Trying to determine what’s the best laptops for business school? We wanted to know that as well and based on speaking with and reviewing dozens of schools, we’ve come up with several top rated options to consider when picking a laptop for business students 2017.
In researching the best laptop for business school, we found that many schools recommended PCs over comparable Apple products. Based on our research, we found that many of the colleges and universities had their own or other software that required PCs and Apple products would be required to run Parallels or equivalent software in order to access the program/s. In addition, some schools had support teams that were able to assist with PC issues and software but would not be able to assist with any Apple issues. So based on that, we’re going to focus our reviews on the best PC laptops for business students.
Business Students – Laptop for College Specifications
| Minimum | Recommended | |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 | 5th Generation Intel Core I5 |
| Storage | 120 GB storage with 30 GB free | 250 GB+ storage with 30 GB free |
| Memory | 4GB | 8GB or more |
| Resolution | 1366×768 | 1080p or More |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise, Educational, or Pro (build 1607 or higher) | Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise, Educational, or Pro (build 1607 or higher) |
| Storage | 500 GB HDD | 256 GB SSD |
In our search to bring you the best laptops for business students, we reviewed the laptop requirements for over 60 universities and colleges. While not every college or university required a student to have a laptop, saying that they had technology centers and facilities at their school that students could access if they did not have their own laptop or desktop, they were in the minority. The majority of the schools reviewed did require or recommend a computer and, more often than not, a laptop over a desktop because of how much easier they are to transport.
The above listed specifications give you a few different options to consider depending upon what you have already for a laptop or on what you might want to select. Obviously, the higher specifications will, generally, be more expensive as well.
Based on our review, we’ve come up with four excellent laptops that fit our specifications and college & university requirements for the best laptop for business.
Best Laptops for Business School
Dell Latitude E7470 Business Ultrabook
As you can tell by the name, the Dell Latitude E7470 Business Ultrabook is a laptop designed for business, whether it’s for students or business people. The Dell Latitude line-up of laptops and tablets come equipped with all the power and technology that a business student would need. Dell has managed to deliver remarkable business laptops and tablets over the last several years and that’s one reason they are frequently listed by colleges and universities as having the best laptops for business students. The reason why I chose the Dell Latitude E7470 is because I’ve personally used it and know first-hand how great it is for business and business students.
The Dell Latitude E7470 is powered by an Intel Core 6th Generation i5-6300U processor with 8 GB DDR4 Ram which will make sure that everything operates smoothly. It has a super-fast 256 GB SSD and runs on Windows 10 Pro. The Dell Latitude E7470 is lightweight and as an ultra-book it has a professional look making it ideal for business students. Additionally, the Dell Latitude E7470 has a complete HD 1080p Anti-Glare LCD Display which makes it perfect for when you have to travel or go on the road.
Lenovo ThinkPad E560 – Best Laptops Under $700
Lately, Lenovo has been making its laptops more affordable and targeting them at students and the student market. The Lenovo ThinkPad E560 is a budget friendly laptop that meets all our business student specs and looks like something you’d see some big-shot business representative bring to a meeting. One could even say that the Lenovo ThinkPad series was made to rival the Dell Latitude series which means more competition and frequently, better prices.
The Lenovo ThinkPad E560 is powered by 6th generation Intel Core i5 Processor with 4 GB of DDR4 Ram. It comes equipped with Intel HD Graphics 520 to support HD playback and makes online streaming as seamless as possible. Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad E560 and Dell Latitude E7470 have identical specs with the main difference being Lenovo ThinkPad E560’s 1366 x 768 Screen Resolution. Though it doesn’t support Dell’s 1080p resolution when you consider the difference in price, it’s rather reasonable.
ASUS ZenBook UX330UA – Best Laptops Under 700
Let’s be honest, I was a college student too quite recently and we all know that no one is buying any laptop just for studying. I’ve been there so I know you need a laptop that is economical and has enough features to do a bit of everything including streaming and light gaming. The ASUS ZenBook UX330UA is one of the best laptops for business students that want to make the most of their purchase. From having a powerful processor to having a gorgeous display, the ASUS ZenBook UX330UA is the laptop for everyone!
The ASUS ZenBook UX330UA is powered by a 7th generation Intel i5-7200U 2.5 GHz Processor and 8GB DDR3 RAM along with featuring 256GB SSD for super-fast storage. It’s one of the lightest laptops on the list weighing in at only 2.6 lbs and comes with a 13.3-Inch wide-view Full-HD Display that can provide 1080p resolution!
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HP Zbook 15 G3 – Best Laptops Under 1500
If you’re looking for a high performance business laptop then the HP Zbook 15 G3 is definitely one of the best laptops for business students that are willing to pay the price of a high-end machine. The HP Zbook 15 G3 is the most expensive laptop currently on our list and for all the right reasons. It is loaded with the latest hardware specs as well as software to deliver a business laptop that’s ideal for just about any business or other environment.
This laptop for business students is powered by a 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7-6700HQ Quad-Core processor that makes sure that no matter how many application you have running, everything runs smoothly. Along with 8 GB of DDR4 Ram, you have a laptop that’s built to provide speed and power where it counts. It also has Intel HD Graphics 520 which makes sure that when you run 1080p or 4K videos on its 15.6-inch FHD SVA Anti-Glare LED Backlit Display they run without any stutters or lags. If you’re looking for a high-end laptop for business students, the HP Zbook 15 G3 will not disappoint.
Acer Aspire e-15 – #1 Best Seller on Amazon
The Acer Aspire e-15 is one of Acer laptops’ most popular models and this business school laptop option makes the previous releases look pale in comparison. The Acer Aspire e-15 offers great value for its price point, which is under $400 based on our recent price checks, and also comes equipped with the latest hardware and a long battery life. That definitely makes it one of the best laptops for business students.
The laptop comes powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core i3-7100U Processor along with 4 GB Ram which is more than enough for any business school student. Don’t worry about thinking that its only good for studying, it has a 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen display that makes it perfect for watching movies and provides up to 12 hours of battery life which is the best we’ve seen.
Acer Spin 5 13.3 Inch Convertible – Under $700
Powerful, affordable and weighs around 3.5 lbs, that’s what the Acer Spin 5 is all about. It gets pretty high marks from end users, which is key in determining if it’s a fit for you or not.
There are upgraded configurations available as well, but the model we’re mentioning here includes: 8GB DDR4 Memory, 256GB SSD, 6th Generation Intel Core i5-6200U Processor 2.3GHz that goes up to 2.8GHz, comes with Windows 10 plus has a touch screen. And at this price point, it is an affordable, easy to carry around option which is why it’s on our list of the Best Laptops for Business Students.
Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate business student, finding the best laptops for business students is critical for the next few years! It’s going to become the one thing you will be depending upon as you go through school this year.
Choose one that fits your budget as well as school requirements. Consider whether you are making a long term investment in this laptop or just want something that you can use for school and once done, get something else. If it’s something for just the next two years, then some of the less expensive ones are perfect options to explore. Used laptops or refurbished laptops are also options to consider!