Nowadays, it’s practically impossible to survive in university without a good laptop, especially if you’re studying abroad.
It’s hard to argue otherwise, as education is one of the primary use cases for laptops, accounting for 37.10%, with the largest share being professional work at 48.80%.
While universities don’t explicitly require students to own a laptop, most programmes and courses rely heavily on digital learning platforms and online materials, making it practically necessary to have one.
Knowing where to buy laptops for cheap, though, can be tricky for international students.
But the benefits often outweigh the cost. This means you don’t have to spend hours in your university’s computer labs or squeeze in available timeslots, hoping you’ll finish your assignment within the allocated period.
It’ll also make replaying lectures and going through slides much easier, especially if you do it from the comfort of your own room or dormitory.
What should you even get, anyway?
With a light frame and easy-to-navigate system, the MacBook Air remains one of Apple’s top entry-level laptops for students. Source: AFP
The Study International laptop recommendations
Depending on your degree programme, the best laptop will vary, but they usually share similar qualities. They’ll have:
- A long-lasting battery life, making it easy to carry around without its charger
- A sharp, bright display with accurate colours, especially for design students
- A nice keyboard, preferably one that isn’t too loud and clicky
- Ports for peripherals or external displays, perfect for in-class presentations
Study International’s top three choices are:
Remember to check if you are eligible for a student discount when buying your laptop. Source: Aaron Tam/AFP
MacBook Air
If you can afford to splurge a little, go for the best student laptop on the market.
With a light frame and easy-to-navigate system, the MacBook Air remains one of Apple’s top entry-level laptops. More than that, it has been proven to run intensive tasks without any major setbacks.
It also has a long battery life — up to 18 hours, according to CNET — and silent running makes the MacBook Air an ideal laptop for an all-rounded student experience. No need to worry about your laptop chugging during classes.
The MacBook Air is ideal for students looking for a thin, light laptop to write papers, browse the web, and consume media, and even runs video editing and 3D graphics well.
Acer Swift Go 14
For most people, Apple is a pricey brand — and that’s perfectly alright! Our next pick is the Acer Swift Go 14, which is a more affordable, mid-range option suitable for college and university students.
What stands out is its versatility. It’s compact, lightweight, and has great specs. You’ll get a 90Hz 2.8k OLED display, an Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for less than a thousand dollars.
The battery lasts around 11 hours of light use, and you can charge it via USB-C, so you don’t have to deal with a proprietary charger.
Typing on it feels smooth, and it comes with a large touchpad, 1080p webcam, Wi-Fi 6E, and a wide port selection that includes two Thunderbolt 4s and an HDMI.
Lenovo has some great budget laptops for students. Source: AFP
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14
For those looking for a cheap laptop for college and university, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 is our pick.
If all you need is a simple device to browse the Internet, write assignments, and listen to lectures and music, this is a great option.
Its compact design makes it easy to carry around, and its battery lasts about 13 hours of light use. It even comes with a 1080p webcam, which is surprising for a budget-friendly Chromebook.
Are you curious to know whether it is cheaper to buy a laptop in a specific country? Let’s compare prices in some of the most popular study-abroad locations.
It is cheaper for international students to buy a MacBook Air in the US. Source: AFP
Where to buy laptops: Are they cheaper in the US, UK, or Canada?
We’ll refer to prices on reputable sites such as the official brand websites.
Apple also offers additional discounts for students as long as they have valid proof that they are currently enrolled or newly accepted into an eligible higher education institution.
Note that seasonal sales may also lower the prices even further, so make sure to check them out thoroughly if you’re looking for where to buy laptops online!
US
The latest Macbook Air with the M4 chip starts from US$999, but is priced at US$899 for students.
The Acer Swift Go 14 starts from US$699.99.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 starts from US$359.99.
UK
The latest Macbook Air with the M4 chip starts from 999 pounds (US$1,290.45) with tax included.
The Acer Swift Go 14 starts from 799.99 pounds (US$1,033.85).
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 is not available on the official Lenovo website anymore, but it offers a similar alternative. The IdeaPad Slim 3i Gen 8 starts from 499.01 pounds (US$644.88) and has slightly better specs such as rapid-charging technology, blue light certification to reduce fatigue, and even noise cancellation.
Canada
The latest Macbook Air with the M4 chip starts from 1,249 Canadian dollars (US$866.61).
The Acer Swift Go 14 starts from 1,099.99 Canadian dollars (US$763.02).
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 starts from 489.99 Canadian dollars (US$339.87).
China
The latest Macbook Air with the M4 chip starts from 9999 Chinese yuan (US$1,377.18).
At the time of writing, the prices online for the Acer Swift Go 14 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 were unavailable.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated March 11, 2025.
