Say goodbye to your iPhone; in college, your laptop will be your new BFF. Here’s where it all happens: the notes on your classes, your study schedule, writing those papers – your whole life is here!
Make sure you’re fully equipped to give it all you’ve got by weighing all of your options before buying a laptop or notebook. We’ve made the job easier for you by reviewing the best picks for college students today.
1.) Dell XPS 13
Price: $800-$949
For a laptop that looks amazing and is super-powerful and functional, the Dell XPS 13 is a great choice.
For a laptop that looks amazing and is super-powerful and functional, the Dell XPS 13 is a great choice.
Specs:
- CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i3 – Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 – Intel UHD Graphics 620
- RAM: 4GB – 16GB
- Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080; non-touch) QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800; touchscreen)
- Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD
Pros:
- Strong battery life
- Webcam orientation
- Sleek, pretty exterior
Cons:
- Poor speaker placement
- Relatively expensive in comparison to similar models
2.) Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
Price: $875-$999
The 2-in-1 laptop that outperforms nearly every other one on the market, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro’s best feature is its stylus, equipped with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity to make sure you don’t miss a word. Best of all, this nifty little gadget attaches to the Notebook and doesn’t need to be charged separately.
The 2-in-1 laptop that outperforms nearly every other one on the market, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro’s best feature is its stylus, equipped with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity to make sure you don’t miss a word. Best of all, this nifty little gadget attaches to the Notebook and doesn’t need to be charged separately.
Specs:
- CPU: 7th generation Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 – AMD Radeon Graphics (2GB GDDR5)
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB
- Screen: 13.3-inch – 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED display with Touch Screen Panel
- Storage: 256GB SSD
Pros:
- Excellent for the stylus
- Sleek look and feel
- Lengthy battery life
Cons:
- Downward-firing speakers
- Touchscreen has only 1080 pixels
3. Asus Chromebook Flip
Price: $450-$499
Asus has slashed the price on Chromebooks while equipping the laptop with a 360-degree hinge for easy flipping.
Asus has slashed the price on Chromebooks while equipping the laptop with a 360-degree hinge for easy flipping.
Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core m3
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515
- RAM: 4GB | Screen: 12.5-inch, Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) LED backlit anti-glare
- Storage: 64GB eMMC + TPM
Pros:
- Stunning, vivid screen
- Excellent price for performance and features
- 360-degree hinge
Cons:
- No out-of-box Android app support
- Average speakers
4. Microsoft Surface Prol9
Price: $375-$899
Finally, the next generation of tablets has made its debut. This tablet is so well-equipped that it can easily replace your laptop. The Surface Pro has several different versions, and as usual, the more you pay, the more you’ll get.
Finally, the next generation of tablets has made its debut. This tablet is so well-equipped that it can easily replace your laptop. The Surface Pro has several different versions, and as usual, the more you pay, the more you’ll get.
Specs:
- CPU: 7th generation Intel Core m3 – i7
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 – Iris Plus Graphics 640
- RAM: 4GB – 16GB
- Screen: 12.3-inch, 2,736 x 1,824 PixelSense display
- Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD
Pros:
- Improved battery life
- Sleek, modern design
- Large selection of accessories
Cons:
- Surface Pen no longer included in package
- Only the i7 version can compete with Apple’s less-expensive iPad Pro
5. Samsung Notebook 7 Spin
Price: $ 699 – $1200
With the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin, you’ll get the performance you’d expect from a MacBook Pro, for the price of a MacBook Air.
With the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin, you’ll get the performance you’d expect from a MacBook Pro, for the price of a MacBook Air.
Specs:
- CPU: 6th generation Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 940MX (2GB DDR3L); Intel HD Graphics 520
- RAM: 12GB – 16GB
- Screen: 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) LED with touch panel
- Storage: 1 TB HDD – 1TB HDD; 128GB SSD
Pros:
- Extremely versatile
- Full HD touchscreen
Cons:
- Heavyweight
- Graphics don’t quite measure up to the competition
6. Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming
Price: $699-$799
Need a computer that offers the perfect mix of functionality and gaming options? Look no further than the Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming.
Need a computer that offers the perfect mix of functionality and gaming options? Look no further than the Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming.
Specs:
- CPU: 7th generation Intel Core i5 – i7
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050; Intel HD Graphics 620 – GTX 1050 Ti; Intel HD Graphics 630
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB
- Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) anti-glare LED-backlit
- Storage: 1TB HDD – 1TB HDD; 128GB SSD
Pros:
- Affordable gaming setup
- Excellent battery life
Cons:
- Trackpad isn’t fully reliable
- Screen is deficient
7. Acer Swift 3
Price: $429-$699
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that will still do its job well, you’ve just found it. The Acer Swift 3 offers performance and value, complete with Ultrabook-class Core i processors and an incredible 8 hours of passive battery life.
If you’re looking for a budget laptop that will still do its job well, you’ve just found it. The Acer Swift 3 offers performance and value, complete with Ultrabook-class Core i processors and an incredible 8 hours of passive battery life.
Specs:
- CPU: 7th generation Intel Core i3 – i7
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
- RAM: 4GB – 8GB
- Screen: 14-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) ComfyView IPS
- Storage: 128GB – 256GB SSD
Pros:
- Powerful for its price
- Strong battery life
Cons:
- Boring looks
- Down-firing speakers
