Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

What's the most recommended laptop for college students?

So, I'll be starting college soon and I need to get a new laptop. What laptop is generally the most recommended for college students? I need something reasonably priced but still has enough processing power to run programs for classes.

a year ago

While the "best" laptop can vary depending on your personal needs and the demands of your specific course of study, there are few models commonly recommended for general college use due to their balance in performance, cost, and durability.

1. Macbook Air: It's a favorite choice for many college students due to its sleek design, powerful performance, and long battery life. It's great if you're going to be running more intensive applications and can afford a higher-priced laptop.

2. Dell XPS 13: This model has been consistently rated as one of the best laptops on the market. It's powerful, has excellent battery life, and is compact and lightweight which makes it perfect for carrying around campus.

3. HP Envy x360: This laptop is a more budget-friendly option that doesn't skimp on performance. It's also a 2-in-1, so you can use it as a laptop or a tablet which can be handy for note-taking.

4. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5: A budget-friendly choice and boasts handy features like a 360 degrees hinge for versatility in use.

5. ASUS Chromebook Flip: If you don't need to run any specific Windows or Mac programs for your courses, a Chromebook could be a good budget choice. This one is well-reviewed and gives you access to Google's suite of apps for productivity.

Ensure you also look at factors like warranty, battery life, and weight, since as a student, you'd want something sturdy that will last through your college years, won't die in the middle of a class or study session, and is easy to carry around.

Remember, the important thing is to identify what exactly you'll be needing the laptop for, beyond the general browsing, research, and document creation, as this will help inform the best device for you. For example, if you're studying graphic design you might require a higher RAM and better graphics card, but if you're studying something like English or History, your requirements might be different.

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.