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Best Laptops for Business Students from HP
Linsey Knerl
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February 7, 2023
Business school comes with its share of expenses, such as tuition and books. But one particularly crucial purchase as you begin your degree is your technology. Finding the best laptop for business students often involves research along with understanding how you’ll use a computer both in and outside of the classroom.
Ideally, you’ll also use this laptop when you graduate and enter the workplace. Here’s how to pick the right laptop for the job, as well as 5 top models business students use today.
What makes a good laptop for business students?
Depending on your preferred industry, your laptop may need to handle different tasks. However, as a baseline, make sure your device can help you with the following activities:
- Spreadsheets, software for creating tables, and scripts for making calculations less cumbersome
- Microsoft PowerPoint and multimedia presentations with rich graphics and screen capture technology
- Streaming services that let you watch your classroom lectures virtually without stuttering or lag
- Video and editing software for creating commercials, social media posts, and creative sales assets
- Accounting tools for crunching numbers and producing reports
- Video conferencing solutions for meeting the challenges of today’s global economy
These are just some examples of what you may encounter as part of school projects or internships at a company.
At a minimum, your business school laptop should let you easily log into your classroom management system to view your assignments and interact with instructors. And with a more powerful laptop – like those on our list – you’ll be well equipped to tackle just about any task on a jobsite or when working in an experiential learning setting.
What features do business students need?
When choosing a laptop as a business student, make sure yours includes these features:
- Lightweight and portable, so you can take it anywhere and work in even the tightest spaces
- Sturdy enough to handle being moved from place to place, opened over and over, with repeated use of the keyboard, touch screen, and ports
- Comes with all the Microsoft business or office tools you need, including the Windows Pro operating system
- Includes adequate memory for working quickly under tight deadlines and enough storage to keep important files at your fingertips
- Enough processing power to make running multiple programs at once a breeze, while allowing for streaming, video conferencing, and document editing
- Plenty of ports for accessories and additional monitors
- Touch screen is optional, but it may help you do more with modern apps, including notes, sketches, and design tasks
- Convertible or multi-function is optional, too, but it’s helpful when you need to use your laptop like a tablet or give an on-the-fly presentation in tent mode
If your laptop boasts these must-have features, you can then choose your preferred screen size, body color (where available), and security extras. Some of the best business school laptops even include increased privacy protection to keep your work, and the work of your future clients, safe.
The 5 best laptops for business majors
There are many HP laptops on the market that you could use at business school. We picked these 5 models for their versatility in a variety of work and school environments, reliability in terms of battery life and build, and integration of the latest tech. Many can be customized to your specific needs, as well.
HP Spectre x360 13 laptop
If you need a totally portable powerhouse, the HP Spectre x360 13 is for you. With a near-borderless display and long-lasting battery life of up to 22 hours, you can work straight through class and into the evening with this laptop.
The aluminum body design features a sturdy hinge that gives you the best viewing at any angle and will hold up to the rigors of college life. It also boasts a tiny, 2.2 mm webcam for professional video captures that’s ultra-secure thanks to the handy kill switch. You’ll love the convenient mic-mute button, too. It turns off your audio to avoid fumbling around in software settings when you need to turn off the sound fast.
Key features:
- Up to 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor with Iris® Xe graphics
- 90% screen-to-body ratio that makes the most of its space
- 4K5 OLED display with True Black HDR measuring 13-inches diagonally
- Up to 16GB of lLPDDR4X memory and 2TB PCIe SSD storage
- Use either gigabit-class 4G LTE or WiFi connections – or both for maximum productivity
HP Elite Dragonfly notebook
Another top pick for business professionals, the HP Elite Dragonfly notebook offers optimal mobility in a rugged design. This notebook comes with a long battery life and a charging feature that gets you to 50% of battery charge in just 30 minutes. It also features the HP WorkWell utility that coaches users on better ways to live and work for optimal health and performance. Another nice perk is that Windows 10 Pro is standard on this device.
Key features:
- HP Noise Reduction cancellation software keeps unwanted video conference noise to a minimum
- Bang & Olufsen speakers bring out the best in your audio
- Beautiful dragonfly blue case design
- 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor with the option to upgrade to Intel Core i7
- Connect anywhere with optional 4G LTE and 5G wireless connectivity
- WiFi 6 for gigabit speeds
- Optional HP Rechargeable Active Pen G31 that notifies you if you leave it behind
HP Pavilion x360 convertible laptop
The HP Pavilion x360’s convertible design makes it easy to use in almost any environment. Switch from laptop mode to tablet mode or “tent” mode for presentations and streaming video. It offers Windows 10 Home 64 with the option to upgrade to Windows Pro-level OS features.
Thanks to its ENERGY STAR® certification, you’ll use less energy as you work. Plus, this laptop is made with sustainable, post-consumer recycled, ocean-bound plastics. If you love the environment as much as you love crushing your homework, this is the laptop for you.
Key features:
- 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor with Iris Xe Graphics
- Up to 16GB of RAM
- Up to 1TB SSD storage
- Up to 32GB of Intel Optane™ memory
- Choose from 15.6-inch diagonal High Definition (HD) or Full High Definition (FHD) screen
HP ENVY 17 laptop
When you’re searching for a good laptop for business majors, consider the HP ENVY 17 laptop, a standout pick for those in creative industries including marketing and design. This laptop is fast, using the latest multi-core Intel Core processors and NVIDIA® GeForce® MX350 graphics.
Add on the optional 5K display port for brilliant external monitor integration or Thunderbolt 3 port to transfer data in seconds. This is an impressive laptop that can provide years of support for photo editing, video rendering, and creative pursuits both in and out of the classroom.
Key features:
- Superior connectivity with the latest WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.02
- Battery life of up to 13 hours
- Camera privacy shutter and mute mic buttons
- Uniquely located fingerprint reader that stays out of the way of your typing
- Up to 1TB PCIe Solid State Drive storage and up to 16GB DDR4 memory
HP ZBook Firefly 15.6-inch G8 mobile workstation
For those looking for a thin and light laptop with incredible computing power, the HP ZBook Firefly 15 more than delivers. It’s designed to perform processor-intensive tasks, like data mining from Excel spreadsheets and creating multi-deck presentations.
Plus, the HP Firefly 15 is equipped with all the software modern business professionals need. Choose from Adobe Suite options, Windows Microsoft Office tools, and AutoDesk, all of which help make this one of the truly good laptops for business students.
Key features:
- Starts at 3.74 lbs
- 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor
- Faster WiFi and gigabit-class 4G LTE where available
- 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Enhanced security features include Sure View privacy screen, sliding webcam lock, and self-healing BIOS
- Upgraded keyboard with power button and quieter click pad
Bottom line
Your decision to go to business school, whether as a new student or a returning professional, doesn’t need any extra stress. Plan with the right tech to take some uncertainty out of the equation and help focus on your work. Also, while you may need to budget now, it’s important not to cut corners as you invest in your future.
These best computers for business majors combine value with performance. Whether you’re seeking your bachelor’s degree full-time or a part-time MBA, HP offers the best laptop for business school today to help you become the leader of tomorrow.
