Best Laptops for College Students

College is a rigorous exercise of academic, research, and creative practices. Not only do you have a lot of information to filter through, but you also need to stay constantly connected to campus resources. For those reasons alone, you will likely need a laptop.

When you are looking for a laptop for college, there are a few factors you should pay particular attention to.

Start with School Recommendations

A university’s tech recommendations will help you choose a tried-and-true compatible laptop that will work well for your specific course. Sometimes a course will have hard and fast recommendations.

Travel Light

Most students will appreciate a smaller laptop since they will be carrying it around the campus. Note that a smaller laptop also means a smaller screen, so you may have to make a trade-off between a light laptop and a screen large enough to view movies and play games.

Processing Power

Most students will be comfortable with basic processing power. But some students may need larger processors for rendering or even gaming.

Battery Life

Battery power is something you shouldn’t underestimate. Some laptops enable you to replace batteries easily, while others only let you use one. Students spend hours away from a plug, so you need good battery life.

Storage Space

Hard drive storage will impact how much data you can store and the speed of your computer. The best option is to use a combination of cloud storage and the more efficient solid-state drive (SSD).

But with all the options in the market, it may be challenging to choose. Below are some options you should consider.

MacBook Air

Apple is likely to reclaim its dominance in college dormitories with the new MacBook Air. The MacBook Air is a lighter version of the MacBook Pro, and although it is less powerful, it is still capable of completing most tasks you need in college. It’s a thinner model that still offers high processing power and a Retina display.

The macOS is the operating system of choice for many creative departments. The MacBook comes with long battery life; Apple claims it can last for 30 days on standby. Apple laptops are robust and reliable machines. Plus, it comes with Apple TV for your entertainment.

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS is a bit pricier, but you get ultrabook-level performance in exchange. It is powerful, with the ability to handle demanding tasks such as graphic design or programming with an exceptional touch screen of 13.3-inches and a 4K Ultra HD InfinityEdge touch display.

The Dell XPS 13 can handle demanding tasks like Photoshop and AutoDesk 3DS Max or programming software like Android Studio and Eclipse. It has 1435 Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2×2 with Bluetooth to keep you connected. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD give you the power and flexibility you’ll need for daily tasks.

The wide and high-definition screen also makes it ideal for entertaining. So as you wind down, you can enjoy sharp images watching movies, streaming series, or playing games. You can keep in touch or create media using the widescreen HD 720p webcam.

Asus Zenbook 13

College life can get a bit rough. You will be running across campus, fooling around on the greenery, or throwing your satchel on benches and tables. After some time, your laptop will have taken a beating. The ASUS ZenBook is a durable laptop with a tough aluminum body that can take a hit or two.

The features make it a powerful and agile computer with an affordable price tag. It comes with a 13.3-inch Full HD display, an Intel Core i5-8265u processor, NVIDIA GeForce MX150, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a comfortable keyboard. It also comes with a year of free accidental damage protection from ASUS ADP.

Many tout the Asus Zenbook 13 as one of the most durable laptops. But while tough, this laptop isn’t impenetrable, so it is still important to take care of it. Don’t hesitate to reach out to local laptop repair services in case of damage.

Lenovo Yoga 7i

The Lenovo Yoga 7i is a popular all-purpose laptop for students. It’s the less expensive sibling to the ThinkPad and IdeaPad series and can double as a laptop or tablet with its touchscreen feature.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i is a thin, light ultrabook suitable for high school and college students. It’s a powerful computer with a strong, portable build, making it suitable for full-day classes. It’s a budget laptop that can deliver good performance and long battery life. It’s durable, so it can last you through graduation and beyond.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i comes with a USB-C charger, enabling you to charge more devices. The USB-C charger is also generally cheaper to replace than specialty non–USB-C chargers.

HP Envy 13    

The HP Envy 13 comes with a new design and a Thunderbolt 4 port. It has a long battery life, a fast CPU, and a vivid display. Priced below one thousand, but packs plenty of performance.

The laptop comes with slimmer bezels, a sleek chassis, and a vivid 1080p display. The 11th Gen Core i5 CPU gives it faster performance, and it all comes at an affordable price.

Get a Laptop Built for College

College can be a challenging experience, so get a laptop that will be able to meet those challenges with you. As much as college life is about academics, think about what you will do in your spare time when buying a laptop, such as watching movies or playing games. You want a laptop with enough processing power for your needs, good battery life, light, and strong.