Best Laptops for College Students in 2025

To determine the best laptops in the category, we evaluated over 25 of the latest models from major brands like HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer and Asus. We considered laptops released within the last 12 months that fell within the $500 to $1500 price range.

We judged each laptop based on the following criteria:

• Performance – We assessed processor type, memory, storage, and graphics to determine how well the laptop can handle everyday tasks like web browsing, productivity, casual gaming, and content creation. Laptops with at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8-16GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage received the highest scores.
• Display – We looked at display size, resolution, and panel type. Laptops with a 13 to 15-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display or better were given preference.
• Design – We evaluated the laptop’s dimensions, weight, build quality, keyboard, touchpad, and overall aesthetics. Thinner, lighter laptops made of premium materials with comfortable input devices ranked higher.
• Battery life – We considered the rated battery life and recharge times. Laptops that could last 8 hours or more on a single charge were viewed most favorably.
• Operating system – We looked at whether the laptop came with Windows, MacOS or Chrome OS and how well optimized the hardware and software were.
• Value – We determined how much performance and features you get for the price. Laptops that balanced powerful components with an affordable price were rated highest.
Based on these factors, we narrowed down our recommendations to the HP Pavilion Plus 14 for students and professionals, the Apple MacBook Air (M1, Late 2020) for everyday users, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for portability, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Carbon for performance, and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14-Inch (2022) for versatility. These laptops offer the best balance of performance, design, battery life and value for their intended uses.

Laptops are essential for college students. They are used for taking notes, writing papers, doing research, and accessing online resources. In addition, laptops can be used for entertainment, such as watching movies, listening to music, and playing games.

All college students should get laptops. Laptops are used for a variety of tasks, from taking notes to doing research. This makes them a versatile tool that can be used for both academic and personal purposes.

Students who are majoring in computer science or engineering will need a laptop that is powerful enough to run the software they need for their coursework.

Students who are taking online classes will need a laptop that allows them to access the course materials and participate in online discussions.

Laptops can be used for a variety of extracurricular activities, such as writing for the school newspaper, editing the yearbook, or creating videos for the school website.

If it’s just for web browsing and checking email, you can probably get by with a cheaper model. If you’re into gaming, video editing or other intensive tasks, you’ll want a more powerful laptop with a fast processor, lots of memory and a dedicated graphics card.

Laptops range from under $500 up to $2,000 or more for a high-end model. Set a budget and stick to it.

Windows, Mac or Chrome OS? The operating system comes down to your personal preference. Windows and Mac are the most flexible but also the most expensive. Chrome OS is lightweight but limited to web-based tasks.

Get at least 128GB of solid-state storage for your main drive. More is better if you have lots of photos, videos or other files. You can also add an external hard drive for extra storage.

11 to 13 inches is good for portability, 15 inches is a nice balance, and 17 inches is best if you want an immersive experience for gaming or video editing.

Touchscreen or not? Touchscreens allow you to navigate with your fingers but often cost more and reduce battery life. For most people, a touchscreen is a nice option but not essential.

Look for at least 6 to 8 hours of rated battery life for the best experience. More is better if you’re often on the go. Consider extras like a backlit keyboard, lots of USB ports, an HDMI output to connect to a monitor, and a high-resolution display. An SSD will make a laptop feel much faster than a hard disk drive. And you can never have too much memory—go for at least 8 to 16 gigabytes.