TOP 5 Best Laptops for College Students (2022)
AMAZON AFFILATE LINKS TO PURCHASE :
5-HP ENVY X360 13 : https://amzn.to/3Q9HxyY
4-DELL XPS 13 : https://amzn.to/3Ql9xiY
3-LENOVO FLEX 5 : https://amzn.to/3p57bZU
2-MACBOOK AIR : https://amzn.to/3p57fsC
1-ACER ASPIRE 5 : https://amzn.to/3p0o7AA
If you're a student one of the best college laptops can help you ace your exams and then let you unwind by streaming TV or playing games. But with so many choices at so many different prices, finding the very best laptops for students can feel like extra homework.
When you're buying a laptop for school, make sure it has long battery life and fast CPU performance. You can find a lot of these units on our main best laptops page too, which gives you a wide selection of the top notebooks to choose from. And if you prefer to take notes by hand, buy one of the best 2-in-1 laptops for a blended laptop and tablet experience. We've also ranked the best gaming laptops for those who like to unwind after the coursework is wrapped up. If you are just starting the search then check back in regularly for the latest and great laptops for students as we are always working on new reviews.
Whichever laptop you get, you'll also want to pick up a few extras, such as a comfortable mouse, a well-appointed backpack, and perhaps a printer. Without further ado, here are the best college laptops, including some budget picks for those dreading tuition payments.
What is the best college laptop?
We feel strongly about the HP Envy 13 and MacBook Air (M1, 2020) as the best laptops for college students. Not everyone is on a budget, but most folks will want to save as much money as possible so they can pay off student loans. If that's you and you are on the lookout for the best laptop deals, the Envy 13 and MacBook Air strike an excellent balance with premium specs and features at a reasonable, sub-$1,000 price.
The Envy 13 might be a mid-range notebook but it looks and feels like a more premium machine. The Envy also delivers fast performance from 11th Gen Intel CPUs, it has a great screen and is portable enough to carry around campus. Then there's the MacBook Air, which is powered by Apple's M1 processor for solid performance with otherworldly battery life, it may be the most affordable MacBook, but it's also easily one of the best Apple laptops.
The new MacBook Air M2 will be tempting for some with its updated design, MagSafe charging, improved webcam and of course the more powerful M2 processor. At $1,199 ($1,099 for students), it's only marginally more expensive, so while we still believe the base M1 model at $899 for students is the best all-around MacBook option, you can't go wrong with the Air M2 either.
If you don't have a budget, consider the Microsoft Surface Pro Studio, the Dell XPS 15 or 14-inch MacBook Pro. We also have some laptops that can do double duty as your gaming laptop if that's something you enjoy in your downtime.