introduction
Whether you’re a student or a parent, today we’re here to help you find the Best Laptops for Students. We’ll start with some quick tips to guide you through this critical buying decision, and then we’ll dive straight into our top laptop recommendations.
A comprehensive laptop-buying guide for students on our website. This guide will help you quickly narrow down the options for finding the right laptop. Plus, we can keep it updated since it’s on our website. Best Laptops Reviews
For school, we recommend choosing a portable laptop with a screen large enough for real work. Students are always on the move, and no one wants to carry around a heavy machine. Ideally, look for a laptop that weighs less than 3 pounds but certainly no more than 4 pounds.
Sizes of Laptops
To get real work done, we suggest a laptop with at least a 14-inch display, preferably 14.5 inches. This site allows you to see a decent amount of content. However, it’s not just about screen size; resolution and brightness are also crucial. A higher resolution display increases clarity, making it easier to read small text, and a brighter display improves visibility in well-lit environments, like classrooms with lots of windows. Aim for a resolution greater than 1920 x 1200 pixels and at least 400 nits of brightness.
Apple laptops
There are several types of laptops to consider. Apple’s MacBooks are a fantastic choice for students due to their excellent build quality and the reliability of Apple’s M-series chips.
Apple’s series of processors deliver best-in-class battery life, rarely produce fan noise, and stay cool to the touch. Despite this, they are still mighty. Apple’s higher-end Pro laptops come with powerful graphics, making them an excellent choice for students in disciplines that require high-performance computing. Best Laptops for Tuning Cars. However, they can be pretty pricey, especially with upgrades that many students might need.
You might hear that some software doesn’t work on a Mac, but this is now quite limited, mainly affecting AAA games and running Linux.
Intel or AMD Laptops
If you’re looking for better value for money, broader application support, or prefer Windows, a laptop with an Intel or AMD processor might be the way to go. These laptops support various software, including other operating systems like Linux.
There’s a vast range of options, from very affordable to high-end models with powerful dedicated graphics, so you can find one that suits your needs. Acer Nitro 14 Review
However, due to less power-efficient processors, these laptops often suffer from issues like poor battery life, fan noise, and heat. If you opt for a laptop with dedicated graphics, these issues can be amplified, and the computer might be bulky. Excitingly, newer versions are expected later in 2024, so stay tuned for updates!
We’ll be reviewing them as soon as they are released. These laptops are very viable for all types of students, as long as you aren’t too concerned with some of the downsides mentioned and are willing to carry a small charger with you—which, to be honest, you should be doing anyway.
Qualcomm Snapdragon CoPilot+ Laptops
If you want the best of both worlds, consider the new breed of laptops with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Their battery life, heat management, and fan noise are better than most Intel and AMD laptops, though not quite as good as a MacBook. They offer great value for money and promise software compatibility similar to traditional Windows laptops.
However, since they use newer technology, we’ve found that some specialized software either doesn’t work at all or doesn’t work well on these devices. We expect this to improve over time, but that’s the situation for now.
Therefore, we recommend buying one only if you use your laptop for basic tasks like web browsing, email, and Microsoft Office, as these applications work very well on these laptops. If you’ve researched and are sure the applications you need will run, go for it.
However, if you want to play on your laptop, these are not the best choices; the graphics and game compatibility are far from ideal.
Chromebooks and tablets are the most restrictive devices in terms of software compatibility. Many universities, including ours, do not recommend them.
Verify YOUR Software Needs
As you can see, the right laptop depends significantly on the classes you’ll take and the software you’ll need to run. Please check with an academic advisor at your school, a current student, or even recent alums to understand what software you’ll be using.
However, I wouldn’t necessarily follow their advice on which laptop to buy, as they might suggest one that was good when they were in school but is no longer the best option, or they may not have tried the wide variety of laptops available now.
Memory & Storage
Many laptops come in different configurations. Most modern processors are powerful enough for school, especially the ones on the laptops we recommend. That said, we want your computer to have the correct configuration to get you through four school years and give you some flexibility if you change disciplines or hobbies.
Therefore, we recommend a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. We suggest an Nvidia RTX 4050 or an Apple M1 Pro chip for those doing intense graphical tasks. Top 10 Earbuds Under $100
Warranty & Serviceability
Your laptop will be your primary tool at school, so it must work reliably. Some laptops are more reliable than others. As mentioned, we’ve found Apple’s MacBooks to be the most dependable, but your laptop can have issues no matter which manufacturer you buy from.
The most important thing is for it to be covered under warranty. Before spending all your money on the laptop, I recommend checking whether an extended warranty is available and budgeting for it.
How to Save Money
Finally, students have access to discounts—use them! There are also many other ways you can save money when buying your next laptop,
We have a complete guide on this, which I’ll link below. Now, let’s get into the fun part of the video, where we recommend our favorite laptops for students. To help you understand which laptop is best for you, let us introduce you to Harvey, Trinity, Wade, and Henry.
Recommended Laptops
- MacBook Air M1-M2
- ZenBook 14
- Spectre 14
- Framework 13
- Surface Laptop 7
- MacBook Pro 14
- Legion Slim 5
- Zyphyrus G14
- Yoga Pro 9i
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is the one to buy if you want a high-quality laptop with minimal worries. It feels premium, is very lightweight, has a long battery life, doesn’t get distractingly warm, and makes no fan noise—in fact, it doesn’t even have a fan.
This laptop checks many boxes. Its biggest downside is its price, especially for upgrades, which most students will probably want. The base model only comes with 8GB of RAM and a small amount of storage, which is not ideal for many students.
If you’re considering the 8GB model, ensure you won’t have any intensive computing needs. If you’re on a budget, consider buying an older MacBook Air with the M2 or M1 chip from 2020. Both are still excellent machines, especially if you can get them at a discount.
ZenBook 14
If you’re shopping on a tight budget and want more value or don’t want a Mac, the Asus ZenBook 14 is the way to go. This laptop is from Asus’s premium range, so it punches well above its price in terms of overall build quality.
It has an AMD or Intel Core Ultra processor, which is plenty powerful for student needs. Unlike the MacBook Air at this price point, it has 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, making it better suited for students like Trinity.
Between the two models, the AMD variant is cheaper, offers more value, and has better battery life. However, if you want better graphics for light gaming, the Intel version is the one to get. Its integrated graphics are the strongest of any Windows laptop, though they still can’t compete with laptops with dedicated graphics.
The main downside of both these laptops is that, at this price point, you’ll likely be getting them with a 1920 x 1200 resolution display. While this does help boost battery life, you may find that the content on the screen doesn’t look as sharp as on other laptops in this roundup.
If that bothers you, consider the ZenBook 14X from last year. It has a larger 14.5-inch high-resolution display, but its processor is less efficient, so expect poorer battery life.
Spectre 14
If you don’t want a MacBook Air, the HP Spectre 14 is a better buy than a more expensive configuration of the ZenBook. Like the highest-end ZenBook 14, it has a vibrant OLED display with a high resolution and fast refresh rate. However, the Spectre 14 has a much more comfortable keyboard, offers two-in-one tablet capabilities for drawing or taking notes, and feels better built overall.
Since the Spectre 14 has Intel’s Core Ultra processor, casual gaming is good on this laptop. However, it isn’t perfect. Despite its modern haptic trackpad, which is very accurate, it has palm rejection issues. If this bothers you, consider buying an external mouse.
Additionally, this laptop exhibits the usual issues with Intel processors: so-so battery life and potential fan noise in tranquil rooms. Its OLED display also has a screen door effect. If you stare closely at a solid light color, you may see some colored pixels breaking up the image.
This issue is common on AMD and Intel laptops with OLED displays, including the ZenBook.
Framework Laptop 5
You can reuse your old Framework motherboard by putting it into a Cooler Master case, effectively giving you two computers. Framework laptops also have extensive Linux support.
Its screen is smaller at 13.5 inches but supports a 3:2 aspect ratio, allowing you to see more code on the page. The main downside of the Framework Laptop is that it doesn’t feel as premium as competing laptops at its price point.
From a look and feel perspective, it’s similar to buying a laptop from 5 to 7 years ago. Like most Intel and AMD laptops, it has lower battery life, worse fan noise, and more heat than notebooks with Apple or Qualcomm processors.
If you’re looking for a Windows laptop, consider the Spectre 14 or one with a Snapdragon processor like the Surface Laptop 7.
If you’re a tech enthusiast, go for the Framework Laptop. If you want a more premium experience, consider other options.
Surface Laptop 7
The Surface Laptop 7 is an excellent choice for students, offering a premium feel and a spectacular look. It’s perfect for those who want a laptop that stands out in a coffee shop. It has a better port selection, a more modern display, a slightly more comfortable keyboard, and an equally good trackpad compared to the MacBook Air.
The display features a 3:2 aspect ratio, which is great for reading documents as it shows more text vertically than a regular laptop screen of the same size. The fan noise is minimal, and the battery life is decent. However, it’s not perfect; the laptop can feel warm during performance tasks during performance tasks.
Patience is required with these new Snapdragon laptops, as you might notice some instability. It’s important to save your work regularly. Some applications not built for ARM might not work, but this laptop is still an excellent choice for students with light computing needs.
Among the three Surface Laptop 7 models, the X+ offers unparalleled value for money. For basic tasks, you won’t notice much difference, except for the higher cost, when upgrading to an Escalate processor.
MacBook Pro 14
The MacBook Pro 14 is highly recommended for students who need more performance. If you don’t specifically need Windows or Linux, the MacBook Pro 14 is nearly perfect. It offers incredible performance, including graphical performance, long battery life, minimal heat, and no fan noise in most use cases.
Its high-quality screen, the port selection is excellent, the trackpad is fantastic, the keyboard is comfortable, and the speakers are the best among 14-inch laptops. The main downside is its high price and lack of upgradability after purchase. Best Budgets Laptops
Apple may offer a cheaper M3 version, but it’s a trap due to its limited 8GB RAM. Even upgrading to 16GB isn’t worth it compared to the M3 Pro version, which has a more powerful processor, faster memory access, more memory (18GB vs. 16GB), and an extra USB-C port.
If the M3 Pro is too expensive, consider older MacBook Pro 14 models with M2 Pro or M1 Pro chips, which are almost as good.
Legion Slim 5
For gamers or those who want to play AAA games on their laptop, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 14 is the best choice. Other high-powered 14-inch Windows laptops have significant downsides like heat and fan noise, but the Legion Slim 5 14 excels in performance and portability.
When it comes to noise or throttled performance, this laptop stands out. It remains cool to the touch while gaming, and although there is fan noise, it’s as good as it gets for a laptop of this kind. It features a large 14.5-inch display and offers excellent value for money, being one of the cheapest options available.
However, it’s not perfect; it’s relatively big and bulky for a 14-inch laptop, and its graphics max out at an RTX 4060. Best Laptops for Students.
There are many other 14-inch gaming laptops to consider, but each has more significant drawbacks. If you want a more premium gaming laptop, the Hoban Trans N14 provides a comfortable experience with minimal heat and fan noise.
It looks better and is more compact than the Legion Slim 5 14, but its graphics are significantly throttled, with the RTX 460 massively underperforming compared to the Legion. This is a laptop to buy if you’re a student first and a gamer second.
Zephyrus G14
Another option is the Asus Zephyrus G14, the smallest and most portable. It feels very premium and can be equipped with more powerful Nvidia graphics than the Legion’s 4060. However, it gets hot, even with light use, while gaming.
I’d only recommend it if you’re resilient to heat or plan to use it with an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard in your dorm room. This setup allows you to have a portable laptop for travel and a powerful one at home without feeling the heat from the keyboard.
Why haven’t you recommended any 16-inch laptops in this roundup? Most people would be better off plugging a smaller, more portable laptop into an external monitor at home. However, if you do want a 16-inch laptop, nothing beats the all-around package of the
Yoga Pro 9i
It excels in every aspect at a very competitive price. It has no application compatibility issues as it’s a traditional Windows laptop with Intel, and you can enjoy AAA gaming on it with its RTX 4060 or even 4070 in some markets.
It comes fully equipped with 32GB of memory, a bright mini-LED screen with a fast refresh rate, a comfortable keyboard, and a well-functioning trackpad. It’s also relatively compact in terms of what it offers. The Best Computer Mice.
The icing on the cake is that we’ve seen it go for as low as $1,600, about half the price of a MacBook Pro 16, yet you get 90% of what that laptop offers. You can even run AAA games on the Yoga Pro 9i, so you might get more.
Conclusion
That’s all we’ve got for you. Which laptop will you be buying for your studies? Let us know in the comments below, and check out our website regularly for the best deals and all the laptops we recommend for various types of users. We keep it up to date, so you may find newer laptops recommended. Good luck with your studies, and until next time, do something extraordinary with your day.
