Teachers need reliable laptops. If you’re shopping for a new one, you might be feeling a little 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’s a lot to consider, including screen size, port and storage options, and processor choices. You’ll probably want to prioritize battery life, connectivity options, and price, but that 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 preinstalled).
Teacher discounts also can be a factor in your choice. Many brands offer substantial discounts for teachers, and we’ve included those here along with our recommendations. If you’re considering a laptop from another maker or a specific store, be sure to check to see if they offer any educator discounts. Also, take a look at our scoop on 7 Great Laptop Discounts for Teachers.
One last note: A worldwide microchip shortage is still causing problems with availability for all sorts of electronics, including laptops. Some of the choices listed here may currently be out of stock, so you might need to be patient if there’s a particular model you really want.
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
Apple MacBook Pro
Apple is the obvious choice for many teachers since it’s also the choice for many schools. MacBook Pro is the company’s high-end laptop, with a price to match. It has some cool features like the backlit “Magic Keyboard,” which boasts a Touch Bar at the top with shortcuts for tools that change based on what you’re working on. For the price, though, you might expect it to include a touch screen, which it does not.
Battery life is outstanding, up to 20 hours depending on use. Customizable options include screen size (13, 14, or 16 inches) and storage (from 256GB to 2TB SSD). If you’re willing to make the investment, the MacBook Pro will definitely meet your teacher needs. Need a more affordable option? Take a look at the Apple MacBook Air.
Teacher discount: Shop through the Apple Education Store for exclusive discounts, including special 2022 back-to-school deals.
Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1
Lenovo models get a lot of love among WeAreTeacher HELPLINE chatters, and you’ll find two of them on our list of the best laptops for teachers. First up: the Yoga 2-in-1. This is one of the best convertible laptops out there, as teacher Dedra E. can attest: “I recently bought a Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 15-inch and I love, love, love it! It’s light and the battery lasts about 10-12 hours on one charge. And I spent less than $800. Highly recommend.”
Yoga 2-in-1 laptops come in a variety of screen sizes and processor types. The built-in webcam has a privacy shutter, and battery life is great at up to 13 hours. All in all, this is one of our favorite options for a laptop/tablet combo for teachers.
Teacher discount: Sign up with ID.me to confirm your eligibility to save 10% with Lenovo’s Student & Teacher discount.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Microsoft’s Surface line combines the full features of a laptop with the convenience of touch screens. Here’s what teacher Melissa R. has to say: “I have a Surface. I love it. It can function as a tablet but if you add a wireless keyboard, it’s just like a laptop. Very functional. Add a pen and you have writing/drawing capabilities (this has been very useful in Zoom).”
Expect battery life up to 16 to 19 hours with the newest 2-in-1 models. The Surface Laptop 4 is available with a 13.5- or 15-inch screen, both with slim lines and lightweight builds. If you’re looking for something smaller (and even more economical), the Surface Laptop Go is another good choice to consider.
Teacher discount: Microsoft offers discounts and special deals in their Education store.
Samsung Galaxy Book2 360
Convertible models are some of the best laptops for teachers, since you get all the functionality of a laptop combined with the portability of a tablet. The new Galaxy Book2 360 has a beautiful display and a high-quality webcam to make online meetings or teaching sessions easier to see. The touch screen makes it easy to use while you’re teaching, and it promises up to 21 hours of battery life.
Teacher discount: Samsung offers a 10% education discount when you buy directly from their site.
HP Spectre x360
If you like the idea of a laptop that converts to a tablet, this HP model is definitely worth a look. Reviewers love the bright touch screen with its true-to-life colors. Up to 16 hours of battery life should be more than enough to get you through a school day, but if you run low, the fast battery charge gives you as much as 50% battery life in about 45 minutes. The Spectre x360 line comes in several screen sizes and colors.
Teacher discount: Register to get exclusive teacher discounts in the HP Education Store.
Google Pixelbook Go
Most teachers are familiar with Chromebooks by now since many schools use them. This is one of the better models, perfect for folks who want something that’s easy to use without many frills. One of its best features is a 1080p webcam, with quality good enough that you won’t need an external webcam for Zoom classes.
The 13.3-inch touch screen is handy, and the Pixelbook includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which can be a bit rare these days. Expect a battery life of about 12 hours, and remember that you’ll need a Google account to set up and use any Chromebook.
Teacher discount: Check the Google for Education site for promotional discounts and offers.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
The IdeaPad Flex is a bargain-priced touch-screen laptop with plenty 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 like the 14-inch size for teachers, which is also a 2-in-1. Battery life is a little lower than others on our list at about 10 hours, but Rapid Charge gives you up to 2 hours with only 15 minutes of charging. Consider this a good economical choice with lots of functionality.
Teacher discount: Sign up with ID.me to confirm your eligibility to save 10% with Lenovo’s Student & Teacher discount.
LG Gram 17″
Most laptops tend to fall in the 13- to 15-inch screen range, but 17-inch options are available, and we wanted to included a couple of them on our list of the best laptops for teachers. A supersized screen is easier to read from farther away in the classroom, and it’s nice to have during online teaching or meetings.
LG’s 17-inch model is a high-end pick, but the beautiful screen display and lightweight design make it very tempting. This big laptop weighs less than 3 pounds, so it’s perfectly portable. It’s large enough to include a wide variety of ports (including HDMI) and card slots and promises fantastic battery life (up to 19 hours). The bigger key cap and touch pad size makes it easier to use, too. The only real feature missing here is a touch screen.
Teacher discount: LG doesn’t currently offer teacher discounts.
Acer Aspire 5
Looking for a 17-inch laptop at a more affordable price? Turn to this Acer model. The fast processor is almost as good as the LG Gram’s for a substantially lower cost. The built-in webcam is 1080HD, eliminating the need for an external cam in most cases. The battery run time is about 8 hours, which isn’t outstanding but certainly good enough to get you through most days. It’s a solid option when you want a big screen without a big dent in your wallet.
Teacher discount: Acer doesn’t 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’re looking for and a few nice touches, like an HDMI port and a super-lightweight aluminum body. The battery life varied in reviewer tests, averaging out at around 10 hours.
For the price, the high performance of this sleek laptop makes it a perfectly good choice for teachers. Choose between 13.5″/3:2 or 14″/16:9 ratio screen and a couple of processor types.
Teacher discount: Acer doesn’t currently offer teacher discounts.
Plus, check out our list of the Best Teacher Bags that work almost as hard as you do!
