What are the best laptops for college students?

The best laptops for college students are those that are not very expensive and can take the workload
An undated image of a lady using a laptop at a table in the modern workspace.— Canva
An undated image of a lady using a laptop at a table in the modern workspace.— Canva

Whether one is attending a class on campus, taking classes online, or both, a laptop is necessary to be a control centre for studies.  The best laptops for college students are those that are not very expensive and can take the workload. 

Putting money into a new machine can greatly help to improve the ability to manage the schedule and deal with multitasking. The good news is that there are a number of new and innovative laptops available through various companies providing exceptional functionality and battery life.

What to look for when buying a laptop

For most college students, a midrange machine might be sufficient. Based on the field of study, an Intel Core i3 processor or equivalent, with at least 6GB of RAM can fulfil one's needs. To run specialised software for design or programming, upgrading to a superior system with additional memory is suggested.

It is also important to consider the weight of the device. There are several premium ultraportables readily available in the 13-inch category, featuring chips such as Intel’s Core i3 or i5.

When seeking newer machines, it is essential to look up the specifications list, particularly since some laptop developers have excluded headphone jacks. Following are some suggestions by experts at Engadget:

MacBook Air

If someone wants a powerful machine for college it is hard to beat Apple's MacBook Air. One has two good options, the new M2-powered MacBook Air and the MacBook Air M1. The M2 laptop provides impressive performance, a gorgeous 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, and a refined design that is sleeker than the M1 machine that came prior to it.

Nevertheless, the older Apple M1 MacBook Air is a solid machine, outperforming many PCs while maintaining a fanless design. It contains a great keyboard and long battery life, along with a nice Retina display and a very excellent 720p webcam, compared to the new model it has a sharper 1080p setup.

Dell XPS 13 Plus

Dell’s well-rounded XPS 13 series is considered the best PC option and is recommended to anyone who prefers Windows over macOS. XPS 13 is a well-rounded machine and resilient workhorse that will help a student get through the classes.

The XPS 13 Plus offers a delightful OLED screen with impressively slimmer bezels and a very comfortable keyboard. It also consists of a new minimalist design that looks modern.

Razer Blade 15

If a person is looking for a laptop that can deal with both coursework and gaming, the Razor Blade 15 is the best option. It showcases a 15-inch quad HD screen with a 240Hz refresh rate. With its Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA RTX 3070 graphics, the Razor Blade distinguishes itself as the top choice for gaming laptops. The laptop is also highly polished and also has regularly upgraded processors.