In this blog we’ll discuss the top six laptops that we deem suitable for going back to school, heading to college or university, including options to suit all budgets! These days you can’t head off to college or university without having a decent laptop to aid your studies, however, it's important to keep in mind that decent doesn't always mean the most expensive. In fact, there are many cheaper alternatives on the market that actually out-perform their more expensive competitors, meaning there are plenty of student friendly laptops that still deliver on a budget!
We’ve rounded up some of the best options on that market that aren’t going to break the bank!
HP Pavilion 14
The best student laptop for most people
In our opinion, the best student laptop on the market today is the HP Pavilion 14. This has everything you need to get your work done day to day, whether that be writing and researching for assignments, or completing online classes. Yes, the HP Pavilion 14 is a mid-range laptop, with a price to reflect that. But we think the vast majority of students will find this Windows machine more than ample for their day to day needs. It features strong all-round specs, a simple yet stylish design, a sharp screen, and you get dedicated HDMI, USB Type-C and networking ports, too, meaning that hooking the machine up in the dorm or in class is easy. Battery life sits at up to 11 hours, and the machine comes pre-installed with a fresh copy of Windows 10 Home.
Specifications
CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U
Screen: 14-inch (1,920 x 1,080)
Storage: 256GB SSD
RAM: 8GB
OS: Windows
Apple MacBook Air
The best student option for those with more budget
We couldn’t have a list of the best student friendly laptops and not include a MacBook! If you’re an Apple devotee, then this is an excellent option! This option is more suitable for students who have a higher than average budget, as it is slightly more expensive than other options on this list. This MacBook is the most powerful option, delivering a premium look and feel, and offering ample power to help you get through your day-to-day tasks. Geared more towards creatives such as graphic designers or movie makers due to its more power on board, thanks to Apple’s M1 processor. One of the slimmest and lightest, making it super easy to carry around in your bag. M1 Silicon chip, which boosts performance compared to what you'd normally get for this price. As a result, however, it’s not the cheapest option for students, but it is still one of the most affordable MacBook options, so if you do have some flexibility in your budget.
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8-core
Screen: 14-inch (1,920 x 1,080)
Storage: 256GB SSD
RAM: 8GB
OS: iOS
DELL XPS 13
The best premium Windows laptop for students
The DELL XPS 13 series consistently provides the wow factor, and the latest version continues to provide the wow factor. It's powerful, supremely well built, and compact so just about everything you could possibly want in your search for the best Windows student laptop around. Featuring the latest 11th-gen Intel processors installed and up to 16GB of rAM installed, this is a portable computer that's going to be able to handle everything that you want to throw at it.
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i7-1185G7
Screen: 13.4-inch (1920 x 1200)
Storage: 512GB
RAM: Up to 16GB
OS: Windows
Apple MacBook Pro
The best student laptop for creative students
Apple’s MacBook Air featured higher up on the list as a cheaper alternative in the Apple range, however if the Apple macBook Pro is within your budget, you really can't do any better. The MacBook Pro can cope with everything you can throw at it, and then some! They’re guaranteed to offer many years of top-quality service, ideal if you’re studying a creative subject or require additional processing power. Featuring the M1 Pro & M1 Max processors, offer a leap forward in terms of performance, while improving efficiency at the same time. You can expect a stellar battery life, so you don't have to worry about carrying around a charger all day.
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1 Pro or Apple M1 MaxGraphics
Screen: 14.4-inch (3024 x 1964) or 16-inch (3456 x 2234)
Storage: up to 8GB
RAM: up to 64GB
OS: iOS
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360
The best student option with a big screen
If you're looking for a laptop that can be used to get productive throughout the day, then to stream TV and movies in the evening, then this is an excellent premium option for you! The 15.6-inch screen can be pushed back by 360-degrees (hence the name!) and easily transforms into a tablet, making it perfect for different types of work such as typing out essays or making quick sketches. Normally large screen laptops such as this one are extremely bulky, making them less portable and student friendly, however that's not an issue with the Samsung Galaxy Book pro 360, this laptop is seriously thin and lightweight, only weighing 1.39kg!
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i&-1165G7
Screen: 15.6-inch
Storage: 512GB
RAM: 16GB
OS: Windows
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Microsoft has revitalized the company's image to reflect a more serious hardware maker, and they are definitely living up to their name! For people looking to break into the 2-in-1 market without breaking the bank, Microsoft has you covered with the Surface Go 2! You can get around five hours of use between charges, and given its size and power, it's very portable, making it extremely student friendly. *Top Tip - if you’re considering this option (and you seriously should be!) don’t forget to factor in the additional cost of the keyboard also, as you’ll need this to make full use of this as a laptop
Specifications
CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core m3
Screen: 10.5-inch (1920 x 1280)
Storage: 64GB / 128GB
RAM: 4Gb
OS: Windows