What makes a good laptop for students? It’s the balance of portability, connectivity, and price. Modern students are often on the move, relying heavily on Wi-Fi for their tasks, whether attending lectures in person or participating via Zoom.
In recent years, the design focus of laptops has shifted towards ultra-thin laptops that deliver impressive performance. The latest student laptops are lightweight yet powerful devices that are easy to carry in a backpack, making them a great choice for students. Some laptops offer hybrid form factors, bridging the gap between tablets and traditional laptops. Features like detachable keyboards and rotating screens provide enhanced portability and flexibility.
Whether you’re searching for an affordable laptop for a young student or a high-performance machine for a college freshman, we’ve got plenty of choices for the best laptops for students right here.
Lenovo ThinkPad X13: Best for On-the-Go Students
- AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U Hexa-Core Processor
- 13.3 in Full HD Display, IPS, 1920 x 1080 Max. Resolution
- 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Windows 10 Pro
- HDMI | USB 3.2 | USB-C
- Black Colour
- 1 Year Warranty
Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is a compact and powerful business laptop that upholds the legacy of the ThinkPad series with robust performance, portability, and enterprise-grade features. Designed with students and professionals in mind, the X13 caters to all on-the-go users.
This laptop is powered by Intel or AMD processors, depending on the configuration, ensuring smooth multitasking and high performance for demanding applications. Up to 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM and fast SSD storage complement the processor options. It handles day-to-day office tasks effortlessly and has enough horsepower to tackle more intensive workloads such as data analysis or light content creation.
The X13’s build quality is exceptional, staying true to the ThinkPad’s reputation for durability. The chassis is lightweight, and its compact design makes it highly portable without sacrificing structural integrity. The laptop is crafted with a magnesium alloy and carbon fibre mix, which provides resilience against drops and spills. Another standout feature is the keyboard, which offers a tactile typing experience with well-spaced keys and good travel, a hallmark of the ThinkPad series.
The 13.3-inch display is available in multiple configurations, including Full HD and touch options. The screen offers sharp visuals and vibrant colours for both productivity and media consumption. While it may not rival high-end ultrabooks in brightness or colour accuracy, it performs admirably for a study-focused laptop. The anti-glare coating is particularly useful for working in bright environments.
The X13 addresses security and connectivity well. It includes a fingerprint reader, a webcam privacy shutter, and optional IR camera support for Windows Hello. For professionals, including a TPM 2.0 chip and ThinkShield security solutions ensures high data protection. On the connectivity front, the laptop is equipped with USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and an optional SIM card slot for mobile broadband, making it versatile for various use cases.
Battery life is another strong suit, with the X13 capable to last an entire workday on a single charge, depending on usage. Fast-charging technology allows it to regain a significant percentage of battery life within an hour, a practical feature for busy professionals. Moreover, the cooling system is efficient, keeping the laptop cool whether you run a creativity or coding app.
ASUS Chromebook (CZ1104FM2A): Ideal for Online Learning and Daily Tasks
- MediaTek Kompanio 520 Octa-Core Processor
- 11.6 in HD Display, 1366 x 768 Max. Resolution
- 4 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD
- ARM Mali-G52 Graphics
- Chrome OS
- HDMI l USB 3.2
- Grey Colour
- 3 Years Warranty
Another impressive addition to our list of best laptops for college students is the ASUS Chromebook (CZ1104FM2A), an affordable and efficient machine. It caters to students, professionals, and casual users who prioritise portability, speed, and ease of use. Powered by Chrome OS, the Chromebook offers a streamlined experience tailored to online and cloud-based activities such as online classes and digital courses.
The best feature of the ASUS Chromebook is its compact design. This Chromebook is incredibly portable with a lightweight chassis, so you can effortlessly carry it in backpacks or handbags. The robust build quality ensures durability, and the minimalist yet modern aesthetics add to its appeal.
Under the hood, the ASUS Chromebook is backed by an efficient Intel processor, which ensures smooth multitasking and quick responses. Coupled with eMMC storage, it offers rapid boot times and seamless app launches, although users requiring extensive local storage may need to rely on external drives or cloud services. The device’s integration with Google Workspace offers smooth access to productivity tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
You will appreciate the standard 11.6-inch panel that provides crisp visuals suitable for browsing, streaming, and light productivity tasks. While the resolution is adequate for most users, it may not satisfy those seeking high-definition quality for media learning students. The screen’s anti-glare coating is a welcome addition, especially for those who work in bright environments.
Battery life is another area where the ASUS Chromebook excels. It offers an impressive runtime on a single charge, allowing you to run a full day without the need to hunt for power outlets. This feature is particularly valuable for you if you attend back-to-back classes.
Connectivity options include USB-C and USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. Wi-Fi 6 supports fast and stable internet connections, which is crucial for online tasks and video conferencing. The keyboard and touchpad are comfortable and responsive, ensuring a smooth typing and navigation experience. Lastly, the Chromebook’s speakers deliver decent audio quality, which is suitable for casual listening and virtual meetings.
Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook: Versatile 2-in-1 Laptop for Students
- AMD Ryzen 5 Quad-Core Processor
- 13.3 in Full HD Display, IPS, 1920 x 1080 Max. Resolution
- 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Chrome OS
- HDMI | USB 3.2
- Abyss Blue Colour
- 1 Year Warranty
Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook has everything ThinkPad fans will appreciate, including a great keyboard, a sturdy, non-sense design and a red TrackPoint in the middle—but instead of Windows or Linux, it operates on Google’s Chrome OS.
It’s not the most budget student laptop or the most stylish Chromebook available, but the 2-in-1 design includes a built-in stylus, the trackpad features buttons at the top, and it offers an abundance of ports. Built with a sturdy aluminium chassis, the C13 Yoga Chromebook offers the durability needed to withstand the rigours of daily student life. Its lightweight and portable factor makes it easy to carry around campus or between classes.
For connectivity, the Chromebook integrates a range of ports, such as USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI. The Wi-Fi 6 compatibility ensures fast and stable internet connections essential for online learning and streaming. The built-in webcam and microphone provide clear video and audio for virtual classes and group discussions.
The 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen display delivers crisp visuals, ideal for reading, writing, or streaming educational content. The best feature is the 2-in-1 hinge that allows students to switch effortlessly between laptop and tablet modes.
In terms of performance, the Chromebook is powered by AMD Ryzen 5 processors, which provide ample performance for multitasking between research, video calls, or online classes. With 4GB of RAM and 128 SSD storage options, the device ensures fast boot times even with multiple tabs open. Chrome OS takes productivity to new heights with its fast, secure, and user-friendly interface.
HP 15s-fq1000na: Budget-Friendly Laptop for Students
- Intel Core i3 -1005G1 Dual-Core Processor
- 15.6 in Full HD Display, SVA, 1920 x 1080 Max. Resolution
- 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- Windows 10 S
- HDMI, USB 3.1, USB-C
- Silver Colour
- 1 Year Warranty
HP 15s-fq1000na is a solid laptop for studying and remote learning. It features a 15.6-inch Full HD display, which offers clear visuals for study materials, video lectures, and entertainment during downtime.
The HP 15s has a natural silver chassis integrated with a black display bezel. The sides are nicely narrow to give a compact look and feel. The material is mainly plastic around the bezels and keyboard, but the metal around the edges, top, and bottom gives it a sturdy look.
At the given price point, the finish is surprisingly good. The display has little flex and hardly any movement on the keyboard deck. It weighs 1.69 kg or 3.73 pounds and is 1.79cm thick. The laptop is lightweight and slim, making it easy to carry between classes or libraries, and its simple design ensures it suits casual and professional settings.
HP 15s-fq1000na packs an Intel Core i3 processor and Intel’s integrated graphics chip to tackle browsing, word processing, and video calls without a hitch. While it might not be ideal for demanding applications like video editing or gaming, the laptop’s performance is fine for coursework and multitasking. The 128 GB SSD ensures fast boot times and quick access to files.
The HP 15s-fq1000na’s key strength is its battery life, which lasts up to 9 hours on a full charge. Its keyboard is comfortable typing long essays, and the precision touchpad makes navigation smooth. Connectivity options include USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and an SD card reader, accommodating a range of devices and peripherals.
How to Choose the Best Laptop for Students?
There are a few factors you should keep in mind when choosing the best student laptops besides being able to handle the course demands. One of the greatest considerations you should pay attention to is the battery life. You will need something that will last all day during your classes and still have juice left for late studying and streaming.
As for the design, the student laptops should be lightweight and versatile because you will need something that can multitask all the programs you will need to be dragged to carry around the campus. Flexibility is key, especially for students who need to seamlessly switch between tasks like working on a published paper and finishing an essay under time pressure.
Cost is another important factor when selecting the best laptop for your university needs. We understand that not everyone has the budget to spend a lot on a laptop, so it’s essential to find one that meets all your requirements without exceeding your financial limits. Fortunately, many affordable student laptops are available today, and even better when you can catch a sale to score a great deal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best student laptops for remote learning and virtual classes should offer a perfect balance of portability, performance, and price. With students increasingly relying on laptops for in-person and online learning, the laptop should offer long battery life, fast processing, and ample connectivity.
Many options cater to different needs and budgets, from the lightweight and efficient ASUS Chromebook to the powerful Lenovo ThinkPad X13. Whether you need a durable laptop for heavy coursework, a hybrid device for flexibility, or an affordable Chromebook for basic tasks, the right laptop can make a difference throughout your academic journey. Consider factors like battery life, design, and cost to find the perfect fit for your requirements.
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