The best laptops for students 2025

Choosing a new laptop is one of the first (and most important) decisions that every student must make. You want a study buddy that will go the distance, but with so many variables – from size and weight to price and RAM – it can be hard to decide on The One.

So what type of laptop is best for studying? ‘It’s important to think about how you’ll use the device and what’s important to you,’ says Ellie Fennell, Partner & Computing Buyer. ‘If you’ll be transporting it, consider weight and screen size. If speed matters then think about a model with a fast processor.’ Before you make your choice, take a look at our laptop buying guide and read on for Ellie’s expert advice.

When the aim is to see you through to the end of your course and beyond, it’s worth investing in the best tech you can afford. A dual screen helps increase productivity, as can AI assistance. For the latter, Ellie recommends the ASUS Zenbook A14: ‘It has Copilot+, future-proofing your device and making your life super efficient.’ The latest Apple MacBook Air is also in demand for 2025; super light, slim and fast, the M4 chip allows you to fly through work (as well as play).

On a tighter budget? Tech advances mean it’s now perfectly possible to pick up a do-it-all laptop with solid specs and premium feel for less than £500. ‘The Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 is a great all rounder without breaking the bank,’ says Ellie. If your budget can stretch a little further, Ellie rates the HP15-fc0059na: ‘It has 16GB RAM is compact, lightweight and portable, with a 10-hour battery life – perfect for taking 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 using a stylus, they’re great for everything from travel and lectures to movie nights. ‘Microsoft Surface Pros are compact, lightweight and available at a range of price points,’ says Ellie.

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 Ellie. ‘For creating content, where display and graphics are of the utmost importance, consider touch-screen laptops.’ 

The ASUS VivoBook 14 combines great performance with elegant design. ‘This lightweight device will be easy to transport across campus, plus it boasts an AMD Ryzen AI 7 Processor with built in r7 AI,’ says Ellie.

Student life isn’t all assignments; your laptop needs to work just as hard for you during your downtime as it does when you’re up against a deadline. Gamers will want to look at high-performance gaming laptops with great graphics. ‘The ROG Strix will help you take your gaming up a notch,’ says Ellie.

Once you’ve invested in your new laptop, you’ll want to protect it – nay, enhance it – with the very best accessories. From laptop bags to mice & keyboards, printers, and even computer software and data storage, these essential updates won’t break the bank.