Heading back to campus doesn’t have to drain your wallet.
The tech scene this August is loaded with deals — from powerhouse laptops to portable lifesavers — that deliver way more than their price tags suggest.
Here are the 10 best student-ready steals of 2025.
Apple MacBook Air (M4, 2025) – $799
Apple dropped the M4 Air to its lowest price yet, down from $999. Light, all-day battery, and plenty of muscle for students who need reliability. Wired calls it the “best overall laptop” for college right now.
HP OmniBook X Flip (AI 2-in-1) – $699
Best Buy’s limited deal slashes this Ryzen AI laptop by a third. A 2K touch screen, 24 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, and tablet flexibility — all in one student-friendly machine.
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus – $379
A 2-in-1 Chromebook that shifts from lecture notes to Netflix without breaking stride. Discounted from $599, it’s a midrange bargain with multitasking chops.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – ~$850
PC World’s top pick for balance: OLED display, Ryzen 7, long battery life, and a portable frame. Built to go lecture to library without recharging.
Acer Aspire Go 15 – $299
No frills, no flash — just dependable performance. Core i3, 8 GB RAM, and 12-hour battery make it the budget hero for students who just need the basics done right.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – $399 (watch for $299 flash sales)
Thin, fast, and student-friendly. Ideal for juggling Docs, Zoom, and Spotify. On sale now, with flash deals dropping it even lower.
Framework Laptop 12 – Modular Build
New this year: a fully modular 12-inch laptop you can upgrade piece by piece. Intel Core i3/i5 options, WUXGA touch screen, and convertible form. Built to last all four years and beyond.
HP Student Store Discounts
Verified students score 10% off laptops, printers, and desktops. Perfect for stretching a budget without skimping on power.
Dell XPS 13 + Student Deals
Dell’s student program knocks 10% off, with the XPS 13 boasting nearly 20 hours of battery life. Light, sleek, and ready for long lecture days.
Tech Essentials: Don’t Skip the Extras
- SK Hynix 1TB flash drive ($60)
- Anker laptop power bank ($110)
- Apple iPad (A16, 2025) – $299
The tools that keep you powered, backed up, and classroom-ready.
The Takeaway
This year’s back-to-college gear proves you don’t need to spend like a hedge fund kid to stay connected. From the $299 Acer to the $799 MacBook Air, students have access to powerhouse devices at prices that actually make sense. The smart move: grab the deals while they last, because campus-season demand clears shelves fast.
