Home > Best Mid-Range Laptops > Best Laptops under $600
Finding the best laptops under $600 is not an easy task because at that price, you can find a mixed bag of good and bad notebooks.
This is a weird category where you can find a quality $600 laptop that delivers a lot of value, and also mainstream laptops that are weak and that have bad specs.
You’ll often find these lower quality laptops under $600 in your closest super-shop. And they will often be recommended by the sales guy if you look like you have no clue what you’re doing (they have better margins on these…).
But of course… that won’t be your case since we already listed the Top 12 best laptops under 600 dollars for you!
Our Top 3
#1 – Asus Vivobook S530FA |
#2 – Asus Q304UA |
#3 – Asus VivoBook Flip 14 |
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Light & Quality 15-inch |
Low-Cost 13-inch Hybrid |
Quality 14-inch 2-in-1 |
| 15.6″ HD | 13.3″ HD | 14″ HD |
| Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM | Intel i5 with 6 GB of RAM | Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM |
| 256 GB | 1000 GB HDD (5400 rpm) | 256 GB SSD |
| Expect 7 to 9 hours | Up to 10 hours | Expect 6 to 9 hours |
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| Jump to our Review | Jump to our Review | Jump to our Review |
What to expect from the best laptops under $600
The top-rated laptops under $600 are mostly made of quality, durable plastic and are equipped with an HD screen – 12 to 15 inches, depending on your preferences.
They are usually not as light as more expensive ones, but they are definitively getting lighter and lighter each year. At that price, performance shouldn’t be a problem as they’re all pretty much equipped with specs that will make Windows run quite fast.
Who are the $600 laptops for?
$600 laptops are for you if you fit in one of these category:
– You are budget-conscious, but are still looking for quality
– You want a good-looking notebook, but don’t mind about plastic
– You are a casual gamer (some come with an entry-level GPU)
– You need a laptop that will perform, but average everyday performance is enough
Your other options?
$500 laptops could be a good option. You’ll find good quality laptops that performs.
$700 & $800 laptops are better looking and more quality laptops.
Design & Quality
The $600 laptops are still mostly made of plastic, but you should expect a solid frame that will survive the years. Don’t worry, it’s nowhere near the weak plastic frames of the cheap laptops, but it’s also not as solid and nice looking as the metal casing the more expensive laptops have.
Nonetheless, you will find quality, light laptops for $500 or $600.
Performance
When you get one of the best laptops under 600 dollars, you don’t have to worry about its performance. They have as much power as more expensive ones, more than enough for most users.
Most $600 laptops will be equipped with an i5 processor, although some manufacturers opt for a less powerful i3 to invest in a better display.
Display & Graphics
If you buy too quickly or go to the closest superstore, you might make a mistake and buy a lower resolution screen. The mass-market laptops under $600 still offer these older displays. Don’t do that mistake. Get an HD screen!
Of course, don’t expect a screen that’s as vivid and colorful as the high-end laptops, but here you should find one that will satisfy the non-expert eye!
While most will be equipped with a 15-inch display, you will also find some good laptops under $600 with a 14, 13 or 12-inch.
Also, if you are into gaming or design, you can find a few of them that will be equipped with a dedicated graphics card.
Audio
Audio is an area where laptop manufacturers really improved in the past years. While the audio output was feeble and created a lot of distortion, nowadays with a laptop under $600 you’ll have something quite decent that’ll allow you to enjoy the latest music album and watch a movie. And they also improved on the software equalizer that greatly boosts the audio quality.
Recommended for you:
Specs for the Top 12 Best laptops under $600
Graphics 12, 13, 14, 15-inch Processor Intel, m3, Intel i3, Intel i5 RAM 4, 6, 8 GB Storage 128 to 1000 GB Battery life 5 to 15 hours OS Windows 10 Thickness / Weight 0.52 1.19″ / 2.5 to 5.4 lbs Price Range $$$
Top 12 Best laptops under $600
1 – Asus Vivobook S530FA – 15″ HD
“Light & Quality 15-inch”
Asus made a change on its Vivobook series recently. Design-wise, they not only included nice colorful options – you can silver, yellow, red & light blue – they also change the casing design. Now the keyboard is lifted a little so that you get a more comfortable typing experience. That’s a nice touch.
Other than that, you still get the classic Vivobook quality. You get a sharp mid-range 15-inch HD display on a good-looking, solid & light laptop.
This laptop is really a great choice for any student or for someone that has a home office. It’s portable, has a large display and delivers more than enough performance to run any office program. A really good choice!
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on NewEgg
| Graphics | 15.6″ HD screen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Battery life | Expect 7 to 9 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.7″ / 4 lbs |
2 – Asus Q304UA – 13″ HD Convertible
“Low-Cost 13-inch Hybrid”
It’s tough to find better value than the Asus Q304UA. The Taiwanese manufacturer managed to create a quality budget hybrid laptop that has the look, the performance, and the build quality. And it’s one of the cheapest laptops on this list!
Use it in tent mode for watching movies, as a tablet or as a classic laptop, in any case you get a lot of value! It’s really a 13-inch notebook that delivers a lot. It’s definitely one of the best 2-in-1 laptops under 600 dollars! Read our full review.
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on online
| Graphics | 13.3″ HD touchscreen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 6 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 1000 GB HDD (5400 rpm) |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.78″ / 3.31 lbs |
3 – Asus VivoBook Flip 14 – 14″ HD Convertible
“Quality 14-inch 2-in-1”
I always liked what Asus did with their Vivobook series. They’ve always been good looking, high-quality notebooks that compromised just enough to sell at an affordable price.
The Vivobook Flip 14 is no different. It’s a great looking 14-inch 2-in-1 notebook that delivers a lot of value. The webcam is far from great and the display could have higher brightness and viewing angles, but it’s an acceptable compromise that makes it one of the best laptops under 600 dollars.
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on online
| Graphics | 14″ HD screen (1980 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD |
| Battery life | Expect 6 to 9 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.8″ / 3.5 lbs |
Recommended for you:
4 – Acer Aspire 5 – 15″ HD
“Good-looking with Dedicated GPU”
If you’re looking for a laptop that delivers a lot of value, the Acer Aspire 5 is a good choice. It has a solid, good-looking design and has some serious power under the hood.
While it has similar specs as most notebooks under $600 with its i5 processor & 8 GB of RAM, it boasts an ultra-fast SSD drive and a dedicated GPU for 3D. So it’s a perfect choice for someone that likes to casually play games or a student that needs a laptop for engineering school.
I’d have preferred a more colorful display and louder speakers, but it’s a compromise I’m willing to live with to have that kind of design and performance!
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on online
| Graphics | 15.6″ HD screen (1920 x 1080) with NVIDIA MX250 |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD |
| Battery life | Expect 7 to 8 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.71″ / 3.97 lbs |
5 – HP 17-X114dx – 17″ HD
“Quality 17-inch”
If you are looking for a mid-range 17-inch laptop, this HP is probably your best choice. With a large & clear display, you’ll like it as soon as you open it. Plus, you get a very comfortable keyboard, another feature you are looking for when you have so much space in a casing.
Apart from the quite slow – but huge – hard drive, you get more than enough performance to run your programs, and then some. Another flaw is the short battery life, but when you choose a 17-inch, it’s not usually to go to work in a cafe every day. Anyway if you are looking for a portable laptop, I suggest you look at smaller displays before this one is not really, although at 5.85 lbs it’s pretty good for a 17-inch.
All-in-all, it’s a sound choice if screen real-estate and typing comfort is a must.
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on online
| Graphics | 17.3″ HD screen (1600 x 900) |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 6 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 1000 GB HDD (5400 rpm) |
| Battery life | Expect 3 to 5 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 1″ / 5.85 lbs |
6 – Asus Vivobook F512 – 15″ HD
“Ultra-light 15-inch with Huge & Fast Hard-Drive”
Asus produces great mid-range laptops with the Vivobook line and the F512 doesn’t disappoint. At 3.5 pounds, it’s incredibly light for a 15-inch, and it has a good quality, stylish design. Combine that with a nice HD screen and you’ve got yourself a great value laptop!
Also the keyboard is very comfortable, and it comes with a fast & huge storage thanks to its 128 GB SSD & 1000 GB HDD. And you won’t have to compromise on the battery life. That’s a lot of value! I’d have preferred the display to be a bit brighter, but that pretty much the only flaws it has. I’d say it definitely deserves its spot as one of the best 15-inch laptops under 600 dollars.
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on NewEgg
| Graphics | 15.6″ HD screen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD + 1000 HDD (5400 rpm) |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.75″ / 3.53 lbs |
Other similar versions (prices may vary)
Older Version: Intel i5 + 8 GB RAM
# 7 to 12 Best laptops under $600
7 – HP Spectre X2 – 12″ HD Detachable
“Premium 12-inch Detachable”
The HP Spectre X2 is what happens when a manufacturer gives you a premium laptop with lower specs: you get a quality small notebook with a vivid display, with slightly less performance.
It’s a seriously well-made notebook that is perfect for someone on the road. It won’t be able to run high-end graphics software, but for someone that needs to go to clients or go to school, it delivers more than enough power.
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on online
| Graphics | 12″ HD touchscreen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel m3 with 4 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.52″ / 2.68 lbs |
8 – Acer Aspire R15 – 15″ HD Convertible
“Great for Watching Movies”
If you’re looking for a quality 15-inch 2-in-1, this might just be your best bet! Acer really surpassed themselves here with a great design, a really gorgeous display, loud speakers and an excellent battery life. It’s simply one of the best multimedia laptop out there! It’s not perfect though. I’d have preferred a less reflective display and a lighter design, but it’s certainly something I can live with to get one of the best 2-in-1 laptops under 600 dollars!
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on online
| Graphics | 15.6″ HD touchscreen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 1000 GB HDD (5400 rpm) |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.79″ / 5.29 lbs |
Other similar versions (prices may vary)
14-inch HD + Integrated9 – Lenovo Yoga 720 – 12″ HD Convertible
“Stylish with Excellent Display”
If you’re looking for a small laptop, this one is a great affordable 12-inch. It has a stylish hybrid design, an excellent 12-inch touchscreen and loud audio. It’s not the most powerful, but more than enough for web browsing and perfect for watching movies on the go. And at 2.5 pounds, it’s easy to carry anywhere. A great product that deserves its spot as one of the best 2-in-1 laptops under $600!
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on online
| Graphics | 12.5″ HD touchscreen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i3 with 4 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD |
| Battery life | Up to 8 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.6″ / 2.5 lbs |
10 – HP 15-ay011nr – 15″ HD
“Good value laptop for less than $600”
The HP 15-ay013nr is a good quality & value choice. For a laptop under $600 it has good features: you get a 15” HD screen, 8 GB memory and a huge hard drive. It definitively should be on your list if you need an affordable laptop with good specs.
The battery last quite a while – 7 hours according to HP, so maybe expect a little under 6 hours under normal use – and it is quite light at 4.7 pounds. A great choice for students or for a budget laptop for home office. The only real flaw of this laptop seems to be that its touchpad is stiff. Read our full review.
Buy on NewEgg
| Graphics | 15.6″ HD screen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 1000 GB HDD (5400 rpm) |
| Battery life | Up to 7 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.93″ / 4.7 lbs |
Other similar versions (prices may vary)
SSD Version: Intel i5 + 8 GB RAM
11 – Dell Inspiron i5378 – 13″ HD Convertible
“Portable Hybrid”
The Dell Inspiron i5378 is not the most powerful laptop on this list, but it’s actually more than enough if need a convertible laptop to watch movies and surf the web. The 13-inch HD screen is pretty good and the overall quality on-par with the best of the $600 laptops. The battery life is good is it’s portable at 3.5 lbs. A good purchase!
Pros
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Cons
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Buy on online
| Graphics | 13.3″ HD touchscreen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i3 with 4 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 1000 GB HDD (5400 rpm) |
| Battery life | Expect 6 to 7 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 0.77″ / 3.56 lbs |
12 – Dell Inspiron 5000 i5559 – 15″ HD
“Powerful value laptop”
This Dell i5559 has the classic Dell look. I never really appreciated the bulky plain silver look, but this one is ok. The display could be more vivid and the hard drive is slow, but otherwise it delivers quite a lot of value and it deserves to be in the competition for the best laptops under $600. There is nothing extraordinary about this one, it’s a little heavy, but it does deliver value.
Buy on NewEgg
| Graphics | 15.6″ HD screen (1920 x 1080) |
| Performance | Intel i5 with 8 GB of RAM |
| Storage | 1000 GB HDD (5400 rpm) |
| Battery life | Expect 4 to 6 hours |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Thickness / Weight | 1″ / 5.4 lbs |
Curious about the best laptops under $600 in 2015 and 2014? Consult our Archives!
Erik is the owner and main editor of lptps.com. He has been working in computers and information technology for more than 20 years. He’s a business analyst, developer, and avid traveler.
