The Best Laptop Under $400 You Should Buy: Expert Pick
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Currently, the world is experiencing an all-time high of artificial intelligence, automation, and increased use of computer-operated devices.
Likewise, with new and innovative technical advancements, the technology industry is growing at a fast pace today.
Especially when you want to buy a new technical gadget like a mobile or laptop, the options are endless. What’s more distressing is the fact that new models are launched every day.
Henceforth, with the enormity of choices available today, choosing the best laptop under 400 can become a tricky task.
Since many brands are offering different features at the same price, selecting the best 400 dollar laptop can naturally become very confusing.
That’s why to help you make the most out of it; we have brought to you a list of the top 10 best laptops under 400 dollars to buy in 2022.
Top 10 Laptops under 400 Dollars
Our recommendations are based on the highly desirable features that must be present in a gaming laptop under 400.
Moreover, we have also thoroughly analyzed the majority of customer reviews and compared different models to help you make the best purchase.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Processor  | ASUS VivoBook 15 F515 Laptop
| 9.7 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best for Multitasking  | HP 15.6" HD Intel 10th Gen i3
| 9.5 | Check Price on Amazon |
Easy to Carry  | HP Pavilion X360 2-IN-1
| 9.1 | Check Price on Amazon |
Featured Packed  | HP 14 Laptop
| 8.8 | Check Price on Amazon |
Beautiful Design  | ASUS L410 MA-OB24 Ultra Thin Laptop
| 8.6 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best for students  | HP Chromebook 14 Laptop
| 8.2 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Overall  | 2022 Newest Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop
| 8 | Check Price on Amazon |
Easy to Carry  | HP 14 inch HD Laptop
| 7.7 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Seller  | Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
| 7.4 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best under Budget  | Lenovo Ideapad 3i Laptop
| 7.2 | Check Price on Amazon |
1. Lenovo IdeaPad 3
Launched in 1984, Lenovo is a Chinese brand and one of the top industry leaders manufacturing the latest mobiles, tablets, and laptops.
The brand is known for providing the best features at the best price. Lenovo IdeaPad 3, therefore, is one of its most affordable laptops under the price range of $400 to $600.
Likewise, this laptop’s latest (2022) version comes with a 15.6 inch Full HD Display (LCD) with an anti-glare feature for safety against eye strains during prolonged periods of heavy usage.
For the CPU, it has Intel’s Pentium Gold 7505 dual-core processor of speed up to 3.5GHz.
The laptop runs on Windows 10 and has 8GB RAM to smoothly run all kinds of casual games, software, study, and work-related applications.
Plus, it also allows you to browse the internet by opening multiple tabs without lagging or crashing.
Other features include Bluetooth 5.0, HD webcam, Fingerprint Reader, Dolby Audio featured in-built speakers, HDMI, and multiple USB connectivity ports.
The only drawback of this best laptop under $400 is the SSD hard drive space which is only 128 GB. But except that, all other features are of top-notch quality for a PC priced at less than 500 dollars.
Pros
- Beautiful Display
- Lightweight
- Easy to set up
- Fast CPU
- Anti-Glare Feature
- Ideal for students
Cons
- No backlit keyboard
- Battery drains fast while gaming
2. Acer Aspire 5 (Series A515-43-R19L)
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is suitable for studies and work, but if you’re looking for a more advanced gaming laptop under 400, then Acer Aspire 5 is the right choice.
The laptop contains all features like powerful sound, a backlit keyboard, and extensive connectivity via different ports.
Along with it, there’s Bluetooth and ethernet also to support all of your gaming needs at a highly budget-friendly price.
It runs on the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U Mobile processor with 2 cores and 2.6 GHz speed.
But the Precision Boost technology can quickly boost this speed up to 3.5 GHz for faster performance. Additionally, the RAM is 4GB DDR4 (Upgradable) with 128GB internal hard drive storage (SSD).
The widescreen LED display is backlit, and the laptop also has the integrated AMD Radeon Vega 3 graphics Coprocessor to bring you the most high-quality graphics on a 15.6 inch HD screen.
Lastly, there are 2 built-in speakers, 2 microphones, and a 1280 pixels x 720 pixels HD Webcam too. So, you can watch videos and play games comfortably with superior sound quality and an immersive graphical interface.
Pros
- Thin and Lightweight
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
- No Card Reader
- Poor Battery Life
- Barely audible speakers
3. Lenovo Ideapad 3i Laptop
Similar to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is Lenovo’s second-best laptop under $400 that you can buy in 2022.
With a memory of 256 GB SSD (Hard Drive), it has a larger storage space than both laptops above 2 laptops.
Moreover, the laptop comes with 8GB RAM (expandable up to 20 GB), suitable for internet browsing and multitasking.
Other essential specifications include:
The Intel Pentium Gold 7505 dual-core CPU (processor speed from 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz).
Connectivity Options:
- USB 3.2 Ports (Type A and Type C, one each)
- 4 in 1 card reader
- Bluetooth
- One HDMI port
- Wi-Fi
- Microphone/Headphone Jack
And 15.6 inches full HD display having a resolution of 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels.
Apart from these, there’s also a 720P WebCam, and Dolby Atmos featured built-in Speakers for an amazing video and audio streaming experience.
All in all, if you’re looking for a laptop with a better Hard Drive Storage space than most other cheap laptops, then Lenovo Ideapad 3i Laptop is no doubt the best laptop under 400.
Pros
- 720p Webcam
- Lightweight
- Ideal for personal and study-related use
- Easy to set up
- Higher Storage Capacity
- Great Picture Quality
Cons
- No backlit keyboard
- Poor battery life
4. HP 14 (14-fq1025nr, 2021)
Unless you’re buying a laptop under 400 dollars exclusively for gaming and multitasking, a larger screen is not at all a necessity.
In fact, for normal day-to-day use, laptops with a 14-inch screen size are lightweight and convenient, and easy to carry around while traveling.
HP’s 14-fq1025nr is one such cute little laptop that comes with a micro-edge thin-bezel display of 14 inches. So, you can easily download or stream excellent quality videos at 1080p.
Moreover, it also has anti-glare technology that filters the harmful blue light reaching your eyes to protect you from eye problems like straining and fatigue that arise due to continuous screen exposure.
The CPU of this best laptop under 400 runs on the integrated AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Mobile Processor (processor count = 6 ) and has an AMD Radeon graphics coprocessor of 8 GB DDR4 RAM. The speed of the CPU can go up to 4.0.GHz with the use of AMD booster.
There’s 256 GB of Hard drive space (SSD) for storage, which is expandable. You can also add your own memory card to the given card reader slot.
Lastly, there are 3 USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HDMI connectivity options for overall excellent performance.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Value for money
- Excellent battery life
- Good quality display
- Travel friendly
- Fast
Cons
- No backlit Keyboard
- No touchscreen
5. ASUS L410 MA-OB24 Ultra Thin Laptop
Like HP 14 (14-fq1025nr, 2021), ASUS L410 MA-OB24 is another 14 inches best laptop under 400 dollars if you’re looking for a compact, more portable pc.
Except for the price difference of approximately 100 dollars and memory, most of their features are identical.
Accordingly, ASUS L410 MA-OB24 Ultra Thin Laptop has 128 GB of Storage and is more affordable and budget-friendly.
It comes with an integrated CPU running on the Intel Pentium Silver N5030 (Quad-Core), 3.1 GHz Processor, and 4GB RAM.
Moreover, it also has Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth, up to 3 USB ports (Type A and Type C included).
The 2.7 lb lightweight design and 180 degrees lay-flat hinge makes it super easy (and fun!)to use and carry around.
Particularly if you work a lot with numbers, there’s a uniquely designed ASUS NumberPad located away from the keyboard. To use it, all you have to do is tap an icon, and you’re good to go.
Hence, the overall features of the laptop are great for people with a playful mindset, students, and professionals working from home too.
Not to mention, supporting its design and to make studies and work an enjoyable phenomenon, the laptop also contains a backlit keyboard.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good Battery Life
- Backlit Keyboard
- Affordable
- Ideal for gaming
- Super-fine screen quality
Cons
- No RAM slot
- The camera quality is not good
6. HP Chromebook 14 (14a-na0023nr, 2021)
Our next recommendation for the best laptop under 400 dollars is HP’s Chromebook 14a-na0023nr with a 14-inch display and 4K graphics.
From 4GB RAM of speed 2400 MHz to the integrated Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core processor (1.1 GHz speed that can boost up to 2.8 GHz depending on usage), the laptop has everything you need for regular everyday use.
It is an energy star-rated product that comes with a highly advanced fast charging feature.
Fast charging helps your pc to charge at a remarkable speed. Likewise, it only takes up to 45 minutes for HP Chromebook 14 to from 0% to 50% battery that lasts longer than most other affordable laptops.
Apart from this, the laptop runs on the Chrome operating system and has 32GB of eMMC storage.
Lastly, it has an Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU, and the screen can deliver super clear and sharp visuals with detail of 1 million pixels.
So, on the 1366 pixels x 768 pixels micro-edge display, you can watch, stream and play 4K videos comfortably with the best picture quality.
Pros
- Excellent Battery Life
- Ideal for study work
- Fast
- Lightweight
- Good Quality Screen
- Highly Inexpensive
Cons
- Can’t run zoom app efficiently
- Bad touchpad
- For basic use only
7. HP 14 inch HD (2020) Laptop
The covid-19 pandemic left everyone in distress and caused a halt in almost all world activities.
The education sector particularly suffered a great deal leaving students, teachers, and parents worried about how to continue studies of both school and college-going students.
In this scenario, online classes and apps like Google meet and zoom came out as the best solution.
But with the increase of online means of learning, the need for powerful devices that can provide all features needed for uninterrupted studies also increased.
Still, not all parents and students can afford high-end laptops and computers to achieve this goal.
That is why HP launched HP 14 inch HD in 2020 as one of their best laptops under 400 dollars to fulfill these needs.
Apart from being compact, easily portable, and highly affordable, it also has the capability to run apps like Google classroom and zoom smoothly and efficiently.
Similar to HP Chromebook 14, the laptop has an Intel Celeron Dual Core N4020 processor with a speed of 1.1 GHz (can rise up to 2.8 GHz).
The RAM and memory speed of both laptops are 4GB and 2400 M/s, which are also the same.
The only difference is the hard drive storage space of 64GB which is double the quantity of that present in Chromebook (It has 32 GB Storage)
Apart from this, there is an HD webcam and dual-array microphones that minimize background noise for all your work meetings and video classes.
Besides, you can also stream high-quality 4K videos and play all of your favorite games on the 14-inch micro-edge screen having 1366 pixels x 768 pixels resolution.
Hence, it also qualifies for HP’s best 400 dollar gaming laptop.
However, two bonus features make it a more reliable and trustworthy product at an affordable price.
Firstly, the battery charges at a super-fast speed, giving you a 50% charge is merely a span of 45 minutes.
And secondly, the laptop comes with a free subscription to Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications to sustain all of your studies and work-related needs.
Pros
- Ideal for work and studies
- Excellent battery life
- Super Fast
- Beautiful display
- It comes with a backpack
- 1-year free subscription to Microsoft Office
Cons
- No ethernet connection
- No backlit keyboard
- Average Speakers
8. ASUS VivoBook 15 F515 (F515EA-AH34)
With a screen size of 15.6 inches, 178° viewing angle, and an 83% screen-to-body ratio, ASUS VIVOBOOK 15 F515 is an affordable yet slightly more expensive laptop than others on our list.
The laptop has an integrated Intel dual Core i3-1115G4 processor of 4.1 GHz memory speed and 8GB DDR4 RAM.
The internal hard drive storage capacity is 128 GB PCIe NVMe, and it runs on the Windows 11 Operating system.
For connectivity, there are a total of 4 USB ports – USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 (two of each type) and HDMI too.
The last and the most special feature of this best laptop under 400 is the fingerprint sensor for easy windows hello login.
Again, the FHD display has a resolution of 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels and is accompanied by a super fun-to-use backlit keyboard for all needs.
Pros
- Fingerprint sensor
- Easy to set up
- Backlit Keyboard
- Fast
- Easily Portable
- Decent Battery life
Cons
- Low-quality speakers
- Average Webcam
- The screen is not that great
9. HP 15.6″ HD Laptop
All the above 8 laptops are powerful and efficient enough to keep up with your expectations in a $400 budget laptop.
But if you are willing to go a little over the budget of $500, then HP 15.6 inch HD laptop is one investment that you would never regret making.
Accordingly, no other product on this list wins over it when it comes to performance and storage.
Likewise, the HP i5 touch comes with a premium touchscreen and has a Hard Drive storage space (SSD) as large as 512 GB.
Moreover, it runs on the latest most advanced 10th Generation Intel Quad-Core i5-1035G1 3.6 GHz processor with 16GB RAM and 2666 MHz memory speed.
Therefore, whether it is for browsing the internet, playing online games, or watching and streaming videos, it has enough memory and CPU capacity to run all functions smoothly.
Coming to the screen, the laptop has a 15.6-inch micro-edge LED-backlit display that comes with a touch screen feature for a more easy and user-friendly interface.
Other than that, there is a dedicated Intel Graphics Coprocessor that runs on Windows 10 operating system to facilitate an overall great performance.
Thus, providing you the most accurate results at a super-fast speed.
Pros
- Touch screen
- Outstanding memory
- Super Fast processor
- Excellent battery life
- Lightweight
- Amazing picture quality
- Ideal for gaming
Cons
- No Backlit Keyboard
- Difficult to connect with Wi-Fi
10. HP Pavilion X360
The final product on our list is HP Pavilion X360 with an 11.6-inch WLED backlit screen that can be operated using both; the keyboard and touchscreen.
The laptop contains an Intel Pentium N5000 Quad-Core processor with up to 2.4 GHz memory speed (Intel Turbo Boost Technology) and 4 GB RAM.
The hard disk size is 128 GB, and there’s an Intel UHD Graphics 605 graphics coprocessor too.
Further, the 2-in-1 laptop has a media card reader for expanding memory, and HP audio boost for super-fine and loud sound, and stereo speakers.
Again, the connectivity options range from USB (Both Type A and Type 3), HDMI, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
Lastly, suppose you’re planning to use it for working from home. In that case, it also has a high-quality HD webcam along with a microphone and audio jack for uninterrupted online interactions during class meetings and video conferences.
Pros
- Touchscreen
- Lightweight
- Tablet-Cum-Laptop
- Value for money
- Super Easy to use
- Great Battery Life
Cons
- The backlit feature doesn’t work on the display
- No backlit keyboard
What to look for while buying a laptop under $400
For a laptop, 400 dollars is a considerably low budget. So, you cannot expect extensively powerful and high-end features from most of the laptops under 400.
However, even in this price range, there are certain minimum system specifications that you must look for in a laptop to make the most out of your money.
The most essential of these features include screen size, processor, storage, and battery life. These are the primary features on which almost more than half of your working experience on the laptop depends.
Likewise, there are other things such as blue light filter, sound quality, screen resolution, touchscreen, and backlit keyboard, which are not THAT necessary but still important enough in a laptop.
Screen Size
The first question you must answer is: For what purpose am I buying the laptop?
Following this, the screen size you choose depends upon this answer. Accordingly, if you’re buying the PC only for study-related work and normal day-to-day use, then the laptop should at least have a display size of 13 inches.
However, if you like to indulge in gaming, binge-watching movies, and streaming online videos, go for a size greater than 14 or equal to 14 inches to minimize the eye strain and experience a wider picture view.
Processor
Under a 400 dollar budget, aim for at least Intel Core i3 CPU or AMD Ryzen 3 processor to minimize lagging and get the best output at a fast rate. However, don’t expect a powerful and groundbreaking processor under such a budget.
Storage
Most of the laptops under 400 dollars offer 128 GB storage and 4 GB RAM, which is enough for personal use.
However, you can go for an 8 GB DDR4 RAM and expand the hard drive storage space using an SSD Memory Card for gaming and professional needs.
But if we talk about the lowest, then 2 GB RAM and 64 GB storage is sufficient for basic needs, particularly if you’re running really low on budget.
Battery
Unless you’re into heavy gaming, you don’t need to buy an expensive laptop with a more powerful and long-lasting battery.
Generally, a battery that can last for up to 4 hours without charging is enough for most school and office work.
Verdict
Every other day new gadgets with more advanced features than their precursors are launched in the market.
So, whether it is an AC or a washing machine, a mobile phone or laptop, there is a never-ending lot of models and varieties to choose from.
Even when you’re running low on budget, you still have a lot of options available. Our best recommendation, for example, is HP Pavilion X360.
On comparing it with all other laptops under 400 in our top 10 picks, it turns out to have the best, most durable battery, highly advanced processor, and sufficient memory.
Plus, it also has an additional touchscreen feature that enables you to use it even as a tablet for different purposes.
All in all, even after being priced at less than 400 dollars, it’s the best laptop under 400 with amazing features and superb picture quality.
To conclude, 400 dollars may not sound like a lump sum amount of money, but when you’ve earned it by devoting your precious time and energy, it should be spent cautiously to reap the maximum benefit.
Of course, we have tried our best to make this task a little easier for you. Still, you must conduct proper research to make the most suitable and regret-free purchase. I hope it helps!
By Sam Rhodes
Hi, I’m Sam Rhodes, a passionate tech reviewer, and gamer. I started Geekyslug with the motive of sharing my knowledge about tech gadgets like gaming laptops, tablets, graphic cards, keyboards, and whatnot.
I also share troubleshooting guides, helping people resolve issues with their gadgets. When I’m not writing, I prefer playing Valorant, Call of duty, GTA5 or outdoor activities like skateboarding and off-roading on my bike.
