Laptops are one of the biggest purchases a college student makes either heading into their first year of college, or if they’re in need of a new computer. Not only are laptops an essential item, but more often than not, they can be the most expensive essential item for college students. The National Retail Foundation’s most recent analysis on back-to-college shopping showed that shoppers are in need of newer items more in 2023 than years past, and with laptops leading the way on the shopping list, many are faced with a decision that not only impacts their college coursework, but personal finance as well. That’s why we decided to take a look at the digital shelves online to see what laptops out there offer the best performance without students having to spend upwards of $1,000. Our partners at Good Housekeeping also tested some of the laptops featured in this article, evaluating everything from battery life to processor speed. Here’s what we found.There’s an Apple MacBook that’s under $1,000 and 25% off right nowIt’s no secret that when it comes to laptops, Apple enthusiasts swear by MacBooks, thanks to the product’s battery life, speed and overall performance. But getting the newest MacBook version is always going to be challenging because of the price you have to pay for the newest model. So what about a model that’s less than three years old? Enter the 2020 Apple MacBook Air. This laptop was rated as the best value MacBook to buy in 2023 by our partners at Good Housekeeping. Testers said the storage space and up to 18 hours of battery life were some of the best features of this Macbook Air model. “The slightly less impressive webcam and smaller screen are two of the things you'll have to sacrifice to get this sleek MacBook for under $1000,” Good Housekeeping experts said. “But overall, it's a great option if you want to save a few bucks while still working on a fast and effective laptop.”Right now, the 2020 Apple MacBook Air is currently 25% off retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. You can save 13% at B&H.The best laptop under $1,000 is an ASUS ZenBook“This computer packs a punch without putting a strain on your wallet.” That’s from our partners at Good Housekeeping, who rated the ASUS ZenBook 13 ultra-slim laptop as their best laptop under $1,000. Weighing in at just 2.45 pounds and only 0.5 inches thick, it’s a great lightweight option if you expect to be carrying books and what not in your backpack, and it’s packed with many ports to give you flexibility. “While testing similar models by the brand, our experts liked that the ZenBooks by ASUS had a wonderful battery life that lasted particularly long,” Good Housekeeping experts said. “They also appreciated the unique additional features that made it that much better to use, like the touchpad integrated with a number keypad and elevated typing position to make working long hours more comfortable.”The ASUS ZenBook 13 is currently 13% off right now on Amazon. Experts say the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is the best laptop for studentsThe battery is the star of the show here. Good Housekeeping experts say students will appreciate that this laptop can get through an entire day of school with a single battery charge, with experts saying they got more than 10 hours of battery life in testing. “At under 2.5 pounds, it's totable while still offering a full-size keyboard and a 12.4-inch interactive touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio (which means it's a taller screen for more rows of text or more cells in spreadsheet),” Good Housekeeping experts said. And if that’s not good enough, it can act as a tablet too. The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is 21% off right now at Best Buy and OfficeDepot.B&H has a number of laptops for under $1,000 that you should check outLet’s do a little rapid fire to close this out. B&H is an electronic store and they have a page featuring over 200 laptops that are under $1,000. Here were some that caught our attention:Lenovo 15.6” IdeaPad Slim Notebook - $414.95 (22% off)HP 15.6” ProBook 450 G9 Laptop - $699 (39% off)Lenovo 16” IdeaPad Flex 5 2-in-1 Multi-Touch Notebook - $849 (15% off)Samsung 12.2” 32GB Chromebook Plus - $209ASUS 14” Vivobook S 14 OLED Laptop - $799.99 (27% off)