5 Best Laptops for Students Under €500

Lucy Adegbe
5 min readSep 12, 2023

The technological landscape has rapidly evolved over the last few years. With the infusion of technology into education, students now need laptops in addition to other conventional learning materials. As a student, getting the perfect laptop that suits your taste is daunting, especially when you have a tight budget.

But what features should students look out for when getting a laptop? What are the five best laptops for students with a budget under €500? This comprehensive guide answers these questions and several others.

Keep on reading!

Features to Consider when Choosing the Best Laptops for Students under €500

Navigating from one manufacturer’s website to another in search of a perfect budget-friendly laptop is a huge task. Hundreds of such laptops may be displayed. Making the right choice is dependent on several critical features which you should consider.

Below are five features you should explore before buying a laptop:

  • The RAM of the laptop: The random access memory (RAM) determines the amount of data your laptop can hold. The RAM can be likened to your cooking pot which can only function optimally based on the size of the content that can be processed in it. If the content exceeds the volume of the pot, it will run over. An 8 or 16-gigabyte RAM should be sufficient space for a laptop, even if your budget is below €500. This ensures the laptop functions optimally without freezing.
  • Amount of processing power: As a student, the amount of processing power you need depends on what you use your laptop for. If you plan to run a web browser, use Microsoft Office Suites, and run several software programs, you will need a high amount of processing power. It’s safer to get a laptop with a higher processing power. One such laptop is the one with an Intel Core i5. Upgrading to a Core i7 chip is excellent as well.
  • Battery cycle: The battery life is an important factor to consider, especially if you plan to work on the go and have your laptop with you at all times. Note that the nature of the programs you run on your laptop can affect how long your battery will last.
  • Screen quality: As a student, your numerous tasks may require staring at the screen for long hours. While glossier screens reflect surrounding light, touchscreen laptops come with glossy screens. While looking for laptops with quality screens, it’s essential to weigh your options.
  • Size: As a student, you shouldn’t compromise on the size of your laptop. Having a big laptop stacked in your backpack for long hours could cause back aches. If you want to be mobile and work on the go, choose a portable laptop.

Five Best Laptops for Students Under €500

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is equipped to carry out several functions such as web browsing, writing, editing, and other simple tasks, all thanks to its Intel Premium Gold 7505 processor.

Price: €326.46

Purchase on Amazon

Features of Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

  • Two USB-C ports and a single USB-A port.
  • A 3.5 mm combo audio jacket
  • A micro USB card reader
  • Comfortable keyboard for swift typing sessions
  • Comes as a two-in-one that can be a laptop or folded into a tablet.
  • Flexible
  • 128Gb Storage
  • 4GB RAM
  • About 13-hour battery life

Pros and Cons of Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

Pros:

  • Sleek and comfortable keyboard
  • Affordable
  • Flexible for its price
  • The design is attractive.

Cons:

  • Battery life not up to 24 hours
  • RAM may need to be upgraded.

Dell Inspiron 3511 15.6" touch laptop

The Dell Inspiron 3511 is a touchscreen laptop that is suitable for people who want to multitask and switch between devices such as a smartphone, a tablet, and a computer. It is one of the best touch laptops that sells for under €500.

Price: €525

Purchase on Amazon

Features of the Dell Inspiron touchscreen

  • Comes with a built-in RAM of 8 GB and can be upgraded to 32 GB at an extra cost.
  • An anti-glare LED lighting and a touchscreen
  • Slim and flexible
  • Two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, an SD card slot, and an audio jacket output.
  • The battery life cycle is between 4 to 6 hours.
  • Features an Intel Core i5 and a CPU base clock speed of 2.4 GHz.

Pros and Cons of Dell Inspiron Touch Laptop

Pros:

  • An 8 GB RAM
  • A Core i5
  • A DDR4 memory ddr4
  • Hard drive size of 256 GB
  • Flexible

Cons:

  • No USB type-C port

ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3

The ASUS Chromebook Detachable has different models in several marketplaces and on Amazon. The detachable CM3 is unique and suitable for students, particularly those in programming.

Price: €305.4

Purchase on Amazon

Features of ASUS CM3

  • Hard drive storage of 64 GB and eMMc storage
  • 4 GB RAM that can’t be upgraded.
  • Battery life of 12 hours on a single charge and 45-watt adapter.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Screen size of 10.5 inches
  • CPU speed of 2 GHz
  • Installed RAM of 4 GB
  • Mineral grey color

Cons:

  • It gives off a cheaper aura compared to those on this list
  • No SD card reader for easy storage expansion.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

The Lenovo IdeaPad is suitable for university and college students in the art faculty, specifically those into 3D designs and illustrations.

Price: €385.48

Purchase on Amazon

Features of Lenovo IdeaPad 3

  • Hard disk size of 256 GB
  • RAM size of only 8 GB
  • 14-inch screen
  • Battery life of 8 hours
  • AMD Radeon Vega 8 CPU for efficiency.

Pros and Cons of Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Pros:

  • Hard disk size of 256 GB
  • Screen size of 14 inches
  • 8 GB RAM
  • Default black color

HP 14 Laptop

The HP brand is quite popular and the HP 14 laptop is ideal for students who love to play games in their leisure time and carry out other academic tasks.

Price: €406.5

Purchase on Amazon

Features of HP 14 Laptop

  • Hard drive size of 128 GB
  • 12, 16, and 32 GB RAM
  • HD Screen
  • WLED-backlit
  • 14.0 inch diagonal
  • One year warranty
  • Many ports including 2 USB type A and 1 USB type-C
  • Sufficient battery life cycle

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • 14-inch screen
  • Hard disk size of 128 GB
  • Windows 11
  • CPU speed of 2.6 GHz

Cons:

  • No backlit keyboard
  • Absence of Thunderbolt connectivity

Making a choice from the list of best laptops for students under €500 shouldn’t. It depends on the features you desire and, of course, your budget.

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Lucy Adegbe

Content/Technical Writer (I write contents on blockchain, technology, & personal finance)