The 4 Best Laptops Under $600 - Fall 2024

The best laptop for under $600 is the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023). This 16-inch Windows ultraportable feels well-built, and it isn't overly bulky or heavy despite its size, so it's still easy to carry around. You can configure it with an AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 CPU, which are more than adequate to handle general productivity tasks like text processing, web browsing, spreadsheets, and video playback. Most models come with 8GB of RAM, although you can find some with 16GB, so you don't have to upgrade it yourself. Its battery life is okay; it lasts a little over eight hours of light use, so depending on your workload, you may have to plug it in for a quick charge.

The overall user experience is good. It has a comfortable keyboard, a large, responsive touchpad, and a decent 720p webcam. Its 1080p display looks reasonably sharp but only gets up to 250 cd/m² of brightness, so visibility may be an issue in well-lit rooms. It also looks a tad washed out due to its narrow color gamut. You get Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, a fingerprint sensor for quick logins, and a decent port selection with three USB-As, a USB-C, and an HDMI. Unfortunately, the USB-C doesn't support video output, so you'll have to use the HDMI port to connect an external display.

Our best under-$600 Chromebook pick is the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022). As the 'Spin' name suggests, this is a 2-in-1 convertible, so you can set it up in tent mode for media consumption or flip the screen around and use it as a tablet. This laptop sports a thin and light design, an FHD+ display, and Thunderbolt 4 support. The display supports pen input and comes with a stylus that you can dock into the side of the laptop. Battery life is amazing at over 13 hours of light use, and you can charge the laptop over USB-C.

Spec-wise, this laptop comes with various Intel 12th Gen CPUs, ranging from a Core i3 to a Core i7. Performance isn't a problem; these CPUs are more than fast enough for anything you'd need to do on a Chromebook. The problem is availability. The Core i5 model with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage is the most widely available, and even that model is getting hard to find. There's a newer version available, which we haven't tested but expect will perform similarly. It has faster Intel 13th Gen CPUs and a higher-resolution 1440p webcam. You can see the 2023 model on Amazon or Best Buy.

While $600 won't get you a decent new gaming laptop, cloud gaming has come a long way. It uses remote servers for processing and streams gameplay to your device, much like a video service. With a good internet connection, you can enjoy gaming without spending a fortune on a rig. Enter the Acer Chromebook 516 GE (2022), designed for cloud gaming. This 16-inch laptop is well-built, not too heavy, and features a standout QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is bright enough for most indoor use, and its fast response time results in a clear image during fast-paced scenes. Most models come with 8GB, though you can find a few with 16GB; the extra RAM will provide a smoother user experience for gaming and general tasks like web browsing or text processing.

The overall user experience is solid. The spacious keyboard stays cool under load and features RGB backlighting, though it's limited to a single lighting zone. With Wi-Fi 6E and an Ethernet port, it's well-equipped for cloud gaming's internet demands. However, the main downside is its short battery life—around six hours with light use or just an hour of gaming. Also, you'll need a compatible router to fully benefit from Wi-Fi 6E's lower latency, faster connection speeds, and the additional 6GHz band. If you're considering the upgrade, check out our recommendations for the best Wi-Fi 6 routers.

If you prefer a 2-in-1 tablet, consider the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021). It's an excellent choice for media consumption and web browsing, offering a compact, lightweight design and a battery life of 10 to 11 hours. You can detach the keyboard for easier use as a tablet or to save space, making it convenient in tight areas. Its OLED display is sharp, colorful, and bright enough to handle indoor glare; just know that OLEDs suffer from burn-in when displaying static elements, so vary the content. The device supports pen input and provides a storage spot for the stylus on the back cover, though you may need to purchase the stylus separately.

As expected with budget devices, there are a few drawbacks. The keyboard feels cramped, with stiff keys, and the touchpad is small and sometimes unresponsive—better suited for a dedicated mouse. The speakers deliver a poor, boxy sound with no bass. The device has only two USB-C ports, one of which is needed for charging. Additionally, it lacks biometric security, like fingerprint or facial recognition, which is typical for Chromebooks.