Here are some excellent, affordable solutions for your high school student, whether you’re searching for Windows, Chrome, or macOS.
Students need laptops; many schools now even make them a requirement.A computer is necessary for your high school student for everything from studying and homework to helping with in-class lectures and projects. However, the greatest ones are expensive. We’ve compiled our top selections for the best laptops for high school students as a result.
Every major central operating system and brand has options, including macOS, Windows, and ChromeOS. Although many laptops could be suitable for your student, these recommendations were chosen for their dependability, usability, and performance.
Easily of the laptops we’ve selected are portable and have lengthy battery lives. They can also all fit into most backpacks. The majority of them are also less than $1,000, which is increasingly exceptional due to inflation, problems in the supply chain, and a lack of chips.
The Apple MacBook Air M1 is our pick for the best laptop for high school students.
Our top recommendation for a fantastic deal is the HP Pavilion Aero 13, which has a starting price of $800 but frequently goes on sale for considerably less. Both laptops feature good all-day performance and long battery lives in addition to having small, lightweight designs that are simple to throw in a backpack.
Regardless of the student laptop you choose, I suggest buying it directly from the manufacturer or from a renowned, respected retailer for the best prices and exchange or return policies. Make cautious to confirm that the website is selling and shipping the item if you’re purchasing a laptop from a third-party seller on a website like Amazon or Walmart.
Check out our buying tips on finding the best cheap laptops for more detailed shopping assistance.
It’s important to keep in mind that just because your school uses Google Classroom doesn’t imply you have to use a Chromebook. (Here is a list of the differences between a laptop and a Chromebook.) You could also want to add some peripherals, like a keyboard or wireless mouse (most people get annoyed using only the touchpad very soon), as well as a cheap external monitor, to make lengthy homework sessions more bearable. This will make your student more comfortable and give them a larger display on which to view their work. For the best laptop for high school kids in 2023, see our selections below.
MacBook Air M1 by Apple
The M1 MacBook Air, one of the first to migrate from Intel to Apple silicon, is still around, which is good, despite the availability of the larger, bigger, and better M2 MacBook Air. Our go-to pick for a macOS laptop for regular use remains Apple’s budget model. It is a terrific option for education and pleasure anyplace because of its strong performance and long battery life — up to 18 hours. Read our review of the MacBook Air M1. Read our review of the Apple MacBook Air M1 (Late 2020).
Lenovo ThinkPad Aero 13
HP crammed a lot of value into the Aero 13: a gorgeous magnesium-aluminum body, potent processing power, lengthy battery life, a brilliant, colorful display, and a weight of just 2 pounds (0.94 kilograms). Amazingly, given everything it offers, it starts at less than $800, although it frequently goes on sale for under $700. Read our evaluation of the HP Pavilion Aero 13.
Chromebook Spin 513 from Acer (CP513-2H)
One of the finest Chromebooks from 2021, the Acer Spin 513 is a sort of update to the Spin 713. It is a two-in-one convertible Chromebook with a 3:2 aspect ratio 13.5-inch display. You won’t have to scroll as frequently while working as a result.Because the screen size is equivalent to that of letter-size paper when the device is in tablet mode, a USI pen is useful for taking notes. It gives up a few less important functions, including an HDMI output, to be less expensive than the 713. Its long battery life and reliable fanless design, which also makes it silent, make it ideal for quiet lessons, seminars, or video calls. Also, Make sure you purchase the most recent Spin 513, model CP513-2H, equipped with a MediaTek Kompanio 1380 processor.
Chromebook x360 14c by HP
This HP Chromebook is the best option if you’re sick of using the 11.6-inch Chromebook provided by your school. It is 0.75 inches broader than a premium 13.3-inch model, but because of its wider design, it can fit more easily in two side-by-side windows. It is a little hefty to use with one hand, but the two-in-one design allows you to utilise it as a tablet. If you tent it and attach an external keyboard and mouse, you can also use it as a portable all-in-one computer.
There are two variations of it. With multiple tabs open and background video streaming, I tested the HP Chromebook’s Core i3 model for $699 with 8GB RAM, and it performed admirably. Additionally, the battery life is impressive, lasting for 10 hours and 40 minutes. It routinely goes on sale for hundreds cheaper, which is wonderful news. There is a $419 version available if you really must have it now; it will provide your youngster more than enough performance to complete their education.
Swift 3 by Acer
This 14-inch laptop, which has a larger work surface than 13-inch laptops and is available with either an AMD Ryzen or an Intel Core processor, weighs less than 3 pounds. The larger screen is a noteworthy improvement, with a 100% sRGB colour gamut (higher than you generally see for a monitor with a starting price of roughly $700). Additionally, it boasts HDMI and USB Type-C connectors, a fingerprint reader, and a backlit keyboard. With 12th-generation Intel Core i-series CPUs, the Swift 3 model released in 2022 costs slightly under $1,000. However, the models from 2021 are still generally accessible for under $600.
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- The 8 Best Chromebooks of 2023 Will Fit Any Budget
- Parents’ Options for Student Loans Under Biden’s New Plan, Debt Relief
