Best Laptops for College

Wally Nowinski
editor

Our experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our laptop database and find the best laptops for college available in 2023. Here are our top picks.

Our criteria for the best laptops for college:

  • Usage: We focused on laptops for general use.
  • Portability: We placed some emphasis on portability because students tend to move often with their laptops.
  • Battery: We placed some emphasis on battery because students are often on the go with their laptops.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized laptop recommendation
Get your personalized recommendations

The 10 best Laptops for College

1
Zenbook S 13
ASUS 13.3”

Zenbook S 13

Usage: General: A-
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Very thin, very light

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2
MacBook Air (2022)
Apple 13.6”

MacBook Air (2022)

Usage: General: A-
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Very thin, very light

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3
MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
Usage: General: B+
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Thin, very light

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4
MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
Usage: General: B
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Thin, very light

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5
MacBook Air (2022)
Apple 13.6”

MacBook Air (2022)

Usage: General: B+
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Very thin, very light

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6
MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
Usage: General: A-
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Thin, very light

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7
ThinkPad Z13
Lenovo 13.3”

ThinkPad Z13

Usage: General: B
Battery: Great
Portability: Thin, very light

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8
MacBook Air 15 (2023)
Usage: General: A
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Very thin, light

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9
Swift 3
Acer 14”

Swift 3

Usage: General: B-
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Thin, very light

The Acer Swift 3 is a lightweight laptop running on Windows 11 Home, powered by an i5-1240P processor. Weighing 2.76 lbs and measuring 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'', this device is intended for users who need a portable computer for everyday tasks, such as web browsing, document editing, and light media consumption.

In terms of performance, the Swift 3 comes with 16 GB of non-expandable RAM and an upgradable 512 GB solid-state drive. The integrated Iris Xe G7 graphics provide basic graphical capabilities, making the laptop suitable for everyday use, but not for demanding gaming or graphics-intensive tasks.

The laptop features a 14-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a 16:9 aspect ratio, offering a clear and standard viewing experience. The 60Hz refresh rate is adequate for daily usage. For connectivity, the Swift 3 is equipped with two USB Type-A ports, two USB-C ports, USB-C charging support, and a total of three display outputs. It also includes Thunderbolt connectivity, but does not have an Ethernet port. With a 56 Wh battery, the laptop provides up to 12 hours of battery life, making it a practical choice for users seeking a portable device for everyday tasks.

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10
Gram 16
LG 16”

Gram 16

Usage: General: B
Battery: Outstanding
Portability: Thin, very light

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