Best Laptops For College Students (2026): Mac Books and Beyond | WIRED

Overview

College laptops don't have to be embarrassing. Nor do they have to be overly expensive. There are a lot of great laptops for college students that combine long battery life, easy portability, and the performance needed for everyday coursework in a great design.

I've been reviewing laptops for over a decade and have tested hundreds over the years, and if someone asked me what to buy, these are the options I'd suggest.

Details

Be sure to check out our other computing guides, including the Best Laptops, Best Budget Laptops, Best Mac Books, Best Windows Laptops, Best Gaming Laptops, Best Chromebooks, and Best Laptop Bags.

The Mac Book Air is my choice for best overall laptop. It's the one almost everyone should buy. But college students have different needs—and in most cases, different budgets. It needs to be affordable, but ideally it should also be lightweight and easy to carry around. The Mac Book Neo fits the bill perfectly. It's only 2.7 pounds and starts at just

599. It also has a smaller display, which gives this a smaller footprint to fit on those tiny lecture hall desks. What makes the Mac Book Neo special, however, is the lack of compromise around quality. It's a gorgeous piece of hardware, with fun colors, an excellent trackpad, a beautiful display, and that Apple “it” factor. I recommend the

699 model, which gets you twice the storage and a Touch ID fingerprint reader.

Of course, this isn't a laptop without downsides. Apple invested its efforts in the front-of-screen experience, but it chose to make cuts to things like performance, ports, and memory to keep costs low. The limitation of 8 GB of memory is my biggest sticking point with this device, and it means that you'll need to be more attentive to how many applications, tabs, and background tasks you have running. It can also only connect to one external display at a time.

If the idea of buying a laptop with only 8 GB of RAM in 2026 seems questionable, I don't blame you. And if that sounds like you, I recommend the Asus Zenbook A14. Not only does it come with 16 GB of RAM, it's the lightest laptop you can buy right now at just 2.1 pounds. A 0.6-pound weight difference sounds minor, but it’s a 22 percent weight savings and the Zenbook A14 is noticeably easier to carry than the Mac Book Neo. You'll hardly notice this thing in your laptop bag when you're trekking across campus.

The price of the Zenbook A14 varies quite a bit. It regularly alternates between

600,

830, and

1,000, but there's often a deal available that makes it an affordable device. There's also the 2026 model, which comes with the second-gen Snapdragon X2 chip. At

1,600, though, it's just not worth the extra cash.

While it costs a few hundred dollars more, the Mac Book Air has twice the memory, storage, and GPU performance, giving you a meaningful increase over the Neo. It's worth the extra money over the Neo if you can swing it.

The Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a very strong Mac Book Air alternative. While it's not quite as powerful, I adore the taller 3:2 aspect ratio screen. It also gets great battery life, just like the Mac Book. It's not quite as portable, though.

The options listed above are fairly affordable, coming in at under

1,000. But even if your budget is

600 or less, there are still laptops that offer solid performance and good battery life. The HP Omni Book 5 frequently sells for $600 or less, making it an adequate Mac Book Neo alternative. Better yet, HP’s laptop ships with more memory and storage. The OLED panel display is fantastic too, and the laptop is remarkably thin. The only significant downside is the touchpad, which feels clumsy to use. I could get used to it over time, but it is the Achilles' heel of this Omni Book 5 (and really, nearly all budget laptops).

There's also room in the discussion for Chromebooks too, especially if you're aiming for lower prices. As much as college students who grew up using cheap Chromebooks in high school probably never want to see one again, they do offer a very affordable alternative to Windows. While the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is my all-time favorite Chromebook, it's priced a bit higher due to the exceptional OLED screen and long-lasting battery life. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 Spin is a close second, as it uses the same excellent Media Tek Kompanio Ultra chip. But it's a bit expensive right now too.

If you really want a couple of cheap Chromebook options, I'd recommend the Acer Chromebook 516 Spin. It's under $500, and it's a surprisingly great Chromebook, with a decent display, touchpad, port selection, and build quality. I wish it were a bit thinner, but the 16-inch screen gives you a more expansive view of your work, which might be preferable for some. Unless you really enjoy the Chromebook experience, though, the HP Omni Book 5 is the better option, and it ensures you won't run into any app compatibility issues. Chromebooks can handle everyday tasks like word processing and browser-based apps, but you may encounter compatibility issues with software required for some classes. You can download Android apps on Chromebooks, but that's about it.

I do recommend spending closer to at least

500 on a laptop for college, especially since you'd hope it will last through all four years (and beyond). That's where at least the HP Omni Book 3, listed below, comes in to play. And if you really need something cheap in a moment of desperation, check out the Asus Chromebook CX14 below too, which often sells for under

300.

It's not as polished or portable as the HP Omni Book 5, but it's an even more affordable laptop that still gets great battery life. It's the cheapest Windows laptop that I'd actually recommend buying.

This Chromebook suffers from a lot of the same problems as nearly every laptop that's under $300. But of all the models available, this one has the most modern design, a decent keyboard, and plenty of ports.

Not everyone needs a powerful laptop to tote around campus. But if you're in a STEM field, or even just like to play games on the weekend, buying a single, powerful laptop to be your main machine at college is a good idea. Unfortunately, there's no gaming laptop that is powerful, portable, and affordable. You can only have two of those three things. If you remove the portable part, the best option I've tested is the Lenovo LOQ 15 (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It's usually priced around $1,000, and despite that, gets excellent gaming performance. And by extension, it'll also handle creative, media, or AI apps really well. It's hard to beat a discrete GPU when it comes to raw performance, which is exactly what the RTX 5060 in the LOQ 15 delivers.

While this used to routinely cost under $1,000, the price has slowly crept up over the past six months, but it's still the most affordable gaming laptop you can buy that doesn't suffer from severe performance compromises.

Now, if you can afford to dish out some more money, I'd point you to either the Razer Blade 14 or the Mac Book Pro. Despite the thin profile of the Razer Blade 14 (8/10, WIRED Recommends), you can still configure this powerful laptop with an RTX 5090 graphics card. Aside from the high price, battery life is a limitation. You might run out halfway through your day, forcing you to find an outlet in a hurry. The Mac Book Pro, whether you opt for the M5 Pro, M5 Max, or an older chip, resolves this issue. Gaming isn't its strongest suit, but it delivers exceptional performance in creative applications and can be equipped with up to 128 GB of unified memory for serious on-device AI workloads.

This is as good of an alternative to the Mac Book Pro as you'll find on the Windows side: powerful graphics, a beautiful display, and excellent battery life in a premium package.

This is as cheap a gaming laptop as I'd recommend. The Nitro V 16 offers strong enough performance to make it a worthwhile gaming laptop, without sacrificing its usefulness for school and productivity tasks.

Apple i Pad Air for $749: i Pads can be solid laptop replacements, so long as you get the right one. The latest M4 i Pad Air (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best example, as it's not too expensive but still gives you the option for a larger, 13-inch display. The recent changes to i Pad OS bring desktop-like multitasking to the platform, and when paired with a Magic Keyboard, you have a very capable 2-in-1 laptop. It's an expensive accessory, but the keyboard and trackpad are both top notch, on par with a high-end laptop.

The recent changes to i Pad OS bring desktop-like multitasking to the platform, and when paired with a Magic Keyboard, you have a very capable 2-in-1 laptop.

Lenovo Idea Pad Slim 5x for $850: This 15-inch laptop sits right in between the Mac Book Neo and Mac Book Air in terms of price, and unlike so many similar laptops, it doesn't have many compromises. The screen is brighter and more colorful than I expected, and even the touchpad feels smooth and responsive. It even gets excellent battery life and delivers a good balance between screen size and portability. It comes highly recommended if it fits your budget.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 for $729: I can't think of a better device to bring to class for notetaking than the Surface Pro 12 (6/10, WIRED Review). While I recommend the larger Surface Pro 13 for most people, college students are the exception. The thinner and lighter size of the Surface Pro 12 works to its advantage in this case, giving you a super-portable Windows device. It has really solid hardware too. The Snapdragon X Plus provides just as much power and long-lasting battery life as the larger model. I wish it were a bit more affordable, as you'll still need to add on the Surface keyboard and a USB-C power supply.

Framework Laptop 12 for $549: You can't expect most budget laptops to last more than the four years of college. The Framework Laptop 12 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) promises something longer-lasting, as all Framework laptops do. This one is the smallest and cheapest in the lineup, and despite the price, the display and trackpad are both better than I expected. The only problem is the limited RAM.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Copilot+ PC for

999: Lenovo's svelte Yoga Slim 7x (7/10, WIRED Recommends) isn't exciting, but it offers the best price-to-performance ratio of the many Copilot+ PCs we've tested. The OLED display, battery life, and performance are standouts, though the fan tends to run loud. The price can range wildly. It's not worth buying at full price, but I've seen it drop to as low as

800.

Yes. Or, at the very least, some kind of computing device you're comfortable using. A laptop is still the preferred recommendation, but alternatively, you can use a desktop in your dorm room paired with an i Pad or a note-taking device in class.

The mobile form factor of a laptop makes it extremely easy to take your work with you between classes, studying in coffee shops, or typing notes in lecture. Additionally, a laptop makes it easy to save space in cramped dorm rooms.

But as seen in our recommendations above, devices like the i Pad Air or Surface Pro 12 could also be good solutions, as long as you pair them with their respective keyboard accessories.

All our guidelines for choosing a laptop also apply to a college laptops, including evaluating the quality of the display and chassis, along with ensuring that the device is fast enough for your work. Get something with at least 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage.

There are a couple of important things to consider specific to college. Portability and battery life are paramount. Regardless of your budget, you want something that will last throughout the day and won't weigh you down while carrying it from class to class. Anything over four pounds will start to feel noticeable in your backpack.

Overall dimensions are important too. Bringing a 16-inch laptop to class can feel obtuse given the size of small desks. The same is true if you plan on bringing your laptop to a crowded coffee shop or library. That's why 13-inch or 14-inch laptops are preferred. There are even 14-inch gaming laptops, such as the Razer Blade 14, that provide the discrete GPU performance you need without sacrificing portability.

Windows: If you're getting a Windows machine, your main options for the processor are Intel and AMD, though Qualcomm is now a viable alternative with Copilot+ PCs. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. For a more complete guide to the differences, see our full guide to buying a laptop.

Chromebooks: These browser-based machines use half a dozen different processors, most of which you've probably never heard of. There's a reason for that: Those processors are slow. My recommendation when buying a Chromebook is to stick with a Chromebook Plus machine. This is a new standard Google created to ensure a certain level of performance and polish.

Mac OS: Apple has been making its own processors for a few years, like the latest M5 chip found inside the Mac Book Pro right now. These more powerful Mac Books Pros feature integrated GPUs that seek to be comparable to the discrete GPUs you find in Windows laptops. Our Mac Book buying guide can help further.

Regardless of which OS you choose, the minimum amount of RAM you want in your laptop is 8 GB. That's enough memory to keep your computer feeling snappy even if it's running under load. But these days, 16 GB has become the new standard, and you'll find lots of laptops around $800 or less that come with 16 GB. So, if you can afford it—especially if you plan to edit photos or videos as part of your coursework—go for 16 GB or even 32 GB.

The new default for storage is 256 GB, and it'll do if you're trying to save money. You can always use external storage if you need to add on. Spring for 512 GB or a terabyte if you can, though.

Screens vary tremendously, but don't settle for anything less than 1080p (or 1200p for 16:10 aspect ratio displays). For a 13-inch laptop, 1080p is sharp enough. If you're going with a bigger laptop, 2.5K or even 4K screens will improve the viewing experience. If you're trying to play games as well, be sure to get something with a higher refresh rate—120 Hz or 144 Hz will more than satisfy.

Don't forget you'll be lugging this thing around. It may be tugging on your back for eight hours or more. One pound may not seem like much, but at the end of a long day of walking, you will notice the difference between a three-pound laptop and a four-pound machine. Trust me. Also, maybe pick out a nice bag to carry your computer.

Similarly, battery life is very important when you're (potentially) away from a wall outlet for extended periods. Whatever you end up getting, make sure it's capable of lasting at least eight hours under real-world use—browsing the web, editing documents, writing emails, and taking notes. Even then, you might want to consider a portable battery charger.

Yes, for most college students, Chromebooks are a good option. They are cheaper than Mac Books or Windows laptops, and the Chromebook Plus models offer reliable performance at an affordable price. If you're shopping below $500, things can get more iffy, but I've tested a couple of good options that I recommend in this guide in that price range.

Furthermore, you can run almost all apps in the web these days (including Office 365), and Android apps do a good job of filling in the gaps. Occasionally, though, you may run into some compatibility problems, whether with software or hardware. If you're in a STEM, art, or design program, however, a Chromebook is probably not a good fit. For example, if you're required to use CAD or Photoshop, you'll want a Windows laptop.

Key Takeaways

College laptops don't have to be embarrassing
I've been reviewing laptops for over a decade and have tested hundreds over the years, and if someone asked me what to buy, these are the options I'd suggest
Be sure to check out our other computing guides, including the Best Laptops, Best Budget Laptops, Best Mac Books, Best Windows Laptops, Best Gaming Laptops, Best Chromebooks, and Best Laptop Bags
The Mac Book Air is my choice for best overall laptop
Of course, this isn't a laptop without downsides