Last Updated on September 1, 2023 by Daniel Osakwe
Searching for the best laptops for college students? You just found the right place. There’re lots of laptops available in the market today, however, getting the ones to suit a particular purpose can be overwhelming. So, for reasons like this and those in search of the best laptops for college students, we’ve researched and compiled a list of the 10 best laptops for college students available in the market today.
These laptops are durable, lightweight, affordable, and are well equipped with top-notch features. So, without further ado, why not check out the 10 best laptops for college students we’ve discovered or you below.
Table of Contents
Buyers Guide: Things to Consider Before Buying a Laptop College Students
Screen quality: Since you’ll presumably wind up gazing at your PC screen hours one after another, you’ll likely need to ensure you get a screen that is agreeable to take a look at and use. To begin with, you’ll need to consider whether you need your next PC to have a touchscreen. Nowadays, touchscreens are exceptionally normal and they can make a few assignments simpler than others.
Tragically, they can likewise add a luster to the display which is some of the timing unfortunate. Gleaming screens lead to reflections, which are a definite negative in case you’re gaming, watching videos, or editing pictures and video content. Consequently, you should consider a PC that doesn’t have a touchscreen.
Keyboard quality: For long typing hours, you’ll have to get a PC that has an agreeable keyboard. You would prefer not to get a keyboard that packs in each key under the sun because that can mean a poor general client experience when chasing for particulars like the bolt or erase keys. Ensure the console is likewise illuminated, so you can type with a simpler view on the keys in faintly lit conditions.
CPU: It’s difficult to go past any of Intel’s Core-based CPUs when purchasing another PC. Think Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7. For a laptop for college students, an Intel Core Processor offers the best execution with regards to performing multiple tasks and sight and sound assignments. Core i3-based note pads are commonly found in section-level frameworks, while Core i5 makes up most of the standard PCs. Core i7-based frameworks are for those of you who need the best execution from your PC.
In any case, note that with a Core i7-based framework, the heat getting through the base of the PC can be cause for concern, particularly if you plan to really utilize the PC on your lap a great deal of the time.
RAM: In the past times, you once in a while required more than 4GB of RAM or more to get the best out of your system. Nowadays, you’ll most likely need to consider 8GB as a base. In case you’re a power client, 16GB is the best approach. In the meantime, college students should take a look at dialing things upwards right to 32GB on the off chance that they need the best understanding.
More RAM takes into consideration more applications to be run simultaneously, and for additional information to be rapidly available by the framework at any one time, which proves to be useful for assignments, for example, altering photographs or video content.
Best Laptop for College Students Compilation Chart
| Name | Features | Where to Buy |
| HP Chromebook 14
|
CPU: AMD A4 – A6, Intel Celeron N3350 – N3450 | Graphics: AMD Radeon R4 – R5, Intel HD Graphics 500 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Get it on Amazon |
| Huawei Matebook 13
|
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 (optional) | RAM: 8GB | Get it on Amazon |
| MacBook Air 2020
|
CPU: Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Get it on Amazon |
| Google Pixelbook Go
|
CPU: Intel Core m3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 (300MHz) | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Get it on Amazon |
| Microsoft Surface Go
|
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Get it on Amazon |
| Acer Swift 3 (2019)
|
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB | Get it on Amazon |
| Asus Chromebook Flip
|
CPU: Intel Pentium 4405Y – Intel Core m3-6Y30 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 | RAM: 4GB | Get it on Amazon |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
|
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics / AMD Radeon Vega 9 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Get it on Amazon |
| Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
|
CPU: 10th Generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Get it on Amazon |
| MacBook Pro 13-inch
|
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – 9th-generation Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 – 655 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Get it on Amazon |
Best Laptops for College Students in Keyboard
HP Chromebook 14
CPU: AMD A4 – A6, Intel Celeron N3350 – N3450 | Graphics: AMD Radeon R4 – R5, Intel HD Graphics 500 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 14-inch diagonal HD (1366×768) SVA anti-glare – FHD (1920×1080) IPS BrightView | Storage: 16GB – 64GB eMMC
The HP Chromebook 14 may not be as ground-breaking as different Chromebooks, yet this small PC has a couple of secret weapons, helping it secure a merited top spot on our best laptop for college student list.
Those aces incorporate finding some kind of harmony between sufficient screen space and versatility, just as a shockingly astounding keyboard and a nice trackpad. That is without referencing how distinctive the display is and how low its sticker price is.
| Pros | Cons |
| Chrome OS is responsive | Average battery life |
| Excellent keyboard and trackpad |
Asus Chromebook Flip
CPU: Intel Pentium 4405Y – Intel Core m3-6Y30 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 12.5-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED-backlit anti-glare | Storage: 32GB – 64GB eMMC
The best laptop for college students isn’t premium all-singing, all-moving gadgets with immense sticker prices, as the great Asus Chromebook Flip C302 illustrates. The Asus Chromebook Flip C302 brings a great deal of what we love about Asus PCs to a reasonable Chromebook that is perfect for everyday undertakings and college students chipping away at their schoolwork.
That implies it has magnificent form quality, a phenomenal plan, and packs some incredible equipment that makes it extraordinary compared to other Chromebooks at a bargain in 2020, with an Intel Core processor, full 1080p display, touchscreen, illuminated keyboard, and USB-C port.
| Pros | Cons |
| Elegant tablet mode | Middling speakers |
| Tactile keyboard |
Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
CPU: 10th Generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) – 15.6-inch UHD (3840 x 2160) Truelife Touch Narrow Border WVA Display with Active Pen support | Storage: Intel Optane Memory H10 32 GB with 512 GB Solid-State Storage – 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a flexible 2-in-1 with a great deal of pulling out all the stops in the engine. This superior PC is something other than its exceptional plan; it additionally has very good quality internals to contend with any semblance of the more remarkable Dell XPS 13.
Balancing that is a 4K display, and an astute pointer opening that makes us wonder whether they really beat Microsoft to the thought. Truly, the screen is somewhat of a battery channel, and the speakers amazing, yet this is still among the best laptop for college students out there.
| Pros | Cons |
| 4K display | Bunk speakers |
| Premium design |
Best Laptops for College Students in Affordability
Huawei Matebook 13
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 (optional) | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch 2K (2,560 x 1,440) with touch panel | Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD
We’re huge fanatics of workstations that can dexterously find some kind of harmony among cost and execution with scarcely any trade-offs, and the Huawei MateBook 13 comes nearer to everything else in 2019 to date. It’s light and conservative, ideal for conveying in your rucksack while you hustle from class to class; however, it’s quick and reasonable too.
This dazzling 13-inch Ultrabook will ensure you’ll complete all your work in style, without begging to be spent. Indeed, you may need to keep that charger available if you need it to last you the entire day, as the battery life is disappointing. In any case, there’s still no uncertainty that the Huawei Matebook 13 merits its elevated spot on the best laptops for college students.
| Pros | Cons |
| Powerful | Limited to 8GB of RAM |
| Extremely affordable |
Microsoft Surface Go
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 10-inch, 1,800 x 1,200 (217 PPI; 3:2 aspect ratio) PixelSense touch display | Storage: 64GB eMMC – 128GB SSD
Regardless of whether you’re just in the market for a laptop for school that finds some kind of harmony between cost and execution, it can’t damage to factor in a sprinkle of style.
The Microsoft Surface Go isn’t only one of the best Windows tablets, but on the other hand, it’s one of the most excellent gadgets available. Even better, it likewise gets our vote as among the best laptop for college students, particularly from a worthwhile point of view.
Try not to be hoodwinked by the low-power segments: Microsoft built this tablet to take on the entirety of your general homework and more effortlessly.
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable | Pentium CPU |
| Fantastic build quality |
Best Laptops for College Students in Performance
Acer Swift 3
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB – 512GB | Display: 13.3″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS
Spending buyers searching for an Ultrabook that conveys incredible exhibitions at an extraordinary, moderate value, you can’t turn out badly with the Acer Swift 3. This 13-inch PC from Acer is incredible enough for profitability assignments, which makes it an extraordinary apparatus for voyaging and working simultaneously.
Notwithstanding, it can likewise deal with a touch of easygoing gaming just as some photograph altering, ideal for some post-work figuring. It’s a long way from great – that battery could utilize a lift, the console could be better, and don’t kick us off on the speakers. Be that as it may, for how much it’s worth, you’re certainly getting a lot.
| Pros | Cons |
| Good thermal performance | Battery life is underwhelming |
| lightweight | The sound is not very good |
MacBook Pro 13-inch
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – 9th-generation Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 – 655 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2,560 x 1,600 | Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD
On the off chance that you need more force than the MacBook Air, however, I would prefer not to pay more for the greater MacBook Pro 15-inch to carry around school, at that point the MacBook Pro 13-inch is the best MacBook for you. The MacBook Pro 13-inch brags more current inner segments, making it more impressive than any other time in recent memory.
What’s more, however, despite everything has the questionable Butterfly keyboard, this model additionally enhances it with the goal that it’s calmer and increasingly dependable. It’s not hard to suggest the MacBook Pro 13-inch to college students for its convenience and power.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 13-inch
| Pros | Cons |
| More storage | Expensive |
| Keyboard learning curve |
MacBook Air 2020
CPU: Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Storage: 256GB – 2TB PCIe-based SSD | Dimensions: 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.61 cm
Mac’s most slender and lightest MacBook return in 2020 furiously. Not just has it fixed a great deal of the objections with its ancestors – specifically, that risky console is presently gone, supplanted by a radically improved console. Be that as it may, it likewise accompanies new and all the more remarkable inside segments, much more, extra room choices, and a lower cost of section.
There are a few things we’d improve, similar to the quieted screen and the normal battery life, however, this model of the MacBook Air is better than anything we’ve seen from the line up until now. Also, it’s unquestionably among the best laptop for college students.
| Pros | Cons |
| Improved keyboard | Battery life is only OK |
| New 10th generation processors | Webcam still just 720p |
Best Laptops for College Students in Battery
Microsoft Surface 3
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics / AMD Radeon Vega 9 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) / 15-inch PixelSense (2,496 x 1,664) | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD
With the third form of the Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft has made its best PC yet. While it is anything but an enormous jump over its ancestor, the Surface Laptop 3 improves on pretty much every angle. The best part is that with the 15-inch form you currently get a decision of either Intel or AMD equipment.
Beforehand, just Intel tech was incorporated. Somewhere else, the Surface Laptop 3 proceeds with the Surface Laptop’s notoriety for being an amazingly planned PC. These are the absolute most alluring PCs on the planet that don’t have a logo of an apple on them, with another aluminum body that gives it a top-notch feel, while shielding it from thumps and drops.
There are as yet a couple of niggles, similar to the proceeded with the absence of ports, however when all is said in done this is outstanding amongst other understudy PCs on the planet at this moment.
| Pros | Cons |
| Choice of Intel or AMD CPU | Too few ports for its size |
| Excellent battery life |
Google Pixelbook Go
CPU: Intel Core m3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 (300MHz) | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: Full HD Display – 4K Ultra HD Molecular Display | Storage: 64GB – 256GB
Have you been hanging tight for the day you can at last bear the cost of the exceptional cost of Google Pixelbook? All things considered, with Google discharging Pixelbook Go, your hold-up is at long last finished. Without a doubt, it isn’t exactly the genuine extravagance gadget you’ve been longing for.
Be that as it may, have confidence, you will cherish this Chromebook, similarly as we have during our time with it. We love it such a great amount, indeed, that it earned our pined for the “Editorial manager’s Choice” grant in the Chromebook classification.
It flaunts mind-boggling battery life, and much increasingly great keyboard, and a 1080p webcam, which you don’t see frequently in the more spending plan comfortable laptop. Furthermore, that is simply to begin.
| Pros | Cons |
| Amazing ‘Hush’ keyboard | No biometric login |
| Incredible battery life |
Test Process
During our testing, we relied on the opinion of experts and feedback of clients based on these major factors: Battery, Keyboard, Performance, and Affordability.
More analysis of these laptops for college students was uncovered from further research and online reviews. From the result and feedbacks (both positive and negative), we were able to categories each product according to our standards.
If you take a critical look at our review, you’ll discover how each laptop has been categorized. Also, take note that after our testing, the laptops that weren’t up to standard were excluded from our list.
