The important thing to remember is that there is no one right choice. The best laptop for your college experience depends on what you’re doing in college. An English major with long reading lists and lots of papers to write might do better with an iPad and a good extra keyboard. A computer science major who needs to compile software or run Linux will need a laptop they can experiment with. That said, here are some basic metrics to keep in mind for laptops:
Processor
- Windows:If you’re buying a Windows machine, your main processor options are Intel and AMD, though Qualcomm is now a viable alternative with Copilot+ PCs. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. For a more comprehensive guide to the differences, check out our complete guide to buying a laptop.
- Chromebooks:These browser-based machines use half a dozen different processors, all 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. This is a new standard that Google created to ensure a certain level of performance and refinement in Chromebooks.
- Mac operating system:Apple has been making its own processors for a few years now, such as the M3 chip inside the MacBook Air pictured above. More powerful models, such as MacBook Pros, feature the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. Our MacBook buying guide can help.
RAM
Regardless of the operating system you choose, the minimum amount of RAM you want in your laptop is 8GB. That’s enough memory to keep your computer running at full speed even when it’s working under load. That much RAM will also keep the machine snappy for longer. If you can afford it, especially if you plan on editing photos or videos as part of your academic work, opt for 16GB.
Screen
Displays vary wildly, but don’t settle for anything less than 1080p. For a 13-inch laptop, 1080p is plenty sharp enough. If you’re going for a larger laptop, 2.5K or even 4K displays will improve the viewing experience. If you’re also trying to game, make sure you get something with a higher refresh rate — 120Hz or 144Hz will be more than enough.
Weight and battery
Don’t forget that you’ll be carrying this device around. It may be dragging you around for eight hours or more. A pound may not seem like much, but at the end of a long day of hiking, you’ll notice the difference between a 3-pound laptop and a 4-pound one. Trust me. Also, choose a good bag to carry your computer in.
Similarly, battery life is very important when you (possibly) won’t be near a wall outlet for extended periods. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s capable of lasting at least eight hours with real-world use (browsing the internet, editing documents, writing emails, and taking notes). Even then, you may want to consider a portable battery charger.