Overview
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![Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (2021)]()
Best for Business Execs Who Must Travel LightLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (2021)
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![MSI Modern 14]()
Best for Everyday Use on a BudgetMSI Modern 14
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![Dell XPS 15 OLED (9510)]()
Best for Deluxe Desktop ReplacementDell XPS 15 OLED (9510)
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![Apple MacBook Air M1 13” Laptop]()
Best for MacBook Users Seeking the Best ValueApple MacBook Air M1 13” Laptop
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![Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XC]()
Visually Demanding Creative ProsGigabyte Aero 15 OLED XC
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![HP ZBook Studio G8]()
Best for Demanding Digital Content MakersHP ZBook Studio G8
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![Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)]()
Best for Multimedia Content CreationApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)
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![Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio]()
Best for Digital ArtistsMicrosoft Surface Laptop Studio
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![Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro 14 1TB SSD Laptop]()
Best for Multimedia Content CreationApple MacBook Pro M1 Pro 14 1TB SSD Laptop
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (2021)]()
Best for Business Execs Who Must Travel LightLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (2021)
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
There's one ultraportable we admire as much (the Dell XPS 13 OLED), but there's no business laptop we admire more than Lenovo's latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Business Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.59 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches Graphics Processor Intel Iris Xe Graphics Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Windows 10 Pro Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor Speed 2.8 RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 19:45 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.49 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Wireless Networking Bluetooth -
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![MSI Modern 14]()
Best for Everyday Use on a BudgetMSI Modern 14
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
MSI's under-$500 Modern 14 is a compelling budget laptop for day-to-day tasks, packing reasonable battery life, a good mix of ports, and proper build quality.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 128 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Budget Dimensions (HWD) 0.7 by 12.55 by 8.6 inches Graphics Processor Intel UHD Graphics Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 10 Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i3-10110U Processor Speed 2.1 RAM (as Tested) 8 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 8:42 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.8 Wireless Networking 802.11ac Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More MSI Modern 14 Review -
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![Dell XPS 15 OLED (9510)]()
Best for Deluxe Desktop ReplacementDell XPS 15 OLED (9510)
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Now available with an OLED screen, an 8TB SSD, and Intel "Tiger Lake-H" processing, the Dell XPS 15 is our top pick among premium desktop-replacement laptops.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Dimensions (HWD) 0.71 by 13.6 by 9.1 inches Graphics Memory 4 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU Laptop Class Desktop Replacement Native Display Resolution 3456 by 2160 Operating System Windows 10 Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core i7-11800H Processor Speed 2.3 RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 15 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 11:23 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.3 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More Dell XPS 15 OLED (9510) Review -
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![Apple MacBook Air M1 13” Laptop]()
Best for MacBook Users Seeking the Best ValueApple MacBook Air M1 13” Laptop
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The M1-equipped MacBook Air now packs far better performance than its predecessors, rivaling at times the M1-based MacBook Pro. At $999, it’s the best value among macOS laptops.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 256 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.63 by 11.97 by 8.36 inches Graphics Processor Apple M1 Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1600 Operating System Apple macOS Panel Technology IPS Processor Apple M1 RAM (as Tested) 8 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 13.3 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 29:01 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 2.8 Wireless Networking 802.11ax Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More Apple MacBook Air (M1, Late 2020) Review -
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![Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XC]()
Visually Demanding Creative ProsGigabyte Aero 15 OLED XC
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Whether you're tackling tough content-creation jobs or gaming after hours, Gigabyte's Aero 15 OLED XC is a lavishly equipped, surprisingly affordable power laptop, packing GeForce "Ampere" silicon and a sterling screen.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Dimensions (HWD) 0.78 by 14 by 9.8 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU Laptop Class Desktop Replacement Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2160 Operating System Windows 10 Pro Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core i7-10870H Processor Speed 2.2 RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 8:45 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.4 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XC Review -
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![HP ZBook Studio G8]()
Best for Demanding Digital Content MakersHP ZBook Studio G8
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
HP's ZBook Studio G8 outshines the ZBook Firefly and challenges the ZBook Fury as the top all-rounder in the company's workstation lineup.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Dimensions (HWD) 0.69 by 13.9 by 9.2 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU Laptop Class Desktop Replacement Laptop Class Workstation Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2160 Operating System Windows 10 Pro Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core i9-11950H Processor Speed 2.6 RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 8:20 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.96 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More HP ZBook Studio G8 Review -
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![Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)]()
Best for Multimedia Content CreationApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The new ultimate Mac laptop, the 2021 Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch is a finely engineered, high-octane workstation that will thrill content creators. The pumped-up M1 Max silicon in our tester, though, is beyond mere bragging rights—it's reserved for creative pros with specialized needs.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Dimensions (HWD) 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches Graphics Processor Apple M1 Max Laptop Class Workstation Native Display Resolution 3456 by 2234 Operating System Apple macOS Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Apple M1 Max RAM (as Tested) 64 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16.2 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 20:13 Variable Refresh Support ProMotion Weight 4.8 Wireless Networking 802.11ax Wireless Networking Bluetooth -
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![Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio]()
Best for Digital ArtistsMicrosoft Surface Laptop Studio
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
Packed with innovative features, Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio presages a new breed of laptop for creative pros who are pen-input devotees. One big quibble: Performance isn’t nearly class-leading.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Dimensions (HWD) 0.75 by 12.72 by 8.98 inches Graphics Memory 4 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU Laptop Class Convertible 2-in-1 Native Display Resolution 2400 by 1600 Operating System Windows 11 Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i7-11370H Processor Speed 3.3 RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14.4 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 14:01 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio Review -
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![Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro 14 1TB SSD Laptop]()
Best for Multimedia Content CreationApple MacBook Pro M1 Pro 14 1TB SSD Laptop
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro occupies a new sweet spot among pro content-creator laptops: far more capable than consumer-class alternatives, yet much less expensive than its 16-inch sibling and bulkier Windows workstations.Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches Graphics Processor Apple M1 Pro Native Display Resolution 3024 by 1964 Operating System Apple macOS Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Apple M1 Pro RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14.2 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 19:17 Variable Refresh Support ProMotion Weight 3.5 Wireless Networking 802.11ax Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch Review -
Compare Specs
Our Pick | ||||||||||||
Rating |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.5 Outstanding |
Best For | Best for Business Execs Who Must Travel Light | Best for Everyday Use on a Budget | Best for Deluxe Desktop Replacement | Best for MacBook Users Seeking the Best Value | Visually Demanding Creative Pros | Best for Demanding Digital Content Makers | Best for Multimedia Content Creation | Best for Digital Artists | Best for Multimedia Content Creation | Best for Business Execs Who Must Travel Light | Best for Everyday Use on a Budget | Best for Deluxe Desktop Replacement |
Wireless Networking | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth | 802.11ac, Bluetooth | Bluetooth, 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | 802.11ax, Bluetooth | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth | 802.11ax, Bluetooth | Bluetooth, 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | 802.11ax, Bluetooth | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth | 802.11ac, Bluetooth | Bluetooth, 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
Weight | 2.49 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 3.96 | 4.8 | 4 | 3.5 | 2.49 | 2.8 | 4.3 |
Variable Refresh Support | None | None | None | None | None | None | ProMotion | None | ProMotion | None | None | None |
Touch Screen | ||||||||||||
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 19:45 | 8:42 | 11:23 | 29:01 | 8:45 | 8:20 | 20:13 | 14:01 | 19:17 | 19:45 | 8:42 | 11:23 |
Screen Size | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13.3 | 15.6 | 15.6 | 16.2 | 14.4 | 14.2 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Screen Refresh Rate | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
RAM (as Tested) | 16 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 32 | 32 | 64 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 16 |
Processor Speed | 2.8 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 2.3 | |||
Processor | Intel Core i7-1165G7 | Intel Core i3-10110U | Intel Core i7-11800H | Apple M1 | Intel Core i7-10870H | Intel Core i9-11950H | Apple M1 Max | Intel Core i7-11370H | Apple M1 Pro | Intel Core i7-1165G7 | Intel Core i3-10110U | Intel Core i7-11800H |
Panel Technology | IPS | IPS | OLED | IPS | OLED | OLED | Mini LED | IPS | Mini LED | IPS | IPS | OLED |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 | Windows 10 | Apple macOS | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Pro | Apple macOS | Windows 11 | Apple macOS | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1080 | 3456 by 2160 | 2560 by 1600 | 3840 by 2160 | 3840 by 2160 | 3456 by 2234 | 2400 by 1600 | 3024 by 1964 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1080 | 3456 by 2160 |
Laptop Class | Desktop Replacement | Desktop Replacement | Desktop Replacement, Workstation | Workstation | Convertible 2-in-1 | Desktop Replacement | ||||||
Graphics Processor | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU | Apple M1 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU | Apple M1 Max | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU | Apple M1 Pro | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU |
Graphics Memory | 4 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | |||||||
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.59 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches | 0.7 by 12.55 by 8.6 inches | 0.71 by 13.6 by 9.1 inches | 0.63 by 11.97 by 8.36 inches | 0.78 by 14 by 9.8 inches | 0.69 by 13.9 by 9.2 inches | 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches | 0.75 by 12.72 by 8.98 inches | 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches | 0.59 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches | 0.7 by 12.55 by 8.6 inches | 0.71 by 13.6 by 9.1 inches |
Class | Ultraportable, Business | Budget | Ultraportable | Workstation | Ultraportable, Business | Budget | ||||||
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 | 128 | 512 | 256 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 512 | 128 | 512 |
Buying Guide: 2022 Grad's Guide: The Best Laptop for Each Type of Graduate
If you’re ready to trade your cap and gown in for business-casual (or sweatpants and slippers, for those of you planning on working at home), one of the biggest questions you might be asking yourself is, “Which laptop should I get?” As you embark on the first leg of your professional journey, it pays to be properly equipped, so we looked at several of the top graduating majors and the technical needs for each.
Simply asking “What’s the best laptop for a college graduate?” doesn't narrow things down very much, though. According to college advising website MyMajors.com, the list of common college majors has more than 1,800 different areas of study, from Agriculture to Visual and Performing Arts.
So we turn to data, not only to see the most popular majors and professions, but how many find themselves wondering what’s the best laptop for their type of work. According to both graduation statistics and search volume, here are the seven most popular fields that require computers tailored to their specific needs.
The Grads Who Need the Right Laptop the Most
In our research, the top most-sought-after recommendations come from media creators working with video and music, photographers and graphic designers, a mix of office workers and home-office workers, programmers, engineers, stock traders, and writers.
While these different categories may have some overlap in often-recommended laptops, each has a distinct set of requirements, with use-specific software, a unique mix of hardware, and performance demands.
How to Pick the Best Laptop for Your Career: The Basics
Though the specifics may differ depending on what you need to use your laptop for, the basics are pretty consistent across the board. You want something that’s comfortable to use, durable enough to last, and powerful enough for your most demanding projects. However, the specific needs of your job will bring some features to the forefront. Here’s the condensed version of our laptop buying advice.
Processor
If a laptop is like a car, the central processing unit (CPU) is the engine that makes it go, handling all of the actual computing tasks. From the operating system to the individual programs you use, the processor makes it work.
For an in-depth look at CPU selection, our guide How to Choose the Best Laptop Processor offers plenty of detailed advice, but for our purposes, it’s pretty simple. Generally, you’ll want to stick to Intel, AMD, and Apple options for professional use, since they offer not only the most variety, they also have the widest compatibility with various programs. The specific processor name will tell you the series (such as Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 7) as well as the generation of chip, or how recent the design is. A higher series will generally denote better performance, while the latest chips will have the most up-to-date capabilities.
Memory
There’s not much need to go into the specifics of RAM functionality and format here. Random Access Memory (RAM) is the short-term, working memory for your computer, holding the data for the apps and files that are currently running. It’s fast and immediate, but if you don’t have enough memory, it can become a bottleneck that slows your laptop’s overall performance.
While there is plenty of specific advice we could give for choosing the right RAM, the simple guideline is that more is better. We suggest a minimum of 8GB of RAM for pretty much all uses, but more demanding systems should be equipped with 16GB or 32GB—or even more, for mobile workstations.
Integrated vs. Discrete Graphics
Most laptops rely on the CPU to handle the graphical demands, using what’s called integrated graphics. More demanding visuals, such as those delivered by gaming laptops and workstations will instead use a discrete graphics processor—a secondary piece of processing hardware that’s devoted entirely to graphics.
Laptop manufacturers don’t give shoppers the same range of choices for mobile GPUs, but if you expect to do photo and video editing, 3D rendering, or anything else that’s similarly demanding, look into laptops that have a discrete GPU instead of integrated graphics.
Mobile workstations, meanwhile, are practically defined by the GPU—in addition to high-powered graphics processing, workstation systems are also guaranteed to offer rock solid reliability for the most demanding programs. Look for Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certification, and make sure your professional program is properly supported.
Storage
You have two main concerns when it comes to storage: capacity and speed. Capacity has to do with storage space, whether it’s a small 128GB drive or a massive 2 terabyte (2TB) drive. Larger drives are more expensive, but they are invaluable if you routinely work with large project files. Writers may not need much storage for documents, but media and complex renderings will take up a lot more space.
Speed is the other concern. The biggest differentiator here is between hard disk drives and solid state drives (SSD). Traditionally, a platter-based hard drive offered more storage space at a better price per dollar, but SSDs deliver much faster performance. Thankfully, in recent years, SSDs have become the standard rather than the exception, and prices have made them very reasonable for all users.
Battery Life
When in doubt, you always want a longer lasting battery. Longer battery life lets you use your laptop longer between charges, and it gives you the option of leaving the power adapter at home, making even an ultraportable laptop that much easier to carry with you. Whenever possible, we recommend checking out the battery test results in our review, and if all else is equal, opting for systems that offer longer battery life.
But battery life has an inverse relationship with processing and graphics prowess, which demand more power to handle more complex tasks. Media machines and mobile workstations may not offer the same long battery life of a thin ultraportable, but when you need horsepower, you accept the lower gas mileage.
Design
The standard laptop design will be fine for most users, in most situations. But there are two major considerations to keep in mind when selecting your next PC. The first is portability, with thin and light ultraportables making it that much easier to tote around your work machine. They’re a bit more expensive, but if you expect to take your laptop on the go, you definitely want one of these featherweight systems.
The other is touch capability. While you can get touchscreens in a standard laptop design, users may want something more hands on, especially for digital art and graphic design. In these instances, we recommend 2-in-1 laptop designs, which combine the notebook form factor with tablet functionality. Whether the machine flips, folds, or detaches, having a tablet option for drawing and note-taking on the screen can be a game changer.
Our Picks
With such a wide variety of professions and majors available for college students to choose from, it’s worth remembering one core concept. The best laptop for you starts with knowing what you need to do with it. For digital artists, that means running Photoshop or drawing on screen. But if you’re a day trader or engineer, you need something different, like high-end 3D rendering or super-fast number crunching.
To find the best laptops for our seven professional categories, we looked at the actual demands for each profession, and what sort of hardware and performance was needed to support it.
The Best Laptops for Film School and Audio Production Grads
“Media” can be a broad category, but video editing and music production are the largest. And with the unique demands of scrubbing through hours of footage or finessing layer upon layer to create the perfect track, video and audio production have similar equipment needs.
When it comes to the best laptop for video editing or any other kind of media work, the standout choice is the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch, which delivers professional-level processing and tools for video work, but also is compact enough to take to a shoot for editing onsite.
If you aren’t big on Apple, or just want an OLED display, then we also recommend the Dell XPS 15 OLED (9510), which combines features like an 8TB SSD (in top configurations) and a 15-inch OLED display to become one of the best Windows-based media laptops you can buy.
The Best Laptops for Graphic Design Grads
Next we have visual and graphic design. From high-powered machines that can run Photoshop with speed to 2-in-1 models that let an artist draw directly on screen, the visual arts are more dependent upon the right hardware than ever before.
For many creative pros, the laptop search will start and end with Apple. From Mac exclusives like Sketch to popular tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, you’ll get great software support from macOS, and the M1 processors Apple uses offer genuinely impressive performance. Our favorite for photo and graphics work is the Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch, which comes in a choice of M1 CPUs. For most users, the M1 Pro is the better choice of processor, versus the more expensive M1 Max.
What you won’t get on a Mac is touch and pen capability. For that, we recommend a Windows-based 2-in-1, like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. With so many touch-capable systems available, we suggest looking for a convertible system that offers a true digitizer with pen support, giving you all the functionality of a dedicated digital drawing pad, but without the extra device. Detachable laptops tend to be lower-powered, so stick with a laptop that offers drawing instead of a tablet that comes with a keyboard.
The Best Laptops for Business Majors
Though it’s not as exciting as shooting movies or crafting a visual masterpiece, most college grads are headed to the office. White-collar jobs and slipper-wearing work-from-home situations have made the day job more diverse than ever, but everyone needs a great machine that lets them get their work done.
Our favorite is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9, which is perfect for professionals wherever they work, whether that’s in the office, home office, or out on the road. The thin and light design are among the best you’ll get from an ultraportable, but it also has the best chops of any business laptop we’ve reviewed. You may find more affordable options on our list of great business laptops, but you aren’t likely to find something better.
The Best Laptops for Computer Science Grads
With so much of our lives being lived online and in digital worlds, programming is more vital than ever. From straight coding to full-stack web development, programmers and coders need a machine that can keep up.
Specifically, that means a laptop with both processing muscle for compiling code and enough RAM that you’re never bogged down. We recommend something with at least an Intel Core i5 CPU and 16GB of RAM or more. Dedicated graphics are optional—unless you’re also doing game development, or something else with a visual component that needs graphics horsepower to simulate playback. If you’re adding design to the mix, you’ll want a GPU that can handle it.
Great battery life is helpful if you’re on the go, but more important is screen resolution. When you spend hours looking at raw code in an IDE or emulating whatever app or website you’re developing, you want it to be clear and accurate, but you also want to give your eyes a break.
We like the Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XC, which offers blazing performance and a gorgeous OLED display. It has enough power to get you through the thorniest project, while also giving you gaming muscle for the off hours.
The Best Laptops for Engineering and Science Grads
Engineers may find work in anything from chip design to refining engine parts to planning city-wide infrastructure, but the core tools all demand one thing above all: power.
Looking at both processing and graphics, you need more power than the average laptop can provide. That’s why we’ve chosen from our list of the best mobile workstations to find a laptop that goes above and beyond, providing rock-solid performance and graphics horsepower for tools like AutoCAD and Solidworks.
One of our favorites is the HP ZBook Studio G8. As workstation laptops go, it’s got the full package, from a beefy Core i9 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics to a 4K display and a healthy amount of storage.
The Best Laptops for Finance Majors
Money movers and stock traders also have their own needs, in a business where downtime and sluggish performance can cost big. From accounting to day trading, you may not need massive processing power, but a mix of solid performance, go-anywhere portability, and professional-looking design are all a must.
Most ultraportable laptops will fit the bill, but the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air offers the whole package, from the slim aluminum design to impressive 29-hour battery life. Whether you’re living the nomad lifestyle or working shoulder-to-shoulder with an office full of traders, it’s a great option for trading and finance.
The Best Laptops for Communications and Writing Grads
Finally, a topic near to my heart: the best laptops for writers and editors. While the work may not be demanding in terms of processing or graphics requirements, some special considerations make some laptops stand out above the rest. Basic office software will get the job done, and internet access will let you research and share your work. But these basics are standard on most every laptop.
What isn’t so standard are niceties like a backlit keyboard with a comfortable layout, and a solid selection of ports. Thankfully, you can get all of these things at budget-friendly prices, if you know what you’re looking for. Our favorite is the MSI Modern 14, which not only ticks all of the boxes for productivity and features, but also comes in a host of configurations, some less than $500.