10 Best Laptops For Students 2026 in the United States

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air with the new M4 chip is a strong choice for students who want a lightweight, powerful laptop that lasts all day. Its M4 processor, with 10 CPU cores and 8 GPU cores, handles multitasking, video editing, and even some graphics-heavy tasks smoothly. The 16GB of unified memory helps keep multiple apps running without slowing down, while the 256GB SSD storage is fast but might feel a bit tight if you store many large files like videos or extensive projects. The battery life is excellent, offering up to 18 hours of usage, which is great for long study sessions without needing a charger.

The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display produces sharp, colorful images, making reading, writing, and watching videos a pleasant experience. At just under 3 pounds, it’s easy to carry around campus or between classes. Running macOS, this laptop integrates very well with iPhones and other Apple devices, which is handy if you already use Apple products. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, MagSafe charging, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, covering most needs but does lack more traditional ports like USB-A.

The 12MP Center Stage camera and quality microphones are excellent for online classes or video calls. While the 256GB storage might require external drives or cloud services for students with lots of files, and the price is generally higher compared to Windows alternatives, this MacBook Air offers great portability, long battery life, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration, making it a solid student laptop.

The 2024 Apple MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is a powerful and well-rounded laptop that suits students who need strong performance and a high-quality display for both academics and creative projects. It features a 12-core CPU and a 16-core GPU, which can handle demanding tasks like coding, video editing, or graphic design without slowing down. With 24GB of unified memory, multitasking is smooth, letting you keep many apps open at once. The 512GB SSD offers decent storage for documents and media, though students with large files might want extra external storage.

Its 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is bright and sharp, making it ideal for viewing detailed images or lengthy reading sessions. The battery life is impressive, promising all-day use, which is great for long study sessions away from outlets. At just over 3.5 pounds and slim dimensions, it’s portable enough to carry around campus comfortably.

The Mac OS provides a user-friendly experience, especially if you already use other Apple devices, thanks to seamless integration features like iPhone mirroring and easy file sharing. Connectivity is solid with three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, SD card slot, and MagSafe charging, covering most student needs for peripherals and external displays. This MacBook Pro is on the pricier side, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious students. Also, while 512GB of storage is adequate for many, heavy media users may find it limiting without additional drives. This model is a great choice if you want a powerful, reliable laptop with excellent display quality and battery life, especially if you appreciate the Mac ecosystem.

The Apple 2025 MacBook Pro with the M5 chip is a powerful and sleek laptop that suits students who need strong performance for creative projects, multitasking, and demanding apps. Its 10-core CPU and GPU, combined with 16GB of memory and a fast 1TB SSD, ensure smooth handling of most tasks, including video editing or programming. The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display offers bright, sharp visuals with excellent color quality, great for design work or streaming lectures.

Portability is good, with a lightweight design around 3.4 pounds and a battery that can last all day, helping students stay productive without frequent charging. Connectivity options are versatile, including three Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, and an SD card slot, allowing easy connection to various devices and external screens. MacOS provides a user-friendly experience, especially for those who already use iPhones or other Apple products, thanks to seamless integration.

This MacBook Pro might be more than what casual users need, as its advanced features come with a higher price. The 16GB RAM and 1TB storage are generous but could be more than necessary for basic note-taking or web browsing. Also, the lack of a touchscreen and the macOS environment might not suit everyone. This laptop is an excellent choice for students needing high performance, great display, and long battery life, especially in creative or technical fields, but it could be too advanced and costly for those with simpler needs.