Best Laptops 2020 : For College Students

THE BEST STUDENT LAPTOPS YOU CAN BUY TODAY

1. HP PAVILION 14

1. HP PAVILION 14

The best student laptop for most people

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.

 

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. 

Dell XPS 13

2. DELL XPS 13

The best premium student laptop

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.

Acer Chromebook 15

3. ACER CHROMEBOOK 15

The best budget student laptop

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

The Chromebook 15 is a ridiculously cheap student laptop that's also very capable. The hardware is in line with that price, with lower specs across the board – but as the machine runs Chrome OS, it doesn't matter too much, with the laptop still delivering a fast and responsive usage experience. 

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 MacBook Air

4. APPLE MACBOOK AIR (2019)

The best student laptop for the vast majority of student Mac users

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.

Huwaei Matebook x pro

5. HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO

Mobile computing on steroids for students with serious studying (and entertainment) needs

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.