Best cheap laptops – great value affordable notebooks and hybrids for school and university in 2018
Everyone needs a decent laptop to get them through their studies, so here’s a few options that won’t break the bank in 2018
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NEED an affordable laptop to take with you to school or university? We’ve got you covered.
The start of the term in September means students will be heading back to the classroom in the coming weeks.
And if you’re going to make the most of your studies, you’re going to need a decent laptop.
From taking notes in lectures, to streaming Netflix, you're going to need a computer than can handle a variety of tasks.
Plus if you’re a fan of gaming, you might need something with a little extra juice to power a Fortnite marathon or 12.
To help you out we’ve picked out a handful of the best affordable laptops that will meet your student needs.
Acer Chromebook R11
- £229.99 from Currys PC World -
This Chromebook from ASUS is versatile, good looking and a bargain at £229.
It can switch between Chromebook and tablet with its rotating screen and has enough battery life to get you through a day of lectures.
HP Chromebook 14"
- £244 from Overstock -
Another good value model is HP's 14" Chromebook.
It’s got average battery life and includes an excellent track pad and keyboard to make those late-night essays a breeze.
Acer 14" Chromebook
- £229 from AO -
If you want a laptop that’s going to last all day and all night, the Chromebook 15 from Acer will do just that.
It makes up for average performance with a ridiculous battery life and an attractive design to boot.
MacBook Air
- £769.97 from Amazon -
For many years the Air has been the ideal MacBook for students.
It combines a massive battery life with decent performance that’ll handle all the basics (word processing, video streaming, web browsing) with ease.
It’s also the cheapest MacBook you can buy, with an RRP of £950 (although you can pick them up much cheaper on Amazon ).
Since Apple might stop selling the Air by the end of 2018, it might be worth buying one while you still can as there's a steep increase in price to the next MacBook.
iPad
- £337 from Amazon -
Granted an iPad isn't a traditional laptop, but you can download word processors for most models and connect a Bluetooth keyboard, so its suits quick note taking in lectures (although it’s probably not the best option for tapping out an entire dissertation).
On the plus side, iPads are extremely portable and can handy tools for specialised tasks including graphic design and even 4K video editing if you pick the right model.
There's a ton of different iPad models you can buy, including the Pro and the Mini, but it's a good idea to have a shop on Amazon to find a good price on the model you like.
Don't be afraid to pick up a model from a couple of years back too if you find a good deal as the processors tend to age pretty well.
What to consider when buying a laptop for university
Think about the type of work you'll be doing. If you just need something to type up essays and watch Netflix, you'll probably be fine with a basic Chromebook.
If you're going to be editing video or using applications that take up a lot of processing power, you might need a more powerful laptop/MacBook to get the job done.
Battery life is worth thinking about too: if you need your laptop for eight hours of lectures a day you'll want something with a decent battery to avoid being tethered to a charger.
It's also worth checking reviews of various laptops before buying as you'll get a better idea about their battery life and real-world performance than you'll learn from the manufacturer.