Top 12 Best Laptops for Graduate Students in 2024

If you are pursuing your master’s degree or your doctorate, chances are you’ve probably realized there’s a ton of reading and mindless paperwork involved in the process. On top of that, your professors will likely require plenty of research and research papers, essays, and theses or dissertations. There comes a point in time when you’ll realize you probably need to invest in a capable laptop that can help you throughout your studies.

Regardless of what degree you are currently working towards, there’s no denying that you’ll find a laptop useful. Laptops (and, in some cases, tablets) can make learning much easier, especially if you need to take a lot of notes and do a lot of reading.

But what exactly makes a good laptop? How do you know which one you need and how much you should spend?

In this article, we’ve put together an ultimate buying guide to help you choose your next investment. We’ve also listed twelve of the best laptops for graduate students for various needs and budgets. So which machine should you get?

Read on to find out!

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The 12 Best Laptops for Graduate Students in 2024

• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 – The Best Laptop for Graduate Students Overall
• Dell XPS 15  – The Best Windows Laptop for Creatives
• MacBook Pro 16 – The Best Apple Laptop for Creatives
• Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio – The Best 2-in-1 Machine for Ultimate Portability
• Dell XPS 13 – The Best Windows Ultraportable for Graduate Students
• MacBook Air M2 – The Best Apple Ultraportable for Graduate Students
• Microsoft Surface Pro X – A More Affordable 2-in-1 Machine for Grad Students
• MSI Modern 14 – The Best Mid-Range Windows Ultraportable for Grad Students (Tie)
• Acer TravelMate P6 – The Best Mid-Range Windows Ultraportable for Grad Students (Tie)
• Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – The Best Budget Laptop for Graduate Students
• Microsoft Surface Go 3 – The Most Affordable 2-in-1 Windows Tablet/Laptop for Grad Students
• Razer Blade 15 – The Best Gaming Laptop for Grad Students

Powerful Multi-Purpose Laptops for Grad Students on the Go

The laptops we’ve listed below are some of the most powerful consumer laptops available on the market. They’re likely to be the best laptops for grad school, regardless of whether you are in grad school to study business, finance, education, art and design, computer science, or more.

Of course, due to the powerful internals and the great specifications included in these machines, they also have quite a premium price — but if you can afford the hit and want something you can use for years to come, these laptops may be well worth the cost.

Looking only for MacBook laptops? Check out our dedicated list: Best MacBook for College: Top 5 Picks

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 – The Best Laptop for Graduate Students Overall

Specifications

• Display options:
  • 14-in WUXGA 1920×1200, anti-glare, IPS, low power, 100% sRGB
    • Non-touch 400 nits brightness
    • Touch 400 nits brightness
    • Touch with PrivacyGuard 500 nits brightness
      • 14-in 2.2K 2240×1400, anti-glare, IPS, low blue light, 300 nits brightness, 100% sRGB
      • 14-in 2.8k OLED 2880×1800, anti-smudge, anti-reflective, low blue light, 400 nits brightness
      • 14-in WQUXGA IPS 3840×2400, Dolby Vision, glossy, HDR 400, low blue light, 500 nits brightness
      • 14-in WQUXGA IPS 3840×2400, anti-reflective, anti-smudge, touchscreen, Dolby Vision, HDR 400, low blue light, 500 nits brightness

• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics
• Operating systems: Windows 10 Pro, 10Pro 64, 11 Home
• Processor: Up to 12th-generation Intel  i7-1280P
• Memory up to 32GB
• Battery: Up to 16 hrs (57Whr); rapid charge with 65W+ power supply
• Ports: Two Thunderbolt 4 (one for power input), 2 USB A, HDMI 2.0, and more

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (and its previous and later generations) is easily the best laptop for PhD students. They can get very costly depending on your chosen configuration, but the good news is once you buy this laptop, you can expect to keep it for years and years. ThinkPads are extremely well-built and reliable machines that are excellent for casual and business use. Plus, you might fall in love with the Trackpoint (the red dot that you can use to move your cursor/scroll) feature!

ThinkPads used to look bulky and unattractive, but nowadays, they tend to sport slim, sleek designs.

Pros

• Long-running series of reliable machines
• Known for its world-class well-designed keyboard
• Comes with USB-A and HDMI ports
• Great battery life makes working anywhere possible

Cons

• Can get quite pricey, especially for the better configurations
• No card slots (SD/microSD)

Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10

Dell XPS 15 – The Best Windows Laptop for Creatives

Specifications

• Display options:
  • 15.6-inch FHD+ (1920×1200), non-touch, 60Hz, anti-glare, 500 nits brightness
  • 15.6-inch UHD+ (3840×1600), touch, 60Hz, anti-reflect, 500 nits brightness
  • 15.6-inch 3.5K (3426×2160), touch, 60Hz, OLED, anti-reflect, 400 nits brightness

• GPU options: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics, Integrated Intel Iris XE Graphics, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 4GB, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB
• Operating systems: Windows 11 Home or Pro
• Processor options: 12th Gen Intel i5-12500H, i7-12500H, i9 -12900HK
• Memory 8GB to 64GB
• Storage (all SSD): 512 GB, 1TB, 2TB
• Battery: 56Wh to 86Wh
• Ports: USB C w/ power delivery and display port, 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB C w/ power delivery and display port, 1 headphone/microphone jack, SD card slot
• More information here

The Dell XPS line has been around for quite some time. It’s known for high-quality premium laptops that are reliable yet powerful, and this generation of XPS 15 is no different. This laptop is quite powerful, especially if you configure it with some of the higher specifications — but of course, it will get pricier as you go.

There’s no denying that this machine is as sleek and gorgeous as it comes, and with its powerful internals, it can be great for professionals and grad students in need of extra computing power.

Pros

• Known for its sleek and beautiful design
• Well-known series of reliable laptops
• Option with beautiful OLED display is available
• Powerful internals available
• Pretty good battery life

Cons

• Some configurations can get quite pricey
• GPU options are somewhat underwhelming
• USB C only — you’ll need adapters and dongles to use other connectors

Dell XPS 15

MacBook Pro 16 – The Best Apple Laptop for Creatives

Specifications

• Display: Liquid Retina XDR, 16.2-inch, 3456×2234, 254 pixels per inch, adaptive refresh rates reaching 120Hz
• GPU options: Integrated graphics with the Apple M1 Pro (16-core GPU) and M1 Max (32-core GPU) chips
• Operating system: macOS Monterey
• Processor options: Apple M1 Pro or Apple M1 Max
• Memory: 16GB to 64GB
• Storage (all SSD): 512GB, 1TB, configurable up to 8TB
• Battery: 100Wh; according to Apple, up to 21hrs of Apple TV app playback or 14hrs of wireless web use
• Ports: SD card slot, 3 Thunderbolt 4 USB C (supporting charging and DisplayPort), 3.5mm headphone jack, HDMI port, MagSafe 3 charging
• More information here

The Apple MacBook Pro 16 comes in three models, although you can choose to add configurations to each for extra cost. On Paper, the MacBook’s specs may look like it’s not as powerful as some other options, but trust us when we say the Apple M1 and M2 chips are extremely powerful. Some of them are at the top of every benchmark list, beating out any Intel and AMD chip from the same generation.

These MacBook batteries are legendary, the laptops are sleek and premium, and you’ll absolutely enjoy the sheer power under your fingertips whenever you need to run heavy workloads. The price, of course, can be quite the deterrent — but you should know that MacBooks tend to last years and can often resell at decent rates if you eventually decide to upgrade.

Pros

• Apple’s M1 chips are seriously powerful yet energy-efficient tech
• Excellent battery life
• Great audio
• SD card reader
• HDMI port available — no dongle necessary!
• Beautiful display
• 1080p webcam
• MacBook keyboards are now back to being good
• Massive and extremely responsive trackpad that many pros love

Cons

• Not the lightest — can weigh as much as five pounds
• Upgrading your configuration can cost a lot more
• Camera notch (some people get used to it, YMMV)
• M1 Max might not be as great value as the M1 Pro chip – choose your configuration wisely

Worth Considering: 14-inch MacBook Pro or M2 MacBook Pros

If the 16-inch MacBook Pro is too large for you to carry around comfortably, you can consider the MacBook Pro 14 for similar specifications in a smaller profile. You can choose either the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, though be aware that all specifications upgrades cost extra.

Alternatively, you can consider one of the smaller 13-inch MacBook Pros, which have recently been updated and now come with Apple’s proprietary M2 chip for even more processing power and even better battery life. The downside is you’ll likely miss the extra screen real estate on the 14 and 16-inch machines, but if you need your laptop to be extra portable, 13.3-inch retina displays can certainly do.

Buy the Macbook Pro 16

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio – The Best 2-in-1 Machine for Ultimate Portability

Specifications

• Display: 14.4-inch touchscreen, up to 120Hz
• GPU options:
  • Integrated Intel Iris XE in i5 models
  • Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti 4GB in i7 models

• Operating system: Windows 11 Home
• Processor options: 11th Gen Intel H35 i5-11300H or H35 i7-11370H
• Memory: 16GB or 32GB
• Storage (all SSD): 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
• Battery: 58Wh
• Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB C ports, 1 headphone jack, and more
• More information here

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is unique, thanks to its one-of-a-kind design that allows users to use it in tablet or laptop form. It’s still not the cheapest machine on this list, but it is one of the more powerful ones that graduate students and professionals alike can enjoy for years after purchase.

This laptop works well for those looking for pen input, as it works and plays well with Microsoft’s Slim Pen 2 (sold separately). Need to take quick notes or draw/paint on your machine? This laptop makes it easy!

Pros

• Unique design that allows you to use your machine as a tablet or a laptop
• Great keyboard
• Haptic touchpad is an excellent addition
• 120Hz display ensures quick response
• Stylus support plus magnetic holder
• Great battery life

Cons

• Can get quite pricey
• There are only two USB ports
• Performance can be underwhelming, even with the upgraded CPU and GPU

Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

Best Laptops for Grad Students Looking for Ultra Portability

Dell XPS 13 – The Best Windows Ultraportable for Graduate Students

Specifications

• Display: 13.4-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) non-touch, anti-glare, 500 nits brightness
• GPU options: Integrated Intel Iris XE
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home or Pro
• Processor options: 12th Gen i5-1230U or i7-1250U
• Memory: 8GB to 32GB
• Storage (all SSD): 512GB (i5), 512GB, or 1TB (i7)
• Battery: 51Wh
• Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB C
• More information here

The Dell XPS 13 is the smaller edition of the XPS15, but that doesn’t mean it compromises on power. You won’t be able to expect as much raw power from this machine, but it is still plenty capable — and much more portable. This beautiful machine has an excellent battery life and a beautiful screen. You may opt to add upgrades and configure your machine to be more powerful at extra cost.

Note that there is also an XPS 13 Plus if you want even more power and choice upgrades like capacitative touch buttons instead of function keys.

Pros

• The touchpad is now larger and better
• Gorgeous display with really slim bezels
• Excellent battery life for great portability
• Small and compact
• Not the lightest but still decent at 2.91lbs (may vary depending on configuration)

Cons

• Webcam is mediocre
• This generation is pricier than the previous
• Ports are limited

Buy the Dell XPS 13

MacBook Air M2 – The Best Apple Ultraportable for Graduate Students

Specifications

• Display options: Liquid retina display, 13.6-inch, 2560×1664, notch, 224 pixels per inch, 500 nits brightness
• GPU options: Integrated graphics with the Apple M2, 8 or 10-core
• Operating system: macOS Monterey
• Processor options: Apple M2
• Memory: 8GB, upgradeable to 16GB or 24GB
• Storage (all SSD): 256GB upgradeable to 512, 1TB, or 2TB; 512GB upgradeable to 1TB or 2TB
• Battery: 52.6Wh; according to Apple, up to 18hrs of Apple TV app playback or 15hrs of wireless web use
• Ports: Magsafe 3, 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1 headphone jack
• More information here

The MacBook Air was recently updated with the M2 chip and a new sleek appearance. Its price went up slightly, but it’s still one of the best ultrabooks out on the market today. The MacBook Air is incredibly light and has an extra impressive battery life, yet it still packs enough punch to do some graphic design work and light video editing.

If you’ve always liked your laptops in black, you’ll enjoy the new Midnight option for these laptops.

Pros

• Beautiful, improved design, no more taper (if that’s something you cared about in previous versions)
• Insane battery life thanks to the powerful yet energy-efficient M2 chip
• Cam at 1080p, an improvement over previous gen
• Beautiful and bright 13.6-inch display
• One of the best ultrabooks available today

Cons

• Even pricier than the previous version (you can get a Pro for only a few hundred more)
• Screen notch
• Can only support one external monitor

Worth Considering: MacBook Air M1

Although the MacBook Air M2s have been recently released, we do believe that the MacBook Airs with the M1 chips are still worth the mention. The M1 chip is a powerful piece of hardware that helps the MacBook Air perform extremely well. M1 MacBook Airs are perfectly capable of multitasking as well as some photo editing and graphic design. It can even handle some light video editing. It’s worth mentioning the M1 Air also boasts excellent battery life, though not as good as the more efficient M2 models.

Needless to say, if you don’t feel you’ll need the extra processing power of the M2, you can probably save a fair bit of money by purchasing the M1 MacBook Air instead.

Buy the MacBook Air M2

Microsoft Surface Pro X – A More Affordable 2-in-1 Machine for Grad Students

Specifications

• Display options: 13-inch PixelSense Display, touch, 267 pixels per inch, 2880×1920
• GPU options: Microsoft SQ 1 Adreno 685 GPU/Microsoft SQ 2 Adreno 690 GPU
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home on ARM
• Processor options:  Microsoft SQ 1/Microsoft SQ 2
• Memory: 8GB or 16GB
• Storage (all SSD): 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Battery: According to Microsoft, up to 15 hours of standard use
• Ports: 2x USB C ports and more
• More information here

The Surface Pro X is a more affordable 2-in-1 machine that also works with the Microsoft Slim Pen (sold separately). This device is more tablet than laptop, and it may not always be able to run all software (check specifications and system requirements to ensure necessary software will run on this machine before you buy it!). However, with its battery life and decent internals, the Surface Pro X is another good option for grad students on the go.

Pros

• Will be able to upgrade to Windows 11
• Really thin and light profile makes it an excellent portable machine
• Works extremely well with the Surface Pen (stylus)
• Great battery life of up to fifteen hours, depending on use

Cons

• You need to buy the stylus and type cover separately (balloons the price)
• No slot for microSD cards — storage not expandable

Buy the Microsoft Surface Pro X

Best Mid-Range Laptops for Grad School

MSI Modern 14 – The Best Mid-Range Windows Ultraportable for Grad Students (Tie)

Specifications

• Display options: 14-inch IPS display, FHD 1080p
• GPU options: Intel UHD graphics, Nvidia Geforce MX330 2GB, Nvidia Geforce MX350 2GB
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Free Upgrade to Windows 11
• Processor options:  Up to 10th Gen Intel i7 U
• Memory: Up to 32GB
• Battery: 39Wh or 52Wh
• Ports: 1x Type-C USB3.2 Gen2, 2x Type-A USB2.0, 1x Micro SD Card Reader, 1x HDMI™ (4K @ 30Hz)
• More information here

The MSI Modern 14 won’t be the best laptop you’ve ever owned, but it features capable internals, a great design, and excellent features for its price. MSI is a decently reliable brand for hardware, and you can expect to use your machine for years upon purchase.

Pros

• Beautiful design and comes with a backlit keyboard
• Battery life is decent, but not the best
• Portable and light
• Has some decent ports

Cons

• Not the best speakers
• Display color accuracy is so-so, not for designers or artists
• Some issues with wireless audio latency

Buy the MSI Modern 14

Acer TravelMate P6 – The Best Mid-Range Windows Ultraportable for Grad Students (Tie)

Specifications

• Display options: 14-inch IPS display, FHD 1080p
• GPU options: Intel UHD graphics
• Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
• Processor options:  Intel i5-10310U, i5-8265U
• Memory: 8GB, upgradable up to 24GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Battery: Up to 23 hours with fast charging
• Ports: Dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports

The Acer TravelMate P6 won’t win any awards when it comes to design or power, but where it can win you over is its amazing battery life. Some users report getting two workdays worth of battery out of their machine before they have to charge up. This mid-range laptop is likely enough if you don’t intend to do anything too heavy, and the best part is it’s quite affordable!

There are newer versions with more power, but they do get a fair bit more expensive, so we chose this capable model instead.

Pros

• Thin, light, yet durable build
• Pretty good battery life
• Lots of ports to select from
• Decent performance for its price

Cons

• Acer, as a brand, does not have the best reputation when it comes to reliability, but your mileage may vary
• Design is just okay
• Lots of bloatware you’ll have to deal with
• Touchpad is mediocre

Buy the Acer TravelMate P6

Best Budget Laptops for Graduate Students

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – The Best Budget Laptop for Graduate Students

Specifications

• Display options: 15.6-in HD Touchscreen (1366×768) — not 1080p
• GPU options: Intel UHD graphics
• Operating system: Windows 11
• Processor options: 11th Gen Intel i3-1115G4
• Memory: 8GB, upgradable up to 24GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Battery: 7 hours average
• Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Combination Audio Jack, 1 x Multi-format SD Media Card Reader, Wireless-AC WiFi 5 + Bluetooth Combo

For its price, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers excellent value for money. You’ll get a decent battery life, a minimum of 8GB of RAM, and an SSD over an HDD. It doesn’t look half bad, either, and you even get a number pad if you need to work with numbers often.

Pros

• Works well, does the job for most productivity tasks
• Sturdy and reliable design
• Decent keyboard and touchpad
• Many ports are included for connectivity
• Fingerprint scanner for security
• RAM is upgradable, but do it at your own risk!

Cons

• Speakers are so-so
• Somewhat lackluster display

Buy the Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Microsoft Surface Go 3 – The Most Affordable 2-in-1 Windows Tablet/Laptop for Grad Students

Specifications

• Display options: 10.5in PixelSense display, FHD 1080p, touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• GPU options: Intel UHD Graphics 615
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home S
• Processor options: 2-Core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y, 2-Core 10th Gen Intel i3-10100Y
• Memory: 4GB or 8GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC drive or 128 GB SSD
• Battery: Up to 11 hours on WiFi or 10.5 hours on LTE
• Ports: 1 x USB-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 x Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover port
• More information here

If you want the ultimate in portability, or if you’re looking for a secondary device to use when you aren’t at your main workstation, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 may be a good option. It works well with the Surface Pen (sold separately), and you can also get the type cover to turn your tablet into a laptop. This machine runs on Windows 11 (S) and is a great option for grad students on the go who need a small portable for email and word processing.

Pros

• Battery life is not the best, but you can charge it with a power bank through USB-C
• One of the most portable devices on this list, works great as a secondary device
• On the affordable end of the spectrum
• Runs Windows 11

Cons

• Not a very powerful machine; look elsewhere if you need more power
• Accessories (keyboard, stylus) must be purchased separately
• Smaller screen makes it not the best choice for heavy use

Buy the Microsoft Surface Go 3

Best Laptops for Grad Students Who Also Like to Game

Razer Blade 15 – The Best Gaming Laptop for Grad Students

Specifications

• Display options: 144Hz UHD/240Hz QHD at 100% P3 color gamut or 360Hz FHD at 100% sRGB color gamut
• GPU options: Graphics up to Nvidia RTX 3080Ti
• Operating system: Windows 11
• Processor options: 12th gen intel i7-12800H or i9-12900HK
• Memory: Configurable RAM; 16 or 32GB DDR5, upgrades to 64GB
• Storage: 1TB SSD, upgrades to 2TB
• Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and C ports, Thunderbolt 4 port (USB Type-C)
• For more information, click here

Razer is a brand that first got its start in the gaming scene as a company selling peripherals. It became extremely popular over time for its mice, keyboards, microphones, webcams, and headphones, though it is now also releasing even more new products geared towards gamers and streamers.

But what does that mean for you as a grad student?

Gaming laptops tend to have powerful internals that allow them to handle running video games. That raw power also translates into other activities, such as productivity or multimedia use. You’ll likely be able to use the Razer Blade 15 as a portable workstation, especially since it can handle multitasking tasks with ease. The main issue you’d probably run into is the battery life — but that’s a tradeoff you might be willing to make for what this laptop can do.

Quite honestly, the Razer Blade 15 might be a bit overkill if you’re looking for the best laptop for doctoral students and just happen to want to game on the side, too. They’re configurable, so you can set yours up with the specifications you want, but Razer as a brand does add a premium to the price for their name. You can also consider purchasing a previous version of the Razer Blade 15 with the 20-series video cards rather than the 30-series, as you can save a significant amount of money this way. Alternatively, you can look to other brands that offer powerful gaming laptops.

Pros

• Several configuration options allow you to customize the machine to your liking
• Sleek and beautiful appearance for a gaming laptop
• Doubles as an extra-powerful ultrabook
• Powerful internals allow gaming and the ultimate in productivity and multimedia use

Cons

• Very pricey — you pay a premium for the name
• Razer doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to its peripherals, though there aren’t as many complaints about its machines
• Battery life is not as good as other portables

Buy the Razer Blade 15

What to Look For in a Laptop for Grad Students

If you’re not particularly tech-savvy, shopping around for a laptop can feel quite intimidating. You’ll see all sorts of words and numbers that will probably be nothing more than tech garble to you. So what exactly do the specifications mean?

In this guide, we break down what to look for as you hunt for the best laptop for grad school. Consider the criteria below:

Processor (CPU)

Think of it this way — an engine is what makes your car go. In your laptop, the engine is your CPU (central processing unit) or your processor. It’s the component that handles all of the tasks you need to do, from running the operating system to powering the apps and programs you use.

There are many different models of CPU, some more powerful than others. The kind you need will depend entirely on what sort of tasks you intend to do with your computer. If it’s just lighter tasks, general productivity, and word processing, you don’t need to have the most powerful CPU available. Gaming and creative work will, unfortunately, require you to have a more powerful (and more expensive) CPU.

There are far too many models to choose from to give you a full guide here, but it’s safe to say you should probably stay within the big three brands: Intel (for example, Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 each more powerful than the last), AMD (such as Ryzen 3, 5, 7, and 9), and Apple (M1, M2 chips).

Graphics (GPU)

Without a GPU or graphics processing unit, you won’t have a display — your monitor simply won’t have anything to show you. All laptops need a GPU.

In most laptops, you’ll find that the CPU handles graphical tasks with its integrated graphics. An example of integrated graphics would be Intel Iris XE and Iris Plus,  which often come with Intel CPUs. Many Apple MacBooks use the M1 or M2’s integrated graphics, as well. Integrated graphics aren’t bad by any means — in most cases, they are more than capable of handling the tasks you need. It’s when you need to start using heavy graphics and video editing apps or when you want to start gaming that these integrated graphics start to buckle.

If you intend to use your laptop for creative-type work or gaming, you’ll likely want a discrete GPU. A discrete GPU is an entirely separate piece of hardware devoted solely to meeting your graphical needs. The most popular example of GPUs is the Nvidia GeForce video cards, which are now in the 30 series (with the 40 series on the horizon). You’ll see specifications like Nvidia GeForce 3050 or Nvidia GeForce 3070 Ti, and so on — those are discrete graphics. The series goes 3050, 3050 Ti, 3060, 3060 Ti, 3070, 3070 Ti, 3080, 3080Ti, 3090, and the most powerful, 3090 Ti. AMD has its own series of GPUs.

Laptops generally run a specifically designed version of the above cards so that they can be more power efficient and run less hot — both necessary features for a laptop (which has a battery and lacks the cooling capabilities of a larger desktop).

Choosing the GPU you want in your laptop comes down to what tasks you need to do now and the tasks you foresee doing in the future. However, unless you’re doing heavy graphic design, video editing, or 3D rendering work, integrated graphics will probably do for you. If you intend to use your laptop as a gaming machine in your off time, opt for a discrete GPU.

Editor’s note: The MacBook Air (M1 and M2) are powerful laptops with integrated graphics, but both are quite capable of handling photo and video editing to a degree — they may suit you if you want a powerful machine without compromising ultra portability!

Memory (RAM)

RAM, or random access memory, is your computer’s short-term memory. It’s responsible for holding data for files and apps you are currently running, so if you don’t have enough RAM, you’ll find your laptop lagging and slowing down.

When it comes to RAM, the general rule is — the more, the better! However, you should aim for a minimum of 8GB, as this is the lowest amount you can get to be comfortable and not lag. You might be able to squeeze by with 4GB if you only intend to do light tasks and general productivity, especially if you’re using a tablet hybrid (like the Microsoft Surface models). But you’ll still likely want more, especially if you have a habit of running a ton of browser tabs at once.

Storage (HDD or SSD)

Storage is your computer’s long-term memory. Back in the day, we only had hard disk drives. They functioned well and were cheap to buy, but could get unreliable and tended to be on the slow side. SSDs, or Solid State Drives, are becoming the norm — these drives are faster, more reliable, smaller profiles, and are getting more and more affordable. You’ll probably want an SSD over an HDD, though some machines have a small SSD for your operating system and other important programs and an HDD for actual file storage.

Storage usually comes in different capacities, with the most common being 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1TB, and 2 TB. 128GB and 256GB are likely not going to be enough for you unless you don’t do much more than word processing (and even then, you may run out). Aim for a minimum of 512GB. At worst, you can always get an external drive to give you extra storage.

Design

Aesthetics are quite subjective as everyone has different tastes. You’ll probably want to choose a laptop that looks good to you since you’ll be looking at it practically every day. Unless, of course, you value function over form and simply don’t care.

Of course, there’s more than looks to consider when it comes to a laptop’s design.  You’ll probably still want to look at whether a machine meets your desire for portability — is it light enough, thin enough, or small enough? And what about the actual design decisions that the manufacturer made? How easy is the laptop to use? Will you have trouble with the webcam placement, the port locations, and so on?

Battery Life

People are lucky to be living in this decade — only a decade or so ago, laptops tended to have extremely disappointing battery life, with some topping out at barely over an hour. But now, thanks to the advancements that have been made not just in battery technology but also in the chips that go into a laptop’s internals, many machines sip energy. The result? You get laptops that can last you a solid workday and maybe even more.

Consider battery life as you hunt for the perfect laptop for grad school. Do you think you’ll be away from a power outlet often? Will you be using your laptop in the field more than not? Adequate battery life can make or break a laptop and your whole experience.

While you’re at it, consider whether you’d like to have the option of charging from a portable power pack or power bank. Some laptops that take USB-C charging, such as MacBooks, can be charged from a compatible power bank. Just make sure your power bank has the right wattage and PD (power delivery) and that you have a compatible cable rated to deliver the right amount of power.

Editor’s note: If you intend to do heavy graphics-intensive tasks with your laptop, expect to have lower battery life on any machine. Of course, some might have longer battery life than others, depending on the machine’s rated capacity.

Display

Not everyone cares to have an amazing display, so if you’re not particularly bothered, just look for a bright enough display at a 1080p or Full HD minimum. Your laptop needs to have a bright enough screen if you intend to use it in any sort of bright room or outdoors. At a minimum, we’d suggest 250-300 nits of brightness. Otherwise, you’ll struggle to see your screen if the ambient light is too bright.

If you care about resolution, there are now many options out there. You have MacBooks with retina screens and some machines with UHD or QHD screens. There are even machines with 4K screens — but we advise you to stay away from those unless you have an express need for them. Choose the resolution that suits your needs best.

Hertz or Hz is the unit of measurement used to denote how responsive your display is, also known as the refresh rate. Higher refresh rates correspond to a higher frequency of times your display updates an image onscreen. You’ll see 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, and even 360Hz, but unless you intend to game, you probably won’t really need much above 120Hz. The majority of machines have 60Hz screens, while more are now shifting towards 120Hz. Screens 144Hz and above tend to be on gaming laptops.

If you’d like to know more about refresh rates, you can see Intel’s article here.

Ports and Connectivity

You need to be able to do everything you need to do with your machine, which is why it only makes sense to ensure that it has the ports and connectivity you’ll need to use regularly.

Consider whether a machine has enough USB ports for you or if you’re willing to compromise by purchasing a dongle to add more ports. Ask yourself whether you need a built-in HDMI port for regular presentations or connecting to an external display. You might also want to see whether you care about having an ethernet port for a hardwired connection.

There are other things you can consider, such as if you want a 3.5mm (headphone/mic) jack or if you want an SD/microSD card slot. You’ll also want to consider whether you need WiFi and Bluetooth (both are generally standard in most machines these days) and if you’d like to have additional 4G/LTE/5G connectivity for mobile broadband solutions.

If a machine doesn’t have the ports and connectivity you need, you may need to move on to other options.

Additional Features

Beyond looking at the major criteria listed above, you can also consider things including but not limited to:

• Trackpad – How intuitive is it to use? How responsive and accurate is it? Mediocre trackpads can really get frustrating.
• Keyboard – Is it well designed and built enough to be comfortable to use for hours? You can also consider if you care about backlighting or not.
• Webcam – Some webcams are only 720p, which can mean grainy, low-resolution images of you on conference calls. If you want a clearer cam feed, 1080p is your friend. You’ll also want to check where the camera is located — most are above your display, but some laptops have it on the bottom of your screen near the hinge for some reason. Not a very flattering angle, if you ask us.

Do You Need to Buy Additional Accessories?

In some cases, you may need to buy additional accessories if you want your device to function more like a laptop. This is true for devices like the Microsoft Surface Go 3 or the Microsoft Surface Pro X, which are both essentially tablets running on Windows 11. To use these Microsoft Devices as laptops, you’ll need to buy the keyboard attachment (or an alternative Bluetooth/wireless keyboard), which can bump up the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a Laptop for a Master’s?

Most likely, especially if you are earning an online master’s degree or if you are working on completing your thesis. Most grad students will probably need access to a computer at some point, especially if they need to do research or have to work assistantships. You won’t always need the best laptops for master students; sometimes, you can get by with a capable tablet or a powerful iPad — especially if your major or line of work doesn’t require too much work done on the computer.

What Is the Most Reliable Laptop for Students?

There are quite a few reliable laptop brands and laptops. Generally, Lenovo/ThinkPad laptops tend to be quite reliable, making them the choice of many companies and people working in the field of business. Many people also swear by Apple’s line of MacBooks, whether it’s the MacBook Air or the Pro. Apple’s most recent MacBook offerings have amazing battery life, capable internals, and sport sleek and beautiful designs — and they resell at decent prices if you ever decide to replace yours!

How Much Should I Spend on a Laptop for Graduate School?

Your budget will depend on what you need the laptop for. If you just need a basic laptop that has most of the functionalities but doesn’t need to be too powerful, you can spend $500 or less. If you need a bit more power to go with your purchase, expect to spend anywhere from $500 to $1,000. More powerful or niche laptops (ultrabooks, gaming laptops, 2-in-1 machines, etc.) will generally run you $1,000 to $2,000. Some laptops can cost upwards of $3,000, depending on the configuration you choose.

Also, consider setting your budget and adding a little wiggle room to help you “future-proof” your purchase. For example, buy the slightly more powerful configuration rather than the basic model, as this can help ensure your machine can continue to handle various tasks for the next few years.

Which Laptop is Best for Grad School?

The answer to this question is purely subjective, as what is best for others may not be best for you, and vice versa. What you need will depend on your intended use for the machine — will it be used mostly for word processing, emailing, and general productivity tasks? Or are you going to need to put your laptop through its paces with heavy multitasking and software use?

If you are just going to be using your machine for general productivity and word processing, you can probably get by with the MSI Modern 14 or Acer TravelMate P6. If you’re really on a budget, you can consider the Microsoft Surface Go 3.

For an ultraportable, try the MacBook Air M1 or M2 or the Dell XPS 13.

If you want the best laptop for a graduate student who does a lot of heavy multitasking, graphic design, video editing, and the like, you might want to check out the MacBook Pro 14/16 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.

In our opinion (and despite the hefty price tag), the best graduate laptop overall is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 and 10. You can’t go wrong with one of these — they’ll last you for years if you can get past the initial financial outlay.

Conclusion

When it comes to shopping for the best laptops for graduate students, always remember to consider your needs first and foremost. Think of what you intend to use the laptop for, set your budget, and start looking for laptops within those parameters. Don’t forget to consider the battery life you need, especially if you have to be away from power outlets often.

You might also want to consider stretching your budget where possible to “future-proof” your purchase, so your grad school laptop can turn into your graduation laptop!

We hope that this list of the best laptops for graduate students has helped you find the right machine for your needs. Happy shopping!

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• Gifts Ideas for Ph.D. Graduates
• How To Transfer Grad School: 7 Key Steps
• Full-Time vs. Part-Time Student: What’s the Difference in Grad School?
• How To Ace Your Graduate School Interview: Top Questions to Ask