A quotation is very widely known, which is, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow, belongs to those who prepare for it today”. So good preparation is likely to give you a bright future.
If you are applying for a grad school, you know that it falls under the category of higher education. And a laptop is a very important tool for doing presentations and assignments. Surely, you wouldn’t want to use the laptop given to you by your parents 10 years ago which is almost worn out?
Therefore, we are presenting to you the best laptops for grad school so that you can start your classes with a bang and pass the years without any worry.
Our List Of Top Laptops For Grad School
Comparison Table For Top Laptops For Grad School
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PRODUCT
ASUS VivoBook S510
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB M.2 SSD+ 1TB HDD
- Processor: 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7500U
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Battery life: 5 hours
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB
- Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core
- Resolution: 2736×1824
- Battery life: 13.5 hours
ASUS ZenBook UX303UA
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Processor: 6th Generation Intel Core i5
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Battery life: 7 hours
Acer Aspire 5
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Battery life: 7.5 hours
HP Chromebook 14-ak040nr
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 16GB eMMC
- Processor: Intel Celeron N2840
- Resolution: 1366×768
- Battery life: 9 hours 15 minutes
Acer Aspire 7 SP714-51-M4YD
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Processor: 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7Y75
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Battery life: 8 hours
Acer Chromebook R 13 CB5-312T-K5X4
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Processor: MediaTek Quad-Core
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Battery life: 12 hours
ASUS ZenBook 13 UX331FA-AS51
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8265u
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Battery life: 15 hours
Acer Chromebook 14 CB3-431-C5FM
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 32GB eMMC
- Processor: Intel Celeron N3160 Quad-Core
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Battery life: 12 hours
Dell i5378-3031GRY-PUS Inspiron
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 1TB HDD
- Processor: 7th Gen Intel Core i3 7100U
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Battery life: 7 hours
Best Laptops For Grad School Reviews
1. ASUS VivoBook S510
Firstly, the ASUS VivoBook is thinner and lighter than its predecessors, so it makes it portable as it weighs only 3.7 lbs and it is only 0.7 inches thick!
It comes with a 15.6 inches Full HD wide-view color-rich display with viewing angles up to 178 degrees. As a result of the portable footprint of the device, it has a stunning 80% screen-to-body ratio.
You will not only be impressed with the visuals, but also the magnificent performance. Because the laptop is packed with the powerful 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor with an improved media engine that will provide you with smooth playback without any interruption.
Additionally, the 8GB DDR4 RAM, 128GB M.2 SSD, and 1TB HDD will also provide you with the best speed and storage space for you to save all your important files and applications that you would be using for classes and projects. SSD will also help you with super fast loading times while HDD will help you to save files of large sizes.
You will also receive an ergonomic backlit keyboard and a fingerprint sensor so that you can work anywhere and you also do not need to type in your password multiple times to log in.
You will be able to enjoy connections such as USB 3.1, Type C (Gen 1), USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and HDMI. And also, the super-fast dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi will keep you connected even when there is any kind of interference.
It also has durable and long-lasting batteries made out of polymer and charges up to 60% in just 49 minutes!
Highlighted Features
- Weighs only 3.7 lbs and only 0.7” thick
- 15.6” Full HD wide-view color-rich display
- 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor
- Backlit keyboard and built-in fingerprint sensor
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
If you are in a search of a laptop that has a stunning look as well as great performance, this device is exactly the one you are looking for. You can switch between three modes based on what you are doing and make every day productive.
The screen size is only 12.3 inches, with a PixelSense display with a resolution of 2736×1824. It weighs only 1.7 lbs making it ultraportable and super easy to carry in your backpack to and from classes. With the ultra-slim design, it looks even stunning.
You also experience efficient performance with the 8th Generation Intel Core processor installed on the laptop. You will be able to work all day long without facing any slowdowns.
It has 16GB RAM and 1TB storage space to make sure the laptop has enough speed to keep you on the go and also that your files are saved securely. As Windows 10 is the operating system, you will also be able to multitask without any lag.
With the three modes, you will be able to work comfortably whenever and wherever. The laptop mode will help you when you are typing some assignment to hand to your professor, the tablet mode will help you to further check your documents while swiping with the Surface Pen comfortably. If you are into sketching and digital arts in your free time, the studio mode will seem like a blessing!
Last but not the least, it has a long-lasting battery life of up to 13.5 hours, which will help you maintain both your products and entertainment hours without any worry.
Highlighted Features
- 12.3” with a PixelSense display with a resolution of 2736×1824
- 8th Generation Intel Core processor
- 16GB RAM and 1TB storage
- The versatility of a laptop, studio, and a tablet
3. ASUS ZenBook UX303UA
The ASUS ZenBook has a 13.3 inches IPS multi-touch display with 1920×1080 resolution which gives off stunning image quality.
It has an ultra-slim design with just 0.7 inches thick and weighs only 3.2 lbs. It is a very portable device so easy to carry to your classes anytime.
The laptop looks beautiful with the all-aluminum chassis enhanced by the spun-metal finish. Not only it looks lavish but also equipped with the powerful 6th Generation Intel Core i5 processor with 2-sec Instant On function, which is great for multitasking and quick resume from standby mode.
You can easily scroll, swipe and zoom with the touchscreen of the laptop whenever you are editing a project or assignment. With the 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage, the overall performance of the laptop gets even better!
The ASUS SonicMaster technology is also developed jointly by Bang & Olufsen ICEpower, which delivers amazing sound with a wider range and deeper bass.
The laptop comes with Windows 10 preinstalled so you can instantly start to use the device once you get your hands on it. Also, the latest 802.11ac wireless connectivity delivers faster performance even in a longer range.
The backlit keyboard that comes with the laptop will give you the best typing experience. The ASUS ambient light sensor technology will detect the surrounding light and adjust the keyboard backlight automatically to suit the lighting. So even if you are in complete darkness, your keyboard will stay awake so that you can type comfortably.
Highlighted Features
- 13.3” Full HD IPS multi-touch display
- 0.7 inches thick and weighs only 3.2 lbs
- 2-sec Instant On function
- 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage
4. Acer Aspire 5
The narrow bezel design gives you more room for amazing image and video quality. The vivid colors become alive on this 15.6 inches full HD IPS display which is installed with Acer color intelligence. You can be rest assured of your eyes being exposed to the screen all day long because it uses Acer BlueLightShield to protect your eyes.
The device only weighs only 3.97 lbs. The thin and lightweight design of the laptop with the aluminum top cover makes it portable and comfortable enough to carry around.
You will be able to experience a phenomenal performance of the laptop with the help of the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U mobile processor as well as the Radeon Vega 3 Graphics, ensuring that you don’t come across any lagging.
The laptop comes with 4GB RAM and 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD which further increases the speed of your device as well as faster booting time as well as instant application launches.
It is also compatible with Amazon Alexa which will help you to easily create to-do lists, set up alarms, and keep track of your schedule.
With the Acer TrueHarmony feature in the device, it can create the best sound effects with deeper bass and increased volume. If you like to listen to music when working or playing, this is the perfect laptop for you.
The extensive connectivity of the laptop with a wide range of ports and a wireless signal of 2×2 802.11ac can help you complete all your day-to-day tasks. Also, you can work anywhere with the backlit keyboard comfortably.
Highlighted Features
- 15.6” full HD IPS display with Acer Color Intelligence
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200U mobile processor
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa
- Acer BlueLightShield installed to protect your eyesight
5. HP Chromebook 14-ak040nr
The HP Chromebook is a combination of both stunning design and great performance. If you want to use the Chrome OS operating system, this laptop will be the best for you.
The laptop has 14 inches diagonal HD SVA Bright View WLED Backlit with a resolution of 1366×768. This will give you a good quality image with clear and vivid details. It weighs only 3.74 lbs which makes it suitable enough to carry in your bag.
What makes the laptop truly suitable is the powerful processor packed in it. The Intel Celeron N2840 processor will give the laptop enough power to run for the day and complete everything that you need to do for the day. With the Intel HD graphics, you can work or edit for your photography classes.
The 4GB RAM will further speed up the device and you won’t be interrupted during your work. It has 16GB eMMC storage space. It can also store up to 100GB of your files and documents with the 2 years of Google Drive access that comes with it.
The best thing about using the Chromebook is that you will get all your favorite Android apps through the Google Play Store and install them easily. The Chrome OS will make the Chromebook perfect for productivity and entertainment.
Moreover, the laptop has a battery life of up to 9 hours and 15 minutes, which is incredible. With such long-lasting battery life, you will not face the trouble of charging now and then and will always be on the go!
Highlighted Features
- 14” diagonal HD SVA Bright View WLED Backlit
- Intel Celeron N2840 processor
- 4GB RAM and 16GB eMMC storage as well as 100GB Google Drive space
- Access to your favorite Android applications
Top Laptops For Grad School Buyer’s Guide
We have introduced you to the best grad school laptops below, and now we believe that you need some tips as to know which one would be the perfect one for you. So, stay tuned!
Screen size
The size of the screen is of utmost importance to students. Since you will need to carry it to and from your campus, a large-sized laptop will be very problematic for you. So you need to go for something that is portable and can be stuffed into your backpack.
Screen sizes starting from 13 to 15.6 inches will be a good choice since they are not too small or too big and looks pleasing to the eyes.
Processor
It doesn’t matter for what purpose you use the laptop, a good processor is the first thing that should be looked into. The processor executes all the tasks on the laptop. A quicker processor will enable applications to load faster and will not lag when multitasking.
You don’t have to go for the pricey laptops with the latest processors if it’s not within your budget. Also, make sure to not buy one which is a few generations old. The laptops with processors starting from the Intel Core i7 are a good choice.
RAM
RAM enhances the overall performance of the laptop. Nowadays many applications need more RAM to function properly, so 8GB RAM is highly recommended. If you want to use the laptop for other purposes too, like gaming, 16GB or 32GB RAM can be considered.
Storage
There are two types of storage- SSD and HDD. HDD can store a lot of information, giving more storage space. However, it reduces the processing speed and slows down the loading of applications.
On the other hand, SSD is quicker than HDD and makes the booting time faster. It does have some drawbacks as it has to limit storage room and is also expensive. But due to faster performance, people prefer SSD storage.
There are also wide ranges of storage space. There are 128GB, 256GB and 512GB and 1TB storage space. You can choose the type and size according to your need.
Battery life
The long-lasting battery life of the device used for academic purposes is important for students. Laptops with higher battery lives are expensive compared to the ones that last a few hours.
You can check some reviews of the laptop before you buy one because the battery life may vary, as the manufacturer often states. Choose one that will accompany you for the day-to-day activities you need to get done.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best laptop for students?
The best laptop keeps changing every year as technology is developed continuously. For now, the best laptop for students is the MacBook Air (M1,2020). It has an Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU, 13.3 inches screen size, RAM starting from 8GB to 16GB, and high storage space up to 2TB.
Do I need a laptop for grad school?
It does not matter which academic level you are in. A portable device will make learning a whole lot easier. 9 in every 10 people support the idea of using laptops in class for research and note-taking. Visual learning is the key to understanding even the hardest of concepts. And if want a photography degree, a laptop is a must.
Do Ph.D. students get laptops?
Laptops are not handed out to students even in Ph.D. Students with a personal laptop get to use their own while the others share a common desktop. A well-funded lab might be able to provide good quality desktops for students.
Final Word
We have looked into the best laptops for grad school and also gave you some guidelines. We tried to gather the budget-friendly laptops which will be suitable for grad school students as well as the expensive ones that can become your best friend in the future.
Make sure you know what features you want on your laptop to do all your daily tasks. Then, you can choose one from the ones we have introduced you to. You can rely on these laptops because all of them are unique in some way and also have great performance. We hope we have been of help. Best of luck!