10 Best Student Laptops for School and University

Got to Buy a Laptop for School or Uni and Don’t Know Where to Start?

Then start right here. Here are the Best Student Laptops for the Best Price!

Choosing a student laptop can be tricky and honestly, sometimes understanding the specs is like deciphering a secret code. If your child, teenager, university student or even yourself if you are a mature age student like me, is in need of a laptop for the new school year then you’re in luck because we have put together the ultimate student laptop buying guide for you.

Table of Contents:

1. What to consider when buying a student laptops
2. Best Basic Student Laptops
3. Best Everyday Student Laptops Under $500
4. Budget Tight? Look at Quality Refurbished Student Laptops
5. 10 Best Student Laptops on the Market

1. What to Consider When Buying a Student Laptops

A student laptops are not a cheap purchase so it is important to do your research first, there is nothing worse than spending a fortune on a computer only to realise later that it is not capable of doing what you need it to. Back in the day of CD-ROMs, I bought a laptop for a course that I was doing, I only realised a few months into my studies that it didn’t have a disk drive so I couldn’t access any of the information that I needed, it was an expensive lesson but now I make sure I check everything before I make my choice.

Before you start shopping around there are a few things to consider:

What Is The Primary Use for the Student laptops ?

What does the laptop need to do? If it is for a university course what subjects will it be used for? For example, if it is for a design course you may require a touch screen with a stylus for drawing. What software will the laptop be using? A lot of engineering and design courses use AutoCad which comes with its own special requirements. If the laptop is for a primary school student then the laptop may only need to do the bare minimum, running Microsoft Word etc.

Your school or university should provide you with a spec sheet or similar for the computer requirements the student will need.

Your Budget:

How much do you actually want to spend on student laptops?  For primary school and early high school – there isn’t any point in purchasing an expensive laptop – not only can they get damaged, ruined or stolen (you know what kids are like) – but laptops really will have a life of about three years before they become obsolete.

You can purchase a perfectly good budget laptop for students for under $500.

If $500 is out of your budget – have a look at our section on refurbished laptops – a great way to get a great laptop at a fantastic price!

Does Your School Have Specific Requirements?

While student laptops requirements for primary school students are generally pretty straightforward, high school requirements may be a little trickier to navigate. Check what software your teen will need to use for each subject and where the laptop will be stored, if it will be in their school bag being thrown around all day then you may need to look at more durable models.

Is The Software Compatible with What the School or University Uses?

For most students, Microsoft Windows is an essential program so it is important to make sure that the student laptops you choose is compatible and has these programs installed. While a variety of laptops come with Microsoft Windows built-in, Apple products run on macOS however, you can add Windows to them as well. Chromebooks are generally not compatible with Microsoft Windows.

Core Processing Unit (CPU)

The Core Processor unit is essentially the brain of the laptop. Student laptops with a powerful CPU will be able to do more complex tasks and run faster so it may suit university students more but children who are mainly using their laptop for Microsft Windows, and exploring the internet will be fine with a less powerful CPU.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Not having enough RAM makes it hard to complete even the simplest tasks on a laptop. A decent laptop will run efficiently on 4GB of RAM but 8GB is even better and then for the more expensive models you should expect at least 166GB.

Storage

How will the files be stored? Will they be stored on the cloud, on a hard drive or on the laptop itself? If you are planning on storing all of your files on student laptops then you may want to consider a laptop with SSD (solid-state drive) storage, this will also help it run faster.

Size

What size screen is required? If you’re a university student is doing graphics or photo editing then they may require a larger screen. Also, consider the weight and dimensions of the student laptops you are purchasing, will they fit in your child’s backpack? Is it too heavy for them to carry around all day?

Battery Life

If your student needs to use their laptop all day and does not have access to power in class to charge it then you may need to consider choosing one with greater battery life. Laptop batteries vary but after a complete charge, they should last between 1 to 10 hours, though some of the more expensive ones can last as long as 18 hours.

Other Things to Consider:

• Is the laptop lightweight to carry around with them?
• What operating systems are required?
• Do you need accessories with the student laptops?

2. Best Basic Back to School Student Laptops:

Lenovo Intel® Pentium Silver IdeaPad 3 Chromebook

Fast, reliable and fun, the IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook from Lenovo is everything you need in a compact and best for student laptops. Booting up in seconds with the power of Chrome OS, you can enjoy all your favourite streaming media on the immersive 15.6″ Full HD display. Ultra-lightweight, with up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, this is the perfect device for kiddos.

• Processor Type: Pentium Silver N6000
• Processor Speed (Ghz): 1.1
• RAM (GB): 8
• Storage Capacity (GB): 128
• Screen Size (in): 15.6″
• Screen Definition: FHD
• Operating System: Chrome OS
• Price: $542
• Available at: Bing Lee 

3. Best Everyday Student Laptops Under $800

These student laptops are designed for both primary school and high school – they have all the basic features, but no specific high-tech add-ons.  They aren’t particularly powerful but they are great for all the basic tasks and applications a student will need.  Best of all – all of them are under $800

At a basic level – these laptops will:

• Browse the internet
• Send and receive emails
• Have Microsoft pre-programmed
• Video Streaming

Here are our picks!

1. Lenovo 11.6-Inch N21 Chromebook Laptop REFURB $249
2. Lenovo Mediatek® 10.1″ HD Ideapad Duet Chromebook $399 
3. ASUS 10.5-Inch 2-in-1 Detachable Chromebook Grey  $549
4. Dell Vostro 3515 Laptop $682
5. Lenovo Intel® 14″ HD Ideapad 3 $788

On top of this – to get the best deals – look at:

• The best online deal sites 
• Take advantage of any student or school discounts offered
• Retailers selling discontinued laptops
• Consider a refurbished laptop (see the next paragraph for details!)

4. Consider a Refurbished Laptop For a Really Good Deal;

There are many companies that are now providing excellent refurbished student laptops online that will be more than suitable for a student.  They do sell quickly though – we have listed where you can find the latest ones here:

What to look for in a refurbished laptop?

Make sure you look at a refurbished laptop that still has a warranty (at least 12 months).  Any imperfections or problems should be outlined in the description.  Look for an A-Grade Refurbished unit to get the very best laptop you can!

• Catch 
• Kogan Factory Refurbished Laptops
• Australian Computer Traders
• Dell Outlet Store
• Renewd
• Bufferstock
• Dick Smith

5. 10 Best Student Laptops On The Market Today 

1. Lenovo 15.6″ V15 IIL Notebook 

• Best for Primary School and Early High School Students

This is a great option for students who are not completing onerous tasks. It has a 2 x USB ports and an HDMI port, making it great for presentations or sharing information. Plus it is under $900 – so pretty well priced for a laptop.

• Processor: Intel Core i5-1035G1
• Chipset: Intel SoC Platform
• Display: 15.6″ HD (1366 x 768) TN 220nits Anti-glare
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Memory: 8GB
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64
• Available at: Catch 

2. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M1 Chip Space Grey

• Best for University Students

Apple’s thinnest and lightest notebook gets supercharged with the Apple M1 chip. Tackle your projects with the blazing-fast 8-core CPU. Take graphics-intensive apps and games to the next level with an up to 8-core GPU. And accelerate machine learning tasks with the 16-core Neural Engine. All with a silent, fanless design and the longest battery life ever — up to 18 hours. MacBook Air. Still perfectly portable. Just a lot more powerful.

• CPU: Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU and machine learning performance
• RAM: 8 gb
• Storage: 256gb 
• Display: 13.3-inch Retina display with P3 wide colour for vibrant images and incredible detail
• Price: $1488
• Available at: Catch 

3. IdeaPad Flex 5i 15″ – 11th Gen Intel

• Best for University Students

The IdeaPad Felix 5i is so easy to operate and the Intel Core i3 4.1GHz Dual-Core Processor means that they will be able to have multiple tabs open at once. It features great 10.5 hours battery life so it will last a while for hard working students.

Of course, being a Lenovo product – it is more expensive – but these things seriously rock – so if budget isn’t such a big deal – this is a fantastic choice!

• CPU: 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 / i7 Processor
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB of SSD storage
• Display: 15.6″
• Weight: 1.8kg
• Price: $899
• Available at: Lenovo 

4. ASUS 14″ ZenBook Duo Laptop UX482EG-KA093T

• Best for University Students

With a sleek aesthetic, thin profile and lightweight construction, the ZenBook Duo has next-level tech that enables unrivalled productivity and efficiency. With a frameless main touch display and the new ScreenPad Plus secondary touch display, you have the immersive multi-tasking power of two screens at your fingertips. Packing supercharged graphics, professional-grade colour accuracy and an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, this is the ultimate laptop, optimised for on-the-go performance and creativity!

• CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7
• RAM: 16gb
• Storage: 512gb
• Display: 14″ Full HD IPS (1920 x 1080)
• Price: $2399
• Available at: Catch 

5. Lenovo 14″ ThinkBook 14 Notebook 

• Best for Engineering and Graphics Students at University

The Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Supporting Windows 10 Pro, with plenty of onboard storage, this 14″ business laptop allows you to tackle any task, anywhere. Featuring a Full HD display, Up to 9 hrs charge, Dolby Audio speakers, plenty of connectivity options, an integrated webcam and smart security for extra protection, productivity will not be an issue with the ThinkBook 14.

• CPU: Intel Core i5-10210U Processor 
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB 
• Display: 14″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS anti glare 
• Price:  $1448 
• Avaible at: Catch 

6. Lenovo 11.6″ 100E Chromebook Laptop + FREE Rapoo M10 Wireless Optical Mouse

• Best for University Students

The 100E Chromebook from Lenovo has been specifically designed to make learning easy! Perfect for student, the 100E seamlessly runs Chrome OS, offering the ability to download any and all of the educational apps you need. With plenty of storage, a powerful N4020 Dual-Core processor and a range of connectivity options.

• CPU: AMD A9 9425 3.1Ghz
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 512GB SDD
• Display: 11.6″
• Weight: 1.25kg
• Price: $639.00
• Available At: Catch

7. IdeaPad Gaming 3i Gen 6 15″

• Best for Gaming and Graphic Design Students 

With powerful 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ graphics, the IdeaPad Gaming 3i Gen 6 15″ will help you reach peak gaming potential. Match the pros with pristine, ultrasmooth, and stutterless graphics on the FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with up to 165Hz refresh rate, drive harder with 100% N-key rollover on your keyboard, dissipate heat faster with high-performance thermals, and pinpoint your enemies’ location instantly with immersive Nahimic audio.

• CPU: 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-11300H (4C / 8T, 3.1 / 4.4GHz, 8MB)
• RAM: 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200
• Storage: 512GB
• Display: 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) 
• Price: $1649
• Avaible at: Lenovo 

8. Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 2 14″ – AMD

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 2 has been specifically designed for school students, it is durable and will last the whole day with 9 hrs of battery life and low power mode it making it last even longer. Although it’s pricy, it’s a great starting laptop as it’s easy to use and durable meaning it will last quite a few years. 

• CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 5 PRO 
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB
• Display: 14″
• Price: $1,595.05
• Available At: Lenovo 

Whether you choose a base model or a higher-end laptop, it is a good idea to get at least a 1-year warranty just in case. It is also wise to invest in some good anti-virus protection software as kids often don’t know what they are clicking on. If you are unable to find a brand-new laptop within your price range, Kogan and Catch also offer refurbished computers with a grading system to help you understand the condition of the machine.

Here’s to a great school year with awesome new student laptops!