(UK) Snapdragon Insider's recommendation: What should students look for in a university laptop in 2026?
Choosing a laptop for university is one of the key but also exciting decisions you’ll have to make. To help you, we asked technology enthusiast and content creator Manos, also known online as @Orange_Scooter, what students should really prioritise when looking for their perfect laptops and which Snapdragon X Series laptops are best
| QUICK ANSWER: For most university students, battery life, portability and enough performance for their course should be the starting point. The right laptop should also suit the software they need, the way they move around campus and how long they expect to keep the device. Manos recommended two laptops powered by Snapdragon: a Microsoft Surface Laptop is for students who want something that can work as both a laptop and a tablet and an ASUS Vivobook if you need multiple physical ports. |
Meet the Snapdragon insider
Manos : I’m from Greece, but I moved to the UK in 2012 to pursue my academic studies. I studied Business Analytics at Oxford Brookes University for my BSc, followed by an MSc in Marketing Strategy and Innovation at CASS Business School, City, University of London. Outside work, I’m passionate about photography, smartphones, VR and gaming.
Q: Let’s get straight into it! When a student is choosing a laptop for university, what are the three most important things they should look for - and why?
A: Looking back at when I was a student, the three things I needed most - but could never quite get equally in one laptop - were battery life, portability and performance.
Battery life is huge. I couldn’t go anywhere without carrying my brick of a charger. Portability is something students shouldn’t underestimate either. When you’re commuting to and from campus and moving between lectures, a thin and light laptop makes everyday life much easier.
Then there’s performance - including the CPU, GPU and RAM. Don’t underestimate how demanding some software can be. Even Excel can eat through RAM and put pressure on your processor, especially when you have several browser tabs and other applications open at the same time.
Q: Is battery life or portability more important for university students?
A: For me, it was always a fight between battery life and portability. I went through three laptops during my studies. My first one died halfway through my first semester, so one lesson from my experience is not to make too many compromises.
My second laptop was an amazing all-rounder, but the battery wasn’t great and it was heavy, which eventually became tiring. My last laptop was very thin and portable, but it had a small screen and wasn’t very powerful.
I really wish I could have had a laptop back then that gave me great battery life and a thin, light design without compromising performance.
Q: If a student asked you which laptop to buy for university in 2026, what would you recommend?
A: You can call me biased here, but because I own a Microsoft Surface Laptop powered by a Snapdragon® X Elite processor, that would definitely be on my list. I’d also consider the Microsoft Surface Pro powered by Snapdragon for students who want something that can work as both a laptop and a tablet - whether that’s for creative work or simply watching a series when the studying is done.
For students who know they need a wider selection of physical ports, I’d also consider an ASUS Vivobook. The important thing is to match the device to your course and the way you’ll actually use it.
Q: Are laptops powered by Snapdragon X Series a good choice for university students?
A: When I was at university, my laptop was basically a desktop. If I unplugged it, the battery could be gone in a couple of hours and carrying it around campus felt like hauling a bag of bricks. That’s why the combination of portability, battery life and performance offered by laptops with Snapdragon X Series really stands out to me for student life.
Today, I use my Surface Laptop powered by Snapdragon X Elite for demanding work such as large RAW photo exports. From my own experience, it gives me the kind of performance and mobility I wish I’d had as a student. For someone moving between morning lectures, afternoon study sessions, and evening downtime, having a laptop designed for efficiency and portability can make a real difference.
Q: What do students actually use their laptops for at university?
A: When I think back to my own student life, researching assignments was number one. Creating and editing came next, followed by streaming my favourite shows and music, online shopping, and video calls for group projects.
That’s why a university laptop needs to be more than a study machine. It might be used for research in the morning, creative work in the afternoon, and entertainment in the evening. Students should think about that full mix of uses when they’re choosing a device.
Follow Snapdragon Insider Manos on X and Instagram to follow his journey!
Student laptop FAQs
What are the three most important laptop features for university students?
Battery life, portability and enough performance for the student’s course and everyday multitasking.
Are laptops with Snapdragon X Series suitable for university?
They can be a strong option for students who value mobility, battery efficiency and performance, but students should still check the requirements of any specialist course software they need.
What should students check before buying a university laptop?
Check battery life, weight, performance, RAM and storage, available ports, required course software and whether the laptop is suitable for the full range of study and personal uses you expect.
Editorial note: Product recommendations reflect Manos Filippidis’s personal experience and opinion. Students should confirm their course’s specific hardware, software and compatibility requirements before purchasing a laptop.
Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
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