Best Back-to-School Laptops 2018: Top Picks for College Students

Our list includes all of the top picks that should be on your short list, including our top Chromebook under $200, a great sub-$400 Windows laptop and a powerful gaming machine that won't break the bank. Looking for something a little more premium for the next four years? We've got you covered there, too. And be sure to go to our sister site Laptop Mag for more great recommendations.

Best Overall: HP Envy 13t ($799)

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

The HP Envy 13t is one of the best all-around laptops for students, and it should give you swift performance for years to come. You get a speedy 8th Gen Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a 13-inch touch screen in a sleek metal package, all for a reasonable $999. This 2.9-pound system also boasts the comfiest keyboard we've tested on an ultraportable and nearly 10 hours of battery life.

Image
HP Envy 13t

Quick Specs: CPU: 8th-Gen Intel Core i7 | RAM: 8GB | Display: 13.3 inches (1920 x 1080 pixels) | SSD: 256GB | Ports: USB Type-C, 2 USB 3.1, microSD | Weight: 2.7 pounds

MORE: HP Envy 13t Full Review

Best Ultraportable: Dell XPS 13 9360  ($879)

The XPS 13 is one of the best laptops on the market combining the perfect mix of style, portability, and power. For a limited time, you can use coupon code "SAVE12" to take 12 percent off Dell's entire XPS 13 line, including the previous-gen 9360 models and the newer 9370 models. In terms of value, the 9360 is hard to beat. It lacks the eGPU support found in the newer 9370 models, but it offers a longer battery life of 16 hours (vs. 12.5 hours on the XPS 9370).

After coupon, the XPS 13 9360 with 128GB SSD goes for $879.99. Upgrade to the 256GB model and you'll pay $967.99 ($132 off). .

Image
Dell XPS 13

Quick Specs: CPU: Core i5-8250U | RAM: 4GB | Display: 14 inches (1920 x 1080) | SSD: 128GB | Ports: USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, HDMI | Weight: 2.7 pounds

MORE: Asus VivoBook E403NA Full Review

Best Chromebook: Samsung Chromebook 3 ($179)

Samsung's Chromebook 3 is still one of the best values if you're looking to get your student an easy-to-use laptop running Google's Chrome OS. Less than 200 bucks gets you a bright, 11-inch display and nearly 10 hours of battery life. The performance from the Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM is surprisingly snappy, too. Bonus: The textured, metallic-black finish doesn't scream "kids' laptop."

The speakers on this thing don't wow, but overall, it's unbeatable for the money.

Image
Samsung Chromebook 3

Quick Specs: CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | RAM: 4GB | Display: 11.6 inches (1366 x 768 pixels) | SSD: 16GB eMMC | Ports: USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, microSD | Weight: 2.5 pounds

MORE: Samsung Chromebook 3 Full Review

Best Gaming: Dell G7 15 Gaming ($849)

Great for engineering students or anyone who desires graphics might on a budget, the Dell G7 15 Gaming is ready for serious work and play. This system delivers Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics and a Core i5 CPU for a very reasonable $849. Or, you can step up to an even more powerful 1060 GPU for $979 and get your VR on.

The display is on the dim side, but if you want good frame rates out of hot titles like Vampyr or Middle-earth: Shadow of War without breaking the bank, this is your machine.

Image
Dell G7 15

Quick Specs: CPU: 8th-Gen Intel Core i5 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 | RAM: 8GB | Display: 15.6 inches (1920 x 1080 pixels) | Hard Drive: 1TB (5,400 rpm) | Ports: 3 USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 3, SD card, HDMI, Ethernet | Weight: 5.8 pounds

MORE: Dell G7 15 Gaming Full Review

Best Apple Laptop: 13-Inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar ($1,799)

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is a beast, making it great option if your student has a need for speed. In fact, this quad-core, 8th-Gen Core-powered laptop smokes the Windows competition on demanding tasks like photo and video editing. And it has the fastest SSD we've ever tested.

Other perks include Hey Siri for controlling your Mac with your voice and a True Tone display that changes the color temperature of the screen based on the ambient lighting, so it will be easier on your kid's eyes for four years. The keyboard is quieter and more durable than before, too.

Just make sure you have enough money left over for tuition, as this Mac costs a hefty $1,799. At least Apple is throwing in free Beats headphones as part of its back-to-school promo

Image
13-Inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Quick Specs: CPU: 8th-Gen Intel Core i5 | RAM: 8GB | Display: 2560 x 1600 pixels | SSD: 256GB | Ports: 4 Thunderbolt 3 | Weight: 3.02 pounds

MORE: Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar (2018) Full Review

Best 2-in-1: Lenovo Yoga 920 ($1,049)

An elegant convertible with plenty of pep, the Lenovo Yoga 920 impresses with its watchband hinge, which lets you use this hybrid in multiple positions. The 13.9-inch display is bright and colorful, and the included pen lets you draw or take notes on the touch screen with ease.

Starting at $1,049, the Yoga 920 offers a 8th-Gen Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, which gives it plenty of power for most students. And the more than 12 hours of battery life is Grade A endurance. While the keyboard is a bit on the shallow side, overall the Yoga 920 is a killer 2-in-1.

Image
Lenovo Yoga 920

Quick Specs: CPU: 8th Gen Core i5 | RAM: 8GB | Display: 13.9 inches (1920 x 1080 pixels) | SSD: 256GB | Ports: USB 3.0, 2 USB Type-C | Weight: 3.02 pounds

MORE: Lenovo Yoga 920 Full Review

Mark Spoonauer

Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for over 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends, including Cheddar, Fox Business and other outlets. Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.