The greatest laptop for college varies based on your course of study. Compared to some of my coworkers who studied remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, my college experience of power-walking through metropolitan streets while carrying a large backpack is very different.
Regardless of your college experience, you probably need a laptop. Your needs for that laptop will vary depending on what you’re studying, where your classes are, and how you pass the time. I narrowed down some tips to remember when shopping by talking with the NBC Select team to choose our favorite laptops.
GO Ahead and SkipThe top college laptops for 2025 | How to choose a laptop for college | Why should I trust NBC Select?
Selected.
-
Best MacApple MacBook Air 13″ (M3)
$949.00$1,099.00Amazon
Learn more
-
Best PCAsus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024)
$undefined$1,049.99Best Buy
Learn more
-
Best budget MacApple MacBook Air 13 (M1)
$649.00$699.00Walmart
Learn more
-
Best budget PCAcer Aspire 3 15″ (2023)
$undefined$599.99Best Buy
Learn more
How we picked the best college laptops
We questioned NBC Select employees about the computers that helped them succeed in college. We select models by taking into consideration client preferences, market research, and my own expertise as a tech writer.
-
Operating system:
Your operating system (or OS) is the software at the root of your laptop it manages almost every other process on your computer. Most laptops come with either Apple s MacOS or Microsoft s WindowsOS, and some software may only be available on one system, not the other. We included options with MacOS and WindowsOS, so you can choose whichever you prefer. -
Size
: Most of the NBC Select team wants a light, compact laptop, especially for rushing around campus between classes. That s why our selections favored laptops between 13 and 14 inches. -
Battery life
: Carrying around a charger adds weight to your bag. We selected laptops with at least 10 hours of battery life, so you can leave the charger at home.
Related
How to find the perfect long-lasting work tote
The best college laptops in 2025
Brands like Apple, Asus, Microsoft, and Acer are among our favorite choices. We have included a few important features, such as battery life, weight, and storage space, below each suggestion that we believe you should be aware of while weighing your alternatives.
Best Mac:
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M3)
Apple MacBook Air 13″ (M3)
- High resolution screen
- Excellent battery life
- Magnetic charger
- Extra storage is pricey
This MacBook Air (M3) is a good option for the majority of students who are looking to get a Mac. According to NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider, who used an Air during her college years, it is small and light, making it ideal for packing in a suitcase that may already be full of textbooks. Essays, research, spreadsheets, streaming, and video calls are all easily handled by it.
The MagSafe charger, a charging cable that magnetically snaps into and out of the charging socket, is another convenient travel accessory. The cable just breaks out of the connector without pulling your laptop to the ground if someone trips over it.
There is a 15-inch form of the MacBook Air M3 as well, but we believe it is a bit too large for students. Consider a more powerful laptop, such as the MacBook Pro (see that model recommended here), if you are involved in 3D modeling or video editing.
Operating system: Mac; size: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 in; weight: 2.7 lbs.; GPU: Apple M3; CPU: Apple M3; Battery life: Up to 18 hours; RAM: 8GB; Storage: 256GB
Best PC:
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024)
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024)
- Huge amount of storage
- 16GB of RAM
- Touch screen
- Only a full-HD (1080p) screen
For a Windows laptop, this Asus Zenbook strikes a perfect balance between portability, power, and cost. Compared to other laptops at this price range, the model mentioned above has a staggering 1000GB of storage and 16GB of RAM.
It weighs nearly the same, is roughly the same size as a MacBook Air (M3), and has a comparable (although marginally shorter) battery life. Compared to other laptops, it features a full-HD screen with a little less detail, but it is an OLED display, meaning it has rich color contrast.
The most powerful version of this laptop is also available for about $800 if you have less than $1000 to spend, but it has a slower processor, half as much storage, and half as much RAM.
Operating system:Windows| Battery life:Up to 15 hours|RAM:16GB| Storage:1000GB| Size:12.29 x 8.66 x 0.59 in| Weight:2.82 lbs.| GPU:Intel Arc| CPU:Intel Ultra 7
Best budget Mac:
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1)
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M1)
- Lowest priced MacBook
- High resolution screen
- Great battery life
- Limited storage space
Even though the M1 MacBook Air was released in 2020, it still offers great performance in a small package, especially considering its low cost. For years, Rebecca Rodriguez, the editorial projects manager at NBC Select, has applied this methodology to tasks involving emails, spreadsheets, task management, and streaming. In my experience, you might not notice the difference if you are primarily performing web-based operations, even if it won’t equal the speed of the more recent M3 version.
Operating system:MacOS| Battery life:Up to 18 hours| RAM:8GB| Storage:256GB| Size:11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 in| Weight:2.8 lbs. |GPU:Apple M1| CPU:Apple M1
Best budget PC:
Acer Aspire 3 15 (2023)
Acer Aspire 3 15″ (2023)
- Competitive price
- Touch display
- Good amount of storage
- 720p webcam
- A bit heavy
This laptop is far less expensive than the competitors and is capable of handling the majority of college assignments. It s a Windows PC with a 15-inch touchscreen display, perfect for larger spreadsheets or watching shows. It also comes with 512GB of storage, a good baseline that should handle most classes.
The 15-inch screen does make this laptop a bit larger and heavier for traveling around campus. It also has a slightly less detailed HD (720p) webcam.
Operating system:Windows| Battery life:Up to 11 hours|RAM:8GB| Storage:512GB| Size:14.3 x 9.4 x 0.74 in| Weight:3.92 lbs.| GPU:AMD Radeon| CPU:AMD Ryzen 5
Best 2-in-1:
Microsoft Surface Pro (2024)
Microsoft Surface Pro (2024)
- High resolution display
- Convertible design
- Lightweight and compact
- Limited storage space
NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown used a Surface Pro during graduate school in combination with a detachablekeyboard(sold separately) and matchingcomputer mouse. It is by far the lightest and most compact option on our list. You can detach the keyboard and use the laptop like atablet.
Brown would use the computer as a tablet for class readings and watching movies, then switch to laptop mode for writing or class. While she doesn t have the latest model, hers runs smoothly after many years of use.
Operating system:Windows| Battery life:Up to 14 hours|RAM:16GB| Storage:256GB| Size:11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 in| Weight:1.97 lbs.| GPU:Qualcomm Adreno| CPU:Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus
Best for gaming:
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
- Fast, high resolution screen
- Tons of storage
- Excellent performance
- Nothing at this time
Asus makes some of thebest gaming laptopsI used a ROG (Republic of Gamers) laptop similar to this one during my college years. Linked above is the latest version of their compact G14 gaming laptop. It has a dedicated graphics card (GPU) that is significantly more powerful than most other laptops. That translates to smooth gaming and good performance for graphically-intense tasks like video editing and 3D modeling.
It has slightly less battery life than our other picks at 10 hours, but trust me, 10 hours is a lot for a gaming laptop (many can only manage up to five).
Operating system:Windows 11| Battery life:Up to 10 hours|RAM:16GB| Storage:1000GB| Size:12.26 x 8.66 x 0.63 in| Weight:3.31 lbs.| GPU:Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060| CPU:AMD Ryzen 9
Best for creatives:
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3 Pro)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3 Pro)
- Super hi-res screen
- Excellent performance
- Pricey
Multiple NBC Select staffers used a MacBook Pro to get through college (and many still use one at work). I pretty much did all of undergraduate and grad school online this computer was a lifesaver, says NBC Select associate updates editorZoe Malin. It handled every video call, magazine layout and 80 page essay like a champ.
While we haven t used this latest M3 version, we have used M2 and M1 MacBook Pros they handle most creative tasks with ease. The screen is gorgeous, with vibrant colors and the highest resolution of any laptop on our list. While it is not a gaming laptop, I have played less demanding games likeHadeson a MacBook Pro without issue.
It is a pricey computer, though. I would only recommend it to students regularly working with demanding photo editing, video editing, 3D modeling or game development software.
Operating system:Mac| Battery life:Up to 18 hours| RAM:18GB| Storage:512GB| Size:12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 in| Weight:3.5 lbs. |GPU:Apple M3 Pro| CPU:Apple M3 Pro
Related
Yes, you really should have a dedicated monitor if you work from home
How to shop for a college laptop
Shopping for a college laptop has a lot in common with shopping for a laptop generally. You want to find a good balance of features without paying for performance you may not need. Below are a few things to keep in mind when shopping.
How much power do you need?
Everyday tasks, like browsing the web, writing documents, sending emails and watching shows, are easy for most computers to handle, even ones under $600. Most computers with at least 8GB of RAM should be sufficient for these tasks.
Tasks like photo editing, video editing or game development often require a more powerful computer to run smoothly. If you will be using programs likeAdobe Lightroom,Adobe Premiere Pro,Final Cut Pro,UnityorUnreal Engineoften, we recommend a laptop with at least 512GB of storage, 16GB of RAM and a more powerful graphics processor.
Do you need the latest model?
If you don t need a blazingly fast computer, you can often save some money by purchasing a model from the previous year. Laptops that are a year old still perform well, in our experience, especially for less demanding tasks.
What other devices do you use?
Most laptops these days have a way to sync to your phone or tablet, meaning you can send texts and access photos from your computer. Android phones do this more easily with Windows computers, while iPhones sync more seamlessly with Mac computers.
Why trust NBC Select?
Harry Rabinowitzis a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology, with recent guides tofitness trackers,TV brandsandBluetooth speakers. For this piece, he combined his own experience using laptops in school with that of NBC Select staffers to select the best laptops for college students. He also researched top-rated models to better understand current offerings and their technical specifications.
Catch up on NBC Select s in-depth coverage ofpersonal finance,tech and tools,wellnessand more, and follow us onFacebook,Instagram,TwitterandTikTokto stay up to date.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!