Best Budget Laptops for Students in 2025 – Top 7 Picks Under $700
Best Budget Laptops for Students in 2025. In 2025, students need laptops that are affordable, reliable, and powerful enough to handle study materials, video conferencing, research work, and even light entertainment. But with so many options in the market, choosing the right one can be tricky.
That’s why we have handpicked the best budget laptops for students under $700 – all with excellent performance, build quality, and value for money.
Top 7 Budget Laptops for Students in 2025
- Acer Aspire 5 (2025 Edition)
- Price: Around $550
- Key Features:
- 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display
- AMD Ryzen 5 7530U processor
- 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Backlit keyboard & Wi-Fi 6 support
Why We Like It:
The Acer Aspire 5 offers great performance for everyday student tasks, from taking notes to editing documents. Its battery lasts up to 8 hours, perfect for a full day of classes.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
Price: Around $650
Key Features:
- 14-inch Full HD touchscreen
- 360° convertible design (laptop + tablet mode)
- AMD Ryzen 5 7530U
- Stylus support for taking notes
Why We Like It:
Perfect for students who love versatility. Use it as a traditional laptop for assignments or flip it into tablet mode for reading PDFs and taking handwritten notes.
HP Pavilion 15
Price: Around $600
Key Features:
- Intel Core i5-1335U processor
- 15.6-inch Full HD screen
- 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Fast charging – 0 to 50% in 45 minutes

Why We Like It:
Great performance for multitasking – perfect for students who need multiple tabs and apps open at once.
Dell Inspiron 14
Price: Around $680
Key Features:
- 14-inch Full HD display
- Intel Core i5-1335U
- 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
- Lightweight and portable
Why We Like It:
Ideal for students who carry their laptop around campus.
ASUS VivoBook 15
Price: Around $500
Key Features:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- NanoEdge bezel display
- Fingerprint sensor for quick login
Why We Like It:
A sleek, stylish laptop with strong performance at a very affordable price.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
Price: Around $699
Key Features:
- 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen
- Intel Core i5 12th Gen
- Ultra-lightweight (just 2.45 lbs)
- Excellent build quality
Why We Like It:
Premium design and portability make it perfect for students who are always on the move.
Apple MacBook Air (M1, Refurbished)
Price: Around $699 (Refurbished Certified)
Key Features:
- Apple M1 chip for powerful performance
- 13.3-inch Retina display
- Up to 18 hours battery life
- macOS ecosystem benefits
Why We Like It:
Even though it’s a refurbished model, the MacBook Air M1 still offers premium performance and long battery life at a budget price.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right laptop depends on your needs – whether it’s portability, battery life, or raw performance. All the laptops listed above are budget-friendly, reliable, and perfect for students in 2025.
FAQs
Q1: What is the best budget laptop for online classes?
Acer Aspire 5 and Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 are great options for online learning.
Q2: Can I get a good student laptop under $500?
Yes, ASUS VivoBook 15 and certain Chromebook models are solid choices.
Q3: Is a refurbished laptop worth it?
Yes, if bought from a certified seller, refurbished laptops like the MacBook Air M1 offer great value.