Back to School Often Means It's Time For a New Laptop

With the school year just around the corner, now’s the time to start thinking about getting a new laptop! Back to school often means updating your computer with new OS and software for the new school year. But if you've ever had to upgrade, you know that it can be a lot of work. You don't want to stress yourself out, but at the same time, you want a computer that will last through the semester and still perform well. It's a delicate balance.

Maybe your old laptop just won't do for this school year and it's time to buy a new one. If that's the case, you'll need to make sure your new computer will last and that you have a good way to upgrade. When in the market for a laptop, remember that this laptop will last you for the next couple of years, so choose carefully. This article will show you some of the best laptops to buy for back to school. 

1 - Microsoft Surface Pro 4

The Surface Pro 4 is the ultimate laptop replacement. It’s lighter than most tablets, yet more powerful than most laptops. The detachable keyboard cover connects via a magnet so you can easily stow it in your bag and pull it out when you need it. The 12.3-inch screen is bright, the battery lasts a full day, and the switch from Windows 8 to Windows 10 was a huge improvement. The only real downside is the price: at a minimum of $799 without any additional discount, it’s one of the more expensive devices on this list. Still, if you want something that’ll last a long time and has everything you need for school in one place, this is our top pick.

2 - Apple MacBook Air

If you’re after a Mac, the MacBook Air is an excellent choice. As usual, Apple has packed the Air full of high-end specs for a semi reasonable price. The base model includes a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 128 GB flash storage, and 8 GB of RAM, which is probably more than most students need. You can customize screen size (13- and 11-inch options available) and storage space to suit your needs. For most school-related tasks, the standard model will be fine. But if you want a little more performance, you can upgrade to a faster processor or more RAM.

3 - Dell XPS 13

The XPS 13 is Dell’s answer to the MacBook Air, and it’s a strong contender. The base model has the same specs as a $1,099 MacBook Air, including a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 128 GB flash storage. But it costs only $999, which could be enough of an incentive to choose this machine over Apple’s offering. The display is also superb. At 13.3 inches, the XPS 13’s screen is larger than most laptops, and at 1920 by 1080 resolution it’s also impressive. The keyboard has the same island-style design as the Surface Pro 4 but without the kickstand.

4 - Apple Macbook Pro

This MacBook Pro is a bit more expensive than the previous two, but it’s still a steal compared to other Mac products. The 13-inch model has a 2.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 128 GB flash storage, and 8 GB of RAM. That’s more than enough processing power for most students. There’s also the same great keyboard as on all Apple products, and a high-resolution display (2,304 by 1,440 pixels) that looks great. The one drawback is the price: at $1,399 without any discount or incentive, this Mac isn’t cheap.

5 - ASUS ZenBook UX305FA

The ASUS ZenBook is a great laptop for students who don’t need to do anything too intensive. The resolution on the 13.3-inch screen is only 1920 by 1080 pixels, and the base model has a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and a 128 GB flash storage drive. Those are fine for most students, but if you want something a little faster, there’s a version with a 1.8GHz processor and 8 GB of RAM that can be had for $50 more. But if you want something cheap and don’t mind missing out on the high-resolution display that many other manufacturers offer, this is a good budget choice.

6 - Microsoft Surface 3

If you’re looking for a tablet that can also be a laptop, the Surface 3 is worth considering. It has the same basic specs as the Surface Pro 4: an Intel Atom x7-Z8700 processor, 64 GB of storage, and 2 GB of RAM. But it’s considerably cheaper, starting at $398 instead of $799. Most students will be fine with its 10.6-inch screen. But if you’re a visual learner and don’t mind lugging around something bigger, consider the Surface Pro 4 instead.