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The journey to find the best laptop for students (i.e., you) is an exciting one. This is the machine that will see you throughout your education, and hopefully beyond. You'll want it for taking notes during class, typing up those long assignments and, of course, binging your way through copious amounts of sit-coms and dramas.
Take it from me, someone who tests laptops for a living with a team of experts: today's laptops absolutely shine at taking on the workloads that schools and colleges throw at you. Well, the right ones, that is. That's why we've done our own homework — picking the laptops that fit with student life.
When I was a student, I wish I had the selection of laptops seen today within my grasp. We're at a point where notebooks made for study can easily turn into a machine for casual gaming (and beyond), and there is plenty of power and features on board to breeze through workflows. If you have a budget in mind or specific capabilities you need, as I did, the good news is there's a laptop with your name on it in your future (once you buy it and put it there).
Of course, this is our selection of the best laptops for most students. But I completely understand that there are some courses that may require more horsepower than these choices. If you're using AutoCAD more than Google Docs, check out our picks of the best laptops for engineering students.
The best college laptops you can buy right now
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The best overall for students
Wait, a MacBook that's actually affordable and isn't old? Apple's finally done it. The MacBook Neo pushes into the budget market, and it's come in swinging with one of the best laptops for value yet. In fact, you could say it was made for students.
Priced at $599, but more importantly, $499 for education, the MacBook Neo is simply everything we love about the MacBook Air in terms of design, portability and visual brilliance, but this time with a stylish splash of color. Don't be surprised if you see these dotted around classrooms, with students (and maybe even yourself) typing away on their comfortable keyboard.
Impressively, the A18 Pro chip onboard, generally reserved for Apple's iPhone, holds enough power to handle multitasking, jumping between multiple tabs and apps, editing photos and even some casual gaming. Sadly, there's no backlit keyboard here, or Thunderbolt connectivity if you need it, and some heavier-duty tasks may struggle with its 8GB of RAM. But for general study sessions and binge-watching shows, the MacBook Neo is the laptop for most students.
Read our full Apple MacBook Neo review.
The best value laptop for students
If you prefer Windows over macOS for your studies but still want to keep value as your highest priority, look no further than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x. No, it's not made for creative work or playing games between classes, but for handling research and assignments while juggling multiple tabs and apps, this slim, 15-inch machine will do the trick.
The Snapdragon X chip inside works reliably for students in need of a laptop for writing, replying to emails and watching Netflix in their downtime. It can even take on some light photo and video editing if needed, and it's a breeze to carry around in your backpack thanks to its sleek 0.7-inch design and light 3.42-pound weight.
The best part? While it will set you back $749 at full price, I often see the IdeaPad Slim 3x for far less. In fact, for as low as $499, giving it an edge over the MacBook Neo (without the student discount). Not bad for a notebook boasting a sizeable 15.3-inch (1920 x 1200) touch display, and even better with its amazing 16-hour battery life.
It's not perfect, as colors will look washed out onscreen, and its speakers don't get very loud. But that's an easy fix with one of the best headphones. This is an outstanding budget Windows laptop for students, so if you're looking to save, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x has you covered.
Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x review.
The best Windows laptop for students
For the ultimate Windows machine that can handle heavy workloads (and gaming) without breaking a sweat, largely thanks to Intel Panther Lake chips, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better laptop than the Dell XPS 14.
If you're not in the know, Dell's XPS line was cut, but it's now back by popular demand, and it's in fine form. The good news about the XPS 14 is that it comes in multiple configurations, but even the lower end can act as a trusty companion for everyday studies with its Intel Core Ultra 5 325 chip. That comes with a 14-inch 2K (1920 x 1200) display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
On the higher-end, though, you can expect a 14-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED InfinityEdge touch display, the might of an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU and integrated graphics for creative work and solid gaming performance.
Either way, expect long battery life at over 20 hours for the non-OLED version (over 12 hours with OLED), Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and a lightweight, premium machine with three Thunderbolt 4 ports. It's a pricey one, so if you have this on your radar, be sure to keep an eye out for Dell's usual sales. Otherwise, this laptop makes for a fantastic digital companion for all manner of classes. If you're after more screen real estate, the Dell XPS 16 (2026) is just as impressive.
Read our full Dell XPS 14 (2026).
The best MacBook for students
The MacBook Air M5 shows that Apple's thin and lightweight laptop is better than ever. While the MacBook Neo makes a fantastic case for value, if you need a machine with more horsepower to blaze through assignments and even a touch of gaming, this is the one to grab.
More of a modest upgrade over the previous M4 model, and unfortunately with a $100 price bump, the MacBook Air M5 is still one of the top dogs when it comes to performance, stamina (battery life is now over 15 hours) and portability, thanks to its sleek, featherweight design.
From $1,099 (and definitely less with frequent discounts), the MacBook Air M5 excels at giving you all the performance and tools for multitasking projects. And, at just 2.7 pounds (3.3 pounds for the 15-inch model), it's still thin and light enough to easily pack into your bag before heading off to class. Thanks to its lovely Liquid Retina display, visuals are a treat, whether it's reading research papers or binge-watching shows.
With its M5 chip, it's capable of powering through web surfing (made better with Wi-Fi 7 connectivity), video editing and even some AAA gaming, and it's always handy to have an upgraded 512GB base storage onboard to save all your assignments (and photos, of course). For that sweet spot between the Neo and Pro, the MacBook Air M5 is your best choice. Need a bigger display? The 15-inch model just gives you the benefit of having more to work with.
Read our full MacBook Air M5 review.
The best Chromebook for students
When our reviewer, Jason England, ditched his MacBook for the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 to review it, he was stunned. ChromeOS has well and truly come into its element as a really effective study buddy for your courses, and the 12 months free Google AI Pro can really work effectively alongside you to help you nail that college degree (more on that later).
First, there's the laptop itself — a gorgeously premium aluminum shell that packs the stellar ergonomics that Lenovo is known for with a tactile keyboard and smooth touchpad (and a touchscreen if you pay for it). Speaking of screen, that OLED display is mesmerizing for work and play, and those speakers get loud for those times you need background music in the dorm room!
Then we turn our attention to the performance and power efficiency, which far outstrips any other Chromebook thanks to that MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 chipset and 16GB of RAM. No matter how many Chrome tabs you open, this never stutters, and you've got worry-free battery life all day.
Throw in the aforementioned AI features that enrich your studies with Gemini 2.5 Pro to be a capable research assistant, NotebookLM being a lifesaver for pooling resources around big pieces of coursework, and generative AI giving you laughs around Veo 3 video and Imagen pictures, and you've got a fantastic system for your time at college.
Read our full Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 review.
The best gaming laptop for students
Our reviewer, Jason England, took the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 on a 5,000-mile trip, and by the time he fired up Cyberpunk 2077 and saw that buttery-smooth OLED in action, he already knew this would be the gaming laptop to recommend to every student who games as hard as they study. Whether you’re in a dorm or on the move, this machine hits that sweet spot between power and portability.
The design is still as sleek as ever. That precision-milled aluminum chassis gives off strong MacBook Pro energy, and the keyboard and glass touchpad feel premium under your fingers. But it’s what’s inside that really impressed me. Asus upgraded the internals with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and up to an Nvidia RTX 5080, which means you’re not only crushing AAA titles at high frame rates, but also flying through creative workloads and class projects without a hitch.
Battery life is still a bit of a weak point, so you’ll want to be near an outlet if you’re gaming during downtime. But that’s true of most gaming laptops. The difference here is that the G14 actually feels portable, not like you’re lugging a tank around campus. It’s a laptop that respects your backpack space and delivers serious power for both work and play — and for students juggling both, that’s a big win.
Read our full Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) review.
The best laptop for creatives
Need more multitasking power for your studies? If you're willing to spend more on a machine that will see you through your classes and beyond, the MacBook Pro M5 is our top choice.
Thanks to its M5 chip, this MacBook boasts more than enough performance for editing 4K video, building out a design portfolio, producing music or touching up photos for a project. If your assignments require as much, the MacBook Pro will power through your workflow, all wrapped up in a premium, sturdy aluminum design.
It retains everything you'd expect from a MacBook Pro, including that gorgeous 14-inch (3024 x 1964) Liquid Retina XDR display with a 120Hz refresh rate and sharp 12MP webcam for those video calls. But this time, the heavy-duty assignments will benefit from the performance boosts M5 offers, so expect an easier time with creative work, along with enough power to play games like Resident Evil 4 Remake at 60 FPS.
This is a pricey one, and if you already have an M4, or even M3, model in your bag, don't expect a huge upgrade. That doesn't take away from this being a laptop made for power users, and if heavy workloads come with the territory for your education, this laptop was made to handle it all. That said, if you have the funds for something boasting even more performance, the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro may better suit your needs.
Read our full MacBook Pro M5 review
How to pick the best laptop for my studies?
Good question, and I'm here to help! There are certain key factors that make a laptop amazing for heading back to school.
- Design & Ergonomics: A laptop for students needs to be both portable and durable. Look for a great keyboard for late-night essays and a large, precise trackpad.
- Performance & Battery Life: Nothing's worse than a laptop freezing up before a deadline. Aim for a powerful processor like an Intel Core Ultra 5 200 series, AMD Ryzen AI 300, Snapdragon X, or Apple's M3/M4 for speed and reliability.
- Screen & Speakers: A bright, sharp screen is great for both getting work done and relaxing with a show. Look for at least a 1080p display with 500 nits of brightness.
- Connectivity: Wireless and wired connections are essential. Make sure you have at least Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, along with a few USB-C ports and a headphone jack for all your accessories.
- Operating System: This comes down to personal preference, but always double-check if your essential software is compatible with Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS before you buy.
- Price: Don't get a cheap system that will let you down. Start with a budget of at least $500 to ensure you get a durable, high-performing laptop that will last you all four years.
Battery benchmarks
Battery life is a key concern for students since you don't want a laptop to die in the middle of class. With that in mind, we've collected all the results from our battery tests of these laptops, and I've organized them below in a brief chart.
Right now, the Dell XPS 14 (2026) lasts the longest, but all of these machines offer plenty of juice to keep you going for a whole day of classes. Looking for the longest-lasting notebooks? Check out our guide on the best laptops for battery life.
Laptop | Battery life (hh:mm) |
Dell XPS 14 (2026) | 20:41 (non-OLED), 12:23 (OLED) |
MacBook Pro M5 | 18:00 |
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x | 16:29 |
MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) | 15:30 |
Lenovo Yoga Slim 3x | 14:14 |
MacBook Neo | 13:28 |
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 | 13:19 |
How we tested these laptops
Here at Tom's Guide, we put each laptop through real-world tests and benchmarks to see how it will perform during everyday use. That includes the CPU, GPU, display, battery life and the overall design.
We measure the average brightness and color quality of each laptop's display using our in-house light meter and colorimeter. For general performance, we run our machines through tests that include Geekbench 6 (CPU performance), as well as various 3DMark tests to measure graphics capabilities. We also run a file transfer test to measure how fast a machine's hard drive is, and a custom battery test that has the machine browse the internet over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.
Plus, we run the graphics benchmark test in Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm to get a sense of how well a laptop can handle basic games. When testing dedicated gaming laptops, we run benchmarks for a number of games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
For more granular detail on our lab benchmarking and real-world testing, you can see how Tom's Guide tests every single laptop, PC and tablet.
