Best Overall Value
Start with the screen, because at this price it's rare. A 15.6in Full HD panel on a Chromebook that lands around £272 is unusual company, and it's what makes this the pick of the pack for anyone who lives in a browser. Most cheap Chromebooks give you a cramped 11in or a washed-out 14in. This one gives you room to have two windows side by side without squinting.
The engine matters just as much. The Intel Core 3 N355 is a step up from the Celeron and N100 chips that power most of the Chromebooks below it, and paired with 8GB of RAM it handles a proper stack of tabs plus a couple of Android apps. The 256GB SSD is the other headline. That's actual solid-state storage, not the 64GB of slow eMMC you'll find on the ASUS Chromebook 14 and Chromebook 11 further down. You can keep files locally, cache Spotify, install Android games, and not spend your life clearing space.
The Chromebook Plus badge isn't decoration. It's Google's spec floor (8GB RAM, decent storage, a good webcam) and it unlocks extra AI features and offline capability the base Chromebooks miss. Against the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, which is faster on paper with its Core i5, this ASUS saves you the best part of £180 and gives you a bigger screen. You lose the slim aluminium shell and the Gemini key, but for most buyers that trade is a no-brainer.
One checkable detail from the listing worth flagging: this is a plastic-bodied 15.6in machine, so it's larger and heavier than the 11in and 13in options here. It's lightweight for a 15in laptop, not lightweight in absolute terms. If you want the smallest bag-filler, look at the MacBook Air. If you want the most usable screen and storage for the money, this is it. Owners consistently report long battery life and quick wake from sleep, which is the Chrome OS advantage over the Windows machines here. For a first family laptop, a student's coursework machine or a sofa browser, nothing else on this list balances screen, storage and price this well. See our full ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 review for the full breakdown.
Pros
- 256GB SSD, not slow eMMC, so local storage is genuinely usable
- Chromebook Plus badge unlocks offline AI features and a better webcam floor
- Automatic updates promised for years past most rivals here
Cons
- Plastic chassis and 15.6in footprint make it the least portable Chromebook here
- Chrome OS still leans on web apps, so no full desktop software
Buy on AmazonRead full review
Best Build Quality
At just under £500 the M1 Air is the only machine here that feels like a proper premium laptop rather than a budget one wearing a nice colour. The aluminium unibody, the Retina display, the Magic Keyboard and Touch ID all come from Apple's flagship line, and years on from launch the M1 chip still outruns every Windows CPU on this list for real work per watt.
Battery is where it embarrasses the field. Apple rates it at around 18 hours of video playback, and it does that with no fan at all, so it's silent under load. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 with the i5-12450H is quicker in short bursts, but it'll spin fans and drain in a fraction of the time. If you want lightweight in the true sense (1.29kg, all-day battery, cool and quiet), this is the answer.
The catch is the 256GB SSD and 8GB of unified memory, both soldered and non-upgradeable. macOS handles 8GB better than Windows does, but if you're a heavy multitasker the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 gives you 16GB and a 512GB SSD for over £70 less. That's the real fork here: Apple polish and battery, or double the RAM and storage on Windows. For students, writers and anyone who values the trackpad and screen over raw spec numbers, the Air wins. We covered the trade-offs in our MacBook Air M1 review.
Pros
- Fanless and silent, with a battery rating no other machine here approaches
- Best-in-class trackpad and Retina display at this price
- Touch ID and the M1's efficiency keep it relevant years after launch
Cons
- Only two Thunderbolt ports and no card reader, so dongles are likely
- 8GB RAM and 256GB storage are soldered, no upgrade path ever
Buy on Amazon£499.97Read full review
Best Windows Value
Under £200 and it still has 8GB of RAM. That's the headline, because most sub-£200 laptops cut memory to 4GB and choke the moment you open a few tabs. The N100 chip is modest but efficient, and paired with 8GB it keeps Chrome OS moving nicely for browsing, email and streaming.
HP rates the battery at up to 12.25 hours, and the 14in Full HD panel is a step above the low-res screens you often get at this price. There's 128GB of flash storage too, double what the ASUS Chromebook 14 and Chromebook 11 offer. For a first laptop, a spare, or a kid's homework machine, this is a lot of sensible spec for the money.
Against the plain HP Chromebook 14 lower down, this N100 model is the one to pick: more RAM, more storage, a stated battery figure. It's the best value on the entire list if your budget is tight. Dual speakers and a decent keyboard round it off. See our HP Chromebook 14 N100 review.
Pros
- 8GB RAM at under £200, rare at this price
- 128GB storage doubles the cheaper Chromebooks here
- Rated 12.25h battery and a Full HD 14in panel
Cons
- N100 is fine for basics but not for heavy multitasking
- Flash storage, not a fast SSD like the ASUS Chromebook Plus 15
Buy on AmazonRead full review
Best Build for Students
This one is built to survive a school bag. The CR1100 is a rugged 11.6in Chromebook designed for the classroom, with a spill-resistant keyboard and reinforced corners, and crucially a 3-year ASUS warranty in the box. That warranty length beats almost everything here and it's the reason to buy: peace of mind for a device that'll get dropped.
The specs are modest. A Celeron N4500, 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC put it firmly in light-use territory: a handful of tabs, Google Docs, YouTube. Push it harder and it'll stutter, and the small HD screen isn't for long working sessions. Against the HP Chromebook 14 N100, that machine is faster and roomier for similar money, so buy the ASUS specifically for the toughness and the warranty, not the performance.
Pros
- 3-year warranty included, far longer than most rivals
- Rugged, spill-resistant build made for rough handling
- Compact 11.6in size suits small hands and small bags
Cons
- 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC limit it to light tasks
- Small HD screen isn't for long sessions
Buy on Amazon£299.99Read full review
Best 15in Windows Basics
5. HP Chromebook 14
A no-frills 14in Chromebook at a fair £250, and about as simple as computing gets. Chrome OS boots in seconds, updates itself, and needs almost no maintenance, which makes this an easy first laptop for someone nervous about tech. The 14in screen is comfortable for browsing and video.
Trouble is, the HP Chromebook 14 N100 at rank 7 undercuts it and states more: 8GB RAM, 128GB storage and a 12-hour battery figure for under £200. Unless this one is discounted hard, that cheaper HP is the better pick. Buy it for pure simplicity. Our HP Chromebook 14 review has the detail.
Pros
- Dead simple Chrome OS, ideal for a first-timer
- Comfortable 14in screen for browsing and video
Cons
- The N100 HP Chromebook 14 states more spec for less money
Buy on Amazon£279.99Read full review
Best Cheap FHD Screen
At around £174 this is one of the cheapest ways to get a 14in Full HD screen, which is its one real draw over the 11in Chromebooks. But the internals are basic: a Celeron N50, just 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC. That's fine for a couple of tabs and Docs, no more.
The HP N100 Chromebook 14 costs only a little extra and doubles the RAM and storage, which makes it the smarter buy for nearly everyone. Get this only if the very lowest price and a big screen are what matter.
Pros
- 14in Full HD screen at one of the lowest prices here
- Very cheap entry into Chrome OS
Cons
- 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC bottleneck it fast
- HP's N100 model gives far more for a little more
Buy on Amazon£209.97Read full review
Best Spec-per-Pound Gamble
Buying Guide: What to Look For in the Best Lightweight Laptops Under £500
The single biggest decision under £500 is the operating system. Chrome OS runs beautifully on cheap hardware, boots fast and updates itself, but it leans on web and Android apps. Windows runs full desktop software but needs more RAM and storage to feel smooth. macOS, via the M1 MacBook Air and Pro, gives you the best efficiency and build but the least storage for the money. Decide what software you actually need to run first, then buy the hardware that suits it.
RAM. Treat 8GB as the floor. On Chrome OS it's plenty; on Windows it's the minimum for comfort. 4GB machines like the ASUS Chromebook 14 and Chromebook 11 will stutter with more than a few tabs. If you can find 16GB (the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 and IdeaPad Slim 3 14in), that's real longevity.
Storage type matters as much as size. A 256GB SSD, as in the ASUS Chromebook Plus 15, beats a 128GB UFS or 64GB eMMC drive for speed and headroom. Don't just chase the biggest number; chase SSD over eMMC where you can.
Battery. This is where lightweight machines earn their keep. The M1 MacBook Air is rated around 18 hours, Chromebooks like the HP N100 model at over 12. Windows H-series machines like the IdeaPad Slim 3 14in trade battery for power, so expect less.
Mistakes to avoid. Don't be dazzled by big RAM and storage numbers on an unknown-brand machine with a weak CPU, which is the MITUNTUN trap. Don't buy 4GB RAM if you plan to keep the laptop more than a year. And remember Windows S mode is free to leave, so it shouldn't put you off the Lenovo machines. Match the chip to the RAM, buy from a brand with real support, and you'll get years out of a sub-£500 laptop.
How We Compared These
We ranked these 12 laptops on published manufacturer specifications, verified owner reviews from UK retailers, and price-to-spec value at the time of writing. We weighted the things that decide a budget buy: RAM and storage type, CPU class, battery rating, screen resolution and build quality, plus warranty terms and software support windows. Nobody here has handled these units, so every performance claim is drawn from stated specs, independent benchmarks where available, or consistent patterns in owner feedback. Where two machines overlap on spec, we settled the ranking on price and brand support. Prices update automatically, so the value picture stays current.
Best Overall
ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505CTA
A 15.6in Full HD screen, 8GB RAM and a proper 256GB SSD for around £272. The best balance of screen, storage and price for a web-first user.
Check PriceBest Value
HP Chromebook 14 N100
8GB RAM, 128GB storage and a rated 12.25-hour battery for under £200. The most laptop you'll get for the least money here.
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For more on Chrome OS update timelines and features, see Google's official Chromebook page, and for independent chip performance context, Tom's Hardware covers the Intel N-series and Apple M1 in depth.
Final Verdict: Best Lightweight Laptops Under £500
For most people, the ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 is the smart buy: a big Full HD screen, 8GB RAM and a real 256GB SSD for well under £300, with the update longevity Chromebooks are known for. If your budget is tighter, the HP Chromebook 14 N100 delivers a shocking amount for under £200. Need full Windows software? The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD is the value champion, while the M1 MacBook Air remains the one to buy for build and battery if you can reach the £500 ceiling. Match the OS to your software, treat 8GB as the minimum, and any of these will serve you well.
