Whether you’re returning for another year on campus or starting your college student era, your budget can get stretched fast between rent, books and day-to-day expenses. But you don't need to spend a fortune to get tech that keeps up with lectures, essays and late-night library sessions.
If you're looking for a full laptop for writing up assignments or a slimmer tablet for taking notes on the go, there's plenty of choice for under €500. We've done the homework, so you don't have to. Here are our top five student laptop recommendations.
What to look for in a student laptop or tablet
Here's a quick checklist to keep in mind:
Enough memory: For a laptop, 8GB of RAM is a good starting point for juggling browser tabs, Word docs and a video call at once.
Storage space: Coursework lives happily in the cloud, so 128GB can be plenty if you use OneDrive or Google Drive. If you'd rather keep files on the device, look for 256GB or more.
Battery that lasts the day: Aim for 10 hours or more, so you're not hunting for a plug in every lecture hall.
Light and portable: You'll be carrying it across campus every day, so weight matters as much as screen size.
A comfortable keyboard: Essays don't write themselves. If you'll be typing a lot, a laptop or a tablet with a keyboard accessory makes life much easier.
Stylus support: Handy for handwritten notes, sketching diagrams and annotating PDFs.
The right software: Check that it runs Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, plus any course-specific programs your department requires.
All-rounder laptops under €500
A laptop is still the best all-round piece of tech for college. It handles long essays, spreadsheets, research and streaming with ease.
Best for everyday coursework: HP 15-fd1505sax 15.6" Laptop
If you want a dependable, no-fuss laptop that handles everything from lecture notes to group project slides, the HP 15-fd1505sax is a strong pick.
It's powered by an Intel Core 5 processor with 8GB of RAM, so multitasking stays smooth.
Its 256GB SSD is the largest storage space of our three laptops, with space for coursework, apps and photos.
HP Fast Charge takes you from 0 to 50% in around 45 minutes, and a camera privacy shutter keeps your webcam covered when you're not on a video call.
Shop all HP student laptops.
Best for battery life: Acer Aspire Go 15 15.6" Laptop
Spending long days on campus? The Acer Aspire Go 15 is built for the long haul.
It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 8GB of RAM, and is designed to keep everyday tasks like browsing, writing and streaming running smoothly.
You get up to 12 hours of battery life, so it can see you through a full day of lectures and still have juice left over.
The 15.6" Full HD screen is a good size for reading and writing without squinting.
Shop all Acer student laptops.
Best for portability: Acer Aspire Lite 14" Laptop
If you're trekking between lecture halls and the library, a lighter laptop makes a big difference. The Acer Aspire Lite 14" weighs just 1.5kg.
Its AMD Ryzen 3 processor and 8GB of RAM handle browsing, documents and video calls with ease.
The 14" Full HD display is bright, sharp and easy on the eyes during long study sessions.
It has HDMI, USB and microSD ports, plus up to 10 hours of battery life.
Shop all Acer laptops.
Tablets under €500
Tablets are lighter than laptops and great for lectures, reading and note-taking. Both of these tablets come with a stylus, so you can start jotting things down straight away.
Best budget-friendly tablet: Lenovo Idea Tab 11"
Looking for a study companion that's easy on your wallet? The Lenovo Idea Tab 11" offers plenty for the price.
The 11" 2.5K display has a 90Hz refresh rate, so text is crisp and scrolling feels smooth.
The Lenovo Tab Pen is included, so you can annotate PDFs and take handwritten notes straight away.
With up to 14 hours of battery life, four Dolby Atmos speakers and a microSD slot for extra storage, it's brilliant for lectures, reading and unwinding afterwards.
Shop all Lenovo tablets.
Best premium tablet under €500: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite
Want a bit more polish? The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is a great all-rounder for note-taking, brainstorming and streaming.
It has a 10.9" 2K display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
An S Pen comes in the box, ready for sketching and jotting down ideas in lectures.
It has 8GB of RAM and an Exynos 1380 processor, so it copes well with several apps at once.
Shop all Samsung tablets.
Laptop or tablet: which should you choose?
If your course involves lots of typing, spreadsheets or software that only runs on Windows, a laptop is the safer bet. If you'll mostly be taking notes, reading and researching, a tablet is lighter and easier to carry. Adding a keyboard to a tablet gets you closer to a laptop, but for essay-heavy courses, a laptop still wins.
Need more help?
Take a look at our laptop buying guide or tablet buying guide, or browse the full range of laptops and tablets to find your perfect study buddy.
FAQs
Is 8GB of RAM enough for college?
Yes, 8GB of RAM is enough for most college students. It’s perfect for writing essays, browsing, video calls and streaming. If you'll be running heavier software, like design or video editing programs, look for more.
Is 128GB of storage enough?
128GB of storage can be enough, especially if you save your files to the cloud with OneDrive or Google Drive. If you prefer to store everything on your device, or work with large files, 256GB gives you more breathing room. A lot of tablets also let you add a microSD card for extra storage space.
Do I need antivirus software?
Antivirus software is always a good idea, especially as scams and hackers get more sophisticated. Antivirus software adds an extra layer of protection against malware and phishing, especially if you use public Wi-Fi on campus.
