When Google released Chromebooks, they were meant to be quick, simple, and lightweight machines meant for education and businesses.

However, it wasn’t long before this turned into something else entirely. Chromebook design started improving. Displays made the switch to HD and Battery life skyrocketed. Before long, a series of laptops touted for their affordability started welcoming high-end Chromebooks to their family.

The tipping point came when Chromebooks gained the ability to run Android apps. While this is a fairly new feature and isn’t available for most current devices, it gives every Chromebook owner a huge advantage since it allows their devices to dip into the expansive pool of Android apps in the Play Store.

All of a sudden, a Chromebook isn’t just a lightweight laptop. With access to file editing, productivity, and entertainment software, a Chromebook becomes a real option for average users.

Today, the number and quality of available Chromebooks is staggering. There are hundreds of excellent Chromebooks on the market, but we’ll be looking at the more budget-conscious consumer today.

Can you get a good Chromebook for less than $300?

The answer is yes, and we look forward to proving it to you using our specially curated list of the best Chromebooks under $300.

Top-Rated Inexpensive Chromebooks

Best Chromebooks Under $300

1. ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02

The ASUS C2020 Chromebook is an excellent contender for the title of best Chromebook under $300. It’s chock-full of features and will surprise even the most hardened skeptic with its incredible ROI.

The C202 has an 180-degree hinge, allowing you to convert it into a tablet by simply swinging the keyboard until it's flat against the back of the display.

Talking about the display, the C202 features an 11.6” display coated with anti-glare material to allow you to use your device in sunlight.

The Chromebook is meant for durability, as its four rubber-coated corners can attest. Since most laptops drop on their edges, Asus decided to nano-mold a tough rubber bumper onto the frame to protect the Chromebook from scrapes, bumps, and drops.

The C202 also features a spill-resistant keyboard and a child-friendly keyboard to make allowing your children to use your laptop safe and fun for them. The keyboard features fifteen percent larger character keys and 2mm key travel to make typing as easy and accurate as possible.

The C202 weighs a meager 2.65 pounds and has two grips on its underside to make carrying it around as easy as possible.

The Chromebook can manage up to ten hours of battery life, providing you with just enough juice to last an entire school day. However, battery life varies depending on how you’re using your device, so don’t count on the optimistic scenario or you may just find yourself disappointed.

Finally, Google also gives you an incentive to buy the Chromebook by giving you free 100GB storage on Google Drive. This extends the 16GB of internal storage space, which you probably won’t find sufficient.

Features at a Glance

2. HP Chromebook 14

HP has a long and storied history as a computer manufacturer, and the Chromebook 14 is a testament to that. With 4GB of RAM and an Intel Celeron processor inside it, the laptop will easily handle whatever Chromebook-constrained work you throw at it.

This slim laptop looks and feels great and will have your friends asking you what kind of laptop you have. It’s lightweight and easy to carry around, yet substantial enough to use on your lap.

The 14-inch WLED screen is pretty big and comes with anti-glare coating to allow you to use it even in sunlight. It also allows you to view the screen from any angle, greatly reducing the need to adjust the laptop when a light source is shining on the screen.

The HP Chromebook 14 has a USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot in case the onboard storage isn’t enough for you.

The battery lasts for about eight hours, although this will vary based on what you’re using the Chromebook for and how bright you’ve set it to be.

Features at a Glance

3. Acer Chromebook 15 CB5-571-C4T3

The Acer Chromebook 15 is an efficient device that will give you incredible bang for your buck. From its 2GB RAM to its Intel Celeron processor, the Chromebook 15 is a device that will allow you to do almost anything you want with it.

This Chromebook looks and feels premium, with its slim profile and fabric-like surface that also increases grip, ensuring you don’t lose your Chromebook to an unfortunate accident.

The Chromebook 15 is one of the biggest Chromebooks on the market with a screen size of 15.6”. Its massive display is coated with anti-glare material, allowing you to use it even when the sun is shining bright.

The Acer Chromebook 15 has an HDR webcam that shoots incredible photo and video so you can feel closer to your family and friends with crystal clear video calling.

The device also has two upward-facing speakers to allow you to listen to your media in all its glory.

Unfortunately, the laptop only has a single USB port, so you may want to move on if you plan to use more than one USB device on your Chromebook.

The Chromebook has been optimized for battery life and will provide you with up to nine hours of battery life. However, this is an approximate figure and may not be entirely accurate, so don’t stake your life on it.

You also get a free 100GB of Google Drive storage space when you buy the Chromebook. This adds to its 16GB hard drive which is too small to hold much data.

Features at a Glance

4. Acer Chromebook R 11 Convertible

The Acer Chromebook R 11 Convertible is a convertible (duh!) laptop that provides incredible value for less than $300. It has 4GB of RAM and comes with 32GB of internal storage. There’s a cheaper option with 16GB of storage, and you might want to go for that if you’re on a budget.

The R11 looks incredible, with a premium aluminum cover imprinted with a textured metallic finish which also makes it easier to grip the device.

The R11 comes with an 11.6” HD anti-glare touchscreen that you can swivel around since because of its convertible nature. The touch screen supports multi-touch and makes interacting with the laptop much easier than you’d expect.

The Chromebook has a few different modes you can flip it into: notebook, tent, display, and tablet. As soon as you flip the laptop into one of the modes, it detects the mode and sets its display and sound accordingly.

The R11 is designed for incredible battery life, and it provides just that by lasting up to ten hours on battery. This is an approximate figure, remember that the actual battery life may vary.

If the 32GB of internal storage isn’t enough for you, you can always take advantage of the free 100GB Google Drive storage space you get alongside the Chromebook.

Features at a Glance

5. Samsung Series 3 Chromebook

Samsung has recently made several successful forays into the world of Chromebooks, and the Series 3 is one such successful example. With 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage, the device is well-powered and will handle whatever you throw at it.

The touchpad on the Series 3 is much larger than what you’d traditionally find on a Chromebook. Add this to the glass coating and image sensor on the keypad, and you get an incredibly efficient and intuitive way of interacting with your Chromebook.

The keyboard on the device is designed specifically for a Chromebook, with a dedicated search key and an entire row of web-functional keys.

It also has a number of inputs, with USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and SD card slot, and a USIM slot.

At just 2.4lbs and 0.7in, the Series 3 Chromebook is incredibly light and mobile, and you'll be able to carry it around wherever you go. Its battery life is pretty amazing for its tiny processor, which will give you more than 6.5 hours of battery life – as long as you aren’t doing anything too energy-consuming.

If the 16GB of internal storage seems too small for you (as you'll most probably find it), worry not – Google offers 100GB of free Google Drive storage space when you buy the Chromebook.

Samsung also gives you a warranty of twelve months on parts and labor, so you don’t have to worry about anything happening to your device – at least for a year.

Features at a Glance

Conclusion

If you’re a full-blown IT geek, a Chromebook definitely isn’t going to cut it for you. However, if all you do on your computer is surf the Internet, edit some documents, and listen to music, a Chromebook is perfect for you.

If you want a laptop that allows you to run heavy software or AAA games, you should probably be looking at our list of best laptops under $1000.

And the most incredible thing about Chromebooks is that they give you an incredible experience for a shockingly low price. All of the Chromebooks on our list cost less than $300 and will give you a fully-functioning laptop.

You may not like all of our Chromebooks, but there’ll definitely be one item on our list that will resonate with you. There’s not that much variety in the niche of budget Chromebooks, so all of them are pretty similar, although you'll probably be sold on the extra features a few of them provide.