There’s a difference between buying a laptop that offers the ability to do normal day-to-day tasks and the one that’s used for research. You must be wondering whether the latter has automated machines or Ais to help in catering to online research. The answer is not somewhat dependent on the type of modules interjected into a laptop. Basically, when you choose the best laptops for Ph.D. students, a form of highest education, you, in particular, favors features that allow the students to have a decent and firm grip over navigation, accessibility, and security.
Yes, you can also use gaming laptops for the same niche, but how about buying a laptop that’s versatile, compact, functional, and at the same time perfect for Ph.D. students. Yeah, it isn’t easy to cherry-pick when you are sort of thrust with gazillions of options. The laptop market is overpopulated with hundreds of equally reputable entries.
To help you understand what sort of laptops to root for if you are a Ph.D. student yourself. For that, we have enlisted around 10 laptops and tested them on equal footings in terms of stress-test, and diagnostics. So, without any further ado, let’s begin the guide to finding the best laptops for Ph.D. students.
Are Our Words Credible?
Yes, they are. Why? Well, we try our best to pitch in only products that have been known for ages. We don’t go along with local or shady manufacturers. In general, we ensure that all the mentioned products’ credibility and authenticity remain at an all-time high. Not to mention, each product goes through a series of rigorous testing processes and then only ends up here. So, yes, you can completely rely on what we offer to you.
Without any further ado, let’s begin the guide!
List of 10 Best Laptops for PHD Students (Overview)
| AWARDS | MODEL | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| Best versatile laptop | Check Price | |
| Best functional laptop | Check Price | |
| Best performative laptop | Check Price | |
| Best budget-friendly laptop | Check Price | |
| Best secured laptop | Check Price | |
| Best all-rounder laptop | Check Price | |
| Best multi-purpose laptop | Check Price | |
| Best fastest laptop | Check Price | |
| Best aesthetic laptop | Check Price | |
| Best AMD laptop | Check Price |
New Alienware m17 R3 (Best versatile laptop)
This will definitely be going to blow your mind away. New Alienware m17 R3 17.3-inch is a majestic entry in the list. The recent reviews of the laptop were overwhelmingly positive. For instance, positive reviews’ confidence level was around 90%, with a 2% margin error. That’s still a lot because Alienware laptops have been performative for ages.
This specific candidate offers its users versatility, confidence, and durability for an indefinite period of time. You get hold of Luna light technology, which makes the overall brightness candy to the eyes. Yes, you can bring the settings down a notch by simply using the on-screen commands. Anyways, the laptop also offers a multitude of settings that you can meddle with to match your personal preferences.
For example, you can tweak presets and what sort of refresh rate your monitor will be on. This is especially useful for Ph.D. students looking forward to a dynamic laptop: Switching between research and gaming modes. Yes, this laptop can also be used for extreme overclocking, gaming, and rendering 3D images.
The specifications of the laptops are insurmountable. You get hold of Intel Core i7-10750H, coupled with Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6. On top of that, the laptop also slips in 16GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB of SSD. When shedding light on these specifications, it can be easily said that Alienware m17 R3 is a candidate deserving of all the praises and applause.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 17.3-inch |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10750H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Weight | 5.51 pounds |
2020 Newest HP spectre x360 (Best functional laptop)
As far as the functionality is concerned, the 2021 Newest HP spectre x360 makes a new record. It’s one of the highly functional laptops to date. The rate at which the laptop dies out is so minimal that it can survive a decade easily. On top of that, there was a nil number of blackouts and lags recorded, which indicates the withstanding functionality of the incorporated components.
It’s worth mentioning that the laptop is a 2-in-1 laptop, which is perfect for Ph.D. students. How so? Well, PHD students are always traversing from one place to another and keeping that in mind, it can be easily deduced that having external devices laden in the backpack can be a complete disaster. The chances of vandalism are at an all-time high. But having a 2-in-1 laptop can make things easier. With this laptop, you can switch between touchscreen and physical input by simply changing your typing style. All you have to do is use the stylus or your hands to type in commands.
Not to mention, the laptop also pitches in sound specifications. For instance, you get hold of AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U, coupled with AMD’s dedicated GPU. Basically, they both are powerful enough to give you an edge over functionality. On top of that, you can also game in your leisure time because of the eight gigs of RAM and 256 PCIe SSD for storing your favorite games.
In short, it’s a marvelous laptop that will keep you on your toes every time you turn it on.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 13.3-inch |
| Processor | Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U |
| GPU | AMD Radeon GPU |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 256GB PCIe SSD |
| Weight | 4.41 pounds |
Razer Blade 15 studio (Best performative laptop)
I want to warn you off about something. This is one of the expensive laptops on the list, crossing a margin of $4250. The reason is that the laptop is made for those with a professional work ethic. Basically, if you are a PHD student, or working in a professional field, then this is the laptop that you should be getting if you have enough fortune.
As far as the laptop reviews are concerned, it’s highly sophisticated and positive, crossing the 90% margin at its finest. Well, it’s worth mentioning that the laptop offers Intel Core i7-10875H (8-core, 10th generation) in conjunction with Quadro RTX5000 16GB GDDR6 VRAM. Yes, that’s wonderful. Literally, with this laptop, you are getting a new GPU with the new RTX linage and that too of 16GB. If you don’t intend to render or play games at 4k settings, then sorry to say, this is not the laptop for you.
Apart from this, you can also overclock both components by simply visiting the BIOS settings. The best part about the laptop is that it makes use of an OLED touch screen. You can glide your hands over the screen, and bingo, your laptop will follow the on-screen commands given by your touch. Moreover, the laptop offers 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and a CNC Aluminum lining for durability and sturdiness. You can expect the laptop to last for; I don’t know, maybe ten years straight? Well, it’s also future-proof, so you don’t have to worry about buying a new laptop anytime soon.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 15.6-inch |
| Processor | 8-core 10th Gen i7-10875H |
| GPU | Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 |
| RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe SSD |
| Weight | 9.03 pounds |
Acer Chromebook 514 CB514 1HT C7AZ (Best budget-friendly)
When the price tag is concerned, Acer Chromebook 512 wins the spot. The reason is quite understandable when you give a look at its features, and how much it costs. It adds up to the overall excitement of the user. It’s worth mentioning that the laptop makes use of Intel Celeron N3450, which is a decent processor and will work like a charm anyway.
On top of that, you also get hold of Intel’s dedicated GPU, which is functional, in my opinion, because you are getting this laptop in the $400 range. So, do expect it to cheap out on some of the features. Nonetheless, it’s a withstanding laptop for PHD students. They can literally do a number of stuff without killing the laptop.
Moreover, the laptop offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of HDD, which is sort of understandable because of the price tag. Anyways, you can still extend the overall storage by simply inserting another HDD/SSD. All in all, then it’s a wonderful laptop that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 14-inch |
| Processor | Intel Celeron N3450 |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 500 |
| RAM | 4GB RAM |
| Storage | 64GB HDD |
| Weight | 3.09 pounds |
Apple MacBook Air Retina Display (Best secured laptop)
If you are truly looking for something out of the box and breathtaking, then Apple MacBook Air is what you should be getting in 2021. Why so? Well, the foremost thing that matters the most is security. The majority of laptops and PCs are susceptible to trojan horses and malware. But when it comes to Apple and Mac, they are truly exceptional when security is concerned.
Apple MacBook Air is no different and pitches in resounding features like Retina display, face unlocks touch screen and fingerprint scanner. On top of that, the MacBook is a laptop that also offers high modularity and sturdiness. You usually don’t find such laptops, so basically, assume Apple MacBook to be the God of all the laptops to date.
Not to mention, with this laptop, you get hold of 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, Intel Core i3 10th generation processor (turbo boost up to 3.2GHz), and a dedicated Intel’s GPU. When these specifications are smushed together, you get a decent functioning laptop. On top of that, the battery life of the MacBook Air is 12 hours. That’s perfect, in my opinion, because PHD students have to sit for long hours to settle down for research or two.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 13.3-inch |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 10th generation |
| GPU | Intel’s GPU |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Weight | 2.8 pounds |
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (Best all-rounder laptop)
I’ll be honest with you. Dell laptops have set a legacy, and it has been appraised religiously for years. I personally have been using Dell’s laptop, and it works the best. The reason the product dropped down to the 6th number is nothing but the expensive price tag. Other than that, I believe Dell to be an all-rounder.
I guess enough of fangirling, but yeah. Anyways, as far as the Dell Inspiron’s specifications are concerned, you get hold of Intel Core i7, coupled with Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650. I would like to mention that the combination is perfect. You probably won’t get a laptop that usually considers a 5% bottleneck, but here, I don’t believe there would be any bottlenecks because both the CPU and GPU perfectly co-align in terms of data transaction.
On top of that, the laptop also slips in 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD, which is enough to store the majority of the applications. Since this laptop is targeted at PHD students, I would say you have the ability to expand the storage device, so you can store more of these and data for research papers. It’s worth mentioning that you also get hold of a sturdy and aesthetic build, which means that you can expect the laptop to last for at least 4-5 years.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 15-inch |
| Processor | Intel Core i7 |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Weight | 3.39 lbs. |
2021 Premium Acer Nitro 5 (Best multi-purpose laptop)
The next candidate on our list is the 2021 Premium Acer Nitro 5 15. To be honest, the laptop beats the majority of the candidates on the list, but again, the price tag doesn’t allow it to be accessible to the majority of the audience.
Anyway, if you are looking forward to doing your research work in conjunction with hardcore gaming, then this is your dream laptop. You get hold of Intel Core i5-9300H (9th generation processor) combined with GTX 1650 backlit KB. That’s just resounding, in my opinion, because you would be able to play most of the AAA titles on 4k. On top of that, the same laptop is best suited for rendering, editing, and animating objects.
If your PHD research lies in the animating spectrum, I suggest you go with this laptop. It’s worth mentioning that the laptop also offers an iCarp wireless mouse as a token of appreciation, I guess. All you have to do is connect the mouse, and bingo, it’s done.
Apart from this, the laptop also brings vitality and aesthetics into role play. You get an on-sleek design emblazoned with red RGB. What else does one want? Last but not least, the laptop also offers 32GB RAM and a 1TB HDD as primary and secondary storage devices. Imagine having 32 gigs of RAM; that’s just insurmountable, in my opinion.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 15.6-inch |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-9300H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 |
| RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Storage | 1TB HDD |
| Weight | 5.07 lbs. |
Dell New XPS 13 9300 (Best fastest laptop)
If you want something extraordinary and out of the box, I would recommend looking at Dell New XPS 13-9300 laptops. However, it lies at the expensive spectrum of the price tag (around $2000), at times, still feasible to get hold of. How about you wait for universal sales?
Anyways, as far as the specifications are concerned, you get hold of Intel Core i7-1065G7 coupled with Intel Iris Plus graphics (i7)-a proprietary GPU with a withstanding reputation. When combined together, you get a beast of a laptop. To be honest, if you are a PHD student, and your course is all about editing, rendering, creating software, then I would recommend you to buy this specific Dell laptop. The reason is quite simple. Number one, you get hold of withstanding specifications. Number two, the reviews are all positive.
It’s worth mentioning that you get hold of 16GB of RAM and 512GB Of SSD, which is enough to provide you with storage and primary memory for running games and applications related to the research area.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 13.4-inch |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-1065G7 |
| GPU | Intel’s GPU |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Weight | 6.12 pounds |
2021 ASUS VivoBook (Best aesthetic laptop)
If you want to consider aesthetics and perfect lining, I would suggest looking at the 2021 ASUS VivoBook 15. Yes, it’s similar to Chromebook, but the only difference is that it doesn’t entail Chrome OS. As far as security is concerned, the laptop provides that in a fashionable way. You get hold of an FP reader, facial unlock, and many other security measures for enhancing the user’s rights.
Apart from this, you get hold of a 1080p graphics module (AMD Radeon Vega 3), coupled with Ryzen 3 3200U. Yes, this laptop makes use of AMD’s products for providing fantastic specifications and enhanced performance.
It’s worth mentioning that you get hold of 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, which is enough to sustain your research needs. On top of that, the laptop offers a withstanding interface, making the laptop usage a child’s play. All in all, it’s a majestic entry that will blow your mind away.
Specifications
| Screen-size | 15.6-inch |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 3200U |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Weight | 3.8 pounds |
2021 Newest ASUS ZenBook (Best AMD laptop)
It’s time to pitch in our last candidate on the list. It’s the 2021 Newest ASUS ZenBook 14. Well, this product earns the award of being the best AMD laptop for PHD students. Let me remind you that AMD has been crusading against Intel for a decade so far, and it has set a milestone after pitching in AMD RX 6000 series GPU. You can completely rely on AMD laptops since they are withstanding, performative, and efficient.
And to be honest, this laptop is no different. You get hold of AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U processor combined with Nvidia GeForce MX350 GPU. Apart from this, get hold of 8 gigs of RAM and 1TB of PCIe SSD. Damn, that’s just perfect. Imagine having a 1TB SSD on your laptop. That’s a dream come true for me. Anyways, the laptop also offers an iCarp wireless mouse as a gift to buyers, so you don’t have to search market/online stores for a decent functioning wireless mouse.
In conclusion, it’s a laptop that will keep you on your toes for years to come
Specifications
| Screen-size | 14-inch |
| Processor | AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce MX350 |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Weight | 2.65 pounds |
Final thoughts
It’s time to bid farewell, but before that, I want to make it crystal clear that the list is not finite and can go to lengths depending on the number of available best laptops for PHD students. If you ask for my recommendation, I suggest you go for Alienware m17 R3 since it’s a versatile and best laptop on the list.
If you think there was something amiss with the article, then let me know in the comment session.
Hey, I’m Muhammad Bilal. I’m a tech fanatic (also read: Gamer), who loves scrutinizing fine details. I aim to strive hard in my respective fields (as a writer and software programmer). Before pursuing my majors in a university (right now in A-levels), I want to spend time exploring and reviewing the latest technology.