The best student laptops in 2024

The best student laptops won't just be the cheapest model on the market (although getting something affordable is definitely a factor). Students need a laptop that will support them throughout their course and provide enough power, performance, portability and durability for their needs.

When deciding on the best student laptop to invest in, it's worth considering what the course will require. If the most strenuous activity you'll be putting your machine through will be essay writing and the occasional Netflix marathon, then the best student laptops listed below will be perfect for your needs.

If you're doing a course that will need a more advanced laptop, such as graphic design, filmmaking, or any subject involving the digital arts, then you'll need a well-specced machine. Take a look at the best laptops for photo editing or the best laptops for video editing, if you're going down this academic route.

Whether you're a current student or starting a new course, discover more tips for choosing the best student laptop at the end of this article...

best student laptops: our top picks

The best student laptops

The Macbook Air released in 2022 is the direct replacement to the Macbook Air of 2020. While it looks incredibly similar to its predecessor, it has been redesigned and is now powered by a more powerful M2 chip (rather than 2020’s M1).

The base M2 chip packs an 8‑core CPU and 8‑core GPU, which can be upgraded to a 10-core GPU for an additional cost. You also get 8GB RAM and 256GB, though upgrading to 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage would be wise to stay future-proofed.

With our 16GB test machine, we were astounded at how this little laptop could keep up with our most demanding image processing requests and not break a sweat. There are no fans to whir and it doesn’t seem to heat up under pressure. A crystal clear display and comfortable trackpad and keyboard are complemented by a Magsafe power connector and two USB-C ports.

There's no doubt this is a terrific laptop, but its extra performance comes at a significant price premium over the already excellent M1 MacBook Air. We reckon the M1 Air still makes the best value choice for all but the most power-hungry students.

Read our full MacBook Air (2022) review.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a very powerful device hiding in its compact laptop-tablet hybrid design. More than capable of plowing through any productivity tasks thrown at it, it can also handle a solid amount of photo editing on programs such as Photoshop and Lightroom, and while it might struggle slightly, it can even output some light video editing. 

The Surface Pro 9 is a very well-built and beautiful device with its best-in-class kickstand with a unique hinge design that still reigns supreme in the 2-in-1 world. If you choose to buy the optional Surface Type Cover and Surface Slim Pen (which you really should as they complete this device) then this is a fantastic productivity device for on the move between classes and cozying up in the library.

Read our full Surface Pro 9 review.

The Surface Laptop Go is the cheapest Surface Laptop you can buy, making it one of the best student laptops. It's also wonderfully light and compact, at just 1.1kg and 278 x 206 x 15.7mm. Battery life is also stellar, rated at 13 hours for typical usage.

The key to such great battery longevity is the power-sipping quad-core 10th gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, though this is no speed demon, and the relatively small 12.4-inch screen will be restrictive for extended periods of image editing.

Three versions of the Surface Laptop Go are available, with the only key differences being RAM and storage capacity. The cheapest of the trio is best avoided, however, as its paltry 4GB RAM won't go far once you've opened a few web browser tabs and fired up a 1080P video, and its 64GB SSD storage is similarly stingy.

The mid-range option is the pick of the bunch thanks to its 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD. The flagship Surface Laptop Go gets you a larger 256GB SSD, but the corresponding price increase is too much to justify.

Rather than running Windows or Mac OS, this student laptop is based on Google's ChromeOS operating system. It's designed to be super simple to use and runs apps from Google's Play Store, just like an Android phone or tablet. As such you won't be able to use Windows software like the Office suite, but Google's own cloud-based productivity apps like Docs and Sheets are genuinely viable alternatives.

Despite its low price, this is one of the best Chromebooks you can buy right now, with its standout feature being its 14-inch Full HD 1080p screen. It's an IPS panel, so you needn't worry about restricted viewing angles or weak contrast. Be sure you go for this Full HD (FHD) version of the HP Chromebook 14 though, as other models are available with lesser screens

Of course, a laptop this cheap is never going be an image-editing powerhouse: the Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB on-board storage in the entry-level versions of the HP Chromebook 14 make it the minimum you can get away with for web browsing, image viewing and HD YouTube viewing. But the payoff for having such power-efficient hardware is up to 11 hours of battery life from a device that's exceptionally light and portable.

If you're in the market for one of the best student laptops, the Acer Swift 3 (2020) is definitely one to consider. It balances an affordable price tag with enough power to help students navigate their everyday life at school, college or university. Whether you need to browse the web for research or write your latest essay, the Acer Swift 3 is designed to easily handle day-to-day tasks.

One of the Acer Swift 3's most useful features is how thin and light it is. While it boasts a 14" screen, it's only 1.5cm thick and weighs a featherlight 1.18kg (2.7lbs). However, while it might be super light, that doesn't mean that the construction is cheap or flimsy. The Acer Swift 3 has been designed to have a great build quality that won't easily break. This isn't the most powerful piece of hardware in the world, but, for most students, the Acer Swift 3 will be the perfect companion.

Chromebooks are a value-packed way to get one of the best student laptops at a reasonable price, provided you don't mind making the switch from Windows or Mac OS to Google's Chrome OS operating system. With the Pixelbook Go, not only does Google make the software, but it also produces the laptop itself.

The Pixelbook Go brings the best features of the original Pixelbook to a more affordable price point (though the top-spec Intel Core i7 model with a 4K screen still commands a distinctly premium four-figure price tag). But thankfully even the entry-level model still sports a gorgeous 13.3-inch Full HD IPS screen, and its 8GB of RAM should suffice for most tasks. 

Web browsing and word processing are a joy with the Pixelbook's tactile Hush Keys keyboard, and you'll look the part when distance learning thanks to the built-in 1080p webcam. 12-hour battery life and a barely believable weight of just over 1kg seal the deal.

Hybrid 2-in-1 devices offer the best of both worlds with a tablet for more casual browsing and reading, and then a keyboard attachment for when it is time to get some work done. The 2-in-1 from Dell is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops out there; it’s thin, light, and portable – and therefore, travel-friendly; and it’s extremely capable for its size. 

it’s great for editing high-res photos in Lightroom, and for graphic design in Photoshop and Illustrator. It can also handle some light video editing but don't expect quick renders especially if it’s in 4K, as there is no dedicated graphics inside. Once you’re done with school work, you can seamlessly switch to relaxation mode and watch some movies on the beautiful screen

Read our full Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 review.

The MacBook Air M1 is no longer the newest 'Air in town – that's the M2 version (below). However, the older M1 model represents excellent value for money and is around 25% cheaper than the M2. It should last through several years of studies.

The MacBook Air's design, finish and ergonomics give it a real edge over most student-friendly laptops, and so does its sheer performance for such a lightweight laptop. Its Retina screen is, as ever, just beautiful. The contrast, definition and brightness are stellar, and while the 2560 x 1600 resolution isn’t 4K, it’s an important step up from a regular 1920 x 1080 screen.

There are just two USB ports, which is annoying, it’s not really a lot smaller than a regular MacBook, even though it looks like it, and the 7-core entry-level model is a bit of an odd proposition, but these are pretty minor complaints. This is a beautifully made notebook computer that offers supreme portability and versatility for a fair price – definitely one of the best student laptops if your budget can stretch to one.

See also Best student printers

Fancy a laptop and tablet in one? The Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1 offers an outstanding amount of versatility and features for a very reasonable price – perfect as one of the best student laptops. 

The 14-inch Full HD screen can flip back and around to rest on the back of the machine, creating a tablet PC, albeit a thick one. The screen is touch-sensitive and can be used as a basic pen-enabled graphics tablet - a very rare trick in the budget sector. Dell hasn't forgotten about display quality either, as the panel uses IPS tech - great for photo quality.

Under the hood is a bang-up-to-date 10th generation Intel® Core™ i5-10210U quad-core CPU with a potent 1.6GHz base speed and up to 4.2GHz boost speed. Pair this with the 8GB of RAM and generous 512GB SSD and you've got very respectable all-round performance.

Most Chromebooks prioritize portability and low cost over processing power and multitasking versatility, but Acer's Chromebook Spin 13 is a genuine alternative to a full-blown Windows laptop or MacBook. It's still capable of a mighty impressive 10-hour max run time, but you get a practical 8GB of RAM (4GB in the base model - not recommended), and a reasonably nippy quad-core processor.

There's no cut-price, low-res screen either, as the 13.5-inch IPS screen boasts a resolution higher than Full HD. But the Chromebook Spin 13's real party-piece is its ability to transform into a tablet, with its low 1.5kg weight making this a genuinely useful feature. This flexibility of being either a laptop or a tablet makes the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 one of the best student laptops, giving you the ultimate freedom to pursue your studies in the best way to suit you. 

The Acer Chromebook 314 is a super affordable laptop with a fantastic battery life and a suitably large 14" display for students to work on their essays (and perhaps watch one of the best streaming services to unwind afterwards!). Running Chrome OS rather than Windows 10, the Acer Chromebook 314 might not be the most specced up laptop on the market (it's worth remembering that you won't be able to download third party software – only apps from the Google Play store), but it's a great workhorse that'll see you through your course with ease. 

If you're a student taking a course that will require a little more power from your laptop, such as photography or media, then we'd recommend one of the more powerful best student laptops in this guide. However, if the most strenuous activities you'll be undertaking are writing essays or embarking on a Netflix marathon, then you just can't go wrong with the Acer Chromebook 314 for the price.

Asus's VivoBook range is extensive, and rather confusing, but pay close attention to the specs and it is possible to grab a 15.6-inch model equipped with a high quality Full HD IPS screen with wide viewing angles and reliable contrast. There are various different VivoBook S15 model numbers that can get you this screen option, but the S530 is one of the safer bets.

Several processor options are available, but the quad-core Intel Core i5-8250U balances performance and cost the best. Elsewhere, the S530 is most often specced with a healthy 8GB of RAM and a small but fast 256GB SSD. Measuring 361.4  x 243.5  x 18mm and weighing in at 1.8kg, the VivoBook is also a svelte student laptop, proving that low cost doesn't have to mean low style.

Which of the best student laptops is right for you?

In this guide to the best student laptops, we've focused on affordable models over powerhouses. This is because most students won't need their laptop for much more than word processing, making Zoom calls and using the best streaming services – so there's no point in splashing your cash if this is all you expect to be doing. Plus, the less powerful your components, the less electricity you'll be using and the longer your battery life should be.

Now, we understand that it might be tempting to pick out the cheapest possible machine, but you might end up kicking yourself in the long run. Even simply browsing the web can consume a lot of RAM (computer memory). In fact, with 15 Chrome tabs open and no other apps running, 31% of my 16GB of RAM on my own laptop has already been consumed. We would recommend going for the best student laptop that has at least 8GB of RAM. 

Meanwhile, hard drive storage is less of an issue. While it's getting increasingly rarer to find a best student laptop that can be upgraded with extra RAM, external storage is much more accessible. We would recommend going for a laptop that features a 128GB SSD or greater, as this should be enough for all of your apps (unless you're a gamer, in which case a 256GB SSD should be the bare minimum). 

If you need extra storage in the future, you can easily pick up an external hard drive or portable SSD. This is a much more affordable option than configuring your new laptop with an equivalent amount of extra internal storage at the point of purchase.

How we test laptops

When reviewing a laptop, we assess its internal hardware features, build quality, ergonomics, performance in a variety of usage scenarios, value for money, and its overall suitability for its target buyer. 

Although we'll evaluate a laptop with a typical user in mind, we will also pay particular attention to the perspective of photo and video enthusiasts, with special focus given to screen quality and color space coverage. 

Where possible, a monitor calibrator will be used to measure a laptop's display performance to assess whether it matches a manufacturer's claims, and software benchmarks like GeekBench are used to measure a laptop's processor and graphics card capabilities. 

Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World.

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