Suppose you are a student in college. You will need a laptop that can manage your college work. But it depends on your program. The best choice might be a simple Chromebook. It is a slim Windows laptop, MacBook, or strong mobile workstation. Ideally, you will want a lightweight, sturdy device with enough battery life to last all day. Since you will be working a lot on the laptop, look for features that make it easy to use. Like a clear and bright screen, a comfortable keyboard, and a responsive touchpad. It’s also important to consider the ports if you use many accessories or extra screens, as well as the price. So, we have included good budget options. We have tested over 120 laptops. Below are our top picks for the 5 best laptops for college. You can also check our recommendations for the best Chromebooks for students. So, the best lightweight laptops, and the best 15-16 inch laptops.
Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024)
The best laptop for college we have tested is the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024). This high-end model is perfect for students. Who needs a thin, light laptop for writing papers, browsing the web, and watching videos.
Apple’s base M3 chip handles light tasks, video editing, and 3D graphics well. So, It does not need a cooling fan. So you won’t hear loud fan noise in quiet places like classrooms and libraries. The user experience is excellent with a sharp, bright screen, a roomy keyboard, and a large touchpad.
The battery life is great. It takes a while to fully charge. Its biggest downside is having only two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, which only support two external displays if the lid is closed. If you prefer a larger screen and better speakers. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) is also a good option but costs more.
We recommend the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024). This 14-inch model is well-built and offers a great user experience with its 120Hz 2.8k OLED display, roomy keyboard, and large touchpad. It has Wi-Fi 7, an excellent 4k webcam, and a decent port selection with one USB-A. And two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports.
You can flip the screen into tablet mode, and it supports a pen for handwritten notes. So, you may need to buy the pen separately. Two things to consider. The display is not as bright as the MacBook Air’s. So, it may be harder to see in bright environments, and OLED screens can suffer from permanent burn-in. But you will need to take steps to prevent it, like hiding the taskbar.
Top Mid-Range Laptop For College Students
Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023)
If you want a laptop cheaper than the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) but not too cheap, consider the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023). This 2-in-1 laptop has a big 16-inch screen. This makes it easier to use multiple windows at once. There’s a Full HD+ display option. But we suggest getting the QHD+ screen for a sharper and brighter view.
The battery life is good, lasting all day with light use, even with the QHD+ model. It has Wi-Fi 6E, a fingerprint sensor, and a facial recognition camera. And many ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports and an HDMI port. The Intel 13th Gen CPUs are great for general tasks. But not for heavy work due to thermal throttling. If you can’t find this laptop elsewhere. You can buy it directly from Lenovo.
But remember that Chrome OS limits the types of apps you can install. So, make sure you can do everything through a Chrome browser or an Android app. This model is hard to find now because there’s a newer 2023 version. The new model has faster Intel 13th Gen CPUs and a 1440p webcam. You can find the 2023 model on Amazon and Best Buy.
Affordable Laptops
ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 2023
The best budget laptop for students we have tested is the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023). Despite its low price, it feels sturdy and is quite portable for a 16-inch device. You can choose between an AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 CPU. Both of which are more than enough for tasks like word processing, web browsing, and watching videos.
But RAM options are limited to 8GB or 16GB, with the 16GB version being harder to find. However, you can upgrade the memory yourself. So, you can buy the 8GB model and add more RAM later. The battery lasts about eight hours with light use.
The laptop provides a good user experience with a comfortable keyboard and a large and responsive touchpad. And a decent 720p webcam. The display is reasonably sharp but slightly dim and washed out, which is common in budget laptops. It comes with Wi-Fi 6E, a fingerprint sensor for quick logins, and a good selection of ports.
It ALSO includes three USB-As, a USB-C, and an HDMI. Note that the USB-C port does not support video output. So, you will need to use the HDMI port to connect an external display.
Cheap Laptops
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14″ (2023)
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) is the best low-cost laptop we have tested for students. It’s perfect for basic tasks like browsing the internet and writing papers. Its small size makes it easy to carry. The battery lasts about 13 hours with light use. The Core i3 model with a Full HD screen, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage usually costs between $400. And $500 on Lenovo’s website.
There are cheaper models. But we only recommend them for very light tasks.
The user experience is good. It is a clear and bright Full HD touch screen. The keyboard feels soft, and the touchpad is small and can be unresponsive.
The 1080p webcam is surprisingly good for a budget Chromebook. Make sure you can do everything you need with a Chrome browser or Android app. If not, consider a Windows laptop like the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023).
Top Workstation For College Students
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3, 2023)
It is for students who studying technical subjects and need a powerful laptop for running demanding programs. We recommend the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023). Similar to its previous M2 version. This new M3 model is slim, small, and strong. It lasts all day on a single charge.
Apple’s M3 Pro/Max processors handle tough tasks well. It makes this laptop ideal for students in programming, 3D design, and science. The fans are quiet even during heavy use. So, it won’t disturb others in quiet places like classrooms or libraries. If you prioritize screen size over portability. Consider the larger Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023). It’s similar but has better speakers and longer battery life. It does come with a higher price tag.
The laptop offers a great experience with a clear Mini LED screen. The keyboard is spacious and comfortable. It is an easy-to-use touchpad. It has plenty of ports for connecting devices and screens. Plus a 1080p webcam for video calls. There is also a fingerprint reader for quick logins.
In Short
We understand that buying a new laptop can be a big decision. This is especially true for college students. That’s why we take it seriously and thoroughly test every laptop on our list.
Our testing process involves using the laptops in our daily routines to see how long the battery lasts.
We also see how durable they are and how well they handle heat. We also evaluate their design, including style, portability, and comfort for working.
Since webcams and microphones are crucial nowadays. We make sure to test those features too.
