More often than not, a laptop that is ideal for office workers may not be appropriate for a student, because of different needs. A student will appreciate a cheaper laptop that can do a little of everything, school is expensive after all. Brilliant at handling projects with a little game, movies, music, and streaming performance on the side works best.
Serial top-contenders usually place overall value over things like graphics card performance and processors. Picking one out of the many options is not always as simple as just picking the one with student attached to its name. The first step is to determine what features are needed for your study niche and decide based on that.
We have for such a reason compiled a list of the most balanced in value laptops in 2023 that excel for students.
Best School Laptops 2023
1. Huawei Matebook 13
Don’t be so surprised seeing Huawei’s name here, they are not just brilliant with smartphones. It is compact, light, and operates at crazy speeds despite its very affordable price. While its runtime is not the best we can get, its performance more than makes up for that shortcoming.
Specs
- 8GB RAM
- Nvidia GeForce MX150/Intel UHD Graphics 620 card
- Core-i5/i7 (8th-gen) CPU
- 256-512GB storage
- 3-inch touch display
- 1440p resolution
Pros
- Cheapest and light
- Compact but powerful
- Best value
- 2K display is manageable given the price
Cons
- Limited RAM space
- The display is not 4K
2. HP Envy 13
Taking up space nominally occupied by Envy 12, HP Envy 13 has done a lot to displace it from this position. It is HP’s latest 2023 attempt at occupying the number one spot of cheap laptops. Equipped with a stunning 11+ hours runtime to go with a 1080p to 4K display, Envy 13 is indeed a killer. It has a webcam kill switch to prevent illegal snooping and a fingerprint sensor for more security.
Not to mention its insane performance powered by an 8th-generation core-i7 or core-i5 processor.
Specs
- Nvidia GeForce MX250/Intel UHD Graphics 620 card
- 3-inch display
- 8-pounds
- Intel Core-i5 or i7 CPU
- 8-16GB RAM
- 1080/4K resolution
- 256-512GB storage
Pros
- Sleek look
- Display is bright
- Lightweight
- Stunning runtime
- Portable and cheap
- Audio is amazing
Cons
- Lacks Thunderbolt 3
- The 4K model lacks long-lasting battery
3. MacBook Air
It hardly differs from its predecessor but it is still an excellent choice regardless. It is significantly cheap compared to other units and now has True Tone technology from Apple as a feature. The display is amazing and its chassis made completely of recycled aluminium.
Specs
- 8-pounds
- Intel Core-i5 (Y-series) processor
- 3-inch display
- 8-16GB RAM
- 12 x 8.4 x 0.6-inch
- Intel UHD Graphics 617 card
- 2560 x 1600p resolution
- 128GB to 1TB storage
Pros
- Crisp display
- Impressive speakers
- Cheaper
- Elegant look
- Lightweight and ultra-slim profile
Cons
- Only USB-C ports
- Keyboard is shallow
- The processor is not the latest model
4. Dell XPS 13
XPS 13 is another 2023 unit, this time from Dell that has tried and succeeded in bettering the old model completely. An old issue with the XPS-series was the webcam that XPS 13 has moved back to the normal position. It lacks a touchscreen but that is the only thing it does lack.
Specs
- Intel UHD Graphics 620 chip
- 128GB to 2TB SSD storage
- 1080p to 2160p resolution
- 3-inch FHD non-touch screen
- Intel Core-i3 to i7
Pros
- Webcam back at the top central
- Extreme power
- Sleek design
- Insane storage capacity
- Light in weight
Cons
- Not too different from the predecessor
- Pricy
5. Microsoft Surface Go
It is more of a tablet than a laptop but can be easily converted to a laptop by simply adding a keyboard. Surface Go requires little in terms of maintenance and cash yet exudes beauty and high-end performance. It is specially engineered to handle all schoolwork with comfort.
Specs
- 3:2 aspect ratio
- 64-128GB SSD storage
- 4-8GB RAM
- PixelSense Touch 10-inch display
- Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
- 1800 x 1200p resolution
- Intel UHD Graphics 615 chip
Pros
- Cheap
- Stunning quality
- Awesome value
- Lightweight
- Durable and convertible
Cons
- CPU is Pentium
- Low-grade components
6. Surface Laptop 2
Except for ports, laptop 2 is now packaged with a black colour option, windows 10 home, and more. You’ll be able to complete most school tasks with this laptop in record time.
Specs
- 128GB to 1TB SSD storage
- 8-16GB RAM
- Intel Core-i5 to i7 (8th-gen) CPU
- 5-inch display (PixelSense touch)
- Intel UHD Graphics 620 chip
- 1504p resolution
Pros
- The massive boost in performance
- Lacks Windows 10 S
- Large storage
- Brilliant picture quality
- Powerful
Cons
- Still no USB port
- Lacks Thunderbolt 3
7. Acer Aspire 5
Its battery can run for about nine-hours which invalidates the charging steps involved in student life. It has aluminium casings that weigh very little, and its performance is bright, fast, and premium.
Specs
- Intel UHD Graphics 620 chip
- 6-inch screen
- 8-pounds
- 4GB RAM
- 3 x 9.9 x 0.7-inches
- Intel Core-i3 to 8145U
- 1080p resolution
- 128GB storage
Pros
- Fantastic power
- Bright and deep display
- Cheap
- The battery runs for a long time
Cons
- Questionable quality
- Graphics is not the best
8. Lenovo Yoga C930
Specs
- Intel UHD Graphics 620 chip
- 256GB to 1TB storage
- 1-pounds
- Intel Core-i5-i7 CPU
- 1080p/4K resolution
- 8-16GB RAM
- 7 x 8.9 x 0.6-inches
- 9-inches
Pros
- Lightweight and ultra-slim
- Long runtime
- Premium look
- Insane power
Cons
- The display is not the best
- Shallow keyboard
9. MacBook Pro
MacBook packs 9th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors into a chassis with over 11-hours runtime and a larger display than expected.
Specs
- 256GB to 4TB SSD storage
- Intel Core-i5/i7 chip
- 15.4-inches LED with IPS display
- 8-32GB RAM
- Radeon Pro 555X/ Vega 20
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight, slim, and compact
- Bright screen
Cons
- Shallow keyboard
- Has too few ports
10. Dell XPS 15
Specs
- 6-inches display
- 1TB SSD hybrid
- 8-32GB RAM
- Intel Core-i9 to i5
- 1080p FHD and 4K USD
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti/Intel UHD Graphics 630
Pros
- Cheap
- Ridiculous performance
- Large storage and RAM space
- Latest components
Cons
- Not much different from the predecessor