So, you’re starting your pre-med journey and looking for the perfect laptop to get you through the next few years. I get it; it can be overwhelming.
You need a machine that is powerful enough to handle large files and other demanding programs. But it also needs to be lightweight.
And, of course, you don’t want to break the bank on an expensive laptop. The good news is that in 2024 there are lots of great options, including budget laptops, ideal for pre-med students.
As a tech writer, I have evaluated many laptops across all budgets and use cases. For this article, I thoroughly researched the latest models and features to find the best laptops for pre-med students.
In this post, I’ll share my top 7 picks based on performance, portability, features, and value. I’ll also go over the specs so you can choose the best laptop that fits
Quick Pick
If you’re in a hurry, here are my top 3 recommendations for the best laptops for pre-med students in 2024:
| Overall Best | Best Budget Option | Best for Note-taking |
| Apple MacBook Air M2 | Acer Aspire 5 | Microsoft Surface Studio |
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| The M2 MacBook Air ticks all the boxes – insane performance, lightweight, portable, and incredible battery life in an ultra-sleek chassis. If you’re a Mac lover, then it’s a perfect pick for you. | Getting a premium display at this price is a huge win. You also get solid performance, a crisp 1080p screen, and all-day battery life. Sure, it’s a bit bulky, but it delivers excellent value. | This one is for note-takers. Simply fold the touchscreen and start writing or drawing with the Surface Pen. Its performance, gorgeous touchscreen, and premium build make it an all-around beast. It is quite pricey, though. |
Which One Is Right For You?
Think about your budget, how you prefer to study, and your personal needs. Consider whether you want to handwrite notes or type them.
Do you need a long battery life to make it through your study sessions? Or a lightweight laptop for carrying around campus all day? Most laptops come with certain standard features, but the quality and performance can vary.
Make a list of your must-have features, then match them against the options to find your perfect fit. The laptop that’s best for you depends on your individual habits and preferences.
What to Look for When Buying a Laptop As a Pre-Med Student
You’ll depend on your laptop for everything from taking notes during lectures to studying for exams. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the one with the right features for your needs. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:
1. Performance
Look for a laptop with a powerful processor (CPU) and plenty of RAM to handle multitasking. An Intel Core i5 or i7 processor is ideal. Go for at least 8GB RAM, but 16GB is even better. It’ll keep your laptop running smoothly, no matter how many tabs you have open. Higher processing power is essential for demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, and multitasking.
2. Storage
Go with a solid-state drive (SSD) rather than a traditional hard drive. SSDs are much faster, more reliable, and better optimized for student use. Aim for at least 256GB storage for the operating system, programs, notes, etc.
3. Display
You’ll be spending countless hours staring at your screen, so make sure it’s a good one. Look for a laptop with at least a 13-inch display and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Full HD). If you can, opt for an IPS panel with good color accuracy and brightness. Trust me, your eyes will thank you during those late-night study sessions.
4. Battery Life
A good battery life will ensure you can work uninterrupted without constantly searching for an outlet. Aim for a laptop that can last at least 8 hours on a single charge.
5. Portability
As a student, you’ll be carrying your laptop around frequently. Thinner and lightweight laptops in the 3-4 pound range are ideal for use on the go. Consider screen sizes of 13-14 inches for easier portability.
6. Operating System
Based on the programs you’ll run and the workflow you need, consider your OS preference between macOS and Windows. Each has its own pros and cons.
7. Budget
Set a reasonable budget while keeping your own needs in mind. You can find excellent laptops between $500 and $1500. But don’t sacrifice important features like CPU power or battery life to save a little money.
List Of The Best Laptops for Pre-Med Students
1. Apple MacBook Air M2 (Best Overall)
Processor: Apple M2 chip (8-core CPU)
Memory: 8GB RAM
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 13.6-inch Retina Display (2560 x 1664)
Camera: 1080p HD camera
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
Keyboard: Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours of battery life
Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg)
Dimensions: 11.97 inches x 8.46 inches x 0.44 inches
Operating System: macOS
The MacBook Air M2 is my top pick for pre-med students because of its incredible power efficiency, portability, and intuitive macOS interface. The new M2 chip delivers faster performance than the M1 using very little battery. This means you can use it all day long on a single charge.
The Macbook Air is also incredibly thin and lightweight at just 2.7 pounds. It’s effortless to carry around campus or to coffee shops to study. The 13.6-inch Retina display provides vibrant colors and clarity for labeling diagrams. Moreover, macOS offers a streamlined workflow that is perfect for organizing notes and keeping track of assignments.
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons Not to Buy |
| Excellent Performance | Pricey |
| Long-lasting battery | Limited ports |
| Lightweight | |
| Durable | |
| Color-accurate Retina display | |
| Integration with Apple devices |
2. Acer Aspire 5 (Best Budget Option)
Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U
Operating System: Windows
Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels)
Memory: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
Weight: 3.9 lbs
Dimensions: 0.7 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches
Ports: 2 Type-A USB 3.2, 1 Type-C USB 3.2
Keyboard: Full-size with numeric keypad, backlit
Webcam: 720p HD
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
If you need a more affordable laptop, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great choice. You have multiple processor options from Intel or AMD to fit your budget. The Aspire 5 may not have the premium build of a MacBook Air, but it gets the job done. It is also a great budget Windows laptop.
Battery life is also decent, though not as long-lasting as other models. Still, you should be able to get through a full day of classes and study without issue. It also offers a Full HD display, a good selection of ports, and a backlit keyboard on some models. This is the perfect pick for pre-med students on a tight budget.
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons Not to Buy |
| Affordable price | Limited battery life |
| Decent performance | Heavier and bulkier |
| Upgradable | |
| Good port selection | |
| Includes numeric keypad |
3. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (Best for Note-Taking)
Processor: Intel Core i7-11370H
Operating System: Windows
Display: 14.4-inch, 2460 x 1600 + touch screen
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
Memory: 16GB LPDDR4x
Storage: 512GB SSD
Battery Life: Up to 14 hours
Weight: 3.83 LBS (1.737 KGs)
Dimensions: 12.72” x 8.98” x 0.746”
Ports: 2x USB 4.0 with Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mm jack
Keyboard: Numeric keypad, backlit
Webcam: 1080p
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
For those who prefer to handwrite notes or create diagrams, the Surface Laptop Studio is a fantastic choice. Its unique hinge allows you to write and sketch directly on the touchscreen using the Surface Pen (sold separately). It can also serve as a gaming laptop due to its powerful GPU.
The overall performance is excellent, thanks to the 11th Gen Intel H-series processors. The touchscreen is buttery smooth with a 120Hz refresh rate. And Windows Hello facial recognition makes logging in effortless. If you plan to take a lot of notes, the Laptop Studio is a great fit.
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons Not to Buy |
| Futuristic design | Higher price |
| Powerful performance | Limited port selection |
| Excellent for note-takers | |
| High-quality display | |
| Premium build | |
| Stylus support |
4. Dell XPS 13 (Excellent Performance)
Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core™ i7-1360P
Memory: 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Display: 13.4-inch Full HD+ touchscreen
Camera: 720p
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2
Keyboard: Backlit keyboard
Weight: 2.71 lbs (1.23 kg)
Battery Life:
Dimensions: 0.60″ x 11.63″ x 7.84″
The Dell XPS 13 is a compact yet powerful machine. It includes a slim, premium aluminum chassis and a borderless 13.4-inch display. It is one of the best gaming laptops for students who need high performance.
The 13th Gen Intel Core processors provide snappy performance for your work. Memory and storage are user-upgradeable for future expansion. Also, the keyboard and glass trackpad are excellent.
The only downside is the subpar 720p webcam quality. But you get an impressive battery life of up to 12 hours and fast charging support. At under 2.8 pounds, the XPS 13 manages to fit a lot of performance into a very compact design.
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons Not to Buy |
| Minimalist design | No USB-A or HDMI |
| Premium build quality | Short battery life |
| Fast performance | Oversensitive touchpad |
| High-res OLED touchscreen | |
| Lightweight and portable |
5. HP Spectre x360 14 (Best 2-in-1 Laptop)
Processor: 13th Generation Intel Core i7
Memory: 16GB DDR4
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display: 13.5″ HD Display
Graphics: Integrated Intel Iris Xᵉ Graphics
Wireless Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.3
Camera: 5MP IR camera
Ports: 1 USB Type-A, 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Dimensions: 29.8 x 22.04 x 1.69 cm
Weight: 1.36 kg
HP’s Spectre x360 14 (2-in-1) delivers incredible performance and premium design. It has a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1265U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Even with multiple apps and browser tabs open, it will not lag. It is a versatile Windows laptop suitable for various tasks.
Build quality is top-notch, and the convertible design allows you to use it as a traditional laptop or tablet. At 3.07 pounds, it’s still fairly portable. Expect around 10-12 hours of battery life for all-day use.
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons Not to Buy |
| Convertible 2-in-1 design | No HDMI Port |
| Excellent CPU performance | Limited Upgradeability |
| High-Quality FHD+ Screen | Pricey |
| Premium build quality | |
| Comfortable keyboard and trackpad | |
| Stylus Support | |
| Decent Battery Life |
6. Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 370
Processor: Intel Core i5-7300U
Memory: 8 GB DDR4
Storage: 128 GB SSD
Display: 13.3″ IPS touchscreen 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Camera: 720p HD webcam
Ports: 2x USB Type-A, 1x USB Type-C, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI
Dimensions: 12.36″ x 8.74″ x 0.71″
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
Weight: 3 lbs (1.37 kg)
If you’re on a tighter budget but still want a reliable 2-in-1, the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 370 is worth a look. It might not have the flashiest specs, but it’s a solid performer with a flexible hinge, a durable build, and plenty of ports for connecting all your gadgets.
Plus, ThinkPads are known for their excellent keyboards, which is a must for all those late-night studying sessions.
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons Not to Buy |
| Solid Performance Overall | Average battery life |
| Durable Design | Inconsistent Touchpad |
| Slim and Lightweight | |
| Touchscreen and Stylus | |
| Full HD IPS display |
7. LG gram 16”
Processor: 13th Generation Intel Core i7
Memory: 16GB LPDDR4
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Display: 16″ (2560 x 1600) IPS display (anti-glare)
Camera: 720p HD webcam with IR
Ports: 2x USB-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4 with USB-C
Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Dimensions: 13.98 x 9.54 x 0.66 in
Weight: 3 lbs (1.398 kg)
LG’s Gram series laptops are incredibly lightweight. The LG Gram 16” is just 2.8 pounds with a 16-inch IPS anti-glare display. The i7 13th Gen CPU provides more than enough power for multitasking.
Connectivity is solid with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.0, microSD and USB-A ports. You even get an IR webcam for Windows Hello. Battery life is a strength at around 13 hours of web browsing.
The backlit keyboard is comfortable, and the trackpad performs well. Just note that the 16:10 display makes the laptop quite tall, and the fan can get loud under heavy load. But for those seeking portability with a large screen, the LG Gram 16” is a perfect choice.
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons Not to Buy |
| Incredibly lightweight and portable | Pricey |
| Large, high-quality display | Average speakers |
| Impressive battery life | |
| Good ports selection | |
| Minimalist and premium design | |
| Latest Intel processors |
Pro Tips for Buying the Right Laptop for Pre-Med Students
- Take a moment to think about what you’ll be using your laptop for. As a pre-med student, you’ll likely need a machine that can handle:
- Taking notes during lectures
- Researching and writing papers
- Running medical software
- Storing and organizing large amounts of data
- Participating in online classes
- Do you prefer a traditional laptop, or would a 2-in-1 convertible suit your style better? 2-in-1 laptops offer the flexibility of using the device as a tablet, which can be handy for taking handwritten notes or reading PDFs.
- When it comes to specs, aim for at least:
- Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- 8GB of RAM
- 256GB SSD storage
- A dedicated graphics card (GPU) isn’t essential for most pre-med tasks, but it can be beneficial if you plan on doing any video editing.
- Having the right ports will make your life much easier. Make sure your laptop has the ports you need. At a minimum, look for:
- USB-C
- USB-A
- HDMI
- Headphone jack
- If you can, try to time your laptop purchase around major sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. You’ll often find great deals on laptops during these times.
- Before making your final decision, read reviews from trusted sources like Amazon and Reddit. Don’t just rely on the manufacturer’s claims – see what actual users have to say.
Conclusion
I hope that this guide has provided you with the answers you need. At the end of the day, only you can decide which laptop perfectly matches your needs and budget.
So, take some time to think about your needs and preferences. Are you someone who values portability above all, or are you willing to sacrifice a bit of weight for a better performance? Do you prefer macOS, or are you more at home in the Windows ecosystem?
Whatever you choose, just make sure it feels comfortable to use and has all the features you need. No matter which laptop you decide on, try to get your hands on it and test it out before buying. And don’t get caught up stressing over specs you may not even need. So, pick wisely!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best laptop for pre-med students?
The MacBook Air M2 is the best overall laptop for pre-meds. It has excellent performance, long battery life, and a lightweight, durable design that is perfect for students.
- How much RAM do I need on my pre-med laptop?
At minimum, aim for 8GB of RAM, but 16GB is ideal if you plan to run demanding programs. The extra RAM will allow you to smoothly multitask and have lots of tabs/apps open.
- Is 512GB storage enough for medical school?
Yes, 512GB SSD storage is enough for medical school needs. Your storage needs depend on how many large files or programs you plan to have. However, 512GB offers ample room for OS, notes, and other software.
- Is a dedicated graphics card necessary for my pre-med laptop?
Not necessarily. Integrated graphics are fine for general pre-med use. But if you plan to do video editing, a dedicated GPU can help with performance in those types of tasks.
- How important is screen quality for pre-med laptops?
Very important! You’ll be staring at your laptop screen for hours. Aim for at least 1080p resolution, but higher is better. IPS panels offer good viewing angles and color accuracy. Anti-glare screens also help reduce eye strain.
- Which operating system is better for pre-med students?
It depends on your personal preference. Many pre-meds love MacBooks for their premium build quality and intuitive macOS. Windows laptops offer greater flexibility and software compatibility. Consider which OS aligns better with your workflow.
- Are 2-in-1 laptops with touchscreens a good choice for pre-meds?
Yes, 2-in-1 convertible laptops are great for pre-med students who prefer handwriting notes. The ability to fold into a tablet is handy for note-taking or annotating PDFs with a stylus.
- Should I consider a refurbished or used laptop to save money?
Buying refurbished or used can definitely save you money. Just be sure to check the condition closely and confirm the laptop has a valid warranty.
Hey! I’m Faizan Ahmed, a tech enthusiast and content creator at Nova Nervce. I deliver credible, verified insights on laptops, note-taking apps, and emerging tech. Here, you’ll find easy-to-understand articles based on my personal experiences and research to simplify your tech journey.