Whether you’re working on an essay, doing research for a paper or just need some downtime streaming your favorite show — a good laptop is a sensible investment for every college student.The best laptop for college doesn’t have to push the envelope with the latest graphics card and processor, nor does it have to cost an arm and a leg.Sure, the best laptops come in all shapes and sizes and range in price, but college students don’t need a power-hungry machine to support their needs.
The best laptop for college is ideally thin and lightweight, and provides enough battery to last all day without having to be tethered to the wall.No matter what you’re studying, we’ve researched and tested a range of laptops for you to consider as you decide which is the best laptop for college for you.Quick OverviewBest Apple laptopMacBook Air M4$999 at AmazonBest Windows laptopDell XPS 13$1,399 at DellBest gaming laptopASUS ROG Zephyrus G14$2,000 at Best BuyBest ChromebookAcer Chromebook Plus Spin 714$699 at Best BuyBest budget laptopHP Pavilion Aero 13More options$600 at HP$739 at AmazonWhat to consider in your next laptop for collegeIt’s important to consider your major and what you need your laptop to do before deciding on the best laptop for college.For example, if you’re a liberal arts major and will mostly be writing or making presentations, you don’t need an expensive system with a discrete graphics card.
Alternatively, if you’re a film major who might need to render videos on a regular basis, having a beefy PC can significantly reduce the time it takes to finish a project.You’ll also want to take a look at any guidelines provided by your college or your specific program, as you may need required software or apps that only run on a specific OS.Some other things to consider are if you want a more portable 13 or 14-inch machine that’s easier to carry around, or if you prefer something with a larger screen.On top of that, if you are doing tasks like photo or video editing, you’ll probably want to go for a system with a high-resolution display (1440p or 4K), so it's easier to see details.
As for other specs, ideally you’ll want 16GB of RAM (though you can go down to 8GB on a Chromebook) and at least 512GB or 1TB of storage.Most newer laptops now come with SSD storage, too, which means you can store and transfer data much faster.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementFinally, while your budget ultimately will determine how powerful of a laptop you can get, well-equipped ultraportables will generally cost between $1,000 and $1,400, with prices going up from there for systems with discrete GPUs.Budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks can be affordable alternatives though, with many going for just $500 to $700.
But again, remember to check your school’s requirements because it’s not worth saving a few bucks only to find out that your notebook can’t run the app you need for all your homework.See Also:Best Laptops for 2024Best Gaming LaptopsBest 2-in-1 Laptops for 2024Best ChromebooksBest Cheap Windows Laptops for 2024The best laptops for college studentsDevindra Hardawar for EngadgetBest Apple laptopMacBook Air M4Read our full Apple MacBook Air M4 review Screen size: 13.6 inches | Installed memory: 16GB | Drive capacity: Up to 2TB | Graphics processor: 10-core GPU | Available ports: MagSafe 4 charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack, 2x Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports | Battery life: 18 hours | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Max supported RAM: 24GB Apple’s M4-equipped 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air remain the best ultraportables you can buy today, and now they’re also better deals starting at $999 and $1,199, respectively.That’s $100 off the previous generation, but it’s no knock on the quality of these laptops.Both MacBook Air models remain remarkably fast, incredibly thin and light, and deliver excellent battery life.
They’re basically everything you’d want in a premium productivity notebook.Sure, it would be nice to see more than two USB-C ports and a screen that’s faster than 60Hz, but most buyers likely won’t notice these deficiencies.(And if they really bug you, you can always consider the 14-inch MacBook Pro.) While the MacBook Air’s design hasn’t changed from the 2022-era M2 model, it’s still attractive today, and it also holds up well against Windows ultraportables.
The Air isn’t Apple’s fastest computer, but it’s one of the company’s most iconic machines, one that’s elegantly crafted in ways that PC makers rarely accomplish.Its smooth metal case still feels great to hold, and its thin and light design makes it easy to travel with.The 2.7-pound 13-inch Air still feels impressively sturdy for its weight, and the 3.2-pound 15-inch model doesn’t feel that much heavier.
(And for many, the larger screen is worth the portability sacrifice.) Both MacBook Air models lasted for well over 18 hours in our tests, so they’ll likely last you two work days without needing to be juiced up.And while they’re far from gaming PCs, we were still impressed to see them run the graphically intensive game at 60fps in 1080p.ProsFast performanceThin and light designGreat keyboardBest-in-class touchpadExcellent battery lifeConsCould use more portsScreen is only 60Hz$999 at AmazonEngadgetBest Windows laptopDell XPS 13Read our full Dell XPS 13 review Screen size: 13.4 inches | Installed memory: 16GB | Drive capacity: 512GB | Graphics processor: Qualcomm Adreno | Available ports: 2x USB 4 | Battery life: Up to 27 hours | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Max supported RAM: 64GB The best PC has long been Dell’s well-rounded XPS 13 series and I still recommend it to anyone that doesn’t want a Mac.
Yes, the latest XPS 13 lacks a headphone jack, and some of its buttons are hard to see and use.But it's a good laptop and a reliable workhorse that will get you through classes and late-night writing sessions without breaking a sweat.Its excellent battery life means you can attend classes untethered and still have more juice left in the tank when you get home.
The XPS 13 (previously called the XPS 13 Plus) offers a solid balance of speed and attractive-yet-minimalist design.This year, it’s powered by a new Core Ultra 7 processor, which makes it an “AI PC.” Thanks to a built-in NPU (neural processing unit), it can handle a few AI tasks, like Windows Studio Effects for video chats, without taxing your CPU or battery life.But it also has everything we previously liked about the XPS 13 Plus: An edge-to-edge keyboard with lusciously large keys, along with a huge “invisible” trackpad nestled within its glass wrist rest.
And of course, it features a nearly border-less “Infinity Edge” screen, which has been a mainstay of the XPS line for almost a decade.When it first debuted, the XPS 13 Plus was a more powerful alternative to Dell’s thinner and weaker XPS 13.While we’ll miss the previous XPS (which you can still find refurbished), it makes sense for Dell to lean into its stunning new aesthetic.
The 2024 XPS 13 Plus looks more refined than the vast majority of Windows ultraportables, and like the Infinity Edge display, it raises the bar for what other PC makers should emulate.$1,399 at DellPhoto by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetBest gaming laptopASUS ROG Zephyrus G14Read our full ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 review Screen size: 14 inches | Installed memory: 32GB | Drive capacity: 1TB | Graphics processor: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | Available ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2 | Battery life: 10 hours | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Max supported RAM: 64GB For the student who wants a new laptop that’s light enough to carry to class but powerful enough to edit videos or play games at night, ASUS’ ROG Zephyrus G14 offers an incredible combination of performance and portability, which is why it's one of our top picks for the best gaming laptops.It features a gorgeous 120Hz OLED display, an AMD Ryzen 9 chip and up to NVIDIA RTX 4070 graphics, which is more than enough to handle almost anything you can throw at it, and a definite plus if you’re a gamer.
The 2024 model also sports a more sophisticated design with a single row of white LEDs across its lid instead of a bunch of RGB lights, a ton of ports (including a full-size HDMI jack and microSD slot) and better-than-average battery life.All of this comes in an unibody aluminum chassis that weighs just 3.3 pounds, which is the same as a 15-inch MacBook Air.Put simply, the ROG G14 is one of the best laptops we’ve reviewed this year, period, which makes it a great choice for students that are dabbling in a bunch of different subjects or disciplines.
Also, if you like the G14’s mix of performance and design but want something a touch larger, there’s the ROG Zephyrus G16 which supports up to an RTX 4090 GPU.$2,000 at Best BuyAcerBest ChromebookAcer Chromebook Plus Spin 714Screen size: 14 inches | Installed memory: 8GB | Drive capacity: 256GB | Graphics processor: Intel Graphics | Available ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI 2.0 | Battery life: 10 hours | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Max supported RAM: 16GB Chromebooks may have started out as inexpensive PCs for early education and basic web browsing, but they’ve matured a lot over the years.Recently, with the introduction of Google’s Chromebook Plus designation, you can now get a number of handy AI-powered features from Google’s operating system alongside improvements such as faster wake times, 1080p webcams and better battery life.
Out of all the models on the market, Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is one of the few that supports a speedier Intel Core Ultra 5 chip with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of base storage (which is twice as much as many of its rivals).Meanwhile, thanks to its 360-degree hinge, you can use it as a standard clamshell or make use of its touchscreen as a tablet, depending on the situation.Finally, with a starting price of $700, it’s more affordable than a typical Windows or Mac-based alternative.
It's our current top pick for a premium device on our list of the best Chromebooks.$699 at Best BuyWill Lipman Photography for EngadgetBest budget laptopHP Pavilion Aero 13Read our full HP Pavilion Aero 13 review Screen size: 13.3 inches | Installed memory: 16GB | Drive capacity: 512GB | Graphics processor: AMD Radeon | Available ports: 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A (10Gbps), 1x USB-A (5Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm headphone jack | Battery life: 10 hours | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Max supported RAM: 16GB If you’re looking for a sturdy student laptop under $800, your best bet is the HP Pavilion Aero 13.Yes, it’s almost two years old, but it’s still one of the best cheap laptops for college students available now, and a great choice for those who aren’t fussed by a smaller screen size.
For an affordable price, you’ll get a Full HD screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and surprisingly thin bezels, as well as a comfortable keyboard and spacious touchpad.Importantly, the Aero 13 provides relatively powerful components compared to others in this price range, with an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and Radeon graphics card.Plus, it has a generous array of ports and enough hours of battery life to last you a full day and then some (meaning there’s no excuse not to finish your schoolwork).
For more budget-friendly options, check out our top picks for the best cheap Windows laptops.$600 at HPExplore More Buying Options$739 at Amazon