The Best Laptop for Nursing Students
When you enroll in nursing school, your program will likely recommend getting a solid laptop to keep up with coursework. Most institutions won’t even allow laptops that are more than three years old, so if yours is aging out, it’s time to start shopping.
Picking the right one doesn’t have to be stressful. We’ve put together a list of laptops that can handle everything nursing school throws at you, from research papers to medical software, without slowing you down.
As a nursing student, you want a machine that’s fast enough to run your apps, light enough to carry between classes and clinical rotations, and built to last through a long day on battery. You don’t need a top-of-the-line Core i9 or Ryzen 9 powerhouse. A well-rounded laptop that launches Google Chrome, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint quickly is really all it takes.
The Best Laptops for Nursing Students Include:
| Laptops for Nursing Students | Processor | GPU | RAM | Display | Storage | Battery Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 | 10th Gen Intel Core i5 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics | 8GB | 12.3" QuadHD Touch-Screen | 128GB SSD | At least 8 hours |
| Asus ZenBook 14 | 10th Gen Intel Core i7 | NVIDIA GeForce MX150 | 8GB | 14" 400 nits FHD Display | 512GB SSD | At least 10 hours |
| Lenovo Yoga 730 | 10th Gen Intel Core i5 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 | 12GB | 15.6" FHD Multi-touch screen | 256GB SSD | At least 11 hours |
| HP Envy 15 | 10th Gen Intel Core i7 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | 16GB | 15.6" FHD Touch Screen | 512 GB SSD | At least 7 hours |
| Dell XPS 13 | 10th Gen Intel Core i7 | Integrated Intel UHD | 16GB | 15.6" 4K UHD IPS Touch Screen | 1 TB SSD | At least 12 hours |
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
The Surface Pro 7 is a great match for nursing students. It’s a versatile 2-in-1 that makes it easy to draw diagrams, jot down notes, and switch between tablet and laptop mode on the fly.
Nursing programs often require access to online healthcare platforms and collaboration tools. The Surface Pro 7 fits right in here, giving you full access to Microsoft Teams, Office 365, and OneDrive. You can edit documents, share files with classmates, and store everything safely in the cloud.
Our laptops for engineering students walkthrough covers this from a different angle.
Key Features include:
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i5
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Display: 12.3″ QuadHD Touch-Screen
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Battery Life: At least 8 hours
2. Asus ZenBook 14
Nursing students spend a lot of time on e-learning portals downloading notes in different formats. With an average laptop, logging in and loading pages can drag. The ZenBook 14 boots up in seconds and keeps things moving so you’re not wasting time waiting.
Need to hop on a video call to discuss a case study assignment? The built-in webcam has you covered. The ZenBook 14 also packs a solid IR camera that holds up well during long video sessions with instructors and study groups.
Key Features include:
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX150
- RAM: 8GB
- Display: 14″ 400 nits FHD Display
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Battery Life: At least 10 hours
3. Lenovo Yoga 730
Most Lenovo laptops are known for their sturdy build and unique style. The Yoga 730 takes it further with a 360-degree hinge that lets you fold the display flat against the keyboard, turning it into a tablet whenever you need one.
If you’re joining live lectures or video chats with your professors, the Yoga 730 is a smart pick. It comes with a built-in HD webcam and microphone that handle video calls and live class sessions without any extra accessories.
Looking for more? We have a dedicated guide on docking station for HP laptops.
Key Features include:
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i5
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
- RAM: 12GB
- Display: 15.6″ FHD Multi-touch screen
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Battery Life: At least 11 hours
4. HP Envy 15
Every nursing student’s toolkit should include a powerful laptop with a responsive touch display. The Envy 15 checks that box and then some.
Medical software like PEPID nursing suite, medical dictionaries, and Skyscape can involve large data sets. The processor in this machine handles all of them smoothly, so you won’t hit any slowdowns when switching between apps.
Key Features include:
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- RAM: 16GB
- Display: 15.6″ FHD Touch Screen
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Battery Life: At least 7 hours
5. Dell XPS 13
The XPS 13 might be the most productive laptop on this list. It’s got plenty of storage for all your assignments and notes, a generous amount of RAM, and one of the brightest screens in its class.
The processor is power-efficient, with a turbo boost that pushes speeds up to 4.7 GHz. Medical software like PEPID, Skyscape, and medical dictionaries will all run at the same time without any hiccups.
Key Features include:
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD
- RAM: 16GB
- Display: 15.6″ 4K UHD IPS Touch Screen
- 6″ FHD Touch screen
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Best Laptop for Nursing Students – Final Thought
Picking the best laptop for nursing school can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Focus on decent processing power and solid battery life, and you’ll be in good shape. Every laptop on this list meets those needs and offers plenty more on top.
