Getting ready for the start of a new school year at school or university?

Choosing the right computer will help you study successfully and even save money.
In this article, we will analyze the most important criteria to consider when choosing a computer for studies - from elementary students to university students.

Budget by education level

The first and most important question is how much money to allocate for a computer. There's definitely no need to buy a powerful and heavy gaming computer for elementary students, while for frequently traveling students, computer longevity and material quality are also relevant.

Elementary and middle school students (up to €500)

Young students need basic specifications for online lessons, homework writing, and educational programs. It's important that the computer is reliable and easy to operate.

High school students (€500-1000)

Older students already use more complex programs, create presentations, and learn programming. They need a stable computer with better specifications.

Graduates and university students (€1000+)

Intended for serious studying, thesis writing, and specific study programs. This is also a great investment for the future.

Technical specifications - the most important parameters for a new computer

Processor (CPU)
The computer's "heart," which determines the overall system speed. Recommended for studies:

  • AMD Ryzen 3/5 series - excellent performance for an affordable price
  • Intel Core i3/i5 - stable operation and wide support

Random Access Memory (RAM)

  • 8GB - absolute minimum for modern needs
  • 16GB - optimal amount ensuring smooth work with multiple programs
  • 32GB - needed for specific resource-intensive programs and some modern games

SSD Drive

  • 250GB - minimum recommended size
  • 500GB - optimal size - fits both homework and games
  • 1TB (~1000GB) - comfortable amount for long-term use

Screen and ergonomics

  • 15.6" - optimal size for comfortable use - computers of this size are not too heavy and also have a numeric keypad
  • Full HD (1920x1080) - standard eye-friendly resolution for comfortable work and movie watching
  • IPS matrix - better color reproduction and viewing angles

Learning needs by age and level

Elementary school students (grades 1-4)

Main activities: Educational games, drawing programs, first steps with computers
Requirements: Simple operation, lightweight device
Recommended specifications: 2 or better yet 4-core processor, at least 8GB RAM, integrated graphics card

Middle school students (grades 5-8)

Main activities: Homework, presentations, first programming attempts. Maybe simple games too
Requirements: MS Office support, long battery life, comfortable keyboard
Recommended specifications: 4-core processor, 8GB or better yet 16GB RAM, integrated graphics card

High school students (grades 9-12) and university students

Main activities: More complex presentations, scientific projects, programming classes. Online games as well
Requirements: Multitasking capability, performance, reliability
Recommended specifications: 4 or better yet 6-core processor, at least 16GB RAM, dedicated graphics card (separate from processor)

What do university students need?

Humanities fields: Text editing, research, presentation creation. A mid-range device will work perfectly.
IT and programming: Working with multiple programs simultaneously, often using virtualization. Will need a device with adequate parameters with a good processor, sufficient RAM, supporting multiple monitors.
Design, engineering, architecture: Fast performance and quality color-reproducing screen are important. Choose a device with the most powerful processor possible and an IPS matrix.

Best computer recommendations for studies

For beginner students - Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (~€395)

Specifications:

  • AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor - 4 cores, 8 threads, 4.1GHz
  • 8GB LPDDR5-5500 RAM
  • 512GB NVMe SSD drive
  • Integrated AMD Radeon 610M graphics card
  • 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) IPS matte screen

Suitable for: Elementary and middle school students, homework, online lessons, first presentations, simple games. Perfect for all classes.
Pros: Inexpensive, modern and quite fast components, lightweight (device weighs 1.6kg + charger), quite large battery (about 3-4 hours of real use), SSD drive can be upgraded.
Cons: Limited capabilities for more complex programs and games, plastic body.

Universal solution for students and university students - Lenovo ThinkPad L16 G1 (~€950)

Specifications:

  • AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 7535U processor - 6 cores, 12 threads, 4.55GHz
  • 16GB DDR5-4800 RAM
  • 512GB NVMe SSD drive
  • Integrated AMD Radeon 660M graphics card
  • 16" WUXGA (1920x1200) IPS matte screen

Suitable for: High school students and university students, programming, thesis writing, simple games.
Pros: Powerful processor, battery lasting up to 8 hours in real use, business class - higher quality materials and even integrated modem (can insert SIM card and use mobile internet where there's no WiFi), good prospects for RAM and SSD upgrades in the future.
Cons: Higher price, more suited for work than gaming.

Solution for both studies and gaming - ASUS TUF Gaming A17 (~€1235)

Specifications:

  • AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor - 6 cores, 12 threads, 4.55GHz
  • 16GB DDR5-4800 RAM
  • 1TB NVMe SSD
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB - dedicated graphics card
  • 17" FHD (1920x1080) IPS matte screen with 144Hz refresh rate

Suitable for: High school students and university students, programming, thesis writing, modern games.
Pros: Powerful graphics adapter, large screen, large drive, perfectly suitable for both study and entertainment. USB-C charging (like new mobile phones).
Cons: Highest price, heavier to carry to school. Due to dedicated graphics card, shorter battery life should be expected.

Additional tips and what you might need

Warranty and service

Choose a customer-friendly store. During studies, a computer is a critically important tool, so if the computer breaks down, you'll need the fastest possible solution.

Accessories you might need

The best prices are often in August-September, before the new school year, and during Black Friday sales, so now is a good time to get a new work assistant. Purchase a computer from SHOPRO.LT - we have all these models and more than 1800 choices in our laptop computers category, and when you purchase a computer, DPD courier will deliver it to you completely free of charge! All computers mentioned in the article have a legal Windows 11 operating system installed and are fully ready for use.