Congratulations on getting into nursing school!
We’ve compiled the 10 best laptops in the market for nursing students, as of March 2020.
Whether you’re the lucky future nurse or you’re a parent or significant other searching for the best laptop for nursing students, the following list will surely help you narrow down your options.
These days, laptops have become more of a necessity than a luxury for college students. Some might wonder why a nursing student would need a good laptop. Most nursing schools now require their students to have one. Majority of schoolwork are now submitted online and in some cases, classes are done over video conferencing too.
Nursing schools advise students to have a laptop that is not more than three years old. This would make sure the laptop is still efficient and compatible with essential software such as MS Office and statistical software. And if you need to de-stress, gaming capability won’t hurt either!
Recommended Minimum Laptop Specifications for Nursing Students
Requirements might vary from one nursing school to another. It’s best to check with your school first! If there are no existing guidelines, here’s an overview of things you should consider when looking for the best laptop for nursing students.
Processor
The best laptop for nursing students depends highly on its performance. Most nursing schools recommend the Intel Core i5 processor. It’s known for its speed and performance without being too expensive.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
RAM determines the laptop’s multitasking capabilities. You might not think you’ll need a lot of RAM for nursing school, but you will!
When doing research, you might also find yourself having a dozen tabs open at once. Good RAM is also helpful when you’re doing computations with one software and writing your answers in another. We recommend at least 6GB RAM, or 8GB if you can afford it.
Storage
While Cloud Storage is popular these days, subscriptions can cost real money. It’s also good to be able to access and edit your files even if you don’t have an internet connection. Choose a laptop with SSD or Solid State Drive hard drive, with at least 128GB capacity.
Operating System
Windows and Mac OS are the most widely available and popular operating systems for laptops. In general, the operating system doesn’t really matter unless you have a personal preference.
Many Windows laptops, however, can offer the same or even better performance as a Mac OS laptop at a lesser price.
MacBooks are generally more expensive but would meet most software and performance requirements. If it meets your budget, you can buy a MacBook. If not, check out our recommendations below.
Best Laptops for Nursing Students – Top 10 Picks
Looking for a laptop that meets those specifications might take you quite some time. If you’re a student or a parent looking for the best laptop for nursing students, here’s our top 10!
Acer Aspire 5
At under $600, this is the best budget laptop for nursing students. The Acer Aspire 5 has a standard 15.6-inch full HD IPS widescreen display. The colors and quality are crisp and clear without causing eye strain because of the built-in Acer BlueLight Shield feature.
This Windows 10 laptop is powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage for smooth performance.
The fingerprint scanner will help protect your laptop from theft and keep your files secure while the full-sized backlit keyboard helps you type in the dark. The battery can last up to 9.5 hours.
Dell Inspiron 15
Another affordable laptop below $600, this Dell laptop is high-performing, sleek, and sturdy. Its specifications are similar to the Acer Aspire 5 above. Notable differences include the better aesthetics and Anti-Glare panel for the screen, also meant to protect your eyes.
It is also equipped with the 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor with 6MB cache and turbo boost technology of up to 3.4GHz so it will never give up on you even with tough deadlines. This is further supported with its 8GB DDR4 RAM and Intel UHD Graphics plus 5 hours battery life.
Acer Swift 3
A powerful combination of beauty, performance, and portability, the Acer Swift 3 is only 0.6 inches thin and weighs 4.3 pounds. Its battery can last up to 11 hours so you can work anywhere and longer, even during an outage.
Similar to the Dell Inspiron 15, it has the same powerful processor, 8GB RAM, and Intel UHD Graphics. More than your schoolwork, you can also do some light graphics and gaming.
Asus VivoBook 15
This laptop combines a premium look with its thin and lightweight design. The laptop’s WideView technology and 88% screen to body ratio make it one of the best laptops for nursing students.
Packed with 8GB of DDR4 RAM like most laptops of today, the ASUS VivoBook is slightly different thanks to it’s AMD Quad Core r5-3500u Processor (up to 3.6 GHz). It also comes with a fingerprint sensor to secures your laptop and files.
ASUS VivoBook 15’s battery life is about 8 hours which is 1 hour longer than the average mainstream-laptop allowing you to work a little longer.
Dell Inspiron 7000
This 2-in-1 laptop can function as both a laptop and a tablet with its 360-degree strong hinge. You can also use it in Tent Mode or Stand Mode for convenience.
At less than $600, it’s also an affordable yet powerful option. Equipped with RAM that’s expandable from 8GB to 16GB, you have a high-performance laptop that can double as a tablet.
The battery lasts up to 9 hours and you can enjoy quality audio with its Wave MaxxAudio-powered speakers.
Asus ZenBook 13
This is one of the more expensive options on this list, but it also has the longest-lasting battery, which can last up to 14 hours. Not just that, but with fast-charging technology, it can also charge up to 60% in less than an hour.
It’s a light 2.5-pound, 0.5-inch thin option with a slightly smaller but full HD screen and ASUS Eye Care technology.
Equipped with a backlit keyboard and a fast processor, you can complete your schoolwork with ease on this laptop.
HP Pavilion 15
Another touch-enabled laptop, the HP Pavilion 15’s full HD IPS display is perfect for nursing students who want clear graphics for reference photos.
It’s equipped with the latest Intel Core i5-1035G1 10th-gen processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM for maximum speed and performance, plus multitasking capabilities.
At only 0.7 inches thin and 4.3 pounds, it is one of the best laptops for nursing students.
New Apple MacBook Air 13
While on the more expensive end, the MacBook Air 13 is light and portable with amazing performance perfect for nursing students. It’s sleek and trendy plus super sturdy and reliable. This laptop is a great investment that can serve you until you graduate from nursing school.
The battery can last up to 12 hours so you can bring it to school and use it the whole day without charging.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Microsoft designed the Surface Pro series specifically with college students in mind. It’s not cheap, but it definitely meets all the hardware and software requirements to be one of the best laptops for nursing students.
It’s light and is equipped with specifications on par with the other laptops on this list. Microsoft offers a kickstand that helps you view the 12.3-inch PixelSense screen perfectly at any angle regardless of how you like to study.
Asus C302CA-DHM4 Chromebook
This is one of the best laptops for nursing students under $600. Take note this is a Chromebook, which mostly relies on Cloud-based storage and apps to function, but can definitely get the job done.
The battery lasts up to 8 hours and it’s thin and portable too!
Different students may have different needs, but we hope we’ve helped you find the best laptop for you. Good luck on your nursing school journey!
