The best student laptops 2021: all the best options for school and college

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • PCHF IT Feeds
    PCHF Bot
    • Jan 2015
    • 54585

    #1

    The best student laptops 2021: all the best options for school and college

    The studious members of your family deserve the best student laptops, but choosing one isn’t exactly easy. Especially the best college laptops need to meet more requirements than portables for your average user while keeping the price affordable for college students. Those with loaded parents could always choose one of the best laptops on offer. However, many college students already have enough expenses to deal with – tuition, books, house, student insurance – without having to worry about paying for a big purchase.

    Finding the best college laptops that balances affordability with everything one needs for college or high school, therefore, is key. These notebooks need to be robust, thin and relatively lightweight, have a long battery life, and performance to meet a student’s demands. To make things more complicated, some students will need more robust performance than others.

    We’re here to help you find exactly that, one that balances portability, durability, battery life, and performance with an affordable price tag. With the back to school season coming soon, now’s a great time to take your pick.

    [ul]
    [li]Find the best graphing calculator for students[/li][/ul]

    [IMG alt=“MacBook Air (M1, 2020)”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8v...2UywomeS9J.jpg

    (Image credit: Apple)
    [HEADING=2]1. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)[/HEADING]

    Best laptop for students with a flexible budget

    CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU | Graphics: Integrated 7-core – 8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory | Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina display | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

    macOS Big Sur is fast and responsive
    Battery life is great
    Silent in use
    Fanless design could impact performance

    Apple topped the previous year off with a bang, rolling out their much-talked about M1 silicon chip that’s so far been a real game-changer. And, the first laptop to receive it is the company’s thinnest and lightest, putting it on the list of the most exciting Apple laptops of recent years. With this new chip, the MacBook Air is better than ever, touting excellent performance alongside its brilliant battery life – without raising the price to keep it (fairly) affordable still. It’s not going to be the cheapest option for students, but for those who have a slightly bigger budget, this is the best student laptop to get.

    Read the full review: MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

    [IMG alt=“Google Pixelbook Go”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B8...if6GVazQHF.jpg

    The Google Pixelbook Go has earned our coveted “Editor’s Choice” award in the Chromebook category. (Image credit: Google)
    [HEADING=2]2. Google Pixelbook Go[/HEADING]

    Google’s best Chromebook for budget consumers

    CPU: Intel Core m3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 (300MHz) | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: Full HD Display – 4K Ultra HD Molecular Display | Storage: 64GB – 256GB

    Incredible battery life
    Amazing ‘Hush’ keyboard
    No biometric login

    Have you been waiting for the day you can finally afford the premium price of Google Pixelbook? Well, with Google releasing Pixelbook Go, your wait is finally over. Granted, it isn’t quite the actual luxury device you’ve been dreaming of. However, rest assured, you will love this Chromebook, just as we have during our time with it. We love it so much, in fact, that it earned our coveted “Editor’s Choice” award in the Chromebook category. It boasts incredible battery life, an even more impressive keyboard and a 1080p webcam, which you don’t see often in the more budget-friendly laptops even in 2021. And, that’s just to start.

    Read the full review: Google Pixelbook Go

    [IMG alt=“HP Chromebook 14”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/47...8CpSpEBxFL.jpg

    (Image credit: HP)
    [HEADING=2]3. HP Chromebook 14[/HEADING]

    A well-balanced Chromebook

    CPU: AMD A4 – A6, Intel Celeron N3350 – N3450 | Graphics: AMD Radeon R4 – R5, Intel HD Graphics 500 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 14-inch diagonal HD (1366x768) SVA anti-glare – FHD (1920x1080) IPS BrightView | Storage: 16GB – 64GB eMMC

    Excellent keyboard and trackpad
    Chrome OS is responsive
    Crisp, vivid screen
    Average battery life

    The HP Chromebook 14 may not be as powerful as other Chromebooks, but this tiny laptop has a few aces up its sleeves, helping it secure a well-deserved top spot on our best laptops for students list. Those aces include striking a good balance between ample screen space and portability, as well as a surprisingly excellent keyboard and a decent trackpad. That’s without mentioning how vivid the display and how low its price tag is.

    Read the full review: HP Chromebook 14

    [IMG alt=“Microsoft Surface Go 2”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7n...r8H93UZJtA.jpg

    (Image credit: Microsoft)
    [HEADING=2]4. Microsoft Surface Go 2[/HEADING]

    Premium design, more affordable price

    CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core m3 – Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4425Y | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 10.5” 1920 x 1280 (220 PPI) PixelSense Display | Storage: 64GB eMMC – 128GB SSD | Connectivity: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 LTE Modem

    Premium design
    Affordable
    Can run full Windows 10
    No Touch Cover or stylus included
    Base model’s specs are weak

    Microsoft’s devices are known for their higher price tags, which is why the Surface Go line proves popular with the more budget-conscious crowd. It’s Microsoft’s best affordable premium tablet, and the follow up, Surface Go 2, continues that tradition with its reasonable price and premium design. It even runs the full Windows 10 operating system, so it’s even more capable than other tablets out there as far as what applications it can run. Unfortunately, as with the original, it suffers from the same curse of being underpowered, especially at the base configuration. However, it does offer a slight bump in performance over its predecessor. If you’re looking for the best student laptops, this one’s certainly a great contender.

    Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go 2

    [IMG alt=“Acer Chromebook Spin 311”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ly...Pi8ixGmVfU.jpg

    (Image credit: Acer)
    [HEADING=2]5. Acer Chromebook Spin 311[/HEADING]

    Versatile little Chromebook for study and play

    CPU: Intel Celeron N4000 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6" HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 IPS touchscreen | Storage : 64GB Flash Memory

    Great design and build
    Lovely size
    Excellent touch screen and flip mechanism
    Dim screen
    Massive bezels drastically reduce actual screen size

    If versatility is a top priority, then look no further than the Acer Chromebook Spin 311. This all-rounder has all the makings of a great student laptop, from its good battery life to its robust build and solid usability. However, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 takes it further with its impressive levels of versatility, thanks to its abundance of ports considering its size, 2-in-1 design, portable size and excellent touchscreen display. It also boasts a keyboard and a touchpad that are not only reliable, but also satisfying to use. That’s a rare thing in a machine at this price point.

    Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 311

    [IMG alt=“Acer Spin 5 (2020)”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hU...nGdGvyGdQb.jpg

    (Image credit: Acer)
    [HEADING=2]6. Acer Spin 5 (2020)[/HEADING]

    A fantastic 2-in-1 laptop

    CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5" (2256 x 1504) 3:2 touchscreen display | Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

    Fantastic battery life
    3:2 display perfect for note-taking
    Feature rich stylus included
    3:2 display not ideal for 16:9 video
    Bloatware includes desktop pop-up ads

    A great feature set definitely adds a lot of value, and if you’re looking for the best laptops for students, that’s one thing to keep an eye out for. It’s that combined with its affordability that makes the Acer Spin 5 (2020) a terrific candidate. This 2-in-1 laptop isn’t just versatile due to its form factors and fantastic battery life. It also comes with a 3:2 display and a feature-rich stylus that together give it that extra advantage for students over its rivals: an easy and seamless note-taking experience. If you’re one of those folks who have a contempt for typing up notes in class, this old-school approach might just seal the deal.

    Read the full review: Acer Spin 5 (2020)

    [IMG alt=“Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mv...WJX84LGgrb.png

    (Image credit: Lenovo)
    [HEADING=2]7. Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook[/HEADING]

    A pricey, but nearly perfect Chromebook

    CPU: AMD Athlon Gold 3150C - AMD Ryzen 7 3700C | Graphics: Integrated AMD Radeon | RAM: 4GB - 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS LED | Storage: 32GB eMMC - 256GB SSD

    Powerful AMD processor
    Outstanding security features
    Expensive
    Less than 10-hour battery

    The Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook lands straight in our best student laptops list due to the fact that it is one of the most powerful Chromebooks money can buy in 2021. While you’re going to pay extra for this kind of horsepower, especially if you want some of the best features that come with the high-end models, it’s well worth it if you’re looking for a future proof Chromebook that’s going to last you for years to come – four years of college at the very least. As a 2-in-1 device, it’s got the flexibility that many other Chromebooks lack, and the screen on this thing is stunning. Best of all, it comes packing the new AMD 3000C-series processors - starting with an Athlon 3150C and scaling up to a Ryzen 7 3700C - and this means you’ll get more processing power out of this Chromebook than many of it’s competitors.

    Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook

    [IMG alt=“HP EliteBook x360 1040”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j6...5QT83beRB4.jpg

    (Image credit: HP)
    [HEADING=2]8. HP Envy x360 15 (2021)[/HEADING]

    Powerful performance if not the most comfortable

    CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 – 7 / 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: AMD Radeon / Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 15.6" diagonal 4K UHD, UWVA, BrightView, AMOLED – 15.6" diagonal FHD, IPS, micro-edge, WLED-backlit | Storage: up to 256 GB Intel SSD + 16 GB Intel Optane memory

    Best-in-class performance
    Exceptional battery life
    Fantastic price
    Tablet mode a bit unwieldy
    No docked stylus

    The HP Envy x360 15 (2021) is nearly in a class in its own right, a 2-in-1 laptop that combines impressive CPU and GPU power with an elegant yet robust design, a stunning display, and outstanding battery life – all for an incredible price. In fact, if you don’t want to spend a fortune, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better value for a 2-in-1, making it among the best student laptops right now. Its huge collection of ports make it an even better value, especially if you have a few peripherals in your arsenal. It’s not the most comfortable to use as a tablet, but even the most premium contenders aren’ perfect, so it’s easy to forgive this laptop for that.

    Read the full review: HP Envy x360 15 (2021)

    [IMG alt=“LG Gram 16 (2021)”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pe...3hWPueVnUH.jpg

    (Image credit: LG)
    [HEADING=2]9. LG Gram 17 (2021)[/HEADING]

    A productivity powerhouse

    CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 16GB LPDDR4X | Screen: 17-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS LCD | Storage: up to 2TB NVMe SSD

    Excellent battery life
    Large, high-quality display
    Very light
    Expensive
    Subject to screen glare

    Laptops for work are rejoining the 17-inch fray and leading them is the much-lauded LG Gram 17, whose amazingly thin and light form factor has won awards and makes it among the best Ultrabooks on the market. It’s back in 2021 and better than ever, with more powerful internals like the 11th-generation Intel chips and the Iris Xe graphics as well as two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. The long battery life and stunner of a screen are back, though as is its steep price tag. It’s worth it though if you want the power and portability of Ultrabooks yet also need a bigger screen.

    Read the full review: LG Gram 17 (2021)

    [IMG alt=“MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)”]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cY...tZDHz8xCP6.jpg

    (Image credit: Apple)
    [HEADING=2]10. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)[/HEADING]

    Apple’s little MacBook Pro gets a big refresh

    CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU | Graphics: Integrated 8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory | Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 LED-backlit Retina display | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD | Dimensions (H x W x D): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56 cm

    Huge battery life
    Great performance
    Can run iOS apps
    Still lacks ports

    The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) may not have gotten a massive design overhaul, but what it lacks in that department, it makes up for big time in performance and battery life. Thanks to Apple’s groundbreaking M1 chip, the new MacBook Pro 13-inch delivers excellent performance and exceptional battery life. Its performance is so impressive, in fact, that it can easily handle 4K - and even 8K - videos, which is great news for film students. If you’re looking for a powerful laptop that keeps things small and lightweight, this is the best student laptop money can buy.

    Read the full review: MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)

    [ul]
    [li]Check out the latest MacBook Pro deals[/li][/ul]

    [IMG alt="eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS" width="420px" height="1px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eaV3kfiKqe8HZw8guGnRxS.jpg[/IMG]

    With the best student laptops, you’ll often be taking them out and about, so it’s always a good idea to get them insured. If you’re in the UK, then you can shop around and compare contents insurance to keep your gadgets, including laptops, protected.

    [ul]
    [li]Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2021[/li][li]Shop the best cheap laptop deals around[/li][li]Check out the latest cheap MacBook deals and sales[/li][li]Got kids? Take a look at our guide to the best free parental control software[/li][/ul]

    Continue reading…
Working...