In today’s world, having a good laptop is really important for college students. But finding one that fits your budget can be hard. That’s why we made a list of the five best cheap laptops for college students in 2024. These laptops cost less than $300 and are great for students who don’t want to spend too much money.
We picked these laptops because they are affordable and still have good features and performance. They come from different brands and have different options, so there’s something for everyone. Plus, all the laptops on our list come with 8GB of RAM and a free Microsoft Windows 11 operating system with a lifetime license. This means you save an additional $139 on every laptop, making it an even better deal.
In this article, we’ll talk about each laptop’s specifications, features, and how well they work for academic tasks. We looked at things like processing speed, storage capacity, battery life, and portability to ensure they met the needs of college students.
Technology is constantly evolving, so we made sure the laptops we selected were suitable for college students in 2024. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision by finding a budget-friendly laptop that is also fast and reliable. To ensure the laptops on our list are worth the money, we considered customer reviews and conducted thorough research.
1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop » $299
The Acer Aspire 5 (A515-56-347N) is a powerful and stylish slim laptop that takes your computing experience to the next level. With its impressive features and smart design, this laptop delivers great performance.
It is a 15.6″ Full HD IPS display with a screen-to-body ratio of 82.58% and narrow bezels. The laptop boasts a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, ensuring a clear and detailed display. Whether you’re watching movies, working on projects, or surfing the web, enjoy vibrant colors and sharp details.
Equipped with the 11th Gen Intel i3-1115G4 Dual Core Processor and Intel UHD Graphics, this laptop offers fast and smooth performance. It can handle tasks like content creation, productivity, and even gaming. With Turbo Boost Technology, you can reach speeds of up to 4.1 GHz.
8gb Ram Laptop
The 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and 128 GB of NVMe SSD provide ample memory and storage space. This allows you to multitask seamlessly and store your files, documents, and media easily. Enjoy quick start-up times, speedy file transfers, and responsive performance. Furthermore, the laptop offers an impressive average battery life of up to 8 hours, ensuring long-lasting usage without the need for frequent recharging.
Comfortable Typing and Improved Sound
The Acer Aspire 5 has a special hinge that raises the keyboard, making it more comfortable to type. With Acer’s Purified Voice technology, background noise is minimized, resulting in improved sound quality. To keep the laptop cooler, you can quickly adjust the fan speed by pressing the Fn+F keys on the keyboard. This allows you to choose between silent, normal, or performance mode for the laptop.
Free Pre-Activated Windows 11 Home
Experience the latest and most advanced Windows operating system with free Windows 11 Home pre-activated on the Acer Aspire 5. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections. The HDMI port allows you to connect to external displays for a larger view. Stay connected, browse the web, and stream content without interruption.
Slim and Lightweight Design
Weighting just 3.64 pounds and featuring a sleek silver color, the Acer Aspire 5 is designed to be portable and stylish. Take it with you wherever you go and work on the move without compromising style.
Customer Reviews
Customers around the world love the Acer Aspire 5. With an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 3520 global ratings, it has gained high praise for its performance, stunning visuals, and comfortable typing experience. Users appreciate its speed, reliability, and value for money.
2. HP Latest 14” FHD Screen Laptop » $285
The latest HP 14″ FHD laptop is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 3 3250U dual-core processor. It has a 4 MB L3 cache and can go up to 3.5 GHz in speed. With its ultra-low-voltage platform, this laptop delivers maximum high-efficiency power, ensuring smooth and efficient performance for your tasks.
The 14″ micro-edge FHD display provides an impressive viewing experience. With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and anti-glare technology, enjoy vibrant colors, clarity, and reduced glare for comfortable viewing. The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics further enhances your visual experience. The HP True Vision HD webcam, along with the digital microphone/headphone audio jack, ensures clear video conferencing and communication.
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HP 8GB RAM Laptop
With 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, this laptop ensures smooth multitasking and efficient handling of your applications. The 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 of SSD storage provides good space for college files, documents, and multimedia content. Plus, you can increase the DDR4 RAM to a maximum of 32GB and upgrade the SSD storage to 2TB.
Long Battery Life and Fast Charging
Enjoy the freedom of working on the go with up to 9 hours of battery life. The fast-charging feature ensures that you can quickly recharge your laptop when needed. Whether you’re attending classes, working in a shop, or traveling, a laptop with a 14-inch screen, dimensions of 12.76″ x 8.9″ x 0.78″, and weighing just 3.3 lbs, plus a long-lasting battery, will keep up with your demanding lifestyle.
Free Microsoft Windows 11 License
This laptop also comes with a free Windows 11 home license, which lets you enjoy the latest features and security updates from Microsoft. When Microsoft Windows upgrades to the next version, like Windows 12, your Windows automatically upgrades to the latest version. That means you get a free lifetime Microsoft Windows license for this HP laptop.
The laptop features a variety of ports, including 1 Type-C, 2 Type-A, WiFi, 1 audio jack, Bluetooth 5, 1 SD card reader, and 1 HDMI. This enables seamless connectivity to peripherals and external displays.
The laptop comes in a fashionable silver color, adding a touch of elegance. With its slim profile and lightweight design, weighing just 3.3 pounds, it is easy to carry and perfect for on-the-go productivity.
Customer Reviews
Customers around the world have rated this HP notebook with an average of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 39 global ratings. Users appreciate its performance, display quality, and portability, making it a popular choice among consumers.
3. CHUWI Upgraded GemiBook XPro Laptop » $249
See CHUWI Upgraded GemiBook XPro. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop for college students that can handle your daily tasks, streaming, and gaming needs, you might want to consider the upgraded GemiBook XPro 14.1” laptop. This laptop offers a lot of features and performance for a low price. You also get free service within one year after purchase.
The laptop features a 12th-generation Intel Alder Lake N100 processor, offering a clock speed of up to 3.4 GHz. With its 10nm technology and ultra-low power design, it delivers efficient performance for your tasks. With its integrated Intel UHD Graphics, this device guarantees speedy image processing and super image quality, providing a seamless experience for video playback. Intel UHD graphics designed specifically for 12th-generation Intel processors enhance your gaming experience. With support for DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.5, this graphics system can smoothly handle the majority of contemporary games, delivering solid performance at medium graphics settings.
Cheapest 8gb Ram Laptop
The CHUWI GemiBook XPro 14.1” laptop is the cheapest option for a laptop with 8 GB of RAM. Compared to HP and Asus, whose 8GB RAM laptops are priced below $300, the CHUWI GemiBook XPro 14.1” laptop is even cheaper at under $250.
Meet the newest Micron LPDDR5 RAM. It works really fast, with a main frequency of up to 4800 MHz. With 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, this laptop provides smooth multitasking, efficient operation, and the ability to quickly run programs. The 256GB SSD storage plus the expandable storage options allow you to increase the capacity up to 1TB SSD or use a 128GB TF card for additional storage.
The 14.1-inch FHD IPS display with a resolution of 2K 1920 x 1080 pixels delivers crisp and vibrant visuals. Enjoy an immersive viewing experience with an anti-glare coating that reduces eye fatigue and reflections. The display also has a borderless design that gives you more screen space and a better viewing experience.
The large 38 Wh lithium-ion battery ensures over 9 hours of usage, allowing you to stay productive throughout the day. The built-in fast-charging technology quickly replenishes the battery.
Free Windows 11
The laptop comes with Windows 11 pre-installed, providing the latest features and enhancements for a seamless user experience. Microsoft designed Windows 11 to be faster, more secure, and more user-friendly than its predecessors. You can also customize your desktop, access the latest updates, and sync your files across devices with ease.
With the Mini-HDMI port, you can easily connect to an external monitor. The Intel WiFi 6 chip makes sure you have fast and reliable wireless connections. It is three times faster than 5G WiFi and uses 30% less power. One type C port and USB 3.0 ports let you transfer data quickly and connect to devices like printers and external hard drives. Enjoy the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity, HD audio, and support for 2.4G/5G dual-band WiFi with speeds up to 9.6 Gbps. The CHUWI GemiBook XPro 14.1” laptop weighs only 1.46kg and measures just 0.7 inches thick. It is ultra-portable and perfect for on-the-go use. The space gray color and full-sized keyboard add a touch of elegance and functionality.
The laptop also includes a 2 MP webcam for video conferencing and online communication. The laptop has a high-definition (HD) webcam that has a privacy shutter. This shutter helps protect your privacy by covering the webcam when you’re not using it.
Customer Reviews
The CHUWI GemiBook XPro has received positive feedback from customers worldwide, with an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars based on 474 global ratings. Users appreciate its performance, portability, and cheap price.
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Laptop » $296
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i has an Intel i3-1115G4 processor with 2 cores and 4 threads. It runs at a base clock speed of 3.0 GHz, which can go up to a maximum turbo speed of 4.1 GHz. With its 6MB smart cache, it provides dependable and efficient performance for all your tasks. The laptop comes with a genuine Microsoft Windows 11 Home operating system pre-installed, providing the latest features and enhancements.
8 GB RAM Laptop
The laptop comes with 8GB of DDR4 2400 MHz memory, which ensures smooth multitasking and efficient operation. It also offers a storage capacity of 256GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. This combination allows for fast storage and quick access to all your files and applications.
The 14″ FHD screen offers a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, ensuring clear and crisp visuals. The energy-efficient LED backlight enhances your viewing experience while conserving battery power. The integrated Intel UHD graphics allow for expandability to connect to an external monitor via HDMI.
The smart noise cancellation feature helps deliver clear audio during video calls and conferences. Stay connected with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth technology, allowing for fast wireless connections and seamless device pairing. The three USB ports provide convenient connectivity for your peripherals. There’s also a combo port for your headphones and microphone, plus a 4-in-1 card reader.
Enjoy up to 6 hours of battery life, allowing you to stay productive throughout the day without frequent recharging. Work, browse, and stream without the worry of running out of power.
One-year Warranty
You also receive a warranty from the manufacturer that lasts for one year. This warranty covers any problems or issues with the laptop, so you can feel confident that you’re getting a reliable and long-lasting product. The manufacturer provides peace of mind and support, assuring you that they will take care of any potential concerns.
Customer Reviews
Customers from around the world have given the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i positive feedback. Lenovo just launched this laptop on Amazon, so there aren’t many reviews yet. Users love its dependable performance, flexible features, and great value for the price. This makes it a popular and trusted option among consumers.
5. Azeyou 14” FHD Laptop » $299
The Azeyou 14″ FHD laptop comes with an 11th-generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. It starts with a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz and has the ability to reach up to 4.2 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology. This Intel processor has four processing units (cores) for everyday tasks, an 8MB cache for quick data access, and supports eight simultaneous tasks (threads) for a smooth experience, enhancing its overall performance.
Enhanced Graphics
With Intel Iris Xe graphics, this laptop delivers smooth graphics performance, allowing you to enjoy games and video-editing applications with ease. Immerse yourself in stunning visuals and vibrant colors for an enhanced graphic experience.
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Cheap 8gb Ram Laptop
Azeyou is known for producing high-quality laptops, and typically, their laptops can be quite expensive. However, we have found an Azeyou laptop with 8 GB of RAM priced under $300. This makes it a cheap choice not only for college students but also for freelancers.
The laptop comes equipped with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM memory, ensuring smooth multitasking and efficient operation even with graphics-intensive applications. The 256GB SSD provides fast storage and quick access to your files and programs.
The 14.1-inch full-HD screen has an ultraslim bezel display with a retinal resolution of 1920 x 1080. The laptop looks nice in a stylish gray color, which adds a touch of elegance. It is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and great for working while traveling. The laptop has important ports like HDMI, USB Type A and C, RJ45, an earphone, and a microcard port. You can connect it to external screens, transfer files, and use various devices with it.
It also has a camera on the front for video calls and talking to people online. The microphone inside the laptop captures sound clearly during calls and when recording things. Fitted with a 45Wh lithium polymer battery, enjoy an extended battery life. The slim case, weighing a mere 3 pounds and measuring just 0.8 inches in thickness, allows you to carry it effortlessly throughout the day.
Free Windows 11 Activation
The laptop comes with a Microsoft-approved free permanent activation of Windows 11 Home. This gives you access to the newest features and updates, making your laptop easier to use.
Customer Reviews
The Azeyou 14” FHD laptop has received mixed feedback from customers worldwide, with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on 6 global ratings. While some users appreciate its performance and fast program processing, others may have different experiences. We encourage you to consider individual preferences and requirements when making a purchase decision.
Conclusion
We have provided you with a list of the best affordable laptops for college students in 2024. Priced under $300, these laptops feature 8GB of RAM and include a free lifetime license of Microsoft Windows 11, saving you an extra $139. We carefully considered the specifications, features, and customer reviews to ensure these laptops meet the needs of college students.
We understand the importance of finding a laptop that is both affordable and performs well. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision and find a laptop that fits your budget without compromising on quality.
Whether you’re attending virtual classes, participating in online discussions, or accessing educational resources online, these laptops have the power and performance to handle the demands of online learning. No matter what you need a laptop for, we believe that one of these options will be a great fit for your college work. Enjoy the affordability and reliable performance to enhance your productivity during your college journey.
Choose wisely and make a smart investment in your education without spending too much money. With these excellent and budget-friendly laptops, you can excel in your studies without breaking the bank.
Author: Asif
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