Best student laptops 2022: from budget-friendly to top-of-the-line

With T3's best student laptops 2022 guide, we've carefully curated our list with only the most suitable laptops for academics. With the choices you'll find offering the ideal balance of performance, versatility and value when it comes to school use, the student laptops you'll find in our guide are exceptional examples of what student on a budget can obtain.

Laptops were already absolutely essential devices in the world of modern study, but with school going remote we’re likely to be using them more than ever for the foreseeable future. Getting the right laptop for studying is important with online classes, video meetings and virtual collaboration now the name of the game.

We do have some good news for you. Retailers are really pushing student discounts on laptops right now due to the current situation and there are some really good deals to be had: these systems offer an incredible blend of portability and performance without also breaking the bank.

Truth be told, one of the primary things that separate student laptops from, say, the best laptops overall, or more specialist systems like gaming laptops and 2-in-1 laptops, is that their prices tend to be more affordable for those heading into academics.

A lot like with the best Chromebooks on the market, shopping for a student laptop is kinder to the wallet. On that note, it may also be worth scoping out T3's best tablets guide, too, as with a keyboard cover many of today's top slates are more than capable of acting as a student laptop.

While for those students who need to do a lot of reading, then picking up one of the best Kindle ereaders could be a wise investment.

We’ve also seen some manufacturers – hello, best Dell laptops – make giant leaps that make their products even better suited to student life than they already were. But as our best student laptops guide demonstrates, there’s much more to picking a student laptop than going for the cheapest one.

We don’t quite know what this academic year holds, but we do know that no matter what kind of learning you’ll be doing – fully remote, in-person or a mix of the two –these laptops will be the perfect companions for studying, for staying in touch with friends and family and for creativity too.

Oh, and lastly, if you're looking to build a better home or dormitory office for study, we think it's well worth checking out our best office chairs guide, as it will mean you can work for long hours in comfort.

The best student laptops you can buy today

The HP Pavilion 14 is an excellent choice if you want value for money during your student years.

For the vast majority of students, the best student laptop available today is the HP Pavilion 14. Combining strong all-around specs, which include an 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U CPU, Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, along with a simple yet stylish design and crisp screen, for the money you can't do better running Windows 10.

The system's build quality is also good, and you get dedicated HDMI, USB Type-C and networking ports, too, meaning that hooking the machine up in your dorm or in class is easy. Battery life sits at up to 11 hours, and the machines come pre-installed with a fresh copy of Windows 10 Home.

Cheaper and more expensive student laptops are available on this list, as well as options from Apple that run macOS. However, for an affordable sweet spot, look no further than the HP Pavilion 14.

Compare our top recommendations in HP Pavilion 14 vs Dell XPS 13 (2020): which student laptop is right for you?

The best premium student laptop available today is the Dell XPS 13. (Image credit: Dell)

2. Dell XPS 13 (9310) The best premium student laptop Specifications CPU: Intel Core i7-1185G7 Graphics: Intel Iris Xe RAM: Up to 16GB Screen: 13.4-inch Full HD+ LCD (1920 x 1200) Storage: 512GB OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit Dimensions: 198.70 x 295.70 x 14.80 mm Weight: 1.2 kg Reasons to buy + Powerhouse performance + Sleek design and great screen + Will last way beyond university Reasons to avoid - Average audio - Limited ports Today's Best Deals View at Dell Low Stock View at Walmart View at Amazon

The Dell XPS 13 series has consistently wowed us here at T3, and the latest version of the laptop continues that trend – it's powerful, supremely well built, and compact, so just about everything you could possibly want in your search for the best student laptop around during back to school season.

With the latest 11th-gen Intel processors installed and up to 16GB of RAM installed, this is a portable computer that's going to be able to handle everything that you want to throw at it. From late-night Netflix to early-morning essay writing, you'll find the Dell XPS 13 for 2022 a capable and competent laptop.

The Dell's 13.4-inch display has really tiny bezels and a can, if desired, be ramped up to a 4K resolution or even 3.5K OLED, although we think for most people Full HD is just fine. The color reproduction and detailing are superb anyway.

To find out how this premium student laptop compares to a more budget-orientated one, check out our Dell XPS 13 (2020) vs Acer Chromebook 315 comparison feature.

If you're fine using Chrome OS, then the Acer Chromebook 315 is a great, budget-friendly student laptop choice. (Image credit: Acer)

3. Acer Chromebook 315 The best budget student laptop Specifications CPU: Intel Celeron 3205U 1.5GHz (dual-core) Graphics: Intel HD Graphics RAM: 4GB Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels Storage: 32GB SSD Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Camera: 720p Weight: 4.85 pounds Dimensions: 15.08 x 9.65 x 0.95-inches Reasons to buy + Quality screen + Long-lasting battery + Very attractive price point Reasons to avoid - Basic keyboard and audio Today's Best Deals Low Stock View at Walmart View at Amazon View at Target

The Chromebook 315 is a ridiculously cheap student laptop that's also very capable. The hardware is in line with that price, with lower specs across the board – but as the machine runs Chrome OS, it doesn't matter too much, with the laptop still delivering a fast and responsive user experience.

Providing that you have an internet connection, which anyone with a smartphone does (hello portable hotspot), then this Chromebook unlocks the powerful and comprehensive G-Suite of applications, which includes Google Docs, GMAIL, Drive, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, Hangouts and more. Simply put, it delivers everything a student needs in class or when working on coursework and revising.

And that 15.6-inch screen is an absolute delight, by the way. Again, its speakers are poor, with flat treble and weak bass – but at this price, you can afford an iPhone or iPod as well. One of the best student laptops going in 2022 for those shopping on a budget, and who don't need a host of extra bells and whistles.

Want to know how this system stacks up against our number one student laptop choice? Then be sure to scope out our HP Pavilion 14 vs Acer Chromebook 315 comparison feature.

(Image credit: MSI)

4. MSI Katana GF66 The best student laptop for affordable gaming Specifications CPU: 11th-gen Intel Core i7-11800H Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti RAM: 8GB Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, 144Hz Storage: 512GB SSD Connectivity: 802.11ax Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2 Weight: 2.25 kg Dimensions: 359 mm x 259 mm x 24.9 mm Reasons to buy + Gaming on a budget + DLSS and ray tracing + Powerful Intel CPU Reasons to avoid - Uninspired design Today's Best Deals Low Stock View at Walmart View at Microsoft US View at Amazon

While the MSI Katana GF66 won't get you the very best frame rates, it will run all the best games of the moment smoothly – and it costs considerably less than a lot of the mid-range and top-tier gaming laptops out there at the moment. The capable Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU means you'll be able to play anything you want at a decent level of quality, and the laptop stays relatively cool and quiet too.

What makes this a great student laptop, as well as a gaming laptop, is that there's a powerful 11th-gen Intel Core i7-11800H CPU inside, so it's going to speed through non-gaming tasks as well. The 15.6-inch display is a pleasure to work with and you've got the integrated webcam for your video calls too.

The design of the laptop isn't the most inspired, but that does mean that you can take it into lectures without drawing too much attention to yourself. If you're looking for a powerful all-round laptop that can cope with the best games around, and for a respectable price too, then the MSI Katana GF66 is a model you should be checking out while you're shopping around.

An affordable lightweight laptop that will easily fit into your bag. (Image credit: Acer)

5. Acer Swift 1 The best budget Chromebook for students Specifications CPU: Intel Pentium Silver N6000 Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 RAM: 4GB / 8GB Screen: 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels Storage: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 Camera: 720p Weight: 1.3kg Dimensions: 15 x 323 x 212 mm Reasons to buy + Sturdy, attractive design + Fantastic battery life + Fingerprint sensor for extra security Reasons to avoid - Screen isn't particularly bright - Disappointing performance Today's Best Deals Low Stock View at Walmart View at Amazon View at Amazon 71 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

If you’re looking for an affordable laptop then the Acer Swift 1 is worth considering. Not only is it slim and lightweight enough to carry around with you, but it also looks quite sleek in comparison to other laptops at this price with a backlit keyboard and slim bezels around the 14inch display.

It’s not all about looks though - this laptop has a decent quality screen, a fingerprint sensor to keep it secure and the battery life is excellent. You get a lot for your money here.

While this is a great basic laptop, you do lose out on performance. So if you need it for anything creative like graphic design or photo editing then look elsewhere. But for those that just need a laptop to type out essays and stream Netflix shows, this will be a decent choice.

If you're fine using Chrome OS, then the Acer Chromebook 514 is a great, budget-friendly student laptop choice. (Image credit: Acer)

6. Acer Chromebook 514 The best budget Chromebook for students Specifications CPU: Intel Celeron N3350 Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 500 RAM: 4GB Screen: 14-inch, HD (1366 x 768) Storage: 32GB Reasons to buy + Stylish and light design + Robust build quality + Decent battery life Reasons to avoid - Not the fastest performance - Poor quality webcam Today's Best Deals View at Amazon View at Amazon View at Walmart

For students who are on a very tight budget, the Acer Chromebook 514 could be a good choice because it’s so ridiculously cheap.

While it might be quite basic, unlike a lot of other affordable laptops, you don’t have to put up with a heavy PC that will be a nightmare to carry around with you. Here everything you need has been packed into a slim, light chassis that will easily fit in your bag without weighing you down.

Chrome OS stores all of your files in a secure area online which means you don’t need to worry about backing up your work, and apps like Google Docs and Google Sheets come pre-loaded on the device.

Other than that this laptop has a big, colourful 14inch display, a large trackpad and a responsive, well-spaced keyboard, so while there aren’t loads of extra features like a fingerprint sensor or a touchscreen, it will be good for streaming TV shows, browsing the web and writing up essays.

There are some people who definitely shouldn't buy this laptop- if you need larger software to do your work or if you do a more creative course then steer clear, there are some apps that you won’t be able to get on the Google Play Store, like the Adobe Creative Suite.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft's forays into the 2-in-1 market have been a huge success, revitalizing the company's image as a serious hardware maker right when it needed it. For people who want to get in on this without paying handsomely – students, in other words – Microsoft has you covered with the second Surface Go.

It builds on what made the original Surface Go so good, adding a more premium-feeling design and a small specs bump to make sure you can get through all of the computing tasks that you need to get through. It also squeezes in a bigger-sized screen into a form factor the same size as the original Surface Go, but cutting down on the bezels.

You can eke out around five hours of use between charges with the Surface Go, and given its size and power, it's perfect for jumping between the library and the lecture hall. In your calculations about whether or not to buy this, make sure to factor the extra cost of the Type Cover keyboard in as well, which you're going to need to make full use of this as a laptop as well as a tablet.

To learn more about this budget 2-in-1 student laptop check out our detailed should I buy the Microsoft Surface Go 2 guide, and to see how it performs against another top cheap laptop check out our Asus Vivobook 15 vs Microsoft Surface Go 2 comparison feature.

(Image credit: Google)

8. Google Pixelbook Go The best Chromebook you can buy right now Specifications CPU: Intel Core m3-i7 Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 (300MHz) RAM: 8GB – 16GB Screen: Full HD Display – 4K Ultra HD Molecular Display Storage: 64-256GB Reasons to buy + Amazing battery life + Fantastic "hush" keyboard + Premium looks, not a premium price Reasons to avoid - Pricier than comparable Chromebooks Today's Best Deals View at Best Buy View at Walmart View at Amazon

It's more expensive than other Chromebooks, but the Pixelbook Go brings premium looks and build quality to Chrome for a fraction of what you'd pay for a similarly impressive PC or Mac thanks to widespread discounting. The touchscreen is superb, the webcam makes you look great and the battery life is stellar, with 8 to 10 hours in mixed use and fast charging support; we described it in our review as "the best Chromebook ever... it is, quite simply, superb".

If you've previously looked at Chromebooks but felt they weren't powerful enough we think the Pixelbook Go may change your mind: although the processor is relatively low-powered compared to, say, Apple's M1, the Chrome OS has been designed to be as lightweight as possible and doesn't need the same amount of horsepower as rival operating systems do. These days Chrome is a very mature and capable operating system.

(Image credit: Apple)

Last year, the Intel-powered MacBook Air was our recommended Apple laptop for students. This year, it’s the Apple-powered M1 MacBook Air. It may look identical to its predecessor, but it’s very different inside. This isn’t just the best Apple laptop for students. It’s the best Apple laptop for almost everyone.

What makes this MacBook different is that the processor is now an Apple one. It’s from the same family as the processors in the iPhone and iPad and it’s incredibly fast and incredibly energy efficient.

In tests, the new Air has outperformed many laptops that cost considerably more money. In Apple’s M1 the processor, graphics processor and memory are combined to work incredibly efficiently, and the result is a MacBook Air that delivers truly exceptional performance and all-day battery life as well as the pick-up-and-go portability that’s been the MacBook Air’s trademark.

We’ve picked the MacBook Air over the MacBook Pro for several reasons. It’s significantly cheaper without being significantly less powerful, it’s completely silent and it doesn’t have any fewer expansion ports than its more expensive sibling. It’s an amazing all-rounder.

To see how this system compares to our number one student laptop choice, be sure to check out T3's HP Pavilion 14 vs Apple Macbook Air (M1, 2020) comparison feature.

(Image credit: Samsung)

10. Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 The best premium student laptop with a big screen Specifications CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7 Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics RAM: 16GB Screen : 15.6-inch Storage: 512GB OS: Windows 10 Reasons to buy + S Pen included in the box + Incredibly slim and lightweight + Works seamlessly with other Galaxy devices Reasons to avoid - 16:9 aspect ratio won’t suit everyone - No facial recognition Today's Best Deals View at Samsung View at Best Buy Check Amazon

If you need a laptop that can be used to get productive in the day, and then to stream TV and movies in the evenings then the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 will be a great premium option.

The 15.6inch FHD (1920 x 1080) screen is great for streaming video, and it can be pushed back by 360-degrees to transform it into a tablet. That opens it up for so many different types of work, be that typing out essays or making quick sketches. The 16:9 aspect ratio won't be for everyone though.

One problem with large-screened portable computers is usually how bulky they are, it makes them difficult to put in your bag to take to class or to the library. That's not an issue here though as this laptop is seriously thin and lightweight considering. It only weighs 1.39kg!

The best student laptop running Windows 10 for tech enthusiasts right now is the Dell XPS 15.

11. Dell XPS 15 A portable student laptop powerhouse Specifications CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 6700HQ (quad-core, 6MB cache, up to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost) Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M (with 2GB GDDR5) RAM: 16GB Dual Channel DDR4 (2,133MHz; 8GB x 2) Screen: 15.6-inch, 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) InfinityEdge touch Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD Reasons to buy + Dazzling 4K display + Impeccable build quality + Premium-grade hardware Reasons to avoid - It loves fingerprints - Only two USB ports Today's Best Deals Low Stock View at Amazon View at Amazon Low Stock View at Walmart 6339 Walmart customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Like its smaller sibling, the awesome XPS 13, the Dell XPS 15 sports an almost bezel-less InfinityEdge display, but is better for long hours of work because of the larger screen. It brings the dual benefit of making whatever you're doing on its gorgeous 15-inch 4K screen come to life while also lending it the dimensions of a 14-inch laptop.

It's bag-friendly to boot and comes packing the goods in terms of specs, including an Nvidia GTX 960M mobile graphics card that's beefy enough to handle just about any game as long as you stick to 1080p.

The XPS 15's battery life is its main weakness, so don't expect its runtimes to stretch into the double figures without taking a booster pack along for the ride. Even with that against it, it's still one of the best student laptops out there.

(Image credit: Acer)

12. Acer Nitro 5 The best student laptop for gamers Specifications Weight: 6.61 pounds (3kg) Dimensions: W x D x H = 15.8 x 11.02 x 1.05 inches (40.3 x 28 x 2.69cm) CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-9750H (hexa-core) Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6 VRAM); Intel UHD Graphics 630 RAM: 8GB Screen: 17.3-inch, Full HD (1,920x1,080) IPS, Pantone Validated (144Hz refresh rate with Nvidia G-Sync) Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD Camera: 0.9MP (1280x720) Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-C), 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, headset jack Reasons to buy + GeForce RTX graphics card + Affordable price point + Solid all-round laptop Reasons to avoid - Plastic case is a bit flexible - Not the most contrasty screen - Not the most powerful gaming laptop Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at Amazon View at Best Buy 92 Walmart customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Being a student isn't just all work, but plenty of play, too. And if you're a gamer who wants to play the latest AAA PC games in-between study sessions then the Acer Nitro 5 is a great choice. It's a great choice as it delivers serious gaming chops at an affordable price point.

Core to that experience is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card, which is capable of playing games like Cyberpunk 2077 with real-time ray tracing turned on. This GPU is supported by a 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-9750H CPU, which is hexa-core and has more than enough grunt to power any typical laptop task as well as more creative ones like editing photos and videos.

The Acer Nitro 5 also comes with a spacious 17.3-inch screen, too, meaning that watching movies and TV shows is immersive, and thanks to a wide-variety of connection ports, hooking up peripherals and other tech is a synch.

You also get a built-in webcam and mic, too, so remote learning and video chats with friends, family and other gamers is unlocked. The laptop is also available in a wide variety of configurations.

Overall, the Acer Nitro 5 is a strong all-round laptop, but one that also comes with dedicated gaming silicon tucked under the hood, making it a no-brainer for students shopping for a new gaming-capable laptop.

To see how this laptop compares to two other popular gaming systems, be sure to scope out T3's Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 vs Acer Nitro 5 and Asus Zephyrus ROG S GX701 vs Acer Nitro 5 comparison features.

If you're looking for a 2-in-1 computing experience then the Lenovo Yoga C740 is well worth a look. (Image credit: Lenovo)

13. Lenovo Yoga C740 Another strong student laptop that delivers 2-in-1 computing Specifications CPU: 10th Gen Intel i7-10510U RAM: 8GB Screen: 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) IPS Storage: 512GB SSD Reasons to buy + Rotating hinge for the 15-inch display + Pick a color to match your style + Rock-solid hardware suite Reasons to avoid - Heavy for a tablet replacement - Very reflective screen Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at Walmart View at Amazon

Versatility is important for the students of today and a 2-in-1 like the Yoga C740 series from Lenovo doubles up as a tablet when you don't need a full laptop – perfect for taking into lectures or seminars with you. It'll even stand up in a tent position for when you're watching movies.

The specs are very competitive for the price (though a stylus costs extra), and the Lenovo Yoga C740 should be able to chew through all the tasks you give it fairly rapidly. If you're after something a little bit different from your student laptop in 2022, this one is worth a look.

The Dell Inspiron 15 is without a doubt one of the best student laptops for anyone shopping on a budget. (Image credit: Dell)

14. Dell Inspiron 15 5000 A brilliant budget buy for students Specifications Processor: 11th Gen Intel® Core i3 (6MB Cache, up to 4.1GHz) Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics RAM: 8GB DDR4 3200MHz (1x8GB) Storage: 128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920x1080) Anti-Glare LED OS: Windows 10 Home 64bit Reasons to buy + Incredible value for the price + 11th Gen Intel i3 processor + Full Windows 10 experience Reasons to avoid - Screen resolution is not the best - Keyboard is unsatisfying Today's Best Deals View at Amazon View at Walmart View at Dell 332 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

There's just so much to like about the Dell Inspiron 15 5000, and its crazy cheap price point is just the first. Next, its rock-solid internal hardware means that light computing tasks are handled with ease, while its stylish lightweight design also makes it incredibly portable.

Its 15-inch anti-glare LED screen is crisp, too, and with a full version of Windows 10 Home 64bit installed, it very much delivers the genuine experience out of the box. If browsing the internet, writing reports and essays, and storing your most valuable media and work is important to you, then the Inspiron 15 5000 is a great companion.

The laptop also comes with a webcam so joining seminars or remote meetings is handled, while its SD card reader and a multitude of ports make it easy to hook storage up to it, as well as it to larger screens and peripherals.

Overall an impressive, cheap Windows 10 laptop that will be ideal for going back to school.

The HP Envy x360 is a powerful and versatile 2-in-1 student laptop. (Image credit: HP)

15. HP Envy x360 A classy 2-in-1 student laptop Specifications CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U quad-core 2-3.6GHz Graphics: AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 RAM: 8GB DDR4 Screen: 13.3-inch FHD IPS LCD Storage: 128GB SSD Reasons to buy + Very versatile form factor + Stylish design + Competitive price Reasons to avoid - Processor is not the quickest - Not great for gaming Today's Best Deals Low Stock View at Walmart View at Amazon View at Best Buy

If you like the HP brand but want to spend a little bit more than the Pavillion costs (see above), the HP Envy x360 might be for you. It manages to marry some decent specs with some very decent looks at a price that's not quite as exorbitant as you might think, looking at it.

With AMD powering the CPU and GPU, this is a laptop that's going to handle most of the tasks you throw at it, besides intensive gaming and video editing. It's perfect for writing up essays, or doing some research on the web, or putting together a budget spreadsheet to work out where all your money is going.

And as this is a 2-in-1, when the workday is over you can flip the HP Envy x360 into tent mode and enjoy some Netflix or YouTube on the bright, crisp 13.3-inch screen. This is definitely one for your best student laptops shortlist.

(Image credit: Apple)

16. MacBook Pro 13-inch The best student laptop for Apple fans shopping at the premium end of the market Specifications CPU: 8th-gen quad‑core Intel Core i5 to 10th-gen quad‑core Intel Core i7 Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics or Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 RAM: 8GB to 32GB Screen: 13.3-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 pixel display Storage: 256GB to 4TB Reasons to buy + Impressively thin design + Incredible performance + Gorgeous Retina display Reasons to avoid - New M1 version offers better performance Today's Best Deals View at Amazon View at Apple Low Stock View at Walmart

If you need sleekness and power, and you're prepared to pay for it – but at the same time you still want something that isn't too difficult to carry around or stuff into a backpack – then consider the 13-inch MacBook Pro from Apple (and yes, the keyboard has finally been fixed).

A variety of different configurations are available to suit your needs and budget, but it's possible to get this laptop specced out very well indeed if you're planning on doing any serious image or video editing. Don't underestimate everything you get with macOS too, with Apple's apps improving all the time.

Macs aren't the way to go if your budget is tight, but if you can afford the 13-inch MacBook Pro then you won't be disappointed – it'll last you well through your years of education and probably beyond as well. The 10th-generation Intel chips are included, ahead of the switch to Apple Silicon.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

17. Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 One of the best student laptops ready for whatever you throw at it Specifications CPU: 11th Gen Intel i5-1135G7 Graphics: Integrated Intel Iris X RAM: 8GB Screen: 15.6 FHD (1920x1080) IPS Anti-Glare Storage: 128GB Reasons to buy + GeForce GTX GPU on board + Top-rate fit and finish + Mid-tier price point Reasons to avoid - Not as slim as an ultra-portable Today's Best Deals Low Stock View at Walmart View at Amazon View at Best Buy

Designed for cutting edge performance without the expensive price tag, Lenovo's ThinkBooks offer a wide range of specs and builds to suit any need. An excellent price for what you get, the ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 offer's an incredible setup for students.

Powered by the latest 11th Gen Intel i5's, Lenovo pulled out all of the stops to ensure you get every ounce of juice out of this thing. Plenty of RAM allows various work, including editing and spreadsheets, but where Lenovo's ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 shines is its value.

You're getting a solid laptop built for years to come, perfect for mobile work on the go or personal use at home. A must-see option for working from home or students starting up their semesters from afar.

(Image credit: Acer)

18. Acer Swift 3 A great all-round and compact student laptop Specifications CPU: Up to 10th-gen quad-core Intel Core i7-1065G7 Graphics: Up to Nvidia GeForce MX350 RAM: Up to 16GB Screen: 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution Storage: Up to 512GB Reasons to buy + Power through work + Sharp, bright screen + Lightweight and compact Reasons to avoid - Limited integrated graphics - Ordinary battery life Today's Best Deals View at Amazon View at Walmart Low Stock View at Walmart

We've always been fans of the Acer Swift series, and the 2020 edition of the Swift 3 has done nothing to change our minds. You get a 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 screen for staring at those essays and video streaming services, while under the hood everything is powered by Intel Core i5 or i7 chips.

The closer you look, the better the Acer Swift 3 gets – it supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards, for example, and has a decent selection of ports too (2 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C, and 1 x HDMI). At the top end of the configuration options, you can even have an Nvidia GeForce MX350 graphics card installed if you think you're going to need it.

When you're in the market for the best student laptop for going back to school, you want something that's reliable, compact, easy to carry around, and great to look at – and the Acer Swift 3 ticks all of those boxes. This is definitely one to get on your shortlist if you prefer Windows.

Read the full Acer Swift 3 review

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i gives you solid gaming performance on a student budget. (Image credit: Lenovo)

19. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i One of the best student laptops with gaming credentials Specifications CPU: Intel Core i5-10300H Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB RAM: 8GB DDR4 Screen: 15.6-inch, IPS, 1920 х 1080p Storage: 128GB Reasons to buy + Stylish design + 120Hz screen + Affordable price point Reasons to avoid - More power means higher price Today's Best Deals View at Walmart Check Amazon 79 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Gaming laptops tend to cost markedly more than their non-gaming counterparts, which is why the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i stands out a bit. With its sub-grand price point, stylish-looking design and dedicated GPU it makes a strong call to any student who wants to be able to play some games in their down time.

There's plenty else to like about this student laptop, too, including the fact that it has a 120Hz IPS Full HD screen. This makes playing fast paced games much better. The screen is 15.6 inches in size, too, meaning you've got plenty of real estate for at least two windows and for streaming Netflix full screen.

The graphics card in the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i isn't the fastest, as you might expect, but the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB has decent enough clout to run most AAA games at medium settings, which is something that is aided by its strong Intel Core i5 CPU.

Overall, this is good all-rounder student laptop that also offers some decent gaming performance, and it does so at a decent price point, too.

The Dell Inspiron 3000 is without doubt one of the best student laptops for anyone shopping on a budget. (Image credit: Dell)

20. Dell Inspiron 14 3000 A brilliant budget buy for students Specifications Processor: Intel® Celeron® Processor 4205U (2MB Cache, 1.8 GHz) Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 RAM: 4GB Storage: 128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive Display: 14-inch LCD 1366 x 768 resolution OS: Windows 10 Home 64bit Weight: 1.66 kg (3.68 lbs) Reasons to buy + Incredibly cheap + Solid internal hardware + Full fat Windows 10 experience Reasons to avoid - Not ideal for heavy processing or gaming Today's Best Deals Check Amazon 292 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

There's just so much to like about the Dell Inspiron 14 3000, and its crazy cheap price point is just the first. Next, its rock-solid internal hardware means that light computing tasks are handled with ease, while its stylish lightweight design also makes it incredibly portable.

Its 14-inch LCD anti-glare screen is crisp, too, and with a full-fat version of Windows 10 Home 64bit installed, it very much delivers a genuine experience out of the box. If browsing the internet, writing reports and essays, as well as storing your most valuable media and work is important to you, then the Inspiron 14 3000 is a great companion.

The laptop also comes with a webcam so joining seminars and remote meetings is handled, while its SD card reader and multitude of ports make it easy to hook storage up to it, as well as it to larger screens and peripherals.

Overall a brilliant cheap Windows 10 laptop that will be ideal for going back to school.

(Image credit: Apple)

21. 14-inch and 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M1, 2021) The best premium Mac laptop for students Specifications CPU: Apple M1 Pro or Apple M1 Max Graphics: Apple M1 Pro or Apple M1 Max RAM: Up to 64GB Screen: 14.2-inch (3024 x 1964 pixels) or 16-inch (3456 x 2234 pixels) Storage: Up to 8GB Connectivity: SDXC card slot, HDMI port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Camera: 1080p FaceTime camera Reasons to buy + Top-tier performance + Quality design + Excellent display Reasons to avoid - We're not sure about the display notch Today's Best Deals View at Amazon Low Stock View at Walmart View at Best Buy

It's true that you need a substantial chunk of money to get one of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops from Apple, but if they are within your budget, you can't really do any better – these laptops will cope with everything that you can throw at them and then some, and they're guaranteed to offer many years of top-quality service in lecture halls and classrooms alike.

The M1 Pro and M1 Max processors that Apple has fitted in these devices offer a leap forward in terms of performance, while at the same time improving efficiency as well. In other words, you can expect stellar battery life from these models, so you don't have to worry about carrying a charger around with you all day (a key benefit for students of any description).

The Touch Bar-less keyboard and trackpad will give you a comfortable and reliable computing experience, while the upgraded 1080p webcam is perfect for all those video calls and conferences. Factor in the every-improving macOS software and it really is a winning combination, assuming you can save up enough.

Combining style and portability in a reasonable priced PC. (Image credit: Lenovo)

22. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon The best lightweight student laptop Specifications CPU: 11th Generation Intel Core processors Graphics: Intel Iris Xe RAM: 8GB / 16GB Screen: 13.3inch QHD (2560 x 1600) Storage: 256GB / 512GB SSD Reasons to buy + 13.3inch QHD screen + Facial recognition + Decent performance Reasons to avoid - Average battery life - No fingerprint sensor Today's Best Deals Check Amazon

If you need a laptop that you'll easily be able to slip in your bag to carry between home and your classes then you should definitely consider the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon.

It's no bigger than a notepad and weighs less than a kilogram so it's super portable. Even the charger will be easy to carry with you, it looks more like a smartphone charger than one made for a laptop.

Being so small doesn't mean that you won't get decent specs though, it packs in the 11th Gen Intel Core processors which makes it a great choice for getting productive, although I wouldn't rely on it for lots of photo and video editing. Its solid performance is paired with a crisp, detailed screen as well as a sleek, stylish design and a keyboard that feels satisfying and reliable to type on.

The one major downside is the average battery life, you will definitely need to plug it in at some point during the day. Luckily though, it doesn't take long to recharge.

Unlike some of the other options on this list, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon won't give you a big display and premium features like a touchscreen or fingerprint sensor, but it will be ideal for anyone who wants style and portability from their laptop without spending a huge amount of money.

(Image credit: Asus)

23. Asus Vivobook Pro 14X OLED The best student laptop for content creators Specifications CPU: Ryzen 9 5900HX / 5800H / 5600H Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 RAM: 8GB / 16GB / 32GB Screen: 14inch 2880 x 1800 or 3840 x 2400 Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD Reasons to buy + Beautiful screen + Lightweight + Special functionality for creative software Reasons to avoid - Not the most powerful CPU Today's Best Deals Check Amazon Visit Site

If you're a creative student, or content creator at the start of their career, this mid-priced laptop is aimed squarely at you. Designed with creatives in mind, it has some unique functionality to help you use software such as Photoshop, After Effects and Premiere Pro. This includes a virtual dial that lights up on the touchpad when you swipe the icon, allowing you to make fine control edits of your work.

This affordable laptop also offers a beautiful 14-inch OLED screen, with Pantone-certified colours and a high resolution of either 2880 x 1800 or 3840 x 2400, depending on the model you choose.

Performance, connectivity and battery life, meanwhile are good but not spectacular, and be aware there's no touchscreen or pen input. However, given the mid-range price of this laptop, these are compromises most creative students will be happy to live with.

How do I choose the best laptop? We hope our student laptop guide proves invaluable for anyone out there shopping for a system that's capable, a decent value, and a boon to your productivity. We're constantly updating this list with newer models and updated information, so be sure to keep checking back regularly, and we've also included some crucial buying advice to help you narrow down the ideal learning tool for going back to school.

Today's computers need to be able to do much more than the primitive number-crunchers of old. They need to support a huge range of software, given that several courses have special requirements, as well as the standard office packages.

When it comes to software, Microsoft's Office 365 suite is free for students, and there are also Google's Chromebooks and the associated Google Docs suite to consider as well, with the latter also free to use.

These laptops need to be able to run HD video lectures without shuddering of course, while a set of good speakers always comes in handy when the university day is done. These machines have to be affordable too, given the increased cost of schooling all around the world.

Integrated webcams are important as well, for web lectures and broadcast media-related courses, but these are now included as standard on every laptop. You'd be hard-pressed to find a model without one.

Which laptop brand is best for students? For the money, Dell laptops tend to offer a solid balance of performance and value for the price. If you're sticking to a tight budget like most students are, Dell offers some of their more popular laptops for as low as $350. If you're just writing papers or doing online classes, these work wonderfully. In some cases, however, more power is needed as you may be working with coding software or more resource intensive tasks. Options like Microsoft's Surface Go 2 is quite the machine, offering a good amount of power – as well as 2-in-1 laptop tablet capabilities – at a very reasonable price point. Anything above these needs, such as 3D modeling or rendering, is going to need higher end specs. These will come at a higher price point, but are loaded up with higher amounts of RAM, faster processors and purpose-built GPUs. Lenovo's ThinkStation workstation laptops for example have a much higher performance level.