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If you’re wondering which student laptops are worth your money, stick around! After we run through each product, I’ll give you my personal take—Would I buy it, or would I skip it? No fluff, just my honest opinion. Let’s get into it!
Watch the video version: I Tried 20 Student Laptops - Here Are The BEST, MID, And TRASH Options!
Dell XPS 14
The new XPS 14 packs Intel’s latest Core Ultra processor with AI capabilities, but at a starting price of $1,699, it’s way too expensive for what students actually need. While the 14.5-inch OLED display is gorgeous and perfect for content consumption, the controversial design choices like the invisible touchpad and capacitive function row make it frustrating for daily academic use. The battery life is disappointing at just 6.5 hours, which won’t get you through a full day of classes. Despite having powerful specs and gaming capabilities with the RTX 4050 GPU option, the high price and design quirks make it hard to recommend for students.
Would I buy it?
No – The price point and impractical design choices make it a poor value for students who need reliability and long battery life.
Lenovo Ideapad Slim 5
This laptop is a fantastic value with its robust aluminum build that’s both durable and lightweight at just 1.46kg, perfect for carrying between classes. The 14-inch display is sharp and vibrant with a 16:10 aspect ratio that’s ideal for reading and writing papers, while the battery life is impressive at over 7 hours of real-world use. Performance is smooth with the latest Intel/AMD processors, and it handles multiple Chrome tabs and productivity apps without breaking a sweat. The keyboard is spacious and comfortable for long typing sessions, though the keys might feel a bit mushy to some users.
Would I buy it?
Yes – It offers the perfect balance of performance, build quality, and value that students need, while staying well within a reasonable budget.
MacBook Air M3
The latest M3 MacBook Air is an absolute powerhouse that can handle anything from basic coursework to demanding creative applications, with significantly better performance than previous generations. Battery life is outstanding at over 15 hours, meaning you can leave your charger at home all day, and it now supports dual external monitors which is great for research and multitasking. The 13.6-inch display is bright and colorful, while the laptop maintains the same sleek design and lightweight build that made previous Airs so popular. The M3 chip brings improved performance for both CPU and GPU tasks, making this an excellent long-term investment for students.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of power, battery life, and portability makes it the perfect student companion, despite the higher starting price.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
While the Surface Laptop Go 3 has a premium design and compact 12.4-inch form factor, the $799 starting price is too high for what you get. The display resolution is disappointingly low at 1536×1024, making it the lowest pixel density since the Surface RT, and there’s still no keyboard backlight which is frustrating for note-taking in dimly lit lecture halls. The 720p webcam is dated by today’s standards, and with only 256GB of storage in the base model, you’ll likely need to spend extra on external storage. Despite decent performance from the Intel Core i5 processor, there are simply better options available at this price point.
Would I buy it?
No – The compromises in display quality and features don’t justify the premium price when there are better alternatives for students.
HP Envy X360
The hinges on this laptop are a major concern, with many users reporting they break due to the metal being attached to plastic, and warranty rarely covers this issue. While it comes with impressive specs including a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 and 16GB RAM, the keyboard feels cramped and the trackpad is underwhelming for extended use. The battery life claims of 10+ hours are misleading, as real-world usage only yields about 8 hours, which isn’t great for a full day of classes. The 13.3-inch screen feels too small for multitasking, making it difficult to have multiple windows open during study sessions.
Would I buy it?
No – The hinge durability issues and cramped keyboard are deal-breakers for a student laptop that needs to last through years of daily use.
ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED (S5606)
The gorgeous 16-inch 3.2K OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut makes studying and content consumption a joy. Despite having a large screen, it maintains impressive portability at just 1.5kg with a slim 15.9mm profile, making it perfect for carrying between classes. The laptop comes with powerful specs including an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking during intense study sessions. The all-metal chassis provides excellent build quality with smooth hinges, giving you confidence it’ll last through your academic years.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of a stunning display, powerful performance, and premium build quality makes this an excellent choice for students who need a reliable and capable machine.
Acer Swift Go 14
The laptop offers decent value with its Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and integrated Intel Arc graphics, though it feels a bit cheap with its plastic bottom panel. The 14-inch OLED display boasts impressive specs with 2,880 × 1,800 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, but the peak brightness only reaches around 400 nits. Battery life is adequate but not outstanding, lasting about 7 hours on a single charge which might not get you through a full day of classes. The keyboard has decent travel but feels mushy, though the fingerprint scanner works fast and accurately.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While it offers good performance and a nice display for the price, the build quality and battery life make it a compromise rather than a clear winner.
Huawei MateBook X Pro
Despite its premium design and impressive 2.2-pound weight, the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor runs hot and drains the battery quickly. The keyboard and trackpad are excellent, but the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack is a puzzling decision that could be inconvenient for students. The 14.2-inch OLED display with 3.1K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate is stunning, but the high power consumption means you’ll often be searching for power outlets. The magnesium alloy build looks premium but the US ban makes it difficult to purchase and get support in many regions.
Would I buy it?
No – While it has some impressive features, the battery life concerns and availability issues make it hard to recommend as a reliable student laptop.
MacBook Air M1
The M1 chip in this MacBook Air delivers mind-blowing performance that crushes its predecessor in benchmarks, outperforming even the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro in single-core tests. What really blew me away is how this laptop can handle over 30 tabs in Safari without breaking a sweat, and the battery life is incredible – I consistently got through entire workdays without needing to plug in. The instant wake feature is game-changing for students – it’s ready to go before you can even finish opening the lid, just like an iPad. The fanless design means it runs completely silent while staying cool, which is perfect for library study sessions.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of stellar performance, incredible battery life, and silent operation at a student-friendly price point makes this an absolute no-brainer.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
The 2-in-1 design is super versatile for students, letting you switch between laptop and tablet modes with a 16:10 display that’s perfect for both note-taking and traditional work. The keyboard provides an immediately comfortable typing experience with the perfect amount of travel, which is crucial for those long essay-writing sessions. Battery life is impressive, lasting 13.5 hours in testing, and the build quality feels solid despite the budget-friendly price point. The display’s brightness and color coverage are mediocre, but at this price point, it’s a compromise I can live with.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of versatility, comfortable typing experience, and excellent battery life makes this an outstanding value for students on a budget.
Surface Pro 9
While the design is sleek and the 120Hz display is gorgeous, the base price of $999 doesn’t include the essential keyboard cover and pen, which adds another $279 to the cost. The battery life is decent but nothing spectacular, and the lack of ports is frustrating for a device at this price point. Performance with the Intel chip is solid but not groundbreaking, and the lack of a headphone jack is a major oversight for students. The kickstand is well-designed and the build quality is premium, but the value proposition just isn’t there when you factor in all the necessary accessories.
Would I buy it?
No – The high total cost when including essential accessories and limited port selection make this hard to recommend for students when there are better value options available.
MSI Prestige 16 AI
Despite the fancy AI features and powerful Intel Core Ultra processor, the laptop runs hot under load and the fan noise is noticeable – not ideal for quiet study environments. The battery life falls short of the advertised duration, and the trackpad’s off-center design takes some getting used to. While the OLED display is stunning and performance is solid for everyday tasks, the starting price of $1,399 is steep for what you get. The AI features feel more like gimmicks than truly useful additions, and there are better options available at this price point for students.
Would I buy it?
No – The combination of high price, thermal issues, and questionable AI features make this hard to recommend for students when there are more practical alternatives available.
LG Gram Pro 17 (2023)
The massive 17-inch screen gives you plenty of room for multitasking between assignments, and the lightweight design means you won’t break your back carrying it around campus. While the battery life is impressive at over 12 hours, I found the integrated graphics struggle with anything beyond basic photo editing for your projects. The premium build quality and comfortable keyboard are great for long study sessions, but that high price tag might be hard to justify on a student budget.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – The large screen and portability are perfect for students, but the performance limitations and high cost make it a tough sell when there are more powerful options available.
Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51-59MT)
This budget-friendly gaming laptop doubles as an excellent student machine with its powerful RTX 4050 GPU handling both gaming and demanding software with ease. The 144Hz display makes everything buttery smooth, from scrolling through research papers to taking notes. I love how the keyboard has great travel and tactile feedback, making those long essay-writing sessions much more comfortable. The cooling system keeps things quiet during lectures while still maintaining solid performance for both work and play.
Would I buy it?
Yes – It offers the perfect balance of performance and price for students who want a laptop that can handle both schoolwork and gaming without breaking the bank.
MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max
The incredible M3 Max chip tears through any task you throw at it, from complex spreadsheets to video editing projects, but that power comes at a premium price that’ll make any student loan cry. The stunning mini-LED display and exceptional battery life make it perfect for long study sessions at the library. While the build quality is outstanding and the keyboard is a joy to type on, you’re paying for way more power than most students will ever need.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – It’s an absolute powerhouse that’ll last you well beyond graduation, but the astronomical price makes it hard to recommend unless you’re in a specialized program that demands its capabilities.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
The limited ChromeOS software compatibility could be a major issue if your courses require specific Windows or Mac applications. While the battery life is decent at over 10 hours, the display’s poor reflection handling makes it frustrating to use in bright classrooms or outdoor study spaces. The webcam quality is fantastic for remote classes, but the microphone has lots of static and is quite quiet. The keyboard and touchpad experience is mixed, with good typing feel but inconsistent edge detection on the touchpad.
Would I buy it?
No – Despite some nice features like the convertible design and good battery life, the software limitations and display issues make it hard to recommend as a primary student laptop when there are better options available at similar prices.
HP Pavilion Plus 14
The battery life on this laptop is absolutely terrible, lasting only 4-5 hours during light use, which means you’ll be constantly searching for power outlets during your classes. While it does come with a gorgeous OLED screen and impressive performance from its 12th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, these features actually work against it by draining the battery even faster. The keyboard and touchpad are quite good with wide keys suited for those with thicker fingers, but the lack of a mechanical privacy shutter on the webcam is disappointing for a modern laptop. The sound quality is average at best, making it difficult to hear during online lectures or while watching educational content.
Would I buy it?
No – The atrocious battery life makes it impractical for students who need their laptop to last through a full day of classes.
Lenovo Slim 7i
This laptop absolutely crushes it with its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, scoring way above the premium laptop average in performance tests and handling multiple browser tabs with ease. The typing experience is phenomenal – I was actually able to type faster on this than my desktop PC, hitting 102 WPM with 100% accuracy. The 10-hour battery life will get you through a full day of classes, and the bright OLED display is perfect for both studying and entertainment. The audio quality is stellar, so you won’t need external speakers for watching lectures or multimedia content.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of strong performance, excellent battery life, and superior build quality makes this an ideal student companion.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16
The laptop packs serious power with its Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and RTX 4060 graphics, making it perfect for both intensive coursework and gaming sessions after classes. The 16-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 370 nits brightness provides excellent visibility for long study sessions, while reproducing 92% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The keyboard offers an excellent typing experience with a dedicated number pad that’s super useful for data entry and calculations. The port selection is incredibly generous, including Thunderbolt 4 ports and an HDMI 2.1 output, giving you all the connectivity you need for presentations and external displays.
Would I buy it?
Yes – Despite being marketed as a gaming laptop, its powerful specs, excellent display, and robust build quality make it a fantastic choice for students who need serious computing power.
Thanks for watching, I hope this video helped you pick the student laptops for you. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Links to all of these products mentioned in this video will be in the description.
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