For teachers, many look as a laptop as simply just a means to an end. It’s just a way for you to store all of your necessary files and to create presentations on. So, pretty much any good laptop should do the job, right?
Well, this is true, but there are some laptops out there that are better for teachers than others. You’re likely going to need a laptop with a great battery life, a good camera for Microsoft Teams or Zoom calls, and a powerful processor to match.
And depending on what you’re looking for, there’s a different option out there for everyone. So, if you’re a teacher looking for a new laptop, let’s take a look at some of the best models currently out there.
Best Laptop for Teachers
| Product | Image | Screen Size | Specs | Get More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell XPS 13 |  | 13.3 Inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Apple MacBook Air |  | 13.3 inch | 8GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| ASUS VivoBook M413 |  | 14 inch | 8GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 6 |  | 12.3 inch | 8GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
Dell XPS 13
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 13.3 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 11 hours
One of the top laptops out there in the market right now is the Dell XPS 13. It’s definitely made to a very high standard, and it’s on par with both the Macbook Pro and the Lenovo Thinkpad, which are the front runners in terms of popularity nowadays.
This laptop is powered by 16GB of RAM and an 8th Gen quad-core processor, with a 1.8GHz base clock frequency. It also uses a good quality Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU, which is powerful enough for pretty much anything you need it for, and even powerful enough for gaming.
One reason why I’d definitely recommend that you consider the Dell XPS is that it has probably the best webcam quality of any laptop out there. Even though the display of the laptop is quite small for it’s size, it still manages to fit this HD webcam into the top border of the screen. The display itself is also pretty impressive, with a 4K resolution and a very narrow bezel, with an anti-glare finish too.
Whilst there are other options here which provide better value for money, the Dell XPS is definitely a pretty great laptop. If you have the extra cash to spend, then it’s a good laptop with a high build quality that should last.
Verdict: This is an excellent option if you’re looking for a laptop for teaching. It’s reliable, well built and very easy to use too.
Apple MacBook Air
Operating System: Mac OS | Screen size: 13.3 Inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: Intel i3 | Average Battery Life: 8 hours
When you’re talking about competent lists of laptops, it’s no surprise to find that a Macbook has made the list. Whilst the Macbook Pro is the better quality of the two, it’s also the more expensive of the two. Plus, they have made some good updates to the new Macbook Air, including an improved audio system amongst other things.
The Macbook is probably the easiest to use laptop on the market, and even if you’re used to using Windows, then it won’t take you too long to get used to it. It’s the perfect device for older teachers, because once you get past the learning curve of using the Mac OS, it’ll make things much easier for you. You can access any programs on the device by simply using the launchpad.
The Macbook has a strong battery life, and you’ll have the ability to download a lot of apps via the app store. If you already use an iPhone, then opting for a Macbook is definitely a good idea, as it’s very simple to integrate all of these devices together with each other.
Although some people might tell you an i3 processor isn’t powerful enough, this dual-core Intel i3 should be powerful enough for most people. Or, you can upgrade quite easily to an i5 processor for not much more than the base model. But overall, a Macbook Air is never going to be thought of as a bad choice, and it’s definitely worth taking into account.
Verdict: Like the Apple Macbook Pro, the Air provides a high quality display with great performance.
ASUS VivoBook M413
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 14 Inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 | Average Battery Life: 8 hours
I always like to feature a laptop that offers excellent value for money in these articles, because not everyone has the money to buy a brand new Macbook. If you’re looking for a better value option, then ASUS have released some fantastic laptops over the last few years. One of them is undoubtedly the Vivobook M413, which offers the power of a premium laptop at the price of a budget one.
It manages to do this by swapping out more expensive parts for cheaper ones. For example, this model uses a AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, which is a perfectly good quad-core processor. Typically, AMD processors are the cheaper alternative to Intel, but that doesn’t mean you’e going to have any less power.
It also has quite a lot of space, with a 512GB SSD installed in the device too. In terms of the design, it has a thin bezel HD display, with one of the better parts of this laptop being the responsive keyboard. The laptop is also slimline too, and weighs less than 1.4kg.
For those looking for a budget laptop for teachers, then it’s difficult to find a better option than the ASUS Vivobook M413. It has been updated to be even more portable than its previous version, too.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a laptop at an affordable price, then you can definitely think about choosing this ASUS Vivobook.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 12.3 Inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: Intel i5 | Average Battery Life: 10 hours
Though a 2-in-1 laptop isn’t a necessity for a teacher, it’s a nice device to use. This is especially true if you currently use a tablet for certain things, as a 2-in-1 is essentially both a laptop and a tablet in the same device.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 has one of the best quality HD displays out there, especially when you consider that its touchscreen too. It is responsive to touch as this type of laptop should be, and you can use it easily in tablet mode, whether that’s just for browsing the internet or you want to use it for drawing. Bear in mind that you’d have to pick up the Microsoft Stylus separately, though.
I’ve recommended this laptop because it’s very good for multi-tasking and running a lot of programs and apps at the same time, which is a necessity for any teacher. It’s less than 0.8kg in weight too, so you can take it to school, college or university with you very easily. The front facing camera is 5MP and produces a great image, perfect for video calling and Skype conferences.
If you wanted to upgrade from this model, then you could consider looking at the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 as a more expensive, yet slightly better model. But overall, the Surface Pro 6 is still definitely one of the best 2-in-1 laptops on the market.
Verdict: A great option if you’d like to make use of both a laptop and a tablet too.
Common Questions about Teachers Laptops
What should a teacher look for in a laptop?
With any laptop, you should be looking at the RAM of your laptop (8GB+), the processor and the amount of storage space you’re going to need. Many teachers used their education system’s cloud storage, so you might be able to save some money there. You’ll also want to consider the camera quality of the device, as the likelihood is you’ll be teaching online for the foreseeable future. Plus, also think about the laptops capabilities in terms of multi-tasking, which is something every teacher knows they do a lot of!
How can I use my laptop in the classroom?
Using your laptop in the classroom is going to be a necessity for the future. It gives you the ability to show quick presentations, YouTube or movie clips that are relevant to the class, and also the ability to quickly Google the answer to a students question if you don’t know it!
Are Chromebooks good for teachers?
Generally, I wouldn’t advise that a teacher opt for a Chromebook unless you already know a ton of people at your school using them. Whilst they can be good if you’re using Google Classroom a lot, the chances are that there’s a technology in your classroom that might not work well with a Chromebook. Sticking with a Windows laptop or a Macbook is a better idea, especially because Chromebooks are reliant on good internet quality. Some schools have software that’s completely compatible with a Chromebook, so make sure you check with your school beforehand.
What processor is best for online teaching?
There’s no specific laptop processor that you’re going to need for online teaching. In this case, I’d recommend that you look for an i5 processor or the cheaper AMD equivalent of this. By opting for this as a minimum, you can ensure that your processor will be powerful enough for now, but you’re also future proofing it as well.
How can I use my laptop to teach online?
Nowadays, you can actually teach solely from your laptop without teaching in a classroom. The best way to do this is by teaching foreign students who are looking to learn English. You can find these by just searching online for teaching gigs solely online – there’s quite a lot of them out there for you to find.
Conclusion
Finding the right laptop for your needs isn’t difficult, and if you’re just looking for something good for teaching, then all of these laptops will be fine. As it looks like we’re going to be forced to spend more and more time online teaching, then it’s important that your laptop has a good webcam. But aside from this, just a reasonably powerful laptop should do the job fine.
