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2017: The best laptops for education

If you're in the market for new hardware suitable for your student and a range of budgets, we have a selection of options for you.
By Charlie Osborne, Contributing Writer
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1 of 8 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Asus Zenbook UX305

At just over half an inch thin and weighing 2.5lbs, the Asus Zenbook UX305 is a portable device which students can rely on throughout their college career.

The 13.3" notebook has between 8 and 10 hours of battery life and can be purchased with up to a 6th gen Intel Core M3-6Y30 processor, 256GB SSD storage and 8GB RAM.

Price: $695+

Via: Amazon

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2 of 8 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Apple MacBook Air

The Apple MacBook Air is a lightweight, sleek and has a small form factor suitable for transport to and from campus. The 13.3" model, a common sight on university campuses, is a premium device but will remain constant through a full college career and beyond -- and can be used for up to 12 hours between charges.

You can pick up the MacBook Air with Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, 512GB storage and 8GB memory.

Price: $999+

Via: Apple

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3 of 8 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Acer Chromebook 15

For a budget-friendly option, the Acer Chromebook 15 is a simple device which, using Chrome OS, is suitable for a variety of basic applications including text editing, emails, and social media. The Acer Chromebook 15 comes with an Intel Celeron 3205U processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB SSD storage and sports a 15.6" 1366x768 HD display.

Price: $299.99

Via: Acer

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4 of 8 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is a convertible device able to work as either a laptop or tablet depending on your preferences. The Windows 10 Pro tablet also sports a 12.3" PixelSense 2736x1824 display which is great for movies, up to an Intel Core i7 processor, up to 1TB storage and 16GB RAM which is more than adequate for most applications and can also be used as a traditional laptop with a Microsoft keyboard accessory. It's a premium price for a student device, but will likely prove invaluable throughout college.

Price: $749+

Via: Microsoft

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5 of 8 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Dell Inspiron 15 Signature Edition Laptop

The Dell Inspiron 15 is another solid option for students which, as a mid-range device, offers good value for money. Sporting a 15.6-inch HD touchscreen and 1TB hard drive, the laptop can be used not just for college work but also as an entertainment system.

The laptop can be picked up with up to an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM and runs on the Windows 10 Home operating system.

Price: $449+

Via: Microsoft

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6 of 8 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Lenovo ThinkPad 11e

Specifically designed for the education market, the Lenovo ThinkPad 11e is a budget-friendly laptop which is also rugged enough to deal with transport and accidents. The 11.6" device comes with to a 6th Generation Intel Core i3 processor, Windows 10 Pro, 8GB RAM and up to 256 GB SSD storage. With casual use, you can expect up to 10 hours of battery life.

Price: $494+

Via: Lenovo

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7 of 8 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

HP X2 Detachable

Cheap and flexible, the Hewlett-Packard X2 Detachable is an another option for students who need a laptop for work but would also be able to use their device as a tablet. Equipped with an Intel Atom X5-Z8350 processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage and running on Windows 10, it is not suitable for power-heavy applications but will work well as a study device.

Price: $244+

Via: Amazon

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8 of 8 Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Samsung Notebook 7 Spin

For another flexible, hybrid device which is portable and can be used in various ways, the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin has everything a college student could potentially need. The device's display is set with a 365-degree hinge, 1TB storage, either an Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 Skylake processor and either 8GB or 16GB RAM.

Price: $835.99

Via: Samsung

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