If you're searching for a new laptop to buy for school or college and are on a tight budget to help you save throughout the school year ahead, I'm here to help.
Laptops have become incredibly expensive purchases, with the RAM crisis marking up the cost of the latest devices on the market that would otherwise be perfect for students. That doesn't mean you should settle for a cheap laptop that will barely let you write an essay while you do research online, though. You need a value-worthy machine that will get you through the academic year, and then some.
In every laptop my computing team and I have tested, we've made value the priority — now more than ever. The good news? We've found just the laptops that deliver reliable performance for working on multiple school projects (and watching shows on the side) at once, long battery life that will survive a full day of classes, and thin, lightweight designs that are easy to slip into your backpack.
So, I've put together a list of the best student laptops that won't cost you more than $700/£700. Whether you're a fan of Windows or want to get started in macOS, let's dive into the laptops for students I'd buy right now.
The quick list
The ideal budget laptop, with over 13 hours of battery life and an additional saving exclusively for students.
An affordable Windows laptop that feels far from budget, the XPS 13 impressed us with its stamina and portability.
Battery life hit over 16 hours when we tested the Ideapad Slim 3X. It's an amazing value option at full price, but we also see it go on sale from time to time.
Apple MacBook Neo
The MacBook Neo continues to be an absolute bargain for students, bringing many of the best parts of a MacBook and making it affordable for most. That's especially true for students, as you can buy this for $599/£599 and save yourself a huge chunk of money with Apple's Education Savings Pricing program.
The sleek, premium-built 13-inch laptop delivers a sturdy aluminum design at just 2.7 pounds, plus a tested 13 hours and 28 minutes of battery life. On the inside, you get Apple's A18 Pro chip, which kept things pleasantly responsive in our daily multitasking tests. We had no trouble hopping between multiple browser tabs and open apps, and the 13-inch 2408 x 1506 Liquid Retina display looked sharp for both research and video streaming during our hands-on time with it.
"No other laptop comes close to the Neo in terms of bang for your buck."
Mark Spoonauer, Global Editor-in-Chief at Tom's Guide
But how does it stack up to other student laptops? The Neo definitely feels more premium in hand than the budget-focused Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x, though you do give up a few hours of battery life (the Lenovo pushes past 16 hours, while the Neo lands at over 13 hours).
Against the much pricier MacBook Air M5, the Neo can't quite match the performance or stamina, but you're saving several hundred dollars for a machine that's still more than capable for schoolwork and downtime.
Downsides? You won't get features like a backlit keyboard or Thunderbolt support. Still, if you want a reliable, good-looking MacBook for everyday college life, and don't mind trading a little speed and battery for a friendlier price, the Neo is the best overall pick for most students.
Dell XPS 13 (2026)
For students who want a premium Windows experience in a compact, affordable package, the Dell XPS 13 (2026) is the one to beat. Even at this price (down to $599 for students), it feels anything but budget, thanks to its sturdy aluminum chassis and razor-sharp 2.5K touchscreen that rivals more expensive models.
Performance is rock solid for everyday student life. With its Intel Core 5 320 Wildcat Lake chip and 8GB of RAM as tested, the XPS 13 easily kept pace with our typical workflow — think 15 Chrome tabs open, YouTube playing in the background, and class apps running without a hiccup. Plus, Windows compatibility for classes is a non-issue, so you can run the software your campus demands with no workarounds or headaches.
"It's easily the best budget Windows laptop right now."
Tony Polanco, Senior Computing Writer at Tom's Guide
What really sets it apart for campus life is stamina and practicality. In our testing, the XPS 13 lasted an impressive 14 hours and 26 minutes. That’s real all-day battery, meaning you can leave the charger at home without worry. The touchscreen isn’t just for show, either. We found the 13.4-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) touchscreen just as responsive as the touchpad, making tap-and-swipe navigation useful for quick notes or media.
While the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x edges ahead on battery (16+ hours), the XPS 13 offers a more premium chassis and sharper display. If you’re eyeing the Dell XPS 14 (2026) for creative work, know that the XPS 13 can’t match its performance for video editing or heavy multitasking. It's also not designed for gaming, unlike the MacBook Neo, which can actually hold its own for PC games at the right settings.
But if you want an ultra-portable, premium-feeling Windows laptop that nails the balance of portability, battery and screen quality for real student workloads, it's hard to go wrong here.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x
If you're looking to keep value as your highest priority, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x delivers exactly what you need. The headline feature is battery life, at a crazy-long 16 hours and 29 minutes in our battery test. That's one of the best laptops for battery life, and means you can leave your charger behind for a full day. Add in a responsive keyboard with a full number pad, and you’ve got a solid setup for note-taking and late-night essays.
Performance is quietly impressive for the price. The Arm-based Snapdragon X CPU keeps things moving along for research, video calls and the usual multitasking. In practice, we had a good experience using it for writing, streaming Netflix and juggling emails. The keyboard, in particular, stands out for this price, as it's snappy and comfortable to type on for hours on end.
"This remains a killer budget laptop for students, remote workers and anyone who needs a budget-friendly laptop with all-day battery life (and then some)."
Stevie Bonifield, Contributor at Tom's Guide
When it comes to value, the IdeaPad Slim 3x outlasts pricier competition. It beats the MacBook Neo on battery life (16:29 vs 13:28), though the Neo’s A18 Pro chip is stronger for heavier multitasking and casual gaming. The Dell XPS 13 (2026) steps up with a sharper display and more premium build, but it can’t keep up with the IdeaPad’s stamina or price. Even the MacBook Air M5, for all its performance and vivid display, can’t match the all-day runtime here.
That said, don’t expect perfection. The display can look dim in dark scenes, and we noticed the speakers aren't as loud as they should be. Of course, it’s also not built for gaming or demanding creative work, but if you want a budget-friendly Windows laptop that’ll last through marathon days and handle your coursework without stalling, the IdeaPad Slim 3x is easily one of the best values around.
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