Choosing the right laptop is essential for any student, as it impacts productivity, learning, and even entertainment. With so many options available, it’s important to find a laptop that balances performance, portability, and budget. Here are our top picks for the best laptops for students in 2024, complete with detailed specs to help you decide.
Best laptops for students:
- Apple MacBook Air M2
- Dell XPS 13
- Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
- Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
Apple MacBook Air M2
The best overall
The MacBook Air M2 is a top choice for students who need a reliable and powerful laptop in a slim, lightweight design. With Apple’s M2 chip, this laptop delivers excellent performance for everything from everyday tasks to demanding projects. It also offers exceptional battery life, making it perfect for students who need to work all day without plugging in.
- Display: 13.6-inch Retina Display, 2560 x 1664 resolution
- Processor: Apple M2 chip with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU
- RAM: 8GB (configurable up to 24GB)
- Storage: 256GB SSD (configurable up to 2TB)
- Battery life: Up to 18 hours
- Weight: 2.7 lbs (1.24 kg)
- Ports: 2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Price: Starting at $999
Dell XPS 13 9310
Best windows laptop
The Dell XPS 13 is a great option for students who want a sleek, high-performing laptop with an impressive display. Its nearly bezel-less design and powerful Intel processors make it perfect for students who need to multitask between schoolwork and other tasks. It’s also lightweight, making it easy to carry between classes or study sessions.
- Display: 13.4-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge display (non-touch)
- Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 or i7-1165G7
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x
- Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Price: Starting around $989
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
Best budget option
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a standout option for students who value display quality and portability. Its OLED display offers stunning visuals with deep blacks and vibrant colors, making it perfect for students who work on creative tasks, watch media, or simply want a superior viewing experience. Paired with AMD Ryzen or Intel processors, this laptop also provides solid performance.
- Display: 14-inch OLED, 2880 x 1800 resolution, 90Hz refresh rate
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7530U / Intel Core i7-1260P
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 512GB SSD (configurable up to 1TB)
- Battery life: Up to 12 hours
- Weight: 3 lbs (1.4 kg)
- Ports: 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A, HDMI, microSD card reader, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Price: Starting at $699
HP Spectre x360 2023
Best 2 in 1 laptop
The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is the top 2-in-1 laptop, especially with the optional OLED screen. It is an absolutely stunning machine with a solid build and a high-end appearance and feel. It can be equipped with a 3:2 OLED screen that is vivid, crisp, and bright, with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
- Display: 13.5-inch FHD+ IPS or 3K2K OLED (1920 x 1280 to 3000 x 2000 resolution)
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x
- Storage: 256GB to 1TB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
- Battery life: Up to 12 hours
- Weight: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
- Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1 USB-A, headphone jack, microSD card reader
The HP Spectre x360 2023 is an excellent choice for students who need a combination of power, versatility, and premium design. Its 2-in-1 functionality, long battery life, and powerful performance make it ideal for a wide range of student needs, from studying and note-taking to media consumption and light creative work. However, it may be on the higher end of the budget spectrum, so students looking for a more affordable option might want to explore alternatives like the HP Pavilion x360 or Lenovo Yoga series.