14+ Best Laptops For College Students Under $500 2022

Unlike a few years ago, laptops are now an essential tool for college or college students, even though you currently do a lot of that work from home!

Young kids also need web access for research, so we’ve rounded up our favorite Mac and PC options for schoolwork as well as college or university. For college and university students, we have selected more expensive choices, as more horsepower is likely to be needed.

However, we haven’t been to town on these in terms of top-notch performance and, so check out our best guide to laptops if you’re doing something like a design degree or music tech where you might need more. punch, especially in terms of graphics.

For our varsity and college selections, we prioritized portability, appearance, and overall performance, while for our school selection we focused on affordability and robustness.

Best Laptops For College Students Under $500

14+ Best Laptops For College Students Under 500 Dollars | Comparison Table 2022

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14+ Best Laptops For College Students Under  500 USD | Products Overview 2022

Buyer’s Guide to the Best Laptops for Students Under 500 USD

If you are a student of graphics, design, video editing, engineering … you will undoubtedly be working with complex software, so you will need a high-end and relatively powerful computer.

However, if you are studying economics or law, for example, you will spend a lot more time on programs like Microsoft Excel or Word, so it is not essential for you to have a first-rate machine.

Since needs vary widely and depend on your situation, we’ve included a wide variety of models, including Chromebooks.

They might not technically be computers, however, we have included a few tablets as well as with a keyboard and/or stylus they might be better for you.

Display

Most laptops have a 13-inch screen, which is the sweet spot between size and portability. However, there is no shortage of screen sizes on the market, you are sure to find what you are looking for.

Keep in mind that the cheaper products are usually equipped with a lower-quality screen, lacking in sharpness and clarity.

Some PCs (not Macs yet) also have touch screens, but do you really use them?

Components

If a model costs close to 500 USD, then you will benefit from a better processor (Core i5 for example), more RAM, and storage space. It could even be equipped with a dedicated graphics card. This type of computer is recommended for performing complex tasks.

Less expensive models can carry a lower power Intel Pentium chip, as well as their memory and storage space. So first make sure that they meet your expectations.

Keyboard and touchpad

Not all keyboards and touchpads are created equal. MacBooks are best-in-class, but this privilege comes at a price; the type of keyboard is your preference. Whether you want a built-in numeric keypad or not.

If it is missing, you will have a more compact computer, which can be advantageous for its transport.

Battery life

Everyone wants a very self-contained battery, after all, no technology is really useful if it goes dead in the middle of note-taking.

Note that an expensive model does not mean that its battery is enduring, on the contrary, it will be more inclined to draw on its powerful internal components. And, a lower-end model may have a smaller battery to keep manufacturing costs down.

Ports and external drives
Maybe it doesn’t seem important to you now but think carefully about which ports you will need. Many modern models come with few ports and are often equipped with USB-C ports.

To connect a USB key or an HDMI cable, you will probably need to get an adapter  (or a  dongle ).

Inexpensive laptops are bulkier and usually have more space for larger ports (eg USB-A). Which can be a real godsend.

Remember that computers stop integrating CD / DVD drives, so an external drive will be essential.

Operating system

Finally, you need to be sure which operating system you want to use. Your main choices are Windows 10 and macOS, however, chances are you already know which one you prefer.

If not, then check if the software you need to use is compatible.

Otherwise, there are other alternatives such as ChromeOS, it is extremely easy to use. However, it does require an internet connection to fully function.

The tablets we’ve included are intuitive too, but again, first make sure that they’ll be able to run your favorite software.