The school year is more than halfway over, but if you find yourself in need of a mid-term upgrade we’ve got you covered with a continuously updated list of the best college laptops.
What should you look for when buying a laptop for school? Make sure it has long battery life and fast CPU performance. A think-and-light won’t cut it for every major, but even if you need a more powerful laptop we’ll try to avoid weighing you down too much. And if you prefer to take notes by hand, a 2-in-1 laptop gives a blended laptop and tablet experience.
Without further ado, here are the best college laptops, including some budget picks to make sure you can still make your tuition payments.
Best college laptops
1. MacBook Air (M1, Late 2020)
best college laptops Mac for students
Specifications
- CPU: M1
- GPU: M1 (integrated)
- RAM: 8GB/16GB
- Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
- Display: 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel
- Size: 11.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
- Weight: 2.8 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Breathtaking performance
- Outstanding battery life
- Slim unibody aluminum chassis
- iPhone and iPad app support
- Great speakers and Magic Keyboard
Reasons to avoid
- Limited ports
Consider purchasing a MacBook Air from Apple instead of a PC running Windows 11. best college laptops Even if the MacBook Air M2 is now on sale for $1,099, many customers will be satisfied with the M1 model, which still retails for $899 and is always accessible to students.
For budget-conscious students, the combination of its low price, high performance, and extended battery life (14 hours and 41 minutes) is hard to match.
So why not get the MacBook Pro instead? The Pro offers superior sustained performance, while the Air is less expensive and more convenient due to its lack of a fan. The Apple 13.3-inch model, which is the cheapest option, is also the lightest and thinnest, measuring in at 0.6 inches thick and weighing 2.8 pounds.
Considering all of the criteria, the MacBook Air is likely to be the best pick for most macOS lovers shopping for their college laptops. The MacBook Pro is also a solid alternative; it appears later on this page.
perfect college laptop.
2. Acer Swift 5 (2022)
best college laptops Windows for students
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1260P
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display Size: 14-inch, 2560 x 1600
- Size: 12.2 x 8.4 x 0.59 inches
- Weight: 2.65 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Attractive design
- Rival-beating performance
- Ultra-fast SSD
- Zippy video transcoding
- Fast file transfer rates
Reasons to avoid
- Annoying bloatware
- Speakers could be louder
The previous generation Swift 5, powered by an 11th Generation Intel CPU, wowed us with its 13-hour battery life, superb performance, sleek design, and affordable pricing. The newest generation Swift 5 costs $200 extra, but it is money well spent. It has an improved SSD, quicker performance, better video transcoding, and lightning-fast file-transfer rates, all while being lightweight and aesthetically stunning in a sophisticated dark green and gold color scheme.
Unfortunately, the Swift 5 has some of the same drawbacks as its predecessor, including obnoxious bloatware applications and underwhelming speakers. Aside from the minor issues of bloatware (which can be removed in 15 minutes or so) and the need for excellent wireless headphones, this is still a top pick among laptops for a college student who prioritizes portability without sacrificing performance.
3. Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022)
best college laptops Chromebook for most college kids
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Display: 14-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen
- Size: 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 3.2 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Excellent, bright, colorful responsive touch display
- Speedy stable performance
- Excellent design
- Sturdy
- Great keyboard and stylus combo
Reasons to avoid
- Sensitive Touchpad
- Weak speakers
Do not hesitate to get the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 if you are a current Chrome OS user in need of an update for your college laptop or are contemplating Chrome OS. This convertible laptop is fantastic, since it has a 14-inch touchscreen and a powerful Intel Core i5-1235U processor.
The durable and adaptable construction is ideal for toting about campus and working in any setting. The good keyboard will let you to keep pounding out papers or keeping pace with your lecturers, while the stylus will allow you to effortlessly add diagrams or handwritten parts to notes if you choose.
The Chromebook Spin 714’s average battery life of slightly over 7 hours in our tests may be a dealbreaker if you often go the whole day without being able to plug in your device.
4. Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022)
Best college laptop for macOS power users
Specifications
- CPU: M2
- GPU: M2 (integrated)
- RAM: 8GB/16GB
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Display: 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600
- Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
- Weight: 3.1 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Stellar overall and gaming performance
- Excellent battery life
- Lightning-fast SSD
- Great webcam
- Comfortable keyboard
Reasons to avoid
- Stagnant design
- Not enough ports
While Apple hasn’t altered the look of the MacBook Pro 2022, the new M2 processor within significantly improves speed and battery life.
The MacBook Pro outperforms almost every desktop computer and even some dedicated workstations. In addition, the Pro lasted for an absurd 18 hours and 20 minutes on our battery test, which mimics real-world use, despite packing so much power into such a tiny and streamlined chassis.
Since it is built on Apple’s ARM architecture, you can use iPad and iPhone applications on your Mac, and the camera (still 720p) is better than its competitors.
Some customers with high-end demands may be tempted by the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, but the MBP 13-inch with M2 remains a good alternative at a much more reasonable price point for those who need just a little bit more power than the MacBook Air.
5. HP Spectre x360 13.5 (2022)
best college laptops 2-in-1 laptop
Specifications
- CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
- Display: 13.5-inch OLED (3000 x 2000)
- Size: 11.7 x 8.7 x 0.67 inches
- Weight: 3 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Stunning 3:2 aspect ratio OLED touchscreen
- Elegant, sturdy design
- Excellent performance
- All-day battery life
Reasons to avoid
- Lack of discrete GPU option
The Spectre x360 13.5 has been reaffirmed as one of the finest 2-in-1 laptops available with our Editors’ Choice award. The 3:2 aspect ratio OLED touchscreen, gorgeous appearance, and exceptional performance make this a hard device to match.
It’s easy to understand why we enjoy this laptop so much when you consider its large, smooth touchpad, ergonomic (though shallow) keyboard, superb security features (fingerprint sensor and face recognition), and enough connections.
If you can afford it and want a convertible laptop, the Spectre x360 13.5 is a better choice than the Envy 13. If you’re looking for a convertible laptop, the Spectre x360 13.5 is your best bet. It may have a few issues, but once you have this masterpiece in your hands, you won’t care about them anymore.
6. MacBook Pro 14-inch (M2 Pro, 2023)
best college laptops premium Apple for students
Specifications
- CPU: Apple M2 Pro
- GPU: Apple M2 Pro
- RAM: 16/32/64GB/96GB
- Storage: 128GB up to 8TB
- Display: 14.2-inch, 3024 x 1964-pixels with 120Hz
- Size: 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Impressive performance
- Over 14 hours of battery life
- Beautifully vibrant display with crisp detail
Reasons to avoid
- Off-putting notch
- Still no Face ID
Apple’s huge overhaul of the MacBook Pro in 2021 was just the beginning, and the MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro is still a top-notch notebook. This is much too powerful for the typical student, but if you like or want macOS applications, it’s hard to match.
The laptop is compact and lightweight, yet it still manages to include a full-size HDMI port and an SDXC card reader. In addition to its already impressive rapid charge, eye-popping display, super-comfortable keyboard, and outstanding audio system, the M2 Pro chip adds even more power while providing over 14 hours of battery life.
Where’s the catch? Apple’s typical high prices are a problem; even the base model costs $1,999, and if you want more storage, more RAM, or the M2 Max CPU instead of the Pro, the price soon rises. Although a cheaper model, maybe with last year’s M2 processor, would have been welcome, the MacBook Pro 14 is still a good purchase for what it offers.
7. Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED
best college laptops affordable OLED
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i5-12500H
- GPU: Iris Xe
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) OLED
- Size: 14.17 x 9.17 x 0.74 inches
- Weight: 3.97 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Stunning 15.6-inch OLED display
- Ideal performance
- Affordably priced
- Great audio
Reasons to avoid
- Terrible webcam
- Battery life could be better
It might be tough to find a trustworthy laptop under $1,000 that doesn’t skimp on either build quality or performance. Given that this is one of the most competitive pricing points for a student laptop, this may be quite annoying. Thankfully, Asus has provided us with the Asus Vivobook S15 OLED as a second choice this year.
With its 12th-generation Intel processor, 15.6-inch OLED screen, and sufficient battery life to get you through all but the longest marathon study session, the Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED excels at everything most college students require. Also, the Asus Antibacterial Guard is a great feature for individuals who value a germ-free computing environment.
Our only real complaint is that the camera isn’t great, so if you plan on doing a lot of video chatting online, you may want to go for a higher-quality webcam.
8. Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360
best college laptops thin-and-light laptop with a 15.6-inch display
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1260P
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch AMOLED, FHD (1920×1080)
- Size: 14 x 9 x 0.46 inches
- Weight: 3.1 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Stunning portable design
- Strong performance
- Vivid and bright Super AMOLED display
- Long-lasting battery life
- S Pen included
Reasons to avoid
- Lacks storage silo for S Pen
- Disappointing webcam
The Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 is a cutting-edge piece of technology that would serve college students well. This 2-in-1 laptop is perfect for students thanks to its lightweight design and 15.6-inch AMOLED screen. Even more impressive is the fact that its Geekbench performance more than doubles that of its predecessor, suggesting that, barring very demanding requirements, this impossibly little laptop has more power than you would likely ever need.
The cherry on top is the included S Pen, which makes it easy to take handwritten notes when necessary or to sketch out ideas in a more creative area of study. It would be ideal if the S Pen came with its own carrying case, but we understand if you just have a pen slot. The camera is my only lingering complaint, but I realize that not everyone will have the same experience and that this may be fixed by obtaining a separate webcam.
9. Lenovo Legion 5i Pro
best college gaming laptops for students
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 16-inch, 1440p, 165Hz, IPS
- Size: 14.1 x 10.4 x 1 inches
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
Reasons to buy
- Stylish, sleek form factor
- Gorgeous display
- Strong performance
- Quiet fans
- Plenty of ports
Reasons to avoid
- Terrible webcam
- No biometrics
- SSD is slightly slower than the competition
The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is among the finest portable gaming computers released in 2022. You get a lot of power in a stylish package, with good battery life, great thermal performance, and enough ports to satisfy any gamer’s demands.
It may not be the most visually striking gaming laptop, but after years of refinement, best laptop for college. The end result is a beautiful 16-inch 1440p 165Hz display, superb thermal performance, an excellent keyboard and touchpad, and a high level of refinement in the design and presentation.
10. Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable
best college laptops Surface Pro alternative
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1130G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 12.3-inch, 1920 x 1280-pixel
- Size: 11.2 x 8 x 0.3 inches
- Weight: 1.7 pounds (2.4 pounds with keyboard)
Reasons to buy
- Long battery life
- Good 12.3-inch display
- Excellent keyboard
- Accessories come bundled
Reasons to avoid
- Terrible speakers
- No USB Type-A
Simply said, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is the superior alternative to Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7. It utilizes a kickstand that can swivel to around the same 160 degrees and has a removable design like the original. Like the Pro 7, the 12.3-inch display is almost similar to the Surface’s, and the detachable keyboard is excellent. Its robust chassis also provides military-grade durability.
What makes it superior to Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro 7+? The ThinkPad X12 Detachable outperforms its magnesium-alloy rival in terms of battery life and portability. It can stay powered for over 11 hours on a single charge. The X12 Detachable is a high-priced convertible designed for professionals, yet it includes a keyboard and a pen at no extra cost.
We like the X12 Detachable, but the Surface Pro 7 is an excellent option if you require powerful speakers or a USB Type-A connector. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a fantastic alternative to business tablets.
How do we test laptops?
We put each laptop through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers, and heat management.
In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and the sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamut of the laptop’s display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 5.4 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.
To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark with medium settings at 1080p and 4K resolution.
We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 10 or Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise.
These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop’s materials to the feel of its touchpad.
