Best laptops for students
Taking notes in a lecture hall, kicking back with a film in your dorm, or keeping in touch with loved ones requires a portable laptop with a long-lasting battery. They're vital pieces of equipment, and we'll help you choose the one that's right for you.
We recommend laptops from the following ranges for university or college students:
The Microsoft Surface models and the Samsung Galaxy Books are a laptop and tablet in one, allowing you to choose the mode that’s best for your learning. Both 4G and 5G-capable models are available depending on your budget and requirements.
When you buy a laptop through us, you'll also get a data plan, so you can connect to our reliable mobile network and complete assignments on the go.
Microsoft Surface laptops for students
One of the best laptops for students is the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G. The adjustable built-in kick stand, powerful processor, all-day battery life¹, and super-fast 5G connectivity² make the Surface Pro 9 a smart choice for student life. The Surface Slim Pen 2³ allows you to sketch on the 13-inch PixelSense™ touchscreen - perfect for courses involving drawing, such as design or architecture.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 4G is an excellent lower cost option and has all the features you'll need to get the most out of your studies and socialising, including: a Type Cover to optimise note taking, built-in Dolby® Audio™ for watching movies with flatmates, and 4G LTE Advanced⁴ so you can work, or stream anywhere.
Samsung laptops for students
Samsung Galaxy Book
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 5G is a top choice for students from our Samsung laptop range. With an S Pen and its 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor⁵ that can jump between demanding animation and design programmes easily, this model is ideal for design or architecture students. Plus, its 5G connectivity and 2-in-1 laptop and tablet design, give you ultimate flexibility for studying.
The Samsung Galaxy Book2 Go 5G is the perfect everyday laptop and one of our best student-budget friendly models. It boasts a Snapdragon 7C Gen 3 processor to make multitasking a breeze and is 5G enabled⁶ for constant connectivity - perfect for when university WiFi is patchy.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 comes with a 2-in-1 design, security chip, 4G connectivity⁶, and a long-lasting 12-hour battery⁸. Its 12.4-inch touchscreen and spill-resistant keyboard mean this device is perfect for your studies and downtime.
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go is a traditional laptop boasting shock resistance, so it’s protected when you're on the go. The model's spill-safe keyboard, up to 12-hour battery⁸ life, and 4G connectivity⁶ mean it's a laptop ready for the stress and mess of university life.
How to choose the best laptop for your studies
The ideal laptop depends on your course, your 4G or 5G connectivity needs, and how much storage you think you'll use.
Here's a basic laptop specs guide for a typical student:
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 5G | Microsoft Surface Go 3 4G | Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 5G | Samsung Galaxy Book Go | Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 | Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery | Up to 19 hours⁷ | Up to 11 hours¹ | Up to 18 hours⁹ | Up to 18 hours⁹ | Up to 12 hours⁸ | Up to 12 hours⁸ |
Connectivity | 5G² | 4G⁴ | 5G | 4G⁶ | 4G⁶ | 4G⁶ |
Screen size | 13 inches | 10.5 inches | 16 inches¹⁰ | 14 inches | 12.4 inches | 11.3 inches |
Storage | 128GB | 128GB | 256GB | 128GB | 128GB | 64GB |
Why Vodafone for your student laptop?
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Frequently asked questions
2-in-1 laptops offer more portability and flexibility for students, and usually have a touchscreen.
A traditional-style laptop, like a Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go, is often sturdier and a cheaper alternative to a 2-in-1 model.
Terms and conditions
¹ Battery life varies significantly based on usage, network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, and other factors. See Surface battery performance for details.
² 5G is not available in all areas - compatibility and performance depend on carrier network, plan, and other factors. See carrier for details and pricing.
³ Surface Slim Pen 2 not included. Available at other retailers.
⁴ Service availability and performance subject to service provider's network. Contact your service provider for details, compatibility, pricing, SIM card, and activation. See all specs and frequencies at Microsoft Surface
⁵ CPU and GPU specifications vary depending on model, country, or region.
⁶ 4G network and connection required.
⁷ WiFi: Up to 19 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage. Testing conducted by Microsoft in August 2022 using preproduction software and preproduction SQ® 3, 128/256/512GB, 8/16GB RAM device. Testing consisted of full battery discharge with a mixture of active use and modern standby. The active use portion consists of (1) a web browsing test accessing eight popular websites over multiple open tabs, (2) a productivity test utilising Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote and Outlook, and (3) a portion of time with the device in use with idle applications. All settings were default except screen brightness was set to 150 nits with Auto-Brightness and Adaptive Colour disabled. WiFi was connected to a network. Tested with Windows Version 11.0.22621 (21H2). Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors.
⁸ Battery life based on Google Chrome Power Load Test. Actual battery life varies depending on environment, feature and apps used, length of charge, and other factors.
⁹ Battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors. Based on results from internal lab tests for local video playback time conducted by Samsung. Test Results from a pre-release version of the device under settings (Local 1080p movie playback, Player-Movies and TV with full screen, Brightness-150nits, Earphone (default volume), discharged to 3%, Airplane On, KBD Backlight Off) without connection to Wi-Fi or mobile network.
¹⁰ Screen size is measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.