Good Cheap Laptops for School Students | 5 great options

There was a time when the only electronic device that most students needed for school was a trusty calculator for math and science classes. Today, most students eventually need an electronic device that can work as a calculator and complete many more functions: a late model laptop computer — and preferably one that can be purchased without costly financing.

Are you a student or the parent of student who needs to buy a laptop for school on a budget? If so, consider one of our pre-owned, late model, refurbished laptops reconditioned to look and work like new but costs hundreds of dollars less than the original price. If you prefer some recommendations for the best cheap laptops for students in school, here are five great options that we have in stock in our online store.

1. Dell Latitude E6400 Laptop Notebook | Our Price: $169.00

Dell has a well-deserved reputation for designing dependable computers for a variety of applications. This black Dell Latitude E6400 Laptop Notebook is no exception. An agile operating system, workhorse durability, and robust system security come standard. Typical of Dell computers, this laptop is well-rounded in all of the requisite capacities, making it one of our best-performing cheap laptops for students in school, regardless of education level.

Crucial Specs:

• Intel® Core 2 Duo processor
• 4GB system memory
• 1TB hard drive
• 4 USB 2.0 ports
• Wired / wireless network connectivity
• Windows 10 operating system

Keynotes

The processor, memory, and hard drive let upper-level students store and quickly retrieve the types and volume of information common to a semester of diverse classes. The same applies to the types and number of applications they commonly need to run, although several graphics-intensive apps running simultaneously can potentially lag the machine.

Also notable are the four USB ports that make it easy to simultaneously connect multiple peripherals to the laptop. Dual network connectivity is another bonus. The wireless LAN USB adapter is essential for tapping into school-provided Wi-Fi. The Gigabit Ethernet LAN port is useful for plugging into wired networks, either in the absence of Wi-Fi or as a backup for occasions when Wi-Fi is unavailable.

2. HP Elitebook 8460p Laptop Notebook | Our Price: $229.00

HP is one of Dell’s biggest competitors, and the features of this HP Elitebook 8460p Laptop Notebook show why. Inside the silvery shell are a host of dynamic features that make the computer’s 14-inch diagonal HD screen captivating to behold. Marketed as HP’s premier business notebook, this laptop has the speed and reliability to suit students at all levels of education, making it one of the most versatile of our cheap laptops for students in school.

Crucial Specs:

• Intel® Core i5 processor
• 4GB system memory
• 250GB hard drive
• Wireless network connectivity
• Windows 10 operating system
• 1-year warranty included

Keynotes

A 250GB hard drive is much smaller than a 1TB drive, but most laptops contain roughly 120GB - 700GB of hard drive space. As long as the laptop isn’t a repository for a colossal volume of photos, videos, and songs — while graphics-heavy programs such as Photoshop and InDesign are in use — there should be ample space to store and swiftly retrieve school-related files while running graphics-laden programs that some classes may require.

Students who have had issues with unreliable Wi-Fi and broadband connections interrupting homework and study time should be pleased with this computer’s built-in antenna, which excels at reading both types of transmissions. The computer also comes with a one-year warranty. If you view the warranty as a replacement for our one-year PC warranty that customers can purchase, it means you receive a $30 value for free.

3. Apple MacBook Air Laptop | Our Price: $479.00

Apple differs from other brands in an unusual way: some of its dedicated users proclaim their dedication based on aesthetics alone. If you, or the student you are buying for, adore the silver-white contours of Apple laptops and how they juxtapose the brilliant dabs of color in the Apple operating system (OS), don’t feel superficial if these tastes end up cinching your purchase of our MacBook Air Laptop. The computer has brains to go along with its beauty.

Crucial Specs:

• Intel® Dual Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost
• 4GB onboard LPDDR3 SDRAM system memory
• 128GB flash storage
• AirPort Extreme wireless card
• Intel HD Graphics 6000
• Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan

Keynotes

A processor that “boosts” from 1.6GHz up to 2.7GHz, 4GB of memory, 128GB of flash storage, and HD graphics give this laptop commendable performance, especially given its ultra-light body, which is ideal to tote in backpacks and messenger bags. The computer isn’t made to run a slew of programs that hog hard drive space (MacBook Pro laptops are better for that), but it can certainly be a nimble laptop for those who don’t need such programs.

Among our cheap laptops for students in school, this one is far from the cheapest. But it has been restored to like-new condition, and it costs less than half as much as new MacBook Air.

4. Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop Notebook | Our Price: $309.00

The Intel® Core i5 processor, 8GB memory, and 1TB hard drive of the Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop Notebook make it a formidable ally for practically all student computing needs. What grabs the most attention, though, are unique features that protect this matte black laptop against accidents and wear: a spill-resistant keyboard, a 360-degree LCD bumper, a specially sealed screen, and reinforced steel hinges. If you need a laptop for deejaying a frenetic frat party, this is the one.

Crucial Specs:

• Intel® Core i5 processor
• 8GB system memory
• 1TB hard drive
• Wireless network connectivity
• Special reinforcements against damage
• Windows 10 operating system

Keynotes

Dell made this laptop with business professionals in mind, designing it to weather coffee spills and getting bumped around while used in transit. The design can prove just as helpful to students who use laptops in coffee shops, field settings, lab rooms, and other environments where liquids are in close proximity.

The processor, memory, and hard drive trio should meet any student’s needs. But what about paying a little extra for those special safeguards that help protect the computer from forces of ruin: is it worth it? Well, it could easily prevent a costly repair or the need for a replacement laptop. From this perspective, the computer can start to seem like the most cost-effective of our cheap laptops for students in school, despite not having the lowest price.

5. HP-Elitebook 8460p Laptop Notebook | Our Price: $279.00

Like the Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop Notebook reviewed above, this silver-toned HP Elitebook 8460p Laptop Notebook was largely designed for business types who need laptops with ample storage, impressive speed, and HD graphics for creating, storing, and retrieving a variety of documents. Many upper-level students need the same capabilities but in a different context. This laptop can serve them well.

Crucial Specs:

• Intel® Core i5 processor
• 4GB system memory
• 1TB hard drive
• Wireless network connectivity
• Windows 10 operating system
• 1 Year Warranty included

Keynotes

While not the cheapest of our cheap laptops for students in school, this model is an incredibly good deal for the price. The OS is agile at all points, and the versatility of the HD graphics makes it an ideal computer for creating, storing, and editing various types of visual content, while still offering copious storage for a variety of text documents. You also receive a one-year warranty at no extra cost, which sweetens the price, and lets you invest with confidence.

Why Our Refurbished Laptops are Different

The term “refurbished” applies to pre-owned computers that are evaluated for functionality and then resold. But some refurbished hardware doesn’t receive much restoration prior to resale, and some receive none at all. If a laptop turns on and appears to function properly for a few minutes, it may simply be repackaged and resold, without so much as a glance behind the outer shell to see if debris is present, or performing a cursory check for worn parts.

At Discount-Computer.com, our laptops are never just reboxed and resold. We recondition them from the inside out: dust and debris are removed, worn parts are replaced, problematic parts from the manufacturer are substituted, and cosmetic flaws are corrected. We also offer the option of purchasing an extended PC warranty that lasts up to one year. You will not find refurbished, cheap laptops for students in school that offer more dependability than ours.

For help choosing a laptop for specific school needs, contact us today for assistance. We proudly offer deep discounts on dynamic computers that support academic achievement.