Looking for a 12-inch laptop recommendations?

Hi there! Does anyone have a recommendation for a laptop around $0.67 with a 12-inch screen?

Also, does it actually make sense to order something like this from overseas, or is it not worth it once you factor in customs and all that extra stuff?

Forget about it. You pay a massive premium for portability, period. In my book, if you aren't dropping at least five grand, you're just buying a paperweight.

ThinkPad X240 is probably your best bet for that budget—honestly. Sure, you're looking at used gear, but if you find them in good shape, it's a solid move. You might have to hunt around on Amazon or eBay to find the right deal. If the screen ends up being a TFT, you can always swap it out for a decent IPS later, assuming you don't mind a bit of tinkering. Upgrading the RAM, SSD, and other bits—like the WWAN or the WiFi adapter—is usually pretty straightforward.

I’ve got a strong feeling he was looking to snag something used just so he could tear it apart and mod the hell out of it later.

I'm just throwing this out there because a Surface Pro is definitely out of his budget—even at its cheapest—and since you mentioned there isn't much else out there under 13.3", at least nothing worth mentioning 🤷 If there's some obscure brand offering something similar, I wouldn't know, but as far as I can tell, Microsoft is the only one making anything in that 12-12.5" range.

If Richard Palmer91 were to grab a base-model X240 and just toss in some extra RAM whenever he felt like it—which, honestly, even a total novice could figure out via YouTube tutorials—he’d end up with a little beast that covers almost everything he needs. He’d get way more bang for his buck that way. 🤷

The Surface Pro that actually fits his price point would probably be an SP4, but that's a bit of a downgrade compared to the X240—plus, you can't really upgrade or repair them, and I guess you have to wonder what kind of shape the battery would be in after all these years.

Look, I get where you're coming from, but let’s be real: most people are terrified of buying a laptop or any hardware without a solid warranty. You know the type—they drop a ton of cash on a machine, the motherboard fries two weeks later, and suddenly it’s somehow your fault. It's a headache waiting to happen. Honestly, if he's dead set on going used, what you laid out is a killer strategy. But if he actually wants something brand new, he's either gonna need to shell out more cash or settle for a smaller screen size.

What do you all think about these options?

That first Lenovo seems pretty underwhelming across the board—the screen isn't much to look at, either. Also, the second link isn't working for me.

What's the reasoning behind needing such a small laptop? I guess I'm just wondering what you're planning to use it for.

For surfing or just everyday browsing

If you're looking for those newer models, your only shot is grabbing refurbished units from shops like Micro Center, Eurotoner, or similar outfits. Honestly? It’s not a bad move. You're getting a legitimate used laptop—could have been a floor model sitting out for months—but at least it comes with a year's warranty.

Just one thing: if portability is actually your priority, stop obsessing over the screen size and look at the actual physical dimensions. A lot of 13" laptops are barely half a centimeter wider than old 12" models just because of the thick bezels.

Would a tablet be worth considering then? You could probably pick up a new iPad (either the 9.7" or 10.5" model) for about that much—you'd get great performance, solid battery life, and a really nice screen—and for a little extra, you could just pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard to make typing longer pieces easier when necessary 🤷