Top Laptops for Succeeding in Nursing School
As a nursing student, having a reliable laptop is absolutely essential. You‘ll be using it constantly to attend online classes, do research, access electronic medical records, take notes, write papers, run medical software, collaborate with classmates, and more. A good laptop can make your life as a busy nursing student much easier, while a bad one will lead to endless frustration.
When it comes to choosing a laptop for nursing school, there are a number of important factors to consider. Of course, it needs sufficient performance to smoothly run any software you‘ll need to use. It should have a bright, crisp, generously-sized display to prevent eye strain during long study sessions. A comfortable, accurate keyboard and trackpad are crucial for taking notes. Portability and long battery life are also key for taking the laptop to class.
Durability is something else to think about, since your laptop will likely take a beating being carted around everywhere in your bag. And of course, price is always a consideration on a student budget. The good news is that nursing students don‘t necessarily need a cutting-edge powerhouse machine, so there are plenty of reasonably priced options out there.
With all that in mind, here are our top picks for the best laptops for nursing students:
Best Overall Laptop for Nursing Students: Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 is our pick for the best all-around laptop for nursing students. It offers an unbeatable combination of portability, performance, and premium features at a reasonable price point. Weighing under 3 pounds and less than 0.6 inches thick, it‘s incredibly easy to carry around campus. But it still packs an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to a 512GB SSD, giving it more than enough power for nursing school.
The 13.4-inch display is stunning, with an FHD+ or 4K resolution, up to 500 nits of brightness, and exceptionally thin bezels. This means you get a compact laptop without sacrificing screen real estate. The keyboard is also fantastic with deep travel, snappy feedback, and a large trackpad with precision drivers. With up to 14 hours of battery life, outlet anxiety won‘t be an issue.
On top of all that, the XPS 13 is beautifully crafted with machined aluminum and carbon fiber, giving it a sturdy, premium feel. The nearly bezel-less screen, compact design, and smooth performance make this feel like a much more expensive laptop. For nursing students who want an excellent all-around computer they can easily take anywhere, the Dell XPS 13 is the best choice.
Best Budget Laptop for Nursing Students: Acer Aspire 5
Nursing school is expensive enough as it is. If you‘re looking to save money on your laptop, the Acer Aspire 5 is your best bet. Usually priced under $600, sometimes much less if you find a good sale, this laptop delivers the best bang for your buck. While it may not be the fanciest or have all the bells and whistles, it nails all the basics.
With a 15.6-inch full HD IPS display, 4-8GB of RAM, and a 128-512GB SSD, the Aspire 5 has the specs to handle everything nursing school throws at it. The latest model packs a surprising amount of power too, with an 11th Gen Intel Core i3 or i5 processor. It‘s not the lightest at 4.2 pounds, but it‘s thin, sturdy, and still very portable.
Some other selling points for nursing students are the spacious, responsive keyboard, fingerprint reader for quickly logging in, and 8+ hours of battery life. For the price, you‘d be hard pressed to find a better budget laptop. Acer arguably offers the best low-cost Windows laptops. By making reasonable compromises in the right areas, they created a very capable computer accessible to all budgets. It may not turn heads, but it will get the job done.
Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Nursing Students: Microsoft Surface Pro 8
For nursing students who prefer the versatility of a 2-in-1 tablet and laptop in one, the Microsoft Surface Pro line has long been a favorite – and the new Surface Pro 8 is the best one yet. With the keyboard attached, it functions as a full-fledged laptop. Detach it, and you have a lightweight tablet for reading, reviewing flash cards, or jotting down handwritten notes with the Surface Pen.
The Surface Pro 8 features a gorgeous 13-inch touchscreen with a fluid 120Hz refresh rate, a significant upgrade from previous models. The front-facing camera has been bumped up to 1080p resolution, which is handy for video calls with classmates or attending lectures remotely. It also packs cutting-edge hardware, with an 11th Gen Intel Core processor, up to 32GB of RAM, and a removable SSD up to 1TB in size.
While the keyboard cover and Surface Pen are sold separately, they are well worth it for the added functionality. The Surface Pro 8‘s versatility is perfect for nursing students. Use it as a laptop in class to type up notes, then seamlessly switch to tablet mode in the lab or at the library to review materials or complete assignments with the pen. If you want a single, flexible device, the Surface Pro 8 is our top recommendation.
Best Apple Laptop for Nursing Students: MacBook Air with M1
If you prefer macOS to Windows, the latest MacBook Air with M1 chip is an excellent choice for nursing students. Weighing just 2.8 pounds and measuring 0.63 inches at its thickest point, this is an unbelievably thin and light computer. But thanks to the exceptional efficiency of Apple‘s ARM-based M1 chip, it still delivers remarkable performance and battery life.
With 8-16GB of unified memory and Apple‘s 8-core CPU, this MacBook Air can handle all your nursing school needs with ease. You get the same snappy, responsive macOS experience as with much more expensive MacBook Pro models. The fanless design also means it runs absolutely silent, which is great for quiet studying environments.
Another major selling point of the MacBook Air is the industry-leading battery life. With up to 18 hours of use on a single charge, this laptop will easily last through a whole day of classes and then some. The 13.3-inch Retina display is gorgeous as well, with crisp text, vibrant colors, and True Tone technology to automatically adjust the white balance.
Other premium features include a large Force Touch trackpad, fingerprint sensor for secure logins, excellent speakers and webcam, and high build quality. For nursing students invested in the Apple ecosystem, the MacBook Air with M1 delivers outstanding portable performance, battery life, and user experience.
Lightest Laptop for Nursing Students: LG Gram 14
If you‘ll be carrying your laptop around a lot and want the lightest possible option, get the LG Gram 14. Astonishingly, this laptop weighs a mere 2.2 pounds, lighter than even Apple‘s smallest MacBook Air. It achieves this by using a specially designed magnesium alloy in the chassis that is incredibly lightweight yet still durable.
Despite the focus on being featherlight, LG didn‘t skimp on what‘s inside. The Gram is available with up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD – very capable specs for such a portable machine. The 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display is also high quality, with a 16:10 aspect ratio that provides more vertical space than standard 16:9 screens.
Battery life is another strong suit, with the Gram 14 lasting up to an impressive 25.5 hours on a charge. The backlit keyboard is a pleasure to type on and the trackpad is smooth and responsive. With its unmatched portability and well-rounded feature set, this is an excellent choice for nursing students who want the most mobile laptop that doesn‘t sacrifice performance.
What Specs Should Nursing Students Look For?
So what kind of hardware specifications should you prioritize in a laptop for nursing school? In general, you‘ll want a modern processor (Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7), at least 8GB of RAM, and a solid state drive with 256GB or more storage capacity. That will ensure performance is snappy and you have plenty of memory and space for your applications and files.
A 13-15-inch screen is the sweet spot in terms of portability and having enough space to work comfortably. Look for an IPS panel with at least a 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) resolution. In terms of battery life, 8+ hours is good but 12+ hours is ideal for all-day use without worrying about plugging in. Aim for a weight under 4 pounds if possible for the sake of your back. Also consider a touch screen 2-in-1 model for more flexibility in how you use the device.
Windows vs Mac vs Chromebook
As for which operating system to choose, that‘s largely a matter of personal preference. Windows offers the most flexibility and is compatible with the widest range of software. macOS is also very capable and offers a premium, user-friendly experience with deep integration in the Apple ecosystem. Chromebooks are more limited but are very affordable, simple, and great for basic tasks like email, web browsing, and note taking.
In general, we recommend sticking with Windows or macOS for nursing students, as Chromebooks may not have the required functionality for some of the applications you need for classes and clinicals. But if you‘re on a very tight budget, a Chromebook can work with some creative problem solving. Always check with your specific program to see if they have any particular system requirements before purchasing a laptop.
Are Upgrades Like Dedicated Graphics Worth It?
If you have room in your budget, there are some potential upgrades to consider over the base configurations of the laptops covered here. More RAM and storage are always nice to have for better multitasking and more space for files. A higher resolution display can make text sharper and images more detailed. And if your program requires demanding 3D visualization software, a dedicated graphics card may be helpful.
That said, for most nursing students, the standard specs in the models discussed will be more than sufficient. Features like a dedicated GPU are usually not at all necessary and add significant cost and weight. Only consider paying more for higher-end components if you know you‘ll be pushing the limits of the laptop outside of standard nursing school needs. Putting that money toward a better keyboard, display, and portability is usually wiser.
Recommended Accessories
In addition to the laptop itself, there are a few key accessories we recommend for nursing students to have:
An external mouse: While trackpads are convenient, an external mouse offers more precision and comfort during extended use. Wireless models are ideal for portability.
A laptop sleeve or case: Protect your investment from drops, spills, and scratches with a padded sleeve or hard shell case, especially if you‘ll be transporting it a lot.
A laptop stand: Propping your laptop up on a stand can improve ergonomics and airflow. Some even have additional ports or fans built in.
An external battery pack: For long days on campus, an external USB battery pack can help keep your laptop charged if you can‘t always access an outlet.
A USB flash drive: Even with cloud storage, it‘s still handy to keep a physical backup of important files on a flash drive.
A noise-cancelling headset: For attending online lectures or listening to recorded material, a comfortable headset with a mic is very useful.
Closing Thoughts
A quality, reliable laptop is one of the most important tools for a nursing student. It‘s an investment that will help you excel in your studies and establish your knowledge base for your future nursing career. The models highlighted here represent the top laptops nursing students can buy, offering the ideal blend of performance, portability, features, and value.
To summarize, the Dell XPS 13 is our best overall pick that does everything well. The Acer Aspire 5 is the best choice for budget-minded students. The Surface Pro 8 offers the versatility of a tablet and laptop in one. The MacBook Air is the top choice for Apple fans. And the LG Gram 14 is the most portable option.
Whichever laptop you choose, remember it‘s just a tool. What matters most is the hard work and dedication you put in. Focus on your studies, ask questions, and don‘t neglect your own health and wellbeing. With the right technology to support you and the knowledge you build in nursing school, you‘ll be well prepared to succeed in this challenging yet deeply rewarding profession.
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