College is stressful when you combine school work with extra-curricular activities, social life, family time, and other best things in life. Hence, owning the best laptop instead of a refurbished laptop with all-day or long battery life, big storage memory, and fast boot times can be the best thing for many when it comes to making the best college experience easier and better to remember. However, expenses can pile up when you’re university students without enough money for high-end options. Because of this, it would be the best idea to look for a good laptop under $500 to save money!
With that in mind, we are here to give you a brief idea of what to look for in the best desktop computers, and what the best computer a college pupil can have is.
Best Laptops For College Students Under $500
Looking for the best affordable computer for college students requires considering various factors. You need to make sure you have a comprehensive to-do list. Some of the general factors are ports, memory, price, apps, inch screen, hard drive, full-size keyboard, Wi-fi compatibility, SD card slot, and model. To buy or purchase laptops makes a big difference. These are the following:
Top Budget Laptop Under Five Hundred
For Portability:
The whole point of buying a laptop is to ease your way of school work by taking it with you in class. Hence, it is critical to find a smaller and lighter laptop. The right laptop weighs less than four pounds and features an ultra-slim design. Many laptops offer portability and you can get a decent laptop that’s under 500.
Specifications And Battery Life:
While your great laptop might not cover the whole stay of your school life, it is essential to take into consideration the specifications it has. These specs include its resolution, CPU, RAM, and storage. If you’re specifically looking for a laptop that is both portable and powerful, it’s worth researching and comparing the specifications and customer reviews of the best Windows laptops currently available on the market. A detachable keyboard can be a valuable feature for versatile use, especially if you’re frequently on the go or need flexibility for video calls.
A good battery life is crucial for keeping up with everyday tasks, and a bright display enhances your computing experience, making it easier to work in various environments, like a coffee shop. There are budget models that have good everyday performance and hours of battery life. Conduct a battery test or simply research it before you purchase.
Consider the gorgeous OLED screen of an HP laptop for an elevated visual experience while performing basic tasks. If you are a gamer or love using apps from Adobe and such, an NVIDIA GeForce graphics card should be a part of your checklist. Sometimes these apps and files can take up a lot of space, so consider an external drive for backup files. Additionally, features such as a fingerprint reader can add an extra layer of security to your laptop, and a headphone jack to satisfy your music needs.
Durability:
The right laptop needs durability since you will use it almost every hour of the day while going through your school requirements. Make sure to buy the best 2 1 laptops for college, made from carbon fiber, aluminum, and magnesium alloy. Check the manufacturer of the laptop as well. (See best laptops for kids)
Best Windows Laptops For College Students Under $500
Microsoft Surface Go: Best Laptop Under $500
Microsoft Surface Go is one of the go-to and top affordable computers for college students. It is composed of an Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y CPU, Intel HD Graphics 615 Graphics, and 8 GB of RAM. The good thing with this is that it can be both a laptop and a tablet because of its powerful intel core—making it more convenient for college students to bring to college. Don’t be fooled by the said low-power processor: Microsoft engineered this two-in-one gadget to keep up with all of the schoolwork without any delay.
If you are planning to buy this, don’t hesitate. Microsoft Surface Go only costs around $400. Trust us: it’s worth the money.
ASUS Chromebook C202: Budget Laptop Under $500
ASUS Chromebook C202 is one of the best laptops for college students under 500 dollars when it comes to durability. You need the sturdiest gadget if you are a college student. This computer has a spill-resistant keyboard, nano-molding technology on all of its edges and corners, and an improved rubber bumper. These features reduce the impact of falls and protect it more from scratches from minor drops. This Chromebook runs on a Chrome OS. This setup means that you can download and edit via Google applications such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.
What’s convenient about this computer is that it automatically updates the anti-virus protection. Although, Chromebooks are considered one of the best budget laptops that are sufficient for web browsing. With this, you need not worry about viruses and any malicious software while surfing the web. Chromebooks would also be enough for college tasks.
Acer Aspire 1: Windows Laptops Under $500
It is easy to assume that all the best student laptops must come with a hefty price tag. The Acer Aspire 1 begs to disagree, as it only costs $200 (which is one of the ideal prices for a good laptop), which is a bargain for 14-inch portable computers that are compatible with Windows 10 and above.
It might not be the number one when it comes to gaming and high-end video editing, but because of its full HD screen (with a resolution of 1080 × 1080), it will be perfect for your movie and series binge-watching. The Acer Aspire has a gorgeous OLED display and an HD display with decent performance.
Aside from these, it also boasts 4 GB of RAM, an Intel Celeron 1.1 GHz processor, and 32 GB flash storage. These features are perfect for web surfing, streaming music, and word processing. What’s unique about this is its two-cell lithium-ion battery, which ensures enough battery life with an average battery life of nine hours—and can be used in long school work sessions.
If you need a new laptop with a powerful processor such as an Intel Core i3 1115g4 processor, Intel Core i5, or Core i5 processor, you don’t have to spend a ton of money. It just needs to cover the qualities of the top PC for college teens. The choices listed above are testaments to this. For instance, the laptop is equipped with a longer battery life, making it suitable for watching movies or streaming Netflix during leisure time. It also features a backlit keyboard for watching movies in low-light environments and enough battery life to ensure a good deal for college pupils.
Moreover, it supports Android apps and web apps from the Microsoft Store, offering a wide range of functionalities, including compatibility with gaming laptops. The screen size is optimal for both working and watching Netflix, and the inclusion of a USB-C port provides a modern and versatile connectivity option. The laptop’s powerful Intel processor and more RAM contribute to a seamless experience, whether you’re using web apps, engaging in tasks that demand higher performance, or even exploring the capabilities of gaming laptops.
Additionally, the device features surprisingly good speakers, enhancing the overall multimedia experience, perfect for enjoying YouTube videos. It even comes with a number pad for those who need it, making it a versatile and powerful laptop at a great price compared to most laptops in the market, positioning it as an excellent budget pick for everyday use. When looking for a new computer especially if it’s going to be used in college, it’s essential to shop smart, and the options mentioned above cater to the diverse needs of users.
Best Laptops For College Students Below 500 – FAQs
Last Updated on May 14, 2023 by Lisette Lao
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