Finding the best student laptops is trickier than you might think. Let us help. With the MacBook Air M1 leading the charge, here are our top picks.
It takes more than an attractive price tag to be the best student laptop. Though cost is an important factor for struggling students, you need to also make sure that whatever notebook you end up with can handle the most intensive parts of your workload. Otherwise, you’ll end up constantly fighting against a laptop that can’t handle what you’re asking of it or worse, spending more replacing it. For example, film students and future engineers will need a portable with plenty of power, likely with a discrete GPU to handle video editing and engineering software. However, many students will get more use out of the best 2-in-1 laptops’ ability to transform into a tablet, particularly graphic design students and those with reading-intensive majors. With so many models out there, it can be tough figuring out the one that best suits you. Luckily for you, we’ve tested more than our share of laptops. More importantly, we know a thing or two about what makes the best ones for students because some of us are parents while others are students themselves. So, we gathered our picks for the best student laptops right here. For those on a tight budget, we’ve included some of the best laptops under $500. We’ve also included some of the best Chromebooks for those who just need something for their daily productivity. There are even some powerful options on here for those who need a little extra computing muscle such as a laptop for engineering students. Regardless of what you’re in the market for, you’ll also find some of the best student laptop deals here thanks to our included price comparison tool. If you’re still figuring out what you need in a student laptop, read on for some of the best features you should have in a laptop. When Apple rolled out its line of M1-powered products in 2020, the company made a huge splash. And, as the first laptop to receive Apple’s in-house system on a chip, the company’s thinnest and lightest became one of the most exciting Apple laptops in recent years. Fueled by the M1, the MacBook Air is better than ever, touting surprisingly excellent performance. When we tested it, it was not far behind that of the M1-equipped 13-inch MacBook Pro. Though its fanless design can result in thermal throttling compared to the Pro, we were able to run intensive tasks without experiencing any major incidents of throttling. That said, its battery life is quite stunning, beating out many of its competitors. It does all this without raising the price to keep it (fairly) affordable still. It’s not going to be the cheapest option for students, but for those who have a slightly bigger budget, this is the best student laptop to get. Read our full MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review
If versatility is a top priority, then look no further than the Acer Chromebook Spin 311. This all-rounder has all the makings of a great student laptop, from its good battery life to its robust build and solid usability. However, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 takes it further with its impressive levels of versatility. It has more than enough ports, especially considering its size. Its 2-in-1 form factor is perfect for those who want a laptop and a tablet but only have the budget for one. And, we enjoyed using its touchscreen display though it is a little dim for our tastes. As a diminutive 11-inch machine, it’s also incredibly portable. Though it is on the small side, that doesn’t seem to affect the keyboard or touchpad, which is responsive and satisfying to use in our experience. We do wish it had a little more power as it can stutter just a little when asked to run more intensive tasks. But, for the student that needs a versatile little laptop and for not much money, the Spin 311 is an ideal computing companion. Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 311 review
The Apple tax may put a good chunk of the company’s portables out of reach for most students, but the newest MacBook Air, which is available now for pre-order and should start shipping out next month, is still within reach. This updated version of Apple’s most accessible laptop takes everything that made the M1 model such an improvement over the Intel models up a notch. Performance is snappy even when we used it to do some 4K video editing. And, that gorgeous screen is just a little bit bigger at 13.6 inches as well as 100 nits brighter than the traditional 13.3-inch size of previous models. Though we’re not a fan of that notch that’s been added at the top of the screen. Even with that slightly bigger screen size though, the new Air is lighter and physically smaller. Apple also brought back Magsafe charging and added in a few more colors, though they’re a bit muted compared to what we expected. For those willing to stretch their budget, this laptop will serve them well, possibly even beyond college. Read our hands-on MacBook Air (M2, 2022) review
With Google releasing its Pixelbook Go, your wait is over. Finally, there’s an affordable option for you if the premium price of the Google Pixelbook is out of your budget.
