Choosing the best laptops for students may be seemingly easy. But, in practice, it’s too tough. The reason is simple. There is a huge number of laptops you can purchase today in varying budgets. And no manufacturer comes with student’s laptop as such. So, when it comes to choosing the best laptops for college students, almost everyone is in a confusion. You have to consider many factors like pricing, specifications, the purpose etc. Then, there are common students who need laptops for everyday digital needs.
Now that you are here, stop worrying. In this article, we have created a list of the 10 best laptops for students from the top laptop brands. We have chosen the products based on these various aspects, not to mention user-reviews. The list consists of different devices in varying budgets and for specific purposes. So, in the end, you can decide the best choice for you.
Take a Look at the Best Laptops for Students
Sr. No. | Best Laptops for Students | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
1. | Rating: 3.9/5 | |
2. | Rating: 4.2/5 | |
3. | Rating: 4.6/5 | |
4. | Rating: 3.9/5 | |
5. | Rating: 4.0/5 | |
6. | Rating: 3.9/5 | |
7. | Rating: 4.3/5 | |
8. | Rating: 4.2/5 | |
9. | Rating: 4.4/5 | |
10. | Rating: 4.0/5 |
1. ASUS ZenBook UX305UA
ASUS ZenBook UX305UA is the best laptop for students, combining portability and performance alike. It’s actually a MacBook Air competitor. In the hardware side, ASUS ZenBook UX305UA offers:
- Processor: Intel Core i5 (6th Generation) at 2.3GHz
- RAM: 8GB
- Screen: 13.3” Full HD IPS Display
- Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Weight: 2.9lbs
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Battery Life: 10 Hours
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- Minimal thickness.
- Minimal weight.
- The 10-Hour battery life is impressive for college-going students.
2. Acer Chromebook 14
Do you think a Chromebook would suffice all your college needs? If so, you can have a look at the Acer Chromebook 14. Chrome OS is like having a fully-fledged operating system equipped with Chrome browser. The specifications are:
- Processor: Intel Celeron at 1.6GHz
- RAM: 4GB
- Screen: 14” Full-HD IPS Display
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
- Storage: 32GB
- Weight: 3.42lbs
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- Battery Life: 12 Hours
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- It’s a meaningful combination of portability, usability and enhanced battery life.
- You can install apps and do almost everything you do in Windows or a Mac device.
3. MacBook Air (13.3” and 128GB)
MacBook Air may not be one of the cheap laptops for students. Available in 256GB and 128GB variants, you can also choose one from 11.6” and 13.3” display variants.
- Processor: Intel Core I5 at 2.7GHz
- RAM: 4GB
- Screen: 13.3” LED-backlit Display of 1440*900 Resolution
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 6000
- Storage: 128GB PCle-based Storage
- Weight: 2.96lbs
- Operating System: Mac, OS X El Captain
- Battery Life: 12 Hours
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- Ultra-portable design.
- Unbeatable performance.
- Streamlined service from Apple.
- Compared to other laptops, MacBook Air is durable too.
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is, as the company says, a tablet that can replace your laptop. The specifications are:
- Processor: Intel Core m3, i5 or i7 (6th Generation)
- RAM: 4GB, 8GB or 16GB
- Screen: 12.3” PixelSense Display
- Graphics: Not Specified
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB
- Weight: 1.7lbs
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Battery Life: Around 9 Hours
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- Minimal weight.
- It’s really a high-performance tablet.
- You can extend the usability via the keyboard case.
5. Samsung Chromebook 3
Are you looking for an ultra-affordable laptop for your daily college use? Then, Samsung Chromebook 3 seems to be the best option in town. Obviously, it’s a Chromebook with several advantages and disadvantages. Let’s have a look at the specs now.
- Processor: Intel Celeron at 2.16GHz
- RAM: 2GB or 4GB
- Screen: 11.6” Display
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
- Storage: 16GB SSD
- Weight: 2.54lbs
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- Battery Life: 11 Hours
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- It packs in a minimal set of hardware in it.
- Budget-friendly.
Cons:
- If you are into some coding-based classes, however, this won’t be a good choice.
6. HP Stream Laptop PC 14-ax010nr
HP Stream Laptop PC 14-ax010nr is one of the cheap laptops for students, in terms of pricing. Because of this, HP Stream Laptop PC 14-ax010nr specifications are pretty low.
- Processor: Intel Celeron at 1.6GHz
- RAM: 4GB
- Screen: 11” or 14” (Resolution, 1366*768)
- Graphics: Integrated
- Storage: 32GB
- Weight: 3.2lbs
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Battery Life: 10 Hours, 45 Minutes
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- Good Battery Life.
- Packed with amazing features for a minimal price.
Cons:
- This laptop isn’t for heavy-resource-consuming tasks.
7. ASUS ZenBook FlipUX360CA-DBM2T
If you are ready to spend more for performance and portability, ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360CA is a good option. This is the second product from ASUS ZenBook Series, on our list. Thanks to the Intel Core M Processors, this 2-in-1 laptop can bring you an awesome experience.
- Processor: Intel Core M, 6th Generation
- RAM: 8GB
- Screen: 13.3” Full-HD IPS Display
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Weight: 3lbs
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Battery Life: Not Specified
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- Allows 360 Degree Rotation.
8. Dell Inspiron i7559-2512BLK
Dell Inspiron i7559-2512BLK is an excellent students’ laptop if you are ready to compromise weight and portability. You’ve to look at the specifications of the notebook, to understand the real beast inside. Corresponding to this, there’s an added bulk on the overall build.
- Processor: Intel Core i7 (6th Generation) or Core i5
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB
- Screen: 15.6” Full HD LED-Lit Display
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
- Storage: 1TB HDD + 8GB SSD
- Weight: 4.6lbs
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Battery Life: 10 Hours
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- Good Battery Life.
- Heavy Performance Rig.
Cons:
- Weight and Portability are a problem.
9. Apple MacBook Pro
Are you a student of filmography or anything that requires Film Editing and heavy performance? Apple MacBook Pro will be, then, one of the best student laptops you can have.
- Processor: Intel Core i5 at 2.5GHz
- RAM: 4GB DDR3
- Screen: 13.3” LED-backlit Display with 1280*800 Resolution
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000
- Storage: 500GB HDD
- Weight: 4.5lbs
- Operating System: Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
- Battery Life: 7 Hours
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- Unparalleled heavy-duty performance and ultra-portability.
- You have all the privileges of Mac and Apple’s build quality.
- Great-quality support and unique services.
Cons:
- As compared to the battery life to other products mentioned here, the battery life is average but you can always find ways to increase battery life.
10. Lenovo Flex 4 – 2-in-1 Laptop
To end the list of the best laptops for students, we have Lenovo Flex 4 – 2-in-1 Laptop. As the name says, it’s a 2-in-1 device for your college needs. That having said, even for such a lower price, the laptop has too-high specifications. So, if you are looking for a heavy-duty laptop-tablet convertible for your college needs, Lenovo Flex 4 – 2-in-1 Laptop is the best choice. Even school students can get the best out of Lenovo Flex 4 – 2-in-1 Laptop, for the ultraportable design converting options. The beefy specs of this device are:
- Processor: Intel Core i7 at 2.7GHz or Intel Core i5
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB
- Screen: 15.6” LED-Lit Full HD Display
- Graphics: AMD Radeon R7 M460
- Storage: 256GB SSD or 1TB HDD
- Weight: 4.58lbs
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Battery Life: 9 Hours
- Price: Purchase This Product on Amazon
Pros:
- Even for such a lower price, the laptop has too-high specifications.
Technical Review:
If you look at the recommended products, they have something in similar. First, all the devices offer battery life of more than 8 Hours. Second, the weight is relatively low; though, there is an exception for MacBook Pro and Dell Inspiron i7559-2512BLK. Also, we have included 2-in-1s and Ultrabooks in the list. So, chances are, you will have a good time in handling and using all these devices as per your college schedule.
You should keep an eye on specifications before buying. Different courses require different devices. For instance, when it comes to an Auto-CAD session, there is nothing you can do with a Chromebook or a starting Windows laptop. You should not go for convertibles too. When you have performance as the major focus, you should prefer Macs or other beefy ones. Also, keep in mind the aspect of Operating System. While Mac and Windows have their own advantages, your needs must decide the choice.
Best Laptops for Students – Conclusion
We had a few thoughts in mind while picking the best laptops for students. First, a laptop – or a convertible – is going to be the digital companion for your whole college life. Or, at least, for a few years. And, you have to carry it around almost all the time. Last but not least, you won’t love to keep the device plugged all the time. To sum up, the major considerations were longevity, ultra-portability and battery life.
In the end, we hope this guide will help you pick the right laptop for you. And, you wouldn’t ask what laptop should I buy.
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Ted Pius
Makes a lot of sense because making a laptop choice is sometimes a problem especially for students. This will really help ease the stress. You guys did your homework well!