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Whether you’re commuting to a physical campus, taking online classes or doing a little of both, your laptop is likely the center of your studies. If you’re working with an older machine, upgrading to a newer model can make all of your academic endeavors a little easier by helping you stay on top of your schedule and multitask better with dozens of dedicated research tabs as you write your essays. Although almost every new laptop is a little more expensive than the last, there’s good news, too: Laptops last longer than ever before, so your new machine should serve you well for years to come. That is, as long as you choose one from a reliable company with the correct specifications. To help you find the best buys while you’re shopping, we’ve put together this collection of things to look for as well as a list of the best laptops for college.
what are you expecting
Apple has completed its transition to its own silicon, so you will no longer have the option of Intel-powered Macs. And you shouldn’t really want to, since M-series MacBooks have proven to be reliable, fast, and long-lasting. With each new generation of chips, older models become cheaper while still providing excellent performance. This means you’ll have more options to consider without having to stretch your budget.
Meanwhile, new PCs continue to be announced, with the latest models typically powered by 13th generation Intel processors or the latest AMD Ryzen chips. Although the switch to ARM-based systems has been successful for Apple, the PC industry is still struggling to keep up, and Windows on ARM is essentially dead. Don’t waste your time or money on an ARM-based PC; It’s hard to find nowadays anyway.
Speaking of which, top-spec laptops can cost you around $1,800 to $2,000 these days. However, for most college students, using a mid-range device primarily for writing papers and browsing the web may be sufficient. Depending on your field of study, you can use an Intel Core i3 processor or equivalent, with at least 6GB of RAM. If you need to run specialized software for design or programming, consider upgrading to a larger system with more processing power and memory. On the other hand, if you do most of your classwork online or in a browser, getting a Chromebook can save you a lot of money.
You’ll also need to pay attention to the weight of the device, especially if you plan to take the laptop with you to in-person classes. There are plenty of ultraportables in the 13-inch category, with chips like Intel’s Core i3 or i5, that cost around $1,000. If these light laptops are too expensive, you’ll still have respectable options in the $600-$800 price range, but they may be heavier and use older, slower processors. I’ve included our recommendations for the best budget laptops in this college-focused guide but we also have our top affordable picks for you to check out as well.
See also:
With some laptop makers deciding to do away with headphone jacks, it’s important to check spec lists when shopping for newer devices. If you don’t have wireless headphones or use equipment that plugs into a 3.5mm jack, you’ll want to stay away from devices like the Dell XPS 13 Plus.
Finally, while most laptops offer WiFi 6 or 6E and Bluetooth 5.0 or later, you may not have one of the compatible routers or other devices that will enable these faster connections yet. Chances are, your campus WiFi is probably still stuck on an outdated setup as well, so it’s not Important You get a system with the latest standards up to date. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to get a future-proof laptop, but just know that of all the things to look for, WiFi 6E shouldn’t be a deal-breaker in your decision-making process.
Best laptops for college students
Photography by Devendra Hardwar/Engadget
Read our full review of the Apple MacBook Air M3
It’s hard to beat Apple MacBook Air If you want a powerful machine for college that won’t weigh you down. You have some good options this year – 13-inch or 15 inches MacBook Air M3 and MacBook Air M2. The M3 laptop received a score of 90 from us for its great performance, gorgeous 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, and thin and light design. Still, the M2 remains a great machine, and with the launch of the M3 models, it’s received a $200 price cut. We recommend starting with the M3 Air if you want a more future-proof laptop, but the MacBook Air M2 will likely be enough to meet the needs of most students.
Apple has officially stopped selling M1 MacBook Air in her online store, but it’s still circulating online for less than $1,000. It features the wedge design of the older MacBook Air, larger bezels, and a 720p-only webcam. But if you’re coming from an Intel machine, the performance gains will be noticeable even if you get the M1 on clearance. However, we expect inventory to become limited as the year goes on.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Read our full review of the Dell XPS 13 Plus laptop
The best PC I’ve had in a long time has been Dell’s overall XPS 13 series and I still recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want a Mac. Yes XPS 13 Plus It lacks a headphone jack, and some of its buttons are difficult to see and use. But the XPS 13 is an all-around machine, a reliable workhorse that will help you get through classes and late-night writing sessions without breaking a sweat.
Like its predecessors, the XPS 13 Plus offers a beautiful OLED display with impressively thin bezels and has a spacious, comfortable keyboard. It also features a new, minimalist design that looks more modern and delivers better performance compared to the standard model. The row of capacitive keys at the top instead of traditional function keys may bother some because they may be difficult to see outside, but if you become familiar with where they are located, you may not need to know where they are to find the right keys. An invisible trackpad can also be difficult because its borders are not clear.
If you don’t like the changes Dell made to the XPS 13, or if you definitely need a headphone jack, the older generations are still solid options. There’s also the Samsung Galaxy Book series, which features beautiful OLED displays and sharper webcams in thin, light bezels. I also love Microsoft’s Surface laptops, and the latest version offers great performance and battery life, albeit in an outdated design.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Read our full review of the Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop
Just because you use your laptop primarily for coursework doesn’t mean you can’t use it for fun as well. Those looking to game on their devices should prioritize responsive displays and ample ports for their favorite accessories that can best help them defeat their virtual enemies. If you’re thinking about buying a gaming rig first that you can use for school, check out our guide to buying a gaming laptop. It covers details about different CPUs and GPUs, minimum specifications, and more. Our favorite gaming laptop is Razer Blade 15Which has an Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA RTX 3070 graphics card for $2,500.
At this price point, it’s the most expensive item on this list, but you also get a 15-inch HD display that refreshes at 240Hz. Different configurations Available, depending on your preference, including Full HD 360Hz and 4K 144Hz versions. The Blade series is also one of the most polished gaming laptops, and Razer is constantly updating it with the latest processors, graphics, and other hardware advancements. If you really want to go all out, you can consider the new Razer Blade 16 It has NVIDIA RTX 4060 or 4070 GPUs.
Students and gamers looking for something cheaper and more portable should consider the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, which was our favorite model in 2021. The main reason for its decline is that the 2022 update is about $600 more expensive. It’s still a solid gaming laptop, with an excellent display, spacious trackpad, and plenty of ports despite its thin form factor.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Read our full review of the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
If you can do most of your schoolwork through web-based apps, a Chromebook is worth considering as a college laptop. It certainly doesn’t look luxurious overall, nor does it have high-end specs. But they are often more affordable and have longer battery lives. Our favorite Chromebook is Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebookwhich Engadget’s resident Chrome OS enthusiast Nathan Ingraham described as hitting “the sweet spot for many Chromebook buyers.”
This laptop masters the basics, with a bright and sharp 13.3-inch HD touchscreen, a premium backlit keyboard and an 11th generation Intel Core i3 processor. The 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage may seem small, but they’re more than enough for a Chromebook, especially at this price. It’s also nice to see USB-A and USB-C ports, a microSD card slot, and eight hours of battery life. Weighing 3 pounds and measuring 0.66 inches thick, the Flex 5i isn’t the lightest or thinnest laptop out there, but at least your wallet won’t also feel feather-light after purchasing this device.
Notably, the Flex 5i is supposed to receive software and security updates until June 2029, so it will last you for years to come. That’s good to see, considering that this laptop has been out for over a year now, and we expect Lenovo to launch a replacement soon. When that happens, or if another manufacturer launches a similar option, we’ll update this list. The Lenovo Flex 5i is no longer available directly from Lenovo, but you can usually find it on Amazon for around $400 (as of this writing, it’s selling for around $350). This is great value.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Read our full review of the HP Pavilion Aero 13 laptop
If you’re looking for a powerful laptop for students under $800, this is your best bet HP Pavilion Aero 13. Yes, it’s almost two years old, but it’s still one of the best cheap laptops available right now for college students. For a reasonable price, you’ll get a full HD display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and surprisingly thin bezels, plus a comfortable keyboard and spacious trackpad. More importantly, the Aero 13 offers relatively powerful hardware compared to others in this price range, with an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and Radeon graphics. Plus, it has a wide range of ports and enough hours of battery life to last a full day and more.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Read our full review of the Microsoft Surface Pro 9
For those who need their laptops to occasionally act as tablets, the Surface Pro series is a no-brainer. Compared to laptops or 2-in-1 laptops with swivel hinges, tablets with a kickstand are often slimmer and lighter. the Surface Pro 9 It is the latest model and features Microsoft’s sleek design with a slimmer profile and minimal bezels. The Pro 9 also has a 120Hz display that makes scrolling long documents or spreadsheets much faster, and you can lower the refresh rate to 60Hz if you want to conserve battery life. Just make sure you get an Intel processor instead of an ARM-based configuration, since app compatibility might be an issue with the latter. You don’t want to be the only one in the class who can’t install the obscure app that your professor wants everyone to use, do you?
We also like Microsoft’s Type Covers and Surface Pens, although it’s worth noting that you’ll have to pay extra for both if you want them. Unless you’re intent on sticking with Apple’s ecosystem, in which case iPad Pro Fits you better The Surface Pro 9 is arguably the best convertible laptop ever.
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