The Best Laptops for College Students in 2023

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College students require laptops that can do a little bit of everything these days. There’s research, homework, note-taking during lectures, and attending online classes. Laptops can also be used to chat with fellow students for study sessions and discussion groups.

But students aren't studying the entire time. A laptop is also invaluable for all those non-school related activities like movie watching, listening to music, keeping up with friends on social platforms, and even shopping.

Then, of course, there is gaming. In the off hours between classes, friendships are often formed over games. The perfect laptop for academia is a mix of specs powerful enough to accomplish school projects and extracurriculars, as well as handle gaming titles while still being portable enough to carry between dorm rooms, to the library, and around campus.

Plan to spend at least $800 on a laptop with a screen of at least 13-inches and battery life of no less than eight hours. You can buy cheaper models, but it’s likely you will find them slow enough to be frustrating for day-to-day use. Spend a little bit more and you'll find a plethora of great options for $1,000 and up. This will get you a faster processor, more RAM, and a larger hard drive.

The ever-reliable MacBook Air is in this price range ($999 for a 13-inch with the M1 processor; $1,099 for 13-inch with the M2 process, and $1,299 for the new 15-inch with the M2 chip) and is one of my top choices for anyone in the market for a new laptop. Note: Check out possible educational discounts that can knock $100 or more off the price.

The current crop of laptops is fast and reliable, with processors that are capable enough to do things like word processing and web browsing. While processors can be a confusing mess of acronyms, some of the latest ones to have on your radar are Intel’s Raptor Lake series and AMD’s Dragon Range and Phoenix lineup. Keep in mind, though, if gaming is your passion, you'll want to buy a specialized gaming laptop. This type of laptop is not necessary to get schoolwork done and will cost $1,500 or more.

As you are looking through options, one of the key distinguishing factors between laptops is battery life. My top pick, the MacBook Pro, can get around 19 hours of battery life versus some cheaper Windows models which will get seven hours or less of juice on a single charge.

Best Laptops for College

• Long Battery Life Laptop: Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2

• Lightweight and Fast Laptop: Apple MacBook Air M2

• Best Windows Laptop: Dell XPS 17

• Best Value Laptop: Acer Chromebook Spin 314

• Best Apple Laptop: Apple MacBook Pro

What to Consider in a College Laptop

The first and most important step before buying a laptop is to check with your college or university. Many institutions have specific requirements for computers, including processor speed, and some colleges may suggest either a Mac or a Windows computer.

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Most universities support both Mac and Windows machines, so if your school doesn’t dictate a preference, you'll need to choose—Mac or Windows. You might want to check if any courses you’ll be taking require Windows software.

Next, think about how you will primarily use the computer— both for the present and future. You’ll want to be sure your laptop can accommodate any applications and programs you will need now as well as have the capability to add whatever might be needed down the road, or in simpler terms: you want to make sure you futureproof your purchase.

Processors

For word processing and general Internet tasks, nearly any processor on the market will do. If you are seeking a Windows computer, look for a processor with a minimum of a dual-core processor and AMD’s Ryzen 3 or Intel’s Core i7 chip because they offer a decent amount of speed to run applications. However, the type of processor means little if you choose a MacBook, my current top choice, because Apple makes its own chips, all of which work well for students.

Portability

Students are always on the move, so it’s important to find a laptop that fits easily into a backpack or shoulder bag and won’t be too weighty. A model under 4 pounds is a reasonable place to start. Keep in mind your laptop’s screen size will impact its weight, so there may be some trade-offs necessary if you plan to watch movies or play games on the laptop in your spare time. If you prefer a smaller screen for your laptop, there is always the possibility to add an external monitor at some point for a bigger display.

Screen Size

For most purposes, the bigger, the better when it comes to screen size. Laptop screens range in size from 11-inches to 17-inches. A larger screen means you’ll be able to fit more text onto a page when editing, not to mention movies look that much more detailed and engaging, but bigger screens come with downsides of weight and bulk. Keep to 15-inches or less for models that are reasonably compact and lightweight. Go above that, and larger laptops can be too bulky for easy transport.

Battery

Maintaining power is critical for students who race from class to class and are on the go all day or may be in locations without the capability or time to charge. Laptops these days typically offer eight to 12 hours of battery life, and in some cases, more. Choose a laptop with at least eight hours of battery life to get you through the day, keeping in mind that the amount of time you actually get can be substantially less with heavy-duty activities like gaming. MacBooks tend to have the best battery life on the market, and the MacBook Air boasts up to 18 hours on a charge.

Ports

Unless you’re a fiend for accessories like adding lots of hard drives, you don’t need many ports these days. Most laptops come with industry-standard USB-C ports that can be easily expanded with a docking accessory. That said, it can be convenient to have an ethernet port for high-speed internet that comes through a cable or a DisplayPort that allows you to easily hook up an external monitor.

How We Selected Laptops for College

I’m a laptop fanatic and have owned dozens of models over the last two decades. As a journalist, I work primarily on a laptop (this article was written on a 2020 MacBook Pro 16-inch), so finding the best model is my constant obsession. I looked over more than a hundred laptop listings and also tried out some of the best available on the market.

To select the models for this roundup, I considered each model’s screen size, processor, weight, and cost. I tried to find laptops that I would be happy to use myself every day, but also looked for ones that would fit a variety of budgets.

2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2

If you’re away from electrical outlets for long periods, look no further than Apple’s latest MacBook Pro, which boasts a whopping 18 hours of battery life. This might be the perfect laptop for college students who want a laptop that will last them through all four years of school and beyond.

This M2 model has the stunning screen of Apple’s Pro models, but it's also compact enough to fit into most backpacks. The speedy processor will let you zip through homework assignments with enough time left to get to that lounge party in the dorm.

MacBook Air M2

Apple’s latest MacBook takes its Air lineup to new heights with a bigger screen than the previous model that topped out at 13-inches. The company didn’t change much besides the screen on this model compared to the earlier iteration, but that’s ok because it nailed the form the first time.

This model boasts the same incredibly slim frame and a great keyboard that offers a crisp and accurate feeI. I particularly like the generously sized and responsive trackpad, which can’t be beaten by any other model on the market.

XPS 17

If you’re looking for one laptop that does it all, the XPS 17 will fit the bill. This massive contraption features a gigantic and bright screen and cutting-edge processor that’s fast enough to do anything from web browsing to gaming.

The large 17-inch screen makes this frame too big to easily fit into most shoulder or laptop bags, but it’s surprisingly light for its size at just a bit over 5 pounds. The keyboard is comfy, offering a pleasant feel when typing, and is paired with an excellent trackpad.

Chromebook Spin 314

The Chromebook Flex 5 is an excellent option for students who don’t need the fanciest setup. This model can do a little bit of everything as it converts from a laptop to a tablet by flipping the screen around.

The Chrome operating system is surprisingly capable if you are primarily doing word processing and web browsing. The build quality of the Spin is better than what you’d expect for the relatively low price tag, and it comes with a keyboard that feels crisp and springy, in addition to a dedicated trackpad.

MacBook Pro

Apple’s top-of-the-line laptop won't be light on your wallet, but it’s a productivity powerhouse with a crisp display and responsive keyboard that offers just the right amount of feedback when typing.

This is my go-to laptop and the one on which I’m writing this article. The MacBook Pro isn’t the lightest model on the market at 4.7 pounds, but I find that carrying a little bit more weight pays off because of the screen-size real estate. The enormous hard drive is enough to store all your data for years to come.

Chromebook 514

The Chromebook 514 may also qualify as the best-value laptop on the market. Chromebooks have a stripped-down operating system that isn’t quite as capable as their Windows or Mac counterparts, but these machines handle basic tasks surprisingly well.

The bright, crisp screen on the 514 will let you work on assignments for hours without eye strain. The processor is fast enough to stream videos and handle basic word processing.

Surface Pro 9

The Surface Pro’s secret weapon is its subtle but versatile design. A handy flip-out stand on the back of this model lets you prop it up at just the right angle. There’s also a terrific accessory keyboard available at an extra cost of $179.99 (in four colors) that transforms the Pro into a capable Windows laptop.

The Pro has a bright, vibrant display that’s great for watching movies when classes are done for the day. The claimed 19 hours of battery life was not too off the mark in my casual tests.

IdeaPad 3

The vast screen of the IdeaPad is wonderful for working on term papers or any other lengthy documents. The bright, highly detailed display is also perfect for watching movies at night in the dorm. The AMD Ryzen 5 processor is fast enough for word processing or web browsing, but don’t expect this model to be a gaming powerhouse.

The comfy, low-resistance keyboard, requiring just a light touch, is a definite plus, as is the responsive trackpad, although it’s not as good as those on Mac PowerBooks. The built-in speakers are surprisingly powerful at 1.5 watts, but lack bass.

It All Computes With These Key Tips on Buying a Laptop for College. Check Out What Our Expert Sascha Brodsky Has to Say!

Do I need a webcam, or do all computers come with them nowadays?

All modern laptops come with a built-in webcam, so there’s no need to invest in a separate gadget. Keep in mind, though, that not all webcams are created equal. Apple’s MacBook Pro models are renowned for the excellent quality of their webcams.

Should I invest in an external monitor?

An external monitor is an invaluable accessory for any college student. Having an extra monitor will let you work with more text at a time and can be great for researching term papers. All laptops on the market are equipped with the USB-C standard, which makes adding an extra monitor as easy as plugging one in, although check with the manufacturer to see if you need an adaptor.

Is there a way to future-proof my laptop purchase?

Buying the best laptop you can afford is a smart way to make sure your laptop doesn’t become quickly outdated. One key consideration is the amount of RAM and the size of the hard drive.

Laptops with at least 16GB of RAM and a 512GB drive are likely to be able to support future operating system updates. Apple’s MacBooks have a good track record for durability, and the company tends to support its software for many years.

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