Best Budget 2 in 1 Laptops Under 300 USD – 2023

The 2 in 1 laptop are no longer just for those confused whether they need a laptop or a tablet. The hybrid laptop/tablet market has exponentially expanded to combine the best features from both worlds. Increasingly, people are now looking for one machine that can give them the flexibility of a laptop with the mobility of a tablet.

2 in 1 laptop are perfect for a student looking to buy that first convertible. These machines also suit an office worker trying to find an easy to use device for writing emails on the go. Put, anyone does not want to break the bank to get his/her hands on a smooth and elementary laptop should get one of these hybrids. This piece would help you browse through the sea of pocket-friendly 2 in 1 laptop which cater your bare minimum needs at the most economical price.

The key to figuring out your best budget 2 in 1 laptops under 300 dollars categories of 2 in 1 laptop, lower your expectations on the specs front. You will not be getting Intel Core processors or state-of-the-art graphics on any of these devices mentioned below. That said, these picks are the best-valued laptops you can hope to buy for the best budget 2 in 1 laptop under $300.

Best Budget 2 in 1 Laptops Under 300 Dollars

 

1. Lenovo Chromebook C330

 

The Lenovo C330 weighs about 2.64 pounds, which makes it easier to carry around. This 360-degree convertible comes exhibits a sleek body with plastic chassis making it light and sturdy, but the ruggedized plastic exterior does make it look cheap. That said its strong enough to bear the wear and tear of daily use and commute. A 360-degree hinge makes it one of the most flexible convertibles out there. You want to set it up a traditional laptop, like a tablet or place it in a tent position for things like presentation or group study.

Lenovo C330 boasts an impressive 11.6″ IPS display, meaning you can quickly screen all sorts of multimedia content. However, the display resolution of 1366×768 would heavily compromise on the quality of display and the sharpness that you can experience with 1080p resolution.

A 10-point touchscreen means you get to experience high tech ultra-sensitive touchpad in line with the latest innovations in touch screens, which is quite impressive considering the price of this machine. Furthermore, in the case of kids, more than one kid can use the play of the device easily.

As mentioned earlier, you may not enjoy Intel core processing in these laptops to the core. The MediaTek processor is powerful enough for daily tasks, The MT8173C processing unit boosts 2.1GHz processing speed, which is still impressive considering it offers such performance with reduced power consumption. In most other laptops in this price change, you will not find clock speeds of above 2GHz.

The processor comes with DDR3 memory storage of 64 GB, which is rare at this price point, given that most other laptops will not give you more than 32 GB of system space for the price of around 300 dollars. This means this device can fulfill your storage capacity needs when you buy a machine, and you may not require an additional SD storage card if you are only using the laptop more straightforward for everyday tasks.

The storage may be impressive but don’t forget that it is the eMMC storage. The embedded multimedia card may be more affordable than an HHDD or SSD storage, but it is way slower than both. Although you may not experience any data losses during system boots or file storage, the limited capacity of this card means the speeds of storage and installation of data will be average at best. eMMC would provide a power-efficient operation without any rickety sounds effects accompanying it, as can be expected in other cheap CPUs.

The Lenovo C330  comes with a Chrome Operating system. Chrome OS has its pros and cons. Firstly, since the system is already in sync with all of Google’s web apps and services, you get easy access to Play Store and upgrade your device. Upon logging in, all your Google pictures, Gmail, and even bookmarks (assuming you use chrome on mobile) are all set up. You will be saving plenty of hours you would have otherwise spent on setting up and updating on a  Windows OS. As soon as you unbox this thing, it’s ready to use.

Conclusion:

Lenovo C330 Chromebook is a fully compliant and versatile 2 in 1 laptop. It can shape and mold itself according to your needs. It comes with a set Chrome OS and setup taking away the arduous task of setting the system. In short, it’s equipped with handy hardware and software, making it ready to go whenever and wherever you are. If you can make peace with not-so-latest specs, this laptop is a bonafide bargain.

 

2. ASUS Chromebook C202

 

Another Chromebook to our list of low budget 2 in 1 is ASUS’s C20. Let’s make one thing clear right here. If you are looking for a device for your kids, this is the best option available. This model was probably designed keeping kids in mind.

With the 3mm extensive rubber molding covering all four corners, ASUS C20 is a sturdy and durable model with a comfortable grip and balance. The sturdiness has been testified in a  4-foot drop test, so you don’t have to worry about the ruination as it is handled roughly around amongst large groups of people.

The sturdiness doesn’t take away from the portable quality of the Chromebook as it weighs around 2.6 pounds. You can take your device anywhere you want without worrying about any external or internal damages. This, combined with an impressive 10-hour battery life, makes C20 an ideal companion for travelers or students.

Be aware though, it’s not a fully convertible laptop but has a 180-degree hinge. While you may not be able to turn it entirely over itself, this hinge makes the Chromebook ideal for easy group viewing, for example, during a class presentation or group study session. Again, the machine will hold enough traction and avoid easy slipping.

While the display is not particularly impressed with a resolution of 1366×768, ASUS has furnished the screen with an anti-glare coating. The device is made suitable for outdoor viewing by this feature. Since the laptop is not detachable and fully convertible due to its rubber hinges, ASUS has done away with a touchscreen on this model.

Although the screen resolution of both ASUS C20 and Lenovo  C330 is the same, ASUS is easily defeated by the latter with its poorly pixelated screen resulting in a dimmer screen. No one wants to see a matrix pattern on the screen, and this may hinder your multimedia streaming experience.

The keyboard design of ASUS C20 is unique. Keys are visibly taller than other Chrome books. You may or may not like it depending upon your personal preference. If you are a student who shall be typing a lot of term papers on this device, you will feel like using a typewriter with a satisfying “chunk” with each keystroke. The basic sturdy design may even help you avoid accidental keystrokes making it an oddly soothing experience.

Another user-friendly feature that Chromebook C202SA offers is the presence of more than one port. Unlike Lenovo C330’s single USB 3.0 port, this one is complemented with an HDMI port as well. It can be annoying when you have to wait up to connect multiple devices to your laptop, and this feature makes ASUS C20 a highly efficient and serviceable machine.

Unfortunately, the system’s inbuilt storage capacity is just 16GB of eMMC flash memory, meaning you will have to spend more money on an external SD card or flash drive. Since the device is integrated with Chrome OS, you may get 100 GB of cloud storage via Google Drive, but this may not be enough to sustain you for an extended amount of time.

The Chromebook C202SA is powered with the Intel Celeron N3060 processor. Given this price, you should not expect any better. This is no i3, or i5 and performance will suffer are the machine is burdened with more than your basic everyday tasks. Many users have complained about the significant slowdowns and even crashes if the laptop has been running for long hours under duress.

Conclusion:

The effectiveness of this device depends upon your needs and device usage. Its amazingly powerful body and battery life make it ideal as a reliably portable companion for students or kids, and if you do not let the dull and washed out colors get to you, this device is of great value for everyday surfing, writing, and streaming Youtube video. True, this is not a device for a visual graphics designer, and the processing unit is average at best. If you don’t want to be stuck with slow processing and poor visuals, then opt for something else.

 

3. Acer Chromebook R11 : Cheap 2 in 1 Laptop Under $300

 

The third and final Chromebook for this list is the multi-purpose all-rounder Acer R11. The laptop is suitable for anyone from a child to a grandma. If you are looking to introduce anyone to the internet, let this be your pick.

Weighing around 3.8 pounds and just 1.6 x 8.03 x 0.76 inches in dimensions, this is undoubtedly a smaller and sturdier Chromebook than Lenovo C330 and ASUS C20, and it’s a delight to look at. Metallic casing, sleek finish, and elegant design make this Chromebook stand out in robustness and attractiveness.

Flaunting a full 360-degree convertible interface, this device allows you to orient it in 4 different ways, be it traditional laptop mode, a tablet pad, a tent or display mode, making it a perfect gadget to boast, just for the price of 200 dollars!

Now, as an integrated operating system, Google OS does a decent job providing an efficient experience if you stick to lightweight cruising over the internet. Don’t expect Windows or Apple OS functionality because that will be a massive disappointment. Yes, Chrome OS has some limitations you need to keep in mind.

The system is heavily reliant on the internet for all its app up-gradations or even to sync data. If you are offline a lot, this may be a problem as the system will require constant up-gradation. However, for someone well versed in Google Chrome, this OS provides instant accessibility and ease of use, hence being a perfect introduction for someone new to 2 in 1 laptop.

This Chromebook triumphs over others when it comes to ports. There is an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port as well as a USB 2.0 port. It has you covered on all the connections you need as you work or study.

The biggest drawback of Acer R11 is perhaps is the touchscreen. You can lose multi-point touch, handwriting recognition, and many other features in switching the laptop from one orientation to the other. Zooming in and out becomes tiresome after a while, and you can lose all screen responsiveness all together. The keyboard would then come to your aid in such frustrating situations.

Acer R11 boasts one of the most comfortable keyboard designs out there. The keyboard lines the full body of the metallic cover, giving enough room to maneuvering while typing. The keys are extensive and chunky, and essential travel is perfect for long hours of typing an assignment.

Acer R11 comes with a storage of 32 GB with 4 GB RAM, which is a splendid deal, given the price. Running on an Intel Quad-Core processor, this Chromebook has proven to be more potent in its performance compared to its competitors. Users claim to have been impressed by its durability and peppiness. You can run several apps on it without it lagging, shutting down or crashing completely, as is prevalent in devices under this price range.

Conclusion:

Acer R11 flaunts an impressive design and immense flexibility one looks for in a 2 in 1 laptop. It has a friendly keyboard layout and remarkable sound quality. If you can look past the issues with touch screen, or are okay with using it more of a laptop than a tablet, Acer R11 is highly recommended.

 

Conclusion:

Linx offers you a full HD display on a 12.5″ screen, Windows OS, 64GB internal storage, and an efficient processor. If you avoid performing complicated tasks and find that astounding video streaming specs make up for a mediocre CPU performance, then Linx 12X64 is for you because nowhere else will you find a multi-purpose Windows 10 device which is as easy on the pocket as Linx 12X64 is.

 

Having dissected the pros and cons of best  2 in 1 laptop in the market for the budget of around 300 dollars. We can safely assume that the Chromebooks greatly outweigh the Windows-based laptops in this category of laptops.

Conclusion:

Out of all the Chromebooks reviewed, ASUS Chromebook C20 has emerged as the clear winner. If you look past the 16 GB internal storage provided and supplement it with an external microSD, you have got a near-perfect device at a stellar price. With its 10-hour-long battery life, solid build, low weight, and 180-degree hinge, it covers the best of accessibility of a tablet and stability of a traditional laptop.

Have we found the most satisfactory and best 2 in 1 laptop under 300 dollars? What do you think?  Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.