If you are looking for the best laptops for students, then there is no need for you to cast around anymore because in this article we have come up with the best laptops for students. We were able to filter out these laptops from a myriad of other options after going through their specs and thoroughly reviewing them for their features.
Nowadays, students from all age groups require a laptop for their studies. If you need a laptop for an elementary or middle school student, you may not need to purchase a laptop with high-end specs due to less workload. On the other hand, high-school or college-going students have to perform more complicated tasks using the laptop. Therefore, they require a laptop that does not compromise on any feature and delivers the best performance.
However, choosing such a laptop may not be an easy job as the market is flooded with a variety of options for laptops and all of them are not worth purchasing. Luckily, this article eases the job for you as you get a readymade list of the best laptops for students the features of which justify the money you spend on them. Let’s know more.
Read also: Best Laptops under £1000
Our Top 3 Recommendations
MacBook Pro M2 Pro (2023)
One of my top recommendations for the best laptops for students is the MacBook Pro M2 Pro (2023). This laptop comes with a powerful processor for smooth performance, large RAM and storage for speedy functioning and an exceptional display for a lively viewing experience. Though pricey, this laptop from Apple is worth every buck.
LG Gram 17
The Gram 17 from LG is next on our list of the best laptops for students. This is because this laptop offers flawless performance, a large display, and a long battery backup. Moreover, you also get dedicated graphics on this laptop. Don’t worry about its large size compromising on portability since it’s lightweight and easy to carry.
Dell XPS 13 9315
Offering great performance and portability, the Dell XPS 13 9315 is also one of the best laptops for students. This laptop has a powerful CPU and a huge RAM. Both the RAM and storage can be upgraded. The great quality of the display also grabs the attention of the user. The laptop is thin, lightweight and compact and can be carried easily.
How we picked the best laptops for students
To pick the best laptops for students, we studied the features of various laptops and shortlisted the ones that tick the box for great performance, portability, durability, battery life, connectivity and other input and output devices. Let me explain certain features so you get a know-how of how you can also pick the best laptops for students.
CPU:
CPU or processor is the first thing to look for in a laptop since it has the most important role in determining its performance. You must choose a laptop which offers one of the latest and most powerful processors like the Intel Core i7 series or the Apple M2 Pro chip. With a strong processor, you can expect your laptop to perform smoothly.
RAM and Storage:
If you want speedy functioning of your laptop, make sure it is equipped with enough RAM. Good laptops offer up to 16GB RAM, although 8GB is also sufficient. The storage capacity depends on your needs but go for a 512GB SSD at least. Also, check whether the laptop you purchase offers upgradability options for the RAM and storage or not.
Display:
The quality of the display must be good so that you enjoy working on your laptop. The picture quality offered should be sharp, bright and colourful for which the display must offer a high resolution, high brightness levels, good contrast ratio and wide viewing angles. A display which is lined by narrow bezels looks more attractive.
Build:
The build quality of a laptop must be such that it not only offers stylish looks but durability as well. A laptop should be sleek and lightweight so that it is easy to carry along. The body should not be flimsy or bendable and the hinges that hold the display should be able to hold the display firmly and without wobbling.
Keyboard and Trackpad:
The keyboard of a laptop should have well-spaced and accessible keys so that you can type comfortably. Also, the key travel distance should be optimum. Some laptops also offer backlit keyboards. Other than the keyboard, also make sure that the trackpad is large and spacious as well as responsive so that you do not need an external mouse.
Battery and Connectivity:
A good laptop must offer a long battery backup so that you can use it for a longer time on a single charge. The fast-charging feature adds to the convenience. Check the different ports offered on the laptop and make sure that useful ports are included. Also, check for the latest versions of Bluetooth and Wifi for stable wireless connectivity.
Speakers, Mic and Webcam:
Most of the students attend online classes and to make sure that you have an interactive class, the input and output devices of your laptop including the speakers, microphone and webcam should be of good quality and must function well. Clear sound, accurate voice recording and efficient video recording are expected from a good laptop.
These are the best laptops for students in the UK
| Laptops | RAM | Storage | CPU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro M2 Pro (2023) | 16GB | 512GB SSD | M2 Pro | Current Price |
| LG Gram 17 | 16GB | 1TB SSD | Intel i7 13th Gen | Current Price |
| Dell XPS 13 9315 | 16GB | 512GB SSD | Intel i7 12th Gen | Current Price |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro | 8GB | 512GB SSD | Intel i7 12th Gen | Current Price |
| SGIN M15 Pro | Current Price |
1. MacBook Pro M2 Pro (2023)
One of the best laptops for students is the Macbook Pro M2 Pro (2023). Yes, this laptop does have an expensive price tag but that is certainly worth its performance. This laptop gets the M2 Pro chip with a 12‑core CPU and 19‑core GPU. Undoubtedly, you get a smooth performance and the quality of the graphics is also worth appreciating.
Thanks to the 16GB RAM which is large enough to handle multi-tasking. Also, it is likely that you are not going to fall short on storage as 512GB of SSD storage is offered. However, you may get to face a downside of this laptop if you want to upgrade the RAM or SSD storage, the reason being that they are going to cost you a huge amount of money.
If we talk about the display, a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is offered. The colour quality and the contrast ratio are excellent. You also get a high refresh rate of 120 Hz so you can expect the pictures to flow smoothly across the screen. Moreover, the display automatically adapts to various lighting conditions to give you the best view.
There are various other perks that you get on this laptop. This includes long-lasting battery life, a good port selection, and a comfortable keyboard. The keyboard also gets a Touch ID but Face ID is lacking on this laptop. If you have a high budget, you can definitely go for purchasing this laptop as it will surely offer a promising performance.
Pros
- Powerful performance.
- Long battery life.
- Beautiful display.
- Great port selection.
- Good keyboard.
Cons
- Pricey RAM and SSD upgrades.
- No Face ID.
Specifications:
| Display: | 16.2 inches 4K |
| CPU: | M2 Pro |
| GPU: | Apple Integrated Graphics |
| RAM: | 16GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 2.16 kg |
2. LG Gram 17
If you feel the need for a student laptop with a large display, then you can go for the LG Gram 17 which is one of the best laptops for students. This laptop gets the powerful 13th Gen Core i7 processor, large 16GB RAM and an enormous 1TB SSD storage space. So you can definitely expect a great performance from this laptop.
This laptop also gets a dedicated graphics card which will prove helpful if you want to refresh your mind by playing some games or you want to edit some videos. The battery of this laptop can last all day which is impressive. The quality of the display is also worth praising. In addition to good picture quality, you get VRR support too.
Though this laptop has a large screen, it is still very convenient to carry around because it is thin and surprisingly lightweight for its size. But I do not like the build quality of this laptop as its lid is easily bendable and the keyboard is flexible. The display can be opened using a single hand but the hinges are not strong enough to prevent wobbling.
I appreciate that the trackpad offered on this laptop is responsive but it could have been larger keeping in view the size of the laptop. The keyboard is also of average quality. On the better side, we can find a good collection of ports which includes the Thunderbolt 4. For wireless connectivity, the latest WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 are offered.
Pros
- Smooth performance.
- Thin and light.
- Solid connectivity.
- Excellent battery life.
- Great display.
Cons
- Subpar keyboard and touchpad.
- Average build quality.
Specifications:
| Display: | 17 inches 2K |
| CPU: | Intel i7 13th Gen |
| GPU: | NVIDIA RTX3050 4GB |
| RAM: | 16GB |
| Storage: | 1TB SSD |
| Weight: | 1.45 kg |
3. Dell XPS 13 9315
The Dell XPS 13 9315 is our next recommendation if you are looking for the best laptops for students. It is a compact laptop which comes with a 13.4-inch display. The display looks beautiful as it is lined by thin bezels and the picture quality it delivers is also crisp, clear and bright. However, you get the average 60Hz refresh rate on this display.
Performance-wise, this laptop is excellent. Thanks to its powerful processor and large RAM, you get to experience a smooth performance. The storage capacity offered on this laptop is also sufficient. Moreover, you get the option the expand the RAM as well as the storage up to 32GB and 1TB respectively. But only integrated graphics are offered.
The laptop gets an attractive design. It is sleek and lightweight. Besides, you get a solid chassis and a smooth finish which makes the laptop feel premium. Unfortunately, you do not get a lot of ports on this laptop. Only two Thunderbolt 4 ports are offered. All other ports which include the 3.5mm audio jack and card reader are lacking.
The keyboard and trackpad function well. The keyboard is backlit and it integrates a fingerprint sensor. The battery backup offered on this laptop is average and a longer backup was expected. Also, no fast charging is offered here. By and large, this laptop can prove a good purchase because of its impressive performance, display and build quality.
Pros
- Great design and build.
- Impressive performance.
- Good display quality.
- Portable.
Cons
- Limited ports.
- Average battery life.
Specifications:
| Display: | 13.4 inches FHD+ |
| CPU: | Intel i7 12th Gen |
| GPU: | Intel Iris Xe |
| RAM: | 16GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 740 g |
4. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro also grabs a place in our list of the best laptops for students. The processor offered on this laptop is the Intel i7 12th Gen processor which is capable of handling heavy workloads and multitasking. You get 8GB of RAM which is okay but if you want a speedier performance, you can choose any of the above-mentioned laptops.
Sufficient 512GB storage space is offered and the SSD-type storage enhances performance even more. For the graphics, you get the Intel Iris Xe graphics card. I like the display of this laptop which offers a 2.2K resolution. Moreover, it features Dolby Vision technology which immerses you in whatever you view on this laptop.
The ports offered on this laptop include an Always On USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, a 3.5mm jack, and two Thunderbolt 4 which support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0, and DisplayPort 1.4a). I appreciate the well-spaced keys on the keyboard and the large and responsive touchpad. The battery backup however needs some improvement.
Pros
- Impressive performance.
- Excellent display.
- Good collection of ports.
- Decent build.
Cons
- Better battery backup is expected.
- More RAM would have been better.
Specifications:
| Display: | 14 inches 2K |
| CPU: | Intel i7 12th Gen |
| GPU: | Intel Iris Xe |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 1.32 kg |
5. SGIN M15 Pro
Being a student, you may want an affordable laptop offering optimal performance. So here comes the SGIN M15 Pro which is budget-friendly and one of the best laptops for students. This laptop has a decent size which means that it has a large enough display and a well-sized keyboard too making it easy for you to do and view your tasks. We also see a good number of ports on this laptop which include a USB Type-C port as well as a card reader.
The Intel Celeron Quad Core processor is offered on this laptop. Though this processor is not meant for handling heavy workloads, it can surely be used for basic tasks like web browsing, watching videos and running office apps which is what usually a student requires. Sufficient 8GB RAM is offered and 256GB storage is also acceptable.
This laptop has a stylish look. The 15.6-inch display comes with Full HD technology. It has thin bezels on two sides and the top bezel houses the webcam. The quality of the webcam is however mediocre. Speaking of the battery backup, it lasts for around 8 hours which means that you can use it all day long. For its price, it does offer worthwhile features and you can consider buying this laptop if you do not have a very high budget.
Pros
- Budget-friendly.
- Good collection of ports.
- Decent build.
Cons
- Mediocre webcam quality.
- Average performance.
Specifications:
| Display: | 15.6 inches FHD |
| CPU: | Intel Celeron Quad Core |
| GPU: | Intel Integrated Graphics |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 256GB SSD |
| Weight: | 1.6 kg |
FAQs about the best laptops for students
Which are the best laptops for students?
Offering a great overall performance, the best laptops for students include the MacBook Pro M2 Pro (2023), the LG Gram 17 and the Dell XPS 13 9315.
Which laptop for students has a large display?
If you are looking for one of the best laptops for students which offers a large display, you can go for the LG Gram 17 which has a display size of 17 inches.
Which good laptop for students offers dedicated graphics?
Featuring Nvidia RTX 2050 graphics, the LG Gram 17 is one of the best laptops for students with dedicated graphics.
