In the market for a new laptop? Chances are, you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the choices. That’s why we’ve read the reviews and put together this list of the best laptops for teachers. We’ve found models in a wide variety of price ranges and sizes, so there’s bound to be something here that meets your needs.
How do I choose a laptop?
There’s a lot to consider, including screen size, port and storage options, and processor choices. Teacher discounts also can be a factor in your choice. Many brands offer substantial discounts for teachers, and we’ve included those here along with our recommendations. If you’re considering a laptop from another maker or a specific store, be sure to check to see if they offer any educator discounts. Also, take a look at our scoop on 7 Great Laptop Discounts for Teachers.
One last note: As of spring 2021, a worldwide microchip shortage is causing problems with availability for all sorts of electronics, including laptops. Some of the choices listed here may currently be out of stock, so you might need to be patient if there’s a particular model you really want.
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
Apple MacBook Pro
Apple is the obvious choice for many teachers since it’s also the choice for many schools. MacBook Pro is the company’s high-end laptop, with a price to match. It has some cool features like the backlit “Magic Keyboard,” which boasts a Touch Bar at the top with shortcuts for tools that change based on what you’re working on. For the price, though, you might expect it to include a touch screen, which it does not.
Battery life is outstanding, ranging from 11 to 20 hours, depending on the model. Customizable options include screen size (13″ or 16″) and storage (from 256GB to 2TB SSD). If you’re willing to make the investment, the MacBook Pro will definitely meet your teacher needs. Need a more affordable option? Take a look at the Apple MacBook Air .
Teacher Discount: Shop through the Apple Education Store for exclusive discounts.
Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1
Lenovo models get a lot of love among WeAreTeacher HELPLINE chatters, and you’ll find two of them on our list of the best laptops for teachers. First up: the Yoga 2-in-1. This is one of the best convertible laptops out there, as teacher Dedra E. can attest: “I recently bought a Lenovo Yoga 2-In-1 15-inch and I love, love, love it! It’s light and the battery lasts about 10-12 hours on one charge. And I spent less than $800. Highly recommend.”
Yoga 2-in-1 laptops come in a variety of screen sizes and processor types. The built-in webcam has a physical shutter to ensure privacy, and battery life is great at up to 13 hours. All in all, this is one of our favorite options for a laptop/tablet combo for teachers.
Teacher Discount: Sign up with ID.me to confirm your eligibility to save 10% with Lenovo’s Student & Teacher discount.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Microsoft’s Surface line combines the full features of a laptop with the convenience of touch screens. Here’s what teacher Melissa R. has to say: “I have a Surface. I love it. It can function as a tablet but if you add a wireless keyboard, it’s just like a laptop. Very functional. Add a pen and you have writing/drawing capabilities (this has been very useful in Zoom).”
Expect battery life up to 10 hours with this 2-in-1. The Surface Laptop 3 is available with a 13.5″ or 15″ screen, both with slim lines and lightweight builds. If you’re looking for something smaller (and even more economical), the Surface Laptop Go is another good choice to consider.
Teacher Discount: Microsoft offers discounts and special deals on their Education Store.
Samsung Galaxy Book Ion
Need an affordable laptop with outstanding battery life? The Galaxy Book Ion might be just what you’re looking for. It promises up to 20(!) hours of battery life like the MacBook Pro but at a much more friendly price point. The QLED screen is another standout feature (though not a touch screen), with fantastic picture quality in any light, including outdoors. Unlike some other laptops, the Galaxy Book Ion includes an HDMI port to make it easy to connect an external monitor or projector with no adapter needed.
Perhaps coolest of all: the touchpad doubles as a wireless charger! Lay any Qi-certified device on the touchpad to charge (when you’re not using it, of course), and you can leave your separate cell phone charger at home. Choose from 13.3″ or 15.6″ screen size, both with 512GB of internal memory.
Teacher Discount: Samsung offers a 10% education discount when you buy directly from their site.
HP Spectre x360
If you like the idea of a laptop that converts to a tablet, this HP model is definitely worth a look. Reviewers love the bright OLED touchscreen with its true-to-life colors, and the included stylus makes writing on it a breeze. More than 12 hours of battery life should be more than enough to get you through a school day, but if you run low, the fast battery charge gives you as much as 50% battery life in about 30 minutes.
The Spectre x360 line comes in several screen sizes with standard 256GB SSD storage, upgradable to 2TB. There are several colors available, though you’ll pay more for anything other than the basic silver.
Teacher Discount: Register to get exclusive teacher discounts in the HP Education Store.
Google Pixelbook Go
Most teachers are familiar with Chromebooks by now since many schools use them. This is one of the better models, perfect for folks who want something that’s easy to use without many frills. One of its best features is a 1080p webcam, with quality good enough that you won’t need an external webcam for Zoom classes.
The 13.3″ touch screen is handy, and the Pixelbook includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which can be a bit rare these days. Expect a battery life of about 12 hours, and remember that you’ll need a Google account to set up and use any Chromebook.
Teacher Discount: Check the Google for Education site for promotional discounts and offers.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
The IdeaPad Flex is a bargain-priced touchscreen laptop with plenty of quality. It includes a numeric keypad, missing from many laptops, which math teachers especially will appreciate. A fingerprint reader and physical webcam shutter help ensure security and privacy.
Multiple screen sizes and processors are available, but we like the 15.6″ size for teachers. Battery life is a little lower than others on our list at about 8.5 hours, but Rapid Charge gives you up to 2 hours with only 15 minutes of charging. Consider this a good economical choice with lots of functionality.
Teacher Discount: Sign up with ID.me to confirm your eligibility to save 10% with Lenovo’s Student & Teacher discount.
LG Gram 17
Most laptops tend to fall in the 13″ to 15″ screen range, but 17″ options are available, and we wanted to included a couple of them on our list of the best laptops for teachers. A supersized screen is easier on the eyes when you’re doing full-day online teaching. They’re also easier to read from further away in the classroom.
LG’s 17-inch model is a high-end pick, but the beautiful screen display and lightweight design make it very tempting. This big laptop weighs less than 3 pounds, so it’s perfectly portable. It’s large enough to include a wide variety of ports (including HDMI) and card slots and promises fantastic battery life (up to 17 hours). The higher price also includes 1 full TB of storage and a lightning-fast processor. The only real feature missing here is a touch screen.
Teacher Discount: LG doesn’t currently offer teacher discounts.
Acer Aspire 5
Looking for a 17″ laptop at a more affordable price? Turn to this Acer model. The fast processor is almost as good as the LG Gram’s for a substantially lower cost. The built-in webcam is 1080HD, eliminating the need for an external cam in most cases. The battery run-time is about 8 hours, which isn’t outstanding but certainly good enough to get you through most days. It’s a solid option when you want a big screen without a big dent in your wallet.
Teacher Discount: Acer doesn’t currently offer teacher discounts.
Acer Swift 3
Acer is known for basic, reliable computers without fancy extras. This model has all the standard features you’re looking for and a few nice touches, like an HDMI port and a super lightweight aluminum body. The battery life varied in reviewer tests, averaging out at around 10 hours.
For the price, the high performance of this sleek laptop makes it a perfectly good choice for teachers. Choose between 13.5″/3:2 or 14″/16:9 ratio screen and a couple of processor types.
Teacher Discount: Acer doesn’t currently offer teacher discounts.