10 Best Laptops for Computer Science Students 2021 – Buying Guide

Best Laptops for Computer Science Students: The laptop, as a genre has become ubiquitous by its presence. In case you are a computer science student and looking for the best laptops for computer science students, choosing the one should be a slightly tricky option.

Of course, every student these days needs a laptop, but the best laptop for computer science majors would ideally need a few exciting features. With so many options available for the top laptops for college students, it would not be rather easy enough to find the precisely perfect options that meet your requirements.

10 Best Laptops for Computer Science Students 2021

1. Apple MacBook Pro

This is one of the good laptops for computer science students who are looking for a very reliable machine. Let’s dig deeper into this laptop.

Design-wise, don’t expect any appreciable upgrade from this model. Like its predecessor, the laptop bears a 13-inch sleek display and an aluminum body, which kind of feels very comforting to the touch. However, apart from this, there’s nothing to cherish. Of course, for a mundane user, it could work, but if you’re looking for portability and mobility, you’d preferably choose a laptop like Dell XPS 13. This is because it is lighter (2.7 lbs) than MacBook Pro 2018 (3 lbs).

Best Features

• Screen Size: 13.4 Inches.
• Storage: 512GB SSD.
• RAM: 8GB DDR3 RAM.
• Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core i5.
• Graphics card: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655.
• Operating System: Mac OS X – High Sierra.
• Weight: 3 lbs.

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2. Acer Aspire E 15 (Most Affordable Laptop for CS Students)

First of all, this inexpensive laptop comes with the best mid-range 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor, which is quite powerful and consumes less power. That’s why it is offering a long battery life which can last up to 15 hours on web browsing, pretty amazing!

Moreover, the 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage are not terrible in this price range; these are sufficient for a light user. If you don’t have an extensive collection of video and music and don’t go above more than 1-3 tabs on chrome, it is pretty sufficient for you.

Best Features

• Screen Size: 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-lit IPS Display
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• RAM: 8GB Dual Channel Memory
• Processor: 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz)
• Graphics card: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655.
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Battery Life: Up to 15-hours of battery life.Adapter: 65 W

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3. HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop (Affordable Slim and Beautiful Laptop for CS)

The looks of this model are demanding, edgy, and completely overhauled. With only 5.2 lbs (“only” for a laptop like this), you get a comfortable keyboard and track. The display is phenomenal. You’ll get an extremely well perception of the colors from a normal range.

Since this laptop is built for gaming and heavy tasking like running computer science software, it has commendable specs. With a whopping 1TB HDD storage, you get an 8GB DDR4 RAM with a CPU of Intel Core i5-8300H. That’s not all, the GTX 1050Ti 4GB GPU is here to take your gaming experience to the next level with its amazing performance.

Because of its weight (5lbs) and size (15.6-inches), the HP Pavilion is not very portable as you’d imagine. Who’d want to take a machine this heavy, anyway? But that does not mean you cannot at all. Of course, depending on your means and needs, you can carry it with you (not for long). This laptop bag can help you If you want to travel with this beast.

Best Features

• Processor: 8th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5+8300H Processor (Core i5 and Intel Optane memory), Quad-Core, 2.3GHz up to 4.0GHz.
• Video graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated).
• Display: 15.6-inch diagonal FHD IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080) with 144Hz refresh rate.
• Memory: 8 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (not upgradable).
• Hard drive: 1 TB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive.
• Battery life: Up to 8 hours and 45 minutes (mixed usage); up to 7 hours and 45 minutes (video playback); up to 5 hours and 30 minutes (wireless streaming).
• Dimensions and weight (unpackaged): 14.40 inches (W) x 10.01 inches (D) x 1.00 inch (H); 5.18 pounds.
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home.

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4. ASUS VivoBook

The Asus VivoBook is another entry-level laptop on our list. Unlike our previous laptop, it has better storage; you are getting 1TB HDD and 128GB SSD of combination – SSD for performance and HDD for your extra data storage.

However, from the design aspect, it is a great deal, because it’s quite slim and compact and has less weight. Therefore, it won’t break your back while hovering on campus and in classrooms.

Finally, the Asus VivoBook is also an affordable laptop for cs students, which offers a stunning design, compact body, large storage capacity, fingerprint sensor, and excellent performance.

Mind you, this laptop is not useful for heavy graphics work and has less battery life.

Best Features

• Powerful 8th Generation Intel Core i5 8250U 1.6GHz (Turbo up to 3.4GHz) processor
• 15.6 Inches Full HD WideView display with ASUS Splendid software enhancement
• 14.2 inches wide, 0.8 inches thin and portable footprint with 0.3 inches ASUS NanoEdge bezel for a stunning 80% screen to body ratio
• 8GB DDR4 RAM and 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD storage combo; Ergonomic chiclet keyboard with fingerprint sensor
• Comprehensive connections including USB 3.1 Type C (Gen1), USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and HDMI; Lightning fast 802.11ac Wi Fi keeps you connected through any congestion or interference

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5. Acer Predator Helios 300

What could you expect from a mid-range gaming laptop? Mediocre specs, right? Well, Acer Predator Helios 300 is going to surprise you with its above-average GPU and CPU performance. We are talking about GTX 1060 6GB GPU and a powerful Intel 6-Core i7-8750H CPU. Coupled these specs with 16GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and what you get is a machine well capable of running high-end games and software.

The NVMe SSD You’ll be getting on this machine is quite faster than most of the laptops with SATA SSD. It won’t disappoint you with this performance for sure.

Portability and gaming laptops don’t go well with each other. This is true for this model as well. It boasts some 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) weight, which is just enough to carry it for shorter distances, but not for long. For anyone who has a habit or a routine of sitting in one place and not traveling around for long, the laptop could be the right one

Best Features

• Screen Size: 15.6 Inches.
• Storage: 256GB SSD.
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 RAM.
• Processor: Intel 6-Core i7-8750H.
• Graphics card: GeForce GTX 1060 6GB.
• Operating System: Windows 10
• Weight: 5.5 lbs

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6. HP Spectre x360 (Best Portable and Convertible Laptop for CS)

The HP Spectre x360 is a bit different laptop on our list; it’s offering a convertible design with robust performance. Additionally, the battery life of this laptop is also great, which is quite useful, especially if you’re a student.

The HP Spectre is a 13.3-inch laptop with a Full HD resolution, which can deliver an impressive image quality. You can do multitasking easily despite having a small screen; it’s another benefit of the high-resolution display.

Additionally, the convertible design is even more useful; you can use it for taking notes, watching movies, or use as a powerful workstation.

In the performance department, this convertible laptop is fueled with Intel’s latest i7-8550U processor, and paired with 16 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage capacity. It means it has enough capability for handling all of your computer science workload.

Best Features

• Screen Size: 13 3″ diagonal FHD IPS
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• RAM: 8GB LPDDR3-1600MHz SDRAM Memory
• Processor: 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U Processor
• Graphics card: Intel UHD Graphics 620 360°
• Operating System: Windows 10

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7. Asus ZenBook 13

The laptop comes with the same 13.3-inch IPS display but compared to its earlier model, the display has very small bezels at the top and side which makes the laptop very attractive.

The build quality of the laptop isn’t up to the standard of laptops such as Surface Pro or MacBook Pro but it is decent for its pricing in my opinion. Also, the ZenBook weighs only 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) which is pretty lightweight and the second lightest laptop on this list after Microsoft Surface Pro.

There is no dedicated graphics card offered on this machine but it is expected considering its price point. If you want a laptop with a dedicated GPU, I would suggest you look for other options from this list.

f you are planning to bring your laptop to school/ college, then this might be the perfect choice for you. You won’t even need a bag to carry this laptop.

When it comes to storage, you’ll be getting 512GB PCIe SSD and 8GB DDR3 memory which is good enough to run multiple applications at once without any issues. The CPU under the hood is Intel Core i5-8265U which is slightly better than Intel Core i5-8250U which was offered on the previous model of the laptop.

Best Features

• Screen Size: 13.3 Inches.
• Storage: 512GB SSD.
• RAM: 8GB DDR3.
• Processor: Intel Core i5-8265U.
• Graphics card: Intel HD Graphics 620.
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home.
• Weight: 2.5 lbs.

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8. Microsoft Surface Pro 6

On the update of this article, the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 has taken the place of its previous version Microsoft Surface Pro 5th gen, which was cheaper around $500. There are many upgrades that we can see in this latest release. It has the better 8th gen Intel Core i7 processor (i7-8650U) which is capable of delivering 4.20GHz of clock rate. Notably, the 1TB SSD storage and 16 GB of RAM are amazing for smoother working.

As you know, the surface series is well known for its detachable keyboard design, which is very useful for taking notes in the class on-the-go. Most of the students prefer the SurfaceBook laptop, especially for the notes-taking feature.

Some users like to work with a big screen, and sadly there is no bigger variant of Surface Pro 6. In this case, you need to see Microsoft Surface Book 2, which is also a top laptop for computer science majors. It has even high processing power along with portability.

Best Features

• A best in a class laptop with the versatility of a studio and tablet
• More power — now with the new 8th Gen Intel Core Processor
• Ultra-slim and light, starting at just 1.70 pounds
• All day battery life, with up to 13.5 hours of video playback
• Now in a choice of two classic colours, Platinum or bold, the new black. Pair with our signature.Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology

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9. ASUS FX504 Thin & Light TUF Gaming Laptop

The FX504 comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD which is pretty decent in my opinion. The processor inside the machine is quite powerful i.e Intel Core i7-8750H. It has 6 cores and 12 threads which do a pretty fine job at handling any type of process.

The GPU offered on this machine is GTX 1050Ti which is decent for its pricing and it can help you play games at decent frame rates. Even If you aren’t a gamer, this graphics card will surely help you run any graphics demanding applications at ease.

The port selection of this laptop could have been better in my opinion. On the right side, you will find an Ethernet port, HDMI, 1 USB 2.0, and 2 USB 3.0. On the right side, there is only a Kensington lock. There is no SD card reader or USB Type-C on this machine which might make customers unhappy.

Best Features

• Screen Size: 15.6 Inches.
• Storage: 256GB SSD.
• RAM: 8GB DDR4.
• Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H.
• Graphics card: GTX 1050 Ti.
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home.
• Weight: 5.1 lbs.

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10. ASUS ROG

If you prefer portability or longer battery life, then forget this laptop. Whether it’s about running multiple programs or playing the latest graphics-oriented games, nothing can’t stop it. the Asus Rog G703 is the most capable computer laptop for engineers.

Because it comes with an Intel i7-8750H processor and can be overclocked up to 4.10 GHz; moreover, the Nvidia GTX 1080 8 GB graphics card is a powerful option to handle graphics processes.

This massive machine has a wide range of input and out ports. These ports are – Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0, mini DisplayPort 1.4, and USB 3.0. Moreover, the backlit keyboard, inbuilt Xbox wireless controller module, and Gigabit Wi-Fi – are some extra options that you can take advantage of while gaming.

Best Features

• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB GDDR5X with 8th-Gen Intel Core i7-8750H Processor (up to 3. 9 GHz)
• 144Hz refresh rate 17. 3″ Full-HD IPS-Type AHVA gaming panel with NVIDIA G-SYNC and 3ms response time
• 2x Pie SSDs in RAID0 for 512GB total storage capacity (hyperdrive). 1TB FireCuda Hybrid Drive. 32GB DDR4 2666MHz.
• Asus Aura Sync RGB keyboard with individual per-key customization. 2. 5mm key travel distance
• Copper tunnels Independently cool the CPU and GPU. Dual 12V fans with Ant-Dust technology

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What should you look for in the Best Computer Science Laptop?

The prime features you are expected to look for in the best laptops for computer science students 2021 has to offer would be to check the battery life and CPU performance. You can even go with the 2 in 1 laptop or notebooks for enhanced performance standards.

Some other best features you would need to focus on would include

• Display

The matte displays can be a better option on the best laptops for college students. This will help you reduce the strain on their eyes. However, make sure you opt for the full HD resolution. This can go a long way in reducing eye fatigue while taking care of the easy readability.

In essence, the display should be the prime factor on the best computer science laptop. In fact, unless you are a programmer or are into high end computer designs, you can keep the display a bit better when compared to the CPU or battery.

• The CPU

As we mentioned before, the best laptops for computer science students need a higher CPU performance. The best and right option would be to go with Intel Core i7 or i5. You can even go with the AMD Ryzen processors as well. Computer science students would need good processing power as well.

The code and the ability to handle demanding projects can be an essential aspect you need to consider on the best laptop for a computer science major. Make sure you go with the best possible and faster processor.

• Storage

This is yet another excellent option you need to give a thought to when checking out the top laptops for college students. Getting an SSD instead of an HDD should be a more well-informed choice. An SSD can be a more exceptional option for a faster performance standard.

The SSDs also tend to offer you better durability and reliability as opposed to the HDDs. If you are looking for the best laptops for computer science students in 2021, an adequate amount of storage, preferably SSD should be what should make it a better alternative.

• Graphics

Graphics assume a lot of importance for enhanced performance in any of the best computer science laptop. In case you are using the laptop specifically for your curricular requirements, you may not need a potent graphics card. If you are into any extracurricular activities such as gaming or media, you would need a powerful graphics companion.

A dedicated graphics card can be an excellent choice for your choice of the best laptop for a computer science major.

• Battery

The battery backup is yet another considerable point you need to give a thought to when buying the best laptops for computer science students. Of course, you can have access to the outlets in your classroom for charging your laptops. But, You may not be able to rely upon them.

The minimum we would advise on the best computer science laptop would be six hours of battery backup. In essence, lightweight laptops can come with enough battery capacity when you compare them to high-end gaming laptops.

Conclusion

Well, that is how choosing a perfect laptop for college students will not be an easy task as such. The best laptops for computer science students would be the one that offers excellent performance both for your eyes and hand. You do not need to go with anything that is hardware intensive in any manner. If you are using your laptop strictly for curricular activities and not for any sort of media consumption or gaming, it would be a more excellent choice to go with an entry-level laptop for most of your requirements

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Last update on 2024-12-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API