Cover Story · Buying Guides

Best Laptops Under $600 for Students (September 2026)

Six laptops that handle real coursework, from note-taking to spreadsheets, without breaking a student budget.

By Sam Clark · 8 min read

In Focus

Why Laptop Prices Are Climbing in Late 2026, and Why It's Not Slowing Down Soon

A global memory chip shortage driven by AI data centers is pushing RAM and storage costs into laptops, and manufacturers say relief isn't likely before 2027 at the earliest.

Sara Judy

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4 filed this month

8.5

Reviews

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14" Review: A Convertible That Doesn't Feel Like a Compromise

With a 16GB-RAM, Core Ultra 5 configuration under $800, the Yoga 7i's OLED screen and flexible hinge outshine its price tag.

Trevor Fenwick

8.3

Reviews

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Review: $1,000 Gets You a Legit RTX 5070 Laptop

With a Ryzen 9 CPU, RTX 5070 graphics, and a durable chassis, the TUF Gaming A16 undercuts its rivals on price without cutting the specs that matter.

Peter Smith

8.7

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Dell XPS 13 9345 Review: Snapdragon Battery Life Meets a Genuinely Portable Laptop

The Arm-based XPS 13 trades some app compatibility for battery life that outlasts almost everything else in its class.

Sara Judy

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