So you need a laptop for college that doesn’t break the bank. We’ve got you covered. College can be expensive, your laptop doesn’t have to be. After all, why spend $700-800 on a high-end laptop, when all you’re going to do on it is type and watch The Office?
We’ve brought you the Top 7 Best Affordable Laptops for College Students in 2023 to help you find a laptop that does what you need it to, without costing you a small fortune!
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 favorite picks when it comes to the best affordable laptops for college students in 2023!
Best Overall
Runner Up
Budget Pick
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Important software for college students
Let’s go through some important software that your laptop should be able to run if you’re a student.
Microsoft Office 365
Microsoft 365 is a subscription service from Microsoft that includes all of their popular products and services, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc.
With Microsoft 365, you also get a terabyte of Onedrive storage and access to some Onenote features.
Google Workplace
Google workspace is basically the same as Microsoft 365, but Google’s version of it. It includes Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc. You can use it to open and work on Microsoft Word files, Powerpoint Presentations and Excel Sheets!
Google Drive
Google Drive is a must have for any student or working professional, because it lets you store your files online and easily share them with any other student or teacher.
Canva
Canva is an online graphic design platform that students can use to create visually appealing presentations and Instagram posts! It really comes in handy if you’re managing your school’s/committee’s social media and need cool new templates.
Grammarly
Grammarly is an online service that will go through your writing work and help you make it grammatically accurate, even as you’re typing it!
Grammarly has become a necessity nowadays with how easy it has made spell checking and plagiarism checking.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is where your teacher will assign you assignments, upload study material or update you on what’s going on in class.
Google Meet and Zoom
Google Meet and Zoom are online video calling platforms that let you video call a bunch of people at the same time. The pandemic has made Google Meet and Zoom a mainstay in everyone’s lives.
What is a Chromebook? And is a Chromebook worth it?
A Chromebook is a laptop that runs Google’s Chrome OS as its operating system. These laptops are designed to be affordable, easy to use alternatives to their usually more expensive and complicated Windows/Linux counterparts.
They can run Android apps and come with plenty of cloud storage to save your files. Chromebooks also tend to be lighter and have longer battery lives than similarly priced Windows laptops, making them a perfect fit for your backpack. Chromebooks are for people who don’t need their laptop to perform heavy tasks like play AAA titles or code large programs.
If all you want to do on your laptop is take notes, complete assignments and watch content, then a Chromebook is all you really need.
A chromebook offers all what a student usually needs from a laptop, at an approachable price. We’ve added a few Chromebooks in our list, feel free to check them out!
1. 2022 ASUS L510 Ultra Thin Laptop – Best Overall
Finally, we come to our pick for the best affordable laptop for students in 2023, the Asus L510 with a 15.6-inch NanoEdge, Full HD 1920x1080p Display. The Asus L510 has an Intel Celeron N4020 Processor with 4 gigabytes of DDR4 ram that can get you 2.80 GHz on burst.
The laptop has enough power to not just have multiple tabs open, but to also work on larger spreadsheets and even some light photo and video editing. The Asus L510 gets a whopping 512 gigabytes of SSD storage to store your assignments, photos, videos, and much more!
The laptop has a high-quality hinge that can allow the screen to be laid back completely flat and the display can be viewed from an angle of up to 178 degrees so that you can easily find a comfortable viewing angle for you. The Asus L510 has a backlit keyboard, with the keys having 1.4 mm of key travel.
Asus says that the laptop’s battery will last about 8 hours. Despite having so much power, this laptop only weighs about 3.59 lbs. The laptop may be ultra-thin and sleek, but it is also built to last and is pretty durable.
The Asus L510 comes with Windows 10 Home and a year’s subscription to Microsoft 365, to let you use all your favorite Microsoft tools.
Features
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4020
- GPU: Integrated
RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4 - Memory Speed: 2.80 gHz burst frequency
- Storage: 64 GB eMMC + 512 GB PCIe SSD
- Display: 15.6 inch NanoEdge Full HD 1920x1080p
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Why Is This The Best Affordable Laptop For Students In 2023?
In a nutshell, the Asus L510 is our pick for the best affordable laptop for students in 2023, because it performs all the tasks you need and much more, at a price that is quite surprising.
The laptop has the largest storage on this list, which certainly played to its favor. The 512 GB SSD will let you use the laptop for more than just browsing the web or writing a paper, you can also store media on it or even play a classic game or two!
Everything about the laptop, from the stunning screen to the fast speed, feels like it’s from a laptop from a higher price bracket. The construction and design of the laptop too, remind one of more expensive laptops.
The display is large and thanks to the narrow bezels, you can truly be immersed into whatever you’re doing on the laptop. The Asus L510 is impressively light and easy to carry around too.
The viewing angles and strong hinge help you find a comfortable position while binge watching shows on your laptop at night. The laptop’s keyboard feels premium and is backlit, to allow you to type at night without having your bright lights turned on. All of these reasons have made it our top pick for the best affordable laptop for students in 2023.
2. Acer Aspire – Runner Up
We will be starting off this list by looking at the Acer Aspire, a true student laptop. The Acer Aspire 5 has a 15.6 inch full HD widescreen display with impressively thin bezels at an 82.58% screen to body ratio.
This laptop is powered by AMD, instead of Intel and comes with an AMD 3350U 4-Core Mobile Processor and AMD Radeon Vega Graphics. This power packed combo gives you a maximum CPU speed of 3.5 gHz.
As far as RAM is concerned, you get 4 gigabytes of DDR4 RAM and 128 GB of SSD storage. Acer also has one hard drive bay available just in case you need extra storage later.
The keyboard on this laptop is backlit and it also has a fingerprint sensor, which is a pretty rare feature on budget laptops. Acer also lets you use Alexa Show with the laptop, letting you use Alexa with it from wherever you are in the room, while the laptop shows cool visuals.
You get Windows 11 Home in S mode with the Acer 5 for added security on the internet. There is a webcam and mic setup on the laptop, with the microphone getting Acer’s Purified Voice Technology to cancel out pesky background noises and clean up your calls’ audio.
Features
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U
- GPU: AMD Radeon Vega Graphics
RAM: 4 GB DDR4 - Memory Speed: 3.5GHz maximum
- Storage: 128 GB SSD
- Display: 15.6 inch 1920×1080 FHD
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home in S mode
3. HP Stream 11.6-inch HD Laptop – Budget Pick
The next laptop on our list is for the student that just has minimum needs and doesn’t require the laptop to do anything heavy at all. It’s the HP Stream, with an 11.6 inch HD (1366 x 768) screen with a 60 Hz refresh rate.
This laptop is thin, compact, portable, lightweight and will fit in your backpack with ease. You won’t even notice it’s there!
The processor on the HP Stream is a dual Intel Celeron N4000 Processor with a maximum burst frequency of 2.6 ghz. The HP Stream has a 4 GB RAM, with 32 GB of eMMC storage. HP claims a long battery life of 12 hours with continuous video playback and 8 and a half hours of video streaming.
This laptop is designed for the student who just wants to take some notes, surf the web, watch a show or two, attend online classes and complete assignments.
With a purchase of the HP Stream, you also receive a one year membership of Office 365, with access to your favorite MS Office tools like MS Word, Powerpoint and Excel. You get USB 3.1 ports, a type C port and also an HDMI port on the HP Stream.
Features
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4000
- GPU: Integrated
RAM: 4 GB DDR3L-1600 SDRAM - Memory Speed: 1.1 gHz base, 2.6 gHz at burst
- Storage: 32 GB eMMC
- Display: 11.6 inch HD 1366×768
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home in S mode
4. Lenovo 2023 Flex 3 Touchscreen Chromebook, 2-in-1 11.6″
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ 2-in-1 design ✅ Touchscreen display ✅ Lightweight and portable ✅ Efficient performance ✅ Chrome OS ✅ Affordable budget-friendly ✅ Webcam |
❌ Limited performance ❌ Low-resolution display ❌ Limited storage ❌ Limited offline functionality ❌ No Windows compatibility |
The Lenovo 2023 Flex 3 Touchscreen Chromebook is an ideal choice for business and student users seeking a versatile, budget-friendly laptop. As a 2-in-1 device, the Flex 3 combines the portability of a tablet with the functionality of a laptop, offering users the flexibility to switch between modes as needed. The 11.6″ HD touchscreen display with a 1366 x 768 resolution ensures crisp visuals and allows for intuitive touch-based navigation.
Powered by a MediaTek MT8183 CPU and featuring 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM, the Flex 3 delivers efficient performance for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and multimedia consumption. The integrated ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU provides smooth graphics rendering for basic gaming and video playback.
With 64GB of eMMC storage, the Flex 3 offers ample space for essential files and applications, while the included 32GB USB card provides additional storage and easy file transfer capabilities. The laptop also includes a built-in webcam, making it perfect for video conferencing and online classes.
Running on Chrome OS, the Flex 3 is optimized for web-based applications and Google Workspace tools, making it an excellent choice for users who primarily work online. The lightweight, user-friendly operating system ensures fast boot times, seamless updates, and robust security features.
In summary, the Lenovo 2023 Flex 3 Touchscreen Chromebook is a versatile, budget-friendly option for business and student users seeking a portable, reliable device with efficient performance and a user-friendly operating system.
Features:
- Processor: MediaTek MT8183 CPU
- GPU: The integrated ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU
- Memory Speed: The Flex 3 features 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM
- Storage: 64GB of eMMC storage
- Display: 11.6″ HD touchscreen display, resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels
- Operating System: Chrome OS
In addition to these specifications, the Lenovo 2023 Flex 3 Touchscreen Chromebook comes with a 32GB USB card, offering additional storage and easy file transfer capabilities.
5. Acer Chromebook 314
Up next comes we will take a look at another Chromebook, in the form of the Acer Chromebook 314. This mighty little Chromebook is powered by an Intel Celeron N4000 chip and 4 gigabytes of LPDDR4 RAM which can get you up to 2.6 gHz while running Chrome OS.
As for storage, you get 64 gigs of onboard eMMC storage. The screen on the Acer Chromebook 314 is a beautiful 14 inch 1920x1080p Full HD IPS display.
Acer claims a battery life of up to 12.5 hours on the Chromebook 314, you can get a more realistic 5 hours average with heavy usage. The laptop itself is quite sleek, simple and lightweight. You also get Bluetooth connectivity with the Acer Chromebook 314.
For video call capabilities, the Acer Chromebook 314 has an HD (1280×720) webcam that supports Super High Dynamic range for clear, high contrast images. The port selection on the Acer Chromebook 314 includes two 3.1 USB type C ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a micro SD card reader.
If you want to use an external display, you can do so easily through the DisplayPort over the USB type C port. The Acer Chromebook 314 also supports USB charging.
Features
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4000
- GPU: Integrated
RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4 - Memory Speed: 2.6 gHz
- Storage: 64 GB eMMC
- Display: 14 inch Full HD 1920×1080
- Operating System: Chrome OS
6. ASUS VivoBook 15 F515
Up next, we’ll take a look at the ASUS VivoBook 15 F515, a true budget performer. The Asus VivoBook 15 F515 has a NanoEdge 15.6” full HD 1920x1080p display with an 83 percent screen to body ratio for stunningly sharp images while binge watching Netflix.
It is powered by an Intel Core Processor and a 4 gigabyte DDR4 RAM. To store your assignments and photos, you get a 128 GB PCIe SSD. The laptop’s processor can get up to a frequency of 3.4 gHz. The graphics on the VivoBook are Intel UHD Graphics, which are integrated into the system.
The Asus VivoBook 15 F515 also gets Bluetooth connectivity. For added security, Asus has added a fingerprint reader on the VivoBook 15 F515, while the operating system is Windows 10 Home in S mode.
For ports, the Asus VivoBook 15 F515 has a USB Type A 3.2 port, a USB Type A 2.0 port, a USB Type C 3.2, and HDMI port and an SD card reader. The laptop comes with Windows 10 with a free upgrade to Windows 11.
The keyboard on the Asus VivoBook 15 F515 is backlit so you can use it in the dark to type easily.
Features
- Processor: Intel Core i3- 1005G1
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4 - Memory Speed: 3.4 gHz
- Storage: 128 GB PCIe SSD
- Display: 15.6 inch Full HD 1920×1080
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home in S Mode (upgradable to Windows 11)
7. Samsung Chromebook 4
Now we’ll go through the final Chromebook on this list that goes by the name of the Samsung Chromebook 4. This is a very affordable laptop that doesn’t sacrifice durability for its attractive price.
The Samsung Chromebook 4 is powered by an Intel chip, the Intel Celeron N4000 with 4 gigabytes of RAM and 32 gigabytes of eMMC storage. It has an 11.6 inch HD 1366x768p display. Being a Chromebook, it runs Chrome OS.
The laptop is pretty durable and has a thin, compact body that can be taken anywhere with ease thanks to its light weight of only 2.60 lbs. Samsung says that the laptop has military grade durability, as it meets eight military grade standards that they have tested.
Despite being small, the laptop gets a full sized keyboard with a trackpad. The keyboard on the Samsung Chromebook 4 is backlit, which lights up when you start typing and goes dark when not in use.
There are also multiple layers of built in virus protection on the Samsung Chromebook 4. The laptop comes with Google Assistant enabled and has a claimed battery life of up to 12.5 hours. The Samsung Chromebook 4 uses Gigabit WiFi for faster connections.
Features
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4000
- GPU: Integrated
RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4 - Memory Speed: base 1.1 gHz
- Storage: 32 GB eMMC
- Display: 11.6 inch HD 1366x768p
- Operating System: Chrome OS
How To Choose The Best Affordable Laptop For College Students in 2023?
Let’s go through a quick buyer’s guide to tell you the things to check when buying a new laptop:
- Battery life is important if you’re planning on using your laptop throughout the day at school.
- Storage will be a point to look out for if you’re someone who has a lot of media or files to store. Otherwise, a little less storage is just fine. If you can get a laptop that has slots to upgrade storage and RAM, that’s even better.
- The display on your laptop should be large and Full HD if you love watching movies and shows on it. If your only purpose is to take notes and attend meetings, a smaller 1366x768p screen shouldn’t be an issue.
- Your laptop should be able to handle a few open tabs and windows with some background processes if you’re gonna use it to complete assignments.
- The camera on your laptop must be clear enough that you can have clear video calls.
- The keyboard should be comfortable to type on for longer durations and should ideally be backlit.
- Your laptop should have enough ports for connectivity.
Conclusion
So that was our list of the Top 7 Best Affordable Laptops for College Students. If you’re a college student, you can easily go ahead and pick any laptop from the list that matches your needs and be satisfied with your purchase.
We would recommend analyzing what you really want from your laptop before even looking at available ones, because the options are limitless and you can easily go off track.
You don’t want to end up spending more money than you had to or on the flip side, getting an underpowered laptop when you really need something more powerful.
With that, we’ll end this article, hoping that it helped you find a suitable laptop for you, happy studying!
If you’re like us and want to get the most out of your money, here is an article on how much a laptop should cost in 2023.
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