This HP laptop may be Amazon’s best-selling Windows notebook just before Prime Day sales, but I truly cannot recommend it. The HP 250 G10 uses an Intel N100 processor, which is very poor value for money for a laptop that costs just under $500 (and that 37% discount claim seems very dubious).
Yes, it has 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a full HD display but that’s simply not good enough to change my opinion of this laptop. (And yes, it uses a trick I despise to attract customers).
The N100 is so underpowered that it will struggle with even mundane tasks. Add the small 41Whr battery and you’ve got the perfect combination for hours of frustration and lost productivity.
So instead, here are five other laptops I’d personally recommend. For the same outlay (or less), they deliver far, far better value for money without the guaranteed irritation. Head over to our live hub for the latest Prime Day deals on a host of tech.
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AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 512GB SSD
This Acer Aspire Go is the most powerful laptop you can buy for less than $500 right now. It looks like it is a pricing mistake as it sells for less than its worst-specced sibling. It sports an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U 8-core CPU with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD.View Deal
Intel Core i5 120U | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 512GB SSD
The only convertible laptop worth buying under $500, the IdeaPad 5i is a great match for anyone looking for a large screen with a powerful processor capable of playing light games, plenty of storage and the all important 16GB of RAM. Free Microsoft 365 Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for one year makes it a perfect gift for back-to-school. This is the laptop I’d buy from this list.View Deal
If I had to spend my own money, I’d go for this Aspire 3 from Acer as it is the best value for money laptop in Early Amazon Prime Day sales. It has a fast AMD Ryzen 5 7430U (about 4x faster than the N100) and, like the HP laptop, features 32GB of RAM, Windows 11 Pro and a 1TB SSD.View Deal
Intel Core i3-1315U | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 256GB SSD
This is a great price for a relatively modern laptop with a well-performing, efficient Core i3 CPU. On top of that, you get 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a solid battery life of up to 12 hours, which represents good value for money overall. I like it as a capable, all-around, everyday machine. The cheapest laptop worth buying on this list.View Deal
Intel Core i5-1334U | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 256GB SSD
Here’s a solid and affordable Windows laptop available at Walmart. While it has a smaller 256GB SSD and shorter battery life than its rivals, it still holds its own in raw performance thanks to fast DDR5 RAM and a reliable Intel Core i5 chip.View Deal
Intel Core i5-1334U | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 512GB SSD
If you want a cheap Windows laptop, then this configuration of the Dell 15 Laptop is an excellent buy and terrific value for money. You get an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM and a large 512GB SSD to ensure good overall performance and enough essential speedy storage for the price. It’s a top buy right now if you’re on a budget and need a laptop for general everyday use, admin tasks, light work, or schoolwork.View Deal
The V15 is a very business-focused laptop with Windows 11 Pro to boot. It has a quicker CPU than the Acer Aspire 3, but only half the memory and half the storage capacity. If you are looking for a rugged device though, that may be the one as it is built to MIL-STD 810H standards.View Deal
We reviewed the Flip S (aka BR1402F) back in the day and found it immensely likable. Yes, it is heavy and comes with only a Core i3 CPU but it is modular, very well built (and spill-resistant), and can transform into a tablet, something that no other laptop in this list can.View Deal
