If buying a laptop is like picking a needle in a haystack, buying one for college is like homework; Difficult and time-consuming but satisfying. Whichever laptop you buy in the myriad of options should have an above-average RAM, storage, processor speed, and must be able to run HD videos.
As a student, not only should the machine be affordable, it should also contain utilities like an integrated webcam, large screen size, but it must also be portable. That is why we have reviewed a list of choices for you that are not only affordable but are also stylish and high-performance.
As you would typically expect, leading this year’s list are manufacturers like HP, Apple, Dell, and Samsung. We have considered the prices, performance, style, and features of over 1000 laptops to arrive at the list below, as we offer you the best-rated laptop for college students in 2023.
Best Laptops for College 2023
1. HP Envy 13
HP has been making a killing on the laptop scene with their Envy models for a few years now. The Envy 13 extends that lid for 2023 with its performance so far.
For a <$1,000 laptop, Envy has everything, from a 4K display to an 8th-gen core i7 and i5. You likely won’t get anything cheaper for such quality anywhere else.
Specs
- Intel Core i7 and i5 processor
- 8GB to 16GB RAM
- 256GB to 1TB storage
- 13.3-inch, 4K, or 1080p display
- 4.95-pounds in weight
- Up to 3.5GHz processor speed
Pros
- Attractive and portable
- 11+ hours of battery life with the FHD model
- Exceptional speakers
- Fast and highly efficient
- Brilliant display quality
Cons
- Thunderbolt 3 is absent
- 4K module has a poor battery life
Price: View on Amazon
2. Huawei Matebook 13
Huawei is the new kid on the block, and he isn’t shy at being the only one. Matebook 13, like its manufacturer, is a wonder of innovation.
Not only is it light, compact, and fast, but it is affordable and portable enough to fit in your backpack.
It strikes a perfect balance between affordability, power, and weight.
Specs
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB to 512GB storage
- 13-inch 2K and a touch panel
- 8th-gen intel core i7 and i5
- Quad-core, 1.8GHz to 4.1 GHz
- 2.91-pounds in weight
Pros
- Powerful and durable
- Affordable and lightweight
- Compact with a large storage
- The keyboard is comfortable
Cons
- RAM is limited to 8GB
- No Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Short battery life
Price: View on Amazon
3. Apple MacBook Air
MacBook Air is a lot closer to the $1,000 price range than we would like; it is an excellent design.
It comes with an aluminum chassis, powerful speakers, and extensively revamped display quality. While expensive for a college student, the MacBook Air is definitely worth your money.
Specs
- Intel Core i5 processor
- 128GB to 1TB storage
- 8GB to 16GB RAM
- 13-inch and 2560 x 1600p display
- 2.96 pounds in weight
- 2.6GHz to 3.6GHz processor speed
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Thin and Elegant chassis
- Impressive sound quality
- Brilliant retina display
- Large storage space
Cons
- Not quick
- Only USB-C ports available
- Keyboard looks shallow
- Relatively pricy
Price: View on Amazon
4. Dell XPS 13
XPS 13 is Dell’s flagship for 2023. Not only is it a brilliant choice for students, but casual users will also find uses for it.
It has a webcam, Bluetooth, wi-fi, and all the works.
Specs
- 8th-gen Intel Core i5 to i7
- 4GB to 16GB RAM
- 13-inch, 1920 x 1080p non-touch FHD, and 3,840 x 2,160p touchscreen UHD display
- 128GB to 1TB storage
- 2GHz processor speed
- 2-kgs in weight
Pros
- Impressive performance
- Lightweight
- The webcam is finally in the normal position again
Cons
- Pricy
- Only slightly better than the previous version
Price: View on Amazon
5. Asus ZenBook UX333FA
UX333FA has you covered if you’re looking for a sleek, high-performance, long-lasting, and cheap student laptop.
Specs
- Intel Core i5 processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage
- 13-inch, 1080p display
- 2.7-pounds in weight
- 1.6GHz processor speed
Pros
- Long-lasting battery
- Fast and lightweight
- Sleek design
Cons
- Display is dim
- The keyboard is too cramped
Price: View on Amazon
6. Surface Laptop 2
Surface Laptop 2 is a new model from Microsoft and has improved by much compared to the old model. Although, it is still not the fastest laptop around, everything else is tuned up.
Specs
- Quad-core, 8th-gen Intel Core i5 to i7 processor
- 8GB to 16GB RAM
- 13.5-inch, 2256 x 1504p touch display
- 1.9GHz processor speed
- 2.76-pounds in weight
- 128GB to 1TB storage
Pros
- Cheap and light
- Large storage space and touchscreen display
Cons
- No windows 10 S
- Thunderbolt 3 is still absent
- Ports could use some work
Price: View on Amazon
7. HP Pavilion 14
While it isn’t the most powerful, sleek, or light, pavilion 14 ticks all the boxes at the right places to be our number seven.
Specs
- An 8th-gen core i5 processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB to 1TB storage
- 14-inch, 1080p display
- 3.27-kgs in weight
- 3.4GHz processor speed
Pros
- Cheap
- Quality build
- Large storage
Cons
- Heavy
Price: View on Amazon
8. Samsung Notebook 9
One of Samsung’s budget models. Notebook 9 would rank higher for its top-notch performance, if only it had better graphics and processor.
Specs
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB storage
- 15-inch FHD display
- 8th-gen Intel core i7
- 2.84-pounds in weight
- 1.9GHz processor speed
Pros
- Gorgeous screen and top-notch performance
- Excellent video quality
Cons
- The keyboard could use some redesigning
- Pricy for its quality
Price: View on Amazon
9. Acer Aspire 5
Aspire 5 has an 8+ hour battery time, sizeable 15.6-inch display, and available at a frankly ridiculous price.
Specs
- Intel-core i3 processor
- 4GB RAM
- 2.8-pounds in weight
- 15.6-inch, 1080p display
- 128GB storage
- 2.2GHz processor speed
Pros
- Long-lasting battery
- Cheap
- Bright and quality display
Cons
- Not fast or light
- Quality is spotty
- Graphics could be better
Price: View on Amazon
10. Microsoft Surface Go
Surface Go is an entry-level system. While it isn’t the highest performing laptop, it is cheap and has everything a student needs or schoolwork.
Specs
- 10-inch, 1,800 x 1,200p display
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB storage
- 2.15-pounds in weight
- Intel Pentium processor
Pros
- Cheap and lightweight
- Quality Build and portability
- Has windows 10 S
- Large and quality display
Cons
- CPU is Pentium
- Low storage
Price: View on Amazon