Teachers need reliable laptops. If you are shopping for a new one, you may feel overwhelmed by all your choices. Fortunately, we’ve read the reviews and rounded up the best laptops for teachers in all price ranges and sizes.
How do I choose a laptop?
There is a lot to consider, including screen size, port and storage options, and processor choices. You may want to prioritize battery life, connection options, and price, but this will vary based on your needs. If you’re buying a Windows machine, make sure it includes the latest software, Windows 11 (or a free upgrade if Windows 10 is already installed).
Teacher choice can also be a factor of your choice. Many brands offer substantial discounts for teachers and we have included them here with our recommendations. If you are considering a laptop from another manufacturer or a specific store, be sure to see if they offer any academic discounts. Also, check out our scoop on 7 great laptop discounts for teachers.
One last note: the global shortage of microchips is still causing problems with the availability of all kinds of electronics, including laptops. Some of the choices listed here may currently run out of stock, so you have to be patient if you have a specific model that you really want.
(Just a warning, WeAreTeachers may collect a portion of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items that our team likes!)
Apple MacBook Pro
Apple is a clear choice for many teachers because it is also a choice for many schools. The MacBook Pro is the company’s high-end laptop, which will match the price. It has some great features like the backlit “Magic Keyboard” that has a touch bar at the top with shortcuts for changing tools based on what you’re doing. For the price, though, you can expect it to include a touch screen, which it doesn’t.
Battery life is outstanding, up to 20 hours depending on usage. Customizable options include screen size (13, 14, or 16 inches) and storage (from 256GB to 2TB SSD). If you are willing to invest, the MacBook Pro must meet the needs of your teacher. Need a more affordable alternative? Take a look at the Apple MacBook Air.
Teacher Discounts: Shop through the Apple Education Store for exclusive discounts with special 2022 back-to-school deals.
Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1
Lenovo models are very popular among WeAreTeacher HELPLINE chatters, and you will find two of them in our list of best laptops for teachers. First: Add 2-in-1. It’s one of the best convertible laptops out there, says teacher Dedra E. Can prove: “I recently bought a Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 15-inch and I love, love, love! It is light and the battery on a single charge lasts about 10-12 hours And I spent less than $ 800. Highly recommended. “
The Yoga 2-in-1 laptops come in a variety of screen sizes and processors. The built-in webcam has a privacy shutter and the battery life is great up to 13 hours. All in all, this is one of our favorite options for laptop / tablet combo for teachers.
Teacher Discount: Sign up at ID.me to confirm your eligibility to save 10% with Lenovo Student and Teacher Discount.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Microsoft’s Surface Line combines the full features of a laptop with the convenience of a touch screen. Here is the teacher Melissa R. Want to say: “I have a surface. I love it. It can act as a tablet but if you add a wireless keyboard it is like a laptop. Very effective. Add a pen and you have the ability to write / draw (this has been very effective in zooming).
Expect a battery life of 16 to 19 hours with the new 2-in-1 model. The Surface Laptop 4 is available with a 13.5- or 15-inch screen, both with thin lines and a lightweight build. If you are looking for something smaller (and more profitable) then the Surface Laptop Go is another good choice to consider.
Teacher Discounts: Microsoft offers discounts and special deals in their education stores.
Samsung Galaxy Book2 360
Convertible models are one of the best laptops for teachers, since you get all the functionality of a laptop with the portability of a tablet. The new Galaxy Book2 360 has a nice display and a high-quality webcam for easy viewing of online meetings or teaching sessions. The touch screen makes it easy to use while you teach and it promises a battery life of up to 21 hours.
Teacher Discount: Samsung offers 10% tuition discounts if purchased directly from their site.
HP Specter x360
If you like the idea of a laptop that is converted to a tablet, this HP model is a must see. Reviewers love the bright touch screen with its true-to-life color. Up to 16 hours of battery life should be more than enough to get you through a school day, but a quick battery charge gives you 50% of battery life in about 45 minutes if you run low. The Specter x360 line comes in a variety of screen sizes and colors.
Teacher Discount: Register to get exclusive teacher discount at HP Education Store.
Google Pixelbook Go
Most teachers are still familiar with Chromebooks because many schools use them This is a good model for those who want something that is easy to use without a lot of frills. One of its best features is a 1080p webcam, the quality of which is good enough that you will not need any external webcam for your zoom class.
The 13.3-inch touch screen is simple, and the Pixelbook has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which can be a bit rare nowadays. Expect about 12 hours of battery life and remember that you’ll need a Google Account to set up and use a Chromebook.
Teacher Discounts: Visit the Google site for education on promotional discounts and offers
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
The IdeaPad Flex is a bargain-priced touch-screen laptop with lots of quality. A fingerprint scanner helps ensure security and privacy, which can be important in a classroom. Multiple screen sizes and processors are available, but we prefer the 14-inch size for teachers, which is 2-in-1O. Battery life is a little less than the others on our list at about 10 hours, but Rapid Charge gives you up to 2 hours with just 15 minutes of charging. Consider it a good economic choice with many functionalities.
Teacher Discount: Sign up at ID.me to confirm your eligibility to save 10% with Lenovo Student and Teacher Discount.
LG G17.
Most laptops fall in the 13- to 15-inch screen range, but 17-inch options are available, and we wanted to include a few of them in our list of best laptops for teachers. A large screen is easy to read from a distance in the classroom and it is good to have it during online teaching or meeting.
LG’s 17-inch model has a high-end peak, but the beautiful screen display and light weight design make it very attractive. This large laptop weighs less than 3 pounds, so it is perfectly portable. It is large enough to include a variety of ports (including HDMI) and card slots and promises great battery life (up to 19 hours). The large key cap and touch pad size also make it easy to use. The only real feature missing here is a touch screen.
Teacher Discounts: LG does not currently offer teacher discounts.
Acer Aspire 5
Looking for a more affordable 17-inch laptop? This introduced the Acer model. The high-speed processor is as good as the LG Gram at a fairly low cost. The built-in webcam is 1080HD, eliminating the need for an external camera in most cases. Battery run time is about 8 hours, which is not outstanding but certainly good enough to last you most of the day. This is a solid option when you want a large screen without a large dent in your wallet.
Teacher Discount: Acer does not 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 are looking for and a few nice touches, such as an HDMI port and a super-lightweight aluminum body. Reviewer battery life varies, on average about 10 hours.
For the price, the high functionality of this smooth laptop makes it a perfectly good choice for teachers. Choose between 13.5 ″ / 3: 2 or 14 ″ / 16: 9 aspect ratio screens and a few processor types.
Teacher Discount: Acer does not currently offer teacher discounts.