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The 7 Best Laptops for College Students
Head to school with one of these expert-vetted notebook computers
Laptops have seriously evolved over the past decade or so since I was in college and began my career as a tech reviewer, a job that has required me to test dozens of notebook computers. Gone are the days when having a powerful laptop meant having to lug around an oversize brick in your backpack, or risk buying one that underperforms. These days, thin and light laptops offer enough oomph for almost everything except graphics-intensive tasks like heavy gaming and video editing.
One perfect laptop for college students doesn’t necessarily exist. Different majors, after all, require different levels of performance and different software support. That said, for the majority of students, there are a few tenants of a great laptop.
“Student life demands more from a laptop than it did five years ago,” says Brad Immanuel, the executive director for client experience and solutions at Stanford University. “A student’s laptop needs to be not only portable with long battery life, but also needs to have fast Wi-Fi for uploading a video, submitting assignments, participating in Zoom sessions when needed or using web-based applications from anywhere on campus.”
A laptop purchase can also be a great way to begin building credit, especially with one of our expert-vetted student credit cards.Â
If you’re a college student looking for a new laptop, or a parent ready to send a student off with the right equipment (perhaps as an additional graduation gift), read on. Here are the best laptops for college students right now.
What if I just want a great overall student laptop?
Pros
- Sleek design
- Excellent performance
- Highly portable
- Great battery life
ConsÂ
- Higher price than last-gen model
- Limited port selection
If you’re a student simply looking for the best overall laptop for college, the 13-inch MacBook Air is the way to go. There are plenty of reasons it’s such a great laptop for students. Much of that comes down to Apple’s ultraefficient M2 processor. Apple’s switch from Intel processors to its own chips a few years ago breathed new life into the MacBook lineup, and with the M2, the laptop delivers up to an impressive 18 hours of battery life. That means you won’t have to worry about bringing a charger for a full day of classes. The M2 doesn’t just make for a great battery life—it’s also powerful. The laptop is easily able to handle basic tasks like writing and emails, as well as more demanding tasks, like light audio editing, and it’s more than capable of running all the programs most students will need at the same time without slowing down.Â
Portability is also important for college, and that’s another reason the MacBook Air is such a great choice. It’s not the single thinnest or lightest laptop out there, but at 0.44 inches thick and weighing 2.7 pounds, it’ll easily slot into your backpack or bag without weighing you down. This design comes at the expense of port selection: The MacBook Air only has two USB-C-based Thunderbolt 2 ports and a headphone jack, plus a MagSafe charging connector. You might need a hub or adapter to use certain gear, like a wired mouse or an older flash drive, with this computer.Â
With a starting price of $1,100, the M2 model may not fit everyone’s budget (although Apple’s education discount bring the price down to $1,000). For those who want the similar features and performance, Apple still sells the older, M1-based model, and it costs less, sometimes notably so; the sticker price is $1,000, but it can often be found for as little as $750 at retailers including Amazon and Best Buy. If you can spring for the more higher-price M2 model we recommend doing so for its improved body design and more powerful chip.
If you prefer a larger screen but don’t need a significantly more power computer, you can choose the a 15-inch version of the MacBook Air, starting at $1,300, or $1,200 with the education discount. Outside of the screen size, resolution and improved speakers, its specs and features are identical to the 13-inch laptop.
What’s the best laptop with a touch screen?
Pros
- Portable design
- Stunning touch display
- Good battery life
Cons
- Limited port selection
If you prefer the option to interact with a laptop through a touch display, consider the Dell XPS 13 Laptop. The XPS series has long offered among the best laptop experiences for people who want a Windows machine, and the latest-generation XPS 13 Laptop is no exception to that rule. Note that to get a touch screen, you’ll have to select that option when you buy the laptop, an extra $100 on top of the base price; make sure to choose that option before checking out. (Dell’s website defaults to the model with 16 gigabytes of RAM, but we think you’re better off sticking to the base model and spending that money on the touch screen).
This laptop’s display is particularly impressive. It offers a crisp 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, and it produces bright, vibrant colors overall. On top of that, the laptop is highly portable, at 0.55 inches thick, and it’s powerful, with a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, coupled with between 8 to 32GB of RAM. Like the MacBook Air, the XPS 13 has a pretty limited port selection, with only two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Which laptop should I pick if I prefer ChromeOS?
Pros
- Great performance
- Versatile design
- Decent port selection
Cons
- Higher price for a Chromebook
Renowned for their swift performance and impressive battery life, Chromebooks have become popular choices among college students who don’t depend on Windows or macOS apps and instead are happy to use Google’s cloud-based software and other browser-based software. If you’re a college student seeking a top-notch Chromebook, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is an ideal choice.
This device boasts several notable features. Significantly more powerful than most Chromebooks, the Flip CX5 is equipped with an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for your files. Its versatile design allows seamless transition between tablet, laptop and tent modes (with the keyboard flipped behind the computer so you can prop it up, hands-free), making it perfect for both binge-watching Netflix and note-taking. Additionally, the Chromebook Flip CX5 offers an outstanding array of ports compared with many modern laptops, including two USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB Type-A port, an audio combo jack and a microSD slot.
While the Chromebook Flip CX5 carries a higher price tag compared with other Chromebooks, its versatility and premium features make it an excellent investment for college students in search of a high-end Chromebook experience.
What’s the top laptop under $500?
Pros
- Lower price
- Detachable design
- Good-looking screen
Cons
- ChromeOS won’t work for everyone
Budgeting as a college student can be difficult, and finding a lower-price laptop can generally be tricky. Sub-$500 laptops with Windows tend to underperform, largely because of the fact that Windows is so comprehensive and demanding. There simply aren’t any sub-$500 laptops from Apple right now, and while you could consider the entry-level iPad if you really want to stay within Apple’s ecosystem, you’ll then have to fork out for accessories like a keyboard for productivity tasks. You’re best bet for a lower-price laptop is a Chromebook, and specifically, the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook. For tasks like note-taking, taking care of emails and using web apps, it’s more than capable.Â
Despite its comparatively low price, this device offers a wealth of features. Among them are a detachable display for tablet mode, making it as good of an entertainment machine as it is a productivity machine. It has a great OLED display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution display, too.Â
While the Duet 5 performs competently, it may not be suitable for tasks requiring significant processing power such as heavy-duty coding, or for those that need to use specialized apps for Windows or macOS. Still, if your demands are relatively basic and you could stand to save some cash, then this Chromebook is your best option.
Which notebook computer should I choose if I need more power and ports?
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Great battery
- Stunning display
Cons
- Higher price
For people seeking exceptional performance who are willing to invest in a premium device, the MacBook Pro is the ultimate choice. The model featuring the M3 Pro chip will satisfy most users; however, if budget isn’t a constraint and you’re looking for even better performance, consider opting for the M3 Max variant (the base model has an M3 chip, which doesn’t have the power of a Pro or Max.) The MacBook Pro is well-suited for even the most demanding fields, including those requiring more intensive video editing and rendering.
Beyond its exceptional performance, the M3 Pro MacBook Pro offers numerous attractive features. The laptop boasts a sleek and stylish design, coupled with a comprehensive selection of ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, an SD card slot and an audio jack. Apple’s highly regarded MagSafe technology allows for convenient fast charging via a magnetically-attached cable. The MacBook Pro is available in both 14-inch and 16-inch variants; they have mostly the same specs, so it’s really a matter of personal preference.
The MacBook Pro’s power is overkill for many people who aren’t in creative fields or don’t do serious coding projects, and that’s reflected in its price—starting at $2,000 for the base M3 Pro model and increasing for larger sizes or upgraded components. But it is well worth the investment for those who require exceptional power and performance in a laptop.
What’s the best option if I want to game on my laptop, too?
Pros
- Good graphics performance
- Still sleek and stylish
- Great port selection
Cons
- Higher price
For college students who are gaming enthusiasts or simply require enhanced graphics capabilities, the 2023 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is an ideal choice. This laptop delivers exceptional graphics performance while maintaining a relatively slim and portable design, so you can game at night and carry it to class during the day.
Available in various configurations, this particular version is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, 16GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card that’s sufficient for most gamers, especially those who want to game on the go. If you desire even more power, upgrades are available at an additional cost. The laptop also features a generous array of ports, including a 3.5mm audio jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port and two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
At more than $1,400, the laptop’s enhanced graphics performance comes at a premium compared with computers not designed for gaming, though stacked up against other gaming laptops, it’s not that bad.
What if I prefer a tablet?
Pros
- Sleek design
- Great performance
- Good accessories available
Cons
- Accessories add significantly to the price
If a tablet better suits your needs—for instance, if your primary requirement is note-taking and portability is a priority—the Apple iPad Air is worth considering. Boasting an array of cutting-edge features and compatibility with exceptional accessories, the iPad Air offers a versatile user experience.
To enhance your productivity, you can pair the iPad Air with the Apple Magic Keyboard for a laptop-like typing experience or use the Apple Pencil for handwriting. Although these accessories come at a higher cost, they allow you to get much more out of the device.
The iPad Air has more to offer than just its compatibility with accessories. Powered by the M1 processor, this tablet delivers performance comparable to that of a laptop, all while maintaining the ease of use associated with an iPhone. Additionally, the iPad Air’s high-quality touch screen is perfect for both binge-watching Netflix in bed and note-taking during lectures.
—Additional reporting by Nick Guy