Whether you are a computer science student or a seasoned IT professional, a decent laptop is your best friend.
However, too many options are available in the market, and choosing the best laptop for yourself can be daunting.
But don’t worry! This buying guide will help you to pick the best laptop for yourself. Here, we have compiled a list of the 10 best laptops for computer science students.
This guide added laptops offering high performance, premium displays, and decent battery backup.
We have considered other essential factors such as connectivity, ports, and portability. Apart from that, we have also added budget-friendly laptop options for CS students.
Following this straightforward guide, you can pick the best laptop despite your requirements and budgets. So, do check it till the very end.
But before we do that, let me help you figure out the purpose of your laptop.
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For what will I need a laptop as a computer science student?
When I was a computer science student and got into the hunt to buy my first laptop, I didn’t clearly understand what I would do with it.
I knew that I would use it to learn to code and do college projects. Besides that, I planned to use my laptop at home as I wouldn’t say I liked to carry my laptop at college.
As a result, I went with the Dell Inspiron 7560 with an i7 processor, 16 GB RAM, and a 4 GB Nvidia graphics card.
My investment was worth the money. I used my laptop for over four years and later gave it to someone else. There were no performance issues. However, there were only battery issues after 6 months.
So, what’s the main reason for sharing my story? Simple! To help you avoid the same mistakes I made during my purchase.
Before you invest heavily in your future laptop, sit down and relax! Take a pen and paper and write down how you will use your laptop for college work.
Here are a few use cases to give you some ideas:
1. Online classes and collaboration
It would be best to have a laptop with a good webcam, microphone, and connectivity options for seamless online learning.
A laptop with a good screen size (preferably 15 inches or more) would work well during online collaborations and working alongside your classmates.
2. Programming
During your computer science major, you will learn concepts from programming languages to technical courses such as data structures, machine learning, DBMS, etc.
To ensure a seamless learning experience in these subjects, you should pick a laptop with a fast processor and sufficient memory so that it can handle multiple tasks efficiently and doesn’t hang when you need it the most.
3. Data analysis and visualization
Data Science is one of the most rewarding careers in 2023. To become a data scientist, you would again require a laptop with high processing power, memory, and fast storage.
Above all, I recommend buying a laptop with a screen size of at least 15.6 inches. The bigger screen size will improve productivity with various data analysis and visualization tools.
4. Virtualization and Simulation
Some computer science sources might require you to work with virtualization tools like VMware or VirtualBox.
And, if you are interested in 3-D animation and modeling, you might also need to work with simulator tools.
Most virtualization and simulation tools require a fast processor and enough memory.
6. Portability
During college times, there will be times when you will be working on your CS project in the library and then quickly move to another part of the campus to attend an important class.
Or you are always on the move and need your laptop most of the time. In that case, you should pick a lightweight, durable laptop with a decent battery backup.
7. Software compatibility
Some development tools and software are platform-specific. For example, if you plan to become an iOS app developer during your college days, then buying a Macbook is a must.
Because you can run XCode on any Windows laptop, similarly, if you plan to learn .NET technologies, then buying a Windows laptop would be the best decision.
So, before buying any laptop, it is critical to analyze which tools and services you will use in the future to avoid compatibility issues.
Key Specs to Look for in a Laptop for Computer Science Students
For instance, if you want to learn to code, you will require a laptop with high processing power, fast storage, and sufficient memory to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
On the other hand, if your goal is to replace physical notebooks and books, you should look for a budget-friendly laptop with good connectivity and battery backup.
Let’s now see the key specs you should consider.
1. CPU
If you are looking forward to doing resource-intensive tasks such as programming and graphics designing, you should buy a laptop with a fast processor.
Please note that all programming doesn’t require a premium processor. For example, if you want to learn web programming using JavaScript, consider the latest i3 processor with good RAM and SSD storage.
On the other hand, if you want to learn app or game development, you should opt for a fast processor, ensuring you can efficiently multitask.
A laptop with an i5 processor or above or AMD Ryzen 5 or above would work well. You can consider buying these laptops with i9 processors if you want to go all out.
2. GPU or Graphics Card
GPU or Graphical Processing Unit is additional hardware that can significantly improve the performance of your laptop.
If you work with resource-intensive image and video editing tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Premier Pro, etc., buy a laptop with a dedicated graphics card for the best performance.
3. RAM or Memory
Programmers often work with numerous tools and Chrome tabs. If you don’t have enough RAM, your laptop will run slowly. You will have issues multitasking, which will eventually affect your productivity.
Consider a laptop with at least 8GB DDR5 RAM or above for efficient performance. 16 GB DDR5 RAM or above if you work with resource-intensive tools.
4. Screen Size
Now, let’s discuss what screen size you should consider. It depends upon your requirements. If you want a portable laptop, consider buying a 13.3-inch display.
However, if you are programming a lot or editing images or videos on your laptop, you would require at least 15.6 inches of the laptop to work optimally.
Other than that, if you use your laptop outside college most of the time, you should opt for an anti-glare screen and high brightness (around 1000 or more nits).
CS students working with graphic designing tools should pick a laptop with a display that supports a wider color gamut with accuracy.
5. Operating System and Software Compatability
As I stated earlier, you should consider OS and software compatibility beforehand. For example, if you want to become a Windows app or software developer, then there is no point in buying a Mac just because it is trendy.
Similarly, if you plan to design and develop iOS or macOS apps, then you should pick a Macbook without any doubt. With a Macbook, you can use Windows OS by Bootcamp (only with Intel-supported Macs) or third-party virtualization tools.
However, if you pick a Macbook with an M1 or later processor, there are not many options available in the market besides Parallels. Parallels is a paid tool that allows users to use macOS and Windows simultaneously.
6. Battery
I recently bought a Macbook Pro with an M1 processor because I wanted the best battery life. I was tired of always carrying a charger and running out of battery while working outside.
Buying a Macbook is the best choice if you also want the same. I also used Dell and HP laptops while I was a CS student, and their battery worked great only for the first six months.
But you should not make your decision solely because of one factor. Consider other factors stated in this guide to make the best decision.
7. Storage
Gone are the days of using hard drives. Buy a laptop with SSD storage for the best performance and high I/O speed.
SSD storage is generally expensive. If you are tight on budget, you can opt for a laptop with an SSD and a hard drive. Install your operating system in the SSD and store your files in the HDD; you will be good to go.
In the case of Macs, I recommend at least 256 GB of storage because lower storage will fill faster and slow down your Mac in the future.
You can also consider buying external hard drives or SSDs for storing files, but with Macs, you have to carry additional accessories for connectivity, which I am not a big fan of.
8. Webcam
To attend online classes, you need a laptop with a good webcam. Consider a laptop with at least a 1080p webcam. With a 720p webcam, you won’t get decent video quality.
Laptop webcams aren’t great compared to smartphones, but you can buy external webcams for the best results.
9. Keyboard
Whether content writers, programmers, or graphic designers, everyone likes to work on a laptop that offers a delightful typing experience.
Pick a laptop with a keyboard with decent vital presses and travel for a smooth typing experience. Many laptops in the market come with mechanical keyboards as well.
Here are some options if you are considering buying an external keyboard for your laptop:
10. Connecting Ports and Touchpad
If you plan to use additional accessories with your laptop, such as external I/O devices, monitors, etc., you should pick a laptop that offers most connecting ports, such as USB, headphones, HDMI, and others.
Apart from that, you should pick a laptop with a large touchpad size that supports multi-touch gestures. This will help you greatly in multitasking.
10 Best Laptops for Computer Science Students
Now, deep dive and explore our recommended list of best laptops for CS students.
1. Apple MacBook Pro
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Key Specs:
- Processor: M1
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 14.2 inches
- Graphics: Integrated 14-core GPU
- OS: macOS
- Battery life: up to 16-18 hours
The Macbook is one of the best laptops for computer science students. Many students prefer to use the Apple brand for personal and professional work. This is one of the best laptops available for computer science majors.
The system has the fastest processor, which works well for IT students. It is designed for technical candidates because it contains backlit keys that help work in low-light conditions.
Also, the touchpad is smooth and responsive, which helps you to navigate any application or file easily without any struggle. The display size of the Apple MacBook Pro is 13.3 inches, which consists of an M1 chip with excellent battery backup.
2. Microsoft Surface Pro
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Key Specs:
- Processor: i7 (1.3 GHz)
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- Display: 12.3 inches
- Graphics: Integrated
- OS: Windows
- Battery life: 10+ hours
Students who need to purchase Microsoft systems can choose the Surface Pro option. It comes with a 12.3-inch display touch screen. This can be the perfect option for students who need to work while enjoying the touch screen.
Microsoft Surface Pro is also one of the best 2-in-1 laptops for programming. It is very light in weight and hence easy to carry anywhere.
The system has excellent power to hold heavy applications with much storage space.
3. Asus ROG Strix G15
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Key Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- Display: 15.6 inches
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
- OS: Windows
- Battery life: 6-8 hours
Asus ROG Strix G15 is another of the best laptops for computer science students who are also into gaming.
ASUS ROG Strix is one of the perfect options for IT candidates. It is reliable and affordable, with advanced features that perfectly complete your daily technical tasks.
The laptop has a big display screen of 15.6 inches, suitable for programming students. Also, it is lightweight so that you can carry the device easily from one place to another.
Another advantage of this system is its eight-core processor, which can handle heavy applications like graphic designing, gaming apps, and much more.
4. Dell Gaming G3 15 3500
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Key Specs:
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 15.6 inches
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
- OS: Windows
- Battery life: 4-8 hours
Some students love to work on Dell laptops. Thus, we recommend you choose Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 system, which is beautifully designed for computer science students.
It is one of the roughest and toughest powerful machines available. The display screen is 15.6 inches, suitable for programming and other design work.
5. ASUS VivoBook 15
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Key Specs:
- Processor: Intel i5-1135G7
- RAM: 12 GB DDR4
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 15.6 inches
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- OS: Windows
- Battery life: 4-5 hours
Students who love to work and enjoy gaming in their spare time. They can go with ASUS Vivobook 15. It is one of the most powerful devices capable of working smoothly with heavy gaming applications.
Candidates willing to do their graphic designing projects can choose this machine as it is CPU and GPU are commendable.
The device is not bulky, and hence, it is easy to carry. An intelligent security feature, fingerprint, is built into this machine. This will save you time logging in to the device. Thus, it is a fast-working machine with powerful hardware.
6. Lenovo Yoga 6
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Key Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 13.3 inches
- Graphics: Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics
- OS: Windows 10
- Battery life: 8-10 hours
Suppose you are looking for a robust system with a small display screen apart from Apple. Then, the Lenovo Yoga 6 Laptop can be a perfect option with an updated CPU and Graphics card that works best for computer science students.
Applications like Java, .Net, and graphic designing require a powerful machine that can handle heavy loads. That is why the company has invested in designing such a beautiful laptop with excellent battery backup and a sleek design.
7. HP Newest 2022
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Key Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U six-core CPU
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 SSD
- Display: 15.6 inches FHD
- Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics
- OS: Windows 11
Are you looking for more storage and a laptop capable of handling multiple programs simultaneously? Then, the HP 15 touchscreen is the appropriate choice that can be considered without any doubt.
It has a wide display screen of 15.6 inches, which helps you see the content from a distance. It is essential to check the system touchpad before purchasing because most of the navigation work is to be done by this feature only.
HP 15 touchscreen consists of a responsive touchpad that helps you to move the cursor quickly without any problems.
8. HP Envy x360
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Key Specs:
- Processor: 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 13.3 inches FHD
- Graphics: Integrated (Intel Iris Xe Graphics)
- OS: Windows 11
- Battery life: 8-11 hours
Computer science is a course that includes various subjects like programming languages, graphic designing, website designing, and development tasks.
All such projects include heavy programs and applications that require an excellent processor. HP Envy x360 is one of the favorite choices of computer science candidates.
It has an attractive design and a small display screen of 13.3 inches. It has good storage space where users can store large amounts of data without problems.
9. Razer Blade 14
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Key Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8 Core
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- Display: 14 inches (2560 x 1440 pixels)
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- OS: Windows 11
- Battery life: 3-6 hours
A technical person always looks for a robust system that can work with multiple applications simultaneously. For example, many systems do not fulfill the requirement when an engineer runs various applications simultaneously.
It will result in a system shutdown or a system hang. At the same time, this is not the case with the Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop.
It is manufactured so that users can enjoy several tasks simultaneously without any trouble. The display screen is 14 inches, which is quite suitable for working. Yes, it consists of backlit, which computer engineers highly require nowadays.
10. Samsung Galaxy Book Pro Laptop Computer
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Key Specs:
- Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 15.6 inches AMOLED Screen
- Graphics: Integrated
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 8-10 hours
Samsung is a brand name and they launched Galaxy Book Pro for computer science candidates. It has an excellent processor and storage, which fulfills a candidate’s requirements.
If you love working on a bigger screen, it is good news that Samsung provided a 15.6-inch AMOLED display screen. Thus, it recommends buying this super handy, lightweight machine and enjoying working without problems.
Summary
Are you a computer science student in search of the perfect laptop? Look no further! This blog has covered you with a list of the best laptops for computer science students.
From programming and coding to other computer science-related tasks, these laptops have the necessary features and specs to make your academic journey a breeze.
We’ve included a variety of brands and models to cater to different preferences and budgets, so you’re sure to find one that suits you.
