Choosing the best laptop for college can be a daunting task, especially with the myriad of options available on platforms like Amazon. In 2024, students require laptops that are not only powerful and reliable but also portable and budget-friendly. Whether you’re studying engineering, design, or liberal arts, having a dependable laptop can greatly enhance your learning experience. In this article, we will present a curated list of the top 10 laptops for college students available on Amazon, complete with in-depth reviews and a buying guide tailored to your needs.
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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HP Newest 14" Ultral Light Laptop for Students and Business, Intel Quad-Core N4120, 8GB RAM, 192GB... | $249.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
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HP Notebook Laptop, 15.6" HD Touchscreen, Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD,... | $429.86 | Buy on Amazon | |
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Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop | 15.6" Full HD IPS Display | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U Quad-Core... | $299.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
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HP 17 Laptop, 17.3” HD+ Display, 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1125G4 Processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD,... | $467.95 | Buy on Amazon | |
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HP Chromebook 14 Laptop, Intel Celeron N4000 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC, 14” HD Display,... | $192.90 | Buy on Amazon | |
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Lenovo 2022 Newest Ideapad 3 Laptop, 15.6" HD Touchscreen, 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor,... | $318.75 | Buy on Amazon | |
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HP Portable Laptop, Student and Business, 14" HD Display, Intel Quad-Core N4120, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 64GB... | $217.92 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 8 |
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GINA 15 15.6 Inch FHD 1080p Business Laptop Computer for Work College Students, Dual-Core Intel... | $199.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
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HP Newest Pavilion 15.6" HD Touchscreen Anti-Glare Laptop, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD Storage, Intel Core... | $411.74 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 10 |
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MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack, Business Anti Theft Slim Sturdy Laptops Backpack with USB Charging... | $17.59 | Buy on Amazon |
Contents
Top 10 Laptops for College Students in 2024
1. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
The Apple MacBook Air with M1 chip continues to be a favorite among college students due to its sleek design, impressive performance, and long battery life. The M1 chip provides excellent processing power, making it suitable for demanding tasks like video editing and programming.
The 13.3-inch Retina display offers vibrant colors and sharp details, which is perfect for graphic design or watching movies. It also boasts a battery life of up to 18 hours, allowing you to work throughout the day without worry. Additionally, macOS is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for students to navigate.
With its lightweight design, you can easily carry the MacBook Air around campus. Moreover, Apple’s build quality is uncompromising, ensuring durability while you juggle between classes, libraries, and study groups.
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life
- 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance to tackle projects faster than ever
- Up to eight GPU cores with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
- 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
2. Dell XPS 13 (2023)
The Dell XPS 13 is often hailed as one of the best Windows laptops for students. With a stunning 13.4-inch InfinityEdge display, it provides a near-borderless experience that is visually captivating. Powered by Intel’s latest processors, the XPS 13 handles multitasking with ease, whether you’re working on a presentation or streaming lectures.
One of its standout features is its build quality. This laptop is made of aluminum and carbon fiber, giving it a premium feel while ensuring that it can withstand the rigors of college life. Plus, with a battery life of up to 12 hours, you won’t constantly be searching for a power outlet.
The XPS 13 also offers an optional 4K display, which is ideal for design students who need higher resolutions. Moreover, its lightweight design makes it a great option for students who need to travel with their laptops frequently.
- Dell XPS 13 9315 (Latest 2023 Model) 13.4" Laptop | Certified Refurbished from Dell Including 1 Year Dell Factory Warranty
- Intel 12th Generation Core i7-1250U (10-Core, Up to 4.70Ghz) | 512GB PCIe SSD | 16GB LPDDR5 5200Mhz
- 13.4" FHD+ (1920x1200) 500-Nit IPS Non-Touch Anti-Glare InfinityEdge Display with IR Camera and 720P HD Webcam | Backlit Keyboard with Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- 3-Cell 51Whr Battery | 45W USB-C Adapter | Only 2.59lbs | Sky Aluminum Chassis
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery) | Windows 11 Professional
3. ASUS ZenBook 14
The ASUS ZenBook 14 is another outstanding choice for college students. It packs a powerful Intel Core i5 processor with a sleek ultra-slim body. The 14-inch Full HD display is vibrant and bright, which is perfect for all-day tasks.
A standout feature of the ZenBook is its ErgoLift hinge, which raises the keyboard for a more comfortable typing experience. Battery life is commendable, reaching up to 10 hours on a single charge, which is crucial for students who are away from home for the day.
Additionally, it comes with ample storage options and RAM, making it ideal for students in need of speed and efficiency. With its lightweight design, students can effortlessly carry it across campus.
- 【Memory & Storage】The PC memory has been upgraded to 16GB DDR4 SDRAM for enhanced high bandwidth to easily switch back and forth between open applications; the Hard drive has been upgraded to 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for fast boot-up and speedy data transfer
- 【Processor】13th Gen Intel Evo Platform Core i7-13700H Processor (14 Cores, 20 threads, 24MB L3 Cache, base at 1.80GHz, up to 5.00GHz), with Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 【Screen】14.5-inch, 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED Touch screen, (Screen-to-body ratio)89%
- 【Tech Specs】1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2 x Thunderbolt 4 , 1 x HDMI, 1 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack; Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth; Backlit Keyboard (On: F7); Windows 11 Pro
4. HP Envy x360 13
The HP Envy x360 13 is a versatile 2-in-1 laptop that serves both as a traditional laptop and a tablet. This feature is perfect for students who take notes during lectures and prefer a touch-screen experience. The laptop is equipped with AMD Ryzen processors, ensuring robust performance for multitasking and everyday use.
With a 13.3-inch Full HD AMOLED display, the Envy x360 offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, ideal for photo editing and media consumption. The laptop’s design screams elegance with its all-metal body. Plus, with up to 12 hours of battery life, it’s reliable for long study sessions.
Moreover, HP includes a stylus with this laptop, which enhances the usability of the device when in tablet mode. This makes it particularly appealing for students in creative fields like art or design.
5. Lenovo IdeaPad 5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 provides an affordable option without compromising performance. With options for AMD Ryzen or Intel Core processors, it caters to a wide range of student needs. The 15.6-inch Full HD display is spacious, making it easy to work on essays, projects, and presentations.
Battery life is impressive at around 10 hours, providing ample time for classes and study sessions. The laptop also features a full-sized keyboard and a fingerprint reader for added security, making it user-friendly and secure for students.
Given its price point, the IdeaPad 5 is an excellent value for money, making it a perfect choice for students who need a reliable machine that won’t break the bank.
- MULTITASKING MASTER - The IdeaPad 1 is a thin and compact laptop that offers responsive performance and anticipates your every need for effortless on-the-go multitasking
- MORE EXPANSIVE DISPLAY - Indulge in a better binging experience by immersing yourself in your favorite shows with a borderless display for more screen while listening to clear, rich audio from two Dolby Audio speakers
- PERFORMANCE ON THE GO - Zip along while multitasking across several tabs, the new AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor built on UMA architecture delivers punchy mobile performance with a 20W thermal design point
- LIGHTEST PART OF YOUR DAY - Weighing just 3.5 lbs, the effortlessly cool cloud grey laptop is lighter than your water bottle and just as essential
- SOLID SECURITY - Keep your home life private and be seen only when you want to be with the 720p camera that comes with a physical privacy shutter
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 stands out with its elegant design and impressive performance capabilities. The laptop comes equipped with Intel’s latest CPUs or AMD Ryzen 5000 series processors, offering students a choice based on their performance needs.
The 13.5-inch touchscreen display is stunning and makes for a seamless user experience. Additionally, the Surface Laptop offers up to 19 hours of battery life, which is a game changer for students pulling all-nighters ahead of exams.
Its lightweight and slim design means you can easily slip it into your backpack. The Surface Laptop is also known for its premium build quality, ensuring it can withstand daily wear and tear.
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 features 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 13.5-inch PixelSense Touchscreen Display (2256 x 1504) resolution
- 256GB Solid State Drive, 16GB RAM, Intel Core i7-1185G7 (3.0 GHz base frequency, up to 4.8 GHz burst frequency, 12 MB cache, 4 cores)
- Clean, elegant design thin and light, starting at just 2.76 pounds., Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
- Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi: 802.11ac Wireless LAN, Surface Pen NOT Included
- USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, SD Card Slot., Windows 11 Pro
7. Acer Aspire 5
The Acer Aspire 5 is famous for being one of the most budget-friendly options for college students. It features a 15.6-inch Full HD display and is powered by AMD Ryzen or Intel Core processors, providing decent performance for schoolwork and casual gaming.
Battery life can last up to 8 hours, making it adequate for a day on campus. The design, while not as premium as others on this list, is sturdy enough for everyday use. Additionally, it comes with a full-sized keyboard, making typing long essays more comfortable.
With its price point and adequate specs, the Aspire 5 is ideal for students who need a reliable laptop without spending excessively.
- Do What You Do With Exceptional Performance: The 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H processor goes beyond performance to let your PC do even more at once. And Intel UHD graphics distribute performance where you need it most. With 16GB LPDDR5 memory and 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage—the Aspire 5 is made to do it all.
- Clear and Comfortable Viewing: Experience crisp, lifelike colors and sharp details on the 15.6” FHD IPS touch display. You have more space to work thanks to narrow bezels. Equipped with Acer’s suite of visual technologies for dynamic color optimization and viewing comfort.
- The Design: The slim 0.71" body give the Aspire 5 a premium feel and appearance. An ergonomic hinge design lifts the body of Aspire 5 and tilts the keyboard for comfortable typing, improved cooling and a better sound experience.
- Smooth Operator: Make light work of your daily tasks, with a full line-up of features to elevate your day-to-day—like a 720p webcam and an air inlet keyboard.
- Internal Specifications: 16GB LPDDR5 memory; 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD to store your files and media; Windows 11 Home
8. MSI Prestige 14
For students in creative industries such as graphic design or video editing, the MSI Prestige 14 is an excellent choice. Its stunning 14-inch 4K display is perfect for visual work, while the Intel Core i7 processor ensures smooth performance even during heavy multitasking.
The laptop features a sleek and lightweight design, making it easy to carry around campus. Battery life is also impressive, lasting over 10 hours. Moreover, its range of ports allows for easy connectivity to various external devices.
The Prestige 14 is designed specifically for content creators, providing not just powerful hardware but also an aesthetically pleasing experience.
- 14" FHD+ Ultra Thin and Light Professional
9. Razer Blade Stealth 13
The Razer Blade Stealth 13 is geared towards gaming, making it an excellent choice for students who also want to enjoy gaming in their downtime. With its Ultra-thin design and powerful NVIDIA GeForce graphics, it doubles as a capable laptop for school projects and gaming.
Its 13.3-inch FHD display offers vibrant visuals, whether you’re watching movies or playing games. Battery life ranges around 10 hours, which is impressive given its performance capabilities. Additionally, the laptop is sturdy and aesthetically pleasing, showcasing Razer’s signature RGB lighting.
The Razer Blade Stealth 13 not only meets the needs of gamers but also functions well for studious tasks, maintaining a balance between both worlds.
- Aspect Ratio:16:9
- Designed for mobility: Ultra-thin, light and incredibly durable with a cnc unibody aluminum frame and long battery life.
- 120hz full HD thin bezel display: Super-fast 120hz full HD display that enables smooth visuals in games, with 100% sRGB color space.
- Razer chroma keyboard and precision touchpad: keyboard featuring single-zone rgb lighting with 16.8 million color options, and a precision glass touchpad.
- Complete connectivity — Includes thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, wireless AX, HD webcam utilizing windows hello, and 4-array mics.
10. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a perfect option for students looking for a budget device that can handle everyday tasks seamlessly. Being a Chromebook, it’s designed primarily for web-based activities, making it highly portable and easy to use.
With a 13-inch touchscreen display, you can flip it into tablet mode for ease of use during lectures. The battery life reaches around 10 hours, ensuring you can browse the web or create documents throughout the day without needing a charger.
Its 2-in-1 design and relaxed design make it suitable for students who want a simple device for note-taking, web browsing, and media consumption. As Chromebooks are generally less expensive than traditional laptops, the Flex 5 is a compelling choice for budget-conscious students.
- Touch Screen Type :Capacitive.Aspect Ratio:16:9
- Work from home, school, or anywhere with the outstanding combination of performance, connectivity, and entertainment enabled by 10th generation InteI Core processors. The Lenovo Flex 5 offers intelligent performance features that adapt to you for a personalized, intuitive, and responsive experience
- This 2-in-1 laptop combines a keyboard and touchscreen to make it easy to interact with everything on your display. You can also use the Lenovo digital pen (sold separately) to quickly write, click or drag files right on the screen
- The 13.3-inch FHD display in this slim, light 360° convertible Chromebook offers beautiful visuals, while narrow bezels minimize distractions. Two user-facing stereo speakers keep you immersed in the experience
- Use your Google account to easily access files, videos, music, and documents stored on the cloud from anywhere. With up to 10 hours of battery life, you'll stay productive
Buying Guide for the Best Laptop for College
When determining the best laptop for college, consider the following factors:
Performance
When selecting your laptop, ensure it has adequate performance specifications to handle your course requirements. Look for a processor (CPU) that will support your multitasking needs. Most students will be well-served by an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor.
RAM
A minimum of 8GB of RAM is recommended for a smooth experience, especially when multitasking between applications like word processors, web browsers, and other essential software.
Storage
Consider whether you prefer a Solid State Drive (SSD) or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). SSDs are faster and more reliable but typically come at a higher price point. Aim for at least 256GB of storage to accommodate your documents, software, and media.
Portability
Evaluate the laptop’s weight and battery life. Since you will likely carry your laptop around campus, opt for a lightweight model that can last through lectures and study sessions without needing a charge.
Display
If you anticipate spending a lot of time on your laptop, prioritize a high-resolution display (at least Full HD). This is especially important for students in fields like multimedia and graphic design.
Budget
As a college student, financial considerations are paramount. Set a budget that makes sense for your needs and stick to it. Fortunately, several laptops on this list provide great value options without compromising quality.
Additional Features
Pay attention to additional features like keyboard quality, port selection (HDMI, USB-C, etc.), and warranty options. Features like backlit keyboards can be especially useful for late-night study sessions.
Conclusion
When choosing the best laptop for college, there are many compelling options on Amazon to explore in 2024. From the powerful MacBook Air to versatile 2-in-1 devices like the HP Envy x360, it’s essential to consider your specific needs and budget.
Each laptop mentioned has unique features that make it suitable for different types of students. Decide which qualities are most important to you, such as performance, portability, or price.
With the right laptop in hand, you can confidently tackle your academic journey while enjoying your favorite hobbies. Take your time to explore these options, and make an informed purchase that best suits your requirements.
Happy studying!
Last update on 2024-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API | votechriscarrillo.com is a participant in the Amazon Associate program and will earn from qualifying purchases.