As an online teacher, you need to be more effective especially that there are no physical interactions while teaching online and a great laptop would definitely help you with that. We’ve gathered some of the best laptops for online teaching so you will have an idea as to what you need to know before buying.
Whether you are new to online teaching or been teaching for some time but you don’t really know as to what is the best laptop for you then fret no more, we are here to help you decide and pick the best option. Here we go!
Recommendations for November 2023
- Apple MacBook Air – Best Mac For Online Teaching
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Best 2-in-2 Pick
- Samsung Notebook 9 – High-End Option
- Acer Aspire 5 – Budget Option For Online Teaching
- Dell XPS 13 – Best 13” Pick
- HP 15″ – Enormous Storage
- Lenovo IdeaPad – Online Teaching Laptop Under $500
- Asus ZenBook 13 – Ultra Slim Durable Option
Best Laptops For Online Teaching In 2023
Apple MacBook Air – Best Mac For Online Teaching
MacBooks are one of the most reliable laptops there is in terms of performance and compactness, the MacBook Air 2020 has become more affordable compared to Pro models.
In terms of system reliability and the simplicity of the system, MacBooks are quite superior to other laptop brands.
The MacBook Air 2020 is powered by the latest 10th gen Core i3 processor backed by 8GB of RAM, you can surely do more with this laptop aside from online teaching.
The 11-hour battery life is perfect for those who don’t like to stay near an outlet or want to teach in the garden. Though 256 GB is not that big of a storage space, you can definitely save tons of data in it.
The Retina display will surely give you a high quality display so you can see the learning materials with ease.
Recommended Configuration For Apple MacBook Air
CPU: Intel Core i3-10th Gen | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 13.3-inch Retina with True Tone Technology display | Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: Mac OS | Battery Life: up to 11 hours | Weight: 5.36 lbs
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Best 2-in-1 Option
2-in-1 laptops are best for its portability and flexible way of use, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the best mid-range laptop you can easily rely on for online teaching.
The stylus pen is this laptop is very convenient for teachers in terms of interacting with learning materials, you can use it as a tool to draw lines, circles etc for a more interactive online teaching.
Powered by the latest 10th generation Core i3 processor together with 4GB of RAm, you can definitely teach without delays or lags.
What’s also good about this laptop is that it has an 8MP camera that you can use for video calling with students in high-quality.
In terms of portability, this laptop is superb as it only weighs 1.7 lbs and has a battery life of 10.5 hours in a single charge.
Recommended Configuration For Microsoft Surface Pro 7
CPU: Intel Core i3-10th Gen | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 12.3-inch 2736×1824 10-Point Touch display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 10.5 hours | Weight: 1.7 lbs
Samsung Notebook 9 – High-End Option
Samsung Notebook 9 is good for teachers that especially teaches art-related studies, the S Pen unleashes creativity that you can use as you teach them.
Inside a sleek looking laptop is a powerful 8th generation Core i7 processor that is backed by massive 16GB RAM, ensuring you can do any heavy tasks while multitasking.
The convertible design is convenient for teachers who like to use their laptop as tablet for a more customized teaching method.
It also has a fast charging battery that could last for 15 hours in a single charge, so you can teach without any worries.
If you need a large storage space then this laptop is just perfect for you, it has 512GB SSD storage for fast boot and for your storage needs.
Though it comes with a price, the performance and creativity boost that you’ll get aside from a premium laptop is definitely worth it.
Recommended Configuration For Samsung Notebook 9
CPU: Intel Core i7-8th Gen | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 15-inch1920x1080 Ultra HD Touch display | Storage: 512GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 15 hours | Weight: 2.64 lbs
Acer Aspire 5 – Budget Option For Online Teaching
The Acer Aspire 4 is a budget-friendly laptop that can suffice online teaching without a problem, so if you are on a tight budget then this is your best choice.
Inside a thin body it is fitted with an AMD Ryzen 3 processor and 4GB of RAM, just more than enough to take on any online teaching work.
Even though this laptop is just under $350, it is equipped with an IPS display and backlit keyboard so you can work with ease.
The 128GB SSD is not much but you can always back it up by cloud-based storage so you can maximize the internal storage of the laptop.
The battery life does not disappoint too, with 7.5 hours battery life in a single charge. You can definitely rely on it without a doubt.
Recommended Configuration For Acer Aspire 5
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3-3200U | Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 3 | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-inch1920x1080 Full HD IPS display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 7.5 hours | Weight: 3.97 lbs
Dell XPS 13 – Best 13” Pick
The Dell XPS 13 is an environment friendly laptop that is 25% made from recycled ocean plastics and has been recognized by CES with the 2018 best of innovation award.
The aluminum body is cut from a single block so it is more durable, while the Corning Gorilla Glass 4 that protects the display is tough, damage resistant, durable and elegant that can withstand damage from drops.
Powered by Intel 7th generation Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, the Dell XPS is the most powerful 12-inch laptop in its category.
The 720p webcam resolution is perfect for online teachers who often video call with students and use the webcam as an instrument in learning.
All in all the aesthetics and durability of this laptop is definitely worthy of a spot in this list, so if you happen to be on the hunt for a small powerful laptop then you got it right here.
Recommended Configuration For Dell XPS 13
CPU: Intel Core i5-8th Gen | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 13.3-inch1920x1080 Full HD InfinityEdge Touch display | Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 12 hours | Weight: 2.71 lbs
HP 15” – Enormous Storage
The HP 15” has enormous 2TB HDD storage that can accommodate very large files and everything you need to save to your laptop.
This 15.5-inches laptop is powered by a 7th generation Core i5 processor and 8GB RAM to facilitate your online teaching with no compromises.
The HD webcam is a must for online teachers and this laptop has a 720p front facing camera, together with all necessary ports for I/O devices.
The touchscreen display is a plus for convenience as you can simply use your finger to navigate around, especially if you don’t like using a mouse.
The only con of this device is that the 2T storage is HDD not SSD which is faster in terms of transfer rate and booting.
Recommended Configuration For HP 15”
CPU: Intel Core i5-7th Gen | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-inch1920x1080 Full HD Touch display | Storage: 2TB HDD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 6 hours | Weight: 4.52 lbs
Lenovo IdeaPad – Online Teaching Laptop Under $500
This affordable mid-range laptop has excellent hardware that you can rely on if you need to get work done.
Though DVD drives were a thing in the past, this laptop has it and you may never know if you’ll need it someday.
Fitted with AMD A9-9425 processor and 4GB of RAM, online teaching and other computing work is just a piece of cake.
The webcam is pretty decent too with 720p resolution and the 6 hours battery life if enough long online teaching without charging.
The only thing that we notice about this laptop is that it has an awkwardly bulky body but not much and not so lightweight but it is affordable and gets the job done.
So if you don’t mind the DVD drive and business looking aesthetics then this laptop can be your online teaching partner.
Recommended Configuration For Lenovo IdeaPad
CPU: AMD Dual-Core A9-9425 | Graphics: AMD Radeon R5 | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-inch 1366×768 Full HD display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 6 hours | Weight: 4.6 lbs
Asus ZenBook 13 – Ultra Slim Durable Option
This premium laptop is thin and only weighs less than 3lbs, making this laptop a perfect companion for online teachers who’s always on the go.
Inside a very thin body is a powerful 8th generation Core i7 processor and 8GB RAM that could cater any heavy computing task and multitasking without a problem.
This laptop is military graded, that means it passed the MIL-STD-810G military standard for reliability and durability so in terms of durability this laptop is ready for accidental drops.
The 13-inch display has some very thin bezels that give you a 95% screen to body ratio, while the keyboard has an Ergolift design that automatically tilts the keyboard to the most comfortable typing position.
The battery life is pretty good that lasts for up to 11 hours and the webcam is high-quality too, making this laptop a formidable choice for people who like their laptop powerful and durably beautiful.
Recommended Configuration For Asus ZenBook 13
CPU: Intel Core i7-8th Gen | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 13.3-inch 1920×1080 FHD WideView display | Storage: 512GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 11 hours | Weight: 2.6 lbs
Picking The Best Laptop For Online Teaching In 2023
Screen Size & Resolution
The size of the screen is crucial when teaching online as it is your window to see everything, though you really don’t need the largest screen nor the smallest one. It all really depends on your preference and what you teach or your teaching techniques that require the usage of screen.
The ideal screen size for teaching online is between 13 to 15 inches as it is thinner and lighter so you can carry it around while working or if you move a lot then it is more convenient. The 13-inches is preferable for those who strictly do online teaching. While 15-inches is the sweet spot, not too big and not too small.
But if you typically stay in one place while teaching, then a 17-inch laptop is feasible while they are rather heavy and sometimes pricey as most of them are fitted with powerful hardware. They are a good desktop replacement and overall workstation, perfect for those who teach online and do some other stuff.
No matter what screen size you choose, the quality of display is equally important. You don’t want to have a large display yet have a mediocre quality resolution and could affect your online teaching effectiveness. Choose a minimum of 1080p display if it permits your budget and 768p is acceptable as long as you get the smaller screen size.
Overall Performance
To successfully teach online you need a reliable laptop that won’t freeze, especially while in the middle of online class, it would affect your effectiveness and teaching impact. We’ve only gathered the best laptops that we know won’t compromise in power, so let’s take a look at what is necessary specs for an online teaching laptop.
In terms of power, you really don’t need a super powerful laptop to teach online. A low processor laptop with at least 4GB of RAM can suffice online class if you only use one software while teaching online class and teaches one per session. But if you teach multiple students persession you need something powerful like Core i3 and up, as the processor takes the toll in rendering each video output if you don’t have a dedicated GPU.
So for an entry level online teaching laptop, any lower processor with 4GB of RAM can suffice and any mid-range laptop is very suitable for online teaching like Core i3 with 4GB to 8GB RAM, while Core i5 and up with dedicated GPU is great if you want your laptop to be future proof.
Connectivity
In buying a laptop for online teaching, your connectivity is important. You may need external peripherals when teaching to make sure your next or new laptop has every port you need like USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet port, and a reliable any port you might need.
Also, since most of the time you’ll use Wi-Fi rather than ethernet. Buying a newer model means having a more updated Wi-Fi card and that means a more stable connection rather than those old models fitted with old Wi-Fi cards that tend to have some driver problems in the future.
Conclusion
Buying a laptop for online teaching has never been an easy task but with the help of this guide we provided you with some insights as to what you should look for when buying a laptop for online teaching.
Now, it is up to your judgement as to what you really needed and what is economically feasible to your budget.
Laptops come in all shapes and sizes and they vary in power, so consider this guide into account when buying the best laptop for online teaching and leave a comment if we helped you or you have any questions.