Best Laptops for College Students

When you’re a college student, there are few possessions more important than your computer. You need it for taking notes, writing essays, doing research, and staying connected to family and friends. But choosing a reliable laptop that works for your budget, is portable enough to take with you to class, and has all the storage space and speed that you’ll need can be overwhelming.

Whether you’d looking for a Mac, PC, Chromebook, or 2-in-1, we’ve scoured sites like PCWorld, CNET, New York Times Wirecutter, PCMag, and LaptopMag to put together this article to guide you through the top laptops for college students in 2023, based on performance, battery life, affordability, and portability.

Table of Contents

• Factors to consider when choosing a laptop for college

• Top 5 laptops for college students in 2023

  • MacBook Air (M2) - Most popular

  • HP Spectre x360 - Best Windows option

  • Acer Aspire 5 - Best Budget 

  • Acer Chromebook Spin 513 - Best Chromebook

  • Apple iPad (9th Gen) - Best Laptop Alternative 

• Conclusion

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Laptop for College

Here are a few of the most important factors to consider when you being shopping for a laptop for college:

Performance

A laptop's performance is critical for academic tasks, and a good processor and sufficient RAM are essential for smooth operation. A fast processor such as an Intel Core i5 or i7 or an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 and at least 8GB of RAM are recommended.

Battery Life

Students need to be able to take their laptops wherever they go (the library, class, coffee shops, etc) and a laptop with a long-lasting battery is crucial. Look for laptops with a battery life of at least 8 hours.

Affordability

Budgets are always tight when you’re in college and it's essential to find a laptop that provides good value for your money. There are great options for every budget, so make sure you decide how much you are comfortable spending before you start shopping around. This will help narrow down your options and help you set aside money for other school expenses.

Portability

Just as with battery life, students need laptops that are portable enough to carry around campus or in a backpack. The weight and size of a laptop are crucial factors to consider when making a purchase.

Top 5 Laptops for College Students in 2023

Based on the above factors, we have compiled a list of the top 5 laptops for college students in 2023.

MacBook Air (M2) - Most popular 

The MacBook Air is a favorite among college students, with its lightweight design, excellent battery life, and powerful M2 chip. The latest model comes with a 13-inch Retina display, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, and up to 16GB of RAM. The battery life can last up to 15 hours, making it an ideal choice for students who need to work long hours. 
Buy it from Apple.

HP Spectre x360 - Best Windows Option

The HP Spectre x360 is considered an ultrabook, which means it’s a little pricier than other laptops, but as a tradeoff you get great quality in the keyboard, screen, and battery life. The latest model comes with an 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 13.3-inch 4K OLED display. The battery can last up to 10 hours on a single charge, making it ideal for long study sessions or full class schedules. The webcam is great quality, which can be important if you have virtual classes or keep in touch with friends or family from home with Zoom calls. 
Buy from HP.

Acer Aspire 5 - Best Budget

If you’re looking to stay under $500 and need a laptop that covers all the basics, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great option. Depending on the version you get, an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor with 8 GB memory and 256 GB storage is plenty for writing emails, papers, and browsing online. The 14-inch non-touch display and 3.2 pound weight make it portable to take it wherever you need and with a 8.5 hour battery life it should get you through a full day of class or studying without having to find an outlet. 
Buy from Acer.

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 - Best Chromebook

The Acer Spin 513 is a two-in-one Chromebook with a 13.5-inch display that makes it easy for students to switch from typing up notes or writing papers to a vertical screen that makes it easier to read. You’ll be getting 8GB of RAM and 11 hours of battery life in a light 2.82 pound laptop that’s easy to take on the go. As a bonus, it’s designed without a fan which makes it extra quiet in class or on Zoom calls. With Chromebooks you’ll be using Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, etc) and will have to convert to Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel) if your classes have file type requirements. 
Buy from Acer. 

Apple iPad (9th Generation) - Best Laptop Alternative 

If your budget is under $400, you can get better quality in an iPad than a laptop for the same price. If you’ll be doing a lot of coding or high-end photo editing, you need a better quality computer, but if all you plan to do with your device is write papers, stream videos, take notes, or browse the internet, you should be able to make an iPad work for you. At 10.2-inches the iPad is very portable, has a good battery life, and you can purchase a mouse and keyboard for longer form typing needs. If you will be using an iPad as your main computer, splurge and get the 256 GB version (instead of the 64 GR) so that you’ll have plenty of space for your files.
Buy from Apple.

Conclusion

Finding a laptop while you’re a college student is ultimately about finding what works best for your budget and needs. If you’re still unsure, read reviews, use the Compare feature on retailer websites for an easier visual breakdown, and consider which of the factors we outlined above are most important to you. If you need more time to consider or save up - don’t be afraid to ask about the resources available to you from your school. Nearly all colleges have computers in their library available and even laptops available to check out if you need it. Good luck in your shopping! 

Kora can help!

Stay on top of your budget with Kora - the money app for college life. KoraInsights allows you to track your expenses, link all of your accounts, and gives tip on sticking to your budget. 

KoraCash is an excellent option for a personal loan for students. KoraCash is perfect when students need to make a more significant purchase, like a laptop, or have an emergency. Life comes at you fast, and Kora is here to back you up. Here's how it works:

• Download our app
• Apply (you must be over 18, a current/recent college student, live in an eligible state, and have an SSN)
• Get up to $3,000 
• Make flexible payments when you want 

One of the best parts of KoraCash is that it may help build credit history as you repay the loan. You contribute to growing good credit history without a credit card while getting access to needed funds. It's the best of both worlds! 

Learn more about Kora and get started on your money app journey with a company built for college students.