Which Laptop is Best for Student

Which Laptop is Best for Student

When you’re heading off to college, it’s important to have a laptop that can keep up with your studies. Depending on what you’re studying, the right laptop for you could be a basic Chromebook, a lightweight Windows laptop or MacBook, or a more powerful mobile workstation. Usually, you’ll want something that’s easy to carry and has a long battery life, so you don’t have to lug around a charger. Since you’ll be using your laptop a lot, look for one with a nice display, a comfy keyboard, and a touchpad that works well. Also, think about the types of ports it has for connecting other devices or screens.

We’ve tested over 145 laptops, and below are our top picks for the best college laptops you can get. You can also find our suggestions for the best Chromebooks for students, the lightest laptops, and the best 15-16-inch models. If you’re on a budget, check out our list of the best laptops under $1,000.

If you need to improve your home Wi-Fi, we’ve also reviewed routers, so take a look at our list of the best Wi-Fi routers.

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Which Company Laptop is Best

Best Laptop for Student

The top laptop we’ve tested for college is the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024). This high-quality model is perfect for students who want a lightweight and slim laptop for writing essays, surfing the internet, and watching videos. The base M3 chip from Apple is great for simple tasks and can even handle some video editing and 3D graphics. Another cool feature is that it doesn’t have a fan, so you won’t hear any annoying noises in class or the library.

The overall experience is fantastic, with a bright, clear screen, a roomy keyboard, and a large touchpad that feels great to use. However, it does have a downside: it only has two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, which can connect to two external displays when the lid is closed. If you prefer a larger screen and better speakers, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) is a solid option, but it is more expensive.

If you’re looking for a Windows laptop, you should consider the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024). It actually offers a better experience than the MacBook Air in several ways, like having a brighter 120Hz touchscreen, a comfy keyboard, and more ports to connect things. But here’s the catch:

this model uses an ARM-based Qualcomm chip, which is different from the usual Windows laptops. The X Elite chip is great for everyday tasks and has an amazing battery life of 17 hours when used lightly. However, since Windows on ARM is still pretty new, some apps might not work well or at all, so it’s a good idea to check with your school or teacher about what will be compatible.

Best Mid-Range Price Laptop For College

For a budget-friendly mid-range choice, we suggest the Acer Swift Go 14 (2024). This 14-inch Windows ultraportable is small and light, making it easy to carry around. While it may not be as tough as the MacBook Air mentioned earlier, it still feels pretty solid for its price. The battery can last about 11 hours with light use, and you can charge it using USB-C, so you won’t need a special charger. It features a roomy keyboard that feels a bit soft, a big and responsive touchpad, a 1080p webcam, Wi-Fi 6E, and a variety of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports and an HDMI.

For about $700 USD (the price might change a little, but not by much), you can get a setup that includes a stunning 90Hz 2.8k OLED screen, an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The Core Ultra 5 chip is really fast for everyday tasks, and it can also manage tougher jobs like programming. There are options with a quicker Core Ultra 7 processor and more RAM or storage, but those will cost extra. Also, keep in mind that the OLED display can flicker; if that bothers you, there’s a flicker-free IPS display option, but it has a lower FHD+ resolution and a slower 60Hz refresh rate.

Best Budget Laptop for Student

If you’re looking for a good laptop without spending too much, check out the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023). Even though it’s affordable, it feels sturdy and is pretty easy to carry around for a 16-inch laptop. You can choose between an AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 processor, which are both great for doing schoolwork like writing papers, browsing the internet, and watching videos.

The RAM options are a bit limited, with only 8GB or 16GB available. The 16GB version can be tough to find, but the good news is that you can upgrade the memory yourself later. So, you could start with the 8GB model and add more RAM when you need it. The battery lasts about eight hours with light use, which is decent.

The user experience is pretty solid. The keyboard feels nice to type on, the touchpad is big and works well, and the 720p webcam is acceptable. The screen is fairly clear, but it can be a little dim and looks washed out, which is something you often see in budget devices. On the bright side, it has some great features like Wi-Fi 6E for fast internet and a fingerprint sensor for easy logins. Plus, there are a good number of ports available, including three USB-A ports, one USB-C, and an HDMI port. Just keep in mind that the USB-C port doesn’t support video, so you’ll need to use the HDMI if you want to connect to another screen.

Best Cheap Laptop For College

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) is the top choice for students looking for an affordable laptop. It’s perfect if you just need something simple for browsing the internet and writing assignments. Its lightweight design makes it super easy to take with you, and the battery can last about 13 hours with light use. The version with a Core i3 processor, FHD display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage usually sells for around $400 to $500 on Lenovo’s website. There are cheaper options available, but we don’t suggest them unless your tasks are really minimal.

The user experience is pretty good overall. The FHD display is clear and bright enough to use in bright rooms, plus it has touch support. On the downside, the keyboard feels a bit soft, and the touchpad is small and can be unresponsive at times. The 1080p webcam is surprisingly great for a budget Chromebook. Just remember, you can do most things through a Chrome browser or Android app; if you need more flexibility, you might want to consider a Windows laptop like the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) mentioned earlier.

Best Workstation For College

For college students studying in technical areas who need a powerful laptop for demanding software, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) is a great choice. The design of this new M4 model looks the same as the M3 version, but it has some important upgrades inside that we’ll discuss soon.

Overall, it’s still a top-notch laptop with a sturdy all-aluminum body and a sleek design. You’ll enjoy all the great features from earlier Apple-silicon MacBook Pros, like a clear 120Hz Mini LED screen, impressive speakers, a roomy keyboard, a smooth haptic touchpad, and plenty of ports for connecting other devices and displays. Plus, the battery can easily last through a whole school day and charges fully in under two hours.

The new MacBook Pros come with some exciting updates! First off, the base model with the M4 chip now has 16GB of RAM, which is an upgrade from before. The Pro and Max models have also seen an increase in RAM, going from 18GB to 24GB. Plus, the display is brighter for watching SDR content, reaching up to 1000 cd/m² when you’re outside. The webcam has been improved too, now featuring 12MP and Apple’s Center Stage technology.

If you have the M4 Pro or Max models, you also get Thunderbolt 5 support. There’s a cool new nano-texture display option that helps reduce glare in bright places. If you prefer a bigger screen and don’t mind carrying a heavier laptop, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4) is a great choice. It has better speakers and longer battery life, but keep in mind it’s pricier and only comes with the M4 Pro or Max chip, so you can’t get the base M4 version.

Best Gaming Laptop For College

If you’re looking for a laptop that’s great for gaming during your free time, check out the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024). This 14-inch laptop is super sleek and portable, making it easy to take with you. It has a lot of power, so you can enjoy smooth gameplay even in the most demanding games. The stunning 120Hz 2.8k OLED screen looks amazing, and the keyboard feels really nice to type on. Plus, it has one of the best sound systems you can find on a Windows laptop. You’ll also get fast Wi-Fi 6E, a facial recognition camera for quick logins, and plenty of ports, including two USB-Cs and an HDMI 2.1.

You can pick between an AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 CPU along with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, or 4070 for your setup. If you’re okay with playing games at 1080p, the 4050 is a good choice. However, if you want to game at 1440p (or 2.8k), it’s better to go for the 4060 or 4070.

The maximum RAM is 32GB, and you can have up to 1TB of storage. Keep in mind that only the SSD can be replaced by you, which might be a good idea later since 1TB can fill up fast with today’s big games. The battery lasts about eight hours with light use, so you might need to charge it during the day depending on how much you use it.

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