Top Budget Laptops for Students This Academic Year
Discover the best budget laptops for students this year, combining affordability, reliability, and portability. These models are perfect for everyday academic tasks and come with back-to-school discounts from top brands and retailers. Find the ideal device to stay productive and connected throughout the school year without breaking the bank.

As the new school year approaches, now is a great time to explore affordable laptops suited for students. While discounts are tempting, choosing the right device involves assessing features, affordability, and warranty coverage. If your tasks mainly involve writing papers and making presentations, a basic model will meet your needs. Below are some popular budget-friendly laptops available with excellent back-to-school deals across various retailers. These laptops balance performance and price, making them ideal for students on a budget.
Samsung Chromebook 3
Perfect for students relying on Google services, the Samsung Chromebook 3 simplifies daily tasks with ease. It features an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768, powered by 4GB RAM and a 16GB SSD. Its water-resistant keyboard makes it durable against accidental spills. The laptop offers up to 11 hours of battery life, suitable for long study sessions or classes. It's currently available for around $199.
Asus Chromebook Flip
Equipped with a 6th generation Intel® Core™ m3, m7, or Pentium® processors, this model includes 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Its 12.5-inch HD touchscreen can flip 360 degrees and weighs under 3 pounds for portability. Features like a fully backlit keyboard and 802.11 ac Wi-Fi ensure smooth performance. It provides about 10 hours of battery life and costs approximately $350–$600, making it an excellent choice for students seeking a versatile, lightweight device.
Acer Aspire E15
With an i3-8130U processor and 6GB RAM, the Acer Aspire E15 delivers reliable speed for intensive coursework, research, and online activities. It includes a variety of ports—USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB C, HDMI, micro SD, Ethernet, VGA, and an optical drive—adding to its versatility. Its battery comfortably lasts a full day of use. Currently, you can purchase it for roughly $400, offering great value for students needing power and connectivity in one package.
Many retailers like Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft, Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy, and Nvidia offer compelling back-to-school discounts and student-specific deals on these models.