As a college student, having a laptop is essential. However, with so many options in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one, especially if you’re on a tight budget.
The good news is that there are plenty of great laptops available for under 500 dollars. In this article, we’ll look at the top 5 laptops for college students under 500 dollars.
Everyone wishes to have a good quality laptop that can fulfill their every need. The best laptops for college students under $500 are those that offer the best features and performance without breaking the bank.
In this roundup, we’ve compiled some of the best laptops under $500 that offer great value for money.
All you must do is read our article on the best laptops for college students under 500 dollars, and you will be surprised by all the fantastic options they provide you. So, here it goes!
Table of Contents
HP 15 dy1036nr: Best Laptops for Students Under $500 overall
HP 15–dy1036nr :
Processor: Intel core i5 10th Generation| GPU : intel UHD graphics | Display: 15.6-inch display with full HD,1920×1080 pixels| RAM:8GB|ROM: 256GB SSD | Battery Back Up: 10.25 Hours| Weight: 3.75 pounds
When it comes to finding the perfect laptop for college students on a tight budget, the Acer Aspire 5 is a standout choice. Packed with features that cater to the needs of students, this laptop offers great value without compromising performance.
One universally-lauded feature of the Acer Aspire 5 is its impressive battery life. Just ask Waseem, who currently uses an HP Spectre. He praises the Aspire 5’s all-day battery, which grants him the flexibility to study in various locations, even outdoors. With this level of endurance, students can rely on their laptop throughout the day without the constant need for a power outlet.
The processor is given Intel Core i5 10th Generation, which has four cores available for multitasking. The clock speed of HP 15 is 3.6 GHz, so you do not have to worry about running heavy 3D applications such as Blenders.
In the 15.6-inch display, the resolution is full HD, and 1920×1080 dimensions give the pixels. Though the price range of this laptop is 500 dollars, they provide you with premium features like an 82 percent screen-to-body ratio, which will make you feel your display wider than 15.6 inches.
The display type is WLED which gives you anti-glare protection for students who carry out late-night work such as content editing or video making.
As many college students want a laptop at a cheap price, but their desire to play games does not fall a bit. That is why HP 15 introduces sturdy keyboard construction, which might not back up like gaming keyboards but will provide a smooth gaming experience.
The external connection includes 3 USB ports, one HDMI port, and a data type transfer C port. The Wi-Fi and the Bluetooth range are entirely satisfactory in terms of wireless connection.
The Acer Aspire 5 stands as an ideal choice for college students under a $500 budget, offering a well-rounded package of features that caters to their needs. With its impressive battery life, enhanced speakers and webcams, and customizable options, this laptop ensures students can make the most of their college experience. Whether attending classes, collaborating with peers, or pursuing their passions, the Acer Aspire 5 is a reliable and affordable companion on the educational journey.
In conclusion, it is a must-consider laptop model within 3.75 pounds when you are thinking about your first laptop of college life.
Dell Inspiron 15:Best Budget Windows Laptop For Students
Dell Inspiron 15 :
Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 Processor| GPU : intel UHD graphics | Display: 15.6″ HD Non-Touch,| RAM:8GB|ROM: 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD | Battery Back Up: 11 Hours| Weight: 3.72 pounds
Do you want the Best laptops for college students under 500 dollars? Dell Inspiron 15 has a lot to offer you at a reasonable price.
The processor is given by 10th Generation core i3, which might not sound fancy, but the running time is very smooth with four threads and dual-core arrangements.
Plus, the turbo clock speed is given by 3.40 GHz, allowing you to complete heavy tasks like running dual applications simultaneously. Most importantly, this model consists of a U-series processor, and hence the TDP levels are abysmal and efficient.
It has an internal built-in UHD integrated graphics card that runs the gaming and commands prompt operation quite smoothly without lagging. If you are still not satisfied with the graphics resolution, the construction offers you an external AMD Radeon R7 GPU, which will make your standard game runtime shorter than usual.
The Dell Inspiron 15 is among the popular models for college students as its interface is suitable for programming software. The SSD memory is 256 GB, and the operating system provides you with a home edition of Windows 10.
The RAM consists of 8 GB, which can easily be upgraded to higher memory if you tend to raise your budget. The LED display contains a resolution of 190×1080 pixels which is full HD.
Despite the display size of 15.6 inches, a higher body-to-screen ratio suddenly makes it look bigger. Additionally, it has got patent True Life HD technology which attracts all the positive reviews for this model.
External construction includes two microphones, a 720p webcam, a keyboard with good sensitivity, a touchpad, and numerous USB ports and HDMI ports to connect to other devices.
Some drawbacks to including are that this model weighs about 4.9 pounds, and the battery backup is only 6 hours. In my sense, if you want a buck load of features at a low price, you must make sacrifices in some areas.
Acer Aspire 5:Best Smart Laptop For Students
Acer Aspire 5 :
Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U| GPU : Vega 3 Graphics | Display: 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display,| RAM:4GB|ROM: 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD | Battery Back Up: 7.5 Hours| Weight: 3.97 pounds
Acer Aspire will fulfill all your requirements if you want something innovative for a college student under 500 dollars for laptops. It contains a mind-blowing combination of the graphics card, processor, memory storage, and clock speed.
The processor of Aspire 5 is powered by AMD Ryzen 3, which contains dual-core and is known as one of the best processors in the market right now.
The clock speed is given by 3.5 GHz, which is reasonably high, and together with the 4 GB of RAM, it can handle any complex operation you throw at it.
The AMD Radeon Vega 3 graphics card runs every hardcore game smoothly, and your laptop does not have any chance to overheat. Because of the clock speed provided by these graphics, 1200 MHz, you can also perform some dope 3D modeling in Blender or video making in Adobe Premiere.
It has got massive space in the ROM as there is 128 GB of SSD memory, and the HDD contains an additional 1 TB. Together with all these capacities, Aspire 3 will let you collect varieties of movies, series, and cartoons of your choice.
The display is powered by the In-Plane switching technology, which makes the display sharp and eye-catching for any viewer. Not to mention, the display is 15.6 inches, and the resolution consists of full HD 1920×1080 pixels.
It also has a narrow bezel and color intelligence technology which confirms no desaturation of color on display from the side angle.
Furthermore, the anti-glare technology ensures no reflection of sunlight from the screen. The touchpad is very sensitive, and make sure to set the sensitivity to your level of expertise.
The backlit keyboard helps you play games or carry out important assignments at midnight. The Aspire 5 is the most lightweight notebook ever designed, weighing about 3.97 pounds.
It has a prolonged battery life of 7.5 hours, and with all the mentioned above features, this laptop is worth spending 500 dollars.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 :Best Creative Laptop For Students
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 :
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Processor| GPU : AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics| Display: 14 inches Full HD IPS Display,| RAM:8GB|ROM: 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD | Battery Back Up: 7.5 Hours| Weight: 3.3 pounds
Many college students do not seek a high-performance laptop with a dedicated graphics card, but they still find it hard to round up an affordable laptop under $500. This is where Lenovo makes them smile.
Their new design IdeaPad 3 14-inch laptop will supply you with the necessary requirements so that a college student can take part in all the online activities nowadays.
They include an AMD Ryzen 5 processor with a clock speed of 2.1 GHz, which is basically the most famous processor in the computer world and generally costs more. But the IdeaPad 3 is bringing this same processor in under 500 dollars.
The operating system comes with an editor’s version of Windows 10. It will be very easy to complete your online assignments, attend online classes and many more with the processor.
Though the graphics card included in this model is built-in and not designed to run heavy gaming software, they have a slot for the GPU, which supports AMD Radeon Vega 8.
The 8 GB RAM is compatible with any command prompt operation inside the laptop. And, together with the 256 GB SSD, it is able to read or write any complex operation supplied by the command prompt window.
The display size is given by 14-inch but consists of full HD, which gives the resolutions of 1920×1080 pixels. From the opinion of many college students, this display size is more than enough to carry out a presentation in front of the class.
The brightness level can be maxed up to 200 nits which gives a clear output of videos or any movies to watch. The keyboard is comfortable, and there is no screen touch feature included in the display.
There are multiple port options, and the whole model weighs about only 3.3 pounds. Most importantly, the battery consists of one lithium-ion battery, which gives a battery backup of 7.5 hours.
If you want a laptop to be your college companion and permanently settle on the back of the bag pack, the IdeaPad 3 is knocking at your friend. All you have to do now is press Buy Now!
ASUS VivoBook Flip: Best 2-in-1 Laptop For Students
ASUS VivoBook Flip :
Processor: Latest 11th generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor| GPU : Intel UHD Graphics Display: 14 inches Full HD IPS Display,| RAM:4GB|ROM: 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD | Battery Back Up: 7.5 Hours| Weight: 3.31 pounds
Are you looking for a 2-in-1 laptop? A 2-in-1 laptop can also be used as a notebook; it merely depends upon your use. Yes! For those who are comfortable with this feature, ASUS brings you, VivoBook Flip.It is the best laptop for college students under 500 dollars.
It is also known as the simplest convertible laptop ever manufactured. The intel core i5 processor gives rise to a Thunderbolt clock speed of 3.9 GHz. Run every program of your computer at the same time; you will not experience any glitches thanks to its impressive clock speed and the integrated UHD graphics card.
Playing video games or editing animations has never been this easy. Keep in mind that this laptop costs under 500 dollars, and still, they will provide you with 4 GB of RAM, which allows multitasking without any lagging.
The 128 GB SSD might be enough for storing data, but the reading/writing operation speed will be a little slow. Do not worry! It has got an additional 1 TB space of HDD to support the slow response time.
This is where ASUS VivoBook Flip comes in handy as it contains a touchpad that allows you to access the files and class lectures more easily. The screen size is given by 14-inch with an excellent body-to-screen ratio.
The display quality consists of full HD with resolutions of 1920×1080 pixels. The touchpad’s sensitivity is so smooth that many students claim that taking notes in class was never this much easy.
Also, the students will be very comfortable with the widescreen display, which allows you to observe the screen from a narrow-angle. The keyboard consists of backlit property, and the thickness is 1.6 mm.
This model also features speakers that perform with SonicMaster technology to output some crystal-clear sounds. Other external parts include two USB type B ports, one Type C port, and a VGA-quality Webcam.
The weight of the ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 is 3.30 pounds, and it has got a prolonged battery life of 7,5 hours.
Best Laptops for College Students- Buying Guide
Deciding on the best laptops for college students under 500 dollars does not depend on the fact of completing their assignments and presentations. They also need to carry out many tasks such as web browsing, video editing, watching movies, and many more.
Therefore, choosing the best laptop can be quite troublesome. You have to know some standard parameters upon which you will make this particular decision.
I hope the section below will you greatly help.
Operating System
There are basically three types of operating systems available right now. They are:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Among the three mentioned operating systems, Windows is the most common operating system, and you will find that this OS is pre-installed in most of the laptops when you go to the store to purchase one.
Sometimes, there is specific software that depends upon the type of OS. So, it is good to create a backup file of Linux OS.
As for Mac, users use the macOS operating system, and they do not have the liberty to install Windows OS Mac laptops.
Also, Mac OS laptops are pretty expensive. So, if there is a budget issue for you, I’d suggest not going for Linux or macOS.
Processor
The processor is termed as the heart of a laptop, and it cannot run without a suitable processor booting the system. If you are a college student who tends to use your laptop on assignments and case studies, I suggest going for an Intel i3 processor.
If you wish to use a processor from the AMD series, then we have a series of models to choose from- A6, A8, or A9.
But, if you intend to learn graphic designing or video editing, then go for higher series of Intel such as core i5, i7, i9, and so on.
RAM
Nowadays, many laptops are manufactured with a minimum RAM of 4 GB, which is excellent if you want to stick to performing software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
If you have an open budget, always go for 8 GB or 16 GB RAM. If you have more RAM inside your laptop, multitasking between different software will be easy.
Storage
Since you are a college student, you will be very busy with your homework, assignments, case studies, and many more. So, you will need to store many documents, songs, movies, and much more entertaining stuff on your laptop.
The SSD storage option starts from 500 GB to 2 TB of memory. Now perform intensive research on your budget and take your pick.
Battery
A good quality battery is the most essential thing after processor and RAM. As a college student, you might need to travel here and there, and as a result, you will not get sufficient time to charge your laptop.
Make sure to have a laptop that has a good Ampere-hour rating. Average laptop batteries provide 6-7 hours of service without any charge.
Luckily for you, as mentioned above, the models all have a battery lifespan of more than the stated average value.
Portability
After choosing the best hardware specifications, it is time to look at the design, display size, and one other important factor- portability.
If you choose to take your laptop to your classes, you will have to do all the traveling with your laptop resting inside your bag pack.
So, you need to make sure that the laptop you bought must be lightweight. Otherwise, you will end up with a numb spinal cord at the end of the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good cheap student laptop?
As a laptop specialist, I understand the importance of finding a good and affordable laptop for students. When considering the needs of college students, a good cheap student laptop should offer a balance of performance, portability, and value for money. One highly recommended option is the best-value laptop, which combines a budget-friendly price with reliable performance. It features a fast processor, ample storage capacity, and a long-lasting battery. Additionally, it offers a lightweight and compact design, making it easy to carry between classes. With its affordability and impressive specifications, this laptop fulfills people’s search intention of finding a reliable, budget-friendly option for their student needs.
Which laptop is best for 1st-year college students?
As a laptop specialist, I understand the needs of first-year college students who require a reliable and budget-friendly laptop. Considering the “best laptop for 1st-year college students,” I recommend the Acer Aspire 5. With its affordable price and impressive specifications, it fulfills people’s search intent for a reliable laptop within a limited budget. The Acer Aspire 5 features a powerful processor, ample storage capacity, and a vibrant display, making it suitable for multitasking, research, and multimedia tasks. Additionally, its lightweight design and long battery life cater to the portability needs of college students.
What is a good size laptop for college students?
As a laptop specialist catering to college students’ needs, I recommend a laptop size ranging from 13 to 15 inches. This size strikes a balance between portability and usability, allowing students to comfortably carry it while still providing sufficient screen real estate for productivity and multimedia tasks.
Will a 15.6-inch display be too big for college?
Well, it certainly depends upon you. If you can handle a big laptop very well, then go and make the purchase. But, in my opinion, since you will be taking notes in classes, a 13-inch laptop might be more suitable.
Which laptop turned out to be the most reliable laptop for college students?
A laptop’s reliability depends upon its processor, RAM, design, weight, and portability. Depending upon these parameters, five laptops can be considered reliable. Acer Aspire 5
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
ASUS VivoBook
New Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Dell Inspiron 15
Conclusion
After careful consideration, we have listed the best laptops for college students under 500 dollars. The summarized list was hard to process, and there were so many options to choose from.
What defines a good laptop for a college student is that the model should be portable, the interior features should altogether provide lagging-free operations.
College students spend their handouts watching movies, so a laptop with a good display is a must choice during decision-making. After all these parameters and requirements, if we are to recommend a suitable model, I’d suggest that Acer Aspire 5 will be a whole package for a student about to start college.
- Top 4 Gaming Laptops under $700: An Advanced Gamer’s Guide - August 10, 2023
- How to clean Laptop Screen and Keyboard: Step-by-Step - August 5, 2023
- How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? - July 14, 2023