Many laptops cost under $500 but finding one of the best laptops for college students is difficult. Lots of cheap laptops have been analyzed and tested over the years to find the best laptops. There are several nice options on the market right now for the best budget laptops for students. If you’re a student searching for a laptop to use for your day-to-day tasks, you have a lot of options but don’t compromise on quality.
At a Glance:
The top choice laptops for college students include models with long battery life and strong CPU performance. The best laptops for college students under $500 are essentially low-cost devices with excellent features that make studying and working easier. Windows and Chromebooks are included in the list of the most affordable laptops under $500. These laptops provide cutting-edge performance, better battery life, and HD displays. Our budget-friendly laptops for college students list offers a good variety of laptops that are suitable for various uses. Here are some of the best affordable laptops for college students :
Looking at the specifications you require, which are non-negotiable, is one technique to choose a laptop with a webcam model. Here are the six best Laptops for Webcam Models:
Our Recommendations For Best Laptop for Webcam Models
Award | Design | Reviews | Retailer |
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Lightweight Laptop under $500 for College Students |
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Budget-Friendly laptop under $500 for College Students |
Budget Pick
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Touchscreen Laptop under $500 for College Students |
Staff Pick
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Powerful Laptop under $500 for College Students |
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Extremely Lightweight Laptop under $500 for College Students |
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Affordable Laptop under $500 for College Students |
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Asus VivoBook 15
Best PickScreen Size: | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System: | Window 10 Home |
Item Weight: | 3.5 Pounds |
Memory Speed: | 3.6 GHz |
RAM: | 8 GB DDR4 |
Wireless Type: | 802.11ax, Bluetooth |
Hard Disk: | 512 GB |
Price: | $479 |
The ASUS VivoBook will not disappoint you, whether you’re an engineering student or in other professions such as medicine, nursing, or the law. It is the best laptop under$500 for college students .
Specifications
Asus is a graphics-optimized Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor with a high clock speed of up to 3.6GHz. The 1GHz basic clock speed is modest, the 6MB of memory and Hyper-Threading capabilities assure adequate processing speeds. The Intel UHD integrated graphics card keeps track of graphics, images, and casual gaming needs. Asus provides 8GB of system memory. The 512GB SSD module, which supports NVMe, takes care of storage requirements.
Keyboard
It has a high-quality backlit keyboard. The unique design is best for excellent typing experiences. A fast touchpad with an embedded fingerprint sensor, a standard webcam, and decent microphones are among the other features.
Weight and Connectivity
This affordable laptop for college students weighs 3.75 pounds and has a wide range of connectivity options, including USB 2.0 Type-A, Type-C, USB 3.2, and HDMI ports. Asus uses Wi-Fi 5 connective standards to provide unlimited internet access. The laptop has a decent battery that allows fast charging which can last up to 9 hours when the user uses it moderately.
The 10th generation Intel i5 processor can help you with everything from graduate school to engineering courses to art studies.
Pros
- Innovative keyboard
- Decent display
- Lightweight and Portable
- Fast charging battery
Cons
- Middling battery backup
HP 15-DY1036NR
Budget PickScreen Size: | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System: | Window 10 Home |
Item Weight: | 3.5 Pounds |
Memory Speed: | 3.6 GHz |
RAM: | 8 GB DDR4 |
Wireless Type: | 802.11ax, Bluetooth |
Hard Disk: | 512 GB |
Price: | $479 |
This laptop is also one of the best under $500 laptops for college students . The Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, which has four cores, is responsible for the processing performance. Intel’s Turbo Boost technology allows the turbo to run at 3.6GHz.
Specifications
The 8GB of built-in RAM makes it multitasking. Considering the NVMe capabilities, the 256GB SSD feels quite limited in terms of raw storage space.
Display
Because of the overall resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, the 15.6-inch screen is incredibly bright. Because this is a budget-friendly laptop, the micro-edge panel improves the visual experience by increasing the display-to-body ratio to an impressive 82 percent. Anti-glare support includes the WLED panel, which is a useful feature for students who are absorbed in work or media consumption.
Keyboard
HP also includes a solid keyboard as well as a responsive touchpad with gestures support. Students can work with an inbuilt webcam, as well as louder speakers.
Design and Connectivity
Weight of about 3.72 pounds, it is one of the most premium-looking laptops for college students on our list. The connection arrangement is quite extensive, including USB 3.1, HDMI, and a data-transfer Type-C connection with a speed of up to 5 Gbps. Seamless Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 communication standards. The 11-hour backup is the most well-known feature of the battery on offer. The HP 15-Dy1036nr is undoubtedly one of the best sub-$500 college student laptops to buy.
Pros
- Anti-glare display
- Graphics-optimized i5 processor
- Excellent battery
- Decent set of ports
Cons
- Lower storage capacity
HP Chromebook x360
Staff PickScreen Size: | 14 Inches |
Operating System: | Chrome OS |
Item Weight: | 3.64 Pounds |
Memory Speed: | 4.1 GHz |
RAM: | 8 GB |
Wireless Type: | Bluetooth |
Hard Disk: | 64 GB SSD |
Price: | $464 |
The HP Chromebook x360 is one of the best cheap laptops for college students to buy. Considering the low price, this laptop has some of the best features in its class, including a wonderful display and capable processing components.
Specifications
HP uses the Intel Core i3-10110U processor, which features a dual-core architecture and a maximum clock speed of up to 4.10GHz. Onboard memory is 8GB, which is significant for a college student. However, because this is a Chromebook, you only receive 64GB of internal eMMC storage capacity.
Display
One of the greatest features a college student could ask for is the 14-inch touch-supported display. This feature gives the Chromebook x360 a sense of flexibility and versatility. Aside from that, the IPS panel has a total display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which improves visual quality and color accuracy even more.
Keyboards and Speakers
In terms of productivity, this inexpensive laptop for students offers an excellent backlit keyboard and a user-friendly trackpad. Despite its 360-degree foldable shape, this laptop doesn’t cheap on other features, such as an embedded webcam with a privacy setting, conventional microphones, B&O dual amplifiers, and a fast fingerprint sensor.
Weight and Connectivity
With a weight of about 3.64 pounds, the Chromebook x360 is among the lightest laptops on the market. Users will be able to use Wi-Fi 6 wireless protocols. The battery is much more than sufficient, with a 13-hour backup time.
Pros
- 10th gen processor
- Backlit keyboard
- Touchscreen
Cons
- Continuous internet connectivity required
Dell Inspiron 3593
Screen Size: | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System: | Window 10 Home |
Item Weight: | 4.84 Pounds |
Memory Speed: | 3.4 GHz |
RAM: | 8 GB DDR4 |
Wireless Type: | Bluetooth |
Hard Disk: | 256 GB SSD |
Price: | $474 |
The Dell Inspiron 3593 laptops’ design modifies slightly to make it look more modern, but it still appears mostly the same and resembles past bulky Dell laptops. The laptop’s entire exterior is coated in black, giving it a professional appearance.
Specifications
The Dell Inspiron 3593 is a laptop with a lot of features. It has all of the ports and slots you’ll need to connect your various peripheral devices. The laptop runs Windows 10 out of the box, and it runs buttery smooth on it, owing to the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor as well as its 8GB of RAM. This good and cheap laptop for college students offers a fast 256GB SSD for storage.
Keyboard
A comprehensive keyboard with a number pad section is available. The key travel is good. The Dell Inspiron 15 3593 keyboard is comfortable to type on, and you will be pleased with it if you need to use it for work. This laptop’s keyboard is particularly excellent, with comfortable key placements, and it’s not backlit, which may deter some buyers.
Battery Time
Therefore, with the latest and most powerful technology, a professional design, and up to 5 hours of battery life, this is one of the finest laptops under $500 for college students to buy right now.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Modern Design
- Long Battery Time
Cons
- Keyboard is not backlit
Microsoft Surface Go
Screen Size: | 10 Inches |
Operating System: | Window 10 Home |
Item Weight: | 1.15 Pounds |
Memory Speed: | 1.6 GHz |
RAM: | 8 GB DDR |
Wireless Type: | 802.11 abg |
Hard Disk: | 128 GB |
Price: | $324.95 |
If you’re a student planning to spend less than $500 on a new laptop, improved productivity-based features may be more appealing than basic processing capability. Because of the add-on’s specifications, the portable Microsoft Surface Go is one of the best affordable laptops for college students .
Specifications
It has an Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y processor with a clock speed of 1.6GHz. Students may make excellent use of the 8GB RAM available, making multitasking a joy. The data reading and writing rates of the 128GB SSD module are outstanding when it comes to storage. As the featured OS, Microsoft switches to the more power-efficient Windows 10 Home.
Display
The 10-inch display is all about graphic magnificence, thanks to Microsoft’s PixelSense innovation and a good contrast ratio. Multi-touch functionality and better screen durability entice college students even more.
Productivity
This best inexpensive laptop for students comes with a removable keyboard. However, with 5MP front and 8MP rear shooters to rely on, using the same in tablet mode is also accessible. A single microphone and inbuilt speakers with Dolby Audio compatibility are among the other features.
Weight and Connectivity
With USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.1, and Wireless compatibility, the standalone Surface device is the most portable machine on our list, weighing in at 1.15 pounds. Therefore, Microsoft’s Surface Go comes close to all of the essential expectations, but it shines when it comes to portability.
Pros
- Extremely light
- Dual camera
- Power-efficient processor
- Corning Gorilla Glass
Cons
- Smaller screen
- Purchase separate Keyword
Acer Aspire 5
Screen Size: | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System: | Window 10 S |
Item Weight: | 3.97 Pounds |
Memory Speed: | 3.5 GHz |
RAM: | 4 GB DDR4 |
Wireless Type: | 802.11 ac |
Hard Disk: | 128 GB Flash Memory Solid State |
Price: | $299 |
The Acer Aspire range of laptops focuses on giving improved all-around performance. The Acer Aspire 5 is just another entry-level laptop below $500 that wins in almost every field.
Display
The laptop has a 15.6-inch full HD LED display and also has (1920 x 1080) pixel resolution. Now it’s obvious that the laptop will deliver cutting-edge images that are brilliant, vivid, and cover a wide range of colors. This good and affordable laptop for students also includes a complete illuminated keyboard, which makes it difficult to believe it costs less than $500.
Specifications
It is multitasking capable due to an AMD Ryzen 3 processor and 4GB of RAM. This laptop has AMD Radeon Vega graphics built-in. Even though this laptop for college students has an all-plastic polycarbonate body, still it manages to seem luxurious by today’s standards.
Budget-Friendly
The Acer Aspire 5 is currently one of the best all-around performance budget laptops available. It comes with a solid frame, a full HD display, a backlit keyboard, and current generation technology for less than $500, making it a fantastic choice for low budget customers.
Pros
- Powerful AMD processor
- Excellent connectivity
- Ultra-Fast SSD
Cons
- Only 4GB RAM
Buying Guide
We have a variety of options under $500, although most of them are Windows and Chromebooks. So, here is the guide for buyers for purchasing the best affordable laptop for students :
Processor
Processor is the most important function to consider in the best and affordable laptop for college students . We usually acquire Intel processors for less than $500. Several of the laptops, have AMD chipsets. Both are excellent, but it is a matter of personal preference and usage. If you prefer Intel processors, the 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or i3 processors are a good choice.
GPU
We don’t get any special graphics cards at this cost point in terms of GPU. You will have to invest more money if you require better GPU performance. Besides that, these low-cost laptops have integrated graphics from Intel or AMD.
RAM
At the very least, the laptops for students should have 8GB of RAM. If you haven’t enough RAM, the laptop will frequently hang, which is inconvenient for lengthy periods. As a result, make sure the laptop has at least 8GB of RAM. The second factor to examine is storage technology and available space.
Storage
Many of the laptops under $500 have only 128 GB of RAM. That’s insufficient. So, either increase the storage capacity or get a separate hard drive. Aside from that, SSDs significantly improve reading and writing speeds. Traditional hard disc drives are slow and sluggish, causing our system to lag. As a result, in today’s world, a solid-state drive (SSD) is essential
Display
Invest in a good laptop for college students with a full-HD display. A display with an HD resolution is suitable for your regular tasks. When it comes to displaying size, you must first consider what is most important to you. A 14-inch laptop is ideal for portability, whereas a 15-inch display is standard size.
Summy of Best Laptop for College Students under 500 USD
Award | Design | Reviews | Retailer |
---|---|---|---|
Lightweight Laptop under $500 for College Students |
Best Pick
|
Check Price | |
Budget-Friendly laptop under $500 for College Students |
Budget Pick
|
Check Price | |
Touchscreen Laptop under $500 for College Students |
Staff Pick
|
Check Price | |
Powerful Laptop under $500 for College Students |
|
Check Price | |
Extremely Lightweight Laptop under $500 for College Students |
|
Check Price | |
Affordable Laptop under $500 for College Students |
|
Check Price |
Conclusion
These all Laptops are best for college students . Everyone can easily afford these laptops. If any buyer needs a laptop for college students on a budget-friendly basis then Acer Aspire is the best one. HP Chromebook x360 is a good option for long battery time. You can choose a laptop for college students according to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best laptop size for a college student?
For most college students, a 13-inch screen is an ideal size. The screen size is also vital to consider because it determines the laptop’s overall size and weight. A laptop larger than 15.6 inches simply doesn’t fit inside a backpack easily.
What is the recommended RAM for a college laptop?
For most college students, 8GB of RAM is sufficient these days. But, if you’re a business or engineering student who wants to use your laptop to process a lot of data, 16GB of RAM is sufficient.
What is the monthly data requirement for a college student?
To keep up with the demands of online education and day-to-day study and projects, a single college student will need at least 300GB every month.