Your major is the biggest factor in what you need under the hood.
13 to 14 inches is the "sweet spot." 15-16 inch laptops are great for screen real estate but can be a nightmare on tiny lecture hall desks. what computer should i buy for college
Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 (Good), Intel Core i7 / Apple M2 or M3 (Great). Your major is the biggest factor in what
Here is everything you need to know to find the perfect college laptop. 1. Start with Your Major (The "Rule of RAM") Here is everything you need to know to
Don't overbuy for power you won't use, but don't underbuy on build quality. A slightly more expensive, well-built laptop is cheaper than buying two cheap ones because the first one fell apart in sophomore year.
16GB is the modern standard. Avoid 8GB if you can afford the upgrade.
You will carry this thing across campus, from the library to the coffee shop, and up three flights of stairs in a dorm. Aim for under 3.5 lbs.