Skip to content   Skip to footer navigation 

The best student laptops from our tests

Plus, expert tips for buying a laptop for school-aged kids. 

students working on laptop
Last updated: 15 July 2025

Need to know

  • You'll need to consider a number of factors when choosing a laptop for your school-aged child
  • Price is obviously a key consideration, but so is size, durability, battery life and power
  • For CHOICE members, our experts reveal which laptops they recommend for students

Back-to-school shopping can be expensive, especially now that many schools require you to supply a laptop or tablet for your child to use in the classroom. With such a big expense, you'll want to be sure you make the right choice so it'll (hopefully) last until your child finishes school.

But how much do you really need to spend on a decent piece of tech? Your kids can probably present a pretty convincing case for why they need a pricey, top-of-the-line laptop from Apple, Microsoft or Dell.

But in reality, a mid-range model will suit most students. So, before you drop hundreds or thousands of dollars on a new laptop, here's what you need to know.

Plus, for CHOICE members, we'll reveal the student laptops our experts recommend. If you just want see the best products, jump straight to the results now.

What to look for in a student laptop

The features to look for will depend on the kind of subjects your child is studying. Almost all currently available entry-level laptops meet the minimum requirements for standard school research work – things like web browsing, word processing, video streaming and so on.

But you're probably better off considering a mid-range laptop, even if the subjects your child is doing only have basic hardware requirements. These programs can feel rather sluggish on an entry-level model.

Creative subjects generally require a bit more grunt. Photo, audio and video editing, for example, need mid-to-high-end hardware in order to run.

Here's a basic guide on the differences between basic, mid-range and high-end laptops from our tests. Note that these are broad examples and should only be used as a jumping-off point – you'll need to closely examine the specs of any specific model you're considering buying.

How much do you need to spend on a student laptop?

Like any purchase, this is a 'how long is a piece of string?' situation. Basic laptops that meet the minimum requirements for school start at around $500. However, you can expect to spend at least $700 for one with decent performance and speeds.

Keep in mind, price generally increases with performance. A laptop with performance appropriate for creative software (design, multimedia, etc.) will  come with a price tag closer to $1000 or more. However, you shouldn't need to spend more than $1500 on a laptop for school.

A higher upfront cost may ultimately be cheaper in the long run, if it saves you buying a replacement model a couple of years down the track

Finally, consider future needs. The laptop should last at least four years and a basic model can quickly fall behind the hardware demands of many programs. A higher upfront cost may ultimately be cheaper in the long run, if it saves you buying a replacement model a couple of years down the track.

What's better for school: Mac or Windows?

As far as software goes, almost all of the main programs required in schools are available for both Mac (OS X) and Windows computers. This includes cloud-based software that runs in web browsers like Firefox, Chrome and Safari.

However, you may find that more specialised software – particularly in creative spaces – is exclusive to Windows or OS X. Check the course requirements for software information or speak to the school to find out if this is the case for your child's subjects.

It's worth noting that gaming support (particularly for older titles) is still quite limited on Apple products, compared to Windows. Even some modern games don't work, including those that run on programs like Steam. You can check compatibility with a quick Google search – e.g. "Will Fortnite work on an Apple MacBook?".

You'll also find that Apple products tend to be more expensive, so that's a factor to consider.

Are Chromebooks good for school?

A Chromebook is a lightweight alternative to a laptop that runs Google's ChromeOS. You can't install most software on a Chromebook. Instead, they rely on online services and a handful of programs in the Chrome Store to function.

They're a viable option for office work and some school projects, but can feel limited or underpowered in other areas. More specialised software, creative tools and games may not perform well or function at all on a Chromebook.

What's the best screen size for a student laptop?

Though there are no hard and fast rules here, you want to find the right balance between ease of use and portability. Most laptop displays are 13–15 inches, which is suitable for schoolwork.

You may want to go a little larger, 15-inches or above, if your child is pursuing creative subjects. The detail required for this sort of work will benefit from a larger screen. You can also get 10–12-inch models, but they can feel cramped and may be uncomfortable to use for long periods.

Durable laptops for backpacks

Durability shouldn't be overlooked when deciding which laptop to buy. Most are notoriously susceptible to accidental spills. Generally speaking, laptops don't like to be dropped or put through any particularly strenuous situations.

They may be able to handle a few bumps in a backpack but it's best to pay a little extra for a carry case (even as a second layer of protection in a backpack). These cost around $30–100.

Insurance may also be a good option, just in case. Check for portable cover on your contents insurance and read the fine print to make sure it covers your child taking it to school.

The best student laptops

The detailed results of our laptops review, plus the laptops that our experts recommend, are available exclusively to CHOICE members. If you're not yet a member, join CHOICE to access thousands of independent reviews from our state-of-the-art labs.

Our industry experts rigorously test and compare the latest household products and services, looking at everything from washing machines and vacuum cleaners to mattresses, lawnmowers, health insurance and more. We'll help you save time and money with our independent, unbiased advice.

locked content

Unlock this article and more

  • Information you can trust
  • See the best brands
  • Avoid the worst performers

Your exclusive access:

Welcome! This section of the article is accessible only to our valued members.

asus-vivobook-go-14-e410k-e410ka-ek217ws_1

The Asus Vivobook Go 14 E410K will get the job done, but slowly.

The best student laptop under $500

Asus Vivobook Go 14 E410K

  • Best for: Basic tasks
  • Price: $449
  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 61%
  • Weight: 1.4kg
  • Available storage: 74GB
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Average battery life: 5hr 13min

This laptop isn't going to top the class, but it meets the basic requirements for schoolwork including web browsing, word processing and video streaming (educational, of course). You may even get away with some simple image editing using the basic software that comes with Windows.

But overall performance is very slow or, as our tester says, "less than optimal". You'll have to wait a bit for websites to load, software may become sluggish at times and it has trouble running more than one program at a time.

Overall performance is slow or, as our tester says, 'less than optimal'

It's also a bit lacking in the hardware department. Available storage is small so you may need to invest in an external hard drive or online cloud subscription. Also, they keyboard isn't backlit which means it can be difficult to use in dark or low light environments.

There's a good chance that your child will outgrow this laptop by the time they get to high school. It will feel very limiting if they get into any creative endeavours that typically require more demanding software.

Read the full Asus Vivobook Go 14 E410K review.

dell-inspiron-15-3000-3535_1_large

Dell's Inspiron 15 3000 (3535) is a bit of a mixed bag.

The best student laptop under $1000

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3535)

  • Best for: Basic to mid-range tasks
  • Price: $799
  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 67%
  • Weight: 1.6kg
  • Available storage: 393GB
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Average battery life: 6hr 39min

This Dell is pretty well equipped for a laptop that costs less than $800. It can handle basic tasks and entertainment (video and music streaming) without any issues and even some power-hungry(ish) programs, including games on low to medium graphics settings.

But our tests still found this laptop to be a bit of a mixed bag. Storage performance is the main sticking point, particularly write speeds, which refers to moving things like save files, music, videos, software and so-on, onto the drive. The write speeds are inconsistent which can really slow things down and affect software performance.

It's a shame because the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U is a pretty reasonable low to mid-range processor that can feel sluggish at times because of the inconsistent write speeds. Build quality also leaves a bit to be desired, particularly the touchpad which can move and rattle around.

The Inspiron 15 laptop is worth considering for essay writing or research-based subjects

The 3535 version of Dell's Inspiron 15 laptop is worth considering for essay writing or research-based subjects. If your high-school aged child is really interested in graphic design or videography, for example, maybe look at other options.

You could also consider the more expensive Inspiron 15 3000 (3530), which is $1199. This has 16GB of RAM and other small hardware improvements which gives it the edge in our performance testing. But it still suffers from the same write speed issues as the 3535.

Read the full Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3535) review.

dell-inspiron-14-plus-7441_1_large

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441) uses Copilot AI to boost overall performance.

The best student laptop under $1500

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441)

  • Best for: Mid-range to high-performance tasks
  • Price: $1499
  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 77%
  • Weight: 1.4kg
  • Available storage: 415GB
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Average battery life: 12hr 18min

Now we're getting into the powerful portables that can really tackle creative work. Granted, it's not cheap, but you won't be replacing this model every couple of years to keep up with the latest software.

It's part of Microsoft's expanding Copilot line-up of PCs, which uses the Copilot AI powered neural processing unit (NPU) to share the load with the CPU. This allows AI functions to work faster while the CPU is free to run the rest of the computer.

Handing over some processor duties to the NPU gives this model a real performance boost without sacrificing battery life. It's got enough oomph for design work, audio and video editing, and running games with high-quality graphics. It also has a very good matte screen, so it's ideal for photo editing and other artistic work.

Handing over some processor duties to the NPU gives the 14 Plus (7441) a real performance boost without sacrificing battery life

But there are limits. Activities or assignments like super high-resolution video editing or 3D-modelling/rendering will probably push it over the edge. And while most programs and games play nice with the Snapdragon processor, some lack compatibility. So, if there's a particular program that's important to your kid's studies, make sure it works before buying this Dell (or any PC with a Snapdragon CPU for that matter)

Otherwise, it's worth noting that this laptop doesn't have an HDMI output which means you'll need to use one of the two USB-C ports to connect an external screen. Audio quality is also pretty dismal, but that's unlikely to be a deal breaker, as most laptops don't excel in this department.

Read the full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441) review.

187511 Laptops 02Apple 13inch MacBook Air with Apple M4 chip A32401

The Apple 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple M4 chip is fast, powerful and lightweight, with the price tag to match.

The best laptop for under $2500

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple M4 chip

  • Best for: High-performance tasks
  • Price: $1999
  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 78%
  • Weight: 1.2kg
  • Available storage: 445GB
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Average battery life: 6hr 59min

We're not saying this is definitely overkill, but there aren't many school-related tasks that require hardware like this. With Apple's latest, proprietary M4 processor and 16GB of RAM (among other things), you're not going to experience many performance issues with the latest MacBook Air.

There isn't much that will stop this laptop in its tracks as far as consumer, serious-enthusiast and semi-professional requirements are concerned. In short, this laptop is fast and remains one of the top lightweight models on the market, according to our lab experts.

This laptop is fast and remains one of the top lightweight models on the market, according to our lab experts

The screen looks great, storage size is pretty substantial and Wi-Fi speeds are nice and zippy. It's also among the lightest laptops in our test at 1.2kg. Battery life isn't bad at just under seven hours, but it may not last a full school day depending on the software your child needs.

But this begs the question – is it necessary (or wise) to spend $1999 on a laptop for a teenager? Maybe, if your kids are studying 3D-rendering, complicated design or visual effects work for video. But otherwise, this near pro-grade equipment is not required for writing essays, no matter what your youngsters might say.

Read the full Apple 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple M4 chip review.

187511 Laptops 07ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 CX3402CBAPQ05551

For a device that relies on online services to function, the Wi-Fi speeds in Asus's Chromebook are irritatingly slow.

The best Chromebook for students

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34

  • Best for: Basic tasks
  • Price: $979
  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 66%
  • Weight: 1.5kg
  • Available storage: 396GB
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Average battery life: 4hr 56min

Chromebooks can be a good alternative to standard laptops for students, as long as there's an internet connection at the ready. They rely on cloud-based software with minimal onboard storage, which is reserved for a handful of programs approved by Google.

This largely eliminates the risk of data loss, as school assignments and the like are stored online. It also gives you a lot more control over which programs – such as games – your child can access. Other key advantages of Chromebooks are typically their fast performance, good battery life and affordability.

Asus's Chromebook is interesting as it almost feels like a lightweight laptop hybrid considering the amount of onboard storage and the decent i5 processor. But performance is otherwise very much in the Chromebook camp.

For a device that relies heavily on online services to function, the Wi-Fi is irritatingly slow

It can handle only the kind of light-weight tasks required for most school assignments and maybe some basic creative work in the cloud. Also, for a device that relies heavily on online services to function, the Wi-Fi is irritatingly slow. The results in this part of our test were consistently poor, similar to previously tested Chromebooks.

The asking price is a little steep for what you get as well. If you can talk the salesperson down to $800 or grab it during sale, Asus's Chromebook is a solid, cloud-based option.

Read the full Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 (CX3402CBA-PQ0555) review.

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.