Every college student needs a computer. Buying a bad device can be more frustrating than not having any at all. You would even wish you reserved the funds for something else.
Don’t fall a Victim!
Choosing a good college computer can be difficult if you do not know about computers.
We will give you a guide that will help you purchase a college computer and the best laptops for your schooling.
There are things to look out for in a good computer. Buying according to the specifications listed below will guarantee you having a computer that can last up till the end of your college study duration.
We also have a list of the best computers for schooling and college computer buying guide.
Table of contents
When is the Best Time to Buy a College Computer?
There are times when buying a computer is of great affordability. Buying a new laptop at a very exhorbitant price is not worth it for college students who need to save some money.
We have outlined some of the best times to buy a computer for a college student.
#1. Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Black Friday is in vogue. The only difference is that you don’t have to wait up for shopping deals in a supermarket. Many students do not know that Monday after Black Friday are called cyber Monday and deals are still low.
There are some shops that it is easier to get laptop deals on cyber Mondays than black Fridays because of coupons and discounts.
#2. Time To Go Back to School
The season, usually July and August when students go back to school is also another good time to buy a computer. The discounts come as a result of many purchases by students that season.
In addition, Amazon has a prime day for discounts. This years’ Prime Day fell on July 15, just in time for the start of the school year.
Make maximum use of this college computer buying guide to take advantage of discounts.
#3. When there is a New Computer Model
Ther are not many things as painful as spending your college funds on the latest model of computer only to find out a few weeks later that is now cheaper and a better model has been released.
The way to save yourself this heartache is to wait a few moments after any new release before buying. So, the price will come down, coupled with the fact that you won’t be among the users to test run the new model.
What is the College Computer Buying Guide?
Whie many college students love flashy things, im guilty of this, computers do not need to be bought with such sentiments.
In fact, it has been proven by computer dealers that most of the very flashy computers do not last. They will either have to be replaced or repaired before they graduate from college.
When it comes to choosing the best college computer, here are a few things to look out for;
There are a number of factors students should consider before buying a laptop for college.
The first is portability, which goes hand-in-hand with screen size.
13-inch laptops are popular among college students because they offer a good balance between screen and portability. An example is the Dell XPS 13 is a great example. 14-inch laptops, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, is another which is remarkably portable for the screen size.
Secondly, Battery life is another key component of any good college computer.
Consider a laptop that gets at least 9 hours of battery life.
When it comes to specs, we recommend buying a laptop with an Intel U-series or H-series Core i5 CPU, and above with at least 8GB of RAM (16GB is great) and a minimum of 256GB of storage.
AMD is coming in hot with its 4000-series chips, so keep an eye out for those. Also, Chromebooks offer excellent value for college students.
A fast CPU performance is of utmost importance.
Other things include a comfortable keyboard and a sensitive touchpad, bright display, ability to run an HD video, speaker, and heat management.
Check out: My College Laptop Scholarship 2023 | UPDATED
Best Laptop/Computers for Schooling
Here is a brief outline of the best computers for college students in 2023.
Here they are.
#1. HP Envy 13 (2019)
CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620/Nvidia GeForce MX250 | RAM: 8GB/16GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB | Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p or 4K | Size: 12.1 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 2.8 pounds
Attractive, portable, Fast performance, Bright display, 11+ hours of battery life (FHD model)No Thunderbolt 3
This is one of the best college computers for students’ that is now refreshed with a new design, powerful speakers and useful security features
The additions to the 2019 version include a fingerprint sensor and a webcam kill switch that shuts power to the camera.
Combine the features with a bright 4K or 1080p display and performance from 8th Gen Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs, you will see why it is one of the best computers for college students.
Also, it is a budget laptop. Beow $1,000.
#2. HP Spectre x360 (Late 2019)
CPU: Core i5/Core i7 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 8GB/16GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB | Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p or 4K | Size: 12.1 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 2.7 poundsStunning, ultraportable design, Epic battery life, Bright, vivid display with thinner bezels | Fast overall performance, speakers at max volume
The Spectre x360 13 is the best 2-in-1 laptop ever and one of the best college laptops for students.
It is about $1,000. Updated with a 10th Gen CPU and a more modern design, the Spectre x360 13 is improved..
Highlights of this laptop include 13+ hour battery life and fast overall performance. You also get a webcam kill switch and a super comfortable keyboard.
#3. Lenovo Yoga C940
CPU: Up to Intel Core i7-1065G7 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: Up to 16GB | Storage: Up to 2TB | Display: 14-inch, 1080p or 4K | Size: 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 3.1 pounds, Slim, premium design, Beautiful 4K display, Fast performanceCrisp, dynamic speakers, Below-average battery life (on 4K model)
Its features are battery life up to 11hrs:46 minutes and 10th Gen Intel processors .
The hinge of this computer can rotate 360-degrees to convert the Yoga C940 into a proper tablet. This is particularly useful for college students who don’t want to make the appearance of a computer but a tablet.
When it comes to viewing content, the 1080p and 4K displays are vibrant and bright. Just beware, the UHD display drains the battery
In addition, it has a webcam cover, a slot for the included stylus, and a fingerprint sensor.
#4. Asus ZenBook UX333FA
This is one of the best budget laptop for college students.
CPU: Intel Core i5 | GPU: Intel UHD 620/GeForce MX150 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p | Size: 11.9 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 2.7 pounds, Excellent battery life, Sleek aluminum design, Fast performance, Dim display, Cramped keyboard.
It is a premium laptop that offers fast performance at a reasonable price. For just around $849, you get an Intel Core i5-8265U CPU, 256GB SSD, and integrated UHD 620 graphics. Only the Envy 13 can compete with this value.
It offers 11+ hours of battery life.
#5. Dell XPS 13 (2020)
CPU: Intel Core i3/Core i5/Core i7 (10th Gen) | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 8GB/16GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB | Display: 13.4-inch, 1920 x 1200 or 4K | Size: 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches. | Weight: 2.8 pounds, Attractive, premium chassis, Powerful performance, No bezels whatsoever, Excellent battery life, Lacks legacy ports
The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best premium laptops for college students. Powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with integrated Intel graphics, the notebook is ready for work.
Has over 12 hours of battery life. One of the features that endear; it is as pretty as it is powerful.
Despite that it is smaller and lighter than previous versions, it has some changes, including a larger trackpad and keyboard. Plus, you get a 13.4-inch, near-bezelless display on every side.
#6. Apple MacBook Air (2020)
CPU: Intel Core i3/i5/i7 (Y-series) | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 8GB/16GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB | Display: 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel | Size: 11.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 2.8 pounds, Sleek design, Great battery life, Powerful sound, Magic keyboard.
This 2020 version has some major improvements, the new keyboard, which fixes all previous issues. Also, it has a more powerful 10th Gen Y-series processor and a superfast SSD.
Of course, you still get everything that makes Apple’s laptops so popular: aluminum design, good speakers, and solid battery life.
It is a great laptop for college students and the best for those who prefer macOS to Windows.
#7. Acer Aspire 5
Generally, this is the best laptop under $500.
CPU: Intel Core i3-8145U | GPU: Intel HD 620 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 15.6-inch, 1080p | Size: 14.3 x 9.9 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 3.8 pounds, Strong performance, Long battery life, Bright 1080p display, Middling graphics.
Aspire 5 lasts 8 hours and 51 minutes on a charge.
#8. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (7th & 8th Gen)
Are you a business student? This is your best college computer.
CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7 | GPU: Intel UHD 620 | RAM: 8GB/16GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB | Display: 14-inch, 1080p or 2560 x 1440-pixel or 4K | Size: 12.7 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches. | Weight: 2.5 pounds, Attractive, lightweight design,Best-in-class keyboard, Bright, vivid display options, Improved speakers, No microSD card slot.
The 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon is ready for the boardroom with a 2K display (an optional HDR), an incredibly slim body, and one of the best keyboards you can get on any laptop.
The 8th Gen Intel Core CPU is powerful and it lasts over 11 hours on a charge.
#9. HP Pavilion
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
The majority of college students find this laptop as the best college computer. Combining strong all-around specs along with a simple yet stylish design and crisp screen, and a windows 10.
#10. Lenovo Legion Y7000
CPU: Intel Core i7 | GPU: GeForce GTX 1060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch, 1080p | Size: 14.2 x 10.5 x 1.1 inches | Weight: 5.3 pounds, Sleek design, Vibrant display, Comfortable keyboard, Strong performance, Poor audio.
The best laptop for college students who love casual games. Need to blow off some steam after an impossibly difficult exam? Legion is here for you.
The Legion Y7000 even offers solid battery life to go along with a comfortable keyboard. Just make sure to buy headphones so you don’t have to listen to its poor speakers.
See 10 Tech Gadgets that are very needful For College Students In 2023
#11. Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch)
CPU: Intel Core i7/Core i9 | GPU: Radeon Pro 5300M/5500M | RAM: 16GB/32GB/64GB | Storage: 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB | Display: 16-inch, 2072 x 1920 | Size: 14.1 x 9.7 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 4.3 pounds, Radically improved Magic Keyboard, Immersive 16-inch display with slimmer bezels, Powerful 6-speaker audio, No full-size USB port or SD card slot
This is the best laptop for film and animation students
Some of the improvements are a Magic Keyboard, a bright and sharp 16-inch display with slimmer bezels. Also, a powerful performance from an available Core i9 CPU and robust AMD Radeon 5300M or 5500M graphics.
You also get up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of storage, 11 hours of battery life. The only issue is that it still doesn’t include full-size USB ports, but overall it is a very great workstation for creatives.
#12. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
So far, this is the best laptop by Microsoft
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics / AMD Radeon Vega 9 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) / 15-inch PixelSense (2,496 x 1,664) | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB . Excellent battery life, Choice of Intel or AMD CPU, No Thunderbolt 3 option, Too few ports for its size
With the 15-inch version, you now get a choice of either Intel or AMD hardware.
TGenerally, this is one of the best students laptops in the world right now.
We saved the best for the last, right?
As an engineering student, this is for you: 20 Best Laptop for Engineering Students 2023 | With Specifications
Best College Computer for Students FAQs
Any brand is good depending on individual preferences. Many students use dell, hp, Lenovo, Apple as the case may be.
You can buy a college computer at a discount during Black Friday, seasons when school is resuming and when there are new products.
The Core i5 CPU is the ideal processor for a student laptop. Opt for a screen resolution of 1980 X 1080 pixels. A RAM of 8GB should be ideal. Student laptops should have an SSD instead of a hard drive
Conclusion
Choosing a good laptop as a college student can be very tedious.
There are lots to consider and they have been carefully explained in the post.
Because of this students need college computer buying guide.
The guide to buying a good college computer is here for your reading pleasure and we have also written the best college computers you can consider buying.
We don’t want you making a mistake and wasting your college funds.
References
- Laptopmag.com – Best laptop for college
- techrada – 10 best college students laptop
- t3.com – best student laptop
