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Best student laptops review
In this article we check out some of the best laptops for students in 2025 to handle work, easily carry around and give you good value for money.
In theory, the ultimate laptop for students would have a long lasting battery life, decent performance for work tasks, be light enough and not too big in size to easily carry around, and be very reasonably priced. For windows users, you’ll also want to get something relatively new now too as the Windows 10 update support finishes late 2025.
To start our list, here are some of the best laptops for students who require portability more than anything.

Best laptops for students who want portability
📢 Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.

Lenovo ThinkPad E16
The Thinkpad E16 is a classic business laptop that’s both powerful and stylish. It’s excellent for work and everyday tasks and it’s got plenty of RAM, a large screen and lots of storage. It weighs just over 4.3 pounds making it quite light dispite it’s large display. Check out more features:
- Inside is the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U Processor
- 1TB of storange with a generous 24GB RAM
- 16″ Display with 1920 x 1200 pixels
- Fast charging with good battery life

Acer Swift Go
The Swift go is an awesome laptop for business and everyday use, it has a stunning OLED display with added AI tech to help with processing. The Acer Swift X is similar and features even more if you want even higher specs. The Swift Go features:
- Decent 512GB SSD with 8GB of RAM and Intel ARC graphics
- AI Boost technology with Ultra 5 processor
- Stunning 14″ OLED 2880×1800 Display
- Weighs under 3 pounds
Acer Swift Go 14 Intel Evo Edition Laptop
If lightweight is what you’re after, the acer swift go is just 2.87 pounds and features a color rich 14 inch OLED touchscreen display with 100% color gamut. Acer have packed alot of new AI features into this one to help it be more efficient when working, creating or playing, so that you can get the best from the Intel Core Ultra 5 processor. This also helps with the battery life, allowing it to last around 8 hours on light usage.
I’m really impressed with the ports on this one, for such a small laptop it still has a HDMI, 2 usb-c, and 2 usb-a ports, along side a micro sd card reader. Unfortunately no ethernet port though.
It’s great for general tasks and everyday work but if you need it for running design or editing software it may struggle. It only has 8GB of RAM so with more demanding software, this won’t be ideal.
✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
---|---|
Vibrant 14″ OLED touchscreen (100% color gamut) | Only 8GB RAM, struggles with demanding software |
Great port selection: HDMI, 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A, microSD | No Ethernet port, requires an adapter |
AI-powered performance boosts efficiency & battery | Not ideal for power users needing high performance |
8-hour battery life for all-day use | |
Intel Core Ultra 5 handles everyday tasks well | |
Super lightweight (2.87 lbs) for easy portability |
Lenovo Thinkpad E14 G6 Business Laptop
Lenovo Thinkpad E14 G6 Business Laptop features more RAM at a huge 24GB, 1TB SSD storage, combined with the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U Processor and AMD Radeon Graphics.
While it’s definitely not a powerhouse, it’s very capable of handling smooth multitasking and everyday work like researching, coding and office applications.
It also has a fantastic range of ports including 2 usb-c, 2 usb-a, hdmi and even an ethernet port. It weighs just 3 pounds and it’s combined with a sturdy build which makes it great for portability. However, if you need something for video, design or rendering work. This won’t have the processing power or the display performance for that. It’s more for general everyday work tasks.
✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
---|---|
24GB RAM & 1TB SSD for smooth multitasking | Not ideal for design, video, or rendering work |
AMD Ryzen 5 7530U & Radeon Graphics handle everyday tasks | Mediocre display performance for creative work |
Great ports: 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet | Limited processing power for demanding tasks |
Sturdy & lightweight (3 lbs) for portability |
ASUS Zenbook 14 WUXGA Touch AI Ready
In the same category as being a portable work laptop, for even less you can pick up the Asus Zenbook 14. As it says on the tin, this one is also touchscreen with AI features for enhanced performance on the Intel Core Ultra 5 processor.
It has a stunning OLED display with even more nits of brightness than the Swift Go at upto 500. It’s super thin at just 0.59 inches and it weighs around 3 pounds but it’s also not the most suitable for running more demanding software, especially as it has 8GB of RAM similar to the Swift Go. You can get the upgraded varient with the i7-13700H processor and 16GB RAM for more power but the price is steeper too, so at that rate you might as well check out some better options i’ve found for performance.
✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
---|---|
Stunning OLED touchscreen with 500 nits brightness | Only 8GB RAM, limiting performance for demanding tasks |
AI-enhanced Intel Core Ultra 5 processor | Not ideal for heavy software or creative work |
Super thin (0.59″) & lightweight (3 lbs) | Upgraded variant is pricey for better specs |
Best laptops for students for performance and portability
If you’re looking some of the best laptops for students in performance, here are a few very good options.
Acer Swift X
The Acer Swift X shares alot of similarities with the Swift Go mentioned earlier. But this one has a slightly larger screen size of 14.5 inches and it weighs a little more at around 3.3 pounds. But don’t let that put you off. Not only does it have 16GB of RAM, double that of the previous two mentioned, but it’s also packing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. Giving it enough power to handle the more demanding software tasks.
The 4060 is a very efficient and capable GPU, one up from the base varient 4050. And with the added AI boost tech and intel core ultra 7 CPU, this laptop becomes even more powerful for it’s small package.
While it’s not a touchscreen it still has a fantastic OLED Display with 100% color gamut and 120 hertz refresh rate making it a great choice for graphic intensive work too.
✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
---|---|
16GB RAM & NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU for demanding tasks | Slightly heavier (3.3 lbs) than similar models |
Intel Core Ultra 7 + AI boost enhances performance | Not a touchscreen |
14.5″ OLED display (100% color gamut, 120Hz) |
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
On the other hand, Asus make a very compelling option for a student performance laptop, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is not only very stylish but it’s also packed with great hardware too.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is a 14 inch premium gaming and productivity laptop packed with an OLED 120Hz QHD display, delivering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and ultra-smooth visuals, making it ideal for gaming and content creation.
Powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (8GB VRAM), this laptop ensures high performance for gaming, video editing, and demanding applications.
With 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB SSD, it provides fast multitasking and ample storage for large files. It has a very similar port range to the others mentioned on the list. For a full breakdown, please refer to the product table above.
For users who want a powerful performance in a lightweight and portable build, this laptop seems ideal. It has a similar weight to the swift X at around 1.5kg and the 14inch display keeps it in it’s small form.
But this is probably the most expensive one so far. For those on a budget who don’t need the high end GPU’s and performance hardware to handle work and entertainment, these next two are hard to beat for excellent budget general use laptops.
✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
---|---|
AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS & RTX 4060 (8GB VRAM) for gaming & content creation | Most expensive option on the list |
16GB LPDDR5X RAM & 1TB SSD for fast multitasking & storage | Not ideal for budget-conscious buyers |
14″ OLED QHD display (120Hz) with deep blacks & vibrant colors | |
Lightweight (1.5kg) & portable despite high performance |
Best laptops for students on a budget
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ASUS Vivobook 15
If you’re looking for a cheap laptop that can handle your work tasks and general use applications like fast web browsing and viewing media, the Asus Vivobook ticks alot of boxes for its price. It features:
- Comes with AMD Ryzen 5 7520U
- 512GB SSD Storage with 8GB RAM
- It has fast Charging and good battery life.
- It’s lightweight at around 3.5 pounds.

Acer Aspire 5
Another very powerful option at mid range, it’s built with premium fearures for gaming and has enough power to handle demanding work and games.
- Decent 512GB SSD with 16GB of RAM
- It’s got the Intel Core i5-13420H
- Built in intel UHD Graphics
- Weighs under 4 pounds
ASUS VivoBook Go 15.6” Slim
The ASUS VivoBook Go 15.6” Slim Laptop is a lightweight and budget-friendly option designed for students and everyday users who need a reliable, portable, and efficient device.
It weighs around 3.59 pounds which isn’t too bad for a 15 inch laptop, and it features a 180 degree rotating hinge. Allowing the screen to lay flat for more flexable work arrangements.
In it, you get the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, that provides smooth multitasking, fast boot times, and enough storage for documents, media, and applications.
If you don’t mind a slightly bigger screen size and heavier build, the VivoBook is a fantastic option for the price. It’s a hard wearing, fast charing work laptop made for on-the-go productivity.
Additional security features like a webcam shield enhance privacy, and Windows 11 Home brings a modern and user-friendly experience.
While it’s not the most impressive when it comes to display performance or features, this laptop offers an excellent choice for students, professionals, and casual users who need a well-balanced machine at an affordable price.
✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
---|---|
AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, & 512GB SSD for smooth multitasking | Not the best display performance |
Lightweight (3.59 lbs) for a 15.6” laptop | Slightly larger & heavier than others |
180° hinge allows flexible work arrangements | |
Fast-charging & durable build for productivity | |
Webcam shield enhances privacy | |
Affordable & budget-friendly for students |
Acer Aspire 5
Similarly, the Acer Aspire 5 15 inch slim laptop offers even more features in a very similar price range. This one features a touch display, 16GB of RAM and the 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H processor making it a very smooth machine for everyday work tasks.
While these budget options aren’t the best laptops on our list, they offer excellent value for money. Making them ideal for students and professionals seeking smooth performance for everyday tasks and multitasking.
✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
---|---|
16GB RAM & Intel Core i5-13420H for smooth performance | Not the best option for high-end tasks |
Touchscreen display adds extra functionality | Display quality may not be top-tier |
Great value for money for students & professionals |
MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip 2022 13.6 inch
For those who prefer using macOS, the 13.6 inch, 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip is pretty hard to beat for it’s performance and portability. It’s a few years old now so the price is better than other Apple products but it’s still more of a premium option. The port range is abit diappointing with just 2 usb-c’s, charger and a mic port, it’s under half an inch in thickness and it weigh around just 2.73 pounds. It’s also has a very efficient processor for multitasking and managing general work tasks and the battery life is amazing compared to other laptops.
While it’s unlikely to meet the 15 hours stated when working on general tasks, it still pushes the boundries of battery performance from a laptop. And because it’s from apple, you can expect an amazing display performance too. If you like using macOS, this laptop is a great combination for students and business professionals.
✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
---|---|
M2 chip delivers efficient multitasking & performance | Limited ports (only 2 USB-C, charger, and mic port) |
Amazing battery life, outlasting most laptops | Still a premium-priced option |
13.6” high-quality display with great color accuracy | |
Ultra-thin (under 0.5”) & lightweight (2.73 lbs) |
Thanks for reading, I hope this review of the best laptops for students helped you find the right student laptop! If you’re on the lookout for a new laptop, make sure try our Laptop Finder Quiz. Otherwise, check out our similar tech reviews on the links below.