Heading off to university in the autumn? Taking online classes and need a trustworthy machine for long video calls? These laptops will get you from class to class, and passing with flying colours. Battery life, weight, processing power, and high resolution are just some of the things we took into account when looking at the best laptops for university. We know everyone’s budget is different, but these choices are sure to satisfy any ambitious student.
Asus ZenBook 15
Best laptop for university
Why should you buy this: You won’t find many laptops that provide a better combination of great performance with a lightweight design.
Who’s it for: Uni students who want a laptop with all the bells and whistles.
What we thought of the Asus ZenBook 15:
A well-built, feature-complete, and very affordable machine, the Asus ZenBook does it all. One of the ZenBook’s best attributes is that it looks premium. It is made with the same all-aluminium chassis as more expensive machines and also sports Asus’s iconic “spun metal concentric circle” finish that brings even more appeal to the machine’s Royal Blue finish and attractive gold accents. It’s a thin, lightweight laptop with an innovative ErgoLift hinge, which lifts the keyboard to a comfortable angle.
Of course, performance and battery life are important — and the ZenBook has both in more than sufficient quantities. The processor provides excellent performance and efficiency, while the 50 watt-hour battery should keep the machine running for an entire school day. A solid, reliable choice, the Asus ZenBook will fill your needs no matter what degree you are studying for.
Why we love it:
- Lightweight, thin, all-aluminium body
- Work comfortably with ErgoLift hinge keyboard
- Excellent battery life
MacBook Air
The best MacBook for university
Why should you buy this: It’s the most economical entry into Apple’s MacBook ecosystem.
Who’s it for: Any uni student who loves the Mac but doesn’t have the budget for the MacBook Pro.
What we thought of the Apple MacBook Air:
Apple is renowned for building attractive, robust laptops that are popular on university campuses — not least because Apple has been active in the education market for decades. And if you want a Mac, then the most economical choice (while still getting those sweet MacBook specs) is the MacBook Air.
The latest version of the Air has an updated keyboard (which has garnered plenty of praise all on its own), and a top-notch Retina display (13.3-inches at 2,560 x 1,600). The base model starts with a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3 processor, 256 GB of PCIe SSD storage, 8 GB of RAM, and a battery rated for about 11 hours browsing online. Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports are readily available, as well as a DisplayPort connection and USB 3.1.
Why we love it:
- Excellent memory and processing power
- Beautiful Retina display
- 11 hours of battery life
Acer Aspire 5
The biggest storage capacity laptop for university
Why should you buy this: It’s the most powerful laptop that doesn’t break the bank
Who’s it for: Uni students who need a fast running laptop with plenty of storage capacity
Why we picked the Acer Aspire 5:
Google’s Chrome OS platform and its various services, such as Google Docs, are becoming increasingly important in educational environments. Chrome OS is lightweight, requiring less hardware than Windows 10, and extends support for Android apps to laptops. If you cringe at the thought of using a Chromebook from the terrible one your high school loaned you, think again. Our favourite Chromebook, the Samsung Plus model is beautiful to look at and impressive to work on.
One of the fastest performing laptops on the market right now, but still within a reasonable budget range, the Acer Aspire 5 gives incredible graphics and excellent connection rates. Whether you’re studying computers, creating artwork, or just want something that can keep up with your educational and personal browsing needs, this small but mighty laptop will get the job done, and will keep going for hours.
For a fair price, you get an Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of storage capacity. That means that no matter how much work you need to do, or how many games you want to play, this laptop can keep up. You’ll also enjoy a 1080p display and excellent connectivity with two USB-A 3.0 ports, a USB-A 2.0 port, a USB-C 3.1 port, an Ethernet port for wired networking, and a full-size HDMI video connection. Toss in a bright, high resolution (2,560 x 1,600) 15.6-inch display, and you have a machine that’s more than powerful enough for all your studying needs.
Why we love it:
- 1 TB of storage capacity
- Sharp and colourful graphics
- Lightweight and comfortable for studying long hours
ASUS Chromebook C523
The best budget laptop for college
Why should you buy this: Just because you’re on a tight budget doesn’t mean you don’t want a quality machine.
Who’s it for: Any college student whose budget can’t stretch beyond the basics.
What we thought of the ASUS Chromebook C523:
Google’s Chrome OS platform and its various services, such as Google Docs, are becoming increasingly important in educational environments. Chrome OS is lightweight, requiring less hardware than Windows 10, and extends support for Android apps to laptops. If you cringe at the thought of using a Chromebook from the terrible one your high school loaned you, think again. Our favourite Chromebook, the ASUS C523 model is beautiful to look at and impressive to work on.
Ultra lightweight and extremely easy to carry around, the ASUS C523 is perfect for long days on campus, running between lectures, and hours spent in the library. The stunning 80% screen to body ratio will ensure better productivity without wasting space, and the colour display means you will never miss out on great graphics. This small but powerful machine is great for studying alone, but also with groups, with its 180 degree hinge allowing you to share the screen with others, as well as the strong speakers that won’t get swallowed up by all that university ambient noise. But perhaps most impressive is the ASUS C523 generous battery capacity, which in our testing lasted a massive 10 hours of continuous use and browsing. You’ll be free to roam campus all day without lugging around a power brick or having to dash back to your dorm for extra charging.
If you’d prefer to save your money for better dorm room furniture or textbooks, then the Acer Aspire E 15 can meet your basic requirements with some room to spare.
Why we love it:
- Exceptional battery life
- Great for sharing
- High resolution screen and fast processing power
Going to university is a big deal, and whether you are studying online or on campus, you need a laptop that can take you from class to class, and from the dorm to the library. With long battery life, fast processing power, lots of memory and 2-in-1 capabilities for when you want a tablet for your class presentations, these laptops give you all the best aspects of having a computer, without decimating your back to school budget.
