The 5 Best (And Easy to Carry) Laptops for Teachers
The Best Laptops for Teachers in 2020
Whether you teach a classroom full of students or you interact with your students online, a computer is undoubtedly a fundamental tool that determines how smooth your teaching experience will be.
The tiresome tasks of coming up with a lesson plan, maintaining records, and supervising students are made a whole lot easier when you have the right computer by your side.
Obviously, a teacher doesn't need a huge gaming laptop, but still many factors come into play when selecting the best laptops for teachers, including processing power, portability, number and type of connectivity ports, display, storage, and RAM. Here are some of the top picks for the best laptops suitable for teachers.
Apple enthusiasts are always excited every time a new Apple product is released, and with good
reason.
The new MacBook Pro comes with a ton of improvements and new features that will impress even casual users. As a teacher, you will love the portability of this laptop thanks to its thin and light design with a shallow keyboard that is not bothersome.
The Touch Bar is a thin display on the screen that you can use for a number of tasks, whether it is auto-suggesting words when you are typing your lesson plans or providing Touch ID so that you can log in with your fingerprint. Since you will probably be spending a considerable portion of your time staring at your computer screen, you will love the True Tone display feature of the MacBook
Pro.
It gives your eyes a much-needed break by changing the white balance of the display according to its surroundings.
Spec Overview
CPU: Intel Core i5 and i7 processors with up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost of up to 4.8 GHz.
RAM: Up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM
Internal Graphics: Radeon Pro Graphics including 4GB of video memory
Display: True Tone display
Storage: Up to 4TB SSD storage
Battery Life: 15.4 in 2880*1800 Retina display IPS
Design
Apple never fails to impress when it comes to design. Right away, you will notice the butterfly keyboard which still has the tactile feel and bounciness that you may have come to expect from Apple typing surfaces.
The True Tone display that is synonymous with Apple makes use of two light sensors that are embedded within the display of the laptop so as to change the white balance of the display and consequently match the environment it is in.
As a teacher, you inevitably have to spend a great deal of time staring at their laptop screens, so this will make a significant difference and reduce straining. The Touch Bar is another great design feature that takes the place of function keys and changes automatically based on what you are working on, displaying the most relevant tools that are intuitive as you type.
The Thunderbolt 3 is a universal port that integrates charging, video output, and data transfer in a single connector.
Performance
MacBook Pro has a battery life of up to 10 hours when you fully charge it, which is undoubtedly better energy efficiency than the 2017 version. The 6-core Intel Core i9 processor has a base clock of up to 2.9GHz, but it can amp up to 4.8 GHz.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
MacBook Pro is a great laptop for teachers thanks to its sustainable battery life for when you are unplugged for extended periods of time. Since it is lightweight, the laptop is easy to carry around from one class to another. On the downside, the laptop is more expensive than a similar laptop.
The Microsoft Surface Pro has made a name for itself thanks to its killer design and superb features. When compared to previous models, the latest model is noticeably lighter and the screen display quality has vastly improved, which makes it ideal for use as a teacher.
The 2-in-1 design allows you to use it as a laptop when you attach the Signature Type Cover, and when you get rid of the cover, it functions as a tablet that has superb capabilities.
It has a robust processor and considerable memory, and the battery life of the latest model is definitely a step in the right direction.
Spec Overview
CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
RAM: 16 GB DDR3
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Display: 12.3-inch display
Storage: 1TB SDD
Design
The design of the latest Surface Pro is not too different from that of the previous model, with the slots being in the same position and of the same size.
The Type Cover is also exactly the same, but this is an impressive accessory in itself, so there isn't too much to complain about. The only distinction being the matte black finish. This is somewhat disappointing, especially if you had the previous version and you were expecting something different. The Surface Pro does not have a USB-C port, so if you are seeking more speed and expansion, you will have to purchase the Surface Dock accessory for it.
However, this doesn’t mean that other aspects haven’t been noticeably improved. The 12.3-inch display, for example, is distinctively more precise than that of the previous version thanks to the improved contrast ratio. As a result, you get to experience vivid colors which will make your computing experience even more engaging.
The powerful processor is able to handle complex tasks with ease, and with the inclusion of SSD, the read/write speeds are noticeably faster and applications are also loaded faster.
Performance
One of the best things about Surface Pro is the ability to multitask. You can edit videos, listen to music, play games, and surf the web with this compact laptop.
The impressive combination of the Core i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM allows it to handle a variety of tasks with ease. It also allows you to work for up to 9 hours without having to charge it.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a powerful yet portable device that allows you the much-needed flexibility as a teacher. It is among the best tablets that you will find today, allowing you to perform several tasks at once and be more efficient in general. It could have done with a few more features since there isn’t much change from the previous model, but it is definitely worth your consideration.
If you want a laptop which you can twist to a 360-degree angle, then the Lenovo Yoga 900 Convertible is the laptop for you. You can use it as a conventional laptop or a tablet, and to make things even better, it is thin and lightweight, so you can carry it with you wherever you go.
It is more powerful than its predecessor thanks to its Core i7 processor, and its battery lie has also vastly improved.
Performance
You can easily perform several tasks using the Yoga 900, and the apps launch pretty quickly with no lagging.
The processor is robust without compromising the design of the laptop, and you don’t have to worry about your laptop overheating thanks to the strategic placement of the fan. Its versatility as a 2-in-1 device cannot be overlooked, allowing you to use it for a number of purposes.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Lenovo Yoga 900 is a powerful and lightweight device that teachers will vastly benefit from. The graphics of the laptop are impressive, and the built-in vents and fans provide adequate cooling and prevent overheating. However, it is slightly heavier and thicker than the previous model due to the larger battery, and there is no improvement in battery life.
If you want a slim and lightweight laptop that you can take with you to your classes, Asus VivoBook F510UA may what you need. Even though it is quite affordable, it includes desirable features such as a powerful processor that allows for multitasking and a RAM that is able to accommodate almost anything that you throw at it.
We have done a complete review of the laptop before, so if you are interested, check out our Asus VivoBook F510UA review.
Performance
The 8th generation Intel Core i5 in combination with the 8 GB of Ram allows for smooth sailing performance, although when the multitasking load increases, the cooling fan noticeably kicks in. The Asus VivoBook F510UA has a battery life of almost 7 hours, which is not too bad.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Asus VivoBook 510UA is quite an impressive laptop that is not too expensive and allows you to perform process-intensive tasks smoothly. Even though the battery life is relatively short, its storage space, ample RAM and reliable processor definitely make up for it.
For an easier time organizing your work and great battery life, the Ace Aspire E15 is a great option. The featured processor ensures that the laptop delivers a smooth and fast performance. The robust memory is efficient in performing various tasks, whether you are carrying out research online or streaming videos, and there is enough storage for all your projects.
That is why it is a very popular laptop among writers as well.
Performance
The battery life of the Acer Aspire lasts for about 6 hours, allowing for heavy video streaming and web surfing before you need to recharge. The processor is powerful enough for day-to-day activities, allowing you to carry out various tasks efficiently.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
The Acer Aspire E15 is a reliable device that provides an affordable option for those who are on a tight budget. It will help you get your work done, whether you are using spreadsheets, coming up with lesson plans, or using the internet for research purposes.
Final Thoughts
As a teacher, your priorities when you are looking for a laptop will probably not involve high-performance, graphic intensive gaming capabilities or high-quality graphics. Battery life is arguably the most important feature that you will look for since you want a laptop that will allow you a few hours of work time without the need for constant charging.
You will probably want a portable laptop as well to allow you to carry it around all the time. Cost is also important since you probably want a device that is within your budget.
All in all, depending on your needs, these are some of the best laptops for teachers, that include all these features.
About the Author Arpad Balogh
I'm a tech geek from Hungary. Latest laptops? I got em. I love testing and breaking things, although most of the time I fail putting them together, but that's another story...
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