Best Cheap Laptops for College Students [28 Models Compared]

Best Cheap Laptops for College Students

Laptops under $600 with at least 8 GB of memory, weighing under 4 lb (1.8 kg): Chromebooks, budget Windows laptops and renewed business models, no gaming laptops.

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Getting a good college laptop on a budget

A cheap laptop for college doesn’t have to be a bad one. The trick is knowing where budget laptops cut corners and which cuts actually hurt.

Everything on this page costs under $600, has at least 8 GB of memory and weighs under 4 lb (1.8 kg). Gaming laptops are left out. You’ll find Chromebooks, budget Windows laptops like the Dell 15 and Acer Aspire 3, and renewed business models such as the Latitude 5420 and ThinkPad X13 Yoga, which often feel more solid than new laptops at the same budget.

Memory is the one spec not to skimp on: 8 GB is the floor, which is why it’s the rule here. After that, check storage. An SSD is much quicker than eMMC flash, and 256 GB is far more comfortable than 128 GB. Then look at the screen: Full HD (1920 x 1080) is much sharper than the 1366 x 768 panels some cheap laptops still use.

Ask yourself whether you need Windows at all. If your classes live in Google Docs, a Chromebook gives you more speed and battery for the money. If your major requires specific software, check it runs before you buy.

With a bit more to spend, laptops for college students raises the bar to 16 GB and all-day battery. Or browse everything in laptops under $500.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good cheap laptop for college?

Look for 8 GB of memory, an SSD rather than eMMC storage, a Full HD screen and a recent processor. Those four things separate a budget laptop you'll enjoy from one you'll regret.

Are renewed laptops good for college students?

They can be. A renewed business laptop like a Latitude or ThinkPad was built to last and often has a better keyboard than a new budget model. Check the processor generation, battery health and warranty before you buy.

Is a Chromebook enough for college?

For writing, research and Google Workspace, yes. If your major needs Windows or Mac software, such as specialist statistics, design or engineering apps, a Chromebook won't run it.

What should I avoid in a cheap laptop?

4 GB of memory, 64 GB of storage and 1366 x 768 screens. They make even a new laptop feel slow and cramped. Everything on this page has at least 8 GB of memory.

Best Cheap Laptops for College Students

Dell 15 (DC15250)

ASUS Chromebook Flip CX1 (CX1400)

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 (14ITN10)

Acer Aspire 14 AI (A14-52M)

HP 15 (15-fc)

Acer Chromebook 315 (CB315-7HT)

HP Stream 14

HP OmniBook 3 14 (14-hz)

HP Chromebook 15

Dell Inspiron 15 (3530)

Acer Aspire 3 15 (A315-24P)

Dell Latitude 5420

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Yoga (Gen 2)

Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1

Dell Latitude 5300 2-in-1

Acer Aspire 3 15 (A315-24PT)

Dell Latitude 7420

Acer Aspire Go 15 (AG15-32P)

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-5HT)

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 (CB516-1H)

ASUS Chromebook CX15 (CX1505)

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (CX3402)

ASUS Vivobook Go 15 (E1504FA)

HP Chromebook 14a (14a-nf)

Lenovo Chromebook M 15

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 15 (15ITN10)

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook 15 (15IJL6)

Getting a good college laptop on a budget

Frequently asked questions