- Best Mac For College Students 2018
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Without even factoring in one of the best laptops for students in your budget, school can already get very expensive very fast. Textbooks, tuition, school supplies and housing – school expenses can rack up fast. The silver lining, however, is that many of the best student laptops on the market could still save you a lot of cash.
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That's more than just a good thing. When you're already dropping all that cash on textbooks, school supplies and instant ramen, scrounging up enough for a new laptop, after all, can be tricky.
In fact, the top contenders for the best laptops for students put value over having the top-of-the-line processors and graphics cards, giving you some budget-friendly options. And yet, they still have enough juice to get you through a demanding workload at school then let you partake in some post-schoolwork entertainment like light gaming and Netflix.
Some of our picks for the best laptops for students are among the most wallet-friendly devices on the market. But make no mistake: just because they're very affordable, doesn't mean they look cheap. The best laptops for students exude style while touting power and offering portability, all without breaking the bank.
You don't need to stay with Windows 10, either, as some of the best Chromebooks are also capable of going head to head with some of the best laptops, which means you'll get all your computing needs without shelling out some serious dough.
Going to school can be a stressful time. You don't need the added frustration of having to work on a laptop that's barely functioning. So we sought out the 10 best laptops for students that are ideal for your budget, no matter how low. Because no one should be restricted to an ancient relic just to get some work done, but you shouldn't have to sell an organ, either.
1. Huawei Matebook 13
The best laptop for most college students
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 - i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 (optional) | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch 2K (2,560 x 1,440) with touch panel | Storage: 256GB - 512GB SSD
We're big fans of laptops that can skillfully strike a balance between price and performance with barely any compromises, and the Huawei MateBook 13 comes closer to than anything else in 2019 so far. It's light and compact, perfect for carrying in your backpack while you hurry from class to class; but it's fast and affordable as well. This stunning 13-inch Ultrabook will make sure you'll get all your work done in style, without burning a hole in your pocket. Sure, you might need to keep that charger on hand if you want it to last you the whole day, as the battery life is underwhelming. However, there's still no doubt that the Huawei Matebook 13 deserves its lofty spot on the best laptops for students list.
Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13
2. Dell XPS 13
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080; non-touch) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160; touchscreen) | Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD
Dell's flagship laptop has always been rated as one of the 10 best laptops for students, not to mention among the most ideal devices for professionals and casual, everyday users. This time around, the Dell XPS 13 2019 welcomes back the entry-level model, making it affordable enough for college students once again. Dell has also addressed our biggest frustration with the XPS lineup – the webcam, which has finally been moved back above the display where it's supposed to be. This means that your family and friends won't have to stare up into your nostrils when you're video chatting ever again.
Overall: AccountEdge Pro is perfect for our small non-profit organization. It is very user friendly. I especially love how fast I can make and customize reports. Processing payroll and making deposits are virtually effortless, which I appreciate. Acclivity releases AccountEdge Pro 2018 for macOS, Windows Acclivity has released AccountEdge Pro 2018, an upgrade of the small business accounting native desktop software for macOS and Windows. 'Since Intuit announced that QuickBooks for Mac will be discontinued, we've been more focused than ever on investing in our desktop accounting software,' says Scott Davisson, Acclivity's co-founder. AccountEdge offers full-featured accounting software for your small business, on the desktop. No monthly subscription. Command centers help you run and report on all aspects of your business: sales and invoicing, purchases, payroll, inventory, time billing, and more. Accountedge pro for mac 2018.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13
3. Surface Laptop 2
We're big fans of laptops that can skillfully strike a balance between price and performance with barely any compromises, and the Huawei MateBook 13 comes closer to than anything else in 2019 so far. It's light and compact, perfect for carrying in your backpack while you hurry from class to class; but it's fast and affordable as well. This stunning 13-inch Ultrabook will make sure you'll get all your work done in style, without burning a hole in your pocket. Sure, you might need to keep that charger on hand if you want it to last you the whole day, as the battery life is underwhelming. However, there's still no doubt that the Huawei Matebook 13 deserves its lofty spot on the best laptops for students list.
Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13
2. Dell XPS 13
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080; non-touch) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160; touchscreen) | Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD
Dell's flagship laptop has always been rated as one of the 10 best laptops for students, not to mention among the most ideal devices for professionals and casual, everyday users. This time around, the Dell XPS 13 2019 welcomes back the entry-level model, making it affordable enough for college students once again. Dell has also addressed our biggest frustration with the XPS lineup – the webcam, which has finally been moved back above the display where it's supposed to be. This means that your family and friends won't have to stare up into your nostrils when you're video chatting ever again.
Overall: AccountEdge Pro is perfect for our small non-profit organization. It is very user friendly. I especially love how fast I can make and customize reports. Processing payroll and making deposits are virtually effortless, which I appreciate. Acclivity releases AccountEdge Pro 2018 for macOS, Windows Acclivity has released AccountEdge Pro 2018, an upgrade of the small business accounting native desktop software for macOS and Windows. 'Since Intuit announced that QuickBooks for Mac will be discontinued, we've been more focused than ever on investing in our desktop accounting software,' says Scott Davisson, Acclivity's co-founder. AccountEdge offers full-featured accounting software for your small business, on the desktop. No monthly subscription. Command centers help you run and report on all aspects of your business: sales and invoicing, purchases, payroll, inventory, time billing, and more. Accountedge pro for mac 2018.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13
3. Surface Laptop 2
CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch, 2256 x 1504 PixelSense touch display | Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD
While the Surface Laptop was arguably one of the 10 best laptops for students, it was still held back by its below average performance, a lack of ports and Windows 10 in S Mode. It's a good thing that Surface Laptop 2 has significantly improved on its predecessor – with the exception of the ports. It's now packed with 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors, full-fat Windows 10 Home and a black color option. We only wish it included even a single USB-C port. Still, you will get all your tasks done in style with this laptop with little to no effort, making it deserving of a lofty spot on this list.
Read the full review:Surface Laptop 2
4. Microsoft Surface Go
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 10-inch, 1,800 x 1,200 (217 ppi; 3:2 aspect ratio) PixelSense touch display | Storage: 64GB eMMC – 128GB SSD
Even if you're only in the market for a laptop for school that strikes a balance between cost and performance, it can't hurt to factor in a splash of style. The Microsoft Surface Go isn't just one of the best Windows tablets, but it's also one of the most good-looking devices on the market. Better yet, it also gets our vote as among the best laptops for students, especially from a value perspective. Don't be duped by the low-power components: Microsoft engineered this tablet to take on all your general schoolwork and more without breaking a sweat.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go
5. Dell XPS 15
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i9 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) Anti-Glare Non-touch IPS – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge Anti-Reflective Touch IPS | Storage: 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive – 2TB PCIe SSD
The Dell XPS 15 has been making our list of best laptops for students for a few years now, and Dell has stuck with that old 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach with its latest model. Not much has changed since the 2017 version, but we aren't complaining. After all, you're getting an Ultrabook that's not only reliable, but also has enough power to get you through pretty much any workload. And, the Dell XPS 15 is very reasonably priced. In fact, the base configuration should work swimmingly for most users. If you want more power, you can also configure this thing with up to an Intel Core i9 processor and 32GB of RAM, upgrading their Dell XPS 15 into an extremely powerful workstation. Now, if Dell would just move that webcam, we'd be gravy.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 15
6. HP Envy x360 13 (2019)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3300U – AMD Ryzen 7 3700U | Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 6 – Radeon Vega 10 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3' diagonal FHD IPS (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256 GB – 1TB SSD
There are so many compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) belongs to our best laptops for students like, and its slim, sleek design is the least of them. This 13-inch 2-in-1 has premium build, boasts 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, all without burning a hole in your pocket.
Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019)
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 12.3-inch, 2,736 x 1,824 PixelSense display | Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD
The Microsoft Surface lineup has made a name for itself for being among the best Windows devices on the market, with beautiful touch displays, excellent performance and a battery life that lasts a long while. The Surface Pro 6 continues that tradition, even if it doesn't improve much on its predecessor. You're getting a fast Windows tablet that can effortlessly turn into a laptop with the addition of the Surface Type Cover. What does that mean for you? Simply that you can get your work done then effortlessly transition into Netflix time, making it one of the 10 best laptops for students.
Read the full review: Surface Pro 6
8. Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1
CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6-inch, HD (1366 x 768) touchscreen | Storage: 32GB - 64GB eMMC
Most schoolwork that's not specialized (i.e. engineering) can be done on a Chromebook. So if you aren't anticipating to do a lot of projects that require the use of processor-hungry apps, getting a Chromebook can save you hundreds of dollars. If you're a student on the market for one of the 10 best laptops for students that will help you do all your research, type up papers and not much else, the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1 might fit the bill. The Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 won't be able to handle much heavy lifting, but at under $300, it doesn't need to. This is the best laptop for students on a very limited budget.
Read the full review: Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1
9. Apple MacBook Air (2019)
CPU: 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 13.3' (2,560 x 1,600) Retina display | Storage: 128GB - 1TB SSD
Apple takes the MacBook Air (2018) and gives it a bit of refresh, adding True Tone technology to its display and an even more reliable keyboard. Unfortunately, it hasn't upgraded the specs, but seeing as the 2018 version has already made our list of the best laptops for students, this improved version is just as deserving. But the best part is yet to come: this refresh is even cheaper, so you're definitely getting more value for less.
Read the full review: MacBook Air (2019)
10. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
Apple's productivity machine gets the latest Intel tech
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 - i9 | Graphics: Radeon Pro 555X – Radeon Pro Vega 20 | RAM: up to 32GB | Screen: 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology | Storage: 256GB – 4TB SSD
Apple's most powerful MacBook in existence has just juiced-up, which means that the 15-inch Cupertino powerhouse is faster than ever. Whether you're doing school projects, photo editing or some light gaming, this won't disappoint as one of the best laptops for students. What's behind this refresh? To start, an improved keyboard, as well as some of the latest and most powerful processors from Intel. Now, you not only have the option to take one home with an 8-core Intel Core i9, but also configure one to rock a Radeon Pro Vega 16 or Pro Vega 20 GPU to give you a boost in graphics.
Best Mac For College Students 2018
Read the full review:MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
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Prepare Your Mac For School 2018
Bill Thomas, Michelle Rae Uy and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.
Images Credit: TechRadar
- Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2019
- Got kids? Take a look at our guide to the best free parental control software
Prepare Your Mac For School 2018 Korean
- Apple Education Pricing. Available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels. Quantity limits apply. Visit Sales & Refund Policy for full terms and conditions.
- Qualified Purchasers can receive Promotion Savings when they purchase an Eligible Mac or Eligible iPad with a pair of Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, or BeatsX Earphones, subject to the terms and conditions herein.
- Trade-in values will vary based on the condition, year, and configuration of your trade-in device. You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible to trade in for credit or for an Apple Store Gift Card. Not all devices are eligible for credit. More details are available from Apple's Mac trade-in partner and Apple's iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch trade-in partner for trade-in and recycling of eligible devices. Restrictions and limitations may apply. Payments are based on the received device matching the description you provided when your estimate was made. Apple reserves the right to refuse or limit the quantity of any device for any reason. In the Apple Store: Offer only available on presentation of a valid, government-issued photo ID (local law may require saving this information). Value of your current device may be applied toward purchase of a new Apple device. Offer may not be available in all stores. Some stores may have additional requirements.
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