It’s that time of the year again when many of you a preparing to head out to college for the first time and are in the market for a decent laptop which suits your needs. Since the laptop market is chock full of a variety of options, it could get a little overbearing for some, who aren’t really in touch with the latest developments in the space. Fret not, we’re here to help. We’ve curated a list of the best laptops for students available in the Indian market today, which perfectly fit the requirements for a variety of use cases and academic streams. Depending on your particular use case, we’re sure that you’ll be able to find an appropriate system which will serve you well through your college years. Without further ado, here are the best laptops for students in the Indian market.
- Best Laptops for Programming Students
- Best Laptops for Video Editing Students
- Best Laptops for Graphics Designing Students
- Best Laptops for Music Production Students
- Best Laptops for Engineering and Architecture Students
Best Laptops for Programming Students
If you’re a programming student, you’re probably looking for a durable work horse which is light, portable, and can easily handle all your programming related needs. However, we understand that not all programming students have the same requirements from their system and while web/app development students might require a very basic system, game development students will definitely require something more powerful with a dedicated graphics processing unit. Keeping that in mind, here are the three best laptops for programming students, depending on different use cases:
1. Apple MacBook Air 13.3″
Starting off with the quintessential favorite of developers in our office – the Apple MacBook Air – which is a rather capable system, despite the older hardware. The MacBook Air is great for both app and web developers, being particularly useful for those looking to develop iOS app, as you can only run Xcode on a Mac OS X device. While there is a way to create a virtual environment to run Xcode on a Windows machine, why go through the hassle when you can easily do it on a MacBook Air. The system covers all the basics, offering portability, a decent sized screen, a tactile keyboard, and great battery life, which makes it the perfect fit for both app and web developers.
Specifications: 6th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 6000
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 59,790)
2. Dell Inspiron 5370
Another great option for both app and web developers is the Dell Inspiron 5370, which offers better hardware than the MacBook Air but comes with Windows 10, so you won’t be developing iOS apps on the device anytime soon. Much like the MacBook Air, the Dell Inspiron 5370 comes in a rather compact package, making it quite portable, but still manages to cram in enough hardware to power through any web/app development related tasks you throw at it. You’ll definitely get better performance, the same sized screen as the MacBook Air, a tactile keyboard, however, the battery life on the device won’t be able to match up to that of the MacBook Air.
Specifications: 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 60,124)
3. HP Pavilion Power 15
While both of the aforementioned laptops are great for web and app development, they aren’t powerful enough for game development. So if you’re thinking of getting into game development, you’ll need something a bit more powerful, like the HP Pavilion Power 15. The HP Pavilion Power 15 packs in a decent set of internals which will be capable of running game development and rendering software without a hitch. The laptop also has a bigger screen, which will also be quite beneficial if you’re going to be developing games. On top of that, its black and green color scheme looks absolutely stunning and gives it an understated gamer-y vibe.
Specifications: Intel Core i5-7300HQ processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD+1TB HDD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 76,165)
Best Laptops for Video Editing Students
Compared to programming students, video editing students will require a bit more horsepower, including a powerful processor, a decent graphics processing unit and a whole lot of RAM to quickly scrub through the videos. Another factor that you need to take into consideration is the software that you’ll be using to edit your videos. In case you’re going to use Final Cut Pro, you’ll have to stick with an Apple device, but if you’re gonna use Adobe Premier Pro you can go ahead and choose any of the following options:
1. Apple MacBook Pro 15″
As I mentioned earlier, if you’re going to be editing videos using Final Cut Pro then you’re gonna need an Apple device. That said, the first recommendation for video editing students is obviously the Apple MacBook Pro 15″, which packs in substantial hardware which will breeze through editing 4K videos without breaking a sweat. The MacBook Pro also offers a great display, amazing battery life, and portability, which means you can carry around your video editing rig anywhere you want.
Specifications: 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Radeon Pro 555 graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 1,87,900)
2. MSI GS65-8RE
In case you prefer Adobe Premier Pro over Final Cut Pro and are looking for a slim and portable video editing rig, then you just can’t go wrong with the MSI GS65-8RE. The GS65 from MSI packs in the latest and greatest in computer hardware, which will allow it to power through editing 4K videos quite easily. Even though it’s a gaming machine, the laptop has a very understated design aesthetic which makes it quite appropriate for professional use. The MSI GS65 has powerful hardware, a brilliant display, a ton of connectivity options (unlike the MacBook Pro), and a very efficient thermal solution which will keep the laptop cool under intense load.
Specifications: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 1,69,990)
3. Asus ROG Strix GL702VS
If you’re looking for something even more powerful and don’t care as much about portability, then the Asus ROG Strix GL702VS is a great option for you. The laptop has an impressive 17.3-inch 75Hz G-Sync display in a 0.94-inch thin chassis but it is a bit on the heavy side, weighing in at almost 3kg. The laptop has plenty of connectivity options and it’s powerful enough that you can run up to three external displays to make an impressive video editing rig. Since it’s a gaming laptop, it has an impressive thermal solution which will keep the laptop cool even under strenuous load and you won’t face any issues editing up to 8K videos on this machine.
Specifications: 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, 12GB RAM, 128GB SSD+1TB HDD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 1,79,999)
Best Laptops for Graphics Designing Students
Much like video editing students, graphics designing students will also require a fairly powerful laptop, but their priorities will vary slightly. Unlike video editing students, who require the latest process and tons of RAM, if you’re a graphics designing student, you’ll require a great graphics processing unit, a fast Solid State Drive, and a brilliant screen with exceptional color accuracy. Depending on your budget, you can choose one of the following options and we can assure you that you won’t be disappointed by their performance:
1. HP Spectre x360
The HP Spectra x360 is a great portable option for graphics designers as it packs in a stunning 4K ultra HD display with great color accuracy and touch/stylus support which will definitely give you an edge over your peers. Even though the laptop has a 15.6-inch display, it’s nearly bezel-less which gives the laptop the same footprint as a 13 or 14-inch system. Weighing in at just 2.09kg, the laptop is exceptionally thin and light, making it the perfect companion for college. While the laptop does pack in a dedicated GPU, it’s a bit underpowered, so you won’t be able to use this particular machine for 3D modeling.
Specifications: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 1,58,999)
2. Dell Inspiron 7560
The Dell Inspiron 7560 is another great option which offers a beautiful bezel-less display at a slightly lower price tag. Since the Inspiron 7560 is relatively cheaper than the HP Spectre x360, it packs in a 15.6-inch full HD display, but that doesn’t make it a bad option. The display is quite vibrant and offers great color accuracy, which is essential for all graphics designers out there. Hardware wise, the Inspiron 7560 is pretty powerful and won’t have any issues running all the popular graphic designing software out there.
Specifications: 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7500U processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD+1TB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 78,490)
3. Asus Vivobook S15
Another great option with a beautiful display and powerful hardware is the Asus Vivobook S15, which packs in a 15.6-inch full HD display with slim bezels. The display can get pretty bright and offers great color accuracy, making it a perfect fit for graphic designers. Unlike the Dell Inspiron 7560, the Asus Vivobook S15 offers the latest hardware and a pretty substantial SSD which will definitely give a boost to the laptop’s performance. In my opinion, the Asus Vivobook S510UN is a great choice for graphics designers looking for a slim and portable system with the latest hardware.
Specifications: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD+1TB HDD, Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics
Buy from Flipkart (Rs. 85,990)
Best Laptops for Music Production Students
If you’re a music production student, you’re probably looking for a machine that is powerful enough to run your audio editing/mixing software and portable enough that you can whip it out anywhere you want and start mixing some sick beats. Sounds on point? Well, if that’s the case, you just can’t go wrong with any of the following laptops:
1. Apple MacBook Pro 13″
The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch is an absolute no-brainer for music production students. You’ve probably already seen all popular electronic music producers using a MacBook to create/mix their tracks and there’s a very solid reason behind that. Not only does the MacBook Pro 13-inch offer portability and an impressive battery life, but it also is the only laptop on the list which can run Apple’s Garageband music production software – a great tool for beginners. The laptops is powerful enough to run other popular software like Ableton Live and Apple Logic Pro X, making it the perfect fit for all music production students.
Specifications: 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel Iris Plus 640 graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 1,16,399)
2. Dell XPS 13
If you prefer Windows over macOS, then the Dell XPS 13 should be your go to choice. The laptop has the same form factor as the MacBook Pro 13-inch and packs in an amazing bezel-less display and the latest hardware. Since this is a Windows system, you won’t be able to run Garageband or Logic Pro X, but the Dell XPS 13 will easily be able to run other popular music production software like FL Studio and Ableton Live without breaking a sweat. The XPS 13 is your best bet if you don’t wish to switch to an Apple device and we’re sure that you’ll have an amazing experience with the device.
Specifications: 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel UHD graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 89,900)
3. Microsoft Surface Pro
Another great option for Windows users is Microsoft’s own Surface Pro, which is essentially a powerful tablet that has a detachable keyboard. The Surface Pro easily beats the competition when it comes to portability and it even offers great battery life. The brilliant 12.3-inch touchscreen on the device will also add onto your music production experience, providing a tactile way for you to interact with the software. Much like the XPS 13, the Surface Pro will be able to run popular music production software like FL Studio and Ableton Live, but you won’t be able to make use of Apple’s Garageband and Logic Pro X software.
Specifications: 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 620
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 64,830)
Best Laptop for Engineering and Architecture Students
While not all engineering and architecture students have the same requirements from their laptops, more often than not they have to run software, MATLAB,like which require significant processing power and demand a dedicated graphics. Architecture students also make use of CAD software which also demand a powerful machine in order to run smoothly. With that in mind, we’ve curated a list of the most fitting laptops that are capable of running the aforementioned software and do a whole lot more:
1. Acer Nitro 5
Since engineers and architecture students will be making use of 3D modeling software, they’ll require systems that offer a good graphics card and a decent processor. The Acer Nitro 5 is a great option, which will suit all your needs and provide enough power to run whatever software you might need to, and that too at an affordable price. On top of that, since this is a gaming machine, you’ll definitely be able to play all AAA games, provided you have the free time! Probably the only downside of this machine is that it has a very gamer-y aesthetic, which might not be the most appropriate look for a classroom presentation.
Specifications: 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, 16GB RAM, 128GB SSD+1TB HDD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 82,900)
2. HP Omen 15
Since we’re talking about gamer- aesthetic, let me be clear that almost all powerful Windows laptops these day (at least the ones that come with a dedicated graphics card) will feature some design elements that make it stand out. The HP Omen 15 is no different and it has that same black and red color scheme with an aggressive design, which might be a turn off for some. Other than that, the laptop packs in powerful internals, an amazing display and a very tactile keyboard with a spacious layout. You’ll easily be able to run the most demanding of software on this machine without a hitch and you’ll obviously be able to run the latest games, if you’re into gaming.
Specifications: 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7300HQ processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD+1TB HDD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 97,649)
3. Asus ROG Strix GL503GE
Rounding up the list is the Asus ROG Strix GL503GE which is also a gaming laptop that offers great performance and will easily be able to handle all the software you can possibly throw at it. The laptop has a beautiful 120Hz full HD display and RGB lighting on the keyboard, if you’re into that sort of a thing. Compared to the Acer Nitro 5 and the HP Omen 15, the ROG Strix GL503GE has a rather understated design on the outside, with no red accents and only the ROG logo on the lid which gives away its true nature. The Asus ROG Strix GL503GE is a great option for both engineers and architects and should be your go to choice if you’re a fan of the gamer-y design of the other two laptops.
Specifications: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 99,629)
SEE ALSO: 10 Best Laptops Under 100000 INR You Can Buy
Best Laptops for Students You Can Buy Right Now (July 2018)
That concludes our list of the best laptops for students which are currently available in the Indian market. We hope that with the help of this list you’re able to find a laptop which perfectly fits your requirements. Since we’ve listed down the best laptops for each use case, we haven’t taken into account a number of great budget options that are also available in the market. In case you’re looking for a laptop under a certain budget, feel free to let us know in the comments section below and we’ll do our best to provide you with a few suitable options.
