New educational trends, such as remote learning, have entered our colleges and homes during the last few years. There’s also a growing trend in schools that still do in-person classes: the one-laptop, one-student concept. Students of all ages—even younger ones—now carry their own devices in bags or backpacks.
Finding an inexpensive laptop for the students that fulfills all their needs is difficult. One of the best options is the Chromebook, which was created with education in mind.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best affordable Chromebooks for students, each tailored to specific user profiles.
Advantages of Chromebooks
Not every parent gets to choose their child’s laptop, and your college can insist that you buy or rent one from them.
However, because Chromebooks are inexpensive, they are widely used in colleges. This permits administrators to buy and use them at a larger scale than other solutions.
- Chromebooks have good build quality, with screens and cases that can handle the normal wear and tear of a student.
- The operating system is built on the same technology as the Chrome browser and connects with technologies that your student is already familiar with, including as Gmail, Google Classrooms, YouTube, and popular Android apps.
- The hardware has been optimized to conduct more work in the cloud, allowing you to avoid overpaying for RAM, processing speed, and storage.
- They provide a significant amount of battery life to last the entire colleges or university day.
- Over time, Chromebooks have changed to focus more on performance. Even if there are a lot of reasonably priced devices available for online learning, business professionals, creatives, and others with more demanding computing requirements can also discover Chromebooks.
- The term “Chromebook” is no longer limited to students. Actually, corporate Chromebooks are becoming a more popular kind of computer that come with enterprise-level features.
Affordable HP Chromebooks for Students
Finding the right Chromebook for the students has become easier than ever. The latest generation of Chromebooks offers a bulk of features, catering to a wide range of needs, whether you’re a student or simply looking for a budget-friendly option.
HP Chromebook 11
Most Suitable For: Elementary students and those on a budget.
Key Features:
- MediaTek processor with Octo-core CPU and Integrated Graphics
- 720p HD front-facing web camera with microphone
- 4GB memory
- 32GB eMMC storage
- Battery life of up to 15 hours and 45 minutes
- 11.6″ diagonal HD display
- Ports: 1 USB 2.0 Type-C, 1 USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 headphone microphone jack, and 1 microSD media card reader
- Weighs 2.36 lbs
The HP Chromebook 11 is one of the most cost-effective Chromebooks available. It strikes a balance between productivity features suitable for classroom learning and affordability. Despite its budget-friendly nature, it boasts an 11.6-inch High Definition (HD) display that delivers impressive detail in vibrant colors.
While it lacks a touch screen, it includes a full-sized keyboard, runs on Chrome OS, and offers robust security features. This makes it user-friendly, even for individuals with limited computer experience.
HP Chromebook x360 11 G4 EE
Most Suitable For: College students seeking versatility and durability.
Key Features:
- Screen Size: 11.6 Inches
- 1.1 GHz celeron
- RAM: 4 GB
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- Special Feature: Corning Gorilla Glass
- Weighs: 3.33 lbs
This is an HP Chromebook x360 11 G4 EE, a 2-in-1 Chromebook with an 11.6-inch touchscreen display. It comes in a sleek black color and is powered by an Intel Celeron N4500 Dual-core processor. The Chromebook is equipped with 4 GB of RAM for smooth multitasking and has 32 GB of Flash Memory.
The 11.6-inch screen has a resolution of 1366 x 768, providing a good movie-watching experience. It runs on the Chrome OS operating system, which offers cloud connectivity, allowing you to store data online and reducing the need for additional hardware.
One of its notable features is the presence of Corning Gorilla Glass for added durability. The Chromebook boasts a 12-hour battery run time, ensuring you can work wirelessly for extended periods.
HP Chromebook 14a
Most Suitable For: Students looking for hands-on interaction with their work
Key Features:
- Intel Celeron® N4500 processor (customizable up to 2.8 GHz, 4MB L3 cache)
- HP Wide Vision 720p HD camera
- Intel UHD Graphics
- 4GB of RAM (customizable up to 64GB)
- Ports: 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-C, 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1 headphone microphone combo, and 1 microSD media card reader
- WiFi 5 or 6 available
- Full-sized keyboard (backlit optional)
- Available in three colors: Mineral Silver, Ceramic White, or Forest Teal
- Weighs 3.24 lbs
For those who prefer a larger screen without breaking the bank, the HP Chromebook 14a is an excellent choice. Powered by Intel® hardware, it offers sufficient memory and processing power for browsing, learning, and communication. You can also customize it at checkout to upgrade essential components while adhering to your budget. You have the option to choose between HD and Full High Definition (FHD) screen resolutions and even opt for a touch screen if your budget allows.
HP Chromebook 14 x360
Most Suitable For: Teachers and students who use the same computer throughout school and life
Key Features:
- Starting at Intel Core i3-1215U processor
- HP True Vision 5MP camera with temporal noise reduction and dual array digital microphones
- Intel UHD Graphics
- 8GB of RAM
- Multitouch-enabled WUXGA display
- Starting at 128GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD storage
- Ports: 1 USB
The HP Chromebook 14 x360 laptop is an ideal choice for school-related tasks. It features a touch screen and 2-in-1 capabilities, ample storage, and a powerful 12th Gen Intel Core processor. Whether you’re working on essays, attending virtual meetings, or enjoying your favorite shows, this Chromebook handles it all effortlessly. Bang & Olufsen speakers ensure high-quality audio, and the backlit keyboard facilitates navigation in low-light conditions.
HP CHROMEBOOK LAPTOP (15AT-NA000)
Most suitable for: Teachers and administrators who require additional security, storage, and computing power.
Key Features:
- Powered by an Intel Celeron N4500 processor
- Equipped with Intel UHD Graphics
- Features an HP Wide Vision 720p HD camera with noise reduction and integrated dual array digital microphones
- Comes with 4GB of onboard RAM
- Offers 64GB of eMMC storage
- Available in Mineral Silver and Forest Teal finishes
- Ports include 2 USB Type-C (supporting USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort™ 1.4), 1 USB Type-A, 1 headphone/microphone combo, and 1 microSD card reader
- It features a full-size island-style keyboard with a numeric keypad (upgradable to a backlit keyboard)
- Enhanced security with an H1 Secure Microcontroller and a mic mute key
The HP Chromebook 15 Laptop is a 15-inch laptop that lasts all day on a single charge and can quickly charge up to 50% in just 45 minutes. You won’t need to constantly search for an outlet or wait a long time for it to charge. It features a beautiful 15.6-inch HD display with a resolution of 1366 x 768, which can be upgraded to Full HD (FHD). This means you can enjoy your work or entertainment with clear and crisp visuals.
What’s great is that this Chromebook is environmentally friendly, as it’s made from ocean-bound and recycled plastics. You can proudly use it on campus knowing it’s eco-conscious. Whether you’re at your desk or on the move, HP QuickDrop allows you to quickly transfer files to your laptop. The Chromebook’s HP Wide Vision Camera ensures that your ideas are communicated clearly during virtual meetings.
Additional Tips for Choosing the Right Chromebook
- Chromebooks come in various price points, making it easier for families with different budget constraints to find a suitable device.
- There are budget-friendly options suitable for students, so you can confidently meet your educational needs.
- Even the enterprise models offer significant savings compared to other business-class laptops with similar features.
- Chromebooks come equipped with everything needed to kickstart your student’s learning journey. If you have specific tech requirements, such as more RAM or a touchscreen, you can often customize many models before making your purchase. Simply look for the “customize” option while shopping and select the tech specs that align with your family’s learning needs.
If you choose wisely, your student Chromebook can be used for years after distant learning and university.
