Best Laptops for Students in 2024 (Organized by Price)
This guide breaks down the top laptops for students in 2025, catering to a range of needs and budgets. arranged in increasing price order.
Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), 13.8" Touchscreen Display, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage, Dune Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) $900- $1000
- The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13 redefines modern computing with its advanced AI capabilities, powered by the groundbreaking Snapdragon X Elite processor. It’s a game-changer for tasks like structuring assignments or summarizing text with ease.
- Designed for productivity, this laptop features a dedicated Co-Pilot key, giving you seamless access to AI tools. Available in 13.8-inch and 15-inch sizes, it’s tailored to meet diverse user preferences.
- While it’s slightly heavier than some competitors, the Surface Laptop makes up for it with a luxurious design, a comfortable keyboard, and a highly responsive touchpad that enhances the overall user experience.
- Equipped with a top-notch 1080p webcam, the laptop ensures sharp video quality. Integrated Windows Hello and studio effects add an extra layer of convenience and sophistication for video calls and online meetings.
- The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor meets Microsoft’s Co-Pilot AI standards, boasting a 45 TOP-rated NPU. This innovation makes the Surface Laptop the first of its kind, setting a new benchmark in AI-enabled PCs.
- With an impressive battery life of up to 20 hours, the Surface Laptop is built to keep up with your demanding schedule, ensuring productivity from dawn to dusk.
- Offering a balance of portability and premium build quality, this laptop is an ideal choice for students. Its advanced AI capabilities position it as a frontrunner in the evolving world of AI-powered PCs.
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard $1000- $1100
- The MacBook Air M3 continues to be the ultimate choice for students, showcasing its iconic sleek and flat design that exudes elegance and simplicity.
- With an ultra-thin, durable aluminum chassis, the MacBook Air M3 is the perfect travel companion, effortlessly slipping into your bag without adding extra bulk.
- Powered by the M3 chip, this laptop delivers a noticeable performance boost, excelling in demanding tasks like video compression and photo editing with remarkable efficiency.
- The MacBook Air M3’s battery life is nothing short of outstanding, offering up to 18 hours of video playback and easily lasting through an entire workday without needing a charge.
- Typing on the MacBook Air M3 is a delight, thanks to its thick keycaps and satisfying travel distance. Paired with its spacious and responsive touchpad, it offers a seamless and enjoyable user experience.
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16"" Laptop (2024 Model) Intel 14th Gen Ultra 9 185H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 32GB RAM 16"" 3.2K Mini-Led 165Hz 1200-nits, Windows 11 Pro, $1100- $1200
- The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i takes innovation to the next level with its dual OLED displays, offering a versatile setup perfect for multitasking, making it an excellent choice for students.
- Breaking away from the traditional laptop design, it features a virtual keyboard that can be paired with a portable monitor or used as a tablet for added flexibility.
- The stunning 13.3-inch 2.8K OLED display supports HDR, touch, and pen input, delivering vibrant visuals and seamless interactivity for creative and academic tasks.
- For a more traditional typing experience, the device comes with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, ensuring you have the tools you need for any situation.
- With 512 GB of high-speed NVMe storage, the Yoga Book 9i is built to handle productivity tasks effortlessly, offering ample space for projects, files, and media.
ASUS Zenbook Duo Laptop, 14" OLED, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Inkwell Gray, UX8406MA-PS99T | Dual 3K 120Hz Touch Display Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU/ $1300- $1400
- The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED shines with its vibrant OLED touchscreen, powerful performance, and exceptional battery life, making it an excellent choice for students at a price of $1,300.
- Equipped with Intel’s latest Core Ultra chips, 32 GB of RAM, and a spacious 1 TB of storage, this laptop is built for speed and efficiency. Its touch capabilities add a layer of versatility for everyday tasks.
- The laptop’s speakers, fine-tuned by Harman Kardon, deliver impressive sound quality. Paired with the included stylus, the Zenbook 14 OLED doubles as a sleek 2-in-1 device for creativity and productivity.
- With its premium build, solid performance, and lightweight design at just 2.82 lbs, the Zenbook 14 OLED is a portable powerhouse, perfect for life on the go.
Dell XPS 13 9310 Thin and Light Touchscreen Laptop, 13.4 inch FHD+, Intel Core i7-1195G7, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 512GB SSD $1300- $1400
- The Dell XPS 13 series remains a top choice for students seeking a reliable non-Mac option, despite minor drawbacks like the absence of an audio jack.
- Known for its dependability, the XPS 13 is widely regarded as one of the best Windows laptops for students, thanks to its perfect mix of sleek design, practicality, strong performance, and stunning display, all packed into an ultra-lightweight frame.
- Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite X1e processor, the XPS 13 delivers exceptional performance and impressive battery efficiency, making it ideal for demanding tasks.
- Weighing just 2.6 lbs, the XPS 13 is one of the lightest laptops on the market—lighter than even a MacBook. However, the minimalistic design means fewer ports for connectivity.
- With an impressive average battery life of 19 hours, the XPS 13 stands out as a productivity powerhouse, perfect for students with busy, on-the-go lifestyles.
- FAQ
Q1. What features should students look for in a laptop?
Students should prioritize portability, long battery life, sufficient storage (at least 256 GB SSD), a good display, and reliable performance. Depending on their field of study, features like a powerful GPU, touchscreens, or dual-screen setups may also be essential.
Q2. Which is better for students: MacBook or Windows laptops?
The choice depends on personal preference and academic needs. MacBooks are great for their build quality, battery life, and seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. Windows laptops offer a wider variety of options, compatibility, and price ranges.
Q3. Are gaming laptops good for students?
Gaming laptops can be excellent for students who require high performance for tasks like video editing, 3D design, or programming. However, they may be heavier and have shorter battery life compared to standard student laptops.
Q4. What is the ideal screen size for a student laptop?
A screen size of 13-15 inches is generally ideal for students. It balances portability with comfortable viewing. Larger screens may be better for creative professionals or those who multitask frequently.
Q5. Which laptops are best for online classes?
For online classes, laptops with a good webcam, microphone, long battery life, and a reliable internet connection are ideal. The Surface Laptop 13 and MacBook Air M3 are excellent options for this purpose.
Q6. What is the best budget laptop for students?
Some of the best budget laptops for students include the Acer Aspire series, Lenovo IdeaPad, and the base model of Microsoft Surface Laptop 13. These offer solid performance at an affordable price.
Q7. Are touchscreen laptops worth it for students?
Touchscreen laptops are especially useful for students who take notes or work on creative tasks. Devices like the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i provide great flexibility with their touch and pen support.
Q8. How much RAM is sufficient for a student laptop?
For general use, 8 GB of RAM is sufficient. However, for students handling heavier tasks like programming, design, or video editing, 16 GB or more is recommended.
Q9. How long should a laptop’s battery last for students?
Students should look for laptops with at least 8-10 hours of battery life to ensure all-day productivity without needing frequent recharges. Laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and Surface Laptop 13 offer excellent battery life.
Q10. What are the most lightweight laptops for students?
Some of the most lightweight laptops for students include the MacBook Air M3 (under 3 lbs) and the Dell XPS 13 (2.6 lbs). These are easy to carry around all day