The Best Laptops for Computer Science Students: Reviews and Recommendations

best laptop for computer science students

Computer science is a field that requires the best tools to succeed. When you are trying to make it in this competitive industry, having the best laptop for computer science students will not only give you an edge over your competition but also help with long-term success. However, there are many laptops out there and it can be difficult to figure out which one is best for you.

Luckily, we have done all of the research so that you don’t have too! In this blog post, we will review ten more different laptops and give our recommendations on what would be best for various types of computer science students.

Reviews of our top 10 picks – The best laptop for computer science students

Image  Products Name Screen Size CPU Model Price on Amazon
Apple MacBook Air 13.3″ 13.3 Inches Intel Core i5 Check Price
Microsoft Surface Book 3 15 Inches Intel Core i7 Check Price
Dell XPS 13 9310 13.4 Inches Intel Core i7 Check Price
Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop 15.6 Inches Intel Core i5 Check Price
ASUS ZenBook 13 13.3 Inches Intel Core i5 Check Price
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 12.3 Inches Intel Core i5 Check Price
Dell Precision 5750 15.6 Inches Intel Core i7 Check Price
Newest HP 15.6” 15.6 Inches Intel Core i3 Check Price
Acer Swift 3 14 Inches AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Check Price
Acer Aspire 5 15.6 Inches AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Check Price

1. Apple MacBook Air 13.3″ The best laptop for computer science students

  • Intel Core i5
  • RAM 8 GB
  • 13.3 Inches
  • 256GB SSD storage

The MacBook Air is an ultra-portable notebook computer that weighs just over 3 pounds and has a 13.3″ display. It features a full-size keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, Thunderbolt 2 ports, 802.11ac Wi-Fi networking (with MIMO support), 720p FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, stereo speakers with high dynamic range audio playback, and an internal battery that provides long hours of wireless productivity on a single charge. This model also includes the Touch Bar feature with a Touch ID sensor.

Pros
  • Sleek and attractive design.
  • Light, thin and portable laptop.
  • Good performance.
  • Long hours of battery life.
  • Fantastic keyboard and comfortable typing.
  • Brilliant retina display.
Cons
  • No touchscreen.
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.
  • No SD card Slot.
  • Only 12 month warranty.

2. Microsoft Surface Book 3 – Most powerful laptop with latest technology

  • Intel Core i7
  • RAM 16 GB
  • 15 Inches
  • Windows 10 Home

Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5″ is a powerful laptop that utilizes the latest technology to bring you a great computing experience. The product features a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage space. It has a 13.5-inch PixelSense Display with 3000 x 2000 resolution and supports pen input for drawing, taking notes, or marking up documents.

The device is designed to be thin and light while also being incredibly powerful so it can easily go from tablet mode to laptop mode in no time at all. With its multi-touch screen and touchscreen functionality, you can enjoy your best typing experience yet.

Pros
  • Awesome design.
  • Long hours of battery life (Up to 15.5 hours).
  • Touch screen.
  • Good performance.
  • Full-size SD card slot.
Cons
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.
  • Heavy price.

3. Dell XPS 13 9310 – The best laptop for computer science students

  • Intel Core i7
  • RAM 16 GB
  • 13.4 Inches
  • Windows 10 Pro

The Dell XPS 13 9310 is a great laptop for users who need a combination of portability and performance. With its InfinityEdge display, this laptop allows you to enjoy an immersive viewing experience. The screen also has narrow bezels that make it easier to carry around.

Moreover, the screen is touch-enabled so you can interact with it in different ways depending on your needs. The Dell XPS 13 9310 features a powerful 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor which enables you to take advantage of all its advanced features and capabilities. It also has 16GB of DDR RAM and 512GB of SSD which means you can run multiple programs at the same time.

This product also has a built-in fingerprint reader for password-free login as well as Windows Hello support to provide an extra layer of protection for your files.

Pros
  • Thin and Light laptop.
  • Attractive design.
  • Touch Screen.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Battery life is good.
Cons
  • Limited Port Selection.
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.
  • Expensive.

4. Acer Nitro 5 – The best gaming laptop for computer science students

  • Intel Core i5
  • RAM 8 GB
  • 15.6 Inches
  • Windows 10 Home

The Acer Nitro 5 is a laptop that will give you the power and speed to take on whatever your day throws at you. Featuring a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, this laptop is great for running resource-demanding programs and games. The 15.6” display features a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, giving you plenty of space to spread out your work or play favorite games.

With its dual fans and four exhaust ports, the Nitro 5 keeps cool even during intense gaming sessions. The backlit keyboard makes it easy to use in low light conditions and the HD webcam delivers high-quality visuals.

Pros
  • Stylish and attractive design.
  • Backlit keyboard.
  • Performance is good.
  • Lightweight and portable.
Cons
  • Average battery life.
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.

5. ASUS ZenBook 13 – Stylish and powerful notebook

  • Intel Core i5
  • RAM 8 GB
  • 13.3 Inches
  • Windows 10 Home

ASUS ZenBook 13 is a stylish and powerful notebook that is available in two sizes: 13.3” and 15.6”. It features an edge-to-edge NanoEdge bezel display. The laptop has an elegant aluminum body that weighs just 2.5 lbs for easy portability and comfortable use all day long.

Powered by the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, it delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks like browsing social media, streaming videos, or editing documents. The ASUS ZenBook 13 also provides a full-size backlit keyboard with a fingerprint sensor for password-free login and Windows Hello support. 

Pros
  • Ultra slim and lightweight.
  • Comfortable portability.
  • Backlit keyboard.
  • Long hours of battery life.
  • Full HD Wide View.
Cons
  • No touchscreen.
  • No optical drive.
  • Only one USB port.
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.

6. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Most innovative laptop with more powerful processor

  • Intel Core i5
  • 12.3 Inches
  • RAM 128 GB
  • Windows 10 Home

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is an innovative laptop that gives you the power to do more. It has a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display, which makes it perfect for creating and sharing your ideas in all their glory with pen and touch or using your finger. The Surface Pro 7 also features a faster, smarter, and more powerful Intel Core i5 processor than its predecessor giving you the speed and performance to run virtually anything on Windows 10 Home.

Plus, the laptop’s thin and light magnesium body will give you all-day battery life so you can stay productive all day.

Pros
  • Ultra slim and light laptop.
  • Attractive design.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Touch screen.
  • All day battery life (up to 10.5 hours).
Cons
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.
  • Keyboard and surface pen cost extra.
  • Only two USB ports.

7. Dell Precision 5750 – the best laptop for computer science students

  • Intel Core i7
  • 15.6 Inches
  • RAM 32 GB
  • Windows 10 Pro

The Dell Precision 5750 is a mobile workstation that gives you the performance to handle your most demanding tasks. The power of the Intel Core i7-10750H processor, up to 32GB of memory, and NVIDIA Quadro P5200 graphics card with 6GB GDDR6 memory lets you run multiple applications simultaneously for faster workflow.

Dual storage options include an M.2 512GB PCIe NVMe Class 40 Solid State Drive.

Pros
  • Premium design.
  • Smallest and thinnest.
  • Good performance.
  • Stunning display.
Cons
  • Heavy weight.
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.

8. Newest HP 15.6” – The best laptop for computer science students

  • Intel Core i3
  • 15.6 Inches
  • RAM 8 GB
  • Windows 10 Home

The newest HP 15.6″ laptop is a powerful machine with the latest Intel processors and plenty of storage space, perfect for school or work. The design is simple and elegant, with a clean silver finish and no visible logos on the lid. The screen has an HD resolution, which means you can watch videos in high definition without any pixelation.

To keep your work going all day long, you’ll find that this laptop has an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours (depending on usage). It also features fast charging technology so you won’t need to wait around for hours as it charges.

Pros
  • Perfect design.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Long battery life (Up to 10 hours).
  • Intel UHD Graphics.
Cons
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.
  • No optical drive.

9. Acer Swift 3 – Full HD Laptop with LED-backlit Display

  • AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
  • 14 Inches
  • RAM 8 GB
  • Windows 10 Home

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-43-R2YY 14″ Full HD Laptop features a 14″ Full HD widescreen LED-backlit display with 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen has a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels and is powered by an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics processor. This laptop comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM which is expandable up to 32GB using two soDIMM slots.

The laptop also features 512GB NVMe solid-state drive storage for fast booting, application loading, and file saving. It comes preinstalled with Windows operating system.

Pros
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Premium design.
  • Backlit keyboard.
  • Full HD display.
  • Good performance.
Cons
  • Average battery life.
  • No optical drive.
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.

10. Acer Aspire 5 – Sleek, stylish notebook for everyday use

  • AMD Ryzen 3 3350U
  • 15.6 Inches
  • RAM 4 GB
  • Windows 10 S

The Acer Aspire 5 is a sleek, stylish notebook that offers plenty of performance for everyday use. With a 15.6″ Full HD screen and narrow bezels, the Aspire 5 delivers an immersive viewing experience for movies and games. The 4GB DDR4 memory allows you to multitask efficiently without slowing down your system while the 128GB solid-state drive provides fast boot times and data access speeds so you can start working or playing right away.

Pros
  • Slim, lightweight and portable laptop.
  • Amazing battery life.
  • Stunning display.
  • Backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader.
  • AMD Ryzen delivers desktop-class performance.
Cons
  • It has no touchscreen.
  • No Thunderbolt 3 support.
  • No optical drive.

Why a laptop is important for computer science students?

Computer science education relies on computers because most programs are run through them. Having access to one with enough power to perform these tasks can be difficult without a laptop. Computers are also needed for coding projects which require many hours of work at a time. 

Laptops have become more affordable over the past few years, so there is no reason that this expense should stop any computer sciences, student, from obtaining one with relative ease! Students who do own laptops often report higher grades and increased productivity as well as reduced stress level. Computer science students should always have a laptop to use during lectures, lab sessions, and study periods.

These devices will assist in their ability to both learn the material as well as work on various projects that require computer access for best results.

Tips to find the best laptop for you

Finding the best laptop for you can be a difficult task. There are many different features, capabilities, and prices of laptops to choose from. It’s important that you find the right laptop so it fits your needs rather than being something out of your price range or not what you need before investing in one. 

Here are some tips on how to find the best laptop for yourself: 

– First, determine which OS will work best with your everyday life (Windows OS or Mac OS)

– Second, consider what size is most comfortable for you (13-inch screen vs 15-inch screen, etc.)

– Thirdly, know what type of budget works for you – these things don’t come cheap!

– Lastly, look at the battery life and the weight of the laptop.

Also, there are several things you should more consider:  

– How much storage does it have and how fast is that storage (SSD vs HDD)?

– What type of screen display do I want, touch or non-touch? The resolution, etc. 

– Is there enough RAM Memory and speed of processor/CPU matter as well?

– Can I get up and running quickly with this device without any slowdowns due to lack of processing power or not enough memory available on start-up? 

These days we all use many applications so be sure they will work properly before purchase if possible! 

Image Products Name Screen Size CPU Model Price on Amazon
Apple MacBook Pro 13.3 inches M1 chip with 8-core CPU Check Price
Surface Pro 6 12.3 inches Intel Core i5 Check Price
Lenovo IdeaPad 3  15.6 inches Intel Core i5 Check Price
HP – Specter x360 13.3 inches Intel Core i7 Check Price
Razer Blade Pro 17 17.3 inches Intel Core i7 Check Price
Acer Predator Helios 300 15.6 inches Intel Core i7 Check Price
Asus TUF FX505DT 15.6 inches AMD R Series Check Price

FAQs

Which laptop is best for programming 2021?

The best laptops for programming will be announced soon but until then we recommend the Surface Pro (2019) which is best for programming. It has a 13-inch display with great resolution and the latest technology in its class. This laptop also comes pre-installed with Windows OS, so you can use whatever best meets your needs!

Is Intel i5 good for programming?

A lot of people wonder if Intel Core i5 is good for programming. The answer to this question varies depending on your needs and what you are using the processor for. If you are a programmer, then an Intel Core i5 will provide enough power for any task that you throw at it.

However, if you are not a programmer, or do not need the extra power, then there is no reason to get an expensive Intel Core i7 processor.

Which laptop is better for coding?

The laptop that is best for coding in 2021 is the MacBook Pro (13-inch). The 13-inch screen size is perfect for coding. It has a powerful processor and enough RAM to handle large projects without any lag. The battery life on this device lasts up to 10 hours which means you can work all day long without having to plug it in to charge! 

The MacBook Air might be cheaper than other laptops but there are better options out there because it doesn’t have nearly as many features or processing power as the MacBook Pro does. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative then go with the HP Notebook 15 – 15″ Full HD Touchscreen Laptop PC Intel Core i5-8265U 8G 256BG SSD. The 15-inch screen is great, it has a reasonable price and best of all this laptop comes with Windows pre-installed so you can use whichever OS best fits your needs!

Which laptop is best for Python programming?

So, you want to know which laptop is best for programming in Python? If so, we’ve got your back. We took a look at the top machines and ranked them by price and performance. You can find our recommendations below: 

Conclusion

Whether you’re a student, an engineering professional, or just someone who needs to do some basic computing on the go, it can be hard to find laptops that are designed specifically for your needs. You might think this is because they don’t exist – but there are plenty of laptop models available for sale while you’re looking for them! To put yourself in the category of a smart buyer, always look into the memory configurations, display screen, hard drive storage, and battery life of any product before purchasing.

And if all else fails? Check out what we have written above as descriptions so that choosing which device will work best for you becomes easy! 

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