As the new year approaches, so does something else: college! Whether you are in the process of applying, waiting for decisions, or have already committed, it is time to start thinking about what you will be buying and bringing with you this summer. One of the biggest and most important purchases will be your college laptop. Having a good laptop for university is important, because you will be using it almost daily to conduct various assignments and schoolwork. Choosing a laptop might be difficult because everyone has their own situation, but there are many options to choose from that make this process easier. 

Lenovo Yoga 11e

The Lenovo Yoga 11e is the laptop that we use now for school. If you are somebody that is satisfied with the features and functions of our current high school laptop, then this is the one for you! This laptop is cheaper than some other options. The newest generation can be found on bhphotovideo.com for $884.59, however, the older generations can be purchased for a lot less from retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy. At 3.1lbs and 11.6”, this laptop is small and compact which is great for the travels to and from class. While this laptop is small, it is also very durable. According to the Lenovo website, it was “built with ThinkPad education design specs and tested against military standards MIL-STD 810G.” This laptop is also spill, impact, and scratch resistant. It was built to withstand the trials and tribulations of being a student. Being both durable and reliable, this is a great option for your everyday student. 

Dell Inspiron 15 3000

This laptop is a good choice for those of you that like our current laptops, but want something a little bit different. Lindsay Gordon, a freshman at DeSales University, recommends this laptop because “It’s just a good starter laptop – kind of like Pennridge laptops. It is a good next step.” Her favorite features for this laptop were the touchscreen, and the fact that it runs really smoothly. Gordon added that “You want [your laptop] to run smoothly, because you don’t want it to crash while you have a bunch of things open.” This 15.6” laptop is bigger than our school laptops, which Lindsay said she enjoyed while being on Zoom calls. This laptop is very affordable. It starts at $391.99 on Dell.com, or for $439 on Amazon. This laptop is a good purchase if you are looking for something that isn’t too cheap but is a good starter for your college career. 

MacBook Air

There are many different options out there for laptops. One thing that sets apart the MacBook air is that it is an Apple laptop. Many people that own Apple products like to stick with it when shopping for laptops. If this is the case for you, you should definitely look into the MacBook Air. While it depends on your specific situation, the MacBook Air is generally considered the best Apple laptop for college students. The writers on Setapp.com say, “MacBook Air is often named the best laptop for college by students because it’s light and portable, allowing for an effortless transfer between classes. Given the substantial power of its processor, this Mac laptop is almost unbeatable in terms of the price-to-quality ratio.” This laptop is currently going for $999 at traditional retailers like Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy, but cheaper options are available in the form of refurbished or older generation Macbooks. 

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Another option out there is the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. Maddie Lange, a current senior, owns this laptop and believes “It is insanely amazing quality.” This laptop is untraditional in the sense that it folds up as a tablet as well as being a laptop. This, however, is a very helpful feature to have. In fact, when asked what her favorite feature was, Lange responded with, “The keyboard is detachable. It can be a tablet or standard laptop and has full range of mobility.” She is planning on going into industrial design, and she highly recommends this laptop to others looking to go into an artistic field. This laptop starts at $799.99 on the microsoft website, however it is currently on sale at Best Buy for $599.99. Along with being affordable, this 1.7lb, 12.3” screen laptop is easily portable, both aspects that make a great college laptop. 

Picking just one laptop can be difficult, but luckily it is not impossible. Every person is different and has their own preferences, and these preferences can be used to narrow down your perfect laptop. If you are unsure, the four listed in this article are a great place to start looking. 

What do YOU look for in a laptop? Leave a comment below!