Best Budget Laptop for Students in 2025 | Under $500

There are so many different types of laptops that students become very confused about which one to choose. Whether you’re a college student, in high school, or at an elementary level, everyone needs a reliable laptop according to their studies and workload. Amazon is a platform that is easily accessible and also provides the best offers. In this post, you will find the choice of a pocket-friendly laptop for students under $500 that you can compare according to your budget, considering aspects like the laptop’s performance, affordability, and all other specifications.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the top 7 best laptops for students in 2025, under $500. Each laptop will be reviewed based on its benefits, drawbacks, price, specifications, and the type of student it’s ideal for. At the end, you’ll also find a comparison table, buying guide, and final verdict to help you make the best decision. 

💻 Top 7 Laptops for Students under $500 (2025)

1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

The Acer Aspire 5 Slim is one of the best budget laptops for students under $500 in 2025.

It is best for studying, searching and watching content, its light weight easy to carry across campus. It has 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD, with 8 hours long battery life, with average speakers. 

Benefits:

• Portable and light weight, easy to carry.
• 15.6 inch HD displays are best for reading, studying and watching videos.
• Battery life is up to 8 hours, making it ideal to carry across campus.

Drawbacks:

• It is not ideal for video editing and gaming.
• Speakers are not of good quality.

Price: $429 on Amazon.

Specifications:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6” Full HD
• Battery: Up to 8 hours
  

Ideal For: It is ideal for college students who needs good battery time along with portability to carry easily.

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2. Lenovo IdeaPad 3

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers great value with an Intel Core i3 processor, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM. It is ideal for those who have a tighter budget and don’t want to overspend like high school and college students.

Benefits:

• Pocket friendly, affordable price as per performance.
• Ideal keyboard for typing.
• Modern and stylish design, easy to carry.

Drawbacks:

• The brightness level is higher.
• Battery life is not up to the mark.

Price: $398 on Amazon.

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i3 1115G4
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6” HD
• Battery: Up to 7 hours

Ideal For: It is a reliable laptop for high school and college students, and especially for those who took online classes.

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3. HP Chromebook 14

HP Chromebook 14 is ideal laptop for students who opt for lightweight and low budget affordability, its display is 14 inch perfect for classroom activities, and easy to carry. It is limited to Chrome OS, not good for multi-tasking.

Benefits:

• Fast boot-up because of Chrome OS.
• Easy to carry.
• Ideal for basic tasks.
• Pocket friendly (low budget).

Drawbacks:

• It is only limited to android apps and chrome OS.
• It is not for multitasking.

Price: $219 on Amazon.

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 14” HD
• Battery: Up to 10 hours

Ideal For: Best for middle and elementary school students who need a laptop for online classes and browsing.

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4. ASUS VivoBook 15

The ASUS VivoBook 15 is functional and stylish for just under $500, with Intel Core i3 processor, 128 GB SSD, and 8GB RAM. It is good for those who want modern laptop for students at a pocket-friendly price. 

Benefits:

• Stylish sleek and modern design.
• Ideal keyboard for comfortable typing.
• Best for multi-tasking

Drawbacks:

• Average battery life.
• Webcam quality could be better.

Price: $225 on Amazon.

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-1005G1
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Display: 15.6” Full HD
• Battery: Up to 6.5 hours
  

Ideal For: Best for college students who want a modern and sleek laptop for assignments, light entertainment and note taking.

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5. Dell Inspiron 15 3000

The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is a reliable and durable option, laptop for students who seek quality. It comes with Intel Core i3 Processor, 256 GM SSD, and 8GB RAM. This laptop is heavier than the others, battery life is up to 7 hours.

Benefits:

• Trusted quality.
• Best processing power for multitasking.
• The keyboard has a large display.

Drawbacks:

• It’s heavier than other laptops.
• Average battery life.

Price: $369 on Amazon.

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-1115G4
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6” HD
• Battery: Up to 7 hours

Ideal For: Best for students who need durable and sturdy laptops for online research and daily academic tasks.

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6. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 stands out for its sleek design and vibrant 13.3-inch QLED touchscreen display. Powered by an Intel Celeron processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, with a 12-hour battery life, it’s one of the most portable and long-lasting laptops under $500. 

Benefits:

• Portable and easy to carry.
• It has a touchscreen display.
• Long lasting battery up to 12 hours.

Drawbacks:

• Average storage space.
• Chrome OS does not support Windows software.

Price: $243 on Amazon.

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Celeron
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 13.3” QLED touchscreen
• Battery: Up to 12 hours
  

Ideal For: Best for high school and college students, who want to use stylish laptops for note taking and online work.

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7. Microsoft Surface Go 3 (Tablet + Laptop Hybrid)

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a flexible 2-in-1 device that works as both a tablet and a laptop, with an Intel Pentium Gold processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage, it has 10.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen is compact yet clear, and the device offers up to 11 hours of battery life. 

Benefits:

• 2-in-1 functionality – works as both tablet and laptop.
• Lightweight and highly portable.
• Good for taking notes and online classes.

Drawbacks:

• Keyboards sold separately.
• Limited performance for heavy tasks.

Price: $499 on Amazon.

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Pentium Gold
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 10.5” PixelSense touchscreen
• Battery: Up to 11 hours

Ideal For: Best laptop for students who wants a flexible and portable device for studying, presentations and note taking.

“Price may change soon”, add to cart or buy now on Amazon

Key Points to Consider Before Buying a laptop

When buying a budget laptop for students under $500, here are some important things to look at:

• Size & Weight: Lightweight laptops are easier to carry across campus.
  
• RAM: 8GB is ideal for multitasking.
  
• Storage: SSDs (128GB or more) are faster than HDDs.
  
• Processor: Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 are good budget-friendly options.
  
• Battery Life: Aim for 7–10 hours for all-day use.
  
• Extras: Touchscreen, 2-in-1 design, or backlit keyboard can add value.
  

Best Laptops by Student Level

• For College Students: Acer Aspire 5, Dell Inspiron 15, ASUS VivoBook 15 – great for research, assignments, and light multitasking.
  
• For Middle School Students: HP Chromebook 14, Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – affordable and reliable for online learning.
  
• For Elementary Students: Microsoft Surface Go 3, Samsung Chromebook 2 – easy-to-use, portable, and great for note-taking or online classes.

Final Verdict

In 2025, students don’t need to spend thousands on a laptop. With options under $500, you can get reliable performance, portability, and features suitable for academics. If you’re looking for the best all-rounder laptop for students, the Acer Aspire 5 is the top choice thanks to its balance of performance and price. For younger students, the HP Chromebook 14 is an affordable yet capable option. And for those who want flexibility, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 provides both tablet and laptop functionality.

No matter which one you choose, all these laptops available on Amazon in 2025 are budget-friendly solutions designed to help students succeed.