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Ah, the dog days of summer are fast dwindling down, and it’s time once again for students to grab their laptops and return to the fray. Many high schools provide laptops (In our daughter’s case, a MacBook Air), but in college, most students are on their own. So, if you’re looking to arm yourself with an electronic ally to conquer the academic arena, here are experts’ top choices, based on budget (Note: Prices vary outside the U.S.):
Display | 11.6-inch, HD (1366×768) Touch |
CPU | Intel Celeron N3060 |
Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 400 |
Hard Drive | 16GB SSD |
Memory | 4GB |
Weight | 3.09 lbs |
Price | $159.99 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
If you’re on a tight budget, this baby might fit the bill. While it’s no powerhouse, and isn’t suitable for an engineering or technical major, it has a long battery life, and can handle ordinary coursework very well. This laptop is built to take a beating, and will survive being dropped. It also converts to a tablet, so after your work is done, you can easily segue into Netflix or Mortal Kombat without batting an eye.
Display | 10-inch, PixelSense (1800×1200) Touch |
CPU | 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y |
Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 615 |
Hard Drive | 64GB SSD |
Memory | 4GB |
Weight | 1.15 lbs |
Price | $398.99 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
This is Microsoft’s most affordable laptop, perfect for students. While its Pentium CPU is nothing to write home about, it’s engineered to get the job done. For this bargain basement price, it boasts a remarkable build quality, meaning it’s solid, with well-made components. On top of this, it also makes a stylish appearance. All systems go!
Display | 12.3-inch, PixelSense (2736×1824) Touch |
CPU | i5-8250U (4 Cores, 3.40 GHz, Q3’17) or i7-8650U (4 Cores, 4.20 GHz, Q3’17) |
Memory | 8 GB or 16 GB |
Hard Drive | SSD 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB |
Graphics | Integrated Intel® UHD Graphics 620 |
Weight | 3.53 lbs |
Price | $748.00 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
This model, like other Microsoft Surface models, is considered one of the best Windows devices. It sports a gorgeous touchscreen, and offers endless battery life and a stellar performance. It’s a tablet that, with a Surface Type Cover, can easily morph into a laptop when game time is over. While this model adds nothing substantial from the last, its quad-core processors make it a super speedy Pro.
Display | 14-inch, FHD (1920×1080) Touch |
CPU | 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 + NVIDIA GeForce MX150 |
Hard Drive | 256GB SSD |
Memory | 8GB |
Weight | 3.51 lbs |
Price | $799.00 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
We bet you’re surprised to see this one on the list, as Huawei is currently in the U.S.’s doghouse. Fortunately, Microsoft and Intel both agreed to support Huawei laptops and allow Windows 10 updates. But stores were uncertain about this, and slashed the price of this model! Though its battery life is so-so and it lacks some bells and whistles, this Ultrabook is feather-light in your backpack, has awesome graphics and performance, and is an exceptional value. Grab one at a rock-bottom price while you can!
Display | 15.6-inch, Full HD (1920 x 1080) Touch |
CPU | 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8265U |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
Hard Drive | 256GB SSD |
Memory | 8GB |
Weight | 2.2 lbs |
Price | $829.00 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
This laptop gives Apple a run for its money. It may not look sleek, but would a college student really care? The Acer is lightweight, and has ample storage and an exquisite display. Its state-of-the-art processors enable you to ace any assignment. An economical choice.
Display | 15.5-inch, PixelSense (2256×1504) Touch |
CPU | 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
Hard Drive | From 128GB SSD |
Memory | From 8GB |
Weight | 2.76 lbs |
Price | $846.95 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
If you’re not totally on board with Microsoft’s 2-in-1 Surface Book 2 and crave a pure laptop, this one’s for you. While not a huge improvement over its predecessor, Surface Laptop, it offers full Windows 10 Home and delivers premium power, courtesy of its updated hardware. It has a formidable build and handsome black color option, to boot!
Display | 13.3-inch, Full HD (1920×1080) Touch |
CPU | 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
Hard Drive | From 128GB SSD |
Memory | From 8GB |
Weight | 2.7 lbs |
Price | $947.88 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
This flagship laptop has been a customer favorite for years, known for its light design and breathtaking display. This latest model is a revival of the entry-level one, with a lower sticker price. It offers an array of customized options, much improved battery life, and a long-awaited improvement: The webcam is now at the top center above the display, so when you video chat, people won’t look up your nose!
Display | 13.3-inch, Retina Display (2560×1600) Non-Touch |
CPU | 1.8GHz Intel Core i5-8210Y |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 617 |
Hard Drive | From 128GB SSD |
Memory | From 8GB |
Weight | 2.75 lbs |
Price | $949.99 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
Alas, this revamped Mac has all the latest features it previously lacked, especially a Retina display. It’s thinner, lighter, and more economical. College students can finally say, “Hallelujah!”
Display | 15.6-inch, Full HD (1920×1028) Non-Touch |
CPU | Intel Core i7-8750H |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI |
Hard Drive | From 8GB SSD |
Memory | From 256GB |
Weight | 4 lbs |
Price | $1,249.99 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
This laptop is a continuation of the success of previous versions, offering proven reliability and premium power without breaking the bank. Fortunately, the base configuration is more than adequate to meet the needs of the average user. Those who want to go the whole nine yards can get an optional Intel Core i9 processor and 32GB of RAM, upgrading the Dell XPS 15 to a virtual stallion!
Display | 15.4-inch, Retina Display (2880×1800) Non-Touch |
CPU | Intel Core i7-9750H |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 + Radeon Pro 555x Graphics |
Hard Drive | From 256GB SSD |
Memory | From 16GB |
Weight | 4.02 lbs |
Price | $2,099.99 |
Where to buy | Amazon |
Our list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Apple’s personification of Power with a capital “P.” This one IS pricey, but for those who can afford it, this is the best and fastest laptop for school projects, photo editing, graphics, and gaming, and can be used professionally. For diehard Apple aficionados, it doesn’t get any better than this!
So there you have it. Hopefully, after you’ve paid for tuition, books, and room and board, you’ll have enough left for one of these for your rising student. Happy shopping!
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