Top Budget Laptops for Students in 2024: Affordable, Reliable, and Ready for School
Discover the best budget-friendly laptops under $500 that offer performance, portability, and value for students in 2024.

Top Budget Laptops for Students in 2024: Affordable, Reliable, and Ready for School
As demand for laptops has gone up, with students also in mind, the market has shaped itself to include a few kirk economic options that are very reliable, feature-rich, and can easily handle tasks considered regular for school going. Be it attending online classes, writing essays, or creating multimedia projects, a budget laptop proves to be a worthy investment without denting your wallet much. In 2024, here are some top budget laptops for students which combine affordability, reliability, and performance.
1. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (14-inch)
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers excellent value for money, making it a popular choice among students looking for a budget laptop. With an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen processor, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD, this laptop is perfect for everyday tasks such as browsing the web, watching videos, and writing papers. The 14-inch Full HD display comes with crisp visuals, while the lightweight build tends to be easy to carry across campus. The IdeaPad 3 also has a solid keyboard, which makes long typing sessions comfortable as well.
Key Features:
Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3
4GB/8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
14-inch Full HD display
Windows 11 Home
Up to 7 hours of battery life
2. Acer Aspire 5
For a very balanced laptop that can easily cater to more than note-taking and browsing for students, the Acer Aspire 5 is one of the best options. It provides really good performance thanks to the Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 that powers it, while the 8GB of RAM on it guarantees smooth multitasking. Additionally, the Aspire 5 offers ample storage for documents, media files, and apps with a 256GB SSD. The Full HD 15.6-inch display provides a fantastic view when one is into educational videos and project development, while the keyboard is made ergonomically to handle long typing hours with ease.
Key Features:
Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5
8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
15.6-inch Full HD display
Up to 8 hours of battery life
Windows 11 Home
3. HP 14 Laptop
A 14-inch laptop by HP comes in at an economical price to satisfy students for daily schoolwork. It is powered by an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD storage. The 14-inch HD display is ideal for reading notes, watching videos, or browsing the internet. The HP 14 laptop also has a slim, lightweight design, making it ideal for students on the go. For its budget-friendly price, it offers good build quality and solid performance for the price.
Key Features:
Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3
4GB/8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
14-inch HD display
Up to 7 hours of battery life
Windows 11 Home
4. ASUS VivoBook 15
The ASUS VivoBook 15 is an all-around student laptop that offers dependable performance at an affordable price. Powered by an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor, with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, VivoBook 15 ensures similarly good performance for multitasking, web browsing, and consuming media. A 15.6-inch Full HD display makes it great for watching videos or working on presentations, and the laptop's ergonomic keyboard is comfortable for long typing sessions. Its battery life will last up to 6 hours, easily good for a school day.
Key Features:
Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3
8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
15.6-inch Full HD display
Up to 6 hours of battery life
Windows 11 Home
5. Dell Inspiron 15 3000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 series is a dependable and more budget-friendly option if the students require a larger screen for their schoolwork. This laptop features a 15.6-inch HD display that's good for watching learning videos, attending online classes, and browsing the web. Equipped with an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen processor, coupled with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, it has upstanding performance for general usage. It also sports a full-size keyboard, ideal for typing out assignments or taking notes in class.
Key Features:
Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3
8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
15.6-inch HD display
Up to 6 hours of battery life
Windows 11 Home
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
For students who want a more premium feel without paying a premium price, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a good option. Although slightly more expensive than some of the other options on this list, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a sleek design, solid build quality, and a 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display. Powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB SSD, this laptop is lightweight and portable, making it perfect for students who need to carry their laptop everywhere.
Key Features:
Intel Core i5
4GB/8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB SSD
12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display
Up to 13 hours of battery life
Windows 11 Home
Conclusion
Choosing the right budget laptop for school can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. The laptops listed above offer a great balance of performance, portability, and affordability, making them perfect for students who need a reliable device for their academic work. Whether you want one for casual use, like word processing, or one that will let you do several things at once, this is some great value for not an awful lot of money. Make sure to look at how much battery life, storage, and the size of the screen you want when picking one.
About the Creator
Kamal Pun
"A storyteller at heart, I write about anything that sparks curiosity—from personal growth to everyday experiences. My words aim to entertain, inspire, and provoke thought. Dive in and explore the many facets of life through my lens!"


Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.