5 Best laptops under $500 for college students in 2024
College students need a reliable laptop that can handle their academic workload without breaking the bank. In this article, we have compiled a list of the top 5 laptops under $500 for college students in 2024. These laptops offer a balance of performance, portability, and affordability, making them perfect for students on a budget.
Disclaimer: Parts of this article have been AI-Assisted with human input and review.
Included in this guide
1
Acer Aspire 5
2
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
3
HP 14 Laptop
4
ASUS VivoBook 15
5
Dell Inspiron 15 3000
1
Acer Aspire 5
A Budget-Friendly Laptop with Impressive Performance
The Acer Aspire 5 is an excellent choice for college students looking for a budget-friendly laptop that doesn't compromise on performance. It features a 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD, providing enough power for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and video streaming. The 15.6-inch Full HD display offers crisp visuals, while the slim and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around campus.
One downside of the Acer Aspire 5 is its limited storage capacity, which may require students to invest in an external hard drive or cloud storage. However, considering its affordable price and impressive performance, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great option for college students in 2024.
$344.00
Free shipping
2
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
A Versatile Laptop for Everyday College Tasks
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an excellent choice for college students who need a versatile laptop for everyday tasks. With its AMD Ryzen 3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD, it offers smooth performance for multitasking, web browsing, and light productivity tasks. The 14-inch Full HD display provides crisp visuals, while the slim and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around campus. The IdeaPad 3 also features a comfortable keyboard and a responsive touchpad, making it perfect for typing up essays and taking notes during lectures.
However, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 may not be suitable for students who require a laptop for heavy-duty tasks such as video editing or gaming, as its integrated graphics may struggle with more demanding applications. Nonetheless, for the majority of college students, the IdeaPad 3 offers a great balance of performance, portability, and affordability.
$409.99
Free shipping
3
HP 14 Laptop
A Lightweight and Portable Option for Students on the Go
The HP 14 Laptop is an excellent choice for college students who need a lightweight and portable laptop for their daily academic tasks. With its 14-inch HD display, Intel Pentium Gold processor, and 4GB of RAM, this laptop offers smooth performance for multitasking and running essential applications. The 128GB SSD provides fast boot times and ample storage for documents, photos, and videos. The laptop also features a long-lasting battery life of up to 10 hours, making it perfect for students who are always on the go.
However, the HP 14 Laptop may not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks such as video editing or gaming due to its limited RAM and integrated graphics. But for college students who need a reliable and portable laptop for everyday use, the HP 14 Laptop is a great option.
$249.00
Free shipping
4
ASUS VivoBook 15
A Stylish and Powerful Laptop for Creative Students
The ASUS VivoBook 15 is a sleek and stylish laptop that offers impressive performance for creative college students. With its 10th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD, it can handle multitasking and demanding applications with ease. The 15.6-inch Full HD display provides crisp visuals, making it perfect for graphic design, video editing, and other creative tasks. The thin and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around campus, and the backlit keyboard allows for comfortable typing in low-light conditions.
However, the ASUS VivoBook 15 may not be the best choice for students who require a lot of storage space, as the 128GB SSD may fill up quickly. Additionally, the battery life is average, so you may need to carry a charger with you for long study sessions. Despite these minor drawbacks, the ASUS VivoBook 15 is an excellent option for creative students who need a powerful and stylish laptop on a budget.
$299.00
5
Dell Inspiron 15 3000
A Reliable and Durable Laptop for Long Study Sessions
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is a dependable laptop that offers a balance of performance and durability, making it perfect for college students who need a reliable device for their academic workload. It features a 15.6-inch HD display, an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, providing ample storage and smooth multitasking capabilities. The laptop also has a comfortable keyboard and a large touchpad, making it easy to type and navigate through documents and web pages.
One of the downsides of the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is its average battery life, which may not last an entire day of classes without needing a charge. However, its solid build quality and reliable performance make it a great choice for students who need a laptop that can withstand the rigors of college life.
$449.00
Free shipping
7 things you should never do at Home Depot, according to former employees
20 Things to Buy Duty-Free at the Airport
I’m a Retired Boomer: 5 Things I Always Buy After the Holidays To Save Money
I've worked on cruise ships for years. Here are 6 things passengers should stop wasting money on.
A full list of stores open on Christmas Day 2024
13 Winter Clothing Items You Should Buy at Macy’s Now Ahead of 2025