The best laptops for teachers can help educators stay digitally connected with all the powerful teaching tools available while still remaining mobile. Connected doesn't just mean to the internet, as a smartphone or tablet offers, but also connected with the ports of a laptop that allow you to output to interactive whiteboards, input document cameras and plenty more.
Enter a classroom, plug in or connect wirelessly, and you can have all your prepared materials at your fingertips right away. Laptops allow educators to run slideshows, hold quizzes, share videos, and even power AR experiences.
Finding that sweet spot between price and features is the key. To get this right, it's worth thinking about performance first -- how much power do you need? If you aren't running AR or editing video then you likely won't need a graphics card or the most powerful processor, so could save some money there.
Portability is another consideration as the smaller a laptop is and the longer its battery life, the more you may pay. If you can instead invest in a laptop bag that holds your charger and makes carrying the weight easier, that might work out better.
Security is also important so consider what the operating system offers -- do you need Windows, Mac, or Chrome for your school setup?
So, which are the best laptops for teachers? We've narrowed down some of the best, each listed by special skill, to help you pick the ideal laptop for your education needs.
The very best laptops for teachers
1. Dell XPS 13: The best laptop for teachers overall
The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best laptops for teachers thanks to a well-balanced combination or portability, power, design, and pricing. This is like the Microsoft Windows laptop version of a Mac, that helps you save a buck, too.
It's possible to spec this laptop to the performance you need, with even the more basic and affordable end offering plenty of power for tasks, such as video editing.
The laptop features a beautifully slim and light metallic build that makes this very portable and robust -- ideal for moving between classes.
You can pick from two display resolution options, with the top-end offering crystal clear 4K resolution on the 13.4-inch touch display. So for watching movies, video editing, and even gaming, this laptop can do it all without costing too much.
Some educators may benefit from more ports, but on the plus side this helps to keep the design minimal and the portability perfected.
2. Acer Swift 5: Best laptop for teachers on a budget
The Acer Aspire 5 is a relatively affordable option that delivers plenty of laptop power, making it ideal for educators on a budget. The excellent build quality means this device is rugged enough to withstand a day of being carried between classes, yet it is also lightweight thanks to its chassis.
Higher priced options are available in this range if you want to get more grunt and don't mind paying a bit more, for video editing perhaps. This laptop packs in a battery that goes for a good 6.5 hours on a charge and the display is an eye-friendly 14-inches.
The laptop comes running Windows so all those with a Microsoft setup school will be well served by this choice of laptop.
3. Google Pixelbook Go: Best powerful Chromebook
The Google Pixelbook Go is a powerful Chromebook that might not be the cheapest yet offers a lot for the price. It has a gorgeous design with a durable build quality. But it's the Hush keyboard that's worth shouting about as it offers a near silent typing experience that's ideal for teachers working while the class is busy with an assignment.
The battery life on the Pixelbook Go is superb, easily lasting 12 hours -- more than a full school day! -- without needing a charge. Teachers can carry this portable 13.3-inch Full HD screen laptop about all day without having to tote the extra weight of a charger.
If your school is already using the Google G Suite for Education system, then a Chromebook makes sense and this is one of the best you can buy right now.
4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: Best laptop for teachers who use Windows
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is a very good-looking laptop that's as great inside as its looks would suggest. That results in plenty of power for any task, be it simple Word use, video editing, or gaming. This is the ideal model to go for if you're a Windows user as it's essentially up there in terms of quality with the MacBook Pro, only built to be Microsoft-friendly.
The aluminum shell makes this a tough device that's designed for being moved around classrooms. Despite that high-quality construction, this manages to remain competitively cheaper than Apple's equivalent models, making it relatively affordable for what you get.
While the battery life could be better, it's going to get you a full day of use in nearly all cases, and with that 13.5-inch screen it's easy on the eyes even when reading through smaller type work.
You can now also buy the Surface Laptop 5, however, for the jump in price, we're sticking with this as ideal for servicing teacher needs at the right price.
5. Apple MacBook Air M2: Best laptop for students of graphics and video
The Apple MacBook Air M2 is one of the best all-around laptops that you can buy right now but this does mean the price reflects that. If you can stretch to it then you're getting a super portable laptop with a great battery life that also has enough power to keep up with most tasks -- including video editing.
The build quality is as premium as you'd expect from Apple, with a metal frame that can withstand daily use. Yet this is slim and light enough to slip into a bag without being noticed, much, even when walking about the school with it. The battery life is good for a day so you shouldn't need to carry a charger with you.
The display is super clear thanks to a high-resolution and rich colors that lets you watch movies on it, while the webcam and multiple microphones let you record yourself at high-quality -- ideal for video calls. Plus, you have access to some of the best apps in the world thanks to that macOS operating system running the show.
6. Acer Chromebook 314: Best affordable Chromebook
The Acer Chromebook 314 is another big brand name at a low price. It features the Chromebook moniker, so it has an OS that gives you a long battery life and lives in a form factor that's light and portable. The fact it also resembles a MacBook Air is just a bonus.
The screen is bright, clear, and crisp as well as plenty big enough at 14 inches. Lots of power gets all the tasks Chrome OS offers done easily. Plus, it is well-built with an impressive keyboard, trackpad, and selection of ports, including two USB-A, two USB-C and a MicroSD card slot.
7. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6: Best for screen interactions
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 is a fantastic option for teachers who don't mind spending a little more. The result is a very powerful device that doubles as a tablet and even comes with a stylus for the touchscreen. And that display is a big part of the appeal, thanks to a 16:10 aspect ratio and super rich finish that makes packing in lots of windows while multitasking a viable option, even when mobile.
Going mobile should be easy thanks to a fantastic battery life that can go all day without the need to carry a power adapter. You also have some excellent connectivity with WiFi, Bluetooth, two USB Type-A ports along with two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-Cs, and an HDMI 2.0. Aside from the lack of card slot, this is well-kitted.
