How to choose the best laptop for students’ needs

It is essential to use the right tool when you study. This means that there is no better time than now to buy the best laptop for students. Students of all ages have been in desperate need of laptops for their education since the pandemic.

We have tested many laptops, and this article lists the best for student life.

The right student laptop will depend on your age, education level, and budget. We have included a buying guide that outlines the essential things to look at when purchasing a laptop for college, school, or university.

We have a laptop for everyone, whether you are looking for something light and portable or something with a lot of power performance. There is a student laptop for everyone, regardless of their budget. Continue reading to find the perfect companion for your studies.

Depending on your study schedule and whether you intend to use your laptop for work or play, the cost of a student laptop can range from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds.

We recommend our list of the top laptops that are affordable and best for children if you’re looking for a laptop to help your child with schoolwork.

We recommend spending between $500 to $1,000 if you are looking for a durable device that can handle light gaming and will last you many years. Laptops in this price range offer exceptional performance and attractive build quality.

Do I require a fast processor with lots of RAM?

If you are just looking for a laptop to write essays on, processors and RAM don’t matter too much — even a Chromebook can be used for Google Docs or searching the internet.

If your research requires the use of complex software such as photo editing, 3D design or crunching data, it is worth investing in a faster CPU. The Core i5/i7 processors by Intel are a good choice. However, AMD’s Ryzen processors offer a more affordable option and often surpass Intel’s performance.

As you can open more browser tabs and applications before your laptop crashes, having more RAM is always a plus. A laptop should have at least 4GB RAM. However, we recommend that you get one with 8GB RAM if it is possible.

How much storage do I need?

How you intend to use your student laptop will determine this. You’ll quickly run out of storage if you plan to save lots of documents locally or download many applications. For most students, a laptop with 128GB storage is sufficient. However, 256GB is better if you don’t want to have the files uninstalled and deleted for a year or more after purchasing your new device.

It is important to consider the type and amount of storage that a laptop has. An SSD (solid-state disk) laptop is better for students than eMMC flash storage and mechanical hard drives.

What other things should I be looking out for?

You should always try a laptop before you buy it. Everybody has their own ideas about what makes a comfortable, usable touchpad or keyboard. While we review these aspects carefully, it is worth trying the laptop out. Equally, what one person might consider heavy and bulky may be completely manageable according to another’s standards.

It’s also worth looking out for USB-C and USB 3 ports. They add future-proofing to your computer as well as allowing for faster file transfers. This is useful if you need to have backups of your data to external drives.

It’s worth allowing for some extra money to purchase a high-quality external USB drive or a cloud storage service. Even the most expensive laptops for students can be stolen, damaged or lost. It is important to ensure that your coursework does not disappear with it.

1. M1 Apple MacBook Air 2020: The Best MacBook for Students

Two new versions of the MacBook Air were released by Apple in 2020, in a surprise turn of events. The iconic ultraportable was updated to house Intel’s 10th-gen processors. In the second, the keyboard was replaced with Apple’s new MagicKeyboard that offers improved travel and damping for each key.

The second iteration was however the one that really drove the series forward. It included Apple’s M1 processor. We’ve linked to that version here. Jon Bray, Head of Reviews for the M1 MacBook Air, said it was «the ultraportable laptop you should be using». He praised it for being «stunningly quick, quiet as a mouse, and reasonably priced.» It also boasts a great battery life of up to 15 hours.

This is, simply put, the best MacBook for students and up there with our best laptops.

2. Dell XPS 13 9310: The best Windows laptop available for students

The newest XPS 13 features 11th-gen Intel processors and is a significant improvement over its tenth generation predecessor in terms of performance and battery life. The XPS 13 is still one of the most beautiful laptops on the market, thanks to its compact and sleek design, which features a carbon fiber interior and an aluminium chassis.

The keyboard is among the most comfortable we have tested. It has a clever layout and keys that feel great when you type. The XPS 13 is a great choice if you do a lot of writing in your studies.

Although there are many display options, we tested an FHD non-touchscreen unit. It is easier to use the 16:10 aspect ratio than a 16-9 display. The laptop’s peak brightness of 566cd/m2 allows you to work outside while still being comfortable. Both sRGB and accuracy are exceptional.

Although it may not be as good as Apple’s MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the Dell XPS13 9310 is a great choice for those who are looking for a premium Windows laptop to study on.

3. HP Pavilion 14: The most affordable touchscreen laptop for students

The attractive notebook by HP delighted and surprised our reviewer. It featured attractive features that are rarely found at such a low price, including a touch-enabled FHD screen and a fingerprint scanner to allow for quick and easy signing in.

The Pavilion 14 also has some other strings. The speakers from Olufsen are some of the best we have ever heard. They are built well and last eight hours.

It is disappointing that there is no keyboard backlight. You will find better displays elsewhere if you are looking for vibrant and accurate colours. The HP Pavilion 14 is a great value for money package. It is lightweight, stylish, and provides solid performance.

4. Acer Swift 3 (NX.ABNEK.00A: The most affordable compact laptop

The latest Acer Swift 3 laptop has a great screen, good battery life, and is light and cheap. The well-made aluminium chassis is lightweight at 1.2kg, and it can be easily slipped into any small backpack.
Acer has not scrimped in the internal specifications, either. Although the Swift 3’s 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor is not the most up-to-date, it does the job. There’s also an 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD storage. The keyboard has a bright backlight and offers good connectivity (2x USB A, 1x Thunderbolt4 USB-C-C), and 2x USB-A. A fingerprint reader is also included to provide additional biometric security.

The Swift has a decent battery life. In our video rundown test, it lasted almost 11-and-a half hours. Fast charging makes this a great compact laptop for a reasonable price. We have one criticism: the RAM is soldered directly to the motherboard. It cannot be upgraded.