You need one of the Best Laptops for your Doctorate and Research Studies so read this article about the Best Laptop for PhD Students in 2024.
Apart from the complete dedication and determination to a college or University education, you will require a few other important tools for success.
And the most important among them is a capable laptop that can handle the workload smoothly.
Throughout your education as a Ph.D. student, you will need to deal with challenges and tasks daily.
Which makes your laptop an important piece of equipment for your education. You will have to spend most of your time as a Ph.D.
student consolidating and checking data as well as the sources. And not only that you will also need to simplify the information you have gathered.
Which requires your laptop to do multiple tasks at the same time. To save your energy and time we have already compiled the list of the 12 Best Laptops for PhD Students in 2024 with their detailed reviews and test results.
Also Read: 10 Best Intel Core i9 CPU Laptops
12 Best Laptops for Ph.D. Students in 2024
Although there are plenty of devices available in the market choosing the best out of them is a very difficult task. Especially when you don’t have any knowledge about laptop hardware components.
On top of that, the article will provide you with all the technical details about each device to provide you with a better idea of their performance.
So without wasting any more time let’s jump into the article to find you the best device recording to your needs.
Also, you can explore intolaptop.com to find more laptops that come with different processors.
1. Lenovo Thinkpad E15
“Sleek, Lightweight & Portable”
- Display: 15.6″ FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5-5625U, 6-Core, 4.3GHz
- Graphics Card: Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics
- RAM & Storage: 16 GB, 512 GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Battery Timing: Up To 13 Hours
- Metal Lid
- Excellent Connectivity
- Overall Great Performance
- Portable & Lightweight
- Speakers Are Average
- The Base Unit is Plastic
The E series of Thinkpad by Lenovo is one of the most successful genres of laptops in the market because of its practicality and performance.
Apart from that the price tag is also affordable but the manufacturer has not cut corners in the build quality and the hardware configuration.
The design of this laptop is very streamlined with round corners and sleek aesthetics. The base unit of this laptop is made out of plastic but the display lid is constructed out of metal.
Compared to other similar devices the Thinkpad is considerably slim and also lightweight. When you open the display, you first notice the slightly thick bottom display border.
But on the other hand, you are getting the full HD display which is not common under this price range. The webcam which is housed in the top display border is equipped with a privacy shutter.
This feature is very useful if you are concerned about your privacy while you’re connected to the internet. Despite the fact that it is a slim laptop you will still find more than enough connectivity options in the base unit.
The trackpad offers physical click buttons as well which are always better and more accurate as compared to the integrated buttons. It blows the hot air out from the back and there you will also find cutouts for the speakers.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON2. HP Spectre X360
“Metal build Convertible Device”
- Display: 16″ 3K+ 3072 x 1920, Touch IPS
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7, 4-Core, 4.2GHz
- Graphics Card: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM & Storage: 16 GB, 512GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Battery Timing: Up To 10 Hours
- Stylus Included
- Metal Build
- Great Performance
- Responsive Touch
- Comparatively Hefty
- The Base is Slightly Thick
- Connectivity is Limited
This two-in-one convertible HP X360 laptop is made out of aluminum including the chassis with provides it durability and sturdiness.
Our review unit was in dark blue but you can get it in a few different color schemes according to your choice. During our review, we noticed that the most ranking element of this device are certainly is the corners at the back which are kind of beveled.
On top of that, you will also find here an audio combo Jack when the USB-C port. Another great thing is that the battery of this laptop is fixed with the help of screws.
Unlike many similar laptops where you find the battery glued to the chassis. If you talk about the build quality of this convertible device we didn’t have any complaints with it.
In fact, it is one of the most excellently built convertible laptops you can find currently in the market. Because of the metal built the display lid and the base unit remain firm when you put some pressure however, there is a little bit of flex which is normal.
The Hinges which hold the display in place are strong but still, you can open this laptop with a single hand. If you are interested in buying a convertible laptop as a PhD student this laptop could be a great option for you.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON3. Microsoft Surface
“Professional Work Device“
- Display: 13.5″ PixelSense 2496 x 1664, Touchscreen
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 Series
- Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 620
- RAM & Storage: 8 GB, 256 GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Battery Timing: Up To 11 Hours
- Metal Build
- Decent Power
- Excellent Battery
- Detachable Keyboard
- Ports Are Limited
- The Keyboard is So So
The liking for appearance and design of the laptop matters from person to person, but it is a fact that Microsoft Surface Pro is certainly among the most gorgeous notebooks.
On top of that, it comes with a detachable keyboard so you can use it as a Windows tablet as well. This touch configuration becomes really handy for Ph.D. students because they can take notes directly with the help of a stylus.
On the other hand, our review unit hasn’t come with an included stylus. This means you have to buy the stylus separately by spending some extra money.
As far as the build quality is concerned the Surface Pro is made out of metal. In fact, the detachable keyboard that comes with it is also made out of premium soft material.
Although the keyboard keys are big and spacious still we felt that this keyboard doesn’t feel as good as the ones that come with traditional claim shall or convertible laptops.
The battery backup of this device is excellent it is one of very few Windows laptops that provides exceptional battery.
Because all of the hardware components, battery, and ports are housed in the display itself, The connectivity options are very limited. But you can compensate for it by getting an extra docking station.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON4. ASUS ZenBook
“Stylish Device With Solid Build”
- Display: 14″ FHD 1920 x 1080, NanoEdge
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9-5900HX, 8-Cores, 4.10GHz
- Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Vega 7
- RAM & Storage: 16 GB, 1 TB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Battery Timing: Up To 10 Hours
- Excellent Build
- Metal Chassis
- Decent Connectivity
- Fast Performance
- The Audio is Just Okay
- The WebCam Could’ve Been Better
The Asus Zenbook is entirely constructed out of metal including the display lid, the base unit, and the chassis. This is why it not only feels premium but also looks pretty stylish aesthetically as compared to other similar laptops.
Since it is a compact laptop it doesn’t have a numeric pad included in the keyboard. However, the manufacturer found an innovative way of providing consumers with a numeric pad.
The trackpad this device is equipped with doubles as a numeric pad with the push of a button. It is a very innovative feature that is also very useful for a Ph.D. student.
That display is curved from the bottom and when you open it it slightly lifts the laptop. That allows better airflow to the internal components and a more convenient angle for your typing.
It features an island keyboard with a backlit so you can conveniently work in any lighting conditions. It offers you a decent amount of connectivity ports that can accommodate your essential devices to keep your work get going.
On the other hand, this device is not only aesthetically pleasing but also offers excellent performance for your work. Anyone who is looking for a stylish performance device could consider this Asus laptop a great option under this price range.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON5. Acer Swift Go
“Practical & Compact Design”
- Display: 14” WUXGA 1920 x 1200, IPS
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1355U, 10-Core, 5.00 GHz
- Graphics Card: Intel Iris Xe graphics
- RAM & Storage: 16 GB, 512 GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Battery Timing: Up To 8 Hours
- Build Out of Metal
- Superb Performance
- Decent Connectivity
- Sleek & Streamlined
- It is Slightly Thick
- The WebCam is Just Okay
You can consider Acer Swift Go an affordable option for PhD students that also provides you with excellent performance for your work.
Aesthetically the manufacturer has kept this device pretty simple and you will not find any design elements as well. This is completely fine since under this price range consumers are more concerned about the performance of the device instead of how it looks.
And as far as performance is concerned it will not be going to disappoint you. It is equipped with powerful and capable hardware which allows you to run any kind of intensive and demanding program smoothly.
On top of that, the display it features is bright and high resolution enabling you to work in any outdoor lighting conditions.
The borders around the display are pretty narrow which makes the display looks bigger than it really is. Despite being a compact device it is still equipped with a decent amount of connectivity options.
They’re more than enough for you to connect your essential devices. That trackpad is very specious as well as responsive and accurate, you can easily use the Windows gesture features.
The chassis of the device is made out of metal making it a very sturdy and rugged laptop. The build quality is superb and we don’t know if it’s only us that the keyboard that area kind of resembles with MacBook.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON6. HP Pavilion Aero
“Easy To Carry Device”
- Display: 13.3″ WUXGA 1920 x 1200 IPS
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5-5625U, 6-Core, 4.3GHz
- Graphics Card: Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics
- RAM & Storage: 8 GB, 512 GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Battery Timing: Up To 10 Hours
- Elegant Design
- Very Lightweight
- Portable & Compact
- Superb Performance
- Limited Connectivity
- Basic Speakers
The HP Pavilion Arrow is not only sleek and slim but also it is very lightweight. Although ugh the design of this is nothing special and it looks just how an HP work laptop would look.
But at the same time when you lift it in your hands then you realize how easy to carry it is. And because of that it is most suitable for PhD students who have to carry their laptops on a daily basis.
The exterior as we have mentioned is not fancy at all but to the point. When you open the display lid you find an integrated fingerprint reader just below the keyboard at the right-hand side.
Trackpad on the other hand is decently spacious when you consider the dimensions of this laptop. The keyboard it features is not a separate panel and it is integrated into the base unit.
Also, the keyboard continuous the same color scheme which makes it look more elegant. The border around the display is pretty slim however the brightness levels would have been higher.
Still, you can work in outdoor lighting conditions if you want the brightness of the display is not too bad. The performance of this device is excellent for work and study use in the battery backup is also superb.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON7. Lenovo Yoga 7
“Quality Metal Build”
- Display: 16.0″ Wide QXGA 2560×1600, 60Hz Touch
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1240P, 4-Core, 3.7GHz
- Graphics Card: Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM & Storage: 8 GB, 256 GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Battery Timing: Up To 7 Hours
- Metal Build Chassis
- Solid Performance
- Plenty of Ports
- Decent Battery Backup
- Comparatively Heavy
- Average Speakers
The body of the Lenovo Yoga convertible laptop is made out of aluminum entirely including the chassis. The grey color scheme makes it look like a professional laptop which is intended for the work environment.
The device feels premium when you pick it up and everything is very well put together. On top of that, the display borders are very narrow and the display itself is decently bright.
This means doing your work outdoors as a Ph.D. student will be a very pleasant experience. The build quality as we have mentioned is top not and we have nothing to complain here about.
Because it is a convertible laptop the Hinges which hold the display in place are pretty solid. They don’t let the display wobble too much even while adjusting the display lid to your preferred angle.
You can use a stylus with it but for that, you have to buy it separately since it is not included in the package. Although the design of this device is pretty slim at the same time, the rubber stoppers at the underside make it stand slightly high.
Which ultimately results in better airflow to the internal components for optimal temperatures. The keyboard it features also happens to be backlit and the overall typing experience is pretty comfortable.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON8. Dell Inspiron Convertable
“Convertible Streamlined Design “
- Display: 14.0″ FHD+ 1920 x 1200, IPS Touch
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1255U, 10-Core, 4.7 GHz
- Graphics Card: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM & Storage: 32 GB, 2 TB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Battery Timing: Up To 11 Hours
- Gorgeous Display
- Powerful Hardware
- Responsive Touch
- Slim & Sleek
- Limited Ports
- Slightly Hefty
The Dell Inspiron 2 in 1 convertible laptop has gone through a design refresh and a few updates here and there. Now the edges are sharper and the rear vents have also been improved.
For this review, the device we got was in the traditional silver color, and that made it look more elegant and streamlined. Since it is a convertible laptop you can use the stylus to take notes as a Ph.D. student however it is not included in the package.
And if you want to use a stylus you have to buy it separately. Unlike the majority of other convertible laptops, this Dell Inspiron is not very thick.
But on the other hand, the connectivity options are good but not excellent. The display borders are comparatively thin and the display itself is pretty bright.
The resolution of this display is also excellent especially when you consider the price tag. Normally convertible laptops are not known for exceptional battery backup with few exceptions of course.
However, the Dell Inspiron provides you with a pretty decent battery backup to get you going with your studies. Owing to its powerful hardware components the performance of the device is simply excellent.
And if your main purpose of getting this laptop is studies then certainly it will not going to disappoint you in terms of power.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON9. ASUS VivoBook
“Affordable But Powerful”
- Excellent Performance
- Nice Sleek Design
- Superb Connectivity
- Decent Battery Backup
- Plastic Base
- Slight Flex
Just like the normal Vivobook the 15x variant also offers you the same build quality, the display lid is made out of metal, and the base unit is made out of plastic.
However, this variant is different as compared to the regular Vivobook in terms of design. The most prominent difference is that the keyboard deck area and the trackpad both are more specious as well as more defined.
The borders around the display are also comparatively thinner and the hardware components have been upgraded to more powerful ones.
The chassis of the device shows a little bit of Flex but it is pretty normal in almost all of the similar laptops which offer plastic build base units.
On top of that, this device is the more affordable variant which is why manufacturers have done some compromises to keep the price tag as low as possible.
The OLED display doesn’t offer the Gorilla glass coating which is the reason you will notice a slight flex in the display lid despite being made out of metal.
On the other hand for Ph.D. students, this laptop is very suitable because of its powerful hardware components and lightweight aesthetics.
The connectivity options this device offers or excellent and you can connect all of your essential devices with it conveniently.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON10. Apple MacBook Pro 2022
“Premium Powefurl Device”
- Display: 13.3″ Retina 2560 x 1600, IPS
- Processor: Apple M2 8-Core CPU
- Graphics Card: Apple 10-Core GPU
- RAM & Storage: 8 GB, 512 GB SSD
- Operating System: Mac OS
- Battery Timing: Up To 18 Hours
- Exceptional Battey Backup
- Excellent Premium Build
- Powerful Hardware
- Portable & Compact
- Limited Connectivity
- Same Core Design
The Apple MacBook Pro is certainly one of the most gorgeous and elegant devices on the market currently. However, the core design of this laptop is exactly the same as its predecessors.
On the other hand, the manufacturer has upgraded the internal entirely and now it offers the Apple M2 processor which offers supers fast performance as well as excellent battery backup.
The best part about this CPU is that it is very efficient but it doesn’t compromise the performance at the same time. On top of that the integrated Apple multi-core graphics chip enables it to deal with any kind of intensive and demanding workload.
The size of this device is extremely portable and compact which allows you to carry it easily with you as a Ph.D. student. The display it features is a liquid retina and the brightness levels are excellent.
The only thing that we found annoying regarding the display here is the notch above it. Which is very much identical to the one you got on your iPhone.
Connectivity options in this MacBook are as usual pretty limited however you can get an external docking station if you want to connect all of your essential devices simultaneously.
Now the price tag as compared to other laptops is higher but certainly with its exceptional performance and features it completely justifies it.
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
Here you have our list of the Best Laptops for Ph.D. Students in 2024 with their detailed reviews and test results. As we have mentioned earlier multitasking is one of the main requirements for a Ph.D. student.
And to be able to do that smoothly on your laptop depends almost entirely on the processor. The latest generation multi-core processor will provide you with fast speed, especially while multitasking apart from your work.
Another important requirement is that the laptop should be portable and lightweight. Which will allow you to carry it with you in your backpack without stressing up your back.
On the other hand, it should provide more than enough battery backup allowing you to keep going with your studies without any hiccups.
While compiling this list we were well aware of these requirements and that is why all of the devices mentioned will provide you with these features.
The build quality also matters a lot for the durability and longevity of the laptop since buying one is not cheap these days. If you are still not sure which of the above laptop will be best suited for you then you should read our detailed laptop buying guide.
You can also visit intolaptop.com for all kinds of laptops and their related accessories.
LAPTOP BUYING GUIDE 2024
|
- 10 Best Laptop for Laser Engraving AMD Intel 2024 - March 9, 2024
- 11 Best Laptop for Mechanics Intel AMD 2024 - March 9, 2024
- 12 Best Laptops for Tattoo Artists 2024 - March 7, 2024
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API