Cheap laptops aren’t hard to find, but the cheapest laptops are Chromebooks, which often have small screens and muddy audio.
So I’m looking at the $199 15.6-inch Gateway Ultra Slim Notebook at Walmart. (opens in new tab) I’m interested. The deal gets you a decent 15 inch laptop running Windows 11. Perfect for those looking for a work laptop on a budget.
The Gateway Ultra Slim Notebook doesn’t have any revolutionary specs, but 4 GB of RAM and an Intel Celeron processor are more than enough for everyday work. If you buy this laptop primarily for work, it will do just fine.
The real draw to this laptop for a cheap option is that it runs Windows 11. ChromeOS used on Chromebooks is fine, but all are based primarily on the Chrome web browser and support for non-Chrome apps is generally poor. If so, it would be nice to be able to use them on my laptop. Additionally, the Gateway Ultra Slim Notebook comes with his 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal, giving you access to all these applications. After that, it costs $69.99 per year.
You can also get laptops with decently sized screens and keyboards. Smaller 11-inch Chromebooks are better suited for younger users. This is one of the reasons why it is popular in schools. However, if you have larger hands, you can definitely get your money’s worth by choosing a laptop with a little more room.
This laptop is also notable for its portability. They didn’t call it ultra slim in vain – this laptop is just 0.75 inches thick. And it weighs only 3.5 pounds, so you can easily carry it anywhere.
Looking for more options? Check out laptop deals (opens in new tab) Coverage for the best sales.
