Best Student Laptops of 2024: Our Top Picks for School Kids
In 2024, having a reliable laptop is essential for school students. Whether you’re drafting essays, attending virtual classes, or collaborating on group projects, your laptop will be your main tool for academic success. While investing in the latest high-end devices is tempting, students on a budget can find powerful, efficient laptops without spending thousands of pounds. However, selecting the best laptop for school is critical for maximising productivity, and acing academic performance.
With so many laptop brands and options available, making the right choice can feel overwhelming and requires research. In this short guide, we’ll walk you through the best student laptops of 2024, carefully selected based on performance, battery life, portability, and, most importantly, budget. Each of these laptops is designed to cater to the needs of students, ensuring you get the best possible experience without overspending.
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Why Choose the Right Laptop for School Students
In today’s academic world, laptops are not just luxury gadgets but necessary tools that help students to learn, research, and collaborate with ease. Whether you’re a primary or secondary school student, your laptop should enhance your productivity, not hinder it. But what makes a good student laptop? Here are a few essential points to watch before choosing a school laptop:
1. Affordability: For students, budget is usually a decision-making factor. You don’t need to spend thousands of pounds to get a good laptop for schoolwork. Many affordable models can handle academic tasks efficiently.
2. Portability: Carrying a bulky or heavier laptop around campus isn’t practical. Lightweight and sleek design laptops are a better fit for students who need to move between classes, libraries, and study spots.
3. Performance: While gaming laptops or high-end machines are tempting, most students don’t need ultra-powerful processors. A reliable mid-range processor with enough RAM will handle daily tasks like web browsing, essay writing, and light multitasking.
4. Battery Life: Nothing’s worse than your laptop shutting down in the middle of a class or study session. A good student laptop should last a full day at school without requiring constant recharging.
With these key factors in mind, let’s explore the best student laptops in 2024 for students in the UK:
Acer Aspire 5: Best Budget Performer
The Acer Aspire 5 consistently ranks as one of the best budget laptops for students. Priced at around £450, this top-selling laptop offers a balance between performance and affordability, making it a solid choice for students who need a reliable machine without breaking their parents’ bank.
Powered with AMD Ryzen 5 processors and 8GB RAM, the Acer Aspire 5 is well-suited for multitasking, handling tasks like web browsing, crafting assignments, and light graphic design seamlessly. It comes with 512GB SSD storage which offers quick boot times and plenty of storage for files, assignments, and applications. The 15.6-inch Full HD display is great for watching educational videos and working on presentations, offering a crisp and clear view of your work.
Battery life is another area where the Aspire 5 outcasts its competitors, with up to 10 hours of continuous use on a single charge, this makes it ideal for students who need to work on the go, without worrying about finding a plug socket. At just 1.7kg, it’s lightweight enough to carry between lectures and study sessions. Furthermore, this device is packed with an array of connectivity options, including USB-C, HDMI, and USB-A, ensuring the students can connect peripherals and external displays without any hassle.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5: Well-Known for Versatility
For students who prefer a more versatile option, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 offers excellent value at around £600. This 2-in-1 laptop allows students to switch between traditional laptop mode and tablet mode with its 360-degree hinge. This flexibility is perfect for students who enjoy taking handwritten notes, drawing, or even presenting projects on a touchscreen.
This laptop comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor with 8GB of RAM, enough power to deliver a frictionless experience whether you’re multitasking, attending online lectures, or streaming content. Its 14-inch Full HD touchscreen offers vibrant colours and responsiveness, making it ideal for creative work or interactive learning environments.
One of the key highlights of the Flex 5 is its battery life. The battery pack lasts up to 11 hours on a single charge, ensuring that students can go through a full day of classes without recharging the device. Furthermore, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 weighs just 1.5kg which makes it easy for students to move around campus. With a range of connectivity options, including USB-C and USB-A, it allows for seamless connection to external monitors, drives, or other accessories.
HP Pavilion 14: Best for All-Around Performance
The HP Pavilion 14 is a great choice for students seeking a balance between performance, design, and portability. Priced at around £550, this laptop provides solid all-around performance with Intel’s 12th Gen Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM.
This machine comes with a 14-inch Full HD display that provides vibrant visuals, making it ideal for both studying and streaming. Despite the larger screen, the Pavilion 14 remains portable, weighing just 1.41kg, which is perfect for students who need to move between classes, the library, and home. The Pavilion 14 also impresses with its battery life, offering up to 10 hours of use on a single charge. For students with back-to-back lectures or study sessions, this ensures you won’t be constantly searching for a power outlet.
ASUS VivoBook 15: Best for Style and Affordability
If you’re looking for an affordable laptop that still offers aesthetic looks and solid performance, the ASUS VivoBook 15 is the best option. With a price of around £450, the VivoBook 15 offers a slim, lightweight design without compromising on essential features.
Intel Core i3 processor with 8GB of RAM at its core, this laptop is capable of handling everyday academic tasks. While it’s not the most powerful laptop on the market, it delivers enough performance for students who need a reliable machine for coursework and research. The 15.6-inch Full HD display provides ample screen space for multitasking, with vibrant colours and adequate viewing angles.
One of the VivoBook 15’s standout features is its ergonomic design, with a comfortable backlit keyboard that’s ideal for typing long essays or working late into the night. With just 1.7kg weight, it’s also portable enough to carry around campus, making it a good choice for students who value both portability and affordability. The battery life is decent, offering up to 8 hours of use, which is enough for a typical school day.
Dell Inspiron 14 5000: Best for Durability and Value
The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 is another perfect option for students looking for a balance between price, performance, and durability. Starting at around £550, the Inspiron 14 5000 is powered by Intel’s 12th Gen Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM, making it capable of handling everyday tasks. The Inspiron 14 5000 comes with a 14-inch Full HD display with good colour accuracy and clarity, ideal for both academic work and multimedia consumption. Weighing around 1.5kg, it’s lightweight enough for students to carry between lectures, the library, and home. One of the standout features of this laptop is its robust build quality, which feels durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of student life.
Battery life is good, with up to 10 hours of use on a single charge, ensuring students can get through a full day of classes without having to worry about finding a power source.
How to Select the Right Laptop for School in 2024
Selecting the right laptop is critical for school students, as it will make or break their academic year. Here are a few important factors to keep in mind before you make your decision:
● Budget: Set a clear budget and stick to it. Being a school student, you don’t need to spend more than £600 to get a laptop. There are tens of affordable options in the UK market.
● Portability: If you need to carry your laptop between classes, opt for a lightweight model. Anything under 1.5kg should be comfortable to carry around campus.
● Battery Life: Look for a laptop that can last at least 8-10 hours on a full charge, especially if you have a long day of classes ahead of you.
● Performance: For most students, a mid-range processor (Intel Core i3 or i5, AMD Ryzen 5) with 8GB of RAM will be sufficient for everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, and light multitasking.
● Storage: SSDs are faster and more reliable than traditional hard drives. A 256GB or 512GB SSD will be enough for documents, presentations, and applications.
● Screen Size: A 14-inch or 15.6-inch Full HD display is a good middle ground for both portability and screen real estate, offering a comfortable working space without being too bulky.
Conclusion
In 2024, school students in the UK have plenty of affordable laptop options that combine performance, portability, and durability. Whether you need a versatile 2-in-1 device like the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 or a budget-friendly powerhouse like the Acer Aspire 5, there’s a laptop to fit your academic needs without breaking the bank.
When selecting a laptop, consider the features that are most important to your academic success. Whether it’s battery life, portability, or the ability to handle multitasking, the laptops listed above offer a range of options to ensure you stay productive and efficient throughout the school year. By focusing on your priorities and sticking to a reasonable budget, you can find the perfect student laptop that will support your studies and help you achieve academic success in 2024.
Explore the best budget laptop for students here and grab one before your academic year starts.