Students require a versatile laptop capable of handling schoolwork as well as playing games or creating content. They also need an efficient laptop that features an adequate display size to avoid eye strain and make typing or viewing images or videos simpler. A good choice would include one equipped with touch features.
If you want to skip the reviews, we say get the Acer Swift 3.
Best Laptop For Secondary School Reviews
Acer Chromebook 314
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS - an operating system by Google that is built for the way we live today. It...
- All the Google apps you know and love come standard on every Chromebook, which means you can edit,...
- Get access to more than 2 million Android apps from Google Play to learn and do more.
- Chromebooks come with built-in storage for offline access to your most important files and an additional...
- CB314-1H-C884 comes with 14” Full HD IPS Display, Intel Celeron N4000, 4GB LPDDR4 Memory, 64GB eMMC,...
The Acer Chromebook 314 is an ideal option for students in search of an affordable yet lightweight laptop. It features a bright and crisp display, high-speed processing power, and excellent battery life.
Chrome OS updates automatically and boots up quickly while offering access to millions of Android apps from Google Play as well as 100GB of free storage on Google Drive.
However, its weight can make its screen appear washed-out from certain angles and there is no touchscreen functionality; some users also report an inadequate number of ports.
Among budget laptops for secondary school students, this one stands out as one of the top options. Ideal for students needing something basic for school-related projects and homework completion, its 14-inch anti-glare screen and Intel processor ensure smooth classroom projects run.
Furthermore, its fast USB Type-C port makes connecting external devices simple while its two upward-facing speakers deliver distortion-free sound quality it also features a Micro SD slot to add extra storage capacity.
Acer’s Chromebooks are among the world’s most beloved, and this model is no exception. The Acer Chromebook 314 makes sacrifices between mobility and screen space; yet still weighs only 3.5 pounds (1.6 kilograms).
While its 1366×768 resolution may not be impressive, it should suffice for basic tasks. Furthermore, its keyboard boasts an ergonomic layout complete with a numeric keypad for convenient typing.
Another advantage of this laptop is its ease of reset and erase functionality, providing peace of mind should your data become compromised or you misplace your laptop. Furthermore, files can easily be transferred between computers or smartphones; making this an ideal option for students needing a device both for school work and travel purposes.
Microsoft Surface Go 3 – 10.5″
- The most portable Surface touchscreen 2-in-1. Perfect for your everyday tasks, homework, and play.
- Go-anywhere tablet with laptop productivity for the whole family. Starting at just 1.2 pounds,(4) with...
- All-day battery life. Get up to 11 hours (1) of on-the-go power, plus Fast Charging to take you from low...
- The new, more intuitive Windows. Work, play, and create in the way most natural to you with Windows 11.
- Plug in the accessories you use today with included USB-C port, headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.0, and...
Microsoft recently unveiled its entry-level Surface family with the release of the Surface Go 3 tablet.
Although smaller than its Pro counterpart, this tablet remains capable. Its lightweight design makes it easy to carry, while its battery life lasts up to seven hours on light productivity tasks.
Plus, its display is bright enough for many school environments while its keyboard offers comfortable typing experiences.
The Surface Go 3 features the same physical characteristics as its predecessors, including a 10.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen and an adjustable kickstand to prop it up at various angles.
Furthermore, there is a magnetic connector at its base which allows it to snap on any Surface Type Cover available and features upgraded Intel processors which offer improved performance and multitasking abilities.
At our lab, we conducted tests on the Surface Go 3 with a Core i3-10100Y CPU and integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615 GPU.
This configuration performed admirably in our Geekbench 5 benchmark tests; however, you may experience a slowdown if running multiple demanding applications simultaneously. Furthermore, its Cinebench R23 test score indicated it wasn’t suitable for video editing or other CPU-intensive tasks.
In our color accuracy tests, the Surface Go 3’s panel produced 105% of the sRGB spectrum – just slightly behind the iPad Air 4 and Chromebook Duet but ahead of Go 2. Furthermore, its maximum brightness of 402 nits exceeds that of Go 2 but falls short of iPad Air and Surface Pro 8 devices.
The Surface Go 3 keyboard feels sturdy and responsive, though its shallow 1mm key travel can become cramped after long sessions of typing.
The touchpad is pleasant to use and tracks accurately; the camera takes acceptable photos/videos/voice recordings/microphone recording but lacks clarity; the battery can last approximately seven hours per charge which should cover most secondary school days; additional features include microSD card slot/USB-C port for streaming media content.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514
- Acer Chromebook Spin 514
Utilize AMD’s latest Ryzen processor to get work done with this rugged convertible Chromebook powered by military-grade durability.
Equipped with enough processing power for multitasking and designed for productivity with fast boot times and an intuitive user interface that is simple to learn as well as integrated malware protection features, this 14″ Chromebook will help you accomplish any task at hand with military-grade resilience and quick boot up times for efficient productivity.
Acer’s Chromebook Spin 514 features an Acer brushed aluminum chassis designed to withstand drops and abrasions, making it the ideal companion for students on the move or anyone who uses their laptop like a tablet.
Both keyboard and trackpad are comfortable and responsive while its ports offer ample connectivity options; speakers do not provide enough bass; this issue is common across laptops in general though.
The display is another aspect that feels outdated: slim side bezels give way to the thick top bezel and the chunky chin below it; giving the Spin 514 an overall screen-to-body ratio of 78% which still outshone most modern laptops but falls short of premium options with higher ratios.
Performance-wise, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 stands out as one of the fastest laptops I’ve tested in its class, outdoing most competitors I tried against it.
It can handle nearly every Chrome OS or Android workload without slowing down or becoming slow or cumbersome – an excellent option for secondary school students needing serious work done on their computers.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is well-built, features an outstanding touchpad and keyboard, and boasts a long battery life.
Furthermore, its affordable cost has seen numerous sales bring its price down to its current price of $549 – well within our recommended price range; however, it still doesn’t compare with the less costly models on our list above.
Therefore we only recommend the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 if its exceptional performance and durability outweigh its higher price point; otherwise, we suggest opting for one of the more budget-friendly models instead.
Acer Swift 3
- Aspect Ratio:16:9
- AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz) with Radeon Graphics; 8GB LPDDR4 Memory;...
- 14" Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display (1920 x 1080 resolution; 16:9 aspect ratio)
- Intel wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax; HD webcam (1280 x 720); Backlit keyboard; Fingerprint reader
- 1 - USB Type-C port USB 3. 2 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) DisplayPort over USB Type-C and USB Charging, 1- USB...
No matter the price range of the laptops that meet your requirements, most consumers probably do not require one costing over $1,000.
Even if they do, spending this kind of money doesn’t mean settling for something as ugly as a 2-in-1 convertible; rather it may make sense to consider something like Acer Swift 3 (SF314-511-70TU), an affordable notebook designed specifically to meet budget-conscious buyer requirements but still provide a quality experience.
The Acer Swift ultrabook is an entry into the ultrabook market that stands up well against its competition, boasting slim profiles, Intel Core processors, and solid battery life.
In fact, this device directly competes with some Dell XPS 13 models we reviewed – though it might not take top honors in its class, it still deserves your consideration.
Acer has designed the Swift to be both attractive and functional, featuring an aluminum base that tapers down towards a slim edge for ease of transport. Furthermore, its chassis appears strong enough to withstand all but extreme abuse if carried to campus locations or libraries for library visits.
The Swift isn’t technically convertible, but its screen can fold back 180 degrees for convenient viewing and it features impressively thin bezels. Acer rates this 14-inch IPS display at 450 nits to ensure exceptional brightness and color fidelity.
Inside the Swift lies an 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU, 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM that’s soldered on, and an upgradeable 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD; these components offer plenty of power for web browsing, office work and most other tasks with only occasional glitches.
The Swift offers all of the ports one would expect in a laptop, including a USB Type-C port that supports Thunderbolt 3, a headphone jack, and a DC jack. There is also an innovative fingerprint reader on its power button for added security purposes.
Unfortunately, however, an Ethernet port must be purchased separately if you wish to connect to your school WiFi; otherwise, this laptop provides dual-band Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, keeping you connected in most settings.
2022 Newest Dell Inspiron 14 5000 5406
- 14 inch HD (1366x768) IPS LED-Backlit Touch Narrow Border Display; Intel UHD Graphics with shared...
- Latest 11th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1135G7 Processor (2.4 GHz base frequency, up to 4.2 GHz with Intel...
- 8GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 256GB SSD to...
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C (DP/Data Transfer/PowerDelivery) port 1 x Power...
- Windows 10 Home (S model), 64-bit, English; 3-Cell, 40 WHr, Integrated battery; Optical Drive Not...
Secondary school students find laptops indispensable to their studies. A laptop allows them to take notes during lectures, collaborate online with classmates, and keep an organized agenda – as well as perform better overall in class!
But finding the right laptop can be challenging: finding one with enough hardware and software components suitable to their individual needs but at an affordable price point can be especially tricky.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 is one of our more budget-friendly laptops, boasting an Intel Celeron N4000 dual-core processor and 4GB RAM; plus it supports USB-C for charging and data transfer. Plus its battery can last an entire working day!
Our tests of the Dell Inspiron 14 5000 found it to perform extremely well. It earned top scores in Futuremark’s PCMark 10 test, showing its ability to handle various productivity tasks efficiently without slowing down.
Furthermore, multithreaded video encoding tasks ran quickly while web browsing and document editing proved seamless compared to its competition. Unfortunately, its display can sometimes lack brightness.
It also comes loaded with plenty of unnecessary software, including common Windows applications like McAfee and Spotify, which is easy to uninstall but may cause unnecessary hassles. Luckily, there are other alternatives to the Inspiron that provide faster performance, brighter displays, and longer battery life at similar prices.
Lenovo Flex 5 14 offers a similar screen size, processor performance, and battery life as the Dell Inspiron 14 5000 for just $100 more. Plus, this laptop’s more attractive brushed metal finish and simple logo make it even better looking!
Additionally, its keyboard responds quickly while the touchpad provides ample room – making this an excellent option for long-form typing sessions; and comes complete with its own charging dock!
HP Envy x360 13 2-in-1 Laptop 13.3″
- Intel Evo platform powered by 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 1.3 GHz turbo up to 4.7 GHz
- 13.3-inch diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), multitouch-enabled, IPS, edge-to-edge glass, microedge,...
- 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM (onboard); 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics; Audio by Bang & Olufsen with dual speakers; Full-size, backlit, pale gold...
- Windows 10 Home, Battery Up to 11 hours and 45 minutes (mixed usage), Wi-Fi 6 AX201, Bluethooth 5,...
HP’s 2022 Envy x360 13 laptop is one of the top choices for secondary school, boasting a brilliant screen, comfortable keyboard, and powerful processor that can support demanding games.
Plus it comes equipped with plenty of ports and can easily be transported between classes – ideal for carrying with ease! Available in various configurations with either Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPU and 8GB RAM options available for purchase.
The x360 is one of the more cost-effective laptops on this list, making it an excellent option for students looking for quality machines with premium looks and feel. Constructed of aluminum for optimal strength and minimal flex, no gaps exist in its construction either.
Its ergonomic keyboard and responsive touchpad make for comfortable extended typing sessions, and its display is bright and crisp – ideal for working in well-lit environments. Furthermore, its outstanding battery life enables you to use this laptop throughout the day without needing to charge it up again!
Performance-wise, the x360 provides sufficient power for playing demanding titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider at lower settings; however, higher settings can present issues maintaining a stable frame rate – though nonetheless making this an attractive option for students wanting a playback gaming console during free time.
The HP Envy x360 comes in various colors and finishes, such as silver-gray with gold trim. Its chassis has been tested against MIL-STD-810G military standards to withstand wear and tear over time, and at just under an inch thick and 3.9 pounds it’s light enough to carry from class to class or on vacation without taking up too much room in your luggage.
HP includes its rechargeable Microsoft Pen Protocol 2.0 tilt pen as part of this package; any stylus compatible with this technology should work just fine. Although its speakers don’t produce loud volumes for movies or YouTube videos.
Dell G15 5530 Gaming Laptop
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: With its fast and efficient i7 processor, enjoy seamless streaming, gaming, and...
- STUNNING GRAPHICS: Immerse yourself in stunning gameplay with the powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB...
- ENVOLOPING SOUND: The two tuned speakers enhanced with Dolby Audio or the combination...
- ENHANCED COOLING: Explore our improved thermal design with copper piping and 4 heat-dispersing vents
- UNINTERRUPTED GAMING: The G15 laptop is built for uninterrupted gameplay, seamless performance, and to...
Built specifically with gamers in mind, this Dell laptop features high-performance specs to meet demanding gaming and other tasks. Its powerful processor, 16 GB of memory, and 512 GB SSD provide exceptional performance for a lag-free gaming experience.
Furthermore, its 15.6″ screen delivers stunning visuals to immerse you in the game world while the high frame rate allows you to enjoy full enjoyment.
The keyboard features tactile keys with orange backlighting for enhanced gaming pleasure, a dedicated number pad, and a large trackpad to provide a comfortable user experience.
Though its display quality may not match that of some other laptops, this model still delivers an engaging gaming experience while offering exceptional color accuracy and contrast levels that stand out among its rivals.
The Dell G15 5530 Gaming Laptop is an excellent option for students who enjoy video gaming. Its powerful processor and high-end graphics card provide outstanding gaming performance, while its large storage space and fast loading times (512GB SSD storage) enable quick access to more games or files.
Battery life on the Dell G15 5530 Gaming Laptop is respectable and can last up to 8 hours of moderate usage or gaming sessions. HDMI and DisplayPort ports make connecting external monitors possible for easy connectivity with this gaming laptop.
This laptop is an excellent way for secondary school students looking to enter gaming. With its powerful processor and high-end GPU, this laptop can run demanding games smoothly without lagging behind.
Furthermore, its great display and keyboard provide a smooth gaming experience while its portability makes it an invaluable addition. Plus, its large screen makes studying or doing homework.
Furthermore, lockdowns or isolations are easier thanks to this laptop! It does however come with some drawbacks such as poor camera quality or no support for external GPUs but these flaws are easily overlooked compared with its many advantages!
MSI GF63 Thin 9SC-068 15.6″
- Display: 15.6 Fhd (1920 1080), IPS-Level 60Hz 45 percent ntsc thin Bezel 1920 1080 16: 9
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 [Max-Q] 4G GDDR5
- Processor: Intel Core i5-9300h 2.4 - 4.1GHz
- Memory: 8GB (8G 1) DDR4 2666MHz 2 Sockets; Max Memory 64GB
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
The GF63 Thin gaming laptop is an ideal budget option for secondary school students. Featuring a 15.6-inch FullHD IPS display and powered by an Intel Core i5 H-class processor with Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, plus 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, this system can run most modern titles on high settings albeit more slowly than desktops – though performance remains very good; in some ways even rivaling more costly desktops in terms of real-world performance.
The MSI GF63 Thin stands out as one of the few budget notebooks to feature a dedicated SSD drive, dramatically speeding up load times of programs and games on its SSD storage drive.
When tested by CrystalDiskMark, its sequential read/write speeds were 963MBps read and 597MBps write; an impressive feat considering its low price tag.
It features a spacious 512GB SSD drive to store all your files and programs easily and switch easily between apps or games. Furthermore, its keyboard and trackpad provide optimal usage experience, and its battery life lasts all day – perfect for students attending multiple classes per day.
The GF63 Thin’s extensive port options make it a standout. It boasts two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 data ports, one USB-C with DP Alt Mode video output, a gigabit RJ-45 LAN port, two 3.5mm audio jacks, and a microSD card slot – plus 42.5% coverage of DCI-P3 color gamut and 59% of sRGB colors.
Its max brightness stands at 285 nits compared to HP Victus 15 at 228nits while falling short of Acer Nitro 5 which offers 314nits!
The GF63 is also an excellent budget gaming laptop option since its affordable pricing makes it possible to run most AAA titles at high settings without breaking the bank. While not as powerful as desktop systems, its performance rivals most budget gaming laptops.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
