Under $300 is the toughest budget in the laptop market. New laptops at this price are rare, and the ones you do find usually cut corners on the processor, memory or storage. The good news is that a refurbished business laptop can give you a genuinely quick, well-built machine for the same money — as long as you know which models to look for.
This guide covers what a cheap laptop under $300 can realistically do, which refurbished models to shortlist, and the traps that catch first-time buyers.
What can a $300 laptop do?
Pick the right one and quite a lot. A refurbished business laptop in this range handles:
- Schoolwork, assignments and research
- Microsoft Word, Excel and Google Docs
- Zoom and Teams calls
- Web browsing, email and online banking
- Netflix, YouTube and music streaming
It's not the right budget for gaming, video editing or heavy design work — for that, read our guide to the best laptops under $500 or browse our refurbished laptops under $500.
The one spec to get right: 8th generation or newer
Windows 10 has reached end of support, and Windows 11 officially needs an Intel 8th generation processor or newer. Under $300 you'll see plenty of both, so check the processor model before you buy:
- i5-8250U, i5-8265U, i5-8350U, i5-8365U — 8th generation, runs Windows 11
- i5-10210U, i5-10310U — 10th generation, runs Windows 11
- i5-6300U, i5-7200U, i5-7300U — 6th or 7th generation, Windows 10 only
An 8th generation laptop is the sweet spot under $300: fast enough for everyday use and ready for Windows 11. The older 6th and 7th generation machines are the cheapest laptops you'll find, and they're fine as a second device, a kids' homework machine kept offline, or a spare — but for your main laptop, choose 8th gen or newer.
Refurbished laptops worth shortlisting under $300
Stock changes daily, but these are the models we regularly have under $300.
Best all-rounders (14-inch)
The Dell Latitude 5490, 5400 and 7490, HP EliteBook 840 G5, HP ProBook 640 G5 and Lenovo ThinkPad T490s are full-size business laptops with comfortable keyboards and a good spread of ports. With an 8th gen i5, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, they're the safest choice for study and work.
Best for carrying around (13-inch)
If it's going in a school bag or backpack every day, look at the Dell Latitude 5300, 7390 and 3310, HP ProBook 430 G5 and 430 G6, HP EliteBook 830 G5 and Lenovo ThinkPad X390. They're smaller and lighter while keeping the same 8th gen performance. The Latitude 3310 also has a touchscreen.
Best big screen (15.6-inch)
Prefer a larger display and a number pad? The Dell Latitude 5590 and HP 15 series give you a 15.6-inch screen for spreadsheets and side-by-side windows.
Best touchscreen or 2-in-1
Convertible laptops under $300 include the Dell Latitude 3390 2-in-1, Dell Latitude 7200 2-in-1, HP ProBook x360 440 G1 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 3rd Gen. Great for note-taking, reading and younger kids who like to tap the screen.
Stretch picks: 10th generation
At the very top of this budget you'll sometimes find 10th gen laptops such as the Dell Latitude 3510, 5410 and 5310 2-in-1, often in Good condition. If one is in stock, it's an excellent buy for the money.
Refurbished vs a new budget laptop or Chromebook
A new Chromebook is a reasonable option if you only ever use a web browser and Google apps. But ChromeOS doesn't run the full desktop versions of Microsoft Office or most Windows software, and budget models often have limited storage. A refurbished business laptop at the same price runs full Windows 11 and every Windows program, usually has a faster processor, and is built to survive years of daily use. For most families and students, refurbished is the more flexible choice.
Traps to avoid under $300
- 4GB of RAM. It's the most common corner cut at this price, and Windows 11 feels slow with it. Get 8GB.
- A hard drive instead of an SSD. An old spinning hard drive makes even a good laptop feel sluggish.
- 128GB storage if you save lots of files locally. Fine with cloud storage, tight without it. 256GB is the comfortable minimum.
- Buying with no warranty. Marketplace bargains can cost more when something fails. Every laptop we sell includes a 12-month warranty and 30-day free returns.
Save more with the right condition grade
Every laptop we sell is fully tested; the grade only describes cosmetic wear. Choosing Good condition instead of Very Good or Excellent is the easiest way to get a newer, faster model inside a $300 budget. See our grading guide for what each grade means.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a good laptop for under $300 in Australia?
Yes. A refurbished business laptop with an 8th gen Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD handles study, office work, video calls and streaming comfortably, and runs Windows 11.
What's the best cheap laptop for a child or high school student?
A 13-inch business laptop such as a Dell Latitude 5300, HP ProBook 430 G6 or Lenovo ThinkPad X390 — light enough to carry, tough enough for a school bag, and fast enough for schoolwork. If your school has BYOD (bring your own device) requirements, check them first; most are met by an 8th gen i5 with 8GB of RAM.
Does a cheap refurbished laptop come with Microsoft Office?
Check the individual listing. Many students can get Microsoft 365 free through their school or university, and the free web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint work on any laptop.
Is the battery OK on a cheap refurbished laptop?
Every laptop we sell has its battery tested along with the keyboard, ports and screen before it is listed, and it's covered by the same 12-month warranty.
Can I pick up on the Gold Coast?
Yes — collect from our store in Southport or get free shipping anywhere in Australia. See the store finder.
Ready to find one?
Not sure which to pick? Try our help me choose quiz, read how to choose the right laptop, or ask our Gold Coast team.