Best Laptops for Students in 2025

08 September 2025

Robert Duke

Choosing the best laptop for student life in 2025 is a bit like choosing a flatmate: you need something reliable, adaptable, and ideally not prone to overheating.

Whether you’re a wide-eyed first-year trying to keep up with lectures, a grizzled uni veteran knee-deep in research papers, or an IT student who needs a machine that won’t wheeze at the sight of a 200-tab Chrome session, this guide’s got you covered. We’ll walk through the best laptops for students of all kinds; from premium notebooks to budget-friendly options, and yes, we’ve kept an eye on price and battery life as a priority.

Note: We do not earn any commission from external websites we link to, or regarding devices mentioned within this article. Our reviews and advice are based wholly on impartial desk research.

Top 5 Laptops for Students in 2025 at a Glance

  1. Apple MacBook Air (M4): Light, fast, and built to last through marathon essay-writing and design sessions (from ~£999).
  2. Dell XPS 13 (2025): Sleek looks, big performance, and small enough to disappear into a backpack (from ~£949).
  3. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7: Slim, stylish, and excellent battery life (from ~£720).
  4. Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Friendly to your wallet, unfriendly to lag (from ~£249).
  5. Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2025): Premium OLED screen and featherweight build at a surprisingly competitive price (from ~£699).

⭐

Don’t forget, you can get a 15% student discount on Gadget Insurance with Protect Your Bubble.* We've got over 16,590 five-star reviews on Trustpilot and counting!**

⭐

Best Overall Laptops for Students

When it comes to the best laptops for university students, these all-rounders can handle note-taking, video calls, and the occasional research binge on YouTube without complaint. Whether you’re looking for the best notebook or laptop, these picks will see you through essay season and beyond.

  • Apple MacBook Air (M4) (from ~£999)
    Pros: Super-light, ridiculously fast, battery that refuses to quit.
    Cons: A touch expensive even for the basic model.
    Why it’s great: Perfect for students who need a laptop that can sprint towards deadlines AND still look classy in the library. The M4 version is Apple’s newest Air, offering longer battery life and upgraded performance.
    Note: If you’re on a tighter budget, the MacBook Air (M3) is still widely available (from ~£849) and performs brilliantly too.
  • Dell XPS 13 (2025) (from ~£949)
    Pros: Gorgeous display, premium build, solid performance.
    Cons: Not quite as expensive as the Apple equivalents, but up there!
    Why it’s great: Ideal for uni students who aren’t familiar with Apple devices and want a powerhouse without lugging something too heavy to lectures.
  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (from ~£1,099)
    Pros: Featherweight design, top-tier battery, smooth Windows experience.
    Cons: Already more expensive than its peers, and with limited ports; you’ll likely need a dongle/adaptor for additional USBs which is an extra cost. Frustrating!
    Why it’s great: Perfect for minimalists who want more laptop and less luggage.
  • Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2025) (from ~£899)
    Pros: Brilliant OLED screen, strong performance, ultra-portable design, excellent value compared to rivals.
    Cons: Speakers are middling compared to premium flagships.
    Why it’s great: Offers premium looks and performance for less than most other high-end ultrabooks. Its lightweight build and vibrant display make it perfect for both coursework and downtime.

Best Laptops for IT & Tech Students

If you’re after a good laptop for IT students, you’ll need more processing muscle and more RAM (as well as the patience of a saint when you’re debugging code at 2 a.m). These devices are built for coding, simulations, and data-crunching marathons.

  • Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) (from ~£1,579)
    Pros: Incredible keyboard, robust performance, business-class durability.
    Cons: Business-class price tag.
    Why it’s great: If laptops had a “trustworthiness” scale, this would be top-tier.
  • MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) (from ~£1,599)
    Pros: Handles heavy software like it’s nothing, superb battery life.
    Cons: Overkill for those who just want to type essays, huge price tag.
    Why it’s great: For coding, video editing, and simulations, it’s a beast, and a very quiet one at that.
  • Dell 14 Premium (2025) (from ~£1,599)
    Pros: Excellent screen, powerful internals, perfect for multitasking.
    Cons: Not quite “throw it in your tote bag” light.
    Why it’s great: Gives you the power and versatility you need for serious work.

Great Laptops for Students on a Budget

These great laptops for students prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a reliable study companion. Perfect if you’re looking for good laptops for university that aren’t quite as brutal on your bank account.

  • Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (from ~£249)
    Pros: Affordable, reliable, snappy for everyday tasks.
    Cons: ChromeOS isn’t for everyone.
    Why it’s great: Ideal for cloud-based coursework and light multitasking.
  • HP Pavilion 14 (2025) (from ~£479)
    Pros: Good mix of performance and price, decent battery life.
    Cons: Plastic build isn’t quite as appealing as alternatives.
    Why it’s great: Does everything a student needs without feeling sluggish.
  • Asus VivoBook 15 (from ~£479)
    Pros: Large display, comfortable keyboard, budget-friendly.
    Cons: Middling speakers.
    Why it’s great: Great for binge-writing assignments and binge-watching series afterwards.

Student Discounts & Financing Options

Before you pay full price for a student laptop, check what’s on offer:

Laptop finance options are also available through most major retailers; though we must stress, this is not financial advice, and it’s important to take into consideration what you’ll be able to afford in both the short and long-term. Make sure you don’t overspend on equipment!

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Student Laptop in 2025

  • CPU & RAM: For general use, aim for an i5/Ryzen 5 or better with at least 8GB RAM. IT and Tech students should aim for 16GB+.
  • Battery Life: Look for 10+ hours so you’re not tethered to the wall.
  • Weight & Portability: Under 1.5kg makes your backpack, and spine, happier.
  • OS Choice: Windows for flexibility, macOS for polish, ChromeOS for simplicity. (Choose the OS you’re already comfortable with.)

FAQs

  • What’s the best laptop for a university student?
    If you want something versatile, the MacBook Air (M4) is hard to beat. The M3 version is also still widely available (from ~£849).
  • Is a MacBook good for IT students?
    Yes, if your tools are Mac-compatible. It’s good to contact your university to find out what programs and systems you’re likely to need before you make a purchase.
  • Should I buy a gaming laptop for studying?
    Gaming laptops tend to be very powerful and good at handling anything student work can throw at them. Just be aware you may have less battery life and the lurking temptation of “just one more game.”

Conclusion

Whether you need a featherweight note-taker, a code-crunching high-powered device, or just a dependable all-rounder, there’s a laptop out there for you. Have a good look around, weigh up the pros and cons versus your own course and situation, and then pick the one that fits your workload and budget. Happy hunting 🙂

You might also like:

Note: All prices listed are approximate UK starting RRPs (correct as of 27th August 2025) and may vary over time depending on retailer promotions, availability, and ongoing/upcoming discounts.

*Underwriter Assurant General Insurance Limited. Gadget age restrictions, T&Cs and excesses apply. Customer UK 18+. Student Beans code required. The gadget insurance student promo code is only valid for up to 2 insured items.

** Trustpilot Score 4.3, 22,232 total reviews as of 27th August 2025.