The best new laptops for students

Whether you’re heading off to uni or studying at home, choosing a new laptop is one of the first – and most important – decisions that students need to make. You want a study buddy capable of going the distance, but – with so many choices and variables to consider, from size and weight to price and RAM – it can be hard to decide on ‘the one’.

‘When purchasing a laptop for university, it’s important to think about the course you’re taking, how you’ll be using the device and what’s important to you,’ explains Will Paterson, Partner & Buyer. ‘For instance, will you be transporting your laptop? If so, portability will be important and you should consider weight and screen size. If speed matters to you then you’ll want to think about purchasing a laptop with a fast processor. Our product pages will help you to make informed choices, so I’d recommend taking a look at these.’

You’ll find a selection of our favourites below.

If you’re able to spend more, it’s worth investing in technology that will see you through to the end of your course and beyond.

‘We’re increasingly seeing dual-screen innovation –  if you want to increase your productivity, a dual screen device is a must,’ says Will, who recommends the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo. ‘If dual screen isn’t for you, Microsoft Surface offer a beautiful range of investment-worthy laptops and 2-in-1 devices.’

The latest Macbook Air is going to be in hot demand for Uni students this summer. It's a great choice because coming in at a super slim 1.13cm it's lightweight, which combined with up to an 18 hour battery life means it's easily portable and gives you flexibility. Power comes from the new M2 chip which runs without a fan, making it silent as well as fast and it's compatible with Microsoft 365 as well as your other Apple devices. Plus, at John Lewis you get a 2 year guarantee for extra piece of mind.

Save £200 on Samsung Galaxy Book2 Laptop 9th Aug - 5th September

On a budget? Thanks to technological advances, it’s now perfectly possible to pick up a do-it-all laptop with solid specs and a premium feel for less than £500.

‘The Lenovo Ideapad i5 is a great all rounder without breaking the bank,’ says Will. ‘While the ASUS X415 is a real hero buy for students on a budget. Less than £200, it’s compact, lightweight and portable, with a 10-hour battery life – perfect for toting to lectures.'

Hybrid, ‘convertible’ or 2-in-1 laptops combine the processing power of a laptop with the convenience and portability of a tablet. Perfect if you prefer a touch screen experience or like to use a stylus – they have a premium feel and are great for travel, lectures, movie nights and everything in between. 'Microsoft’s Surface Go and Surface Pro devices are compact, lightweight and available at a range of price points,’ says Will.

If you’re starting a design course, picking the right laptop is critical. ‘We’ve seen lots of innovation in this space of late,’ says Will. ‘For creating content, the display and graphics are of the utmost importance.’

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon combines great performance with beautiful design. ‘Coming in at less than a kilo, this super lightweight device makes it easy to transport across campus, while the latest Intel 12th Gen Evo processor will ensure you can multitask quickly,’ says Will. ‘Wind down in the evening watching your favourite shows with the 14" 2K screen offering a fantastic viewing experience.’

Student life doesn't stop at lectures and assignments – pick a good all-rounder and your laptop will work just as hard for you during your downtime as it does when you’re up against a deadline. ‘The HP Pavilion 15 and Lenovo Ideapad 5 combine lovely design with technology that will cover most needs,’ Paterson advises.

If you’re a recreational gamer, you’ll want a high-performance laptop with great graphics. ‘The ASUS TUF is perfect for entry-level gamers, while the ROG Strix will help you take your gaming up a notch,’ says Will. 

Look out for exclusive offers across technology, including the below. 

Save £60 on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 until September 17th. 
Save £50 on the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro until September 12th. 
Save £50 on Samsung Galaxy Watch4 until September 26th.