9+ Best Laptop For PhD Students & Researchers

I know you come here because you need laptop info for your Ph.D. program. Maybe you bought different laptops and yet they don’t give you what you really want. Worry no more, because, with one of these 9+ best laptops for PhD students that I have listed here, you are good to go no matter what field of Ph.D. research you find yourself in.

These laptops have been listed based on portability to provide a delicate balance of processing power, graphics performance, and affordability.

Best Laptop For PhD Students or Research

The laptop you use for your daily work is different from the laptop you use for your research. The latter has automated machines and Ais, and I’m wondering if it supports online research. The answer depends slightly on the type of module installed on your laptop.

Basically, choosing the best laptop for Ph.D. students is the best form of education, you, especially, students have a decent, firm grip on navigation, accessibility, and security.

Well, you can use a gaming laptop in the same niche, but why not buy a laptop that’s versatile, compact, functional, and at the same time perfect for Ph.D. students? Choosing from a huge number of choices is not an easy task. The laptop market is flooded with hundreds of reputable products.

If you are a PhD student yourself, it will help you understand what kind of laptop you should choose. To that end, we prepared about 9 laptops and conducted equivalent tests in terms of stress tests and diagnostics. Now let’s get started with a guide to finding the best laptop for your PhD student.

Best Laptop For PhD Students & Researchers | Comparison Table 2021

Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Best Laptop For PhD Students & Researchers | 2021 Products Overview

Product Overview:

The LG Gram 17Z90N is a high-end laptop that combines powerful performance with an ultra-lightweight design. With a 17-inch screen, the laptop provides a spacious viewing experience and an aspect ratio of 16:10. The display features an impressive resolution of 2560 x 1600 and utilizes an IPS LCD panel, providing stunning visuals with accurate colors and excellent viewing angles.

Running on Windows 10 Home (64 bit), the LG Gram 17Z90N is powered by an Intel 10th Generation i7-1065G7 CPU, which provides fast and efficient performance. The CPU is paired with Intel Iris Plus graphics, which delivers excellent graphics processing capabilities for a wide range of applications.

The LG Gram 17Z90N comes with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, allowing for smooth multitasking and efficient performance. The laptop also features a 1 TB M 2 NMVe SSD, which provides plenty of storage for all your files and applications, with rapid read and write speeds for faster load times.

One of the most impressive features of the LG Gram 17Z90N is its 80WH lithium battery, which can last up to 17 hours on a single charge. This is a substantial amount of battery life, making it an ideal laptop for long work sessions, travel, or outdoor use.

Product Overview:

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th Gen (20QD000BUS) is a sleek and durable business laptop that delivers solid performance in a lightweight and portable package. With a 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display, this laptop provides a clear and vivid viewing experience with accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles.

Under the hood, the X1 Carbon 7th Gen is powered by an Intel Core i5-8265U processor, which can handle demanding applications and multitasking with ease. The laptop also features 8GB of RAM, which is enough to keep multiple applications running smoothly at the same time, and a 256GB NVMe SSD that offers fast boot times and snappy performance.

The X1 Carbon 7th Gen comes with Windows 10 Pro, which is a professional-grade operating system that offers advanced security features and powerful productivity tools. The laptop also includes integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620, which can handle light gaming and basic graphics tasks with ease.

This laptop is designed for professionals who need a reliable and durable machine that can handle a heavy workload. The X1 Carbon 7th Gen features a black, carbon-fiber reinforced chassis that can withstand rough handling and protect the internal components. The laptop is also lightweight, weighing in at just 2.4 pounds, making it easy to take on the go.

Other features of the X1 Carbon 7th Gen include a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader for secure authentication, and a 720p HD webcam for video conferencing. The laptop also includes a variety of ports, including two USB 3.1 ports, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone/mic combo jack.

Product Overview:

The HP Spectre x360 15T 2020 is a high-performance 2-in-1 laptop with a sleek and stylish design. It features a powerful hexa-core 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor with a base frequency of 2.6 GHz and up to 5 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost. It also has an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics card with 4GB of dedicated memory and 16 GB of DDR4 RAM for a smooth and responsive computing experience. Additionally, it has a large 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for fast storage and file transfer.

The laptop has a 15.6-inch diagonal 4K IPS micro-edge BrightView WLED-backlit touch screen with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and a brightness of 340 nits. The screen is perfect for watching videos, editing photos, or playing games, with vivid and sharp colors. The laptop also features Bang & Olufsen quad speakers, HP Audio Boost, and custom tuning by Bang & Olufsen for an immersive audio experience.

The HP Spectre x360 15T has Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C support, with a Thunderbolt 3 port that supports high-speed data transfer and high-definition video, and a USB-C port that supports USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.2, and HP Sleep and Charge. It also has a TrueVision HD IR camera with a dual-array digital microphone, which is compatible with Windows Hello for easy and secure login. Additionally, the laptop comes with an HP pen for easy note-taking and sketching.

The laptop is equipped with Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 and Bluetooth 5 Combo for fast and reliable wireless connectivity. It also has a camera kill switch and mic-mute key for added privacy and security. The laptop has a 6-cell 72.9 Wh Li-ion battery that can last up to 13 hours on a single charge, making it perfect for use on-the-go.

Product Overview:

The Dell XPS 13 9310 is a high-performance laptop designed for professional users who need a powerful and reliable device for their daily work. This laptop features a 13.4-inch Full HD InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display, which provides a bright and clear display that is easy on the eyes. It has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, which delivers stunning visuals and accurate color reproduction, making it suitable for tasks such as photo and video editing, graphic design, and content creation.

Powered by the 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1185G7 Processor, this laptop delivers exceptional performance and speed for all your computing needs. With a base clock speed of 3.0GHz and a turbo boost speed of up to 4.8GHz, this processor is capable of handling even the most demanding tasks with ease. It is supported by 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM, which provides ample memory for multitasking and running multiple applications simultaneously. The 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD provides ample storage space for your files, documents, and media.

This laptop also features Intel Iris Xe Graphics with shared graphics memory, which delivers smooth and lag-free performance for graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming, video rendering, and 3D modeling. It also features Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2 x 2) and Bluetooth 5.1, which provide fast and reliable connectivity for online activities such as streaming, web browsing, and video conferencing.

Product Overview:

The Apple 2018 13.3in MacBook Air is a renewed product sold on Amazon. It comes with a 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee, and it has been professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned by Amazon qualified vendors. This pre-owned product has been deemed fully functional and in excellent condition, though it is not certified by Apple.

The MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology, offering a high resolution of 2560-by-1600 at 227 pixels per inch. The device is powered by an Intel Core i5-8210Y dual-core processor that has a base clock speed of 1.6GHz and can boost up to 3.6GHz. The integrated graphics are powered by an Intel UHD Graphics 617.

This MacBook Air comes with 8GB of 2133MHz DDR4 SDRAM onboard memory and 128GB of PCI-E based flash memory storage. The device also features a built-in FaceTime HD camera, three microphones, and stereo speakers. It supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking and Bluetooth 4.2 technology, making it easy to connect to the internet or other devices.

The MacBook Air is pre-installed with the Mac OS operating system, providing a user-friendly interface and a variety of built-in applications. This device is also climate pledge friendly, ensuring that it meets Amazon's sustainability standards. The product may arrive in a generic box and may not come with the original accessories, though any accessories provided will be compatible and fully functional.

Product Overview:

The ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop, model UX325EA-XS74, is a premium ultrabook that packs powerful components in a slim and stylish package. The laptop features a 13.3-inch OLED display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which provides sharp and vivid visuals with a brightness of 400 nits. The display also boasts a 4-way NanoEdge bezel design, which means the laptop has slim bezels on all sides, resulting in a screen-to-body ratio of 88%.

Under the hood, the ASUS ZenBook 13 is powered by an 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, which has a base clock speed of 2.8 GHz and can turbo boost up to 4.7 GHz. The processor has four cores and 12MB of cache, making it a powerful and efficient CPU for demanding tasks such as video editing, gaming, and 3D modeling. The laptop also features an integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics card, which offers excellent performance for graphics-intensive applications.

The ASUS ZenBook 13 comes with 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a fast 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for storage. The RAM is sufficient for multitasking, and the SSD offers ample storage space and lightning-fast read and write speeds. The laptop also features a built-in IR camera for facial recognition sign-in with Windows Hello, which makes logging in fast and secure.

The ASUS ZenBook 13 is a feature-rich laptop that includes a backlit keyboard, a NumberPad (a touchpad that doubles as a numeric keypad), and a Thunderbolt 4 port, which offers fast data transfer speeds and supports external displays. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6, which provides fast wireless connectivity and improves battery life. The laptop comes preloaded with Windows 10 Pro and a free upgrade to Windows 11 when available.

Product Overview:

The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is a 2-in-1 laptop that offers flexibility and versatility in a sleek and lightweight design. It features a 12.2-inch touchscreen display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, making it ideal for browsing, streaming, and productivity tasks. The device is finished in a stylish Light Titan color, which gives it a modern and premium look.

Powered by an Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM, the Chromebook Plus V2 delivers enough power and speed to handle a range of tasks, including web browsing, document editing, and streaming video content. The device comes with a 64GB eMMC storage, which provides ample space for saving your documents, photos, and other files. Additionally, it has a microSD card slot that supports up to 400GB of additional storage.

One of the standout features of the Chromebook Plus V2 is its built-in pen, which provides an incredibly precise writing and drawing experience without needing any charging. The pen is always ready to use, making it perfect for taking notes, sketching, and even capturing screenshots. The device also features a 13MP world-facing camera with autofocus, allowing you to capture clear shots and even zoom in for a closer look.

The Chromebook Plus V2 runs on Google's Chrome OS operating system, which provides a secure and streamlined experience for browsing, creating, and exploring. It also comes with access to the Google Play Store, where you can download a wide range of apps and games.

Product Overview:

The Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition is a powerful and stylish laptop designed for both at-home and on-the-go computing. The laptop features a stunning 13.9-inch FullView touchscreen display with a 91% screen-to-body ratio, offering an immersive viewing experience with vivid details when viewing HD content. The 3K display has a resolution of 3,000 x 2,000, a contrast ratio of 1500:1, and a pixel density of 260 PPI, providing a crystal-clear visual experience. The laptop is incredibly thin, measuring only 0.57 inches and weighing just 2.93 lbs, making it easy to carry around.

The laptop is powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 8550U processor and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card. This combination boosts performance up to 40% over its predecessor and enables the laptop to handle demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming with ease. The Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition runs on Windows 10 Home Signature Edition with no bloatware, ensuring a smooth and optimized user experience.

The laptop also features a one-touch power button that enables users to power on the notebook, finish identity authentication through Windows Hello, and access the desktop in less than 8 seconds. Additionally, the laptop comes with a compact Mate Dock 2.0, which includes a USB-A port, USB-C port, HDMI port, and VGA port, allowing users to connect to various devices.

The Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition also includes 1 year of Office 365 Personal and a 1-year manufacturer warranty. The laptop has a 60Hz refresh rate and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity.

Product Overview:

The Dell Precision 7730 is a high-performance mobile workstation designed for professional use. It features a 17.3-inch Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare display with a slim bezel design, providing users with a large and immersive workspace that can be viewed comfortably from multiple angles. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-8850H Hexa-core processor that operates at a base frequency of 2.6 GHz, delivering exceptional performance for demanding applications.

With 16GB of DDR4 memory and a fast 512GB Solid State Drive (SSD), the Precision 7730 delivers fast and responsive performance, allowing users to multitask seamlessly and work on complex projects without any lag or delay. The laptop is also equipped with a dedicated AMD Radeon Pro WX 4150 graphics card, providing users with excellent graphics performance for running CAD, 3D modeling, and video editing software.

The Precision 7730 is also designed to be highly portable, with a durable and sleek black aluminum chassis that is both lightweight and easy to carry. It also features a complete workstation set up, allowing users to dock the laptop with a single cable and connect it to multiple external displays, keyboards, and other peripherals. The Thunderbolt 3 connectivity enables large file transfers and quick charging, so users can remain productive even when on the go.

The laptop comes pre-installed with the Windows 10 Pro operating system, providing users with a familiar and easy-to-use interface that is optimized for professional use. It also features advanced security features, such as device encryption and data protection, to ensure that sensitive information is kept secure.

Overall, the Dell Precision 7730 is a high-performance mobile workstation that is designed to meet the demands of professional users. With its powerful hardware, sleek and durable design, and complete workstation set up, it is an ideal choice for users who need to work on complex projects on the go.

How to Pick Laptop For PhD Students & Researchers | Unrivaled Guide 2021

Before purchasing a laptop computer specifically for your PhD programs, there are some features that you need to consider. You don't buy a laptop because of the way it looks or just the color.

We all know there are different areas of research and each area has applications and software that you will run if you study any.

To help you know exactly what you're looking for when buying a laptop, I've made a list of features that you should look for if you're into physics, math, chemistry, science, Economics, Research, or any other field of Ph.D. Program.

• The laptop must come with Intel Core i5 (latest generation or higher)
• RAM should be at least 8 GB.
• Don't buy a laptop without an SSD.
• Minimum storage: 256 GB
• Display: 13 inches for people who prefer small screens, 15.6 inches for everyone.
• GPU: Integrated graphics card for non-gamers.
• Consider purchasing the one that came with the NVIDIA graphics card if you want to play a game with it.
• Battery life: the higher the better, but 5 hours of backup should be enough. If you're going to be using your machine for gaming, get the one that comes with at least 6 hours of backup.