the best laptop for college can be a daunting task. There are thousands of different models on the market and there’s no single right choice to make. We’ll help you narrow down your options with some tips on how to find the best laptop for your needs, based on factors such as budget, operating system, and display.
Table of Contents
Choosing a laptop
A laptop is a portable computer that can be used at home, in the classroom, and elsewhere. Laptops are typically smaller than desktops and have many features on them such as touchscreens and longer battery life. They’re also more powerful than tablets, meaning you’ll get more done with fewer resources!
There are many uses for laptops, including gaming (if you want to play games), work and study (you might need one if your school doesn’t provide an affordable desktop), or even just browsing the web while traveling or staying late at night when everyone else is asleep.
Best 5 Laptops for Students Overall
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch
MacBook Air (M1 Processor)
MacBook Pro 13-Inch (M2 Processor)
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 11-inch
Understanding your needs
Before you start looking at laptops, it’s important to determine what your laptop needs are. If you’re just taking a few classes this semester and aren’t planning on doing much research or writing papers, then a basic netbook should be fine. If, however, this is going to be your primary computer while at school (and possibly afterward), then there are some features that will make life easier for both monitoring work and playing games.
- Does your laptop need an Internet connection? If so, do all of the schools in town have Wi-Fi? If not—or if it’s one school but not another—then having an Internet connection might help when working on homework assignments later in life (if those assignments require accessing Google Docs).
- How much RAM do I need? In general terms: how much memory does my operating system need? This can also depend on how many programs are running at once as well as whether or not they’re open simultaneously (e.g., multiple browsers). Generally speaking though: more RAM = better performance overall!
Budget
- What is your budget?
- How much do you want to spend?
- How much can you afford to spend?
- How much can you save up for a laptop, if any at all?
When it comes to laptops, there are many factors that go into choosing the right one for college. One of those factors is cost. The more money that’s available in your budget—and the less time/money constraints exist on how much of each—the better off you’ll be in terms of getting the right laptop for your needs and saving money over time. If possible, try not to get stuck with just one brand because they all seem similar (iMac vs MacBook Air vs Surface Book) or have similar features; instead, think about what kind of work environment will be most conducive towards which type best suits what needs!
What is Operating system?
The operating system that a laptop run is one of the most important factors to consider. You’ll want to make sure your new machine can run whatever programs and apps you use on campus, in addition to having enough RAM and storage space for your needs.
If you’re mainly going to be using Windows 10 or macOS (macOS), then it’s probably best for you if your laptop comes with those operating systems already installed on it. However, if you’re interested in other options like Linux or Chrome OS, there are third-party options available as well: these tend not only to allow students access but also allow them more control over how their computers work—for example by disabling unnecessary features or modifying settings from within their own browser.
Processor
The processor speed is a measure of how fast the CPU can perform. It’s measured in gigahertz (GHz), which is equivalent to billions of cycles per second. Higher numbers mean faster processors, and more cores mean better performance overall.
A laptop with a high-end processor like Intel Core i7 or i9 will run more applications than one with an older generation chip, but it may also be more expensive due to improved technology and heat dissipation features that allow for better cooling efficiency (and therefore lower power consumption).
If you’re looking for a machine that can handle multiple programs at once without slowing down too much, look for laptops with eight cores or more—they’ll give you plenty of power without making your system overheat unnecessarily during use.
RAM (memory)
RAM (memory) is a measure of how much data the computer can access at once. The more RAM you have, the more programs you can run simultaneously.
RAM is measured in gigabytes or gigabits, so it’s important to know how much RAM you need before buying your laptop.
Storage drive
A storage drive is a hard drive or solid-state drive that stores your files. Hard drives can be more reliable and last longer than SSDs, but they tend to be slower and more expensive.
- Solid-state drives (SSDs) have no moving parts like spinning platters in traditional hard drives, so they’re much faster than traditional hard drives. However, SSDs aren’t as durable as mechanical ones because they can only hold around 100GB or 200GB at most depending on their model number—you’ll likely need another one soon after buying one if you store lots of photos or videos!
- If you want the best performance possible without paying an arm and a leg for it, look into investing in an SSD instead of buying a new laptop altogether since most laptops today come equipped with them anyway (like any MacBook Pro from 2018 onward).
Display
When it comes to laptops, a great display is the most important feature. There are many things you can look for in a laptop’s display, including resolution, size, and brightness.
You should also pay attention to contrast ratio (how dark or light an image appears on your screen), touch screen functionality, and whether or not there are any bezels around the screen.
Battery life
The battery life of your laptop is important for several reasons. First and foremost, it determines how long you can use your laptop before you need to plug it in again. If you’re going on a trip or just want to spend some time away from the office, then having a long-lasting battery will allow for uninterrupted work and entertainment time.
Secondly, if something goes wrong with your laptop (like if it starts overheating), having an extended battery life can help save money by extending its lifespan when repairs are needed instead of buying another one right away. Thirdly, there are modern technologies that allow manufacturers to pack more juice into smaller spaces than ever before!
How Much lots of things to consider when choosing a new laptop? We outline the most important ones.
Choosing a laptop is a big decision, and you’ll want to make sure that you get the right one for your needs. There are lots of things to consider:
- How much money do I have?
- What kind of tasks will my laptop perform?
- Do I need something with more power or less power?
Once you’ve got an idea of what it will be used for, think about these other things:
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you to choose the laptop that’s right for you, and that it will make your college experience more comfortable. If you’re still unsure about what kind of laptop to get, don’t hesitate to ask us! Our team is here 24 hours a day, seven days a week – we’ll be happy to help with any questions or concerns.
