Best laptop for PhD Students

If you are endeavoring to complete your PhD studies, you would be looking for the best laptop for PhD students. This laptop should amicably fulfill your research, word processing, and data analysis requirements with different statistical models or application needs.

The laptop is a critical piece of equipment in PhD student’s arsenal. Especially a PhD student needs the best laptop during his research work when he is going through different research publications. After completing theoretical portion, you do a sample survey, and later on comes the part of data collection. After that, he uses different statistical models and applications to analyze his data to test his hypothesis with data collected. Later write his research paper about his research work

The data analysis part is most resource-intensive for a laptop. So, therefore, a computer with good processing power, sufficient RAM, and storage capacity can do the job amicably.

Our team has focused on assembling the collection of laptops that can quickly be declared as the best laptop for PhD Students.

Let’s have a look at the list of best laptops for PhD students:

Lenovo Ideapad 5 | Best laptop for PhD students

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15.6" FHD IPS Touchscreen Laptop | 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 | 12GB RAM | 512GB SSD | Backlit Keyboard | Fingerprint Reader | Windows 10
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15.6″ FHD IPS Touchscreen Laptop | 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 | 12GB RAM | 512GB SSD | Backlit Keyboard | Fingerprint Reader | Windows 10
  • ã€Detailed Configuration】Substantial high-bandwidth 12GB RAM to smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once. A flash-based 512GB SSD has no moving parts, resulting in faster start-up times and data access, no noise, and reduced heat production and power draw on the battery.
  • ã€Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor】4 cores, 8 threads, 2.8GHz. The perfect combination of performance, responsiveness and battery life. Enjoy boundary-breaking performance with the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. Stay productive with fast-charging, long-lasting battery.
  • ã€15.6″ Touchscreen LED-Backlit IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) Display】The 1920×1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. Supports 1080p content.
  • ã€Integrated Intel Iris X Graphics】All-new Intel Iris Xe graphics delivers transformational GPU and integrated graphics to support richer gaming experiences and greater speed for designers and creators.
  • ã€Other Features】Standard Backlit Keyboard,Fingerprint Reader,3Cell 45WH Lithium-Polymer Battery,Windows 10 Home (64 bit) OS
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The Lenovo Ideapad 5 is full of features that will surprise you in all aspects as it is a worthy partner at an affordable price. This laptop supports an 11th gen intel core i7 processor, and when this combines with 12 GB of RAM and an SSD, it can deliver a highly responsive experience.

Its full HD touch display boasts an incredible color and clarity with slim bezels along the sides and a small notch for the webcam at the top. Moreover, the Ideapad’s display has excellent color reproduction and decent contrast for your daily writing and browsing needs.

Despite being lightweight, Lenovo has managed to stuff all the necessary ports. As regards to connectivity there are two USB-a ports, a USB-C, HDMI, and SD card reader, and a combo jack for your headphone.

Lenovo Ideapad 5 has 45 watt-hour battery and is rated to last up to 12 hours at a stretch so that you can meet all your assignment deadlines.

In addition to your research work you can also to do a bit of video editing or live gaming during your leisure time.

This laptop would also allow you to connect wirelessly through Google class or Zoom with your supervisor or other research fellows during Covid-19 movement restrictions. This laptop can be regarded as the best laptop for PhD students.

Acer Aspire 5 | Excellent best laptop for PhD students

Acer Aspire 5 A515-44-R41B, 15.6" Full HD, AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Hexa-Core Mobile Processor with Radeon Graphics, 8GB DDR4, 256GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 5, HD Webcam, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 Home
Acer Aspire 5 A515-44-R41B, 15.6″ Full HD, AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Hexa-Core Mobile Processor with Radeon Graphics, 8GB DDR4, 256GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 5, HD Webcam, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 Home
  • AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Hexa-Core Mobile Processor with Radeon Graphics (Up to 4.0GHz) | 8GB DDR4 Memory | 256GB NVMe SSD
  • 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) Acer ComfyView Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display
  • 802.11ac WiFi 5 (Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz) | Backlit Keyboard | HD Webcam | Up to 10 Hours Battery Life
  • 1 – USB 3.2 (Type-C) Gen 1 port (up to 5 Gbps) | 2 – USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port (one with Power-off Charging) | 1 – USB 2.0 Port | 1 – HDMI Port with HDCP support
  • Windows 10 Home
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For PhD students participating in remote or in-person learning, the Acer Aspire 5 offers a lot in a slim and premium chassis. This laptop is equipped with an 11th Gen processor, 8 gigs of RAM, and high-speed SSD.

You will be able to experience crisp, lifelike colors and sharp details on its 15.6 inches 1080p IPS display with a screen-to-body ratio of 82.58 percent. This laptop would give you more space to work thanks to narrow bezels.
This laptop has support for wi-fi 6, which enables gigabit speeds nearly 3 times faster than standard wi-fi.

Furthermore, this laptop has several ports, including USB Type-C, two USB Type a and HDMI port. So you can use all your statistical data analysis applications, the Aspire 5 would not disappoint you. Besides this, it also comes with Acer true harmony, which allows its two front-mounted speakers with crisp sound quality.

This laptop will do research work and data analysis, giving it full marks as the best laptop for PhD students.

Dell Inspiron 15

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series 5502 Laptop i7-1165G7 Processor, 8GB, 1x8GB, 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive, 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare LED Backlight Non-Touch Display
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series 5502 Laptop i7-1165G7 Processor, 8GB, 1x8GB, 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive, 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare LED Backlight Non-Touch Display
  • 11th Generation Intel(R) Core)TM) i7-1165G7 Processor (12MB Cache, up to 4.7 GHz).
  • 8GB, 1x8GB, DDR4, 3200MHz.
  • 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive.
  • 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-glare LED Backlight Non-Touch Narrow Border WVA Display.
  • Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Graphics with shared graphics memory
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Dell Inspiron 15 is a budget-friendly laptop that delivers incredible responsiveness and smooth, seamless multitasking capabilities. This laptop is equipped with the powerful 11th generation intel core i7 processor, 8 gigs of RAM, and 256 GB SSD. You will not feel any lag or freezing in your daily research work for PhD studies.

This laptop has integrated Intel Iris XE graphics that provide good processing capabilities and can be used for casual gaming.

This laptop has 15.6-inch anti-glare display features and full HD resolution.
Moreover, its connectivity options include wi-fi, 6 several USB sports, an HDMI output, a micro SD card reader and these are sufficient for all your peripherals.

In a nutshell, the Inspiron 15 is a quality laptop that will provide you with reliable performance throughout your research work and data analysis, being the best laptop for PhD students.

Acer Swift 3

Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop, 14" Full HD IPS, AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core with Radeon Graphics, 8GB LPDDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Backlit KB, Fingerprint Reader, Alexa Built-in, SF314-42-R9YN
Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop, 14″ Full HD IPS, AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core with Radeon Graphics, 8GB LPDDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Backlit KB, Fingerprint Reader, Alexa Built-in, SF314-42-R9YN
  • AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz) with Radeon Graphics | 8GB LPDDR4 Memory | 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • 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 & USB Charging, 1- USB 3. 2 Gen 1 port (featuring power-off charging), 1 – USB 2. 0 port & 1 – HDMI port
  • Just 0.63″ thin and 2.65 pounds and up to 11.5 hours of battery life
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Acer Swift 3 is a laptop built for the mobile performance you need for your hectic on-the-go research life. It packs incredible 10th Gen intel core performance with 8 gigs of RAM and lightning-fast SSD to give you a super smooth and responsive windows experience.

This laptop has a narrow bezel display. It features a 2k resolution with an IPS panel with a 3×2 aspect ratio that gives you 18 more vertical height to be more efficient in your data analysis.

The swift 3 also has dual-band wi-fi 6, which improves any average network and reduces latency compared to the previous wi-fi 5. This laptop also has an embedded fingerprint reader, so you will be able to quickly and securely log in without having to remember and tapping in a password.

Moreover, it has several connectivity options like 1 – USB Type-C port USB 3. 2 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) DisplayPort over USB Type-C & USB Charging, 1 – USB 3. 2 Gen 1 port (featuring power-off charging), 1 – USB 2. 0 port and 1 – HDMI port.

Overall the Swift 3, with all its marvelous features, will help you out with your research work while also giving you a much-needed break from your monotonous schedules with an emphasis on portability and flexibility.

Also Read: Best Budget Laptop For Adobe Creative Cloud

HP Pavilion x360

2020 HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Laptop Computer/ 14" Full HD Touchscreen/ 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U Up to 4.1GHz/ 16GB DDR4 Memory/ 256GB PCIe SSD/ AC WiFi/ HDMI/ Gold/ Windows 10
2020 HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Laptop Computer/ 14″ Full HD Touchscreen/ 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U Up to 4.1GHz/ 16GB DDR4 Memory/ 256GB PCIe SSD/ AC WiFi/ HDMI/ Gold/ Windows 10
  • 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U mobile processor 1.6GHz (with Max Turbo Speed of 4.10GHz);Ultra-low-voltage platform. Quad-core, eight-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go. Intel Turbo Boost Technology delivers dynamic extra power when you need it.
  • Beautiful 14″ Full HD multitouch screen:The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. Touch, tap, glide and make the most of Windows 10. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Energy-efficient WLED backlight.
  • 16GB DDR4 Memory for full-power multitasking; 256GB PCIe SSD Solid State Drive (PCI-e) Save files fast and store more data. With massive amounts of storage and advanced communication power, PCI-e SSDs are great for major gaming applications, multiple servers, daily backups, and more. Get up to 15x faster performance than a traditional hard drive.
  • 802.11ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C (Data Transfer Only, 5 Gb/s signaling rate); 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A (Data Transfer Only); 1 AC smart pin; 1 HDMI 1.4; 1 headphone/microphone combo
  • Windows 10 Home 64-bit English brings back the Start Menu from Windows 7 and introduces new features, like the Edge Web browser that lets you markup Web pages on your screen.
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HP Pavilion x360 is an excellent mid-range two-in-one laptop that offers fast performance at a palatable price, sporting 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor.

This laptop has a Full HD touchscreen display with 15.6 inches diagonally.

You will find it perfectly adequate for most tasks and viewable in most indoor situations. Concerning ports, there is a 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C (Data Transfer Only, 5 Gb/s signaling rate); 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A (Data Transfer Only); 1 AC smart pin; 1 HDMI 1.4; 1 headphone/microphone combo allowing you to connect multiple devices to increase your productivity.

Besides, it’s light and compact chassis make it pleasing to behold. So if you want a stylish laptop that can transform into a tablet, then look no further and get yourself the HP Pavilion x360.


Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD (Latest Model) – Platinum with Black Type Cover
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3″ Touch-Screen – 10th Gen Intel Core i5 – 8GB Memory – 128GB SSD (Latest Model) – Platinum with Black Type Cover
  • Next-gen, best-in-class laptop with the versatility of a studio and tablet, so you can type, touch, draw, write, work, and play more naturally
  • Faster than surface pro 6, with a 10th gen intel core processor – redefining what’s possible in a thin and light computer.
  • More ways to connect, with both USB-c and USB-a ports for connecting to displays, docking stations, and more, as well as accessory charging. Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Standout design that won’t weigh you down — ultra-slim and light surface pro 7 starts at just 1.70 pounds
  • All-day battery life up to 10.5 hours, plus the ability to go from empty to full faster — about 80 percent in just over an hour
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Microsoft Surface makes the most of your every day with an affordable price tag. This laptop offers sleek style performance and all-day battery life.

This laptop is moderate in performance as it packs a 10th Gen core i5, CPU 120 GHz SSD, 8 GB RAM, and Intel UHD graphics card with a 12.3-inch pixel sense touchscreen display.

It features a windows hello sign-in plus fingerprint power button for providing you convenient security and easy logins. With all these features, this laptop weighs around just 1.7 pounds while packing a powerful battery that lasts up to 10.5 hours for your long-time assignment or project work.

Although this laptop has got the previous-gen processor, it is still a suitable choice for research work or data analysis.


Asus Zenbook 13 | best for PhD students

ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop 13.3†FHD NanoEdge Bezel Display, Intel Core i5-1035G1, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, NumberPad, Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi 6, Windows 10 Pro, Pine Grey, UX325JA-XB51
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop 13.3†FHD NanoEdge Bezel Display, Intel Core i5-1035G1, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, NumberPad, Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi 6, Windows 10 Pro, Pine Grey, UX325JA-XB51
  • 13.3 inch FHD 1920X1080, 16:9 Anti-Glare NTSC, 72% Wide View 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
  • Latest 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 Core Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.6 GHz) with Intel UHD graphics
  • Windows 10 Professional
  • Fast storage and memory featuring 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
  • Built-in IR camera for facial recognition sign-in with Windows Hello
  • ErgoLift hinge and backlit keyboard and NumberPad
  • Extensive connectivity with HDMI 2.0b, Thunderbolt 3 via USB Type C, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, USB 3.2 Type-A, and Micro SD card reader (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
  • Sleek and lightweight 2.45 lbs for comfortable portability
  • MIL-STD 810G military standard for reliability and durability
  • USB-C to the audio jack is included
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Asus Zenbook 13 has outstanding OLED technology, delivering robust performance and accurate live visuals. This laptop comes with a 13.3 inch full HD Oled screen. Moreover, this has a 100 DPI color gamut and 400 nits of brightness which provides extraordinary detail.

This laptop has the latest 10th Gen Core i5 processor and coupled with 8 GB RAM and 256 NVME SSD. This also has an intel UHD graphics card for graphics processing.

This ultrabook also features a new edge-to-edge ergonomic keyboard, Asus number path 2.0, and function key. Moreover, the precision-engineered ergo lift hinge lifts the rear of the top. This results in slightly tilting the keyboard to the optimum typing angle despite offering a thin design.

This laptop has an HDMI 2.0b, Thunderbolt 3 via USB Type C, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, USB 3.2 Type-A, and a Micro SD card reader. This laptop weighs around 2.45 pounds. Further, it features a high capacity 67 watt-hours battery capable of lasting up to 22-hour battery life. Its fast-charge feature can restore the battery up to a 60% charge level in just 40 minutes.

Overall the sleek-looking ultrabook is recommended for any PhD student who usually wants portability, long battery life, and the powers to handle demanding tasks of research work, data gathering, and, more importantly, data analysis.


Lenovo Flex 5

Lenovo Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 Laptop, 14.0" FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch Display, AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor, 16GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, AMD Radeon Graphics, Digital Pen Included, Win 10, 81X20005US, Graphite Grey
Lenovo Flex 5 14″ 2-in-1 Laptop, 14.0″ FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch Display, AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor, 16GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, AMD Radeon Graphics, Digital Pen Included, Win 10, 81X20005US, Graphite Grey
  • Thin, light, and stylish – This 2-in-1 laptop weighs just 3.64 pounds and is only 0.82″ thick. It’s soft and comfortable to the touch, with a durable paint that creates a better user experience. Digital pen included
  • The 10-point, 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS touchscreen allows the Lenovo Flex 5 14″ 2-in-1 laptop to be comfortable, fun, and easy to use. It’s also great to look at, with 4-side narrow bezels
  • The 360â° hinge lets you use your 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop in whatever mode works best for you; Use it in ‘Laptop’ mode for everyday computing, ‘Tent’ mode for sharing things, ‘Stand’ mode for binge-watching, or ‘Tablet’ mode for more intuitive interaction
  • Enjoy up to 10 hours of battery life, plus quick charge to 80% in just 1 hour
  • Powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U mobile processor with Radeon graphics, you have the performance to do more, from anywhere. With more cores, you’ll experience responsiveness that leaps into action for productivity, gaming, and content creation
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Lenovo Flex 5 offers you the best of both worlds, packed with an AMD Ryzen 4500 CPU with integrated Radeon Graphic, plus 16 GB of memory and a 256 GB of SSD.

This two-in-one machine can handle all your computing tasks with ease. The touchscreen panel is a 14 inch full HD IPS panel that is also compatible with the Lenovo digital pen enabling students to create their digital artwork to their heart’s content on the Flex 5.

On the left side, you will find a power port, an HDMI output, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5-millimeter combo jack, while on the right, you get two USB-a ports and an SD card slot.

This laptop weighs around 3.63 pounds. Battery life is good, and it will let you work up to 10 hours without any interruption. During your survey or fieldwork, you need a laptop with tablet-like functionalities to write up some notes on the go then. This laptop will be the one for you, so this can be the best laptop for PhD students.


Apple Macbook Air

2020 Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray
2020 Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage) – Space Gray
  • Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life
  • 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance to tackle projects faster than ever
  • Up to eight GPU cores with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
  • 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
  • 8GB of unified memory so everything you do is fast and fluid
  • Superfast SSD storage launches apps and opens files in an instant
  • Fanless design for silent operation
  • 13.3-inch Retina display with P3 wide color for vibrant images and incredible detail
  • FaceTime HD camera with advanced image signal processor for clearer, sharper video calls
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A laptop list without apple is unimaginable, so meet Apple’s Macbook Air 2020 M1, a top-of-the-line laptop from Apple’s end. This laptop has pro-like features but at an affordable price tag.

Apple has packed their Macbook lineups with their M1 chip, which has integrated CPU and GPU neural engine and so much more. The result is quite astonishing as it can handle rigorous tasks like editing and gaming way faster than the intel ones.

Despite packing that powerful chip, the most amazing fact is its fanless design which lets you run the laptop without any noise or fuss. The 13.3-inch Retina display has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600p with 400 nits of brightness and can show on-screen contents with more incredible color vibrancy and rich detail.

This laptop is built with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage; however, if you want, then there’s always room to upgrade up to 16 GB of RAM and a massive 2 TB storage, but of course, with a hefty price tag.

This laptop weighs only about 2.8 pounds with a battery that can last up to a massive 18 hours straight without needing to plug out.


Asus Vivobook S15 S533 | Best laptop for PhD students

ASUS VivoBook S15 S533 Thin and Light Laptop, 15.6†FHD Display, Intel Core i5-10210U CPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, Windows 10 Home, Indie Black, S533FA-DS51
ASUS VivoBook S15 S533 Thin and Light Laptop, 15.6†FHD Display, Intel Core i5-10210U CPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, Windows 10 Home, Indie Black, S533FA-DS51
  • 15.6 inch Full HD NanoEdge bezel display with stunning 86% screen-to-body ratio
  • Powerful Intel Core i5-10210U Processor (6M Cache, up to 4.2 GHz)
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB PCIe SSD and Windows 10 Home
  • Metal chassis and 16mm z-height
  • Ergonomic backlit keyboard along with a fingerprint sensor activated via Windows Hello
  • Comprehensive connections including USB 3.2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 2.0, HDMI, and Gig+ Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
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Asus Vivobook S15 S533 is a stylish laptop designed for a busy PhD student lifestyle. This machine under the hood has an 11th Gen core i5 CPU to deliver all the power you need and features intel’s Iris XE Graphics for better visuals.

This laptop has got 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of SSD, making it super fast in performance and storage along with a 15.6-inch Fhd IPS panel with an 86 screen to body ratio and nano edge bezel display that showcases on-screen content with superb brightness and accurate colors.

It has a USB 3.2 and two USB 2.0 type ports for faster and efficient connectivity and also USB-C 3.2 port for the latest peripherals. Moreover, this laptop lasts approximately 5 hours, and it weighs around 3.97 pounds making it the best laptop for PhD students and easier to carry in the backpack in brief.

The Vivobook S15 packs overall the latest specs that any student will be delighted to get without going down deep into the pocket.

Final word

All these laptops can be regarded as the best laptops for PhD students, packed with all the features required to carry on busy schedules of studies and research. You can go for any laptop, and you would not be disappointed.

If you are an MBA student and looking for the best laptop, then look at our article about best laptop for MBA students.

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