Best Laptops Under $500 for Students in 2025 [Budget Picks]

Best Cheap Laptops Under $500 in 2025

Looking for a budget-friendly laptop that gets the job done for school? In 2025, you don’t need to break the bank to get a solid machine. Whether you’re a high school student or a college freshman, these laptops for students under $500 offer the perfect mix of performance, portability, and battery life.

1. Acer Aspire 3 (2025 Edition)

The Aspire 3 balances performance and value with a reliable Ryzen 5 processor. It’s quick enough for Zoom, document editing, and light multitasking. Great battery life and full HD screen make it a strong choice for school and home use.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7520U
• RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6″ Full HD (1920×1080)
• Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
• Weight: 3.9 lbs (1.77 kg)
• Price: $479

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3

With a massive 512GB SSD, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is built for speed. It’s ideal for students who juggle schoolwork, browser tabs, and videos. Solid build and a responsive keyboard round out the package.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-N305
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6″ Full HD
• Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
• Weight: 3.6 lbs (1.63 kg)
• Price: $489

3. HP Chromebook x360 14

This convertible Chromebook is a flexible learning machine. HP Chromebook x360 14 has a long battery life and snappy Chrome OS, it’s great for Google Classroom, Gmail, and Drive. Ideal for elementary to high school students.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: Intel Pentium Silver N6000
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 14″ HD Touchscreen (2-in-1 Convertible)
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
• Weight: 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)
• Price: $349

4. ASUS VivoBook Go 14

The Asus VivoBook Go 14 is slim, stylish, and made for students on the move. It boots fast, handles tasks like writing essays or attending video calls easily, and fits perfectly in a backpack.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 7320U
• RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Display: 14″ Full HD
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
• Weight: 3.2 lbs (1.45 kg)
• Price: $429

5. Dell Inspiron 15 3000

Dell’s budget laptop gets the basics right. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 has a Core i3 processor is still capable for student work, light streaming, and multitasking. The large screen is great for spreadsheets and assignments.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-1115G4
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6″ HD Anti-glare
• Battery Life: Up to 7 hours
• Weight: 4.0 lbs (1.81 kg)
• Price: $469

6. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go (1st Gen)

Premium look and feel in a compact package. Great typing experience, bright screen, and lightweight design make it an elegant and functional option for serious students.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-1035G1
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Display: 12.4″ PixelSense Touchscreen
• Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
• Weight: 2.45 lbs (1.11 kg)
• Price: $499

7. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

With its vibrant QLED display, Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is perfect for watching lectures, YouTube, or Netflix. While RAM is limited, ChromeOS is optimized for smooth performance on lighter specs.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: Intel Celeron 5205U
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 13.3″ QLED Full HD Touch
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
• Weight: 2.7 lbs (1.22 kg)
• Price: $399

8. HP 14 Laptop (2025 Edition)

A reliable and compact option for students who want solid performance in a smaller form factor. Great webcam, audio quality, and performance for classwork and light editing.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7520U
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 14″ Full HD Anti-glare
• Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
• Weight: 3.2 lbs (1.45 kg)
• Price: $479

9. ASUS Chromebook Flip C433

A versatile 2-in-1 Chromebook with solid specs and ChromeOS simplicity. Great for students who want to take notes by hand, watch videos, or flip between laptop and tablet mode.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: Intel Core m3-8100Y
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 14″ Full HD Touchscreen (2-in-1)
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
• Weight: 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg)
• Price: $449

10. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook

Powerful for a Chromebook, the Flex 5i is great for school, productivity, and entertainment. One of the few in its class to combine speed, touchscreen, and convertible functionality under $500.

Specs & Price:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-1115G4
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Display: 13.3″ Full HD Touchscreen
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
• Weight: 2.9 lbs (1.31 kg)
• Price: $479

💡 Final Thoughts

Choosing a student laptop under $500 doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality or features. These 10 picks are great examples of how affordable tech has become in 2025. Whether you prioritize battery life, a touchscreen, or lightweight design—there’s a perfect budget laptop waiting for you.

Do you want to know other phones under $800? You can go to Best 5G Phones under $800 in 2025