So you’re looking for a new laptop that can handle both your school assignments and gaming needs, huh? You want a machine that’s powerful enough to run the latest games but still portable and long-lasting enough to use for classes and studying.
Finding the perfect balance between performance and practicality can be tricky. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We scoured the latest options from top brands to find the best laptops for school and play.
Whether you’re on a budget or want to go all out, there’s something here for every student gamer. Read on for our recommendations on the top 10 laptops that deliver the speed, graphics and battery life you need to conquer both the classroom and the virtual world.
Best Overall: Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 is a powerhouse laptop that can handle both your school assignments and gaming needs.
- With an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, this laptop packs some serious performance punch. It can run graphics-intensive games smoothly while also handling multitasking for school projects without slowing down.
- The 15.6-inch 4K display is stunning. Whether you’re watching movies, editing photos for a class project, or just browsing the web, everything looks crisp, bright and vivid. The nearly bezel-less InfinityEdge display provides an immersive experience in a smaller footprint.
- Despite its thin and light design, the XPS 15 has a solid selection of ports so you can connect multiple peripherals without needing a dongle. It includes USB-C, USB-A, HDMI and an SD card reader.
- With a large 512GB solid-state drive, you’ll have plenty of fast storage for all your games, applications, photos, videos and other files. No more worrying about running out of room.
- The XPS 15 delivers over 8 hours of battery life, so you can work or play nearly all day without needing to recharge. When you do need to plug in, the laptop supports fast charging to get back up to 80% in about an hour.
For a mix of performance, display quality, portability and battery life, the Dell XPS 15 is tough to beat and a great choice for a student laptop that can also handle gaming. Spending long hours working on this power-packed yet stylish laptop will make schoolwork feel a lot less like actual work.
Best for Battery Life: HP Specter X360
If battery life is a top priority, the HP Specter x360 should be at the top of your list. This lightweight 2-in-1 laptop offers up to 22 hours of juice on a single charge, so you can work or play all day without worrying about finding an outlet.
The Specter x360 comes with either a 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch touchscreen, and you can choose between a regular LCD or OLED display. The OLED screen offers richer colors and deeper blacks, though it may reduce battery life slightly. Under the hood, you’ll find a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, plenty of RAM, and a speedy solid-state drive.
For schoolwork, the Specter x360 handles everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, and streaming media with ease. The touchscreen also makes the Specter a great device for note-taking, sketching, and editing photos. When it’s time to relax, this 2-in-1’s dedicated graphics card can run many popular games at medium to high settings.
Other highlights include:
- A convertible design that seamlessly transitions between laptop and tablet mode.
- A privacy camera kill switch and fingerprint reader for security.
- A variety of ports including USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI so you can connect all your peripherals.
If you want a long-lasting laptop that can do double duty for school and play, the HP Specter x360 should be at the top of your list. With its potent specs and convertible versatility, this device is ready to handle whatever the day throws at you.
Best for Performance: Razer Blade 15
Powerful Performance
The Razer Blade 15 is a powerful laptop designed for intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, and 3D modeling. It packs an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card, so you’ll blaze through CPU-intensive programs and graphics-heavy games. The 15.6-inch display comes in either 4K OLED or 240Hz options for incredibly vibrant visuals and smooth frame rates.
With up to 1TB of SSD storage and 16GB of RAM, you’ll have plenty of space for large files and the ability to run multiple demanding programs simultaneously without lag. The vapor chamber cooling system, unique to Razer laptops, prevents overheating so you can push the Blade 15 to its limits. When you need maximum power, activate Razer’s Boost feature to instantly overclock the CPU and GPU for peak performance.
Premium Build
The Razer Blade 15 has an all-metal unibody chassis that looks and feels premium. At just 0.78 inches thin, it maintains a sleek profile for a gaming laptop. The keyboard is designed for gaming with customizable RGB backlighting, anti-ghosting technology, and dedicated macro keys. The large trackpad is also ideal for productivity and navigation. Despite its solid construction, the Blade 15 only weighs 4.7 pounds, so you can easily transport it on the go.
Overall, the Razer Blade 15 sits at the top of its class with unparalleled performance and build quality for a laptop geared toward intensive tasks. If you’re looking for a premium Windows laptop that can handle demanding schoolwork and high-end gaming with ease, the Blade 15 is an exceptional choice. You’ll get desktop-level power in a portable form factor with a premium design.
Best 2-in-1: Microsoft Surface Book 2
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a powerful 2-in-1 laptop that can handle both schoolwork and gaming. Its versatile design lets you use it as either a tablet or laptop.
Processing Power
The Surface Book 2 packs a 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and up to 16GB of RAM, giving it plenty of power for multitasking, running demanding programs, and playing graphics-intensive games. The discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card with 6GB of dedicated memory means you can play popular games at high settings.
High-Resolution Display
The 13.5-inch PixelSense display has a high resolution of 3000 x 2000 pixels, so text and images will look sharp and detailed. The screen supports 10-point multi-touch and Surface Pen input for natural writing and drawing. In laptop mode, the display detaches from the keyboard base to become a lightweight tablet.
Storage Space
Choose from 256GB up to 1TB of solid-state drive storage so you’ll have room for all your school files, applications, games, photos, and other media. The SSDs provide fast boot and load times.
Connectivity
The Surface Book 2 has all the essential ports you need, including USB 3.0, USB-C, SD card reader, and headphone jack. It also supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 for wireless connectivity.
Battery Life
Expect up to 17 hours of battery life for video playback, meaning you can get through a full day of classes or work on a single charge. The keyboard base also contains a second battery to provide extra juice when in laptop mode.
For a powerful yet versatile laptop that can handle both productivity and play, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 is an excellent choice for students and gamers alike. Its premium design, high-performance hardware, and long battery life make it a compelling 2-in-1 device.
FAQs: What You Need to Know Before Buying a Laptop for School and Gaming
So you’re in the market for a new laptop that can handle both your schoolwork and gaming needs. Before you dive in and buy the first flashy model you see, there are a few things you should consider to make sure you end up with a laptop that suits all your needs.
Operating System
Do you prefer Windows, MacOS, or Chrome OS? Windows and MacOS are best for running full desktop applications, while Chrome OS is ideal if you mostly use web apps and the Google suite of products. For gaming, Windows is typically your best choice as most games are made for Windows PCs.
Processor
For multitasking between lots of browser tabs, streaming video, and running other apps while gaming, choose an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor or better. More powerful Core i7 or Ryzen 7 options are good for high-end gaming.
Memory
Aim for at least 8-16 gigabytes of RAM for good performance while gaming, streaming, and doing schoolwork. More memory means you can have more browser tabs, apps, and programs open at once without slowing down.
Graphics Card
For playing graphics-intensive games, get a dedicated graphics card like an NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX card or an AMD Radeon RX card. The more powerful the card, the better your gaming performance will be. Integrated graphics on the processor are fine for basic tasks but won’t handle serious gaming well.
Storage
Choose between a hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), or a hybrid of both. SSDs are faster but more expensive. Aim for at least 256 gigabytes of storage for your operating system, programs, games, and files. More is better if you have a large game library or media collection.
Battery Life
If you’ll be using your laptop on the go for school, look for one with at least 6-8 hours of rated battery life for light tasks like web browsing and productivity. Gaming laptops typically have shorter battery lives, around 3-5 hours.
Does this help give you an idea of what to consider when choosing a laptop that can handle both your schoolwork and gaming needs? Let me know if you have any other questions!
Conclusion
So there you have it, the top 10 best laptops for schoolwork and gaming. Any of these options would be a great choice for your needs. Whether you’re looking for an affordable laptop for basic school assignments or a powerful gaming machine to play the latest titles, this list has you covered.Â
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with a laptop that fits your budget, has a solid-state drive for fast performance, and a graphics card capable of handling your favorite games. Now get out there, find a laptop you love, and get to work – or play! The possibilities are endless.