6 best laptops under $700 for students
6 best laptops under $700 for students: A typical student laptop usually has a lot of features. It helps in research work, creating documents, watching movies or playing games. Many will point to the Apple MacBook Air, but it’s expensive and not very useful. Luckily, there are plenty of Windows laptops and Chromebooks out there that aren’t as expensive and allow you to get the job done without a hitch.
A typical student laptop usually has a lot of features. It helps in research work, creating documents, watching movies or playing games. Many will point to the Apple MacBook Air, but it’s expensive and not very useful. Luckily, there are plenty of Windows laptops and Chromebooks out there that aren’t as expensive and allow you to get the job done without a hitch.
Performance isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing a laptop for a student. It should have long battery life and be portable. And, hey, build quality is also an important factor, especially if you’re thinking of using it before the next chapter starts.
So, if you’re in the market looking for well-performing student laptops under $700, here are our recommendations.
Let’s check them out. But first,
- Pain in the neck? Take a look at these adjustable laptop stands
- Boost your productivity with these wireless keyboard and mouse combos
1. HP Envy x360
- Weight: 2.9 lbs | Display: 13.3 inch FHD
- Ports: 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C, 1 microSD card slot
And it’s not just the performance of this laptop. The display is crisp and clear, just like a 1080p display. You’ll see accurate colors and the stereo speakers ensure you can easily watch your favorite shows without any issues during breaks. It’s worth noting that the Envy x360 comes with a Bang & Olufsen audio center.
In addition, you can connect the MPP 2.0 stylus if you want to do some digital inking. And the 2-in-1 design is the cherry on top.
Battery life is decent and you should get through a full day at medium brightness.
2. Acer Swift 3
- Weight: 2.65 lbs | Display: 14″ FHD
- Ports: 1 USB-C port, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 HDMI port, 1 3.5 audio jack
It weighs 2.65 pounds and can easily be carried in a backpack. The 14-inch FHD screen helps make text and images clearer. However, the screen isn’t overly bright, and you’ll have to struggle if you plan to work outdoors during the day.
It can easily multi-task, whether it’s launching many Chrome tabs together or switching between two or more apps. And this is confirmed by many reputable reviewers. A flawless performance is backed by long battery life.
The Acer Swift 3 has its limitations: the speakers aren’t too loud, and you’ll have to use wireless headphones for video calls.
3.Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga
- Weight: 3.30 lbs | Display: 13.3 inch FHD
- Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Type-A, 2 x USB-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x MicroSD card reader, 1 x 3.5 audio
And it is the stylus that comes in handy for many reasons. First, you can take quick notes and reminders instead of using them for illustrative purposes from time to time.
The ThinkPad C13 Yoga is equipped with an AMD 3000C series processor, although a few Ryzen options are available. The 3000C series processor is fast and can easily handle anything you throw at it without getting hot or slowing down. Battery life is decent for a Chromebook.
Of course, battery life depends on the intensity of your work. And with more energy-intensive work, the battery drains faster. However, the guys at The Wired managed to get about 9 hours of battery life during our battery tests.
Not so long ago, Chromebooks were often ridiculed for their functionality, rather limited functionality. Thankfully, things have changed for the better with devices like the C13 Yoga.
Another Chromebook you might want to check out is the Google Pixelbook Go M3. While it has impressive battery life and comes in a handy package, the 8th Gen Intel Core M3 processor can fall behind at times.
If you can push the budget, you can check out the Google Pixelbook Go with an Intel Core i5-8220Y processor. Even though it’s a little pricey, this Chromebook is often touted to handle day-to-day tasks with ease.
4. Acer Chromebook Spin 713
- Weight: 3 lbs | Display: 13.5 inches, 2256 x 1504
- Ports : 2x USB-C, 1x USB 3.0, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.55 audio jack and microSD card slot
The guys at Laptop Mag could run 20 tabs together without a problem. Interestingly, seven of those tabs ran YouTube videos. Battery life is good too. On average, it will last for 10 hours.
As noted earlier, you get the benefit of the extra vertical height. Less scrolling is required when reading and browsing the web.
It is thin and easy to carry in bags. Interestingly, it is certified (MIL-STD 810G) against fluctuations of temperature. Cool, I would say.
5. Microsoft Surface Go 2
- Weight: 1.2 lbs | Display: 10.5 inches, 1920 x 1280
- Ports: 1 USB-C port, 1 Surface Connect port, 1 Surface Type cover port, 1 MicroSD port, 1 3.5mm audio jack
The design of the convertible car makes it versatile. Whether it’s placing it in a small space or using it as a book to look through notes; convertible design enhances usability. And hey, you get nifty specs like a touchscreen display with a neat 3:2 aspect ratio panel. When you need it, you can put it on a stand.
Due to the form factor, you can expect some compromise, and for this variant, it’s battery life that lasts around 5 hours. This is the shorter end and you will have to charge the battery daily.
Note that Microsoft is shipping a more powerful variant of the Surface Go 2. It includes the top-end Intel M3 processor and naturally costs a lot more than this one.
6. Lenovo Chromebook Duet
- Weight: 1.2 lbs | Display: 10.1 inch Full HD
- Ports: 1 x USB-C, 5-position pins
Naturally, you won’t get fast performance, but the Chromebook Duet gets the job done. And the 2-in-1 design proves to be extremely convenient for use on the go. In addition, the display provides vibrant colors and you can watch videos from time to time.
Laptop or Chromebook
While laptops are the best choice for many of us, finding the right combination of performance and battery life usually results in a hefty price tag. Thankfully, Chromebooks help fill in the gaps with their specs and impressive battery life. And with the advent of web-based tools like MS Office and Excel, you can practically cross the bridge with minimal hurdles.