Best Laptops for Students 2026 – Update Thread
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yo so i’ve been helping students pick laptops for like 5 years now and 2026 is a different game entirely. here’s the real breakdown:
TOP TIER (for engineering/cs students):
– MacBook Pro M4 Max: €2,800 – overkill unless you’re doing ML
– Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: €1,200 – best value, Windows, super reliable
– Dell XPS 15: €1,500 – gorgeous screen, runs everything
MID TIER (most students):
– MacBook Air M3: €1,400 – honestly this is the sweet spot
– ASUS Vivobook 16: €700 – great battery, super light
– HP Pavilion: €600 – fine for humanities
PROTIP: don’t cheap out on the SSD. 256GB fills up fast when you’re doing projects.
What’s your budget and major?
1 replies
I think maybe the mid-tier is good for design students too? I need something that handles Figma and Adobe stuff smoothly. Would the MacBook Air handle video editing or should I go XPS?