10 budget-friendly laptops under £300 for work and study 2021

Woman sits at desk with laptop

6 of the best laptops under £300 (Image: GETTY)

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Even if the laptop is on the lower end of the price scale, you still want to make sure you’re getting good value for money and something that will stand the test of time.

As there are so many laptops on the market, tracking down one that can handle your workload while still fitting within your budget can take a lot of searching, so we’ve done the search for you. We trawled through all the biggest laptop retailers to find 10 models under £300 that don’t compromise on quality, so keep scrolling to see the list.

Lenovo ThinkPad

Lenovo ThinkPad (Image: Amazon)

This high-quality refurbished laptop has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by qualified suppliers so you can be sure it remains at a high standard. 

With premium internet security and an included Office package, you can rest assured your work will be protected from viruses and harmful malware. 

Key specifications:

Screen size: 14.1-inches | Storage: 256GB | RAM: 8GB | Battery life: 7 hours and forty hours | Operating system: Windows 10 Pro | Processor: Core i5

HP Chromebook 14

HP Chromebook 14 (Image: Amazon)

Just as good for entertainment as it is for work, this laptop comes with high-quality dual speakers that guarantee a premium audio experience.

The AMD A4 processor gives you the speed and power you need to take on your day, and the long battery life gives you the freedom to roam without being beholden to a power point. 

The thin and lightweight size of this model makes it perfect for bringing with you wherever you go, as you’ll barely be able to feel it in your bag. 

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 14-inches | Storage: 32GB | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 10 hours and 30 minutes | Operating system: Chrome OS | Processor: AMD A4

Acer Chromebook 314

Acer Chromebook 314 (Image: Amazon)

Sick of getting tired eyes from staring at your screen? This laptop by Acer has been designed to help you work in brightly lit conditions without having to strain your eyes by adding an anti-glare coating to the screen. 

 The long battery life means you won’t have to stress if you forget your laptop charger at home, as the efficient battery lasts for 12 and a half hours of continuous use. 

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 14-inch | Storage: 32GB | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 12 hours and thirty minutes | Operating system: Chrome OS | Processor: Celeron

ASUS VivoBook

ASUS VivoBook (Image: Amazon)

Currently seeing a discount of 12 percent, this already budget-friendly laptop is now even more so. 

Perfect for work and study, this laptop included Microsoft 365 for all your day to day computing needs, and 1TB of cloud storage so you can ensure all your work is secure. 

Despite having a large HD screen, this device is still lightweight enough at 1.05kg to be portable and can easily slip into a backpack or handbag. 

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 14-inch | Storage: 64GB | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: Seven hours | Operating system: Windows 10 | Processor: Celeron

ASUS 15.6 Inch Touchscreen ChromeBook

ASUS 15.6 Inch Touchscreen ChromeBook (Image: Amazon)

Enjoy the best of a laptop, desktop computer, and tablet with this device, as it has an extra-large screen, long battery life, and touchscreen capabilities. 

The anti-glare panel ensures your eyes are protected, and despite the large screen size the laptop only weighs 1.69kg – making it light enough to be easily transportable.

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 15.6-inch | Storage: 64GB | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 10 hours | Operating system: Chrome OS| Processor: Pentium N4200

Jumper Laptop

Jumper Laptop (Image: Amazon)

The six hours battery life makes it the smallest on this list, but the speedy quad-core processor makes up for that by being highly efficient. 

Designed to have everything you need to keep up with a fast-paced lifestyle with reliable dual-band wifi and Bluetooth 4.2 for easy collaboration – making it perfect for students. 

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 13.3-inch | Storage: 126GB | RAM: 8GB | Battery life: Six hours | Operating system: Windows 10 | Processor: Intel Celeron N3450

Buy: eBay (£199.99)

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook (Image: Amazon)

This laptop conveniently works as a two-in-one laptop and tablet, so you can get the best of both worlds – use the tablet when you’re scrolling Instagram or watching TV on the tube, and switch it into a laptop when you’re doing an assignment or answering emails. 

The multi-touch display and long battery life make for a device that’s perfect for on-the-go working. 

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 10.1-inch | Storage: 64GB | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 10 hours | Operating system: Chrome OS | Processor: Mediatek

ASUS ChromeBook

ASUS ChromeBook (Image: Amazon)

This is a great, simple laptop that is perfect for those looking for a good, sturdy model on a budget. 

ASUS is known for their long-lasting laptops, so although this one is cost-effective, you can still expect it to stand the test of time. 

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 15.6-inch  | Storage: 64GB | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 10 hours | Operating system: Chrome OS | Processor: Intel Celeron N3350

Acer Aspire 1

Acer Aspire 1 (Image: Amazon)

Designed to be the perfect device for everyday use, this laptop can easily handle working from home and remote learning. 

An added bonus of this laptop is that it comes with a years subscription to Microsoft 365 so you’ll get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more, as well as  1TB of OneDrive cloud storage

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 14-inch | Storage: 64GB | RAM: 4GB | Battery life: 10 hours | Operating system: Windows 10 S | Processor: Intel Celeron

Buy: AO (£249)

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HP Stream 11

HP Stream 11 (Image: Amazon)

Designed to be easily portable, this laptop is slim, compact, and should slide easily into your bag. 

As well as its compact size, the mammoth 13 hours and 15 minutes of battery life allows you to get through a whole workday (and then some) without needing to plug it in. 

Key specifications: 

Screen size: 11.6-inch | Storage: 32GB | RAM: 2GB | Battery life: 13 hours and 15 minutes | Operating system: Windows 10 S| Processor: Intel Celeron N4000

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