The three best back-to-school laptops under $1,000

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MacBook Air 13 M3
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425)
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

College is expensive enough as it is, so when it's time to pick the best back-to-school laptops, we've narrowed our list down to only the three best laptops for a student's budget.

Of course, you'll still need some processing power to get through your research, and you'll want all-day battery life, so these three laptops offer more than just a convenient price. These are some of our top contenders on the best laptops for college list, and they just so happen to be available at a discount just in time for back-to-school season.

Our favorite MacBook for college is just $849 right now

Apple MacBook Air 13 M3: $849 @ BestBuy

Our top pick for a back-to-school laptop, the MacBook Air 13 M3, is available at a solid discount from Best Buy right now, dropping the price well below the $1,000 mark. With over 15 hours of battery life, performance that can keep up with a ton of Chrome tabs and Adobe programs, and Apple's dependable build quality, there are plenty of reasons to recommend for the MacBook Air.

Features: 13-inch Liquid Retina display, M3 8-core CPU, M3 10-core GPU, 8GB of memory, 256GB of storage. Midnight, Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight colorways.

Our favorite Intel Core Ultra laptop is just $499

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425): $499 @ BestBuy

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425) is a popular choice for students right now, particularly now that it's available for under $500 just in time for the Fall semester. With an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and a stunning OLED monitor, the Zenbook is a great choice for classes and Netflix binges on the weekends. Its battery life can keep up with even the most demanding schedule.

Features: 14-inch WUXGA OLED Touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, Intel integrated graphics, 8GB of memory, 512GB of storage, Jasper Gray colorway.

Our top Chromebook is just $399

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus: $399 @ BestBuy

Our favorite Chromebook, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, offers speedy AI-infused performance, a great keyboard, sturdy hinges, and an attractive design. On sale for just $399, this is our most affordable pick for students who don't need the full functionality of a Windows or macOS operating system.

Features: 14-inch 2K touchscreen, Intel Core i3-1315U processor with integrated Intel UHD graphics, 8GB of memory, 128 GB of storage, Storm Grey colorway.

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A former lab gremlin for Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Tom's Hardware, and Tech Radar; Madeline has escaped the labs to join Laptop Mag as a Staff Writer. With over a decade of experience writing about tech and gaming, she may actually know a thing or two. Sometimes. When she isn't writing about the latest laptops and AI software, Madeline likes to throw herself into the ocean as a PADI scuba diving instructor and underwater photography enthusiast.