The best student laptops: these machines will help you power through your coursework

best student laptops
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With the best student laptops, you'll be well-equipped to take on whatever work your tutors throw at you. Whether you're working up designs, editing video or writing essays, a capable student laptop is an investment that'll pay for itself many times over. So, which to choose?

At Creative Bloq, our experts have been testing and reviewing laptops for over a decade, using benchmark scores and hands-on expertise. We've curated our top-choice laptops that are ace for students but won't drain your savings. Right now, our top pick is the MacBook Air (M2) 2022, which offers tremendous speed and power without incurring the sky-high price tag of the latest M3 models.

Acer Aspire 5

Acer Aspire 5
This is one of the best options for students on a tight budget. In fact, we're talking almost Chromebook prices, but without many of the limitations that come with using ChromeOS.
Read our 3-star review

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
It might not have an M3 chip, but we think the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is an excellent and affordable laptop for students. Its price is significantly lower, and it offers perfectly acceptable performance for most needs.
Read our 5-star review.

Microsoft Surface Go 3

Microsoft Surface Go 3
The Surface Go 3 is one of the most affordable 2-in-1 tablets in the Microsoft family, and while it's nowhere near as powerful as the Surface Pro, it has a similar design and is capable of running low-demand software.
Read our 3-star review

MSI Prestige 14 Evo

MSI Prestige 14 Evo
For a Windows option firmly in the middle of the range, we think the MSI Prestige 14 Evo is a good option for students, with enough specs to cover a wide degree of uses while keeping costs down.
Read our 3.5-star review

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Matt Hanson

Matt has been a technology journalist for over 15 years, writing for publications such as T3, MacFormat and Creative Bloq. He's a managing editor of TechRadar, Creative Bloq's sister site, where he can be found writing about and reviewing laptops, computers, monitors and more. He often writes for Creative Bloq, helping creatives find their perfect laptop or PC.

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