Buying a new laptop can be an exciting time, especially if you have a keen interest in computers in general. It's the feeling of having a brand-new machine that does exactly what you want, faster than your old laptop did. But for as exciting as it can be, many of the best laptops are not cheap, so finding the right one isn't always easy if you have a tight budget. That's why we have lists focusing on the best cheap laptops you can buy today, and in this particular one, we're going even lower to focus on laptops that cost under $600.
The $600 price point is a very reasonable one, but it's also a range where it really pays to keep an eye out for deals. Many of the laptops below this price aren't amazing, but if you wait it out for some discounts, you can find some real gems. That's what we did for this list, so keep in mind that while most of the laptops here do cost $600 or less at writing time, that's dependent on sales, so that price may have changed in the meantime.
Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023)
A fantastic laptop, if you can find it on sale
The 16-inch Lenovo Yoga 7i is a fairly affordable laptop, and with ongoing sales, it comes down to a measly $550. With 13th-gen Intel processors and solid specs overall, it's a no-brainer at that price.
- Fast 13th-gen Intel Core processors
- Large 16-inch touchscreen with 16:10 aspect ratio
- Premium aluminum design
- Significantly more expensive outside of sales
- Display colors aren't super impressive
- Somewhat heavy
Finding a good laptop under $600 is challenging, but at writing time, the 16-inch Lenovo Yoga 7i is an absolute no-brainer. It usually costs a lot more than $600, but if you take advantage of this deal, it's incredibly easy to recommend.
It starts with top-tier performance, which is handled by a 13th-generation Intel Core i5-1335U with 10 cores and 12 threads. That's a modern and fast processor, and paired with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, it gives you everything you need for a good experience overall.
There's a large 16-inch display, too, which is great for multitasking with its 16:10 aspect ratio. This model comes in at Full HD+ resolution, so it's decently sharp, though colors won't be all too impressive, with 45% coverage of NTSC. Of course, this is a convertible, so the screen also supports touch and pen input. And above that display is a 1080p webcam with Windows Hello facial recognition support, which is always a welcome feature.
In terms of design, we're looking at an all-metal laptop with flat surfaces and rounded edges that should be fairly comfortable to pick up in your hand. It is a bit heavy, though, coming in at 4.49 pounds for the cheaper model. That makes sense for a 16-inch convertible, though. As for ports, there's a very solid setup, with two Thunderbolt 4 and two USB Type-A connections, as well as HDMI, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader.
While this is a laptop you won't always find under $600, it's definitely the one you should get if you do. Not many can compete with what it offers.
Asus Vivobook 16 (2023)
A classic clamshell laptop with great specs
The Asus Vivobook 16 is an affordable, but capable laptop with modern AMD Ryzen 7030 series processors and a tall 16-inch display. It also has a sleek design and a solid supply of ports, and it's priced at $600 by default, so you don't need to wait for sales.
- Modern AMD Ryzen 7030 series processors
- Durable design meets MIL-STD-810H standards
- Large 16-inch display with 16:10 aspect ratio
- 720p webcam
- A little on the heavy side
- Display only covers 45% of NTSC
If you don't need a fancy laptop that can become a tablet, and you also don't want to wait around for sales, the Asus Vivobook 16 (M1605) is another great option. This one starts at $600 outside of sales, so it's always cheap, and you might be able to get it for even less.
Performance-wise, it's powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U processor, which has 6 cores and 12 threads delivering solid performance for day-to-day use. These are Zen 3-based cores, so they're not quite as powerful as more premium models, but it's still great. The laptop also includes 8GB of RAM (with a free SODIMM slot for expansion) and a 512GB SSD, so you have a lot to work with already.
The display here is fairly similar to the Lenovo Yoga 7i above. It's a 16-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and it comes in Full HD+ resolution. It also touts 45% coverage of NTSC, which isn't overly impressive, but does the trick. There's no touch support here, though. A potential downside here is the 720p webcam, which isn't all that great. It doesn't support Windows Hello facial recognition, though there is a fingerprint reader on the laptop.
Asus' design language looks pretty great here, too. This is a fairly simple silver (or black) laptop, but the Asus logo on the lid gives it a professional and distinct look. It's also designed to be durable, passing various tests to meet MIL-STD-810H durability, and it even has an anti-microbial coating, so it stays clean for longer. At 4.14 pounds, it's a bit heavy, but not exceedingly so considering its size. For ports, you get one USB Type-C and three Type-A ports, along with HDMI and a headphone jack. A solid setup, though Thunderbolt isn't available since this is an AMD laptop.
There are some shortcomings here, especially with the webcam, but this is a great laptop for the price.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023)
A classic laptop with modern processors
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is a great affordable laptop that's usually well under $600, but it still features 13th-gen Intel processors and a decent display. Plus, it comes in a unique color and has a lot of ports.
- 13th-gen Intel Core processors
- 15-inch screen with touch support
- Blue colorway helps it stand out
- 16:9 aspect ratio may feel outdated to some
- 720p webcam
15-inch laptops remain one of the most popular sizes, and if you're on the hunt for one, the Lenovo IdeaPd Slim 3i is one of the best options around at this price. It's packing modern specs in a relatively lightweight package, which is rare.
Those specs include a 13th-gen Intel Core i3-1315U processor, which has six cores and eight threads. Performance won't be mind-blowing with a processor like this, but if you want to browse the web and write up documents, it's solid, and at least it's one of the most recent models around. It also has 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, a solid combination to boot.
The display, as you might expect, is a 15.6-inch panel, and it comes in the more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, which you may or may not like. Most premium laptops tend to go 16:10, but 16:9 is still very common. The resolution is Full HD, and it covers 45% of NTSC, so it's par for the course in this price range. It also has a 720p webcam without facial recognition support, though you do get a fingerprint reader for that purpose.
Turning to the design, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is a fairly basic plastic laptop, but it does stand out a little bit thanks to the Abyss Blue colorway, which is different from the usual silver or black laptops you might see. At 3.52 pounds, it's also reasonably light for its size, which is great to see. Rounding things out with ports, we're looking at one USB-C and two USB Type-A ports, along with HDMI, a headphone jack, and an SD card reader. The laptop also uses a proprietary barrel charger, but otherwise, there's a solid selection here.
All of this comes together to make a solid laptop that should do the trick for just about anyone. While Lenovo's laptop lists it as being on sale, it seems like the $530 pricing is the standard, and it's a pretty good deal.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Sleek and premium design, plus a tall screen
The Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn't have the most powerful processors around, but the 3:2 display helps it be portable while still offering a great experience, plus it has solid build quality.
- 12.4-inch 3:2 display helps with portability while being great for work
- Premium and lightweight design
- Solid performance across the board with an Intel Core i5
- Base model has just 4GB of RAM
- 720p webcam and no facial recognition
- 11th-gen Intel processor is starting to age
- The display resolution could be higher
Microsoft's Surface lineup has some great premium devices, but in the past few years, it's also received some solid budget options. For those who want a premium-feeling laptop without spending a lot, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is one of the best laptops you can find for under $600, especially with the current discounts.
Performance is one of the weaker aspects of the Surface Laptop Go 2 compared to others on this list, as it's powered by an 11th-generation Intel Core i5-1135G7. To be clear, that's still perfectly capable of all kinds of day-to-day tasks and web browsing. It even has Intel Iris Xe graphics. The base model only has 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, but you can often find a model with 8GB of RAM for under $600, and we definitely recommend springing for that if you can.
A unique feature of the Surface Laptop Go 2 is the 12.4-inch display, which comes in a tall 3:2 aspect ratio, and it's pretty much the only laptop to do so in this price range. The resolution is 1526x1024, so it's not super sharp, but considering it's a relatively small screen, it's still solid. The screen also supports touch, but not the Surface Pen. This is also another device with a 720p webcam and no facial recognition. Models with 8GB of RAM or more do have a fingerprint reader, though.
In terms of design, the Surface Laptop Go 2 has an aluminum lid and a mostly plastic base, and it comes in four colors to choose from — the signature Platinum, Matte Black, Sandstone, and Sage. It has the premium look and feel of a Surface device, which you don't usually get at this price, and it also weighs just 2.48 pounds. As for ports, you get one USB Type-C, one USB Type-A, a Surface Connect port for charging and docking, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. A middling, but decent setup.
Despite its downsides, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is a premium-feeling laptop with solid performance, and it's worth a recommendation if you want something extra portable.
HP Laptop 17
An extra large screen
If you want an extra large display, the HP Laptop 17 delivers exactly that, along with solid performance with 12th-gen Intel Core processors. It also comes in two color options, including a unique speckled black look.
- 12th-gen Intel Core i5 and 8GB of RAM in the base model
- Jet Black colorway is more interesting than most
- Large 17-inch display can be more immersive
- The base resolution is too low
- A bit too heavy
- Costs well over $600 outside of sales
Some users just want to have a big screen to work on or watch movies in, and if you're a fan of large 17-inch laptops, then the HP Laptop 17 is your best option. It does make some sacrifices, but it's all pretty typical for such a large laptop.
For starters, the HP Laptop 17 is powered by 12th-generation Intel Core processors, and the base model includes an Intel Core i5-1235U, with 10 cores and 12 threads. You also get 8GB of RAM out of the box along with a 256GB SSD, which is about as great as you can expect for a laptop at this price. 12th-generation processors are no longer the newest around, but they're very close to 13th-gen models.
Aside from the size, the display is a downside of this laptop. The base model comes in 1600x900 resolution, which isn't very sharp, especially at this size. There is an option to upgrade to a Full HD panel, and if you can afford it, we definitely recommend doing so. Another potential downside is the 720p webcam, though this is very common for the laptops on this list. There's no form of Windows Hello support, either.
In terms of design, the HP Laptop 17 is a pretty basic laptop, and it comes in silver or black, though the black model is a bit more interesting thanks to the white speckles throughout the chassis. The laptop is pretty heavy, at 5.25 pounds, but that makes sense for this size. As for ports, you get a decent supply here with one USB Type-C and two Type-A ports, along with HDMI and a headphone jack. It's nothing too impressive, but it should get the job done for most users.
Officially, the HP Laptop costs just over $700, but at writing time, it's going for just $450, which is a very good deal. You can even upgrade to a better display and still be within the $600 budget this way, so we definitely recommend it.
Dell Vostro 3520
Perfect for work environments
Business users may have a hard time finding a laptop under $600, but the Dell Vostro 3520 is surprisingly good. It has solid processors, a sleek design, and even a 120Hz display, which is very rare at this price.
- Full HD IPS panel with 120Hz refresh rate
- 12th-gen Intel processors are still fairly fast
- Plenty of ports, including an SD card reader and Ethernet...
- ...But no USB-C
- 720p webcam
- An Intel Core i3 won't be very fast
More than any other kind of laptop (aside from gaming), business devices are especially hard to find in this price range, especially because they generally include Windows 11 Pro licenses, which are more expensive. Thankfully, thanks to a discount, the Dell Vostro 3520 is a great option to get right now, coming in at $599.
Inside the Dell Vostro 3520 is an Intel Core i3-1215U, which isn't the most powerful processor around, but it is a relatively modern one, with 6 cores and 8 threads. That should be enough for most kinds of day-to-day business tasks. It also comes with 8GB of RAM (though it's single-channel memory) and a 256GB SSD, which is a solid starting point. You can always add a second RAM stick later to get better performance.
One of the factors that helps this one stand out is the display. It's a 15.6-inch IPS panel, and it comes in Full HD resolution, but what's more impressive is that it has a 120Hz refresh rate. That's very rare for a business laptop in this price range. Unfortunately, the webcam is only 720p, and there's no facial recognition. Some models may have a fingerprint reader, but it's not clear which ones do.
Looks-wise, the Dell Vostro 3520 is fairly basic, but it looks nice enough in its Carbon Black finish, which has a textured finish throughout the entire chassis. It weighs 3.65 pounds so it's still decently portable considering its size. A downside of this laptop is that it lacks any USB Type-C ports, and you're stuck with USB Type-A. There are three of those, and you also get an HDMI port, RJ45 Ethernet, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card slot. It's a solid setup overall, but it's hard not to lament the lack of a USB-C port.
Business users don't have a lot of options in this price range, but this is still a very good choice if you want something extra affordable, as long as you can find it on sale.
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i
Extra portable and sleek
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i is a solid mid-range Windows 2-in-1 tablet. It has the 12th-generation Intel Core i3 CPU and a super-sharp display. It's also very portable and it has a sleek design.
- Super-sharp Quad HD+ display with 16:10 aspect ratio
- Front and rear 5MP Cameras
- Extra portable, especially without the keyboard
- Not a lot of ports
- Performance isn't mind-blowing
It's nice to have a laptop you can take with you everywhere, and if you want something that's very portable, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i is a great choice. It's one of the best affordable Windows tablets, and thanks to discounts, it's well under $600.
Powering the IdeaPad Duet 5i is a 12th-generation Intel Core i3-1215U, with 6 cores and 8 threads. It's not the most powerful laptop, but it delivers solid performance for all kinds of daily tasks, whether that's browsing the web, watching videos, or writing documents. It also has 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD.
One of the best things about this tablet is the display, a 12.35-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio and super-sharp 2560x1600 resolution. It also covers 96% of DCI-P3, so media consumption should be great on this display. The cameras are great, too, with one 5MP sensor on the front and another one on the back for video calls and recordings. The front camera also supports Windows Hello facial recognition.
Being a tablet means the IdeaPad Duet 5i is easily the lightest device on this list, coming in at just 1.74 pounds, though if you add the keyboard,that goes up to around 2.5 pounds. It's still one of the lightest laptops here, though, and since you can remove the keyboard, it's a very portable and versatile machine. This design does come with a downside, though, and that's ports. You only get two USB Type-C ports and a headphone jack, so it's a more limiting setup compared to a traditional laptop. There's no Thunderbolt support, either.
While it's not the best if you want a typical laptop experience, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i is a phenomenal device for web browsing and media consumption, and it's also great if you care about portability.
Acer Chromebook Vero 514
Sustainable, with great performance
The Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is an environmentally-friendly laptop with a unique look (for better or worse) and powerful specs that make it a great machine for ChromeOS. It has solid performance, too, with 12th-gen Intel processors.
- Powerful specs can run ChromeOS very smoothly
- 1080p webcam
- Environmentally-friendly design
- Relatively basic display
- A bit on the thick side
Windows may be the most popular operating system, but not everyone needs the capabilities it offers. If your usage is mostly web-based, ChromeOS is a lightweight alternative that runs great on all kinds of hardware, and the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is the perfect fit for it.
For starters, it's powered by an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, and that's a very capable CPU with 10 cores, 12 threads, and boost speeds up to 4.4GHz, in addition to having Iris Xe integrated graphics. That's already better than the vast majority of ChromeOS devices. It even includes 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, so you're going to have a great experience with a lightweight operating system like this one.
The display on the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is a 14-inch panel, and it comes in a typical 16:9 aspect ratio with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080). That's about what you'd expect in this price range, especially considering the internal specs are pretty good already. A bonus of this model is that it has a 1080p webcam, which is pretty rare at this price.
One of the more interesting things about this laptop is its design, and you may like that, or you may hate it. This laptop is all about being eco-friendly, and it shows in its designs, which uses unpainted recycled materials to create a very unique (if potentially unappealing) look. It's mostly grey, but with black and yellow speckles scattered throughout and a textured finish. This makes for a decently portable laptop that weighs 3.09 pounds, though it is fairly thick, at 20.5mm.
Rounding things out with ports, there are two USB Type-C and one Type-A connection, along with HDMI and a headphone jack. It's not an overly generous setup, but certainly in line with other laptops on this list, and having more USB-C ports is always good.
At just under $600, the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a Chromebook, as long as you can appreciate some of the unique design choices.
Best laptops under $600 in 2023: Bottom line
Those are, in our opinion, the best laptops you can buy right now for under $600. As we mentioned at the top, many of these laptops are on sale at writing time, which is why they fit the budget, so you'll have to check for yourself to make sure. Out of these, we chose the Lenovo Yoga 7i is easily our top pick, due to having top-tier processors, a large display, great webcam, and the versatility of a convertible. It's a laptop that typically costs much more than $600, so with a big discount like the one we have here, it's a no-brainer.
Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023)
The 16-inch Lenovo Yoga 7i is a fairly affordable laptop, and with ongoing sales, it comes down to a measly $550. With 13th-gen Intel processors and solid specs overall, it's a no-brainer at that price.
However, if you want something even cheaper, so you don't have to rely on sales, the Asus Vivobook 16 is another great option that shares a lot of the same benefits, just without the convertible form factor. It has very competent processors and a sleek, durable design, and it's also a great option.
Looking for a different type of laptop with a higher budget? Check out our list of the best 5G laptops if you want something that can stay connected to the internet anywhere you go (and if money isn't a constraint).