281 |
| Brightness | 244 | 404 | 320 | 274 | 252 | 259 | 257 |
| Brightness Distribution | 89 | 89 | 92 | 87 | 80 | 85 | 82 |
| Black Level * | 0.1587 | 0.16 | 0.2032 | 0.48 | 0.075 | 0.45 | 0.16 |
| Contrast | 1601 | 2513 | 1580 | 604 | 3707 | 624 | 1756 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 7.42 | 2.2 | 6.11 | 7.68 | 7.02 | 12.4 | 4.7 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 19.74 | 4.2 | 9.93 | 9.6 | 24.28 | 21.9 | 18 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 5.72 | 1.3 | 3.65 | 1.9 | 4.25 | 3.7 | |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 5 | 3 | 4.9 | 7.4 | 0.8 | 13.2 | 3.6 |
| Gamma | 1.855 119% | 2.18 101% | 1.925 114% | 2.658 83% | 2.158 102% | 2.2 100% | |
| CCT | 6421 101% | 6801 96% | 6365 102% | 8017 81% | 5966 109% | 7267 89% | |
| Noise | |||||||
| off / environment * | 24.78 | 23.6 | 24.8 | 23.59 | 24.78 | 24.3 | |
| Idle Minimum * | 24.78 | 23.6 | 30.5 | 23.98 | 24.78 | 24.3 | |
| Idle Average * | 27.6 | 23.6 | 30.5 | 23.98 | 24.78 | 24.3 | |
| Idle Maximum * | 26.5 | 24.8 | 31 | 23.98 | 30.8 | 28.2 | |
| Load Average * | 34.38 | 34.2 | 33.2 | 24.09 | 33.5 | 45.2 | |
| Load Maximum * | 34.58 | 42.9 | 35.5 | 24.04 | 37.25 | 45.2 | |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 34.2 | 45.2 | |||||
| Heat | |||||||
| Maximum Upper Side * | 37 | 39.2 | 35.8 | 37.1 | 41 | 32 | 35.1 |
| Maximum Bottom * | 33 | 40.4 | 44.5 | 40 | 37.6 | 33 | 44.8 |
| Idle Upper Side * | 23.5 | 25.3 | 23.1 | 26.2 | 24.1 | 26 | 25.7 |
| Idle Bottom * | 28.1 | 25.8 | 30.1 | 26.6 | 22.2 | 27 | 26.5 |
| Battery Runtime | |||||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 634 | 458 | 693 | 820.1 | 563 | 866.6 | 361 |
| Load | 136 | ||||||
| Power Consumption | |||||||
| Idle Minimum * | 4.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 2.483 | 4.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 |
| Idle Average * | 5.4 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 4.2429 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 7.8 |
| Idle Maximum * | 7.7 | 7.2 | 8 | 4.8869 | 7 | 5.1 | 8.1 |
| Load Average * | 36.05 | 31.8 | 25.7 | 13.04 | 26.9 | 11.3 | 34.7 |
| Load Maximum * | 62 | 47.2 | 45 | 28.507 | 35 | 14.1 | 44.6 |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 31 | 26.6 | 12.4 | 28.2 | 34.9 |
* ... smaller is better
Benchmarks
| 3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value) | |
| Ninkear A15 Plus (16+512) | |
| SCHENKER Work 14 Base | |
| Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-31P-34JP | |
| Asus BR1104CGA-N00007XA | |
| Asus BR1402FG | |
| HP 250 G9 7N029ES | |
| 3DMark - 1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value) | |
| Ninkear A15 Plus (16+512) | |
| Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-31P-34JP | |
| Asus BR1104CGA-N00007XA | |
| Asus BR1402FG | |
