This laptop is perfectly suited for anyone who needs portability and equally good performance. Don't get me wrong here, this machine is not built for heavy tasks, but can glide through simpler tasks like documents, presentations, browsing, and entertainment.

It has a phenomenal battery life which lasts up to 9 hours of work without a hitch. The performance is smooth for regular office work until you are a designer, video editor or someone who needs an extra mile of horsepower. On the work side, if you're looking for a more powerful machine, you can always consider the MacBook Pro. While these MacOS devices are pretty expensive, they do promise a longer than usual life period and consistent software throughout the years.

The MacBook Air base variant is powered by an Intel i5 chipset and comes with 128GB of SSD storage. The laptop is honestly quite old, but it still has everything it needs to be a segment leader. 

Google's Chromebook has picked up a lot of pace in the last few years and it makes complete sense to go for one. People have often ignored the capabilities of a Chromebook because it is built around a browser. In reality, the system has come a long way and can handle just about anything offline via the offloaded apps. For college students who are usually just browsing around their e-learning portals, browsing through PDFs and Word Documents, this device makes complete sense. 

Don't judge it by its internals only, ChromeOS doesn't require as much processing power and RAM as Windows. This laptop also has a flip form factor, meaning watching movies or just chilling around with it is going to be even more comfortable. ASUS says the device can give up to 10 hours of battery life and weighs just 1.2 kilos.

Every college student needs a laptop, but with so many choices at so many different prices, 

it can be homework in itself to find out which one to get. Start by reviewing our 

recommendations for the best laptop for your college major, and then check with your 

specific school to make sure its configuration meets the minimum requirements. Of course, 

we love all of our picks, so if you see one outside of your major, it's still a great machine.

Whether typing up a 100-page thesis or just taking notes in class, having a comfortable, 

responsive keyboard allows you to get more work done faster. Starting at under $900 

($1049 as tested), HP's Envy 13t has one of the best keyboards in the industry, along with 

a lightweight aluminum chassis and nearly 10 hours of battery life. The 13.3-inch laptop is 

powered by a speedy 8th Gen Core i5 or Core i7 CPU and a PCIe SSD, giving it really 

powerful performance.

Pros: Best-in-class keyboard; Powerful performance;  Long battery life

Cons: Tinny audio: Accurate, but bland colors

Key Specs: Up to Intel Core i7-8550U CPU; Up to 4K touch screen (1080p standard); Up 

to 1TB SSD; 2.93 pounds

Best Apple Laptop: MacBook Air (2018)

Now with a Retina display and more powerful components, the MacBook Air earns its place 

back on our list of the best laptops for college students. The 13.3-inch machine costs a bit 

more than its predecessor, but the improvements Apple made to the new version make it 

worth every penny. Along with its more colorful, 2560 x 1600-pixel display, the MacBook Air 

adds a fingerprint sensor and the versatile Thunderbolt 3 port. These goodies are all 

packaged in a thinner, lighter and completely recycled aluminum chassis. 

Pros: Colorful Retina display; Long battery life; Thin and lightweight chassis

Cons: Below-average performance; Pricier than its predecessor

Key Specs: 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel display; Intel Core i5-8210Y CPU; up to 16GB of 

RAM; Up to 1.5TB SSD

The Asus ZenBook UX333FA is a gorgeous, premium laptop that offers fast performance at 

a reasonable price. For just $849, you get an Intel Core i5-8265U CPU, 8GB of RAM, 

256GB SSD and integrated UHD 620 graphics. But perhaps the best reason to buy the 

ZenBook UX333FA is for its outstanding 11+ hours of battery life. Combine that exceptional 

endurance with a sleek aluminum chassis and it's easy to see why the ZenBook is one of 

the best laptops for students. 

Pros: Excellent battery life; Sleek aluminum design; Fast performance

Cons: Dim display; Cramped keyboard

Key Specs: Core i5-8265U CPU, 13.3-inch, 1080p display, 256GB SSD; 2.7 pounds

As a college student, chances are you're on a pretty tight budget. If you want to spend less 

than $400, the Surface Go is a great choice. The detachable 2-in-1's durable design is 

more premium than you'd expect to find at this price range, and its bright, colorful display 

can compete with the best laptops.

At a measly 1.1 pounds, the Surface Go weighs less than your Calculus textbook. Typically, 

tablets aren't a viable option for class, but Microsoft sells a useful backlit keyboard cover 

with a touchpad for the Surface Go. With an Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y CPU, the Surface 

Go won't break speed records, but it provides more power than most budget laptops. 

Pros: Bright and vivid display; Premium, lightweight design; Good overall performance; 

Facial recognition login

Cons: Below-average battery life; Thick bezels; Keyboard and pen cost extra

Key specs: 10-inch 1800 x 1200 display, Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y CPU, Surface Connect 

port, Optional keyboard with a touchpad

With a powerful soundbar speaker hinge, the Yoga C930 is as practical as it is beautiful. 

This slim and lightweight laptop offers strong performance and long battery life in a 

premium package. The 2-in-1 also comes with some useful extras, like an integrated pen 

slot and a webcam cover. 

Pros: Premium design; Thin and lightweight; Strong performance; Long battery life

Cons: Shallow keyboard; Display could be better

Key specs: Up to Core i7 CPU; Optional 4K display; Pen slot; Soundbar speaker hinge; 

Webcam cover; 3.1 pounds