Nowadays, every student has a laptop, as it is an essential asset for their success. Students use them both on and off campus for taking notes in class, writing papers, working on projects, communicating with professors and peers, and many other purposes. However, no laptop fits all purposes. For instance, as a computer science student you need a laptop with powerful processing engines to allow them to develop and run complicated software. As a film student you need a laptop with top-end graphics and audio capabilities. The end point is that the best laptops for students are ones that match their needs and budget.
There are many factors to consider when selecting a new laptop, and navigating the field of available options can be confusing at best. Technical characteristics matter, but so do your preferences, field of study, and workflow. Read along to find out what to look for in a laptop and how to choose the best laptop for students, no matter whether it is yourself or you are buying one as a gift for your loved ones going further in their education.
Features to Consider When Buying Laptops for Students
Computers come with a long technical specification list. Haunting as it may be, it is what you must consider before anything else, because the marketing description will always tell you “This precise laptop is the best for you!”, even when it’s not. Furthermore, laptops have come to have impressive characteristics measured in mega, giga, and even tera units, which may sound like a lot, but in many cases, it’s not. So, instead of taking for granted words like “powerful”, “fast”, and “lightweight”, learn to ask, “How powerful?”, “How fast?”, and “How much does it weigh?” Then, compare the offers. Ultimately, it all comes to a few features you must consider and compare to identify a good laptop for students. They are:
CPU – Central Processing Unit
The first feature to research is the laptop’s CPU, otherwise known as the processor. The CPU is the logic brain of your computer. It handles all tasks performed by the operating system and various software. Processor speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz), and a higher number generally means a more powerful laptop able to process more information faster.
Nowadays, most CPUs have more than one processing unit, aka cores. Of course, a laptop with six or eight cores is able to perform multiple tasks faster than one with two or four cores. So, a laptop with more cores and a higher CPU speed is better. But keep in mind that it is also more expensive, bigger, and heavier.
RAM – Random-Access Memory
RAM, often shortened as just “memory,” refers to the dedicated short-term memory a computer uses when processing tasks. It’s like when you add three numbers, let’s say A + B + C, and you first add A and B, keep the result in your memory, and then add C to that before delivering the final result. The computer uses the RAM to store the intermediary results.
Everything that runs on a computer uses RAM all the time, from the operating system to browsers. And it adds up. The first sign that your computer runs out of RAM is that it slows down significantly. The next step is for it to get completely stuck and wait for you to close a few processes before it can come back to life.
RAM is measured in gigabytes (GB). Nowadays, most laptops come with 8GB of RAM or more. Some laptops have slots for additional RAM units, but they are limited in number and capacity. The best strategy is to choose a laptop with as much RAM as you can afford from the beginning.
GPU – Graphics Processor Unit
The GPU is the artistic brain of a laptop, the one that handles all visual content tasks performed by the computer, starting with rendering still images on the screen to processing video content, CGI, and gaming. The GPU is a highly specialized brain, designed to process tasks in parallel and ultra-fast.
Like the CPU, it has multiple cores (smaller cores but more of them), and if you want a highly efficient laptop in terms of managing visual information, 3D rendering, graphical work or video editing, you want a fast GPU with as many cores as you can afford.
Hard Disk Capacity
Hard disk capacity refers to the laptop’s internal storage space. It is the space that stores the operating system, software, and your files. Hard disk capacity used to be measured in megabytes, then slowly progressed towards gigabytes, only to arrive now at astonishing terabytes.
Although essential for storing the operating system and software, which may require a significant amount of space (e.g., 16GB/20GB for Windows 10, 14GB-16GB for macOS Sequoia, at least 8GB for Adobe Premiere, etc.), hard disk capacity is not essential for the laptop’s performance. For instance, you can store your files on an external hard disk or an online storage solution. So, getting a laptop with a huge hard disk capacity is not a major priority, but a nice-to-have feature.
Screen Characteristics
What you need to check out on a laptop screen is size, resolution, technology, refresh rate, and brightness.
A larger size improves usability but makes the laptop heavier and affects portability.
Resolution refers to the number of pixels per inch (PPI) and refers to image quality. Higher numbers generally offer better contrast and a clearer image.
Technology, usually LCD or OLED, also refers to image quality, such as color accuracy, contrast, and clarity.
The refresh rate means how many times per second the screen gets refreshed. Screens with higher rates render fast-moving images smoother (e.g., animation creation, game programming, video editing).
The screen’s brightness influences how you see the image on the screen in various lighting conditions. For example, if you use the laptop in bright spaces (e.g., sunlight), you may want a screen with a higher brightness. But if you use the laptop mainly indoors and in low-light conditions, screen brightness doesn’t matter so much.
Some laptops also have touchscreens, providing the same ease of use as a tablet.
Battery Life
Battery life refers to how long the laptop can be used before recharging. It is an important feature for students because they are usually using laptops on the move. Therefore, consider how long time the computer will be away from a power source and how it will be used during that period. On-the-go students and those who use multiple applications simultaneously will want to examine battery life specifications closely. For instance, a small lightweight MacBook can give you a battery life of up to 18 hours.
How to Choose the Best Laptop for Students
Now that you better understand the technical specifications sheet of a laptop, let’s dive into how to choose the best laptop for a student and give some examples.
Know Which Software They Need to Run
Laptops with powerful, multicore CPUs are a must for students who rely on their laptops for heavy processing tasks, such as computer science and engineering students. They are also good for students who must work with multiple programs at the same time.
Students who use complex image processing software, such as design and CAD programs, photo and video editing software, illustration apps, and so on, must look carefully at the laptop’s GPU and graphics card performance. They must also consider laptops with larger RAM capacity because this type of software requires a lot of it.
Therefore, for fields of study that require powerful software, you need to do a bit of reverse engineering to choose the best laptop for students. Check out the main software they will be using and then decide on a laptop based on that program’s system requirements. For example, AutoCAD recommends having 16GB of RAM, a 3+ GHz processor, 4GB VRAM (video RAM), and a minimum of 7GB disk space. Software also comes with requirements referring to the operating system, which in change has its own system requirements. The laptop should provide at least what is required of it. However, as students will most likely use more than one program and often simultaneously, the laptop should offer more than the requirements.
Other Factors to Consider
Processing power and memory are essential for running software smoothly, but they are not the only features to consider. Most students take notes in class using a laptop, which must be lightweight, slim, and user-friendly. Taking notes doesn’t require a lot of processing power or storage space. Instead, it must be discreet and so easy to use that the student remains focused on the lecture. Laptops with a touchscreen, support a pencil, or flip like a notebook are perfect for this activity.
Don’t forget about battery life, robustness, and accessory compatibility. Students have a busy agenda. They may take the laptop to class, cafes, the gym, parks, social events, libraries, and so on. Therefore, their laptops should be resistant, portable, and versatile, and support headphones, external drives, external speakers and mics, external monitors, keyboards and mice, drawing tablets, and much more.
Final Thoughts
Buying a good laptop for students is not a trivial thing. Don’t think for a second that it’s not important what laptop they use because they will buy a better one as soon as they start earning money. It’s an essential tool that lays the ground for their future success, supports them in focusing on their studying, and keeps them in touch with technology. Make sure you understand the technical specifications and choose a laptop that provides at least what they need.
FAQs
As a student, you probably want the best quality laptop within your budget. Most brands provide a broad range of laptops, from basic ones for taking notes, writing papers, and communicating to powerful ones for software development and graphical work. So, the best laptop brand for students is any of the famous ones, such as Apple, Acer, Lenovo, HP, Toshiba, ASUS, Samsung, Dell, Microsoft, and others.
Check out the system requirements of the software you intend to use and go from there. For instance, older generations of laptops (e.g., Intel Core i3, Mac M1, etc.) can tackle basic tasks without any problem and aren’t very expensive. However, if you must use certain software, such as Adobe programs or Microsoft’s software development tools, go for the newest generation of laptops you can afford, even if the older ones are still supported by the software. These complex programs are regularly updated and improved, and sooner or later, they won’t support older generations.
Studying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics requires powerful laptops able to process a lot of information ultra-fast. Choose laptops with multiple-core processors, large RAM units, and powerful graphics cards. STEM students will need a laptop of the latest generation(Intel Core i7 or i9), Mac M4 PRO/MAX, and at least 16GB of RAM (but with 32GB being preferable), and a new-generation graphics card.
If you need the maximum portability and convenience, go for a 13-14-inch laptop. It would be compact, slim, lightweight, and easy to slip into a bag and carry around. However, technical specifications have priority. Powerful laptops are usually bigger and heavier. Additionally, doing graphical work is easier on a bigger screen. So, you may have to add an inch or two to ensure you have the faster processor and optimal screen.
