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Best Laptops for College Students Under $500
Best laptops for college students under $500 are value-priced systems loaded with amazing features to ease study and work.
And, you know what? The list of the most affordable laptops under $500 also includes Windows and Chromebooks.
While these laptops are not expensive, you get to enjoy the cutting-edge performance, longer battery life, and full-HD displays.
In 2021, the pandemic smacked the market hard and most professionals are Work From Home now.
Even colleges and universities are facing trouble and students are bound to take online classes.
While this is a precautionary measure too, having an economically priced laptop that’s fully equipped with everything is great.
Whether it’s about work or study, there are great laptop options in the market that come in handy in almost every aspect.
Just because your budget is under $500, it does not mean you have to compromise on performance, features, screen size, or anything.
There comes a myriad of fully loaded laptops within this price range.
Best Laptops for College Students under $500 – Comparison Table
Laptops under $500 are decent machines that allow playing full-HD movies, editing workplace documents, and continuing with college studies, while not skipping a beat.
Acer, Lenovo, HP, and many more brands offer inexpensive laptops that deliver solid performance.
| Laptop | Processor | RAM | Storage | Display Size | Display Type | Wireless Connectivity | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop | AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | 8GB DDR4 RAM | 256GB PCle SSD | 15.6-inch FHD | LED IPS display | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | 1800 grams |
| ASUS VivoBook 15 Laptop | Intel core i3-8145U | 8GB DDR4 RAM | 128 GB SSD | 15.6-inch FHD | 4-way NanoEdge display | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | 1723 grams |
| HP 14-inch 2021 Laptop | AMD Athlon Silver 3050U | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 128 GB SSD | 14-inch HD | WLED, HD, anti-glare display | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | 1470 grams |
| Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 Laptop | 10th Gen Intel core i3-10110U | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 64GB eMMC | 13-inch FHD | Full-HD Touchscreen Display | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | 1348 grams |
| Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible Laptop | Intel Celeron N4020 | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 32GB eMMC | 11.6-inch HD | IPS, Touchscreen | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | 1188 grams |
| ASUS Chromebook C423 Laptop | Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 32GB eMMC | 14-inch anti-glare HD | Antiglare HD | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | 2136 grams |
| Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 Laptop | Intel Celeron N4000 | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 64GB eMMC | 11.6-inch HD | HD Display | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi | 1583 grams |
Here is the list of best laptops for college students
1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
Acer Aspire 5 is a power-packed laptop under $500 incorporating the latest hardware and features. The 15.6-inch laptop with a 1080p full-HD widescreen LED IPS display delivers brilliant clarity for an astounding work experience.
It is powered by AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor for powerful performance.
You get 8GB RAM and 256GB PCle SSD that gives blazing fast speed while you enjoy enough space to store college files or business data.
Acer Aspire 5 is a stylish masterpiece that is perfect for studying and professional works altogether.
The laptop gives you a non-stop 7.5 hours of battery life with a single charge so that you study without any hassle. Additionally, it incorporates multiple ports to connect all required devices.
Features at a Glance
- 6-inch full HD LED-backlit IPS display
- AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200U super-powerful processor
- 8GB DDR4 RAM for the fastest speed and 256GB PCle SSD for wonderful storage
- 15x fast performance with PCle SSD
- Up to 7.5 hours of battery backup
- Windows 10 in S Mode
- Multiple ports for better connectivity
Best laptops for college students under $500 – Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
2. ASUS VivoBook 15 Laptop
ASUS tops the list with its 15.6-inch thin and light laptop. It is one of the best laptops with a lightweight design that you can carry anywhere.
With an 88% screen-to-body ratio and a 4-way NanoEdge bezel display, the laptop gives you a stunning 1080p full HD display experience.
Asus VivoBook is our top choice of laptops for college students in the $500 price range because it comes with an Intel Core i3-8145U processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB SSD storage that deliver sturdy performance.
The laptop also comes equipped with an ergonomic backlit keyboard and fingerprint sensor that gives it a classic look.
You need not worry about the battery backup as the laptop has a fast charging option – 60% in 49 minutes.
Features at a Glance
- 6-inch 1080p Full HD display
- Compact, lightweight, ergonomic, and travel-friendly design
- 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD for amazing speed and storage
- 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
- Intel-powered i3-8145U powerful processor
- Backlit keyboard with a fingerprint sensor
- Multiple ports for universal connectivity
- Windows 10 in S mode
ASUS VivoBook 15 Laptop
3. HP 14-inch 2021 Laptop
For students and businesses, HP brings one of the smartest laptops 2021 model.
This 14-inch laptop comes with AMD Athlon Silver 3050U high-performing processor that is best for everyday tasks. AMD Radeon Graphics delivers amazing performance.
For amazing picture clarity, this laptop comes with a high-definition, micro-edge, anti-glare display. The laptop is ultra-thin and ultra-light, which makes it travel-friendly.
The system encompasses 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD flash-based storage, which is enough for multitasking while keeping your files safe and secure.
The system works for around 10 hours on a single charge, so the students work and enjoy it without worrying much about charging it again.
Features at a Glance
- 14-inch micro-edge, anti-glare HD display
- 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD for multitasking and storing data
- Up to 10 hours of battery backup with a single charge
- Powerful and reliable AMD Athlon Silver 3050U processor
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Windows 10 Home S Mode
- Ultra-thin and ultra-light laptop for easy portability
Best laptops for college students under $500 – HP 14-inch 2021 Laptop
4. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 Laptop
For those looking for an amazing laptop under $500, Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is an incredible option. The laptop comes with a premium design and amazing add-on features in a robust body.
Flex 5 is a 13.3-inch laptop with a Full HD 1080p Touchscreen display. The 2-in-1 laptop with intelligent performance features makes it a perfect option for college students and working individuals. It is a slim and lightweight 360-degree convertible Chromebook.
In terms of battery backup, Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 works for more than 10 hours on a single charge. It carries 4GB DDR4 RAM and 64GB eMMC SSD storage for speed and storage.
Features at a Glance
- 3-inch laptop with Full HD 1080p display
- Touchscreen display
- Intelligent performance features for amazing study and work experience
- 10th Gen Intel core i3-10110U processor
- Intel integrated graphics
- Chrome Operating System
- Up to 10 hours of battery life with a single charge
- Multiple ports for better connectivity
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 Laptop
5. Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible Laptop
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 laptop is for you if you want a small, lightweight, and ultra-slim laptop. With an 11.6-inch HD touchscreen display, it gives you fours modes to choose from – Laptop, Display, Tent, and Tablet mode.
You get 10 hours of battery life with a single charge, which can be used for all-day working. It comes with an Intel-powered Celeron N4020 processor and Google OS for amazing performance.
The 4GB DDR4 RAM and 32GB eMMC storage are something that you will appreciate in this Chromebook for sure.
Chrome OS by Google in this laptop comes with built-in virus protection and automatically updates with new versions. You also get access to more than 2 million apps from Google play to learn and grow.
See Also
Features at a Glance
- 6-inch HD IPS display
- 360-degree convertible Touchscreen display
- Four display modes to choose from
- 10 hours battery backup with a single charge
- Ultra-thin and lightweight, smaller than a sheet of A4-size paper
- Intel-powered Celeron N4020 processor and Google OS
- Multiple ports for universal connectivity
Best laptops for college students under $500 – Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible Laptop
6. ASUS Chromebook C423 Laptop
For those who are low on budget, ASUS brings you an affordable piece – Chromebook C423 laptop to boost your productivity.
It comes with a 14-inch anti-glare LED HD display that makes it an ideal choice for college students, business, and entertainment.
The laptop is powered by Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core processor with a maximum Turbo Speed 2.4GHz. You get 4GB DDR4 RAM that allows basic multitasking and a 32GB eMMC flash drive for storing applications and files.
C423 comes equipped with Chrome Operating System, HD Webcam, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. On this laptop, you also get multiple ports including an audio jack and Type-C USB.
The iPuzzle MousePad delivers a smooth performance to make your studying or gaming super-exciting.
Features at a Glance
- 14-inch HD anti-glare 45% NanoEdge display
- Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core processor
- Durable 180-degree hinge to share content
- Up to 10 hours battery with a single charge
- 4GB DDR4 RAM and 32GB eMMC Flash storage
- Chrome OS – Ideal for business and college students
- Quick boot-up time
- Most affordable college students’ laptops from the list
ASUS Chromebook C423 Laptop
7. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 Laptop
Samsung is a brand name that does not require any introduction and is known for creating durable & reliable products.
The Galaxy Chromebook 4 is one of the students’ favorite laptops to study and work on. It comes with an 11.6-inch display that’s enough for taking online classes or continuing your business work.
More than 12.5 hours of battery life with a single charge – that’s the thing you’ll love in this laptop. Charge it once and carry on with your work all day long.
With USB-C type charging, the laptop charges in really less time.
With built-in virus protection enabled, the laptop is secured inside-out, keeping your sensitive data safe.
Gigabit Wi-Fi connection enables ultrafast connectivity for streaming and downloading files. It’s compact, lightweight, and small-size – specially designed to take it anywhere.
Features at a Glance
- 6-inch LED HD display
- 4GB DDR4 RAM and 64GB eMMC for basic multitasking and storage
- Intel Celeron N4000 processor
- Chrome Operating System
- Up to 12.5 hours of battery life with a single charge
- Ultrafast Connectivity with Gigabit Wi-Fi connection
- Built-in virus protection to keep data safe and secure
- USB-C type charging for quick charging
Best laptops for college students under $500 – Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4 Laptop
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