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Best Student Laptop 2024: Boost your studies with these top rated picks

• Back to School

It doesn’t matter if you’re in secondary school, university or looking to tackle a PhD – no student can get by without a great laptop to back them up.

This is where we come in. We review a large number of laptops every year, so we’ve been able to determine which are the best picks for your studies. We also know that every university/college course is different, so we’ve made sure to select a variety, from simple portables for bashing out essays, to more powerful options for the creatives out there. 

We’ve also tried to keep budgets as low as possible to ensure you’ve got enough money in the bank for as many Pot Noodles as possible. There are a few pricey laptops here for those who want them, but also some budget buys for those happy to sacrifice performance or make use of ChromeOS instead of Windows and macOS. 

Our team of experts have fully reviewed every single laptop on this list, so you can feel rest assured that you’re getting a high-quality PC that’s been thoroughly tested. 

Can’t find a laptop that takes your fancy? Then make sure to check out our other guides, including best budget laptops , best laptops for video editing and the best laptops overall. Otherise, keep scrolling down to find the best student laptop for your studies. 

Best student laptops at a glance

• Best overall student laptop: Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch – check price
• Best Windows student laptop: Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – check price
• Best budget student laptop: Asus Vivobook Go 15 OLED – check price
• Best student Chromebook: Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – check price
• Best student laptop for content creation: Asus Vivobook Pro 15 – check price
• Best big-screen student laptop: Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 – check price
• Best gaming student laptop: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) – check price
• Best affordable MacBook: MacBook Air M1 – check price

How we test

Every laptop we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, performance, screen quality and battery life.  These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how well it runs the most frequently used apps.  We also make sure to use every laptop we review as our primary device for at least a week to ensure our review is as accurate as possible.

• Fantastic performance for the size and weight
• Standout keyboard and trackpad
• Great battery life
• 8GB base memory option
• Expensive upgrade prices
• An OLED screen would have been the icing on the cake

• Great performance in mainstream apps
• Good gaming performance by iGPU standards
• Fantastic OLED screen
• No compromises on the connectivity or ergonomics
• GPU speeds constrained by slimline form factor

• Good price for OLED
• Strong battery life
• Respectable entry-level performance
• Basic typing experience with no backlight
• Memory and storage can’t be upgraded

• Great keyboard and port selection
• Nippy performance
• Solid endurance
• Cheap-feeling construction
• Basic speakers

• Solid power and performance
• Excellent port selection
• Tactile keyboard
• Middling, dim display
• Trackpad is quite small

• Stunning 3K AMOLED screen
• Exceedingly long battery life
• Solid productivity performance
• Good set of ports and S Pen
• Slower than rivals
• Disappointing speakers

• Incredibly portable for a gaming laptop
• Extremely powerful
• Optional Mini LED screen looks fantastic
• Personalisation via LED lights on lid
• Relatively expensive
• Lacks per-key RGB lighting
• Main chassis can get very hot

• It’s so fast thanks to M1
• Exceptional battery life
• Strong app support
• Great keyboard
• Poor webcam
• Same design as before
• Poorly positioned (and only two) USB ports

Apple MacBook Air (M3)

Best overall student laptop.

Few laptops, if any, have been the quintessential “student laptop” purchase as often as the MacBook Air, and it is no different in 2024 with the MacBook Air M3 13-inch .

The new model doesn’t switch much up when compared with the previous M2 model, beyond the chip itself. But, it offers a solid jump up in performance across the board if you want the cutting edge of fanless MacBook power.

What you get is whisper-quiet power in a chassis that can tackle serious productivity with ease along with plenty of light to middleweight editing workloads. It’s a package that is a delight to use with a bright LCD display, top-notch keyboard along with a big and responsive trackpad. Now, with MagSafe added last year, you get that and a handy set of Thunderbolt ports as well

Despite its thin, light and luxurious design that’s tremendously portable, you still get a stunning amount of battery life for those long study sessions. With up to 15 hours of battery life in our testing.

Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Apple MacBook Air M3 13-inch review

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED

Best windows student laptop.

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is one of the best laptops we’ve reviewed in recent months. Costing just above £1000/$1000, it’s an expensive option for students, but offers such a well-rounded package that it’s worth stumping up the cash if your budget can stretch so far. 

Thanks to the inclusion of the Intel Core Ultra processor, it offers one of the faster performance available at this price point. In fact, it aced our benchmark tests, surpassing the vast majority of Windows ultrabooks from 2023. 

Despite its powerful performance, the laptop only weighs 1.29kg, making it portable enough to lug between lecture halls without back strain. It’s got a gorgeous OLED screen too, which will come handy when watching movies/TV shows during your downtime. Even battery life is impressive, lasting just shy of 13 hours during our tests. 

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is such a well rounded laptop that it’s hard to look past it unless you prefer macOS or need extra graphics power if you’re on a creative course. And if the price is too high, it’s worth checking out the Asus Vivobook Go 15 OLED further down this list. 

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews Full review: Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Review

Asus Vivobook Go 15 OLED

Best budget student laptop.

When opting for a budget laptop for your studies, roughly around the £500/$500 mark, you’ll be forced into making numerous compromises – but not so with the Asus Vivobook Go 15 OLED . 

This laptop has a well-built plastic design that’s light enough to carry around on the regular, and to our great surprise, a lovely OLED screen that makes movie marathons an absolute delight. The large 15-inch should also make it easier to fit more text on your screen, which should be helpful for both essay typing and scanning documents. 

The biggest issue with this laptop is that it’s not very powerful, falling behind the likes of the Surface Laptop Go 3 in our tests. But during our time with the laptop, we found it perfectly adequate for browsing the web, writing up essays and watching videos. As long as you’re not going to push it too hard – such as photo/video editing – the performance should be fine. 

So if you’re looking for a supremely cheap Windows laptop with a top-notch screen, you’ll struggle to do better than the Asus Vivobook Go 15 OLED. The Surface Laptop Go 2 is another great cheap Windows laptop worth considering, but Microsoft is sadly phasing it out of stores, so you may only be able to pick it up second-hand in the coming months. 

Reviewer: Josh Brown  Full review: Asus Vivobook Go 15 OLED review

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34

Best student chromebook.

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is an evolution of the ChromeOS formula. Not only does it represent a device that students can be safe in the knowledge that will help them get their essays written, but it now wields added creative chops and specs too.

Chromebook Plus launched last month as Google’s new initiative for products using its ChromeOS. The standard requires a minimum specs and Asus was quickly on the bandwagon. The Chromebook Plus CX34 we tested simply met that minimum spec, nothing more and nothing less. That means 8GB RAM and an Intel Core i3 processor. The latter part of that may scare you but, with the 8GB RAM and lightweight ChromeOS, the CX34 performed in a breezy fashion. This is a great device for essay writing, web browsing and media consumption.

But, the creative capabilities that a Chromebook Plus device brings with it means that this Asus is capable of running Adobe Photoshop for the web and wielding the power of Google’s Magic Eraser to swiftly tidy up your photos.

Outside of the performance and software, the Chromebook Plus CX34 helps with essays by having a keyboard that’s a joy to type on while helping you get easily connected to whatever peripherals you need for your course, due to the pleasing range of ports. Battery life won’t hold you back either, with this device managing over one day’s work.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey Full review: Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review

Asus Vivobook Pro 15 (2024)

Best student laptop for content creation.

For the longest time it was the excellent Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 that held this spot, but with tons of power and far more ports to boot, the Asus Vivobook Pro 15 was able to swoop in and take the win.

Operating as a powerhouse laptop for both creatives and gamers, the Vivobook Pro 15 has some impressive specs under the hood. The model we tested came with a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU, alongside a modern RTX 4060 graphics card.

With that kind of power at your disposal, you won’t have any issues with diving between a bit of Photoshop and video editing during the day before switching things up by diving into your Steam library after your to-do list is done.

If you fancy hooking up an external monitor or bringing your favourite wired gaming mouse into the equation then you won’t have to prioritise one accessory over another here. On the port selection you’re absolutely spoiled for choice with three USB-A ports, a solitary USB-C and an ever appreciated HDMI out.

Knowing that all of this would amount to some heavy taxation on battery life, Asus has made sure to embed this thing with a whopping 70Whr cell. Under our battery tests, we were able to make the Pro 15 run for a total of eight hours and 30 minutes which is some impressive longevity and more than enough to get you through a day’s worth of lectures.

It’s not a perfect laptop by any means – the trackpad could easily do with being a bit bigger and the display a tad brighter, plus at over £1000 (depending on where you shop) the Vivobook Pro 15 will be too out of budget for plenty, but creatives who love to game on the side, it’s a fantastic choice.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey Full review: Asus Vivobook Pro 15 review

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360

Best big-screen student laptop.

If you’re a student that needs a laptop with a big display that will go all day and beyond, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is the answer.

We tested the 16-inch model and it managed to pack in a stunning stamina of around 15 hours of maximum battery life. Even under intensive productivity, it got comfortably beyond a working day.

But, one of the key highlights is the well-sized display, which offers up a high 3K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and uses AMOLED technology. The size means it’s great for multitasking with multiple windows, while offering a large screen experience when it comes to watching movies and the like. The strong colour accuracy means this big screen is great for creative work too, and you get the excellent S Pen for all your drawing work.

For power, it’s got Intel’s latest Core Ultra chips. These offer solid productivity performance along with enabling the odd dabble in creative work.

Reviewer: Adam Speight Full review: Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 review

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023)

Best gaming student laptop.

Being both a gamer and a student can be a pricey affair, as you’ll likely need a console, laptop and TV to survive the semester. So how about combining all of those devices together to save on money? The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) is the perfect remedy, capable of doubling up as both your gaming rig and workstation with very few compromises. 

Firstly, the G14 is shockingly lightweight for a gaming laptop, hitting the scales at just 1.7kg. Most gaming laptops are significantly heavier, making them unideal for porting around university. The optional Mini LED screen ensures fantastic picture quality too, which is important for watching movies and playing games. 

Performance is plenty powerful enough to play all of the latest games. The intense graphics power here also opens up the opportunity for more creative pursuits such as editing video/photos and graphics design. The biggest issue here is battery life, with our tests seeing a result of just 3 hours and 20 minutes for productivity work. That could be a big issue if you’re working on the go away from a power mains. 

Nevertheless, if you fancy the idea of owning a laptop that can fulfil the duties of both gaming and student work, then we strongly recommend the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023). Or if you want something cheaper, make sure to check out our Asus TUF Gaming A15 (2023) review as an alternative option. 

Reviewer: Ryan Jones Full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) review

MacBook Air (M1)

Best affordable macbook.

If you’re wanting a MacBook on a budget, the MacBook Air M1 is a fantastic option. Though no longer available through Apple, the laptop remains available through a range of retailers for just £799, making it the perfect MacBook for any student. 

The standout feature of the MacBook Air M1 is its Apple M1 chipset. The M1 took over the Intel Core i3/i5 in this laptop, enabling faster performance beyond what you might expect from Apple’s cheapest laptop. We found the laptop to be snappier even than newer laptops such as the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 and the Dell XPS 13 Plus . 

The four-year-old laptop has since been outpaced by the MacBook Air M2 and Air M3 , but you won’t find either at quite as low a price as the 2020 M1 model. 

The design also feels a little outdated compared to the Air M2, though the display is sharp and bright enough for most use cases and the Magic Keyboard feels fantastic to type on. 

App support is strong, with a growing number of native M1 apps available and Rosetta 2 ready to translate any stragglers from the x86 platform. We found that mainstream apps ran with no issue and you can even install apps from the iOS App Store. 

Finally, the MacBook Air M1 has an impressive nine to 11-hour battery life with looped 1080p video lasting up to 12 hours on a single charge. This is another major upgrade granted by the custom M1 chipset and the laptop’s standby time is excellent, too. 

If you’re searching for the perfect laptop to take to university lectures or complete schoolwork at home, the MacBook Air M1 delivers fantastic performance, battery life and app support without breaking the bank. 

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full Review: MacBook Air M1

We also considered…

No longer the best option for students on a budget

An intriguing yet imperfect device

How does the M1 MacBook fare two years after release?

We’ve reviewed

A good keyboard, long battery life and snappy performance are all key things to consider when purchasing a student laptop. You’ll also want to make sure it isn’t too heavy, with 1.3kg and under being an ideal heft. Screen quality is worth thinking about if you plan on using the laptop for Netflix and YouTube.

A dedicated GPU is only worth considering if you’re a creative/design student who will be doing lots of video editing, 3D modelling or animation. Gamers will also benefit from a powerful GPU. But be warned, a GPU will crank up the price, make the laptop heavier and shorten the battery life, so only get a laptop with one if it’s essential.

Honestly, most people will be fine with 8GB RAM, but it may be worth investing in 16GB of RAM or beyond for heavier workloads such as content creation and gaming.

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Best laptops for kids and teenagers 2023, tried and tested

Whether they plan to study, stream or play, these are the best and safest child-friendly laptops to buy, article bookmarked.

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It’s officially back to school season, and if your kid’s old laptop isn’t ready to tackle another term it might be time to upgrade to something new.

Whether it’s for homework, remote lessons, online learning or just watching YouTube videos, the best laptops for kids are ones that combine security , affordability, durability and performance.

While everybody’s circumstances and needs are different, price is usually the major factor when choosing a laptop for children. Essential schoolwork doesn’t require a very powerful device, and brands like Lenovo and Acer make great entry-level laptops at affordable prices .

But for older kids and those with an interest in developing their digital creativity skills, it might be worth investing in a premium laptop, one that can handle more demanding software like Photoshop, Illustrator, Serato and Blender.

More powerful laptops will also last a lot longer before becoming obsolete, so they’ll support young students beyond graduation and into whatever they choose to do next.

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How we tested

We’ve curated a list of the best laptops for kids in 2023. These are all laptops we’ve tested extensively, taking into account the specific requirements many students have as well their affordability, accessibility, portability and durability.

The best laptops for kids for 2023 are:

• Best cheap student laptop – Lenovo Ideapad 3i: £300, Amazon.co.uk
• Best Apple laptop – MacBook Air M2: £1,059.97, Amazon.co.uk
• Best kids laptop under £300 – Acer Aspire 1: £199, Currys.co.uk
• Best Chromebook for students – Lenovo Ideapad Duet: £299, Amazon.co.uk

Lenovo ideapad 3i

• Best : Cheap student laptop
• CPU : Intel Celeron
• Graphics : Integrated
• Display : 14in, Full HD
• Storage : 128GB
• Top value for money
• Runs on the latest Windows 11 OS
• Comes with one year of Office 365
• Relatively underpowered

Laptops don’t get much more affordable than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i. Perfect for churning through written homework, watching the odd YouTube video and firing off emails, this Windows 11 laptop keeps things simple with a cheap and cheerful Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM. That means you won’t be playing Call of Duty on this thing – which could be a positive, depending on your perspective – but the slim design and 1.4kg weight make the Lenovo IdeapPad 3i perfect for chucking in a backpack.

Apple MacBook air M3

• Best : Apple laptop
• CPU : Apple M3 chip
• Graphics : Integrated M3 GPU
• RAM : 8GB to 16GB
• Screen : 13.6in, 2,560 x 1,664px
• Storage : 256GB to 512GB
• Great display
• Lightweight and thin design
• Fast M3 performance
• Limited number of ports

Apple’s thinnest, lightest MacBook transcended the tech world to become an instantly recognisable design icon, the profile of which many rival laptops have since followed. If you’ve ever held one of these machines, you’ll understand why it’s such an alluring device: the MacBook air is an elegant piece of engineering, weighing just 1.24kg and measuring 1.13cm thin. The 2024 model is powered by Apple’s latest M3 processor, an ARM-based chip that unlocks notable performance boosts and better battery efficiency over the older Intel CPU seen in previous generations.

Read our full MacBook air M3 review

Acer Aspire 1

• Best : Under £300
• CPU : Intel Celeron N4500
• Display : 14in, 1080p
• Lightweight
• Comes with a year of Microsoft 365
• Not powerful enough for gamin

The Acer Aspire 1 is a no-frills laptop for less than £200. It runs on a basic Intel Celeron processor, which is perfectly adequate for everyday tasks like note-taking, writing and researching, and it has plenty of storage in its 128GB solid state hard drive. Compact at 14in and weighing just 1.4kg, it’s ideal for carrying to and from school without any bother. The eight hour battery life will fuel a full day of work without needing to be plugged in, while the 1080p screen is great for watching videos in your spare time.

Lenovo ideapad duet Chromebook

• Best : Chromebook for students
• CPU : MediaTek Helio P60T
• Display : 10.1in, 1,920 x 1,200px
• Storage : 64GB
• Sharp, vibrant screen
• Magnetic keyboard included
• Doubles as a tablet
• You’re limited to web apps and ChromeOS software

An affordable two-in-one from Lenovo, the IdeaPad Duet is a zippy little Chromebook-tablet that doubles as a laptop, thanks to its included magnetic keyboard cover and stand. Because it’s a Chromebook, it runs on ChromeOS software, meaning you can’t install Windows or MacOS applications on here. That’s fine for everyday use – word processors, spreadsheets, even photo editing can all be done in a browser window – but it could be an issue if there are any specific Windows applications you need to install as part of your work or study.

The crisp 1,920px x 1,200px resolution screen is pretty much unheard of at this price, and is excellent for getting some work done while on the go or watching Netflix shows in your downtime. We chose the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet as our best buy in our list of the best Lenovo laptops , where our reviewer described it as “a quick, sleek and versatile piece of kit.”

Acer Swift 3

• Best : Everyday student laptop
• CPU : Intel Core i5
• Storage : 512GB
• Great value for money
• Long battery life
• Lots of ports
• Average performance

The Acer Swift 3 is a lighter and more portable alternative to the Acer Aspire , but still manages to pack in all of the features you might need in a Windows 11 laptop. Weighing just 1.2kg and measuring 16mm thin, it’s straightforward to pop into and out of a bag when you’re working on the go. The Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of memory keeps performance fast, even while you’re juggling dozens of open Chrome tabs.

The mid-range processor isn’t the latest chip on the market, but it’s fast enough for this price range and more than capable of handling everyday tasks. The all-day battery life, the option to upgrade to a generous 512GB of SSD space and the plentiful array of connectivity options makes the Acer Swift 3 a versatile piece of kit.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514

• Best : 2-in-1 Chromebook
• CPU : Intel Core i3
• Versatile 2-in-1 design
• Bright 1080p screen
• Decent webcam quality for the price
• Limited to Chrome OS softwar

Chromebooks are more secure than traditional laptops, and come with parental control options to let you choose which sites and apps your child can access. Just keep in mind that Chromebooks can only run apps downloaded from the Google Play store, so if there are specific Windows apps you or your kid needs, they won’t be compatible here.

This Acer Chromebook combines the performance of a mid-range laptop with the flexibility of a touchscreen tablet. It has a sleek and modern design, weighs just shy of 1.4kg and has a tough chassis that should be able to withstand a few bumps. The 1080p display is also bright and vibrant, and the keyboard is comfortable. Battery life is excellent too, lasting around 10 hours with rigorous use.

Dell XPS 13, 2022

• Best : Student laptop overall
• CPU : Intel Core i5 (12th gen)
• Graphics : Intel Iris XE
• Screen : 13.4in, 1,920 x 1,200px
• Storage : 256GB SSD
• Incredibly fast
• Stylish design
• Poor quality webcam

The 13in variant of Dell’s flagship laptop is a showcase of everything the manufacturer can pack into a single device. The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best Windows laptops you can buy, and pairs a minimalist, no-fuss design with top-level functionality and performance. The bright, crisp touchscreen is one of the best displays on any laptop, while, under the hood, the 12th-generation Intel processor packs more performance than the average desktop computer.

In our review of the 15in model, we said “if you’re in the market for a high-performance and productivity-focused Windows laptop with a spectacular next-generation display, the new Dell XPS 15 is the best you’ll find. This is about as close to perfect as laptops get.”

Kids laptops FAQs

Which laptops have built-in cyber security software.

Every new Windows and Apple laptop comes with strong antivirus and anti-malware measures already built in, so it’s usually not necessary to splash out on any additional antivirus software. Out of the box, you’re actively protected from most online threats.

Your best defence against online threats is to teach your kid how to safely navigate the internet. For example, Be Internet Awesome (a Google initiative) offers a free and interactive course designed to help children and their families stay safe online.

How can I set up parental controls?

Setting up parental controls on a laptop depends on the type of laptop you have.

• Windows – Parental controls can be set up in an app called Microsoft Family Safety . This app lets you set screen time limits and content filters, sends you daily activity summaries, and can let your kid share their location with you at any time. It works across Windows laptops, Android phones, and the Xbox games console.
• MacOS – For parental controls on a MacBook, it’s easiest to set your kid up with their own child account on the device. Then, from your own account, set up Family Sharing to give you control of their account settings. From there the Screen Time settings menu lets you limit which apps are available and when, as well as restrict access to certain kinds of online content.
• Chromebook – On a Chromebook you can set up parental controls using Family Link . This lets you limit screen time, block apps and inappropriate content, manage their privacy settings, share a live location, and get notifications when your kid arrives or leaves a location.

When is the best age to give a child a laptop?

According to YouGov , most children in the UK use a family PC or a shared laptop until the age of 12. Kids under the age of 10 generally won’t need their own computer, but as they get older and start to enter secondary school, a laptop can be an important tool to support their education and help them develop digital skills they’ll need later in life.

The verdict: Laptops for kids

If you’re set on getting your kid a MacBook, your choice is straightforward: the MacBook Air is the best student laptop Apple makes. Suitable for all ages, it will remain an important and powerful tool in their education for years to come.

But you’ve got excellent options on the Windows side too. The Lenovo Ideapad 3i strikes the ideal balance between affordability and quality, and offers all the performance a young student might need.

Shopping for yourself? Check out our list of the best laptops of 2023 for every budget

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• Buying Guide

What’s the best student laptop? We asked students

The best laptops for students, from kindergarten through college.

By Monica Chin , a senior reviewer covering laptops and other gadgets. Monica was a writer for Tom's Guide and Business Insider before joining The Verge in 2020.

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Shopping for a laptop can be stressful — doubly stressful if you or your children will be learning online for the first time. Kids of different ages have a range of different laptop use cases and different needs. And as the choices for best laptop and best Chromebook evolve, so do students’ needs. So I spoke to some experts on the subject: students themselves. 

• The best laptop you can buy
• The best Chromebooks to buy

My recommendations here are meant to accommodate a variety of preferences and price ranges. But they’re a jumping-off point rather than an exhaustive list: every student is different. Before making a decision, you’ll want to make sure you read reviews and try out devices yourself if you can. I’ll do my best to keep this article up to date with items that are in stock. 

The best laptop for elementary school

For younger students, a touchscreen device is easier to use than a keyboard and touchpad, says Michelle Glogovac. Glogovac’s five-year-old son uses an iPad for Webex meetings with his kindergarten class. He’s gotten the hang of it; Glogovac says he’s already learned how to mute and unmute himself, “a skill that many adults aren’t familiar with.” 

That said, it may be worth investing in a keyboard case if you go the tablet route. Glogovac has to type her son’s meeting codes and passwords for him, which can be cumbersome on the iPad’s flat screen. 

As kids get older, their best laptop choice will vary depending on their needs. As a parent, it’s important that you and your child are in sync about how they intend to use it and the size of the programs they want. 

Kristin Wallace purchased a budget HP laptop for her daughter, Bella, but didn’t realize how quickly the nine-year-old would fill up 32GB of storage. “It is really slow and has no space for games. I need a computer with more storage space,” said Bella, who uses the laptop to Zoom with friends and take virtual guitar lessons and math enrichment classes. Wallace plans to buy Bella a better device in the next few weeks. 

Audio quality is an important consideration for kids’ laptops. Lisa Mitchell, an elementary library media specialist, says her students use their devices to watch YouTube videos in addition to their online classes. Battery life is also a plus, even for distance learners who may not be far from a wall outlet. Bella likes to use her laptop all around the house and doesn’t want to bring the cord with her.

Durability is also worth paying for, according to Mitchell. If you’re using a tablet, get a protective case. “If a reasonably-priced insurance or replacement policy is available, it’s usually worth the extra expense.”

Check out :

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Editio n ($139.99): a colorful, fast tablet with kid-friendly content
• Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 ($379): a tiny 11-inch Chromebook with a detachable keyboard
• Apple 10.2-inch iPad ($329): a great budget tablet that supports the Apple Pencil
• Microsoft Surface Go 3 ($439.99): a solid Windows tablet with a built-in kickstand
• Google Pixelbook Go ($649): a sturdy touchscreen Chromebook

The best laptop for middle school

The middle school students I spoke to don’t use their laptops for much more than web-based schoolwork and browsing. Don’t be too concerned about power — prioritize a machine that’s comfortable and easy for your child to use. 

“We just got the most basic Chromebook and it is totally perfect,” says Gabrielle Hartley, an attorney and mother of three children. “The most basic Chromebook serves all the needs of the basic middle schooler.”

Hartley’s son Max, who is in eighth grade, agrees. “I would really like a gaming PC or gaming laptop that can plug into a monitor and run video games with 120fps, but I really don’t need that,” Max says. “Most eighth graders aren’t going to be running any video games on their laptops or any software that requires a lot of power.”

Max mostly uses his laptop for Google Classroom applications, including Gmail, Slides, Google Docs, and Google Sheets. They’re very easy to use on his device, which he describes as “a run-of-the-mill Samsung Chromebook.” That said, if your child is starting middle school this year, it could be worth checking with their teachers to see what operating system is most compatible with their workflow. Caspian Fischer Odén, a ninth grader from Sweden, told me he has trouble with his Chromebook because his school has blocked downloading apps from the Google Play Store. 

Even kids with more demanding hobbies think a budget device can get the job done. Sam Hickman, an eighth grader from the UK who uses his laptop for photo and video editing, says, “For most middle schoolers, any processor developed within the last two years will be able to handle any tasks they can throw at it.” 

So, what is worth paying for? A comfortable keyboard, several students told me. Many middle school kids aren’t used to typing for long periods of time. You should also look for a device that’s compact and easy for them to carry around, particularly if they’re preparing for in-person school. Shoot for an 11- to 13-inch model — certainly nothing larger than 15 inches. 

• HP Chromebook x360 ($239.99): an affordable Chromebook with great battery life
• Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook ($299.99): a small but sturdy laptop made for students
• Lenovo 300e ($419.99): a durable 2-in-1 with a stylus and LTE
• Acer Aspire 5 ($679.99): a portable option for kids who need a 15-inch screen
• Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 ($573.99): an attractive, light Windows laptop

The best laptop for high school

High schoolers’ laptop needs can vary based on their interests, but most don’t need powerful machines with lots of bells and whistles — especially if they come with glitches or serious downsides that could interfere with schoolwork. Miles Riehle, a student at Laguna Beach High School, has a high-end Surface Pro 7 but finds it overwhelming. “There is so much other stuff that I don’t use very often,” he said. “Something simpler might be a little more straightforward.”

The best operating system may depend on what your child is used to. Aryan Nambiar, a student at Barrington High School in Illinois, has an iMac at home and enjoys using an iPad for his schoolwork. Riehle says he would prefer a Chromebook because he has an Android phone and often uses Google services. 

But almost every student I spoke to agreed that the most important feature of a high school laptop is portability. Kids attending in-person classes may be carrying their device around for much of the day with a stack of other books. Look for a 13- or 14-inch screen, or a lighter 15- to 17-inch model. 

Students also recommend something sturdy. “Most high schoolers I’ve seen will throw their laptop in their bag without too much care,” says Moses Buckwalter, a student at Penn Manor High School. Backpacks can be jostled in the hallway as well. Kids can also run into trouble at home. “Anything can happen,” says Aadit Agrawal, a high school student from India. “My own brother scratched my laptop with his nails.”

Battery life is another key feature. “It can be a real struggle to find a place to charge while in class,” says Cas Heemskerk, a sophomore from the Netherlands. Unlike college students, many high schoolers don’t have frequent breaks to juice up their devices, so try to find something that can last a full day. 

Many students recommend a touchscreen with stylus support. Nambiar uses the feature for his biology class, where he does a lot of visual modeling. “The touchscreen is always a bonus for drawing diagrams, whereas if you’re using a laptop it’d be a whole process to submit a diagram you drew,” Nambiar says. Riehle uses a Surface Pen to fill out school forms and annotate PDFs. Agrawal finds it useful to take notes on the same screen as his online lessons.

Depending on the broadband situation in your area, you may also want a laptop with multiple connectivity options. Agrawal’s online classes are sometimes interrupted by powercuts, so he recommends an LTE model. Matej Plavevski, a junior at Yahya Kemal College in North Macedonia, recommends looking for an Ethernet port in case slower connections disrupt meetings. That’s hard to find on smaller laptops, but there’s a slew of affordable dongles and docks to consider. 

• Acer Chromebook Spin 514 ($699.99): a convertible Chromebook with all-day battery
• Apple iPad Air ($599): a powerful tablet with a great screen
• Acer Chromebook Spin 714 ($699.99): a fantastic Chromebook that’s not too pricey
• Dell XPS 13 ($599): a solid clamshell Windows laptop
• Surface Laptop 5 ($899.99): an excellent, light laptop that’s comfortable to use

The best laptop for college

College kids are justified in spending a bit more money than other age groups. Some (especially in STEM courses) can expect to do some fairly demanding work. Assad Abid, an electrical engineering undergrad from Pakistan, needs to run simulation software for his assignments. Aakash Chandra, a student at New Horizon College of Engineering in India, does a lot of coding, in addition to creative work in Premiere Pro and Photoshop, and gaming. Students also noted that it’s worthwhile to pay for a laptop that will last for a few years after graduation. That means you won’t have to worry about finding and financing your next device until you’re (hopefully) settled into a job.

But among high-end, capable devices there’s still a wide range of options. Students stressed that a college laptop should be light. Expect to bring it between classes, meals, meetings, the library, and other locations on campus. “It’s a boon that I can carry my laptop as well as some notebooks without feeling like I’m carrying too much for six hours a day,” says Haseeb Waseem, a senior at Villanova University. 

Another universally-lauded feature: battery life. Waseem, who uses an HP Spectre, says the all-day juice gives him “the flexibility to study in a bunch of different locations, and even outside.” 

Speakers and webcams are often overlooked, even in top-end devices. But students say it’s worth looking for good ones if you’re starting college this year. Though many college students are now back to in-person classes, some will still be meeting with clubs and attending events online. Waseem isn’t satisfied with his laptop’s audio and picture quality, which he says has made it difficult to pay attention in class and to engage with other students.  

Many students will need to invest more in areas tailored to their interests and schoolwork needs. Chandra’s dream laptop would include a stylus and touchscreen for his creative work as well as a high-end GPU. Waseem, who uses his laptop for a hodgepodge of activities, including streaming, coding, social media, video chatting, and Microsoft Office work, would prefer to prioritize a large screen to keep track of his multitasking. 

• Acer Swift 3 ($849.99): a super light laptop that performs well
• HP Envy x360 ($1099.99): a fast and stylish 2-in-1
• HP Spectre x360 13.5 ($1,399.99): a premium convertible with standout battery life

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The Best Laptops and Tablets for College Students

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more . Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Best Windows Laptop Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Read more

Best MacBook for College Apple MacBook Air (13 Inch, 2024) Read more

Runner-Up Acer Swift Go 14 (2024) Read more

The Best Chromebook for Students Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Read more

The perfect college laptop may not exist. But somewhere between performance, size, weight, and price, there's a machine that will make you (and your parents) happy. We test dozens of laptops and tablets every year. The choices below are our favorite picks for students heading back to school this year. Whether you're attending classes in person or online—or doing some of both—there's something here for every student and every budget.

Be sure to check out our other back-to-school guides, including the Best Laptops , Best Tablets , Best Laptop Bags , Best Student Email Discounts , and Best Dorm and College Gear .

Updated August 2024: We've added the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, M3 Macbook Air, Lenovo 9i, Macbook M1 Air, Acer Swift Go 14, Acer Nitro 17, Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, and Raspberry Pi 5, and we’ve revamped all our other picks to include the latest models with the most up-to-date specs.

Best Windows Laptop

The Asus Zenbook 14 is a unique combination of performance, great battery life, and an OLED display—all for less than $700 ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). This 2023 model we like uses an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U CPU, with 8 GB of RAM and a 256-GB SSD. That may not sound like much, but we were impressed with the performance, especially given the price. That said, if you're heading to film school or plan to spend your nights gaming, this is not the laptop you want (see our gaming pick below). Battery life is outstanding though, clocking in at 12.5 hours (measured looping a YouTube video at full brightness), which is helpful for the long days on campus.

This is a small, portable machine (3.1 pounds and 19 mm thick), and it manages to pack in plenty of ports despite the slim form. There are two USB-C ports (one of which is needed for charging), one full-size USB 3.2 port, a full-size HDMI output, and a microSD card reader. If you want something just a little more powerful, you can bump the specs to 16 GB of RAM and a 512-GB SSD with the Ryzen 7 processor for not much more money.

You should also strongly consider Asus’ 2024 model of the Zenbook 14 OLED ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ). It's $799 at Walmart , though stock frequently fluctuates. It has slightly more updated specs but otherwise delivers a similar experience to its predecessor, with even better battery life.

Specs to look for: AMD Ryzen 5 7000 series, 8 GB RAM, 256-GB SSD

Best MacBook for College

Apple’s latest MacBook Air ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) with the M3 chip is the best Mac for college. It's light (2.7 pounds), easy to cart around in a backpack all day, and powerful enough for most tasks. The 13.6-inch LCD screen is plenty bright at 500 nits (there's also a 15-inch model ), and the 1080p webcam has a nice, sharp image perfect for chatting with friends.

The Air is a little short on ports: two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports , a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and a MagSafe port for charging. Apple claims 15 hours of battery life, but we hit 29 percent after eight hours during the workday. That's pretty good, if not quite up to Apple's claims. Apple’s M3 chip combined with the upgraded 16 GB of unified memory makes for a speedy laptop. We had no trouble running standard college apps like Slack, iMessage, Spotify, and Telegram, along with about 60 tabs open in Google Chrome.

Note: college students with a .edu email address can get the M3 Air for $999 through Apple’s Education store . On top of that Apple has a Back to School offer  through September 30, which includes a gift card up to $150 and 20% off AppleCare.

Specs to look for: Apple M3 chip, 8+ GB of RAM, 256-GB SSD

This Acer laptop is frequently discounted to $800 and, like the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, it's quite good value for the money ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ). The build quality is a bit lackluster, but performance is excellent for everyday productivity. There's a nice selection of ports, even a microSD card slot, and the battery lasted roughly 11 hours in our tests (a YouTube video on loop at max brightness).

Specs to look for: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16 GB of RAM, 512-GB SSD

The Best Chromebook for Students

Lenovo's Flex 5i Chromebook Plus ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is a good choice for students all in on Google services. It's one of the fastest, most versatile Chromebooks we’ve tested. It strikes a great balance between price, power, and features, with a 2-in-1 design that lets you seamlessly switch between laptop mode for homework and stand mode for late-night binges.

The 14-inch 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution screen is a bit taller than you’ll find on most laptops, which is great for working on documents and browsing the web. The Intel Core i3 processor and flash storage never struggle to keep up. Even if you have dozens of tabs open doing research, this won't let you down. The display is 1080p and gets bright enough for most typical conditions, though there's nothing special about it. The port selection is solid, with two USB-C ports and one USB-A on board. There's a microSD card slot too, if you find the internal 128 GB of storage wanting. See our Best Chromebooks guide for more options.

Specs to look for: Intel Core i3, 8 GB of RAM, 128-GB SSD

A Gaming Laptop for Students

You'll need a competent machine for when you want to play games and take your mind off coursework. But certain students will also need a powerful PC for graphics-intensive work, like video editing. A gaming laptop is the way to go, and the Acer Nitro 17 is a great place to start. It's frequently sold for just $900 at Micro Center, which is a killer price considering the performance it delivers. The RTX 4060 graphics card will handle most games at low to medium settings, and you get to enjoy all of it on a spacious 17-inch display and 165-Hz refresh rate .

The downside is it's very heavy at 6 pounds, an important factor to consider if you have to lug it to class. It also doesn't have great battery life, so you'll want to keep a charger handy. If those are deal-breakers, then consider the older Acer Nitro 5 ($908) , which has lesser specs but is slightly smaller and lighter, and its battery life is a bit better .

Specs to look for: AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, 1-TB SSD

Best 2-in-1 Laptop for College

The Lenovo Yoga 9i ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) has long been a WIRED favorite. Two-in-one laptops are nice for college because they can double as a tablet or be folded into various shapes for watching movies or as presentation devices in class. Lenovo’s 2024 edition of the Yoga 9i features Intel’s Core Ultra CPU and a 5-megapixel webcam. With a trio of USB-C ports and one USB-A port, there are plenty of ways to connect any accessories you need. Our only issue with this laptop is the battery life, which isn't the best—something worth weighing if you plan to tote it around campus (bring the cord).

Specs to look for: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 16 GB of RAM, 1-TB SSD

Best Budget Laptop

Lenovo's AMD-based IdeaPad 5, which comes with a Ryzen 5 processor, is a great laptop for students. There's plenty of power, a very nice 14-inch IPS display, 16 GB of RAM, and a 256-GB SSD. The 360-degree hinge converts it to tablet mode or stand mode for watching movies in your dorm. To take full advantage of the 2-in-1 design, be sure to grab the digital pen ($40) . Another reason we like the IdeaPad is the plethora of ports: You get two USB-A ports, an HDMI, an SD card reader, one USB-C, a headphone jack, and a charging port (though you can use the USB-C to recharge the laptop too). If you're a computer science major or plan to do some video editing, the more powerful Ryzen 7 version can be had for just a little more .

Specs to look for: AMD Ryzen 5, 16 GB of RAM, 256-GB SSD

The Best Budget MacBook for College

The MacBook Air ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) from 2020 with the original M1 chip is still available, and at $650 it's a pretty good deal. The battery will last more than a full workday, under most workloads, and it's powerful enough for college use. These days you can only buy the base model with 8 GB of unified memory and 256 GB of storage, but that should be sufficient for college tasks. If you push it with many browser tabs and apps running simultaneously, you may run into some slowdowns. The 720p webcam isn’t great, but for this price it's hard to argue.

Specs to look for: Apple M1 chip, 8 GB of RAM, 256-GB SSD

Best Linux Laptop

Framework's 13-inch laptop is a good choice for budding programmers and sysadmins. The 13-inch model ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is available with either Windows or Linux, but I much prefer it with Linux—a DIY laptop needs a DIY OS. The hallmark of this laptop is how you can repair and replace components down the road, making it more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Right now you can get an Intel Core Ultra series system with 32 GB of RAM, a 2-TB SSD, and whichever mix of ports suits your needs for around $1,300. That will ship with no operating system. When it arrives you can install Linux (or opt to ship it with Windows if you need to dual boot). See our Best Linux Laptops guide for more options.

Specs to look for: Intel Core Ultra 5, 16+ GB of RAM, 500-GB SSD

If You Want a Copilot+ PC

You might be seeing a wave of “Copilot+ PCs” in your research—that's because Microsoft launched this new moniker earlier in the summer. These machines have Qualcomm processors that enable good productivity performance, even with AI-specific tasks, and excellent battery life. They're not suitable for gaming or if you need to use specific, niche apps because the CPU architecture might not play well with apps that aren't properly optimized.

That said, the Galaxy Book4 Edge ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) from Samsung is our favorite Copilot+ PC at the moment (and we've reviewed a lot !). It has the best performance out of the many we've tested, great battery life, and a pleasant 16-inch display. It's also not as expensive as many other options with the specs we recommend and has already dropped to an even better value on sale.

Specs to look for: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E84100, 16 GB of RAM, 1-TB SSD

Or Get an iPad

Do you really need a laptop? Really really? Only you can answer that, but if your requirements revolve around taking notes, doing research, reading textbooks, and other knowledge-related tasks, then you might be able to get by with a much lighter tablet like the iPad Air ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). The Apple Pencil Pro is a must-have. Using it on the iPad's screen feels close to dragging a real pencil across a piece of paper. You'll also want a Bluetooth keyboard for typing those papers and emails. We like the Logitech Combo Touch ($229) ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) or Apple’s own Magic Keyboard ($299) , both of which add trackpads to the mix for a more computer-like feel. Our Best iPad Accessories guide has more options.

That said, it's not as easy to multitask on an iPad as it is on a laptop, and by the time you get a keyboard, pencil, and whatever else you need, it can become just as expensive as a laptop. With 2024's updated Air, supported accessories became a little confusing. The iPad Air is compatible with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the new Apple Pencil Pro . It won't work with the second-generation Apple Pencil though. It also works with the first-generation Magic Keyboard case and not the latest redesigned version.

Specs to look for: M2 processor, Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi+cellular, 64 GB of storage

★ An Android alternative: If you don't want to buy into Apple's ecosystem, the OnePlus Pad ($479) ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is a great alternative. You need to add the $149 magnetic keyboard cover to make it a productivity machine (OnePlus sometimes has an offer that bundles it for free), but you can use split-screen mode to run apps side by side and have a third app floating on the side for easy access. The OnePlus Pad 2 is also a solid option that's larger, but it's pricier.

It's not a laptop or tablet, but the Raspberry Pi 5 has education written all over it. This hackable, programmable micro PC is a great option for anyone—computer science major or otherwise—who wants to tinker and experiment with software or hardware. They're also just fun to build projects with. You can automate your dorm coffee maker , make a beetbox , or create a network-wide content filter . If the Raspberry Pi doesn't grab you, have a look at our guide to some alternative small board options .

How to Choose the Right Laptop for College

The important thing to remember is that there is no single correct choice here. The laptop that's best for your college experience depends on what you're doing at college. An English major with long reading lists and many papers to write might do better with an iPad and a nice accessory keyboard. A computer science major who needs to compile software or run Linux will need a laptop they can tinker away on. That said, here are some basic metrics to keep in mind for laptops:

• Windows : If you're getting a Windows machine, your main options for the processor are Intel and AMD, though Qualcomm is now a viable alternative with Copilot+ PCs . Each has its strengths and weaknesses. For a more complete guide to the differences, see our full guide to buying a laptop .
• Chromebooks : These browser-based machines use half a dozen different processors, most of which you've probably never heard of. There's a reason for that: Those processors are slow. My recommendation when buying a Chromebook is to stick with a Chromebook Plus machine . This is a new standard Google created to ensure a certain level of performance and polish with Chromebooks.
• MacOS : Apple has been making its own processors for a few years, like the M3 chip found inside the MacBook Air showcased above. More powerful models like the MacBook Pros feature the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. Our MacBook buying guide can help.

Regardless of which OS you choose, the minimum amount of RAM you want in your laptop is 8 GB. That's enough memory to keep your computer feeling snappy even if it's running under load. That much RAM will also keep the machine feeling spry longer into its lifespan. If you can afford it—especially if you plan to edit photos or videos as part of your coursework—go for 16 GB.

Screens vary tremendously but don't settle for anything less than 1080p. For a 13-inch laptop, 1080p is sharp enough. If you're going with a bigger laptop, 2.5K or even 4K screens will improve the viewing experience. If you're trying to play games as well, be sure to get something with a higher refresh rate— 120 Hz or 144 Hz will more than satisfy.

Weight and Battery

Don't forget you'll be lugging this thing around. It may well be tugging on your back for eight hours or more. One pound may not seem like much, but at the end of a long day of walking, you will notice the difference between a 3-pound laptop and a 4-pound laptop. Trust me. Also, maybe pick out a nice bag to carry your computer.

Similarly, battery life is very important when you're (potentially) away from a wall outlet for extended periods. Whatever you end up getting, make sure it's capable of lasting at least eight hours under real-world use—browsing the web, editing documents, writing emails, and taking notes. Even then, you might want to consider a portable battery charger .

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Best laptops for college students 2024: Top picks and expert advice

The school season is finally here, folks. Whether you’re looking to pick up an affordable laptop for an elementary student or something more powerful for a college freshman, we’ve got a number of options to chose from right here. But finding the right laptop for your studies can be difficult and overwhelming, which is why it’s important to consider these six must-have features first. If you’re here for just laptop buying recommendations, then you’ve come to the right spot. Below you’ll find a carefully curated list of laptops the team at PCWorld have personally tested. Read on to learn more.

Why you should trust us: It’s in our name: PCWorld. We’ve been reviewing laptops for over 40 years, with exacting standards applied to all facets of the user experience, from performance benchmarks to features to the rigors of daily use. Our experts know their stuff and have curated a comprehensive list of the best laptops for college students, with their particular needs in mind.

After you finish looking over our recommendations, be sure to hit our daily updated roundup of the best laptop deals to try and score a great laptop on sale. Or check out our roundup of the best laptops for even more recommendations. By the way, since we’re in the middle of back-to-school season, be sure to check out PCWorld’s extensive back-to-school coverage for advice and deals.

Updated August 14, 2024: We updated our list of recent laptop reviews to include the Framework Laptop 13 ($1,643), a modular machine that allows you to upgrade and repair on the fly. While we liked having the freedom to chose our own ports, it doesn’t have the longest battery life and it’s pretty expensive for the internal components.

Best laptops for college students

Dell inspiron plus 14 – best overall for students.

• Fantastic performance
• Exceptional battery life
• Great typing experience
• CPU throttles under heavy loads
• No user upgrades

Why we like the Dell Inspiron Plus 14

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is one of the most well-rounded laptops available right now. You’re getting reliable performance, phenomenal battery life, and a superb-looking display. It only costs $999.99 too, which is several hundred dollars cheaper than our former top pick. With a PCMark 10 score of 7,061, it beat both the similarly spec’d Acer Swift Go 14 and the more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon . (PCMark 10 gauges how well a laptop handles day-to-day tasks.) It also lasted a whopping 17 hours on a single charge, which is perfect for students looking for a long-lasting machine. You don’t have to go hunting for an outlet between classes, that’s for sure.

Performance and battery life are no doubt impressive, but the 14-inch 1400p display is also worth noting. According to our review, “the display is exceedingly well suited to office work and static imagery.” We measured a peak brightness level of 418 nits, which is plenty bright for writing papers and browsing the web. Plus, thanks to the anti-glare coating on the display, you can use this laptop in more natural lightning environments.

Who should buy the Dell Inspiron Plus 14

Students looking for a well-rounded and long-lasting laptop. The design is a bit boring, sure, but its hardware capabilities and long battery life make up for the staid aesthetics. You can’t really get much better than this–especially for $999.99.

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – Best laptop for students runner-up

• Robust build quality
• Attractive OLED touchscreen
• Good CPU and integrated GPU performance
• Amazing battery life
• Blah design
• Keyboard isn't memorable
• Mediocre connectivity

Why we like the Asus Zenbook

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED really dazzled us with its peppy processor performance, outstanding battery life, and sublime OLED touchscreen display. Movies and games “look realistic and vibrant” on the 14-inch 1200p display and the 75 watt-hour battery ran for a whopping 16 hours on a single charge. This result really blows away competitors like the Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9  and the  HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14 . As for how it fares in the performance department, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is plenty fast during day-to-day tasks such as web browsing, chatting over video, and so on, delivering benchmark scores just a bit below our top pick.

Who should buy the Asus Zenbook

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a fantastic choice for students because it offers outstanding battery life, speedy overall performance, and a lovely OLED display. It’s also cheaper than our current top pick. That said, it’s a runner-up for a reason. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, which is still the reigning champ, is the more well-rounded option of the two. It has twice the storage, a higher resolution screen, and a better keyboard. However, if you’re looking to save a hundred bucks or so, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is still a great option.

Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best budget laptop for students

• Decent battery life
• Good display visibility
• Big and bulky
• Cheap build
• Limited performance

Why we like the Acer Aspire Go 15

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a great choice for students on a tight budget. The power efficient Intel Core i3-N305 is capable of handling day-to-day tasks such as watching Netflix, surfing the web, writing papers, and more. This laptop also managed 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is more than a full school day. Connectivity options aren’t too shabby, either. You’re getting one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, one HDMI, one 3.5mm combo audio, one Kensington lock slot, and one DC barrel jack.

Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15

Anyone that needs an affordable laptop with decent performance. The 53.9 watt-hour battery will last you most of the day and the CPU has enough power for daily tasks. The 15.6-inch 1080p display also boasts good visibility and the keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience. It doesn’t have all the fancy features you’d see on a high-end machine, but some folks don’t need all that extra noise. If you’re on an ultra-strict budget, then the Acer Aspire Go 15 is absolutely worth picking up.

Lenovo Flex 5i – Best Chromebook for students

• Great build quality
• Vibrant touchscreen display
• Fast performance
• Nice typing experience
• Stylus not included
• Average battery life for a Chromebook
• Heavier than expected

Why we like the Lenovo Flex

The Lenovo Flex 5i is a great Chromebook because of its convertible design, fast performance, superb typing experience, and touchscreen display. The chassis has a luxurious aluminum finish on it, which makes it feel three or four times as expensive. The 360-degree hinge that connects the display to the rest of the laptops feels strong and like it won’t wear out anytime soon. The keyboard is also a dream to type on and easy to adjust to, and the 1200p display produces sharp, colorful visuals. Sure, it’s heavier than we expected right out of the box and the stylus isn’t included, but those are small trade-offs in the grand scheme of things. Overall, this is a really well-rounded machine.

Who should buy the Lenovo Flex

We feel as though the Lenovo Flex 5i is a good option for those who prefer using Google’s ecosystem and can handle mostly working online. The beautiful touchscreen display and the convertible design really gives it the edge over other Chromebooks and even some Windows laptops, as you usually see those features in machines that cost much more. While the nine hour battery life is a little below average for a Chromebook, it’ll still last you a full school day and then some. At the end of the day, the Lenovo Flex 5i’s list of compromises is quite small.

Alternative option :  If you’re dealing with an unforgiving budget (been there), the  Acer Chromebook Plus 514   ($249.99) is worth picking up . It’s about $100 cheaper than our current pick and it comes with loads of connectivity options as well as an spacious keyboard and a sophisticated design. It’s not a 2-in-1 laptop like Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, but I wouldn’t consider that a deal-breaker, especially if you prefer traditional clamshells.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 – Best battery life

• Attractive, slim, and light
• Class-leading battery life
• Excellent wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 7
• Good performance in real-world situations
• Vague keyboard falls short of competitors
• IPS touchscreen's image quality can't compare to OLED
• Gaming performance doesn't hold up

Why we like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is one of the first laptops to release with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor and boy, is it power efficient! We logged 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is absolutely bananas. In addition to the top-tier battery life, you’re also getting phenomenal wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 7 as well as reliable casual use performance during. Our review unit cost $1,999.99, which is pretty high for most folks, but you can get the base configuration for $999.99 . The base configuration comes with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and 126GB of SSD storage, so it’s totally capable of handling day-to-day tasks.

Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

Anyone that needs a long-lasting laptop! In addition to the insane battery life, the laptop itself weighs just under three pounds, which means you can take it with you from class-to-class. The 13.8-inch touchscreen also comes with a sharp 2304×1536 resolution and a fast 120Hz refresh rate. It’s not OLED, but it’s still a good display. The bezels are also a lot smaller than the previous model’s, so you’re getting more screen this time around. Overall, this is a truly impressive offering from Microsoft.

Alternative option: If you’re looking for a bigger OLED screen, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge ($1,749.99) is definitely worth considering. It boasts 21 hours of battery life on a single charge (one hour longer than our current pick) and a 16-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2880×1800 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. That said, it’s heavier than our current pick at 3.42 pounds and the 14-inch base model costs more at $1,349.

MacBook Air (M3) – Best MacBook for students

• Excellent battery life
• Great combination of price, features, and performance
• 256GB SSD is now two NAND chips, maintaining performance
• Expensive memory upgrades
• Dual external display support requires closed lid

Why we like the MacBook Air

From the outstanding battery life to the spacious Liquid Retina display, the MacBook Air (M3) received high marks across the board. It comes with an 8-core CPU (M3) and a 10-core GPU as well as two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 66.5 watt-hour battery. Performance is similar to the MacBook Pro (M3) , which means it can blitz through school work and casual use tasks. The only difference between the two is that the MacBook Air doesn’t have fans, resulting in quieter operation. This laptop also managed a whopping 19 hours on a single charge, which is great news for those with jam-packed schedules and have zero time to plug into the nearest outlet.

Who should buy the MacBook Air

Anyone who prefers MacOS over other operating systems! The battery life is incredible and the laptop itself weighs just a little over three pounds, which means you can easily take it anywhere with you. The $1,299 price tag is also reasonable for the performance and features. However, the 8GB of RAM is light compared to Windows-based alternatives.

Acer TravelMate P6 – Best ultraportable for students

• Long battery life
• Light and portable
• A good price for a business laptop
• Keyboard is a tad mushy
• No NPU for future Windows AI features
• Consumer laptops deliver similar specs at a lower price

Why we like the Acer TravelMate

The Acer TravelMate P6 is so lightweight that it might just float up into the stratosphere. It weighs just 2.65 pounds and is made of magnesium-alloy, which is a very light yet durable material. This is the kind of laptop you can easily toss in a bag and take with you from class to class. The 65 watt-hour battery also lasted nearly 13 hours on a single charge — more than a full school day! In the performance department, thanks to the Intel Core i5-1335U CPU, it’s equipped to handle coursework and day-to-day tasks. In fact, it managed a respectable Cinebench R20 score of 3,065, which isn’t far behind the more powerful HP Pavilion Plus.

Who should buy the Acer TravelMate

The Acer TravelMate P6 is a good option if you’re looking for a powerful, lightweight laptop. In addition to the slimmed-down form factor, it also features a 1080p webcam with a physical privacy shutter and a 14-inch 1200p display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The taller aspect ratio gives you more room to scroll through webpages and the 1080p webcam will make you look your best during remote sessions. Plus, the backlit keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience. What more could you ask for?

Alternative option: If you’re able to stretch your budget, you should consider picking up the Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight ($2,663 at Dell) . It weighs less than current pick at just 2.33 pounds and it has more RAM (32GB), a more efficient processor (Intel Core Ultra 7 165U), and a higher resolution display (2560×1600). That said, it’s more expensive than the Acer TravelMate P6 and may not be the best option for the budget-conscious.

Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition – Best gaming laptop for students

• Impressive battery life
• Gorgeous 16:10 display
• Rugged chassis
• Keys feel a bit soft
• 720p webcam is disappointing

Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming

The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is something of a rare gem in the sand dune. This specific model exhibits strong graphics performance as well as long battery life, which is unusual for a gaming laptop. Most gaming laptops last only a couple of hours on a single charge. Well, the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition and its 11 and a half hours of battery life is out here changing the script. That’s more than a full school day.

Also, thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU and the AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU, it also managed 123 frames-per-second in the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark. That’s pretty darn good, especially for a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop.

Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming

The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a great option for those who like to game after class. The pricing is reasonable and you’re getting reliable graphics performance as well as a spacious keyboard and decent battery life. It’s also a good purpose machine, so you can use it for coursework and day-to-day productivity. If you’re a gamer who wants Nvidia features like DLSS or advanced ray tracing, however, this all-AMD system won’t cut it — opt for the alternative below instead.

Alternative option: The Lenovo LOQ 15 ($849) stands as another solid budget gaming laptop option. It’s more than capable of 1080p gaming, with an RTX 4060 GPU and access to Nvidia features like DLSS, while the design is very sci-fi inspired. That said, it didn’t nab the top pick because of the poor battery life (not unusual for a gaming laptop) and limited port selection .

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How we tested

The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out  how PCWorld tests laptops .

Windows laptops

• PCMark 10 : PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on.
• HandBrake : HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file.
• Cinebench : Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time.
• 3DMark : 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips.
• Video rundown test : To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies.

Chromebooks

• CrXPRT 2 : The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook’s battery life.
• Speedometer 2.0 : This test determines a Chromebook’s web browser performance. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list.
• Basemark Web 3.0 : This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications.
• Kraken 1.1 : Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark.
• Jetstream 2 : Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads.

What to look for in a laptop for college

The first thing to consider is budget. How much are you willing to spend on a laptop? If you’re working with an inflexible budget, Chromebooks are a good option. They’re affordable and designed to handle everyday tasks like writing papers, working on spreadsheets, and so on. Chromebook prices can range anywhere from $200 up to $1,000. If you want to spend a bit more, laptops with convertible touchscreens (otherwise known as 2-in-1s) offer a great deal of functionality. You can flip the screen around and use it like a tablet or prop it up like an easel for watching movies.

Things like navigating your e-mail or watching Netflix will require more RAM. We recommend springing for 8GB of RAM or more. 4GB of RAM is fine and good for web browsing and basic office work, but 8GB is better for having more tabs open and whatnot. Plus, applications like Google Chrome and Spotify tend to eat up a lot of memory. Most people can get by with 4GB in a pinch if you’re on a tight budget, but you won’t be able to multitask as much.

The final thing is a decent keyboard. In college, you’re going to be spending a lot of time typing. Depending on your personal preference, you may want either a full or short travel keyboard . Mechanical keyboards , for example, normally have longer travel. This helps prevent accidental keystrokes. The keys also give a lot of tactile feedback, as they bounce back after they’re pressed down.

Which laptop size is best?

This is mostly personal preference. Students who bring their laptops to class or intend to travel a lot should consider a smaller, more portable size. Anything in the neighborhood of 13- to 14-inches is recommended. However, if you want to use your laptop for gaming, then you should consider something in the 15- to 17-inch range. It’s also important to keep in mind the weight of the laptop before buying it. Ultra thin laptops can weigh a featherlight two pounds while hefty gaming rigs top the scales at three or four times that—not exactly something you want to carry in a backpack everyday.

How long should a laptop last on a single charge?

If you’ve got a jam-packed schedule, you’ll probably be running from class to class with very little downtime in between. That’s why we recommend a laptop with a long-lasting battery. We recommend something that’ll last 7 to 10-plus hours on a single charge, unless you want a notebook that can play games on the side—gaming laptops are notorious for their shorter endurance, even during everyday tasks. That 7 to 10 hours is a good figure if you plan on taking your laptop with you everywhere.

What about processing power?

Most students will be able to get by with an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor. You don’t need anything mega powerful for everyday tasks and school work. However, if you’re using more graphically demanding programs on the regular, then you may want to spring for an Intel Core i7 or i9. It all really depends on your workload.

For more specifics regarding the hardware you want inside your laptop, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on how to buy a budget laptop without getting screwed , as well as our broader cheatsheet on what to look for in a laptop CPU and GPU .

Author: Ashley Biancuzzo , Associate Editor, PCWorld

Ashley Biancuzzo manages all laptop and Chromebook coverage for PCWorld. She's been covering consumer tech since 2016, and her work has appeared on USA Today, Reviewed, Polygon, Kotaku, StarWars.com, and Nerdist. In her spare time, she enjoys playing video games, reading science fiction, and hanging out with her rescue greyhound.

Recent stories by Ashley Biancuzzo:

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The best laptop for kids in 2024: our favorite kid-friendly picks

These are our best laptop for kids picks on the market right now

• How we test

The best laptop for kids needs to fulfill a few important criteria. It should be easy to use, with a solid battery life, good portability, and tough enough to stand up to a few hard knocks here and there. In addition, the best laptops need to offer decent performance when it comes to web browsing, homework, and media streaming. 

For a great overall performance, we recommend the Acer Chromebook Spin 311. As with many other best Chromebooks , this is a 2-in-1 model that can be used in laptop or tablet modes, making it versatile and adaptable to your child’s way of working. It’s compact, portable, and sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of the daily school or college commute. 

Elsewhere, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is an ideal laptop for kids, if you happen to be shopping with a smaller budget. It may not win any prizes in the style stakes, but it has a solid performance, a decent battery life, and a robust build quality. Plus, it also offers 2-in-1 functionality.     

Of course, the practical applications aren’t the only factors to consider with the best laptops for kids. As with the best student laptops , they represent more than just a work tool. For younger kids, they can be a means to stay in contact with friends and family (under supervision, of course), a gaming device, or a way to enjoy their favorite TV shows and movies. 

We’ve sifted through the best laptop models that fit the needs of kids, and our list below has been carefully curated to cover every base, so you can make an informed choice from these reliable options.

The best laptops for kids: our top picks

The best laptops for kids in 2024.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

1. Acer Chromebook Spin 311

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 opts for an AMD APU, which utilizes the well-known Radeon graphics technology for better 3D capabilities - if you have time out of your studies to play some games from the Google Play Store! The dual-core AMD processor does offer Intel -Celeron-beating abilities, by a little at least, and so Chrome OS is going to remain more responsive.

More importantly, the Acer Spin 311 feels durable and well-made, meaning it can handle being dropped in a school backpack or thrown onto the back seat of your car. It’s highly portable and, although the screen disappoints a little by being a touch dull, perfectly usable. At just over eight hours the battery is good though not spectacular for a Chromebook, but balancing that against the great price makes this a strong choice. 

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 311 review  

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook

If you're on the hunt for something super-affordable, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Flex Chromebook is an excellent choice. You can pick this model up for a little over $200 in the US now, and it's similarly cheap in most other territories. Even at its original launch price of $339, we still gave it four stars.

No, it's not going to measure up to more expensive laptops when it comes to performance, but the sturdy chassis, long battery life, and touchscreen with a 360-degree hinge for swapping into tablet mode make this the perfect first laptop for a younger child. It should survive whatever your kid throws at it - and thanks to Chrome OS's parent mode, you can rest assured that your child's digital safety is secure.

Read the full Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 review

Find the best deals on Lenovo products with our Lenovo coupon codes .

3. Google Pixelbook Go

Google might've sadly shuttered its own laptop division so we won't be getting a new model, but you can still pick up a Pixelbook Go for a reasonable price - and it's basically the best Chromebook ever made.

When we tested it, we marveled at the super-long battery life and excellent 'Hush' keyboard, with the entire construction of the laptop feeling sturdy yet sleek. It's got a sharp 1080p webcam - perfect for virtual classes or video calls with friends - and naturally runs Chrome OS smooth as butter; the perfect union of Google's hardware and software.

Bear in mind that it's at the premium end when it comes to Chromebook pricing, so if you're on a budget, you might be better served elsewhere. That's just about our only real criticism, though: you get a lot for your money here, and Google is committed to ensuring Chrome OS remains a stable, secure, and child-friendly virtual environment for years to come.

Read our full Google Pixelbook Go review

4. Acer Aspire 5 (2022)

Chromebooks can be super-cheap, but the downside of Chrome OS is that it lacks the versatility and widespread support of Windows. If you're looking for a more conventional laptop without a high price tag, the Acer Aspire 5 is the way to go.

The Intel Core i5 processor will smoke the majority of Chromebooks around the same price point, even if it's nothing particularly impressive for a Windows laptop. With the Aspire 5's aggressive pricing though, it's great value - and you're getting plenty more, too.

The battery life is solid, and the full HD display is good for both homework and watching videos after school. There's a 720p webcam for video calls and distance learning too, and the whole design is pleasingly robust without being incredibly heavy. There aren't quite as many ports as we'd like (only one USB-C is a shame) but at this price point, it's honestly hard to argue.

Read our full Acer Aspire 5 review

5. Acer Chromebook 516 GE

If your kid wants a machine for both schoolwork and gaming, you may want to consider a gaming Chromebook. The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is our current favorite of this rare breed of laptops, providing great performance in a sleek and sturdy chassis with a truly excellent screen. You'll pay a bit more than some of the cheapest laptops on this list, but the build quality justifies the price tag - this is a machine for a slightly older kid.

Bear in mind that these 'gaming Chromebooks' still use Chrome OS, so they can't directly run games from platforms such as Steam or the Epic Games Store. Instead, you can download and play games from the Google Play Store, and use cloud gaming services such as Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce Now. These require a subscription and a good internet connection, but grant you access to a wide library of games to stream on-demand - great for indecisive kids who are always looking to play something new!

Read our full Acer Chromebook 516 GE review

6. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Although it might've been replaced by the faster, sleeker M2 MacBook Air (2022) , the 2020 model - equipped with Apple's first-generation M1 chip - is still no slouch. A powerhouse productivity machine, the M1 MacBook Air is perfect for students no matter what level of education they're at.

Not only is it still capable of going toe-to-toe with many newer laptops in terms of performance, but the M1 model offers phenomenal battery life and the passive cooling design means that you'll never have to listen to noisy laptop fans. Back when we reviewed it, we praised the speedy performance, bright display, and comfortable keyboard - all things that hold true to this day. Oh, and it's quite a bit cheaper than the newer M2 model, too!

Read our full MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review

7. HP Pavilion 15

It's hardly the most exciting laptop around, but the HP Pavilion 15 is a reliable workhorse - and that's what makes it one of the best laptops for kids. It touts impressive specs (the kind you might expect from a pricier laptop) and an optional touchscreen display model, potentially a boon for kids who prefer a more tactile laptop experience.

HP Fast Charge is also a nifty inclusion, and a valuable one since in our review we did note that the battery life was a bit unimpressive. There wasn't much else to complain about though, and there's a variety of configurations available to suit your budget, though, so you won't have to spend the world to pick one of these up.

Read our full HP Pavilion 15 review

Get your next laptop for less with our HP coupon codes .

8. Asus TUF Dash F15 (2022)

If your kid is a die-hard gamer but also needs a laptop for work as well as play, the Asus TUF Dash F15 is a sound pick. Unlike many gaming laptops, the Dash F15 doesn't bring with it an ostentatious design covered in gaudy LED lighting; just solid performance, good battery life (for a gaming laptop, anyway - it's not going to beat a MacBook), and a robust, straightforward chassis.

We only found minor niggles with it in our review, noting that the bundled Asus software was a bit finicky and that some of the ports were awkwardly positioned. It's surprisingly lightweight as gaming laptops go, not the huge powerhouse clunkers we've become accustomed to. It's also relatively affordable for the performance you're getting - though if you're hunting for something extra-cheap, you could check out the 2021 Asus TUF Dash F15 too.

To save money on Asus products, check out our Asus promo codes . 

Read our full Asus TUF Dash F15 (2022) review

The best laptop for kids: FAQs

What is a good first laptop for kids.

There’s a wealth of choices when it comes to laptops for kids, with some great options from manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, and Acer. And although there’s no definitive answer here, we were impressed by the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 .  

This 2-in-1 Chromebook is versatile, lightweight, portable, and has a reasonable battery life. It’s not too expensive and is powerful enough to comfortably cover any kind of junior homework assignment. Plus, if the worst comes to the worst and it gets unceremoniously dropped, it’s durable enough that it shouldn’t cause any lasting damage.    

What is a good laptop for an 8-year-old?

As with the above, a suitable laptop for an eight-year-old should cover the same bases, while offering reliable security measures to protect your child while they’re web browsing. 

Before buying, it’s worth checking whether your child needs access to certain software for their school work, as this will determine what type of laptop might be suitable (e.g. some software that runs on Windows won’t be supported by a laptop that runs on Chrome OS). 

Beyond this, it’s a good idea to stick to more household brands that you know can be trusted, and pick a laptop capable of providing what your child needs it to do. 

Should I get a Chromebook for my kid?

Chromebooks are great - they run on the super-lightweight operating system Chrome OS, which isn't as demanding on your hardware and can be set up in child safety mode to give you more control over your kid's browsing, perfect for younger users.

Chrome OS supports Android apps from the Google Play Store too, which means that if you get a Chromebook with a touchscreen it can be effectively used like a large phone or tablet.

However, it's important to note that Chromebooks aren't really for gaming (unless you get a game-streaming subscription) and Chrome OS doesn't support a lot of software that runs on Windows - of particular note here is that if your kid needs to use specific software for school, it's vital to check what operating systems it can run on.

How we test the best laptops for kids

Here at TechRadar, we believe in rigorously testing every piece of hardware that passes through our hands. If it fails to impress during testing, we'll always let you know; we won't recommend you buy any product that falls short of the performance median for its price range.

Our testing process varies from product to product, but we're always sure to run the most appropriate tests considering the target purpose of whatever we're reviewing. This means we're always sure to run plenty of gaming tests on a gaming laptop, or editing benchmarks for a desktop workstation PC. We also always examine the build quality of a product to see whether it aligns with the attached price tag.

If you want to know more about how we test and rate the computers in this guide, check out our explainer on how we test laptops and desktops to learn more.

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Christian is TechRadar’s UK-based Computing Editor. He came to us from Maximum PC magazine, where he fell in love with computer hardware and building PCs. He was a regular fixture amongst our freelance review team before making the jump to TechRadar, and can usually be found drooling over the latest high-end graphics card or gaming laptop before looking at his bank account balance and crying.

Christian is a keen campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights and the owner of a charming rescue dog named Lucy, having adopted her after he beat cancer in 2021. She keeps him fit and healthy through a combination of face-licking and long walks, and only occasionally barks at him to demand treats when he’s trying to work from home.

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Best budget laptops you can buy in 2024

Our favourite budget-friendly laptops

We updated this roundup in March 2024 to guarantee that our best budget laptop picks are in stock and reflect up-to-date prices.

Even though smartphones and tablets are usually our go-to way of checking social media and watching Netflix or YouTube while commuting these days, we still love having a laptop at home for shopping, typing documents and helping the kids with their homework.

While the convenience of a phone is great, we’ll take a physical keyboard and large screen over finger-taps every time. And if the basics are all you need, you don’t have to splash out for a high-end laptop .

That's right, there are plenty of models for around £500 that are ideal for work projects, reading websites and streaming sessions.

Budget-friendly laptops will usually run the Windows or ChromeOS operating systems and have lower configurations when it comes to battery life, storage capacity and the processor (the brain of the machine), but if you’re willing to buy refurbished it’s totally possible to get an older Apple MacBook for this price point, too.

Best budget laptops

Best budget laptop for 2-in-1 design

Acer chromebook spin 513.

Best budget Apple laptop

Macbook air 13" (refurbished).

Best budget Chromebook

Lenovo ideapad duet 5.

Best budget laptop under £200

Acer aspire 1.

Best all-rounder budget laptop

Lenovo ideapad 5 chromebook, how the gh tech team tests laptops.

While the specs of a laptop are important (read the buying guide under our recommendations for everything you need to know), we review budget devices based on how you’ll be using them day-to-day.

That means we focus on key aspects of the machine, such as boot-up times, display, built-in speakers, how fast they download software and how long you get from the battery. We also test the reliability of the keyboard, trackpad and webcam. The result is that we get a proper feel for the laptop beyond what the side of the box claims.

How much to spend on a budget laptop?

We think it’s important to get this out of the way upfront – going too low on the price means you compromise on performance. We consider a budget laptop to be £400 to £500, but if you can stretch the budget slightly, to around the £600 mark, you get even better quality.

At those price points you get a real bump in performance and build from entry-level models. Go below that price point and you sacrifice on materials, specs, battery life and storage, meaning you may end up having to replace the machine much sooner.

If you only have around £200 to spend, there are a few laptops we recommend you consider, including the HP Stream , Lenovo IdeaPad 1i , Acer 314 and the Acer Aspire 1 . Any of those models will only handle very basic tasks like writing documents, light video streaming, video calls, websites and social media, but they’re decent for the cost.

We consider the Acer Spin series to be one of the best Chromebook laptops you can buy; the Spin 513 expertly balances price and specs. It has the same 2-in-1 design of the more expensive configurations (so it flips over and becomes a tablet), plus a backlit keyboard, solid 10-hour battery life and a decent port selection.

Navigation is done via the trackpad or the touchscreen, and it’s an ideal pick for beginners, students or anyone who needs a no-fuss laptop. It handles work during the day, then flips over for streaming movies or shopping in the evening.Like other Chromebooks on our list, the software is lightweight, speedy and cloud based – so your work and settings on apps like Gmail, Calendar Chrome, YouTube and Sheets transfer over to the laptop when you sign in with your Google account. The downside? You need an internet connection to save your work in real-time, although there is an offline mode for making changes or edits without wifi.

Key specifications

MacBook Air 13" (Refurbished)

Apple laptops are known for having a premium design and sturdy build quality that lasts for years – and yes, high prices. But you can get a MacBook for a more affordable price if you buy a refurbished model.

We found a 2019-era MacBook Air (with a crisp Retina display and a reliable Intel i5 processor) for under £500 on BackMarket. There are only 2 USB-C ports (so you need a dongle for pairing extra gear like external hard drives, cameras or printers) and the front-facing camera is only 720p, but this is a fantastic laptop that gives you the Apple experience on a budget.

If you want a MacBook but want to save even more money, BackMarket also has a 2017-era Air for under £300 , although it has an older design with large bezels and the battery life may not be the best long-term. If you’re able to boost your budget slightly, you can get a 2020 Air with Apple’s speedy M1 chip for under £750.

Laptop or tablet? Why not both? The IdeaPad 5 Duet is a Chromebook laptop with a fully detachable keyboard so it doubles as a 13.3-inch slate. The software is fast and cloud-based (so you don’t have to worry too much about the built-in storage) plus at 700g it’s ideal for popping into a bag to bring to your local coffee shop.

We love the kickstand on the back that’s used to prop it up for watching videos or setting it on a desk without the keyboard, and it includes a stylus so you can make notes or annotate documents. The borders around the screen are neat, and even though it doesn’t have enough power for photo editing, it has the longest battery life of any model on our list, lasting for multiple days between charges.

The big drawback is the lack of ports; like the Apple MacBook Air it only has two USB-C ports on the side, so you’ll also need a dongle to add USB-A cables.

We don't recommend going too far under the £200 price point for most laptops as performance, speed and storage space tends to suffer, but if that's your budget then we think you should consider the Acer Aspire 1. You get a 1080p resolution 15.6-inch display so this is a great option if you're buying a computer for your child to do their homework. The processor isn't the fastest and there's only 64 GB of built-in storage, but if it's only being used for the basics - typing up some emails, browsing websites and social media and casual movie or music streaming - this will perform just fine. It also comes with a free 12 month Microsoft 365 subscription, too.

This Lenovo Chromebook looks really good with its two-tone 'storm grey' colour scheme, and the Intel i3 processor that's inside means that the laptop's performance should be smooth and speedy for basic tasks. The Full HD display is ideal for watching streaming shows and reading websites, while the 256GB of built-in storage is more than enough for storing your files and photos without needing to rely on an external hard drive. It's fairly portable with a 14 inch screen size, and the bezels around the display are smaller than many of its budget rivals. While the build quality is not as premium as any Apple model, there's a great selection of ports, including one USB-C, one USB-A, a microSD card reader and a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting headphones.

What to consider when buying a budget laptop

Have a glance over a spec sheet and it’s easy to be overwhelmed with tech jargon. Here are the six factors you really need to know about:

Operating system

There are three laptop operating systems: Microsoft Windows, Apple's macOS, and Google's ChromeOS. Each type has its own design, stores to download apps from, and customisation options – just like how an iOS smartphone looks and feels different to an Android or Windows phone.

This is a traditional PC experience and is best if you love having a wealth of settings, customisation and the ability to get software from anywhere. These laptops are ideal for students and working as they come with Microsoft apps like Word or Excel, and games perform best on this OS.

This is the main alternative to Windows in terms of functionality and features, and is generally known for its sleek, clean design and ease of use. It is not as cluttered as Windows, but it’s slightly more restricted because Apple has stricter rules about what software is allowed to run on its computers. These are considered to be the best for editing as they have lovely displays and speedy performance, but they’re also generally quite expensive.

Laptops that run ChromeOS are built around Google’s suite of apps, including YouTube, Sheets, Gmail, Slides, Docs, Maps and Chrome – and you can only download apps from the official Google Play Store. These laptops are usually the most affordable as the software is cloud-based, meaning you’ll usually need an internet connection for them to work properly.

They often (but not always) lack the processing power of Mac or Windows, but they'll be just as good for both ease of use and portability.

Screen size

Just like the best TVs , your laptop’s screen is measured in inches from corner to corner, diagonally. You’ll mostly find models between 11 and 16 inches at this price range. Keep in mind that the bigger the screen, the heavier and wider the laptop will be, impacting its portability.

Processing power

The processor in the laptop is the brain that runs tasks, apps and software. All of the budget models on our list have enough power for basic tasks like reading websites, watching streaming platforms, listening to Spotify and typing documents, but they’ll struggle with gaming or photo editing. Processor speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). On Windows, aim for AMD Ryzen or Intel i3 or i5 if possible. Older Mac laptops use Intel; models since 2021 come with Apple’s M-series chips, but those are out of our budget.

Storage space

To save files and photos, you need storage. Basic laptops have 32GB as a minimum, but we recommend at least 64GB if you plan on keeping pictures, videos and apps on a device instead of a cloud service or a hard drive.

Remember, Chromebooks usually have small storage sizes as they use cloud software to keep your files, and a chunk of your total space (usually around 20GB) is reserved for the operating system even before you add anything to the laptop.

Battery life

Unlike a desktop PC, the benefit of a laptop is that you can take it with you to your local coffee shop or move around the house with it, free from having to sit next to a wall plug. Our picks last for up to 15.5 hours on the built-in battery, but this is always impacted by what you’re doing on it; watching loads of YouTube or running multiple tasks at once drains it quickly.

Portability and weight

If you plan on taking your laptop out of the home, always consider its size and weight. All of the laptop models in our round-up are light enough to carry around inside a backpack, weighing between 700g and 1.7kg.

Jason Murdock was Hearst UK’s Deputy Technology Ecommerce Editor, contributing to multiple titles including Good Housekeeping , Esquire and Digital Spy , between 2022 and 2023.   

With more than eight years’ experience covering tech at publications including Radio Times , Newsweek and the International Business Times , Jason has extensive knowledge of the latest gear and gadgets – reviewing phones, tablets, laptops, headphones, smart home products and more – and covering the biggest shopping events of the year, including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.   

He won Digital Writer of the Year at The Drum's Online Media Awards in 2017 for his cybersecurity coverage in the International Business Times. When not writing and testing the latest gadgets, you’ll find Jason playing the guitar or learning how to parent his new baby.

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Best laptop for kids 2023: The top child-friendly notebooks

• Christian Hopewell

Whether it’s for online learning and homework or video streaming and games at the weekend, these are the best laptops for kids

Ensuring your child has one of the best laptops for kids has become increasingly important over the past couple of years.

What were once luxury items are now essential educational tools that can double up as multimedia devices capable of entertaining children of all ages.

Demand for kid-friendly laptops designed for home learning surged to an all-time high during the various national lockdowns and it remains prudent to invest in the best laptop for kids your budget allows for.

Letting your child use your device to do their homework isn’t practical for most people, so in the long run, the smart choice is to buy them their own machine. Selecting the best laptop for kids can be a tricky task, however, as you’ll want to weigh up the price against features, usability and durability.

Fortunately, we’re here to help. Below, you’ll find a buying guide detailing the key things to consider when buying a laptop for your child, followed by a list of bitesize reviews of what we deem the best laptops for kids, all of which have been tested extensively by our experts.

READ NEXT: The best cheap laptops

How to choose the best laptop for your kids

Which laptop processor is best for children?

Given your child is unlikely to be performing too many demanding tasks on their laptop, having the fastest processor (CPU) isn’t strictly necessary.

Intel’s low-powered Atom and Celeron processors will do the job just fine, but if you have the budget for an Intel Core i3 or i5 device, you’ll get improved performance. AMD’s Ryzen processors are a great alternative and are generally cheaper than their Intel counterparts.

How much RAM and storage does a laptop for kids need?

In terms of RAM, 4GB will typically suffice for most kids, though 8GB is recommended if your child plans to do a spot of gaming once the school day is done.

As far as storage is concerned, it’s important to look at both the type of storage as well as the amount on offer. It’s also really worth stretching to a laptop with a proper solid-state drive (SSD). Mechanical hard disks are much slower and their performance deteriorates over time, while eMMC flash storage is also sluggish.

Although a child’s storage needs aren’t likely to be particularly high, you should ensure your new machine has at the very least a 64GB drive, with 128GB proving a nice sweet spot in terms of space and price. That’s assuming you’re looking at Windows 10-based machines. Windows 10’s minimum installation requirement is 32GB. Other operating systems – Chrome OS, for example – have lower storage requirements.

Which laptop operating system is best for kids?

A significant proportion of laptops run Windows 10. It’s the most popular operating system around and is simple to navigate and intuitive to use, making it a good choice for children.

Some cheaper laptops run a special version of Windows called Windows 10 in S mode. This offers the familiar Windows experience but only allows you to download applications from the Microsoft Store, while web browsing must be done via Microsoft Edge. The benefits are improved security – they’re less likely to become infected with malware – and performance, since you can’t run legacy software on them. You can disable S mode at any time if you need to run non-Windows Store software but, once it’s disabled, you won’t be able to reactivate it.

Apple’s macOS is a popular choice for professionals, and the company’s range of MacBooks are among some of the best laptops around. They don’t come cheap, though, and for that reason, we wouldn’t recommend them for children unless you’re really willing to splash out. The company’s range of iPads, which run iPadOS, are a far better choice for those with budgetary constraints, particularly if your kid has an iPhone and is familiar with iOS.

Perhaps the most prudent choice of operating system for a child-friendly laptop is Google’s Chrome OS, which comes pre-installed on all Chromebooks. Chrome OS stores data and applications in the cloud rather than on your machine itself, meaning devices running it don’t require the hard drive space a Windows laptop would. Chrome OS itself has lower hardware requirements too, so you can get away with as little as 16GB, although most come with more.

The OS plays well with online applications such as Google Sheets and Google Docs, so your child will have easy access to the tools they’ll need to complete work tasks effectively. If they plan on using their laptop for play as well as work, the Google Play Store allows the installation of Android apps. It’s also possible to install Linux on a Chromebook for those more adventurous children who are interested in getting into coding. Along with ease of use, the big advantage of Chrome OS laptops is their price – they’re typically a lot cheaper than their Windows or Mac rivals.

What is the best size of laptop for kids?

If your child is going to be transporting their laptop around with them, you don’t want the device to be too heavy. Generally, laptops with larger screens will be heavier, so avoid 15.6in and 17in devices unless having more screen real estate is something your kid is desperate for. A 13in or 14in device is ideal for most children, though younger kids may be better suited to a tablet or 2-in-1 with a 10.5in display.

How we test laptops for kids

Testing a laptop that’s great for kids isn’t much different from testing a regular laptop. The main consideration here is value for money, as you’re probably not going to want to pay top dollar for a machine that’s only going to be used for email and basic homework assignments.

That means there’s a mix of both Chromebooks and regular laptops on this page and we test those in slightly different ways. Still, the aims and core focuses of these tests are the same as for all laptops.

We use every machine to assess ergonomics and usability and we also benchmark each machine so we have data for objective comparison across different models.

For MacOS and Windows laptops we test performance using a selection of different software tools, both in-house and third party. For Chromebooks, we run a selection of browser based tests.

For both types of machines, we test storage speed, recording sequential transfer speeds, we measure a laptop’s display capabilities using an X-Rite colorimeter and we benchmark battery life, too, setting the screen brightness to a predetermined level and putting the laptop in flight mode.

READ NEXT: The best laptop deals available online this month

The best laptop for kids you can buy in 2023

1. lenovo ideapad duet: a child and wallet-friendly 2-in-1 chromebook.

Versatile, compact and affordable, this Chromebook from Lenovo is just about everything you could want from a kid-friendly laptop. It’s a hybrid 2-in-1; a 10.1in tablet that can be transformed into a laptop with the addition of the detachable keyboard included in the price. Said keyboard is rather small for adults but ideally sized for little fingers to type away on, while the Full HD display is superb by budget Chromebook standards. It’s perfect for basic tasks, browsing the interest, playing games and watching movies – basically all of the things your child is likely to use it for.

The MediaTek processor powering it is a little slow when handling some web-based apps, but that’s to be expected at this kind of price, and outstanding battery life more than makes up for the lack of supreme performance.

Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad Duet review for more details

Key specs – Processor: MediaTek P60T; RAM: 4GB; Storage: 64GB eMCP; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Screen size: 10.1in; Weight: 0.92kg

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 10.1 Inch FHD 2-in-1 Laptop - (MediaTek P60T, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMCP, Chrome OS)

2. microsoft surface laptop go 2: best budget microsoft laptop.

The original Microsoft Surface Laptop Go occupied this slot for two years, but now there’s a new option for kids who need a bit more processing power: the Go 2. It isn’t a gigantic update, but Microsoft has made just enough tweaks to make it the best budget Microsoft laptop.

First, it’s a beautiful piece of kit: the lid and keyboard are crafted from hardy, matte-finish aluminium and it weighs just 1.1kg. Open the smooth hinge and you’ll see a keyboard that’s supremely satisfying to use and a 12.4in, 1,536 x 1,024 touchscreen display that’s crisp and accurate.

Inside, you’re getting more than enough performance grunt for everyday school tasks and streaming. It won’t conk out halfway through the school day, either, with a battery life of 9hrs 36mins in our test. That’s over two hours longer than its predecessor.

In short, there’s very little not to like about the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. Yes, it could have more ports (you’re only getting one USB-C and USB-A), but this is a beautifully made and affordable main machine for your kids that won’t let them down.

Read our Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7; RAM:  8GB; Storage: 256GB; Screen resolution: 1,536 x 1,024; Screen size: 12.5in; Weight: 1.1kg

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Ultra-Thin 12.4” Touchscreen Laptop - Ice Blue - Intel Core i5 - 8GB RAM - 128GB SSD - Windows 11 Home - 2022 model

3. apple ipad 10.2 (2021): best laptop alternative.

In our opinion, one of the best laptops for kids is actually a tablet. Apple continually expands the capabilities of its iPads and, at this point, they truly are a viable alternative to the traditional laptop. The 10.2in variant is the cheapest in the range and is slim and lightweight, which makes it easy to take out and about, and its 12-hour plus battery life means your kids won’t constantly need to recharge it.

The model received an update in late 2021 and, although not that much changed, it’s better than ever. The A12 Bionic processor has been upgraded to the A13, the front-facing FaceTime HD camera has been improved significantly and the device now supports Apple’s True Tone colour-matching technology. Better still, it’s cheaper than the 2020 model.

With access to Apple’s extensive ecosystem of applications for work and play, downloadable TV shows and movies, as well as ebooks, the 10.2in iPad pretty much does it all. However, if you want your child to be able to use it as a real laptop replacement, you’re going to have to fork out extra for a keyboard. Apple’s own Smart Keyboard cover costs £169; alternatively, Logitech’s Slim Folio will set you back an extra £110.

Read our full Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Six-core A13 Bionic; RAM: 2GB; Storage: 32GB SSD; Screen resolution: 2,160 x 1,620; Screen size: 10.2in; Weight: 0.49kg

2021 Apple iPad (10.2-inch iPad, Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Silver (9th Generation)

4. microsoft surface go 2: a portable windows 10 companion.

If you like the tablet form factor but and are after a Windows system, look no further. Microsoft’s own Surface Go 2 is a fully-fledged Windows 10 laptop, with access to desktop apps and Windows’ parental controls. It comes pre-supplied in S mode, which means you can only install apps from the Microsoft Store – adding an extra layer of security. But it’s easy to switch to Windows 10 Home should you want to.

For video playback it features a bright, 10.5in display, which is slightly bigger than its 10in predecessor, two side-mounted speakers, and a rear kickstand, which lets you view the display at any angle you wish. For working, the Microsoft Surface Go Typecover keyboard is a particular highlight, with decently sized back-lit keys and a large, responsive touchpad. Unfortunately, like the Apple iPad on our list, the keyboard doesn’t come as standard.

Read our full Microsoft Surface Go 2 review for more details.

Key specs – Processor: 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y or Intel Core m3-8100Y; RAM: 4GB or 8GB; Storage: 64GB or 128GB eMMC; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Screen size: 10.5in; Weight: 540g

Microsoft Surface GO 2 10 Inch Tablet PC - (Silver) (Intel Core M3 - WiFi, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, Windows 10 Home in S Mode, 2020 Model)

5. microsoft surface laptop se: best laptop for schools.

The Microsoft Surface SE is a cracking budget laptop that’s well designed and a joy to use. Its 11.6in display is good enough to give far more expensive laptops a run for their money thanks to punchy contrast, matte-finish and anti-glare coating. Its dual-core, 1.1GHz Intel Celeron N4020 CPU isn’t the fastest but it’s perfect for basic classroom tasks, and its comfortable keyboard confirms that.

The great shame is that, although it would make a perfect match for anyone with modest computing needs, it’s only available for purchase to those in the education sector and, even if you were to get hold of one, it requires an IT admin to install programmes and apps on it. We can still absolutely recommend this laptop to schools, however.

Read our full  Microsoft Surface Laptop SE review  for more details

Key specs – Processor:  Dual-core, 1.1GHz Intel Celeron N4020;  RAM:  4GB;  Storage:  64GB of eMMC;  Screen Resolution:  10.1 Full HD (1,366 x 768);  Screen Size:  11.6in;  Weight:  1.1 kg

Find out more at Microsoft

6. Huawei MateBook D 15 (2020): Best large-screen laptop for kids

Price when reviewed: £420 | Check price at Amazon

The 2020 iteration of the Huawei MateBook D 15 is a great choice for older kids that require a bit more screen real estate or the benefits that come from a more powerful processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U CPU is very nippy, which makes performing the everyday tasks kids require a laptop for a breeze. It’s even capable of playing games at the laptop’s native 1080p resolution, though it will struggle if you try to play anything too strenuous on it. The matte 15.6in FHD display provides a large amount of screen for the money, and although colour accuracy is rather disappointing from a technical standpoint, kids are unlikely to worry too much.

At 1.53kg, the MateBook D 15 isn’t as lightweight as some of the options on this list, but the additional power it offers more than makes up for less impressive portability. Such power is very rare at such a reasonable price, making the Huawei MateBook D 15 an excellent Windows 10 laptop for tech-savvy youngsters ready for a slightly more robust device.

Read our full Huawei MateBook D 15 (2020) review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Intel Core i3-10110U; RAM: 8GB; Storage: 256GB SSD; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Screen size: 15.6in; Weight: 1.53kg

HUAWEI MateBook D 15 - 15.6 Inch Laptop, 1080P FHD FullView Ultrabook PC (Intel Core i3-10110U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Multi-screen Collaboration, Windows 10 Home, FREE Upgrade to Windows 11), Grey

Oasis tickets: Maximise your chances and avoid these mistakes - and how much they cost

Noel and Liam Gallagher have put a 15-year feud behind them to get the band back together. "Come see. It will not be televised," they warned in their announcement. So how can you get tickets?

Thursday 29 August 2024 14:51, UK

Oasis are finally reuniting 15 years after they split, having announced a huge UK tour.

The iconic Manchester band's official social media accounts shared the dates of its 14 UK and Ireland shows, which will take place over July and August next year.

Speculation about a reunion grew in the weeks leading up to the announcement after years of Noel and Liam Gallagher's public feuding had made fans question whether it would ever happen.

"Come see. It will not be televised," they warned in their statement .

But when exactly are the dates for the brothers' on-stage reunion and how can you get tickets? Here's everything you need to know.

When and where are the concerts?

• 4 July 2025 - Principality Stadium, Cardiff • 5 July 2025 - Principality Stadium, Cardiff • 11 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 12 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 16 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 19 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 20 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 25 July 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 26 July 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 30 July 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 2 August 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 3 August 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 8 August 2025 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh • 9 August 2025 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh • 12 August 2025 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh • 16 August 2025 - Croke Park, Dublin • 17 August 2025 - Croke Park, Dublin

How expensive are tickets?

Here's a breakdown of what we know about the prices:

More on Oasis

Noel Gallagher jokes about Oasis break-up as he responds to fan's children while shopping in London

Oasis announce extra UK dates for reunion concert tour

Oasis shut down Glastonbury rumours with strong statement after reunion announcement

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Wembley Stadium, London

A seat to watch the band in London begins at £74.25, with the most expensive ticket a £506.25 pre-show party, exhibition and seated package.

Standing tickets will cost fans £151.25.

Heaton Park, Manchester

In the band's home city, tickets start from £148.50, with only standing available alongside a number of hospitality and luxury packages.

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

The cheapest seats are £73, according to promoter SJM Concerts, which runs the website Gigs And Tours. Standing tickets will cost £150.

Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Tickets for the gig at the 67,000-capacity stadium start at £74, SJM Concerts say, adding standing tickets will cost £151.

Croke Park, Dublin

Before the announcement for UK shows, Irish promoters MCD said on its website that the price of both of the two Croke Park gigs in Dublin will start at 86.50 euros (£72.75) without booking fees.

When do tickets go on sale and how can I get them?

All tickets will go on sale on Saturday 31 August. The Dublin dates will be on sale from 8am and the UK dates will go on sale at 9am .

🚨REGISTER FOR THE UK & IRELAND 2025 TOUR PRE-SALE BALLOT🚨 A ticket pre-sale will be held on Friday 30th August, ahead of Saturday’s general sale. To ensure the maximum number of fans have a fair opportunity to access tickets, applicants will be selected for the pre-sale via a… pic.twitter.com/spP24NemBV — Oasis (@oasis) August 27, 2024

But fans can now register to be in a pre-sale ballot until 10am (UK time) on Friday morning.

The deadline was originally 7pm on Wednesday but the band changed it due to "a last minute surge" in entries.

Successful applicants in the ballot will be informed by 5pm on Friday via email with full access information, however, this does not guarantee fans a ticket as they are still sold on a first come first served basis.

The band has warned fans on social media that confirmation emails for the ballot entry may be delayed due to a high volume of people signing up, but has assured them that anyone who has filled in a ballot correctly before the deadline will receive one.

Tickets for UK performances can be bought from the following sites:

• ticketmaster.co.uk • gigsandtours.com • www.seetickets.com

For the Ireland dates you need to go to ticketmaster.ie .

Be warned: you must register

The band's official website has "strongly advised" anyone hoping to purchase tickets to register in advance of the sale with the relevant ticket agencies.

Top tips for getting tickets

The ticket sites offer key advice for fans looking to have an edge over others in the race for in-demand tickets.

Here's a summary of their biggest tips:

• Don't wait until Saturday morning to register. This will mean you have plenty of time to get your account set up with all the right billing and delivery information • Verify your account. You have to add your phone number and confirm a one-time passcode with new accounts for protection. You only need to do it once • If you already have an account, double-check it. It's worth logging in before Saturday just to check you know your password, your delivery and billing information is all correct, and to ensure you've already completed your one-time passcode • Make sure your card details are already saved to avoid last-minute scrambling • Get your phones and laptops charged before the deadline • Make sure you're happy with your internet connection. Private WiFi is best, and if that isn't working, Ticketmaster advises using your mobile data over public WiFi, which it says is "usually the least reliable" • Don't refresh the page while in a waiting room. Ticketing sites use a queuing system when they get busy, meaning you get put in an online waiting room with other fans. They warn that refreshing the page won't move you further up the line, and that the page itself updates automatically. So once you're in, wait it out...

How many tickets can I buy and how expensive could they be?

You can get a maximum of four tickets per transaction, and you aren't permitted to sell them for more than you bought them for, according to event organisers.

The price of tickets hasn't been announced yet, though the Manchester Evening News has reported they are expected to exceed £100.

Read more: Cool Britannia: Life in the UK in the '90s A timeline of Britpop's most successful band

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Back in 2009, just over a month before Oasis split, the band performed at Wembley Stadium and charged £38.50 plus VAT (which at the time was 15%), meaning the total cost was just over £44.

When Sky News put those numbers into the Bank of England's inflation calculator, the total was £68.02 - which is still considered low nowadays.

Will there be another chance to buy tickets?

There won't be another official sale, but you may be able to snatch resale tickets.

On its website, Oasis says it has partnered with Ticketmaster and ticket resale platform Twickets to ensure tickets aren't resold for more than the price originally paid - including booking fees.

The band has also warned those reselling the tickets that selling through any other platforms will breach the terms and conditions of the sale and may result in the tickets being cancelled.

Do you even deserve tickets?

Since the announcement, social media has been flooded by debate about who this concert is really for.

"What's your favourite B-side?" - an eligibility test being used by people who "were at Knebworth".

Die-hard Oasis fans who were there in the 90s will say they are the ones who most deserve to get their hands on tickets.

"Imagine waiting 15 years for Oasis to reform only to lose out on tickets to Chloe, 21 from Stockport who just wants to hear Wonderwall live", one X user posts.

In response, another writes: "Obsessed with all the men creating fictional young women who they might lose out on Oasis tickets to."

Analysis by Gemma Peplow , culture and entertainment reporter

"Like most kids, my parents influenced my music taste growing up, from Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner to the Rolling Stones.

"Kylie Minogue, obviously, was also a big feature in my cassette collection.

"But Oasis were the first band that felt like mine, not music I'd inherited.

"As a teenager I listened over and over, studied the album covers, and went on to see them live five times, each gig holding different memories and anecdotes. For those of us who grew up with them, they embodied our youth, the spirit of the '90s.

"But that doesn't mean these gigs belong to the older fans, which, like it or not, is the bracket I fall into now. You only have to see all the teenagers and younger adults at Liam's solo shows to see how Oasis's songs resonate with different generations. The music has stood the test of time, which can only be a good thing.

"Those gatekeeping fans are most likely the same as those complaining about how all music is rubbish these days. Well, you can't have it both ways.

"If I'm lucky enough to get tickets, I hope to be singing along with bucket-hat wearing fans of all ages."

Related Topics

I review keyboards for a living: This is my favorite portable keyboard for class

Studying with a tablet? This portable keyboard is a must-have.

If you're using a tablet as your main device for studying this school year, you should have a good portable keyboard to go with it. 

Like many college students today, I used an iPad as my main device in college. It's versatile, lightweight, and great for taking notes with the Apple Pencil. What it's not great for is typing out essays. Typing on a touchscreen is cramped and uncomfortable, but many college students simply can't afford a pricey accessory like Apple's Magic Keyboard. 

Luckily, there's an alternative that balances price, performance, and portability: the Logitech Keys-To-Go 2. 

Logitech Keys-To-Go 2: $80 @ Amazon  

Thin, lightweight, and designed for portability, the Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 is a must-have for college students studying with a tablet. At a fraction of the price of Apple's Magic Keyboard, you get a snappy, satisfying typing experience that far exceeds typing on a touchscreen. 

Logitech Keys-To-Go 2: The perfect tablet keyboard for students

The Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 is the perfect companion for your tablet thanks to its thin, lightweight, ultra-portable design and easy setup. Connecting it to my iPad via Bluetooth only took a minute, and the tri-mode wireless buttons make it easy to swap between my iPad and desktop PC. 

The Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 has a few upgrades over the original version, making it especially well-suited for college students. Logitech completely redesigned it, leaving the rubberized, mushy keys of the older version in the past. 

The second-generation model looks and feels like a normal laptop keyboard with snappy switches and matte plastic keycaps. I review keyboards for a living, so I was skeptical about a portable keyboard like the Keys-To-Go 2. The typing experience impressed me, though. It's similar to a MacBook keyboard, which is far better for typing out homework and essays than a touchscreen keyboard. 

Plus, the Keys-To-Go 2 has a protective cover that keeps it safe and clean in your backpack. You can flip it behind the keyboard to use as a thin stand when you're typing. 

Stay in the know with Laptop Mag

Get our in-depth reviews, helpful tips, great deals, and the biggest news stories delivered to your inbox.

If you're going back to school with a tablet this year, the Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 is the perfect accessory for making your iPad a laptop rival. At $80, it costs a fraction of the price of Apple's Magic Keyboard but delivers an equally satisfying typing experience. It's also much lighter at just 0.48 pounds, compared to the Magic Keyboard, which weighs 1.8 pounds (1st generation 11-inch model). 

Tablet accessories aren't the only back-to-school tech you can save on this year. Make sure you stop by our guide to back-to-school tech deals to score discounts on everything from headphones to backpacks! 

See also: Best college student discounts and perks 2024

Stevie Bonifield is a freelance tech journalist specializing in keyboards, peripherals, gaming gear, and mobile tech. Outside of writing, Stevie loves indie games, photography, and building way too many custom keyboards

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My Hero Academia: You're Next

Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired. Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired. Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired.

• Tensai Okamura
• Yôsuke Kuroda
• Kôhei Horikoshi
• Kaito Ishikawa
• Kenta Miyake
• 1 User review

• Shoto Todoroki

• Giulio Gandini
• Anna Scervino
• Katsuki Bakugo

• Ochaco Uraraka
• Izuku Midoriya
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia This is the final My Hero Academia movie, as the manga ended a few days after the film's release.
• Connections Spin-off from My Hero Academia (2016)

User reviews 1

• October 11, 2024 (United States)
• Official website
• 我的英雄學院劇場版：You're Next
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $19,003,869

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 50 minutes

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Labor Day laptop sales 2024 — 25 epic deals I'd buy now

Shop today's best Labor Day laptop sales

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Copilot+ pcs, chromebooks.

New Labor Day laptop sales are launching by the hour. With back to school deals coming to an end, retailers are now focusing Labor Day laptop sales offering epic deals on some of the best laptops we've tested this year. 

These laptop deals include deep discounts on 2-in-1s, Chromebooks, and gaming rigs. With so many laptop sales happening at once, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. So I'm vetting all of today's best Labor Day laptop sales on machines Tom's Guide experts have tested and recommend.

This includes discounts at retailers like Best Buy and Amazon as well as deals from PC manufacturers like HP and Dell. Once I find a good deal, I'll also price-check it against competing sites to ensure you're getting the best deal possible. 

If you need a new laptop now, these are the best deals currently available. For more discounts, check out our Labor Day sales page. 

• Dell laptop sale: from $259 @ Dell
• Gateway 15" Ultra Slim Laptop: was $599 now $349 @ Walmart
• Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 OLED: was $499 now $369 @ Best Buy
• HP 15" Victus: was $979 now $599 @ Walmart
• MacBook Air 13 (M2/256GB): was $1,099 now $799 @ Amazon
• HP OmniBook X Copilot+ PC: was $1,149 now $899 @ HP
• Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ PC: was $1,299 now $999 @ Dell
• MacBook Air 15 (M3): was $1,299 now $1,049 @ Amazon
• Asus ROG Strix G16 (2024): was $1,399 now $1,164 @ Amazon
• Alienware m16 R2 Laptop: was $2,599 now $2,199 @ Alienware

HP laptop sale: deals from $199 @ HP 55% off laptops: Labor Day laptop sales are starting at HP. The PC manufacturer is taking up to 55% off select machines. After discount, laptops start as low as $199. The sale includes Pavilion, Envy, OmniBook, and more. 

Dell laptop sale: from $259 @ Dell As part of its Labor Day laptop sales, Dell has multiple laptops on sale from $259. The sale includes XPS, Inspiron, and more. For instance, you can get the Inspiron 15 for $499 (was $699). This everyday laptop can be used for everything from Netflix streaming to work. It features a 15.6-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD, Core i5-1135G7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. We like this config because you get a 1080p LCD and everything you could need at a reasonable price. 

Gateway 15" Ultra Slim Laptop: was $599 now $349 @ Walmart The Gateway Ultra Slim Notebook is a budget machine packed with mainstream specs. You get a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display, Core i5-1035G1 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Budget laptops usually skimp on RAM or CPU power, but this machine is more than suitable for everything from homework to light gaming. 

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15.6 in laptop: was $649 now $375 @ Walmart Perfect for a student, this affordable laptop super-efficient, with a 12th Generation Intel processor. It is lightweight and slim making it ideal to carry around in a backpack. Plus, it has up to 10 hours of battery life and charges up quickly.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i: was $549 now $399 @ Best Buy This Lenovo laptop is a great choice for a lot of people. With an i3-1215U processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD storage and a touch screen that can be flipped into tablet mode, it's incredibly versatile. It's not going to be a workhorse PC, but if you largely check emails, stream Netflix shows and write documents, this will do it all.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4: was $899 now $549 @ Best Buy Save $350 on the Samsung Galaxy Book 4. Its 15.6-inch FHD display, Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB storage make it a solid MacBook alternative. It also offers up to 15 hours of battery life.

HP OmniBook X Copilot+ PC: was $1,149 now $899 @ HP This monster of an ultraportable packs plenty of performance and power efficiency, thanks to its Snapdragon X Elite chip and 16GB of RAM. You also get a slim and sleek aluminum chassis with a gorgeous 14-inch 2.2K display. If you're in the market for a Windows laptop, this is an amazing one to buy. In our HP OmniBook X review , we said the Editor's Choice machine gives Apple's MacBook Air M3 a run for its money.

Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ PC: was $1,299 now $999 @ Dell Lowest price! We're fans of Dell's XPS line and the next generation is finally here. The new XPS 13 Copilot+ PC packs a 13.4-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 120Hz display,  Snapdragon X Elite CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. In our Dell XPS 13 2024 review, we praised the amazing 19+ hours of battery life. This is the cheapest it's ever been!

Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ PC: $1,299 now $1,199 @ Best Buy The Vivobook S 15 is Asus' flagship Copilot+ PC. It features a 15.6-inch 3K OLED 120Hz display, Snapdragon X Elite CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. It's a modest discount, but this is the first time we've seen it on sale. In our  Asus Vivobook S 15 Snapdragon review  we said it's more powerful than the M3 MacBook Air and almost as efficient too.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Copilot+ PC: $500 off w/ trade-in @ Samsung If you have an old laptop, phone, or tablet to trade in, you can get up to $500 off Samsung's new Galaxy Book4 Edge Copilot+ PC. It features  a 14-inch 2880 x 1800 AMOLED screen, Snapdragon X Elite CPU, 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD.

HP 15" Victus: was $979 now $599 @ Walmart Save $380 on this already budget-friendly gaming laptop, and you'll be set to play entry-level games with ease in between studying sessions. It's equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5-8645HS CPU, 8GB of RAM, a Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU with 6GB of VRAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. 

MSI 15" Bravo: was $999 now $774 @ Best Buy Save $225 on the MSI Bravo, a gaming laptop that's well-equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5-7535HS CPU, 16GB of RAM, a Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU with 6GB of VRAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch, 1920- x 1080-pixel IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate. By day, you can write papers and work on class presentations. And by night, you can play your favorite games from anywhere, either downloaded from Steam or streamed via the one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription included with your purchase.

16” HP Omen: was $1,399 now $999 @ Best Buy If you want an Intel-based gaming laptop, the HP Omen is a great pick. For just $999, you'll get one month free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and a large 16-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with a high 165Hz refresh rate. Inside, it's packing an Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU, 16GB of RAM, Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of VRAM, and a whopping 1TB of storage space.

HP Omen Transcend 14: was $1,599 now $1,049 @ HP While it's good to see the Omen Transcend embrace Copilot features, it's equally pleasing to see a gaming laptop put on quite the lightshow. The RGB glow that surrounds the Omen's terrifically snappy keyboard gets downright addictive. The RTX 4050 means you'll have to make compromises in certain games, but there's no denying how stunning the Omen's 14-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED screen really is.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (2024): was $1,399 now $1,164 @ Amazon This Asus gaming laptop packs in a whole lot of power. Its native 1080p screen (1920 x 1080) is paired with an impressive 165Hz rate. You also get a Core i7-13650HX CPU, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and an RTX 4060 GPU. It's an ideal laptop for hardcore first-person shooter fans, er, school work. We also appreciate the fact it supports Wi-Fi 6E.

MSI Vector GP68HX 16: was $2,099 now $1,799 @ Best Buy The MSI Vector brings the gaming might, thanks to its RTX 4080 GPU. Nvidia's graphics card is ably supported by an Intel Core i9 13950HX CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Its FHD 16-inch screen can reach a max refresh rate of 144Hz. This is a laptop with staying power that'll last for more than just a few months. 

Alienware m16 R2 Laptop: was $2,599 now $2,199 @ Alienware Save $400 on this laptop which has a 16-inch display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, 2TB of SSD space, an RTX 4070 and a whopping 64GB of RAM. It has the muscle to power just about anything and it comes with a whole host of ports, too. 

MacBook Air 13 (M2/256GB): was $1,099 now $799 @ Amazon The MacBook Air M2 is one of our most recommended laptops because it's remarkably light and thin yet sports a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, a speedy Apple M2 CPU w/ 8-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, and a great 1080p FaceTime camera. In our MacBook Air M2 review we lauded this Editor's Choice laptop for its versatility and battery life, so don't miss your chance to get one at a great discount. Price check: $849 @ B&H | $999 @ Best Buy

MacBook Air 13 (M3): was $1,099 now $899 @ Amazon The new MacBook Air is powered by Apple's latest M3 silicon. The laptop can support up to two external displays (when the laptop lid is closed) and Apple also claims its 60% faster than the M1-based MacBook Air. It boasts up to 18 hours of battery life. In our MacBook Air 13-inch M3 review , we called the Editor's Choice laptop a small wonder. It packs a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (2560 x 1664), Apple's M3 CPU w/ 8-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. Price check: $899 @ Best Buy | $899 @ B&H

MacBook Air 15 (M3): was $1,299 now $1,049 @ Amazon The new MacBook Air is powered by Apple's latest M3 silicon. The laptop can support up to two external displays (when the laptop lid is closed) and Apple also claims its 60% faster than the M1-based MacBook Air. It boasts up to 18 hours of battery life. In our MacBook Air 15-inch M3 review , we said the Editor's Choice laptop delivers fantastic performance from its M3 chip along with class-leading battery life (15:03). It packs a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display (2880 x 1864), Apple's M3 CPU w/ 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. Price check: $1,099 @ Best Buy | $1,149 @ B&H

MacBook Pro 14 (M3/512GB): was $1,599 now $1,299 @ Amazon Lowest price! The M3-based MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops you can buy. In our MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 review , we said it delivers blistering performance with a brighter display than its predecessor, robust graphics, and super-long battery life (17 hours with 25 minutes). If you upgrade to the M3 Pro or M3 Pro Max chipset, you get to snag this laptop in a stunning new Space Black finish with 18GB or 36GB of RAM, respectively. The base model features a 14.2-inch 3024 x 1964 Retina display, Apple M3 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Price check: $1,599 @ Best Buy | $1,399 @ B&H

Chromebook sale: from $149 @ Best Buy Best Buy is offering a mega sale on Chromebooks. The retailer has slashed prices as low as $149, which is a price normally reserved for major holidays. The sale includes Chromebooks from Acer, Asus, Lenovo, and more. 

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: was $399 now $279 @ Best Buy The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a premium Chromebook with a strong-feeling build, comfortable keyboard, and top-firing speakers. It features a 15.6-inch FHD display with Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

Asus Vivobook 14" Laptop: was $429 now $299 @ Best Buy Best Buy is offering a discount on this Asus Vivobook laptop. It sports an Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. Keep in mind it's limited to a 1366 x 768 display, but at this price it's a great budget machine for basic tasks or young students. 

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 OLED: was $499 now $369 @ Best Buy The original Lenovo Chromebook Duet earned a spot on our list of best Chromebooks . While we've yet to test the Duet 5, on paper this Chromebook appears to be a worthy successor. It features a detachable keyboard and fabric back cover with built-in kickstand, 13.3-inch 1080p OLED display, Snapdragon SC7180 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 64GB eMMC. 

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As deals editor-in-chief at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets, appliances, and apparel. With over 10 years of deals-hunting experience, Louis price checks against multiple retailers and searches high and low for the best deals to bring readers. He's also always on the look out for the best coupon codes to use when shopping. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.

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