10 Best Cheap Laptops 2025 in the United States

The Dell Inspiron Touchscreen Laptop offers a solid package for those looking for an affordable yet capable laptop, particularly suitable for students and business users. It features a relatively powerful Intel Core i5-1155G7 processor with 4 cores and speeds up to 4.5 GHz, which can handle everyday tasks, office work, and light multitasking smoothly. The 16GB RAM is generous for this price range, ensuring efficient performance and better handling of multiple applications at once.

With a 1TB SSD, it provides ample and fast storage, which is a strong point for storing documents, media, and software without worrying about slow load times. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen is bright enough for most indoor environments, supports touch input, and has an anti-glare coating, making it practical for long study or work sessions. However, the screen brightness of 220 nits might feel a bit dim in very bright or outdoor settings.

The laptop runs Windows 11 Pro, offering useful features for business users and students alike, including better security and multitasking tools. Build quality is typical for this Dell Inspiron series—sturdy but not premium—and while it weighs about 3.65 pounds, it remains reasonably portable for daily commuting. The inclusion of a numeric keypad, multiple USB ports, HDMI, and Wi-Fi 5 makes it versatile for connectivity and productivity. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics is suitable for casual gaming and video streaming but not for demanding graphics work or modern games. The screen’s 220 nits brightness and the absence of an optical drive might be drawbacks for some users. This Dell Inspiron fits buyers who need a reliable, feature-rich laptop for everyday tasks, school, or office work without spending too much, but it is less suitable if high-end performance or a bright outdoor display is required.

The HP Stream 14 is a solid choice if you're looking for an affordable, lightweight laptop primarily for everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, video calls, and basic work. Its standout feature is the large 16GB of RAM, which is quite generous for this price range and helps keep multiple apps running smoothly. The storage is split between 128GB eMMC built-in and an additional 160GB provided through a docking station, offering a total of 288GB—ample space for documents, photos, and some media.

The Intel Celeron N4120 processor is an entry-level chip, so this laptop isn’t suited for heavy multitasking or demanding software like video editing or gaming. However, it handles basic multitasking and everyday apps with ease. The display is a 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) panel with an anti-glare coating. While it’s bright and clear enough for casual use, the resolution and color quality aren’t as sharp or vibrant compared to higher-end models.

Battery life is impressive at around 11 hours, which makes this laptop convenient for use on the go without frequent charging. At just over 3 pounds and slim in size, it’s quite portable, ideal for students or anyone needing a travel-friendly device. The laptop runs Windows 11 in S Mode, which is designed for security and speed but restricts app installations to those from the Microsoft Store—this could require switching out of S Mode if you need other software. Build quality is typical for budget laptops—functional but not premium. It includes useful ports like USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and a card reader, plus a 720p webcam suitable for video calls. The bonus docking station with extra storage and accessories adds value. If you want a basic, easy-to-carry laptop that excels in battery life and multitasking thanks to its RAM, the HP Stream 14 is worth considering. Just keep in mind its modest processor and HD screen limit its performance for more demanding use.

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a solid choice for those seeking a budget-friendly laptop with a good balance of performance and features. It comes with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor and 16GB of RAM, which ensures smooth multitasking and responsiveness for everyday activities like browsing, streaming, and office work. Its 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD offers fast storage with plenty of space for files and programs. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display delivers crisp and clear visuals with wide viewing angles, making it comfortable for long viewing sessions. Battery life is impressive at around 10 hours, which is great for all-day use without frequent charging. The build is reasonably portable at just under 4 pounds and slim profile, though not the lightest in its class, so it’s better suited for carrying in a backpack rather than a small bag.

It runs Windows 11 Home, which is user-friendly and supports the built-in AI assistant, Copilot, aiming to enhance productivity. Connectivity options like Wi-Fi 6, USB Type-C, and HDMI 2.1 add modern convenience. However, it uses integrated AMD Radeon graphics, so it’s not ideal for gaming or heavy graphic tasks. Also, it lacks an optical drive if that is important to you. This laptop is well suited for students, remote workers, or casual users who want dependable speed, a decent screen, and long battery life without spending too much.