6 Best Laptop for Teachers: The Definitive Guide

We’ve done this review for you. The article selects models that are recommended by independent experts and which have already been tested by many users.

FYI: After further testing, the Microsoft Surface Book 3 is our top pick for insane multitasking and online lessons.
We also have a comprehensive comparative analysis for Mac Lovers.

Long story short

Microsoft Surface Book 3

This model is for you if you want to make an easy but reasonable choice.

No digging into specs and tests. If that all sounds a bit too much like mumbo-jumbo for you, we have a solution.

It is just worth the money.

The versatile and productive Microsoft Surface Book 3

With this laptop, it will be convenient for you to:

  • create presentations and tutorials;
  • work with graphics;
  • make handwritten notes and supplement training materials; 
  • demonstrate work in real-time both on the big screen in the classroom and for online classes.

This modern convertible model will allow you to get the benefits of its thoughtful convenient design, strong autonomy, and versatility.

Best laptop for teachers

To make sure that you are getting the most out of your investment when it comes time to buy a new laptop, we’ll take a look at how laptops work from an engineering perspective and what specs they have, as well as consider which ones would be more appropriate for your needs.

P.S. If you teach cooking, we recommend you to check Bowlakechinese for ideas on Chinese cuisine.

Who are you?

First, let’s understand what you need to do at work and then find out how you want to solve the tasks assigned to you.

CONDITIONS

Do you work at a school or university? Do you work remotely or offline in the classroom? Do you give a lot of lectures? Do you type a lot of text every day? Are you connecting a laptop to a projector in a classroom without a power outlet?

PERSONALITY

Do you prefer to use a mouse or a touch bar? Do you work in bed or at your desk? How important is portability to you? Do you want a bigger or smaller screen?

Don’t feel like reading an article about computers. We are here to help you and we hope you will eventually find for yourself not the most advertised laptop, but a custom one. Which will satisfy exactly your requirements.

Some steps to choose a model for you

A laptop is one of the most essential tools for a teacher. The right computer can help you get your work done efficiently and can make teaching more enjoyable.

What’s the best laptop for teachers? This question has been asked by many educators.

Out and in

Let’s figure out together what you should pay attention to, and what is better to skip when choosing a laptop.

Minimum requirements. Basic option.

Memory, display, performance

First of all, we want to warn you against buying outdated equipment. To avoid mistakes, we recommend focusing on the following indicators.

  • Of course, you should choose a model with only a high-quality screen.
    Don’t use NT Matrix with low angles and horrible color rendering. It is better to choose the IPS Matrix.
  • It is very important to get an SSD laptop as compared to HDD. You’d want your laptop to be more responsive and snappy when you’re loading and saving programs. Although SSD means that you’d have to do with much smaller storage space, you can always save more data in Cloud. 
  • Today, for the minimum comfortable work, you should have at least 8 GB of RAM. If you use programs for programming, modeling, rendering then you know well the minimum requirements of these programs are.
    If you need to use a computer for simple tasks like writing, grading papers, creating lesson plans, doing research, sending emails, etc, then 8 GB will be enough for you. A basic model like Acer Aspire will fast and efficiently allow you to multitask.

Self-organized person. Working from home.
Screen, convenience

If you are one of those who correctly zoned the space at home and only works at the table (and not like us, while cooking, on the couch, and in other unsuitable places), then we recommend opting for a screen with a larger diagonal.

Portability and autonomy.
Size, weight

If, on the contrary, you move around the campus during the day with a laptop, then choose a lighter model. Actually, manufacturers strive to make modern models both productive and lightweight.

However, if you choose a 15-inch laptop, then you will carry it in a big bag anyway. But the 13-inch laptop, on the other hand, is easy to fit into any compact backpack or stylish bag.

Performance rate.
Reliable and powerful

If you want to buy a productive and reliable laptop that will be up to date for several years, then choose one with a powerful processor inside.

Versatility.
Anywhere and however you want

Sometimes you work away from home, sometimes you want to work in front of a large monitor, sometimes it has to work all day without recharging, sometimes you want to quickly write instructions and send them to students.

If you have not yet conducted a million tests and are not completely sure of your requirements, then we recommend that you choose a multifunctional model with a well-thought-out user-friendly design.

Additional requirements.
To fall in love with…

For me, it is important to have a backlit keyboard. What is important to you?

Read the detailed descriptions of the top tested models and choose the most suitable one for your needs.

Let’s dive right in: a review of each model

Microsoft Surface Book 3

Winner in the categories: “Performance rate” & “Versalite design”

Microsoft Surface Book 3 remains one of the most unique and quirky laptops. There are very few 2-in-1 devices that support a stylus and have such a powerful GPU. While the latest model isn’t much different from the previous one, it’s easy to overlook just how powerful this laptop has become since its first introduction in 2015.

The Surface Book 3 15 magnesium case is sleek and extremely durable. Since the case is unpainted — unlike the various Surface Laptop models — there is no reason to worry about peeling paint off, other than minor scratches. The one-piece construction does not creak anywhere and does not give slack. However, this also means the Surface Book 3 does not have entry points for repairs and it is not possible to update internal components.

One of the Surface Book features is the ability to press a special button on the keyboard that separates the display from the main body of the laptop. Microsoft accomplished this by putting all the components of the computer — the processor, RAM, built-in, Wi-Fi / Bluetooth modules, and part of the battery — in the display, and the base, in turn, works like a big battery and hides the NVIDIA video card in it.

When watching a video, to move the screen closer to you, the tablet can be attached to the keyboard with the backside, and it can also be positioned horizontally (studio mode), like a drawing table. It’s certainly not the most practical design compared to laptops with conventional hinges, but the Surface Book 3 is capable of much more than other 2-in-1 devices.

I am much more comfortable doing 80% of presentations on the touch screen. This way I create a quality product faster.

The top bezel houses a 5MP front-facing camera with dual microphones. It supports 1080P video for calls such as Microsoft Teams, Skype, and Zoom.

Microsoft’s Surface lineup almost always contains the best keyboards and trackpads of all Windows computers, and this is especially true for the Surface Book 3.

The keyboard has barely changed, which is a good thing. It is still 1.55mm in depth, which is quite deep compared to many other laptops. Dirt and fingerprints on the silver metal keys are almost invisible. Typing comes out quietly, freely, the computer responds instantly. Thanks to the 3:2 aspect ratio, the keyboard has plenty of room for your palms and wrists, although if you wear a watch or bracelet, be careful — it can scratch on the case. A three-stage backlight (manually activated via F1) allows you to type in the dark.

MacBook Air M1

Winner in the categories: “Quiet running” & “High endurance”

For the third time in its history, Apple has moved its line of personal computers from one processor architecture to another. For the first time in 1994, Apple switched from 32-bit CISC-chips of the Motorola 68000 series to RISC-PowerPC processors, then in 2006 to x86 chips from Intel, and now the transition to its own ARM-processors has begun. As you know, the transition is going well — most programs start and run stably on the new architecture.

Externally, the MacBook Air M1 does not differ from its predecessor; Apple decided not to change the design of the model when switching to new processor architecture.

The materials in the MacBook Air M1 have not changed either, Apple traditionally used a one-piece aluminum panel for the base of the case, which is covered from the bottom by a removable cover made of the same metal. The company has been using the Unibody design since 2008, and during this time has brought production processes to perfection, so there have been no complaints about the build quality of Apple laptops for many years.

The new MacBook Air is very powerful for such a compact laptop.

In everyday tasks, such as working with a browser, mail, instant messengers, as well as documents, the system works quickly and smoothly, providing very comfortable performance.

I have been using Apple laptops from time to time since 2010 and have not remembered for a long time that the OS and programs in the base model “fly” like that. For example, sometimes it happens that while editing images you drag 20 full-resolution photos into the editor window. Previously, the Air would slip on to such tasks for a long time, but with the Apple M1, it takes 30 seconds.

Working with a MacBook is a pleasure

Silence
Unlike previous Macs, this model has no active cooling system, meaning no fans to make noise.

Display
The MacBook Air M1 has a 13.3-inch LED-backlit IPS display with a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels (227 ppi), an aspect ratio of 16:10, a maximum brightness of 400 nits, and support for True Tone.

The display is pleasant to use both during normal office work and image processing.

Touchpad
The touchpad in the laptop has not changed, Apple uses a rather large glass panel with a linear actuator Taptic Engine, which, due to vibration, simulates pressing. The touchpad itself understands gestures well and knows how to determine the degree of pressure. Overall, this is still one of the most comfortable touchpads that allow you to work comfortably with a laptop without using a mouse.

Things to consider
At the center of the display’s top bezel is a 720p FaceTime HD camera. Apple says its picture quality has improved over previous versions thanks to the neural coprocessor in the M1 chip, which accelerates machine learning tasks, which also include image anti-aliasing and detail enhancement. But in practice, the difference is not felt, the picture quality is mediocre. However, it is the same in all compact laptops, so if necessary, it is better to buy an external webcam.
To connect headphones, you can use Bluetooth 5.0 or a standard 3.5 mm jack.

🍏Reminder
In its laptops, Apple is not particularly worried about the number of connectors, using USB Type-C ports and inviting users to purchase the necessary adapters separately.

🍏Advice
Unlike other computers, you will be using a Mac for 3 or 5 or even 10 years. And if early 80 GB RAM seemed huge and was upgradable, now we recommend that you purchase a model with enough memory (considering that your needs and requirements of even standard programs may increase).

🍏Lifehack
The laptop is charged from a compact 30W power supply, a full charge from 0 to 100% takes 2 hours and 23 minutes. Interestingly, it can run on more powerful chargers for smartphones (I tried one at 40W), and from laptops (I connected it at 65 W but the battery does not charge at the same time). The battery can also be recharged from a 25W power supply, such as from Samsung smartphones, although this will take longer.

Higher specs — MacBook Pro M1 13” 

I don’t think we need to say that this computer is suitable for complex tasks, because if you are a specialist in your sphere and a teacher you know all the programs for your tasks and their requirements.

MacBook Air M1 VS MacBook Pro 13”

Comparison table

Keep in mind that the requirements of a laptop also depend on the field of teaching. A science/engineering teacher is more likely to need higher specs since they will likely be processing large amounts of data.

There really aren’t many differences, but the price difference isn’t very big either: for an extra $500, you get a bigger battery, a bigger power supply, a touch bar, a cooler, better microphones, better sound, and a brighter display.

If this is important for your daily work, then feel free to choose a more powerful model.

ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED Ultra Slim

Winner in the categories: “Powerful battery” & “Vibrant screen”

Design 
ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED Ultra Slim is an ultraportable model that is very compact and lightweight. The body is completely metal, except for the frame around the screen, the main color is dark gray (Pine Gray). The lid has a proprietary barely noticeable texture in the form of concentric circles with a silvery ASUS logo in the center. The case is matte, it collects fingerprints well.

It is easy to open without holding the base. The bezels around the screen are thin (about 5 mm on the sides and 9 mm on the top — the “eye” of the webcam is located above the screen). As a result, the screen occupies 88% of the body area.

Screen
Pantone certification is declared for ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED Ultra Slim, and the measured color accuracy confirms that these are not a hot air: the average delta E value of this display is at the level of one, the maximum is less than 2.5; this is a very good result even for those desktop monitor models that are factory calibrated.

Keyboard
The keyboard is a slightly shortened TKL (tenkeyless, without an additional digital block), 29 cm wide. It is 1.4 mm in depth, traditionally short for a laptop keyboard, pressing is light and quiet, with noticeable punching.

Performance
The laptop uses an Intel Core i5-1035G4 processor. This is an energy-efficient quad-core eight-thread processor based on the Sunny Cove architecture (Ice Lake U family) introduced in the first half of 2019. The base frequency is 1.2 GHz, Turbo Boost for one core can reach 3.7 GHz (under load all four up to 3.3 GHz). The processor is equipped with 6MB of L3 cache and is targeted at a 15W thermal package (manufacturers can change TDP in the range from 7.5 to 25W). 

Featuring Gen 11 Integrated Graphics called Iris Plus Graphics, the processor is significantly faster than its 9th Gen predecessor. In addition to the UX325, the ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED line also includes the UM325, which uses AMD Ryzen processors.

Autonomy
ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED (UX325) has a 67Wh battery, and in battery tests in the PCMark 10 benchmark, it showed excellent results: with a screen brightness of 120 cd / m2, the laptop lasted more than 12 hours in an office simulation (and about that the same — when watching a video), and as much as 15 hours in an idle state. In general, we can confidently state that a full charge of this laptop is more than enough for a full working day.

Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-50RS 

Winner in the categories: “Multi-Purpose laptop” & “Ergonomic keyboard”

In the past, the Acer Aspire 5 line has always contained fairly fast office models with good battery life and decent quality. The latest generation continues the good traditions of Acer.

New office and multimedia laptops got more RAM and a larger SSD. The Acer Aspire 5 has a 15.6″ IPS display with a resolution of 1.920 x 1.080 pixels. The notebook is powered by 11th Gen Intel Core processors with integrated Iris Xe graphics for a significant performance boost.

The case is largely identical to previous generations, the laptop offers HDMI, USB 3.1, and Gigabit Ethernet Type-C, but there is a combo audio jack for connecting a headset (headphone and microphone). Wireless communication is provided by the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 module. To keep the price down, Acer opted for a plastic/metal combo, available in black or silver.

Display
The display unit is attached to the body using a hinge mechanism. It provides excellent fixation of the screen in the desired position and allows you to open the laptop with one hand. The maximum opening angle is 135°, with the lower part of the case raised above the table.

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-50RS can be used outdoors, but only in shade, the matte display surface does not cause reflections or glare.

Keyboard
Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-50RS received the familiar full-size (338 x 98 mm) island-style keyboard with an additional number pad. There is a familiar set of useful functional actions that are performed by default. To use the [F1-F12] keys, you must press them in combination with the [Fn] button.

Sound
On the base, closer to the front, there are stereo speakers. They give out a well-balanced, sound. For comfortable video viewing, 50-60% volume is enough. The sound in the headphones is also at a good level, without distortion and extraneous noise.

HP 15 Laptop 

Best budget choice 
Winner in the category: “Lightweight and compact machine”

Design 
The HP 15 case is made entirely of plastic. The build quality is generally decent, and the same goes for the rigidity. The battery is not replaceable.

Equipment

Left: power connector, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-A), audio
Right: SD card reader, USB 2.0 (Type-A), DVD-RW, Kensington

Keyboard and touchpad
The keyboard is full-sized, with the right block of numeric buttons, but it has no backlight. Low, flat, slightly rough keys give a direct, high-spirited response, but the pressure is shallow. Even an insignificant keystroke inward is recorded by the system as a full press.

When typing, a slight squeezing of the keypad inside the case is obvious, which practically does not bother us, at least. Taking into account all the pros and cons, the keyboard can be considered suitable for frequent work with texts.

The touchpad has a smooth surface that is pleasant to the fingers. The two dedicated keys are pressed shallowly, but they work clearly, with tactile feedback that is clear to the finger.

Audio system
The stereo speakers are located above the keyboard, behind a grid-and-hole pattern. The sound quality is pleasant.

The laptop can be virtually silent in daily life.
Also, the HP 15 is fast enough due to the NVMe class drive.

To be more professional

In modern realities, the rule of good manners is to have a high-quality headset. Even if you don’t give online lectures daily basis. You must be clearly visible and audible.

Poly VOYAGER 8200 UC

• Style: Headset;
• Active Noise Cancellation;
• Wireless + Wired;
• Bluetooth 5.0 + USB-A.

Logitech MX Master 3

• Buttons are clicky and responsive;
• Made out of solid materials;
• Sensor accurate and perform well;
• Both for Windows and Mac computers.

Comfyable Slim Protective Laptop Sleeve

• Professional look;
• Available in eight colors;
• A tight fit or a slightly looser one.

Logitech HD Webcam C615

• Easy to set up;
• Provides 1080p resolution;
• A solid portable option;
• Fold-and-Go Design.

All models from the review

Microsoft Surface Book 3

🏆Best overall

Winner in the categories: “Performance rate” & “Versalite design”

MacBook Air M1

Winner in the categories:
“Quiet running” & “High endurance”

ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED Ultra Slim

Winner in the categories:
“Powerful battery” & “Vibrant screen”

MacBook Pro 13”

Winner in the category:
“Ultraportable laptop” 

Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-50RS

Winner in the categories:
“Multi-Purpose laptop” & “Ergonomic keyboard”

HP 15 Laptop

Best budget choice

Winner in the category:
“Lightweight and compact machine”

Final Recap

As you may have noticed, we didn’t make huge comparison tables.

Once again, we ask you not to pay attention to the ratings of popular models but to focus on choosing the absolute winner according to your criteria.
We hope that with the help of our guide you have understood what is necessary for you, what is important, and what criteria are desirable.
It’s okay to have a customized model for you.

Teachers need to be in contact with their students all day long, and a lot of times this means using a computer to complete lessons or create resources. By purchasing one of these laptops, you will get a reliable and efficient assistant for your daily tasks.

All models featured in this review have been selected by technical experts and tested by many customers.

Moreover, all of these laptops were produced very recently, in the 2020s, and were designed and assembled by many highly skilled engineers.

So choosing one of the offered laptops, you will get a quality product. We wish you happy and pleasant shopping!

FAQ

✔️What is the best laptop for a teacher?

Microsoft Surface Book 3. It has many use cases thanks to its touchscreen and special form factor — an all-in-one laptop. The most powerful Surface yet combines speed, graphics with the versatility of a laptop, tablet, and portable studio. Available in 13.5” or 15” sizes, both with a high-resolution touchscreen.

🚀What are the best laptops for teachers?

  • Best overall – Microsoft Surface Book 3: Home office, kitchen table, or living room couch, Surface Book 3 makes it easy to connect and collaborate remotely with built-in 1080p HD video cameras, dual Studio Mics, immersive Dolby Atmos® sound, and fast secured sign-in.
  • Runner-up – MacBook Air M1: Notebook, completely transformed by the Apple M1 chip. The longest battery life ever in a MacBook Air. And a silent, fanless design.
  • Budget pick – HP 15 Laptop: Experience high-grade graphics and processing power for multitasking, plus improved cooling for overall performance and stability.

💰What inexpensive laptop for teachers is better to choose?

HP 15 Laptop A laptop that can keep up with you with a premium 11th Gen Intel® processor. A compact laptop that makes it easy to get work done on the go with a Precision Touchpad, while the long battery life and HP Fast Charge.

💎What is the best portable laptop for a teacher?

MacBook Pro 13” The M1 chip makes MacBook Pro outrageously fast and powerful. Its 8‑core CPU rips through complex workflows and heavy workloads, with up to 2.8x faster processing, performance than the previous generation.

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