Everybody knows that laptops are a lifeline for students all over the world. Everything seems out of range and unaffordable when you are a student. During the pressure of exams, if your laptop stops working, it will turn into a complete disaster. We know how much laptops mean to a student, so we have come up with a list of some products that include almost every best laptop for students. Our list includes laptops priced humbly by manufacturers and provides a high-quality user experience. They are durable and reliable when it comes to their endurance and performance. A parent or student can find products for their kids or themselves in the list, starting from the suitable product for a 3-year old and ending with the best laptop for college. We cannot miss out on gaming as students taking some time off from studies is equally important, and your computer hardware should have enough power to support the games of your liking.

We have put a lot of thought into selecting laptops with a balanced hardware configuration to have the best gaming laptop with a reasonable price/performance ratio. They require the best laptops for college students that include a decent GPU, moderate storage capacity, lightweight and compact design for portability. Art students can also use a foldable or 2-in-1 laptop as a canvas for their class or note-taking. HP and Lenovo provide some of the most affordable options for students. If you have some bucks in your spare, then Apple and Acer also offer great options for college work. We have included the best business laptop solely due to its excellent reliability and long-term operation. A similar laptop can be bought once and will stay with you even after college. To understand what you might need or do not need, we recommend following our quick shopping tips.

Our top picks

01

best laptop for elementary school students

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition

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02

best laptop for elementary school students alternative

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

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03

best laptop for middle school students

HP Chromebook x360

HP Chromebook x360

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Quick Shopping Tips:

Let’s have a quick look at some of the most important factors you need to keep in mind while choosing a laptop. These shopping tips are truly helpful, so one must not neglect them.

2-in-1 Laptops: These laptops are meant for portability and ease and are pretty much an epitome of modernity and class. These laptops are great for reading and writing, but you need to know there are types within this category. 2-in-1 laptops usually have a hinged screen, but they are also available in detachable keyboards, thus turning into a tablet. Hinged laptops are generally more potent than detachable keyboard tablets.

Display: As a student, you will be doing a lot of reading and typing on your laptop. It could cause eye strain and headaches. Your display needs to be accurate, and it’s recommended that you go for a non-glossy matt finish display panel instead of a glass-based. However, the glass-based display has its advantages, but it depends on the user preference, and this should be a decisive factor for a buyer.

Operating System: When buying a laptop, the operating system should be your concern. If you are an engineering college or medical college student, it’s recommended that you go for Windows OS as it has compatibility with all the software used by designers and doctors. An elementary, middle school, or high-school student can use either a Chromebook or iOS as they do not need comprehensive software compatibility.

Battery: Nobody wants their gadgets to give up on them at the wrong time. So, battery endurance and timing are crucial to any portable device. As a student, you need to know that buying a laptop with the best GPU and CPU but not using them to its true potential is a waste of resources. A moderate CPU with an integrated GPU can allow extended battery life and provide a better price/performance ratio than the latest Hexa core processor.

The Best Laptop for Students: First look

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition

best laptop for elementary school students

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Lenovo Chromebook Duet

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

best laptop for elementary school students alternative

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HP Chromebook x360

HP Chromebook x360

best laptop for middle school students

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Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook

Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook

best laptop for middle school students alternative

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Acer Chromebook Spin 513

Acer Chromebook Spin 513

best laptop for high school students

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Apple iPad Air

Apple iPad Air

best laptop for high school students alternative

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Acer Swift 3

Acer Swift 3

best laptop for college students

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HP Envy x360 13

HP Envy x360 13

best laptop for college students alternative

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The Best Laptop for Students: In-depth Review

01

best laptop for elementary school students

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition

CPU

MediaTek Helio P60T

GPU

ARM Mali-G72 MP3

Display

10.1"FHD

Weight

1.58 lbs

PROS

+Long-lasting battery

+Excellent parental control

+2yr warrantied durable design

CONS

-No gorilla glass protection

-3GB RAM limit for large apps

If you want your kid to explore the world, learn and enjoy their time off from school, then Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is an excellent option as a computer. It comes pre-registered with a 1-year subscription allowing access to 20000+ books and all the latest games. As a 3 to 7-year-old kid, it’s the perfect tool for learning and playing. It’s the best laptop for elementary school students with Amazon Parent Dashboard, allowing parents to enable and disable apps. The system reports to parents about the child’s activities. Placing a limit on screen time and scheduling can be hectic, but parents can easily pause the tablet just before bedtime or place a limit for specific applications with this tablet.

As a parent, you can limit certain apps and games until educational goals are met. Parents can also restrict content as per the kid’s age. The manufacturers have tailor-made this student laptop for kids to learn the balance of activities they perform. It comes in a solid chassis that protects the tablet from damage, and Amazon covers any other doubts with a 2-year worry-free warranty. Now it’s the 11th generation of this tablet. It has a 224ppi display protected by the durable glass so that your child doesn’t get eye strain from focusing. The charging goes from 0-100% in 4hours and lasts as long as 12hrs with mixed usage. The USB-C port, front-facing camera, and speakers are provided as the necessary features.

02

best laptop for elementary school students alternative

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

CPU

MediaTek Helio P60T

GPU

Integrated ARM G72 MP3

Display

10.1"FHD IPS

Weight

0.99 lbs

PROS

+Priced humbly

+12hr long-lasting single charge

+Detachable keyboard included

CONS

-No SD card slot

-Single port for connectivity

The most basic form of laptop that a student can buy is a Chromebook. Lenovo Chromebook Duet is incredibly fast, and due to its unique OS, it’s not prone to a virus attack. It is the best laptop for elementary school students alternative to Windows-based laptops. Chromebook can provide the fastest user experience if you have a solid internet connection. It comes with 100 GB of online storage data via Google One for 12 months. Everything you type is stored online on Google Docs to stay worry-free about your lost data. This product is hands down the true definition of excellence, especially when considering the mild price range.

This Chromebook can boot up within 8 seconds and stay updated regarding applications. It comes with a MediaTek Helio P60T processor, tried and tested under various conditions. Everything from low heat production to 12 hours of long-lasting battery life is a trait of this processor. Due to its ultraportable 2-in-1 configuration, it’s the best laptop for students on the go. You can use it for moderate gaming; however, AAA titles are not available on Chromebook, and neither the Integrated ARM G72 MP3 can support such high graphic capabilities. The 1920 x 1200 screen with gloss finish provides 400nits brightness suitable for the moderately lit environment of a classroom.

03

best laptop for middle school students

HP Chromebook x360

CPU

Intel Celeron N4000

GPU

Intel UHD Graphics 600

Display

14"HD (1366 x 768) Touchscreen

Weight

3.50 lbs

PROS

+Premium body finish

+Powerful speakers by B&O

+Comfortable keyboard for writing

CONS

-No stylus included

-Not perfect for gaming

As a student, you require a device to play videos, write documents and run light games. HP Chromebook x360 is a top-tier item that comes at a reasonable price. The company has provided the best laptop for middle school students and has enriched this item with various modern features. It comes with decent speakers that are loud to fill a room. B&O calibrates the audio of this item. You can rotate the hinge to 360° into reverse, tent, or tablet position; This remarkable thing comes with the Intel Celeron N4000 processor, light on power consumption, and decent RAM and storage capabilities. The keyboard on this laptop is suitable for writers who require proper posture for extended periods on the desk.

Laptops are made to be used on the lap, but over time due to the laptop’s high heat dissipation requirement, there were active systems in laptops that produced a lot of heat. This Chromebook has a fanless design and keeps the laptop cool from underneath, making it the best laptop for college. It comes with a digital media card reader for expansion in storage. WiFi is critical in a laptop that depends on the internet for most of its operability, and this laptop has 802.11ac capable wireless connectivity and a BT 5.0 for connecting peripherals. Due to low power consumption, it can last up to 12hrs on battery with mixed usage. The laptop has support for USI universal stylus for writing and drawing.

04

best laptop for middle school students alternative

Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook

CPU

MediaTek MT8173C

GPU

ARM Mali-G72 MP3

Display

11.6"HD IPS

Weight

‎2.65 lbs

PROS

+HDMI display port

+USB-C charging port

+Passive cooling system

CONS

-No SD card snap action

-Moderate audio capabilities

Compared with a regular Windows-based laptop, Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook has insanely long-lasting battery life. With its 1366 x 768 full HD display and minimalist look, it is the best laptop for middle school students alternative. It comes with a powerful MediaTek MT8173C processor that provides the base for fast booting and uninterrupted application user experience. You can switch from laptop to tablet position with a simple rotation. Most Chromebooks do not offer many connectivity options, but Lenovo has included two USB-C ports, USB-A, a 3.5mm jack, and the most used HDMI port for display. There is no fan-based active cooling, yet the laptop runs cool.

Lenovo has added a unique physical volume rocker button on the right side of this student laptop. Due to USB-C charging, it quickly charges to 100% and provides a decent battery life. It comes with a 45watts charger, but you can set it with any type-C charger. You can connect up to two devices with the BT4.2. Its 802.11AC type WiFi provides fast internet connectivity for online gaming and streaming. Due to its compact nature, no optical drive is included in the laptop. The USB-A port is enough to provide connectivity for cheap USB options, and USB-C gives high speed to external drives.

05

best laptop for high school students

Acer Chromebook Spin 513

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon SC7180

GPU

Qualcomm Adreno 618

Display

13.3"FHD LED IPS

Weight

‎4.39 lbs

PROS

+Premium aesthetics

+DisplayPort over USB-C

+Snapdragon 7c processor

CONS

-No storage expansion

-Weights more than a tablet

Acer has been producing powerful consumer laptops for years. Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is their product that runs on a Qualcomm processor with a unique OS. the SC7180 installed in this best laptop for high school students can be used for light gaming and has full capability of running 4k resolution videos. Aesthetically Acer takes the lead with their Chromebook. The sleek design starts with some width for ports and ends up thin at the edges. All the edges are round and provide a comfortable typing experience. As a student, you will require a display for presentations, and this laptop has a DP over USB-C option.

The data transfer rates on the USB Type-C ports can reach up to 5Gbps with the USB 3.2 Gen1 port. A USB-C port is used to charge the laptop, thus making the power supply adapter compact and easy to carry. If you forget the charger, you can use just any type-c charger to start charging the laptop as it is compatible with 5/9/15/20V, 3A chargers. It weighs higher than some detachable keyboard-type laptops as a student laptop, but using it as a tablet is seamless due to its slimness and foldable keyboard. Moderate workloads allow this laptop to reach up to 13hrs officially, and users have reported it to last 11hours with mixed loads.

06

best laptop for high school students alternative

Apple iPad Air

CPU

A14 Bionic chip

GPU

A14 Quad-Core

Display

10.9LED IPS

Weight

1.0 lb

PROS

+Cellular connectivity

+4K video recording at 60fps

+Highly stable operating system

CONS

-No 3.5mm headphone jack

-Limited apps on the Apple store

It’s almost impossible to meet a person who does not know Apple products. They are top-of-the-line premium products best known for their flawless operation, and Apple iPad Air sits at the top slot among the high-end laptops. As the best laptop for college, this item is almost flawless. Owning an Apple product allows you to enter their ecosystem of apps and gadgets. As a student, you require a device that lasts long and provides a smooth UI. This iPad is the best laptop for high school students alternative, mainly due to its 10.9‑inch 500nits liquid retina display that boasts 264ppi. The pixels are indifferent by a human eye at an average viewing distance.

It is the best laptop for students as it includes a sharp image capturing 12MP primary camera and a 7MP front camera that can make any Zoom or Skype call noiseless. It can record videos for your high school videos in 4K resolution at 60fps. There are a lot of advantages that an iPad has over a Chromebook, namely its capability to perform video editing and providing large storage capacities. Apple manufactures all the leading mobile processors, and their iOS has the reputation of providing the most stable platform in the market. It includes a WiFi-6 for high-speed internet connectivity and cellular connectivity for data.

07

best laptop for college students

Acer Swift 3

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 4700U

GPU

7 Core AMD Radeon Graphics

Display

14"FHD IPS LED

Weight

‎2.65 lbs

PROS

+15.95mm thick metal body

+82.73% screen-to-body ratio

+40+fps AAA game performance

CONS

-No 360° hinge

-Fixed keyboard

Putting in an extra effort to raise some money for the latest Acer Swift 3 can do wonders as this device comes with a top-performing AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor. Its 7-core GPU can provide gaming performance and video editing margins suitable for any college student. It’s the best laptop for college students. Reaching 40+fps on top AAA titles with a laptop that sits just below the 1000$ price point is incredible. AMD’s 7nm processor lithography allows a long-lasting battery with low heat production making it suitable for placing on a lap. The internet is powered with WiFi-6 for a flawless internet connection.

It has metal-based chassis made out of aluminum alloy, thus weighing around 1.19kg, and provides a slim minimalist thickness of 15.95mm only. This product is the finest student laptop and can run the latest Windows 11 with 64-bit architecture. Fast data access with the 512GB NVMe and rapid application response due to the 8GB LPDDR4 make it ideal for enhancing productivity. This device, being the best laptop for college, can be secured using the fingerprint scanner. It can reach more than 10hours of operation on a single charge. There is a backlit keyboard on this laptop so that you can work in the dark while your roommate sleeps. It is a powerful and slim laptop that is perfect for any student.

08

best laptop for college students alternative

HP Envy x360 13

CPU

11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7

GPU

Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Display

13.3FHD IPS

Weight

2.86 lbs

PROS

+1000nits FHD display

+Top-performing processor

+Best price/performance ratio

CONS

-Soldered RAM

-No Thunderbolt 3

If you are looking for a premium product that is unbeatable in price/performance ratio, then the HP Envy x360 13 is the product. It’s a 2-in-1 laptop that can turn into a tablet form factor with a 360° rotation. The high-end Intel i7-1165G7 processor with 4-cores and 8-threads easily makes this top-of-the-line product the best laptop for college students alternative in terms of processing power on our list. This laptop has plenty of features; you can use it for video editing, gaming, presentation, or simply 4k video streaming. Its corning gorilla glass provides the protection a touch screen needs for reliability.

It is the best laptop for college due to its portability. The three-sided micro-edge display with a 178-degree wide-viewing angle makes it excellent for reading e-books or research papers online. The feel of using a book can be enhanced by turning it into a tablet, and that’s where it excels. This laptop can be used as a canvas with a stylus for artists. The laptop is thin and light with a superbright 1000nits display that beats all the laptops on our list. As a student, you couldn’t ask for more than 1000 bucks. The speaker’s audio is clear and fills the room thanks to its Bang &Olufsen design.

Final Words

When you are on a quest to find the best laptop for students, you must keep a lot of things in mind. It must be lightweight and portable and capable of performing simple tasks like internet exploration, video play, note-taking, document development, and presentation preparation. With a modern laptop, you can add casual gaming to relax while on a classroom break. A laptop with the latest technologies performs all the above tasks smoothly. They are fast, reliable, simple, and cost-effective. The Chromebook operating system is Linux-based, similar to Android, thus allowing major Playstore Apps to be available on the laptop. Since the OS requires little processing power for operation, the laptops do not require an active cooling system, and they are passively cooled. This OS, in return, allows for more substantial battery life and endurance. They come with a detachable keyboard for typing in a thesis or an assignment. They all work with a stylus for drawing and note-taking if you prefer writing with a pen.

If you are a power user and your college requires video editing tools, engineering software, or you fancy playing some AAA games, then it’s better to go for a windows-based laptop. Most software is compatible with Windows and requires a high-end CPU for performance. Our list includes high-end laptops that can run any available application with efficiency. There are loaded with high-speed NVMe based SSDs for flawless operation. Running AutoCAD, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, and Streamlabs for these laptops is not a problem. As a student, you need to figure out your requirements for a laptop. You do not need to spend a fortune to obtain basic laptop functionality. Windows has an advantage over Chromebook when it comes to offline work. Chromebook operation is complicated, and essential apps like Google Docs and Google Sheets do not work offline. Internet connectivity is a must. If you work offline, then go for a Windows-based or iOS-based computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which laptop is best for students?

If we talk about kids between the age of 3 to 7 years, Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition lands as our top pick. It has comprehensive parental control through screen time limitation, scheduling for sleep time, management of apps, content monitoring, and learning tools for kids. This Amazon laptop does not only teach kids time management but makes them smarter.

Which laptop is best for students in 2022?

Acer Swift 3 takes the top spot as the best laptop for the most efficient study partner. It is priced humbly and features all the necessary hardware for everyday usage. It is lightweight with a 15.95mm thickness backed by a metal body. AAA gaming at 40+fps is possible with this laptop, and it features top performing AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor.

Which laptop is best for students affordable?

Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook is the best and most affordable laptop for students. It comes with all the necessary connectivity. Connectivity options are also the most commonly used interfaces. A USB-C port for charging and connecting peripherals alongside an HDMI display port is also provided. The good old 3.5mm jack is back on this laptop, and it comes with a small power brick for portability.

Is a Chromebook or laptop better for students?

Chromebooks like the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 are better for students as they are fast, reliable, and simple. The interface is easy to use, and the application’s installation poses little to no compatibility issues. They are cooled passively to be used in any posture and often come with a detachable keyboard for typing.