Best Laptops for Nursing Students in 2023 — The 6 Expert-Reviewed Latest Laptops

Top Three Picks for Nursing Students

Not a single school works without the use of a laptop for training in 2022. Nursing schools are among those that require students to have a laptop on their list of must-haves. With less exposure to knowledge, most nursing students end up making the wrong purchase and crying over spilled milk.

So, we tested the market’s famous powerful, lightweight, and affordable laptops to help you choose the best one. During our testing, we discovered that the Apple MacBook Air with M2 Chip outperforms all others. By combining an exceptionally portable design, a high-quality build, and unrivaled performance, the laptop provides the finest value.

We also discovered a number of other laptops that appeared ideal for nursing students. Therefore, depending on your own needs and wants, check out our take on the best laptops for nursing students. We’re sure you’ll have your search ended here.

Best Laptops for Nursing Students Comparision Table

IMAGE	PRODUCT	RATING	PRICE
Top Choice	Apple MacBook Air Laptop Processor: Apple M2 chip Screen Size: 13.6 Inch RAM: 8 GB Storage: 256 GB	9.9	View on Amazon
Runner-up	HP Spectre 13T 4K OLED x360 Laptop Processor: Intel Core i7-1065G7 Screen Size: 13.3 Inch RAM: 16 GB Storage: 512 GB	9.8	View on Amazon
Best Budget Value	Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Processor:  Intel Core i3 Screen Size: 12.3 Inch RAM: 8 GB Storage: 256 GB	9.7	View on Amazon
Best Portable Laptop	Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Screen Size: 15.6 Inch RAM: 8 GB Storage: 256 GB	9.6	View on Amazon
Best Productivity Notebook	ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop Processor: Intel Core i3-1005G1 Screen Size: 15.6 Inch RAM: 8 GB Storage: 128 GB	9.3	View on Amazon
Best Budget Performance	Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Screen Size: 15 Inch RAM: 8 GB Storage: 128 GB	9.5	View on Amazon

How we Did the Test?

We have different computer experts on our team who employ their knowledge and perform specific research on each laptop before we pick it for tests. We picked around 14 laptop models going head-to-head in market competition. The laptops were passed through different test stages before they qualify for our recommended list. After testing, we kept our recommendations straightforward and only included the most-suitable laptop options for nursing students. We considered the following factors about each laptop during our tests.

Build Quality

The moment after unboxing each laptop, the first thing we noted was their build quality. How portable and flexible is it? How sturdy is the build material? How well is it designed? And how well does it manage the heat produced through intensive usage? We ensured the laptops were ideal for students in terms of build.

Performance

After build quality, we tested the laptop’s performance. We made the laptops perform certain productivity, gaming, and graphics tasks to test their overall processing and battery performance. We also performed benchmark tests to get a better sense of the laptops’ performance.

Price Value

Depending on the laptops’ build and performance testing, we determined the value of each laptop. We compared the laptop’s value with its original pricing to ensure that none of our picks were overpriced and provided the best possible value.

We realize that not all college students are able to afford powerful premium machines. But it’s also a fact that the post-Covid-19 situation isn’t favorable and has left laptop prices at a steep.  Our top pick is about making a one-time investment. Because the Apple MacBook Air brilliantly blends performance, portability, and display that you won’t need to upgrade till the end of your nursing degree.

With a beautifully thin and light Aluminum chassis, the Apple MacBook Air with M2 couldn’t get any better. The latest variant has an upper hand over the last MacBook Air releases in terms of its thin design combined with ultimate M2 chip performance. The Apple Silicon chip is backed by 8 GB of memory and 256 GB of fast storage.

This ultimate specification can achieve extraordinary, as it did for us in our testing. During our tests, we forgot the concept of lags, and stuttering for a while we tested this powerhouse. Whether it was graphics-intensive applications, browsing through the memory-eater Google Chrome, or gaming, it excelled in all and provided a smooth computing performance.

The display is yet another thing to fall for. It has been quite rare in the older MacBook Air models that their display caught up with the premium MacBook Pro. But the MacBook Air M2 came up with better display brightness than the MacBook Pro M2. Its 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display provided detailed color accuracy and wide-angle views through our Netflix streaming sessions. And if you feel concerned about the battery, the 14 hours lasting of this MacBook Air variant is considered the longest battery lasting among laptops.

Technical Specifications

Screen Size	13.6-inch
Resolution	2560 x 1664
Storage	256 GB
Memory	8 GB
Weight	2.7 lbs
Colors	Silver, Space Gray
Material	Aluminum
Dimensions	11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches

With the way Apple has squeezed quality into the Apple MacBook Air with M2, it’s going to be tough competition. Our runner-up, the HP Spectre 13T, was just a trifle behind because of its high price, but its premium features are sufficient to boost your on-campus computing experience.

The first touch of this stunning laptop defines how premium it is, as it is designed as a slim and beautifully thin metallic laptop. The lid of the laptop rotates around 360 degrees to provide a tablet experience with its 13.3-inch 4K OLED touch-enabled display. However, you may prefer it as a portable laptop rather than a huge tablet. Other appealing features include a full-sized comfy backlit keyboard, a large and easy touchpad, and a fingerprint sensor.

We could spend hours streaming through its stunning wide display with narrow bezels if it was productive. We watched 4K videos with excellent color accuracy, brightness, and display depth. Also, we tried bulking it up with workloads to test its limitations in performance testing, but the 10th Generation Intel Core-i7 paired with 16 GB memory didn’t let stuttering in. Its superfast SSD also allowed for quick bootups and large file transfers.

Moreover, we didn’t have to worry about its battery throughout hours of testing in which we ran many Google Chrome tabs watching 4K YouTube videos. Because its remarkable battery life of 13 hours made us forget about the charger. So, if money isn’t an issue, let the HP Spectre 13T manage your academic tasks.

Technical Specifications

Screen Size	13.3-inch
Resolution	1920 x 1080
Storage	512 GB
Memory	16 GB
Weight	2.79 lbs
Colors	Natural Silver, Nightfall Black, Poseidon Blue
Material	Aluminum
Dimensions	12.08 x 7.66 x 0.67 inches

There is no better choice for budget people than the portability pro, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. This is the most popular model in Microsoft’s Surface Pro family.

Even though people had higher expectations with the release of the Surface Pro 7, Microsoft only managed to increase performance and port selection. It’s a small, light slate with an aluminum frame, similar to its predecessor Surface Pro 6. You get a 12.3-inch screen with not-so-thin bezels.

As tested, its touch-responsive display delivers a bright and vibrant view of your items. It could be one of the greatest display laptops on the list if the bezels were thinner. In terms of performance, this tiny tablet is powered by an excellent 10th-generation Intel Core-i3 processor and 8 GB of RAM to let you complete difficult jobs with no lag interference. We can’t guarantee gaming or graphics-intensive jobs after testing, but the Surface Pro 7 is a guaranteed productivity expert.

It doesn’t come with a keyboard, yet it effortlessly completes productivity activities like word processing, researching, and browsing, as we experienced. We ran it for about 8 hours before the battery decided to quit. For a laptop tablet of this size and power, the battery timing is surprisingly good. So, if you’re seeking an on-the-go buddy, you know what to pick.

Technical Specifications

Screen Size	12.3-inch
Resolution	2736 x 1824
Storage	256 GB
Memory	8 GB
Weight	1.7 lbs
Colors	Matte Black, Platinum
Material	Magnesium
Dimensions	11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches

Following the premium options, we will now view the ones with a reasonable budget. Of course, a smaller budget entails some compromises. However, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3’s incredible affordability and satisfying performance will make you overlook the minor compromises it will also include.

The IdeaPad 3 has a thin, durable enough plastic design and comes in a choice of colors, making it easy to customize the look of your laptop. However, we appreciated the Abyss Blue hue, which gives it a more premium appearance. When you open the lid, you’ll see a 15-inch HD display with almost no bezels around it. Lenovo has made great use of the base panel space with a non-backlit, full-sized keyboard that comes with decent key travel, making it perfect for general productivity. 

When it was brought to the table for testing, the full HD display was unfortunately where the corners were cut to keep the price low. The display isn’t bright enough to provide the best streaming experience. In terms of performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 CPU with 8 GB of RAM is more than enough for day-to-day tasks. We initially made it handle basic productivity tasks like spreadsheet maintaining, article writing, browsing, and streaming. But, don’t expect it to do everything all at once.

Moreover, the battery life was quite assuring, since it provided a seven-hour backup while we tested it without being near a power source. Therefore, if you can compromise with a dim display, and an aging port selection, Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 is a perfect partner to team up for your nursing academics.

Technical Specifications

Screen Size	15-inch
Resolution	1920 x 1080
Refresh Rate	60 Hz
ROM	128 GB
RAM	8 GB
Weight	4.84 lbs
Colors	Platinum Grey, Cherry Red, Abyss Blue, Almond, Business Black
Material	Plastic
Dimensions	14.25 x 9.98 x 0.79 inches

If you’ve ever come across Acer’s incredible release, the Acer Aspire 5, you may have caught the wrong concept of it being superbly expensive. But it came out as a surprise that Acer has managed to release different models with different specifications for the Aspire 5 lineup. And the fact that they all carry the same solid quality is what we’re loving.

In terms of design, Acer believes that keeping these powerhouses simple is better. The Aspire 5 is an aluminum-built small and light laptop that claims to come in a variety of colors, however, Acer’s website only displays Silver and White. This strong chassis laptop’s top panel houses a 15-inch Full HD IPS display. While the bottom panel includes a full-sized backlit keyboard with decent travel as well as a fingerprint sensor for a more secure login.

If you can’t live without a good display, even on a tight budget, the Aspire 5’s HD display impressed us with its wide viewing angles and clear visuals. It’s also bright enough to be used outdoors. The Aspire 5’s hardware includes an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 8 GB of memory for unlimited productivity. As tested, we cannot guarantee video editing or gaming, but it did keep us productive through the efficient performance for our tasks.

Though Acer claims a bit too much about its battery, our testing shows that it can provide a seven-hour backup while streaming. However, if you only use WiFi, you can get by for your entire day at the campus. So, for those who are unwilling to compromise on quality even on a short budget, the Acer Aspire 5 comes to the rescue.

Technical Specifications

Screen Size	15.6-inch
Resolution	1920×1080
Storage	256 GB
Memory	8 GB
Weight	3.9 lbs
Colors	Silver
Material	Plastic
Dimensions	14.31 x 9.86 x 0.71 inches

The ASUS VivoBook 15, considered the best Intel Core-i3 computer, outperformed many others with comparable specifications in our testing. And therefore, with its superior quality and fewer compromises, here’s the last one from the list.

The ASUS VivoBook 15’s build is made of plastic and has an aluminum finish, making it look and feel premium. This ASUS release is exclusively available in Slate Gray and includes an Ergolift design as an added bonus. This strong and light chassis houses a 15-inch wide display, a full-sized backlit keyboard, and a Windows Hello compatible fingerprint sensor.

Its 15-inch display has a 1080p resolution but does not live up to expectations. While streaming HD videos, it struggled to produce a bright and wide image, but color accuracy was good. The powerful specs housed within the base panel make everyone forget about the poor display because of the exceptional performance. The Intel Core-i3 processor, together with 8 GB of RAM, effectively handled demanding tasks. The smooth performance when streaming, browsing, and using applications quickly won us over.

During the testing phase, the battery lasted only five hours while streaming and running various applications. However, in the face of fast charging, ASUS has created a solution. So, since ASUS has everything ready for you with the ASUS VivoBook 15, there doesn’t appear a reason for the delay.

Technical Specifications

Screen Size	15.6-inch
Resolution	1920 x 1080
Refresh Rate	60 Hz
ROM	128 GB
RAM	8 GB
Weight	3.75 lbs
Colors	Slate Grey
Material	Plastic
Dimensions	0.78 x 14.1 x 9.1 inches

Things to Consider When Buying a Laptop for Nursing School 

Medical students often have little to no knowledge of technology. They’ll be aware of the alternative to that headache medicine, but they may not know the difference between a 256 GB HDD and an SSD. Therefore, purchasing a laptop without knowing the proper specifications you’ll want will make you regret it later. Here are a few things to consider before stepping into the market.

Processor

The first and most crucial thing to look out for is an optimal processor. Your laptop’s processor is responsible for all the tasks you make it perform. And therefore, a laptop with an outdated processor will cause you to strike buttons out of frustration when your system stutters.

So, for the greatest and longest-lasting processing speed, we recommend getting a laptop with an Intel Core-i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 CPU. If you’re on a tight budget, though, you can go with an Intel Core-i5 or AMD Ryzen 5. A higher-generation Intel Core-i3 processor should suffice as well, but you’ll need to upgrade soon.

Memory

Next up is to support your laptop’s processor with sufficient memory amount. While the processor performs the tasks for you, your memory works to improve performance. As a result, the more memory there is, the faster the performance.

Because every application is now a memory eater, we recommend getting 16 GB of memory for ideal no-lag performance. A minimum of 8 GB of memory may also be sufficient.

Storage

Except for saving some documents, files, and E-Books, nursing majors will not require a large amount of storage. Also, don’t be fooled by a great amount of HDD size in favor of fewer SSD size. SSD storage is faster and more responsive than HDD storage.

In the long run, we recommend at least 500 GB of SSD storage. However, because SSD storage is expensive, you can also choose 256 GB.

Battery

Another crucial thing is your laptop’s battery timing. Since you’ll always be on the go switching between your home, college, and clinics, you won’t find a power source everywhere. Therefore, opt for a laptop with at least 8 hours of battery lasting.

The Takeaway

With so many options on the laptop market, it’s easy to become puzzled when selecting a laptop without specifying your needs. Especially for nursing students, who often have little or no knowledge of the latest laptop trends. Therefore, we decided to take the charge and show you laptops for different needs and budgets.

After extensive testing, we concluded that the Apple MacBook Air with M2 provides phenomenal performance, portability, and quality. However, we have discovered some more options that may be more suitable for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)