Best budget laptops for college in 2020

If you are currently studying at college or planning to sign-up for a new course in 2020, a laptop will undoubtedly be a must-have item.

Investing in a new laptop can be a costly business, with the leading manufacturers eager to cash-in on the continuing boom in the technology industry.

However, the marketplace is also awash with machines that offer a solid level of performance without the need to break the bank.

Many students struggle financially when they are going through college, meaning value-for-money becomes the main consideration for big purchases.

While budget restrictions are an unwelcome fact of life for college students, it doesn’t necessarily have to mean that they end up with a laptop that is not fit for purpose.

We have searched across the internet to find what we believe are the best budget laptops for college studies in 2020. Read on to find out more.

Chuwi LapBook Pro 14.1 Laptop

With an Intel Gemini-Lake N4100 quad core 64-bit processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD, the Chuwi LapBook Pro 14.1 undoubtedly packs a powerful punch for an entry-level machine.

It comes with backlit keyboard with ergonomic buttons that make whizzing through tough college tasks a veritable breeze.

The LapBook Pro has a fully-laminated IPS display boasting 1920 x 1080 resolution, offering users a pleasurable viewing experience across a wide range of tasks.

The machine also features twin speakers, although you may need to hit the volume button if you are in a noisy area as these are positioned in the base of the laptop.

With Chuwi improving rapidly in the reliability department over the past few years, the LapBook Pro is clearly a sensible choice for college students.

Hewlett Packard HP 15-BS013DX Laptop

Going to college and need a new laptop? If colleges offering free laptops sound too good to be true, that’s because it is – most colleges hide tech fees that lead to students paying far more than the actual cost of the machine.

A better option would the Hewlett Packard HP 15-BS013DX – a good budget laptop that will help you cope with the demands of college life over the next two to four years.

It features an Intel i3-7100U processor, 1TB hard drive and 8GB of RAM, making it pretty future proof as you progress through your college studies.

There is also 15.6-inch touchscreen which features a functional 1366 x 768 display, while an Intel HD Graphics 620 card will allow you to play games online during your spare time.

A textured plastic case provides plenty of protection for this laptop, providing a quality feel despite the budget price tag.

Acer Chromebook 15 Laptop

Acer are famed for producing laptops that boast great specifications without the need to shell out significant sums of money.

The Chromebook 15 hits the spot in that respect, packing in an Intel Pentium N4200 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, Intel HD graphics and a 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) screen.

A backlit keyboard allows you to power through your assignments even late at night, while 16 hours’ battery life will help to ensure you never miss any deadlines.

Acer have housed the Chromebook 15 in a stylish aluminium casing, giving it the look and feel of a laptop much further up the price scale.

This is another machine that perfectly fits the bill for anyone studying at college and is certainly well worth checking out.

ASUS VivoBook E203MA Laptop

If finances really are tight, the ASUS VivoBook E203MA should be high on the list of laptops you consider buying.

It features an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage, placing it firmly at the budget end of the specification range.

However, one of its biggest selling points is an 11.6-inch display with 1080p resolution that comes on a 180-degree hinge, making it perfect for group assignments at college.

It also comes with an annual membership to Microsoft Office 365 software, thus providing you with excellent value-for-money.

With Excel, PowerPoint, Word and more, the ASUS VivoBook E203MA has all the basic tools you need to successfully undertake your studies.

Xiaomi Mi Laptop

Xaiomi enjoyed great success with the original version of the Mi Laptop and history looks set to repeat itself with its latest edition.

Although it looks very similar to its predecessor, the new model is packed with features that will comfortably cope with the demands of studying at college.

There are three different models available, with the base machine boasting an Intel Core i5-9300H processor, 8GB of RAM, 144 Hz IPS FHD display and a 512GB NVMe SSD.

The display is particularly impressive, with Xaiomi upgrading it significantly from the 60Hz panel that was on the previous version of this machine.

With excellent performance, fast start-up times and the ability to use it for gaming as well as studying, the Xaiomi Mi Laptop is a great all-rounder.