For all college students and intending college students, a laptop is an essential requirement for a successful college stay. However, college students are always faced with many options of laptops with different specifications and prices thereby making a choice hard for college students to make. In this article, we have reviewed some of the best budget laptops for college students in 2023 irrespective of your budget, taste and style, we have something to for you.
1. HP Envy 13
If you are looking for a portable laptop with loads of power, long battery life, bright and vivid 4K screen Intel core i5 8th generation. It also comes with the finger print sensor feature and a webcam power kill that shuts down power to the camera when it is not in use. Other key specs include:
• System Display: 13.3 inch, 1080p or 4K
• CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7
• GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620/Nvidia GeForce MX250
• RAM: 8GB/16GB
• System Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
• System Size: 12.1 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 2.8lbs
Price: $749.99
Pros
• Attractive, portable chassis
• Fast performance
• Bright display
• Crisp speakers
Cons
• Poor battery life (on 4K model)
2. MacBook Air
This 13.3-inch apple MacBook air from Apple is one of the best laptops for college students. It comes with a 2560x1600px sharp display, powerful speakers packed in a thin and lightweight aluminum chassis. Its processor and price contribute in making it suitable for college. Key specs include:
• CPU: Intel Core i5 (Y-series)
• GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 617
• RAM: 8GB/16GB
• System Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
• System Display: 13.3 inch, 2560 x 1600
• System Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• System Weight: 2.8 lbs
Price: $999
Pros
• Crisp Retina display
• Elegant gold chassis
• Thin and lightweight chassis
• Strong speakers
Cons
• Underwhelming performance
• Only offers USB-C ports
• Shallow keyboard
3. Asus ZenBook UX33FA
This is a classy laptop with fast performance, good battery life and affordable price from Asus. The Asus Zenbook UX33FA comes with an integrated UHD 620 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD storage packed in a beautiful aluminum chassis casing. This features makes the ZenBook one of the best laptops for college. Key specs include:
• CPU: Intel Core i5
• GPU:Intel UHD 620/GeForce MX150
• RAM: 8GB
• System Storage: 256GB
• System Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p
• System Size: 11.9 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• System Weight: 2.7 lbs
Price:$1, 150
Pros
• Excellent battery life
• Sleek aluminum design
• Fast performance
Cons
• Dim display
• Cramped keyboard
Price: $849
4. Acer Aspire 5
For college students with low budget looking for a sleek laptop with good performance, the Acer Aspire 5 is a good choice. This below $400 dollar comes with a bright 1080p display, strong battery life, a 15.6-inch screen display and a fast SSD storage. Other key specs include:
• CPU: Intel Core i3-8145U
• GPU: Intel HD 620
• RAM: 4GB
• System Storage: 128GB
• System Display: 15.6-inch, 1080p
• System Size: 14.3 x 9.9 x 0.7 inches
• System Weight: 3.8 pounds
Price: $349.99
Pros
• Strong performance
• Long battery life
• Bright 1080p display
• Affordable
Cons
• Middling graphics
• Questionable build quality
5. HP Spectre x360
This 2 in 1 laptop comes with a beautiful design with gold faceted edges is an elegant laptop with a large battery capacity, intel core i7 CPU offering excellent performance, a 13.3 inch 1080p display and a comfortable keyboard is one laptop every college student will love to carry around in college. Key specs includes:
• CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7
• GPU: Intel UHD 620
• RAM: 8GB/16GB
• System Storage:256GB/512GB
• System Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p or 4K
• System Size: 12.2 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• System Weight: 2.8 lbs
Price: $1,299
Pros
• Gorgeous chassis
• Long battery life
• Thin and lightweight
• Class leading keyboard
Cons
• Display could brighter
• Bezels are a bit thick
• Lots of bloat ware
6. Lenovo Yoga C930
The Lenovo Yoga C930 is a 2 in 1 laptop that comes with a powerful speaker. This slim laptop comes with a good battery life, strong performance, a webcam cover and an integrated pen slot. Key specs include:
• CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7
• GPU: Intel UHD 620
• RAM: 8GB/12GB/16GB
• System Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
• System Display: 13.9-inch, 1080p or 4K
• System Size: 12.7 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches
• System Weight: 3.1 lbs
Price: $1,299.99
Pros
• Premium design
• Thin and lightweight
• Strong performance
• Long battery life
Cons
• Shallow keyboard
• Display could be better
7. Asus Chromebook Flip C434
This 14-inch convertible laptop comes with a touch screen 1080p display, and Intel m3 processor. Its slim, portable and affordable nature added with its long battery life makes this laptop one of the best for college students. Key features includes:
• CPU: Intel Core m3-8100Y
• GPU: Intel HD 615
• RAM: 4GB
• System Storage: 64GB
• System Display: 14-inch, 1080p
• System Size: 12.6 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 3.1 lbs
Price: $569.99
Pros
• Sleek design
• Thin display bezels
• Vivid 14-inch touch screen
• All-day battery life
Cons
• Finicky touchpad
• Expensive
8. Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 comes with a miniature webcam, light weight chassis, fast performance and a vivid 4K display panel. This 13.3-inch laptop comes with an Intel core i3 processor. Other key specs include:
• CPU: Intel Core i3/Core i5/Core i7
• GPU: Intel UHD 620
• RAM: 4GB/8GB/16GB
• System Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
• System Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p or 4K
• System Size: 11.9 x 7.8 x 0.5 inches
• System Weight: 2.7lbs
Price: $899.99
Pros
• Strong performance
• Slim, lightweight design
• Proper webcam
• Stunning 4K display
Cons
• Battery life could be better
9. Lenovo Legion Y7000
This 15.3-inch laptop comes with a GeForce GTX 1060 powerful GPU capable of running modern games. it comes with 16 GB of RAM, comfortable keyboard, 1080p display, and strong battery life. Key specs include:
• CPU: Intel Core i7
• GPU: GeForce GTX 1060
• RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB
• System Display: 15.6-inch, 1080p
• System Size: 14.2 x 10.5 x 1.1 inches
• System Weight: 5.3 lbs
Price: $849.99
Pros
• Sleek design
• Vibrant display
• Comfortable keyboard
• Strong performance
• Solid battery life
Cons
• Poor audio
• Awful webcam
10. HP Zbook Studio x360
This HP Zbook studio x360 is a thin, light weight and portable work station. This 2 in 1 laptop comes with a long battery life, a 4K display screen, comfortable keyboard and a fast processor. Although it comes with a high price, its overall performance is exceptional.
• CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7/Core i9/Xeon
• GPU: Intel UHD 630/Nvidia Quadro P1000/Quadro P2000
• RAM: 8GB/16GB/32GB/64GB
• System Storage: 256GB/360GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
• System Display: 15.6-inch, 1080p or 4K
• System Size: 14.2 x 9.7 x 0.8 inches
• System Weight: 4.9lbs
Price: $2,649
Pros
• Slim chassis with military-grade durability
• Vivid 4K display
• Blazing fast performance
• Comfortable keyboard
Cons
• Lid flexes
• Poor webcam
• Pricey