Before going to university, most students look for the best laptops for college they can find. Considering that they may have long school hours and tons of paperwork, most students look for effective, durable, long-lasting portable laptops to carry around campus. From ebooks to videos, to online assignments, to writing papers, and laptops for college. must last long and must work fast. In this list, we’ve listed the best laptops for every college student. Hopefully, you can find the one that fits your budget and your lifestyle.
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
PROS
- Strong, powerful processor
- Amazing GPU
- Beautiful design
- Backlit keyboard
CONS
- Battery life can be better
Specs:
- CPU: AMD Octa-Core Ryzen 7-5800H
- RAM: 16GB – 64 GB
- Storage: 1 TB – 2 TB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
- Display: 16″
- OS: Windows 11
Gaming laptops are often a good choice for college students. Not only can you use them for all-nighters and for heavy-duty programs (depending on your major), but you can also consider this as your personal laptop which you can use in your free time. College culture has a strong connection with video games, so you wouldn’t be missing out on the latest with this powerhouse. The GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB is a strong graphics card, enabling content creators and video editors, and illustrators to render large video files and 3D graphics without any signs of slowing down. With a beautiful design and a sleek keyboard, you can find yourself comfortable with this laptop anywhere you go.
Apple MacBook Air M2
PROS
- Strong M2 Chip
- Great battery life
- Great specs
CONS
- Expensive
- Some programs may not be compatible
Specs:
- CPU: Apple M2
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256 GB – 512 GB
- GPU: Apple M2
- Display: 13.6″
- OS: Mac OS
Newly released with the M2 chip, The Apple MacBook Air M2 contends for the best overall laptop for college students. The 13.3-inch screen is perfect for working on assignments, but it’s also small enough that you can take the laptop with you everywhere. The M2 Chip promises faster processing and is more than capable of handling most tasks on your to-do list, from web browsing to video editing (although it may struggle with some heavier programs). With at least 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, there’s plenty of room for all your files and documents too. If storage is an issue, cloud subscriptions are always reliable. And you can also purchase a higher storage drive for a higher price.
The MacBook Air M2 is a great choice if you’re looking for a reliable laptop with enough power to get through college without breaking the bank or taking up too much space in your backpack. The only issue you may encounter is some programs are not compatible with Mac OS. Video games for example aren’t always compatible with Mac. Nevertheless, the Apple M2 is a nice upgrade to the M1. If you’re on a budget for Apple laptops, the Apple MacBook Air M1 is also a great option.
HP Spectre x360 14
PROS
- Amazing OLED touchscreen
- Great design
- Comes with a rechargeable pen
CONS
- GPU is not good for hardcore gaming
- No HDMI port
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1 TB
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Display: 13.5″
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
2-in-1 laptops are always a great choice for college students. The flexibility of having a laptop turn into a tablet can do wonders for the busy student. The HP Spectre x360 14 has an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM, which means it will run fast, considering it’s a hybrid laptop. The 1TB hybrid hard drive also allows you to store more data than you would in a regular hard drive or solid-state drive. The benefits of a hybrid laptop are endless. You can study ebooks or draw through tablet mode while doing schoolwork and research through laptop mode. The GPU could be better, as the Intel Iris Xe Graphics cannot handle newer games. But it is strong enough for casual gaming if wanted.
Dell XPS 15
PROS
- Great specs and performance
- Amazing display
- Comfortable keyboard and trackpad
- Great sound quality
CONS
- Decent battery life
- Poor webcam quality
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16GB – 32GB
- Storage: 512 GB – 1 TB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- Display: 15.6″
- OS: Windows 10
The Dell XPS 15 Touch Laptop is a powerful machine that has the horsepower to handle any task you throw at it. This laptop features an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB DDR4 RAM for all your multitasking needs. It also has 512GB SSD storage so you can store all of your applications, games, music, and photos in one place without worrying about running out of room on it. You will be able to play games or watch movies with its GPU and 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution screen which makes everything look crisp and sharp. Some of its downsides include poor webcam quality and decent battery life. But you really can’t go wrong with the Dell XPS 15.
Acer Swift 5
PROS
- Lightweight
- Long battery life
- Budget-friendly
- Good performance
CONS
- Webcam and sound could be better
- It may make noise when used for long, heavy periods
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Display: 15.6″
- OS: Windows 10 Home
This Acer Swift 5 is an affordable option with a sturdy build, long battery life, and plenty of performance. The laptop comes in a black plastic chassis that’s made to last. It’s not as bright or colorful as other laptops, but it’s still attractive enough to look good on your desk at school or work. And it has a textured finish that helps prevent scratches and scuffs from everyday use. And at only 2 pounds, the Swift 5 is one of the lightest laptops on this list. You won’t have any trouble carrying this ultraportable model around campus with you all day long—even if you’re taking notes during class or working late into the night on assignments for your classes. The extra-long battery makes it ideal for those times when there aren’t any outlets nearby. The only thing missing is a good webcam, quality speakers, and better ventilation. But it’s something accessories can fix.
Choose the best laptops for college that fit your budget and lifestyle
Before deciding which one to buy, there are some key things you should consider: price, weight, battery life, and screen size. So, there you go. I hope that the information in this article will help you make a good decision when buying your laptop for college. But remember, even if you can’t find one of these five laptops, there are many other options out there—so don’t get discouraged!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the best laptop for college students?
The Apple MacBook Pro Air is the best laptop price-to-performance wise.