Best Laptops for Medical School Students in 2022

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It is wonderful that you will become a doctor someday. You have made the right choice to pursue medicine now. However, becoming a great doctor will require commitment and hard work. 

You will be learning many new things in medical college and taking notes all day, so it makes sense to buy a laptop for studying. Students who have laptops can take notes and access an immense amount of information via the internet, making it a super useful device. 

However, because many laptops are available in every price range, it can also be challenging to find the perfect laptop. Since we are doing this for a medical student, we researched and selected the laptops based on those findings. 

Medical students generally prefer lightweight laptops with good battery life and smooth performance. Their main purpose in using the laptop is to gather more information and make notes. 

Our goal is to provide medical students with ten laptops to choose from to fit their needs and your budget. So, you can select the perfect laptop under your budget. This article also includes a section on buying guides for medical students when selecting a laptop.

Compare specifications of our top 5 picks or jump to the full list below:

CPU
RAM
Storage
Display
 
Best overall
Apple MacBook Air
Apple M1 chip
8GB
256GB or 512GB SSD
13.3-inch
best 2-in-1
Dell Inspiron i5378
Intel Core i7-7500U
8GB
256GB SSD
13.3-inch Touch
Best for Portability
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S
Intel Core i7-6560U
8GB
256GB SSD
13.3-inch FHD IPS
Best for power users
LG Gram
Intel Core i7-8565U
16GB
1TB SSD
15.6-inch Touch
Best for Gaming
MSI PS42
Intel Core i5-8250U
8GB
256GB SSD
14-inch FHD IPS

Top 10 Best Laptops for Medical Students

Because you are a student who will be most probably moving around with the laptop from one place to another, we have made sure that the laptops on this list are lightweight from the hostels to classes. Additionally, we have carefully chosen the perfect battery life that we know would serve any college student for an extended period.

1. Apple MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air (Latest Model)
Specs:
CPU: Apple M1 chip; 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen display
Battery: 20+ hours
Reasons to choose
  • Professional yet stylish
  • Internal storage is more than enough for student
  • Excellent battery life
  • Configuration is adequate for major requirements such as studying, watching movies, storing documents, and more 
Reasons to avoid
  • Limited connectivity
  • Pricey

Apple products tend to be expensive, and as such, students need to validate whether or not the product is worth the value.

This laptop features a 13.3-inch screen, which isn’t significant when compared to other products. However, the display is top-notch despite the screen size. 

When it comes to design, this gadget bears Apple’s vision in mind- it’s professional yet stylish. The weight is also comparable to the weight, making it ideal for students to move around with it. Now, the only problem is the limited connectivity. This laptop comes with three ports, and multitasking is out of the question. 

Another problem that comes with Apple products is regular updates. Also, if you’ve been used to Android, you may find it difficult to adjust to Apple MacBook Air. If you’re not brand conscious, you may be able to get a better deal within the price range of this gadget. While this laptop’s configuration isn’t competitive, the 128GB SSD storage is a plus.  

What’s more, the keyboard and trackpad are convenient and user-friendly. But again, it might take a while before you can master the keyboard if you’ve never used Apple products. Like any other Apple product, Apple MacBook Air has decent battery life. 


2. Dell Inspiron i5378

Dell Inspiron i5378
Specs:
CPU: 3.5GHz Intel Core i7-7500U
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch Touch (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to 8 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Convertible design for flexibility
  • Excellent keyboard for a better typing experience
  • Affordable, yet powerful
  • Backlit keyboard to enable you to work without a proper lighting system
Reasons to avoid
  • Battery life is not perfect
  • Dull & dim screen

This Dell is a 2-in-1 laptop, which means that you can use it both as a laptop and as a tablet to give you the best user experience. It also features a 360 degrees hinge, which will no doubt enhance your viewing experience any day. 

The design of this laptop makes many people admire it. Depending on the task that you want to carry out, you have the freedom to change the mode to a laptop or a tablet. For example, if you are on a bus traveling, you can turn this into a tablet and use it. 

An Intel Core i7 powers this machine with a clock speed of up to 3.5GHz, which will no doubt increase the speed of your laptop. It also comes with 8GB memory, which should also help you run simultaneous operations. The best of all is this laptop’s storage capacity – 256GB SSD, which enhances the booting speed. 

This machine’s keyboard is well-arranged, so you don’t have to find it challenging to locate every key even if you are using the laptop for the first time. It also features a backlit keyboard, an added advantage, especially if you want to work during the night and don’t want to turn on the lights. 

You won’t have any difficulty with your viewing experience, even though this machine has a minimal screen size of 13.3 inches. It features a screen resolution of 1920 by 1080, which is just perfect for anyone who will not be carrying out heavy tasks, such as graphic design. 

The connectivity of this gadget with other devices is seamless. It features an HDMI port, which will allow you to connect your laptop to a TV screen or any other device that uses an HDMI port. Also, the laptop features USB Type-C, USB 3.0, and 2.0 ports, as well as a headphone jack and a space for your card reader. 

The laptops are painted black and grey to maintain the brand uniformity. Also, there should be a differentiation mark between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. Usually, USB 3.0 will be marked with the color blue or indicated “ss.”


3. Lenovo IdeaPad 710S

Lenovo IdeaPad 710S
Specs:
CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-6560U
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to 8 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Perfect HD resolution
  • Lightweight for easy portability
  • Excellent audio sound
  • Outstanding performance
Reasons to avoid
  • Does not feature a USB Type-C port
  • Poor WLA performance

The next on this list is the Lenovo laptop, which has also grown in popularity over the years. This machine is excellent for everyday tasks, including browsing the internet to research different research projects, completing and submitting assignments, attending online classes, watching videos, creating and editing documents, and many more. 

This gadget is made of aluminum, which is almost a guarantee sign that it will serve you for a longer time. Honestly, it’s always frustrating to be repairing or replacing a laptop now and again. Additionally, this laptop is lightweight – only weighing 2.4 pounds, which ensures easy portability, especially from the hostels to classes. 

This machine’s design is thin, so you shouldn’t expect many ports on this laptop. No need to fret over this because you will still get a USB 3.0, a mini HDMI port, another USB 3.0 port at the right side of the machine, a headphone jack, and a space for your card reader. 

The keyboard is well-arranged, and it doesn’t require you to be a typing guru to master where every key is. Instead, you can quickly master the keyboard and type much faster. The best of all is that this gadget comes with a backlit keyboard, which, according to us, is a significant advantage, especially to those medical students who will want to work late. 

If you are a fanatic fan of music, there are high chances that you will love the audio quality. You will no doubt love weekends because, at least, you will have something to be happy about – listening to soothing music or even watching your favorite American TV crime series or movie. 

Short battery life, but 7 hours is not still a bad deal anyway because most laptops would have a battery life of as low as 4 hours when still new. With this kind of battery longevity, you can rest assured that you can work for another extended 7 hours if the power goes off in the middle of a project – be it a medical research project or an assignment. 

This machine is powered by an Intel Core i7, which is undoubtedly what most medical students will be looking for. The 8GB memory is just enough to enable medical students to carry out their tasks without having to fret about their laptops hanging or, even worse, overheating. The 256GB SSD makes your booting time even much faster. 


4. LG Gram

LG Gram
Specs:
CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8565U
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display: 15.6-inch Touch (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to 18.5 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Top-notch audio output
  • Well-designed keyboard
  • Lightweight for easy portability
  • Long battery life
  • Touchscreen
Reasons to avoid
  • Poor positioning of speakers

If you have been waiting to find a laptop with increased memory space and better storage space, then this is it. This is one of the machines out there that any medical student should start eyeing or even adding to their list of priority laptops. This machine has proven to be one that offers users (medical students) an excellent performance. 

Whether you want to type assignments and submit them or research on a project with ease, this gadget will ever give you the best user experience. With the full HD display, you can expect a better viewing experience with no eye effects or issues to worry about. 

This machine is made from nano carbon magnesium, which contributes to its excellent design and sturdy nature. This machine is lightweight, so you will not have any issues carrying it around or moving with it from your hostel to the lecture rooms. This laptop’s thin design makes it a lovely one to remove, even amid friends.  

The backlit keyboard will always remain a top feature, and the LG Gram is not left behind in providing this feature to its users. With a backlit keyboard, you can do your medical research papers late in the night without turning the lights on, which can disrupt your roommates’ sleep. The best of all is that this machine features four multi-touch gestures, allowing you to multitask. 

You can expect an excellent camera, which will allow you to attend online classes with confidence or present your project online without worrying about the video quality. While this is not a feature that most medical students need to worry about, it’s equally essential to be essential in other areas of your career or studies. 

This machine features a fingerprint scanner to enhance your laptop’s security. There are lots of intruders these days who want to get access to your private information. But with this feature on LG Gram, you can rest assured that nobody will tamper with your information. We also love the screen size and resolution of this laptop – 15.6 inches and 1920 by 1080 pixels, respectively. 

The Type-C port featured on this machine ensures the faster transfer of video output, while the HDMI gives to connect your laptop to a second device like your TV screen. This gadget also features a 3.0 USB to enable the fast and effortless transfer of data. As a medical student, there is no doubt that you will love this gadget. 


5. MSI PS42

MSI PS42
Specs:
CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to 7 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Features many ports
  • Fingerprint sensor for robust security
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Excellent display
  • Slim design
Reasons to avoid
  • Poor speakers
  • Battery life could be better

Next on our list is the MSI PS42, one of the best laptops that medical students should consider purchasing. This laptop has a sleek design that enables you to carry it in and out of lecture rooms without any convenience. Whether you are a medical student who wants to make sure their assignments are completed and submitted on time, or you wish to browse and find adequate points for your research, the MSI PS42 will come to your rescue. 

The laptop keyboard is always an essential component of any laptop. It will either make or break your productivity. In other words, if the keyboard is not well-arranged, you might as well take so much time mastering where the keys are, leading to wastage of time. This laptop comes with a backlit functionality to enable medical students like you to work late in the night without distracting others by turning on the lights. 

One downside that we must note, though, is that the sound quality isn’t excellent. So you will have to worry about this if you are a music or movie enthusiast. However, all is not lost yet – you can still get Bluetooth external speakers to supplement what you already have. After all, these speakers are not usually expensive, so you can easily order one from Amazon. 

This machine is powered on an Intel Core i5, probably lower than the other processor we have discussed on this list, but still worth it anyway. The gadget comes with 8GB memory that will ensure that you multitask without worrying about your laptop hanging or overheating. This machine also features a 256GB SSD, which should enhance the booting speed. 

The battery life is also not great, considering some of the laptops discussed on this list. You will probably not love the fact that this machine can only last for an additional 6 hours when the power suddenly goes out. However, there is still no cause for alarm because 6 hours is always excellent compared to some laptops that can only work for an extended period of 4 hours. 

You will love this machine’s camera. It’s very sharp and will provide you with the best image and video quality whether you want to take a selfie or on a Zoom meeting. You can adjust this machine’s camera to your liking. Overall, this is one of the laptops that should appear on your list of priority laptops. 


6. ASUS VivoBook S

ASUS VivoBook S
Specs:
CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i5-8250U
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to 9 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Excellent display
  • Easily portable
  • Fingerprint scanner ensures top security
Reasons to avoid
  • The power button is positioned poorly
  • The camera quality is not great

As a medical student, you will probably be looking forward to working late in the night and for longer hours. Therefore, you may need to consider a laptop with better battery life than some of the laptops we have discussed on this list. This machine is lightweight, making it easy to carry from one place to another. You will also love the design of this laptop because it is what every medical student will be looking for. 

If you have a limited budget, this should be at the top of your laptop priority list because you will get it at an affordable price compared to the other laptops we already discussed on this list. We also know that campus students are quite picky when it comes to color. Not to fret, this machine comes in various colors – Icicle Gold, Star Grey, Gun Metal, Firmament Green. 

The design of this machine’s keyboard took care of users in mind. The keyboard can tilt to 3.5 degrees to increase your typing speed and help you complete your assignments or medical reports much faster. This gadget is an eighth-generation laptop powered by Intel Core i5. It features 8GB RAM memory, which should allow for multitasking without it having to hang or overheat. The 256GB SSD will boost your booting speed and increase your laptop’s general speed. 

If you feel that the storage space isn’t enough, you are free to top it up with an external device. This gadget’s battery life is also convincing – 8 hours is not bad, and you can rest assured that this will save you when the power suddenly goes out. 

The machine comes with different ports to enhance its connectivity with other devices. For example, this gadget features a Type-C port, an HDMI for connecting your laptop to a second device like a TV screen, a USB 3.0 to enable quick transfer of data across devices, an audio jack, as well as a space for a card reader. 


7. Asus ZenBook 14

Asus ZenBook 14
Specs:
CPU: 4.1GHz Intel Core i7-8565U
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to 14 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Decent battery life
  • Feels sturdy yet lightweight
  • Configuration is highly competitive compared to other products
  • 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM makes this laptop worth the value
  • Runs quietly
Reasons to avoid
  • Limited connectivity

Decent battery life is all you want in a student laptop, and that’s precisely what you get from Asus ZenBook 14. It’s lightweight for easy mobility in and out of college. Also, it’s a better value for money for students looking forward to investing in it. This laptop exhibits premium quality, thus durable. 

And because medicine students have a lot to cover, you may want to consider the 256 Flash memory SSD. The fan limits the noise, so you don’t have to fret about using it in the middle of a lecture. But again, you’ll have to deal with the limited connectivity that comes with only two-USB ports. That aside, most features of this gadget are worth considering. 

The best part is that this laptop delivers quality sound- the speakers are loud and clear. The keyboard is also user-friendly, and the touch functionality is very responsive. With the significant SSD, rest assured of optimum performance. The screen resolution is of high-quality too. 


8. Microsoft Surface Pro 6

Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Specs:
CPU: 1.3 GHz Intel Core i5 (8th Gen)
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB SSD
Display: 12.3-inch (2736 x 1824)
Battery: Up to 13.5 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Built-in surface pen
  • Upgraded configuration
  • Quality display
  • The trackpad is smooth and very responsive
Reasons to avoid
  • Microsoft Pro 6 is more convenient when used as a tablet than a laptop

Double battery life is what makes this laptop stand out from its predecessors. And the exciting part? You get to use the surface pen instead of the keyboard and trackpad.

Mark you, the surface pen is an input device. On the touch screen, the keys are pretty straightforward, and their distance is also convenient. The trackpad is very responsive for smooth application. 

With the upgraded configuration, rest assured of exceptional speeds when it comes to loading and file transfers. The 12.3-inches screen may not be significant for medical students but focuses more on the display quality. The color contrast is also excellent for everyday use. 

The major problem that comes with Microsoft Pro 6 is the limited connectivity, which may hinder multitasking. Customers have also raised complaints about its small size, which serves more of a tablet than a laptop.

The experience is pretty cool when used as a tablet, as the screen is very responsive.

However, it can be quite awkward and inconvenient to use without a separate keyboard and mouse. 


9. Acer Aspire E 15

Acer Aspire E 15
Specs:
CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to 15 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Keyboard and trackpad are user-friendly and responsive
  • There is an array of ports for adequate connectivity
  • The configuration is above the expectation for laptops within this price range
  • Excellent battery life
Reasons to avoid
  • The display isn’t the best quality

Sleek design, brilliant display, and responsive processor are all you get from Acer Aspire E 15. It’s a budget laptop, making it ideal for students who are looking for a cost-effective machine. Apart from that, this laptop comes with pre-installed Windows 10 for easy setup.  

The 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM are sufficient for your everyday needs such as reading, watching videos, and installing specific softwares. The speed is also enhanced at all times. However, the display quality isn’t pleasant, and the default resolution can be irritating to the user’s eyes. 

Meanwhile, your typing experience is enhanced with the well-spaced keys and the responsive trackpad. What’s more, this laptop has a decent battery life that lasts up to 15 hours.

As a medical student, this is an added advantage to you since you have extended hours of lectures throughout the day. Updated configuration and significant size are some of the pluses. 


10. Acer Aspire 1

Acer Aspire 1
Specs:
CPU: 1.1GHz Intel Celeron N4000
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB SSD
Display: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to 6.5 hours
Reasons to choose
  • Pleasant screen resolution and size
  • Excellent design that most students would love
  • Durable and lightweight
  • Decent battery life for this price range
Reasons to avoid
  • Built quality feels cheap
  • Storage space is limited to just 64GB

The very last on this list – Acer laptop with a decent battery life considering the price you will find this machine. It’s one excellent laptop with top-notch performance. Unlike other laptops we have discussed, this one has good audio quality, so it can be exciting when approaching the weekend. 

Whatever task you want to carry out as a medical student, this laptop will serve you very well. If you wish to make sure that you complete your assignments in time or browse the internet and make sure that you got adequate references for your research project, this laptop will come in handy. 

This machine features an excellent screen resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels and a screen size of 14 inches, which is better than most of the 13.3 inches we have discussed on this list.

The storage space is slightly too limited, though – 64GB, even smartphones do better. This means that you will undoubtedly have to spend some money to get an external hard disk to supplement what you already have. 


Best Laptops for Medical School Students Buying Guide

Laptop buyers need to know a few things before buying one. This article has discussed some of the most important specifications to consider when choosing a laptop.

Like laptops for nursing students, these are suitable for tasks like learning, lots of typing, video conferencing, streaming, and even gaming.

Processor & GPU

Laptops rely heavily on their processor. Having an old CPU on your laptop results in laggy performance most of the time. So, the CPU is responsible for providing you with the best possible experience. Intel’s 11th-generation processors are both powerful and efficient when it comes to processors. 

Additionally, AMD offers the Ryzen 5 processor series, which is higher than the Intel 11th Generation processor. There are both excellent series that gives medical students plenty of power.

In addition to the CPU, laptops also have a graphics card that is crucial for performance. It is responsible for handling all graphics-related tasks. It is why you need a powerful GPU as well. 

Dedicated GPUs and integrated GPUs are both good to have. In case you do plan to play games or do graphics-intensive work, the GPU-powered laptop will do everything you need it to do.

RAM & Storage

For a smooth multitasking experience, a laptop should also have sufficient RAM since it temporarily stores data from running applications. Further performance improvements are possible if your laptop has enough RAM. 

On the latest laptops, you should have a minimum of 8GB of DDR4 RAM. However, 16GB DDR4 RAM is our recommendation if you plan on using your laptop for at least two to three years.

In addition to RAM, a laptop requires hard drives to install and update its operating system. You can also store notes and other study materials on them. These drives come in different types, however. SSDs are the fastest drives currently available. 

The impressive speeds they provide will make your laptop work better. Besides speed, storage capacity also matters as deleting previous notes to make room for new ones isn’t a good idea. It is best to have at least 256GB of storage for long-term usage, while SSDs with 512GB is the best.

Display & Battery Life

You might think that a medical student isn’t interested in laptop displays. But this is not the case because we work on the front portion most of the time. Thus, the display needs to be sharp and bright enough to offer a good viewing experience wherever you use it.

Further, you can also decide between a 13-inch and a 14-inch display, depending on your budget. The 14-inch display will offer a slightly larger viewing area. Besides that, you’ll find 15-inch laptops as well, but they’re large. 

Besides, you should look for a laptop with a battery life of at least 8 hours for regular use. Thus, you will be able to take notes and do other stuff on your laptop at college without worrying much about the battery.

How We Picked/Tested?

In our review, we evaluated a variety of laptops for medical students using both real-world and synthetic tests. Speed and battery life are also taken into consideration, in addition to the brightness of the display.

We use a K10 colorimeter test which measures the brightness, color gamut, and pixel density of laptop displays. We also used Geekbench and 3DMark benchmarks which helped evaluate the laptop’s performance. We tested The laptop’s performance in real life by converting a 4K video to 1080p.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the commonly asked questions related to laptops for medical students.

How do medical students use laptops?

Almost all medical students use laptops for various purposes, ranging from reading PDFs and PowerPoints to storing lecture notes to watching videos related to studies.

What type of laptop should medical students use?

A good laptop for medical students should be portable, durable, and have long battery life. Professionals may require additional security measures to keep their data safe while working, such as secure logins.

Is a laptop or iPad necessary for medical students?

It is the medical student’s choice whether to use an iPad or a laptop. Laptops are ideal for taking notes, while laptops are better for versatility. In addition, both devices are nearly identical in functionality.

Conclusion

The market offers a wide range of laptops, and you have to choose one that matches your needs. Because every laptop is built to meet its specifications, it is not as bad as other laptops.

 You should place a high priority on portability and form factors as a medical student. We’ve recommended ten laptops throughout this article, specifically for medical students, from various price segments. 

Hence, you shouldn’t worry about spending a lot of money. We recommend you list your top priorities and compare them to each of these laptops. If you have any questions regarding the best laptop for medical school students, feel free to ask by commenting.

Alex Berg
Alex Berg

Founder, writer, editor-in-chief at LaptopTalks. Starting LaptopTalks is like a dream come true, combining two of his passions – writing and technology. Even in his free time, you can often find him by his gaming laptop playing the latest video games.

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