If you’re ready to trade your cap and gown in for business-casual (or sweatpants and slippers, for those of you planning on working at home), one of the biggest questions you might be asking yourself is, “Which laptop should I get?”

As you embark on the first leg of your professional journey, it pays to be properly equipped, so we looked at several of the top graduating areas of study and the technical needs for each in the field.

So, what’s the best laptop for a college graduate? According to both graduation statistics and search volume, the top most sought-after recommendations come from media creators working with video and music, photographers, graphic designers, programmers, engineers, stock traders, and writers—all representing a mix of office and home workers.

While these different professions may have some overlap in often-recommended laptops, each has a distinct set of requirements, with use-specific software, and a unique mix of hardware needs and performance demands.

Below are the best laptops for graduates in 2024 that you can buy in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, followed by in-depth buying advice for readers.

Though the specifics may differ depending on what you need to use your laptop for, the basics are pretty consistent across the board. You want something comfortable to use, durable enough to last, and powerful enough for your most demanding projects. However, the specific needs of your job will bring some features to the forefront. Here’s the condensed version of our laptop-buying advice.

Processor

If a laptop is like a car, the central processing unit (CPU) is the engine that makes it go, handling all of the actual computing tasks. From the operating system to the individual programs you use, the CPU makes it work.

For an in-depth look at CPU selection, our guide "How to Choose the Best Laptop Processor" (linked above) provides plenty of detailed advice, but for our purposes, it’s pretty simple. Generally, you’ll want to stick to Intel, AMD, and Apple options for professional use, since they deliver not only the most variety, they also have the widest compatibility with various programs. The specific processor name will tell you the series (such as Intel Core i5, Core Ultra 5, or AMD Ryzen 7) as well as the generation of the chip, or how recent the design is. A higher series will generally denote better performance, while the latest chips will have the most up-to-date capabilities.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Memory

We don't have much need to go into the specifics of memory functionality and format here. Random Access Memory (RAM) is the short-term working memory for your computer, holding the data for the apps and files that are currently running. It’s fast and immediate, but if you don’t have enough RAM, it can become a bottleneck that slows your laptop’s overall performance as apps wait in line for RAM space to be freed up to run.

While we have plenty of specific advice we could give for choosing the right RAM, the simple guideline is that more is better. We suggest a minimum of 8GB of RAM for pretty much all uses, but more demanding systems should be equipped with 16GB or 32GB—or even more for mobile workstations.

Integrated vs. Discrete Graphics

Most laptops rely on the CPU to handle the graphical demands, using what’s called an integrated graphics processor or IGP. More demanding visuals, such as those delivered by gaming laptops and workstations, will instead use a discrete graphics processor or GPU—a secondary piece of processing hardware that’s devoted entirely to graphics.

Laptop manufacturers don’t give shoppers the same range of choices for mobile GPUs, but if you expect to do photo and video editing, 3D rendering, or anything else that’s similarly demanding, look into laptops that have a discrete GPU, meaning from AMD or Nvidia, instead of integrated graphics.

Mobile workstations, meanwhile, are practically defined by the GPU—in addition to high-powered graphics processing, workstation systems also all but guarantee rock-solid reliability for the most demanding programs. Look for Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certification, and make sure your professional program is properly supported.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Storage

You have two main concerns when it comes to storage: capacity and speed. Capacity has to do with storage space, whether it’s a small 128GB drive or a massive two-terabyte (2TB) drive. Larger drives are more expensive, but they are invaluable if you routinely work with large project files. Writers may not need much storage for documents, but media and complex renderings will take up a lot more space.

Speed is the other concern. The biggest differentiator here is between hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). Traditionally, a platter-based HDD provided more storage space at a better price per dollar, but SSDs deliver much faster performance. SSDs have become the rule rather than the exception, and dropping prices have made them affordable for all users.

Battery Life

When in doubt, you always want a longer-lasting battery. Longer battery life lets you use your laptop longer between charges, and it gives you the option of leaving the power adapter at home, making an ultraportable laptop that much easier to carry. Whenever possible, we recommend checking out the battery test results in our review, and if all else is equal, opting for systems that are capable of longer battery life.

But battery life has an inverse relationship with processing and graphics prowess, which demand more power to handle more complex tasks. Media machines and mobile workstations may not provide as long of battery life as a thin ultraportable, but when you need horsepower, you accept the lower gas mileage.

(Credit: Brian Westover)

Design

The standard laptop design will be fine for most users, in most situations. But you'll come across two major considerations to keep in mind when selecting your next PC. The first is portability, with thin and light ultraportables making it that much easier to tote around your work machine. They’re a bit more expensive, but if you expect to take your laptop on the go, you want one of these featherweight systems.

Touch capability is the other consideration. While you can get touch screens in a standard laptop design, you may want something more hands-on, especially for digital art and graphic design. In these instances, we recommend 2-in-1 laptop designs, which combine the notebook form factor with tablet functionality. Whether the machine flips, folds, or detaches, having a tablet option for drawing and note-taking on the screen can be a game changer.

Different Careers, Different Needs: Here's What to Consider

With such a wide variety of professions and majors available for college students to choose from, it’s worth remembering one core concept: The best laptop for you starts with knowing what you need to do with it. For digital artists, that means running Photoshop or drawing on the screen. But if you’re an engineer or a day trader, you need something seriously different, like high-end 3D rendering graphics or super-fast number crunching.

To find the best laptops for our seven professional categories, we looked at the actual demands for each profession, and what sort of hardware and performance was needed to support it.

The Best Laptops for Film School and Audio Production Grads

“Media” can be a broad category, but video editing and music production are the largest. With the unique demands of scrubbing through hours of footage or finessing layer upon layer to create the perfect track, multimedia production has similar equipment needs.

If you're working in film and audio production, it is important to look for a laptop that can handle speedy edits and deftly manage multiple large files simultaneously. A laptop with a fast CPU, at least 16GB of RAM (more is recommended for working with 4K video), an SSD of at least 512GB or 1TB, a dedicated graphics card, a high-quality display, an excellent audio connection, and multiple ports for connectivity is ideal.

(Credit: Brian Westover)

Display quality is also a top concern, so we recommend looking for laptops with OLED displays or similar image-enhancing technologies, like mini LED or (more broadly) HDR support. Color accuracy is also a must-have for working with video, so look for laptops that include factory calibration or similar professional-grade color.

When choosing a laptop, it is also recommended to consider an external HDD or cloud storage for additional storage space. Even on a laptop with plenty of storage space, you'll want to back up footage and edits to one of the best external drives.

Portable designs and features, like a touch screen and a premium keyboard, are less important features for media production. Also, longer battery life isn't critical if most work is done in a stationary location, like a studio or editing bay. If you're frequently working on location, however, you will want something with all of the power for your editing software, and necessary color accuracy, audio quality, and connectivity, but also portability and battery life, so you can work wherever you need to be.

Check out the best laptops for video editing to see additional recommendations.

The Best Laptops for Graphic Design Grads

Next, we have visual and graphic design. From high-powered machines that can run Photoshop with speed to 2-in-1 laptop models that let an artist draw directly on screen, the visual arts are more dependent upon the right hardware than ever before.

For graphic design graduates, a laptop with a fast CPU, at least 16GB of RAM, an SSD with at least 512GB of storage, a dedicated graphics card, and a high-quality display with high color representation is recommended. Battery life, comfortable input devices, and support for a stylus or external drawing tablet are also important considerations.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

When it comes to processors, look for an Intel Core Ultra, Core i5 or i7, or an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7, CPU. For graphics, a high-performance Nvidia or AMD GPU is recommended. A laptop with an IPS or OLED panel display is also important for better color accuracy and wider viewing angles. Ideally, the display should be able to display 100% of the sRGB or Adobe RGB color spaces.

While many creative pros start and finish their laptop search with Apple, what you won’t get on a Mac is touch and pen capability. For that, we recommend a Windows-based 2-in-1, either a convertible laptop or a detachable tablet. With so many touch-capable Windows laptops available, we suggest looking for a convertible system with a true digitizer for pen support, giving you all the functionality of a dedicated digital drawing pad, but without the extra device.

The Best Laptops for Business Grads

Though it’s not as exciting as shooting movies or crafting a visual masterpiece, most college grads are headed to the office. White-collar jobs and slipper-wearing work-from-home situations have made the day job more diverse than ever, but everyone needs a reliable machine that lets them get their work done.

For business grads looking to buy a laptop, you have several key features to consider. First, a powerful processor is essential for running business applications such as spreadsheet software and data analysis tools, so look for Intel Core i5 or i7 (or Ultra 5 or 7 tier) or AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 CPUs. At least 8GB of RAM is also recommended for running multiple applications simultaneously and handling large datasets, though 16GB of RAM is much better for complex multitasking.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

In terms of storage, an SSD is preferred over an HDD because it provides faster boot and load times for software and files. Aim for at least 256GB of storage. A 14- or- 15-inch display with Full HD (1,920-by-1,080) resolution is ideal for business tasks, delivering balanced portability and screen real estate.

Battery life is also important, so look for a laptop with at least eight hours of battery life to avoid interruptions during meetings or while working remotely. Portability is key if you plan to take the laptop with you to meetings or on business trips, so look at ultraportable laptops with durable construction. Multiple ports for connectivity, including USB, HDMI, and Ethernet, are also important.

Less important features for business graduates include dedicated graphics cards or gaming features, touch screens, and audio performance beyond basic capabilities. Overall, a laptop with a fast CPU, sufficient RAM and storage, a decent display, and a long-lasting battery should be sufficient for most business tasks. While more affordable options may be available, investing in a high-quality business laptop can be a career move that pays off in the long run.

The Best Laptops for Computer Science Grads

With so much of our lives being online and in digital worlds, programming is more vital than ever. From straight coding to full-stack web development, programmers and coders need a machine that can keep up.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Specifically, that means a laptop with both processing muscle for compiling code and enough RAM that you’re never bogged down. We recommend something with at least an Intel Core i5 (or Core 5 Ultra) CPU and 16GB of RAM or more. Dedicated graphics are optional—unless you’re also doing game development, or something else with a visual component that needs graphics horsepower to simulate playback. If you’re adding design to the mix, you’ll want a GPU that can handle it.

Long battery life is helpful if you’re on the go, but more important is screen resolution. A high-quality display with a minimum resolution of 1080p and an IPS panel for better color accuracy and wider viewing angles will make it easier to view and edit code and multimedia content. When you spend hours looking at raw code in an IDE or emulating whatever app or website you’re developing, you want it to be clear and accurate, but you also want to give your eyes a break.

Decent connectivity options, including multiple ports like USB, HDMI, and Thunderbolt, are also important to connect to peripherals. Less important features include portability, touch-screen capability, or audio performance.

You can also find more recommendations in our favorite laptops for programmers.

The Best Laptops for Engineering and Science Grads

Engineers may find work in anything from chip design to refining engine parts or planning city-wide infrastructure, but the core tools all demand one thing above all: power.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Look at both processing and graphics. You need more power than the average laptop can provide. That’s why we’ve chosen from our list of the best mobile workstations to find a laptop that goes above and beyond, providing rock-solid performance and graphics horsepower for tools like AutoCAD and Solidworks.

A high-quality display with a resolution of at least 1080p or higher and an IPS panel is essential for analyzing complex data and models. Battery life of at least eight hours and multiple ports—including USB, HDMI, and Thunderbolt—is important for connecting to the latest peripherals.

Durability is another factor to consider, as you'll want a laptop that can withstand the rigors of travel and daily use, especially if you're working at a remote job site.

The Best Laptops for Finance Grads

Money movers and stock traders also have their own needs, in a business where downtime and sluggish performance can cost big. From accounting to day trading, you may not need massive processing power, but a mix of decent performance, go-anywhere portability, and professional-looking design are all a must.

(Credit: Joe Osborne)

For finance majors, a laptop with a fast CPU, sufficient RAM and storage, a high-quality display, a comfortable keyboard, a long-lasting battery, and decent portability is recommended. Look for an Intel Core Ultra processor or Core i5 or i7 (or an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7) CPU, at least 8GB of RAM, and at least 256GB of SSD storage. A display with a 13-inch 1080p display is minimal here, as is a responsive and well-spaced keyboard.

Less important features for finance majors include graphics performance, a touch screen, audio performance, and gaming features.

When choosing a laptop for financial tasks, it's important to keep in mind the specific needs of your job. For money movers and stock traders, a mix of steady performance, portability, and professional-looking design is a must. Whether you’re living the nomad lifestyle or working shoulder-to-shoulder with an office full of traders, our favorite business laptops provide plenty of ideal options for trading and finance.

The Best Laptops for Communications and Writing Grads

Finally, a topic near to our hearts: the best laptops for writers and editors (and communications/marketing pros). While the work may not be demanding in terms of processing or graphics requirements, some special considerations make some laptops stand out above the rest. Basic office software will get the job done, and internet access will let you research and share your work. But these basics are standard on every laptop.

A high-quality display with decent color representation and at least 13 inches in size is important, as is a comfortable and responsive keyboard with backlit keys for typing in low-light conditions. A fast CPU, at least 8GB of RAM, and an SSD with at least 256GB of storage are also recommended for multitasking and running demanding applications.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Battery life is another important consideration, especially if you plan to take your laptop with you on the go. Look for a laptop with a battery life of at least eight hours, and consider the weight and size of the laptop for portability.

While decent audio capabilities are important for video conferencing and multimedia content, most laptops have sufficient audio performance for basic tasks. Graphics performance and gaming features are also less important for writing and communication tasks.

What isn’t so standard are the niceties, like a backlit keyboard with a comfortable layout and a wide selection of ports. Look for a full-size keyboard that produces a sufficient depth of travel and a comfortable typing feel—we recommend trying one out in person before you commit to buying it. Or you could always invest in one of the best mechanical keyboards—your fingers will thank you.

Thankfully, you can get all of these features at wallet-friendly prices by shopping for the best budget laptops, if you know what you’re looking for (which our guide will certainly help with). In a pinch, you might even be able to get by with a Chromebook in the writing and media fields.