The Best Laptops for College Students

Choosing the right laptop is crucial for college students, as it can greatly impact their academic success. From taking notes in class to completing assignments and staying connected, a good laptop is essential for college life.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best laptops that offer a blend of performance, portability, and affordability, making them ideal companions for students. Whether you’re studying engineering, arts, or business, there’s a laptop on this list to suit your needs and budget. Let’s dive in and find the perfect laptop for your college journey.

Apple MacBook Air M4

Best Overall Option

This powerful 15-inch laptop is a daily essential, featuring Apple’s M4 chip for blazing performance, all-day battery life, a vivid display, and a sleek, lightweight build.

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The MacBook Air M4 is a standout option for college students who want speed, reliability, and sleek design in a portable package. With Apple’s latest M4 chip, it builds on an already exceptional platform by delivering faster performance, longer battery life, and improved multimedia capabilities. It’s available in both 13-inch and 15-inch models, offering students flexibility depending on their screen size preferences and workflow needs. At just 3.3 pounds, the 15-inch model is remarkably light for its size, making it ideal for campus portability.

Apple has fine-tuned nearly every aspect of the MacBook Air with this release. The fanless design remains whisper-quiet even under heavy workloads, while battery life stretches up to 18 hours. The Liquid Retina display, available at 2880 x 1864 on the 15-inch model, remains one of the most vibrant and color-accurate screens in this category. Thanks to support for True Tone and wide color gamut coverage, students can rely on it for everything from writing papers to editing video content.

Performance is another strong point. Powered by a 10-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the M4 chip makes multitasking smooth and snappy. Whether you’re compiling code, rendering short videos, or switching between dozens of browser tabs, the MacBook Air handles it all without hesitation. Benchmarks show performance is competitive with premium Windows laptops, and despite having no internal fan, the system maintains cool temperatures in typical student workloads.

From a connectivity standpoint, the MacBook Air keeps things minimal but effective. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack cover most student needs. The ability to connect two external displays with the lid open (a new upgrade) is a boon for students using multiple monitors for research or design work. The keyboard and haptic touchpad are both top-tier, comfortable, responsive, and ideal for long typing sessions in class or at the library.

For students who care about media, the MacBook Air M4 doesn’t disappoint. The 15-inch model houses a six-speaker sound system with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Video calls benefit from the upgraded 12MP Center Stage webcam, which tracks your movement and provides sharp, well-lit video. Apple’s macOS Sequoia also adds thoughtful features like iPhone mirroring and smarter window tiling, which help streamline your workflow.

One of the only downsides is the lack of upgradeability. Both RAM and storage are soldered to the board, so it’s essential to choose a configuration that will hold up for several years. Thankfully, even the base models start with 16GB of memory, a generous amount for most student needs. The 13-inch model starts at $999, while the 15-inch begins at $1,199, making this one of the best values Apple has offered in years.

With its polished design, stellar battery life, and smooth performance, the MacBook Air M4 is one of the best laptops for college students who want a long-term, hassle-free machine. It excels across the board, from daily assignments and video calls to entertainment and creative projects, making it a smart investment for anyone heading back to campus.

Lenovo ThinkPad T480

Best Budget Option

This dependable business laptop is a workday essential, offering powerful performance, all-day battery life, durable construction, and a comfortable, professional design.

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The Lenovo ThinkPad T480 remains one of the most compelling values for students in 2025, especially with refurbished models now priced at $250 or less. Originally built as a premium business notebook, this 14-inch laptop brings durability, excellent input devices, and versatile connectivity to the student market at a fraction of its original cost. It may not have the ultra-thin design of modern ultraportables, but it makes up for that with performance, reliability, and expandability that few laptops in this price range can match.

Weighing 3.6 pounds, the T480 isn’t the lightest option, but it’s still highly portable and fits comfortably into most backpacks. Its rugged chassis has passed military-grade durability tests for resistance to shock, vibration, and extreme conditions. The soft-touch black finish is classic ThinkPad, and build quality is top-tier with minimal flex in the keyboard deck or screen. Port selection is outstanding, including Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, and a full-size SD card reader, perfect for students who use a wide variety of peripherals or external displays.

The keyboard on the T480 is a major standout. With deep key travel and a tactile, responsive feel, it sets a high bar for typing comfort. Lenovo’s signature TrackPoint is still present for those who prefer it, and the spacious touchpad is responsive and supports multi-touch gestures. The 1080p IPS display offers good brightness, accurate colors, and wide viewing angles, making it ideal for writing papers, watching lectures, or editing documents. Just be sure to avoid lower-end configurations with the 1366x768 screen, as they offer noticeably less usable space and clarity.

Performance is more than adequate for student workloads. Many refurbished models come with 8th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, 8 to 16GB of RAM, and speedy SSDs. These specs are perfect for web research, note-taking, running Office apps, and even light content creation or software development. While the integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics are not designed for gaming or 3D work, they handle media streaming and general multitasking with ease. Some variants even come with dedicated Nvidia MX150 graphics for a slight boost in visual tasks.

One of the T480’s most unique advantages is its dual-battery system. It includes an internal battery plus a hot-swappable external pack. If you invest in the larger 72Wh battery, you can easily get a full day of use, sometimes even more, on a single charge. For students constantly on the move or stuck in back-to-back classes, this flexibility can make a real difference. The hot-swappable nature means you can even switch batteries without shutting down the laptop.

Audio performance is solid for a business laptop. The bottom-firing speakers offer clear vocals and sufficient volume for videos, online meetings, and casual listening, though bass response is limited. The webcam is serviceable for video calls, and some models include optional infrared cameras for facial recognition. While the T480 doesn’t support modern biometric features like facial login by default, fingerprint authentication is available on most units.

The ThinkPad T480 is a rare find: a business-class machine with premium features that now sells for a budget-friendly price. Its durability, excellent keyboard, swappable battery, and rich port selection make it a perfect fit for college students who need a dependable workhorse without spending much. If you don’t mind a slightly thicker chassis and older design, this is easily one of the best laptops you can get for under $300.

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED

Best Windows Option

A lightweight ultrabook with a brilliant OLED display, fast performance, and up to 18 hours of battery life. Its slim design makes it easy to carry without sacrificing power.

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The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED delivers an exceptional blend of performance, portability, and display quality, making it one of the most well-rounded choices for students, especially those in creative fields like design, photography, or video editing. With a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen, Intel’s latest Core Ultra processor, and a lightweight chassis, this ultrabook manages to pack premium hardware into a sleek, understated design. Its combination of powerful specs and vibrant visuals gives students the tools they need to handle demanding coursework and creative projects alike.

Weighing just 1.28kg and measuring under 15mm thick, the Zenbook 14 OLED is made for mobility. The chassis features a smooth aluminum finish and a subtle, geometric lid logo, while the 180-degree hinge and ergonomic design make it comfortable for long typing sessions. It may not have the rigid feel of a unibody MacBook, but it holds up well and looks clean in any setting. Asus includes useful touches like Windows Hello facial recognition and a physical webcam shutter for added privacy.

The standout feature is undoubtedly the OLED display. With a resolution of 2880x1800, it offers incredibly crisp visuals, rich contrast, and deep blacks. HDR support enhances highlight details in videos, and a peak brightness of 550 nits ensures excellent readability even in well-lit environments. While the glossy finish attracts fingerprints, the touchscreen is responsive and smooth. Whether you’re editing photos or binge-watching lectures, the Zenbook’s screen makes content come alive.

Inside, the laptop features Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H processor, which includes dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for handling AI-enhanced tasks. Backed by 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, the Zenbook breezes through multitasking, productivity work, and light creative workloads. Intel’s integrated Arc graphics can handle casual gaming and older titles at 1080p with modest settings, though this is not a machine intended for heavy gaming or 3D rendering. For most student needs, the performance is more than sufficient.

The keyboard is backlit, well-spaced, and satisfying to type on, while the glass touchpad is responsive and includes a clever feature: a built-in virtual number pad. Though there’s some flex under heavy pressure, the typing experience remains comfortable for note-taking or long essay sessions. The port selection is excellent for a thin laptop, with HDMI 2.1, USB-A, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack, though it does omit a memory card reader.

Battery life is solid, offering up to 12–15 hours for video playback and 8–9 hours for typical web browsing or document editing. That’s more than enough for a full day of classes and homework without reaching for the charger. A single cooling fan keeps things relatively quiet under regular use, though the chassis can warm up under sustained load. AI tools like background blurring and noise reduction in video calls showcase the new chip’s potential, even if wider support is still emerging.

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED strikes a near-perfect balance between design, performance, and price. Its high-quality display, powerful internals, and excellent portability make it one of the best Windows-based laptops for students who want premium features without moving into ultra-premium pricing. For those who value color accuracy and sleek design as much as speed and efficiency, this laptop is a standout pick.

HP Spectre x360 2-in-1

Best 2-in-1 Option

An elegant 2-in-1 laptop with a vibrant OLED display, responsive touchscreen, excellent performance, and long battery life, perfect for work and play.

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The HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 is a premium convertible laptop that excels in versatility and performance, making it an excellent choice for students who need flexibility in their daily routine. Whether used in laptop mode for research, tent mode for presentations, or tablet mode for note-taking, the Spectre x360 adapts easily to a variety of classroom and creative environments. Its elegant design, strong performance, and long-lasting battery all combine to make it one of the most polished 2-in-1 laptops available today.

This 13.5-inch device features a 360-degree hinge and a vivid touchscreen display, ideal for digital note-taking or artistic work using the included rechargeable stylus. The pen attaches magnetically to the chassis, keeping it secure when not in use. HP has maintained a refined, modern design with curved edges, a clean aluminum build, and a premium finish available in subtle color options like Nightfall Black and Nocturne Blue. The hinge is sturdy yet smooth, allowing the screen to rotate easily without feeling flimsy.

Powering the latest Spectre x360 is the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, a chip designed for both high performance and AI acceleration. Paired with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD in most configurations, it handles productivity tasks with ease, whether you’re running spreadsheets, compiling code, or editing media. The integrated Intel graphics are suitable for general use and light creative work, though those requiring intensive 3D rendering or gaming should look to laptops with dedicated GPUs.

Battery life is another area where the Spectre shines. With efficient power management and a relatively large internal battery, it delivers around 10–11 hours of real-world use, enough to get through a full day of classes and assignments without a recharge. Despite the powerful hardware, the device remains cool and quiet, thanks to an upgraded cooling system that minimizes fan noise during everyday tasks.

The OLED display is a highlight, offering exceptional brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. This makes it especially appealing for students working in visual arts, photography, or video. The speakers, tuned by Bang & Olufsen, include top-firing tweeters and dual woofers, producing clear, loud sound that enhances both streaming and video conferencing experiences.

One area where the Spectre x360 falls short is the touchpad. Although redesigned with haptic feedback, it can be finicky, occasionally missing taps depending on where it’s pressed. While not a dealbreaker, it may require a slight learning curve for users who rely heavily on trackpad navigation. The keyboard, by contrast, is responsive and comfortable for extended typing sessions.

Connectivity is solid, with two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a headphone jack. However, one of the USB-C ports is used for charging, and the USB-A port is hidden behind a spring-loaded cover that some may find awkward. Still, this port setup covers the essentials for most student needs.

All in all, the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 offers a compelling combination of premium design, powerful internals, and flexible form factors. For students who value a device that can transition smoothly between coursework, content consumption, and creative tasks, the Spectre x360 is a smart, stylish investment.

Apple MacBook Pro M4

Best Upgrade Option

With its powerful new M4 chip, industry-leading battery life, and vivid OLED screen, the MacBook Pro M4 is the ultimate productivity and creative tool.

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The MacBook Pro M4 is Apple’s most advanced MacBook yet, purpose-built for students and professionals handling intensive tasks like video editing, coding, engineering simulations, and AI-enhanced workflows. With blistering speed, exceptional battery life, and a dazzling Liquid Retina XDR display, this 14-inch laptop stands out as a high-performance, long-lasting companion for college students who demand more from their machines.

Powered by the Apple M4 chip, the latest MacBook Pro boasts a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU in its Pro-tier configurations, making it ideal for multitasking, creative workloads, and demanding academic software. Performance benchmarks confirm that the M4 chip delivers significant gains over previous models, excelling in CPU-heavy tasks and competing closely with premium Windows machines. Apple has also packed in neural processing units designed to accelerate Apple Intelligence features in macOS Sequoia, offering powerful on-device tools for writing assistance, media editing, and productivity enhancements.

Visually, the MacBook Pro remains a design icon. The aluminum chassis is sleek and solid, available in both Silver and Space Black without requiring an upgrade to higher-tier chips. At just 3.4 pounds, it’s surprisingly portable for a professional-grade laptop. The improved port selection includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, SDXC, and MagSafe 3 charging, offering more connectivity options than previous models. This flexibility makes it especially useful for students who use external monitors, cameras, or SD cards.

The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display continues to impress, now with an optional nano-texture coating that minimizes glare. The panel supports HDR with a peak brightness of 1,527 nits and 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, resulting in stunning visuals with exceptional clarity and color accuracy. Whether you’re editing HDR video, working in bright environments, or reviewing diagrams outdoors, the display ensures an excellent viewing experience.

For students attending virtual lectures or conducting remote presentations, the new 12MP Center Stage webcam offers a meaningful upgrade. It keeps you centered in the frame and delivers clearer, more vibrant video, even in less-than-ideal lighting. Combined with the six-speaker sound system and studio-quality mics, the MacBook Pro M4 makes video conferencing seamless and professional.

Battery life is another standout feature. Apple claims up to 24 hours of video playback, and real-world testing supports up to 18.5 hours of web use, placing it among the longest-lasting laptops available. This endurance makes it easy to get through a full day of classes and assignments without scrambling for a charger.

Students exploring Apple Intelligence features will find the M4 MacBook Pro fully equipped. New tools like Writing Tools, Smart Siri, Clean Up in Photos, and iPhone Mirroring are deeply integrated into macOS Sequoia. These features streamline workflows and enhance productivity, especially when juggling academic writing, note-taking, and communication.

While its base configuration starts at $1,599, the 1TB SSD and nano-texture display version lands at $1,949. Even with a few drawbacks like slower SSD speeds compared to competitors and modest gaming performance, the MacBook Pro M4 sets a new benchmark for what a premium student laptop can deliver. It’s fast, polished, and built to last, making it an ideal investment for college students in technical or creative disciplines.

Dell XPS 13

Best Battery Life

This ultralight powerhouse blends a brilliant display with top-tier performance, perfect for working, creating, or streaming on the go.

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The Dell XPS 13 reaffirms its place as a gold standard among ultraportable laptops. With a sleek, minimalist chassis, vibrant 13.4-inch display, and record-breaking battery life, this XPS model delivers a compelling experience for college students who need both portability and power. Featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor, it’s designed for extended productivity and efficient performance, whether you’re studying on campus or commuting across town.

At just 2.6 pounds and 0.6 inches thick, the XPS 13 is one of the most compact premium laptops available. The aluminum and Gorilla Glass 3 construction gives it a polished, durable feel, while Dell’s InfinityEdge display design ensures maximum screen real estate in a small footprint. The display itself offers a sharp 1920x1200 resolution with vibrant colors, excellent brightness (455 nits), and edge-to-edge clarity. Though it lacks OLED, the screen is ideal for document editing, video playback, and general browsing.

Inside, the Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 chip drives impressive performance. This processor includes multiple performance and efficiency cores and delivers multi-threaded power that outpaces many Intel and Apple competitors in key benchmarks. The XPS 13 breezes through multitasking, video streaming, and everyday applications. Paired with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, it’s more than capable of handling academic workloads, even in demanding fields like engineering or data analysis.

One of the XPS 13’s standout achievements is battery life. In controlled tests, the laptop lasted nearly 20 hours on a full charge, making it the longest-lasting consumer-grade Windows laptop in its class. This level of endurance easily surpasses the MacBook Air M3 and most other ultraportables, offering true all-day performance without the need to carry a charger.

However, the futuristic design does come with trade-offs. The keyboard features capacitive touch function keys instead of physical ones, which may frustrate users who rely on tactile feedback for shortcuts. The keyboard itself spans nearly edge-to-edge and offers responsive, springy feedback, but the lack of traditional function keys could slow down power users. The touchpad is invisible to the eye but responsive under your fingers, another design flourish that looks clean but may take time to get used to.

Port selection is minimal, with just two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports and no headphone jack or USB-A. Dell no longer includes USB-C adapters in the box, so students relying on legacy accessories may need to purchase extra dongles. On the upside, ports are positioned on both sides, allowing for more flexible charging and cable management.

For students who prioritize battery life, portability, and a premium build, the Dell XPS 13 is an outstanding choice. It’s a fast, futuristic ultrabook that makes the most of Qualcomm’s powerful and efficient silicon. While its unconventional keyboard and limited ports may deter some users, those who embrace its forward-thinking design will find a laptop that performs all day, and then some.

Microsoft Surface 5

Best Touchscreen Option

A premium ultraportable laptop with sleek design, fast Intel Evo-certified performance, a vibrant touchscreen, and long battery life, ideal for productivity on the go.

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The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a stylish, lightweight Windows laptop that offers excellent build quality, solid performance for everyday tasks, and a high-resolution touchscreen. Available in 13.5-inch and 15-inch sizes, it’s a compelling choice for college students who prioritize portability, battery life, and a premium user experience, especially for those working extensively with the Microsoft Office suite or taking notes using a Surface Pen.

The design of the Surface Laptop 5 is nearly identical to its predecessor, continuing the tradition of an all-aluminum chassis, clean lines, and minimalist branding. At 3.4 pounds and just 0.58 inches thick, the 15-inch model is slim enough to carry in any backpack and feels sturdy and refined. While color options are limited for the larger model, the build remains undeniably premium, with a spacious PixelSense touchscreen that features a sharp 2496 x 1664 resolution and a productivity-focused 3:2 aspect ratio.

Inside, the Surface Laptop 5 is powered by Intel’s 12th Gen Core i7 U-series chips. These processors are designed for thin and light systems, which means they’re power-efficient but not built for heavy lifting. The laptop performs admirably in typical student tasks such as web browsing, streaming, document editing, and multitasking with Office applications. However, those needing more power for video editing or engineering software may find performance capped compared to laptops with H-series CPUs or discrete GPUs.

Where the Surface Laptop 5 shines is its battery life. In real-world testing, it delivers over 15 hours of runtime, making it one of the longest-lasting laptops in its class. This endurance allows students to leave the charger at home, ideal for long days on campus or study sessions in cafes. The device also runs quietly, with passive cooling during most light tasks and minimal fan noise even when multitasking.

Despite its strengths, there are limitations. Port selection is minimal for a 15-inch laptop: one USB-A, one Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, and a headphone jack. There’s no HDMI or SD card slot, which means students using cameras or external displays may need dongles. The 720p webcam is functional but dated, lacking the sharpness and clarity expected in a premium device, especially in low-light conditions.

Graphics performance is limited to Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, which is enough for light gaming and basic creative tasks but not suitable for heavier content creation or modern AAA games. The display is bright at over 400 nits and visually sharp, though it falls short in color gamut coverage for professional photo or video editing. For most users, the screen is more than adequate, particularly when paired with the responsive touch functionality.

The Surface Laptop 5 is an ideal companion for students who value design, portability, and all-day battery life over raw computing power. It fits perfectly into a college lifestyle focused on notetaking, writing, research, and occasional creative work. While it may not be the best pick for media production majors or power users, it remains a premium Windows laptop that feels good to use and looks great in any setting.

Acer Swift 5

Best Lightweight Option

A beautifully designed ultrabook that delivers fast performance, a stunning touchscreen, and impressive battery life, all in a super lightweight chassis.

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The Acer Swift 5 is one of the most compelling mid-range laptops for students, offering impressive performance in a thin and ultra-lightweight package. Weighing just under 2.7 pounds, this 14-inch laptop is built for mobility without sacrificing power. It features a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, a sharp WQXGA touchscreen, and 16GB of RAM, making it more than capable of handling everyday academic workloads, productivity apps, and even light content creation.

Aesthetically, the Swift 5 presents a refined, minimalist look with a sleek silver magnesium-alloy chassis. It’s compact and portable yet solid, with minimal flex in the deck and screen. The WQXGA (2560x1600) touchscreen display is vibrant and bright, providing crisp visuals and great contrast. Though glossy and reflective under certain lighting, it performs well for everything from lectures to streaming. The display also supports touch, giving students extra flexibility for navigation or handwritten notes with a stylus.

Performance-wise, the Swift 5 delivers strong results for its class. The 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor handles multitasking, document editing, web browsing, and video calls effortlessly. The included 1TB SSD ensures quick boot times and responsive app performance. In productivity benchmarks, the Swift 5 scored competitively, even keeping pace with higher-end machines in tasks like Photoshop editing and video playback. That said, it uses integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which limits its potential for 3D rendering or modern gaming.

Despite its slim profile, the Swift 5 doesn’t disappoint on battery life. It lasts up to 10–11 hours on a single charge, which is sufficient to get through a full school day. The laptop also supports fast charging, so you can top off the battery quickly between classes or study sessions. Acer’s decision to stick with a Full HD+ panel likely helps preserve that endurance, offering a balance between visual sharpness and power efficiency.

The keyboard experience is decent but has room for improvement. The keys are backlit and include useful navigation buttons like Home and End, but the typing feel is shallow and a bit stiff. The touchpad, while responsive, can feel slippery at times. There’s also a fingerprint sensor integrated into the palm rest for secure Windows Hello logins. While minor, these input quirks are worth noting if you’re a heavy typist or prefer a more tactile typing experience.

Connectivity is adequate for most users, featuring two USB-A ports, one USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), HDMI, and a headphone jack. However, it lacks an SD card slot, which could be a drawback for students dealing with photography or media projects. Additionally, some pre-installed bloatware and pop-up ads may require cleanup to streamline the system out of the box.

For students prioritizing portability, all-day battery life, and a sharp display in a stylish frame, the Acer Swift 5 is a smart and balanced choice. It handles day-to-day tasks effortlessly and looks great doing it, all while remaining light enough to carry across campus with ease. While not a powerhouse for gaming or high-end media production, it’s an excellent all-purpose laptop that strikes the right balance for most college needs.

Choosing the right laptop for college isn’t just about specs, it’s about finding the right balance between portability, power, battery life, and budget. Whether you’re attending lectures, working on group projects, editing media, or just trying to get through a long day on campus, the laptops in this guide offer reliable performance for a range of student needs. From lightweight ultrabooks like the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED to powerhouse options like the MacBook Pro M4, there’s a model here tailored for every kind of workflow and learning environment.

While premium devices like the MacBook Air or Dell XPS 13 offer the best all-around experience, more budget-conscious students can still find dependable workhorses like the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 that won’t let them down. It’s also worth considering how long you want your laptop to last, many of these picks are built to carry you through several years of college and beyond. No matter your major or daily routine, the right laptop will make a noticeable difference in how efficiently and comfortably you learn, create, and stay connected.