The device is available for just $249 for students

Nov 10, 2021 07:55 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has recently unveiled the cheapest Surface model it ever released. Called Surface Laptop SE and specifically aimed at students, the device is available for just $249.

The Surface Laptop SE was built from the very beginning to be affordable, so don’t expect top-notch performance.

In fact, the actual specifications of the device clearly indicate it’s supposed to be an alternative to Chromebooks, therefore providing K-8 students with the essential package for their classrooms.

The Surface Laptop SE sports an 11.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels, and it comes with a plastic Glacier construction. Power comes from Intel Celeron processors (N4020 and N4120) paired with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM.

In terms of storage, you get either 64GB or 128GB eMMC, with the Surface Laptop SE also featuring Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, a front-facing camera, USB-A, USB-C, a headphone jack and an integrated microphone.

Easy to repair

Microsoft also explains that the Surface Laptop SE was designed from the very beginning to be easy to repair.

“Surface Laptop SE offers the same high-quality typing experience as the rest of the product portfolio but offers new levels of repairability for IT admins. That means vital components like the display, battery, keyboard—even the motherboard—can be easily repaired onsite, saving time and money for IT admins and schools,” the company says.

“We tuned and optimized the thermals to keep Surface Laptop SE working in different environmental conditions. Every detail was considered for Surface Laptop SE to address the urgent needs of the classroom, and we believe you’ll be pleased with the value it offers.”

Needless to say, Microsoft hopes the Surface Laptop SE would help expand the adoption of Windows 11 in the education sector, especially as it tries to counter the rapid growth that Chromebooks have recorded in the last few years on this front.