Best Cheap and Affordable Laptops for College Students in 2024

There are many excellent laptops available here, but there are so many options that it can be difficult to select the right one.

Finding a dependable computer that fits your demands and guarantees longevity can be difficult, whether you’re looking through the selection of adaptable 2-in-1 laptops or exploring the world of high-performance gaming gadgets.

We’ve put together a list of the greatest laptop offers currently on the market, covering a range of price points, to make your search easier.

Budget-Friendly All-Rounders

Acer Aspire Vero: This stylish, eco-conscious laptop boasts features perfect for students, including long battery life, a comfy keyboard, and a bright display. It comes in various configurations to fit your needs and budget.

15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display
11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor
8GB or 16GB of DDR4 RAM
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Intel Iris Xe graphics
Wi-Fi 6E
Backlit keyboard
Fingerprint reader
Windows 11 Home

ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5: This Chromebook offers excellent value for its price, featuring a sleek design, a vibrant touchscreen display, and a robust AMD Ryzen processor. Its long battery life makes it perfect for on-the-go students.

Operating System: ChromeOS
Display: Up to 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) NanoEdge touchscreen with stylus support
Battery: Up to 11 hours (CX5500) or 10 hours (CX5601)
Durability: MIL-STD 810H 3 military standard (CX5500)
Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Processor: Up to 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor
Graphics: Up to Intel® Iris Xᵉ Graphics
Memory: Up to 16 GB LPDDR4X RAM
Storage: Up to 512 GB PCIe® M.2 SSD
Audio: Dual high-quality stereo speakers with extra-large resonant chambers
Weight: 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 14: This 2-in-1 laptop provides versatility, transforming from laptop to tablet for note-taking or presentations. It boasts a durable design, long battery life, and a comfortable keyboard, all at an attractive price point.

2-in-1 design:
14-inch FHD touchscreen display
Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor
4GB of LPDDR4x RAM
128GB of eMMC storage
Intel UHD Graphics
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.2
Up to 8 hours of battery life
Windows 11 Home in S Mode

Top Chromebooks:

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go: This Chromebook shines with its stunning OLED display, fast processor, and long battery life, making it ideal for students relying on online apps and services. Its lightweight and portable design is a plus for carrying around campus.

Durable design
Long battery life (12 hours)
Chrome OS
11.6-inch HD display
Intel Celeron processor
4GB of RAM
32GB of eMMC storage
USB-C port
MicroSD card slot

HP Chromebook x360 14: This Chromebook’s 360-degree hinge offers multiple modes for various tasks. It features a durable design, a comfortable keyboard, and a long-lasting battery, making it a versatile choice for students on the move.

Brand HP
Model Name Chromebook X 360
Screen Size 14 Inches
Colour White
Hard Disk Size 32 GB
CPU Model Celeron N
Ram Memory Installed Size 4 GB
Operating System Chrome OS
Special Feature Pen
Graphics Card Description Integrated

Windows Workhorses

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2: This compact and stylish laptop packs a punch with its Intel Core i5 processor and long battery life. Its comfortable keyboard and vibrant display make it perfect for tackling coursework and staying entertained.

Brand Microsoft
Model Name Surface Laptop Go 2
Screen Size12.45 Inches
Colour Ice Blue
Hard Disk Size 128 GB
CPU Model Intel Core i5
Ram Memory Installed Size 8 GB
Operating System Windows 11 Home
Special Feature Fingerprint Reader
Graphics Card Description Integrated

Dell Inspiron 15 3000: This budget-friendly Windows laptop offers solid performance with its Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB RAM. Its spacious 15.6-inch display and comfortable keyboard make it suitable for multitasking and long study sessions.

Brand Dell Model Name Dell
Laptop Screen Size 15.6 Inches
Colour Black Hard Disk Size 1 TB
CPU Model Core i5 Ram Memory Installed Size 32 GB Operating System Windows 11 Pro Special
Feature Numeric Keypad Graphics
Card Description Integrated

Mac for Apple Fans

Apple MacBook Air M2: This incredibly thin and light laptop boasts a stunning Retina display and runs on Apple’s powerful M2 chip. While it’s the most expensive option on this list, its exceptional performance, battery life, and portability make it a desirable choice for Mac users.

Brand Apple
Model Name MacBook Air
Screen Size 15.3 Inches
Color Silver
Hard Disk Size 256 GB
CPU Model Unknown
Ram Memory Installed Size 8 GB
Operating System Mac OS
Special Feature Apple M2 Chip, Liquid Retina display with True Tone, Solid-state drive storage, Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Unified MemoryApple M2 Chip, Liquid Retina display with True Tone, Solid-state drive storage, Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Unified Memory
Graphics Card Description Integrated

Gaming on a Budget

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57: This gaming laptop packs a punch with its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card and AMD Ryzen 5 processor, handling even demanding games smoothly. Its cool design and backlit keyboard add to the gaming experience.

Brand Acer
Model Name AN515
Screen Size 15.6 Inches
Color Black
Hard Disk Size 512 GB
CPU Model Core i5
Ram Memory Installed Size 8 GB
Operating System Windows 11
Special Feature Backlit Keyboard
Graphics Card Description Integrated

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 Gen 6: This budget-friendly gaming laptop offers decent performance with its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics card and Intel Core i5 processor. Its backlit keyboard and long battery life make it suitable for both gaming and everyday tasks.