Back to School Laptops – Our Picks for 2023

Chromebooks might actually be the one to go for when heading back to school. The issue with Chromebooks is that there are about a half dozen that aren’t worth squat and another dozen that might actually do what you need them to.

Then there’s the creme-de-le-creme, the actual Chromebooks with real-honest-to-God hardware that is not only going to support Chrome’s all-consuming nature and the multiple types of apps you can run via the ChromeOS and Android stores.

The Acer Spin 713 comes with an Intel EVO Core i5, which is essentially running the latest i5 processor available for mobile platforms, while also coming with a hot 8GB of RAM. Compared to our review of the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro, this is more than plenty for the ChromeOS to use and take advantage of.

It also – as the name indicates – spins! Fold it over and you’ve got a full-on tablet to use for drawing, creative apps, and even just watching Netflix. For school purposes, it goes from typing everything up to maybe using a better note-taking app from the Android store, then typing everything up after the lecture or class has finished.

With its specs and unique 2-in-1 tablet/laptop set up, it’s an ideal choice for all sorts of work, and also, with access to Google’s full storefront and applications in non-bastardized ways, it’s probably the easiest way to get work from one side to another without dealing with emails.

No, I’m not going to recommend you a direct gaming laptop with its Fancy lights and slick screen. You’re supposed to be in class. Have you considered that you’re supposed to focus on your work?

So what I can do is recommend you this cracking productivity ultra-book with its RTX3060 and 16GB of RAM, that can do a hefty amount of your creative work if you so need it to and tackle pretty much any task you might have thrown at you during the educational year.

No getting bogged down with laptops that can’t cope with just the burden of more than a few programs open, instead, you can whiz about Windows and do what you need to do, how you intend to do it.

The RTX3060 inside is pretty much the best mid-weight card going at the moment and having that on your side during class is a surefire way to never have to battle with hardware at all.

And yes, play some games if you so wish.

For whatever reason, Scan doesn’t stock the 3060 version, but the same applies.

Now, this is, this is a tough one. Budget no longer just means “laptop from Walmart/Asda for 399”, it’s a whole wider world of genuine pieces of hardware that actually still manage to do the job and don’t shut down under the stress of their operating system just making a new file.

It’s why our best budget option is actually another Chromebook. While nowhere near as capable as the more expensive option, nor as powerful, but the Samsung Chromebook 4 is a cheap, light option that you can get some good stuff done on, especially if it’s limited to schoolwork.

I think this shouldn’t be the only PC you take with you, but it’s ideal for those low on cash or those who are desktop-based and just need something to type on while in class.

The iPad Air is due an upgrade at some point later this year or sometime next year. You can either hang around and wait or buy one now and just don’t fret. This entire article was written on an iPad Air 4, with the Magic Keyboard and the image above made with the Apple Pencil.

Of course, these accessories do jack up the price on the iPad Air from its nice 549 mark, but, if you’re looking for a computing device that not only has a whole host of different note-taking or word processing applications available – all syncable to the cloud so you can access them anywhere – but is actually now holding its own in the creative space if you happen to need Photoshop, a video editor or to make calls over Zoom or Google Hangouts if we all head into another lockdown due to COVID.

The great thing about it is that once you’re done for the day, taking it off the keyboard to just tap away at some games or something to wind down is fantastic. With its split-screen and upcoming iPadOS 15 launching later this year with new functionality to better yourself during work hours, the iPad is the dark horse in this race.

The great thing about it is that once you’re done for the day, taking it off the keyboard to just tap away at some games or something to wind down is fantastic. With its split-screen and upcoming iPadOS 15 launching later this year with new functionality to better yourself during work hours, the iPad is the dark horse in this race.