The Best Laptops Under $600 2025
- Camila Karalyte
- Feb 13
- 8 min read
Your search for the best laptops under $600 ends here.
As you're doing your back to school shopping, you might be in the market for a new laptop.
Whether you're a freshman heading off to campus for the first time ever, or a senior returning to school for one final victory lap, being equipped with a laptop that can handle your course load is a must.
The only problem is... your budget. It just might not agree with you. Which is why finding the best laptops for under $600 can be a total game changer for your academic life at college (and more bucks to spend on socializing).
So if you (and your bank account) are dreading the thought of spending upwards of $1,000 or more on a computer, don't fret — there are plenty of solid options available for students, all under $600. Check out our categories for the best college laptops under $600!
Laptops are super important to take to university, but don't forget your other college dorm room essentials, too.
In this article:
Best laptops under 600
Best gaming laptops under 600
Best 2-in-1 laptops under 600
Student discounts on laptops
Best laptops under 600
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 — Amazon, $549.99
The Microsoft Surface line in general is known to have some of the best laptops available on the market right now, with the price coming in at just under $600. This smaller version of the Surface Laptop 4 is a great, budget-friendly choice if you want the power of a traditional 15-inch laptop without the price tag, making it one of the best laptops for under $600.
While the resolution is slightly lower than your standard laptop, the screen and display still look sharp and clear, and the 3:2 aspect ratio gives you plenty of room for productivity. The build quality is great, so this durable option will be sure to get you through four years of college, all for under $600.
What's In The Box
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
39W Power Supply
Technical specs
Operating system: Windows 11
RAM: 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4x
Processor: Quad Core 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7
Storage: 128GB, 256GB
Screen resolution: 1536 x 1024
Screen size: 12.4-inch
Screen type: LED
Battery life: 13.5 hours
Audio connections: Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio Premium
Webcam: 720p HD f2.0 camera
Colors: Platinum, Sage, Ice Blue, Sandstone
Pros
Great hardware and design
Solid power
Good battery life
Color-accurate and bright display
Cons
Average resolution
No backlit keyboard
Check out Amazon student discounts.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 — Amazon, $520
Fast and reliable are two words we would use to describe the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5. You'll be able to seamlessly multitask on all your projects without missing a step, despite this powerful laptop coming in a modest 11-inch screen size. And did we mention it's one of the best laptops for under $600?
With a short charging time (15 minutes), you can get back on your laptop to work in no time, and there's even a built-in webcam privacy shutter to ensure that all your data stays safe. The fan-less design is also super quiet, meaning you'll be able to work without being interrupted by your laptop trying to cool itself down. Littles features like these add up and make it worth checking out, again making it one of the best laptops for under $600.
What's In The Box
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
65W AC adapter
Lenovo Digital Pen
Technical specs
Operating system: Windows 11 Home
RAM: 8GB
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7530U Processor
Storage: Up to 1TB SSD M.2 PCIe Gen4
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1200
Screen size: 14-inch
Screen type: LED
Battery life: 15 hours
Audio connections: Dolby Audio
Webcam: 1080p FHD webcam with privacy shutter
Colors: Arctic Gray, Abyss Blue
Pros
Solid battery life
Great screen display and resolution
Cons
Not the best screen
Average webcam
HP Chromebook x360 — HP, $289.99
If you want to start out with a standard laptop that has the capacity for upgrades, you might want to consider the HP Chromebook x360, which is another great college laptop for under $600.
While the baseline model can put in plenty of work, having the option to get more computing power in the future (when your budget might allow for it), is a nice option to have in your back pocket.
The great touch display will give you the feel of a tablet with the processing power of a laptop. If your schoolwork has you typing a lot, you'll definitely appreciate how comfortable the keyboard feels, too. It's a great, middle of the line option with plenty of potential for growth, with the base model being right under $600 for this laptop.
What's In The Box
HP Chromebook x360
Charging cable
Stylus
Technical specs
Operating system: ChromeOS
RAM: 8 GB LPDDR4-4266 MHz RAM
Processor: MediaTek Kompanio 1380
Storage: 128 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Screen resolution: 1920x1080
Screen size: 13.3-inch
Screen type: LED
Battery life: 16 hours
Battery type: 2-cell, 47 Wh Li-ion polymer
Audio connections: Audio by B&O; Dual speakers; HP Audio Boost
Webcam: HP Wide Vision 720p HD camera with temporal noise reduction and integrated dual array digital microphones
Pros
Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
Plenty of ports
Quality build
Cons
Average baseline display
CPU might not be enough for some
Check out our HP student discounts for savings on tech.
Acer Aspire 5 — Walmart, $486.36
While the display on the Acer Aspire 5 isn't anything to write home about, if you're just using your laptop for schoolwork, you seriously can't beat that price, coming in at nearly $200 under $600 for one of the best budget laptops on the market. It's a perfectly acceptable laptop for your course work and any other productivity tasks you might need to use your laptop for.
The fingerprint reader is a nice touch (no pun intended), and there's plenty of other features that make the $400 price tag impossible to overlook. If you need a laptop that will get the job done on a tight budget, this is the best under $600 laptop answer to your prayers.
Use your laptop to help learn how to study effectively in college.
What's In The Box
Acer Aspire 5
AC adapter
Technical specs
Operating system: Windows 11
RAM: 8GB
Processor: Ryzen 3 5300U
Storage: 256GB
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen size: 15.6-inches
Screen type: LCD
Battery life: 11 hours
Battery type: 3-cell Li-ion
Webcam: HD Webcam (1280 x 720)
Colors: Pure Silver
Pros
Great price
HD display
Plenty of ports
Cons
Dull display
Average keyboard
Find our Walmart student discounts.
Gaming laptops under 600
Need to deck out your gaming set-up? Check out the best Logitech gaming headsets and the best quiet gaming keyboards.
ASUS Vivobook 15 F512 — Amazon, $447
Trying to find gaming laptops under $600 may seem like an impossible task, but thanks to the ASUS Vivobook 15 F512, you can still play all your AAA titles without missing a beat — and at an incredible price, too. Plus, it has all the functionality you'll need for school.
While the battery life isn't great (be sure to have your charging cable with you at all times to avoid losing power at a critical moment), this option for gaming laptops under $600 is a steal. The ergonomic keyboard is great for gaming and typing alike, and the graphics look incredible on the screen.
What's In The Box
ASUS Vivobook 15 F512
Charging cable
Technical specs
Operating system: Windows 11
RAM: 4GB DDR4
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Mobile Processor
Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen size: 15.6-inch
Screen type: OLED
Battery life: 3 hours
Battery type: 2-cell Li-ion
Audio connections: SonicMaster, audio by ICEpower, built-in speaker
Webcam: 720p HD camera
Colors: Slate Gray
Pros
Great gaming laptop on a budget
Ergonomic keyboard is great for typing
Stunning display
Cons
Below average battery life
HP Victus — Amazon, $560
The HP Victus is one of the best gaming laptops under $600. If you're looking for strong performance for an affordable price, this is the laptop for you. It delivers smooth game-play thanks to the Intel Core processor and the 144Hz Full HD display offers fluid motion and a more immersive experience.
Due to its 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, this gaming laptop can help you multitask efficiently and offers fast load times.
What's In The Box
HP Victus 15.6-inch Laptop
AC adapter
Technical specs
Operating system: Windows 11 Home
RAM: 8GB
Processor: Intel Core i5-12450H
Storage: 512GB SSD
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen size: 15.6 inches
Screen type: LCD, 144Hz refresh rate
Battery life: Up to 8 hours
Battery type: 4-cell Li-ion
Webcam: HD Webcam (1280 x 720)
Colors: Mica Silver
Pros
Smooth 144Hz display
Powerful GPU for gaming and creative work
Large SSD storage
Cons
Below-average battery life
Can run hot under heavy load
Best 2-in-1 laptops under 600
Chromebook Duet 5 — Lenovo, $499
The Chromebook Duet 5 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops under $600. It combines portability, versatility, and a vibrant display. The 13.3-inch Full HD OLED touchscreen delivers excellent visuals and the Snapdragon processor makes for a smooth performance.
Multitask with its 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, plenty of space for all your college assignments!
What's In The Box
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
AC adapter
Technical specs
Operating system: ChromeOS
RAM: 8GB
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2
Storage: 128GB / 256GB eMMC
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen size: 13.3 inches
Screen type: OLED touchscreen
Battery life: Up to 15 hours
Battery type: 4-cell Li-ion
Webcam: 5MP front-facing, 8MP rear-facing
Colors: Storm Grey / Abyss Blue
Pros
Stunning OLED touchscreen display
Lightweight and detachable 2-in-1 design
Long battery life
Cons
Limited processing power for heavy tasks
eMMC storage is slower than SSD
Use our Lenovo student discount for great savings.
Dell Latitude 5300 2 in 1 Notebook — Walmart, $217.05
The Dell Latitude 5300 notebook is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops under $600 — thanks to its versatility and reliability. The 13.3 inch touchscreen has a 360-degree hinge so you're able to transform the laptop into a tablet, or put it into tent and stand modes for streaming movies.
What's In The Box
Dell Latitude 5300 13.3" 2-in-1 Notebook
AC adapter
Technical specs
Operating system: Windows 10 Pro / Windows 11 Pro
RAM: Up to 16GB
Processor: Intel Core i5 / i7 (8th Gen)
Storage: Up to 512GB SSD
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen size: 13.3 inches
Screen type: Full HD Touchscreen, 360-degree hinge
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Battery type: 4-cell Li-ion
Webcam: HD Webcam (720p)
Colors: Black
Pros
Versatile 2-in-1 convertible design
Solid performance for business and multitasking
Long battery life
Cons
Display could be brighter
Slightly heavier than other ultrabooks
Student discounts on laptops
Laptops, and technology in general, are not cheap.
But, why should you students have to suffer? Luckily, we've got various student discounts on laptops and tech, so have a look at the list below to grab some extra savings:
Apple student discount — up to 15% off refurbished products
Microsoft student discount — students get Office 365 for free, up to 10% off student discount, free Microsoft Teams for students and teachers
Logitech student discount — 15% off, free desk mat, free Logi Accessory case
Drop student discount — 10% student discount
Newegg student discount — 8% student discount
Acer student discount — 10% student discount
LG student discount — 10% off student discount on all electronics
Samsung student discount — up to 20% off student discount
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