All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Whether you’re heading to a physical campus, taking classes online or a mix of both, a laptop is sure to be the control center for your studies. Getting a new machine can better help you stay on top of your schedule and handle your furious multitasking with dozens of tabs devoted to research while you write your essays. Given we’re still dealing with ongoing inflation and the global chip supply shortage, you might be concerned about rising prices or what might be in stock. The good news is, companies are still making a ton of new laptops, and there are plenty of models for you to consider. We compiled this guide to help you make the right choice, alongside a list of this year’s best laptops.

What to expect

Since the introduction of Apple’s M1-powered MacBooks and Windows 11 last year, not much has changed significantly. Apple unveiled its new M2 system-on-chip (SoC), alongside two laptops that are equipped with it, including a redesigned MacBook Air. Meanwhile, new PCs keep getting announced, with models this year typically powered by 12th-gen Intel processors or the latest AMD Ryzen chips.

Though the shift to ARM-based systems has been successful for Apple, the PC industry is still struggling to keep up, and Windows on ARM is still tough to recommend. Snapdragon laptops may look and feel sleek, offer excellent battery life and built-in cellular radios, but they’re typically quite expensive, especially considering their limited app compatibility.

Speaking of, most laptops with top-of-the-line specs can cost you around $1,800 to $2,000 these days. For most students, though, a midrange machine might be enough. Depending on your field of study, you could get by with an Intel Core i3 processor or equivalent, with at least 6GB of RAM. If you need to run specialized software for design or programming, consider upgrading to a beefier system with more memory. On the other hand, if you do most of your coursework online or in a browser, getting a Chromebook could save you a lot of money.

You’ll also want to pay attention to a device’s weight. There are a lot of premium ultraportables in the 13-inch category, with chips like Intel’s Core i3 or i5, that cost around $1,000. And if that’s too expensive, you’ll still have respectable options in the $600 to $800 range, but they might be heavier and use older, slower processors. I’ve included our favorite budget-friendly model in this roundup but we also have a complete guide to more-affordable laptops that you can check out as well.

With some laptop makers deciding to get rid of headphone jacks this year, it’s important to check specs lists when you’re shopping for newer machines. If you don’t have wireless headphones or use equipment that plugs into the 3.5mm jack, you’ll want to steer clear of devices like Dell’s new XPS 13 Plus.

Finally, while most laptops in 2022 offer WiFi 6 or 6E and Bluetooth 5.0 or later, the compatible routers or other devices that would enable those faster connections aren’t very prevalent yet. Chances are, your campus WiFi might still be stuck on an older setup, so it’s not crucial that you get a system with the latest standards yet. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to get a laptop that’s future-proof, but just know that of all the things to look out for, WiFi 6E shouldn’t be a dealbreaker in your decision-making process.

Engadget Picks

Best Apple: MacBook Air M1

Apple

Though Apple just released the new MacBook Air with M2, we have yet to fully test its performance and battery life. Plus, it costs $200 more than the M1 model, which is still retailing for $999. In fact, even though it’s older, the M1 MacBook Air is a solid machine, outperforming many PCs while maintaining a fanless design, which is why we’re recommending it over the new model. You’ll still get a great keyboard and excellent battery life, along with a nice Retina display.

Of course, it uses a 720p webcam, while the new model has a sharper 1080p setup housed in a notch. The latter also has thinner display bezels that make it look more modern, as well as a Magsafe port that lets you keep charging while still having access to the device’s two USB-C ports. But if you’re already living a largely wireless life and don’t mind a not-so-great camera, you might find the M1 MacBook Air is a better deal.

If you can wait a little longer and can spare the extra $200, the new MacBook Air could be worth considering. It also comes in a fresh Midnight shade which could set you apart from the sea of silver or gray in your lecture hall.

Buy MacBook Air M1 at Amazon - $999 Buy MacBook Air M2 at Amazon - $1,199

Best Windows: Dell XPS 13 Plus

Engadget

The best PC has long been Dell’s well-rounded XPS 13 series and I still recommend it to anyone that doesn’t want a Mac. Yes, the new XPS 13 Plus lacks a headphone jack, and we haven’t got one in to test yet. But the XPS 13 is a well-rounded machine and reliable workhorse that will get you through classes and late-night writing sessions without breaking a sweat.

Like its predecessors, the XPS 13 Plus offers a lovely OLED screen with impressively thin bezels and packs a roomy, comfortable keyboard. It also features a new minimalist design that looks more modern. I’m not sure about the row of capacitive keys at the top in lieu of traditional function keys, but from our time with an early sample, they at least worked.

If you don’t like the changes Dell has made to the XPS 13, or if you definitely need a headphone jack, the older generations are still solid options. There’s also the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro series, which feature beautiful OLED screens and sharper webcams in thin and light frames. I also like Microsoft’s Surface Laptops, and the most exact edition offers great performance and battery life, albeit in an outdated design.

Buy XPs 13 Plus at Dell - $1,275

Best for gaming: Razer Blade 15

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

Just because your laptop might primarily be for school or work doesn’t mean you can’t use it for fun. Those looking to game on their machines should prioritize responsive screens and ample ports for their favorite accessories that can best help them defeat their virtual enemies. If you’re considering a gaming-first machine that you can use for school, check out our guide to buying a gaming laptop. It covers details about different CPUs and GPUs, minimum specs and more. Our favorite gaming laptop is the Razer Blade 15, which has an Intel Core i7 processor, and an NVIDIA RTX 3070 graphics for $2,500.

It’s the most expensive item on this list, but you also get a 15-inch quad HD screen that refreshes at 240Hz. Different configurations are available, depending on your preference, including a Full HD 360Hz and a 4K 144Hz version. The Blade series is also one of the most polished gaming laptops around.

Those looking for something cheaper and more portable should consider the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, which was our favorite model last year. The main reason it got bumped down a notch is because the 2022 refresh is almost $600 more expensive. It’s still a solid gaming laptop though, with an excellent display, roomy trackpad and plenty of ports in spite of its thin profile.

Buy Blade 15 at Razer - $2,500

Best Chromebook: Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

If you can do most of your schoolwork through web-based apps, a Chromebook is worth considering. Sure they don’t generally look fancy, nor have high-end specs. But they’re often more affordable and have longer battery life. Our favorite Chromebook is Lenovo’s Flex 5 Chromebook, which Engadget’s resident Chrome OS aficionado Nathan Ingraham described as “a tremendous value.”

This laptop nails the basics, with a 13-inch Full HD touchscreen, a fantastic keyboard and a 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor. The 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage may sound meager, but in our testing the Flex 5 held up in spite of this constraint. It’s also nice to see one USB-A and two USB-C ports, eight-hour battery life and a 360-degree hinge that makes it easy to use the Flex 5 as a tablet. That’s a bonus, especially now that Chrome OS supports Android apps.

Though the Flex 5 is almost two years old by now, it’s a solid device for around $400. In fact, you can sometimes find it on sale for as little as $300, making it a great option for someone looking for a basic browser-based machine on a tight budget.

Buy Flex 5 Chromebook at Amazon - $430

Best budget: HP Pavilion Aero 13

Daniel Cooper / Engadget

If you’re looking for something under $800, your best bet is the HP Pavilion Aero 13. For $750, you’ll get a Full HD screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and surprisingly thin bezels, as well as a comfortable keyboard and spacious trackpad. Importantly, the Aero 13 provides relatively powerful components compared to others in this price range, with an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and Radeon graphics. Plus, it has a generous array of ports and enough juice to last you the entire work day and then some.

Buy Pavilion Aero 13 at HP - $799

Best Convertible: Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

For those who need their laptops to occasionally double as tablets, the Surface Pro series is a no-brainer. Compared to notebooks with rotating hinges, tablets with kickstands are often much slimmer and lighter. The Surface Pro 8 is the most exact model and it features Microsoft’s sleek new design with a thinner profile and minimal bezels. The Pro 8 also has a 120Hz display that makes scrolling long documents or spreadsheets feel much faster, and you can drop the refresh rate down to 60Hz if you want to conserve battery life.

We also like Microsoft’s Type Covers, though it’s worth noting that they’ll cost you an additional $100 to $180. Those who want to doodle or sketch on the display may appreciate the Surface Slim Pen 2’s haptic feedback.

Unless you’re bent on sticking to Apple’s ecosystem, in which case an iPad Pro would suit you best, the Surface Pro 8 is arguably the best convertible laptop around.

Buy Surface Pro 8 at Amazon - $1,099

A new school year approaches, and regardless or how you might feel about that, one thing all students can agree on is the importance of having a good laptop for doing classwork (as well as for winding down with some streaming or gaming after class). Computers aren’t cheap, though, and we know as well as anybody that cash can be tight when you’re a student. If you’re gearing up for the new school year, you need a new machine for work and/or play, and you’re on a budget, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got a hand-picked selection of the best cheap student laptop deals available this month. Better still, all of them come in at less than $1,000 — and most for much less than that.

Best student laptop deals

• HP Chromebook 11 – $98, was $225
• Dell Inspiron 15 3000 –
• Lenovo Yoga 6 13 2-in-1 –
• Asus ZenBook Flip 15 2-in-1 —
• Apple MacBook Air M1 –

HP Chromebook 11 – $98, was $225

Why Buy

• Portable size
• Budget-friendly
• Long battery life
• Relatively durable for its size

While some would say that the HP Chromebook 11 is a bargain bin computer, the truth is that it’s a surprisingly good all-arounder for the price point, even if it may not wow anybody.

In terms of specs, they’re about what you’d expect for a computer that you can pick up for just a couple hundred bucks. The CPU is an AMD A4, a basic mobile processor but more than enough to run ChromeOS. While you aren’t going to be a productivity powerhouse on the Chromebook 11a, you will be able to handle most productivity software you can get on ChromeOS, which is really what this computer is designed for. More importantly, the 11.6-inch screen with a 1366 x 768 is big enough to feel bigger than your average tablet while not so big that it becomes weight and a distraction.

As for the other specs, you get 4GB of RAM, so don’t open a dozen browser tabs, and 32GB of internal storage, which should be enough for most use cases, but you can always supplement it with one of our external hard drive deals. Interestingly enough, the Chromebook 11 does have an AMD Radeon R4 integrated GPU, which, while not the most powerful graphics out there, should be able to handle a few games from the Play store here and there.

Ultimately, the Chromebook 11 was created as a budget-friendly all-around device for those who really need a device to study (or even work) but can’t afford to drop several hundred dollars. On the bright side, it’s also pretty good for other general tasks, such as streaming, browsing, and even some light mobile gaming, so it’s a great deal overall.

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 – $323, was $430

Why Buy

• Large Display
• Good size for productivity
• Nice touchpad
• Comes with Windows 11

While we need to make certain concessions and compromises when it comes to budget computers, one thing we generally don’t like compromising on is usability, and that’s where the 15.6 inch screen of the Inspiron 15 3000 comes in. With a Full HD resolution and reasonably good size, it provides for a large amount of screen real estate for your apps and productivity, and not only that, but the larger size also means you get a relatively big keyboard to type on, which is always appreciate with a budget computer. Even better, the trackpad is surprisingly nice to use as it tracks well and is pretty big, so you won’t have to do some weird hand gymnastics to control your mouse. We’ll also mention the 720p webcam at the front, which is excellent if you need to do Zoom meetings with classmates for projects and whatnot.

In terms of pure specs, you get an 11th-gen Intel Core i3 CPU which is powerful enough to run most productivity software comfortably. Similarly, you get yourself 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which is much more than a cheap Chromebook. For graphics, you get an integrated Intel UHD Graphics, which might let you play some simple indie games or games that don’t require a ton of resources. Or, you could just grab one of our desktop monitor deals to help with some extra productivity and screen real estate. Either way, the Inspiron 15 3000 works well across a variety of needs, whether it’s study, entertainment, or general use.

Overall, the Inspiron 15 3000 is a great alternative to tablets and Chromebooks, especially if you want something with a bigger screen and keyboard but don’t want to go over a $400 budget.

Lenovo Yoga 6 13 2-in-1 – $500, was $750

Why Buy

• Great performance
• Excellent keyboard
• Solid build quality
• Very portable for its size

Convertible 2-in-1 laptops can be very handy, especially for studying and presenting work; unfortunately, they can be pretty expensive due to that versatility, which is why it’s nice to see an affordable one that has some great specs. Where the Lenovo Yoga 6 shines is in its screen with its 13-inch 1200 resolution and IPS panel, providing some crisp and rich colors for when you’re drawing or writing. The hinges are also pretty sturdy, so there’s minimal wobble if you’re panic about that, although there is one downside: the peak brightness is 300 nits, which isn’t bad by any means, although 400 would have been nicer. Nonetheless, it’s hardly a deal-breaker, especially given the touch experience is pretty nice, with good palm rejection and relatively fast movement.

As for the specs, you get an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor which is a pretty powerful little CPU and should handle most productivity and general tasks that anybody but extreme power-users can throw at it. You also get 8GB of RAM, which is just at that sweet spot for general computer use, and should deliver you ample space to have a few tabs and apps open simultaneously without a slow down of the computer. You get AMD’s Radeon integrated graphics, so while it could theoretically handle a little light gaming, don’t expect to be playing any AAA games at the highest settings.

While the Lenovo Yoga 6 starts moving us halfway to our $1,000 budget limit, it sits at a nice spot between budget computers and mid-tier computers, giving you just enough specs for an overall enjoyable experience without increasing the cost exorbitantly. So if you want something that works just as well for studying as it does for general use, this is likely the best bang for your buck.

Asus ZenBook Flip 15 2-in-1 — $800, was $1,200

Why Buy

• Excellent performance
• Discrete graphics
• Great battery life
• Nice big display

The Asus ZenBook lineup of laptops includes some of the best in the industry and often rank highly among our own favorites, so it’s not surprising that the Flip 15 is an excellent overall 2-in-1, and if you’re able to splurge a little, this is the laptop to get.

Power is one of the biggest highlights of the Asus ZenBook Flip, being incredibly powerful for a 2-in-1, making this a great day-to-day companion at school and uni without worrying about falling behind in the performance department. Even though it’s a convertible laptop sporting a 15-inch fold-flat touchscreen with barely any bezels, it’s also great to type on, with good action on the keys and a good layout that doesn’t make you feel constantly cramped as something smaller would. Equally important is the FHD screen and discrete GPU in the form of an Nvidia GeForce 1650 Max-Q, which isn’t super-important in this case, but is always nice to have.

Internal specs include an Intel i7 CPU which should be able to handle most applications. Internal storage comes courtesy of a 512GB SSD, and the 16GB of RAM should be more than enough for most use cases unless you’re an extreme power user. Also, battery life is pretty impressive, and it comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you have future-proof connectivity, at least until Wi-Fi 7 arrives and becomes widely available. While this 2-in-1 is a little bit on the pricier side, it’s a premium option for students who want a compact ultrabook with great performance and you get a lot of hardware for your money here. Plus, it looks really gorgeous, and good aesthetics are always welcome.

Apple MacBook Air M1 – $850, was $1,000

Why Buy

• Powerful M1 chip provides perfect performance
• Great battery life
• Lovely keyboard to use
• Runs completely silent

The M1 Apple Macbook Air hardly requires any introduction, although this year’s entry into the interval releases and updates is a rather large one, and that’s due to the inclusion of the M1. In fact, this is the first version of the Macbook Air that drops Intel CPUs altogether in favor of Apple’s M1 chip, adding the sort of detail and integration that only a company with complete control over the design could.

One of the first things you’ll notice with the new Macbook Air is that it makes hardly any noise at all, which is impressive given the performance of the M1, which can sometimes equal or even beat Intel’s Tiger Lake architecture. Pair that with the 8GB of RAM, and you get a laptop that is enjoyable to use and that can handle most productivity software handily, and the 256GB internal storage is also nice to have although slightly on the smaller side, so grabbing one of our external hard drive deals is probably warranted.

Another big change is the new Big Sur OS, which brings some interesting UI changes and overall flow to using the computer, which works well with the updated internals to provide overall excellent performance. As for the screen, it’s a 13.3-inch Retina Display and should be no surprise that it’s gorgeous, as is expected for displays that come from Apple, and even better, it can connect up to one external monitor for that extra screen space when you’re at a desk.

Overall, the Apple Macbook Air is an excellent little laptop for students already using Apple and want a great Apple computer without spending well over $1,000 for one of the premium options. Also, much like the XPS 13 touch, it’s gorgeous and thin, which is always a plus.

When are the best student laptop deals?

Of course, there are also a ton of sales throughout the year, which we like to keep on top of through our best laptop deals and best gaming laptop deals articles. Since we know that a lot of students are probably on tight budgets, we also like regularly update our best refurbished laptops deals for those who need to save money, and we even maintain some great Chromebook deals and tablet deals, both of which can sometimes be cheaper than a full-on laptop. Also, keep in mind that many retailers tend to have great sales around when school semesters start, so you might find some good back-to-school deals if you keep an eye out.

Ultimately, if the savings are minimal, it’s better to bite the bullet and get the product you want now. You never know when the discount might happen again or if it’s as steep as you expect it to be, so if it’s even $50 or $100 worth of savings, it might be a good idea to consider buying it outright. Even if the product you want does have a better deal down the road, you shouldn’t feel bad for something you couldn’t possibly know. So the guidance here is to buy what you like if you need it and can afford it and not worry too much about waiting for the potentially best deal possible.

Editors' Recommendations

The public notice issued recently by the Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, rattled groundwater users. It essentially says that all the users of groundwater for drinking and domestic use — residential apartments/group housing societies/government water supply agencies in urban areas, bulk water suppliers, industrial/infrastructure/mining projects, swimming pool whether existing or new — are required to take permission for groundwater drawal from the CGWA latest by June 30, 2022.

All the existing users are given a one-time opportunity to register their groundwater drawal by June 30, by paying a registration fee of ₹10,000; the completed application must be submitted before September 30. It further says that strict action shall be initiated against users who continue to draw groundwater without seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the CGWA, and such groundwater drawal will be considered illegal.

Is the fee for using groundwater justified? How did we reach this situation?

Groundwater use for various purposes has increased tremendously over time. India’s annual groundwater draft is the largest in the world. Estimated at 245 billion cubic meter (bcm), it is about 64 per cent of the total groundwater potential (398 bcm) in 2020. States like UP, Punjab, MP, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat together accounted for about 144 bcm (59 per cent) in the total draft of groundwater (see Table).

About 89 per cent of groundwater is used for irrigation alone. Along with the increased exploitation, the net irrigated area using groundwater also increased from 7.30 million hectares (mha) in 1960-61 to about 48 mha in 2018-19.

While the benefits of groundwater are huge, its continuous exploitation has brought many negative externalities, particularly to farmers. A study by NASA (2009) showed that the groundwater level had been declining about one meter every three years in States like Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. Shockingly, between 2002 and 2008, about 109 cubic km of groundwater reportedly vanished from these regions due to continuous exploitation.

With increasing groundwater drawal every year, not only has the quality of water deteriorated but the number of overexploited blocks has also increased. CGWB data show that the number of blocks classified as other than safe has increased from 1,645 (28.74 per cent) in 2004 to 2,538 (36.44 per cent) in 2020.

Most of these over-exploited blocks are located in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The total number of blocks categorised as saline water also increased from 30 to 100 during this period. Importantly, a World Bank (2010) study, ‘Deep wells and prudence: Towards pragmatic action for addressing groundwater exploitation in India’, cautioned that about 60 per cent of India’s aquifers will reach a critical stage by 2032. Can these unprecedented changes be ignored?

Groundwater exploitation has been rising since the introduction of Green Revolution. But faulty electricity pricing followed by successive governments is one of the key reasons for the overexploitation of groundwater. The provision of heavily subsidised or free electricity often encourages users (not only farmers) to exploit more groundwater as the marginal cost of lifting water from aquifers is close to zero.

This is evident from the level of groundwater exploitation in States such as Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu, where electricity is supplied free for irrigation for many years now. The average stage of groundwater development (that is, the ratio of annual groundwater draft and net annual groundwater availability) in the three States was as high as 127 per cent in 2020; these States have fewer number of safe blocks as well. If preventive actions are not taken to control the reckless exploitation of water, will it not affect the agricultural sector?

Besides increasing the subsidy burden of the States, free electricity does more harm than good, particularly to farmers having shallow tube-wells. As deep bore-wells exploit more groundwater, the water in shallow wells gets depleted and then they become defunct. The depleting water level shortens the life of the wells, which has a huge impact on resource-poor farmers who cannot install deep bore-wells with larger HP pump-sets.

According to the 5th Minor Irrigation Census (2017), a total of 4.14 lakh open wells in India became defunct between 2006-07 and 2013-14.

Now, considering the ever-increasing exploitation of groundwater, the government has introduced a registration fee for using groundwater. Will this be enough to control the over-exploitation of groundwater? The answer is ‘no’, because this nominal fee will not have any impact on the large users.

Instead of having a uniform fee for all users, a discriminated fee can be fixed for agriculture, industry and domestic users keeping in view the ability-to-pay principle. For non-agricultural purposes, the fee can be fixed based on the level of exploitation of water, depth of the well and HP of the pump-set. For agriculture, the fee can be fixed by farm size or HP of the pump-set or based on the consumption of electricity. In any case, the fee alone will not be sufficient to control the over-exploitation of groundwater.

Groundwater exploitation and electricity pricing policies are intertwined. Most States that provide electricity free or at a low unit cost for irrigation are experiencing over-exploitation of groundwater. Therefore, there is a need to revisit the electricity pricing policies. While free electricity may be provided for marginal farmers having pump-set capacity of less than 5 HP capacity, progressive pro-rata (kWh-based tariff) pricing may be fixed for all other farmers. This may also discourage the farmers from cultivating water-intensive crops, which is the root cause for the increased exploitation of groundwater.

Wherever free electricity is supplied, judicious rationing has to be followed in its supply. Studies show that solar-powered irrigation pumps help reduce the exploitation of groundwater besides saving huge subsidies on electricity. An ambitious scheme, PM-KUSUM, was introduced in 2019 with a budget of ₹34,422 crore, and with a huge subsidy component, for the installation of solar pumps. The benefits of solar-powered pumps need to be communicated to all the stakeholders.

Any measure introduced to control the reckless exploitation of groundwater will hugely benefit the farmer and the government.

The writer is former full-time Member (Official), Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, New Delhi. The views are personal

Published on July 21, 2022

The best student Chromebooks are one of the smartest choices for going back to school, college or university. Not only are they incredibly affordable but they're also geared towards online use, which is where the vast majority of studying takes place. 

As we note in our best Chromebooks (opens in new tab) guide, these laptops are ideal for learners, studiers and even school kids. Student Chromebooks are very portable and tend to have great battery lives, making them ideal for days where students are taking classes and seminars on campus, or for those visits to the library for an all-day study session.