Power on the go: Best student laptops of 2024

The Acer Aspire 5 15.6-inch laptop is a budget-friendly powerhouse that delivers affordable but effective computing. With an Intel Core i5 processor and ample 16GB RAM, it will handle multitasking and the most demanding study regimes. Its sleek design, vibrant Full HD display, and backlit keyboard make the Aspire 5 an ideal on-the-go learning companion.

While the battery life is listed at over seven hours, this is entirely dependent on precisely what you're using it for. For low-demand tasks such as document scrawling or social media browsing, the Acer Aspire 5 is bound to last a good long while. With more demanding tasks, however, it's not as likely to last as long.

The SSD storage and broad connectivity options will keep you working quickly with all of your data. Plus, the integrated Intel UHD Graphics and Twinair cooling system deliver an impressive all-around performance. With great hardware, a stunning display and solid build quality, the Aspire 5 is the ultimate one-size-fits-all student laptop solution.

The HP Stream Laptop PC 11-ak0027na is a compact and budget-friendly gem. Its portability and 11.6-inch screen make this a perfect laptop for students on the move. Surprisingly, the keyboard is a good usable size and makes this a reliable note-taking companion.

The Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM aren't the fastest or biggest to be found, performance isn't excellent on the HP 11-ak0027na, but it's reliable for simple tasks, which is perfect for students, especially for those on a budget.

Aside from being a brilliant budget option, the vibrant HD display and responsive keyboard make for a far more premium build quality and hand feel than anticipated from a cheap laptop, and for its price, it certainly offers users terrific value.

Add to this the 13-hour battery life, the HP 11-ak0027na Laptop PC is a compelling option for those seeking an affordable yet reliable tool for all your studies, just don't expect a revolutionary performance experience.

If it's style and power you're looking for while you code, the MSI Modern 15-inch FHD Laptop is a fantastic option as a programming student laptop.

The 15-inch Full HD display is perfect for longer sessions thanks to its EyeSafe technology and comfortable size, and the backlit keyboard means you can keep on coding into the night. As for hardware, the Intel i5 processor and 8GB RAM ensure it can tackle moderately demanding tasks with relative ease.

Of course, with a limited 8GB of RAM, you're not likely to experience perfectly seamless performance, there are setbacks to be expected, but it's ultimately a standard amount for laptops of its price. Heavier programming tasks such as creating and running simulations, however, are going to suffer from performance issues on the MSI Modern 15, it's a given considering its lower price-point.

Despite not having Bluetooth, the MSI Modern 15 does have a great range of ports, so you've got great options for peripherals. If you're concerned about breaking your laptop, this student laptop is made with military durability, so you need not worry about potentially breaking and losing your precious coding work.

If you're in search of a solid laptop with impressive hardware, mighty durability and a gorgeous design, the MSI Modern 15 is a brilliant choice for students.

Whilst the LG Gram 17 Laptop is a designer's dream, it's somehow one of the lightest laptops on the market. And that's even more impressive when you consider it has a stunning 17-inch display - ideal for anyone spending long hours on design or creative projects. And that work is made easier thanks to a 99 per cent accuracy for DCI-P3 colour gamut, and an anti-glare screen.

For its price, however, the LG Gram 17 certainly has some drawbacks worth considering. Namely, the Gram 17's integrated graphics card is quite average, which doesn't leave you much room for running demanding programs.

Battery life is really impressive at a whopping 21 hours, and RAM rocks in at a staggering 32GB. With incredible performance and a solid build, the LG Gram is undoubtedly one of the best student laptops for creative types. When it comes to screen quality and performance you'll be hard pushed to find a better option.

There's no doubt that when it comes to portable computing, Apple has a real edge - and not just in the looks department. The Apple MacBook Air sports a typically slim and elegant design with a spec that will outlast your studies. Equipped with Apple's M1 chip and a 256GB SSD, this laptop is fast enough to support all kinds of studies and recreation.

Being an older MacBook, there are of course setbacks when using the 2020 MacBook Air, performance isn't as cutting-edge as it used to be, with some slowness around multitasking which pushes its fanless design to its limits. That being said, the 2020 MacBook Air still outperforms countless laptops at similar prices and performance, all thanks to its incredibly efficient design.

The 13.3-inch Retina display is the real star here, being easy on the eye for long lectures and more. Plus, with a battery life of roughly 15 hours, it's sure to last you through even the busiest of days.

The keyboard is, of course, as comfortable and low-profile as you'd expect from Apple, while Touch ID adds quick and easy security. Oddly, there's no Face ID support, but that's a minor blot on an otherwise spotless copybook. If you want style, portability and power with you on campus, this is it.

Okay, let's be honest. This Acer Predator Helios Neo is an unapologetic gaming beast. If you can afford it, the power and overall experience when 'studying' on this laptop is going to be second to none. That's thanks to the Intel Core processor and dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, which easily keeps pace with plenty of dedicated gaming computers.

The 16-inch Full HD display and high refresh rate conspire to deliver stunning visuals, and the robust build makes it quite the portable powerhouse - despite being on the heavy side.

Yes, this is every student's weapon of choice when it comes to gaming, but if you need to study on it when you're not blasting enemies, the hardware will handle anything your tutor will throw at you.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is something of a game-changer, and not just because it can do a convincing impersonation of a powerful tablet. Chromebooks work on Google's Chrome OS, and that means streamlined search integrations and a reliable and fast experience. The flexible 2-in-1 design will transform from a laptop to a 15.6-inch touchscreen tablet.

The 10-hour battery life is reasonable for a device that's this lightweight, so you can stay productive during a full day of lectures and beyond. The CPU and GPU are far from impressive, but they get the job done consistently. The only real drawback is the 128GB storage being less than what you get with a laptop, but that's a fair trade-off for the portability and convenience of a tablet.

All in all, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 is perfect for students who love their iPad or Android tablet but need more power and a wider range of apps than most tablets can deliver.

For those torn between a tablet and a laptop, the touchscreen design of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 might sway you in one direction. Navigating menus with a mouse or trackpad can be tiring, so having the option to use a touchscreen is great, especially when you need to record plenty of notes.

The Microsoft Surface laptop 5's Intel i7 CPU is reliable, and alongside the 16GB RAM, more than capable of running important software such as Microsoft Office or various Adobe Creative Suite programs. The GPU is simply fine, however, it does not offer any exceptional performance for those intrigued by gaming or more demanding creative tasks.

Even the speakers are worth noting, being surprisingly high quality for a laptop, making them ideal for music production and other courses involving recording software. If you're looking for one of the best touchscreen laptops of the year, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 should be a top pick of yours: a fantastic student laptop, as well as a stunning laptop in general, it's a great pick at a solid price.

Perhaps one of the most visually appealing budget laptops of the year, the ASUS Zenbook 14 is a remarkably affordable 2.8K resolution laptop that steals the show with its bold visuals and stunning aesthetic. Oozing quality, this slick ASUS laptop's metal chassis is graded for military durability, providing plenty of reassurance if you happen to drop your backpack a little too hard in the library.

When it comes to performance, the Zenbook 14 provides plenty of solid hardware that's ideal for general tasks, including a 12th-generation Intel i5 CPU and 512GB of SSD storage which offers fantastically quick data transfer speeds and instant file access, perfect for accessing a repertoire of study materials.

If we were to nitpick the ASUS Zenbook 14, however, we'd certainly note that its 8GB of RAM doesn't offer a whole lot in terms of performance. It's a standard amount of RAM, suitable for decent multitasking, but isn't going to work perfectly at all times, especially if you're inclined to have several tabs open at once.

That being said, for a 2.8K screen with fantastic build quality and reliable hardware, the Zenbook 14 is easily the best laptop under £600 this year, it's a laptop well worth investing in.

A slick, streamlined laptop with fantastic performance, a gorgeous 4K screen and more, the Dell XPS 13 is a perfect pick for students with some extra cash looking for a laptop with terrific longevity. This brilliant laptop is ultra-thin and lightweight, giving you plenty of room for books and study materials to be packed alongside it.

Perhaps its most eye-catching feature, the Dell XPS 13 has a mesmerising 4K touchscreen, giving you a phenomenal amount of control and the best visuals imaginable on a laptop. For the TV binge-watcher who's keen to experience UHD playback on the go, the Dell XPS 13 is a remarkable choice for you.

As for its graphical capabilities, the integrated graphics card isn't going to take you far in the realm of gaming or video editing, especially on larger projects, which is to be expected considering the XPS 13's lack of bulk.

Besides its weaker graphics card, however, the Dell XPS 13 is a performance powerhouse when concerning multitasking and is ideal for those spending long hours entrenched in Excel spreadsheets, where plenty of RAM comes in handy. A mighty laptop with plenty of room for university projects, the Dell XPS 13 is one to keep an eye on.