Education

Top 10 Best Budget-Friendly Laptops for College Students in 2023

Published

1 year ago

March 21, 2023

As a college student, you need a laptop that works well and is reliable so you can do your homework, do research, and stay in touch with friends and family. But it can be hard to find a laptop that fits within your budget. In this article, we’ll talk about the top 10 best laptops for college students in 2023 that won’t break the bank. We’ll look at things like price, performance, battery life, and portability to help you choose a laptop that’s right for you.

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Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

The Acer Aspire 5 Slim laptop is great for college students who are on a tight budget. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor, 4GB DDR4 memory, and a 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD. It has a 15.6-inch full HD screen. It also has a battery life of up to 7.5 hours and only weighs 3.97 pounds, which makes it easy to take with you.

Specifications

Category	Specification
Processor	AMD Ryzen 3 3200U dual-core processor, up to 3.5 GHz
Memory	4GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 16GB)
Storage	128GB SSD
Display	15.6 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display
Graphics Card	AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
Operating Sys	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Battery Life	Up to 7.5 hours
Weight	3.97 lbs (1.8 kg)
Dimensions	14.31 x 9.74 x 0.71 inches (363.4 x 247.5 x 17.95 mm)

Features

Backlit keyboard
Fingerprint reader for easy and secure login
Precision touchpad with multi-touch support
Two built-in stereo speakers
HD webcam with 720p resolution
Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity
Ports: 1 x USB 3.1 Type C, 2 x USB 3.1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x headphone/microphone combo jack
Acer TrueHarmony technology for improved audio quality
Acer Color Intelligence technology for optimized visuals
Supports Microsoft Cortana, the voice assistant.

HP Pavilion x360

The HP Pavilion x360 is a laptop that can be used as both a laptop and a tablet. It has a 14-inch full HD touchscreen display, an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB DDR4 memory, and a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD. It has a battery life of up to 8 hours and weighs 3.5 pounds, which makes it a great choice for students who need a laptop that can do a lot of different things.

Specifications

Category	Specification
Processor	11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 quad-core processor, up to 4.2 GHz
Memory	8GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 16GB)
Storage	256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	14 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) touchscreen display
Graphics Card	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Operating Sys	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Battery Life	Up to 8.5 hours
Weight	3.55 lbs (1.6 kg)
Dimensions	12.76 x 8.78 x 0.78 inches (324 x 223 x 19.8 mm)

Features

360-degree hinge for flexible use as a laptop, tablet, tent, or stand.
HP Active Pen is included for easy note-taking and drawing.
Backlit keyboard.
HD webcam with dual-array digital microphone.
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
Ports: 1 x USB Type-C, 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x headphone/microphone combo jack.
HP Fast Charge technology for quick battery recharging.
HP Audio Boost technology for enhanced sound quality.
B&O Play dual speakers for clear and powerful audio output.
Supports voice assistants such as Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa.

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ASUS VivoBook 15

The ASUS VivoBook 15 is a sleek and stylish laptop with a 15.6-inch full HD display. It has an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor, 8GB of DDR4 memory, and a 256GB PCIe SSD. It has a battery life of up to 8 hours and weighs only 3.5 pounds, making it a great choice for students who need a lightweight and portable laptop.

Specifications

Category	Specification
Processor	10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 dual-core processor, up to 3.4 GHz
Memory	8GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 12GB)
Storage	128GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
Display	15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display
Graphics Card	Intel UHD Graphics
Operating Sys	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Battery Life	Up to 6 hours
Weight	3.75 lbs (1.7 kg)
Dimensions	14.06 x 9.06 x 0.78 inches (357.2 x 230.4 x 19.9 mm)

Features

Ergonomic backlit keyboard with a fingerprint sensor for secure login.
ASUS SonicMaster technology for the immersive sound experience.
HD webcam with microphone.
Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity.
Ports: 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Type-A, 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x microSD card reader, 1 x headphone/microphone combo jack.
ASUS IceCool technology for efficient heat dissipation.
ASUS Splendid technology for optimized visuals.
ASUS Battery Health Charging technology for prolonged battery life.
Supports voice assistants such as Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa.

Lenovo Ideapad 3

The Lenovo Ideapad 3 is a cheap laptop with a 15.6-inch full HD screen. It has an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor, 8GB of DDR4 memory, and a 256GB PCIe SSD. It has a battery life of up to 7.5 hours and weighs 4.1 pounds, making it a great choice for students who need a reliable laptop for daily use.

Specifications

Category	Specification
Processor	10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 quad-core processor, up to 3.6 GHz
Memory	8GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 12GB)
Storage	256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	15.6 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) anti-glare display
Graphics Card	Intel UHD Graphics
Operating Sys	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Battery Life	Up to 7.5 hours
Weight	4.07 lbs (1.85 kg)
Dimensions	14.26 x 9.98 x 0.78 inches (362.2 x 253.4 x 19.9 mm)

Features

Ergonomic keyboard with numeric keypad.
HD webcam with privacy shutter and dual-array microphone.
Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x SD card reader, 1 x headphone/microphone combo jack.
Dolby Audio technology for immersive sound experience.
Lenovo Vantage software for system optimization and management.
Lenovo App Explorer for easy access to popular apps.
Rapid Charge technology for quick battery recharging.
Supports voice assistants such as Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa.

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Dell Inspiron 15 3593

The Dell Inspiron 15 3593 is a cheap laptop with a 15.6-inch full HD screen. It has a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, an Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, and 8GB of DDR4 memory. It has a battery life of up to 6.5 hours and weighs 4.83 pounds, making it a great choice for students who need a laptop for basic tasks like surfing the web, writing papers, and streaming videos.

Specifications

Category	Specification
Processor	10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 quad-core processor, up to 3.6 GHz
Memory	8GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 16GB)
Storage	256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Display	15.6 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) anti-glare display
Graphics Card	Intel UHD Graphics
Operating Sys	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Battery Life	Up to 6.5 hours
Weight	4.83 lbs (2.19 kg)
Dimensions	14.96 x 10.16 x 0.89 inches (380 x 258 x 22.7 mm)

Features

Chiclet-style keyboard with numeric keypad.
HD webcam with dual-array digital microphone.
Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity.
Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x SD card reader, 1 x headphone/microphone combo jack.
Waves MaxxAudio Pro technology for immersive sound experience.
Dell Mobile Connect software for seamless integration with mobile devices.
Dell Cinema technology for optimized streaming experience.
Dell Power Manager software for system optimization and management.
Supports voice assistants such as Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa.

Acer Swift 3

With a 14-inch full HD display, the Acer Swift 3 is a small, portable laptop. It has an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor, 8GB DDR4 memory, and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. It has a battery life of up to 11.5 hours and weighs only 2.65 pounds, making it a great choice for students who need a powerful and portable laptop for use on the go.

Specifications

Specifications	Acer Swift 3
Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 4500U or Intel Core i5-1135G7
Graphics	AMD Radeon Graphics or Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Display	14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with narrow bezels
Memory	8GB or 16GB DDR4 RAM
Storage	256GB, 512GB or 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Battery	Up to 11.5 hours of battery life
Weight	Starting at 2.65 pounds (1.2kg)

Features

Fingerprint reader for secure and easy logins
Backlit keyboard for comfortable typing in low-light environments
Wi-Fi 6 for fast and reliable internet connectivity
USB Type-C and Type-A ports for versatile connectivity
Windows 10 Home operating system
HD webcam with Super High Dynamic Range (SHDR) for clear video calls

HP Chromebook 14

The HP Chromebook 14 is a laptop that is easy on the wallet and runs Google’s Chrome OS. It has a 14-inch HD display, an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB DDR4 memory, and 32GB eMMC storage. It has a battery life of up to 13 hours and weighs only 3.24 pounds, making it a great choice for students who need a lightweight and long-lasting laptop for basic tasks like surfing the web and checking email.

Specifications

Specifications	HP Chromebook 14
Processor	Intel Celeron N4000 or Intel Pentium Silver N5000
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 600
Display	14-inch diagonal HD (1366 x 768) SVA anti-glare WLED-backlit display
Memory	4GB or 8GB DDR4 RAM
Storage	32GB or 64GB eMMC storage
Battery	Up to 13 hours of battery life
Weight	Starting at 3.24 pounds (1.47kg)

Features

Chrome OS operating system for a fast and easy-to-use computing experience
Google Assistant built-in for voice-activated assistance and control
Access to millions of Android apps via the Google Play Store
HD webcam and dual speakers for video calls and multimedia
Wi-Fi 5 for fast and reliable internet connectivity
USB Type-C and Type-A ports for versatile connectivity
HP Fast Charge technology for quick charging
Optional touchscreen display for intuitive navigation and interaction

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Lenovo Chromebook C340

The Lenovo Chromebook C340 is a laptop that can be used in two ways. It runs Google’s Chrome OS. It has an 11.6-inch HD touchscreen display, an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB DDR4 memory, and 64GB eMMC storage. It has a battery life of up to 10 hours and weighs only 2.6 pounds, making it a great choice for students who need a versatile and lightweight laptop for basic tasks.

Specifications

Specifications	Lenovo Chromebook C340
Processor	Intel Celeron N4000 or Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 600
Display	11.6-inch or 15.6-inch diagonal HD (1366 x 768) or Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS touchscreen display
Memory	4GB or 8GB DDR4 RAM
Storage	32GB or 64GB eMMC storage
Battery	Up to 10 hours of battery life
Weight	Starting at 2.6 pounds (1.18kg)

Features

Chrome OS operating system for a fast and easy-to-use computing experience
Google Assistant built-in for voice-activated assistance and control
Access to millions of Android apps via the Google Play Store
Optional touchscreen display for intuitive navigation and interaction
360-degree hinge allows for multiple modes of use, including laptop, tablet, tent, and stand modes
HD webcam and dual speakers for video calls and multimedia
Wi-Fi 5 for fast and reliable internet connectivity
USB Type-C and Type-A ports for versatile connectivity
Lenovo RapidCharge technology for quick charging (up to 80% in just one hour)
Lightweight and portable design for easy mobility

ASUS Chromebook Flip C214

A tough and long-lasting laptop with Google’s Chrome OS is the ASUS Chromebook Flip C214. It has an 11.6-inch HD touch screen, an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, 4GB LPDDR4 memory, and 32GB eMMC storage. It has a battery life of up to 12 hours and weighs only 2.6 pounds, making it a great choice for students who need a durable and long-lasting laptop for school and outdoor use.

Specifications

Specifications	ASUS Chromebook Flip C214
Processor	Intel Celeron N4000 or Intel Celeron N4100
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 600 or Intel UHD Graphics 600/605
Display	11.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) or Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS touchscreen display with 360-degree hinge
Memory	4GB or 8GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage	32GB or 64GB eMMC storage
Battery	Up to 12 hours of battery life
Weight	Starting at 2.6 pounds (1.18kg)

Features

Chrome OS operating system for a fast and easy-to-use computing experience
Google Assistant built-in for voice-activated assistance and control
Access to millions of Android apps via the Google Play Store
Rugged design with military-grade durability to withstand drops, spills, and other accidents
360-degree hinge allows for multiple modes of use, including laptop, tablet, tent, and stand modes
HD webcam and dual speakers for video calls and multimedia
Wi-Fi 5 for fast and reliable internet connectivity
USB Type-C and Type-A ports for versatile connectivity
ASUS Touchscreen Stylus pen included for precise and natural handwriting and drawing
Ergonomic keyboard for comfortable typing and spill-resistant design for added protection

Microsoft Surface Go 3

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a small, lightweight 2-in-1 laptop that runs on Windows 11. It has a 10.5-inch full HD touch screen, an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB eMMC storage. It has a battery life of up to 10 hours and weighs only 1.2 pounds, making it one of the most portable options on the market. It also has a keyboard that can be taken off and a stylus pen, making it a great choice for students who need a flexible and portable device for taking notes and doing homework.

Specifications

Specifications	Microsoft Surface Go 3
Processor	Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y or Intel Core i3-10100Y
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 615
Display	10.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with 1920 x 1280 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio
Memory	4GB or 8GB LPDDR3 RAM
Storage	64GB eMMC or 128GB SSD storage
Battery	Up to 10 hours of battery life
Weight	Starting at 1.2 pounds (0.55kg)

Features

Windows 11 Home operating system for a familiar and productive computing experience
Optional LTE Advanced connectivity for fast and secure internet on the go
Compact and lightweight design for easy portability and use in any location
10.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with 1920 x 1280 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio for clear and vibrant visuals
Surface Pen and Type Cover (sold separately) for natural handwriting and typing
Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y or Intel Core i3-10100Y processor for fast and reliable performance
Intel UHD Graphics 615 for smooth and responsive graphics performance
4GB or 8GB LPDDR3 RAM and 64GB eMMC or 128GB SSD storage for ample storage and multitasking capabilities
Up to 10 hours of battery life for all-day use
Windows Hello face authentication for fast and secure sign-in
USB Type-C port for versatile connectivity and fast charging

Conclusion

These 10 affordable laptops give college students in 2023 a variety of choices. There is a laptop on this list to fit your needs and budget, whether you need a powerful and portable device or a lightweight and durable laptop for basic tasks. When making your final choice, think about the things that are most important to you, like price, performance, battery life, and portability. With the right laptop, you can do well in your classes and stay in touch with the world around you.

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