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.
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
Here are a few of the most important factors to consider when you being shopping for a laptop for college:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Based on the above factors, we have compiled a list of the top 5 laptops for college students in 2023.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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