TOP BEST LAPTOP FOR STUDENTS TO BUY 2020
The HP Pavilion 14 is an excellent choice if you want value for money during your student years.
1. HP PAVILION 14
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 8GB
Screen: 14-inch (1,920 x 1,080)
Storage: 256GB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
+Strong all-round specs+Solid build quality that will last+Big internal storage space
We think that for the vast majority of students the best student laptop available today is the HP Pavilion 14. Combining strong all-round specs, which include an 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U CPU, Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, along with a simple yet stylish design and crisp screen, for the money you can't do better running Windows 10.
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The system's build quality is also good, and you get dedicated HDMI, USB Type-C and
networking ports, too, meaning that hooking the machine up in the dorm or in class is easy. Battery life sits at up to 11 hours, and the machines comes pre-installed with a fresh copy of Windows 10 Home.
Cheaper and more expensive student laptops are available in this list, as well as
makes from Apple that run macOS, however, for an affordable sweet spot then look no further than the HP Pavilion 14.
The Dell XPS 13 is the best student laptop money can buy.
2. DELL XPS 13
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 4GB – 16GB
Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080; non-touch) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160; touchscreen)
Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
+Powerhouse performance+Will last way beyond university
If you're looking for one of the most refined and revitalised laptops on the market, look no further than the impressive Dell XPS 13, which we consider the money-no-object best student laptop going today.
When it comes to performance you won’t be left wanting, thanks to its super slick 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 CPU, while you can game lightly with the Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card.
Add in a repositioned webcam (for vlogging and streaming purposes, naturally) and a simply stunning 13.3-inch Full HD display and you’ve got a powerhouse in portable form.
The only caveat is it’s quite the investment, but it'll definitely see you through college, uni and beyond, and that raw quality and longevity, for us, make it an easy recommendation for students with deep pockets.
If you're fine using Chrome OS, then the Acer Chromebook 15 is a great, budget-friendly student laptop choice.
3. ACER CHROMEBOOK 15
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Celeron 3205U 1.5GHz (dual-core)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
Storage: 32GB SSD
Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
Camera: 720p
Weight: 4.85 pounds
Dimensions: 15.08 x 9.65 x 0.95-inches
REASONS TO BUY
+Quality screen+Long-lasting battery+Very attractive price point
And that 15.6-inch screen is an absolute delight, by the way. Again, its speakers are poor, with flat treble and weak bass – but at this price, you can afford an iPod as well. One of the best student laptops going in 2020 for those shopping on a budget, and who don't need a host of extra bells and whistles.
Apple has revamped the Air in spectacular style, making it a great student laptop choice.
(Image credit: Apple)
4. APPLE MACBOOK AIR (2019)
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core-i5
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617
RAM: 8GB
Screen: 13.3-inch LED 2560x1600 with IPS
Storage: 128GB or 256GB SSD
Connectivity: USB-C (USB 3.1)
Weight: 1.25 kg
REASONS TO BUY
+Thin and light+Retina display+Apple desirable
Following the untimely death of the 12-inch MacBook, Apple has made some adjustments to the MacBook Air lineup, dropping the price for the base-spec model to just £1,099 and boosting the internal components to offer both power and portability.
For students, it's hard to do better than the MacBook Air: a beautiful design, the latest version of macOS, and enough oomph to play SIMS until your hearts desire — or to do uni work... Both models also feature what Apple describes as an updated keyboard, which seeks to fix some of the reliability issues that plagued the previous generations.
Those seeking more power or storage alongside the thin design will be pleased to know that Apple offers a range of upgrades. The £1,299 model, for example, doubles the base storage to 256GB.
The Huawei Matebook X Pro is among the most premium student laptops available in 2020.
5. HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5
RAM: 8GB – 16GB
Screen: 13.9-inch 3K (3,000 x 2,080)
Storage: 512GB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
+Clean and vibrant display+Impeccable battery performance+Very strong hardware suite
If you're going to kickstart your education, regardless of the subject or the level, why not invest in a student laptop that's not only built to last, but also one of the most powerful laptops you can buy in 2020? That’s what Huawei is offering with the robust MateBook X Pro, and it's going to have you covered whatever your subject.
Its attractive and sleek chassis is home to a lovely 13.9-inch 3K display, a meaty Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 GPU, and a battery that will serve you well through even the lengthiest of all-nighters.
With all these specs and more, the Huawei MateBook X Pro has proved itself the new gold standard, and one of the very best 2020 laptops for students available.
The Dell Insprion 3000 is without doubt one of the best student laptops for anyone shopping on a budget.
(Image credit: Dell)
6. DELL INSPRION 14 3000
SPECIFICATIONS
Processor: Intel® Celeron® Processor 4205U (2MB Cache, 1.8 GHz)
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
Display: 14-inch LCD 1366 x 768 resolution
OS: Windows 10 Home 64bit
Weight: 1.66 kg (3.68 lbs)
REASONS TO BUY
+Incredibly cheap+Solid internal hardware+Full fat Windows 10 experience
There's just so much to like about the Dell Inspiron 14 3000, and its crazy cheap price point is just the first. Next, it rock-solid internal hardware means that light computing tasks are handled with ease, while its stylish lightweight design also makes it incredible portable.
It's 14-inch LCD anti-glare screen is crisp, too, and with a full fat version of Windows 10 Home 64bit installed, it very much delivers the genuine experience out of the box. If browsing the internet, writing reports and essays, as well as storing your most valuable media and work is important to you, then the Insprion 14 3000 is a great companion.
The laptop also comes with a webcam so joining seminars and remote meetings is handled, while its SD card reader and multitude of ports makes it easy to hook storage up to it, as well as it to larger screens and peripherals.
Overall a brilliant cheap Windows 10 laptop that will be ideal for going back to school.
The HP Envy x360 is a powerful and versatile 2-in-1 student laptop.
(Image credit: HP)
7. HP ENVY X360
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U quad-core 2-3.6GHz
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX Vega 8
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Screen: 13.3-inch FHD IPS LCD
Storage: 128GB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
+Very versatile form factor+Stylish design+Competitive price
If you like the HP brand but want to spend a little bit more than the Pavillion costs (see above), the HP Envy x360 might be for you. It manages to marry some decent specs with some very decent looks at a price that's not quite as exorbitant as you might think, looking at it.
With AMD powering the CPU and GPU, this is a laptop that's going to handle most of the tasks you throw at it, besides intensive gaming and video editing – it's perfect for writing up essays, or doing some research on the web, or putting together a budget spreadsheet to work out where all your money is going.
And as this is a 2-in-1, when the working day is over you can flip the HP Envy x360 into tent mode and enjoy some Netflix or YouTube on the bright, crisp 13.3-inch screen. Definitely one for your best student laptops shortlist.
If you're looking for a 2-in-1 computing experience then then Lenovo Yoga 530 is well worth a look.
8. LENOVO YOGA 530
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Dual-core AMD Ryzen 3 2200U (2.5GHz-3.4GHz)
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution
Storage: 128GB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
+Rotating hinge for the 14-inch display+Pick a colour to match your style+Rock solid hardware suite
Versatility is important for the students of today and a 2-in-1 like the Yoga 530 series from Lenovo doubles up as a tablet when you don't need a full laptop – perfect for taking into lectures or seminars with you. It'll even stand up in a tent position for when you're watching movies.
The specs are very competitive for the price (though a stylus costs extra), and the Lenovo Yoga 530 should be able to chew through all the tasks you give it fairly rapidly. If you're after something a little bit different from your student laptop in 2020, this is worth a look.
The best student laptop running Windows 10 for tech enthusiasts right now is the Dell XPS 15.
9. DELL XPS 15
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 6700HQ (quad-core, 6MB cache, up to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M (with 2GB GDDR5)
RAM: 16GB Dual Channel DDR4 (2,133MHz; 8GB x 2)
Screen: 15.6-inch, 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) InfinityEdge touch
Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD
REASONS TO BUY
+Dazzling 4K display+Impeccable build quality+Premium-grade hardware
Like its smaller sibling, the awesome XPS 13, Dell's XPS 15 sports an almost bezel-less InfinityEdge display, but is better for long hours of work because of the larger screen. It brings the dual benefit of making whatever you're doing on its gorgeous 15-inch 4K screen come to life while also lending it the dimensions of a 14-inch laptop.
It's bag-friendly to boot and comes packing the goods in terms of specs, including an Nvidia GTX 960M mobile graphics card that's beefy enough to handle just about any game so long as you stick to 1080p.
The XPS 15's battery life is its main weakness, so don't expect its runtimes to stretch into the double figures without taking a booster pack along for the ride. Even with that against it, it's still one of the best student laptops out there.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 15
If money is no object, then the MacBook Pro 15-inch is the best student laptop you can buy running macOS.
10. MACBOOK PRO 15-INCH (2018)
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i7 – i9
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 555X – 560X, Intel UHD Graphics 630
RAM: 16GB – 32GB
Screen: 15.4-inch, 2,880 x 1,800 Retina display
Storage: 512GB – 4TB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
+Impressively thin design+Incredible performance+Gorgeous Retina display
