As someone who is a laptop for gaming and for freelance related work. I understand the importance of having a reliable computer that is powerful enough to handle intensive gaming and efficient enough for my everyday workload. But are gaming laptops good for school or college students and can one keep up with their academic demands?
In this article, I will discuss the pros and cons of using gaming notebook for school and explore some of the best gaming laptops for college students, so they can get the most out of their devices. All without sacrificing portability or performance.
Can Gaming Laptops Be Used For School?
Yes, gaming laptops can be used for school, they have powerful processors, and graphics cards, ample RAM, and large storage capacity making them suitable for multitasking and running demanding applications such as video editing, and programming software. However, consider factors like battery life, size, and weight, as gaming laptops are bulkier compared to standard laptops and are more expensive.
The Pros and Cons of Gaming Laptops for School
The Pros
The Cons
More Helpful Content: How Much Do Gaming Laptops Weigh compared to How Much Does A Standard Laptop Weigh – What students need to know.
Top Gaming Laptops for College Students
For school, you do not necessarily need to invest a fortune in one of the best laptops. For most students a standard laptop with a good processor and plenty of memory and storage space would be a good choice. However, all this depends on what else you want to use the device for. Is it for playing modern games, video editing, or something else?
Your planned usage will dictate the price, so if you are on a tight budget or do not play high-end video games. The best option for your needs does not break the bank. Either way, here are some top recommended gaming laptops that have enough power for most students.
Best Overall: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G gaming notebook offers a great balance between gaming performance and portability. This laptop features a fast gaming AMD Ryzen 9 processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphic card, 16 GB of RAM and ample storage with a 1TB SSD.
The ASUS ROG G is a top-end 14-inch gaming laptop, with powerful specs and a compact design
- Powerful AMD Ryzen 9
- NVIDIA RTX 2060 Max-Q graphics
- White Chiclet Keyboard
- 5 Star Reviews
What makes the ASUS ROG Zephyrus a solid choice for both gaming and schoolwork is it has a slim design and longer battery life compared to other gaming computers with similar specs. This is a 14-inch compact gaming laptop and therefore, is easier to transport to and from class.
What We Like
- Beautiful Gaming Keyboard
- Sleek Thin and Light Design
- Excellent Graphics Performance
- 144Hz Refresh Rate Display
- Above Average Battery Life
- Great Gaming Laptop
- Features MUX Switch
What We Don’t Like
- Only 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Dim and Dull Display
Here this, I am not the only fan of this laptop, rtings have also recommended this computer for school and gaming. Agreeing to its compact design and processing power are perfect for students who need a powerful laptop to easily carry to and from lectures.
Runner-up: Razer Blade 14
The Razer Blade 14 would make an excellent gaming laptop for School due to its compact size. The Blade 14 boasts an AMD 9 6900HX processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics, and 16 GB RAM. With a sleek and robust design along with its impressive specs, the Razer Blade 14 is perfect for college students who need a powerful computer but also craves a little style.
The Razer Blade 14 is a compact gaming notebook, with a solid design and reliable hardware
- Powerful AMD Ryzen 9 Processor
- NVIDIA RTX 3080 TI Graphics
- Top Vapour Cooling System
- Beautiful 165Hz QHD Display
Like all Razer Blade laptops (including mine), it features the same high-quality premium build materials. I love how the Razer laptop feels and is so nice to type on. When I tested the Blade 14’s bigger brother, the Razer Blade 15, I was extremely impressed with its performance.
Not only that, but the user experience that Razer gaming laptops offer is not like anything I have had the pleasure to use before. But there is downside to this model, is that there are certain limitations with the Razer Blade 14, firstly the RAM (memory) is limited to 16GB. Due to its compact size the Blade 14 is know to run warm. (a cooling pad is needed for strenuous tasks)
What We Like
- Beautiful Gaming Keyboard
- Thin and Lightweight Design
- Excellent Gaming Performance
- 165Hz Refresh Rate Display
- Above Average Battery Life
- Colourful Display
What We Don’t Like
- Mediocre Battery Life
- Runs Warm Under Load
- Expensive (A Quality Laptop)
- Limited to 16 GB of RAM
Related Content: are Razer laptops good for school
Best Budget Option: Acer Swift 3
The Acer Swift 3 is one of the best affordable laptops for gaming and school that offers excellent gaming performance and strong multitasking capabilities all with an affordable price tag. This laptop comes with an Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processor, (no dedicated graphics) although the integrated graphics are more than capable for light gaming at 1080p resolution.
The Acer Swift 3 is an affordable laptop, suitable for light video gaming at 1080p resolution.
- 12th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
- Capable Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Ultra-Thin & Lightweight Design
- Bright QHD Display, 100% sRGB
Moreover, this laptop also features up to 16 GB RAM and a large SSD storage capacity. What’s more, the Swift 3 laptops have solidly built with an all aluminium frame and feels strong and solid. In addition, inside the solid frame is a bright 14-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) LCD screen.
Overall, the Acer Swift 3 laptop is one of the best cheap laptops without compromising on performance. This laptop weighs 1.40 kg and offers up to 11 hours battery life. Perfect for students to carry around campus or work until the wee hours without re-charging.
What We Like
- Fast Intel Core i5 Processor
- Ultra Thin Alumimum Design
- Excellent Everyday Laptop
- Bright QHD OLED Display
- Longer Battery Life
- Light Weight: 3.1 lb (1.4kg)
What We Don’t Like
- NO Dedicated Graphics
- Limited Upgrades
Honourable Mentions
- Lenovo Legion 5: A reliable and powerful gaming laptop with impressive specs to back it up. This laptops features an Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, and up to 32 GB RAM.
- MSI GF and MSI Stealth: Both offer solid gaming performance, featuring Intel Core processors, NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX graphics, and up to 64 GB RAM.
- Acer Aspire 5: A slim and lightweight option with an Intel Core processor, NVIDIA GeForce MX graphics, and up to 16 GB RAM, suitable for casual gamers and students.
Should I Buy a Gaming Laptop For School?
While gaming laptops offer impressive specs and performance, they may not be the most practical laptop for school. They are often heavy and bulky, and they can be more expensive than traditional laptops, which may not be feasible for some students.
Unless you plan on using your laptop for gaming during your downtime, considering a more budget-friendly and lightweight option may be a better fit. You should assess factors like budget, battery life, portability before making a final decision. If these aspects align with your priorities, a gaming laptop can be a suitable choice for school.
Are Gaming Laptops Good For College Students?
Gaming laptops can be good for college students, offering powerful multitasking and resource-intensive performance. Perfect for students who need a powerful computer for tasks beyond gaming, such as graphic design, video editing, or programming.
However, it is important to consider factors like battery life, portability, and cost. Gaming laptops tend to be heavier and more expensive than regular laptops. Gaming features such as a backlit keyboard and a high-resolution screen may not be necessary for academic pursuits.
Ultimately, you should consider a gaming laptop if it meets your academic requirements and aligns with your priorities. But, they can be especially suitable for students who live on campus.
Are Gaming Laptops Good For Grad School?
Gaming laptops can be suitable for grad school students, as they feature powerful processors and dedicated graphics cards capable of handling demanding software and offer strong multitasking capabilities. However, gaming laptops tend to be heavier and less portable than traditional laptops, and they generally come with a higher price tag.
If your studies involve resource-intensive tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, or other demanding applications, a powerful gaming laptop could be an ideal option. The same goes for students who enjoy online gaming and streaming with their peers.
Conclusion
Gaming laptops offer various benefits beyond gaming. Thanks to their high-quality hardware components, superior performance, smooth multitasking, and fast execution of applications, they are good options for school or college students. Gaming laptops are also good for work. It is a pleasure to use the Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop everyday.
Additionally, gaming laptops often have larger screens, better audio systems, and faster internet connectivity, enhancing accessibility and immersive learning experiences. While some models are portable, others can be bulky and require frequent charging.
Overall, gaming laptops are a valuable investment for students seeking to excel academically and recreationally. Offering high-performance processing, flexibility, and convenience. But, it is essential to choose wisely based on individual needs.
