Most schools in Australia require high school students to bring your own device (BYOD). In other words: They are going to need a student laptop. (I mean, no matter how awesome is the build quality, they can't possibly bring your PC, right?)
When I had to buy a student laptop for my eldest daughter I felt overwhelmed by the cost and choice available. I was also conflicted between buying her the best available if it would help her performance at school and buying the cheapest available in case she dropped it on the first week of term.
Having successfully armed both my daughters with laptops which have seen them through their school years, I would like to share my knowledge on purchasing a student laptop.
In this article I cover:
- Student laptop: New or secondhand
- What students need in a laptop for school
- Which laptop brand is best for high school students
- How much power does a student laptop need
- Deals on student laptops
- The best laptops you can buy today
Student laptop: New or secondhand
Whether you buy a new laptop or second-hand laptop is up to you and depends on the brand you want and how much you have to spend. For example, a second-hand Mac can be the same price or more than another brand that you buy new from the release of dozens of laptops every year.
By the time my second daughter needed a computer for school, I had an old work one that I rarely used. For this reason, passing my old one on to her was a no-brainer. If you do this, I would suggest you get your local computer shop to run a health check on the device to ensure it’s in good condition and ready to use for all that school work! Keeping its health in check means you don't have to change laptops every year.
I know plenty of mums who have bought used devices online and have been happy with their purchases. My advice is to buy from a reputable source where they clean and refurbish before re-sale. Try Green Gadgets or Phonebot or do a local search on Google. Make sure to check out laptop reviews especially tech sites that test dozens of laptops.
What students need in a laptop for school (and gaming)
Long battery life
A reliable laptop with a superb battery life should be one of your top priorities. You don’t want to run out of juice in the middle of class or always bring your heavy powerbank with you.
Fast CPU
A blazing fast CPU like Snapdragon X Elite is recommended if you are an art, design, or architecture student who will be doing 3d design or video or photo editing, but a laptop with decent processing power (like an i5/Ryzen with 8GB RAM) should be enough for general use.
Software
Most laptops may have Windows and a browser installed, but you should check if the salesperson could throw in essentials like Microsoft Office as well. If not, take advantage of the student discount or group discount.
Storage
The amount of storage space you need depends on what you will use the laptop for. Elementary kids don't normally need lots of storage. Consider getting the most storage you can afford if you will do programming, 3D work, photography, or video editing.
How much power does a student laptop need?
A laptop with decent processing power (Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen 3 and up with 8GB RAM and about 500GB SSD) should be enough for many high school or college students.
For demanding apps and special software (photography, video editing, 3D design, programming, etc.), get a laptop with a powerful processor and GPU. For years K to 7, an affordable device that is responsive, lightweight, and runs MS Office applications is a good buy.
Which laptop brand is best for high school students?
Buying a laptop is not based on specs alone. Choosing a brand for a computer is a fairly personal thing, and your student might want some say in it.
Most kids nowadays want Apple. My girls wouldn’t be seen dead at school with anything other than a Mac; no other laptop by any means. Since I am a Mac convert and all our other devices are Apple, this was the most sensible option for us. But that doesn’t mean it is for you.
I’ve listed some of the best brands on the market in 2025 later in this article, but here are some points to think about when choosing a laptop brand:
- Is it compatible with other devices in your home should you need need to share files or borrow chargers?
- Do you have a brand you love and know how to use? If so, get that as it will save heaps of time learning new systems
- Choose a well-known brand with a good reputation that is easily serviceable, such as Lenovo, Dell, Microsoft, or Mac
- Does the brand you are thinking of buying offer good customer and aftercare service?
- What is the warranty period and what is included?
Best deals on student laptops
Affordable laptops are available all year round but are more prevalent at these times:
- As back-to-school draws nearer: End of December and January
- At the end of the financial year: June
Keep an eye out for specials on the brand website as well as big online superstores which have often come up trumps for me. I have also found that my local electronic stores are happy to offer the best laptop deals. Especially if you’re after accessories such as protective cases, laptop bags, and extra leads which they might add for free. Although this is not the case with Apple, which very rarely reduce its prices or throw in extras.
List of the best student laptops you can buy today: laptops for younger kids
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14″ Chromebook
For students looking for the best budget laptop for general use, here's the best Chromebook I found. This article was originally written in 2023, but the price is still reasonable for the specs. It's designed for light productivity tasks like word processing, social media, and web browsing. With both Type A and Type C ports, I would recommend this laptop for high school students who want something quick and dependable on-the-go at an affordable price.
The battery life is pretty decent and the 14″ screen is enough for these basic tasks. One downside is that you can’t run demanding applications or the latest games in this machine. It's also running Chrome OS. But overall, still a good buy for a student who’s going to be browsing online and using MS office most of the time. For more complex needs of your older kid, there's Lenovo Yoga or IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, which is one of the best laptops for students in 2024.
Screen size: 14 inches
RAM: 4GB
Battery Life: Depends on use, around 9.5 hours of video streaming
I found this laptop at: BestDeals
Asus FHD 14-inch Celeron
The Asus FHD 14-inch Celeron Laptop is a great budget option for schoolwork. It’s lightweight, making it easy to carry in a school bag, and the 14-inch Full HD screen is clear for reading and watching videos.
With 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD, it handles everyday tasks like assignments and browsing quickly. It's a cheap Windows 11 laptop, so it’s compatible with school apps, and the battery lasts up to 8 hours.
It’s simple, reliable, and has all the ports kids might need for school, like USB and HDMI. Plus, the fun blue colour is a nice touch!
Screen: 14 inches
RAM: 4GB
Battery Life: Depends on use, up to 12 hours
I found this laptop at: Betta
Best 2-in-1 laptops for students
HP Spectre x360 14 or 13.5
If you’re after a laptop that can do it all and last for years, the HP Spectre x360 is a great option for high school and college students. As a 2-in-1 device, it works as both a laptop and a tablet. With a detachable keyboard, your teen can type up essays or sketch creative projects with ease.
It’s got some serious power under the hood: an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, 8GB-16GB RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. This means it handles everything from school assignments to streaming and light video editing like a champ. Plus, the battery life is impressive (up to 15 hours), so no worrying about it dying halfway through the day.
The 13.5-inch or 14-inch OLED display is absolutely stunning, and it’s lightweight enough for your child to carry in their bag without complaints. Security is a bonus too, with a fingerprint reader and Windows Hello login.
Screen: 13.5 or 14 inches
RAM: 8GB or16GB
Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
I found this laptop at: Green Gadgets
Microsoft Surface Pro 5
Finally, for mums looking for the best 2-in-1 laptop, Microsoft Surface laptops are a solid option. Lightweight and versatile, it works as both a light laptop and tablet, with a clear 12.3-inch display and included Surface Pe, making it perfect for schoolwork or creative tasks. It's also obviously touchscreen by default, making it a top choice for little kids.
With an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD, it’s fast and handles everyday tasks with ease. The battery lasts 7–9 hours, making it great for a full school day. While not the cheapest, its flexibility and quality make it a perfect laptop for your studies.
Screen: 12.3 inches
RAM: 8GB
Battery Life: 7-9 hours
I found this laptop at: Phonebot
Best student laptops in 2024 and 2025 for university students
Asus Zenbook 14 Oled
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is ideal for students who want a laptop with power and style. Some of my best friends' kids use it for school assignments and creative projects. It's the best gaming laptop for college kids, or at least my niece swears. The 2.8k OLED display is stunning: vibrant and sharp graphics bright enough for presentations or videos.
At just 1.39 kg, it’s light enough to carry all day. With a fast processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD, it handles multitasking with ease. You get hours of battery life, and it has all the ports they’ll need: USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI. It also has a fingerprint reader.
It’s a bit of a splurge, but worth it for a reliable, high-performing laptop that’s built to last.
Screen: 14 inches
RAM: 8GB
Battery Life: 9-10 hours
I found this laptop at: Device Deal
Apple MacBook Air 13.3″
Apple just has the best products, period. That goes for the super sleek and ultra-thin Apple Macbook Air - which is my personal best overall laptop for university students. I know the price is a big downside if you’re on a on a tight budget for the best laptop for college students or high schoolers. But you can save hundreds if you skip the latest iteration and downgrade to an older model. It also comes with free 5GB of cloud storage.
The refurbished 2017 MacBook listed here is $529, a competitive price for excellent performance. Though not the best Macbook on the market today, I particularly like the responsiveness, excellent battery life, and comfortable keyboard. However, this model is heavier than similar ones on the market and the screen isn’t Retina. Still, it's a nice entry before diving into the Macbook Pro arena.
Screen: 13.3 inches
RAM: 8GB
Battery Life: Depends on use, up to 10+ hours
I found this laptop at: Phonebot
Dynabook Satellite Pro E10-S-101
The Dynabook Satellite Pro C40K is a great option for kids needing a reliable, budget-friendly laptop for schoolwork and light entertainment. Its 14-inch screen and lightweight design make it portable, while features like SSD storage and up to 8GB of RAM ensure smooth performance for tasks like online learning, word processing, and streaming. With Windows 10 or 11 Pro, it supports educational tools and parental controls. However, its build quality may require a protective case for durability. While not ideal for heavy gaming or advanced tasks, it’s perfect for basic school needs and everyday use.
Screen: 14 inches
RAM: 8GB or 16GB
Battery Life: 4 hours after a 30-minute charge
I found this laptop at: Best Deals AU
HP Notebook FHD AMD Ryzen 5
The HP Notebook FHD with AMD Ryzen 5 is a fantastic mid-range laptop for students who need a bit more power for school. It’s lightweight and portable, so it’s easy to carry in a backpack. Plus, there's the Full HD display which is sharp and clear, making it great for assignments, research, or even watching videos.
With the AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 8GB of RAM, it’s fast and handles multitasking well, making it perfect for older students juggling assignments, online learning, and maybe even some light creative work. The 256GB SSD gives plenty of space for files and apps, while also ensuring quick start-up times.
It's a Windows laptop, which is ideal for school compatibility, and the battery life lasts for a full school day. It also has plenty of ports, including USB and HDMI, which are great for connecting to other devices like projectors or external drives.
This is a great option for mums looking for a laptop that balances performance, reliability, and value for money. It's a great laptop choice for students.
Screen: 15.6 inches
RAM: 8GB
Battery Life: 8-10 hours
I found this laptop at: Betta
Conclusion: Find the best laptop for students in 2025
Choosing the right laptop for your child doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re weighing up specs, brands, or whether to go new or secondhand, remember that the best choice is the one that fits your child’s needs and your budget.
As single mums, we juggle so much already. I get that feeling of wanting to give our kids the best while still being mindful of the price tag. Whatever you decide, know that it’s not just about the laptop: it’s about setting them up for success in school and beyond.
