Back to School: The Best Laptops for Students

It is not easy to find a new laptop for your new education. There is a lot to take into account. We have listed a number of considerations for you. It will soon become clear that no “ultimate laptop” is enough for everyone: specifications, desires, limitations and budget play a very large role.

The most important thing is that the new laptop is enough for your new education. Sometimes these requirements are too low and a Chromebook is enough. Other courses may expect to be able to perform heavy graphical applications or work with proprietary software, which can only be used in windows or macOS to spin. This makes the choice more restricted. So always keep a list of minimum system requirements handy when you’re looking for a new laptop.

Size and battery life

How big should your laptop be? This depends on the usage. Needless to say, a larger screen works better than a smaller screen…but remember that you may have to use it all day. Then a smaller laptop, at 14 inches in diameter, is a wise choice. They are also the lightest. Moreover, school benches are not always the same size. You also have to be able to function well. The small laptop is lightweight, fits easily in your backpack and doesn’t take up much space on your table. A larger laptop is useful if you edit photos or edit videos, or if you don’t have to move around a lot. One thing that should not be underestimated in a school laptop is battery life. Preferably the battery should be able to work for a small working day. You’ll notice that less powerful laptops have better battery life than faster ones. An additional graphics card in particular will increase power consumption, but a larger screen is also a major consumer of power. Also think about the future. Battery quality will deteriorate over the years: so choose a model with a longer life.

Sustainability and accessories

Also, don’t forget that your laptop can be very powerful. You don’t have to immediately buy a model that you need to use in rough terrain, but don’t expect a cheap Chromebook to slip into your backpack without a problem, buried under a pile of books. The metal casing is generally solid, but there are also special laptops that are somewhat more robust (and therefore more robust). So it’s a trade-off between weight and durability. A good cover or wrap can also serve you well. Also consider if you want to be able to connect some accessories. Are the external keyboard and mouse compatible with the chosen system? Or do you want a touchscreen laptop, so you don’t rely on a touchpad or an external mouse? You may want to connect to an external monitor at home or connect via USB-C. Also keep this in mind when choosing a laptop. Nowadays it is an added advantage if your laptop has a built-in webcam. This is actually a must if you want to communicate fully online.

Back to school and find another laptop? Be sure to check out the list below.

Back to School: The Best Laptops for Students

Apple MacBook Air (with M1 or M2)

• metal container
• powerful processor
• Luxurious finishing
• powerful battery

In terms of strength, you won’t lack for anything with Apple MacBook Air. Laptops are very strong and durable and can handle any situation. Before you run straight to the Apple Store to get one: it’s expensive (last year’s model M1 costs a good 1,200 euros) and not all software is compatible with macOS. The battery of this little device can easily last a work day or a school day. It’s ready instantly as soon as you open the lid. The 13-inch screen is second to none, and the Magic Keyboard and Force Touchpad are among the best in their class. The new model with M2 processor, It costs 300 euros more. The perfect back-to-school laptop.

Dell Latitude 3420

• touch screen
• Windows 11
• strong model
• Connections with USB-A and USB-C

Dell Latitude series of laptops are known for their durable casing and excellent overall specifications. This model has an i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The new Wi-Fi 6 connection provides excellent internet performance. The laptop has a 14-inch touch screen, so a mouse isn’t required right away. The battery easily lasts a day, as does a chocolate cake, so you don’t have to rely on plugs to plan your day.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5

• touch screen
• Windows 11
• slim design
• Allround apps

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex has a unique function: you can tilt the screen back, so you can put the laptop on its keyboard on the table or set it up as a “tent”. This is very space saving. You can get this model in a variant with a 14-inch screen or a 15.6-inch touch screen. The Flex 5 is powered by a powerful i5 processor and has a 256GB SSD. This makes it a beautiful all-round laptop, packed into a slim design that’s also suitable for heavier tasks than just word processing and web browsing.

Going back to school with a Chromebook?

Acer Chromebook Spin 311

• Chromebook
• built-in model
• Long battery life
• Tiltable touch screen

Don’t forget to also consider Chromebooks. These laptops are super fast thanks to their lightweight operating system, and they work instantly as soon as you open them. The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 has an 11-inch screen, which makes it light and compact. The monitor is fully tiltable, so it can be placed on a table very compactly. You are using apps from the Google Play Store and Chrome Web Store. Keep in mind that you prefer working online: Chromebooks work from the cloud. Thus, back to school is also possible with Chrome OS.