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Looking for the best laptop for nursing students? You’ll be glad you found this page.
As you may already know, in most schools, laptops are a requirement for nursing students. But even where it is not mandatory, it is so essential that every nursing student should have one. From taking notes to doing research to using nursing applications, nursing students need a laptop to succeed.
In a hurry? The Asus Zenbook 14 is our personal best when it comes to laptops for nursing students. It is one laptop that is built for comfort with a host of ergonomic features. It also combines high performance, portability, and affordability.
Many of the laptops out there disappoint in one way or the other. For example, you’ll find a powerful laptop that can handle tasks smoothly, but it’ll come with poor battery life. And when you find that laptop with a long-lasting battery, its display is anything but.
To make matters worse, there are lots of conflicting reviews, where one review hails a laptop as excellent and another review all but rubbish it.
Navigating through all the different laptops and all the different reviews and finding the best laptop for nursing students can be overwhelming. It is for this reason that we develop this article.
In this article, we’ll show you nine (9) of the best laptops for nursing students. The mini-review of each laptop will clearly show you why they are the best. Lastly, we’ll also show you some of the things to look out for when buying laptops for nursing students.
We extensively researched the laptops in the market, especially with regards to their suitability for nursing students. The top 9 laptops identified tick all the relevant boxes.
Here’s a quick overview of the best 9 laptops for nursing students.
- Acer Aspire 5. Portable wide-screen laptop, perfectly balancing performance and affordability.
- Acer Swift 3. Powerful laptop with some of the most advanced laptop processors. Gives the convenience of Alexa on a laptop.
- Apple Macbook Air. Apple’s thinnest and lightest notebook. Having the incredible power of the M1 chip, as well as 18 hours of battery life.
- Asus Zenbook 14. Built for comfort with a host of ergonomic features. Balances performance and affordability.
- Asus Zenbook 15. Built for comfort with ergonomic features. Highly powerful, and has an innovative ScreenPad for improved productivity.
- Dell XPS 13 7390. Great power and a humongous 1TB storage
- HP Pavilion X360. A powerful 2-in-1 laptop that showcases crystal clear imagery
- Lenovo Yoga C940. A high-performance portable 2-in-1 laptop is suitable for intense multi-tasking.
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7. Feather-weight, ultra-thin high-performance convertible.
Top 9 Laptops for Nursing Students
1. Acer Aspire 5
If you want a portable and powerful laptop that is also budget-friendly, look no further than the Acer Aspire 5.
Key features
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Display: 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS
- Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 9.5 hours
- Connectivity Technology: Wireless, Wi-Fi, USB
The Acer Aspire 5 comes with high-level specs like a 10th Generation Intel Core processor, and CPU speed of 4.2GHz. So, it is a laptop that can tackle every job, from the simple to the complex.
The 15.6″ Full HD wide-screen of the Acer Aspire 5 showcases crisp and sharp visuals. So, you’ll see every detail in medical reports. The laptop also has a thin bezel which means more screen space for you. Also, with a 256GB SSD, the laptop has enough room to store all your files.
It also sports the Acer BlueLightShied feature, allowing you to lessen the amount of blue light that the device emits. With this, you lessen the strain on your eyes and can work for hours.
The laptop comes with a lot of smart features. For example, if you think that keying in your password is laborious, the Acer Aspire 5 comes with a fingerprint reader, which gives you quick, secure one-touch access.
The Acer Aspire 5 has a battery that lasts 9.5 hours. As a nursing student, when you have to attend several classes or do an overnight shift at the hospital, you can be sure that your laptop will not die out on you. It’ll remain powered to handle your jobs for as long as you are out. Talking of night shifts, the Acer Aspire 5 has a backlit keyboard that allows you to work comfortably under any lighting condition.
Despite all these, the Acer Aspire 5 is one of the best affordable laptops for nursing students.
Customer Reviews
Many users find the Acer Aspire as powerful as advertised. For example, one Amazon user says the laptop boots up in about 15 seconds or less, is extremely fast, and has a stunning display.
Another user said buying the laptop was the right choice, highlighting the crisp and bright display, snappy 10th generation intel i5, lots of ports, and more.
Something that may be a drawback, according to some users, is that the laptop lacks a touchscreen. But since touchscreens add about 0.2 to 0.4 pounds to laptops, lacking a touch screen makes the Acer Aspire remain a lightweight laptop that you can easily carry about. Touchscreen laptops are usually more expensive. So, it is no wonder that Acer Aspire is a good value laptop.
2. Acer Swift 3
The Acer Swift 3 is a powerful laptop for those on the go that will not dig a deep hole in your pocket
Key features
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
- Display: 14″ Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display
- Storage: 512 GB
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 11.5 hours
- Connectivity Technology: ISB, HDMI, Wi-Fi
The Acer Swift 3 comes with some of the world’s most advanced laptop processors – the AMD Ryzen 4000 series. Specifically, the laptop is fitted with the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor, which clocks up to 4.1GHz. This gives enough power for content creation and even gaming.
In addition to this, the Acer Swift 3 delivers eye-popping graphics, boosted by built-in AMD Radeon Graphics. The 14″ Full HD IPS display means that the screen is wide enough, displaying enough pixels to create sharper images. So, whatever you’re working on, the Acer Swift will give you clear outputs for higher productivity.
Additionally, the laptop gives you a huge 512GB SSD that’ll hold all your files and more. The laptop also comes with a backlit keyboard. So, your productivity will not diminish even if you’re working in an environment that is poorly lit.
The Acer Swift 3 is perfect for those on the go for a number of reasons. First, it is ultra-thin (0.63 inches) and lightweight (2.65 lbs). Secondly, it has a long-lasting battery. In fact, the Acer Swift 3 tops most of the laptops on this list in this regard. It has up to 11.5 hours of battery life. This means that you’ll have enough power for a full day’s work and even for some entertainment.
Talking of smart laptops, the built-in Alexa compatibility of the Acer Swift 3 makes it one of the smartest laptops around. This is a feature that nursing students will find very useful. With so much to do, it will be fine to have some assistance, and Alexa can provide that. Using the laptop’s microphone, you will have the convenience of Alexa.
“Alexa, what classes do I have today?” You can set timers and reminders, and Alexa will be at your service to make sure you do not miss a thing. Too tired to read? You can call on Alexa to read out the material while you listen, reclining on your bed. Also, you can call on Alexa to help you define unfamiliar words that you meet while reading.
The Acer Swift 3 also comes with an embedded fingerprint reader. This provides a quick and secure way for the system to verify your identity without the small “inconvenience” of entering a password.
Customer Reviews
Users of the Acer Swift 3 were lyrical about many aspects of the laptop. For example, an Amazon user said the processor is a beast and the snappiest he’s ever used. Adding that, the laptop handles productivity use (such as coding, taking notes in class, and running professional programs) easily and perfectly.
One frustrating thing with the laptop, mentioned by a few users, is that it does not get very loud, even on maximum volume. However, this is something you can easily fix by using a speaker.
3. Apple MacBook Air
The Apple MacBook Air is a premium laptop with incredible performance, custom technologies, and industry-leading power efficiency.
Key features
- Processor: System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1 chip
- RAM: 8 GB
- Display: 13.3” LED-backlit IPS display (2560 x 1600 resolution)
- Storage: 256B SSD
- Operating System: Mac OS
- Battery life: 18 hours
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
As it is advertised, the Apple MacBook Air is pure power in the air. It is one of the most powerful laptops you’ll find, thanks to the incredible Apple M1 chip. The M1 system has an 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. This makes it 3.5 times faster than previous generations. The incredible speed makes the Apple MacBook Air suitable for even tasks like professional-quality editing and action-packed gaming. As a nursing student, the Apple MacBook Air will run all your programs “without breaking a sweat”.
The 13.3″ screen showcases the Apple Retina display, which has higher pixel quality than traditional Apple displays. This means that text is clearer, images are sharper, and colors are more vibrant in the Apple MacBook Air than in most other Apple laptops. As a nursing student who wants the best picture quality, especially when viewing diagrams, the Retina display of the MacBook Air is a fine feature. Also, when you’re cooling off with some movies, you’ll enjoy them better because of the better picture quality.
The MacBook Air is Apple’s thinnest and lightest notebook. Weighing only 2.8lbs, you can easily fling it into your backpack (not that you should literally fling it) and take it with you everywhere you go.
The Apple MacBook Air is perfect on the go because of its long battery. For a super-powerful laptop, the MacBook Air only sips battery power and is able to last 18 hours. So, it’ll literally take you all day long. The laptop also features a backlit keyboard. So, you’ll be able to increase your productivity by powering on in a poorly lit environment or at night.
Another great thing about the Apple MacBook Air is its fanless design. If you detest the noise that some systems make when their cooling fans are engaged, you should go for the Apple MacBook Air. It stays cool even when tackling intense workloads, so there’s no need to engage noisy cooling fans.
Customer Reviews
Many users say that the Apple MacBook Air is an almost perfect laptop. What gets users excited the most include the long battery life, the incredible processing speed, and the fanless design (hence noiseless operation).
However, a few users would have loved that the Apple MacBook Air features a bigger screen.
4. Asus Zenbook 14
The Asus Zenbook 14 is a budget-friendly, portable laptop offering excellent take-anywhere convenience and a host of ergonomic features.
Key features
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10210U
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 RAM
- Display: 4-Way NanoEdge 14” Full HD
- Storage: 512GB PCle NMe SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, HDMI
Sporting the latest Intel 10th Gen Core i5-10210U processor that can clock up to 4.2GHz, the Asus Zenbook 14 will be able to perform all your tasks as a nursing student.
Its slim-bezel NanoEdge display means that you’ll have a screen area that is as large as possible. And with its large 14″ Full HD display, the visuals are immersive. The laptop also has an impressive 512GB of storage. We understand that there are lots of reading materials for nursing. Well, with the laptop’s 512GB SSD, you’ll not run out of storage space.
Despite these, the Asus Zenbook 14 is built for on-the-go convenience. It is only 0.7″ thin and weighs only 3.2lb. So, not only will the laptop easily fit into your handbags or backpacks, you can carry it everywhere with ease.
Also, the battery of the Asus Zenbook 14 will not let you down while you are out with it. This is because it lasts up to 10 hours.
Nursing students will understand the importance of ergonomics more than most other students. So, they’ll appreciate this laptop more for its many ergonomic features. One of the most outstanding of these features is the ErgoLift. This raises the laptop, tilting the keyboard 4.50. This creates an optimum typing position, making the typing experience more comfortable. The raising of the laptop also optimizes cooling as it allows better airflow in and out of the vents at the bottom of the laptop.
The keyboard of the Asus Zenbook is also ergonomically designed with comfort in mind. First, it is backlit. So, you’ll remain productive round the clock, regardless of the lighting condition of your working environment. Also, the key travel distance is just 1.4mm. This limited key travel makes typing more comfortable.
The Asus Zenbook 14 also has a fingerprint sensor built into the touchpad. With this feature, a single touch is all it takes to get access. You wouldn’t have to type in your password all the time.
Also, the Asus Zenbook is a durable laptop that will last you many years. The laptop is one of few in the market that meets the military standard for reliability and durability by virtue of passing various punishing tests.
Customer Reviews
Users were generally pleased with the performance of the Asus Zenbook 14. Some mention how it starts up quickly and can handle multiple tabs without slowing down. Others were pleased with the number of I/O ports that the laptop features.
However, some users were not excited that the laptop has its speakers at the bottom. True, the positioning of the speakers will have an effect on the sound if you’re using the laptop on a soft surface like a bed. However, the sound will just be okay if the laptop is placed on solid surfaces, like a table.
5. Asus Zenbook 15
The Asus Zenbook 15 is the big brother of the Asus Zenbook 14. It retains the ergonomic features of the Zenbook 14 and provides an upgrade on virtually everything else. So, it comes out as a powerful, portable, and ergonomic laptop for nursing students.
Key features
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10510U
- RAM: 16GB
- Display: 15.6″ wide-view 4K UHD 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
- Storage: 512GB PCle NVMe SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Connectivity Technology: HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and SD card reader
The Asus Zenbook 15 has an even more powerful processor than the Zenbook 14. It is fitted with the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10510U Quad-Core processor, which can clock up to 4.9 GHz. With this much power, the laptop can handle a host of resource-intensive software with ease.
The laptop also features NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q discrete graphics. This is a solution developed to provide gaming laptops with top-notch graphics. So, it means you’ll enjoy gaming when you decide to take time off to play some high-speed games. However, the solution does much more, especially for nursing students. It ensures that the system can handle things like anatomical 3D modeling, giving you great graphics that allow you to study every detail of the human body.
The wider 15.6″ inch screen is emphasized by the NanoEdge bezel, giving you a great visual field for your tasks. Interestingly, the Asus Zenbook 15 still provides carry-about convenience. It is lightweight, weighing only 3.6lbs, and has a sleek, thin design.
Talking of design, the Asus Zenbook also comes with the ergonomic screen hinge called ErgoLift. This lifts the laptop when you open it, tilting the keyboard upward 30 to provide an optimum typing position.
When taking the laptop to classes, the battery will last you up to 10 hours. You wouldn’t have to worry about powering it for as long as you’re out. The backlit keyboard also means that you can work without slowing down, even when the lighting is poor.
A great feature of the Asus Zenbook 15 is its innovative ScreenPad 2.0. This upgrades the traditional laptop experience by converting the traditional touchpad to a touchscreen with endless possibilities. This second interactive touchscreen can improve your productivity. For example, you can use it to quickly take notes, easily enter numeric data, and more.
The Asus Zenbook 15 also comes with Alexa, which can help you with tasks, general information, entertainment, and more. For example, you can ask Alexa to remind you of your schedules, read you the news or your notes, even tell you a joke, and more.
Despite all of these functionalities, the Asus Zenbook 15 has military-grade durability, as it passes drop tests and other punishing operation-based tests. So, this is a laptop you will not need to change in years.
Customer Reviews
Many users sing the praises of the Asus Zenbook 15. An Amazon user hailed the performance of the laptop, saying that it is a multi-tasking powerhouse. Another added that the picture quality is really good, and the colors are vibrant.
A few users did mention being frustrated with connectivity issues – that the laptop randomly disconnects from the network. While this can be really frustrating, it is an issue that is easily fixed with a network reset.
6. Dell XPS 13 7390
The Dell XPS 13 7390 is a star performer with fast memory and humongous storage.
Key features
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10710U
- RAM: 16GB
- Display: 13.3″ 4K UHD InfinityEdge Touchscreen
- Storage: 1TB M.2 PCle NVMe SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 9 hours
- Connectivity Technology: KillerTM Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2 x 2) and Bluetooth 5.1
This Dell XPS is a laptop that’ll serve you through your nursing studies and even during professional practice. It has a powerful 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10710U processor, which equates to more performance. Adding to this is an onboard 16GB memory. So, you’ll be able to multi-task even on intense applications (Skyscape, PEPID nursing suite, etc.), and the system will not slow down a bit.
A humongous 1TB SSD ensures that the system boots and starts up in seconds. It also means you’ll have more than enough space for all your heavy nursing materials.
The Dell XPS follows the thin bezel design, with its 13.3″ screen being an 80.7% screen-to-body ratio. The 4K Ultra HD screen has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 and gives sharp images and vibrant colors. Whether you are reading materials or viewing visual medical illustrations images, you’ll have clear and sharp outputs.
The interactive touch screen interface allows easier input for a better user experience. Also, the screen has anti-reflective properties, which ensure better sunlight visibility when working outdoors.
Talking of using the laptop outdoors, this is one of the lightest Dell XPS laptops. It weighs only 2.65lbs, and it is ultra-thin. So, nursing students can easily take it with them to classes or wherever else they please.
The Dell XPS 13 7390 has a battery life of 9 hours. This would take nursing students through their numerous classes each day. The laptop also has a backlit keyboard, so you wouldn’t have to worry about the lighting of your environment. You’ll be able to use the laptop in stark darkness as you would in broad daylight.
Lastly, the laptop is built tough, from one block of aluminum, so it is more durable than a laptop that’s pieced together and will last you many years.
Customer Reviews
Users liked how powerful the laptop is. One commented that the laptop runs everything very smoothly. Many others waxed lyrical about how lightweight the laptop is and about its huge 1TB storage space.
However, some users were frustrated by the relatively fewer ports in the Dell XPS. However, with USB 3.0 ports and an SD card reader, the ports in this powerful easy-to-carry laptop will serve you well when using it on the go. Also, there’s a thunderbolt 3 port, so should you need to plug in more devices, you can simply give yourself more ports by buying a Thunderbolt hub.
7. HP Pavilion x360
The Hp Pavilion x360 is a powerful laptop built for a marathon which can also make learning and working more fun.
Key features
- Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7
- RAM: 8 GB
- Display: 14” Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display
- Storage: 256 GB PCle NVMe M.2 SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Connectivity Technology: Intel WiFi 6 AX 21 (2 x 2) and Bluetooth 5, USB, HDMI
Suppose your first consideration is power. The HP Pavilion x360 ticks the box. With an 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor that can clock 4.2 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology, the laptop performs awesome. It also boasts 8GB onboard memory. So, this is a laptop that will take everything you throw at it effortlessly, from all your intense nursing applications to even some fast-paced gaming.
The laptop has a Full HD IPS display and is supported by Intel Iris Xe Graphics. So, you’ll be able to view your content at its best, with crystal-clear imagery. With a 14″ screen, there’s enough visual field for your work. The touchscreen capability further enhances the user experience.
The HP Pavilion is built for a marathon. HP Fast Charge gives the laptop fast-charging, after which it’ll last up to 10 hours. So, the laptop will remain by your side through all your classes and through your working hours. This HP Pavilion is only 3.3 lbs, so you’ll easily carry it about without being bogged down by its weight.
One thing that is not often talked about is the 3600-degree hinge of the HP Pavilion x360. This feature makes using the laptop fun, as it enables you to flex and bend it to find a perfect position. You can easily turn it to tablet mode for more productivity. The laptop is perfect for remote learning. This is because its audio quality is great, thanks to built-in dual speakers and audio provided by B&O.
Customer Reviews
Customers are generally happy with the HP Pavilion x360. One Amazon user commented that the screen resolution is remarkable for a touchscreen laptop. He added that the laptop is outstanding for zoom video calls because the speed is excellent, and the audio is crisp and immersive.
Another commented that the computer is very easy to flip between laptop and tablet mode, with the extra operational mode making some tasks easier.
One disappointing thing about the laptop, according to a few users, is that the touchpad is relatively large compared to the size of the laptop. The effect is that the keyboard is smaller. However, you’ll consider that the keyboard size is ergonomically designed. You’ll have far less travel between keys to make typing more comfortable.
A few users were also disappointed with the absence of a backlit keyboard.
8. Lenovo Yoga C940
The Lenovo Yoga C940 is a high-performance portable 2-in-1 laptop suitable for intense multi-tasking.
Key features
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7
- RAM: 12GB
- Display: 14” Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) IPS display
- Storage: 512 SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 15 hours
- Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi 6 A, Bluetooth 5, USB, HDMI
The Lenovo Yoga C940 comes with a powerful quad-core with eight-way processing performance. In addition to this, there’s a big 12GB onboard memory. The reams of high-bandwidth RAM mean that the laptop will smoothly run graphics-heavy applications and easily handle intense multi-tasking.
The 512 SSD offers enough storage for all your nursing files and entertainment folders. Also, it is supported by Intel Optane to offer speedy operation when storing files or opening them. The 14″ Ultra HD display is supported by Intel Iris Plus graphics to guarantee stunning graphics. You’ll see every detail in visual medical illustrations and more.
That solid performance level is packed into a slim frame. The Lenovo Yoga C940 is only 0.6″ thin. It also weighs only 2.98lbs.
Being thin and lightweight makes it excellent for work on the go, whether that is taking notes in classes or doing assignments in the fields. The battery of this Lenovo Yoga is one of the longest-lasting on the market. It’ll last up to 15 hours, which is 2x the battery life of many other laptops. Also, the system has a tough metal casing making it strong for the rigor of work on the go.
This Lenovo Yoga has a 360 degrees flip-and-fold design. You can use it as a laptop or rotate it 360 degrees to convert it to a tablet. Working with whatever mode is convenient will increase your productivity. The laptop also comes with a backlit keyboard so that your productivity will not diminish whether you’re working in broad daylight or at night.
Customer Reviews
Users of the Lenovo Yoga like its performance. One Amazon user says that the Lenovo Yoga C940 is above and beyond many other special laptops on the market.
Many users liked the fact that it is quite under heavy load. Unlike most other laptops, when the system is running heavy, and the cooling fan is engaged, it does not give off loud noise.
One frustration mentioned by some users is that while the battery life is longer than many other laptops when the brightness is high (70% and above), the battery life diminishes more than other laptops. The good news is that you can have the brightness well below 50% and still clearly see the screen. So, simply reduce screen brightness, and you’ll enjoy the long battery life advertised.
9. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the ultimate carry-around laptop as it easily switches between a laptop, a studio, and a tablet.
Key features
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16 GB
- Display: 12.3″
- Storage: 256 GB
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery life: 10.5 hours
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is one of the best laptops in the surface series. Boasting the 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, this is a high-performing laptop. There’s enough power in the laptop’s thin chassis to handle all your nursing tasks. The laptop’s 12.3″ display also showcases vivid images.
The standout feature of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is that it is a convertible. Open the built-in Kickstand, and you’ll be able to use it as a laptop. Lowering the Kickstand to about 15 degrees gives you perfect writing and drawing angles, allowing you to use the device in studio mode. Closing the Kickstand converts the device to a tablet. The different operational modes mean that you can use the Microsoft Surface Pro 7; however, it best suits you for improved productivity.
Talking of productivity, the Surface Pro 7 has a long-lasting battery. With active use, the battery will last you 10.5 hours. So, you’ll be able to accomplish all you need without having to worry about powering it.
The operating system blesses the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 with exciting features like the fingerprint reader as well as an integrated OneDrive. With the former, you will get one-touch secure access to your system without using passwords, and with the latter, you can keep files safe in the cloud. Nursing students who know the importance of keeping files safe will love the OneDrive feature.
Also, the Microsoft Surface Pro weighs only 1.7 lbs. It’s also ultra-thin. As a nursing student, you’ll find joy hauling the lightweight laptop with you to classes and everywhere else.
Customer Reviews
Users of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 are happy with its performance and more. One user on Amazon was pleased with the number of ports available and the connection possibilities that they offer.
One frustration that users mention with using the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is that the Surface pen does not come standard with the laptop. The pen is important for making inputs when using the device in tablet or studio mode, but you’ll have to buy it separately.
Some others complained about the small 12.3″ screen of the Surface Pro 7. However, know that the laptop is designed as a convertible. When converted to a tablet, an overly big tablet would be a turn-off.
Things to consider when choosing the best nursing laptop for nursing students
Just any laptop will not serve the needs of nursing students.
There are important things to consider when looking for the best laptop for nursing students. These are:
- Performance
- Display
- Storage
- Battery life
- Connectivity
- Portability
Performance
One of the first things to consider when choosing the best laptops for nursing students in 2022 is performance. You want a laptop that will be powerful enough to handle all that you’ll throw at it.
The processor is the first consideration when talking about performance. True, nursing applications may not be the most demanding of computer CPUs. However, nursing students do a lot of multi-tasking, and this consumes CPU resources as much as software compiling, high-res video editing, and other CPU-heavy tasks.
So, nursing students need a laptop with a powerful CPU. A laptop with a Core i5 or Core i7 processor would be powerful enough.
Another consideration is RAM. The onboard memory determines how fast the laptop runs your applications. With more memory, the laptop opens applications fast even when multi-tasking, but without enough memory, there’ll be a lot of lag time. Laptops with 8GB RAM are powerful enough in this regard.
Display
The screen display is another important consideration when it comes to laptops for nursing students. Display in this regard has to do with the size of the visual field (screen size) and the quality of the visuals.
When it comes to screen size, personal preference plays an important role. While some people want to go as small as possible, others like to go as big as possible. However, we’ll recommend laptops with screen sizes between 11″ and 15″.
When it comes to the quality of visuals, some may argue that nursing students do not need laptops with high-end screen resolutions and graphics capabilities.
True, professional high-res picture editors and gamers need high-end graphics capabilities more than nursing students. However, nursing students do need laptops that give sharp and clear images as well as vibrant colors. They’ll find this important when viewing and taking in details of visual medical illustrations.
In this regard, laptops with Ultra HD (4K) displays are excellent. But if you’re concerned about budget, those with Full HD displays also give great viewing experiences.
Storage
Another important consideration is the amount of storage space the laptop has. This is because nursing courses usually have a lot of reading and reference materials. You need a laptop that can hold all of these materials without fuss.
True, you can always get an external hard disk to supplement internal storage. However, that comes with the inconvenience of having another device to always carry.
That said, a laptop with a storage space of less than 256GB is not good enough. There are people who will only recommend laptops with 512GB SSD. However, laptops of 256GB SSD should serve nursing students, except they’ll also be packing the laptop with heavy entertainment files.
Battery life
Most of the time, nursing students will have to use their laptops away from the house or in places with power outlets. So, they need laptops that’ll remain powered for as long as they’re out.
8 hours is generally regarded as the normal working hours. All classes you’ll have in a day will not exceed 8 hours in total. Also, should you take your laptop with you for some work, you wouldn’t be working with it for more than 8 hours at a stretch. So, we recommend laptops with at least 8 hours of battery life.
Connectivity
As a nursing student, you should go for laptops with different ports and increased connectivity.
Nursing students find themselves needing to connect their laptops to other devices more often than they realize.
Sometimes, you need to connect your laptop to printers and scanners. If you have a presentation, you will need to connect to a projector. You may need to connect to other monitors, especially if your laptop has a small screen.
That said, when connection needs arise, you’ll need your laptop to have the required ports. Unfortunately, most laptop manufacturers sacrifice ports for slim and lightweight designs.
That said, when it comes to the best laptop for nursing students, we recommend one with lots of ports. Go for laptops with a number of ports, such as USB (including the 3.0 and 3.1 versions), card reader, HDMI, and ethernet.
Connectivity to networks is also very important. A popular complaint that users make concerning most laptops is that they lose connection easily. When you’re using Wi-Fi (for work, zoom classes/ meetings, etc.), losing connection can be frustrating. So, it’s good to go for laptops that can maintain connections.
Portability
The best laptops for nursing students in 2022 should be portable. Portability, in this regard, is not screen size but carry-about convenience.
As mentioned earlier, nursing students will need to use their laptops away from home. So, they’ll have to carry the laptops with them when on the move. To conveniently carry your laptop with you everywhere you go, you’ll not want it to be bulky or heavy.
You’ll need something that is small and thin enough to easily fit into your handbag/ tote bag/ backpack. You’ll also need something light so that it will not be too much of a load when carrying it around.
Because of this, ultra-thin and lightweight laptops dominate the market. We recommend laptops that are at most 1″ thin and weighing at most 4lbs.
Conclusion
In today’s world, the success of a nursing student is intricately linked to owning a laptop. You need it for taking notes, research, running nursing applications, etc.
However, not any laptop will do. The best laptop for nursing students should come with:
- High performance (at least core i5 with at least 8GB RAM)
- Excellent display (11″ – 15″ screen with at least FHD)
- Lots of ports and increased connectivity
- Large storage space (at least 256GB)
- Long battery life (at least 8 hours)
- A portable frame (at most 1″ thin and 4lbs)
All 9 laptops mentioned above meet these criteria. You can go for our personal best, the Asus Zenbook 14. It has an ergonomic screen hinge that makes typing comfortable, is very powerful, and yet budget-friendly.
You will also like its more advanced model, the Asus Zenbook 15. It packs even more power into its equally ergonomic and portable frame and adds exciting features like the second interactive screen pad.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 convertible laptop is another one that you’ll like, not only for its carry-around convenience but also for having so much power in its ultra-thin and feather-weight frame.
