The right laptop specs for university students (coding, design and office)
What you need depends on your course. A clear guide to processor, RAM, storage and screen for each type of student.
Most students overspend on the wrong things, like a big processor they never use, and underspend on what they feel every day: memory, an SSD, battery life and a decent keyboard. Here is what to aim for by course.
| Course | Processor | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business, arts, education, law | Core i5, 6th gen or newer | 8 GB | 256 GB SSD |
| Computer science, IT, engineering | Core i5 / i7, 8th gen or newer | 16 GB | 256–512 GB SSD |
| Architecture, design, video | Core i7, 8th gen or newer (or a dedicated GPU) | 16 GB | 512 GB SSD |
For coding
Code editors, a browser full of documentation and tools like Docker or Android Studio use a lot of memory. 16 GB of RAM matters more than the processor. A 14-inch Full HD screen makes long sessions much easier on the eyes than an HD one.
For design and video
Look for a screen with good colour (IPS, not TN), 16 GB of RAM and, ideally, a dedicated graphics card for 3D work or video editing.
For everyone
- Battery: 4+ hours of real use, so you are not fighting for the one socket in the lecture hall.
- Weight: under 1.6 kg if you carry it every day.
- Keyboard: business laptops (EliteBook, Latitude, ThinkPad) have some of the best keyboards and are built to survive daily travel.
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