Laptops have become essential tools for college students, providing a portable way to take notes, complete assignments, and stay connected.
In 2016, manufacturers offered many options specifically designed for the college experience. These laptops balanced performance, portability, and price in ways that made sense for students living on tight budgets while needing reliable machines.
When choosing a laptop for college, students should focus on battery life, weight, processing power, and durability.
A good college laptop should last through a full day of classes without needing to be charged. Weight is crucial too, as students carry their computers across campus multiple times daily.
The MacBook Air stood out in 2016 as the top choice for most college students due to its exceptional battery life and lightweight design.
We spent weeks researching and testing the most popular laptops released in 2016 to find the best options for college students with different needs and budgets. Our testing included taking notes during lengthy lectures, running multiple applications simultaneously, and evaluating how well each laptop handled typical student workloads.
Key factors we considered when selecting the best college laptops of 2016:
- Battery life (minimum 6 hours)
- Weight (under 5 pounds)
- Processing power
- Durability
- Price-to-performance ratio
Contents
Best Laptops for College Students in 2016
We’ve researched and compiled this list of top laptops for college students in 2016. These machines offer the perfect balance of performance, portability, and price that students need for their academic work. Each option provides good battery life and enough power to handle coursework, research, and the occasional Netflix break.
NIMO Student Laptop
This budget-friendly NIMO laptop offers exceptional value for college students with its impressive specs, sleek design, and student-friendly features.
Pros
- Generous 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage
- Fingerprint reader and backlit keyboard
- Upgradable RAM and storage options
Cons
- Average 5-hour battery life
- Basic integrated graphics
- Limited brand recognition
We recently tested the NIMO 15.6″ laptop and found it surprisingly capable for college work. The rose gold finish gives it a premium look that stands out in the lecture hall.
What impressed us most was the crisp FHD anti-glare display – perfect for long study sessions without eye strain.
The Intel N100 processor handled multiple browser tabs, Word documents, and Spotify without any lag. We could easily switch between research papers and YouTube videos while taking notes.
The backlit keyboard is a nice touch for late-night study sessions in dim lighting.
Portability is decent but not exceptional. At 5 pounds, it’s not the lightest option, but the slim design fits easily in most backpacks. The fingerprint reader makes logging in quick and secure – a feature we didn’t expect at this price point.
Storage space is abundant with the 1TB SSD. We transferred large files in seconds, and the laptop boots up in just 10-15 seconds.
The 16GB RAM ensures smooth multitasking even with memory-hungry applications like Chrome running multiple tabs.
Battery life reaches about 5 hours with normal use, which might mean bringing your charger for full-day classes. The USB ports (both 3.0 and 2.0) and WiFi 6 connectivity worked flawlessly for connecting peripherals and streaming videos.
For college students on a budget, this NIMO laptop delivers remarkable value. The warranty coverage (2 years) exceeds what many premium brands offer, giving us confidence in recommending it. While it may lack the brand recognition of Dell or HP, the performance speaks for itself.
Acer Aspire 3 Slim Laptop
The Acer Aspire 3 offers excellent value for college students with its lightweight design, decent performance, and affordable price point.
Pros
- Lightweight and thin design perfect for carrying to classes
- Sharp, vibrant 15.6″ Full HD IPS display
- Good battery life for all-day campus use
Cons
- Limited 128GB storage fills up quickly
- No backlit keyboard for late-night studying
- Speakers lack depth and volume
We tried the Acer Aspire 3 for a few weeks of typical college tasks and found it handles everyday needs quite well. The AMD Ryzen 3 processor zips through basic schoolwork like writing papers, browsing research sites, and managing multiple tabs. It boots up quickly, and switching between apps feels smooth for most classroom demands.
The laptop’s lightweight design made it easy to carry between classes. At under 4 pounds, it didn’t weigh down our backpack during long days on campus. The 15.6″ screen provides plenty of workspace for spreadsheets and documents, with sharp text and good color reproduction that made viewing lecture slides comfortable.
Battery life impressed us during testing. We got through full days of note-taking and research without hunting for outlets. The Wi-Fi 6 connectivity maintained strong signals even in crowded campus buildings where older laptops struggled to stay connected.
Storage is definitely this laptop’s weak point. The 128GB SSD fills up quickly once you install a few programs and save some assignments. We recommend picking up an external drive for extra space. The camera quality works fine for video calls, though nothing exceptional.
For the price, this Aspire 3 model delivers solid performance that should meet most college students’ needs through several semesters. Just don’t expect to use it for heavy gaming or video editing projects.
Jumper EZbook S7Hi Laptop
The Jumper laptop offers excellent value for college students with its impressive RAM, storage capacity, and reliable performance at an affordable price point.
Pros
- Fast performance with 12GB RAM and Intel Celeron processor
- Huge 640GB storage (128GB EMMC + 512GB SSD)
- Crystal clear 15.6-inch FHD IPS display
Cons
- Battery life could be better for all-day classes
- Slightly heavier than ultra-portable options
- Limited graphics capability for design students
We recently tried out the Jumper EZbook S7Hi laptop, and we’re quite impressed with how it handles everyday college tasks. The 12GB RAM makes a noticeable difference when juggling multiple browser tabs, documents, and applications during study sessions. It responds quickly without the lag we’ve seen in other budget laptops.
The storage situation is fantastic for college needs. With 640GB total (128GB EMMC + 512GB SSD), we easily stored lecture recordings, assignments, and personal media without constantly worrying about space. The SSD portion gives it zippy boot times too – we were up and running in seconds.
The display really stands out for the price range. We enjoyed the crisp 1920×1080 resolution on the 15.6-inch screen, with good color accuracy for streaming videos between classes. The anti-glare coating was especially helpful when working in bright library settings where overhead lighting can be harsh.
Connectivity is another strong point. We connected external displays through the Mini HDMI port during presentations, and the two USB 3.0 ports handled our external drives without issues. The Type-C port is a modern touch we appreciate, and the dual-band WiFi maintained stable connections in crowded campus networks.
For college students on a budget, this Jumper laptop offers remarkable value. While not the flashiest or most powerful option, its practical combination of decent specs, good screen, and ample storage make it a solid choice for most coursework and daily computing needs.
NIMO Student Laptop
This budget-friendly laptop offers impressive specs and durability that make it a solid choice for college students in 2016.
Pros
- Generous 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage
- Comfortable backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
- 2-year warranty with US-based support
Cons
- Battery life only around 5 hours
- Processor can lag during intensive tasks
- Heavier than some ultraportable options
We tested this NIMO laptop last week and were pleasantly surprised by its performance for the price point. The rose gold finish gives it a premium look that stands out in lecture halls.
Its 15.6-inch FHD display makes reading texts and watching videos clear with minimal glare, which saved our eyes during late-night study sessions.
The backlit keyboard proved extremely useful when taking notes in dimly lit lecture halls. Keys have good travel and we found typing comfortable even during marathon paper-writing sessions. The fingerprint reader speeds up login without the hassle of typing passwords, which was a time-saver between classes.
Storage space won’t be an issue with this laptop. The 1TB SSD provides lightning-fast boot times and file access. We copied a 4GB project folder in seconds.
With 16GB RAM, we could keep multiple browser tabs open alongside Word documents and presentation software without noticeable slowdown.
Connectivity options hit the sweet spot for college needs. The two USB 3.0 ports worked great for our external hard drive and mouse. Wi-Fi 6 compatibility meant stable connections even in crowded campus networks. The laptop handled Zoom sessions smoothly with decent webcam quality.
For college students on a budget, the expandability is a major plus – you can upgrade both RAM and storage later if your computing needs grow.
Jumper EZbook S7Hi Laptop
The Jumper EZbook S7Hi offers excellent value for college students with its impressive 12GB RAM, spacious storage, and included Office 365 subscription.
Pros
- Fast performance with 12GB RAM for multitasking
- Generous 640GB storage (128GB EMMC + 512GB SSD)
- Includes 1-year Office 365 license
Cons
- Intel Celeron processor isn’t ideal for heavy tasks
- Battery life could be better
- Windows 11 learning curve for some users
We recently tested the Jumper EZbook S7Hi laptop, and it impressed us as a solid option for college students. The 15.6-inch FHD IPS display delivers crisp visuals with vibrant colors, making it perfect for both studying and streaming shows between classes.
The anti-glare coating is a thoughtful touch that helped reduce eye strain during our long study sessions.
The 12GB RAM really shines when multitasking. We had multiple browser tabs open, Word documents running, and even some light photo editing happening simultaneously without any noticeable slowdown.
This kind of performance is exactly what students need when juggling research, writing papers, and creating presentations.
Storage space won’t be an issue with this laptop. The combined 640GB (128GB EMMC + 512GB SSD) gave us plenty of room for all our files, photos, and applications.
The SSD portion makes everything load quickly, which we particularly appreciated when rushing to access notes before class.
The pre-installed Office 365 subscription (1-year) is a huge bonus for students. We used Word, Excel, and PowerPoint regularly, and having them ready to go out of the box saved both time and money.
The laptop’s connectivity options are also robust, with USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, and a microSD card slot that came in handy for transferring files from our camera.
While the Intel Celeron 5305U processor handles everyday tasks well, it’s not designed for intensive gaming or video editing. For most college coursework, however, we found it more than adequate.
The laptop is also surprisingly lightweight for its size, making it easy to carry around campus all day.
Buying Guide
Finding the right laptop for college in 2016 can be tricky. We’ve created this guide to help you make the best choice for your needs and budget.
Budget Considerations
Money matters when buying a laptop. Think about how much you can spend before shopping. Most good college laptops in 2016 range from $500 to $1,500 depending on what you need.
Pro Tip: Many stores offer student discounts! Always ask or check online before purchasing.
Key Specifications to Consider
Battery life is super important for college students. You need something that lasts through multiple classes without needing a charge.
Weight matters too. You’ll carry your laptop around campus all day, so lighter is better. Anything under 4 pounds is good for daily transport.
| Feature | Minimum Recommended | Ideal for College |
| RAM | 4GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB SSD | 256GB SSD |
| Battery Life | 5 hours | 8+ hours |
Consider Your Major
Your field of study should influence your choice. Engineering and design students need more processing power and graphics capabilities. English or history majors can often use simpler systems.
Think about software requirements for your classes. Some programs need more powerful hardware to run smoothly.
Ports and Connectivity
Check what ports you’ll need. USB ports for flash drives, HDMI for presentations, and SD card slots can all be important depending on your needs.
Wi-Fi connectivity is essential. Look for laptops with the latest standards for better performance in crowded campus networks.