Are you starting school this semester? Are you searching for the best Laptops For School? You’re probably going to want to hunt for a laptop. While simply opting for the cheapest option sounds like an easy way to make the choice, you should also consider other factors given that a student laptop should also be capable enough to run other tasks such as video editing or even occasionally gaming. Making the slightly more expensive choice now could save you more money in the long run, should your cheaper laptop need replacing. Investing in a good laptop is beneficial as the cheaper models are probably not going to be sufficient for your needs. If you are tight on money, we got you — here are some affordable laptop deals in south africa that you wouldn’t want to miss!
Some of the factors you would want to consider would be the battery life of the laptop as well as the weight. The last thing you would want is having to lug a heavy laptop around campus or run out of battery halfway through an online exam. Meeting these requirements on top of being durable is key to choosing a good laptop for your schooling years.
It’s not easy finding a laptop that meets all these criteria, so we’ve tried to help by gathering our picks out of the many choices available on the market!
MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Admittedly, Apple isn’t the cheapest brand of laptops around. Yet, their after-sales support and durability often make up for the price increase. Ending the year with a bang, Apple finally released the game-changing M1 silicon chip in their newest MacBook Air model. This model is the brand’s lightest and thinnest model to be released. Further, the M1 chip gives the laptop top performance and battery life, without much raise to the price. If your budget allows for it, this is definitely the laptop to get. If you’re not in a hurry, wait for seasonal promos such as Apple’s back-to-school deals, where laptop purchases come with free Airpods!
Google Pixelbook Go
If you’ve been waiting for the day that your dreams of owning a Google Pixelbook come true, well, wait no longer! Though the Pixelbook Go isn’t the actual Pixelbook, it’s a close sibling of its more luxurious counterpart. It even beat out other competitors to win the “Editor’s Choice” award— highly coveted within the Chromebook category. With incredible battery life, a 1080p webcam, and a full keyboard, it’s something not commonly found in budget laptops nowadays.
HP Chromebook 14
What this Chromebook lacks in power, it makes up for in terms of screen space and portability. This is also why it takes the top spot amongst the many contenders for the best laptop for students! With a trackpad like no other and an amazingly comfortable keyboard to match its vivid display, this is definitely a steal for students.
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Though most of Microsoft’s devices come with hefty prices, the Surface Go has bucked the trend to appeal to the hearts of people on a budget. Its predecessor was already Microsoft’s most affordable tablet, and the Surface Go 2 not only continues to enjoy a reasonable price and sleek design but also runs on a Windows 10 operating system that is comparable to a full laptop. It easily beats out other tablets when it comes to the applications it can support, though it does suffer from being underpowered if you choose the most basic model. That said, this is still a good pick over the original Surface Go and among the best choices for a student.
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
If you can’t decide on one factor that you prioritize over the rest, then the laptop for you would be the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 given its all-rounded versatility. If you’re the type of student who can’t do away with a mouse or thumb drive, then you’ll love the Spin 311 due to its numerous ports. Not only that, but the Spin 311 also has a two-in-one design despite its portable size, and can be used as a touchscreen tablet! At this price point, there’s really no bone to pick with this laptop.
Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook
One of the more powerful models of Chromebooks available, every cent you spend is going to be worth it despite the slightly higher price tag of the Thinkpad C13. The benefit of going for the bells and whistles with this model is that you’re future-proofing your machine. Looking at a minimum of four years, it might even last you till you do your Master’s degree with proper care. This Chromebook is a two-in-one device meaning it can also be used as a tablet. It packs in the latest processors, giving it an edge over other Chromebooks.
MacBook Pro 13 Inch (M1, 2020)
Though the 2020 MacBook Pro release didn’t get a huge overhaul in terms of design when compared to its predecessor, it more than makes up for the design stagnation in performance and battery life. Similar to its Air counterpart, the MacBook Pro 13-inch houses an M1 chip— Apple’s groundbreaking invention of the year. This allows the laptop to run videos in high quality, which makes it ideal for film or design students looking to render graphics or edit videos and photos. If your budget allows for it, this is about the best student laptop available on the market!
Conclusion
The purchase of a new laptop for college is a big decision given that it comes at a time when finances may already be tight from moving costs, textbook costs, and more. This is why every laptop recommended is tested seriously before making it to this list.
The testing process includes usage in daily lives, emulating the schedule of busy college students. This enables us to test the battery life claims, as well as how durable the laptops are. The weight of the laptop is also an important consideration before we make the recommendation, given that no one wants to lug around a heavy brick while rushing from class to class.
With that, you can now make an informed decision as to which laptop is best for you!
