Best Laptops Under £300 for 2025 in the UK
Trying to find a decent laptop without breaking the bank? You're not alone. Good news: 2025's offerings finally deliver some solid options for under £300. They're not going to knock your socks off with gaming performance or display quality, but if you're a student, need a laptop for basic work tasks, or just love streaming, you'll find these affordable choices hit the spot.
I've done the legwork, scouring Amazon UK, Currys, and John Lewis for laptops that genuinely offer value for money. Here's what's up: we'll dive into the nitty-gritty—displays, battery life, and those little quirks that make or break your day-to-day usage.
Top Picks with Detailed Reviews
1. ASUS VivoBook 14
- Display & Performance: The VivoBook 14 boasts a 14" Full HD screen and an Intel Core i3-1115G4. It's brisk in everyday use—handling office tasks, browsing, and streaming with aplomb. Thanks to the SSD and options of 8GB or 12GB RAM, multitasking is smooth. The catch? The screen's not the brightest at around 210 nits, so it's best indoors.
- Build Quality: Lightweight at roughly 1.4 kg, it's solidly built for the price, featuring a fingerprint reader and USB-C. While it doesn’t scream luxury, it’s not flimsy either.
- Battery Life: You'll get just over 7 hours of mixed use. Not bad for a day's light work, but don't expect marathon sessions.
- Pricing: Typically ranges from £279–£299 across major retailers.
- Ideal User: Perfect for those needing a real Windows laptop for uni, remote work, or home use. Loads of storage and RAM at this price.
Why do I like it? It's the best all-rounder if Windows is your thing. The screen is a bit of a letdown, but otherwise, you get a proper laptop experience.
2. Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim
- Display & Performance: Typically comes with either AMD Ryzen 3 or Intel Core i3 and a 15.6" Full HD display. It's decent for browsing, documents, and video, but don't expect desktop-level power.
- Build Quality: Simple and sturdy, it's a reliable workhorse, not a showpiece.
- Battery Life: You’ll get about 7+ hours in normal usage—ideal for a full day at uni.
- Pricing: Generally priced around £285–£299 at well-known UK outlets.
- Ideal User: Students and home users who fancy a larger screen and good value over fancy specs.
Why do I like it? It’s straightforward, reliable, and affordable—a classic budget choice. Basic, yes, but perfect for everyday tasks.
3. Lenovo Chromebook C340 15
- Display & Performance: This 15" Full HD touchscreen runs on an Intel Core i3-8130U with 4GB RAM. Thanks to Chrome OS, it feels speedy despite the modest RAM, using web apps and cloud storage effectively.
- Build Quality: Lightweight for its size at about 1.98 kg and robust enough. Plus, the keyboard is one of the best in this line-up.
- Battery Life: Fantastic—about 12 hours on a single charge with typical web use. Handy for long days.
- Pricing: Priced around £265–£295.
- Ideal User: Anyone invested in Google Workspace who wants long battery life and simplicity rather than Windows.
Why do I like it? It offers unbeatable battery life for a laptop this size. Chrome OS is a trade-off—great for many, but not if you need Windows-specific apps.
4. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
- Display & Performance: Featuring a 14" FHD screen with an Intel Core i3-1215U and 8GB RAM—quite generous for a Chromebook at this price point. It handles multiple tabs and Android apps with ease, and the display is bright and clear.
- Build Quality: Solid and lightweight at about 1.44 kg, with a comfortable keyboard. It feels a notch above the cheapest Chromebooks.
- Battery Life: Expect around 10 hours with mixed usage—enough to last a day.
- Pricing: Available for £285–£299 following recent price drops.
- Ideal User: Ideal for those seeking a fast, robust Chromebook with plenty of RAM for multitasking within Google's ecosystem.
Why do I like it? Feels premium for the price. Not for heavy-duty tasks, but perfect for everyday productivity and media.
5. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023)
- Display & Performance: Comes with a 14" Full HD touch screen, Intel Core i3 (2023), 8GB RAM, and 128GB SSD. It's responsive, and the screen is one of the brightest in the group.
- Build Quality: Slim and portable with a good webcam and decent keyboard, although the touchpad is on the smaller side.
- Battery Life: Outstanding, offering around 13 hours with light to moderate use.
- Pricing: Generally between £295–£299.
- Ideal User: Ideal for users prioritising battery life and portability, and who are comfortable with the Chrome OS app ecosystem.
Why do I like it? Brilliant battery life and a bright touch display, perfect for travel and long days.
Comparison Table
| Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | Display | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS VivoBook 14 | Intel Core i3-1115G4 | 8GB / 12GB DDR4 | 256GB / 512GB SSD | 14", FHD (≈210 nits) | £279–£299 |
| Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim | Varies (Ryzen 3 / Core i3) | 4GB–8GB | 128GB–256GB SSD | 15.6", FHD | £285–£299 |
| Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 | Intel Core i3-8130U | 4GB | 64GB SSD | 15", FHD Touch | £265–£295 |
| Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 | Intel Core i3-1215U | 8GB | 128GB UFS | 14", FHD | £285–£299 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 | Intel Core i3 (2023) | 8GB | 128GB SSD | 14", FHD Touch | £295–£299 |
Video Reviews
Explore these hands-on reviews:
For detailed testing and data, check out resources like Which and TechRadar; they often dive deep into battery and display metrics, which can be invaluable if you're comparing features or have demanding tasks.
Buying Guide
- Performance needs: If you require Windows compatibility (for Microsoft Office desktop, legacy software, or specific educational needs), the ASUS VivoBook 14 or Acer Aspire 3 are your best bets. Prefer working in the cloud with Google Docs and browser apps? A Chromebook can provide more battery life for your money.
- Budget considerations: All these models hover around the £300 mark at major UK retailers. Remember, some trade-offs are inevitable: better battery life and build quality often mean compromises in screen brightness or upgradeability. If possible, prioritise RAM and SSD over a marginally better CPU in this segment.
- Build quality vs price: Many of these machines come with reassuringly solid chassis. However, screens and speakers can be weak points. If you need to work outdoors, you'll have to stretch your budget—these screens max out around 200–300 nits.
- Futureproofing: Go for the model with the most RAM you can afford. Chromebooks may rely less on local storage, but having 8GB is a boon if, like me, you love having dozens of tabs open.
- Where to buy: The usual suspects are Amazon UK, Currys, and John Lewis; keep an eye out for short-term sales as prices can fluctuate.
Conclusion
Here's the thing: finding a genuinely usable laptop for under £300 in the UK isn't just a pipe dream anymore. For Windows enthusiasts, my Editor's Choice is the ASUS VivoBook 14—it's a well-rounded package of performance, storage, and build quality. If Chrome OS is more your speed, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 offers tremendous value: well-built, fast, and with ample RAM for flexibility.
Still on the fence? Consider what you'll actually use your laptop for. If it's mainly documents, web browsing, and streaming, any of these will do nicely. But if you need specialised Windows software or plan on some heavy photo/video editing, you might need to start saving for something a bit more powerful.
Which one are you leaning towards? Feel free to ask if you need advice based on your specific needs.