Buying the best laptops for Ph.D. students can be a tricky endeavor. Unlike those required to complete daily tasks like online shopping and entertainment, laptops used for research needs come with automated equipment, ranging from cameras to microphones in addition to advanced software programs that help with online research.
Studies have shown that gadgets such as laptops and iPads are quickly overtaking pen and paper for writing notes, submitting assignments, and submitting examinations as seen here.
In this article, you will find an inspection of the best laptops on the market today from Apple’s brand new MacBook Pro 13” being released later this year to less expensive models like the ones mentioned below which were some of the most popular around.
Best Laptop For PhD Students And Researchers
Most Ph.D. candidates still have to buy a laptop computer, despite the fact that there is plenty of free software online they can use.
It’s important to keep in mind that not all laptops are made equal, so it’s essential to find one with good quality and combine it with affordable pricing as you begin your search.
Apple MacBook Air
Khumbu presents the newest MacBook Air with a 13.3-inch Retina display that comes with True Tone technology to make your displays look instantly familiar from the lighting of the sun to the lighting of the screen.
This Macs compact, lightweight design makes it the perfect computing device for students, business professionals, and anyone else looking for a straightforward way to access computing.
It features blazing-fast SSD storage which gives you fast access to your data, a massive 8GB of memory, an Intel Core i5 processor with fast SSD storage.
A stereo pair of speakers with wider stereo sound make it a pleasure to watch movies, play games, and listen to music on the MacBook Air.
This MacBook comes with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, engineered to provide a full, comfortable typing experience. It’s also the world’s most advanced fingerprint sensor, giving instant access to your MacBook with just one touch.
The new MacBook Air is impossibly thin and light. It’s everything you want in a notebook and more. With these new notebooks, you won’t be tied down by wires, a power cord, or a mouse.
You can even use the Touch Bar to control your MacBook with just your fingers. It’s an experience that’s more intuitive. And more responsive.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Good performance
- Storage starts at 256GB (larger capacity also available)
- Improved keyboard (Finally)
- The lower price of entry
- Long battery life
Cons
- No SD card slot
- No Face ID login
- The screen bezel is large compared to many Windows alternatives
- Screen colors are a little muted
- Limited port selection
- No support for Wi-Fi 6
2020 Apple MacBook Pro
The new MacBook Pro is the most innovative notebook we’ve ever made. It has the brightest, most colorful Mac notebook display ever. The new Apple-designed dynamic speaker system with twice the dynamic range sounds way better than MacBook Pro.
It has more power, more precise keyboards for faster typing, “Hey Siri” is even more responsive, and the new thermal architecture is the coolest and quietest ever.
Apple-designed T2 chip delivers enhanced security with “Hey Siri” built-in, Touch Bar & Touch ID, and amazing new ways to interact with apps.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-inch with Touch Bar is a perfect marriage of function and design.
Now lighter than ever before and sporting a new Rose Gold color option, the MacBook Pro is an everyday laptop that’s durable enough to take everywhere and powerful enough to do everything.
The Retina display is impossibly thin and beautiful. The Retina display is the most color‑accurate display in the world, with a 123% sRGB color gamut.
The display features a wider, richer color gamut for more vibrant greens and reds and brighter white, delivering a near paper-white viewing experience.
Enjoy a high-resolution display that uses enhanced pixel arrangement and sub-pixel technology to deliver more accurate color, higher brightness, and a wider viewing angle.
The Intel Core i5 or i7 processor delivers stunning, power-efficient performance, using Intel Iris graphics or AMD graphics.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Speedy performance from Apple M1 chip
- Brilliant Retina display
- Excellent build quality
- Comfortable keyboard and trackpad
- Improved webcam
Cons
- Only two USB-C ports
- Stingy standard 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM
- No touch screen
Acer Swift 3
The all-new Acer Swift 3 is the lightest, thinnest, and most compact laptop in its class. Proudly claiming a design that is as elegant as it is functional, the Swift 3 will add a striking style to your daily computing.
Boasting the new 7th Generation AMD Ryzen processor and the advanced Radeon RX Vega graphics, the Swift 3 offers outstanding performance, fast processing, and smooth HD gaming.
The ergonomic keyboard and high-quality display make the Swift 3 an excellent choice for daily computing, while the advanced technology makes it future-proof.
Acer Swift 3 SF314-42-R9YN Notebook is powered by AMD Ryzen 7 series processor with a clock speed of 2. 0GHz.
It has a 14. 0-inch Full HD LED-backlit display with Acer Comfy View Technology, which minimizes reflections and glare.
The notebook has a 16: 9 aspect ratio and offers 16. 7 million colors. It weighs 2. 68 lbs., and is 0. 8 inches thin.
Acer Swift 3 SF314-42-R9YN comes with these high-level specs: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor 2. 0GHz with Precision Boost up to 4. 1GHz (Up to 8MB L3 Cache).
Windows 10 Home, 14″ Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Display 1920 x 1080 resolution; 16: 9 aspect ratio, AMD Radeon Graphics, 8GB LPDDR4 Onboard Memory, 512GB PCIe NV Me SSD, DTS Audio, featuring optimized bass response and micro-speaker distortion prevention, Two built-in front-facing stereo speakers, Acer Purified.
Acer’s Swift 3 is your new favorite laptop for work, play, and everything in between. It features a stylish, compact aluminum design and comes with a host of possibilities, from the latest top-of-the-line processor to a massive hard drive and up to 8GB of memory.
Its Intel Core i7 8750H processor clocks in at 2. 20GHz and can turbo up to 4. 10GHz, while the laptop’s 16GB of DDR4 memory helps it run smoothly and quickly, so you can work smarter.
Pros
- Backlit keyboard
- Fast NV Me SSD
- Wi-Fi 6
- Good system performance
- Ice Lake CPUs
- Covers 98% sRGB (BOE08BC)
- USB-C with support for DisplayPort
- Enormous Precision touchpad
Cons
- Aspect ratio scaling on some apps
- Intel “Ice Lake” CPUs outpaced by Ryzen 4000
- Glossy display despite no touch
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Best College Laptops, Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is for people who want a device that can do everything. A dual-purpose device that serves as a laptop, a studio, and a tablet, Microsoft Surface Pro 7 redefines what’s possible in a PC.
Its extraordinarily light, yet durable design features the latest 10th Generation Intel Core processors, with six different models available to match the needs of your work, browsing, and entertainment.
Plus, the new Surface Pro 7 Type Covers are designed to feel just like a real laptop keyboard, incorporating a new fabric that’s comfortable and quiet to type on.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the tablet that can replace your laptop. It’s built for the workplace, classroom, home, and beyond.
It’s the first device with Windows 10 Pro, giving you the full, desktop-class software experience for work, and the full, desktop-class software experience for play.
The 12.3″ PixelSense™ display brings images to life in vivid color and crisp detail. And with a powerful Intel® Core™ processor, Surface Pro 7 provides all-day battery life and is fast and responsive.
Pros
- Snappy Intel “Ice Lake” processor
- Robust battery life
- Sharp display
- Well-implemented kickstand
- Includes USB-C
Cons
- Keyboard still sold separately
- Just two ports, and no Thunderbolt support
HP Pavilion x360 14
The HP Pavilion x360 14-cd0028nr features three versatile modes so you can use it like a laptop, tablet, or entertainment center.
Use it in laptop mode as a notebook. Put it in tablet mode to lay back with a movie. Turn the screen around to use in stand or tent mode to help with cooking or Internet surfing.
The HP Pavilion x360 14-cd0028nr is powered by a 1.80GHz AMD Dual-Core E2-9000e processor. It has 4GB of RAM.
The graphics are provided by integrated AMD Radeon™ R4 Graphics. It comes with a 1TB hard drive. The HP Pavilion x360 14-cd0028nr also includes these connectivity options: 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1, 2 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, and 1 headphone/microphone combo jack.
This laptop has a 14.50″ HD LED-backlit touchscreen display. The Windows 10 Home operating system is installed on the HP Pavilion x360 14-cd0028nr. It comes with a 1 Year warranty.
The HP Pavilion x360 14 is a versatile 2-in-1 that delivers both style and substance. It’s packed with premium features and can be used as a notebook, a tablet, or anything in between.
The versatile HP Pavilion x360 14 starts at $599.99, but when you shop with Amazon they have special discounts on laptops.
The HP Pavilion x360 14 is a 2-in-1 Windows 10 laptop that can transform into a tablet. The 360-degree hinge lets you easily switch between laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes for optimal viewing and productivity.
It features a brilliant 14-inch diagonal FHD IPS touchscreen display that lets you experience movies and games in vivid color.
The latest 7th Gen Intel Core I processors deliver amazing performance and energy efficiency for smooth, responsive computing.
The HP Pavilion x360 14’s USB Type-C port allows for easy docking with a single cable for fast data transfers and quick device charging. The backlit keyboard and precision touchpad make it easy to navigate between apps and websites.
Pros
- Touchscreen facility
- Great portability
- Battery life is good
- Great design
- User Friendly
Cons
- Very slow
- Not available often
- Hard to maintain
Alienware Area 51M
The Alienware Area-51m is the most powerful gaming laptop on the planet, with more speed, more style, and more choice than any other PC.
The Area-51m was created to deliver unprecedented levels of power and customization, so you can play anything, anywhere, at any time.
This extremely powerful machine is unrivaled when it comes to raw processing and graphics performance resulting in dazzling entertainment on the go. If you need to work on the go, this laptop has you covered, with a super-fast SSD hard drive and lightning-quick UHS-II SD card reader.
Featuring the world’s first and fastest Ethernet port delivering speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps, the Area-51m is the only laptop that will keep you connected and ready to game.
Plus, with the advanced Alienware TactX keyboard, you’ll have the extended command range you need for lightning-fast actions per minute, and with N-Key rollover you can press almost any number of keys plus modifier commands.
For 17 years, the Alienware Area-51 series has been the ultimate gaming laptop for gamers. The Area-51M is everything you love about the Area-51 line, now with unprecedented desktop-level processing power.
The Area-51M will have upgradability that no other laptop can rival. For example, an Alienware Area-51M will ship with a desktop-class 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700 6-Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, with the option to upgrade to an 8th Gen Intel Core i9-8950HK 6-Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card as well as up to 64GB RAM.
The Area-51M also brings a completely new level of thermal and acoustics engineering to the market. For cooling, the Area-51M will feature two large fans, two large heat exchangers, a dual-ball bearing CPU fan, and two high-performance liquid cooling systems.
Pros
- Excellent graphics and overall performance
- Lightning-fast SSDs
- All major components are upgradable
Cons
- Mediocre NV Me SSD Selection
- No MicroSD Card Slot
2020 ASUS Vivo Book 15
7th Generation AMD A9X Processor combined with Radeon Pro 560 graphics with dedicated video memory for multitasking power and performance to handle demanding games and intense applications.
The roomy 15. 6 inches Full HD display with a four-sided narrow bezel provides an expansive visual space to spread out and work with multiple applications side-by-side.
The long battery life enables you to work and stay productive even when you are miles away from an outlet. Stay cool, no matter how hard you’re gaming. An intelligent fan speed with thermal design keeps your A9X processor and graphics card cool, so you can play harder and longer.
The ASUS Vivo Book 15 is the perfect laptop for anyone who is always on the go. The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display that looks absolutely stunning.
The laptop is powered by Windows 10 Home operating system, a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-7200U processor, a 4GB DDR4 RAM and a 256GB SSD.
Pros
- Premium design
- Minimal bezels
- Solid port selection
Cons
- Sub-par battery life
- Dim and dull display
- Below average CPU performance
- Weak audio
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-51M5
Acer’s Nitro 5 Laptop Offers Desirable Features For A Reasonably Priced Notebook Computer. The 15.6″ Display Comes With The Acer Comfy View Keyboard And Dolby Audio Premium Surround Sound.
This Notebook Computer Comes With Windows 10 And A 2.5 GHz Intel Core I7-8550U Processor, 16 Gb Of Ram, And A 256 Gb Solid State Drive.
The Integrated Graphics Are Good Enough For Running A Casual Game Or Watching Some Videos. This Notebook Computer Is A Solid Choice For Students Or Those Who Just Need A Practical Laptop For Office Work.
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 laptop takes it way beyond that of mere mortal laptops. The Acer Aspire Nitro 5 is designed for playing video games at a console-like experience.
But, its specs make it a laptop that’s ready for everyday use. It features a 15.6-inch Full HD display, the latest Intel® Core™ i7 processor, DDR4 memory, NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1050 graphics, and a super-slim (0.8 inches) design.
Pros
- Excellent keyboard
- Inexpensive
- Great battery life
Cons
- Awkward shape
- Low-level performance
- Dim screen
Acer Chromebook 514
Acer offers its latest Chromebook, the 14-inch 514, with a 4GB Nvidia Terga K1 processor and 2GB of RAM.
The computer’s HDMI port not only supports 4K resolution, but it also supports 1080p for TVs. Other ports include USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and a security lock slot.
It also comes with 100GB of Google Drive cloud storage. The Acer Chromebook 514 features a 1366 x 768 HD screen and a battery that lasts an entire workday. The notebook is constructed with a metal exterior.
The Acer CHROMEBOOK 514 is a thin and lightweight laptop that lets you access your favorite apps from anywhere. It is easy to use thanks to the built-in Google Assistant, which lets you run searches, get answers, and control devices like your lights and thermostat using just your voice.
It runs on Google Chrome OS, which lets you access your favorite websites, apps, games, and video chat with friends.
Acer Chromebook CB514-1HT-C6EV is a laptop that lets you do everything you want online. Powered by Chrome Operating System and Intel Celeron N3450 Quad-Core Processor 1.1GHz with Intel Burst Technology up to 2.2GHz, the Acer Chromebook CB514-1HT-C6EV gives you the performance to take on whatever you’re doing, so you can do more.
With a 14″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) Comfy View Widescreen IPS LED-backlit 10-Finger Multi-Touch Display and vivid color, you see everything in even more detail.
Pros
- Excellent battery life.
- The touch display (as tested) looks great.
- Comfortable backlit keyboard.
- Big touchpad.
Cons
- The processor could use a pick-me-up.
- Ho-hum speakers.
LG Gram 15Z995
LG Gram 15Z995-CA. This 15.6-inch laptop weighs only 1.5kg and features a beautiful Full HD IPS display with wide viewing angles.
This laptop has been manufactured using the latest Intel 10th generation i5-10210U CPU for increased processing power. It features 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB M.2 NV Me SSD for fast processing and high read/write speeds.
The laptop has been designed with a 72Wh Lithium Battery and can last up to 21 hours. It comes with Windows 10 Home installed.
The LG Gram 15Z995 is the ultimate laptop for work and entertainment. With its lightweight and durable design, it offers up to 21 hours of battery life for all-day productivity.
It also offers an Ultra-Wide Viewing Angle Full HD IPS display and an Intel Core i5- 10210U processor with Intel UHD graphics plus 8GB of DDR4 RAM for seamless multitasking.
With the Intel Thunderbolt 3 port, you can connect up to five 4K monitors and transfer data at rates up to 40Gbps.
Pros
- As fast as heavier ultraportable
- The trackpad is smooth and accurate
- Crazy thin and amazingly light
Cons
- The keyboard isn’t comfortable for typing
- Type-C port is only USB 3.1 Gen1
HP – Spectre x360
The Spectre x360 15 comes in a gorgeous dark ash silver finish with a sturdy CNC aluminum chassis that is both lightweight and durable.
The Full HD display shows off vivid, vibrant images, while wide viewing angles let you see the screen clearly from multiple positions. Thanks to powerful performance, you can run all your entertainment and productivity apps without a hitch.
Solid-state drives are faster and more reliable than traditional hard drives and deliver faster boot times and data access, as well as quieter operation for a pleasant PC experience.
The Spectre x360 15 comes with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB PCIe NV Me (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSD that can be configured to your specific needs.
The Spectre x360 redefines your expectations of a laptop with a design that is nothing short of exceptional.
The world’s thinnest 13-inch convertible features a 13.3-inch diagonal HP Sure View integrated privacy screen, a virtually borderless, 13.3-inch diagonal Full HD IPS micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch-enabled edge-to-edge glass touch screen, and a thin, durable, aluminum and carbon fiber chassis.
The Spectre x360 also features an Intel Kaby Lake processor with a rich set of options, including 7th Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 dual-core options with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, TDP up to 28 W, and 4G of memory.
With the HP Spectre x360, put pen to paper in a whole new way. The Spectre x360’s fully immersive display and precision touchpad allow you to interact with Windows 10 in a more natural and intuitive way. Windows 10 has been designed to streamline the way you work across your devices. From pressing the power button to launching apps, it responds instantly to your actions.
The Spectre x360 also features an optional 4K Ultra-HD display option for the ultimate in crystal-clear, detailed viewing.
Pros
- USB-A, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports
- >95 percent sRGB coverage standard
- Exceptional amped quad-speakers
- Intel 11th Gen delivers long battery life, instant-on
- Long battery life
Cons
- No LTE mobile broadband option
- RAM and WLAN not user upgradeable
- Fingerprint reader replaces Ctrl key
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Ph.D. students get laptops?
Yes, this is so because it reduces the effort needed to handle and solve Ph.D. tasks and projects.
Some students use their own desktop computers while others share one but there are usually processors suitable for high-intensity computing provided in labs that are well endowed.
There might be a decent desktop computer waiting for you as a member of a lab where generous funding is available.
Is MacBook Pro good for students?
13-inch MacBook Pro is the laptop for students. The 13-inch MacBook Pro combines portability and power to make the ultimate laptop for students, allowing them to take it with them wherever they go while still being able to complete any assignment that comes their way.
Conclusion
We have reviewed the best laptops for Ph.D. students. We understand that not all of them work in conjunction with their studies as some work part-time or don’t have a job at all, and meet the needs of our students by choosing laptops that are suitable for all forms of research at affordable prices.
To attain a Ph.D., one must have extreme dedication. Until students successfully submit their research papers, we value all the long days and nights, fast food dinners, midnight breakdowns, and frustrations they face as well as their persistence during a challenging time.
Cody is a passionate gamer, writer, and computer programmer who’s always looking for ways to optimize and automate everyday tasks. When he’s not immersed in prose and code, he’s busy tinkering with computers, automating his home, and spending time with his wife and kids.
