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Top Rated Laptops for Students
As a student these days, one of the things you need to help you through your student life is a reliable and versatile laptop. Whether you want a Chromebook to use Google apps or a Windows laptop to use those familiar productivity apps, I’m sure you will find the perfect laptop for you. However, if your budget is limited, and knowing that laptops nowadays are not cheap, then know that there are laptops out there that are not only affordable but will perform as well as premium ones. So do yourself a favor. If you are in university or college and looking for the best budget laptop, then check out these top-rated laptops for students you can buy right now.
7 Top-Rated Laptops for Students to Buy Now
1 – Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook
★★★★
SPECS
PROS CONS
If you’re looking for a Chromebook that’s easy on your budget, you might want to check out the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook.
With performance, it’s not the most powerful Chromebook out there, but ChromeOS runs super smoothly on it. So, for all your everyday school work, from research or writing papers, to web surfing or sending emails, it’s not going to let you down.
And when you’re ready to relax after a long day of studying, you can use it to watch video streams of your favorite shows and movies. Just keep in mind that the screen is not that impressive, so it might not be the most immersive experience for an epic movie night.
One of the coolest things about this Chromebook, especially for the price, is its 2-in-1 design. That’s pretty rare! This means you can use it like a regular laptop, or you can flip it around and use it like a tablet. Talk about flexible! It’s super handy for students because you get the best of both worlds without needing to buy two separate devices.
And get this – the battery life is seriously impressive. When we tested it, it lasted 16 hours playing videos! So, you can pretty much guarantee it’ll get you through a whole school day (and then some!) without needing to hunt for an outlet.
Sounds like a pretty good all-rounder for student life, right? Try it. You’ll see what I mean.
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2 – Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (2022)
★★★★★
SPECS
PROS CONS
Meet the Inspiron 14, the impressive and compact 2-in1 laptop tablet from Dell. One of our top-rated laptops and is perfect for students. Even though it has a slightly smaller 14-inch screen, it pretty much keeps all the fantastic features of the bigger 16-inch model.
We’re talking strong performance that can handle your workload, and it’s super versatile thanks to its touchscreen and a hinge that lets it flip all the way around – talk about flexibility! Plus, the price is really competitive for what you get.
Now, just like its 16-inch big brother, it doesn’t come with a stylus pen. However, that’s a minor detail when you look at everything else it offers!
I seriously loved testing the Inspiron 14 2-in-1. That 1080p webcam is a huge bonus for all those video calls and online classes, and it performs really well – you might even be able to squeeze in some light gaming!
And the battery life? Excellent! It also charges up super fast, which is a lifesaver when you’re rushing between classes. Honestly, I found it really hard not to recommend this laptop! Ready to upgrade your study setup? Try the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 laptop.
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3 – Acer Swift Go 14
★★★★★
SPECS
PROS CONS
Hey there! So, if you’re on the hunt for a new laptop that’s going to get the job done at a lower cost, you have to check out the Acer Swift Go 14. It looks good, it’s solid, and while it’s not going to feel like a luxury sports car, it’s going to get you where you need to go.
For most folks just looking for a reliable daily driver, this laptop is a winner. It’s priced really reasonably, and it’s got enough power to handle all your everyday tasks – think emails, video streaming, browsing online – for the next three to five years, easily. That’s a pretty sweet deal.
The Acer Swift Go 14 also comes with some cool extras that you’ll appreciate. It has a built-in Copilot AI, which is a Microsoft thing, but it even has its own special processing unit and a dedicated button on the keyboard to bring it up. How neat is that? Plus, the multi-gesture touchpad is a nice touch, and the webcam and microphone are a few of the features you get for all your online lectures, video calls and online meetups.
Now, if money is no object and you’re looking for the absolute top-tier Ultrabook, this might not be your first choice. But let’s be real! With everything costing more these days, most of us are trying to make our budgets stretch as far as they can go. And when you consider that, the Acer Swift Go 14 is an easy, no-brainer recommendation for anyone needing a solid laptop for daily use. Ready to find your next everyday tech companion? Try one of the top rated laptops for students.
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4 – Acer Aspire 5 (2022)
★★★★
SPECS
PROS CONS
Thinking about getting a new laptop to help you with your school work or assignments? You should check out the Acer Aspire 5 (2022). Yes, I said it. It’s one of our top rated laptops for students right now.
Why? Well, it’s affordable, which is a huge bonus when you’re on a budget. And even though its Intel processor isn’t the absolute newest, it’s still performs well, especially when you compare it to other laptops in the same price range. This means it’ll handle all your daily school tasks without any problems.
Since it runs Windows 11 as its operating system, you get access to all the familiar desktop programs, unlike Chromebooks that often gives you access to only basic versions of their apps.
Just a heads-up, though: because of its price and age, it’s not going to be a powerful laptop for things like video editing or heavy-duty gaming. But for all your essay writing, research, and general coursework, it’s an awesome choice.
If you want something reliable that won’t cost you so much money, and you’re not looking for a Chromebook, choose the Acer Aspire 5 laptop.
5 – Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023)
★★★★
SPECS
PROS CONS
If you’re looking for a laptop that’s seriously in a league of its own, you’ve got to hear about the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023). While it’s a bit of a departure from Dell’s usual XPS line, trust me, it’s absolutely fantastic.
We’re talking about the definitive Windows Ultrabook here – a super sleek blend of easy portability, awesome performance, and a design that’s just pure premium class. Knowing the capabilities of the XPS laptops over the years, I can confidently say this one is among one of the top rated laptops around.
Don’t let its compact size fool you! This little 13-inch marvel comes packed with a premium Intel Core processor and an awesome 32GB of RAM, to boost the overall performance. What does that mean for you? Well. It’s going to absolutely fly through all your productivity tasks, no matter how demanding.
And at just 1.26kg and only 1.5cm thick, it’s ridiculously easy to carry in your bag and take it anywhere. I was so impressed with how responsive it was, and it can even handle some light gaming when you need a break!
So, whether you’re prioritizing ultimate portability with solid performance, Dell’s got you covered XPS 13 Plus.
6 – Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)
★★★★★
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PROS CONS
Calling all MacBook fans. If you’re studying something creative, or even if you just love making content as a serious hobby, you absolutely need to check out the 13-inch MacBook Air (M3) from Apple. Seriously, it’s probably the best laptop for you, and if you’re a student, a must have.
Apple’s M-series processor is almost unparalleled when it comes to creative workloads, and this 13-inch MacBook Air, release in 2024, crams all that creative power into a compact, but durable metal chassis.
The M3 chip offers yet another step up in performance from the 2022 M2 model, marking this as a prime pick for any students who plan to spend a lot of time creating content such as digital art, video editing, 3D design, and animation. Despite the great performance, it’s also silent in use since it’s passively cooled with no fans, and the battery life is phenomenal.
Sadly, this is one of the most expensive laptops on this list, so it’s not for the faint of heart. You’ll probably want to opt for a model slightly above the base version too, since that iteration skimps on RAM with only 8GB where 16GB should really be the minimum.
In the end, the Apple MacBook Air (M3) offers better performance, a slightly better design, and a cheaper price on the base model compared to older models. This is easily the best MacBook money can buy for most people, though I recommend boosting the memory and storage space when ordering. It makes it more expensive, but will last you many more years.
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7 – Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (2022)
★★★★★
SPECS
PROS CONS
If you like more premium Chromebooks to help you with productivity, the let me tell you about the Acer Chromebook Spin 514. Yes, it might be a bit more expensive for a Chromebook, but you get so much for your money.
It’s packed with powerful parts and it’s super easy to use. Plus, it’s really versatile! It has a 360-degree hinge and a touch screen, just like a 2-in-1 laptop. When I tested, I realized how strong its performance is, the tough build, and the all-day battery life it offers.
The Spin 514 is often cheaper than Windows laptops with similar features. So, it’s still a great option if you want a top-notch Chromebook for your studies.
Overall, this is a really solid 2-in-1 laptop with great internal specs. This means it should easily last you through three, four, or even five years of your studies, making it a worthy investment, and with the Acer Chromebook Spin 514, you can be sure it’s a good one!
Lastly
Now that you have an idea of the top-rated laptop you can get as a student, which one of these laptops caught your eye? Which one do you like the least? How do you feel about these chosen laptops? Let me know in the comments section below. And if you like what you see, click on the blue button on the laptop you chose and find out more info, or buy it. It depends on you. That’s all from me. I hope you enjoy my post of the the 7 top-rated laptops for students to buy now. Stay safe until next time 😀
