LAPTOPS from £469

Whether you're buying for a student or yourself, this mix of Chromebooks and low-priced Windows laptops may just hold the answer

We set manufacturers a simple brief this month: send us affordable laptops that fulfil the needs of students. As you'll see, however, the mix of offerings was incredibly diverse.

But that makes sense, as there's no single perfect student laptop. Secondary school students have different needs from university students, while the requirements of computing or science students are going to be different from those studying media or design, not to mention history or English. For some, the advantages of a slim and light laptop will trump screen size or raw performance. For others, homework, research or coursework projects might be easier with a large and comfortable keyboard backed by a big, high-resolution display.

We suggested manufacturers stick to a maximum price of £699, but we didn't forbid them from heading above it if they had the right laptop for the job. We've also done something a bit different: pitting Windows laptops directly against Chromebooks, to see whether opting for a Chrome OS device can get you more laptop for your money. If you or your offspring are heading off to uni or going back to school, you'll find something in this lineup to meet your needs.

Even if you're not, you may well find that one of these laptops is the ideal choice. Affordable, portable and built to survive life away from a desk. What's not to like?

CONTRIBUTOR: Stuart Andrews

How do you choose a laptop built for study?

Whether heading to university, back to school or you simply want an affordable laptop, here's what to prioritise and where to cut your costs