Whether you are looking to buy your first college laptop, or want a replacement for an old one, you have come to the right place. Here you find a guide that details the process of buying a student laptop.
The brand we have decided to put the focus on is Lenovo. This is a trusty laptop brand that makes durable and student-budget friendly laptops, and they come in many varieties too. This means you can get everything from an affordable Chromebook to gaming devices to mid-range everyday usage laptops.
Laptops make up an important part of the education system today, they are replacing books pretty fast. So it only makes sense to invest in the right one. The best Lenovo laptops for students will mostly be mid-range devices with good storage spaces and high battery lives.
But that is not all. To know more in detail, we suggest you take a look down below before making a purchase.
Contents
| PRODUCT | PROCESSING UNIT | MEMORY | STORAGE SPACE | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo Flex 14 | AMD Ryzen 5 3500U | 12GB DDR4 | 256GB NVMe SSD | |
| Lenovo Yoga 730 | Intel Core i5-8250U | 8GB DDR4 | 256GB PCIe SSD | |
| Lenovo Flex 15 | Intel Core i7-8550U | 8GB | 256GB PCIe SSD | |
| Lenovo Chromebook Duet | MediaTek Helio P60T | 4GB | 64 GB | |
| Lenovo Legion Y7000 | Intel Core i7-8750H | 16 GB DDR4 | 1 TB HDD and 128 GB PCIe SSD | |
| Lenovo Legion Y7000 | Intel Core i7-8750H | 16GB | 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 730s | Intel Core i5-8265U | 8GB DDR4 | 256GB NVMe SSD | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T460 | Intel Core i5-6200U | 4GB DDR3L | 500 GB | |
| Lenovo Flex 14 | Intel Core i5-8250U | 8GB DDR4 | 128GB PCIe SSD | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga | Intel Core i7-8665U | 16 GB | 512 GB SSD |
We feel that the Lenovo Flex 14 comes with a good combination of specifications that are useful and affordable for this customer category.
For the display, you have a 14-inch touchscreen. It has a Full HD resolution for clear and crisp pictures and can be worked on with a stylus pen. You get the stylus pen with the laptop so you don't have to look for it elsewhere. This digital pen comes in handy when taking notes in class or working on detailed art.
And since this is a convertible laptop, you can very easily rotate it and proceed to use it in studio or tablet mode. This especially is useful for students since you can use it in class to take notes or have it in a tent mode when you are working on design or graphics.
Internally, you have the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor. Using this you can work for hours and even play games on the side. And since this is a low voltage processor, it does not dish out all of its power at once, leaving you with plenty of battery life. 10 hours to be specific on mixed usage.
For the graphics unit, you have the Radeon Vega 8. Using this you can work on photo and video editing, it helps you play games, and overall improves the display graphics and makes a laptop stronger and more powerful from within.
We also love that it has a true block privacy shutter. It physically lets you close the WebCam when you are not using it.
This Yoga 730 proves to be a good choice for studentswho foresee a lot of multitasking in the future. It has the 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor that has 4 cores for extra power.
Memory is also great at 8 GB, and the storage space is a brilliant 256 GB SSD. With this the laptop runs efficiently, browsers are loaded a lot faster, the overall speed of the device increases, and multitasking becomes easier. As a student what more can you ask for?
The display is equally great. You have a 15.6-inch full HD IPS touchscreen display. The size is such that it can be carried to class and used at home for the dorm since it is neither too big nor too small.
And when you need more flexibility or control, you can rotate the screen a complete 360 degrees and use it in whichever form you desire.
Other features about this laptop that we love include the backlit keyboard which is essential for college students since late-night typing reports are a given. Plus, the fingerprint reader which protects your laptop from being accessed by strangers when left alone in the library or other places.
The Lenovo Flex 15 is often termed an 'Entertainment Powerhouse', so if you want a laptop that will double as your entertainment device and a really good one at that, then the Flex 15 is a good option to check out.
The display is 15.6 inches and has a Full HD resolution with a touch screen. And like most touchscreen laptops, this one too can be rotated where you can flip the screen completely and use it as a tablet. You could also leave it halfway and use it in studio or tent mode.
Besides that, the display also has slim bezels on two sides which create a wider screen for a better viewing experience.
For the processor, you have the 8th generation Intel Core i7-8550U. Not only is this a good and power-saving processor, but it is also from one of the latest generations which makes it an investment for the future.
And thanks to the low voltage processor, the laptop also saves up on battery life giving you an entire 10 hours and 30 minutes of usage. This will surely get you through all your classes, even if they are back to back and you do not have any charging breaks.
If you're into designing or graphic arts you will enjoy this laptop since it has the Windows Ink feature. This creates popping and detailed colors and lines. So even besides taking notes in class, you can use the device for extracurricular purposes or even for your leisure.
This model from Lenovo also incorporates the fingerprint reader. This way you can log in faster, not to mention it makes the laptop a lot safer as well.
This Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a fine piece of device for users who are looking for a lightweight and compact laptop that can be carried to class and used in commute without the heavy weight.
In fact, seeing that you can detach the screen to form a slim tablet, this can be used for other purposes too when you do not need an entire laptop at your disposal.
Termed the 'Ultra-portable' Chromebook, this lives up to its name with the 10.1-inch display. The back has a folded flap that lets you stand it up when using in tablet mode so you can work on it with a stylus.
But just because it is small, do not underestimate its capability. It packs a powerful battery that lets it run for a straight 10.5 hours from mixed usage. Which is a great point for a laptop created specifically for users who work on-the-go.
Like most good Chromebooks, this comes with a MediaTek Helio P60T processor, which is more than enough for simple browsing, typing, or editing documents.
Storage space is 64 GB eMMC and the memory is 4GB RAM, both of which are adequate for regular usage. And since this is a Chromebook, you get to store your data in cloud storage when required.
And unlike most laptops, this has both a rear camera with 8MP and a front camera with 2MP. Granted, you can get better camera resolutionstoday, but you do not get them with laptops. Once you detach the screen, this comes in handy, especially when taking pictures of notes and boards, something college students can relate to.
The Legion Y7000 might look like a scary big device, but it has the right balance you need between portability and performance that lets you use this in class, at home, or in the dorm.
With its wide array of features, it is pretty much everyone out there. There is the Core i7-8750H processor, which gives you a ton of processing power. But for this reason, the battery life is comparatively lower at 4 hours, since this is not a power-saving laptop.
You also have the GTX 1060 graphics for a flawless display. If you are majoring in any creative field such as design or arts, or even engineering for that matter, this will come in handy. This graphics unit lets you use all sorts of editing software out there that allows for high-resolution editing, something you cannot otherwise get.
Storage is just as exceptional as the rest of the features. There is a whopping 1TB HDD paired with a 128GB SSD, so you do not lack in speed nor space.
Since most students take a look at this first, we are going to get it out of our way right now. The display size depends a lot on preference and use. If you want a laptop that you can carry to class daily, or have long commutes and have to travel with it, go with laptops below 15 inches.
15-inch is the right size for users who need a widescreen and still wants portability. And if you do not require the widescreen, 13-inch screens are more suitable in this case.
However, if portability is not a factor to consider at all, then 17-inch laptops are good. These have large and spacious screens. with more screen space you get to work more liberally. And not to mention it serves great when using the device for entertainment.
Now, this is what you really need to focus on because the best Lenovo for students have to be able to provide good power and speed.
When in college, you will be faced with numerous assignments and projects, which will require the use of various software. Without a good processor, the laptop will start to lag, delaying your work.
On the lower end, you should go for an Intel Core i5 or the Ryzen 5 processor. This would be more affordable and can give you the speed and power you seek.
If your projects require extra power or you happen to study in computer science or STEM fields, then go with an Intel Core i7 or the Ryzen 7.
Also, take a moment to see if you have gotten a processor from the 8th generation or one that came out after. This will ensure proper use for the following years.
Clock speed is important to check out for heavy-handed users who have to use high-end software. 3GHz and above is recommended for this. Regular users can work with 2GHz as a minimum.
The RAM or memory decides upon how well a laptop can multitask. As a college student, that is all you will practically be doing.
For this reason, do not settle for any RAM under 4GB. 8GB is a safe bet, and if you expect more work in the future, 16GB would be a better choice.
Two things need to be seen here. The type and amount of space you get. We generally prefer an SSD since it can provide better speed than an HDD. But since an SSD is more expensive, space is usually lower for the similar priced HDD.
If you need more space and have a low budget, go with an HDD. Other options include getting an SSD and storing extra files in an external drive. And if budget is not an issue, then a hybrid hard disk with both an SSD and HDD would be the optimal combination to have.
For students who are looking for a laptop to keep in the dorm or at home, battery life is not that important. Anything between 5-8 hours is alright. But if you travel, or use the same device in class, look for at least 8-10 hours of battery life.
Mini Laptop Student, GEEKPLUS Notebook Computers 11.6 Inch Laptop Drop-Proof Kids Laptops - Walmart Link
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 15.6" FHD Touchscreen Laptop Computer, 8 Core AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (Beat - Walmart Link
Lenovo Chromebook S330 14" Laptop Computer for Business Student, Quad-Core MediaTek - Walmart Link
2019 Lenovo Thinkpad X250 12.5" Ultrabook Business Laptop Computer, Intel Dual-Core - Walmart Link
Lenovo ThinkPad T460 14in Notebook Intel Core I5-6200U up to 2.8G,Webcam,1920x1080,8G - Walmart Link
Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop, 14-Inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Display, MediaTek MT8173C - Walmart Link
Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11e Laptop 11.6" Touchscreen PC Intel Quad Core Processor 128GB - Walmart Link
10.Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga - Walmart Link
Mini Laptop Student, GEEKPLUS Notebook Computers 11.6 Inch Laptop Drop-Proof Kids Laptops - eBay Link
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 15.6" FHD Touchscreen Laptop Computer, 8 Core AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (Beat - eBay Link
Lenovo Chromebook S330 14" Laptop Computer for Business Student, Quad-Core MediaTek - eBay Link
2019 Lenovo Thinkpad X250 12.5" Ultrabook Business Laptop Computer, Intel Dual-Core - eBay Link
Lenovo ThinkPad T460 14in Notebook Intel Core I5-6200U up to 2.8G,Webcam,1920x1080,8G - eBay Link
Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop, 14-Inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Display, MediaTek MT8173C - eBay Link
Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11e Laptop 11.6" Touchscreen PC Intel Quad Core Processor 128GB - eBay Link
10.Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga - eBay Link
That concludes our discussion on the best Lenovo laptops for students. Without a doubt, the budget comes into consideration for students in most cases, which is why we have made sure to include laptops that are easy on the wallet as well.
Keep an eye out for specific points like the processor, the storage, and battery life too if you want it to last through long class hours.
Once you have these basics down, you can turn to other features that you personally prefer. This can include things like display, size, graphics, and more.
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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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