4 Cheap Laptops Under $100

So you need a laptop, but you only have $100 in your pocket, what do you do? Don’t worry! We have done all the hard work for you, and picked out the four best laptops on the market for under $100 that you can pick up today.

Let’s take a look at what that crisp one hundred dollar bill can get you, and what you can expect from your new extreme budget laptop.

Quick Summary

• If you want the most powerful computer for under $100, you need to grab the Lenovo N22. It has the fastest processor out of the four here, and has a really nice design as well!
• If you are looking for a no-bloat, easy-to-use Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook is what you need. It has the most basic operation you can hope for.
• If you love the classic look of a Lenovo ThinkPad, the Lenovo ThinkPad x131e is for you. Though the chassis is smaller than its Windows counterparts, the same design elements are here in this small package.
• If you love Dell computers, check out the Dell Chromebook 11. It stays under the $100 price, and offers performance and quality you would expect from a Dell laptop.

Who Should Buy This?

If your laptop is in the shop getting fixed, and you just need something to do your homework or office work until it gets back out, these would be great choices. They are not going to do any heavy tasks, but for things like web browsing, email, and word processing, these laptops are more than adequate.

The other option for a nice cheap laptop would be for a young child. If you have a son or daughter who loves watching YouTube, or needs a laptop to do their homework, these are great. If they somehow end up breaking them, you are only out $100. That is much easier to deal with than if they break your new top-end computer.

Cheap Laptops Under $100: What to Consider

Chrome OS

When you are looking for a laptop in this price range, you will not find a computer that runs the Windows operating system. Seeing as how just Windows 10 alone costs $100, it is no surprise. However, you can definitely find systems running Chrome OS from Google, which is a great Windows alternative.

Refurbished

Buying refurbished is the only real option when you dip sub $200. So going as low as below $100 means you will definitely need to buy a refurbished computer. This doesn’t mean they are heavily used or damaged, simply returned and refinished to a like-new state.

Storage Space

The last thing you need to know is how much storage space you require. If you are just using the computer for light work or school work, then any size should be adequate. But if you plan on saving and using photos for things like slideshows and presentations, you may want to opt for an external hard drive as well.

Cheap Laptops Under $100: Our Picks

1. Lenovo N22

• CPU: Intel Celeron N3050
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 16GB SSD

In this price range, you are not going to find a better laptop than the Lenovo N22. It has a really nice, rounded design that has a great look for a Chromebook. The 11.6-inch screen, has a resolution of 1366×768, which is perfect for a screen this size.

Inside this laptop is a Celeron processor, combined with 4GB of RAM. That is a decent spec sheet for an operating system as efficient as Chrome OS. The one downfall, which is a recurring theme among these laptops, is that it only has 16GB of storage. That can be overcome with SD cards or external hard drives, but is still an issue to take into consideration.

2. Acer Chromebook

• CPU: Intel Celeron N2840
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 16GB SSD

Acer has been making Chromebooks from the very beginning, so they have almost perfected the craft of making usable budget computers. This Chromebook, named for its use of the Chrome OS operating system, is an example of how good their laptops are, and the price is fantastic as well.

This laptop is running an Intel Celeron processor, which is something pretty normal for Chromebooks. It does have 4GB of RAM and the usual 16GB SSD, which are both low when you think in terms of Windows computers. But for Chromebooks, both are at the very least adequate.

3. Lenovo ThinkPad x131e

• CPU: Intel Celeron 1007U
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 16GB SSD

The second Lenovo laptop on this list is the ThinkPad x131e. The real draw to this Chromebook is the look. It looks exactly like a tiny version (11.6-inch screen) of a larger, Lenovo ThinkPad. That will be very attractive to many, with the classic ThinkPad design still being a draw to Lenovo laptops even today.

Inside this computer, you have an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory, and 16GB of storage space. Pretty standard for Chromebooks in this price range, so nothing overly exciting. But that is the whole thing with the ThinkPad line, nothing flashy, but works exactly as you would expect.

4. Dell Chromebook 11

• CPU: Intel Celeron N2955U
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 16GB SSD

Dell is known to be one of the best computer manufacturers in the world. Their computers can be seen in offices, classrooms, and homes all across the globe. That is because their products are great, and the Chromebook 11 is as well!

Underneath all the Dell branding you will get an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory, and a 16GB SSD. Sound familiar? It also features the same 1366×768 pixels resolution 11.6-inch screen like all the other computers on this list. But it is a Dell. And that is something none of the others can boast about.

Useful Tips and Resources

When you buy a cheaper laptop, we recommend picking up a decent screen protector. Finding one that not only protects against scratches and scuffs, but fights against harmful blue light as well. This will help when you use the computer for extended periods.

Since you are going to keep the screen part of your computer nice and clean, it makes sense to do the same for the keyboard. Picking up some compressed air to keep your keyboard dirt free will not only keep it looking nice, but will help with the longevity as well.

Final Words

While the options are extremely thin at this price point, we managed to find these four options for you which we believe will work extremely well in a pinch. If you are in desperate enough need of a laptop for less than $100, any of the four above will make great choices.

Have you ever used a laptop that costs less than $100? If so, let us know your experience in the comments below!