Computer science students need a laptop that can fulfill their programming requirements, that’s an absolute face. You need to store a lot of information and applications and need storage space to keep it all safe. If you are into coding, or you are just a computer science student who’s a beginner in their first term, you too need a good laptop to fulfill the demand of your field.
Best Laptops For Computer Science Reviews
1. Lenovo ThinkPad E15
This laptop is Lenovo’s presentation of how thin and light a workstation can be. In terms of specifications, users can think of this laptop as one of the best laptops for programming and computer science majors.
This is one of the best laptops for computer science, mainly because of its efficient keyboard. The keyboard is spill-resistant, and it has a multi-touch glass touchpad. The keyboard is backlit, with white LED lighting. This is perfect for computer science students, and students otherwise, as they can use their keyboard even in the dark, and for as long as they want. The keys are super smooth, and the students won’t face any problems in typing.
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display Size
This laptop comes in three different versions. There is a 15.6-inch display size, with full HD and IPS. The second one has the same screen, with 4UHD and IPS. As for the third one, it has the same 4K UHD, but it comes with organic light-emitting diode technology or OLED.
Battery Capacity
The battery life of the laptop is quite good. A battery test was conducted on this laptop, to see how long it lasts. The battery lasted for 12 hours, and this is good for programmers, as they can code for 12 hours straight, without the need to charge it.
RAM
The RAM of the laptop is up to 16 GB, and the SDD is up to 512 GB. This statistic is enough to make this laptop one of the best laptops for computer science.
Processor
The CPU of the laptop is Intel 10th Gen Core i5-10210U. It is up to 4.2GHz, and with Turbo Boost, can go up to 4.6GHz. The GHz shows that the clock speed is high, which means the CPU has the capability to run applications at a quick rate.
Storage
The storage capacity of the laptop is 2 SSDs. This means that the user can enjoy up to 2 TB of space on this laptop if they need to extend the memory. Most computer students look for the best laptop for computer science, because they need to save their projects, coding, and other important assignments.
GPU
For this laptop, even though there are multiple processor options, in the GPU, Intel UHD Graphics 620 is the only choice. It comes with 16 GB of GDDRS memory.
Weight
The weight of this non-touch laptop is 3.75 lbs, which is pretty light.
Operating System
The operating system that this laptop usually has is Windows 10 Pro.
Input and Output
The laptop has noise-canceling dual-array, and this is used for field microphones. The laptop has Dolby Audio Premium and a slot for the Dolby Atmos headset.
2. Acer Aspire E5-575 – Affordable Laptop For Programming & Gaming
This is one of the best laptops for programming students because it is very affordable. Even though the cost of the laptop is less, it still provides the user with a great design. It fulfills the expectations that users have with Acer and its brand.
The user has a choice to buy either the Core i3 processor or the i5 processor. The 8 or so hours of battery life, can make things easier for the user, especially if they have to use their laptop in a college or university.
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display Size
The display of the laptop measures 10.2×15.02×1.19 inches. The shell of the laptop is solid, and when the user picks the laptop and puts it down, it doesn’t wobble. It even has a DVD tray, which is something you rarely find on a laptop nowadays. The display technology is LCD, and the display resolution is 1920×1080.
Battery Capacity
Considering the size of the laptop, the battery life is really good. The laptop can last for 8 hours and 16 minutes, as per the Battery Test. This test involves surfing the web, using Wi-Fi. The battery life of the laptop is longer compared to Dell Inspiron 15 5000, and even HP Notebook.
RAM
The RAM of Aspire is 4GB, and the RPM is 5,400. If the user opens multiple tabs in a browser, even then they will experience a minimal lag time, if they switch between those tabs. However, if the web page is large, or if you are streaming a video on one tab, then that could be problematic for the speed of the laptop. The RAM can be upgraded to 32GB, and the storage drive can be upgraded as well.
Processor
The laptop has a solid build quality and is a 7th-generation Intel Core i3 processor.
Storage
The laptop has a 1TB hard drive, along with an 8x DVD super multi double-layer drive.
GPU
Acer has chosen dedicated graphics for this laptop, by installing GeForce GTX 950M. This is based on the Maxwell architecture, which is built in 28 nanometers. The GPU provides three times more performance and has a GDDR5 memory of 2GB. The GPU is enabled, when the user runs graphic applications, via Optimus technology. It decreases power consumption, as compared to other applications, making it the best laptop for computer science.
Weight
Originally, the laptop is of 5.06 pounds, but if they add the power brick, then the weight rises to 5.6 lbs. This is a thin laptop, considering its price. If someone wants a thinner laptop, then they might have to spend more money.
Operating System
The operating system installed on the laptop is Windows 10. As for other laptops in the same range, they use Windows 10S and Windows 10 Home. The laptop comes with wireless compatibility.
Input & Output
The laptop can be used for Skyping, for business. It has a microphone, webcam, and speakers. These three things are most likely to work with Microsoft enterprise conferencing software as well. However, if someone wants better image quality, then they should not rely on the built-in webcam, but get an external webcam. This feature makes it the best laptop for computer science.
The left side of the laptop has an Ethernet port and two USB 3.0 connectors. It even has an HDMI-out, VGA-out, and USB 3.1 type port. The right side of the laptop has a DVD drive and a 3.5mm for headphones. There is a third USB port on the right-hand side as well. The front lip of the laptop offers an SD card reading option, which can increase the storage capacity of the laptop.
3. Dell XPS 13 – Best Laptop For Programming Students
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display Size
The diagonal size of the laptop’s screen is 33.782 cm. It has a widescreen display and an infinity edge display. The type of laptop screen that it has, is LCD. The display resolution of Dell XPS is Full HD. On the display, the user can see a 2.25mm webcam, which took the company years to design. It is small enough to sit above the display but also uses a 720p widescreen sensor. This sensor is paired with four microphones, which allows the user to activate both Cortana and Alexa, even if the user is at a good distance.
Battery Capacity
The battery capacity of this best laptop for computer science is 19 hours. The battery uses 4 cells, lithium-ion technology. This battery life could be really good for those, who are up at late hours of the night, coding and side by side, playing video games.
RAM
The memory speed of Dell is 1866 MHz. The technology that the RAM uses is LPDDR3 SDRAM. The rotated memory speed is 1866 MHz. The installed size of RAM is 8GB.
Processor
The CPU of the laptop is Intel Core i7, 8th generation, 1.8 GHz. The max turbo speed of Dell is 4 GHz, and the number of cores is Quad-Core. The cache is 8MB, and it is a 64-bit computing processor. It has Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 on the laptop.
Storage
Dell’s laptop has the latest Whiskey Lake Intel Core processor. The user has the option to choose either from Core i5 or Core i7. These are quad-core and come with a storage capacity of 512GB, making it easier for users to decide which is the best laptop for computer science.
GPU
The graphics processor used in this laptop is the Intel UHD graphics 620.
Weight
The width of the laptop is 11.9in, the depth is 7.8in and the height is 0.5in. Dell weighs 2.67 lbs, which means it is lightweight, and a reason why the user should buy this best laptop for computer science.
Operating System
The operating system installed on the laptop is Windows 10 Home 64-bit. For those who want to know about the minimum operating temperature for this laptop, note that it is 32 Fahrenheit.
Input & Output
The input of Dell is AC 120/230 and the output is 45 Watt, DC 5/9/15/20V. The laptop has a backlight as well, making it easier for the user to operate and locate the laptop in the dark. The video output of the laptop is Intel UHD Graphics 620.
4. HP Pavilion 15
HP is known for its reliable laptops, which is why most people like to buy HP laptops. They are one of the best laptops for computer science and programming students because they last for a long time.
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display Size
The size of the laptop screen is 15.6 inches, diagonal FHD IPS BrightView. It is a multitouch-enabled, edge-to-edge glass. The touch screen is 4K, offering the customer a dazzling view of whatever they are watching on it.
Battery Capacity
The battery life of the laptop is 8 hours, once when it is charged for a year. For those who tested the battery of the laptop, they played a 1080p video on loop, with 50% screen brightness, and the battery lasted for 12 hours and 37 minutes. This would be the perfect laptop for someone, who wants to code for a long time, or just study using it.
RAM
This excellent HP laptop has a RAM of 16 GB.
Processor
The processor of the laptop is Intel Core i7 1165G7. The GHz is 1.6 and goes up to 4.7 GHz. The cache of the laptop is 6MB and it has 4 cores.
Storage
The memory of the laptop can be boosted to 512GB. This is really good storage capacity, in case the programmer needs storage for their files. This is a feature that users would want in the best laptop for computer science.
GPU
The GPU of the laptop is Intel Iris Xe Graphics and it comes with 2 GB of video memory. The graphics card is an upgrade and the GPU allows the customer to play games, which are in a 1080p setting. Even though this is not specifically useful for computer science students, when they need a break, they would surely like to do something different.
Weight
The weight of the laptop is 3.86 pounds. It won’t feel heavy most of the time, especially if you are going to carry it, in its bag. This makes it the best laptop for computer science.
Operating System
The operating system of the laptop is Windows 11 Pro. The Pro version of the laptop offers users privacy tools, like Domain Join and Direct Access. The laptop offers users seamless connectivity.
Input & Output
For input and output, the users will notice that the audio port is placed close to the USB port and the HDMI space. There is a fingerprint reader, and a built-in laptop, placed between the volume rocker and the ventilation grilles. The laptop has a USB Type-A port. This laptop is ergonomically perfect, as the NumPad is placed properly on the keyboard so that it doesn’t cause distress for the user.
5. Google PixelBook Go – Best Laptop For Computer Science Major
Following are the features and specifications of the product.
Display size
The appearance of Google Pixelbook Go is definitely stunning. The display of the laptop is 13.3 inches. It has a 16:9 touch screen, HD of 1920×1080, and even 4K available for customers. However, the better the resolution, the more expensive the laptop will be. There is a front-facing camera of 2MP, and 60fps, and can make 1080p video.
Battery capacity
The battery life of Google PixelBook Go is 12 hours, making it one of the best laptops for computer science. The unique thing about the battery is that, like smartphones, users can fast charge this laptop as well. This is a feature, that people would see less in other phones.
RAM
Customers can buy 8GB or 16GB RAM. The choice of RAM depends on what they need it for.
Processor
Like RAM, the users have a choice to choose from 8th generation Intel Core m3, i5, or i7.
Storage
The storage capacity of the Google laptop is 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB. If the user wants more capacity, then they can easily increase it using SSD.
GPU
The laptop uses an Intel UHD 615 graphics card.
Weight
It is a very lightweight laptop because it only weighs 2.3 pounds. This makes it easier for users to take it around, wherever they want to. This is one particular feature, which makes this the best laptop for computer science.
Operating System
As Google laptop is known as Chromebooks, the operating system is Chrome. It is a new operating system, which is specifically designed by Google. These operating systems are used in a new generation of computers. The unique part of this operating system is that it is browser-based, cloud-powered, and doesn’t take too long to boot. The system connects to the internet right away, saving time for the user.
Input & Output
The laptop has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Bluetooth version that works on the laptop is 4.2. The laptop comes with built-in speakers, and they produce decent sound. As the operating system is Chrome, even though someone opens multiple tabs and then plays a video in of the tabs, it doesn’t impact the performance of the laptop. This makes it one of the best laptops for computer science students.
Tips For Buying the Best Laptops For Computer Science And Programming Students
Before you read about the best laptop for computer science, you need to know what we are talking about. Laptops are one of the most advanced gadgets of today’s time. They are stylish, smart, and a necessity for students like you. Before you head out to buy a suitable laptop, you need to know about a few things that you should consider before purchasing one for yourself.
Firstly, you need a good processor, because when you are learning to compile code, or you are compiling one, horsepower is important. It not only enables you to work better but also speeds up the coding process by processing more information.
There are plenty of cores in modern laptops, threads, and clock speeds. However, your main focus should be getting the fastest processor. A fast processor is very efficient in processing a large amount of information in a short space of time. The second thing to think about is the memory, which should be at least 8GB. If the laptop has a good SSD, then your PC will load faster, and the files and applications that you use, won’t make you wait too much. The lack of processing lag has a huge impact on your performance.
As for computer graphics chips, you don’t need the fastest one in the market. If you have Intel hardware, then it comes with integrated graphics, and that is good enough for a programmer. However, if you want to play games, you might as well get a graphics chip. It could help in presentations or editing as well.
Coding is all about typing, which is why you need to get the best keyboard. You need to get the best laptop for computer science, so you are able to type with speed and absolute comfort. Also, get a better or higher resolution, because you might have to spend a lot of time on your computer, staring at it.
It is also a great idea to get one that is equipped with a blue light filter and anti-flicker technology. These are important because a display that has them doesn’t cause much strain on your eyes. With such a display you don’t feel tired after a short or a long working duration.
While you are reading the list of best laptops for computer science, you should consider whether you need the specified requirements and then decide on a budget. The market is flooded with a lot of high-quality units with varying price tags that are very suitable for computer science. You can choose any one of them that is within your range. If a laptop is good but makes you go bankrupt, then it is not the right one for you. Price is not proof of quality. There are always good-quality budget laptops for people who operate on tight budgets.
Can you survive a single day without technology?
In the past decade, we have seen an era of digitization. Laptops and tablets have greatly revolutionized our world. Gone is the time when technology was a social barrier as people used to shut everyone out by sitting in front of their PCs.
Now, smartphones and tablets are actually helping people remove this social barrier. You can spend time with your family while multitasking on your gadget at the same time. These devices have also eliminated the need for music players, cameras, calculators, electronic dictionaries, voice recorders, GPS, and alarms. The digital world has become an undeniable part of our life.
Conclusion
This is the list of the best laptops for computer science. Before making a choice, consider the prices of the products, to make a better decision. However, if budget is not a problem, then look for the best features, display resolution, and storage options.
Enjoyed this? Then be sure to check out our other guides on Best Data Science Laptops.
Writer Graham Grieve brings two decades of technical communications experience to The Holy Tech coverage. Isaac contributes articles on laptops, tablets and PCs, alongside various software and hardware guides. Isaac is a former newspaper journalist who also worked in tech communications for some of the country’s biggest corporations. He also counsels and creates material for other technology publications and hosts a podcast.
Isaac’s in-depth reporting and knowledge of hardware and software issues helps The Holy Tech’s readers learn how to choose the right products, or solve tricky problems.