With so many laptops available for students to choose from, it can be very difficult to narrow down which one is right for you. In this article, we break down the top five best laptops for students on the market this year based on price versus performance and the situations they’ll be used in. So whether you’re looking for a great portable laptop to take to class or the best all-around laptop for students, we’ll have the perfect laptop for you. The products mentioned in this article are in no exact order, so be sure to stay tuned so you don’t miss anything.
First on my list is the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED, my choice for the best student laptop for the money. The Asus ZenBook 14 OLED laptop has all the features a student needs, and it comes with a budget-friendly price tag. The 14-inch OLED screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio, and the colors are top-notch too. They’re vibrant with deep blacks and make everything look amazing. With a resolution of 2880 x 1800 and 550 nits of brightness, this laptop is perfect for students who need to work on projects, do research, or just take notes in class. When it comes to performance, the ZenBook 14 OLED is no slouch, especially at its affordable price point. It comes equipped with a 13th-generation i7-core processor, which is more than enough power to handle everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming videos, and even some gaming. It also has Intel iRis Xe graphics to give you 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 on a single charge, 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. Good keyboard function is a must-have, and the ZenBook 14 is really solid in that area. It’s backlit keyboard is comfortable to type on and has good key travel, which makes it easier to type out long essays or reports. It also has an integrated number pad, making it perfect for students who need a lot of calculations. All of these features come in a thin and lightweight design that makes the ZenBook 14 super portable. Overall, the Aces ZenBook 14 OLED is an excellent choice for students who are super 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.
Next on my list is the Dell XPS 13, my choice for the best student laptop for most people. The Dell XPS 13 can easily handle productivity, multimedia, and even a bit of gaming, and its battery will get you through the entire day. The 13.3-inch FHD display is bright, with 97% coverage of the sRGB color gamut. This makes it a great choice for creative work like photo editing or video editing. The keyboard has bigger, more responsive keys with great travel, setting the stage for better typing speed and accuracy. The touchpad may not be on par with something like the MacBook Air coming up later in the video, but for the most part, tracking is incredibly smooth and accurate, and the buttons don’t feel as mushy and weak as they do with some other Windows laptops. You can configure the XPS 13 with an Intel i5 or i7 processor, and the graphics are handled by integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics for internal memory. You can get from 8 up to 32GB of RAM, and for app and file storage, the SSD capacity ranges from 512GB to 1TB. There’s a good selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 3.5mm headphone mic jack, and a microSD card slot. And to keep you going all day long, the XPS 13 has a battery rated for up to 12 hours on a full charge, so you’ll have enough power to get you through the day and then some. If you’re a student looking for a laptop that’s incredibly thin and light to make hauling it around campus less of a chore, the Dell XPS 13 is a great choice for you, and it doesn’t stop there. You’ll get a bright, colorful, and accurate display, as well as enough computing power and battery life to help you get everything done.
Next up on the list is the HP Spectre X360, my choice for the best two-in-one laptop for students. Now, when it comes to versatility, the HP Spectre X360 is a standout. It’s a powerful 2-in-1 laptop with great performance, and that power and versatility make it a great choice for students. For a lifestyle on the go, the Spectre X360 is a great choice because it is light, weighing in at less than 3 pounds, and also super durable. So it travels really well in your backpack. The X360 shines in terms of versatility, having both a tablet and laptop on one device. With its 360-degree rotation and kickstand options, you can easily set the Spectre in a comfortable position and quickly change it up when you need to. It also packs a punch under the hood with an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. You’ll rarely find yourself underperforming, even for performance-heavy tasks. A high-quality display is really important, and the Spectre X360 has you covered with its OLED panel featuring 400 nits of brightness and 1920 by 1280 resolution. With a 3:2 aspect ratio, rich colors, and excellent brightness, you’ll love Spectre’s display for your projects and for watching movies or your favorite shows. Battery life is outstanding on the Spectre X360. With up to 16 hours of continuous use with a full charge, it’s an outstanding achievement by HP for a 2-in-1 laptop of this caliber. When it comes to video, whether it be for online classes or otherwise, the X360 delivers. It features a HP True Vision 5 megapixel camera with an appearance filter, backlight adjustment, and a privacy shutter to help you look your best. The HP Spectre X360 is a fantastic 2-in-1 laptop that offers great versatility as both a laptop and in its tablet form. It also has the power, display, and other features that fill all a student’s needs.
Next on my list is the MacBook Air M2, my choice for the best overall student laptop. The MacBook Air M2 is perfect for students, and its M2 chip has the ability to run legacy apps, new M2 optimized apps, and iOS apps. The Magic Keyboard is quiet, so it is perfect for in-class use. The display on 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. The 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 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, it can perform flawlessly even with a dozen Chrome tabs open while also working on a heavy photo editing task. The Air m2 is super slim, compact, and light, making it one of the best picks for student life. It’s also super durable with its all-aluminum unibody enclosure. So it travels well in your backpack with no problem. Battery life is almost unbelievable on the air. 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 also 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 to all of your peripherals whenever you need to. Apple’s MacBook Air M2 is the overall ideal laptop for students. It’s really portable, it has an amazing display and brightness, and it’s powerful enough for all your multitasking and entertainment needs.
And last on my list is the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, my choice for the best affordable student laptop. Students need a reliable laptop that won’t break the bank, and Lenovo has nailed it with the IdeaPad 3. It’s affordably priced and gives you a solid bang for your buck. It’s sleek, it’s compact, and it’s lightweight, so it’ll easily fit into your backpack and won’t weigh you down as you’re rushing across campus to your next class. But don’t let its size fool you. Under the hood, the IdeaPad 3 packs a punch. It comes with a choice between Intel and AMD processors, depending on your preference, and with 8GB of RAM, you’ll have enough power to get through multiple tabs on Chrome, spreadsheets, presentations, and even some light gaming or video editing. It’s a workhorse that can keep up with a student’s diverse tech needs. The display is another highlight. It’s a full HD display with anti-glare technology, which is a great feature for those late-night study sessions. The text is crisp, and the colors are vibrant, making it an enjoyable device for both work and entertainment. Plus, the touchscreen display is low-blue-light-certified. So if you need to work for multiple hours, your eyes won’t get fatigued easily. And as you enjoy the visuals, you can also treat yourself to the amazing sound of Dolby Audio battery life. Yeah, it’s got you covered. The Idea Pad 3 boasts up to 10 hours of battery life. Which should get you through a typical school day without scrambling for a power outlet in terms of storage? You’ve got options from a 128 gigabyte to a 512 gigabyte SSD. That’s more than enough to store all your assignments, projects, and then some. As for the keyboard and trackpad, they’re comfortable and responsive, so there’s no issue at all there. All in all, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is affordable, powerful, portable, and designed with the student lifestyle in mind. If you’re a student looking for a laptop that checks all the boxes without emptying your wallet, you’ll want to give this one a serious look.
