Did you get admission to college and now looking for the best laptop for your college journey? If yes, then we recommend you to read the full article.
After reading this complete article, we guaranteed you that you will be able to pick the best laptop for your college at a reasonable price with all the specifications that should be in a college laptop.
The laptop has now become the essential need of every person whether he/she is a student, office worker, movie or gaming lover everyone wants to buy a good laptop on the best budget.
The market is full of a variety of laptops and it’s difficult for a newbie to pick one laptop that fulfills their needs, choosing a good laptop for your college is a kind of headache but don’t worry we will recommend you some good laptops for your college that suits your demands.
The laptop you bring to college matters, and not just because it’s the most fun way to stay in touch with friends and family while you’re away from home.
It also helps you stay organized, makes studying easier, and even helps with your grades if used correctly (and don’t worry we’ll explain how in a moment).
But there are a lot of different options out there on the market, making it hard to choose the best laptop for college students under $1000 that fits your needs and budget.
With so many different laptops on offer, it can be hard to know what type of laptop is best suited to college students. We have tested many laptops that could be a good choice for college students but among many, we shortlist the 10 best laptops that are worth buying for a college student.
Read More: Laptop Requirements For College Students?
The laptops that we will discuss in this article have all the specifications in it that a college student needs, also we have written the buying guide “how a college student should pick a laptop”, and what are the specifications that should be in a college laptop.
10 Best Laptops For College Students Under $1000:
Here are the 10 best laptops that are worth buying in 2022. All the laptops have good specifications and all are easily affordable for college students.
We have written the specifications, pros & cons of all the laptops. You can pick any one among the 10 that you think is best for you. So, without wasting time let’s start discussing all of them one by one.
Asus Zenbook 14 [Best Laptop For College Students]:
Asus is a brand is known for producing high-quality laptops. They mainly target the students and built laptops for them. Asus laptops are powerful and can be used for any kind of heavy work.
If you are an engineering student and you need to use heavy programs on your laptop then you should consider buying the Asus laptop. They are worth buying for college students.
Read More: Are Asus Computers Good?
Specifications of Asus Zenbook 14:
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Processor: Intel Core i7
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Storage: 512GB SSD
Screen Size: 14 Inch full HD NanoEdge Display
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Weight: 2.65 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Touchscreen: Yes
The Zenbook 14 is the latest addition to Asus’ successful line of ultraportable laptops, joining the Zenbook 13 and Zenbook 3. It has an aluminum chassis, a carbon fiber palm rest, and an aluminum hinge that allows you to twist the screen into various positions for better viewing angles.
It is a laptop that’s not afraid to be different. It’s not your typical Ultrabook: it packs a 14-inch screen and weighs less than four pounds. It also offers a great combination of performance and portability in an exceedingly stylish package.
There are two display options: one with a 1080p resolution and the other with a 4K panel (3840 x 2160). Both have 100 percent Adobe RGB color space support, so you’ll get accurate color reproduction no matter what program you’re using or how you’re viewing it.
It has a thin and light aluminum chassis, a high-resolution display, and a USB Type-C port. It’s powered by an Intel Core i7-8550U processor and has 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, and an Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card in tow.
The Zenbook 14 doesn’t have many frills. It has just one USB Type-C port and no Thunderbolt 3 port to speak of. There’s also just one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A port, which you’ll need for connecting accessories like external hard drives or printers.
Still, the Zenbook 14 is a great value for college students who are looking for a laptop under $1,000. There are some sacrifices involved in getting an affordable laptop with this level of performance (especially if you’re buying used), but if you’re looking for something affordable and don’t mind those sacrifices, this is the best bang for your buck you’ll find in this price range.
The Zenbook 14 is an ultrabook that’s built to take on the world. It’s incredibly thin and light, but it still has the power to handle your daily tasks with ease.
You’ll love its beautiful design and powerful performance thanks to an Intel Core i7 processor and up to 16GB of RAM. The Zenbook 14 is also available in several different colors so you can choose the one that suits your style best.
Due to its excellent features, we can say that Asus Zenbook 14 is the best choice for college students. This laptop is worth buying for college students.
Pros & Cons of Asus Zenbook 14:
Lenovo Yoga C740 [2-in-1 Laptop For College Students]:
When we talk about the students and budget laptops then how we can forget to mention the Lenovo brand laptop. A brand whose main aim is to produce powerful laptops at an affordable price.
Lenovo laptops are very popular among students, due to their great specifications and low price. Also, Lenovo is the biggest manufacturer of laptops with a market share of 24%.
Read More: Are Lenovo Computers Good?
Specifications of Lenovo Yoga C740:
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Screen Size: 14 Inches FHD IPS Display
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Weight: 3.09 pounds
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Fingerprint Reader: Yes
Touchscreen: Yes
Lenovo Yoga C740 is a sleek, high-performance laptop that offers the best of both worlds: a Windows 10 system and an Android smartphone. With the new Lenovo Smart Keyboard, you can enjoy the comfort of a keyboard without compromising on your favorite apps and features.
The Lenovo Yoga C740 is a convertible laptop that features a 14-inch touch display and Intel Core processors. The system is available with a 15-inch option, which has a 17-inch display.
The battery life of Yoga C740 is excellent which is up to 13 hours. The device offers Nvidia GeForce graphics, which can be upgraded with an Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card, depending on the model you choose.
The Lenovo Yoga C740 comes with an integrated webcam for video conferences and facial recognition software for Windows Hello login. You can connect to your phone using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and use Cortana voice commands for instant access to your favorite apps and services.
Due to its convertibility, it can be used in different modes: as a traditional clamshell, tent, or tablet. It’s the first to have a 360-degree hinge and optional touch screen.
The Yoga C740 has an aluminum body and a 13.3-inch display with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels of resolution. The keyboard is backlit with red LEDs and it has 512GB of storage space. There’s also 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7 processor.
The battery is removable, so you can swap it out for one that lasts longer. And the Yoga C740 comes with Android 8.1 Oreo preinstalled; it’s not yet available on Windows 10. This model also includes Dolby Atmos surround sound technology and Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics.
It is one of the few Windows laptops with a USB Type-C port (USB 3.1 Type-C) that can be used with the new USB-C dock (sold separately) that allows you to connect your laptop to an external display, projector, or other USB devices.
You’ll also get two Thunderbolt 3 ports for connecting external storage devices and accessories like docks and keyboards. With all, its great features and affordable price no doubt this is the best laptop for college students.
Pros & Cons of Lenovo Yoga C740:
Acer Swift 3 [Affordable Laptop For College Students]:
Acer is a brand that is targeting students and builds laptops for them. Their main aim is to provide budget laptops with good specifications. Among students, Acer laptops are very common due to their low price and excellent performance.
Specifications of Acer Swift 3:
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Processor: 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 with 2.8GHz speed
RAM: 8GB built-in ram
Storage: 512GB SSD storage
Screen Size: 14 Inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Weight: 2.65 lbs(1.2kg)
Graphics Adapter: AMD Radeon Integrated
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Fingerprint Reader: Yes
Touchscreen: No
Acer Swift 3 laptop is a new model from Acer, which was announced at CES 2019 in January. It has an aluminum body with a metal finish and uses a new display panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The device is equipped with two USB-C ports, one HDMI port, and an SD card reader.
The processor is the latest 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 (8th Gen), which provides performance at least on par with the previous generation of processors Intel Core i7-8550U and i7-8650U. It also supports Intel Turbo Boost 4 without overclocking speeds up to 4.1 GHz (4 GHz with Turbo Boost).
The Acer Swift 3 is a laptop that’s been on our radar for a while now. It’s not a flashy device, but its price point, specs, and design make it a solid choice for the average user.
Acer has been making laptops for years, and its latest offering is no exception. This 13-inch model runs Windows 10 Home (64-bit) and has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, an HD webcam, and an integrated fingerprint reader.
Acer makes some pretty good entry-level laptops, especially when it comes to building quality and value. The Swift 3 is no exception it feels sturdy in your hands and the keys have good feedback when pressed.
The display on this Acer laptop has decent viewing angles but isn’t great when you’re looking at it head-on from above or below although if you’re looking at it from the side or below you might not notice much difference anyway. It’s also bright enough so that you can work comfortably in any lighting conditions but not
You’ll also get Dolby Atmos sound with this machine, which is pretty cool if you like surround sound in your movies or games. The laptop is compact enough to fit in most bags, but its dimensions make it a good choice for those who want a little more space.
With all its great specifications and affordable price, it is the best laptop for college students.
Pros & Cons of Acer Swift 3:
Lenovo Ideapad 5 [Cheap 2-in-1 Laptop For College Students]:
Again a Lenovo laptop comes into our best laptops for college students list. Lenovo brand proves itself by producing high-quality laptops at an affordable price.
Read More: Are Lenovo Computers Good?
Specifications of Lenovo Ideapad 5:
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Processor: 10th generation Intel Core i5
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Storage: 512GB SSD
Screen Size: 15.6 inches HD display
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Weight: 4.4 lbs
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
Touchscreen: Yes
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is a thin and light 15.6-inch laptop that features Intel’s latest 10th-generation processors and powerful graphics. It also comes with a number of ports, including USB Type-C, Thunderbolt 3, and HDMI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 has a light aluminum chassis and looks great. It has a thick profile, but it’s still very thin at 0.55 inches thick and weighs just 4 pounds.
The keyboard is backlit for typing in dimly lit rooms, but there are no other special keys like volume controls or a touchpad here everything is controlled by the keyboard itself.
The keys are well laid out and the key travel is good too, although they don’t offer much feedback when you press them down. There’s also a fingerprint reader built into the spacebar that works well if you have your thumb resting on it when working with Windows 10 or ChromeOS devices.
This is a great laptop for those college students who want to buy a new one, but don’t want to spend too much money on it. It’s got a beautiful design and the build quality is very good.
The keyboard has a nice feel to it, and there are several different ways of customizing it to your liking. The screen is bright and clear, and the hinge is sturdy enough that you can open the laptop up completely flat for comfortable viewing angles.
There are also two USB ports on the left side of the device which makes it easy to charge devices without having to open up the keyboard or move your hands from where they currently are.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is a good-looking laptop with a great price. It’s built well and has a bright, clear touchscreen, so it’s perfect for watching movies or playing games.
The IdeaPad 5 has a 1920 x 1080 display that looks sharp even when you’re using it outdoors. The speakers are surprisingly loud and clear for such a small laptop, and the trackpad has just enough extra space between the cursor and the touch surface so that your fingers don’t get too cramped while typing.
The keyboard feels nice to type on and has excellent key travel; it’s comfortable enough for long periods of time without getting sore from overuse (like some other laptops).
The IdeaPad 5 comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage — plenty of room for lots of programs at once. You can use up all that disk space by installing dozens of games or apps, but if you’re looking for something versatile, there’s also an SD card slot so you can add more space if needed.
It’s a solid entry-level laptop with enough power for most users. The battery life is good, as is the screen resolution and build quality. If your budget is short and you are looking for a laptop that fulfills your needs then we recommend you to go with Lenovo Ideapad 5. It is really worth buying.
Pros & Cons of Lenovo Ideapad 5:
Dell Inspiron 15 [Recommended Laptop For College Students]:
Dell is the 3rd biggest vendor of laptops with a market share of 18%. It is also the oldest laptop brand which is producing high-quality laptops at an affordable price.
Dell laptops are very powerful and their performance is really impressive. You can use a Dell laptop for many years without any problem. Their laptops can be used for heavy work or playing games.
Read More: Are Dell Computers Good?
Specifications of Dell Inspiron 15:
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Processor: 11th generation Intel Core i5
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Weight: 3.9 lbs
USB Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Touchscreen: Yes
Dell Inspiron 15 is a great laptop for productivity, entertainment, and gaming. It comes with 16 GB RAM and a 1TB HDD for smooth performance.
The laptop has a 15.6-inch screen with a Full HD display. It has an Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce 940MX GPU that can handle multiple tasks at the same time without any lag. The laptop also comes with Microsoft Windows 10 Home operating system which is easy to use and install on this device.
Dell Inspiron 15 is a great laptop for all your college needs. It also comes with an HD webcam and Dolby audio speakers which are both very useful to have on a laptop.
This laptop comes with Windows 10 OS that enables you to do everything from browsing to playing games on the go. The battery life is around 10 hours which is pretty much decent for this price range.
The Dell Inspiron 15 laptop is designed to give you the best of both worlds. It has the power, speed, and portability of a thin and light category laptop, but it also has the strength and durability to take you wherever you need to go.
The Dell Inspiron 15 is a laptop that will give you everything you need in a small and affordable package. The 15.6-inch screen provides plenty of space for productivity, while the Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM make it an excellent choice for heavy users.
The Inspiron 15 also features a USB 3.0 port, an SD card reader, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi to make sure you have fast connections wherever you go.
With Windows 10 Home running on this machine, you can easily install software updates and manage your files without interrupting your workflow. With all the great specifications no doubt Dell Inspiron 15 is worth buying for college students.
Pros & Cons of Dell Inspiron 15:
HP Pavilion 15 [Cheapest Laptop For College Students]:
HP is the brand that started manufacturing laptops and computer goods very early. It is the 2nd biggest manufacturer of laptops with a market share of 21%. Their laptops are very slim and the design of their laptops is really impressive.
Read More: Is HP A Reliable Laptop Brand?
Specifications of HP Pavilion 15:
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
Processor: 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor
RAM: 16GB DDR4 Ram
Storage: 1TB
Screen Size: 15.6 Inch HD IPS MicroEdge Display
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Weight: 3.86 pounds
Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
Touchscreen: Yes
Don’t have more than $400 for buying a laptop for college? Here comes the HP Pavillion 15 which is the cheapest laptop on our list. Although it is the cheapest laptop on our list it does not mean that it has not the specifications that are in a good laptop.
The HP Pavilion 15 is a 15.6-inch laptop that’s designed to give you the best balance of performance and portability. It’s powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, which is an 11th-generation Intel Core processor that delivers up to 2.2 GHz frequency and has four core processing speeds.
The laptop has 16GB RAM and a 1TB storage space which can be expanded up to 2TB with an additional SATA drive connected via the PCIe slot.
The HP Pavilion 15 sports a 15.6″ Full HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution for high-quality images and videos. It also includes a webcam (720p HD) for video chats and webcams for security purposes. The keyboard features a 1.3mm travel distance, so you can type faster than before.
The HP Pavilion 15 comes with Windows 10 Pro operating system preinstalled, making it easy to start work right away without any hassle!
The Pavilion 15 has been around for a while now, but it still offers some amazing value for its price range. If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle basic tasks like web browsing, emailing, and streaming video without breaking a sweat, this is definitely one of your options.
The keyboard is spacious and comfortable to type on, with a raised trackpad above it. The speakers are located on the bottom of the laptop and sound quite loud, though they’re not very deep or rich in tone.
The battery life is acceptable for this class of device, lasting around 9 hours before needing a recharge. This can be extended by using the power adapter while charging, but this will make it difficult to use while plugged in at the same time.
Overall, it’s a decent option for college students if you’re looking to get something last year’s model would have been able to handle but don’t need top-of-the-line performance or features like touchscreens or displays that fold back into the keyboard faceplate.
Pros & Cons of HP Pavilion 15:
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 [Lightweight Laptop For College Students]:
Microsoft is a brand that comes into the laptop manufacturing market in 2012. In a very short time, it becomes very popular among students, office workers, and other laptop users.
They are manufacturing powerful laptops at a reasonable price. Most Microsoft laptops are touchscreens which is the reason students mostly used their laptops.
Specifications of Surface Pro 7:
Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i5 processor
RAM: 8GB upgradeable (Up to 16GB)
Storage: 256GB SSD (Upgradeable Up to 512GB)
Screen Size: 12.3 Inches
Resolution: 2736 x 1824
Weight: 1.70 pounds
Operating System: Windows 11
Battery Life: Up to 10.5 hours.
Touchscreen: Yes
The Surface Pro 7 is the latest iteration of Microsoft’s flagship tablet, and it builds on the best features of its predecessors to create a powerful device that can replace your laptop in some cases.
It boasts an updated design, improved performance and battery life, and a new high-resolution display. The Surface Pro 7 is available in different configurations that range from an entry-level model to a premium edition with more storage and RAM.
The Surface Pro 7 has a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display with a 2736 x1824 resolution that delivers sharp text and images while maintaining an ultra-wide aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is 1:1 (16:9), which means you get less screen space than traditional laptops with 16:9 displays like the MacBook Air or iPad Pro 9.7 (2018).
The device comes standard with Intel’s 8th generation Core i5 processor, which can handle demanding tasks like video editing or rendering graphics without slowing down noticeably.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a tablet with a detachable keyboard design and an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The device has an 8th generation Intel Core processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD storage.
The Surface Pro 7 has two USB 3.0 ports, one USB Type-C port, and one HDMI port. It also has a microSD card slot for expanding storage space. The tablet comes with Windows 10 Home operating system preinstalled, which can be upgraded to Windows 10 Professional for up to 6 months after purchase for free.
Surface Pro 7 is a good option for college students because Microsoft laptops are now becoming popular among every type of student that the reason it is the best choice for the students.
Pros & Cons of Surface Pro 7:
Acer Aspire 5 [Cheapest 2-in-1 Laptop For College Student]:
If you cannot spend much money on buying a Dell, Apple, or HP laptop for your college then don’t worry there is another brand that is producing powerful laptops like Dell or HP at a cheap price. You can buy the Acer laptop if your budget is short.
Specifications of Acer Aspire 5:
Operating System: Windows 11 Home
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3700U
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Storage: 256GB SSD
Screen Size: 15.6 Inches HD display
Resolution: 1366 x 768
Weight: 3.7 pounds
Graphics Adapter: INVIDIA Geforce MX250 dedicated graphic
Battery Life: Up to 7 hours
Fingerprint Reader: Yes
Touchscreen: Yes
The Acer Aspire 5 is a budget-friendly laptop that offers solid performance for about $500. It’s got a 15.6-inch display, 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, and 8GB of RAM, which should be enough to handle pretty much anything you want to do with it.
The laptop also has a backlit keyboard and comes with Windows 10 Home installed out of the box. The Acer Aspire 5 is made of plastic, but it feels sturdy and well-built overall.
The plastic lid has some texture to it, so you don’t get an overly smooth feel when using the laptop over time. There’s also an IPS panel with 1366 x 766 px resolution not the best option if you’re looking for a touchscreen display, but still fine for most users.
It weighs 3.7 pounds and measures 0.76 x 11.89 x 9 inches (19 x 298 x 229mm). It’s not especially heavy or large compared to other laptops in its price range, but it’s definitely not going to feel like something that belongs in your backpack or purse either.
With the Acer Aspire 5, you can enjoy a full-size keyboard and trackpad, along with a battery that lasts up to nine hours. This laptop also has an advanced cooling system to keep it running at peak performance. No doubt this is the best laptop for a college student.
Pros & Cons of Acer Aspire 5:
HP Envy 13 [Affordable Laptop For A College Student]:
Again HP laptop comes into our list, no doubt HP is providing powerful laptops at a high price but it is also providing some laptops that are powerful and their price is low. A good example of this is HP Envy 13 which is really worth buying if your budget is short.
Read More: Is HP A Reliable Laptop Brand?
Specifications of HP Envy 13:
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Processor: 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor
Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce MX250
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display Size: 13.3 Inch FHD display
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Weight: 2.8 lbs
USB Ports: 3
Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Video Memory: 2GB
Touchscreen: Yes
The HP Envy 13 is a laptop that is built to take on the most demanding of tasks. For example, if you are an engineering student then definitely you need to use heavy software like Android Studio, Solidworks, Matlab, etc then in this situation, it will be the best option for you.
It has a powerful processor, enough memory, and a large hard drive to support it. It’s got the latest hardware and software, so you can feel confident in your purchase.
The Envy 13 has a 13-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This gives you plenty of room for work or play without having to squint at small text on web pages. The screen also has an HD resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels for crisp images and videos.
The processor used in this notebook is an Intel Core i7-7560U CPU, which has six cores and 12 threads (total) running at 2.6GHz with a Turbo Boost of 3.4GHz when needed (or 4 GHz if all cores are in use).
The Core i7-7560U also has an 8MB L3 cache and runs at 1TB/s read speeds and 550MB/s write speeds.
The HP Envy 13 is the best 13-inch laptop we’ve ever reviewed, and it’s also one of the most affordable laptops you can buy. That’s not surprising considering it has a 2.8GHz Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive.
But it’s worth it for all the things you can do with this laptop from playing games to editing videos to working on spreadsheets.
Aside from its performance, the Envy 13 is an absolute pleasure to use. The keyboard is comfortable and responsive, and there are plenty of ports on both sides (including two USB 3.0 ports) so you don’t have to worry about plugging in too many devices simultaneously.
It’s also extremely versatile thanks to its high-resolution screen that can display four different images at once or switch between them quickly using Windows 10’s Picture-in-Picture mode.
Pros & Cons of HP Envy 13:
Lenovo Flex 5 [Touchscreen Laptop For College Student]:
In the end, we again include the Lenovo laptops in our best laptops for college students list. Due to its excellent performance, build quality, and low price it is very popular among students.
Specifications of Lenovo Flex 5:
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U
Graphics: Integrated AMD Radeon Graphic
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Storage: 512GB SSD Storage
Display Size: 14 Inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Pixels
Weight: 3.53 lbs
USB Ports: 2 USB Type-A & 1 USB Type-C
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Touchscreen: Yes
Lenovo Flex 5 is a good laptop with some minor flaws. It’s an affordable option for those college students who are looking to get their feet wet with Windows 10, and it packs a few unique features that make it worth considering.
The Flex 5 has an aluminum body, which makes it feel sturdy and well-made. There are two models available: one with a 14-inch screen and another with a 15-inch screen. Both models have the same base CPU configuration, which includes an Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM.
The keyboard is comfortable to type on and feels solid under your fingers; there’s no flexing or creaking when you type or press buttons down.
There’s also a touchpad that works well during Windows 10 sessions but can be frustrating during Android apps because there are no physical buttons just gestures like pinch-to-zoom or swipe up/down to switch between apps
It is a 2-in-1 laptop with a longer battery life of up to 10 hours. It has all the specifications that as a college student you need. With excellent performance and affordable price no doubt, this is the best laptop for a college student.
Pros & Cons of Lenovo Flex 5:
How A College Student Should Choose A Laptop [Buying Guide]
Choosing the best laptop for your college journey is a challenging task for you, as there are many laptops of different brands available on the market with different price ranges and specifications.
But choosing the one that fulfills your college needs will be a good practice. Above we have reviewed the 10 best laptops for college students under $1000. We have discussed the specifications, pros & cons of each one.
But that’s not the end, if you are a buying laptop for the first time then definitely need a buying guide on “how a college student should choose a laptop”.
We recommend you to read the full buying guide so that you can make the decision easier on which one you should pick for your college.
What Are Laptop Requirements For College Students?
We have written a dedicated article on laptop requirements for college students, we recommend you to read this article. Here we will discuss again the requirements of a laptop for college students.
Here are the minimum and recommended system requirements for nursing school students:
- The minimum processor for a college laptop is Intel Core i3, but the recommended is Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 or above.
- The minimum ram that is required for the college is 4GB but recommended is 8GB or above.
- The minimum storage required is 256GB but recommended is 512GB SSD.
- The minimum battery life is 6 hours but recommended is 10 hours.
- The minimum display size is 12 inches but recommend is 13-15 inches. Display size is someone’s personal choice.
- The weight of the laptop should not be more than 4 pounds, but if you want a larger display then the weight would be increased.
Note: If you don’t have much budget for buying a laptop for college then we recommend you get a laptop that has at least the recommended system requirements. Don’t buy a laptop that has not the recommended system requirements.
But if you can spend a few bucks more on buying college laptops then we recommend you to go with the recommended system requirements. You will get better performance from your laptop.
Here are the things that you should look into for a college laptop before buying it. If a laptop has all these specifications and features in it then it will be the best choice for you.
1: Processor:
The processor of a laptop which is often called a CPU is the brain of a computer. The processor in a laptop decides how fast your laptop will respond to perform a certain task.
The higher the processor the faster laptop will do your required task. Laptops come with different processors ranging from core i3 to core i9. But for a college laptop, you need a minimum of Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor if you want good performance from your laptop.
Core i5 is best if you don’t want to use heavy programs on your laptop, but if you are a student in a technical field and you need to use heavy programs then you should go with at least Core i7.
Our winner Asus Zenbook 14 has the Intel Core i7 processor which is fast enough to handle heavy work.
2: RAM:
Ram is also another important component of the laptop. It decides the speed of your laptop. The higher the ram of your laptop the faster your system will respond. If you want to use heavy softwares on your laptop then you definitely need a higher ram.
Laptops are coming with different rams ranging from 4GB to 32GB. For a college student minimum of 8GB, ram is required. 8GB is required when you don’t need to run heavy programs.
But if you need to run heavy programs or you want to multitask or play games then definitely you should go with the 16GB ram. It is enough for using any kind of heavy program.
3: Storage:
As a college student you definitely need storage on your laptop to store your important documents, and files that might be big in size. Some documents and files might be big in size and they need huge space in order to store on the laptop.
Laptops are now coming with different storage ranging from 128GB to 2TB. As a college student, you need at least 256GB of SSD storage, it is enough if you don’t want to store heavy files and documents on your laptop.
But if you want to store heavy files, movies, or songs on your laptop then you should go with at least 512GB SSD storage. Always choose a laptop that has the SSD installed in it.
A laptop that has SSD installed in it is much faster than those laptops that do not have SSD in it. Also, keep in mind when you install operating on your laptop either Windows or Mac it will consume a few GBs of space by default.
And if your laptop storage is full above 70% then your laptop will start creating problems like slowing down, automatically restarting, freezing or hanging, etc. So, it’s better for you to go with at least 512GB SSD storage to avoid any problems.
Our winner Asus Zenbook 14 has 512GB SSD storage which is enough for your college laptop.
4: Battery:
The battery of a laptop is the most important component. You cannot use your laptop without its battery. Students love laptops that have a longer battery life because no one wants to charge their laptop after a few hours.
Everyone wants a laptop that has longer battery life so he stays tense free whole day from charging the battery. As a college student, you need a laptop that has at least 7 hours of battery life.
It is because you have to spend at least 6 to 7 hours in your college taking classes, so if your laptop battery is less than 6 hours you will not be able to use it the whole time. That’s why we recommend you to go with a laptop that has at least 7 hours of battery life.
Our winner Zenbook 14 has a longer battery life which is up to 12 hours, which means you can use your laptop the whole day without charging it.
5: Weight:
If you study online via zoom or google classroom then you don’t have to worry about the weight of the laptop, because you don’t have to carry your laptop along with you.
But if you are studying physically then the weight of the laptop is the thing that you cannot ignore. It is hard for everyone to carry heavy laptops in their backpack. As a college student, you have to carry your laptop for the whole day from class to class so if your laptop weight is more than 4 pounds then it will be difficult for you to carry it.
We recommend you choose a laptop that has a weight of between 2.5 to 4 pounds because this type of laptop will be easy to carry and it will not put much load on your backpack.
Our winner Asus Zenbook 14 is ultra-portable and weighs only 2.65 pounds. No doubt this is the best choice for a college student.
6: Display Size:
The display size of the laptop is someone’s personal choice. Some people like laptops with larger display whereas some like laptops that has small displays(mini laptops). But why we are discussing it here?
It is because the larger the display size of the laptop the heavier in size it will be. If you are someone who likes large screen laptops then also keep in mind these laptops weigh higher which will be difficult for you to carry the whole day in a college.
If you study remotely then the weight is not an issue for you, but if you study physically then you should choose a laptop that weighs less. Most of the students like laptops that have a display size of around 13 to 14 inches. These laptops are portable.
Our winner Zenbook 14 has a 14 inches display size and it is also portable and weighs only 2.65 pounds.
7: Microphone & Webcam:
As a college student, sometimes you need to take classes online via zoom or teams apart from taking classes online you might need to take video conferences with your friends or family members.
So, in this case, your laptop must have a built-in microphone and webcam so that you can make your video conference experience better. Our winner Zenbook has a built-in microphone and a webcam which you can use for video conferences.
8: Connectivity:
As a college student, you definitely need a laptop that has good connectivity. You should pick a laptop that has built-in wifi, Bluetooth and LTE support so that you access the internet easily from anywhere.
9: Budget:
In the end, must keep the budget in your mind for how much money you want to spend on buying a laptop for your college. It is useless to see check the specifications of a laptop whose price is more than your defined budget.
But we recommend you spend a good money one time on buying a good laptop rather than spending less money on buying low-quality laptops. If you buy a good laptop by spending good money then you don’t have to worry about it for many years.
It can easily last for 5 to 6 years without creating any problems for you. You can buy a good laptop easily by spending around 700 to 1000$. In our list, we have listed the 10 best laptops ranging from $400 to $1000.
We recommend you pick from the Asus Zenbook 14, Lenovo Yoga C740, Acer Swift 3, and Dell Inspiron 15. They all are best for college students. The rest decision is yours, we only recommend good laptops not force you to buy them. You can pick any one among the 10 that you think is best for your college journey.
Rest decision is your pick the one that you think is best for you according to your needs and budget.
Final Thoughts On The Best Laptop For College Students:
Picking the best laptop for college is not as easy a task as we mentioned above because there are many options available with different price ranges. That’s why we write this detailed article so that you can make your decision easier.
In this article, we have reviewed the 10 best laptops that a college student could consider buying. All 10 laptops have different specifications and prices. We also have written the pros and cons of each laptop to make your decision easier.
We know that after reading a review of 10 laptops you get confused about which one you should pick and which one would be the best fit for your college. Now let us make the decision easier for you.
If your budget is short and you are not able to spend more than 400 to 500$ on buying a laptop for your college then we recommend you go either with HP Pavillion 15 or Acer Aspire 5. You can purchase these laptops if your budget is very low. These laptops are the cheapest on our list.
But if you can spend a few bucks more in order to buy a quality laptop for your college then we recommend you to go either with Zenbook 14, Dell Inspiron 15, Acer Swift 3, or Lenovo Yoga C740.
They all are very powerful and can handle any demanding work. They have all the specifications that should be in a college laptop. Rest decision is your pick the one that you thinks is best for you.