Best laptop for students, Expert recommendations to choose
I researched the best laptops for students to find the perfect one for study sessions, online classes, assignments and a bit of entertainment. After reading expert reviews from trusted sources like techradar,the new york times and pcmag uk, two models consistently stand out as top recommendations:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-i5-1235U-Processor-Graphics-14s-dq5005sa/dp/B0D1K7TDV6
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Pentium-Microsoft-Personal/dp/B0DHLDBGH3
The HP 14" Laptop offers a balanced setup with a reliable Intel i5 processor, solid storage and good display quality. It looks like a great everyday laptop for note taking, research, light multitasking and streaming.
On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15" Full HD) is a more budget-friendly option as it is not as powerful as the HP model, also it’s lightweight and portable suitable for basic tasks like writing assignments, browsing the web, attending video calls, and media consumption and inclusion of Microsoft 365 Personal adds extra value for students.
However, I am having trouble deciding which one would best suit my needs. I mostly need a laptop for writing assignments, attending video calls, browsing the web and occasional media consumption. Long battery life and portability are key but I also want smooth performance and future-proof specs.
So which one would you recommend: the HP 14" or the ASUS Zenbook A14?Any advice or personal experience would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
•
HP 14" Laptop
•
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15" Full HD)
The HP 14" Laptop offers a balanced setup with a reliable Intel i5 processor, solid storage and good display quality. It looks like a great everyday laptop for note taking, research, light multitasking and streaming.
On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15" Full HD) is a more budget-friendly option as it is not as powerful as the HP model, also it’s lightweight and portable suitable for basic tasks like writing assignments, browsing the web, attending video calls, and media consumption and inclusion of Microsoft 365 Personal adds extra value for students.
However, I am having trouble deciding which one would best suit my needs. I mostly need a laptop for writing assignments, attending video calls, browsing the web and occasional media consumption. Long battery life and portability are key but I also want smooth performance and future-proof specs.
So which one would you recommend: the HP 14" or the ASUS Zenbook A14?Any advice or personal experience would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
(edited 9 months ago)
Reply 1
I put a huge amount of trust in those articles... ...to give laughably poor advice! 😅
The people that write these articles on the best laptop to buy for students know a lot less about purchasing laptops than I do. 😄
The 2 laptops you linked to are consumer grade laptops. They're plasticky junk. They won't last well. Especially for a student that's carrying the laptop around in a backpack quite often.
Go on ebay and facebook marketplace and get yourself a great deal on a fully working HP 840 G8 or HP 845 G8. Under £250 for a fully working one is a good deal. The HP 840 and 845 are properly engineered laptops. With good keyboards and trackpads and an aluminium lid and chassis with decent hinges.
The people that write these articles on the best laptop to buy for students know a lot less about purchasing laptops than I do. 😄
The 2 laptops you linked to are consumer grade laptops. They're plasticky junk. They won't last well. Especially for a student that's carrying the laptop around in a backpack quite often.
Go on ebay and facebook marketplace and get yourself a great deal on a fully working HP 840 G8 or HP 845 G8. Under £250 for a fully working one is a good deal. The HP 840 and 845 are properly engineered laptops. With good keyboards and trackpads and an aluminium lid and chassis with decent hinges.
Reply 2
Neither, the HP is ludicrously overpriced for a 2+ year old processor (if you did decide to go for that one, you can find it £200 cheaper at Currys) while the Asus is overkill- 32GB of RAM is a pointless expense for your described usage.
This HP finds a middle ground between the two. It's £50 cheaper than the HP but has the same Snapdragon X Plus chip at the Asus, along with a far more sensible 16GB RAM allocation. The AI slop will rarely register as more than a gimmick for most consumers, but the efficiency benefit of these ARM chips do make a huge difference to battery life as you've mentioned. You get a nice, high resolution IPS display that won't match an OLED but since you only want it for occasional media consumption, that's not something I'd be shelling out another few hundred quid for, and it's still extremely thin and light at 1.3kg.
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/hp-omnibook-x-14-laptop-copilot-pc-snapdragon-x-plus-512-gb-ssd-silver-10269624.html
If you really want that OLED screen and sub-1kg weight, then the Asus is a decent price for what you want, you're just paying a lot for features that don't really contribute to your list of priorities.
This HP finds a middle ground between the two. It's £50 cheaper than the HP but has the same Snapdragon X Plus chip at the Asus, along with a far more sensible 16GB RAM allocation. The AI slop will rarely register as more than a gimmick for most consumers, but the efficiency benefit of these ARM chips do make a huge difference to battery life as you've mentioned. You get a nice, high resolution IPS display that won't match an OLED but since you only want it for occasional media consumption, that's not something I'd be shelling out another few hundred quid for, and it's still extremely thin and light at 1.3kg.
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/hp-omnibook-x-14-laptop-copilot-pc-snapdragon-x-plus-512-gb-ssd-silver-10269624.html
If you really want that OLED screen and sub-1kg weight, then the Asus is a decent price for what you want, you're just paying a lot for features that don't really contribute to your list of priorities.
Reply 3
Lenovo make some good machines.
IDK what any laptop user would need 32GB of RAM for.
IDK what any laptop user would need 32GB of RAM for.
Reply 4
Original post
by ErasistratusVLenovo make some good machines.
IDK what any laptop user would need 32GB of RAM for.
IDK what any laptop user would need 32GB of RAM for.
There are plenty of people who need 32GB of RAM, but the OP definitely isn't one of them.
Original post
by ErasistratusVLenovo make some good machines.
IDK what any laptop user would need 32GB of RAM for.
IDK what any laptop user would need 32GB of RAM for.
Lenovo used to make good machines but I found in the last 10 years the quality has dropped off dramatically - a lot of the better lines they dropped, and the others have all decreased in quality in my opinion. I used to be a pretty loyal Lenovo user but when I got my last laptop a few years ago I swapped to Acer because it just didn't feel worth continuing with them :/
Reply 6
Hey there,
Great picks and I have actually used both the HP 14" Laptop and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 so I figured I do share my experience to help you out.
Between the two, the HP 14" Laptop is definitely the better choice in my opinion especially for your needs. I have been using it for study sessions, Zoom calls and streaming Netflix on the side and it has not let me down.
Here is why I think the HP stands out:
The Lenovo IdeaPad is definitely a good budget friendly option and great for basic tasks but it can feel a bit sluggish if you have multiple tabs open or try to multitask. If you are looking for something that can last you a few years and still feel quick, go with the HP, it strikes the right balance between performance, portability and value.
Happy to answer any questions you have about day to day use.
Great picks and I have actually used both the HP 14" Laptop and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 so I figured I do share my experience to help you out.
Between the two, the HP 14" Laptop is definitely the better choice in my opinion especially for your needs. I have been using it for study sessions, Zoom calls and streaming Netflix on the side and it has not let me down.
Here is why I think the HP stands out:
•
Intel i5-1235U Processor: This gives you noticeably smoother performance compared to the Lenovo’s processor. Apps open quickly, multitasking is snappy and it handles video calls without lag.
•
Solid-State Drive (SSD): Fast boot times and responsive file access make a big difference during busy study sessions.
•
Good Battery Life: I easily get through a full day of classes and note taking without scrambling for a charger.
•
Lightweight and Portable: It is easy to slip into a backpack and carry around campus or to the library.
•
Display Quality: The screen is sharp and bright enough for long reading or typing sessions way more pleasant than the Lenovo’s in my experience.
Happy to answer any questions you have about day to day use.
Reply 7
moe313
OP
3
Original post
by sanaansari072Hey there,
Great picks and I have actually used both the HP 14" Laptop and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 so I figured I do share my experience to help you out.
Between the two, the HP 14" Laptop is definitely the better choice in my opinion especially for your needs. I have been using it for study sessions, Zoom calls and streaming Netflix on the side and it has not let me down.
Here is why I think the HP stands out:
The Lenovo IdeaPad is definitely a good budget friendly option and great for basic tasks but it can feel a bit sluggish if you have multiple tabs open or try to multitask. If you are looking for something that can last you a few years and still feel quick, go with the HP, it strikes the right balance between performance, portability and value.
Happy to answer any questions you have about day to day use.
Great picks and I have actually used both the HP 14" Laptop and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 so I figured I do share my experience to help you out.
Between the two, the HP 14" Laptop is definitely the better choice in my opinion especially for your needs. I have been using it for study sessions, Zoom calls and streaming Netflix on the side and it has not let me down.
Here is why I think the HP stands out:
•
Intel i5-1235U Processor: This gives you noticeably smoother performance compared to the Lenovo’s processor. Apps open quickly, multitasking is snappy and it handles video calls without lag.
•
Solid-State Drive (SSD): Fast boot times and responsive file access make a big difference during busy study sessions.
•
Good Battery Life: I easily get through a full day of classes and note taking without scrambling for a charger.
•
Lightweight and Portable: It is easy to slip into a backpack and carry around campus or to the library.
•
Display Quality: The screen is sharp and bright enough for long reading or typing sessions way more pleasant than the Lenovo’s in my experience.
Happy to answer any questions you have about day to day use.
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed experience and expert advice
After reading your recommendation, I went ahead and bought the HP 14" Laptop and I must say, it is working absolutely great so far. The performance is smooth, the battery easily lasts through my study sessions and it is super easy to carry around. I am really happy with my decision and your input definitely helped me make the right choice.
Appreciate your help in pointing me in the right direction, it made all the difference. Thanks again
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