Best laptop for students in 2021: best laptops in their class

The article has been updated to reflect our vision of the best student notebook market in early 2021. We will update the list at regular intervals to always include the best options at the moment.

If you are a student, you are definitely used to buying everything used or as cheap as possible. While you’re probably trying to live without spending any extra money, you now have to bear as much of your study as necessary as Re-examinations and student loans. However, don’t worry, as we’ve tested all the laptops suitable for students for you and ranked them.

So what is important on a study computer?

First, it must, of course, fit your price range, but it must also be reliable and upgradeable for years to come. The operating system must be compatible with the programs required for your studies, and the machine must have sufficient power to run those programs. However, we believe that the finest monitors and the most powerful processors will be left to professional devices because of their price.

In compiling this list, we tried to take into account as many different factors as possible, as student machines are in heavy use both at school and at home. If you want to read our more extensive reviews of the machines, you can click on the links found on the machines. Here come the best laptops for students in 2021!

The best laptops for students:

1. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

2. Google Pixelbook Go

3. HP Chromebook 14

4. Microsoft Surface Go 2

5. Dell XPS 15 (2020)

6. Acer Spin 5 (2020)

7. Asus Chromebook Flip C436

8. Acer Swift 3 (2020)

9. Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1

10. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)

1. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Apple’s long-awaited M1 processor responded to expectations while revolutionizing the laptop market. The first laptop with a new processor is the company's thinnest and lightest model, in addition to which it is one of the company's most interesting publications for years. The new core makes the MacBook Air better than ever. Whether it’s performance, battery life or price, the novelty model manages to surprise. After all, it’s not the cheapest option on the market, but if your budget allows for a bit of a bigger investment, here’s the best option right now.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: Apple's 8-core M1 processor
• • Graphics card: Integrated 7- or 8-core
• • RAM: 8 GB to 16 GB
• • Display: 13.3-inch Retina (2,560 x 1,600)
• • Storage space : 256 GB - 2 TB SSD

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2. Google Pixelbook Go

Google’s new Pixelbook Go is by far the best Chromebook right now. In fact, it’s so good that we hope other Chromebook manufacturers will also learn from Google’s creation. The Pixelbook Go is an attractively affordable Chromebook that still manages to offer most of the features of a "premium Pixelbook." On top of all that, great upgrades have been added to the machine, such as excellent battery life and a great keyboard. Its components are compelling as a Chromebook, so the lightweight Chrome OS runs on your laptop with extreme smoothness. The performance is actually so good that it’s practically at the level of many more expensive Windows laptops and MacBooks. If you’re looking for the best Chromebook on the market in 2020, making your choice is easy.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • System circuit: Intel Core m3 - Intel Core i7
• • Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics 615 (300 MHz)
• • RAM: 8 GB to 16 GB
• • Display: 13.3-inch Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080) or 4K Ultra HD touch screen
• • Storage space: 64GB to 256GB

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3. HP Chromebook 14

The HP Chromebook 14 may not be as powerful as some other Chromebooks, but this little power pack offers tremendous value for your money. We think it’s just the right size to carry easily in a backpack or bag, but nonetheless offers plenty of screen space for your schoolwork. It has a surprisingly good keyboard and a reliable touchpad. Its screen is sharp and reproduces colors vividly. Our only significant criticism is the machine's battery life, which is the market average. If you’re looking for an affordable laptop for high school, for example, check out the HP Chromebook 14.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: AMD A4 - A6, Intel Celeron N3350 - N3450
• • Graphics card: AMD Radeon R4 - R5, Intel HD Graphics 500
• • RAM: 4 GB to 8 GB
• • Display: 14-inch HD display (1,366 x 768) SVA, matte - Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS BrightView display
• • Storage: 16 - 64 GB eMMC

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4. Canon EOS 250D

Microsoft products have traditionally been the hardest end of the range, which is why the affordable Surface Go has attracted interest among those operating on a lower budget. The popularity is justified, as Surface Go 2 is the manufacturer's best low-cost tablet so far. The low-cost device has been carefully designed. In particular, support for the full version of Windows 10 enables many features that competitors simply cannot. Unfortunately, the basic model in particular is still plagued by the lack of power that proved to be the original sin of the first model. Updated technology addresses the biggest issues, bringing Microsoft’s device to the top of student laptops.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core m3 - Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4425Y
• • Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 615
• • RAM: 4 GB to 8 GB
• • Display: 10.5-inch Full HD display (1,920 x 1,280, 220 PPI) PixelSense display
• • Storage: 64GB eMMC - 128GB SSD

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5. Dell XPS 15 (2020)

The Dell XPS 15 is undoubtedly unnecessarily expensive for most students on a budget, but at the same time it offers some of the best tools on the market, especially for creative work. Convincing powers combined with a thin and light shell really make an impression. XPS 15's special tools are especially aimed at film students and graphic designers. The stunning and bright display deserves special thanks, but also the comfortable keyboard, the great speakers considering the limitations of the laptops and the great touch panel make the user experience pleasant. While it’s not a perfect device, the full five stars of our review are likely to speak for themselves.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i5 - i7
• • Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti
• • RAM: 8 GB to 64 GB
• • Display: 15.6-inch FHD + (1,920 x 1,200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit - 15.6-inch UHD + (3,840 x 2,400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit
• • Storage: 256GB - 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe

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6. Acer Spin 5 (2020)

Among the good options, standing out is always good. The Acer Spin 5 (2020) perfectly captures its own target audience of students, as it offers a good battery, a versatile stylus and a 3: 2 aspect ratio display at an affordable price. These make it a great option, especially for students, as they are much more successful at recording notes than other hybrid devices.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: 10th generation Intel Core i5 - i7
• • Graphics Card: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
• • RAM: 8 GB to 16 GB
• • Display: 13.5-inch (2,256 x 1,504) 3: 2 touch screen
• • Storage capacity: 256 GB - 512 GB SSD

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7. Asus Chromebook Flip C436

The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 offers significantly more raw computing and graphics performance than many more affordable options. At the same time, however, it manages to keep its price tag at a more affordable end in the battle for high-end Chromebook options. You get good value for your money. The lightweight device, tinting 1080p touchscreen, and rugged keyboard comparable to MacBooks and Dell XPS models provide a comfortable user experience. A fingerprint sensor and Wi-Fi 6 support complete the package. The end result turns out to be a great option for students with a brand new Chromebook in mind.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i3 - i5
• • Graphics Card: Intel UHD Graphics
• • RAM: 8 GB to 16 GB
• • Display: 14-inch LED backlit Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16: 9 display
• • Storage space: 512GB / 256GB / 128GB SSD

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8. Acer Swift 3

Don't be fooled by the low price of the Acer Swift 3. This is an excellent Ultrabook with enough power for work and study. The Swift 3 looks affordable to carry, but powerful components are hidden inside the aluminum case. The lightweight construction, medium battery life and new power upgrades make the device a great tool even for heavy use. Unlike many options on the market, Swift 3 doesn’t shy away from even running multiple programs at once. The Acer Swift is a pleasure to use in every way, and the experience rises to an excellent level in student use. The usability and functionality are even so good that someone could even compare an Acer device to a MacBook Pro.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500 - 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4
• • Graphics Card: AMD Radeon - Intel Iris Plus Graphics
• • RAM: 8 GB
• • Display: 14-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 16: 9 to 13.5-inch (2,256 x 1,504) 3: 2, IPS
• • Storage: 128 GB - 512 GB SSD

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9. Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1

The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a versatile hybrid laptop with a lot of power under the hood. The sleek look hides high-end components that are already close to the Dell XPS 13. It features a sharp 4K screen and a smart stylus that is better implemented than Microsoft. The sharper 4K display takes up some battery life and the speakers could be improved, but the Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is nonetheless one of the best options for a student laptop.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: 10th generation Intel Core i5 - i7
• • Graphics Card: Intel UHD GraphicsRAM: 8-16 GB
• • Display: 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) - 15.6-inch UHD (3,840 x 2,160) touch screen with Active Pen support
• • Storage: Intel Optane Memory H10 32GB with 512GB Solid-State Memory - 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD

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The 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020) may look familiar, but inside, a huge surprise awaits. Apple’s proprietary M1 processor has earned its praise, so the latest MacBook Pro offers excellent performance as well as great battery life. Its performance is effortless with 4K material, and 8K video is no problem. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for those who are actively working with video material. The price is high, of course, but if you want only the best for your studies, the MacBook Pro (M1, 2020) will become the number one option.

SPECIFICATIONS

• • Processor: Apple's 8-core M1 processor
• • Graphics card: Integrated 8-core
• • RAM: 8 GB to 16 GB
• • Display: 13.3-inch LED-backlit Retina (2,560 x 1,600)
• • Storage space : 256 GB - 2 TB SSD
• • Dimensions: 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56 cm

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What should you check when buying a new laptop?

There are a few things you should check out for a new laptop so you know you’re getting all the value for money.

First of all, you should check out the specifications of your laptop, as it's the fastest way to get a clear picture of its performance - provided you know what to look for.

First, there is the processor that acts as the brain of the laptop and on laptops this is often made by either Intel or AMD. Intel is a more popular manufacturer for laptops, but AMD has begun to bring more and more of its own processors to market.

Roughly speaking, Intel processors have better performance, but AMDs offer better value for money.

Fortunately, both manufacturers number their processors so that they get a pretty clear picture of their performance at a glance.

If you are looking for an affordable laptop for web surfing or Netflix office, then an Intel Pentium, Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor will suffice.

If you need more power for gaming or video editing, for example, we recommend using at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5.

The best laptops for media work and heavy gaming are the Intel Core i7, i9 or AMD Ryzen 7. The laptops with these processors are the best on the market and guarantee good performance for any use. However, these also cost the most.

You should also look at how new the processor in your laptop is. Intel mentions its own for generations, so the higher the knee, the newer the processor. Currently, the latest are 10th generation processors, in addition to which the 9th generation processors are still quite new.

Newer processors often have better performance and consume less power, so their batteries last longer. But these are again more expensive.

Random Access Memory (RAM) is another important consideration. You need at least 4GB of memory, although we already recommend almost at least 8GB today. This ensures that the laptop does not grow old in just a few years.

You don't have to worry so much about the video card, as portable processors often have an integrated video card. However, if you want to get your laptop for gaming, then you need a separate graphics card from either Nvidia or AMD.

Battery life

The last important point is battery life. This is probably one of the most important things to make sure when buying a laptop. Namely, the best laptops have to last several hours without power in gaming and work use. Fortunately, the new laptops are so powerful that they no longer eat as much power as before. Laptops on our list last at least five hours, and often much more.

It is worth noting, however, that the readings provided by the manufacturers may not be completely correct. This is because often laptop batteries are tested in laboratory conditions that do not correspond to reality. So even if the manufacturer states a 10-hour battery life, the battery may run out much faster, for example, when using a high-quality streaming service.

If you want to know more about the laptops on the list, we recommend that you also check out the more detailed reviews we have linked to. We test laptop batteries in a number of different tests and for different uses, so if the battery doesn’t last long, we’ll let you know as well.