Choose the best Lenovo laptop for college students to combine learning, communication, entertainment.
Since 2023 is rich in choices of such laptops, I felt it necessary to make a ranking of the best ones based on:
- my market research
- student reviews of Lenovo as a study laptop.
Best Lenovo Laptop for College Students in 2023
For those who want an immediate answer to the question “which Lenovo laptop is best for college students,” here’s our final ranking on 2023 (Hereinafter affiliate links are used):
| Photo | Editor's comments | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall leader | Lenovo 2022 Newest Ideapad 3i Laptop, 15.6" Full HD 1080P Touchscreen, 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 128GB PCIe SSD, HDMI, Webcam, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth, Windows 11 Home, Almond | $479.00 | Buy On Amazon |
|
Most powerful | Lenovo Flex 5 Laptop, 14.0" FHD Touch Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 16GB RAM, 256GB Storage, AMD Radeon Graphics, Windows 11 Home, Graphite Grey | $583.00 | Buy On Amazon |
|
Compromise option | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop, 14.0" FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage, AMD Radeon 7 Graphics, Windows 11 Home, Abyss Blue | $489.00 | Buy On Amazon |
|
On a budget | Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 11" Laptop, 11.6-Inch HD IPS Display, MediaTek MT8173C, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Chrome OS, Blizzard White | $199.00 | Buy On Amazon |
My name is Reyus Mammadli and here we go!
I want to say right away that I chose only “student” Lenovo models. This allows you to stay within acceptable financial limits and not to overpay for gaming, video editing and business “features”.
Lenovo Ideapad 3i
I think this laptop is the best option for a student, because it combines all the basic functions, quite powerful parameters and quite a low price (just over $500).
See for yourself – 8GB of RAM is more than enough for the vast majority of applications and programs that most students encounter. The Lenovo Ideapad 3i will simply “fly,” delighting anyone who chooses it for their college studies.
The touchscreen display will make working and studying more comfortable and faster – and isn’t that the main purpose of the laptop you choose?
It is worth emphasizing that the parameters of this machine allow you not only to use standard programs, but also to play games and perform simple work in a video editor. Even after college you won’t want to throw away this laptop as its resource exceeds the standard requirements of the educational process in college.
| Standing screen display size | 15.6 Inches |
|---|---|
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 Pixels |
| Processor | 3 GHz core_i3 |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4 |
| Memory Speed | 2.6 GHz |
| Hard Drive | 128 GB SSD |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Chipset Brand | AMD |
| Wireless Type | Bluetooth |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 5 Hours |
| Brand | Lenovo |
|---|---|
| Series | Ideapad |
| Item model number | Ideapad |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 3.96 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 12.8 x 9.2 x 0.7 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 12.8 x 9.2 x 0.7 inches |
| Color | Blue |
| Processor Brand | Intel |
| Processor Count | 2 |
| Computer Memory Type | DDR4 SDRAM |
| Flash Memory Size | 128 GB |
| Hard Drive Interface | Serial ATA |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium ion batteries required. |
Lenovo Flex 5
Let me start by saying that this is the most powerful laptop in my review. It has enough power for two students (if that is possible to imagine). It has 16 gigabytes of RAM, AMD Ryzen 5 processor, touchscreen, and a lot of other “sweets”. And here I can expect from you a reasonable question: hey, why didn’t you give the Flex 5 the first place? Easy…
- first of all – it’s not a classic laptop for students, it’s more specialized. That is, if you are a liberal arts student, programmer, or mathematician, the previous option is good enough for you. But if you’re an engineering student or if, for example, you have to deal with graphics and video editors, then the Lenovo Flex 5 is more preferable for your college studies.
- The second is the price. The Flex 5 is more expensive than the Ideapad 3i by about a hundred and fifty dollars. I think for many people this is a significant point, when you just don’t want to overpay.
Here are its full specs (pretty good for about $650):
| Standing screen display size | 14 Inches |
|---|---|
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Processor | 2.1 GHz ryzen_5_5500u |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | ssd |
| Chipset Brand | AMD |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11ac |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 2 |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 12 Hours |
| Brand | Lenovo |
|---|---|
| Series | Ideapad Flex 5 14 Laptop |
| Item model number | 82HU00JWUS |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Item Weight | 5.02 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 18.81 x 11.18 x 2.83 inches |
| Color | Graphite Grey |
| Processor Brand | AMD |
| Processor Count | 1 |
| Computer Memory Type | DDR4 SDRAM |
| Hard Drive Interface | USB |
| Optical Drive Type | No Optical Drive |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
The Lenovo Ideapad 3, as you have already realized, is a great option for students. And I put the previous version of the Ideapad 3 (compared to the 3i) in third place, because it is quite a justifiable alternative in the price-quality ratio. You can save a couple dozen dollars here (you can spend it, for example, on an optical mouse), but do not lose much in technical characteristics. On such a laptop you will be able to do your homework, prepare presentations, prepare projects for sessions, as well as communicate and watch videos. What else does a student need? ))
| Standing screen display size | 14 Inches |
|---|---|
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Processor | 2.1 GHz ryzen_5 |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | SSD |
| Chipset Brand | AMD |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Wireless Type | 802.11ac |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 1 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 1 |
| Brand | Lenovo |
|---|---|
| Series | Ideapad 3 14 Laptop |
| Item model number | 82KT00GVUS |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Item Weight | 4.69 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 19 x 11.5 x 3 inches |
| Color | Abyss Blue |
| Processor Brand | AMD |
| Processor Count | 1 |
| Computer Memory Type | DDR4 SDRAM |
| Hard Drive Interface | USB |
| Optical Drive Type | No Optical Drive |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3
Maybe you’re limited to $300, maybe you already have a cool gaming/powerful computer or laptop and you’re just looking for something optimal for a little money for your education…
Whatever the case, the Chromebook Flex 3 is the optimal elegant low-cost solution. Yes, it has a small screen, but the touchscreen feature makes it handy, the small size adds mobility to the device while still being quite a working laptop for student tasks.
For less than $300 you get a good laptop from Lenovo which will always be on hand (and your hand will not get tired).
I wouldn’t be surprised if your fellow students in college said “wow” when they saw your Lenovo Ideapad Flex 3 Chromebook!
| Standing screen display size | 11.6 |
|---|---|
| Max Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 Pixels |
| Processor | 2.1 GHz mediatek_mt8183 |
| RAM | 4 GB LPDDR3 |
| Hard Drive | 64 GB flash memory |
| Graphics Coprocessor | PowerVR GX6250 |
| Chipset Brand | PowerVR |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Wireless Type | 801.11ac |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 1 |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 10 Hours |
| National Stock Number | 82HG0006US |
| Brand | Lenovo |
|---|---|
| Series | Ideapad Flex 3 Chromebook |
| Item model number | 82HG0006US |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Item Weight | 2.65 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 8.48 x 11.5 x 0.77 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 8.48 x 11.5 x 0.77 inches |
| Color | Blizzard White |
| Processor Brand | Mediatek |
| Processor Count | 1 |
| Hard Drive Interface | PCIE x 2 |
| Optical Drive Type | No Optical Drive |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
What kind of laptop should a student choose?
It is obvious that if you want your newly purchased laptop to please you not only in the first minutes after the solemn extraction from the box to the applause of relatives, roommates or the other half, then to its choice must be approached carefully. Fortunately in recent times about many models you can find reviews on the Internet, including ours, which greatly facilitates the task. However, if you want to choose by yourself, then you should know at least some of the features, so as not to take advantage of advertising, marketing and not always honest sellers.
As I mentioned before, you can look for a laptop, which will be every day in your backpack or bag, and you can – home laptop, rarely going out of the same room, but more productive. Needless to say, there are both compact and performance laptops, but their prices start at $800 and quickly go up to $1,200 or more. However, they all have a lot in common, so you can almost always use the following universal tips when choosing any one.
Display
Unfortunately, a good display can only be found in laptops starting at $400, and not in every laptop. This, of course, does not mean that you can not work with a laptop with a lower cost, but you will have to put up with a low resolution, low contrast and strong distortion when trying to look at the display at an angle other than straight.
Keyboard and touchpad
Their suitability for long work, even a few minutes of interaction with the laptop, you probably will not feel. If the keyboard sags, that’s okay. It’s annoying, that’s all. The touchpad is worth evaluating, but if anything, you can always buy a mouse. However, if you are going to use the touchpad a lot, it is worth paying attention to its area and tactile sensations – whether it suits you. Some people are annoyed by ribbed surfaces, some people are annoyed by too smooth surfaces.
RAM
The amount of RAM also depends on your budget and your needs. In general, 4 GB is a good and the most popular option for the classic student laptop. 8 and 16 GB of “RAM” will not be superfluous for image and video processing and similar resource-intensive processes, but even with 4 GB of “RAM” you can still live for some time without problems.
Is Lenovo laptop good for students?
I can safely say that Yes, Lenovo laptops will be very good for students throughout the college process. It is quite a well-known and reliable brand that has gained its popularity not only in the US, but all over the world. And, given that the requirements for a “student” laptop are quite simple and standard, but it is difficult to make a mistake here.
What type of laptop is best for students?
The Ideapad 3 is the best option for students who want their device to combine a “workhorse”, a gaming laptop and a low price. It’s pretty convincing, isn’t it?
How long do Lenovo laptops last?
Lenovo is a pretty reliable laptops that will last you 5-7 years or more, unless you crash or drown it. So by buying one before you start college, you can expect it to last and work after you graduate.
Is 8GB RAM enough for a student?
Yes, that’s more than enough, as I wrote earlier. The vast majority of your student assignments and programs on a laptop with 8gb of RAM will run without any slowdowns.
My Recommendations
The last word from WhatTDW.com
The selection of laptops is wide, but we’re used to trusting trusted brands. So I recommend Lenovo laptops to you without a doubt as some of the most comfortable and reliable for students.
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