Best Laptops For Canadian University Students: Top Picks

University students in Canada have a variety of laptop options to choose from, depending on their budget, program, and performance requirements. With the rise of remote learning and content creation, a laptop has become a necessity for students, offering portability and convenience for note-taking and working on the go. When choosing a laptop, students should consider factors such as price, performance, battery life, size, weight, and user experience, including display quality, keyboard comfort, and touchpad responsiveness.

Laptop specifications for university students in Canada

When choosing a laptop, university students in Canada should consider their budget, the laptop's performance, portability, and features. Students should also consider the laptop's battery life, size, weight, keyboard, and trackpad.

For students who need a simple device for browsing the web and writing papers, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) is a great budget option. It has an FHD display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, and its compact design makes it easy to carry around. The battery lasts about 13 hours with light use, and the FHD display looks sharp and bright. However, the keyboard feels mushy, and the touchpad is small and sometimes unresponsive.

If you're looking for a thin and light laptop, the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) is an ideal choice. Apple's base M3 SoC is well-suited for light productivity tasks, video editing, and 3D graphics. It has a sharp and bright display, a spacious keyboard, and a large haptic touchpad. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) is also a good option if you prefer a bigger screen and better speakers, but it is more expensive.

For students in technical fields who need a high-performance laptop, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) is a powerful workstation laptop with an exceptional all-aluminium build and a compact design. It features a sharp 120Hz Mini LED display, well-balanced up-firing speakers, and plenty of ports. The battery easily lasts through a full school day and takes less than two hours to charge fully.

The Asus Zenbook 14 is another excellent choice for students, offering excellent battery life, a vivid touchscreen, and a reliable keyboard and trackpad in a thin and light body. It provides good performance and long battery life at a reasonable price.

For those looking for a Windows laptop, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024) and the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) are worth considering. The Acer Aspire 5 also stands out as a top pick, offering impressive performance at a reasonable price.

Lastly, for those seeking a high-end Chromebook, the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a solid 2-in-1 laptop with great internal specs. It is easy to carry around and has a fantastic design.

Budget-friendly laptops for students

When choosing a laptop for university, it's essential to consider your budget, performance, portability, and features. Here are some budget-friendly laptops that are suitable for students in Canada:

Acer Aspire 5

The Acer Aspire 5 is a top choice for students offering impressive performance at a reasonable price. It provides a perfect balance between affordability and quality, making it ideal for those on a tight budget.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 is an excellent option for students seeking a simple yet functional device. It features a compact design, a long-lasting battery of up to 13 hours, and a sharp FHD display. The Core i3 configuration, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, offers a balance of performance and value, typically priced between $400 and $500. While the keyboard and touchpad could be improved, the 1080p webcam is a standout feature for a budget-friendly Chromebook.

Asus Zenbook 14

The Asus Zenbook 14 is a powerful and portable laptop with a vivid touchscreen, a sturdy build, and a reliable keyboard and trackpad. It offers excellent battery life, lasting up to 13.5 hours, ensuring it can get you through a full day of classes. With a price range of $700 to $800, it provides exceptional value for students seeking a thin, light, and well-performing laptop.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a high-end Chromebook that offers ultraportability and solid internal specifications. Its 2-in-1 design and up to 13.4" UHD+ display make it easy to carry around and use in various situations. Starting at $500, it's an excellent investment for students seeking a durable and versatile laptop.

HP Laptops

HP offers a range of powerful laptops with Full HD displays, Intel Core processors, and ample SSD storage. Their 15.6" models provide a balance of performance and portability, while the 17.3" option delivers a larger screen and 1TB SSD storage. While specific prices are unavailable, HP laptops are worth considering for their combination of features and affordability.

Laptops for students of specific subjects

When choosing a laptop for university, it's important to consider the specific needs of your program. Here are some recommendations for students of arts and design, business, engineering, and programming:

Arts and Design

For arts and design students, a laptop with a large, high-resolution screen and a powerful processor is ideal for running creative software and displaying your work in the best quality. The LG Gram Pro 17 is a great option for students who want a bigger screen and more performance for media work. It offers a large 17-inch screen with pro-grade colour coverage and a sleek, durable shell.

Business

Business students need a laptop that is portable, durable, and has a long-lasting battery to keep up with their busy schedules. The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) is a top choice for its value-packed price, speedy performance, and gorgeous touchscreen. It also has a super-thin-and-light design, making it easy to carry around campus.

Engineering

Engineering students require laptops that can handle advanced operations and run engineering software, which is often restricted to a particular operating system, usually Windows. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a powerful and portable option with a gorgeous 17-inch 4K display and a comfortable keyboard. It's capable of running advanced programs such as CAD, which are essential for engineering students.

Programming

For programming, a laptop with a good amount of RAM (16GB or more), a competent CPU, and a comfortable keyboard is ideal. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) offers an impressive amount of processing power, allowing you to compile codes quickly and providing an excellent user experience. If you're looking for a Windows alternative, the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024) is a great choice.

These recommendations cater to the specific needs of students in each field, offering a balance of performance, portability, and affordability to enhance their educational experience.

Laptop alternatives for university students

While a laptop is a great tool for university students, there are other devices that can be used as alternatives. Here are some options for laptop alternatives for university students in Canada:

Tablets

Tablets are a great alternative to laptops for university students as they offer a balance of portability and functionality. Tablets have come a long way and now offer many of the same features as laptops, such as word processing, presentation creation, and internet browsing capabilities. Additionally, tablets with detachable keyboards provide the flexibility to type out notes or write them using a stylus.

Chromebooks

Chromebooks are another excellent alternative for university students, especially those who primarily need a device for web browsing, word processing, and other light tasks. Chromebooks are often more affordable than traditional laptops and offer long battery lives, making them convenient for students who are always on the go.

Desktop Computers

While desktop computers may not offer the same level of portability as laptops, they can be a good alternative for students who primarily work in a fixed location, such as their dorm room or the library. Desktop computers often provide more processing power and storage capacity than laptops, making them suitable for tasks that require high-performance specifications, such as video editing or 3D rendering.

Refurbished Devices

For students on a tight budget, refurbished laptops or tablets can be a great alternative. Refurbished devices are often pre-owned devices that have been restored to good working condition and offered at a discounted price. This option allows students to access devices with specifications comparable to high-end models but at a more affordable cost.

When choosing a laptop alternative, it is important to consider the specific needs of your course and your personal preferences for portability, functionality, and budget. Each option has its own advantages and will suit different students depending on their unique requirements.

Top-rated laptops for students

When choosing a laptop for university, it's important to consider your budget, the device's portability, its performance, and its battery life. While a desktop PC may offer more processing power and a bigger screen, a laptop is portable and can be taken to lectures and workshops.

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024)

The MacBook Air 13 is a thin, light laptop ideal for students who need to write papers, browse the web, and consume media. Apple's base M3 SoC is suitable for light productivity tasks, video editing, and 3D graphics. It has a sharp, bright display, a spacious keyboard, and a large haptic touchpad. Its biggest weakness is its port selection, with only two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) is also an option if you want a bigger screen and better speakers, but it is more expensive.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023)

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 is a great budget option for students who need a simple device for web browsing and writing papers. It has a compact design, a sharp FHD display, and a long-lasting battery (up to 13 hours of light use). While it has a good display and excellent 1080p webcam, the keyboard feels mushy, and the touchpad is small and sometimes unresponsive.

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3406HA-WS74T)

The Asus Zenbook 14 is a powerful and portable laptop with a vivid touchscreen, a solid keyboard, and a long-lasting battery (up to 13.5 hours). It is a sturdy device that comes with a USB-C charger, which is cheaper to replace than specialty non-USB-C chargers.

Acer Aspire 5

The Acer Aspire 5 offers impressive performance at a reasonable price.

HP Laptops

HP offers a range of powerful laptops with Full HD displays, Intel i5 processors, and substantial RAM and SSD storage. Some models also feature vibrant 17.3" displays and 1TB SSD storage.

Other options to consider include the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024) and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) for students in technical fields who need a high-performance laptop.

Frequently asked questions