It’s hard to imagine going off to school without a laptop. While some people may prefer the lightweight design of a tablet, laptops are often the better choice for busy students. They are built tougher, generally have better specs, and are more ergonomic for extended use. There are lots of laptops on the market today, and finding one that suits both your needs and your budget can be difficult. We’ve rounded up five great deals on laptops for students who are heading back to school this fall. These laptop deals will ensure that you still have plenty of money left in your back to school budget to purchase textbooks, clothing, and other educational necessities. Our recommendations focus on laptops that are the best value for the money, rather than just the cheapest deals out there. After all, students need laptops that are affordable, but that will also last for more than a year or two before dying.
1. Toshiba KIRAbook 13i7S1 13.3-Inch Touchscreen Laptop
(Toshiba)
Looking for a beefy, powerful laptop? This Toshiba laptop has been designed to balance superior specs with an elegant, ultra thin design. Under the hood, so to speak, you’ll find a dependable Intel Core i7-5500U 3.0 GHz processor, along with 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid state drive. The display is clear and stunning, and it ships with Windows 8.1 Professional. If your coursework requires you to have a powerful processor and a spacious hard drive, this is a laptop worth investing in. If you take care of it properly, it should last beyond your school days and into your early career.
Price: $1,279.99 (25 percent off MSRP)
Buy the Toshiba KIRAbook 13i7S1 13.3-Inch Touchscreen Laptop here.
2. ASUS Flip TP500LA-AS53T 2-in-1 Convertible 15.6″ FHD Touchscreen Laptop
(ASUS)
The Core i5, 1 TB hard drive, 8 GB RAM version of the ASUS Flip is eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 10, making this a smart buy for those students who are interested in having the latest operating system. There’s a webcam, three USB ports, a large display, and support for Bluetooth 4.0. As you can guess from the name, the Flip can “flip” into tablet mode. A clever keyboard and touchpad lock automatically prevent accidental input when the device is in tablet orientation. This laptop hybrid is backed by a one-year warranty, with a one-year Accidental Damage Protection from ASUS.
Price: $629 (16 percent off MSRP)
Buy the ASUS Flip TP500LA-AS53T 2-in-1 Convertible 15.6″ FHD Touchscreen Laptop here.
3. Lenovo S21e 11.6-Inch Laptop
(Lenovo)
Looking for a laptop with a smaller screen? This new laptop from Lenovo is a solid choice. Admittedly, this model isn’t available at a huge discount, but it’s still available for a super low price. Plus, it’s a brand new model. This Lenovo is powered by an Intel Celeron N2840 2.1 GHz processor, with 2GB of RAM and a 32GB solid state drive. That hard drive might be too small for some students, but those students who generally store their work in the cloud may not mind the smaller drive.
Price: $189.99 (5 percent off MSRP)
Buy the Lenovo S21e 11.6-Inch Laptop here.
4. ASUS Chromebook 13-Inch HD with Gigabit WiFi, 16GB Storage & 2GB RAM
(ASUS)
Chromebooks are a perennial favorite for students, both because of their low price, and because of their simple interface. For high school students or liberal arts students, the Chromebook’s limitations are not usually an issue, since they only need limited spreadsheet or word processing abilities to complete their coursework. If you’ve had your eye on a Chromebook for a while, this model is a great buy for students.
Price: $209 (9 percent off MSRP)
Buy the ASUS Chromebook 13-Inch HD with Gigabit WiFi, 16GB Storage & 2GB RAM here.
5. MSI GE Series GE70 Apache Pro-681 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop
(MSI)
When you study hard, you deserve to play hard. For students who want a laptop that can handle both school work and heavy gaming, there’s this great laptop from MSI. A great 17.3-inch display ensures that you have a large screen for gaming, while 12GB of RAM ensures that your gaming experience will be smooth and stutter-free. A zippy 1 TB 7200 RPM hard drive and a powerful Intel Core i7-4720HQ 3.6 GHz processor round out the specs. If you need a gaming laptop for under $1000, this is a solid choice.
Price: $999 (23 percent off MSRP)
Buy the MSI GE Series GE70 Apache Pro-681 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop here.
