Best Laptop for Computer Science Students

Getting a good laptop is part of the many vital steps to becoming a computer science student.

You’re going to need a laptop that can handle programs for:

• Machine learning performance
• Analyze algorithms
• Input different programming languages
• Create different software and more.

It’s a tall task. But luckily for you, there are a lot of laptops that can handle all of that and more.

So what’s the best laptop for computer science students? Just read on to learn more!

Best Laptops for Computer Science Students

Here’s a comprehensive list of the best laptops for computer science students.

Get a clear idea about which laptop you should get for all your computer science needs!

MacBook Pro 14: Best Overall

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The Apple MacBook Pro is considered part of many people’s list of top laptops, and there’s a good reason for that.

Display

It can provide computer science students with great graphics. It has LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY, perfect for computer science coursework as they include many graphics-related works.

This might be the best laptop for computer science students when it comes to its display.

Performance

The MacBook Pro has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage that will allow you to work with striking efficiency as you navigate through different programs without slowing down your laptop at all.

As for its processor, Apple’s M1 chip will not slow you down at all since it can handle 4k video conversions with ease.

Hardware

At this point, all laptops can connect to the Wifi, but this Apple MacBook Pro has more ports so you can present your projects with ease.

It includes:

• 3 USB-C ports
• 1 SDXC card slot
• 1 HDMI port
• 1 MagSafe 3 port

The Apple MacBook Pro can assist you with its backlit keyboard. That way, you can still type like a pro even without the lights on.

Battery Life

Unlike the notoriety accompanying iPhones due to their batteries draining incredibly fast, the MacBook Pro will not let you down.

The average battery life for this laptop clocks in at around 17 hours.

However, some users report that using the MacBook Pro for video and picture editing projects with 4K resolutions will drain the battery in just 7 hours.

Overall, the MacBook Pro is an excellent option for computer science students to manage the high price.

Pros

• Great graphics display
• Fast performance
• Can connect to different external devices

Cons

• Can be unaffordable for many students

Microsoft Surface Pro 8: Best Value

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The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is one of the best laptops for computer science students with its versatility and power.

Hardware

This hybrid laptop is well known for its ability to turn into a tablet once you remove it from the keyboard.

With that, a computer science student could easily take down handwritten notes or use the tablet to take pictures of what’s written on the board to review later.

It also has:

• 2 USB-C ports
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• micro SDXC card slot so you can easily share your files even when you’re offline.

Performance

College students who need powerful laptops for computer science work will not be disappointed with this hybrid laptop.

It’s powered by an 11th generation Intel core i7 making this a good laptop to use for

Display

The laptop screen quality on this great candidate for the best laptop for computer science students is a sight to behold.

• Unlike its predecessors, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 has a refresh rate of 120Hz, making everything run smoothly.
• It’s also got this feature called Adaptive Color, where the brightness and colors of your screen will automatically adjust based on your environment.

This feature allows students to work late at night without taking the time to manually adjust the brightness and display so as not to hurt their eyes.

Battery Life

The battery life of the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 clocks in at a good 7 to 8 hours.

It’s a reliable laptop for students to use throughout their day.

Pros

• Long battery life
• Smooth graphics
• Versatile 2-in-1 laptop

Cons

• Keyboard is not friendly for people with big fingers

ASUS Vivobook S15: Best Budget

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Computer students will appreciate this budget laptop’s lightweight build and reliable power.

Hardware

This laptop for computer science projects is LIGHTWEIGHT and SLEEK.

The weight and dimensions make it easy to bring along to any place you might find yourself in, so you can easily code your projects anywhere with ease.

Aside from that, it’s well-equipped with:

• 4 different USB ports
• An HDMI port
• A micro SD card slot
• A headphone jack

Performance

You won’t lack with the ASU VivoBook S15 with its 8th generation Intel core i5. This laptop will be able to handle your heavy workload with ease.

It comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD storage, so you won’t have to worry about your files slowing down your laptop.

And if the storage space isn’t enough for you, you can always upgrade the storage space by adding another extra hard disk yourself.

Display

While the display on this laptop is not the worst, it’s not the best either.

When you turn the laptop to its brightest, you may run into problems when the light colors are too bright and the dark colors don’t contrast well.

Still, this laptop for computer science students offers an HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels, so it’s not like you’re working with a low-quality screen laptop.

Battery Life

This laptop will not be one of the best computer science students who dislike constantly charging.

This ASUS VivoBook S15 only has a total battery time of about 5 hours which isn’t terrible, but not the best either.

Pros

• Reasonable price
• Powered by Intel core i5
• Lightweight design

Cons

• Display not too good

HP Pavilion 15

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The HP Pavilion 15 is a powerful laptop that impresses people with its features.

Performance

This laptop features an 11th generation Intel Core i7 so you can work on GPU heavy tasks without worrying about killing your laptop from the overload.

Aside from that, this laptop has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space, so it’s not like you can’t do a lot of work here. I’m sure even if you opened around 200 tabs on your browser, your laptop will still work as smooth as butter.

Display

The HP Pavilion has an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics card with a screen for 1920 x 1080 resolution.

Still, the Integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics card is not good for photo editing or video editing tasks.

Especially for pictures and videos that feature 4K resolutions.

Intel integrated graphics cards are fine and all, but they might not give you the crispness you can find in other laptops.

Hardware

Like any other student, you’re going to end up using your laptop to collaborate and send projects to your classmates or your professors.

Luckily, this laptop offers:

• Wifi and Bluetooth connections
• a USB Type-C port
• two USB Type-A ports
• a micro SD card slot
• an HDMI 2.0 output
• a 3.5mm audio jack.

The keyboard on this laptop has a backlight so that you can submit that late project just before the midnight deadline. It’s also got a Numpad which could be useful in your calculations.

Battery Life

According to HP, this laptop can last about 8 hours with a full battery, but users report that it usually only clocks in at 5 to 6 hours long.

That said, this laptop for computer science students won’t disappoint, especially with its price point.

Pros

• Relatively cheap
• Good performance
• Quality battery life

Cons

• Graphics are not the best

ASUS ZenBook 15

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If you’re looking for the best laptop for computer science-related tasks, then you should consider the ASUS ZenBook 15 with its great performance capabilities.

Performance

This ASUS laptop is fitted with an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor so that you can hit speeds of 4.9GHz like a breeze.

It’s even got 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage space, so it’s not like you’ll overwhelm your laptop even if you got multiple programs open at the same time.

Display

This laptop for computer science students will work swimmingly with intensive graphics-related tasks.

Its screen commands 3840 x 2160 pixels with CRISP visuals that will make whatever you’re viewing on your screen pop up into real life.

Hardware

You won’t have to worry about this laptop’s available ports and connections for computer science students.

You get to make use of:

• two USB 3.1 Type-A ports
• a USB C port
• an HDMI output
• an SD card reader
• an earphone jack

What makes this laptop special, though, is that its touchpad is BIG and can function as a touchscreen.

You can use it to write handwritten notes, quickly open Spotify, or access Microsoft Office tools there.

Battery Life

The ASUS ZenBook 15 boasts good battery life since it can hit around 8 hours of battery life.

With that amount of battery life, you can go through all your classes with only a small break to charge your laptop for a bit before hitting the books again.

Pros

• Great battery life
• Wonderful graphics
• A big amount of available storage

Cons

• A bit on the heavy side

Apple MacBook Air 13

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The MacBook Air is probably the best laptop for computer science students if portability is what we’re talking about—along with the fact it’s efficient, fast, and sleek.

Hardware

Computer students who have long commutes will thank the heavens for the existence of such a portable laptop in their hands while they travel.

However, computer science students will have to compromise on the number of ports because of how compact everything is.

You’ll only have access to 2 USB ports and a headphone jack—nothing more, nothing less.

Still, at least you won’t have to worry about typing in the dark because of its backlit keyboard.

Display

While the ports may be lacking, the display is nothing for a computer student to sneeze at.

It uses the retina display, creating vivid colors and sharp text. With a screen resolution like that, you won’t have to worry about missing a single detail when working on your projects.

Performance

The MacBook Air is powered by an M1 chip on the same level or better than an Intel core i7.

For the most part, it’s true, and you won’t have to worry about your laptop slowing down while you use Adobe Photoshop while you have 100 tabs open in your browser.

It’s also got 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage available for you to make use of while you save video editing files or movies.

Battery Life

If you need this laptop to last you all day, then you’re in luck.

The MacBook Air can work for about 18 hours which will come in handy as a computer science student.

Pros

• Long battery life
• Powerful processor
• Amazing graphics

Cons

• May not be affordable for college students

ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop

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It’s no secret that gaming laptops can be considered the best laptops for computer science-related work, and the ASUS TUF gaming laptop is no different from all that it can offer.

Performance

Like most gaming laptops, this laptop is optimized for heavy-duty programs to run without slowing it down.

It’s got a 10th generation Intel core i5 installed, so your laptop can handle whatever is thrown at it.

Display

The display on this laptop won’t disappoint with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1920 x 1080 screen display.

It’s powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, a dedicated graphics card to run programs that require a lot of clarity.

Hardware

This laptop is equipped with:

• 4 USB ports for sharing files
• share your screen with its HDMI port
• listen to music with the headphone jack on it

It’s also got a backlit keyboard so you can code your projects in a dark room with at least three cups of coffee beside you.

Battery Life

If you decide to get this gaming laptop, you should be prepared to carry its charger anywhere you go.

That’s because this laptop will only last 4 hours without being plugged in, which may be a major downside for any CS student interested in this.

Pros

• Powered by an Intel Core i5 for good performance
• Good graphics
• Backlit keyboard

Cons

• Short battery life

Acer Predator Helios 300 Laptop

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The Acer Predator Helios is considered one of the best laptops for gaming, but the same rings true when CS students use this for their schoolwork.

Hardware

The Acer Predator Helios 300 doesn’t disappoint with the number of ports available for you to use. It’s got:

• an HDMI port
• 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports
• 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port
• 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port

Like most gaming laptops, it’s also got a keyboard that lights up, which is perfect for any late-night cramming.

Display

Any CS student will come to appreciate the display on this screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate to back it up.

It’s got an ‎NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti dedicated graphics card.

If push comes to shove, you can use this laptop out in a sunny spot without too much trouble.

Performance

This laptop was made to play games smoothly and efficiently, so it’s no surprise that a programmer could use it with no trouble.

The Intel Core i7 powers this laptop with no problem, so you don’t have to worry about your tasks overwhelming this laptop.

It’s also got 16GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state storage space, so you don’t have to worry about files bogging down the performance of your laptop.

Battery Life

This gaming laptop has a pretty good battery life clocking in at around 7 hours.

With that, you won’t have to worry about running for a socket very often, even when it’s unplugged.

Pros

• Quality battery life
• Can run heavy-duty programs easily
• Backlit keyboard

Cons

• Loud fan

Dell Inspiron 15

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The Dell Inspiron may be the last on the list, but it certainly is not a laptop that will let you down, especially with its integrated Intel Iris graphics.

Display

The Dell Inspiron 15 leaps forward with its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, allowing users to enjoy their screen’s vivid colors.

It also comes with an anti-glare feature which may help you out, especially if you’ll be working a lot in front of the screen.

Performance

This laptop is powered by an 11th generation Intel Core i5.

Hardware

Sharing files is made easy with the number of ports available on the Dell Inspiron 15.

It has:

• 3 USB ports
• an HDMI output
• a micro SD card slot
• a headphone jack

This laptop will be easy to bring to your lectures and group meetings since it weighs around 3.64lbs.

Battery Life

Luckily for you, this is a power-efficient laptop that boasts of long battery life.

You can use this laptop for about 10 hours without worrying about it dying on you.

Pros

• Sleek design
• Great graphics
• Great battery life

Cons

• Can come with bloatware

How to Choose the Best Laptop for Computer Science Students

Getting a high-quality laptop is integral to any computer science student.

You’ll be programming, designing, editing, and performing other computer science tasks that you’ll need to do as a computer science major.

That’s why you’ll need a laptop that can perform all those tasks efficiently without running through any issues like lag or overheating.

Here are several things to look out for when looking at the best laptops for computer science majors.

Processor

Great laptops for computer science students should have a processor to ensure that it has enough power to run many programs, all at the same time, without lagging.

If you get a laptop with a high processor speed, it will easily help you work on your computer science projects. You won’t have to worry about lag or your laptop suddenly crashing on you.

Storage Space

Computer science majors will need a lot of storage space on their laptops since the files they’ll keep will be A LOT.

If you’re going to be a computer science student, then get a laptop with enough storage space that won’t affect the speed of your laptop.

It might also be a good idea to get a laptop that has an EXTRA MEMORY SLOT so you can add more storage space if you ever need it.

RAM

Aside from having a ton of storage space, you’ll need to get a laptop that has a considerable amount of RAM.

The RAM indicates how much memory a laptop has to simultaneously handle all your open computer science software and programs.

If you want to do multiple tasks in the various programs running on your laptop quickly, you should get a laptop with at least 8 GB RAM.

Graphics Card

If you plan on being a computer science college student, you’re going to need a good integrated graphics card for your projects.

Aside from typing lines of code, you might do graphics work like animating, video editing, game designing, which will need a graphics card that can handle all that.

I recommend a powerful graphics card like NVIDIA so you can do your tasks without your laptop slowing down.

Speed & Performance

Computer science students are going to need laptops that run fast without issue.

You’ll be using your laptop a lot for your course, so you need to ensure that its performance is top-notch.

Make sure you get a laptop that can handle the programs you’ll be running, with a good processor and GPU and a good amount of RAM.

Screen Size and Resolution

If you plan on working LONG HOURS in front of your laptop, you may want to get a laptop with a big screen size with a minimum resolution of 1080p.

With a laptop that features a big screen size and a clear screen, you won’t strain your eyes as much as you might do with a smaller screen.

Portability

Now that you’re a computer science student, you’re going to need a laptop that you can easily bring along with you while you travel from your house to your school.

It should be a laptop that can fit your bag and weigh you down too much.

That way, you can bring your laptop anywhere and be prepared to take lecture notes and study after classes.

Battery Life

What’s the point of having a great laptop if you can’t use it since its battery drains too fast?

While it’s true, you could bring its charger along. There may be times when you can’t access a socket.

So the safest bet is to find the best laptop for computer science with an EXCELLENT BATTERY LIFE that can last you hours, even when handling heavy programs and software.

Ports and Connectivity

Laptops for computer science should have sufficient ports with the right connectivity so you won’t struggle when transferring or sending files or presenting your project through a TV.

So be sure to get the best laptop with an HDMI, USB ports, Wifi, and Bluetooth connectivity. With those, you’ll be able to work on your projects and share them with your classmates or professors.

Keyboard

Typing will be a big part of your life as a computer science student. Due to that, you should get a laptop with a keyboard that won’t hinder your performance.

Ensure that the keyboard on your laptop is comfortable for you to use.

If you’re a night owl, you might want to get the best laptop with BACKLIGHTING and ANTI-GLARE with its keyboard. That way, you can still work efficiently at night.

And if you’re going to be working with many numbers, it might be useful to get a keyboard with a NUMPAD.

Brand Reliability

When you buy the best laptop for yourself, get one from a reliable brand.

It’d be pretty terrible if you’re working on your final project, but your laptop suddenly decides to die on you due to faulty construction and bad quality.

Choose a laptop that has a good reputation and is well-known so you can rely on it not to run into issues.

Customer Support

If you get a computer science laptop, you need to ensure that it is replaced or fixed if it ever malfunctions or breaks a few months after purchase.

Look at customer reviews online and find an online vendor who will help you fix your problem any time of day.

Price

Being a computer science student is not cheap, so you better set your budget for your laptop accordingly.

However, you have to understand those good laptops for computer science students don’t come cheap.

You’re going to have to shell out a lot of cash just to be able to get the specs you’ll need for the tasks your computer science courses will make you complete.

How To Maintain Your Laptop

Now that you have the best laptop for your computer science studies, you should take care of it so it can last you for the years you’ll be studying.

Keep Your Hard Drive Clean

While you use your laptop over the years, your hard drive will slowly accumulate more files that can slow your laptop down.

• You should regularly get rid of files that you don’t use and just end up cluttering your laptop’s system.
• If you feel like you’ll still need the files in the future, even if you’re not using them at the moment, you can always upload them to different Cloud services like Google Drive, Megalink, or Dropbox.
• If you’re a WINDOWS USER, be sure to avoid the files located in System32 since those files are what make your laptop run properly.

Remember to check your Recycling Bin and empty it if you find any files there.

Clear Your Browser’s Cookies and Cache

Another aspect of your laptop you can clean up is your browser’s cookies and cache.

While each website’s cookies and cache don’t look big, the more sites you browse and use, the more cookies and cache you’ll accumulate. So it’s worth clearing it once in a while.

Each browser has a different way to clear the cookies and cache.

Since most people use Google Chrome as their standard browser, I’ll go through the steps to clear the cookies and cache.

• Open Google Chrome and click the three-dot symbol on the upper right corner of your screen.
• Click on Settings and scroll to the bottom of the page.
• Open Advanced Settings and scroll to the bottom of the page.
• Click on Clear Browsing Data, and a pop-up window will appear.
• You can clear your cookies, cache, and your browsing history here.

You can choose the period of which cookies and cache to clear, whether it be those a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, or everything.

Clean Your Screen and Keyboard

With the digital side of your laptop now fully cleaned, you should also clean the hardware components of your laptop.

Since you’ll be using your laptop a lot as a computer science student, there’s a big chance that crumbs, dead skin cells, and dirt will make their way to your keyboard and get lodged under it.

Once that happens, your keyboard can end up stiff, sticky, and, at worst, unusable.

You should buy cleaning components that won’t damage any sensitive components at your local office supplies store, computer shop, or online shop.

You can use pre-moistened wipes or optical lens cleaners to wipe it down safely for your screen.

Clean Your Ports

Aside from your keyboard and screen, you should also clean out the ports of your laptop.

Without damaging sensitive components, you can get compressed air with a nozzle to spray it inside the ports.

Protect with Padding

The main idea of getting a laptop for your schoolwork is that it’s portable and easy to bring to most places.

However, you should take care in transporting it.

You can buy skins or hardshell snap-on covers to protect your laptop from any damage, just like you would with your phone.

You could also invest in a pouch you can slip your laptop in when you’re not using it.

A messenger bag with a dedicated laptop compartment will offer a lot of padding, useful when traveling with your laptop.

Avoid Overheating

Do you like working on your bed a lot?

I hate being the bearer of bad news, but you should probably stop doing that.

Putting your laptop on soft surfaces can block the airflow to keep your laptop nice and cool.

If your laptop overheats, it can damage sensitive components inside like your hard disk and cause partial or full memory loss.

Don’t Overcharge

This is a tip you usually hear when talking about the maintenance of smartphones, but the same holds for laptops.

Not even the best laptops can avoid being damaged from the fatal mistake of overcharging, so if you take off the charger once it hits 100% and wait a while before charging it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may still have many questions about the best laptops for computer science students, so I’ve listed a few down here.

Is a Macbook Better for Computer Science Students?

If you think that Windows is the better operating system for computer science students, you’re a bit wrong on that front.

The Mac is a UNIX-based operating system which is the system mostly used in teaching computer science courses.

But if you still want to use Windows, you can do just that by using Virtual Machine or Oracle. Those programs will allow you to run Windows like it would on a PC.

However, since the Macbook is a pretty expensive laptop, you could always get a PC and use Windows and Linux to access a Unix system.

Overall, getting an Apple Macbook with a Mac OS is better for computer science students between all the operating systems.

Do I Need an External Cooling Pad if I Run Heavy Programs?

Most of the best laptops for computer science have efficient cooling systems that hold up pretty well.

If the laptop you’re going to get doesn’t appear to be one of those laptops, then yes, you should get an external cooling pad, so your laptop doesn’t overheat.

Should I Get a Gaming Laptop for My Computer Science Studies?

Gaming laptops are incredibly powerful that can handle HD games with 60 FPS or more and won’t lag or crash on you.

Because of that, there’s no doubt that a gaming laptop can handle graphics-intensive tasks, photo editing, and other computer science tasks that you may need to do while you take up a computer science degree.

The only thing you might be wary of is that the design of most gaming laptops isn’t subtle or sleek and aren’t the lightest option.

Is the Bulk a Good Tradeoff for Rich Specs?

The thing about cheaper laptops with rich specs appropriate for CS students is that they’ll be heavy.

Unless you can afford light laptops with great specs, then you may end up stuck with a bulky laptop that might be troublesome to bring around.

The best laptops for computer science majors are high-spec laptops.

So yes, it’s a good tradeoff. Even if it may hurt your shoulders from the weight.

Is the M1 Better Than The Intel Core i7?

Overall, I would say that the M1 is on the same level or a bit better than the Intel core i7.

BUT THE INTEL CORE I7 IS STILL BETTER FOR A COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENT TO USE.

Yes, the M1 can handle a lot of work and help a MacBook run smoothly; even powering Adobe Photoshop is nothing.

But the Intel core i7 can handle more web-developer software that you may not be able to run on a MacBook.

Should I Get a Touchscreen Laptop for My Computer Science Work?

That’s up to you and your preferences.

If you want to draw and annotate your notes on the display screen with your finger or a digital pen, a touchscreen laptop will help you do that.

But if it’s a feature that you think you wouldn’t use a lot, as a computer science major, then there’s no reason for you to get one.

You can just get a gaming laptop to get the optimal specs required for your classes, and you even get to play games if you ever get bored after class.

Recap

Just in case you forgot all the important details of my top picks for the best laptops for computer science students, we made a short recap!

Best Overall: MacBook Pro 14

If you’re looking for the best laptop for computer science, then you won’t have to search for long with the Apple MacBook Pro 14 in sight.

This laptop is fast, powerful, and has an excellent display for CS students to use.

Not only that, it has a long battery life which makes it so convenient to use even when you’re on the go.

Best Value: Microsoft Surface Pro 8

The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is one of the contenders for the best laptop for computer science students with all that it can give you.

You can use the touchscreen to write handwritten notes when you’re too lazy to type them out.

Aside from that, you can detach the screen from the keyboard and use it as a tablet. A pretty handy feature for any student!

Best Budget: ASUS Vivobook S15

My top pick for the best budget laptop has got to be the ASUS VivoBook 15.

Not only is it an economical choice for students, but it’s also got a lot of power under its belt.

You’ll be able to perform all the tasks a CS student needs to do, and it’s a great laptop that you’ll be able to carry around with no problem because of how light it is.

Final Thoughts

After going through the best laptops for computer science students, you should consider your options carefully.

There are a lot of great laptops out there that can carry you to further distances with all the abilities it offers you.

You just need to find the best laptop that will cater to all your needs and wants.