Are you ready to conquer the classroom? From elementary school explorers dipping their toes in the digital world to college scholars juggling thesis deadlines, the right laptop can make learning so, so easy — and fun! The best laptops for every kind of student are reliable, affordable, and sturdy, because your kids need a functional and easy way to learn, no matter what grade they’re in. With back-to-school shopping in full swing, it’s high time to grab one.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a fun yet functional Chromebook for your fifth grader’s virtual history class or you’re after the powerhouse laptop of a computer science major’s dreams, it’s your lucky day. This year’s back-to-school sales are chock-full of laptops that aren’t just impressive workhorses but also deliver top-notch entertainment. Remember, not all laptops wear the same cap and gown, so we’ve handpicked computing machines with sizzling speeds, whopping storage, crystal clear displays, and battery lives that won’t leave you or your child hanging during that final exam crunch.
Think this is just for the students? Think again! Right now is the perfect opportunity for anyone craving a tech upgrade. So whether you’re eyeing a kid-friendly laptop for parental control, peace of mind, or you’re drawn to a versatile laptop that turns into a tablet that’s perfect for learning anywhere, there’s a little something out there for everyone. Here are our hand-picked selections for the best laptops for students in every grade.
Lightweight, durable laptops and Chromebooks with parental controls.
HP 14″ HD Laptop
For little learners who have more extensive workloads, this larger HP laptop is a great choice. Its 14-inch display also doubles as a touchscreen, and it boasts 11.5 hours of battery life. It’s perfect for making slide shows, keeping up with classwork, and playing around after your kid’s work is finished. Plus, it’s lightweight and sturdy.
Acer Aspire 3 A314
This slim laptop is the perfect option for kids who need a go-to computer to get their homework assignments done or the perpetually on-the-go mom who loves staying in touch on Facebook. Plus, it comes with a free laptop sleeve.
These laptops have more processing power to help your kid succeed.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop
If your student prefers a slightly bigger screen, consider the 15-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 3. It offers a 720p HD camera for virtual classes, 8 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage to store all their materials and assignments.
Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim Laptop
This inexpensive laptop is perfect for older kids who need a little more oomph. It’s a great option for everyday assignments, presentations, virtual classes, research, and more thanks to its 8GB of RAM and Intel Core i3-N305 processor. It also has a spacious full-size keyboard that feels great to type on and 128GB SSD to store everything your kid needs.
HP 17.3-Inch Laptop
This affordable laptop has a great-looking screen and is excellent for loading up classroom discussions, conducting research, writing up homework and anything else school might necessitate. Its 11th-gen Intel core processor and size make it a good choice for students near the end of their middle school journey as it’s a bigger laptop in general.
Dell Inspiron 5635 Laptop
This higher-end laptop is not only excellent for middle schoolers, but you might also want to use it, too. It packs an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U processor under the hood with 8 GB of RAM as well as a bright, sharp FHD+ display. It’s versatile and robust and can handle just about any task your kid needs to view and download videos, tackle large multimedia projects, or spend downtime gaming.
Take things to the next level with laptops that can do even more.
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop
Given that your high schooler is older and responsible enough to handle pricier equipment, a MacBook Air is a reliable and sleek computer that can help them tackle each school day. It has a 10-core GPU, 18 hour battery life, fingerprint touch ID panel, and up to 2TB of storage space so no assignment gets missed or left behind. Plus, it’s slim and lightweight enough to fit in any crowded backpack.
Laptops that can handle anything any major can throw at them.
Apple M3 MacBook Pro (2023)
Grab one of the most powerful MacBook Pro laptops at a great price and put the M3 chip to good use. Enjoy your favorite shows on the gorgeous Liquid Retina screen and take care of hardcore tasks with ease without missing a beat.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is another great-looking, high-end piece of tech that has oomph where it counts. It’s perfect for more intensive tasks as well as casual browsing. It includes a 12th Gen Intel Core processor, comfortable keyboard, and a responsive 13.5” PixelSense touchscreen. It also packs fantastic speakers and surround sound, so if your learner is pursuing a multimedia career, this might be another great pick akin to the MacBook Pro.
Samsung 16″ Galaxy Book 4 Pro
This 2024 Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro is powerful enough for students, everyday users and business users alike. It features a beautiful, 16-inch AMOLED 2x touchscreen display with 2,880 x 1,800 pixel resolution. This means video, graphics and animations will look bright, detailed and fluid.
Find everything you need to head back to class for the 2024-2025 school year in our Fall 2024 Back-to-School Shopping Guide.
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