The era of buying laptops began in the early 1980s with the niche market, demanding a portable computer. These technology-laden mini-gadgets come in various sizes, colors, operating systems and suit the need of virtually everyone. Whether you are a pro-gamer, a work from home warrior, or a college student, laptops are a must have in today’s pacing era. If you do not have the best, fast-paced computer, then not only will you be left behind in this race but also completely wiped out. Being a college student is stressful, from living in the dorms to having a completely new life. It can be a bit over-whelming to find the appropriate device that suits your need. We understand your struggle and are here to help in this regard. Here, we have reviewed the best laptops for college students in 2021 that will add glitz to your monotonous routine and help you stay on track academically. Note: As an Amazon Associate, We earn from qualifying purchases.
1.MacBook Pro 15 (Amongst the best laptops for college students in 2021)
The MacBook Pro comes equipped with an elegant, sleek design that is ideal for college. It has a long-lasting battery life with up to 10 hours available to work. The true tone technology allows it to be flexible on the eyes as well. Like the signature mark, it is built-in with a touch bar and touch id to ensure complete data encryption. The MacBook Pro 15 is built with ultimate graphic designs, with Radeon Pro 560x being on the notch. The video memory is up to 4GB making it well suited for data entry. The ultrafast SSD allows data protection and back-up to be measured precisely without any loss of time. The laptop consists of intel UHD graphics 630, which make the performance vivid and better. However, there aren’t enough ports in the laptop, it does has a personalized outlook. The dark mode adds a personalized touch to the computer. The CPU of this laptop is built with 8th generation Intel Core i7 – i9 which excels in performance. It is quite light-weight, so there is ease of portableness.
What we like
- Elegant design
- Long lasting battery
- Complete data privacy
- Vivid performance
- Light weight
What we don't like
- Not enough ports
2. HP Pavilion 15.6″ HD (Best laptops for college students-runner up)
The laptop is built-in with a non-touch display. It is quite fast as it is equipped with the 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 1.20GHz Dual-Core Processor. The screen display is quite clear with the intel UHD Graphics. It has a 16GB memory of system to assist in multi-tasking. The SSD is 256GB making it a vast memory hoarder. It does not has an optical drive associated with it. The keyboard is naturally full sized with numeric included, it is in the color range of metallic grey making it look quite esthetic. The standard screen display size is quite wide at 15.6 inches being the core of image. The screen resolution is quite high to ensure quality image display with 1366×768 pixel resolution. The battery time is quite long lasting as well. It is one of the best laptops for college students available in the market today.
What we like
- Fast performance
- Clear display
- Vast memory holder
- Long lasting battery
- Esthetic in looks
What we don't like
- Non touch display
- Does not has an optical drive
3.Samsung Notebook 9 Pro Laptop
The design is quite eye-catching with a carbon-colored screen and a metallic silver body of the laptop. The keyboard is more smooth and easy to adapt with, than ever. The curved lid adds more to the esthetic potential of this device. The screen is quite wide with 13.3-inch – 15.6-inch FHD, equipped with an LED display that is quite clear. The touch screen panel makes it easier to use the laptop. These features constitute the fact that it is indeed one of The RAM is built with 8GB – 16GB which means that the speed of a processor is quite fast. It weighs just 2.84Lbs, making it quite light weight and easy to be portable. The speakers are quite average, however. One of the most unique feature of Samsung notebook is the S pen as it allows precision to navigate and work on the screen anywhere, anytime. The 360º touch screen design allows working in every feasible position with the notebook being one option and rotate it to the other side for the full HD tablet screen mode. The Intel Core i7 processor makes the notebook ultrafast.
What we like
- Eye catching looks
- Easy to use
- Touch screen equipped
- Fast performance
- Light-weight
- Precision with the S pen
What we don't like
- No exceptional sound quality
4. HP envy 13” laptop
The Amazon Alexa present in this laptop allows an easy control with creating lists and performing smart functions for you. The 8th generation intel core i7-8550U processor makes the laptop quite fast. The screen is equipped with gorilla glass making it quite challenging and keeps the screen damage free. The 13.3-inch diagonal FHD LED makes the screen view vividly clear. The 8 GB memory card allows the laptop to hoard memory extensively. The battery life is quite long with 14 hours working time, a 10 hours 45 minutes video playback time, 8 hours and 45 minutes of wireless video streaming. However, there is no thunderbolt 3 in the system. The operating system is technologically fast-paced with the windows ten processor. The solid-state drive is vastly adapted to score an ample amount of data with 256 GB. It is relatively light weight, so portableness is not an issue. The trackpad being present in the HP envy is exceptionally responsive. It is amongst the best laptops for college students in 2021.
What we like
- Easy control
- Fast performance
- Strong screen
- Memory hoarder
What we don't like
- No thunder bolt 3
5.Dell XPS 15
It is present in an aluminum case with a keyboard base made up of carbon fiber. The designing of this laptop is entirely aesthetic and sturdy. There are multiple slots present, which include USB-C port, USB 3.1 Port, HDMI, and full-size SD Card Slot for more comfortable use. There are no numerical keys present in the keyboard on the face of the laptop. There is, however, a nice gap between the quiet punching keys of the Dell XPS. The touchpad is made up of matte glass which makes the clicks satisfactorily fine. The touchscreen of the laptop allows for exceptional performance. Editing documents on the computer is relatively easy. The webcam is present on the lower side of the laptop, which makes it a bit weird, but the overall flow of the video is adequate. The position of speakers is quite misplaced with audio quality being less than average. The windows 10 processor allows performance to be smooth. However, for a limited budget it is ideal for college students.
What we like
- Aesthetic
- Sturdy
- Multiple ports
- Touch screen
- Smooth performance
What we don't like
- Weird positioning of the webcam
- Less than average sound quality
6.Huawei Mate book X Pro
The laptop has a smooth finish with sandblasting, making the aluminum sides look astoundingly aesthetic. The 14-inch screen and sleek edges make it exceptionally compact, and the display brightness. It is not very thick, being just at the edges of 0.57 inch. The weight of Huawei mate book is very light being only 2.93 pounds. The features are quite exciting and unique, being touch-sensitive. There is no need to hold down the button at the bottom; the screen will open up itself by the touch of your finger. The keyboard is spill-proof but needs a bit more lightening on the keys. The keys do, however, have a smooth and plane finish associated with them. The touchpad has precision. The Hawaii mate book has finger print sensors and functions as well for customization. The screen is wide, being 13.9 inches. The Huawei PC manager allows fast connection to be established between Huawei smart phones and laptops up to 20 Mbps.
What we like
- Aesthetic
- Bright display
- Sleek designing
- Precision
- Finger print sensor
What we don't like
- Keys need lightening
7. Microsoft Surface Go
The design is unique with the ability to convert the laptop to a tablet per need. It is quite an affordable device, especially for college students. The screen is broad with a 10-inch HD display. The notebook laptop is equipped with 1,800 x 1,200 pixels resolution that makes the image clear and vivid. The surface studio drives inspiration as evident by the studio mode. It is incredibly light-weight to carry with just 1.15 pound, making it exceptionally portable. The distinct round edge gives it a unique identification point. It can be used for multi-functions like as a canvas with the 180-degree bend. The memory capacity of Microsoft is increased with slots specified for a USB-C port and microSD card reader as well. The screen, however, has a slight deficiency in sharpness. The notebook design has speakers on the side, who contribute towards intelligent designing; the sound quality is remarkable as well. Web browsing on the laptop is made easy with the 3:2 aspect ratio designing.
What we like
- Unique design
- Broad screen
- Vivid images
- Multiple slots
- Memory hoarder
What we don't like
- Low sharpness
8. Dell XPS 13
Featuring the 8th generation Intel Kaby Lake R processor is it is one of the most authorized and sophisticated designed notebooks by Dell. The body shape of the laptop is relatively thin, with only 3.4mm chassis incorporated. The dell XPS weighs just 2.67-pound, making it one of the most astoundingly light-weight notebook ever. The coloring option is unique, makes it stand out but a bit limited. It is available in just rose gold with alpine white in the background. The IGZO touch screen accompanies 4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 resolution display making the image quality one of a kind. The anti-reflective coating over the screen makes it safe for use and protected of potential hazards. The srGB color profile exhibits 1,500:1 contrast ratio for easy visualization even in dark scenes of videos. The keyboard is exceptional with rose gold as the base of a crystalline silica pad. The webcam’s position, however, is not impressive at all. Then again, it does have four microphones, so that does add up.
What we like
- Sophisticated design
- Relatively thin
- Light weight
- Unique color combination
- Touch screen
- Four microphones
What we don't like
- Webcam position is not right
9. Microsoft surface Pro
It’s a two-in-one package with a brilliant casing design, a tablet that can be converted into a laptop. The PixelSense touch screen makes it one of the best tablets available by Microsoft, featuring windows 10. The touchscreen has a vivid show-casting of images with a 12.3-inch PixelSense and a resolution of 2736 x 1824-pixel. Magnesium aluminum is used to make this tablet’s frames, with round edges adding to the zest. It has an incredibly slick and lightweight design with just 0.33-inch thickness and weighing 1.7 pounds, making it an easy device that can be carried around campus. The studio mode allows the laptop to be bent at a 165-degree angle, making it easy to use. However, it does not has USB-C Or Thunder Bolt 3 Ports. It is quite an affordable laptop for college students and appropriate for use. The drawing and illustrations are made more feasible with the surface pen placed very elegantly in the tablet. The pen has an increased pressure detection level at about 4096 levels adding to the precision. It is no doubt among the best laptops for college students in 2021.
What we like
- Two in one design
- Touch screen
- Esthetic
- Light weight
- Affordable
- Easy to use
What we don't like
- No USB-C Or ThunderBolt 3 Ports.
10. Lenovo Flex 6 14
The graphical presentation is unique, and the Core i7 processor makes it stand out from the rest. The Lenovo laptop has one of the most distinct color combinations with aluminum finishing, the gunmetal chrome. It is a bit heavy to carry around as it weighs 3.67 pounds with a 9.01 x 0.69-inch body. Multiple port options allow for various functions; these include USB-C 3.1, two USB 3.0 on the chassis, a headphone jack, and an HDMI port. The SD card slot allows it to be a vast memory holder. Logging in to the computer is made feasible with the fingerprint function, which is relatively smooth in performance. The touchpad has enough room incorporated, making it one of the perfect features of Lenovo flex. There is no graphic card in the lenovo flex but it is one of the best performer. The touchscreen has compatibility with the Lenovo Active Pen Stylus on the IPS display making it an ideal feature. The speakers are present beneath the laptop surface, which hinders the sound quality. The 8th generation intel processor allows video display to be in a world-class 3D quality.
What we like
- Unique graphical presentation
- Distinct color combination
- Multiple ports available
- Finger print function
- Pen available for precision
What we don't like
- No graphic card
11.Acer Aspire E15
The 15.6-inch HD screen allows for a vivid display of picture quality. The chroma for this laptop is black with a sleek designed Numpad keyboard that is easy to navigate around. It is ideal for multi-tasking as the 8th-generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor allows for an excellent performance level. The chassis looks bulky, but the weight is exceptionally well placed when you carry it around, just 5.51 pounds. The 8 GB Ram makes it a complete power package. The keyboard is spacious, with Numpad being present, so the navigation around the laptop keys is relatively easy. Numerous ports present make using it more feasible; these include USB 2.0 ports and C-type features, an HDMI, and an Ethernet port. The battery life is short, being just 4 hours and 14 minutes. The Acer Aspire offers quality performance within a limited budget.
What we like
- Vivid picture quality
- Easy to navigate around
- Light weight
- Complete power package
- Numerous ports
What we don't like
- Short battery life
12. Apple MacBook air 13 “
The dual-core 5th-generation Intel Core i5 processor provides a turbo boost to the laptop. The visualization is pronounced and vivid with Intel HD Graphics 6000. The storage of the laptop is increased with SSD storage. There are three ports available in the laptop that allow functioning to be more feasible; these are two USB 3 ports, Thunderbolt 2 port. SDXC port. MacBook has increased battery time with up to 12 hours of performance available. The keys of this laptop are highly spacious and comfortable to use. The multi-touch trackpad allows feasibility of use. It is available in various colors so that customization per taste is possible. These include gold, silver, and space gray. The RAM is soldered inside the laptop making it non-upgradable. The screen size is vast, being 13.3-inch (diagonal), featuring a LED-backlit display with IPS technology making it quite advanced and fast-paced.
What we like
- Provides a turbo boost
- Pronounced visualization
- Feasible because of the ports
- Multi-touch track pad
- Vast screen size
- Fast-paced
What we don't like
- Soldered RAM
13. Samsung galaxy book S 13.3″
The laptop is super thin and light-weight, weighing just over a little 2 pounds making it feasible to be portable. It is exceptionally aesthetic, with the aluminum chassis making the core. It is easy to use the laptop in low-light environments with the keyboard being backlit. The 13. 3″ full HD screen is touchscreen feasible, making it easy to use. The Intel Core i5 processor makes the Samsung galaxy book exhibit a fast performance. The storage of the laptop is 256GB and has the potential to be expanded towards 2TB. The battery of the Samsung galaxy book S is quite long-lasting. The operating system is windows 10, which makes it faster to be used. The MicroSD slot accommodated within the Samsung galaxy book S expands the storage of the laptop.
What we like
- Provides a turbo boost
- Pronounced visualization
- Feasible because of the ports
- Multi-touch track pad
- Vast screen size
- Fast-paced
What we don't like
- Soldered RAM
14.HP EliteBook x360
The display size is vast, measuring up to 13.3″, allowing for a clear display. It has extensive memory storage credited to the laptop’s capability being 16 GB, additionally credited to the 256 GB SSD storage. The HP elite book has 1920×1080 pixels making the images visually bright and perfect. The corning gorilla glass allows for screen protection. There is no HDMI or WiDi integrated in the laptop. There is a versatile availability of connection for gigabit-class 4G LTE wireless broadband technology. The 720p HD webcam allows for an absolutely stunning representation of images. There are premium stereo speakers integrated within the HP EliteBook, which contribute towards quality audio. These make noise cancellation easy as well. The HP anti-glare touch display allows the laptop to be used even under sunlight. These features make it one of the best laptops for college students in 2021.
What we like
- Vast clear display
- Extensive memory
- Screen protection
- Premium speakers
- Anti-glare screen
What we don't like
- No HDMI or WiDi
15.ZenBook 15 FHD
The designing of this chassis is exquisite, adding to the aesthetics of the laptop. The 13.9 x 8.7 x 0.7-inch thinness makes it easy to carry around as it adds to the portable. At 3.7 pounds the ZenBook is exceptionally lightweight, making it one of the most compact laptops in the world. The 15-inch screen of the laptop is quite wide making the visualization accurate. The ASUS ZenBook has been through MIL-STD-810G through which it has been proved that it is quite resistant towards extremes of altitude, humidity and temperatures as well. The login software’s like Microsoft hello employ the webcam 3D IR technology which helps in facial recognition. The TPM 2.0 module allows secure login and user authentication for the ZenBook users. As per need, the ZenBook has a variety of portals available that modify the displays and peripherals.
What we like
- Aesthetic laptop
- Portable
- Light weight
- Facial recognition
- Variety of portals
What we don't like
- No HDMI or WiDi
16. Lenovo 14″ ThinkPad X1 Carbon Laptop
The seventh-generation black weave is entirely secure and provides portableness of the system, anywhere anytime. It is built with a 1.9 GHz Intel Core i7-8665U quad-core processor which makes the speed of this laptop super fast. Its smoothness in multi-tasking is credited to the 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM that operates at 2133 MHz. In order to keep the data safe and secure, it has 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Opal2 solid-state drive. The viewing angles are wide and the brightness of image quite vivid credited to the 400 Ultra High Definition 3840 x 2160 IPS mode with a 14-inch screen. The ThinkPad’s display can be duplicated towards any other device via the HDMI 1.4 port. More connectivity of devices can be accessed via the dual 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 ports over USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C incorporated in the ThinkPad. It can always be kept charged via the dual USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports. It is not very durable but the video quality is vivid with the 720p and IR webcam to make college meetings feasible.
What we like
- Secure
- Portable
- Bright imaging
- Vivid video quality
- Duplication option
What we don't like
- Not very durable
17. LG gram 13
This laptop is appropriate for a limited college budget as it is quite affordable. It is exceptionally lightweight so moving with it is not an issue; it weighs just 2.07 pounds. The chromatic combination available includes silver and white, both of which are quite esthetically pleasing. The 8th gen i5 processor allows room for speedy performance. The 8GB ram makes it quite feasible to transfer data from devices. The LG gram is equipped with vast memory as the 256GB SSD allows for it. The Intel UHD Graphics 620 provides for vivid graphical performance. The 13-inch screen offers color brightness which can become a bit too reflective however it does offers intricate details of graphics. The bezel-less screen panel allows for a better experience. We have ranked it up as being one of the best laptops for college students in 2021.
What we like
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Aesthetic
- Speedy performance
- Feasible to use
What we don't like
- Incredibly reflective
18.Lenovo Yoga 730 2 in 1
The yoga laptops from Lenovo are famous for their two-in-one quality. Their versatile performance and strong built sets them apart from the rest; credit for it goes to the latest incorporation of 8th Gen processor. These are exceptionally lightweight and compact in a fitted space. The weight is just 2.7 lbs and thickness being only 0.6 inches. The battery is not very long-lasting; it works just 7 hours. The 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage allow for ample room for memory and fast performance. It is quite an affordable laptop, especially for college students. The display is wide-angled, housing 13.3 inches 1080p display that allows for a good view. These features constitute the fact Lenovo yoga is ideally amongst the best laptops for college students in 2021.
What we like
- Versatile performance
- Strong built
- Ample room for memory
- Bright display
- Affordable
What we don't like
- Short battery life
19.Razer Blade 13
It is an ultra-portable laptop that weighs just 3 lbs and has 0.6 inches on the side that makes it super slim. The chroma range includes a limited option, just black, but it is esthetically pleasing. The Intel Core i7-8565U ensures a fast-paced performance level. The 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD provide that the laptop can accommodate the bulk of file memory. Nvidia MX150 is the graphic card incorporated in this laptop, which adds to the visualization glitz. The FHD display ensures a bright and crisp image quality. Since the razer blade is more of an Ultrabook, there are not many ports available; ports are limited to USB-A and USB-C Thunderbolt 3 only. There is an additional need for adapter cables because these ports perform well but not enough. The battery life is just over 8 hours allowing it to function well and for more extended periods. No doubt it is one of the best laptops for college students in 2021.
What we like
- Crisp image quality
- Super slim
- Esthetic
- Memory hoarder
- Long battery life
What we don't like
- Less number of ports
20.Google Pixel book Go
It is easy to charge this laptop up for a longer duration of time. It lasts for 12 hours without being plugged in; it can give an additional 2 hours after a 20 minutes boost. The designing is quite grippable and easy to carry around as it weighs just 2 pounds. It is esthetic and relatively thin, being only 13 millimeters on the edges. The Titan C security chip and built-in antivirus software allow for ample protection of the user’s privacy. However, less number of ports available. The Chrome OS updates will enable the laptop to have the latest features and security. The 8th Gen Intel Core Processor makes it the fastest laptop in performance making it one of the best laptops for college students in 2021.
What we like
- Works for longer duration
- Esthetic
- Quite thin
- Portable
- Fast
What we don't like
- Less number of ports
These are some of the best laptops for college students in 2021. The life in college can be hard with attending lectures, staying home and attending meetings. Then, there is the fun element which should never go missing because streaming movies on laptops and listening songs is a given. So, we compiled some of the best available in the market today.