Students rely on laptops for research, classes, and creative projects, but finding an affordable option that meets both school and personal needs can be overwhelming. With so many models available, the key is to focus on essential features rather than paying for extras you don’t need.
This guide highlights the best budget laptops for students, whether you're in general studies, STEM, or creative fields. These picks balance performance and affordability, helping you get a reliable device that lasts through your school years — without overspending.
Quick List - Top Budget Laptops for Students
With nearly four years of experience in copywriting and content creation, Brian enjoys crafting articles that are both helpful and engaging. He loves to deep dive into topics he’s interested in and is happy to help others out through his research. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a naturally curious personality, Brian focuses mainly on striking a balance between providing detailed explanations while still maintaining an element of fun. When not writing articles, he enjoys photography, songwriting, and discovering new food spots. Brian’s main drive is to provide value to readers. Whether he’s helping someone find the perfect snack or exploring what makes a product stand out from the rest, he aims to make everyone’s choices easier and more informed.
Table of Contents
Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.
Students who simply need a laptop for taking notes, browsing the Internet for information, and taking online classes can manage with a laptop in this price range. These kinds of laptops usually have basic processors and low storage capacity but are nevertheless sufficient for daily schoolwork. Most of these models have built-in cameras and microphones, important for online conferencing and remote learning classes.
Recommended Models:
Acer Chromebook 315 ($229.99)
HP Chromebook for Students and Home ($249.98)
What Makes Them Stand Out:
Lightweight Designs: Convenient for campus travel and portability.
All-day Battery Life: A lower power processor means less power consumption.
Webcam and Microphone: These are necessary for online meetings and virtual classes.
Sufficient for Basic Tasks: Web browsing, document editing, and video conferencing run smoothly.
User-Friendly OS Options: The majority of Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops are user-friendly.
Things to Remember:
Limited Performance: Low-end processors and low RAM can't run heavy applications.
Small Storage: Typically 64GB to 128GB eMMC or SSD, so cloud storage may be necessary.
Basic Displays: Typically 720p or 1080p resolution, which is okay for learning but not for intensive multimedia usage.
If you need a bit more power and storage than the cheapest solutions can manage, mid-range laptops offer a solid compromise between price and performance. They have more powerful processors, more RAM, and bigger SSDs, so students who use many applications, like beginner graphic design programming majors, will have more than enough to get by.
Recommended Models:
Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop ($321.99)
NIMO 15.6 FHD IPS Student Laptop ($379.00)
NIMO 15.6 FHD N151 Student Laptop ($399.99)
What Makes Them Stand Out:
More Powerful Processors: Usually Intel Core i3/i5 or Pentium N100 for more seamless multitasking.
Standard 8GB+ RAM: Delivers better performance and reduces app-switching delays.
Bigger SSD Storage: 128GB to 512GB, making boot times and data access faster.
Full HD Displays: Enhanced resolution for media viewing and light content creation.
Good Battery Life: Usually 8–10 hours, enough to last a whole day at school.
Things to Remember:
Basic graphics: Can carry out basic tasks but has difficulty with advanced 3D graphics.
Trade-Offs in Build Quality: Cost-cutting could involve the use of fewer high-quality materials or features.
Students enrolled in computer-heavy programs, like graphic design, engineering, or computer science, tend to require more powerful hardware to process software compilation, 3D modeling, or intensive editing. Laptops within this category tend to provide greater RAM capabilities, more efficient processors, and generous SSD storage to facilitate heavy academic workloads.
Recommended Models:
Lenovo Laptop V15 for Home, Business, and Students ($749.98)
2025 HP 15.6 Laptop Computer ($935.00)
What Makes Them Stand Out:
High-Performance Processors: Intel i5/i7 or AMD equivalent processors to facilitate faster computing.
16GB–40GB RAM: Ideal for heavy multitasking and large project files.
Large SSD Storage: 512GB or more, perfect for large multimedia or coding projects.
Effective Cooling: Prevents overheating during extended, resource-hungry operations.
Improved Displays: Full HD or above for accurate design work.
Perfect for Demanding Software: Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, advanced programming software.
Things to Remember:
Higher Price Range: Means more powerful hardware for specific needs.
Heavier Form Factor: More components can make it heavier, affecting portability.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | Screen Resolution | Processor | RAM Size | Memory Speed | Hard Drive Size | USB 2.0 Ports Count | USB 3.0 Ports Count | Built-In Camera | Dimensions | Operating System | |||||
1 | Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop|NX.KJBAA.001 | ![]() | Lightweight Power for Everyday Use | 15.6 in. | 1920 x 1080 | 4.1 GHz | 8 GB | 3200 MHz | 128 GB | 3 | 14.29 x 0.74 x 9.35 inches | Windows 11 S | |||
2 | Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Student Laptop|15IJL7 | ![]() | Affordable Performance for Learning and Productivity | 15.6 in. | 1920 x 1080 | 1.1 GHz | 20 GB | 2400 MHz | 1 TB SSD | 1 | 2 | 14.18 x 9.29 x 0.7 inches | Windows 11 Home | ||
3 | HP 14" Ultra Light Laptop for Students and Business | ![]() | Portability Meets Productivity | 14 in. | 1366x768 | 1.1 GHz | 16 GB | 2400 MHz | 64 GB SSD | 3 | 12.76 x 8.86 x 0.71 inches | Windows 11 Home | |||
4 | NIMO 15.6 FHD N151 Student Laptop|N151 | ![]() | Crisp Display with Smooth Performance | 15.6 in. | 1920 x 1080 | 3.4 GHz | DDR4 | unknown | 1 TB SSD | 1 | 2 | 14.07 x 8.98 x 0.76 inches | Windows 11 | ||
5 | Acer Chromebook 315|315 | ![]() | Fast and Secure with Chrome OS | 15.6 in. | 1920 x 1080 | 2.8 GHz | 4 GB | 2933MHz | 128 GB | 4 | 14.4 x 9.9 x 0.8 inches | Chrome OS | |||
6 | NIMO 15.6 FHD IPS Student Laptop Computer | ![]() | Sharp Display with Smooth Multitasking | 15.6 in. | 1920x1080 | 4.4 GHz | 16 GB | unknown | 1 TB | 1 | 2 | unknown | 15.66 x 9.99 x 0.74 inches | Windows 11 | |
7 | HP Chromebook Student & Home Laptop|14 | ![]() | Reliable and Efficient for Learning and Home Use | 14 in. | 1366 x 768 | 2.6 MHz | 4 GB | 4266 MHz | 128 GB | 2 | 12.85 x 8.94 x 0.72 inches | Chrome OS | |||
8 | Lenovo Laptop V15 for Business, Home, Student|V15 G3 | ![]() | Versatile and Dependable for Work and Study | 15.6 in. | 1920 x 1080 | 3.7 GHz | 40 GB | 3200 MHz | 1 TB | 1 | 2 | 14.13 x 9.29 x 0.78 inches | Windows 11 Pro | ||
9 | Lenovo Slim 3 Chromebook Laptop for Business Student|Slim 3 | ![]() | Effortless Speed and Portability | 14 in. | 1920 x 1080 | 2.05GHz (8 cores, 8 threads) | 4 GB | unknown | 192 GB | 2 | unknown | 13.23 x 0.73 x 8.7 inches | Chrome OS | ||
10 | HP 2025 15.6 Laptop Computer, Intel 10-Core i5 Laptop|Essential 15 | ![]() | High-Performance Computing with a Sleek Design | 15.6 in. | 1920 x 1080 | 4.4 GHz | 64 GB | unknown | 1 TB | 2 | 1 | 14.17 x 9.29 x 0.73 inches | Windows 11 |
Processor | 4.1 GHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 128 GB |
Screen Size | 15.6 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
RAM Size | 8 GB |
Memory Speed | 3200 MHz |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 3 |
Built-In Camera | |
Dimensions | 14.29 x 0.74 x 9.35 inches |
Operating System | Windows 11 S |
Processor | 1.1 GHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 1 TB SSD |
Screen Size | 15.6 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
RAM Size | 20 GB |
Memory Speed | 2400 MHz |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | 1 |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 2 |
Built-In Camera | |
Dimensions | 14.18 x 9.29 x 0.7 inches |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
Processor | 1.1 GHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 64 GB SSD |
Screen Size | 14 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1366x768 |
RAM Size | 16 GB |
Memory Speed | 2400 MHz |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 3 |
Built-In Camera | |
Dimensions | 12.76 x 8.86 x 0.71 inches |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
Processor | 3.4 GHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 1 TB SSD |
Screen Size | 15.6 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
RAM Size | DDR4 |
Memory Speed | unknown |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | 1 |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 2 |
Built-In Camera | |
Dimensions | 14.07 x 8.98 x 0.76 inches |
Operating System | Windows 11 |
Processor | 2.8 GHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 128 GB |
Screen Size | 15.6 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
RAM Size | 4 GB |
Memory Speed | 2933MHz |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 4 |
Built-In Camera | |
Dimensions | 14.4 x 9.9 x 0.8 inches |
Operating System | Chrome OS |
Processor | 4.4 GHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 1 TB |
Screen Size | 15.6 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1920x1080 |
RAM Size | 16 GB |
Memory Speed | unknown |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | 1 |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 2 |
Built-In Camera | unknown |
Dimensions | 15.66 x 9.99 x 0.74 inches |
Operating System | Windows 11 |
Processor | 2.6 MHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 128 GB |
Screen Size | 14 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
RAM Size | 4 GB |
Memory Speed | 4266 MHz |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 2 |
Built-In Camera | |
Dimensions | 12.85 x 8.94 x 0.72 inches |
Operating System | Chrome OS |
Processor | 3.7 GHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 1 TB |
Screen Size | 15.6 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
RAM Size | 40 GB |
Memory Speed | 3200 MHz |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | 1 |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 2 |
Built-In Camera | |
Dimensions | 14.13 x 9.29 x 0.78 inches |
Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
Processor | 2.05GHz (8 cores, 8 threads) |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 192 GB |
Screen Size | 14 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
RAM Size | 4 GB |
Memory Speed | unknown |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 2 |
Built-In Camera | unknown |
Dimensions | 13.23 x 0.73 x 8.7 inches |
Operating System | Chrome OS |
Processor | 4.4 GHz |
---|---|
Hard Drive Size | 1 TB |
This HP 15.6-inch laptop, powered by an Intel 10-Core i5 processor, delivers powerful performance for students, business users, and professionals. Whether you’re multitasking, streaming, or handling intensive tasks, this device ensures efficiency and speed.
Screen Size | 15.6 in. |
---|---|
Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
RAM Size | 64 GB |
Memory Speed | unknown |
USB 2.0 Ports Count | 2 |
USB 3.0 Ports Count | 1 |
Built-In Camera | |
Dimensions | 14.17 x 9.29 x 0.73 inches |
Operating System | Windows 11 |
Useful accessories include a laptop stand for better posture, an external keyboard and mouse for extended use, and a portable charger for all-day battery life. A good pair of noise-canceling headphones can also improve focus during online classes.
No. 1: Acer|Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop|NX.KJBAA.001
No. 2: Lenovo|IdeaPad 1 Student Laptop|15IJL7
No. 3: HP|14" Ultra Light Laptop for Students and Business
No. 4: NIMO|15.6 FHD N151 Student Laptop|N151
No. 5: Acer|Chromebook 315|315
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Health
Beauty
Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Apps
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices