10 Best Budget Laptops for Students: Affordable & Reliable Picks

Finding the perfect budget laptop as a student can be challenging, with so many options available. Whether you need a device for online classes, assignments, or light gaming, choosing the right one within your budget is crucial. In this guide, we’ve rounded up the 10 best budget laptops for students, balancing affordability, performance, and reliability to help you make an informed decision.

1. Acer Aspire 5 (2025 Model)

💰 Estimated Price: $450 – $600 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-1335U / AMD Ryzen 5 7530U
• RAM & Storage: 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD IPS
• Weight: 3.9 lbs

The Acer Aspire 5 is a reliable choice for students who need a budget-friendly laptop with decent power. It handles tasks like web browsing, document editing, and even light gaming. The backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader are great extras for security and convenience. Advertisement

2. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (2025 Model)

💰 Estimated Price: $350 – $500 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7520U / Intel Core i3-1315U
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD
• Weight: 3.5 lbs

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers a smooth experience for students handling Zoom calls, online research, and essay writing. Its fast boot times and solid performance make it a great daily driver for academic work.

3. ASUS VivoBook 15 (2025 Edition)

💰 Estimated Price: $400 – $550 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-12450H / Ryzen 5 7530U
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
• Battery Life: 8 hours
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD, NanoEdge display
• Weight: 3.7 lbs

The ASUS VivoBook 15 is an excellent all-purpose laptop with a sleek design. Its ergonomic keyboard and lightweight body make it easy to carry between classes. Advertisement

4. HP Pavilion 14 (2025 Model)

💰 Estimated Price: $500 – $650 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-1335U / AMD Ryzen 5 7640U
• RAM & Storage: 8GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 11 hours
• Display: 14-inch Full HD IPS
• Weight: 3.1 lbs

The HP Pavilion 14 is one of the best laptops in the sub-$600 category, offering fast performance, solid build quality, and long battery life. It’s perfect for students who need a balance of power and portability.

5. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (2025 Model)

💰 Estimated Price: $400 – $550 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-1315U / Ryzen 3 7320U
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 7 hours
• Display: 15.6-inch HD
• Weight: 4.0 lbs

The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is a no-nonsense workhorse. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done for students on a tight budget. It’s best suited for basic school tasks and online learning. Advertisement

6. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3

💰 Estimated Price: $600 – $700 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
• Display: 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen
• Weight: 2.45 lbs

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is a premium budget laptop with a touchscreen and a lightweight design. It’s ideal for students who prefer portability and premium build quality.

7. ASUS Chromebook Flip C536

💰 Estimated Price: $400 – $500 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-1315U
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD touchscreen
• Weight: 3.6 lbs

This 2-in-1 Chromebook is excellent for students who take notes, browse the web, and use cloud-based apps like Google Docs. The 360-degree hinge makes it versatile for different study modes.

8. HP Chromebook x360 14

💰 Estimated Price: $350 – $450 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-N305
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
• Display: 14-inch Full HD touchscreen
• Weight: 3.3 lbs

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly touchscreen laptop, the HP Chromebook x360 14 is a top pick. It’s ideal for students using Google Workspace, streaming lectures, and doing research.

9. Lenovo Flex 5 (2025 Model)

💰 Estimated Price: $450 – $600 Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7530U / Intel Core i5-1335U
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
• Display: 14-inch Full HD touchscreen
• Weight: 3.6 lbs

This 2-in-1 convertible laptop is perfect for students who like using a stylus for note-taking or drawing. It also offers great performance for the price.

10. Apple MacBook Air M1 (Still a Great Choice in 2025)

  💰 Estimated Price: $700 – $800 (Refurbished models available for ~$600) Why It’s Great for Students:

• Processor: Apple M1 Chip
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
• Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
• Display: 13.3-inch Retina
• Weight: 2.8 lbs

Even in 2025, the MacBook Air M1 remains an excellent choice for students who want macOS, great battery life, and smooth performance. It’s especially useful for coding, content creation, and general student use. Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Pick?

• If you need the best all-around budget laptop, go for the Acer Aspire 5 or HP Pavilion 14.
• If you want a Chromebook for cloud-based work, pick the ASUS Chromebook Flip C536.
• If touchscreen and 2-in-1 flexibility matter, the Lenovo Flex 5 is a great option.
• If you prefer macOS, the MacBook Air M1 is still a fantastic choice.

Would you like a comparison table for better visualization? 😊