Which Laptop To Buy For College

Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15

Asus

For creative work like video editing, 3D design, architecture, music production or similar disciplines, you need something a little more powerful than the average laptop for students. You need a capable processor, a powerful GPU to handle all the 3D calculations, and a gorgeous, high-resolution display to show it all on. Or how about two of them?

The Asus Pro Duo 15 features not just one gorgeous OLED display, but two, giving you some of the best color clarity and contrast of any laptop out there, whilst also opening up the potential for heaps of touchscreen controls, right at your fingertips. To power this bevy of pixels, it comes equipped with a top-tier 10th-generation Intel CPU, and pairs it with an Nvidia RTX 3070.

The GPU there is monstrously powerful, and though the CPU isn’t quite cutting edge, it has eight cores with 16 threads and more than enough thermal headroom to maintain a high clock speed whatever task you throw at it. This is a stunning laptop no matter what you want to do with it, but the second screen gives it some amazing touchscreen options for artists, designers and editors alike.

Best For Design/photoshop Microsoft Surface Pro 6

The Surface Pro 6 is flexible, versatile and ultra portable.

Price: | Features: Convertible design, touchscreen, 12.3 display

WHY ITS A TOP PICK: If youre in creative design, the Surface Book Pro loves to get drawn on.

With Microsofts Surface Pro, youre in for a treat. Fast, portable, and easy to set up. The Surface Pro 6 also offers two different uses laptop, and tablet . This adds to the portability, making it fantastic for the on-the-go student and one of our top picks for one of the best college laptops.

With the base unit starting with a 12.3-inch display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage, the Surface Pro 6 is perfect for the student that can handle the demands of Graphic Design and/or demanding software tools like CAD and Photoshop. From graphic cards, we suggest one from the GeForce GTX 16 series.

And the ability to transform the Surface Pro into a tablet is another great feature because it removes the need for another device. With this feature, you get a 2-in-1 laptop, which is excellent build quality. However, if your primary intent is to get a tablet, then the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is a better choice. Its truly one of the best student laptops for college students. Dont forget the best laptop bags to protect your device.

Price: View Price | Features: Intel Celeron N3350 processor, 15.6 FHD touchscreen

WHY ITS A TOP PICK: The Acer Chromebook 15 is perfect for work or play on campus.

Asus Vivobook S S14 Thin And Light Laptop

The Asus Vivobook S14, which offers a 14-inch Full HD LED-backlit antiglare display, is back with a new product from the most fantastic, inexpensive, and student-friendly brand. It is equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor from the 10th generation, as well as 8GB DDR4 RAM and a 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD, guaranteeing that the laptop boots up quickly and performs well. An integrated Intel UHD graphics card handles the graphics. On a single charge, it has a battery life of up to 6 hours. Finally, because of its small size and portability , our specialists suggest this laptop.

• Price – INR 72,000

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Hp Envy 14 Price And Configuration Options

Price: $1,249Size: 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.7 inchesWeight: 3.3 pounds

The HP Envy 14 I reviewed costs $1,249 and is exclusive to Amazon and Best Buy. It is outfitted with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q GPU with 4GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a 1920 x 1200-pixel touchscreen display. Thats a little pricey for the components considering that Ive seen proper gaming laptops that were more stacked within this price range.

You can save some money if you go with the $1,069, which drops the discrete GPU for an integrated Intel Iris Graphics chip and cuts the RAM down to 8GB. It also forgoes the touch screen panel. However, the $1,699 is similar to our model except it bumps the CPU to a Core i7-1165G7 and the SSD to 1TB, but it also doesnt have the touchscreen.

If youre looking for something less expensive, check out our best cheap laptops and best laptops under $500 pages.

Best Convertible For Taking Notes With A Stylus

Pros

• Modern design with thin bezels and larger display
• Superior 1080p webcam
• Two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support
• Well-implemented kickstand
• Perky performance in tested Core i7 configuration

Cons

• Higher starting price diminishes entry-level appeal
• Accessories and configuration upgrades are pricey
• Keyboard base still sold separately
• USB-C ports only

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How To Buy Best Laptops For College Reddit

Does shopping for the Best Laptops For College Reddit get stressful for you? Are doubts rolling over your head and confusing you? We know how it is we have been through the entire journey of Best Laptops For College Reddit research as we have put forward an entire list of the Best Laptops For College Reddit available in the market these days. We have brainstormed a few questions that most of you might have in mind.

Although there may be more than what we are suggesting here, it is significant for you to ensure that you conduct exclusive research for this product before buying it for yourself. The questions may include:

• Brand Value

Key Factors To A Top Laptop For College

Performance: Theres no need to overbuy in power. Find the right power for your needs. For instance, if youre just picking up a laptop for writing papers, you might not need something with a large capacity SSD, a hefty processor, and 8GB of RAM..and with it a hefty price tag. Likewise, if youre buying something for a Graphic Design or CAD class, youll likely need something much heftier than just 4GB of RAM and a dual-core processor even if that processor is an intel core i7. Find a laptop that meets your needs and sets you up for success.

Portability: Make sure to purchase a thin and lightweight laptop. Theres nothing worse than carrying around a chunky laptop thats awkward and heavy to lug around campus or to the library. Its also good practice to make sure your laptop has a small footprint, allowing you to easily put it in most backpacks or carrying bags alongside textbooks and other study materials.Battery: Find a laptop with a good battery life, preferably one thatll last you all day and then some. For instance, the ASUS C201 has a battery life that lasts up to 13-hours, giving you plenty of study time during the day and then some. While you might not need that much, its good to search for the best college laptops that will last a little over three hours.

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Choose The Operating System

Windows 10 is one of the most popular operating system today. You may find it pre-installed in pretty much every laptop these days. It is easy to use. You can install any software, be it productivity to entertainment to games. Depending on what youre studying, there might be specific system requirements such as Mac OS or Linux.

This is something to consider. Of example, if you need a software package that runs on a Mac, you wont be able to do that on a Windows laptop. However, a MacBook or a MacBook Pro is expensive, but you can choose to install Windows on it as well. Laptops running Linux might be more affordable than ones that come with Windows pre-installed. This might save your money, but youll need to spend a bit more to get a copy of Windows.

Most Portable Laptop For College

Display: 13.4 FHD+ Anti-glare | CPU: Intel Core i3-1115G4 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB LPDDR4x | Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD | Weight: 2.64 pounds | Size: 11.64″ x 7.82″ x 0.58″

Dell’s XPS 13 line never fails to impress. It’s been a staple workhorse among students and business users for a while, and somehow Dell continues to figure out ways to make it better. With the XPS 13, you get a portable and lightweight build that features a 13.4-inch Full HD anti-glare display with 500-nit brightness. So, itll be easy to see everything under the bright fluorescents in the classroom or to get work done in the quad on a sunny day outside. Plus, the battery should be able to keep up as you shuffle from class to class.

Our favorite version of the XPS 13 comes in just over $800 for an 11th generation Intel Core i3, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. These arent the most impressive specs that you can find, but it will be perfect for getting all of your assignments done. If you think you might need more, there are plenty of upgrade options as well.

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What Is The Best College Laptop

We feel strongly about the Envy 13 and the Envy x360 13 as the best laptops for college students. Not everyone is on a budget, but most folks will want to save as much money as possible so they can pay off student loans. If you’re in this group, the Envy 13 and Envy x360 13 deliver premium specs and features at a reasonable, sub-$1,000 price.

The Envy 13 might be a mid-range notebook but it looks and feels like a more premium machine. The Envy also delivers fast performance from 11th Gen Intel CPUs, it has a great screen, and it’s portable enough to carry around campus. Then there’s the Envy 13 x360, which has all of those traits in a convertible chassis and is assisted by AMD’s powerful Ryzen 4000 CPUs. Need a larger screen? The HP Envy 14, as the name suggests, is essentially a 14-inch version of the Envy 13.

Apple fans who prefer macOS should opt for the new MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro. The fanless MacBook Air with M1 is a good choice for those on a budget but the 13-inch MacBook Pro delivers longer battery life and sustained performance. If you don’t have a budget, consider the Microsoft Surface Pro Studio, the Dell XPS 15 or one of the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pros. You could also go big on the Dell XPS 17, the best 17-inch laptop around.

The Best College Supplies And Dorm Room Essentials

Sending your kid off to college is nerve wracking. The best you can do is impart a few life lessons and outfit your kid’s dorm room with all the essentials. We’ve rounded up everything your kid needs for their dorm room from bedding and decor to tech and school supplies.

Living in a dorm is a crazy experience, but so long as you have the essentials, you’ll be just fine. Read on to find our top picks for every dorm essential you can imagine.

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Best Laptop For College

College kids are justified in spending a bit more money than other age groups. Some can expect to do some fairly demanding work. Assad Abid, an electrical engineering undergrad from Pakistan, needs to run simulation software for his assignments. Aakash Chandra, a student at New Horizon College of Engineering in India, does a lot of coding, in addition to creative work in Premiere Pro and Photoshop, and gaming. Students also noted that its worthwhile to pay for a laptop that will last for a few years after graduation. That means you wont have to worry about finding and financing your next device until youre settled into a job.

But among high-end, capable devices theres still a wide range of options. Students stressed that a college laptop should be light. Expect to bring it between classes, meals, meetings, the library, and other locations on campus. Its a boon that I can carry my laptop as well as some notebooks without feeling like Im carrying too much for six hours a day, says Haseeb Waseem, a senior at Villanova University.

The Dell XPS 13 has a variety of configurations. Students with light workloads may prefer the base model, while gamers and creatives can add a GPU.

Another universally-lauded feature: battery life. Waseem, who uses an HP Spectre, says the all-day juice gives him the flexibility to study in a bunch of different locations, and even outside.

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Keeping It Light: Why Weight Matters

Not every student will agree, but depending on how far you’ll haul it every day, a big-screen notebook may not be such a good idea.

It’s nice to have a mini home theater in your dorm room or play the latest games in big-screen 1080p glory, but a 5-pound-plus laptop with a 15-inch or 17-inch screen will be a chore to haul across campus while you’re running from class to class. You’re better off with something that’s light: If screen size matters less to you than convenience, a super-thin ultraportable might be the way to go.

For most people, a maximum 13- or 14-inch widescreen panel is ideal, as it will make room for other items in your backpack and minimize the weight burden. Depending on your tolerance level, a smaller display works as long as you understand that full web pages and productivity applications will involve more scrolling, and fonts will appear smaller than they do on larger screens, assuming the same resolution and zoom level.

Essays, research papers, and chatting online with your classmates will take up most of your computing time, so a full-size keyboard and a comfortable touchpad are crucial. Also know: When you venture smaller than a 13-inch-class laptop, you run the risk of not getting the same typing experience. The easiest way to ensure that you have the best keyboard is to stop by a brick-and-mortar store and spend some time typing on prospective choices of different size classes.

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Best Laptop For College Gamers: Razer Blade 14

One thing that many college students like to do is gaming or at least I hope that wasnt just me. It used to be pretty hard to find a laptop that could handle demanding games and was still easy to carry around, but today, things have gotten a lot better. The Razer Blade 14 is a powerful gaming laptop, but its still portable enough that you can carry it around at school without too much of a hassle.

Lets talk performance first: The Razer Blade 14 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, which is a powerful 45W processor with 8 cores, 16 threads, and boost speeds up to 4.6GHz. AMD Ryzen processors are quite powerful, too, and despite the lower clock speeds, they can give Intel processors a run for their money in many scenarios. The Blade 14 also comes with NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics up to an RTX 3080, and thats a version with 100W of power a very impressive number for a laptop this small. You also get 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage, though that storage is upgradeable down the line. Unfortunately, thats not the case for the RAM.

For the webcam, the Razer Blade 14 sticks with a 1MP/720p camera, which isnt fantastic, but also not uncommon. Some gaming laptops dont have cameras at all or put them in terrible places, and at least the Blade 14 avoids that. Its not the best camera around, but its a laptop college students can use for online meetings and classes in a pinch.

Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Laptop For College

Dont make the mistake of buying the wrong operating system. Some school programs will specifically require either a Windows or OSX-based laptop for programs like Photoshop and Gimp. If your learning is strictly reading books, writing papers, and taking quizzes, then you might not need the aforementioned operating systems. In that case opt for a Chromebook, especially if all your activities will be Web based.

Another thing to avoid is having too little RAM or hard drive space. A solid laptop for students will have just enough storage capacity and RAM for studying, completing assignments, and play. If your degree program requires a lot of heavy-duty software, find a laptop that has 4GB of RAM or more and a hard drive with 500GB of storage space or more. This will be enough to ensure that any software you throw on your computer runs smoothly without any hiccups. And keep in mind that an SSD hard drive will result in better performance and increase speeds as well, especially start up time.

And never buy at full retails. As a student always be on the look for those student discounts, even if something already seems cheap!

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Asus Rog Strix G15 Advantage Edition

If youre serious about gaming, the Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition is one heck of a powerhouse. The review unit we tested had an 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor, a AMD Radeon RX 6800M GPU , 16GB of memory, and 512GB of NVMe SSD storage. You can play older titles on high to very high graphics settings and newer games on medium. There are a few shortcomings, though. Battery life is lackluster and its pretty darn heavy. That said, poor battery life and a clunky form factor isnt unusual for a gaming laptop, and if youre looking to play some games when you arent busy working on assignments, this powerhouse offers much more value than most of its rivals.