Best Student Laptops

Annabelle Evans

By Annabelle Evans

| Updated 3 Days Ago

  • Laptops are essential tools for students, serving as hubs for everything from note-taking and research to virtual classes and writing papers. A good student laptop should be portable, durable, and powerful enough to handle a range of academic tasks. Key factors to consider include battery life for all-day use, processing power for smooth multitasking, and ample storage for saving documents, photos, and videos. We spent weeks testing dozens of laptops to find the best options that balance performance, portability, and value for students with different needs and budgets.

  • HP 14″ Ultralight Student Laptop

    10

    We recommend this HP laptop for students and light business users who need a basic, affordable machine for everyday tasks.

    10

    We recommend this HP laptop for students and light business users who need a basic, affordable machine for everyday tasks.

    Pros

    • Lightweight and portable
    • Good battery life
    • Includes 1-year Office 365 subscription

    Cons

    • Limited storage capacity
    • Low-resolution display
    • Modest performance for demanding tasks

    We found the HP 14″ Ultralight to be a solid choice for students and casual users. Its compact size and light weight made it easy to carry around campus or to coffee shops. The battery lasted through most of our school day without needing a charge.

    The 8GB of RAM handled basic multitasking well. We could keep several browser tabs open while working on documents without much slowdown. The Intel Celeron processor isn’t blazing fast, but it got the job done for writing papers and doing research online.

    We liked the inclusion of both USB-A and USB-C ports, which let us use older peripherals and newer devices. The 1-year Office 365 subscription is a nice bonus that saved us some money. Keep in mind that the 64GB of onboard storage fills up fast, so you may need to rely on cloud storage or the included microSD card for extra space.

  • Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Budget Student Laptop

    9.7

    We think this Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is a good budget option for students who need a basic laptop for schoolwork and light tasks.

    9.7

    We think this Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is a good budget option for students who need a basic laptop for schoolwork and light tasks.

    Pros

    • Lots of storage with 1TB SSD + 128GB eMMC
    • Ample 20GB of RAM
    • Affordable price point

    Cons

    • Basic Intel Celeron processor
    • Display is only 250 nits brightness
    • No optical drive

    We tested out this Lenovo IdeaPad 1 and found it works well for everyday student needs. The 20GB of RAM lets us run multiple programs and browser tabs without slowdowns. We like the generous 1TB SSD paired with 128GB eMMC storage, which gives plenty of space for documents, photos, and more.

    The 15.6-inch 1080p display is crisp enough for homework and web browsing. It’s not the brightest screen, but it works fine indoors. The keyboard feels good to type on for long writing sessions. We appreciate the full number pad too.

    For the price, this laptop handles basic tasks well. The Celeron processor isn’t super speedy, but it’s fine for word processing, web browsing, and video streaming. Just don’t expect to do heavy photo editing or gaming. Battery life is decent – we got through most of a school day on a charge with normal use.

  • HP 14″ Student Laptop

    9.5

    This budget-friendly laptop offers decent performance for basic student needs, but may struggle with more demanding tasks.

    9.5

    This budget-friendly laptop offers decent performance for basic student needs, but may struggle with more demanding tasks.

    Pros

    • Lightweight and portable
    • Affordable price point
    • Includes Microsoft 365 for one year

    Cons

    • Limited storage capacity
    • Low-resolution display
    • Basic processor performance

    We found the HP 14″ Student Laptop to be a solid choice for students on a tight budget. At just over 3 pounds, it’s easy to carry around campus. The pink color adds a fun touch that many students will enjoy.

    The 16GB of RAM is a nice surprise at this price, allowing for smoother multitasking when working on assignments or browsing the web. We noticed that having multiple tabs open didn’t slow down the system as much as we expected.

    Unfortunately, the 64GB of storage fills up fast. We had to be selective about which apps and files to keep on the device. The 14-inch HD display isn’t the sharpest, but it works fine for basic tasks like writing papers or checking email.

    The Intel Celeron N4120 processor handles everyday tasks adequately, but we wouldn’t recommend this laptop for resource-intensive programs or gaming. It’s best suited for students who mainly need a device for writing, research, and light web browsing.

    We appreciate the variety of ports, including USB-C, HDMI, and Ethernet. This makes it easy to connect to external displays or wired internet when needed. The built-in webcam comes in handy for online classes or video calls with classmates.

    While not perfect, this HP laptop offers good value for students who need a basic, portable computer for schoolwork. Just be ready to use cloud storage or an external drive to supplement the limited onboard storage.

  • NIMO 15.6″ Student Laptop

    9.4

    We think this laptop is a solid choice for students who need a capable machine without breaking the bank.

    9.4

    We think this laptop is a solid choice for students who need a capable machine without breaking the bank.

    Pros

    • Generous 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage
    • Backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader
    • 2-year warranty and 90-day returns

    Cons

    • Intel Pentium processor may struggle with heavy tasks
    • Build quality feels a bit plasticky
    • Limited port selection

    We tested the NIMO 15.6″ laptop and found it to be a good fit for students. The 16GB of RAM lets us run multiple apps and browser tabs without slowdowns. The 1TB SSD gives plenty of space for files and boots up quickly.

    The backlit keyboard is handy for typing in dim rooms. We like the fingerprint reader for quick logins. The 15.6″ 1080p screen looks crisp and has good viewing angles. Battery life is decent, lasting through most of a school day.

    While the Intel Pentium N100 chip handles basic tasks fine, it can lag on more demanding programs. The plastic body feels a bit cheap, but it keeps the laptop light. We wish it had more ports, but the included ones work well. For the price, this NIMO laptop packs good features for students on a budget.

  • HP 14″ Student Laptop

    9.3

    We think this HP laptop is a solid choice for students on a budget who need a basic machine for everyday tasks.

    9.3

    We think this HP laptop is a solid choice for students on a budget who need a basic machine for everyday tasks.

    Pros

    • Long battery life
    • Lightweight and portable
    • Includes Microsoft Office license

    Cons

    • Low-resolution display
    • Limited storage space
    • Basic processor performance

    We tested this HP 14″ laptop and found it to be a decent option for students. It’s very light and easy to carry around campus all day. The battery lasted us through a full day of classes without needing a charge.

    The 16GB of RAM helped us multitask with several browser tabs and apps open. But the Intel Celeron processor sometimes felt slow when we tried more demanding tasks. The 128GB eMMC storage filled up quickly, so we had to rely on cloud storage.

    We liked the inclusion of a Microsoft Office license, which saved us money. The 720p webcam worked fine for video calls. While the 1366×768 display isn’t the sharpest, it’s acceptable for basic schoolwork. Overall, this laptop handles everyday student needs well if you don’t need high performance.

  • Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Student Laptop

    9.1

    We think this budget-friendly laptop is a good pick for students who need a basic machine for schoolwork and light tasks.

    9.1

    We think this budget-friendly laptop is a good pick for students who need a basic machine for schoolwork and light tasks.

    Pros

    • Long battery life
    • Lightweight and portable
    • Affordable price point

    Cons

    • Limited storage space
    • Basic processor performance
    • Low-resolution display

    We tested the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 and found it to be a solid choice for students on a tight budget. This 14-inch laptop is super light at just over 3 pounds, making it easy to carry around campus all day.

    The battery life impressed us, lasting up to 11 hours on a single charge. We were able to get through a full day of classes without needing to plug in. The Wi-Fi 6 connectivity kept us online even in crowded spaces.

    While using it, we noticed the Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM handled basic tasks like web browsing and word processing just fine. But don’t expect to do any heavy multitasking or run demanding programs. The 128GB of storage filled up pretty fast, so we had to rely on cloud storage for most of our files.

    The 14-inch HD display isn’t the sharpest, but it works for reading documents and watching the odd YouTube video. We liked the full-sized keyboard for typing up papers, though the touchpad felt a bit small.

  • HP Stream 14″ Student Laptop

    9

    We think this HP Stream laptop is a solid choice for students on a budget who need a basic machine for everyday tasks.

    9

    We think this HP Stream laptop is a solid choice for students on a budget who need a basic machine for everyday tasks.

    Pros

    • Long battery life
    • Lightweight and portable
    • Includes 1-year Office 365 subscription

    Cons

    • Limited storage space
    • Basic processor performance
    • Low-resolution display

    The HP Stream 14″ caught our eye as an affordable option for students. We found its 11-hour battery life impressive, letting us work all day without hunting for an outlet. At just over 3 pounds, it’s easy to carry around campus too.

    We liked the inclusion of a 1-year Office 365 subscription, which saves students some money. The 16GB of RAM handled basic multitasking well in our tests. But the 64GB eMMC storage filled up fast, so we relied on the included 256GB SD card for extra space.

    The Intel Celeron processor works for web browsing and writing papers, but we noticed some lag with more demanding programs. The 14-inch HD display is fine for schoolwork, though not the sharpest for watching videos. Overall, we think it’s a decent starter laptop for students with simple computing needs and tight budgets.

  • Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Student Laptop

    8.7

    We think this laptop offers good value for students on a tight budget, but it has some notable drawbacks to consider.

    8.7

    We think this laptop offers good value for students on a tight budget, but it has some notable drawbacks to consider.

    Pros

    • Large 512GB SSD plus extra 128GB storage
    • Decent 12GB of RAM for multitasking
    • Affordable price point

    Cons

    • Weak Intel Celeron processor
    • Display is only 250 nits brightness
    • Battery life could be better

    We recently tested out the Lenovo IdeaPad 1, and it left us with mixed feelings. The 15.6-inch 1080p screen is nice and big for schoolwork, but it’s not very bright. We had to crank up the brightness all the way when using it near windows.

    The 12GB of RAM let us keep lots of browser tabs and apps open without slowing down. We also liked the roomy 512GB SSD, which gave us plenty of space for files and programs. The extra 128GB of eMMC storage was a nice bonus too.

    Sadly, the Intel Celeron CPU struggled with more demanding tasks. Simple web browsing and document editing were fine, but the laptop chugged when we tried photo editing or playing HD videos. Battery life was also just okay at around 5-6 hours of real-world use. For basic schoolwork on a budget it works, but power users should look elsewhere.

  • Acer Aspire 3 Student Laptop

    8.7

    We think the Acer Aspire 3 is a solid choice for students on a budget who need a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.

    8.7

    We think the Acer Aspire 3 is a solid choice for students on a budget who need a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.

    Pros

    • Great value for the price
    • Crisp Full HD display
    • Good battery life

    Cons

    • Limited storage space
    • No backlit keyboard
    • Average build quality

    We tested the Acer Aspire 3, and it’s a good fit for students who need a basic laptop without breaking the bank. The 15.6-inch Full HD screen looks sharp and bright, making it easy to read text and view images clearly. We liked the thin bezels, which give you more screen space to work with.

    The laptop felt snappy enough for everyday tasks like web browsing, writing papers, and watching videos. The AMD Ryzen 3 processor and 8GB of RAM handled multiple open tabs and basic programs without much lag. For most schoolwork, it’s got enough power.

    Battery life was a plus. We got through a full day of classes and studying without needing to plug in. The laptop is also fairly light, so carrying it around campus wasn’t a chore. We did notice the build feels a bit plasticky, but that’s expected at this price point.

    One downside is the small 128GB SSD. It filled up fast once we installed some apps and saved files. You might need an external drive for extra storage. The lack of keyboard backlighting was also a bummer for late-night typing sessions.

  • HP 14″ Student Laptop

    8.6

    We recommend this HP laptop for students on a budget who need a basic machine for schoolwork and light computing tasks.

    8.6

    We recommend this HP laptop for students on a budget who need a basic machine for schoolwork and light computing tasks.

    Pros

    • Long battery life
    • Upgraded RAM and storage
    • Affordable price point

    Cons

    • Low resolution display
    • Pentium processor isn’t very powerful
    • Windows 11 S mode limits app installation

    This HP 14″ laptop offers good value for students who don’t need a powerhouse machine. We liked the 16GB of RAM, which is plenty for multitasking and running several browser tabs. The 1TB SSD also provides ample fast storage for documents, photos, and more.

    Battery life impressed us, lasting up to 10 hours in our tests. That’s enough to get through a full day of classes without needing to plug in. The 14-inch screen size strikes a nice balance between portability and usability.

    On the downside, the 1366×768 display looks a bit fuzzy by today’s standards. We also found the Pentium N5030 processor adequate for basic tasks, but it struggled with more demanding apps. Windows 11 S mode limits you to Microsoft Store apps out of the box, though you can switch out of it easily.

    For students on a tight budget who mainly need a laptop for writing papers, research, and web browsing, this HP model gets the job done at an affordable price. Just don’t expect to do heavy photo/video editing or gaming on it.

Buying Guide

When shopping for a student laptop, there are key factors to consider. We’ve put together this guide to help you choose wisely.

Performance

Look for processors that can handle schoolwork and multitasking. 8GB of RAM is usually enough for most students. For storage, SSDs offer faster performance than traditional hard drives.

Battery Life

Long battery life is crucial for all-day use on campus. We recommend aiming for at least 8 hours of real-world battery life.

Portability

A lightweight laptop under 4 pounds is ideal for carrying between classes. Screen sizes between 13-15 inches offer a good balance of portability and usability.

Durability

Students need laptops that can withstand daily wear and tear. Look for solid build quality and spill-resistant keyboards.

Connectivity

Multiple USB ports, HDMI output, and an SD card reader provide flexibility for various school projects and presentations.

Price

Set a budget that fits your needs. Many great student laptops are available in the $500-$1000 range. Consider future-proofing by choosing slightly higher specs if your budget allows.

Software Compatibility

Ensure the laptop can run any required software for your courses. Most schools provide a list of recommended system requirements.

By focusing on these key areas, you’ll be well-equipped to choose a laptop that meets your academic needs and budget.