Best college laptops in 2020 |

1. Acer Aspire 5

The best budget college laptop

You normally assume that buying a budget laptop means getting budget quality, but the Acer Aspire 5 says no. Not only does it offer a bright 1080p display that’s great for researching and writing papers, but it’s also got a 15-inch screen, great for splitting between your project and your research. It’s also got the specs for decent multi-tasking, starting with its 8th generation Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD.

College students looking to take their laptop all around the house (and outside) will appreciate the Acer Aspire 5’s battery life: it lasted nearly 9 hours on our web surfing battery test, which is very good for a 15-inch system. And since this next school year looks to be a little less mobile than before, we’re not that concerned about how the 3.8-pound Acer Aspire 5 isn’t the lightest laptop around — as many are heavier.

2. Dell XPS 13 2020

The best laptop is also great for college

We love the Dell XPS 13, but it is one of the pricier options on this list. That being said, the 2020 XPS 13 runs on the speedy Intel 10th Gen processors, which give you all the speed for storming through coursework — and even give you some minor gaming capabilities. Oh, and there’s the matter of the XPS 13’s gorgeous Infinity Edge display, which is basically a floating panel with nearly zero bezel, thanks to its screen-to-body ratio of 91.5%.

And when it comes time to get school work done, you might notice how the XPS 13 2020 has a comfortable edge-to-edge keyboard that’s great for typing out projects, plus its larger touchpad that means you won’t need to reach your fingers as far when you’re typing away. All in all, the XPS 13 might be a pricey laptop, but when it comes to performing at your best as a student, you’ll have a hard time finding a better investment for university (other than the actual college you’re paying for).

3. MacBook Air 2020

The best Apple laptop for college

Apple’s laptops always seem a bit pricey for those paying for higher education, but their popularity at universities continues regardless. The $999 MacBook Air 2020 is still somewhat pricey, but it’s the perfect companion iPhone users, who can answer texts on their MacBook Air, and use AirDrop to quickly move files without sending emails. The new MacBook Air also includes the improved Magic Keyboard, which is much more reliable and comfortable typing, so your next essay will only be as tough to write as it is to research.

Plus, Apple’s giving you a little performance kick with 10th Gen Intel Core processors (though they’re Y-series chips that aren’t as fast as the XPS 13’s), which are fast enough for basis use and moderate multitasking. Oh, and the default 256GB SSD (which is shockingly fast) is a great starting point for storage, unlike other laptops that start at 128GB. The MacBook Air also lasts through a school day, enduring for 9 hours and 31 minutes on our web surfing test. Throw in a bright and colorful display and strong speakers (Apple’s set a high standard), and you have the best college laptop for most students who use iPhones.

4. Asus Chromebook Flip C434

The best Chromebook for college

Students are one of the primary groups that have made Chromebooks a success, and we easily recommend the Asus Chromebook Flip C434 for your next semester. Not only does it offer the simplicity needed by many — plus easy access to Google Docs, Sheets and Slides for your next classes — but the addition of Android app emulation gives this growing platform new tricks. The Asus Chromebook Flip C434 offers a slick design and speedy performance — plus it lasted 8 hours and 52 minutes on our battery test, so you won’t need that power cord when you take your laptop to the kitchen table or the couch.

The Flip C434 is also great for college students who can take notes in Android apps with its touchscreen. And with a solid set of ports — 1 USB 3.1 port, 2 USB-C ports, a headphone jack and a microSD card slot — you’ll never have a hard time connecting anything. Admittedly, ChromeOS doesn’t have the high-end apps that graphic design, engineering and computer science majors may need. But the Flip C434 is a great pick for english and history majors, or anyone else who can rely on a word processor and an internet connection.

5. HP Envy 13 (2019)

The best college laptop if you’ve got the money

One of the best college laptops is back and better than ever. Refreshed with a new design, powerful speakers and useful security features, the new HP Envy 13 is a prime candidate for the prospective college student who is looking to invest in a laptop that will last until graduation — or even to their post-grad years. And, yes, parents — you get what you pay for, with serious speed (starting at Core i5) and epic battery life (more than 11 hours).

The 2019 Envy 13 will speak to the privacy and security minded college student, with a fingerprint sensor to protect your data, and the ability to disable your webcam (which should be useful except when teachers demand to see you so they know you’re not snoozing). It’s also got a slick minimal aesthetic, and the option for a sharp 4K screen or a 1080p display (which will have longer battery life). It’s not hard to understand why Envy 13 is one of the best college laptops you can buy.

6. Microsoft Surface Go 2

The best 2-in-1 laptop for college students

CPU: Pentium Gold, 8th Gen Intel Core m3 | Camera Resolution: 8MP (rear), 5MP (front) | Display: 10.5 inches, 1920 x 1280 pixels | Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | Memory: 4GB, 8GB | Ports: headphone jack, USB-C, microSD, Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover Port | Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 1.22 pounds (1.75 pounds with type cover) | Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax

College students looking for a portable 2-in-1 that can last a while should give the Surface Go 2 a close look. Yes, the original Surface Go was not a hit, but this model fixed practically everything wrong with the original. Its thinner bezels mean more screen space for your assignments (and a more modern looking tablet). We would have ranked the Surface Go 2 a bit higher, but its 10.5-inch screen and keyboard may be small for some college students.

And its battery life, just as importantly, is over 5 hours longer than the original Surface Go. College students will love the Surface Go 2’s Zoom-ready webcam, a 5-megapixel 1080p front camera that is perfect for this era of online learning. Plus, you get Windows Hello biometric login for unlocking the Surface Go 2 when you sit down to it, and if you get the 8th Gen Intel Core m3 version, you’ll get the moderate multitasking capability you need to catch up with your coursework (while you stream Spotify).

7. Google Pixelbook Go

The best premium Chromebook for college students

For a premium Chromebook experience, look no further than Google’s Pixelbook Go. Students might scoff when their parents use the word “Chromebook,” as they’re synonymous with earlier education, but this is a Chromebook for all ages. First off, its slim, lightweight design comes in two colors: Just Black and Not Pink, which goes a long way in keeping this Pixelbook from looking like a knockoff MacBook Air. On top of that, its quiet and comfortable keyboard is ideal for late night typing sessions when your roommates are sleeping.

Students pursuing higher education will also appreciate the Pixelbook Go when they need to get some air away from a power adapter. The Go lasted over 11 hours on our Wi-Fi-based web surfing test. Oh, and don’t let your student think the Pixelbook Go doesn’t have the speed they need: it’s got Intel Core m3 through Core i7 CPUs, so you don’t need to settle, plus up to 16GB of RAM for all the Chrome tabs you could need. Plus, its screen is both bright and colorful (great for Netflix), and it’s actually a touchscreen, for when it’s time to emulate Android apps. We just wish its hinge rotated to tablet mode for optimal use of those apps.

8. MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020)

The best college laptop for photo and film majors

When it comes time for your budding photographer or movie-maker to edit video or images, they’ll want to turn to the MacBook Pro. While we like the MacBook Air’s True Tone panel for automatically calibrated color, power users should get the MacBook Pro. That’s because beefier applications like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro all need the Gen U-series Intel chips in the MacBook Pro, not the less capable Y-series chips in the MacBook Air.

The so-called Magic Keyboard in the new MacBook Pro is so good it almost erases the bad memories of the shallow and unreliable Butterfly keyboards that made me wait years to think about buying a new MacBook. And the new 13-inch MacBook Pro also lasts a while too, making it nearly 11 hours on our web-surfing based battery test. We just wish you got the 10th-Gen versions of those Intel CPUs in the entry-level model, instead of having to upgrade for them.

9. Acer Swift 3 (2020, AMD Ryzen)

Best laptop for the price

The dark horse of the best college laptop race is the Acer Swift 3 running on AMD Ryzen CPUs. At only $649, this laptop goes toe to toe with the Dell XPS 13 and the MacBook Pro. That’s how fast the Ryzen 7 4700U CPU is.

The Swift 3 also wins points for its comfortable keyboard, which has clicky keys that provide ample feedback. Students also cut down on login time thanks to the fingerprint reader built into the Swift 3’s keyboard deck. And all this power is wrapped in aluminum and magnesium, so it also looks like a champ. The one major caveat is its display, which is on the dim and dull side of the equation. If your student already has another big screen for binge-watching the best Netflix shows, consider the Swift 3: it’s a surprising stunner.