The CHEAPEST Laptops on Amazon... How Bad Are They? [2023]

I bought 3 CHEAP Laptops on Amazon to find out how BAD they really are... and if you NEED to spend more on a new laptop!
▶ Chromebook - US: amzn.to/3Z3opYF | UK: amzn.to/45D1GoP
▶ Auusda - US: amzn.to/3P2ZW17 | UK: amzn.to/464aYtX
▶ Vivobook - US: amzn.to/3ErkfAf | UK: amzn.to/3RbFNsj
Notice: [Paid Links] As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Tech Chap is a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and can earn fees from links to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
#Laptop #Windows #laptops #Chromebook #students
Can't get enough of your TECH? Why not SUBSCRIBE? (it's free!) 😄
▶ KZbin: bit.ly/2UyCBGq
📷 Instagram: / thetechchap
🐦Twitter: / thetechchap
🎵 Music by Epidemic & Artlist

[@Evie0133]

4GB of RAM in Windows should be a crime in 2023. It's already on the low side for phones, so it's dreadful on a desktop OS.

[@tumslucks9781]

My Acer A315 with an i3 CPU ran perfectly on 4GB before I spilt coffee on it!

[@mit6089]

​@@tumslucks9781you are delusional

[@Malc180s]

Bet you haven't tried a 4gb system in the last 10 years. What do you know

[@Evie0133]

@Malc180s It was my primary system 5 years ago, it had a 4th Gen i3 Dual Core with 4GB of RAM, and it was pretty good on Windows 8.1, but dreadfully painful on Windows 10, even with an SSD and a fresh install. I did try some newer systems with 4GB of RAM, and it's noticeably more constrictive compared to 8GB. It's especially noticeable on devices that only have iGPUs, since you're sharing already low amount of system memory with your graphics.

[@bradavon]

Wouldn't say it was dreadful. More so acceptable. But you do need to tether your expectations and stick to light browsing, Word etc.. I wouldn't recommend less than 8GB but really 4GB is fine for very light users. Wouldn't say 4GB is on the low side for phones. They just like to put in 8GB/12GB so we come to expect it.

[@alexkwan3]

The used market is definitely the way to go for this price range. Definitely able to find a Thinkpad with decent specs at this price, and their batteries are usually changeable without the use of tools.

[@TheVeganVicar]

A used Fujitsu any day.

[@davidhepworth3956]

That's what I was going to say. I got my Thinkpad X395 with the Ryzen 5 and 16GB of Ram for £240 in January.

[@Evie0133]

ThinkPad intensifies 😏

[@alexkwan3]

@@davidhepworth3956 that’s a steal. how are the newer thinkpads?

[@Harryd06]

or an elitebook, like a g5 840 solid laptop

[@ravipeiris4388]

I very much appreciate videos like these as so many folks are struggling and having access to apps without the smaller and cramped screens of smartphones is a godsend.

[@bryans8656]

My first concern with the Auusda was warranty support so I'm glad you mentioned it. I agree with your Chromebook pick primarily because Windows simply requires too many resources for a low end laptop.

[@HayleyVB]

Not sure if yours was the same but on the Auusda the primary SSD is stored in the 'expansion' bay. So to upgrade your have to install a brand new SSD and either install windows from scratch or clone the original drive over.

[@eddieoconnor4466]

I'd definitely go for the Auusda!...add a 1TB ssd...throw Linux on it?..and voila'!..a decent laptop that can do just about anything..without breaking your pockets...AND you get the added benefit of getting CONTINUED updates from the Linux kernel devlopers!!

[@typhfanuwu7526]

Linux is hard for non tech

[@mimimellow6298]

Hi Donald, I hope you're doing well. I am seeking your advice regarding the acquisition of a new laptop. Specifically, I am contemplating between two options: 1. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro with an I7-12700H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. 2. MacBook Air or MacBook Pro (13-inch) with 8GB of RAM and a 218GB SSD. Given my intended usage for work and college-related tasks, which include applications such as Microsoft Office, KZbin, email, and web browsing, I am interested in your expert opinion on which option would best cater to my needs. Thank you in advance for your valuable input

[@paultasker7788]

Can currently pick chrome books up from discount supermarkets for under 100. Lenovo and virtually identical spec. Also touchscreen with ability to use as a tablet too.

[@dc52ltr]

Agreed Tom, chromebook deffo the best. I've gone from windows to a chromebook and if you've used an android phone previously then moving to a chromebook is pretty straight forward...

[@lormor460]

This is a great video. Good to know that there are cheaper alternatives out there if my laptop dies 😮😮.

[@PeterCooperUK]

It's pretty amazing what you can get now though. Back in 2015 we bought some cheap laptops for "lowest common denominator" testing and they looked hideous and could barely run Windows. I remember counting that it took Cortana 20 seconds to even begin recording my voice when clicked. Even if the quality isn't all there on these, they seem pretty "usable" at least.

[@RaffyART1995]

The newer celerons are now on par with old i5s.

[@michaelsoutherland3023]

The E410 is great for remote desktop. I got it open-box for just $80. Thought about turning into a router using USB to ethernet and also use it's Wi-Fi as an access point, or some other simple sever which has its own battery back-up. Great for self-taught IT networking or trying out Linux distros on real hardware. Do not "test" on your main system.😶 Overall, you nailed it, again.

[@TheScepticalThinker]

I also use a Chromebook. It's the Lenovo IdeaPad slim 3. It's really good overall in day to day use and the battery life is amazing! It's quite the dust collector though 😅 I will never understand the possibility of using a laptop as a tablet tbh.

[@Andy-xd7ng]

i have newer ipads and stuff…. but for my pc still rocking a retina macbook pro 2013, 16gb ram and still snappy….. will maybe upgrade if i get a vision pro, just so i could extend the desktop…..

[@rinoandrianto3702]

that was a great video.. for the budget, chromebook i think worth to try..

[@tim0steele]

I picked up a Lenovo ideapad 3 for about this price. With a 12th gen i3 and Windows 11 the performance is satisfactory.

[@DogChowde]

Love the content man! Keep it up!

[@Watchandlearn91]

The Chromebook feels a lot better because of the OS. I would try throwing a Linux distro on the other two. No way I’d run windows on a Celeron with 4gb ram and eMMC

[@michaelsoutherland3023]

I have a WB Black 770 in my E410 and it runs Debain quite nicely. Though a Crucial P3 would be more ideal. The Samsung 980 was a bit overkill lol

[@ADCowie]

But the issue with Chromebooks is the Automatic Update Expiration (AUE) date so when will this one stop getting updates? Ultra cheap Chromebooks can have a AUE date of less than a year in which case, rather than being a bargain, they are a total rip-off at any price.

[@andyH_England]

In the UK the AUE is seven years which is more than enough. Also, with Google now separating ChromeOS from the Chrome browser we will get infinite Chrome updates. I do not see that as an issue but have no idea why you get as low support.

[@0w3nn]

@@andyH_England It's separate? Since when? That's great news

[@tudovan8423]

thank you for your great video :)

[@alpacamale2909]

The auusda costs the same as the gemibookpro 14 which is 2k 3:2 with backlit keeb. Both cost around around 250 euros in amazon.

[@niketalemoth6674]

Which is better?

[@alpacamale2909]

@@niketalemoth6674 Gemibook pro 14 hands down.

[@mayavik1034]

I bought the AUUSDA, its got 12gb RAM, 512GB pcie, N95 intel, touchscreen...out of the box, WINDOWS 11 pro was acting up, finally got it to work...I hope this thing lasts...paid USD 302..

[@markenetube]

I bought a 11.4" IPS touch screen Lenovo with the same processor, RAM and 64G drive as the ASUS 2 years ago. That cost me £100. How can they sell that for £200.

[@BR-jc2bv]

Can you do one for tablets ?

[@aelaan12]

I wonder if you installed ChromeOS Flex on the low end Asus windows laptop... I have made many families happy by doing this. Nothing should go to the landfill.

[@NaniteYT]

My laptop is an auusda but it runs ryzen 7 5800u. 32 gb ram, radeon rx vega 8 graphics so 😅

[@eduardobicalho1555]

Do more videos about Auusda , they are doing better laptops now

[@paultasker7788]

Good brand windows laptop not possible at this price it would seem. Better get the Chromebook although the cheap brand windows one does well for the price.

[@JamesSmith-sw3nk]

A simple rule is don't get any laptop for Windows with a dual core N4000 or lower cpu. Don't get a laptop that can't be upgraded to a least 8gb of ram. An intel N5000 quadcore cpu or better and 8gb ram specs is the basic usable laptop in 2023.

[@mharris5047]

I bought a cheap new HP laptop with the N4120 CPU last year, now that it is off warranty I may see if I can add RAM (I read that my cheap laptop is one of the few that can take a different RAM stick) but the CPU itself isn't too bad, even its Passmark score is about 2400. The N4020 like that ASUS had is terrible, IIRC the Passmark is about 900 which is abysmal. I like off lease desktops but am reluctant to go that route for a laptop due to the abuse most of them receive.

[@dillonschneider9375]

What doe she mean when he says he's streaming it through G force?

[@user-wz9xn4xj6w]

Because you asked nicely I have just subscribed 😂

[@kielvostro]

Celerons should be removed from the face of the earth.

[@Harryd06]

I can smell the plastic from the video lol

[@yewo.m]

I'd definitely pick the Auusda

[@djwarren5081]

How is a Chromebook different to a Google tablet? I've not owned a laptop for years now, only tablets.

[@Thetechchap]

ChromeOS vs Android - similar but chrome has more of a traditional desktop interface

[@callme-tails]

Unrelated but I’m loving the camera work!!

[@Thetechchap]

Cheers!

[@what3ver912]

Lol I am scared. I just ordered a brand new laptop from Amazon for 166 bucks 16gb Ram hd camera 8 hours of battery life windows 11 installed all types of stuff oh yeah not to mention it's 15.6 inches

[@bradavon]

ChromeOS is NOT Android based. It has Android integrated in to it but it's not Android based.

[@bradavon]

It's about time Chromebooks had a better reputation. For web browsing they're extremely capable. Loads of people who complain their low power Windows laptop is slow would do so much better with a Chromebook. People like my brother. Who insisted on a Windows laptop and all he does with it is use one Word document and Google Chrome. That's it. He turns it on and opens Chrome.

[@bradavon]

You find people want to stick with Windows because they've used it but they don't realise how much more user friendly ChromeOS is. If you can use a Smartphone, you already know how to use it. So absolutely your parents may think they want Windows but they'll be much happier with ChromeOS (unless they need a Windows app).

[@annagodman688]

With £200 I'd rather get a refurbished Dell 8th gen i5 workstation, rocking 16GB of RAM. Install Windows 10 LTSC or Linux in it you're good to go 😌

[@pjshots]

64GB of storage.... nope! One update and Windows will be complaining for more storage.

[@Icingdeath786]

In some ways you’re buying the OS rather than the laptop at these specs! Chrome OS would obviously win out

[@josephpiskac2781]

I wish you would review HP?

[@mharris5047]

HP may not be available in the UK. In the US they are the leading brand of computer, especially in office settings. HP also sells computers in parts of the Middle East.

[@josephpiskac2781]

@@mharris5047 Thanks I recently stopped laptops and HP by far gave me the best value.

[@Daivd1111]

How do you even run a Windows on 4G+64Gb?

[@bradavon]

Those 4GB/64GB EMMC Windows laptops should be illegal. The only thing they should be running ChromeOS. All it does it hurt the Windows brand. Asus should know better.

[@mharris5047]

Windows takes up about 28GB including what is set aside to make updating possible. Most of those little $200 laptops also have an SD or microSD slot so what I did was put a 512GB SD card in mine and transferred movies, music, etc. onto that. I do think the standard should be a 128GB eMMC or SSD minimum, though. The newest crop of cheap laptops meet that standard.

[@TheVeganVicar]

A used Fujitsu any day.

[@pacattack81]

Haha I once had a Fujitsu laptop. The thing was awesome in it's time.

[@lvill3633]

Minimum RAM nowadays is 16GB, NOT SOLDERED, dual channel 😌

[@mustasheolll2020]

8GB is honestly a stretch in 2024

[@vgamerz2k]

you cannot compare windows laptop to chromebooks as chrome os is far lighter then windows.

[@bradavon]

If your budget is under £300 = Get a Chromebook. Especially if all you'll being doing is Chrome anyway.

[@JoshuaG]

I'd just replace windows 11 on that Vivobook with Linux Mint tbh 👍

[@YasinHasan]

u bought it for views & u r getting it. so whats the issue?

[@murtazachaudhary3339]

Nice video

[@jab-gn3sw]

Chromebook is a definate no no for me , second hand laptops are far better value

[@EmaryTegan]

An 11th gen HP EliteBook is the way to go. Upgradeable Ram, SSD and battery

[@ifell3]

I bet the Chinese one comes with spyware 😅

[@amany5383]

At least they have the balls to built it . garbage

[@zibn5459]

They all do

[@mharris5047]

That is possible but the biggest concern I have is that the Windows install isn't licensed and a hack was used to make it look licensed. A lot of those super cheap Chinese computer manufacturers do that. You can buy a USSF form factor desktop computer for $100 with a supposedly licensed Windows install but unless they happen to be using the low power computer free Windows license (which I don't think they do, there are a lot of hoops to jump for that) it will have an install hacked to look licensed. Two years from now you could boot up to a warning that the install is not licensed.

[@gregturner4778]

never chromeos, just throw away

[@phillatella6470]

You cant compare a Chromebook to a pc. Come on

[@amurika6336]

Try tablet next time

[@Abin_Jose]

Oh my gaad

[@ifell3]

Do you think £200 spent on a tablet would be better?!

[@arkvsi8142]

Everything is better than asus

[@dontech4713]

Nice video im pakistan

[@rrasch8125]

The worst laptop, is a Windows laptop.

[@liam4184]

I think most £1000+ laptops are crap 🤣

[@Lee-Wood-DK]

You should, as a tech journalist, should not be encouriging people to buy machines at this price at all. You probably know the amount of resources that a single computer takes to be produced, if not, then do some research. aswell as all the raw materials, such as gold, copper, silver, aluminium etc, the production also requires approx 190,000 liters of water! Alot of this has to do with the production of the processor which is one of the worst parts in production of a computer. Then there is the transportation of this crap from China. At that price, the used market is without question the ONLY route people should take ...

[@Lee-Wood-DK]

BTW, sorry for the thumbs down, but I feel I should discourage this sort of video

[@Thetechchap]

It’s the equivalent of fast fashion I suppose, and you are right. But a lot of people don’t have that luxury and this is all they can afford. But yes used higher spec is better

[@edwardharding5677]

My college gave me a 10th gen Intel i3 Dell Vostro. It's a two-core thing with 8GB RAM and 300GB or something like that, of storage. My personal laptop is a three year old 11th gen Intel 7 with. It's a high-end XPS 15. That has four times the amount of cores as the Vostro. I would rather have the Chromebook that was in this video as my College laptop, rather than the worthless thing I have right now. Hell, I'd even prefer a 6th gen intel quad-core system with an upgraded battery, RAM and storage over the piece of crap I have right now.

[@mharris5047]

Is your college computer a recent one or a 10 year old POS? A recent i3 should do everything except game. I would ask if it has at least 8GB of RAM but if it was made in the past five years that is a moot point as it will have that. Will your college service the machine? I suspect there is something wrong with it.

[@robyn_southafrica]

4GB RAM and VGA camera!? IN 2023 !?!? LMFAO 🥺🥲🥲😂😂😂😂