If you’re a business major, you will require a laptop that’s a tad bit different to your peers who study other subjects. Why? Because you’ll need to spend a lot of time on your device crunching through number, analyzing and making spreadsheets, and preparing presentations. To an extent, the work isn’t only challenging for you, but also your device.
With all these tough tasks ahead, you stumble upon a question: What is the best laptop for a business school and its students? How do you decide which is the one for you and what is the selection criterion?
If all these questions have risen in your head and want some honest, genuine answers, you’ve come to the right place. After tons of field testing, comparing, and judging, we’ve prepared the ultimate list of the best laptops for business schools that will impress with power and performance.
For your convenience, we will also include a buying guide as well as our process of selection so you’re aware of how exactly we did this rundown.
What Features To Look Out For
A lot of business schools have a fixed requirement list that the students need to follow while making the purchase, but we’ll be getting to that in the testing section where we discuss in-depth about why we chose what we chose.
Here’s a deeper dive into the factors you should consider while getting a laptop for business school.
Performance
Business majors need every bit of the performance a device has to offer for maximum utility. Improved graphics might be the primary concern for art majors or a creative student, but that’s an added bonus when you’re operating QuickBooks and PowerPoint.
You’ll definitely want to find something with a RAM worth 8GB, if not more. Make sure to check for O.S. (Operating System) compatibility. Windows 10 Professional O.S is the recommended one for Windows laptops, and whatever the latest version is of macOS goes for Apple.
Weight
There was a time when the more features a laptop had, the heavier it would be. Students would feel the burden when they’d have to carry a 7-pound laptop with them for hours as they completed classes and their daily routine. A typical 15’’ laptop weighs anywhere from 5 to 5.5 pounds.
There are 13’’ options with a lighter frame to make it lighter, thus more portable, but the makers might have omitted a DVD player for the purpose. Lighter and more compact models will save you tons of space in the bag as well as spare you from back or shoulder pain.
Battery Life
It’s obvious that you won’t be able to access and electrical outlet everywhere you go, especially if you’re a student who needs to be on the move constantly. In between the strenuous hours, the last thing you want to worry about is searching high and low for a plug to recharge your device.
That’s why you need to purchase a laptop that offers enough battery backup so you can comfortably get a lot done. However, this doesn’t mean that a laptop will act nonstop without recharging for the whole day, so don’t leave your charger at home. But it’s ideal that you look for a higher battery life.
Budget
Just because you’re looking for a bunch of decent factors in a device, doesn’t mean you’ll have to give up an arm and a leg to obtain it. There is plenty of amazing budget options in the market that excel in performance at a price that will literally blow your mind.
Additionally, there are many laptops especially made by mane brands for students that come at a reasonable price. Apple offers lucrative discounts for students on their MacBook.
Best Laptops For Business School
HP ENVY 13
The Envy 13 is everything you’d want in a college-ready laptop. It’s fast, affordable, and looks very sleek. The new and improved 2019 version features a fingerprint sensor along with a webcam kill switch that cuts off the power to the camera so you can avoid pesky snoopers. The features plus the classy design, amazingly bright 1080p or 4K display and solid performance from the 8th Gen core makes it the complete package.
Features
- 11+ hours battery life on FHD models.
- 16 GB RAM.
- 4K model comes with a discrete graphics card.
- 512GB SSD.
- 13.3’’ display, weighs 2.8 pounds.
- Intel core i5 and i7 options
Pros
- 11+ hours battery life on FHD models.
- 16 GB RAM.
- 4K model comes with a discrete graphics card.
- 512GB SSD.
- 13.3’’ display, weighs 2.8 pounds.
- Intel core i5 and i7 options
Cons
- Quick performance.
- Attractive and light chassis.
- Vivid display.
- Powerful, sharp speakers.
LENOVO Yoga 710
Yoga 710 by Lenovo is surprisingly affordable for the features it has to offer. A 2-in-1 laptop priced about $600 is a great deal indeed. The 15.6’’ IPS touchscreen display has a high viewing angle and incredible color accuracy. The good battery backup ensures you can rely on it in your long college or university hours.However, it’s a bit on the heavier side, so that must be considered if you’re looking for a laptop you can carry in your hand the entire day.
Features
- Intel Core i5-7200U processor.
- 256GB SSD.
- 8GB DDR4 memory.
- Intel HD Graphics 620.
- Backlit 10-point multi-touch screen.
- Weighs 4.4 pounds.
Pros
- Intel Core i5-7200U processor.
- 256GB SSD.
- 8GB DDR4 memory.
- Intel HD Graphics 620.
- Backlit 10-point multi-touch screen.
- Weighs 4.4 pounds.
Cons
- Double it as a tablet or laptop.
- Decent build.
- Great display.
- Nine hours battery life.
HP Spectre X360-13T
The Spectre X360-13T takes a different route from the traditional HP in the design department. The 8th generation Intel processor makes for some remarkable performance, and pair that up with the Core i7 processor, you get quite an option for your list.
The internal cache memory is 8MB and it’s super-fast, so it can quickly process all the heavy applications you’ll need to run while working with large numbers. It’s a touch screen laptop, so you’ll also get a sleek stylus.
Features
- Intel Core i7-8550U processor
- 16GB LPDDR3 RAM.
- 512GB SSD.
- Intel UHD Graphics 620.
- WLED backlit full HD screen.
- 13.3’’ screen, weighs 2.78 pounds.
Pros
- Gyroscope for rotational speed detection.
- eCompass available.
- Accelerometer for safeguarding hard drive.
- 17 hours battery life.
Cons
- Pricey.
- Sounds get shrill at maximum volume.
HUAWEI MateBook X Pro
The MateBook X Pro is mainly a mid-range gaming laptop that topped the charts in best laptops for business schools for the great value at a money’s worth. If your budget is within $1000-$1500, purchasing this will definitely be a good decision. The performance is top class and you’ll also get a pretty good gaming experience out of it. The design is very user-friendly and HUAWEI has included some exciting stuff.
Features
- Intel Core i7 8550U processor.
- 16GB DDR3 RAM.
- 512GB SSD.
- GeForce MX150.
- 8-second start-up.
- 13.9’’ display, weighs 2.9 pounds.
Pros
- Very portable.
- Gaming convenience.
- 8-10 hours of battery life.
- Includes Mate Dock for connecting various ports.
Cons
- Tends to heat up during high intensity gaming.
- Somewhat flawed webcam.
APPLE MacBook Air
Apple’s MacBook Air looks like a lightweight, but it’s been made for some pretty heavy-duty use. Featuring an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor and great RAM and SSD figures, this option would be a great choice for any student having some extra coins to splurge. The display would be a highlight of the laptop, as the 4 million pixels packed into the screen make for crisp images and bright colors. As much with any original Apple product, you can be sure of the construction.
Features
- Intel UHD 617 Graphics.
- 8GB RAM.
- 256GB SSD.
- 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports.
- Patented Butterfly keyboard.
- 13’’ screen, weighs 2.7 pounds.
Pros
- 12 hours of battery life.
- Ergonomic keyboard design.
- Beautiful screen display.
- Classic design.
Cons
- Not budget friendly.
- Lacks storage space.
LENOVO ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Design isn’t the primary concern when buying a laptop as a business student, but the slim and light design of Lenovo’s X1 Carbon has managed to set itself apart from the crowd. The sturdy yet elegant design is soothing to the eye, while the excellent specifications provide fast and reliable performance. And while ports are obviously a part of every other laptop, this one offers a staggering selection of four. Since you’ll need to multi-task a lot, the wide display offers a convenient space to stack everything up.
Features
- Intel Core i5/i7 processor
- 8-16GB RAM.
- 256/512GB/1TB SSD.
- 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, 4-in-1 MicroSD card reader, HDMI port, and 2 USB 3.0 ports.
- Intel UHD 620 Graphics.
- 14’’ display, weighs 2.5 pounds.
Pros
- Remarkable performance.
- Chic, lightweight design.
- Amazing battery life on 1080p models.
- Solid display.
Cons
- On the pricey side.
- No MicroSD Slot.
- Shorter battery life on 4K models.
HP Envy x360
Even if we disregard the sleek, slim design, there are tons of compelling reasons to keep HP’s Envy x360 on this list. The 2-in-1 laptop offers much versatility while working or playing. The build is top-of-the-line and the performance is definitely worth mentioning. All this at a price that won’t make you broke – $699 (although, student life is mostly about that broke life). With a Bang &Olfusen sound system integrated, the laptop stuns with crisp sound as well as excellent viewing components.
Features
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500 CPU.
- AMD Radeon Vega 6 – Radeon Vega 10 Graphics.
- Intel Core i5/i7 processor.
- 8GB/16GB RAM.
- 256GB/1TB SSD.
- 13’’ display, weighs 2.8 pounds.
Pros
- 9 hours of battery life.
- Very portable.
- Good performance.
- Under $1000.
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3.
- No IR camera.
ASUS Chromebook Flip
If you have a budget under $500 but still want a great laptop that will get the work done, the Chromebook Flip will fit the bill. A Chromebook is a laptop created by Google to run Google apps. It won’t work without an internet connection and you can’t install many 3rd party apps. However, the laptop does excel in versatility, design, and convenience. And who doesn’t appreciate a backlit keyboard that just looks so fancy?
Features
- Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor.
- 4GB RAM.
- 64 GB Flash Storage.
- 360 Degree hinge for 2-in-1 use.
- Quick startup time.
- 12.5’’ display, weighs 2.7 pounds.
Pros
- Around 10 hours of battery life.
- Efficient performance.
- Doubles as a tablet.
- Lightweight.
Cons
- No discrete GPU.
- Can’t install 3rd party software.
DELL XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best premium laptops for any business student and delivers serious performance even when overloaded with work. The 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor is made for the struggle, but it also plays games like a dream. Did you know that the near bezel less display on all side is the first of its kind to appear on any laptop? And that’s the XPS 13. With all that power, it still doesn’t skim out on the pretty.
Features
- Intel Core i3/Core i5/Core i7processor.
- Intel Iris Plus GPU.
- 8GB/16GB RAM.
- 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD.
- 1920 x 1200 or 4K display.
- 13.3’’ display, weighs 2.8 pounds.
Pros
- No bezels at all.
- 12 hours battery life.
- Top-notch performance.
- Comfortable keyboard.
Cons
- No legacy ports.
- Leans toward the expensive side.
APPLE MacBook Pro
If you have a very high budget and are looking for the absolute best in the market, the MacBook Pro is the one for you. Thanks to its True Tone Technology, the screen sets up for a breathtaking display – colors, accuracy, and visibility. Students will get the crème de la crème of the laptop world with this piece from Apple. Super smooth performance plus the smooth, glossy design makes this laptop one that makes a strong impression. However, the gaming experience is limited to lower demanding variants.
Features
- 9th Gen Intel Core i7-i9 CPU.
- 16GB/32GB RAM.
- 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB SSD.
- UHD Graphics 630.
- Backlit Retina Display.
- 1.6 GHz Intel processor can be turbo boosted up two levels.
- 15’’ display, weighs 4 pounds.
Pros
- Jaw dropping performance.
- 10 hours battery life.
- Superb display.
- Crisp and booming audio.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Lacks USB ports.
Testing Criteria
Every laptop has to go through a series of extensive tests – both real-world and synthetic, before they make it to our list of best laptops for business schools. In addition to our own expectations, we also keep the college’s requirements in mind.
For example, business schools, like UCLA Anderson School of Management, have very detailed and specific guidelines for their MBAs regarding the type of computer they’ll require for the program. Here’s a look:
- Processor: Intel 5th Generation with Core i> 2 GHz.
- Hard drive: 250 GB with 8 GB free space.
- RAM (Memory): 4GB.
- Video Card: Integrated graphics.
- Webcam with Mic: 720p.
- Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g.
- Region: U.S. only.
- Warranty: 3 years parts and labor.
When we selected out top contenders, we made sure that they checked off in every single aspect. Sure, some of these required specifications are slightly backdated and that’s where our improved test with high benchmarks came in. We evaluate all aspects of the device, starting from performance, to display, audio, battery life, and also heat management.
In our testing, we took the help of a sRGB color gamut to determine the laptop’s display and aKlein K10 colorimeter for the brightness.
To test the performance, the laptop has to pass a range of standards, including 3DMark and Geekbench 4.3 and 5.0 professional graphics test. For checking real-word performance, we get the laptop to copy a 4.97GB multimedia file and convert a big 4K video to a 1080p resolution one. The real-world graphics tests have a Dirt 3 benchmark where the medium settings are 1080p resolution.
For scoring on the heat management sector, a full-screen video is played is played for 15 minutes and the temperature is measured throughout various timeframes at different areas of the laptop.
Finally, the web is explored over Wi-Fi continuously at 150 nits of brightness to test the battery life. For high-quality Windows laptops and MacBooks, a 9 hours runtime is considered decent. For gaming laptops and workstations, anything around 5 hours and more is considered impressive.
Our reviewers make sure to check every specification meticulously – spanning from laptop materials to the smallest details, nothing escapes our judgments.
Bottom Line
After all that testing and drawing satisfying conclusions, we have decided to crown two winners for the best laptops for business schools. The first going to the MacBook Pro by Apple, and the second going to the well-deserved XPS-13 by Dell. The reason for the tie is that one laptop soars above another with price and brand name, but they both deliver excellent value and one heck of a specification bundle.
If you can’t particularly afford the MacBook Pro, you can aim for the XPS-13. If that too seems out of budget, there are some other great options included in the list, not to mention the plethora of budget-friendly laptops multiple brands have to offer. The bottom line is that, whatever laptop you get, it should suit your purpose. Don’t just go for looks, or don’t just jump at any laptop offering a competitive price.
Do your research, make a list, and check into reviews to know about how others feel about them. An informed decision in the laptop department can make your college days that much easier.