Finding a suitable laptop for college students for under $500 in 2024 can be a daunting task. The market is saturated with models that differ in one or two small details, which leads to confusion on the part of the buyers. Not all of us are well-versed in IT, so weighing the pros and cons and determining the best choice is often a tedious process.
On the other hand, technological advance has made possible some great deals and you can get a really good laptop that fits your budget. Modern budget laptops feature powerful processors and plenty of storage space, with displays that won’t hurt your eyes as the older models did. Of course, they won’t be gaming rigs, since that is too much to expect for this price, but even so, they will allow you to perform all your daily tasks without a glitch and have enough power for some extracurricular activities, like streaming or surfing.
1. Dell Inspiron 15 5570
Img source: chieffox.com
SPECIFICATIONS: CPU: Intel Core i3-7130U (1.5GHz/2.7GHz dual-core) RAM: 8GBScreen: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution Storage: 1TB HDD
With plenty of storage space and excellent display, Dell Inspiron 15 5570 is probably your best choice for a laptop under $500. It also features 8GB of RAM, which more than enough for average use. The downside is that it is a bit bulky, since it has a 16.6-inch screen, and heavier than the competition, making it somewhat awkward to lug it around.
2. HP Pavilion 14
Img source: notebookcheck.net
SPECIFICATIONS: CPU: Intel® Pentium® Gold 4415U Processor RAM: 4GBScreen: 14-inch, 1366 x 768 pixel resolution Storage: 128GB SSD
HP Pavilion 14, as the name suggests, has a 14-inch screen, making it somewhat smaller and lighter for everyday use both at school and at home. One big downside is that you won’t have much space left on it once you are finished installing Windows and other software you may need, forcing you to use cloud solutions or external HDD.
Read Also: Best HP Laptops for Students
3. Lenovo Yoga 530
Img source: trustedreviews.com
SPECIFICATIONS: CPU: Dual-core AMD Ryzen 3 2200U (2.5GHz-3.4GHz) RAM: 4GBScreen: 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution Storage: 128GB SSD
Lenovo Yoga 530 is probably your best bet if you are looking for a 2 in 1 device. With a 14-inch screen, it is big enough to serve as a laptop and it can be transformed into a powerful tablet once you are done with y our schoolwork.
4. Acer CB3-431 Chromebook
Img source: CNET.com
SPECIFICATIONS: CPU: Intel Celeron N3160 (1.6GHz quad-core) RAM: 4GBScreen: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution Storage: 32GB SSD
