MBA students have a lot on their plates. They usually have to tackle full-time jobs along with evening classes in most cases, and those who are lucky enough to have day classes have to take on work afterward.
Either way, it is no surprise that these few years can be hard and stressful for the students. This is where a good laptop comes in, to lower the stress, provide entertainment, and have good speed to complete all those projects fast.
You must choose one with good speed and performance primarily since that is what you will be needing for the most of it. Other factors come secondary to this. The best laptops for MBA students come in all shapes and sizes, even in our list here.
Take a moment to skim through the details of each model, and if you ever get confused refer back to the guide for better understanding.
Contents
| PRODUCT | DISPLAY RESOLUTION | CPU | GPU | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer PredatorHelios 300 | 1080P FHD | Intel i7-8750H | GTX 1060 | |
| Lenovo YogaC930 | 4K UHD | Intel i7-8550U | Intel UHDGraphics 620 | |
| LenovoChromebook Duet | 1920 x 1200WUXGA | MediaTekHelio P60T | ARM G72MP3 | |
| ASUS ChromebookFlip C434 | 1080P FHD | Intel M3-8100Y | Intel HD | |
| Acer Swift 3 | 1080P FHD | AMD Ryzen7 4700U | AMD RadeonGraphics | |
| AlienwareANW17-2143SLV | 1080P FHD | Intel i7 4710HQ | GTX 970M | |
| Samsung GalaxyBook Flex | 1080P FHD | Intel i7-1065G7 | Integrated | |
| MicrosoftSurface Laptop 3 | 2496 x 1664 | AMD Ryzen 5 | AMD RadeonVega 9 | |
| LenovoLegion Y7000 | 1080P FHD | Intel i7-8750H | GTX 1060 |
The Predator Helios 300 is the kind of laptop you would want to keep at home or the dorm. As a gaming laptop, this is not the easiest to carry, but if you want a heavy-duty device that can handle a ton of workload, is suitable for high-tier MS excel usage, and can also be used for gaming, this is the one to go for.
This has been designed for users who require a ton of speed for their daily tasks, and MBA students definitely fall into that category. It boasts a powerful Core i7-8750H 8th generation processor with an impressive clock speed which goes up to 4.1 GHz.
Plus, the discrete Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics is also there with 6GB dedicated VRAM and overclockable graphics.
With so much power from every feature, the laptop is bound to heat up quickly with use. To tackle the heat the Predator Helios 300 makes use of all-metal AeroBlade 3D fans. These increase the airflow and ensure the laptop stays cool, so it can run efficiently and not waste power.
Battery life is pretty impressive too, at 7 hours. While you can get more battery life from some other devices, as a gaming laptop this is considered high.
If you seek versatility and a lightweight laptop for everyday usage, then this convertible Lenovo Yoga C930 is worth checking out. It sports a slim and sleek design making it perfect for professionals.
You can carry this to offices, classes, and use it at home afterward. With the plethora of features on this, you do not need an extra desktop for backing up either.
It features a 360-degree hinge which lets you rotate the screen completely. Studio mode is great for studying while tablet mode makes it easier to take notes. And since this comes with a stylus, and has a nook inside the laptop, you do not have to worry about getting a separate one.
Display quality is impeccable here with the 4K touchscreen. And the sound quality is on par with it with the Dolby Atmos speaker system. You do not need to look elsewhere for a separate entertainment device either.
For the processor, you have the ultra-low voltage i7-8550U. It has eight-way processing, 4 cores, and Turbo boost technology, all dedicated to providing more speed and processing power so you can load applications at their quickest.
Storage space is excellent as you get 1TB PCIe SSD that does not lack in space nor speed. Plus, the 16GB RAM is also there to further ensure you have adequate speedswhen working, typing, or even browsing.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is the ideal laptop for users who are looking for a small and flexible laptop for classes and commute. This will in no way replace a heavy-duty laptop, but it is the right choice for taking to the class where physical notebooks have become redundant.
This is a 2-in-1 Chromebook, where you can detach the screen to use it as a tablet only, or have the keyboard on when needed. Being only 10-inches in size, this is also easy to carry and does not add much weight either.
And its 10-point multi-touch screen lets you work on figures and charts more conveniently and allows higher control.
Performance-wise, you have the octa-core MediaTek Helio P60T processor which is definitely adequate for a Chromebook. It only takes 8 seconds to boost and even updates automatically in the background as you continue to work. Not to mention has virus protection too.
Since this is mostly chosen as a second device for use in classes or outdoors, this has properties to match such scenarios. The 400 nits display is bright enough to be used in daylight. While the 10 hours of battery life ensures a day's worth of usage without needing a charger whatsoever.
The Chromebook Flip C434 from ASUS is a brilliant devicethat comes at an affordable rate, thanks to being a Chromebook. Yet it boasts some great features that make you take a second look.
It has a 14-inch touch display with NanoEdge bezels on all sides which further help to widen the screen space. This creates a 178-degree wide-angled view for a better movie-watching experience. And for the times you have to work on group projects on the same screen, sharing will not be an issue.
Display quality is just as good with the Full HD resolution and 100% sRGB color gamut. These promise clear and defined colors on the screen that make pictures and videos stand out.
Then you have the 360-degree hinge that allows the screen to be rotated completely. Use it in studio or tablet mode, whichever you prefer.
Plus, the smart Ergo Life Hinge tilts the keyboard to create an optimal angle for typing. Since reports are a big part of an MBA, you will enjoy this feature to the fullest as you type.
Since this is a Chromebook, you might need to connect this to an external display at times. For this, you have the USB Type-C and Type-A and a Micro SD card slot too.
The Acer Swift 3 is an overall impressive laptop that anyone can get good use out of. If you are unsure of laptops and are overwhelmed by too many types and niches, take a look at this one.
It is slim and lightweight because Acer wants you to have a good laptop, and not weigh you down. The body is made of aluminum which adds strength to the device.
You get a 14-inch Full HD display with thin bezels for a wider view. This creates an 82.73% screen-to-body ratio.
The octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor is capable of giving you all the speed and power you need for an MBA, plus more. It is definitely suitable for regular classes and PowerPoint slides, but can also handle gaming and content creation up to a certain point.
At the same time the processor is also power-saving, and hence can run for 11.5 hours. You can use this in class and work consecutively from a single charge.
The storage space of 512GB SSD and 8GB RAM together is like the cherry on top. These complete the laptop with faster loading and booting speeds while providing a spacious storagetoo.
A fast processor is the essence of a good laptop, and even more so when most of the work in Master's classes require a fast device.
The Core i5 or i7 should be the primary choice for MBA students and will cover all sorts of projects and requirements they might have. These are also good for entertainment on the side.
If you major in something like finance, which requires the usage of lots of extra software and heavy MS excel work, then also check out the clock speed. 3GHz is the minimum for this case, if not more. And you should also look out for Quad -Core processors for better speed and performance.
However, if you are looking for a laptop for solely carrying to class, and do not expect much heavy-duty work from it, then MediaTek processors will work just fine.
The best laptops for MBA must have a good memory for smooth work and performance.
A higher RAM ensures that the laptop is capable of handling multiple tasks at once. And that is something you can expect a lot of, no matter what you decide to major in.
Getting an 8GB RAM is just cutting it, but we say go the extra mile and get a 16GB RAM that can serve you well even after 2 years of studies. This makes it easier to use a handful of software simultaneously and does not compromise with the speed.
A higher resolution entails better and smoother details on the screen. Display resolution should not be anything less than a full HD 1080P. If you do not have budget constraints, then a 4K resolution is even better, and definitely suggested!
These do not have much effect on the actual work, where the Full HD will suffice, but a resolution too low is simply disappointing in 2020. You will not enjoy working on it, nor using it for entertainment, given that even smartphones have impressive resolutions today.
First things first, as a Master's student, always go for an SSD storage over the HDD. It will be a lot faster and smoother to work with, and you will appreciate every bit of it.
While HDDs usually come with more storage space, that can be made up for using external drives is required. But if you can get a 512GB SSD, you will not need the external drive either for an MBA.
Some laptops come with eMMC storage. These by no means can compete with an SSD, neither in terms of storage or speed. But they are found in Chromebooks and are a lot more affordable. Not to mention is the right choice for laptops used primarily in classes, and as a second device while you have a stronger one at the dorm for work.
Even though they do not have all the properties of an SSD, they are great for portability and for use as temporary laptops as long as you do not expect too much work from them.
2019 Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage, 2.6GHz Intel Core i7) - Space - Walmart Link
Dell XPS 13 9370 13.3" FHD InfinityEdge - 8th Gen Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - Walmart Link
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop, 13.3" Full HD WideView, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U, - Walmart Link
HP Spectre x360-13.3" FHD Touch - 10gen i7-1065G7-8GB - 512GB SSD 32GB Optane - Silver - Walmart Link
2019 Lenovo Thinkpad E490 14" FHD Full HD(1920x1080) IPS Business Laptop (Intel Quad Core - Walmart Link
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop PC, 15.6" Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display, Intel - Walmart Link
Apple MacBook Air (13-Inch Retina Display, 1.6GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5, 256GB) - Space - Walmart Link
1.Acer Predator Helios 300 - Walmart Link
4.ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 - Walmart Link
7.Samsung Galaxy Book Flex - Walmart Link
8.Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 - Walmart Link
2019 Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage, 2.6GHz Intel Core i7) - Space - eBay Link
Dell XPS 13 9370 13.3" FHD InfinityEdge - 8th Gen Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - eBay Link
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop, 13.3" Full HD WideView, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U, - eBay Link
HP Spectre x360-13.3" FHD Touch - 10gen i7-1065G7-8GB - 512GB SSD 32GB Optane - Silver - eBay Link
2019 Lenovo Thinkpad E490 14" FHD Full HD(1920x1080) IPS Business Laptop (Intel Quad Core - eBay Link
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop PC, 15.6" Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display, Intel - eBay Link
Apple MacBook Air (13-Inch Retina Display, 1.6GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5, 256GB) - Space - eBay Link
1.Acer Predator Helios 300 - eBay Link
4.ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 - eBay Link
7.Samsung Galaxy Book Flex - eBay Link
8.Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 - eBay Link
In conclusion, there is no single perfect laptop that you can find. The best laptops for MBA students come with widely varying features, unique to each user and their preferences. But the one thing they all have in common is a good performance.
Nothing can be quite as frustrating as a slow laptop during midterms, and your priority as an MBA student should be to get a fast and efficient device.
We hope that the details provided here have been helpful. All you need to do now is note your requirements and match them against the given models to find a laptop in no time.
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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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