Rising chip costs narrow the student laptop market below ₹35,000

With many Windows laptops moving beyond the ₹35,000 mark, Chromebooks and Primebook models are emerging as the practical choices for study, video calls and light productivity.

For students shopping on a tight budget, the sub-₹35,000 segment is increasingly shaped by trade-offs rather than breadth of choice. News18 said rising memory-chip costs have pushed many well-reviewed Windows laptops above that threshold, leaving Chromebooks and Primebook machines as the most practical options for coursework, research, video calls and light streaming. The outlet’s selection focuses on four models that are stocked on Amazon and rated at four stars or higher, with prices beginning at ₹23,990.

At the lower end sits the Primebook 2 Neo, which News18 prices at ₹23,990 and describes as the best-reviewed model in the group, with a 4.3-star rating from close to 600 buyers. It runs PrimeOS, which is based on Android, so it can use many familiar mobile apps while offering a laptop-style keyboard for writing, note-taking and classwork. The specification list is modest but sensible for school use: a MediaTek Helio G99 chip, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a microSD slot that can expand capacity to 512GB. Its 11.6-inch HD IPS panel keeps it compact, and the inclusion of USB-C, two USB-A ports and a headphone jack adds basic flexibility.

For buyers who want a larger display, News18 points to the ASUS Chromebook CM1505 at ₹30,990. Its 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare screen is better suited to long study sessions, and the 1080p webcam with a privacy shutter is a useful addition for classes conducted over video. The Chromebook runs ChromeOS, which starts quickly and integrates neatly with Google Docs, Classroom and Meet. It uses a MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and it also includes WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, HDMI and two USB-C ports.

The ASUS CX14 Chromebook takes a more compact route with a 14-inch Full HD IPS display and an Intel Celeron N4500 processor. News18 notes that its 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage are adequate for browser-based schoolwork, document editing and online classes, but not for heavier software. At ₹31,890, it sits close to the more fully featured Primebook 3 Max, which the outlet describes as the strongest option in the group at ₹33,990. The Primebook 3 Max pairs a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS screen with a backlit keyboard, a battery rated for up to 12 hours, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB of UFS storage and a MediaTek Genio 720 processor with a built-in neural processing unit for AI functions. PrimeOS also allows Android apps and selected Linux software such as VS Code and WPS Office, which makes the machine more appealing for students learning to code.

The broader message is that price alone is a poor guide when choosing an affordable student laptop. LiveMint has argued that shoppers should pay more attention to processor performance, memory and storage if they want a machine that stays responsive for at least two years. TechRadar’s student Chromebook guides make a similar point, noting that Chromebooks can work well for note-taking, web browsing and document editing, but are less suitable for demanding specialist software. In practical terms, that means students should check whether a course requires Windows-only programmes before buying, consider screen size and portability carefully, and favour expandable storage if they plan to keep notes, PDFs and media files on the device.