Nowadays investing in a decent laptop is both essential and worthwhile if you’re studying at school or university.
Luckily shoppers can easily find an abundance of great value laptop deals at every price point, ranging from budget brands like Acer and Dell to deals on coveted high-end Apple Macbooks and Microsoft Surface laptops.
If you can’t afford a brand new, top of the range laptop, a fully refurbished model can also be a great alternative – offering the same high spec for a much lower price point.
But before splashing the cash there are a few things to consider… firstly what you will be using the laptop for? This will determine what kind of specification you should be looking for.
Then there’s how much you actually want to spend? It’s a good idea to set your budget BEFORE you start browsing the shops.
Lastly, it is worth checking when a newer model is set to be released. Often older models will drop significantly in price as a result – hopefully saving you some extra cash in the process.
Best places to buy laptops for students?
Major tech giants and online retailers are the best places to start your search as they can offer the most competitive prices.
Many also offer refurbished stock at incredibly low prices too. Here are a few retailers where you can start your search:
-
Amazon
-
Currys PC World
-
Apple
-
Argos
-
eBay
-
Laptops Direct
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The Microsoft Surface Pro is the ultimate Apple MacBook rival. The hybrid tablet/laptop functionality makes it a practical piece of kit for students to lug around on the go.
The stylish Surface design is sleek, modern and totally portable, while the Windows 10 Home operating system features Office 365 and the Cortana intelligent assistant which works a bit like the Alexa assistant to set reminders and organise your diary.
Specs:
- 8th Gen Intel Core Processor
- 13.5 hours of battery life
- Windows 10 Home pre-installed
Price: £879 from Microsoft or create a bundle on Microsoft from £1018.98
2. Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, Gold)
The Apple MacBook Air needs no introduction. The latest 2018 version now features an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, touch ID and an impressive retina display, while the slimline design we all know and love makes it ideal to carry with you day-to-day.
A great laptop for design students or those who will be using photo or video editing suites but the downside is the new model doesn’t come with memory card slot or USB slot so you’ll have to buy the connector accessories.
Specs:
- Stunning 13.3 Inch Retina display
- Touch ID and the latest Apple-designed keyboard
- Dual-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with Intel UHD Graphics 617
- Fast SSD storage and 8 GB memory
- 12 hours battery life
Price: £1049.98 from Amazon
3. Acer CB515-1HT Chromebook
This affordable machine is ideal for anyone who wants to use the Internet, sending emails and write reports. The 12 hour battery life also means you can lug it around college or university campus all day.
The inbuilt web cam is also a bonus and the wide angle means it’s ideal for video conferencing or web chat as are the top facing speakers which give you a crisp clear sound.
Specs:
- Chrome OS
- Intel® Pentium® N4200 processor
- RAM: 4 GB / Storage: 64 GB eMMC
- Full HD display
Price: £369 from Currys PC World
4. Google Pixelbook 2
The Google Pixelbook is an impressive piece of kit. Not only does it look the part, it also comes with some impressive features – in-built Google Assistant, crystal clear Quad HD display, powerful 7th-generation i5 processor – are just a few.
Specs:
- Google Assistant built in.
- 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM and 512GB for storage.
- 4-in-1 design with laptop, tablet, tent and entertainment modes.
- Super thin and lightweight design measures 10.3 mm and weighs 2.45lb
-
Powered by Chrome OS
Price: £999 from John Lewis
5. Lenovo IdeaPad 330
Built for optimum productivity, the Lenovo IdeaPad features a powerful processor and dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card – making it great for editing photos and videos.
Users will be able to run programs fast thanks to the Intel® Optane™ memory and the huge hardrive is also another bonus.
Specs:
- Intel® Core™ i7+ 8750H Processor
- Memory: 4 GB RAM / 16 GB Intel® Optane™
-
1 TB HDD storage
Price: £749 from Currys PC World
6. 2017 Apple MacBook
If the latest version of the MacBook Air is out of your price range, the 2017 version may be just as good of an option.
Outwardly both models look remarkably similar, but there are a few differences inside. The 2017 version remains a solid value for money machine for creative use such as photo and video editing, and multi-tasking between programs and surfing the web.
Specs:
- MacOS
- Intel® Core™ i5 Processor
- RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 128 GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel® Iris™
- Retina display
Price: £849 from John Lewis
7. Acer One 2-in-1 laptop
This two-in-one hybrid Acer model is a budget-friendly and practical laptop – especially if you plan to take it to class.
This great all-rounder works well for those who need a machine that can multi-task and run programs alongside blasting your favourite music or videos. Plus the 32Gb hard drive holds up to 10,000 pictures, plus is super portable.
Specs:
- 2-in-1 – combines a laptop and tablet in one device
- Built for portability with a thin & light design
- Atom processor – for basic tasks like web browsing
- 2GB RAM – good for basic tasks like email & the web
- 32GB of storage houses all the essentials
Price: £229 from AO.com
Buying a refurbished Laptop? eBay share top tips
Online marketplace eBay.co.uk has a particularly extensive range of refurbished tech featured in branded outlets and from individual sellers, with more than 4,500 refurbished items available on site at any one time.
If you are looking on the site here are some expert tips from an eBay insider before you take the plunge.
Focus on searching for brands you are familiar with and items you’ve seen in real life. Many brands such as Dyson and GoPro refurbish their own items and sellthem directly on eBay, so always look out for big name brands.
Do your research. Has there been a new release or is there a cheaper alternative to the item you want? You’re not restricted to buying the latest item if you don’t need them, so be sure to look at reviews and compare items to find the best model for you.
Check the warranty and returns policy. One of the most important things to consider when buying a refurbished item is the warranty it comes with, as this provides you protection if it develops a fault. If you shop from eBay’s refurbished hub all items come with a 12-month warranty from the seller, so if anything does go wrong in the 12 months you can guarantee that you will get an exchange or a refund.
Examine Seller Feedback. Always check to male sure they have a good feedback rating. eBay’s top-rated sellers constantly receive the highest buyer ratings, dispatch items quicker and have earned a track record of brilliant service.
Make the most of free shipping and save some extra money by looking for sellers that offer free shipping. On eBay.co.uk you can filter your search to see only items that offer free shipping, and with many electronic items small enough to be shipped inexpensively, it’s a great way to save a few extra pennies.
Shop items in the refurbished technology hub on eBay.co.uk.
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission on any sales of products or services we write about. This article was written completely independently, see more details here.
Source: Read Full Article