21 Best Laptops for College Students for 2025: Budget & Premium Recommendations

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

Technology undergirds much of today’s learning environments, as it does for most of modern human life. At any time, all of us are tied to the screens of smartphones and computers, including laptops. But using the technology in our hands is the easiest part. Buying them is the hardest part. This is also true for mobile devices as it is for desktop computers and laptops.

So, which laptop is best for students? In this article, we look into 21 of the best laptops that have received the approval of tech pundits. There are also snippets that point out what they are best for—such as best in versatility or portability. The key specifications are also outlined to help you get a clear overview of a laptop quickly.

21 Best Student Laptops 2025 Table of Contents

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 13"
Acer Aspire Vero
MSI Modern 14
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
HP Envy x360 13
Google Pixelbook Go
Acer Aspire 5 Intel
IdeaPad Flex 5i (14" Intel) 2 in 1 Laptop
Dell XPS 13
HP Pavilion Aero
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
HP Envy 13
Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 714 (CP714-1WN)
Apple MacBook Air M1
Apple MacBook Air M2
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus
Dell XPS 13 Plus
MSI Katana GF66
Apple MacBook Pro 13
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
HP Spectre x360 16

In 2020, back-to-college spending in the United States reached a total of $67.7 billion, according to the National Retail Federation (2020). Of this amount, $5.4 billion were spent on school supplies. A big percentage of this could have gone towards laptops, as these devices have become essential to college students for completing their homework and projects. This is absolutely true, considering the current educational preference for distance learning or elearning. And this is as true whether it’s for teaching adults or kids.

Indeed, 81% of students have laptops to help them through college. Of these, 72% choose a laptop based on price and spend $761.32 on average. Additionally, 8% of students are willing to go with laptops that cost more than $1,500, and 13% have a range of $1,200 to $1,500 when looking for a laptop computer. For laptops that are within the $900 to $1,200 price range, 22% of students were looking at these. Furthermore, 24%, 20%, and 138% look at laptops that are priced below $300, $300 to $600, and $600 to $900, respectively. Clearly, laptops rule the educational space, serving students no matter the education degrees they’re pursuing.

Fortunately, there are laptops that come within range of the budget of average students. Below are a selection that hits the mark when it comes to price and performance, and some that go beyond the average amount spent on a laptop for college.

[degree_finder]

Budget Laptops (under $1000)

Laptops have become a necessity in today’s world, especially for students who need reliable devices for their studies and projects. However, with so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one, especially if you are working with a tight budget.

We will explore the best affordable laptops for college students that offer a perfect balance of performance, portability, and affordability. Whether you are looking for a laptop for general use, video editing, gaming, or simply browsing, this guide has got you covered. We have done the research and testing to bring you the most reliable and affordable laptops for students of all ages. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and read on to find the perfect laptop for your needs.

1. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 13"

Display: 13.3" FHD OLED (1920 x 1080), 100% DCI-P3, 400 nits, touchscreen
Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ SC7180 Processor (8x Kryo 468 CPU, up to 2.55 GHz)
RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4X 2133MHz (Soldered)
Capacity: 256 GB eMMC
Graphics Card: Integrated Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
Ballpark Price: $394.99

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 13" is a radical departure from the low-cost Chromebook Duet of the previous year. While the increased price may deter some buyers, the substantial hardware updates make this 2-in-1 Chromebook just as appealing. As long as you’re looking for a laptop and not a tablet, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook packs a punch with great battery life, a stunning display, and a redesigned form factor that improves on last year’s model (Loeffler, 2022). When you open up the Duet 5, the 13.3-inch OLED display will make you double-take at the sub-$500 price tag, but the fabric back shell and keyboard cover are carried over from the previous edition. Additionally, the battery life has been increased to nearly 13 hours on a single charge, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 CPU has been vastly enhanced.

2. Acer Aspire Vero

Display: 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1155G7 processor
RAM: 8 GB standard memory
Capacity: 256 GB solid state drive
Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Battery Life: 7.5 hours
Ballpark Price: $499.99

The Acer Aspire Vero is the best laptop for the environment, and it has gotten even better since last year’s model. The protective laptop case and keyboard sheet used by Acer are both made from 100% recycled polyester, and the company has developed a method to use up to 90% recycled paper in its packaging. The divider within the box can also be used to prop up your laptop (Cuevas, 2022). The new Acer Aspire Vero is an upgrade in many respects. It may not be substantially more eco-friendly than the previous version, but it outperforms its predecessor in every way that matters to consumer computers. However, this is a generalist’s notebook, not a specialist’s, so don’t get it if you want to play AAA games or edit 4K videos. This Vero gets an A+ for being more eco-friendly than most while still providing excellent performance for less than $1,000.

3. MSI Modern 14

Display: 14" THIN BEZEL Full HD IPS-Level 60Hz 45% NTSC
Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 5500U 2.1 4.0GHz
RAM: 8GB (8GB *1) DDR4 3200MHz
Capacity: 256GB NVMe SSD
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon™ Graphics
Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
Ballpark Price: $599.99

The Modern 14 is stylish for one of the cheap laptops for students. It’s nothing special, but the general design is pleasant. The chassis is painted in a sleek black metallic that glints subtly in the light. The display isn’t very impressive, but it’s crisp and bright, so there shouldn’t be any issues. The IPS panel is easy on the eyes from any angle since it doesn’t distort or darken too much as well as, or better than, the screen on a laptop of this price range, as may be expected. Although it lacks any truly remarkable features, the MSI Modern 14 stands out because of its solid performance and lack of significant sacrifices. Not the speediest computer compared to other major laptops in the $600$1,000 price range, but it does a respectable job for the money. The MSI Modern 14 strikes a better mix than most budget laptops we’ve encountered between mobility, adequate connectivity, and overall comfort for the price (Buzzi, 2021).

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Display: 12.4" PixelSense™ Display, 1536 x 1024 (148 PPI)
Processor: Quad Core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 Processor
RAM: 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4x
Capacity: Removable drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB
Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Battery Life: Up to 13.5 hours of typical device usage
Ballpark Price: $599.99

Microsoft’s cheapest laptop is also its lightest and most portable option, having a 12.4-inch screen and weighing in at little under two and a half pounds. However, the 3:2 aspect ratio, backlit keyboard, high-quality audio output and microphone input, and silky-smooth touchpad are all hallmarks of the Surface design (Seifert, 2022). It’s only a little upgrade that swaps out the aging CPU for a newer, more powerful Intel 11th Generation chip and improves on a few other details. Additionally, the better webcam and the sustainable and environmental construction with some replaceable parts are also welcome additions. The good low-cost laptop we saw before is mostly unchanged, which is not to say that it is any less satisfactory. The quality is superior to that of most products in this price range, and the base cost is cheap. Although it does have a few flaws, every laptop in this price range is going to have some. The Surface Laptop Go 2 might be one of the finest cheap laptops for college students to purchase if it fits your budget and you like the way it looks.

5. HP Envy x360 13

Display: 15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), multitouch-enabled, IPS, 250 nits
Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 5625U (up to 4.3 GHz, 16 MB L3 cache, 6 cores, 12 threads)
RAM: 8 GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM (2 X 4 GB)
Capacity: 256 GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon™ Graphics
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Ballpark Price: $629.99

The HP Envy x360 is a sleek and stylish laptop that would look great on display in your favorite local cafe. It is so light that you can easily carry it in one hand, making it the kind of laptop you’ll want to bring with you everywhere you go. The HP Envy x360 quickly becomes a reliable gadget during the working day, thanks to its great all-day battery life (considering how you use it). In reality, its sole weakness is shown while typing for long periods of time. The keyboard is responsive and comfortable enough, but the laptop is only a 13-inch model, so both the keyboard and the trackpad are rather cramped for space (Allen, 2022). For students looking for a powerful entertainment machine that can also be easily carried from class to class and used for schoolwork, the HP Envy x360 is a great choice. It’s not a gaming laptop, and programmers will want to spring for a more powerful processor for optimal performance, but the laptop is attractive and well-built for its intended purpose.

6. Google Pixelbook Go

Display: 13.3" LCD touchscreen display; Full HD 1920×1080 (166 ppi)/4K Ultra HD Molecular Display™ 3840×2160 (331 ppi)
Processor: 8th Gen Intel® Core™ m3, i5, or i7 processor
RAM: 8GB/16 GB
Capacity: 128 GB/256 GB
Graphics Card: Intel UHD 615
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours of use
Ballpark Price: $649

If you’re looking for the best Chromebook but don’t want to spend $1,000, go no further than Google’s new Pixelbook Go. This Chromebook has relatively few drawbacks for both casual users and diehard followers of Google and Chrome OS. However, its long battery life and excellent keyboard are only two of its many selling qualities (Osborne, 2021). The Google Pixelbook Go lacks premium features such as fingerprint scanners. It’s not the priciest Chromebook available, but its not the cheapest either. Additionally, while its base configuration is reasonably priced, it becomes less of a bargain as you move up the specifications ladder. Should you even bother checking out the Google Pixelbook Go if you have to deal with these drawbacks? It has some merit. Those wishing to upgrade from tablets or antiquated laptops will be impressed by its 1080p webcam, long battery life, and great keyboard. Also, it’s the cheapest entry point into the rest of Google’s offerings.

7. Acer Aspire 5 Intel

Display: 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 processor Quad-core 2.40 GHz
RAM: 12 GB, DDR4 SDRAM
Capacity: 256GB PCIe solid state drive
Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics shared memory
Battery Life: 10 Hours
Ballpark Price: $649.99

The Aspire 5 series appears to be a viable alternative in its budget-oriented category, but it must be assessed for what it is: a low-cost laptop built on Tiger Lake technology that is quick for daily usage and capable of casual gaming, so long as you go with one of the Iris Xe options. The hardware is accompanied by a decent (for the budget range) chassis, ports, typing experience, screen quality, and battery life. This laptop from Acer has a powerful quad-core Intel i5-1135G7 CPU, along with plenty of RAM and storage space. The Aspire won’t set any records, but it has enough power to run Office programs, browsers with many tabs open, and even some basic photo-editing software(Joseph, 2022). There’s no denying that Acer’s low-priced portable has a few obvious drawbacks. The design is dull, the screen is lifeless, and there aren’t many fancy extras to speak about. Although those problems are bothersome, at less than a thousand dollars, this device is still worth considering. This laptop may still serve as a daily device due to its sturdy construction and screen’s ability to handle most functionalities. The battery will last through a whole workday, the screen is responsive, and the keyboard is fine.

8. IdeaPad Flex 5i (14" Intel) 2 in 1 Laptop

Display: 14.00 inch 16:10, 1920×1200 pixel 162 PPI, 10-point capacitive, native pen support
Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U 10 x 0.9 4.4 GHz
RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4x 4266 MHz, Dual-Channel
Capacity: Samsung PM9B1 512GB
Graphics Card: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
Battery Life: 9 hours
Ballpark Price: $749.99

Despite its portability and versatility, the 2-in-1 convertible laptop is no longer considered a high-end device. You may find these for a low price in the same places you purchase cheap traditional clamshells. A case in point is the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i. Switching between touch-tablet and regular laptop modes is a breeze because of its light 3.31-pound design. The 14-inch screen size is becoming more and more popular for convertibles, and the new design of the hinges and the sensitive touchscreen gives this device great value (Blackford, 2022). While it has room for improvement in a few key areas—most notably its panel’s brightness and its battery life—it’s hard to find a better value than this one among 2-in-1s in this price range. You wouldn’t want to use it for gaming, but it has more than enough power for everyday tasks. Overall, this may be a good option if you’re a typical student or work-at-home professional. The retail version of the Flex 5i is ideal for those who need a cheap convertible for basic office work, online surfing, and video chats on the go.

9. Dell XPS 13

Display: 13.4", FHD+ 1920 x 1200, 60Hz, Non-Touch, Anti-Glare, 500 nit, InfinityEdge
Processor: 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1230U (12 MB cache, 10 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.40 GHz Turbo)
RAM: 8 GB, LPDDR5, 5200 MHz, integrated, dual-channel
Capacity: 512GB PCIe NVMe x2 Solid State Drive Onboard
Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Battery Life: 10 hours
Ballpark Price: $799

The Dell XPS 13’s small profile is the result of extensive engineering. It has grown to 0.55 inches in thickness. Though it’s just 5% slimmer than its predecessor, this device feels much lighter in hand. Because the display on the XPS 13 is already excellent, Dell decided not to update it this year. The 13.4-inch InfinityEdge display on this machine is one of the nicest you’ll find on a laptop, with slim bezels and high image quality that will let you lose yourself in your work. Port-wise, it’s the bare minimum possible, with just two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connectors and no headphone jack or microSD card slot. The USB-C to USB-A converter allows you to use the laptop with older peripherals, and the USB-C to 3.5mm adapter lets you use wired headphones on the laptop. The CPUs in this XPS 13 model aren’t strong enough to handle heavy-duty applications requiring more than 16GB RAM or 512GB storage, but most users should be OK with the base setup. The new XPS 13 seems to be Dell’s answer to the phenomenal popularity of the M1 MacBook Air. It’s not quite as fast or as long-lasting as the latter, but for the price, it’s hard to beat (Larsen, 2022).

10. HP Pavilion Aero

Display: 13.3-inches, 1920 by 1200 resolution, 60 Hz IPS Panel
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800U 1.9 GHz
RAM: 16 GB
Capacity: 512 GB SSD
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Graphics
Battery Life: 12 hours
Ballpark Price: $799.99

HP’s Pavilion Aero is a welcome relief for those on a strict budget. This ultraportable computer has all the features you would want for less than a grand, including speedy processing, a brilliant screen, long battery life, and a sufficient number of inputs and outputs. The Pavilion Aero is just as powerful as its more expensive siblings, but it lacks the luxury feel of those machines. The Aero’s performance may match that of laptops costing twice as much, thanks to its AMD Ryzen processor (Tracy, 2021). But it’s not just about brute force. The 13.3-inch display, long battery life, and unusual assortment of connectors complement the powerful processor. While the Aero isn’t perfect, as is any popular laptop, the trade-offs appear minor in light of all it offers. This is the type of notebook on which you can confidently begin penning articles immediately after unboxing. The travel is respectable for a notebook of its size, and the keys are of a suitable sizes and spacing. However, hunt-and-peck typists may find the color-matched keys unsatisfactory since the translucent typeface can be difficult to read in some environments.

11. Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Display: 13" PixelSense™ Flow Display, 2880 x 1920 (267 PPI), Up to 120Hz refresh rate (60Hz default)
Processor: Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 Processor; Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1185G7 Processor
RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR4x RAM)
Capacity: Removable solid-state drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics (i5, i7)
Battery Life: Up to 16 hours of typical device usage
Ballpark Price: Starting From $899.99

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 has a 13-inch screen and an 11th-generation Intel processor. It’s a solid improvement to Microsoft’s Surface range and a fine 2-in-1 for work and school. However, it’s not ideal for gaming. Microsoft appears to have devoted significant resources to re-engineering the Surface Pro 8’s internals since the company has configured the CPU with a higher TDP than previous generations of the tablet, increasing it to 23W from 15W in the Surface Pro 7 (Guyton, 2022). The latter’s battery only lasted 3 hours and 12 minutes on the PCMark 8 test, which was one of its major flaws. While we’ve subsequently moved on to PCMark 10, the Surface Pro 8 easily outperforms that score with its 8 hours and 15 minutes of battery life. Microsoft’s newest 2-in-1, the Surface Pro 8, seems like a generation ahead of its predecessors. The high-performance central processing unit means you won’t have to worry about any noticeable lag, whether watching videos, talking online, or doing any of your regular computer activities. Microsoft’s Windows 11 OS also seems like it was built just for the mobile device.

12. HP Envy 13

Display: 13.3" diagonal, WUXGA (1920 x 1200), multitouch-enabled, IPS, edge-to-edge glass, micro-edge, Corning® Gorilla® Glass NBT™, 400 nits, 100% sRGB[17]
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1230U (up to 4.4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB L3 cache, 10 cores, 12 threads)[6,7]
RAM: 8 GB LPDDR4x-4266 SDRAM (onboard)
Capacity: 512 GB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC M.2 SSD[21]
Graphics Card: Integrated: Intel® UHD Graphics
Battery Life: Up to 17 hours and 30 minutes
Ballpark Price: $899.99

HP’s Envy 13 proves once again why it is the best value, thanks to its attractive price tag, speedy performance, and lengthy battery life. The Envy 13’s metal chassis may not be as high-end as its more expensive sibling, but it does have some attractive design touches, like the chrome trim all around the touchpad and the bold wedge form. The bar-style hinge, in particular, demands a comforting amount of energy to spin, further adding to the item’s sense of solidity. The 13.3-inch, 1080p touchscreen display on the Envy 13 is one of the finest you can get for the price. Although it lacks 4K resolution, an OLED panel, and an unusual aspect ratio, the screen excels in the essentials by providing a display that is both crisp and colorful. The Core i5 component can handle most common computer tasks with ease, and its PC Mark 10 score is on par with that of the Core i7 processors on MSI and Dell laptops (Jennings, 2021). This is to be expected from such configurations, as they focus on realistic use cases. Additionally, the 1080p display is sharp and colorful, the keyboard is comfortable to use, and you still get a Thunderbolt 4 input and two USB Type-A connections for peripherals like mice and cameras. The addition of an Intel processor from the 11th generation has made a great thing much better.

13. Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 714 (CP714-1WN)

Display: 14" WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 Touchscreen
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1235U processor Deca-core 1.30 GHz
RAM: 16 GB, LPDDR4X
Capacity: 256 GB SSD
Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics shared memory
Battery Life: up to 13 hours
Ballpark Price: $999.99

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is a powerful and versatile 2-in-1 Chromebook with an air of sophistication, thanks to its chrome accents. The Spin 714 is not your average Chromebook with its Evo-certified Intel Core i5 1235U engine, Intel Iris Xe integrated GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage (Ramirez, 2022). A student, teacher, or remote professional may all benefit from this ultraportable laptop because of its focus on efficiency. The 14-inch, 16:10 screen provides more vertical space than the 3:2 panel, making it more comfortable working with many windows simultaneously while watching videos. Because of this, the Spin 714 may be used for both work and pleasure, blurring the lines between the two. The fact that it can also function as a tablet increases its versatility even more. The aluminum chassis of the Acer Chromebook Spin 714, which has a slate blue color, appears to be built to last. Its slate blue body has some wonderful mild metallic flakes, but it’s the chrome accents that give this Chromebook a touch of poshness appropriate for the office.

14. Apple MacBook Air M1

Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
Processor: M1 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 16-core Neural Engine
RAM: 8GB unified memory; Configurable to 16GB
Capacity: 256GB SSD; Configurable to 512GB SSD, 1TB, or 2TB
Graphics Card: 7-core GPU, 8-core GPU
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Ballpark Price: $999

What you thought a MacBook Air was before seeing the Apple MacBook Air with M1 may be safely forgotten. Although it retains its trademark wedge design, the MacBook Pro 13" is now one of the most powerful laptops available and easily destroys Intel’s CPUs. Because of this, a new era for the MacBook Air began with Pro-grade power that competes with and frequently outperforms Intel-based Windows PCs (Casey, 2023). Apple Silicon brings iOS and iPadOS applications to the Mac App Store and delivers unprecedented speed, which is why it is the preferred laptop of students enrolled in graphic design schools online. MacOS Big Sur is an attractive overhaul of Apple’s desktop OS, and it greatly improves camera quality. Although it still has some issues, Apple’s new MacBook Air is the closest they’ve ever been to creating the ideal notebook. Due in large part to the high-quality components and meticulous construction, the Air’s recognizable form factor has endured the test of time. The MacBook Air with M1 has the highest performance and battery life of any laptop in the sub-$1000 category. Plus, it has a stunning new operating system, a better webcam, and enhanced compatibility with iPadOS and iOS (with mobile app support), so it comes highly recommended by me.

[degree_finder]

How Can Students Leverage Discounts and Financing Options?

Students can access exclusive discount programs and financing plans that lower the upfront cost of a high-quality laptop. Many manufacturers, retailers, and even universities offer special student pricing, seasonal promotions, or low-interest payment plans designed to provide financial flexibility. Evaluating these options helps balance performance and affordability without compromising on warranty or after-sales support. Additionally, exploring bundled packages and extended warranty services can enhance long-term protection and value—important considerations for anyone committed to a rigorous academic schedule, especially when pursuing an online degree.

Premium Laptops (over $1000)

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of technology, students require powerful and reliable laptops that can keep up with their demanding needs and multitasking abilities. While budget laptops may be suitable for basic use, they may not have the processing power or the necessary features to handle more demanding tasks like graphic design, video editing, or programming. That’s where premium laptops come in.

In this blog, we will introduce you to some of the best laptops for students that offer the latest hardware, powerful performance, and sleek designs. These laptops are designed to provide students with the tools they need to excel in their studies, research, and projects. Whether you’re a student who needs a laptop for school, university, or just for personal use, this guide will help you find the best cheap laptop for your needs.

15. Apple MacBook Air M2

Display: 13.6-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology;1 2560-by-1664 native resolution at 224 pixels per inch with support for 1 billion colors
Processor: 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
RAM: 8GB unified memory; Configurable to 16GB or 24GB
Capacity: 256GB SSD; Configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB
Graphics Card: 8-core GPU
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Ballpark Price: starting at $1,099

If you’re looking for a premium laptop and don’t mind spending a little more, the MacBook Air M2 is your best bet. It has a wonderfully compact shape for its high-quality performance, battery life (which can last for more than 14 hours), and display (which is both brilliant and colorful). Much of the form factor and design of the new MacBook Air comes from the MacBook Pro 14 and 16. It’s more brutalist in appearance than previous MacBook Air models, having a symmetrical and squared design. But it’s really thin, measuring just a hair over 11 mm, and you’ll notice the difference the moment you open the lid and start typing. The display quality of the MacBook Air M2 has now caught up to that of the MacBook Pro M2, and this is a major improvement. There are no compromises in the 13.6-inch display’s brightness, color, or resolution (2560 x 1664 pixels) for movie playback, image editing, or any other use. Compared to the revolutionary M1 from 2020, this update is more modest, but it’s still up to 18% faster and has 35% more powerful graphics (Gibbs, 2022). The M2 transforms the MacBook Air into a powerful and speedy computer that can easily perform both everyday tasks and short bursts of more intensive work.

16. Dell Inspiron 16 Plus

Display: 16", 3K 3072 x 1920, 60Hz, WVA, Non-Touch, Anti-Glare, 300 nit, ComfortView Plus
Processor: 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-12700H (24MB Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 14 cores)
RAM: 16 GB, 8 GB, DDR5, 4800 MHz, integrated + 1 x 8 GB, DDR5, 4800 MHz
Capacity: 512 GB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD
Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti, 4 GB GDDR6
Battery Life: More than 15 hours
Ballpark Price: $1,199.99

The newest Dell Inspiron 16 Plus isn’t the ideal desktop replacement, but it has powerful hardware for the price, including a 12th-generation Intel H-series processor and Nvidia RTX graphics. The Inspiron is constructed and designed in a way that belies the reasonably powerful components within; it has a clean, minimalist aesthetic with a splash of subdued color. Apple’s MacBooks and Dell’s XPS series have found tremendous success with this design, but Inspiron’s design and materials don’t quite live up to that premium feel. Keeping things simple might help keep costs down, but the Inspiron 16 Plus ends up seeming more like a generic consumer notebook than the very powerful and pricey laptop it actually is. Additionally, the RTX 3060 ought to be able to support 1080p gaming at approximately 60 frames per second, and it will be useful for jobs like Photoshop or video editing, though the screen’s low color accuracy means it won’t be perfect for creative professionals. The RTX 3050 will also support 1080p gaming but at a much lower frame rate until the graphics settings are tweaked (Buzzi, 2022).

17. Dell XPS 13 Plus

Display: 13.4", FHD+ 1920 x 1200, 60Hz, Touch, Anti-Glare, 500 nit, InfinityEdge
Processor: 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1240P (12 MB cache, 12 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.40 GHz Turbo)
RAM: 8 GB, LPDDR5, 5200 MHz, integrated, dual-channel
Capacity: 512 GB, M.2, Gen 4 PCIe, SSD
Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Ballpark Price: $1,299.00

The Dell XPS 13 Plus is a compact notebook with a unique appearance and excellent performance. Additionally, the OLED screen is fantastic, and the keyboard is quite pleasant to use. However, some may be wary due to the short battery life and capacitive function row. The metal and glass construction of the XPS 13 Plus is superb. Strong as a rock, that’s how the lid would describe its durability. If you don’t open it up and look at the screen, you won’t be able to tell it from the standard XPS. Clever decisions in the system’s architecture enable a 28 W processor to be used. This is a significant accomplishment since the 2021 XPS 13 has a 15 W chip, and the 2022 XPS 13 supports up to a 12 W chip. Of course, this is also an example of function preceding form. Using the XPS 13 Plus was, to put it bluntly, unnatural. This device may be a pain to use regularly due to several factors, including but not limited to its limited port choices, shaky build quality, and uncomfortable temperature levels when in use. There are benefits to the XPS 13 Plus’s performance, but some design decisions may make you go elsewhere for a powerful yet portable laptop if you want to use this one as your primary device (Harding, 2022).

18. MSI Katana GF66

Display: 15.6" FHD, IPS-Level 144Hz 45%NTSC 1920×1080 (16:9)
Processor: Core i7-11800H 8 Core 2.4 4.6GHz
RAM: 6G GDDR6
Capacity: 512GB NVMe SSD
Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 Laptop GPU
Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
Ballpark Price: $1299.00

The MSI Katana GF66 stands out as an excellent deal among 15.6-inch, low-cost gaming laptops, thanks to its Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics processing unit, 8-core Intel Core i7 processor, and decent storage. Especially in light of escalating core-component pricing and a rethinking of what constitutes a “cheap" gaming laptop, the Katana fulfills gaming fundamentals without noticeable drawbacks, despite its shorter battery life and less vivid screen. The Katana’s hardware connections include an HDMI 2.0b video output, an Ethernet jack, and a headphone jack, as well as three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (two Type-A and one Type-C). Although it’s quite portable, gamers won’t want to take advantage of this gadget because of its subpar performance when not plugged in. The battery life is a problem even while performing productive jobs, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking about buying this as a general-purpose device. You’ll be lucky to get four to six hours of battery, and that depends on how much work you have to do (PCMag, 2021).

19. Apple MacBook Pro 13

Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
Processor: M2 chip 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
RAM: 8GB unified memory; Configurable to 16GB to 24GB
Capacity: 256GB SSD; Configurable to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB
Graphics Card: 10-core GPU
Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
Ballpark Price: $1,299.00

The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) has the company’s most up-to-date M2 processor, allowing for fast processing and long battery life. But there’s no fresh look, and this notebook seems a little outdated with the new MacBook Air hot on its heels (Probst, 2022). The MacBook’s exterior is quite similar to the one announced by Apple in 2016. The aluminum chassis is attractive and is available in either a shiny silver or the review unit’s more understated Space Gray color. The Apple logo is the only distinguishing element on the otherwise featureless lid, and the entire box still manages to measure an astounding 0.61 by 12 by 8.4 inches and weigh in at only 3 pounds. As already mentioned, it’s the first product to include Apple’s new M2 processor. The M2 is an improvement over the M1. However, the company was sure to point out that the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips will still be superior due to the fact that they have more cores. If you’re upgrading from a pre-Apple Silicon MacBook to an Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, you should consider the M2 model because of its obvious improvement over the M1 model.

20. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Display:ROG Nebula Display 14-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) IPS-level Anti-glare display
Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 9 6900HS Mobile Processor (8-core/16-thread, 16MB cache, up to 4.9 GHz max boost)
RAM: 8GB DDR5 on board 8GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM
Capacity: 1TB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon™ RX 6700S 8GB GDDR6
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Ballpark Price: $1,380.00

The 2022 ROG Zephyrus G14 is an excellent choice if you want a compact, versatile laptop that won’t break the bank. This G14 from 2022 looks and feels more sophisticated than its predecessors, and it also features improved inputs and connections, higher quality screen choices, a camera, and more powerful hardware, thanks to a revised thermal module. It’s important to know what to anticipate from this laptop before purchasing it, as the high internal and exterior temperatures that come with packing strong specifications into a tiny chassis are to be expected regardless of the platform used. The gaming performance is somewhere between the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 and the RTX 3080 (Nast, 2022). Its 1440p 120Hz monitor allows for smooth gameplay at 60 fps and beyond, even at Ultra settings. The 16:10 QHD screen flawlessly displays every frame and every bit of high-resolution artwork. Accurate colors and sharp contrast provide stunning visuals in both photo-realistic and stylized art. But it’s not quite great, because the screen could need a little more light. While this won’t be too much of a problem in most situations, the laptop’s mobility will suffer significantly if you’re not using it for gaming.

21. HP Spectre x360 16

Display: 16" diagonal, 3K+ (3072 x 1920), multitouch-enabled, IPS, edge-to-edge glass, micro-edge, Corning® Gorilla® Glass NBT™, Low Blue Light, 400 nits, 100% sRGB
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-12700H (up to 4.7 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 24 MB L3 cache, 14 cores, 20 threads)
RAM: 16 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM (onboard)
Capacity: 1 TB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC M.2 SSD
Graphics Card: Integrated: Intel® Iris® X Graphics
Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
Ballpark Price: $1,699.99

The HP Spectre x360 16 is a great option if you want a hybrid laptop but don’t want to deal with the typical small screen size. It has a beautiful 4k OLED touchscreen and can do everything a 2-in-1 tablet should (Grevstad, 2022). The x360 16’s appearance is more subdued than those of prior Spectre laptops, but it’s still a sleek aluminum model with beveled edges (black with silver accents) and refined diagonally cut rear corners. It’s sturdy and tapping the screen while in laptop mode causes only slight wobbling, and there’s no give if you grab the screen’s edges. The keyboard has a fingerprint reader built-in, and the top row has additional controls for things like brightness, volume, and even the ability to mute the microphone and turn off the webcam. The HP Spectre x360 16 is a superb all-around laptop that can handle all your everyday tasks with ease, whether you go for the default specs or choose to push those specs up a notch. It worked well even with many tabs open and other apps like Microsoft Office (Word and Excel) still active.

Can a Laptop Impact the Credibility of Your Online Education?

A high-performance laptop not only supports smooth academic operations—it also underpins your digital professionalism in remote learning environments. A device with robust processing power, reliable connectivity, and advanced security features enables seamless participation in virtual classes, comprehensive multitasking during research, and efficient collaboration on group projects. These technical competencies are increasingly considered by employers when they evaluate a candidate’s readiness for a digital workplace. Moreover, a capable machine contributes to the overall perception of commitment and preparedness in online education, ensuring that the tools you use effectively support your academic profile. For an in-depth discussion on the broader perception of digital learning credentials, see are online degrees respected by employers.

How to Optimize Your Laptop for Academic Success

To truly harness the power of your laptop for academic achievement, it's crucial to optimize it for your specific needs. Here are some strategies to ensure your device supports productivity and learning effectively:

Customize Software for Academic Tasks

Equip your device with essential software that aligns with your coursework. Platforms like Microsoft Office and cloud-based tools such as Google Workspace are indispensable for tasks like writing papers, creating presentations, and collaborating on group projects. Additionally, if you're pursuing specialized programs such as engineering, graphic design, or coding bootcamps, installing industry-standard software like MATLAB, AutoCAD, or GitHub will be crucial.

Utilize Browser Extensions for Focus and Efficiency

Modern browsers like Chrome and Firefox offer a plethora of extensions to help students manage workloads and minimize distractions. Extensions like Grammarly ensure your writing is polished, while apps like StayFocusd can block non-academic distractions during study sessions. Many students enrolled in intense programs, such as accelerated bachelor degree programs, use these tools to stay on track in their online coursework.

Organize Digital Resources for Easy Access

A cluttered desktop or poorly organized file structure can slow you down. Create designated folders for each course, lecture notes, and research projects. Utilize cloud storage services like Google Drive or OneDrive for seamless access to important files across all your devices. This practice is particularly beneficial for students juggling multiple commitments or accelerated study tracks.

Harness Power-Saving Features to Extend Battery Life

If you're frequently moving between lectures, libraries, and study spots, power efficiency is key. Adjust your battery settings to prioritize longevity and reduce screen brightness. Disable background apps that consume resources unnecessarily. For added peace of mind, carry a portable charger when attending long academic sessions.

Maintain Security for Peace of Mind

Laptops are a treasure trove of sensitive information, from academic papers to personal data. Enhance your security setup with antivirus software and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible. Back up important documents regularly to a secure cloud platform, ensuring academic progress is safeguarded against technical mishaps.

By taking these proactive steps, your laptop becomes more than just a tool; it's a strategic ally in your academic journey. Much like how pursuing structured and fast-tracked educational pathways such as accelerated bachelor degree programs can help you achieve your goals efficiently, an optimized laptop will enhance productivity and minimize stress.

Tips for Students in Choosing the Best Laptop

When choosing good laptops for college, it can be tempting to go for the machine with the most bells and whistles. But sometimes, you may not even need those. This is why there are some things that you have to think about carefully when making your decision.

Consider your needs. Surprise! Budget is not first on the list. This is because deciding with your budget as the primary decision-making factor can backfire on you. Instead, think about what you need in a laptop. If you are simply going to use it for everyday tasks like word processing, number crunching on spreadsheets, making and running presentations, and browsing the internet, then you can settle for a budget laptop that covers the essentials. However, if you are going to do some heavy tasks like image, video, and audio editing, you have to step it up a notch and go for a mid-range laptop or even a premium one.
Budget. Now, this is where your budgeting comes in. Entry-level, mid-range, and premium laptops can vary greatly in price. Once you have decided on the processing capability you need, then you can start setting a minimum and a maximum amount. You can start with listings for the best budget laptop for students and work your way from there.
Portability. Students always go around from one room, building, campus to another. As such, it is necessary to think of the weight you are willing to carry. There are lines of laptops that are ultra-portable but do not compromise on performance so you have to keep an eye on those.
Upgrades. There are laptops that allow upgrades and there are those that do not. If you believe that you may have to upgrade your device in the future, then it is best to look at laptops whose storage, RAM, and graphics processor you can switch later on.

Still, laptops and all these technologies are valued for all the content they can readily access. If you happen to be a doting parent to a gifted child, you’d appreciate, for example, all these essential links for the parents of gifted children with all its useful resources to make the best of your child’s latent capabilities.

Is Your Laptop Ready to Fuel Your Career Transition?

Evaluate your laptop’s performance and upgrade potential to ensure it meets the demands of advanced professional applications. Assess features such as processing power, connectivity options, and compatibility with specialized software that supports intensive research, multimedia projects, and cloud-based collaboration. A well-equipped device can significantly streamline the transition to further education and career advancement, serving as a critical tool for complex assignments and industry-relevant projects. Consider how these technical specifications align with your plans to advance your career, such as pursuing best masters degrees for career change, to turn your laptop into a strategic asset for long-term success.

What are the best laptop accessories for college students?

Choosing the right laptop is essential, but having the right accessories can enhance your productivity and overall experience. Below are some of the best accessories for college students to complement their laptops:

External hard drive or SSD: For students handling large files or needing additional storage, an external hard drive or SSD is ideal. It provides extra space and helps with backing up important documents, photos, and videos.
Laptop cooling pad: A cooling pad helps keep your laptop cool during heavy usage, like gaming or video editing, extending the laptop's lifespan and performance.
Wireless mouse: While trackpads are convenient, a wireless mouse offers better control and precision for tasks like graphic design or gaming, and it's easier on the hands during long study sessions.
Laptop stand: An ergonomic laptop stand can help prevent neck and back strain by elevating the laptop to eye level, improving posture during extended use.
USB hub: Many ultra-thin laptops have limited ports. A USB hub allows students to connect multiple devices, like external drives, printers, and more, simultaneously.
Noise-cancelling headphones: College environments can be noisy, so noise-cancelling headphones help create a focused study space, whether you're in a dorm or a coffee shop.

Is Customer Support and Warranty Crucial for Your Laptop Investment?

A dependable post-purchase support system can significantly enhance the value of your laptop, particularly when academic deadlines and remote learning demand uninterrupted performance. Thorough warranty coverage and responsive customer support ensure that technical issues are addressed promptly, minimizing downtime during crucial study periods. Evaluate the length and terms of the warranty, the availability of on-site service, and the reputation of the manufacturer’s customer service. Additionally, consider extended warranty options for hardware repairs and issue resolution that may arise over time. For those balancing academic schedules with financial investments, understanding all aspects of cost efficiency—including after-sales support—can be as important as the initial purchase decision. In some cases, innovative educational pathways intersect with cost-effective buying strategies, prompting a broader view of investment priorities, as seen in What is the easiest doctorate to get?.

Can Your Laptop Support Vocational and Technical Programs?

Evaluate whether your laptop can handle specialized software required for vocational and technical courses. Focus on systems that meet demanding benchmarks, including robust processors, ample RAM, and dedicated graphics capabilities to seamlessly run simulation tools, CAD applications, or multimedia software. Assess hardware compatibility with course-specific requirements and verify that expansion options such as additional ports or upgradeable components align with your educational needs. For further insights into program requirements and career-focused training, explore trade certificate programs online. Regularly update drivers and optimize system settings to maintain peak performance and security compliance with evolving academic software standards.

Is Your Laptop Future-Proof for Evolving Academic Demands?

Future-proofing your laptop means ensuring it remains capable of handling increasingly sophisticated software and academic workloads over time. Consider whether the device supports the latest operating system updates and if its hardware—such as RAM, processor, and storage—is easily upgradeable to meet future demands. Evaluate performance benchmarks for multitasking and resource-intensive applications that may become standard as curricula evolve. Moreover, selecting a laptop with comprehensive connectivity options and reliable hardware can minimize replacement frequency, providing greater long-term value, as covered in our article How long does it take to get an associate degree?

Laptop Maintenance Tips for Longevity

Taking care of your laptop is essential for maximizing its lifespan and performance. By following these simple maintenance practices, students can ensure their laptops remain reliable tools, whether for intensive studies or pursuing affordable online master’s programs. Here are some practical tips to keep your laptop running smoothly:

Keep It Clean: Regularly clean your laptop to prevent dust buildup. Wipe the screen and keyboard with a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals, and consider investing in compressed air to clean vents and ports.
Update Software and Drivers: Keep your operating system, antivirus software, and drivers current. These updates often include security patches and performance enhancements that can protect and optimize your device.
Avoid Overheating: Laptops can overheat if their vents are blocked. Use a cooling pad or ensure proper airflow by placing your laptop on a hard, flat surface instead of soft surfaces like beds or sofas.
Unplug When Fully Charged: Overcharging can degrade the battery over time. Once your laptop reaches full charge, unplug it to extend battery health. Some laptops also have features to optimize charging—use these if available.
Handle with Care: Always carry your laptop in a protective case or sleeve. Avoid eating or drinking near your laptop to reduce the risk of spills and accidents.
Back Up Your Data: Regular backups are crucial in case of hardware failure or accidental damage. Use cloud services or external drives to keep your files secure.
Manage Storage Space: Do not fill your laptop’s storage space to capacity. Remove unnecessary files and uninstall unused programs to keep your system running efficiently.
Protect Against Malware: Install reliable antivirus software and avoid downloading files or clicking on links from unknown sources. Safe browsing habits go a long way in maintaining your laptop’s performance.

Key Insights

Wide Range of Options: The article lists 21 laptops ranging from budget-friendly to premium, catering to diverse student needs and budgets.
Budget-Friendly Choices: Laptops under $1000, such as Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 and Acer Aspire Vero, offer a balance of performance and affordability, ideal for general use and basic tasks.
Premium Performance: Higher-end options like the Apple MacBook Air M2 and Dell Inspiron 16 Plus provide superior performance, suitable for demanding tasks like graphic design, video editing, and gaming.
Battery Life Considerations: Many of the listed laptops boast long battery lives, with the MacBook Air M1 leading with up to 18 hours, ensuring students can work throughout the day without frequent recharges.
Portability and Design: Lightweight and portable designs, such as the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and HP Envy x360 13, are emphasized for students who need to carry their laptops around campus.
Environmental Impact: The Acer Aspire Vero stands out for its eco-friendly design, using recycled materials in its construction and packaging.
Versatility and Functionality: 2-in-1 laptops like the IdeaPad Flex 5i and HP Spectre x360 16 offer versatile usage modes, combining the functionalities of a laptop and a tablet.
Advanced Features: Premium models feature advanced displays, high-resolution screens, and powerful processors, enhancing the overall user experience and productivity.

FAQ

What factors should students consider when choosing a laptop? Students should consider their specific needs, such as the types of tasks they will perform, budget, portability, battery life, and potential for future upgrades. It's important to match the laptop's capabilities with academic and personal requirements.
Are budget laptops sufficient for college students? Budget laptops can be sufficient for basic tasks like word processing, internet browsing, and watching videos. However, for more demanding tasks like graphic design, video editing, or gaming, a mid-range or premium laptop may be more suitable.
Which laptops offer the best battery life? Laptops like the Apple MacBook Air M1, HP Envy 13, and Microsoft Surface Pro 8 offer long battery lives, ranging from 12 to 18 hours, making them ideal for students who need their laptops to last throughout the day.
What are the benefits of 2-in-1 laptops for students? 2-in-1 laptops, such as the IdeaPad Flex 5i and HP Spectre x360 16, offer versatility by functioning as both a laptop and a tablet. This flexibility can be useful for taking notes, drawing, and using touch-based applications, enhancing the learning experience.
How important is portability for student laptops? Portability is crucial for students who frequently move between classes, dorms, and libraries. Lightweight laptops like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and HP Envy x360 13 are designed for easy transport without compromising performance.
What makes the Acer Aspire Vero environmentally friendly? The Acer Aspire Vero uses 100% recycled polyester for its protective case and keyboard sheet and up to 90% recycled paper in its packaging. Its eco-friendly design appeals to environmentally conscious students.
Can students upgrade their laptops in the future? Some laptops allow for future upgrades in storage, RAM, and graphics processors. Students should check if their chosen laptop supports such upgrades to extend its lifespan and adapt to evolving needs.
Why are premium laptops more expensive, and are they worth it for students? Premium laptops, such as the Apple MacBook Air M2 and Dell XPS 13 Plus, offer advanced features, superior performance, and high-quality displays. They are worth the investment for students who require robust capabilities for demanding tasks and long-term use.
Are there specific laptops recommended for graphic design students? Graphic design students may benefit from laptops like the Apple MacBook Air M2 and Dell Inspiron 16 Plus, which offer powerful processors, high-resolution displays, and ample RAM to handle graphic-intensive applications smoothly.
What should students know about the cost of AP exams and laptops? While AP exams can cost between $96 to $144 per course, laptops vary widely in price. Students should consider their overall budget for academic expenses, balancing the cost of necessary tools like laptops with other educational investments.