HP TECH TAKES /...
Exploring today's technology for tomorrow's possibilities
Subscribe
7 Best HP Laptops under £300 in the UK
March 29, 2023
Laptops are an essential piece of equipment for many people, whether for work, study or entertainment. And while many people must have a laptop, they can be expensive, pricing many people out of the market. High prices could potentially leave people without much-needed equipment.
The good news is that budget options are available that will still offer all that most people need - and there are numerous options to choose from.
To help you choose, we’ve picked seven of our best laptops for under £300 in the UK.
What to look for in a budget laptop?
Understandably, you shouldn’t expect the latest features and technologies if you’re shopping for laptops on a tighter budget. But that doesn’t mean to say you can’t find a machine that’s more than capable of doing what you need, depending on your requirements, of course. And you are more likely to find something that works for you if you know what to look for.
Any laptop needs a reasonably powerful processor and a decent amount of RAM to run day-to-day programs like Microsoft Word and Excel. Finding a budget laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD) card will also help ensure your computer runs reasonably quick. Storage capacity is also important for many users, such as those who want to store movies on their machines.
Gamers will need to pay attention to the graphics card (GPU), and many of the best laptops under £300 will be able to run the latest Triple-A titles, albeit at low quality settings in some cases. Gamers may also need a laptop with a reasonably large screen and keyboard, while screen and keyboard size can also be important for those who need a work machine.
Another thing shoppers should look for in a budget laptop is build quality and weight. A machine with good build quality will last for longer and feel better to work on, while weight can be important for those who need something they can easily carry. Shopping on a budget doesn’t mean you have to settle for poor aesthetics either, and many of the least expensive options look just as good as pricier models.
HP Chromebook 11a
The HP Chromebook 11a is one of the best laptops under £300 partly because of its highly portable nature. This machine is compact and lightweight weighing just over 1 kg, making it easy to carry. And despite its low cost, this option has sleek, professional aesthetics, helping to make it a good choice for the office.
This laptop has a Mediatek processor and 4GB RAM, helping it to run most programs without a problem. Many users will also find the touch screen appealing to work more efficiently and comfortably.
This model has good battery life, further making it a suitable option for people who need something portable. It also has an SD card reader for added functionality.
HP Stream Laptop 11
The HP Stream Laptop 11 sits toward the lower end of the market, but it still has plenty to offer. Despite its low price, this laptop has a good build quality and is aesthetically pleasing with an eye-catching design that suits home or office. You can also choose from three different colours.
This laptop is powered by an Intel® Celeron® processor and 4GB RAM, helping to make it one of the best laptops under £300. It also has an Intel UHD Graphics 600 processor that will let you watch movies and play many game titles. This laptop also has an SD card slot and HDMI output with good-quality audio.
The HP Stream Laptop 11 also weighs just over 1.5 kg. This low weight and long battery life help to make this laptop an excellent portable computer for those on a tight budget.
HP Chromebook 14a
The HP Chromebook 14a is another ideal laptop for people who need a machine for day-to-day tasks on a limited budget. This model has a full-sized keyboard that’s comfortable and easy to use. It also offers a 14-inch display that’s large enough for most people who need an affordable work or entertainment station.
This model has an Intel Celeron processor and 4GB RAM to work through most tasks easily, while you can also choose higher specs for better performance. The Intel UHD Graphics card, which can also be upgraded, will let you play basic games like Roblox and Minecraft easily.
The HP Chromebook 14a is a lightweight model, weighing in at just under 1.5 kg. It also has a sleek appearance, with a silver case and an attractive snow-white keyboard.
HP Chromebook 15a
The HP Chromebook 15a is another laptop that represents excellent value for money. Many users will find the fairly large 15.6-inch display appealing, which comes available in high definition (HD) or full HD (FHD) options. This model also has a sleek design that would not look out of place in a business environment.
This laptop is powered by an Intel Celeron Processor and 4GB RAM. As such, it has plenty of power for performing most day-to-day tasks with ease. This machine weighs just under 1.7 kg, making it a good choice for people who need an easily portable computer.
The onboard graphics card will also let you play many games smoothly, especially basic but popular titles like Minecraft. The fairly large display is another benefit for gamers, as well as people who need a large screen for work.
HP 14s
The HP 14s is a great all-rounder that offers excellent value for money. It has a sleek, attractive design, excellent build quality, and no glaring drawbacks for most users. This laptop is also available in three colours that help complement this machine’s stylish looks.
The AMD 3000 processor and 4GB of RAM help to make this one of the best laptops for £300. You also have a wide selection of ports that will help you get more from this machine. The HP 14s is also an excellent portable option, weighing just under 1.5 kg.
Gamers might be interested in this laptop thanks to its AMD Radeon™ Graphics card which will play most of the latest titles. The 14-inch HD screen will also appeal to gamers and others who need a reasonably large display.
HP 15s
The HP 15s has a solid build quality and good looks, helping to make it one of the best laptops for under £300. You can also choose between a natural silver or spruce blue finish, giving you more choice over the aesthetics of your machine. Such looks help to make this machine as visually appealing as some models at the higher end of the market.
This model is powered by an Intel Pentium® Gold processor and 4GB RAM, helping it to work through most tasks quickly. It also has a 128GB SSD that helps enhance performance in addition to offering plenty of storage space. Other attractive features include an FHD display and good audio.
Weighing just under 1.7 kg, this laptop is also a good choice for people who need something portable. The long battery life is also ideal for people who need an easily portable machine.
HP Pavilion 15
The HP Pavilion 15 has an appealing amount of power for its price range thanks to its Intel Pentium Gold processor and 4GB RAM. Such processing power and other features help to make it one of the best laptops for under £300. This laptop also has a stylish design that wouldn’t look out of place in the office.
Perhaps one of the most appealing features of this laptop is the convenient touch screen that helps you work more efficiently and comfortably. What’s more is that this laptop also has a good quality keyboard and trackpad that make it easier and more comfortable to work on.
This laptop also has a solid build but weighs just 1.75 kg, making it a good option if you need portability. Long battery life also helps to make this laptop a good portable option.
Summary
Above is our pick of some of the best laptops for under £300 in the UK from HP. Which laptop is best for you depends on various factors, such as your requirements and your budget. It’s a good idea to shop around to find something that suits you, but the seven we’ve listed above are a good place to start if you’re on a budget.
And remember that being on a budget does not necessarily mean you have to settle for a laptop that can’t do what you need it to. Many budget options have hardware that will run all but the most sophisticated software, letting you work, play games, watch movies, and perform a wide range of other tasks. You will also find plenty of budget laptops that look just as good and professional as their more expensive counterparts.
