You have arrived at the ultimate guide to the best affordable laptops for schools. So if you need a new portable device and want it to be up to task -- without pushing your ever-shrinking budget deeper into the red -- then this list should have an ideal model.
The point here is that even at the more affordable end of the spectrum, there are plenty of laptop options that are tailored to serve various needs.
Sure, not too long ago it was a choice between paying more and getting premium features and cutting back and having to sacrifice. But as tech has become more prevalent and affordable, you can now have the best of both.
Before you buy it's important to think about what you need, be that a powerful processor backed by lots of RAM and a graphics card for gaming and video editing, or a light and portable model with longer battery lift for all-day use.
The operating system is also a good place to consider as this may affect the systems and apps you already use regularly. Then, of course there's the price.
This guide lays out all the best affordable laptops for schools so you can find the right model to suit your needs.
Best affordable laptops for schools
Best affordable laptop for schools overall
The Acer Aspire 3 tops our list as the best affordable laptop for schools. This is thanks to a baseline model that provides plenty of performance friendly specs while keeping the price low. You can spend more and get a faster CPU, GPU, more RAM, more storage, and even a larger and higher resolution display. But the key here is that no matter the level you pick, this is well-built.
That means Acer-level quality in terms of materials, lightweight, solid frame, and battery quality and longevity. Plus, these machines run on Microsoft Windows 11 as standard.
Great connectivity is available with USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and WiFi 6 onboard. The screen has a BlueLightShield to protect the eyes, and with a slim profile of 18.9mm and 1.6kg weight, this is good to go in a bag with you all day.
Best affordable Apple Mac laptop for schools
If you want to get an Apple laptop, but don't want to pay Apple prices, then an older model MacBook Air is a great option. While the M2 offers big savings, it's not much more than the M3, so looking around that age range can be a perfect balance of affordability and power.
The MacBook Air is available in several variants when it comes to specs and even colors, but in all instances you're getting a very well-made machine. A strong metallic outer, meticulously designed physical keyboard, intelligent biometric security, and a rich and clear display, plus a plethora of connectivity options.
Above all else you're getting macOS, which features access to some of the best made and most stable apps out there. Lots of developers build for Mac first, so even if these are older laptops, students may be getting access to the latest software simply by using a Mac.
Best affordable Chromebook for schools
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is a super affordable way to get the power of a 2-in-1 laptop and tablet without spending a lot. To be clear, this is a low-spec model even for a Chromebook so it's not the most powerful. But it will run the light Chrome OS smoothly and can serve you well for most simple tasks such as working on documents, using a web browser, and accessing emails.
Having that ability to use this as a tablet or a laptop is a rare treat at this price point. The device works well for students, and teachers, who want to use it in portable way when a laptop might not fit or a tablet may not offer enough. This lets you always have both at the ready.
Battery life is superb, with a good 16-hours use on constant video playback testing. It should go all day without the need to carry a charger, making that already compact build seem even more portable.
Best affordable Windows laptop for schools
This Windows 11 laptop from ASUS offers a range of specs but even the baseline is more than powerful enough for most school tasks. Packing in an AMD Ryzen 5 chipset, this offers 6-cores and 12-threads of processing smarts backed by integrated graphics and plenty of RAM and SSD storage space.
The build quality is solid, as you'd expect from a big name such as ASUS, offering you a portable option that still packs in a large and high-quality 16-inch FHD+ display.
You also have a 720p webcam, fingerprint sensor, USB-C, multiple USB-A, and HDMI connectivity, plus WiFi 6E. This can handle plenty of heavier processing tasks but it has built-in graphics available so don't expect this to power perform for tasks such as gaming or video editing.
Best affordable gaming laptop for schools
The Acer Nitro V 15 is an affordable gaming laptop that's ideal for schools. This is one of the more expensive models on this list but there's no avoiding that when it comes to a laptop that's powerful enough for gaming. The key here is that you get that great combination of a dedicated graphics processor and screen built to task.
Under the hood is a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU for buttery smooth gaming performance. And the screen can keep up thanks to its 144Hz refresh rate and high def 1920 x 1080 resolution on the 15.6-inch display.
A few options in terms of specs are available so you can save money or spend more depending on how much power you need. In either case you're getting a powerful and portable gaming laptop that's built by a well-established brand known for decent quality that should last.
Best affordable AI laptop for schools
The Dell Inspiron 14 is a great option for schools that want an affordable laptop that still packs in onboard AI smarts. Despite being well-priced for what is onboard, this gives you a Windows 11 experience with all the powers that having Microsoft Copilot onboard offers.
The onboard GPU isn't so powerful, which is alright for 2D image editing but anything more complex is going to be taxing. That said, the display, at 14-inches 60Hz and 1080p, is decent and is backed by a zippy eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU.
Copilot onboard means integrated AI companion assistance with the likes of Microsoft 365 tools and beyond.
