Everything you need to know about buying a laptop for school or university
There are three major options when it comes to operating systems, which come with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Windows is the most popular and Windows 10 is the best version yet. You can do pretty much anything, so it's very versatile, but Microsoft Office costs extra.
Apple’s macOS is intuitive – if you’re not a long-time Windows user, that is. Macs come jammed full of great software from the get-go, so you won't need to pay extra for office apps, and all updates are free.
Google’s simple Chrome OS has boomed in recent years. Chrome laptops don't cost much, but they're also limited. They don't have much storage for videos and music, so you'll need to be online most of the time. Google Drive is an adequate, and free, replacement for Microsoft Office.
Some laptops keep the traditional clam-shell design but add a touchscreen, and some have a detachable keyboard, which makes them more versatile.
They’re often built with specific uses in mind – such as drawing – so can be more expensive than similar standard laptops. They also tend to be lighter and slimmer too, though.
If you only ever work from home, there’s no point squinting at a tiny 11-inch machine. Likewise, you’ll not want to lug a 17-inch behemoth about with you if you’re on the go a lot.
The other option is a 15-inch laptop which is a happy compromise between the two.
Make sure you opt for at least 4GB of RAM on a Windows or Mac machine, so you can multitask effectively.
It's also worth considering a solid-state drive (SSD). They cost a little more than traditional hard drives, but significantly improve the speed of your laptop starting up.
Battery life should be a priority if you’re going to be away from a plug for long periods. Smaller, less powerful laptops tend to offer superior battery life – in some case up to 13 hours.
Bigger laptops tend to be a lot more powerful and that drains the juice. Expect 5-7 hours from these.
What follows is a list of the nine best laptops you can get at different prices.
This budget laptop is both satchel-sized at 11.6 inches and sturdy, which makes it a good option if you’re always on the go. It also has excellent battery life, lasting 13 hours.
It runs Google’s Chrome OS, so it can’t run Windows programs like Office, but you can use Google’s extensive suite of online tools, such as Google Docs for word processing. Most of them now work well offline too, and they’re all free.
The screen isn't perfect, but this is a great basic computer for the price.
Read more: ASUS Chromebook C201 review
Buy Now: Amazon
The HP Stream is an 11-inch budget Windows laptop. At £179 it’s exceptional value for money, especially considering it comes bundled with Microsoft Office for free for a year.
It'll handle basic student tasks despite only having 2GB of RAM, although, like a Chromebook, it does lack storage space, with only a 32GB hard drive.
Happily, you can expand the latter via an inexpensive SD card for all your media, which is just as well because it’s a good laptop for watching movies.
Read more: HP Stream 11 review
The Chromebook 2 is excellent value for money, with features you get on laptops that cost twice the price.
As with other Chromebooks, don’t expect to be able to run Microsoft Office or other Windows apps. Chrome apps run fine and the larger screen makes it easier to work productively.
The Chromebook 2 is light enough to transport easily and is equipped with a Full HD screen. This makes it perfect for watching video – as long as you have an internet connection. Chrome OS doesn’t make offline viewing easy.
Read more: Toshiba Chromebook 2 review
Buy Now: Argos
The Asus Zenbook is a light and super-slim 13-inch laptop that won’t break the bank. It's well equipped, with three USB 3.0 ports, a full-sized SD card slot and a Micro HDMI output. Plus it has an impressive 11-hour battery life. Powered by Intel’s Core M-5Y10c processor, it's ideal for web browsing and Office tasks.
The Full HD display is sharp and bright, offering good viewing angles for movie watching with mates. What's more, it looks great, with a matte-effect metal chassis and a concentric circle-patterned lid.
Read more: ASUS Zenbook UX305 review
Buy Now: Currys | Amazon
The thin and light Dell XPS 13 is a firm favourite in the TrustedReviews offices because of its impressive screen. It has tiny borders, pin-sharp resolution and produces vibrant and warm colours.
The Dell is a brilliantly built 13.3-inch laptop that's not much bigger than an 11-inch one. This also makes it one of the most satchel-friendly and stylish models around. Battery life is excellent at 11 hours and it's powerful enough to multitask and even play some games.
Read more: HP Pavilion Gaming 15 review
The Macbook Air remains an excellent ultra-portable laptop. It is a whippet, coming equipped with an SSD drive and powerful Intel processors. It boots up quickly and chomps through everyday tasks at a speedy pace.
Its battery life is good, pushing over 10 hours when used for word processing and web browsing. Plus, lucky students can get a whopping £150 off. Potential buyers might be better waiting, though, as Apple’s expected to announce updated Air models soon.
Read more: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch review
Buy Now: Amazon | Currys
If you want something bigger than the XPS 13 then its 15.6-inch brother is the way to go. This is one of the most attractive laptops you can buy right now and comes packing powerful components too.
The XPS 15 is fast enough to multitask, edit video and can even play games at reasonable settings. The only downside is the 5-hour battery life.
Still if you want a powerful laptop with a superb screen that you can still travel around with, this is a great option to consider.
Read more: Dell XPS 15 review
Buy Now: John Lewis
You might think the Surface Pro 4 is a tablet, but in fact it competes with most laptops. This is a machine powerful enough to multitask, yet slim and light enough to carry anywhere.
It's not quite fast enough for intense gaming, but the touchscreen is superb and great for design work, as well as watching movies on the go.
The design is also excellent, but bear in mind that you need to pay extra for the keyboard and clever stylus if you want to get the most out of it.
Read more: Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review
Buy Now: Currys
If you're looking for pure power then look no further.
The Alienware 15 is a beast of a gaming laptop that will play even the most challenging games with consummate ease. It's also stylish and well made from aluminium and carbon-fibre.
All that power means that this is a heavy and thick machine, and battery life is just 5 hours, so you probably won't be taking it to the library. However. if you're interested in gaming this is the laptop to go for. It might sound expensive, but it's actually well priced considering everything it packs.
Read more: Alienware 15 review
Buy Now: Currys | John Lewis
