Computer science is one of the most popular majors in college right now. With this comes a need for the best laptops that can handle the demands of coding, programming, and general computer work.
Personally, I am a computer science major who understands the importance of having the greatest laptop possible, especially one that can manage hefty software demands.
This post will go into detail about which laptops are best for Computer Science students, what to look out for when buying them, and some helpful tips on how to make sure you get your money’s worth.
Best Laptops For Computer Science Students
1. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 a laptop for computer science student
The perfect laptop for computer science majors. Lenovo created this 2-in-1 to offer both portability and computing power.
The lightweight design doesn’t compromise battery life or performance, with up to 12 hours of unplugged use on a single charge.
And the latest Intel Core i7 processor offers enhanced speed and responsiveness even when multitasking with demanding software like photo editing software and heavy programs such as 3D rendering apps that often slow down computers.
The sleek 14″ touchscreen display is high resolution, stunning colour quality, and magnesium material makes it durable enough to withstand any accidental knocks or falls from desks or tables top during those last-minute cramming sessions before final exams.
2. Dell 9310 XPS 2 in 1 Laptop
This Dell XPS is wonderful and one of the best laptops for students. With its full-featured Windows 10 operating system and the power of the Intel Core i7 1165G7 Processor, this laptop will let you multitask with ease.
The sleek 13.4″ 1920×1200 touch display makes gaming or streaming content easy on the eyes. And with powerful graphics & Bluetooth options, it’s perfect for any computer science student.
Dell 9310 Xps comes with Iris Xe Graphics that is the right choice for heavy programs. Things like Java, C++ and even advanced/ basic coding can be easily executed. This graphics card will give you the best performance.
Built to enable anyone-from web developers to gamers-to explore their creativity with intensive graphics processing at workstations where performance matters most, Intel Graphics are optimized for performance over battery life.
You will always get the best experience when you are working with Dell XPS for computer science.
It has up to 32GB RAM which is perfect for the processor that it has.
Its slimness makes Dell XPS a very stylish & modern laptop which students will love to have as their first computer science project laptops.
3. ASUS VivoBook S14 S435 laptop
This ASUS Vivobook S14 has everything you need to get ahead of your class. It is one of the Best Laptops For Computer Science Students.
ASUS VivoBook S14 is light and thin, yet powerful. Presenting the compact design with the best-in-class components for your needs.
The ASUS VivoBook S14 offers you to have full control of all your tasks. This device has an incredible display that delivers crisp visuals and vivid colours, which will take your computing experience to another level.
This laptop offers different ports for a USB stick, video camera, DVD drive or 3G modem – anything you’ll need for college.
The VivoBook S14 is a 14-inch laptop, this best college student laptop comes with an Intel Core i7-8550U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD that comes equipped with a GeForce MX150 GPU.
This makes this powerhouse execute any software programs without overheating or being slow.
You can now easily transform this computer into tablet mode when you want to watch videos or work on presentations during leisure time outside the home office.
The touchpad contains the “NumberPad” (digital numeric keyboard) feature within its own trackpad frame.
4. Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300 is an ultra-powerful laptop with 3 USB ports, a backlit keyboard, extended battery life of 6 hours on a single charge.
The 15.6” screen is perfect for computer science students who require more power than most computers can provide and the black chassis design brings class to this lightweight device.
With Windows 10 Home 64-bit operating system you will have access to all the programs you need while using this powerful machine that weighs under 4 pounds.
This model has 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD and its 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor gives it just what it needs for optimal productivity while easily handling high graphic loads while at school.
To be fair this is also a quality gaming laptop and people have found it to be very useful in video editing and photo editing due it high refresh rates.
The GPU is a 6GB, GeForce RTX 3060, which has been overclocked. Interns make the machine run faster and more efficiently.
It’s not a cheap laptop. The price is about $1500, which makes it rather pricey. But to me, it’s worth the investment. When you want to multitask between computer science coursework and gaming, this laptop will come in handy.
Acer Predator Helios 300 has received some very good reviews from people who say they love gaming on this machine and that the display is amazing as well as how long it lasts on a single charge.
This is another laptop that has been optimized for heavy programs that are GPU & CPU intensive, as it comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card capable of running the latest games at Full HD resolution and playing them in high frame rates.
5. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Surface Pro 7 retains the versatility of its predecessor to be used in different ways. The 10th gen Intel Core Processor makes it faster than Surface Pro 6, and USB-C and USB-A ports make it easy for you to connect with displays, docking stations, and other devices while charging your device simultaneously.
Weighing at less than 1.7 pounds, this laptop would not weigh you down or take up much space when travelling.
This machine uses proven Windows software features like snappy multitasking that allows multitaskers to spend less time waiting around which leads them to become more productive throughout their day.
Alongside quality hardware components such as an integrated fingerprint reader that’s ultra-compact so no one has trouble finding it on the tablet.
The Surface Pro is a reliable choice for most people with its versatile functionality, touch screen display and USB-C port.
I would recommend this laptop to any college students who are looking for the best value in their purchase but also need it to be useful on the go without too many sacrifices when compared to traditional laptops.
This laptop if portable and budget-friendly which is ideal for students.
6. Lenovo IdeaPad 3
Made for the professional and academic, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a laptop that has everything you need all in one.
It’s super-efficient with an Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, dual-core processor and four-way intelligent processing performance to give you fast rendering speeds.
With HD TruBrite technology expanding colour and clarity, also on a 15.6″ touchscreen for convenient control just tap swipe and get the most out of Windows 10.
You’ll never be without juice because it can fully last up to 8 hours on standby time while only using 0.9 watts of power when not charging!
Keeping up with the needs of computer science students is relatively easy, now that you’re armed with the Lenovo IdeaPad 3.
Combining 12GB memory for hyper-fast multitasking and 256GB solid-state drive storage space for lightning-fast file saving.
A Windows 10 operating system to keep up professional connections between peers and professors around the world, integrated WiFi 5 connectivity to ensure that wherever computer science projects have taken you or whatever your engineering major maybe, this laptop will always remain connected without being weighed down by cables – all while weighing in at just 4.07 lbs.
Things to consider before buying the Best Laptops for CS Students
1. laptop weight
In my opinion, the number one thing to consider before buying a laptop is weight. This may seem obvious but you would be surprised how many people overlook this aspect of a computer’s specs when shopping around for their next piece of tech.
The main reason why I feel that weight is so important especially in college students who have lots on their plate and will most likely carry it with them everywhere they go during school hours.
2. Laptop battery life
Another feature to look at closely before purchasing your new laptop is battery life, here again, lighter computers are going to benefit you more than heavier ones since carrying around extra pounds can really take its toll over time.
The longer your device lasts without having to recharge the better! I recommend not going below five hours if possible whether it’s on battery or charging power.
3. Portability & Ease of use
The next thing I think is important for college students to look out for in their computer of choice is the portability and ease of use, if you’re going to be working or studying at a desk then having something small and lightweight with long-lasting power would probably best suit your needs but if you plan on moving around often then size might not matter as much since it’ll be easier to transport anyways.
4.RAM & GPU
When it comes to college students and computer science the two most important things for a laptop are going to be RAM & GPU.
The more memory your machine has, the better since this is what allows software programs like Microsoft Excel or Adobe Photoshop to run smoothly without any issues once they’ve been installed on your new device.
GPU’s work in conjunction with other hardware components such as CPU cores and motherboard processor speeds which all contribute to how fast you can complete tasks online whether it’s streaming videos from Netflix or playing graphic-intensive games.
5. Laptop Storage
Another thing to look at when buying a laptop is storage, I would say that the best laptops for computer science students are going to have both an SSD (Solid State Drive) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive).
The reason why having both is important is because it offers you more flexibility. If money isn’t really an issue then get one with large amounts of memory on your main hard drive.
This will give you plenty of space for installing all your favourite programs on there while keeping them protected from a disk failure by using the built-in safety precautions found in most drives nowadays.
On the other hand, if money’s tight or if weight & portability become big issues then investing in an external portable USB flash drive like this one can help make up for any shortfalls in storage space since they’re so much easier to carry around.
6.Laptop Connectivity & Ports
The last thing I think is important for students who plan on using their laptop for school work and computer programming alike are the connectivity ports your device has.
If you want something that’s lightweight then look at getting something with as few connections as possible especially USB ones which can be bulky sometimes.
This will help keep weight down but still allow you access to all the hardware components of your machine including an internet connection via LAN cables or wireless options like Bluetooth or WiFi.
If money isn’t really a problem then it would also be great to have things like extra HDMI ports too since this allows another monitor (or TV) to easily connect without needing to use any adapters or cables.
This is a great feature that I’ve personally seen come in handy for many people especially college students who have projects, assignments and exams to work on from time to time.
The last thing you want when looking at colleges for computer science programs is having too few connections with your laptop so I recommend going as far as possible within reason if this sounds like something important to you!
I hope these tips help you narrow down exactly what kind of laptop will best suit your needs! If not then don’t forget that we’re always here at thedigitalanu ready to answer questions or offer advice if needed.
Our Conclusion on Best Laptops For Computer Science Students
Computer science is a field that requires you to use your brain in unique ways. You’ll need access to the latest and greatest technology, which means owning a laptop with all of the specs for computer programming or development.
The best laptops for computer science students are going to be ones that have powerful processors, plenty of memory, long battery life, great screen quality and lots of storage space.
These factors will ensure that you can get everything done without having any technical difficulties.
This guide goes into detail about what each feature does so it might be easier for you to decide what type of laptop would work best for your needs as an aspiring computer scientist.
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