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I’m trying to love Logitech’s Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse. I really am! But I’m continually tripping over this small detail, and it literally is making me more frustrated than I should be. It’s an intriguing, polarizing concept: By placing an “AI” button on the top of the mouse, Logitech gives users one-click access to ChatGPT to do one thing: simplify the writing and rewriting of text via an AI app called Logi Prompt Builder. It’s a tiny bit like Windows running on top of DOS. It’s a novel idea, and one you might expect Microsoft to develop, given the Copilot key that’s already appearing on laptop keyboards. Instead, Logitech is leading the way. What’s important to note is that Logi AI Prompt Builder is basically supported by every mouse and keyboard Logitech makes, so the M750 is just the showcase for this new technology. You can probably use it, too! The problem is that Logitech’s Prompt Builder doesn’t support one of the most basic functions of a mouse, and it’s very annoying. And did I mention that Microsoft already does it somewhat better, already? Logitech Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Logitech The mouse itself Let’s talk briefly about the mouse itself. The Logitech M750 clearly is based on other Logitech “Signature” hardware like the M650. The M750 is a quasi-ambidextrous mouse, with a neutral grip but thumb buttons that can only be used by right-handers. The mouse is small, about 4.25 inches long and 2.5 inches wide, and best suited to those users who like to control a mouse with their fingertips, rather than resting your entire hand’s weight upon it. It can be used either via Bluetooth or the small dongle stored within the mouse itself. Logitech’s Smart Switch technology allows it to be paired with up to three PCs, and the mouse supports the cool PC-to-PC Logitech Flow technology that debuted in 2018. It uses a single AA battery. Logitech’s Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse, viewed from the top. Logitech’s Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse, viewed from the top.Mark Hachman / IDG Logitech’s Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse, viewed from the top.Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG The M750 includes two primary buttons, of course, with a scroll wheel that can double as a third button. Out of the box, one of the two thumb buttons is set up to launch Windows’ voice typing, while the other launches a dedicated ChatGPT window. (That window differs from Prompt Builder, in that it accesses ChatGPT directly.) I typically use a dedicated lefty gaming mouse, but M750’s gliding action is smooth, and the click travel is short and efficient. Logitech’s Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse, from the bottom. Logitech’s Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse, from the bottom.Mark Hachman / IDG Logitech’s Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse, from the bottom.Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG Although Logitech typically offers multiple color options on its mice, the M750 is a monochromatic gray, with a bright green button in the center. Clicking that launches AI Prompt Builder. Logi Prompt Builder in Action The Logi Prompt Builder is essentially a component of the Logi Options+ app, which Logitech uses to control the functions of its various peripherals. Logitech seems to like downloading Options+ whether I ask for it or not, and it appeared on my PC as if by magic. Logitech says that Options+ users will have to set up Prompt Builder, and I was asked to do so, as well, through a quick introduction to what each function does. Logitech mouse and keyboard owners should see this new option in the Logi Options+ setup menu. Logitech mouse and keyboard owners should see this new option in the Logi Options+ setup menu.Logitech Logitech mouse and keyboard owners should see this new option in the Logi Options+ setup menu.Logitech Logitech Think of Prompt Builder as a GUI of sorts on top of ChatGPT. (You’ll use ChatGPT 3.5 by default, but if you have a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, sold separately, you can log in to use that too.) It’s a small window that hovers over your other applications. Prompt Builder does four basic things; you can Rephrase a block of text, Summarize a block of text (or a webpage), Reply (as if writing an email), and Create Email. Each function has two options attached to it, which can vary; you’ll usually have a “Length” option as well as “Style” or “Tone.” Each of the drop-down menus offers pre-selected options. The Recipes are to the left. I created a custom one, called “Sassy Gemma,” asking it to rewrite my text in the style of an English chimney sweep. The Recipes are to the left. I created a custom one, called “Sassy Gemma,” asking it to rewrite my text in the style of an English chimney sweep.Mark Hachman / IDG The Recipes are to the left. I created a custom one, called “Sassy Gemma,” asking it to rewrite my text in the style of an English chimney sweep.Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG What Prompt Builder is doing is providing an easy-to-use interface on top of ChatGPT. Your preferences are transformed into a text prompt when you hit submit. Say I want to rephrase this block of text, for example: If you’re a Mac user who has stumbled across this article, welcome. But please be aware that early Apple MacBook Pros powered by Intel silicon supported up to two 4K displays. The first MacBook Pros powered by the Apple M1 chip only support a single 4K display. Many Mac users have recently left negative reviews on Thunderbolt docks on shopping sites because of this. Buy a PC! My Prompt Builder selections add the following instructions for ChatGPT: Rephrase the following text: If you’re a Mac user who has stumbled across this article, welcome. But please be aware that early Apple MacBook Pros powered by Intel silicon supported up to two 4K displays. The first MacBook Pros powered by the Apple M1 chip only support a single 4K display. Many Mac users have recently left negative reviews on Thunderbolt docks on shopping sites because of this. Buy a PC! Present it in a short and concise way. Could you rework it to convey a more playful tone? Logi’s AI Prompt Builder is still subject to CHatGPT’s whims. Here, I asked for a 600-word response and received much less. Logitech calls all these functions “Recipes,” and allows you to make your own, too. You’re essentially prompting ChatGPT to do something for you, so you have a “Prompt” option, an “Input” text field, and two predefined parameters. It’s not a bad idea, and if you want your prose rewritten in the style of Abraham Lincoln or translated into French in the style of Baudelaire, all you need to do is prompt it. Where Prompt Builder stumbles Logitech is already making some interesting choices in the service of making AI-rewritten text better. But there’s one thing Prompt Builder doesn’t do that drives me insane: paste. Yes, paste. If I select a block of text and right-click it to copy, tap the AI button, and then try to right-click to launch paste…nothing happens. The right-click menu just doesn’t seem to work within Prompt Builder. Yes, I can CTRL+V my text into the box, but what’s the good in that? What you may or may not know, though, is that Microsoft Copilot already offers something similar, and arguably better. It’s a little obnoxious, actually. If you’re typing in a text field within Edge (as I’m am, writing this article) you can highlight a block of text and Copilot will volunteer to rewrite it for you. (You can also use Alt+I, instead.) Copilot will then automatically replace the text, if you wish. Copilot is there (isn’t it always?) if you need it. Copilot is there (isn’t it always?) if you need it.Mark Hachman / IDG Copilot is there (isn’t it always?) if you need it.Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG With Prompt Builder, there’s no right-click option to select a block of text and take action from the right-click menu. You have to copy the text, paste it in with the keyboard, make any adjustments, launch ChatGPT via Prompt Builder, and then copy the text and paste it back into Word or your text editor. At least you can use Edge, Word, or Windows to right-click-paste the edited text back in. What a peripheral maker like Logitech should excel in, though, is ergonomics. If Logitech is going to make software such an intrinsic part of our workflow, it needs to nail this particular aspect. It hasn’t, not totally. To steal the metaphor: Logitech Prompt Builder and the M750 still feels somewhat like a rough draft. Mice

Dell’s XPS line of laptops are known for their strong performance, long battery life, bright displays, and luxurious builds. If you’re the market for such a machine, you’re in luck. You can get the XPS 13 for $799 at Dell right now, which is a savings of $300. The chassis is made of aluminum, which is a light yet durable material, so it should be able to withstand the daily bumps of life. In fact, this particular model only weighs 2.59 pounds, meaning you can toss it in bag and take it anywhere with you. It’s also rocking some powerful internal components as well as a bright display, so let’s dive in. The Dell XPS 13 comes equipped with an Intel Core i7-1250U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. That’s more than enough oomph for office work, school work, day-to-day tasks, and so on. The 13.4-inch display has a resolution of 1920×1200, a refresh rate of 60Hz, and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. Given those numbers, the display should produce a vibrant and sharp-looking picture. Also, according to Dell, this machine can last up to 12 hours on a single charge. That’s a good result, more than a full workday, but you may see a different number depending on the brightness level. This is a really good deal, so make sure you take advantage of it now. Get the XPS 13 laptop for $799 at Dell Laptops

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsPunchy audio that’s great for FPS gamesSolid attractive and versatile designVery good noise cancellation ConsLacks support for spatial audioThe batteries need frequent changingIt’s expensiveOur VerdictThe Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is an excellent gaming headset, with punchy audio that’s ideal for FPS games. It also has a ton of functionality to help optimize your audio experience. Price When Reviewed329.99 Best Prices Today: Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Retailer Price $264.53 View Deal $329.99 View Deal Turtle Beach $329.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Turtle Beach Pro gaming headset sits right up there with a vanguard list of premium gaming headsets that offer impressive sound, but also the opportunity to optimize that sound for specific games. Read on to find out more… Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Wireless design and build The Stealth Pro has a profile I was happy to show off. It sports a sleek refined aesthetic that resembles a premium pair of headphones. The design boasts a metal reinforced headband and frame, which safeguarded it during my heavy use. I found the shiny metal was just what I needed on my daily commute — it survived the rough and tumble of my backpack. There’s good movement in the headset too; the cups rotate 180 degrees and the headband slides down to fit your ears. Although there’s less tilt than in some cans, the Stealth Pro Wireless still has enough to alleviate any tightness in your head and neck. The memory foam ear cushions are of medium thickness. They held soreness at bay well into a multi-hour gaming session. The earcup coverings were also extremely comfortable, being the soft leatherette kind. Although, they did get slightly sweaty when I was hot. Further reading: See our roundup of the best wireless gaming headsets to learn about competing products. Turtle Beach Stealth Pro controls The controls span both left and right earcups, but the majority can be found on the inner section of the right earcup. I was generally happy with the functionality I had at my fingertips, which not only included volume adjustment and power on/off, but also the ability to control the Bluetooth, ANC, and SuperHuman hearing (more on that later). The controls are flat buttons on the left and right earcups.  The controls are flat buttons on the left and right earcups. Dominic Bayley / IDG The controls are flat buttons on the left and right earcups. Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG The volume button is located on the outside of the left earcup and surrounded by a large mixer wheel. You can add extra functions to this button in the headset’s Audio Hub companion app, including a game chat mixer if you’re using the headset with Xbox, or multimedia controls if you’re using it with PC. The latter came in very handy for skipping through my library of movies. Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Wireless connectivity The Stealth Pro can easily be your go-to gaming headset across your devices. My review unit was made primarily for Xbox console, but it also worked with my PC, PlayStation 5, Mac, Nintendo Switch, and my cellphone. A PlayStation variant lacks the Xbox compatibility but connects to all the other devices I mentioned above and the PlayStation consoles. The Stealth Pro also comes with a circular wireless transmitter unit. A USB-C to USB-A cord facilitates hooking it up to your selected device. Unfortunately, there’s no option for direct analog wired connectivity. That meant I couldn’t use the headset with my guitar amp, which is slightly disappointing considering the headset’s current $330 price tag. Still, I could do a lot with the dual wireless connectivity which consists of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1. I found the Bluetooth was especially convenient for using the headset with my cellphone on the bus. The Bluetooth also has a simultaneous mode that allowed me to stream my phone calls while gaming. Although, it should be said, the headset only supports the default SBC audio codec, so users hoping for AAC support will have to do without. Turtle Beach Pro Wireless gaming performance The Stealth Pro’s 50mm neodymium drivers produce a bold sound, with a low, punchy bass and a gutsy treble. That makes it ideal for fast action games like FPS shooters, where explosions, loud thuds, and footsteps are really brought to the fore — think games like Halo, CounterStrike 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. That profile synced well with the headset’s SuperHuman Hearing technology, which you can activate on the right earcup. Once pressed, this feature emphasized sounds like footsteps and the close-up movements of players in my games, but it did slightly veil other sounds. Mid-range tones were a little flat at times, which means the headset had less of a neutral sound than the likes of the Audeze Maxwell Wireless headset. But this didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the audio. The clamp pressure was moderate, but I found it formed an effective passive noise isolation barrier, so I could play for long periods with the ANC switched off and still enjoy sound mostly free from environmental noise. Considering that the headset’s soundstage isn’t as big as with some headsets, it also meant the impact of the audio wasn’t lost for me. For a headset of this caliber to have no spatial audio seems like a lost opportunity. Sure, I can go out and find my own, but for a premium headset so skewed to FPS games, it should really have shipped with the option. The headset’s battery life of just 12 hours continuous playtime isn’t great. It’s very short compared to the up-to-70 hours you get from the likes of the Razer BlackShark V2. But some smart accessorizing by Turtle Beach saves the day, providing you manage your charging. You get an extra swappable battery that you can charge in the transmitter while you’re gaming, so there’s never any reason you should be without power. I found the headset’s mic conveyed my voice clearly. But even more impressive was the versatility the mic setup delivered. It’s detachable so I could use it like a premium set of headphones without anyone even knowing I was wearing a gaming headset. Turtle Beach Pro Wireless software Turtle Beach Audio Hub is the Stealth Pro’s companion app for Windows, Android, and iOS and can be downloaded from the Turtle Beach website. The app has a lot of useful features that allow you to customize, control, and optimize your headset’s sound to get the most from your gaming experience. For example, you can make and save audio presets for your different games or media using the app’s 10-band EQ chart, or apply boost settings to the headset’s bass, treble or vocals to emphasize a particular trait in your game sound. One of my go-to settings was the SuperHuman Hearing slider that let me adjust the SuperHuman Hearing from its maximum of 100 percent to a lower setting. This allowed me to better modulate the different frequencies when SuperHuman Hearing was switched on. I like that the headset’s mic is detachable so I could use it like a premium set of headphones without anyone even knowing I was wearing a gaming headset. The Audio Hub app for the Stealth Pro allows you to adjust the SuperHuman Hearing. The Audio Hub app for the Stealth Pro allows you to adjust the SuperHuman Hearing. Dominic Bayley / IDG The Audio Hub app for the Stealth Pro allows you to adjust the SuperHuman Hearing. Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG Should you buy the Turtle Beach Pro? The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is a sure bet for great gaming audio. This headset lists off a long and impressive list of features and functionality that any gamer would be happy to have — a premium well-built design, excellent cross-device compatibility, and no-holds barred audio that’s ideal for FPS games. It doesn’t give you spatial audio support, but you can just arrange your own. Headsets

Gaming monitors and laptops are all about that OLED panel upgrade at the moment, but what if your interests are a little less pew pew and a little more scribble scribble? Then you’re probably already familiar with Wacom’s Cintiq line of pen-operated monitors. The company’s newest screen-slash tablet has an OLED panel, which makes it surprisingly ideal for drawing on the go. The Movink is the first in a new line of monitor-tablet hybrids designed to be thin and light. And it scores on both counts, weighing in at just 420 grams (.92 pounds) and 4mm thin. Compared to Wacom’s One 13 monitor-tablet with the same sized screen, it’s less than half the weight. And, perhaps best of all, you can connect it to a PC or mobile device with just a USB-C cable for both data and power. The anti-glare screen is obviously important to artists. While the resolution isn’t amazing at just 1920×1080, the color accuracy is through the roof, boasting 100 percent DCI-P3 color accuracy, 95 percent on Adobe RGB, and Pantone Validation to make sure what you’re seeing is what you get on the final work. Naturally, it gets the benefit of OLED’s amazing color vibrancy and perfect black contrast. Wacom Wacom Wacom Some Wacom purists might need to make adjustments to their workflow since the screen only has two ExpressKeys for tool control, but the included Pro Pen 3 with integrated nib holder will feel very familiar. The Movink is compatible with all other Wacom pens and third-party stylus. And the tablet itself is compatible with any device that supports DisplayPort over USB-C, including ChromeOS and some Android phones. Now if you’re a fan of Wacom hardware, you’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop. Here it is: the Movink costs $750. More, if you want the carrying case and the fold-up stand. While that’s far from Wacom’s most expensive device (that would be the $3,500 Cintiq Pro 27 monitor), it’s also nearly double the price of the Wacom One 12. But something tells me a lot of digital artists will be lining up to buy one, especially if they like to combine work with travel. Monitors

Gone are the days of backpacks overloaded with binders and the chronic hand-cramps from trying to write as fast as possible. Nowadays, a good laptop elevates your productivity and allows you to keep all your important lesson materials in one place. Whether you’re new to campus or heading into your final year, having a laptop that’s capable, sturdy, and portable — with good battery life, natch — will help keep you on top of your studies, or gaming (no judgement). Why you should trust us: It’s in our name, PCWorld. We’ve been reviewing laptops for decades, with exacting standards applied to all facets of the user experience, from performance benchmarks to features to the rigors of daily use. Our experts know their stuff and have curated a comprehensive list of the best laptops for college students, with their particular needs in mind. After you finish looking over our recommendations, be sure to hit our daily updated roundup of the best laptop deals to try and score your favorite laptops on sale. Or check out our roundup of the best laptops for even more recommendations. We’ve also got a great article about the five laptop features that matter most. Updated April 25, 2024: We replaced the Best Ultraportable for Students pick with the Acer TravelMate P6 because it’s featherlight and more affordable. We’ve also added the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED as the Best Laptop for Students Runner-up pick because it has a beautiful OLED touchscreen display and phenomenal battery life. Best laptops for college students Dell Inspiron Plus 14 – Best overall for students Pros Fantastic performance Exceptional battery life Great typing experience Cons CPU throttles under heavy loads No user upgrades Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $999.99 at Dell Why we like the Dell Inspiron Plus 14 The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is one of the most well-rounded laptops available right now. You’re getting reliable performance, phenomenal battery life, and a superb-looking display. It only costs $999.99 too, which is several hundred dollars cheaper than our former top pick. With a PCMark 10 score of 7,061, it beat both the similarly spec’d Acer Swift Go 14 and the more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. (PCMark 10 gauges how well a laptop handles day-to-day tasks.) It also lasted a whopping 17 hours on a single charge, which is perfect for students looking for a long-lasting machine. You don’t have to go hunting for an outlet between classes, that’s for sure. Who should buy the Dell Inspiron Plus 14 Students looking for a well-rounded and long-lasting laptop. Performance and battery life are no doubt impressive, but the 14-inch 1400p display is also worth noting. According to our review, “the display is exceedingly well suited to office work and static imagery.” We measured a peak brightness level of 418 nits, which is plenty bright for writing papers and browsing the web. Plus, thanks to the anti-glare coating on the display, you can use this laptop in more natural lightning environments. The design is a bit boring, sure, but its hardware capabilities and long battery life make up for the uninspired aesthetics. You can’t really get much better than this–especially for $999.99. Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – Best laptop for students runner-up Pros Robust build quality Attractive OLED touchscreen Good CPU and integrated GPU performance Amazing battery life Cons Blah design Keyboard isn't memorable Mediocre connectivity Price When Reviewed: $849.99 Best Prices Today: $849.99 at Walmart$999.99 at Asus Why we like the Asus Zenbook The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED really dazzled us with its peppy processor performance, outstanding battery life, and sublime OLED touchscreen display. Movies and games “look realistic and vibrant” on the 14-inch 1200p display and the 75 watt-hour battery ran for a whopping 16 hours on a single charge. This result really blows away competitors like the Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9 and the HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14. As for how it fares in the performance department, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED turned in an impressive PCMark 10 score of 6,772 — that means it’s plenty fast during day-to-day tasks such as web browsing, chatting over video, and so on. Who should buy the Asus Zenbook The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a fantastic choice for students because it offers outstanding battery life, speedy overall performance, and a lovely OLED display. It’s also cheaper than our current top pick. That said, it’s a runner-up for a reason. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, which is still the reigning champ, is the more well-rounded option of the two. It has twice the storage, a higher resolution screen, and a better keyboard. However, if you’re looking to save a hundred bucks or so, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is still a great option. Read our full Asus Zenbook 14 OLED review Acer Aspire 3 – Best budget laptop for students Pros Spacious keyboard with number pad HD webcam Solid video playback performance Decent business app performance Workday-long battery life Cons Small 128GB storage drive A little heavy Price When Reviewed: $329.99 Best Prices Today: $299.99 at Amazon$329.99 at Acer Online Store$384.99 at Walmart Why we like the Acer Aspire For under $500, the Acer Aspire 3 laptop provides reliable performance as well as a durable build. It’s zippy enough for day-to-day productivity like binging your favorite shows on Netflix, checking e-mail, and so on. There’s even a full-sized keyboard and a 1080p screen. It even smashed the competition with a Cinebench R15 score of 1,925, edging out the Acer Aspire Vero 14, which has comparable hardware. By the way, the Cinebench benchmark measures how well a laptop handles processor-intensive workloads. Who should buy the Acer Aspire Anyone who’s on a restricted budget! To get more specific, we feel as though the Acer Aspire 3 is a good option for students because it’s affordable and a good performer. The HD webcam also produces “clean, crisp video” according to our review, which means you’ll always look your best in remote learning sessions. The 40 watt-hour battery is quite good too, lasting a total of eight hours on a single charge, so you don’t have to stop and go outlet hunting as you’re traversing from class to class. Read our full Acer Aspire 3 review Lenovo Flex 5i – Best Chromebook for students Pros Great build quality Vibrant touchscreen display Fast performance Nice typing experience Cons Stylus not included Average battery life for a Chromebook Heavier than expected Price When Reviewed: $499 Best Prices Today: $329 at Best Buy Why we like the Lenovo Flex The Lenovo Flex 5i is a great Chromebook because of its convertible design, fast performance, superb typing experience, and touchscreen display. The chassis has a luxurious aluminum finish on it, which makes it feel three or four times as expensive. The 360-degree hinge that connects the display to the rest of the laptops feels strong and like it won’t wear out anytime soon. The keyboard is also a dream to type on and easy to adjust to, and the 1200p display produces sharp, colorful visuals. Sure, it’s heavier than we expected right out of the box and the stylus isn’t included, but those are small trade-offs in the grand scheme of things. Overall, this is a really well-rounded machine. Who should buy the Lenovo Flex We feel as though the Lenovo Flex 5i is a good option for those who prefer using Google’s ecosystem. The beautiful touchscreen display and the convertible design really gives it the edge over other Chromebooks and even some Windows laptops, as you usually see those features in machines that cost much more. While the nine hour battery life is a little below average for a Chromebook, it’ll still last you a full school day and then some. At the end of the day, the Lenovo Flex 5i’s list of compromises is quite small. Read our full Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review MacBook Air (M3) – Best MacBook for students Pros Excellent battery life Great combination of price, features, and performance 256GB SSD is now two NAND chips, maintaining performance Cons Expensive memory upgrades Dual external display support requires closed lid Price When Reviewed: $1,299 (base) Best Prices Today: $1,199 at Amazon$1199 at B&H$1299 at Adorama Why we like the MacBook Air From the outstanding battery life to the spacious Liquid Retina display, the MacBook Air (M3) received high marks across the board. It comes with an 8-core CPU (M3) and a 10-core GPU as well as two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 66.5 watt-hour battery. Performance is similar to the MacBook Pro (M3), which means it can blitz through school work and casual use tasks. The only difference between the two is that the MacBook Air doesn’t have fans, resulting in quieter operation. This laptop also managed a whopping 19 hours on a single charge, which is great news for those with jam-packed schedules and have zero time to plug into the nearest outlet. Who should buy the MacBook Air Anyone who prefers MacOS over other operating systems! The battery life is incredible and the laptop itself weighs just a little over three pounds, which means you can easily take it anywhere with you. The 15-inch Liquid Retina (LED) screen is considered a step-down from the MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) display, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t look great, especially for everyday use. The $1,299 price tag is also reasonable for the performance and features. However, the 8GB of RAM is a little light. Acer TravelMate P6 – Best ultraportable for students Pros Long battery life Light and portable A good price for a business laptop Cons Keyboard is a tad mushy No NPU for future Windows AI features Consumer laptops deliver similar specs at a lower price Best Prices Today: $1158.99 at CDW$1168.63 at Amazon$1199.99 at Acer Why we like the Acer TravelMate The Acer TravelMate P6 is so lightweight that it might just float up into the stratosphere. It weighs just 2.65 pounds and is made of magnesium-alloy, which is a very light yet durable material. This is the kind of laptop you can easily toss in a bag and take with you from class to class. The 65 watt-hour battery also lasted nearly 13 hours on a single charge — more than a full school day! In the performance department, thanks to the Intel Core i5-1335U CPU, it’s equipped to handle coursework and day-to-day tasks. In fact, it managed a respectable Cinebench R20 score of 3,065, which isn’t far behind the more powerful HP Pavilion Plus. Who should buy the Acer TravelMate The Acer TravelMate P6 is a good option if you’re looking for a powerful, lightweight laptop. In addition to the slimmed-down form factor, it also features a 1080p webcam with a physical privacy shutter and a 14-inch 1200p display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The taller aspect ratio gives you more room to scroll through webpages and the 1080p webcam will make you look your best during remote sessions. Plus, the backlit keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience. What more could you ask for? Read our full Acer TravelMate P6 review Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition – Best gaming laptop for students Pros Impressive battery life Gorgeous 16:10 display Rugged chassis Cons Keys feel a bit soft 720p webcam is disappointing Price When Reviewed: $1,099.99 Best Prices Today: $949.99 at Best Buy Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is something of a rare gem in the sand dune. This specific model exhibits strong graphics performance as well as long battery life, which is unusual for a gaming laptop. Most gaming laptops last only a couple of hours on a single charge. Well, the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition and its 11 and a half hours of battery life is out here changing the script. That’s more than a full school day. Also, thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, it also managed 123 frames-per-second in the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark. That’s pretty darn good, especially for a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop. Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a great option for those who like to game after class. The pricing is reasonable and you’re getting reliable graphics performance as well as a spacious keyboard and decent battery life. It’s also a good purpose machine, so you can use it for coursework and day-to-day productivity. With a solid Cinebench R20 score of 589, it should have “no trouble running lightweight apps and programs,” according to our review. Alternative option: The Lenovo LOQ 15 stands as another solid budget gaming laptop option. It’s more than capable of 1080p gaming thanks to its more powerful RTX 4060 and the design is very sci-fi inspired. That said, it didn’t nab the top pick because of the poor battery life (not unusual for a gaming laptop) and limited port selection. Read our full Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition review Recent laptop reviews Dell XPS 14 (2024): The Dell XPS 14 is a looker, but even though it can offer respectable performance, it comes at such a high cost above competent — and often faster — competitors that there’s little reason to consider it. Acer Aspire Go 15: The Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) isn’t much to look at, but it plods along without much fuss, only struggling when demand is put on the meager integrated graphics or too much CPU horsepower is called for. For simple computing needs, it has clear value at just $300. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a masterfully executed dual-screen laptop that excels at providing a multiple-monitor experience on the go. This design comes with some tradeoffs, but they’re more than worth it if you want a dual-screen system. How we tested The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops. Windows laptops PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on. HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file. Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time. 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies. Chromebooks CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook’s battery life. Speedometer 2.0: This test determines a Chromebook’s web browser performance. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list. Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications. Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark. Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads. What to look for in a laptop for college The first thing to consider is budget. How much are you willing to spend on a laptop? If you’re working with an inflexible budget, Chromebooks are a good option. They’re affordable and designed to handle everyday tasks like writing papers, working on spreadsheets, and so on. Chromebook prices can range anywhere from $200 up to $1,000. If you want to spend a bit more, laptops with convertible touchscreens (otherwise known as 2-in-1s) offer a great deal of functionality. You can flip the screen around and use it like a tablet or prop it up like an easel for watching movies. Things like navigating your e-mail or watching Netflix will require more RAM. We recommend springing for 8GB of RAM or more. 4GB of RAM is fine and good for web browsing and basic office work, but 8GB is better for having more tabs open and whatnot. Plus, applications like Google Chrome and Spotify tend to eat up a lot of memory. Most people can get by with 4GB in a pinch if you’re on a tight budget, but you won’t be able to multitask as much. The final thing is a decent keyboard. In college, you’re going to be spending a lot of time typing. Depending on your personal preference, you may want either a full or short travel keyboard. Mechanical keyboards, for example, normally have longer travel. This helps prevent accidental keystrokes. The keys also give a lot of tactile feedback, as they bounce back after they’re pressed down. FAQ 1. Which laptop size is best? This is mostly personal preference. Students who bring their laptops to class or intend to travel a lot should consider a smaller, more portable size. Anything in the neighborhood of 13- to 14-inches is recommended. However, if you want to use your laptop for gaming, then you should consider something in the 15- to 17-inch range. It’s also important to keep in mind the weight of the laptop before buying it. Ultra thin laptops can weigh a featherlight two pounds while hefty gaming rigs top the scales at three or four times that—not exactly something you want to carry in a backpack everyday. 2. How long should a laptop last on a single charge? If you’ve got a jam-packed schedule, you’ll probably be running from class to class with very little downtime in between. That’s why we recommend a laptop with a long-lasting battery. We recommend something that’ll last 7 to 10-plus hours on a single charge, unless you want a notebook that can play games on the side—gaming laptops are notorious for their shorter endurance, even during everyday tasks. That 7 to 10 hours is a good figure if you plan on taking your laptop with you everywhere. 3. What about processing power? Most students will be able to get by with an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor. You don’t need anything mega powerful for everyday tasks and school work. However, if you’re using more graphically demanding programs on the regular, then you may want to spring for an Intel Core i7 or i9. It all really depends on your workload. For more specifics regarding the hardware you want inside your laptop, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on how to buy a budget laptop without getting screwed, as well as our broader cheatsheet on what to look for in a laptop CPU and GPU. Laptops