Law school is hard, there’s no denying that! Therefore, it would be wise for students to make things for themselves as easy as possible. One thing that can help is having a suitable laptop for organizing and studying. So, if you’re looking for the best laptop for law school, we’ve got you covered.
Read on to find the best match!
Table of Contents
Best Laptops for Law School
1. Apple Macbook Pro 16″
- Display: 16” (3072x1920p)
- CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
The New Apple Macbook Pro is another wonderful addition to Apple’s popular MacBook series. This one in particular has quite a new, practical design.
How so, you ask? Well, it has increased thickness, which makes thermal dissipation and airflow easier. However, this also makes the device a bit heavy.
This baby has a much faster processing ability when combined with the Intel Core i7 processor. The processor can have up to 8 cores, allowing it to work through huge loads.
If the sound quality is important to you, then you’re in for a treat! The speakers are stereo, six in number, and come with woofers that enhance the bass.
The 16″ Retina display is definitely one of the most amazing features of this product. Provided with a brightness of 500-nits, this big display will make it easy for you to work in any lighting condition. Also, the presence of the P3 wide color makes the quality of anything you watch very enjoyable. The combination of this wonderful display and the AMD Radeon Pro 5000M series make for seamless graphics.
We should note that, despite the big screen, this unit has a good battery life which is provided by the 100-watt-hour battery made of lithium polymer.
Then there’s the backlit magic keyboard that contains a Touch Bar and Touch ID. Quiet, yet responsive typing is ensured by this scissor-switch keyboard.
Last but not least, SSD storage up to 1TB gives you the freedom to store whatever you need without worrying about space limitations. As a bonus, multitasking is a breeze with this laptop due to its huge storage. All of these great features, however, mean that this laptop is quite expensive!
2. Dell XPS 7390
- Display: 13.4” FHD+
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- RAM: 32 GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
These stunning devices from Dell all contain beautiful designs made from machined aluminum. When it comes to laptops, people are critical of thinner laptops because they tend to have bad thermal control. These units, however, strike a good balance between thickness and thermal regulation which results in a sleek device that does not overheat. Having said that, a fair warning would be not to keep these devices on your lap while charging as they tend to get quite warm.
Corning Gorilla Glass 5 has been added to these devices to make them quite durable. Also, the 13.4″ 2-in-1 convertible touch screen contains FDH+ (1920×1200) resolutions along with the InfinityEdge screen, which makes for a great viewer experience.
At 500-nits, the screen is very bright, so your experience will be enhanced further. It is also anti-reflective, so you can use it in any sort of lighting.
The processors featured in these laptops are 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 ones, so good performance is a given. One of the greatest things about these laptops is their capacity to manage power. The Dell Power Manager with Adaptive Performance makes this possible.
Using Intel Dynamic Turning technology, this system enables the device to work as efficiently as possible. Something to note is that the keyboards are a bit cramped, which is expected of smaller units such as these.
Finally, the fingerprint readers and touchscreens make these devices awesome – they are the cherry on top.
3. HP Spectre x360
- Display: 15.6” 4K
- CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
Those on a budget are no doubt going to be thrilled with this laptop! Students tend to look for well-rounded devices at reasonable prices – this is one such device! Right off the bat, you’ll be quite impressed by this unit’s nice gem-cut design.
Once you plug it in, you’ll be amazed with its speed which is due to the combination of the memory and the processor. The former contains a massive SSD of 1TB and an SDRAM of 16GB. As for the latter, it is a Hexacore 9th Gen Intel i7. If you’re someone who likes to get engrossed in entertainment or enjoys perusing media, then you won’t be disappointed!
Visually, you’ll be pleased by the IPS micro-edge WLED backlit 15.6″ touchscreen. (Yes, it makes the laptop a bit heavy and the thermal regulation is not that great, which is something to consider. However, it’s still a fairly good device.) Also, the Quad Speakers from Bang and Olufsen, make for excellent audio. The integrated HP Truevision camera and digital, dual array microphone are quite useful features as well.
As students tend to take their laptops to class quite a bit, it is a boon to find a laptop with a good battery. At full charge, this unit can last for up to 15 hrs. This is made possible by the lithium-ion battery of 84 Wh and 6 cells. As for ports, we have Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports for easy data transfer.
4. Apple Macbook Air M1
- Display: 13.3” Retina display
- CPU: Apple M1 Chip
- GPU: 8-core GPU
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
Apple products tend to be notoriously expensive, however, this sleek and lightweight Macbook Air (made of an aluminum chassis) is more reasonably priced compared to others. Armed with a beautiful 13-inch Retina display and True Tone Technology, you can enjoy videos to your heart’s content.
The stereo speakers are quite loud, so you don’t need to worry about accessories. You also won’t have to worry about charging your device constantly; this laptop’s 49.9‑watt-hour lithium‑polymer battery and 30W USB-C charger ensure a long battery life that can easily support around 15 hours of usage.
The processor is the new Apple M1 chip, which is 3.5x faster than the previous MacBook models. As for the graphics, we have a 7-core GPU with the 256GB version and an 8-core GPU with the 512GB version. With a memory of 8GB and fast SSD storage, you can work well, even though these specs aren’t the best.
A great addition to the Macbook Air is the new magic keyboard, which has replaced the previous models’ butterfly keyboard. This keyboard feels great on the fingers and is truly any typist’s best friend.
Touch ID is also present in this unit, which is a big time-saver. The new Macbook Air with M1 chip also supports Wi-Fi 6, which is a plus point.
5. Microsoft Surface Book 3
- Display: 13.5” (3000 x 2000p)
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
The Surface Book 3 is a wonderful device with a variety of uses. Want to draw? You have the Surface Pen! Want to navigate? Use the Surface Dial! If you’re into gaming, there’s good news on that front as well.
There is a 10th Gen Quad-Core Intel i7-1065G7 processor along with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. These, along with the graphics provided by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, make gaming smooth! Add to that the 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen display, and you have a wonderful device for, both, study, and play.
The display is very sharp and vibrant, so you can enjoy watching videos. Also, while not as light as we’d like, this unit travels well, so you basically have an all-in-one device!
This laptop’s keyboard is exceptionally smooth and responsive, as is the trackpad. Also, a cool feature is that you can detach the screen, which allows you to position it however you want. However, as a stand is not provided, finding suitable support might be a hassle.
The battery life is quite decent, so you won’t need to carry a charger around at all times. Connectivity is also fast due to Wi-Fi 6 support. As for ports, there are, both, USB-C and USB-A slots, which will make data transfer a breeze.
6. Dell Inspiron 14 5400
- Display: 14” 1080p
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- RAM: 12 GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
Dell boasts that users will get “versatile views on the go” with this device. Are they right? Well, let’s take a look!
Starting with the screen, it is an IPS LED-backlit 14-inch 2 in 1 FHD touchscreen. This means that while the screen is big enough for nice viewing, the device is still pretty lightweight, so you can enjoy your videos while being able to move about with ease. Also, the screen can be switched to different modes (tablet mode or stand mode) for comfort.
The WVA technology makes it possible for a lot of people to watch videos together on this device and the CinemaColor makes the display quite colorful and enjoyable. Slightly detracting from the smooth experience is that the touchscreen is hyper-responsive, so it might waste some time.
What are videos without decent audio? Dell provides you with CinemaSound to go hand-in-hand with CinemaColor, so you get great audio. A 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor and 16GB RAM are what run this unit smoothly.
A feature known as Dell Mobile Connect lets you connect your smartphone and laptop effortlessly. Also, a fingerprint reader is integrated into the power button for convenience. However, the quality of this reader is questionable as it is neither fast nor always responsive. On another note, the camera shutter with lid sensor provides increased security and is pretty cool to have on a laptop.
7. ASUS ZenBook 13
- Display: 13.3” 1080p
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8265U
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
If you’re a fan of elegance, then this laptop is for you. With a petite beauty of 0.5-inch thickness and a 13.3-inch screen; this device is one of the best in terms of portability. That, of course, means that it is light as well as compact.
The display is a NanoEdge bezel with wide-view and full HD. This makes for a smooth viewer experience, especially when paired with the Harman Kardon-Certified audio.
So, does compact mean poor battery life? Not really! Depending on usage, you can get a decent amount of juice from this device’s lithium-polymer battery. It is 50 Wh and also comes with power saver options. The battery charges quite fast – 60% of full capacity within 49 minutes.
The Intel Core i5-8265u processor, 512GB memory, and 8GB RAM all add up to decent speed. Something to keep in mind is that this laptop is mainly for studying or working. If you’re an avid gamer, you’ll be disappointed. Less demanding games will run alright, however. A plus point of this unit is that it comes with a backlit keyboard for ease of use in the dark.
A fingerprint sensor is also present, which is a nice addition. As Windows 10 is fully supported by this device, you can derive benefits from a lot of new features. These include Cortana, a voice-activated assistant, Windows Ink, Continuum mode, and Windows Hello.
One downside is that when the device has not been touched for a long time, it might disconnect from the Wi-Fi. Overall, this product will give you a bang for your buck.
8. Dell XPS 7390
- Display: 13.3” 1080p
- CPU: Intel Core i5-10210U
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
Power and compactness are the dynamic duo that this product offers. With an InfinityEdge Full HD touchscreen display, you get a nice, small-sized device that is easy to transport.
But don’t let the size fool you! Featuring a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U processor, this unit runs quite well. Add to this the fact that it has Intel UHD graphics, and you’ve got a win-win in the video department.
A downside is that it is not suitable for heavy gaming, however, it can handle casual gaming pretty well.
Worried about the audio? Have no fear! The stereo speakers with MaxxAudio Pro will provide you with a decent sound system.
Let’s talk about ports (we love ports!). Data transfer is easy with this device due to the various ports available: one USB-C port and two Thunderbolt 3 ports with power delivery. There is also a MicroSD card reader.
Additionally, Wi-Fi connectivity is also great due to Wi-Fi 6 technology. However, a minor inconvenience might be the lack of a USB-C to USB adapter which is not provided with this product.
There’s also a backlit keyboard which makes it easy to type wherever you’re at all times of the day which is always handy (right?).
Finally, we arrive at the all-important battery assessment. Intel Dynamic Technology is used to consume less power and use it more efficiently when the laptop is working hard. Overall, this is a pretty neat device!
9. Lenovo Yoga C740 2-in-1 Laptop
- Display: 14” 1080p
- CPU: Intel Core i5-10210U
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
For those who love to bend their laptops – this one’s for you! As the name suggests, this unit is quite the yoga master; it is capable of bending a full 360° on its hinges!
Love to sketch, paint, or draw on your device with a pen? The Lenovo Active Pen 2 has got you covered. Not only can you do these on this laptop; it will feel so natural that you may even forget that you’re putting pen to screen instead of paper!
Featuring a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U processor this device will be good for your daily tasks. The speed and smooth graphics will help you immerse yourself in, both, work, and play, with ease. The full HD multi-touch 14-inch touchscreen will also enhance your experience.
As for the audio, Dolby Atmos provides 360° sound, which is best experienced with headphones.
One hitch we have to mention is the battery life. (Need to elaborate here.)
Finally, a handy feature present in this unit is the built-in digital assistant named Cortana. Activated by voice, this feature can be used if you’re as far as 4 meters away from the laptop. All in all, if you’re on a budget, then this device is a decent choice.
10. Google Pixelbook Go
- Display: 13.5” 1080p
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8200Y
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 615
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 128GB SSD
Want a Pixelbook without having to break the bank? Well, this is it! This unit is light as a feather and reasonably thin. What sets this laptop apart from a lot of other thin laptops is that it has a very textured design which makes it easy to hold.
The display is 13.5-inches and is touchscreen and the dual stereo speakers provide a satisfactory sound system. Also, a big win with this device is that it can last up to 12 hours with a single charge, making it truly an on-the-go laptop! Moreover, the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 is so fast that the unit boots up almost immediately!
Security is something this product takes seriously! There is an anti-virus programmed into the system along with a Titan C security chip. Together, these provide heavy-duty protection.
Another wonderful feature of this product is the webcam. It is 1080p, which is a welcome surprise, as it’s hard to find such a good quality webcam in laptops.
This laptop also features a nifty keyboard that is not only backlit but also very quiet, so you can use it at night even if there are people sleeping near you. There is also a trackpad, which is quite decent.
Two hitches we should mention: Making calls with this device can be an annoyance as you need a “Google Duo” account. Another issue is that this Chromebook might not support certain software.
Best Laptops for Law School: Quick Answers
Which is the best operating system to use for school?
As Windows and iOS are the most commonly used operating systems, they are the most convenient to use.
Does weight really matter?
Since students usually need to take their laptops to classes, libraries, and even to cafes, it’s smart to buy a lighter laptop.
Is a larger screen better?
It depends on the type of work you’ll be doing. Editing and graphics work would benefit from larger screens. If you’re not doing that kind of work, then medium and small screens should work just fine.
How much memory do I need?
As law students generally need to work on and store a lot of files, a decent memory would be good. The bare minimum is 4 GB of RAM.
How important is a decent keyboard?
Law students need to type a lot as they work on assignments and perform research, so a good keyboard can make a huge difference.
Final Words
Hard work and dedication can surely get you places, but so can be being smart about your choices!
Finding the best laptop for law school can be a time-consuming yet worthwhile endeavor. Make sure you take the time to consider each product on this list so that you can find the most suitable laptop. Thanks for reading!
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