Having a reliable laptop is a must in college — it can be difficult getting along without one. Many university classes now allow or even require students to use their laptops in class for a variety of purposes. Having a laptop with a long battery life is essential for note-taking during long lectures. You also want one that’s light enough and small enough to fit in a backpack or tote, for easy travel. Performance and longevity are important to consider as well. A basic, entry-level laptop will cover you for general classwork, but the more you’re able to spend, the longer it will likely last you — important if it needs to last you four years or more.
With the supply chain issues and chip shortages we’ve seen over the last few years, you might think it’s hard to get your hands on a decent budget-friendly laptop for school. However, it’s still possible to find laptops and two-in-ones with the latest processors from AMD and Intel, which help performance and battery life over previous generations.
If you’re searching for one of the best laptops for college students 2022 has to offer, keep reading. We’ve rounded up several college laptop picks that will serve most students well in school and beyond. The majority of our picks for the best college laptops run between $500 and $1,000. If you’re looking for a more affordable laptop — or if you’re open to an alternative to Apple’s MacOS and Microsoft Windows
— we recommend checking out the best Chromebooks for students
(just make sure any software you need for classes is supported). On the flip side, if you’re searching for a more powerful laptop, or a gaming laptopthat doubles as one for college, we have some suggestions for those, too. So if you’re ready to upgrade your tech, keep reading our list of the best laptops for college.