The 6 Best Laptops for College Students (2025): Tested and Reviewed

Yes. Or, at least, the type of computer you prefer to use. If you are headed to live on campus, we recommend that you use a laptop of some type to do your schoolwork. Alternatively, you can use a desktop in your dorm room paired with an iPad or any type of note-taking device in class.

However, a laptop is likely to be the device of choice. It’s extremely useful to take your work with you while commuting between classes, studying in cafés, or just taking notes in lecture. Dorm rooms aren’t known for being spacious, so having a laptop to take your studies to the library or café will be very helpful.

But as we saw in our recommendations above, devices like the iPad Air or Surface Pro 12 can be good solutions too, as long as you pair them with their keyboards.

All of our tips for choosing a laptop also apply to one for college, including evaluating screen and chassis quality, along with making sure the laptop is fast enough for your work. Get something with at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage and you’ll be happy.

There are a few important things to consider that are specific to college. Portability and battery life are crucial. No matter your budget, you want something that will last all day and won’t weigh you down as you carry it from class to class. Anything over four pounds or so will start to feel noticeable in your backpack.

Overall dimensions are also important. Bringing a 16-inch laptop to class may seem obtuse given the size of college room desks. The same is true if you plan to bring your laptop to a crowded café or library. This is why 13-inch or 14-inch laptops are preferred. There are also 14-inch gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 14, which give you the discrete GPU you need without having to sacrifice portability.

Here are some other specifications to consider:

Processor

• Windows: If you’re getting a Windows machine, the main processor options are Intel and AMD, although Qualcomm is now a viable alternative with Copilot+ PCs. Each has strengths and weaknesses. For a more complete guide to the differences, see our complete guide to buying a laptop.
• Chromebooks: These browser-based devices use six different processors, most of which you’ve probably never heard of before. There’s a reason for that: those processors are slow. My advice when purchasing a Chromebook is to stick with the Chromebook Plus. This is a new standard created by Google to ensure a certain level of performance and optimization with Chromebooks.
• Mac: Apple has been making its own processors for a few years, like the latest M5 chip inside the MacBook Pro right now. The M5 series hasn’t rolled out to other MacBooks in the lineup yet, which is why Apple still says the M4 MacBook Air, M4 Pro, and M4 Max MacBook Pros. The more powerful MacBooks Pros feature GPUs that seek comparison with the discrete GPUs you find in Windows laptops. Our MacBook buying guide can help further.

RAM and storage

No matter which operating system you choose, the minimum amount of RAM you want in your laptop is 8GB. This is enough memory to keep your computer fast even if it is running under load. But these days, 16GB is the new standard, and you’ll find plenty of laptops around $800 or less that come with 16GB. So, if you can afford it — especially if you plan to edit photos or videos as part of your course — opt for 16GB or even 32GB.

The new default for storage is 256GB, which will do if you’re trying to save money. You can always use external storage if you need to add. Spring for 512GB or TB if you can.

a screen

Monitors vary widely, but don’t settle for anything less than 1080p (or 1200p for 16:10 screens). For a 13-inch laptop, 1080p resolution is sharp enough. If you’re using a larger laptop, 2.5K or even 4K displays will improve your viewing experience. If you’re also trying to play games, make sure you get something with a higher refresh rate — 120Hz or 144Hz will be more than satisfactory.

Weight and battery

Don’t forget that you will be carrying this thing with you. It may continue to drag on your back for eight hours or more. One pound may not seem like a lot, but at the end of a long day of walking, you’ll notice the difference between a three-pound laptop and a four-pound laptop. Trust me. You can also choose a nice bag to carry your computer.

Likewise, battery life is very important when you’re (potentially) away from a wall outlet for long periods. Whatever you end up getting, make sure it’s able to last at least eight hours under actual use, such as browsing the web, editing documents, writing emails, and taking notes. Even then, you may want to consider a portable battery charger.

Yes, for most college students, Chromebooks are a good option. They’re cheaper than MacBooks or Windows laptops, and the Chromebook Plus models offer higher-quality hardware with cutting-edge features, despite being very affordable. If you’re shopping for under $500, things might get sketchy, but I’ve tested some good options that I recommend in this guide even in this price range. That’s the power of Chromebooks as a platform.

What’s more, you can run almost all apps on the web these days (including Office 365), and Android apps do a good job of filling in the gaps. However, you may occasionally encounter some compatibility issues, both with software and hardware. If you’re in a STEM or art or design program, a Chromebook probably isn’t for you. For example, if you are required to use CAD or Photoshop, you will need a Windows laptop.