6 Best Laptops for Business Students

You’ve landed the internship or job of your dreams, you’re taking classes, and you’ve got the rest of your life to manage as well — but do you have a laptop with the power to keep up with you?

As a business student, you’ve got plenty on your plate, and worrying if your laptop can manage everything you’re throwing at it shouldn’t be one of those concerns.

In this article, we’ll help you locate some business laptops that won’t have any trouble taking on your full-speed day, and show you how to pick the right one.

Do You Need a Business Laptop?

The laptops in this article are, of course, recommended for business students. However, the idea is that you’re getting a machine that will last you past college, your master’s, or night classes and well into the work days afterward.

Therefore, the laptops listed here are great for students but are also ideal for other business professionals who are looking to upgrade or replace their existing laptops.

If you’re a regular consumer, a business laptop will definitely have plenty of power for your everyday internet needs, but you may not need all of the features it offers and could be equally satisfied with a cheaper model. On the other hand, a model with greater power is almost guaranteed to have a longer lifetime.

We would not advise purchasing a business laptop if you’re a creative professional or a regular video gamer. These laptops don’t have the graphics power for such endeavors, and you’d need to look for more specialty models in order to better suit your needs.

Best Laptop for Business Students: Our Picks

If you want to learn about the best business student laptops, this section covers the top models and explains their various traits.

1. MacBook Pro

• Best for: Overall
• Key Features: Retina display. Powerful internal processor. True coloration and 128MB of eDRAM. 512GB SSD storage.
• Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Battery Life: 17 hours
• Screen Size: 13 inches

Apple products are excellent additions to any student’s workload, and the Pro is the best of the best. This model comes fully equipped with a fantastic Retina Display, strong internal i5 processor, 512GB of SSD storage, and vivid true coloration.

Then, when you aren’t working you have access to the app store and some of the best audio quality on the market. It’s sleek and easy to carry around too. The entire package also comes with a striking, modern look that everyone will be able to enjoy.

Apple products come absolutely packed with high-end, premium features. Even so, the OS does have some limitations when it comes to conventional schoolwork. You may need to dual-boot Windows to get the most from this model.

2. Dell XPS

• Best for: Portability
• Key Features: Responsive touchscreen. 16GB of RAM. Webcam and multiple ports. Plenty of internal space. Portable.
• Weight: 2.67 pounds
• Battery Life: 10 hours, 30 minutes
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches

The Dell XPS is a wonderful business student laptop due to its intuitive touchscreen, 16GB of internal RAM, and ample internal storage. It’s also great thanks to the portable design, which makes it simple to throw into a bag or backpack.

The functionality makes it easy to use in a range of different environments, the lightweight build makes it easy to take to class, and the different ports create a ton of versatility you won’t find in similar models. A great choice for when you’re in class or at your dorm. 

As great as this package is for business students, it only comes with Windows 10 Home out of the box. As such, you need to upgrade to Pro in order to get the full experience. Prepare for that when making the purchase.

3. Lenovo Flex 14

• Best for: Functionality
• Key Features: Foldable design and responsive touchscreen. Included stylus. Quick recharging. HD display and AMD Ryzen processor.
• Weight: 3.52 pounds
• Battery Life: 8 hours
• Screen Size: 14 inches

Though it’s usually Microsoft’s territory, Lenovo does a great job of creating 2-in-1 computers as well. The Flex 14 is one such model, bringing you the functionality of a standard laptop with the ability to switch into tablet mode when you need it. That makes it perfect for both work and play.

Additionally, the Flex has a lot of internal power through the advanced processor, 256GB SSD, and 8GB of RAM. The screen is sharp and attractive, and there’s even an HDMI port that fits into the package without being too bulky.

The only true downside to this model when compared to others is that it doesn’t have any built-in optical drive for running CDs and the storage space is limited. You’re likely going to want to pick up an external drive with this one.

4. HP Envy x360

• Best for: Processing Power
• Key Features: Stunning 15.6 inch screen. Slick, slim design. 256GB SSD with 12GB RAM. Fast performance.
• Weight: 4.48 pounds
• Battery Life: 11 hours
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches

If you’re a student who needs a stronger laptop that can do a little more, the Envy x360 is a perfect pick. Equipped with a strong Intel Core i7 processor and 128GB SODIMM DDR4 SDRAM, it can run any program with ease. It also multitasks really well.

The battery is quite strong, and the full HD LED display looks great whether you’re staying up late doing work, playing a game, or relaxing with your favorite movie. The 2-in-1 functionality adds a great dimension towards that end as well.

Unfortunately, the computer doesn’t come with a Thunderbolt 3 port, and the general graphics aren’t as great for those who like to play heavy games. Even so, it more than gets the job done for a versatile school machine.

5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

• Best for: Lightweight
• Key Features: Attractive, lightweight design. Strong battery life. Plenty of ports and tactile keyboard. IPS technology.
• Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Battery Life: 15 hours
• Screen Size: 14 inches

Lugging a large or heavy laptop around campus can be quite annoying. That’s why so many students prefer lighter models like the X1 Carbon. This laptop provides exceptional battery life and a large, crisp screen without being too bulky or overbearing.

It’s a great option for business students because it looks great, feels good to use, and has the speed to quickly and efficiently run just about any program. The 16GB memory is fantastic, the IPS works seamlessly, and the extra features like the fingerprint reader are seamless.

This computer lacks a MicroSD slot, which can be annoying in certain situations. It also can overheat during hard work periods. If you’re fine with those drawbacks, this is a perfect lightweight option.

6. Asus Vivobook S

• Best for: Display
• Key Features: Slim and relatively lightweight. Different port options. 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD. Ergonomic backlit keyboard.
• Weight: 4 pounds
• Battery Life: 7 hours
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches

All students, business or otherwise, can appreciate a beautiful laptop with a bright, stunning screen. The Vivobook S comes with a 15.6-inch display that truly pops. Not only do the color rich graphics look incredible in all situations, but the NanoEdge bezel is striking too.

This has an ergonomic backlit keyboard, a fingerprint sensor, as well as a variety of ports that create a level of versatility other models lack. The dual band WiFi and slim design are both icing on an already fantastic cake.

Just know the HDD is on the slower side, and the middle keys can overheat when you’re doing a lot of work. Be sure to take a break every now and then if the fan runs too much.

Choosing a Laptop for Business Students: What to Consider

Portability

Getting down to business doesn’t just happen in an office or at your desk at home, which means portability is key to a great business laptop.

You’re going to want to look for smaller, 13” screens paired with light frames that aren’t going to give you back pain when you bring them with you from place to place.

Make sure your design isn’t too fragile either — while you can always get a protective case, it’s better to just have a laptop that’s built to last in the first place.

Battery Life

As both an MBA student and a business professional, you can’t expect an electrical outlet everywhere you go, and besides, you don’t want to worry about hunting one down when you have much more productive things to be doing.

Make sure to get a laptop with battery life that will last all day so that you’re never desperately seeing if your laptop can be connected to both the power cord and the projector’s HDMI adapter at your important presentation.

Performance

As a business student, you need performance, but in a different dimension than many other types of individuals.

While integrated graphics might be unworkable to a creative professional, they’re more than enough when you’re running QuickBooks or PowerPoint.

You’ll definitely want 8GB of RAM or more, and you should also look for a Windows 10 Professional edition operating system (or the latest macOS if you prefer Apple).

Other Useful Tips and Tricks

A lot goes into a day’s work, which can include traveling a lot of places. If you’re commuting regularly, you may want to invest in a special backpack for your laptop that includes anti-theft and impact-protection features.

These packs are designed to ease strain from the weight of your computer while keeping it safe and leaving plenty of space for your other materials like notebooks or electronic accessories.

You’re also going to want to take care of your business laptop if you plan on making it last beyond college. There are a few ways to do this but one of the easiest is to keep things clean by taking a few minutes from your day every month or so to check up on your laptop.

While some basic advice is to take a microfiber cloth and wipe down your screen, there is a lot more you can do to keep things in mint condition. Check out this video to get more information on the most effective ways to keep your new computer clean.

Conclusion

Being a business student can be both exciting and daunting — as can looking for a laptop that’s ready to take on the world with you. Whether you’re planning PowerPoint, analyzing market data, or hosting a conference call, we know these models can keep up with you.

What laptop models have you enjoyed using for business that we missed? Leave a comment below and tell us about them.