Laptops have become a necessity. It doesn’t matter if you are a freelancer, office-goer, or student; you need a laptop for work. When it comes down to students, they usually stick to basic laptops that let them write the assignments. However, you need a better laptop if you have taken things up a notch to become a researcher.

That’s because the researchers and PhD students have to use analysis tools, which don’t work on basic laptops. So, if you are a PhD student or a researcher who needs to upgrade your laptop, we are reviewing the five best choices. All these are worth your money and won’t hang while you run the tests!

SGIN 15.6-Inch Laptop 8GB RAM 256GB SSD

SIGN might not be a popular name in the market, but they have exceptional laptops for students and researchers. It can handle everything from emails to productivity tasks and light work without costing a fortune. The laptop has been designed with a 15.6-inch screen, which is enough to open multiple windows at once (we all know how researchers work).

 Design

The laptop has a slim and classy design, and the screen has a 1080p IPS display. However, it could be brighter, so you cannot sit outside and work. The good thing is that it’s 2cm thick and can be put into a satchel or backpack pretty quickly. The keyboard is enormous, and the number pad is on the right side so that you won’t have any issues with data entry.

The keyboard is very comfortable, so you can quickly write long reports. As far as the touchpad is concerned, it’s responsive and snappy, which you don’t get in budget laptops.

Ports & Performance

As far as the ports are concerned, you get an SD card reader, two USB 3.0 ports, a mini-HDMI port, and a headphone jack. In addition, the top bezel houses a webcam, so you can video-call your supervisor while working on the research and report.

If you are concerned about the performance, it has 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD with a quad-core processor, so you can get the work done without efficiency errors. Also, it has a battery life of eight hours, thanks to the 5,000 mAh battery.

Pros

·   Affordable

·   Huge laptop

·   Webcam

·   Reasonable battery life

·   Easy to carry out

·   Responsive touchpad

Cons

·   Brightness could be better

GeoBook 2E Laptop 4GB RAM 64GB eMMC

This is another lesser-known brand with high efficiency and performance rates. This laptop has become a go-to choice for people who want something sleek and portable. This laptop weighs no less than a kg, so you can easily carry it around.

Design

The laptop has a 12.5-inch screen, enough to write and review your reports. The laptop has a black colour, which looks pretty sleek. It has an anti-slip rubberized finish all over the bottom side, so you don’t have to worry about the laptop slipping. What we love about this laptop is that there is a 2MP webcam so you can take meetings on the go.

There are two microphones so that you won’t have a problem listening to them. Also, there are built-in speakers, making it easier to listen to other people. The keyboard size is impressive, but some keys jump, and you can easily lock down.

Ports & Performance

The laptop has been designed with two USB 3.0 ports and one USB-C port, so there are no connectivity issues. In addition, you get a mini-HDMI port and a MicroSD slot, so you can easily extend the storage of your laptop.

Regarding performance, the laptop has 4GB RAM, enough for light work, such as writing and running analytical tests. Also, the storage is 64GB eMMC – low, but there is a memory card slot to increase the storage. When you purchase this laptop, it comes with Windows 10 Pro pre-loaded, which means you can relax about the security and productivity features.

Pros

·   Great grip

·   Good battery life

·   Promising camera and sound

·   Free Microsoft subscription

·   Affordable

Cons

·   The keys jump a bit.

ASUS VivoBook 15 X515JA 8GB RAM 256GB SSD

ASUS has always been the go-to option for a reasonably-priced and efficient laptop, and this one is one of the best. Designed with a 15.6-inch screen, this laptop has been integrated with an i3 processor, which is suitable for researchers and writers. The laptop has a sleek and portable design, and we are sharing its features below.

Design

The laptop has been designed with a plastic body, weighing around 1.8kg. It’s not the thinnest laptop out there, but it’s still OK for carrying out. The base and lid are sturdy; you won’t like carrying something cheap. Overall, the design is elegant and straightforward, and the transparent colour helps hide finger marks and smudges.

The display is 1920 x 1080p NanoEdge technology, but people have complained about viewing angles and brightness issues. However, it will be fine if you are working with bright colours, but dark colours cause the issue. The keyboard has promising travel and tactile feedback to enjoy improved responsiveness and accuracy. Also, there is a numeric keypad available for data entry.

Ports & Performance

The laptop has been integrated with a reasonable number of ports. You will find a microSD card and two USB 2.0 ports on the laptop’s left side. On the other side is a USB 3.1 port, USB-C port, and HDMI port. Also, you get a mic and headphone jack to connect your headsets to the laptop.

Regarding performance, there is a 10th-generation chip, which promises excellent performance and efficiency. The 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD promises a better boost. Lastly, it has a battery life of six hours.

Pros

·   Lightweight design

·   Decent performance

·   Reasonable number of ports

·   Portable

·   Sturdy build

Cons

·   Viewing angles are off

·   Battery life is bad

Jumper Laptop 12GB RAM 256GB SSD

jumper is one of the most popular brands to come out in recent times, especially among people who need something on a budget. The best thing about this laptop is that it works with various productivity and office software. In addition, it can work with entertainment apps so that you can use it for entertainment and office work.

Design

The laptop weighs around 2.7 pounds, which is easy to carry around. In addition, the laptop has a thickness of 0.58 inches, which means it can easily fit into your backpack. In simpler words, you can carry it around without hurting your shoulders. Regarding the design, it has eight hours of battery life.

Ports & Performance

The laptop has a promising range of ports so that you can use the laptop for different purposes. For instance, there is a charging port for charging your laptop. In addition, there is a USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 port. If you need HDMI support, you get an HDMI port and a headphone jack to go for video calls quickly.

This jumper laptop is integrated with HD Graphics 500 and has advanced hardware, improving the response time. In addition, the 256GB SSD can help you with entertainment needs and office work. The storage can also be extended by 256GB. It’s integrated with an Intel Celeron processor, suitable for running multiple apps and websites simultaneously.

Pros

·   Easy to carry around

·   Eight hours of battery life

·   Reasonable number of ports

·   Suitable for running multiple apps and websites

Cons

·   Slow at times

HP Stream Laptop 4GB RAM 64GB SSD

HP has always been a preferred choice for people who need value for money, and this laptop with an 11.6-inch display is a promising choice. The laptop has been upgraded with modern aesthetics as well as contemporary touches. You can easily use this laptop for research and writing work, but you can also use it for emails and streaming.

Design

This laptop is a promising option if you need a reliable display because this 11.6-inch display has a native resolution of 1366 x 768. While the images are great on this display, the text can sometimes be fuzzy. Also, keep in mind that it doesn’t have a touch panel. In simpler words, the display is OK, but it’s OK at the price you are getting it at.

The laptop weighs 2.4 pounds, and you get a polycarbonate display lid, which looks fantastic. The best thing is that you don’t have to worry about smudges and finger marks. The keyboard has a brushed metal finish, which looks chic, and the keys are responsive. Also, the screen has no bouncing, as the hinges are pretty sturdy.

Ports & Performance

The ports include a USB-C port, which is a great addition. In addition, two USB-A ports have rectangular connectors. Irrespective of which ports you choose, they have USB 3 speeds suitable for connecting external devices. In addition, you get an AC adapter connection as well as an audio combo jack.

Regarding performance, the 4GB RAM is the biggest issue because you cannot use heavy apps and software programs.

Pros

·   Attractive aesthetic

·   Sturdy design

·   HDMI output

·   Portable

·   Impressive battery life of 11 hours

·   Availability for SD card slot

Cons

·   Sluggish and slow performance

·   Fuzzy text at times

The Bottom Line

Choosing a laptop for research work is challenging because you must run multiple tests and work on several reports simultaneously. This means laptops must be responsive and efficient; all five from this article will suffice. So, it’s time you wear the cap to measure the pros and cons and make a choice you won’t regret!