The Best Notebooks for Teenagers and University Students

So affordable and already a high-quality convertible! The Microsoft Surface Go already starts for less than 500 Euros, but this version is shipped without physical keyboard. You can either use a Bluetooth keyboard or the optional Type Cover, which will increase the price noticeably. The storage is also limited on the base model at just 64 GB, and Microsoft charges a hefty premium for the 128 GB option. You can at least use the microSD reader to store more data.

The quality of the magnesium case is excellent, the Surface lasts long on battery, and you get a bright as well as high-contrast screen. The performance is not that bad, either. You notice that the Surface Go is no real notebook when you look at the ports, because one USB-C port will have to suffice.

Lenovo offers a tough competitor for the Microsoft Surface Go: The IdeaPad D330 follows the same concept as Microsoft's smallest tablet, very long battery runtimes, an LTE modem, a bright screen, and a good keyboard dock. You also get 128 GB storage, but the IdeaPad with the keyboard dock is also much heavier and the quality is not as high compared to the rival from the Windows developer.

The Lenovo IdeaPad D330 is a 2-in-1 with a good price-performance ratio.

The Asus Transformer Book T102HA is a 10-inch convertible equipped with an Intel Atom processor. It features a particularly bright IPS display and decent battery life. Its system performance is adequate for everyday workloads in school and college. Keyboard and touchpad are comparatively small, and the display resolution is just 1280x800. That said it should suffice if constantly watching movies is not on the agenda. Moderate users will find an affordable yet decent companion in the Transformer Book T102HA.

The Chuwi LapBook SE is already the second notebook from the manufacturer, which uses a design similar to the MacBook for a much lower price. It is once again a compact and inexpensive laptop from China, which offers a good choice of materials and a good build quality considering the price. It also runs completely silent and the SSD can easily be replaced via slot. However, you do not get a USB-C port, the screen is not very good, and you should not use the internal speakers if you like listening to music. The device is currently also available in China, but it is a bargain in return.

Except for the somewhat slow processor, the Trekstor Yourbook C11B is a recommendable convertible if you do not need the best performance: The screen resolution is high, and the battery lasts long. The device runs completely silent, the Wi-Fi is quick and the build quality is adequate for this price.

And once again a Lenovo E-series model can be found at the very top of our midrange recommendations. The ThinkPad E480 is Lenovo’s latest member of this entry-level business series and features several enhancements over its predecessor, as well as various ThinkPad benefits. Among others, these include a sturdy case, amazing input devices, and a matte IPS panel. However, we would steer clear of the SKUs equipped with dedicated AMD Radeon GPU as these tend to get incredibly hot under load. The more affordable ThinkPads come with just a few cutbacks – a shorter warranty, a microSD instead of an SD card reader, and a comparatively slow SSD (write performance). If you do not mind this, then the E480 is a brilliant business notebook for a very good price.

The Dell Latitude 5580 is a classical business notebook, which can score points with a decent display, very good input devices, and decent Wi-Fi battery life of above 10 hours. The performance is sufficient for demanding tasks and the temperature remains in the normal range. A matte coating ensures that the display is legible outdoors. Several security features emphasize the business background. Moreover, the device has a good price-performance ratio. Those who are looking for a solid, yet not too expensive companion might find a good choice in the Latitude 5580.

First things first: we have had bad luck with our particular TravelMate P2510 review unit. The case was severely twisted and not particularly well-made. We really hope we got a lemon, because apart from the slightly too dark display, the notebook was almost ideal for everyday use in school. It is quiet and cool, offers long battery life and features decent input devices. And at a price of less than $800 our particular configuration was even somewhat affordable. There are even SKUs cheaper than ours.

The Fujitsu LifeBook A557 is unspectacular, yet reasonably priced. You have to do without many security features for the cheap price of just above 500 Euros ($595). However, many school children and university students will not need these anyway. It is a more serious problem that the interface layout is not sophisticated: For example, most of the USB ports are on the left side - which is quite inconvenient for right-handers who want to attach a mouse. Another reason not to buy this notebook might be that the keyboard lacks a keyboard light.

But enough of complaints: You will get decent system performance, good input devices and easy maintainability for little money. The LifeBook A557 is a good choice if you do not need a designer piece and are on a tight budget.

Lenovo offers a tough competitor for the Microsoft Surface Go: The IdeaPad D330 follows the same concept as Microsoft's smallest tablet, very long battery runtimes, an LTE modem, a bright screen, and a good keyboard dock. You also get 128 GB storage, but the IdeaPad with the keyboard dock is also much heavier and the quality is not as high compared to the rival from the Windows developer.

The Lenovo IdeaPad D330 is a 2-in-1 with a good price-performance ratio.

You will definitely find the ThinkPad X1 Carbon if you are looking for an extremely mobile laptop. Thanks to a weight of just 1.1 kg and a height if just 1.6 cm, it easily fits in every bag. There are some small design changes, but we basically know the chassis from last year's model.

New features include the mechanical docking port on the left side, which consists of two USB-C ports and a proprietary network connector. Intel's current quad-core ULV processors are obviously available as well, and the performance utilization is decent considering the slim case, even though this results in warm surface temperatures under load.

Another highlight is the new HDR screen with WQHD resolution. It is extremely bright with wide color gamut, but there are also drawbacks. The panel is very glossy, for example, and the fan still tends to pulsate even during light workloads.

Dell did not really change the design of its slim and successful XPS 15 this year, but the manufacturer improved the internals: Longer battery runtimes, silent operation at light workloads, and the higher performance are just some of the highlights. Dell manages to implement a lot of ports into the chassis, which is slimmer than 2 cm and lighter than 2 kg. You also get a good screen with a matte surface as well as decent speakers. There is not much more you could ask for.

Let us take a look at the Latitude's flaws first, because there are quite a few at this point. Like the annoyingly clattering space bar on the keyboard – unacceptable for a notebook that costs more than $1,400. Or the non-user-replaceable battery. Or the pretty poor sound system. Or the lack of Thunderbolt 3. What you do get is a great and very well-made case, 3 years of warranty, a great keyboard, and a great display. In addition, the level of performance achieved by the Latitude 7390 is very high, and the device thus deserves our full endorsement.

The newest Microsoft Surface Pro variant no longer carries a version number but is referred to by year. A cheap 2017 variant with Core m processor is available for significantly under 1000 Euros (~$1191). It is a great bundle: high-end build quality and a Wi-Fi battery runtime of above 11 hours convey a great deal. Moreover, its very good display and silent operation are big advantages. The system performance is sufficient for everyday tasks. The glossy display and the lack of a USB-C port are slightly disappointing. Nevertheless, the Surface Pro (2017) is a very good convertible which hardly shows serious weaknesses.

Huawei’s notebooks and convertibles are something of a rare specimen in Europe. However, their price-performance-ratio tends to be pretty good quite often. Not so in this particular case, though, but at least the MateBook E's 2-in-1 design is fairly unique. A vintage faux leather cover and a case clad in Gold will certainly find many fans. It was also decently fast and featured a very nice display.

So affordable and already a high-quality convertible! The Microsoft Surface Go already starts for less than 500 Euros, but this version is shipped without physical keyboard. You can either use a Bluetooth keyboard or the optional Type Cover, which will increase the price noticeably. The storage is also limited on the base model at just 64 GB, and Microsoft charges a hefty premium for the 128 GB option. You can at least use the microSD reader to store more data.

The quality of the magnesium case is excellent, the Surface lasts long on battery, and you get a bright as well as high-contrast screen. The performance is not that bad, either. You notice that the Surface Go is no real notebook when you look at the ports, because one USB-C port will have to suffice.

Lenovo offers a tough competitor for the Microsoft Surface Go: The IdeaPad D330 follows the same concept as Microsoft's smallest tablet, very long battery runtimes, an LTE modem, a bright screen, and a good keyboard dock. You also get 128 GB storage, but the IdeaPad with the keyboard dock is also much heavier and the quality is not as high compared to the rival from the Windows developer.

The Lenovo IdeaPad D330 is a 2-in-1 with a good price-performance ratio.

Lenovo’s Yoga 720-12IKB is a convertible with a good display, decent input devices, and stylus support. We liked the design, and the device turned out to be very quiet to boot. The disadvantages include short battery life, which should suffice for a normal school day though, and a slow Wi-Fi modem. Other than that, it has a lot to offer for its price of around $800. You get a very flexible companion if you can live with these minor flaws.