When it comes to Windows Laptops, one segment that is not respected enough is the affordable segment. With the demand for high-performance machines at an all-time high, these sub $500 laptops have been a bit ignored by avid users, which, in our opinion, is not fully fair. There are many users out there who want a laptop that can help them do their daily browsing, content streaming, and use some light software, but they don’t want to pay a premium for a machine. Maybe, some users want a laptop that their children can use as a daily driver, but don’t want to splurge exorbitantly on a machine that they know, will go through a bit of rough and tough usage. The solution to all these challenges and more is affordable Windows Laptops.

So, what can you actually do on a low-cost Windows laptop? A lot, particularly if you’re just doing one item (or a small number of activities) at a time. They’re wonderful for online surfing, email, movie streaming, and more — but, sure, Chromebooks can do all of those things as well. However, Windows laptops have a significant edge in Microsoft Office. While there is a browser-based version, many people prefer the native, desktop programmes, which work nicely on even the most basic budget laptop. The one caveat is that if you’re dealing with huge data sets in Excel or a lot of photographs and graphics in Powerpoint, you may experience some delay on low-powered devices.

Storage is a strong suit for Windows laptops in terms of specifications. Even the most inexpensive gadgets often contain at least 128GB SSDs. This will be useful if you like to keep your most crucial files on your laptop. Cheaper Chromebooks, on the other hand, often have less storage since they are designed with the expectation that you would keep all of your work in the cloud. This is not only inconvenient while working offline, but it also restricts the number of apps and data that you may download. As a result, it’s not ideal for stockpiling Netflix episodes before a lengthy journey or using a Chromebook as a gaming laptop.

Windows also include a marketplace where you can download hundreds of programmes. Chromebooks have some Chrome applications, a plethora of browser extensions, and the ability to download Android apps, but quality control is… erratic. Android applications, in particular, are often not optimised for Chrome OS, resulting in a jerky user experience. Although Windows may not have as many applications as Android, the overall experience is quite consistent.

Having said that, let us take a look at the BEST affordable Windows Laptops that you can buy in 2022.

Number 1. Acer Aspire 5