The 7 Best College Laptops for Study Sessions and More

College students face an ever-increasing need for versatile laptops in today's digital age. These devices are no longer just for writing papers; they've become essential tools for research, note-taking, online classes, and collaborative study sessions.

But the demands don't stop at academics. Students also rely on their laptops for entertainment, social networking, and gaming. This multifaceted use presents a unique challenge when choosing the right device for not just one year of college, but hopefully through senior year and possibly beyond.

Industry experts recommend spending at least $800 on a laptop that can withstand the rigorous demands of college life. Key features include a screen size of at least 13 inches and a battery life of eight hours or more. Weight is another important factor—look for a device that is 4 pounds or less, as portability is essential for comfortably lugging a laptop around all day—to classes, the library, a coffee shop, the dining hall, and back to the dorm. While cheaper laptops exist, they often lack the performance necessary for smooth day-to-day operations, and you may end up with a bulkier, heavier design.

Step up to the $1,000 price point and it opens a range of high-performance options for those who are able and willing to invest a bit more. These slightly pricier laptops typically offer faster processors, increased RAM, and larger storage capacities. One standout option in this category is the MacBook Air, starting at $999 for the 13-inch model with the M2 processor. Apple's educational discounts can make this even more attractive, potentially reducing the price by $100 or more.

Regarding processors, the latest offerings from Intel (Raptor Lake series) and AMD (Ryzen 7000) are worth considering. However, a specialized gaming laptop might be necessary for serious gamers, though these typically start at around $1,500.

Battery life remains a crucial differentiator. Certain high-end models like the MacBook Pro boast up to 22 hours of use on a single charge, significantly outperforming many budget Windows laptops that may struggle to reach seven hours. As mentioned above, at least eight hours is preferred so you can get through the day without needing a charge.

With the new academic year approaching, students are advised to carefully consider their needs and budget when making this critical investment in their education and campus life.

Best Laptops for College

• Best Macbook: Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M3
• Best Windows Laptop: LG gram Pro
• Best Chromebook: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Gen 7
• Best Value Laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
• Most Versatile Laptop: ASUS Zenbook 14X
• Most Affordable Laptop: Aspire 3 Spin 14 Convertible Laptop

The Expert: As a tech journalist—my work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and other media outlets—I spend nearly every waking hour typing on my laptop. I also am a former college student who toted a laptop between class and dorm rooms, so I know the demands that are put on these gadgets. I have spoken to many current college students about how they use their laptops and have heard what they ask for in terms of portability, power, and other factors.

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 colleges and 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. In simpler terms, you want to make sure you futureproof your purchase to the best of your ability.

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, as 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 that 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 device 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-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—the MacBook Pro claims up to 22 hours 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.