Finding the best budget laptops in 2024 doesn’t mean sacrificing performance for affordability. This year’s models deliver impressive power, portability, and long-lasting battery life—all at prices that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, these laptops offer the perfect combination of speed and value, making them ideal for everyday tasks, multitasking, and light gaming. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the top budget-friendly laptops of 2024 to help you find the perfect device for your needs.
What to Look for in a Student Laptop in 2024
When selecting the best laptops for students, here are a few important factors to consider:
- Affordability: Keeping your budget in mind.
- Portability: Lightweight and easy to carry around campus.
- Battery Life: At least 8 hours of battery to last through a full day of classes.
- Performance: Fast enough for multitasking, research, video calls, and light entertainment.
1. Acer Aspire 5 – Best Overall Affordable Laptop
The Acer Aspire 5 continues to be a top pick in 2024 for students who need an affordable yet powerful laptop. With a 15.6-inch Full HD display, the latest Intel Core i5 processor, and 8GB of RAM, this laptop is perfect for handling all your coursework without breaking the bank. It also comes with a solid-state drive (SSD), meaning faster boot times and smoother performance when running multiple programs.
- Specs:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1335G7
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6″ Full HD
- Battery life: Up to 10 hours
- Pros: Affordable, solid performance for everyday tasks, lightweight at 3.7 lbs.
- Cons: Basic design, integrated graphics aren’t great for heavy gaming.
Why You’ll Love It: The Acer Aspire 5 delivers solid performance at a low price, perfect for students who need reliability and power without overspending.
2. Apple MacBook Air M2 – Best for Performance and Design
The MacBook Air M2 remains one of the best laptops for students, offering superior performance, stunning Retina display, and an ultra-lightweight design. Its Apple M2 chip ensures fast processing speeds, perfect for demanding tasks such as coding, video editing, or running multiple applications at once. Plus, with a battery life of up to 18 hours, it’s ideal for long study sessions.
- Specs:
- Processor: Apple M2 Chip
- RAM: 8GB Unified Memory
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 13.6″ Retina Display
- Battery life: Up to 18 hours
- Pros: Exceptional performance, long battery life, lightweight at 2.7 lbs.
- Cons: Higher price point, limited ports.
Why You’ll Love It: If you’re looking for a blend of performance, style, and portability, the MacBook Air M2 is unbeatable. It’s perfect for students who want power and elegance in one device.
3. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – Best Budget Option
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an excellent budget laptop for students who need a basic but reliable machine. It features an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 8GB of RAM, giving it enough power for word processing, research, and web browsing. Its 14-inch Full HD screen offers crisp visuals, and the lightweight design makes it easy to carry between classes.
- Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 14″ Full HD
- Battery life: Up to 9 hours
- Pros: Very affordable, decent performance for the price, lightweight.
- Cons: Limited storage, basic build quality.
Why You’ll Love It: For students on a tight budget, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers just enough power and functionality to tackle schoolwork without unnecessary extras.
4. Dell XPS 13 – Best Premium Windows Laptop
The Dell XPS 13 is a premium choice for students who need more power and style. With a 13.4-inch InfinityEdge display, Intel’s 13th Gen i7 processor, and 16GB of RAM, this laptop is designed for speed and multitasking. It’s perfect for students studying design, computer science, or any course that requires a bit more computing power.
- Specs:
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1355G7
- RAM: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 13.4″ FHD+
- Battery life: Up to 12 hours
- Pros: Stunning display, lightweight at 2.8 lbs, excellent build quality.
- Cons: Expensive, limited ports.
Why You’ll Love It: The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best Windows laptops in 2024 for students who need powerful performance in a sleek and lightweight package.
5. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 – Best for Portability
For students who prioritize portability, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is a top choice. Weighing just 2.45 lbs, this ultra-light laptop is perfect for carrying between lectures. It features a 12.4-inch touchscreen display, an Intel i5 processor, and up to 256GB of SSD storage, making it ideal for both casual use and productivity.
- Specs:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1335G7
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4x
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 12.4″ Touchscreen
- Battery life: Up to 13 hours
- Pros: Extremely portable, great battery life, touchscreen display.
- Cons: Smaller screen size, limited performance for heavy multitasking.
Why You’ll Love It: If you’re constantly on the move, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is lightweight and easy to carry while still offering solid performance for student tasks.
Final Thoughts
Finding the perfect laptop as a student doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether you’re looking for an ultra-affordable option like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 or a premium device like the MacBook Air M2, there’s something for every budget in 2024. Be sure to consider your specific needs—whether it’s battery life, portability, or processing power—when making your choice.
Looking for more tech to boost your productivity? Check out our best accessories for laptops to enhance your study setup!
