Having the right laptop can completely change your performance as a student. In this article, I’m breaking down the top 5 best laptops for students so you’ll never have to suffer with a laptop that crashes on you or is too slow to use again.
The only issue is that a laptop might work great for one person but might not be the best for you because most laptops are not made with the same people in mind, which is why I made sure to include options for all types of situations.
So regardless of what you’re looking for, I’ll have the perfect laptop for you. All the links to find the best prices on all the products mentioned in this article.
Dell XPS 13
Specifications & Feature
- Display size – 13.4 Inches
- Processor – Core i7
- Graphics – Intel Iris Xe Graphics with shared graphics memory
- Weight – 2.8 pounds
First on my list is the Dell XPS 13, my choice for the best laptop for students or most people. The Dell XPS 13 has a great combination of features to cover a student lifestyle. So let’s take a look and see what makes it the best option for most students.
The XPS 13 is great on the go since it’s both really thin at only 55 millimeters and also lightweight, making it easily portable. The design is minimalist and it looks really slick, yet it’s very durable since it’s made with machined aluminum.
It also comes in a choice of two really attractive, modern, nature-inspired colors. So the XPS is a winner when it comes to portability and looks.
It is also terrific when it comes to display, with a 13.4-inch Infinity Edge screen with a full HD resolution of 1920×1080. The display has 500 nits of brightness and the images are really sharp, making it perfect for students who need to work on projects or presentations for extended periods of time. The thin bezels also make for a more immersive viewing experience, which is great for streaming your favorite TV shows or movies.
The Dell XPS 13 also has a great battery life, with up to 12 hours of usage on a single charge, which is also a major plus. And it comes with a fast charging feature, allowing you to charge the laptop up to 80% in just one hour.
Now in terms of performance, the Dell XPS 13 is built with a 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and 512 gigabytes of solid-state drive. It operates with Windows 11, so with this power, you’re well-equipped to handle all of your demanding tasks.
The laptop features a backlit keyboard that’s really comfortable to type on, even in dimly lit places, so it’s great for note-taking or writing assignments. As an added plus, it also has dual stereo speakers and supports graphics with their Iris Intel XE graphics card.
The XPS 13 provides a winning overall package of features, including easy portability, a terrific display, and processing power. Plus, it comes in on the lower end of the price range, so it’s the laptop that is the best choice for most students.
HP Specter X360
Specifications & Feature
- Display size – 15.6 Inches
- Processor – Core i7
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce MX150
- Weight – 4.4 lbs
Next on my list is the HP Specter X360, my choice for the best two-in-one laptop for students. When it comes to versatility, the HP Specter X360 is a standout. It’s a powerful two-in-one with great performance, and that power and versatility make it a great choice for students.
For a lifestyle on the go, the Specter is a great choice because it’s lightweight, weighing in at less than three pounds, and is also really durable, so it travels well in your backpack. But where it really shines is the versatility of having both a tablet and a laptop in one device.
With its 360-degree rotation and kickstand options, you can be sure to be able to position the Specter in a comfortable position and easily change it up when you need it to.
The Specter also packs a punch under the hood with an Intel Core i5, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and 512 gigabytes of internal storage. You’ll rarely find yourself underperforming even for performance-heavy tasks.
A high-quality display is really important, and the Specter X360 has you covered with its OLED paneling featuring 400 nits of brightness and a 1920×1280 resolution with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Rich colors and excellent brightness make it perfect for your projects and for watching movies or your favorite shows.
Battery life is outstanding on the Specter with up to 16 hours of continuous use with a full charge. It is an outstanding achievement by HP for a two-in-one laptop of this caliber. When it comes to video, whether it be for online classes or otherwise, the Specter delivers.
It features an HP TrueVision 5-megapixel camera with an appearance filter, backlight adjustment, and a privacy shutter camera shutter to help you look your best.
HP’s Specter X360 is the best laptop for students fantastic two-in-one laptop that offers great versatility as both a laptop and in its tablet form. It also has the power, display, and other features that really work for the student lifestyle.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
Specifications & Feature
- Display size – 14 Inches
- Processor – Core i7
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce MX450
- Weight – 3.1 pounds
Next on my list is the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, my choice of the best laptops for students for the money. The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a top choice laptop for students because it has great features, including all the necessities, but it also comes with a budget-friendly price tag, making it a great value for the money.
The 14-inch OLED touchscreen display is a really great feature of the Zenbook. It has a 16:10 aspect ratio and produces vibrant colors and deep blacks that make everything look amazing. With a resolution of 2880 by 1800 and 550 nits of brightness, it is perfect for students who need to work on projects, research, or just take notes in class.
When it comes to performance, the Zenbook 14 OLED is no slouch. It comes equipped with a 13th gen Intel i7 core processor, which is more than enough power to handle everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming videos, and even some light gaming. It also has an Intel Iris XE Graphics, which provides great visuals for multimedia work.
One of the most important aspects of a laptop for students is battery life, and the Zenbook 14 OLED really delivers with up to 18 hours of battery life. You won’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of a lecture or study session. Plus, it has fast charging technology that can get you up and running in no time.
Now, the keyboard function is really essential, and the Zenbook 14 is top-notch in that area. Its backlit keyboard is comfortable to type on and has good key travel, which makes it easy to type out long essays or reports. Additionally, it has an integrated number pad, which is perfect for students who need to do a lot of calculations.
All of these features come in a thin and lightweight design that makes the Zenbook 14 super portable. Overall, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is an excellent choice for students who are focused on getting the best value for their money.
It has a powerful processor, excellent large display and brightness, outstanding battery life, plus lots of other really solid features to support the student lifestyle.
MacBook Air M2
Specifications & Feature
- Display size – 13.6 Inches
- Processor – System on Chip (SoC); Apple M2 chip
- Graphics – Apple 8-core GPU
- Weight – 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg)
Next on my list is the MacBook Air M2, my choice for the best overall student laptop. If you’re a student with a pretty good budget and you’re looking for a device with a breathtaking display, all-day battery life, and robust performance, then the newest Apple MacBook Air M2 is the best laptop out there for you.
The M2 is so slim, compact, and light that it can be mistaken for an iPad when closed. It’s just 44 inches thick and weighs 2.7 pounds, making it one of the best picks for an on-the-go student lifestyle. Plus, its all-aluminum unibody enclosure is super durable, so it travels well in your backpack with no problem.
When it comes to the display, the Air M2 is nothing short of incredible. The bright and colorful 13.6-inch panel is one of the best, with the sharpest colors you can find on a display of this size. Brightness is also terrific, with a peak of almost 500 nits, so the Air M2 is ideal for those who love working outside during the day.
Performance-wise, the Air M2 does not disappoint, and even with the base model specs, the new M2 Chip will do wonders for your productivity. With 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabyte SSD, it can perform flawlessly without a single lag, even with a dozen Chrome tabs open while also working on a heavy photo editing task.
Battery life is almost unbelievable on the Air M2. It’s one of the few laptops on the market that can last up to 18 hours with one charge, which is perfect for those who don’t want to be constantly charging their laptop.
It’ll help you look and sound great with its 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a three-microphone array, and a four-speaker sound system. Plus, it has two Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack, so you can connect all of your peripherals whenever you need to.
Acer Swift 5
Specifications & Feature
- Display size – 14 Inches
- Processor – Core i7
- Graphics – Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Weight – 2.31 pounds
The Acer Swift 5 is next on my list. The Acer Swift 5 laptop is another best laptop for students. It comes in at a midpoint price range but has a lot of processing power and more RAM and storage than most other models we’ve talked about. So, let’s have a look.
Looking at the design and build, the Swift 5 is made of an aluminum chassis and has been added for durability and to resist corrosion. So, it is a very sturdy and good quality laptop yet it weighs in under 2.7 pounds, and it’s only 0.6 inches thick, so it won’t take up much space in your backpack.
Plus, it’s designed with dual fans with multiple cooling modes to help dissipate heat and keep your unit cool, a must for long sessions.
The Acer Swift 5 has great processing power and storage. It’s powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and comes up to 16 gigabytes of RAM. So, you can multitask and run multiple applications without any lag. Plus, with up to one terabyte of SSD, you’ll have plenty of storage space for all your files and programs.
It has a 14-inch full HD IPS touchscreen display, which means that colors are bright and vibrant, and everything looks sharp and clear. The touchscreen is also super responsive, so you can use it to take notes or sketch out diagrams. The Iris Xe Graphics are great for multimedia and gaming.
Battery life is always an important feature, and this Swift 5 provides up to 10 hours of battery life on one charge, with fast charge support giving you over four hours of battery in just 30 minutes. Plus, it satisfies all your connectivity needs with Wi-Fi 6E, Thunderbolt 4 HDMI 2.1, and multiple USB ports.
Overall, the Acer Swift 5 is the best laptop for students with its outstanding power and storage, as well as its great display, battery life, and durability. It is a really solid all-around option.
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