{"id":674,"date":"2016-05-07T14:22:58","date_gmt":"2016-05-07T14:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/picknotebook.com\/blog\/?p=674"},"modified":"2023-04-12T07:43:26","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T13:43:26","slug":"best-laptop-online-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/picknotebook.com\/blog\/best-laptop-online-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 laptops for online college students in 2023 (March Must-Haves) ($640-$3,650)"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\"Online\n

The importance of having the right laptop while attending college online cannot be overstated. A good laptop not only enhances your learning experience but also ensures that you can participate in online classes seamlessly. That's why I've put together this guide to help you choose the perfect laptop for online college<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We'll be looking at the essential specs<\/strong> you should keep in mind when purchasing a laptop, such as processing power, storage, battery life, and portability. Additionally, we'll cover some extra features<\/strong> that can make a big difference, such as webcams, backlit keyboards, and touchscreen displays.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I've done the research, and in this guide, I'll share the top laptops<\/strong> currently available that are perfect for online college. Whether you're a budget-conscious student or looking for a high-end device, I've got you covered. So let's dive in and find your new laptop!<\/p>\n

Processor for Online college<\/h2>\n\"laptop\n

The laptop processor market has changed a lot in the past few years. Apple has released their own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M2 system-on-chip modules, while AMD has managed to take 20% of the CPU market with their 6th generation Ryzen processors. Meanwhile, Intel's 13th-gen processors are still to come, where the 12th generation is Intel's latest. All three processor architectures have adopted hybrid performance\/efficiency core design, so depending on your needs, you could pick any of these solutions.<\/p>\n

Certain courses will require a more powerful processor for tasks such as complex 3D modeling or video editing. For these classes, you'll need a high-end processor with plenty of cores and strong single-thread performance. On the other hand, if your classes are mostly focused on web applications, a mid-range processor will be more than enough. In this case, shift your focus from raw performance towards power efficiency.<\/p>\n

Intel's H-series processors offer the best performance on the market but they also have shorter battery life and produce more heat than their P-series counterparts; meanwhile, Intel's U-series chips are best suited to ultrabooks and other thin & light laptops where weight is paramount. If you're looking for a good battery life in a PC laptop, Ryzen models could be the best option for you. When comparing processors, look at their benchmark scores, such as PassMark and Cinebench, since these are industry standard metrics that can be used to compare different processors across companies and CPU generations.<\/p>\n

If you need a minimum processor for online college, pick either an Intel i5-1235U or AMD Ryzen 5 6600U. For a better performance, we recommend Intel i5-12500H, AMD Ryzen 5 6600H or Apple M2; and for the best possible performance – go for Intel i7-12700H, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H or Apple M1 Pro. Keep in mind that if you opt for a high-end processor, you won't be able to enjoy long battery life.<\/p>\n

Picking a good graphics<\/h2>\n\"laptop\n

Choosing the right laptop graphics card for college can be a daunting task, especially when there's so much new technology to keep up with. Nvidia continues to dominate the laptop GPU market and the RTX 30 series is their latest and greatest. And while they recently released the RTX 40 series, they aren't yet available on laptops.<\/p>\n

It's important to note that a dedicated graphics card is not necessary for most online courses. Integrated GPUs are usually sufficient for web browsing, word processing, or other everyday tasks. But if you're planning to do some gaming, 3D modeling, or video editing at home, then a discrete GPU might be necessary. It's also important to look for Nvidia's Optimus technology in the laptop you choose, which allows the discrete GPU to be used when needed and helps with battery life and heat output.<\/p>\n

The best way to evaluate graphics cards is by looking at popular benchmarks such as 3DMark. However, you should also take laptop-specific benchmarks into account as they give more accurate results when testing laptops. Furthermore, it's important to look into the GPU wattage as laptops often fall short of their maximum potential due to limited power delivery.<\/p>\n

To sum up, for most people, an integrated GPU should be enough for online college. For those who need something a bit more powerful, the recommended GPUs for each price range are the RTX 3050 Ti, RTX 3060, and RTX 3070. For a more high-end gaming experience, you should look for laptops with the RTX 3070. Keep in mind that wattage plays an important role in performance, so make sure to look into it before making your purchase.<\/p>\n

Choosing the right memory for Online college<\/h2>\n\"laptop\n

The RAM market has changed a lot in the past few years. As of late 2022, the most popular and budget-friendly option is 16 GB RAM. And most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB as a standard. However, some courses may require more memory. In that case, you might need to look for a higher-end laptop with 32 GB or more.<\/p>\n

When it comes to memory types, the latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support both DDR4 and DDR5. But DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology. Thus, unless you really need the extra performance it provides, there isn't much benefit from buying it.<\/p>\n

Memory frequency, CL, and timings are generally of no practical difference for most users and tasks. What matters most is how much RAM you need. For studying online, 8 GB is the bare minimum<\/strong>, but for a more pleasant experience, 16 GB<\/strong> is recommended. And if you're looking for a high-end gaming laptop, 32 GB<\/strong> is the current standard.<\/p>\n

Here are some recommended RAM configurations depending on your budget:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Budget<\/th>\nRecommended RAM<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Low<\/td>\n8 GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mid-range<\/td>\n16 GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High-end<\/td>\n32 GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

How to choose the right laptop SSD for Online college?<\/h2>\n\"Online\n

It's 2022 and the market has changed. Nowadays, 99% of laptops come with an SSD<\/strong> and all of them are fast enough for online courses. That being said, we need to focus our attention on the storage size. The minimum recommended amount of storage space for college is 250 GB<\/strong>, but 500 GB is a better option<\/strong> if you're looking for an all-rounder. For those willing to spend a bit more for high-end performance and capacity, 1 TB is the way to go.<\/p>\n

Multiple drives<\/strong> can also be an option to balance performance, price and upgradeability. One fast drive for booting up and loading applications, plus a larger one for storing files. But there's no need to worry about the performance of the SSDs since they're already fast enough for most use cases.<\/p>\n

To help you decide, here's a table of recommended SSD configurations for various budgets:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Budget<\/th>\nCapacity<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Low (< $900)<\/td>\n500 GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mid-range ($900 – $1500)<\/td>\n1 TB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High-end (> $2k+)<\/td>\n2 TB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The right display<\/h2>\n\"Online\n

If you're in the market for a laptop for online college, it's important to make sure you get the best possible display for the money. After all, the display is your window into the world of education, and you want to make sure it's one that you can rely on. Here we'll look at the different types of displays on offer, and give you our recommendations on what specs to look for depending on your budget.<\/p>\n

When it comes to laptop screen size and resolution, full HD (1920 x 1080) is still the most common<\/strong>, and will generally serve you well for college work. However, if you have a bit more cash to spend and are looking for something with a bit more oomph, you can opt for a QHD (2560 x 1440) or even a 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution display. These are mainly found on higher-end gaming or professional laptops.<\/p>\n

The next consideration is the panel type<\/strong>. The current standard is an IPS or IPS-level screen, whereas TN is only found in the cheapest laptops. The benefits of an IPS panel over a TN one are wider viewing angles and much better colour accuracy – so if you can, it's definitely worth avoiding TN.<\/p>\n

The next important factor to consider is refresh rate<\/strong>. This isn't as important for online college, but if you plan on doing any gaming on the side then you should definitely go for a display with a higher refresh rate (at least 120 Hz). High refresh rate screens are increasingly common on gaming laptops, so this shouldn't be too hard to find.<\/p>\n

Brightness<\/strong> and contrast ratio are important factors to look out for, with 300 nits or more (ideally 350+) being ideal for studying outdoors<\/strong>. For those who need a color-sensitive screen, contrast ratio and color gamut coverage should also be taken into account.<\/p>\n

Finally, OLED and mini LED laptop backlighting<\/strong> are becoming increasingly common – but again, these are mostly found on higher-end laptops and aren't really necessary for online college.<\/p>\n

In summary, for online college, our recommended specs for each price range are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Price Range<\/th>\nPanel Type<\/th>\nBrightness<\/th>\nContrast<\/th>\nColor Gamut<\/th>\nRefresh Rate<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Budget (up to $1000)<\/td>\nTN\/IPS<\/td>\n280 nits<\/td>\n1000:1<\/td>\n65% sRGB<\/td>\n60 Hz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mid-range ($1000 – $1500)<\/td>\nIPS<\/td>\n300 nits<\/td>\n1000:1<\/td>\n95% sRGB<\/td>\n120 Hz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High-end ($1500+)<\/td>\nIPS\/OLED<\/td>\n380 nits<\/td>\n1400:1<\/td>\n95% P3<\/td>\n144+ Hz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

By following these guidelines and doing some research on your own, you'll be able to find the perfect laptop display for your online college needs.<\/p>\n

Do you need a long battery life?<\/h2>\n\"null\"\n

Picking the right laptop battery for online college doesn't have to be rocket science. You don't need the longest battery life, but having at least five hours of battery life should be your goal – seven or even nine hours of battery life would be amazing and are achievable.<\/p>\n

With the way technology has advanced and battery tech prices coming down, it's become easier to get a good battery life even in budget laptops. You don't need to shell out too much money if you're tight on budget. However, do keep in mind that the more power-hungry components you have – like CPU, GPU, and bright high refresh rate displays – the more it'll take their toll on the battery runtime.<\/p>\n

So, what should you look for to make sure you're getting enough battery juice? When it comes to battery benchmarks, make sure you pay attention to the idle, web browsing, movie watching, and full load battery benchmarks. These will give you an idea of what you can expect in terms of battery performance.<\/p>\n

We've compiled a table (see below) to help you make a better-informed decision and get the most bang for your buck. As a guideline, the minimum<\/strong> battery life should be at least 5 hours, recommended<\/strong> should be 7 hours, and the high-end<\/strong> should be 9 hours and up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Price Point<\/th>\nBattery Life (web surfing)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Budget<\/td>\n5-6h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mid-range<\/td>\n6-7h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High-end<\/td>\n7-9h+<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

It's worth noting that MacBooks are known for their excellent battery life, and while PC laptops have improved their battery performance, the latest MacBook chips have re-introduced the battery life gap. Windows laptops should have at least 6 hours of battery life – more if you can get your hands on one with a powerful GPU that has Nvidia Optimus or Advanced Optimus.<\/p>\n

Finally, there are plenty of ways to extend your laptop's battery life, such as dimming the screen brightness and limiting background applications from using power-hungry resources like the GPU or CPU. With these tips and tricks in your arsenal, you'll be able to make your laptop last longer without sacrificing performance.<\/p>\n

5 Best Laptops for Online college<\/h2>\n
\"\"$640<\/em><\/div>
Ryzen 5 5500U<\/span> | MX450<\/span> | 8 GB RAM<\/span> | 512 GB SSD<\/span> | 14\u2033 IPS; 1920x1080<\/span> | <\/div><\/div>

1.<\/span>ASUS Zenbook<\/a><\/h4>ASUS ZenBook offers power, style, and portability for online college at a reasonable price.<\/em>
Pros<\/span>