When it comes to buying laptops for students, not a lot of features or specifications need to be covered. But if you happen to be a computer science student looking for the right laptop, you need to dig a little to find out exactly what specifications meet your demand.
The best laptop for computer science students is often mistaken to be laptops that carry beast-like power or boast the most powerful processors. But in all truth, that is not what you need.
What you do need, however, is to check that the laptop you are buying can be used for coding and using Python, DAQ Board Software, MATLAB, Java, R Studio, Netbeans, and others which are heavily used in this field of study.
These alongside a handful of other features together make the perfect laptop which is suitable for computer science students. To find out what they all are, check out the article below.
Contents
| PRODUCT | DISPLAY | CPU | GRAPHICS CHIP | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | 15.6-inch Full HD | Intel i7-9750H | GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | |
| ASUS ZenBook 13 | 13.3-inch Full HD Wideview | Intel Core I5-8265U | Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | 15.6-inch FHD IPS | Intel i7-8750H | GTX 1060 6GB | |
| Acer Spin 3 | 14-inch Full HD IPS Touch | Intel Core i7-8565U | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 | |
| Lenovo Yoga C930 | 13.9-inch 4K UHD Touch-Screen | Intel Core i7-8550U | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 | |
| ASUS VivoBook S | 15.6-inch FHD WideView | Intel Core i5-8250U | Intel Integrated Graphics | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 | 12.3-inch Touch-Screen | Intel Core i5 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics | |
| HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop | 15.6-inch FHD IPS | Intel 8th Gen i5+8300H | NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti | |
| Acer Aspire 5 | 15.6-inch Full HD IPS | Core i3-8145U | Intel UHD Graphics 620 | |
| Acer Aspire E 15 | 15.6-inch Full HD | Intel Core i5-8250U | NVIDIA GeForce MX150 |
Computer science students often face trouble buying laptops because the specifications they look for end up being too expensive for a student. But the Acer Predator Helios 300 gives you a powerful laptop with strong specifications, all the while having an affordable or mid-range price.
One of the key features we love is in the high refresh rate of 144 Hertz. This is a lot higher than most average laptops provide and ensures that you can run all the applications you want without the display slowing down. The bonus- a refresh rate like this is also suitable for gamers.
Coming to the power, which is one of the most important things to look for in these laptops, you get the 9th Generation Intel Core i7 9750H Processor that comes with 6 cores giving you increased productivity.
The discrete graphics processor from NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 gives you ample power to work on school projects which can revolve around Python, Java or similar software is with ease.
The ASUS ZenBook 13 is made with portability in mind which makes it highly suitable for studentsno matter what their majors are. This lightweight and ultra-thin device features slim bezels to give you a nano edge display, that gives you the impression of a larger screen than what the 13 inches give you.
Another point that makes this suitable for students is the strong battery. In 49 minutes, you can charge this up to 60% and with a full charge it will last you up to 14 hours of autonomy, and 11 hours with heavy-duty use.
If you ever find yourself writing codes for long periods, which will eventually happen if you are a computer student, this battery life will help you out.
Processor wise you get the Intel Core i5-8265U which has been integrated with the Intel UHD 620 GPU to give you a strong combination for the finest student laptop. These together ensure that you can learn and run new tools and software as they keep coming with projects.
The display matters a lot for students who have to work with sophisticated software, and here you get to 225 nits of brightness to give you a nice and bright screen.
While Acer Predator Helios 300 looks similar to the previous laptop by Acer, there are certain small differences to be considered. If you liked the last model from this brand, but found it to be a tad bit too expensive you can check this one out which has a comparatively lower price.
With a lower price, The CPU kicks it down a notch and gives you the 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H instead of the ninth. So technically you still get a very good and powerful CPU that is completely worthwhile for a computer class, and even some gaming.
The GPU also has a difference where you get the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. Even though this ranks a bit lower than the last, it still works great for computer classes and playing all the latest games, as long as you are using a 1080p resolution.
What does remain the same is the refresh rate of 144 hertz which ensures that you get to enjoy the most rapid sceneson-screen with a lower input lag.
The Acer Spin 3 is for those students who not only want a powerful laptop for their computer classes, but also expect it to be flexible enough for other kinds of work.
This is a convertible laptop that is always ready to change. Besides using it in laptop mode, you can fold it to use it in a tablet mode, or use the 360-degree hinge to form a tent when you want to enjoy the display.
For ease and more control over work, this laptop comes with a rechargeable stylus that can be docked into the laptop itself so you never lose it even in class.
Performance-wise, the power you get from the processor is uncompromised. The 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8565U lets you maximize the efficiency. On the other hand, to store tons of applications and projects, which take up a lot of space if you are a computer science student, you get the 512GB PCIe SSD and 16GB DDR4 Memory.
The Intel UHD Graphics 620 is a popular option for gamers since it provides excellent frame rates, which makes it just as suitable for workingon other computer applications as well.
The Lenovo Yoga C930 sports one of the most practical designs for students as it comes with a sleek gunmetal body, making it portable yet strong.
Things we notice about this laptop instantly are the 4K UHD screen and the convertibility. You can turn this into a tablet when taking notes in class, and the stylus helps too. When done with class you can simply insert the stylus back into the laptop to keep it safe and secure.
Besides all the attractive features on the outside, you get a very powerful CPU with the 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U and the Intel UHD Graphics 620 for GPU.
The combination of the GPU and the CPU together makes this an excellent choice to download YouTube videos and work on MATLAB simultaneously. Not that you would necessarily do this, but it simply goes to show the high speeds with which this laptop performs.
The 13.9-inch screen also covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut so you can experience vibrant and clear colors no matter what you are using a new laptop for.
The CPU is without a doubt one of the most important specifications that you need to look at before deciding on a laptop. For use by students studying computer science, you want a CPU that has adequate power and speed to get the job done.
One thing to keep in mind is that you need not aim for the highest or the most powerful CPUs which can become very costly, and are not necessary for this specific need.
For Intel processors, opt for Intel Core i5 or i7. Within the Intel Core i7, look for models that have HQ or K in the end. These have four cores, and hence allow for high productivity.
If the model number includes 10, such as Core i7 - 1060G7/10710U, it means that these models hail from the 10th Generation Core series which is the latest offering from Intel and hence provides better performance.
Core i5 is an optimal choice for those who want a basic and mainstream laptop that boasts a good combination of both performance and price. Look out for models that have a U in the end like Core-i5-7200U Since they provide a better service than ones that end with a Y.
If Intel is not your preferred choice of processor, the equivalent of the mentioned above processors from AMD would be the Ryzen 5 and 7.
As a computer science student, you will always want a laptop that can work with a lot of software and applications, and be able to load them superfast. For this, you need to look at more than just the storage space provided, but also the type of storage you get.
We recommend that you get an SSD instead of an HDD. Although an SSD is costlier, it is worth every penny since it speeds up the laptop, and lets you use large programs like Android Studio or Microsoft Visual Studio without slowing the laptop down.
When we are looking at the best computers for computer science students, we often tend to overlook the battery life. It gets overshadowed by other features.
But since this is targeted towards students, the laptop should have a good battery life that lasts at least 7 hours from one charge. When you carry the laptop to class and back home you want a laptop that lasts so you do not have to go looking for the charging port everywhere.
Specifically, as a computer science student, you need to keep an eye out for this because you will be using the laptop a lot in class. If you can afford to splurge, we recommend you look for higher battery life that last for more than 8 hours.
If you are sticking strictly to the university curriculum, you might not need a graphics card since the integrated ones we get today are pretty impressive on their own with the power and speed they provide.
However, if you want to do some gaming on the side, or plan on getting into machine learning soon, look for laptops which have a dedicated graphics card instead.
2021 Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop, 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, - Walmart Link
Acer Flagship Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop 15.6” FHD IPS 144Hz 10th Gen Intel 6-Core - Walmart Link
2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) - Space - Walmart Link
2021 HP Envy Laptop 13.3 inch FHD Touchscreen Evo Platform 4-Core Intel i7-1165G7 Iris Xe - Walmart Link
HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop Windows 10 Quad-Core i5-10300H Laptop With Webcam Bluetooth - Walmart Link
ASUS TUF Gaming F17 Gaming Laptop, 17.3” 144Hz FHD IPS-Type Display, Intel Core - Walmart Link
Dell 9310 XPS 2 in 1 Convertible, 13.4 Inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop, Intel Core - Walmart Link
1.Acer Predator Helios 300 - Walmart Link
3.Acer Predator Helios 300 - Walmart Link
7.Microsoft Surface Pro 7 - Walmart Link
8.HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop - Walmart Link
10.Acer Aspire E 15 - Walmart Link
2021 Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop, 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, - eBay Link
Acer Flagship Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop 15.6” FHD IPS 144Hz 10th Gen Intel 6-Core - eBay Link
2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) - Space - eBay Link
2021 HP Envy Laptop 13.3 inch FHD Touchscreen Evo Platform 4-Core Intel i7-1165G7 Iris Xe - eBay Link
HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop Windows 10 Quad-Core i5-10300H Laptop With Webcam Bluetooth - eBay Link
ASUS TUF Gaming F17 Gaming Laptop, 17.3” 144Hz FHD IPS-Type Display, Intel Core - eBay Link
Dell 9310 XPS 2 in 1 Convertible, 13.4 Inch FHD+ Touchscreen Laptop, Intel Core - eBay Link
1.Acer Predator Helios 300 - eBay Link
3.Acer Predator Helios 300 - eBay Link
7.Microsoft Surface Pro 7 - eBay Link
8.HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop - eBay Link
10.Acer Aspire E 15 - eBay Link
Now that we have reached the end of the article, we hope you have a good idea of what the best laptops for computer science students look like.
This exhaustive list shows you that you cannot just buy any laptop and expected it to meet the demands of a person studying computer science.
We hope you will keep in mind that specifications like the graphics card being used, the type of storage, the amount of storage, the CPU, the battery life, and many more matter a lot in how the laptop performs at the end of the day.
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About Dror Wettenstein
Dror Wettenstein is a software engineer and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of TechTreeRepeat, a company that enables technical writers to publish their work faster and share it with readers across the globe. Dror has a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Irvine.
When he’s not working on software projects, Dror enjoys writing articles and essays on various topics. He also likes playing guitar and spending time with his wife and two young children.
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