In today’s world of technological innovation every field of work is going digital, so why should education be left behind? Gone are the days of paperback books, pens and pencils, chalk and board.
We are now on the brink of a revolution ushering in an era of projectors, e-books, and smart screens! Children find learning subjects made interesting with the use of videos and more interactive tools.
Teachers find their tedious tasks of scheduling, record maintenance and supervision made easy with the use of the correct operating software. However, this transition is still not complete.
Some people are still stumbling in this new environment trying to find devices that fit them best and attempting to acquire skills to use the more sophisticated ones. And teachers are seen to struggle most – especially the remarkably old ones.
For them, easier means putting ink to paper and not finger to screen. In such a scenario the best device for them to start building a relationship with are laptops.
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Factors To Consider
Laptops will help them carry out all their daily activities in an orderly fashion. Moreover, having been born in a time which saw the transition from manual labour to computers, they are already half used to the functionalities of laptops.
What they need help with is discovering the hidden talents of this device. And then determining which configurations suit their need best. While the former can only be acquired with practice, we can certainly help out with the latter.
This article lists down 5 best laptops for teachers. These selections have been made keeping in mind the average requirements from the device for a teacher. These would include functionalities for basic scheduling and recording tasks.
Preparation of interactive presentations and researching topics by surfing the net. Thus, they would have little or no need for elements like graphic cards and crazy speakers or great webcams.
What they would require would be lightweight devices with better memory and RAM that would allow them larger storage and faster working. Following are the 5 best laptops for teachers to select from.
See Also: 10 Best Lightweight Laptops
Our Top Picks for Best Laptops for Teachers
1. Google Pixelbook Go
Specs:
This touchscreen Chromebook is lightweight, hacker-protected, and has fast charging abilities. If your laptop runs out of battery while you are on the go, you can charge the device for just 20 minutes and enjoy over two hours of battery life on a speed charge.
You will enjoy using this comfortable laptop because it is quiet, has a backlit keyboard, and is the perfect size for traveling with. The keys are also very quiet, so you won’t disturb other people in the office if you have a it of writing to do.
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2. Microsoft Surface Pro
Specs:
Killer design, Superb features – Microsoft Surface Pro packs a large host of appealing qualities in its tab! Compared to the previous models, the most recent model is lighter in weight, has better screen quality and improved performance making it the best laptop for teachers.
Battery life invites mixed opinions where a few customers have been seen to complain about its low levels and others stand by its robustness. A starkly negative quality coming out in all customer reviews is that type cover is not included and needs to be bought separately raising cost considerably.
But otherwise, the base price of this model is quite reasonable considering it has an intel processor with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB memory. Its compact body also packs a 12.3 inches screen with a powerful audio system.
The operating system used is Windows Pro and the weight is a bare minimum of 1.7 pounds. From a teacher’s perspective, this laptop has a fast processor and compact build which makes it more portable than other models.
It has a convenient stand that makes it look more stylish and working with the pen is much more fun and easier than a normal touch tablet device.
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3. HP Envy X360
Specs:
This laptop is powerful and flexible tool for teachers. This device has a sleek, polished metallic look and is extremely light in weight making it very portable and well suited to teachers who need to work away from a desk. The display can also be flipped 360° to use the laptop in a variety of configurations, including being use as a tablet
Within its thin body, it manages to hide an audio system that can bring down the roof at a party, a powerful Intel Core processor, 15.6 inch screen with a backlit keyboard, 16 GB and Windows 10.
However, these specifications are present in almost all good notebooks these days, as was made evident by the four other names before this one. What sets HP apart is its long-lasting battery life that can stretch up to over 12 hours!
Teachers can start their days without fretting about finding charging points in classrooms. The only negative to this model is that there is no touchscreen, a feature that is becoming popular with notebooks fast.
4. HP 15
Specs:
This device is just what you need as a teacher. From the big screen to the long battery life, the HP 15 has it all. The laptop has a 15.6” screen and weighs only 2.4 pounds making it extra light in weight and easy to carry from classroom to classroom.
When working with your laptop in a classroom, you want your computer to get things done quickly and not get stuck. With the 11th generation intel core i5, I can guarantee you have instant response and the best-in-class connectivity. The laptop also offers a Wi-fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 combo that way you can transfer files three times faster than you could with a Wi-fi 5.
Another great thing about this laptop is the battery life. As a teacher, you want a laptop that will get work done on the go! From meetings to class to the teacher's lounge, you want to be able to just close your laptop and go. With a battery life of around 8 hours, you can be sure that you won’t have to sit around and wait for your computer to charge. And let’s face it, you most likely will, but in just 45 min your laptop can go from 0-50%, thanks to HP Fast Charge.
Like every great laptop, this one has its cons. This HP model isn’t a touchscreen, and that’s something that a lot of people find important today. Other than that, I think that the only other thing missing is a backlit keyboard, but that can be fixed with a keyboard sticker that you can order online for just a few bucks.
5. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
Specs:
If you love a good Chromebook, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is your best and cheapest option. This laptop is powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor, which can be just as fast, if not faster, than older generation i5 or i7 computers.
The price for this device is unbelievable, making it affordable for just about anyone. And with what you’re getting, it’s definitely the best bang-for-your-buck Chromebook laptop you can find.
Additionally, the battery life on this laptop is amazing. An entire 10 hours without having to plug in your charger (which you can do from either side of the laptop), leaving you with plenty of time to get your work done comfortably and with access to all your favorite Chromebook features.
Another few great features include; a 360° convertible design, a full backlit keyboard with 1.4mm key travel distance, and it’s touchscreen! There really isn’t a bad thing I can say about this laptop.
6. LENOVO YOGA 900 CONVERTIBLE LAPTOP
Specs:
This is a device that can be twisted all the way to a 360-degree angle – hence the name. It’ll do all those yoga poses your body can’t!
After all the years of being extra careful with first the static monitor and then the moveable (but within limits) laptop screen, the newest generation technology uses a special watchband hinge that allows you to do whatever you wish with the screen.
You can use it like a typical laptop, fold it all the way back to make it a tablet, make it stand on its own or use it like a tent. Besides this highlight, this model is extra light and extra thing. Its design has a finesse that makes its owner feel elegant!
Why it’s a good choice for teachers is that it is extremely portable with a weight of just 1.39 kgs and 1.49 cm in thickness. It has a powerful intel core processor and amazing audio system. It also has a solid battery life that would be useful for teachers.
What is not so good about this model is that the keyboard is not that easy to use because of the changing positions of the keyboard and can be annoying at times. At the prices that Yoga offers, there aren’t many better laptops left for teachers.
7. ASUS ZENBOOK UX330UA-AH54
Specs:
This baby has everything from a reasonable price to a lightweight built with a large screen of 13.3 inches, from a powerful Intel processor to excellent memory as well as battery capacity and excellent connectivity with features like HDMI.
However, the cherry on the cake is an in built fingerprint reader which uses the Windows Hello feature to allow the user a one touch login. So, looking at the darker side we do find certain unwanted flaws hiding in this model.
First and foremost the movement ability of the screen is restricted to 110 degrees. Secondly, it has a fan that can be over-energetic and preinstalled bloatware. However, one can’t deny that the Zenbook is one of the best laptops for teachers.
It is fast working, portable with extensive storage space and a classy look. Teachers should be sold at the first two points itself with the last two being the icing on the cake.
What To Look for In A Laptop for An Educator?
The most important thing you want in a laptop as an educator is space and speed.
As a teacher, you have limited class time and at the same time, so much work that needs to be passed on to your students. It’s going to be PowerPoint after PowerPoint, lecture after lecture, and for that, you’re going to need space! So when purchasing a laptop, remember that you want easy access to your google drive or a laptop that already comes with plenty of memory space (that can get quite expensive).
With limited time being an issue as an educator, the next thing you need to think about is the speed of your laptop. I recommend you invest in a laptop that makes your life easier when you need to transfer files, or just to connect to the school’s Wi-Fi to show your class a video that suits the lecture. Most brands now support the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 combo which will guarantee you a faster and much more smooth ride.
Conclusion
All 5 laptops mentioned here are lightweight for easier portability option. They have sound internal processors to ensure powerful functioning which is the key requirement of any teacher. Memory and storage are also comparable in all.
What becomes a differentiating factor is the brand name which leads to differences in prices. The brand name may also lend support to quality. For example, customers of Apple will vouch for the fact that they have to visit the service center far lesser than other brands like Dell or HP.
And for that fact alone they are willing to pay a hefty premium. As a teacher, one must first decide what is the primary motive behind this purchase. They must then assign weights to the different metrics described above and create a rating for each model.
While all the 5 models mentioned here have positive feedback from its customers, your rating will help you decide which among these 5 best laptops for teachers is better suited for your taste and needs!