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Un niño de 11 años se gradúa del College of Southern California y bate un récord

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Athena Elling, de 11 años, se graduará de Irvine Valley College esta semana y se convertirá en la persona más joven en hacerlo, rompiendo el récord de su hermano.

Athena, cuya familia es de San Juan Capistrano, se graduará con un título asociado en artes liberales el jueves.

Cuando lo haga, será unos seis meses más joven que su hermano, Taiko Eling, cuando estableció el récord escolar el año pasado.

  • Athena Elling aparece en una fotografía proporcionada por Irvine Valley College.
  • Athena Elling aparece en una fotografía proporcionada por Irvine Valley College.
  • Athena Elling aparece en una fotografía proporcionada por Irvine Valley College.

Athena dijo que empezó a tomar clases en la universidad gracias a su hermano.

“Así que seguí a mi hermano, con quien era muy competitivo, hasta el final hasta el cálculo porque a él realmente le encantaban las matemáticas”, dijo.

Las matemáticas no eran la materia favorita de Athena, pero encontró muchos otros cursos que captaron su interés.

“Recién comencé a tomar clases… hay mucha variedad y como realmente me encanta actuar, puedo tomar todas las clases realmente divertidas que me ayudan con eso”, dijo.

El padre de Athena era ingeniero de software y su madre era profesora de química en una escuela secundaria y se convirtió en autora infantil.

“Estoy orgullosa y un poco asombrada de mis hijos. Se han desarrollado muy bien”, dijo Christina Chow. “Me gustaría poder decir cuál es la salsa secreta y siento que no lo sé… Me siento muy afortunada de tener estos niños”.

Tycho ahora es estudiante de tercer año en UC Irvine, pero Athena planea quedarse en Irvine Valley College y completar un segundo título asociado.

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EA Sports College Football 25 tiene fecha de lanzamiento en julio

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Han pasado 11 años, pero finalmente llegará pronto un videojuego de fútbol americano universitario.

Fútbol americano universitario de EA Sports 25la entrada tan esperada de la renombrada serie de videojuegos NCAA College Football, se lanzará en todo el mundo el 19 de julio de 2024. Será el primer videojuego de fútbol universitario desde su lanzamiento en 2013. Liga Nacional de Fútbol 14.

Este juego es desarrollado por EA Orlando y en los últimos meses el equipo ha confirmado que este juego No solo volver a pelar De su homólogo de la NFL, Enloquecer. Gracias a los nuevos acuerdos de Nombre, Imagen y Semejanza (NIL) de EA, que compensan a los jugadores por su representación en el juego, el juego se destacará. Más de 10.000 atletas universitarios reales Por primera vez en la historia de la serie. además de, Fútbol universitario 25 Incluirá Los 134 equipos de FBS.

Historias principales mezclables

Fútbol universitario 25 Se anunció por primera vez en febrero de 2021 como un juego que sucedería en algún momento, sin una fecha específica. Las noticias sobre el desarrollo del juego fueron escasas hasta su adelanto en febrero de este año, y se prometió una revelación completa en los meses siguientes.

Ambas versiones de los skins del juego ya se han filtrado online, junto con la Edición Deluxe. Fue visto a principios de este mes. En la tienda Sony PlayStation. La versión discográfica se ha visto en varios círculos de redes sociales en X (antes Twitter) y Reddit. Curiosamente, ambas portadas presentan Presente jugadores de fútbol americano universitario, mientras que en años anteriores la serie de la NCAA solo utilizaba lo que parecían jugadores recién graduados. A pesar de esto, tiene sentido que EA pague una gran cantidad de cambio por los derechos NIL a los atletas universitarios de todo el país.

La portada estándar presenta al mariscal de campo de la Universidad de Texas Quinn Ewers, al atleta de la Universidad de Colorado Travis Hunter y al corredor de la Universidad de Michigan Donovan Edwards. Ha habido recepción en línea para las portadas filtradas. mezclado En el mejor de los casos, algunos están decepcionados de que el diseño no sea tan bueno como lo imaginaron en los años transcurridos desde que se anunció el juego.

Aún no está claro cómo se jugará el juego real, sin embargo, EA está planeando una revelación completa. Fútbol universitario 25 El viernes 17 de mayo.



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La graduación de Pomona College es interrumpida por manifestantes pro palestinos cerca de la USC

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Manifestantes pro palestinos se están manifestando cerca del Shrine Auditorium, lo que provocó el cierre del campus de University Park y de la USC Village.

La graduación de Pomona College estaba programada para tener lugar en el auditorio el domingo por la noche después de que la escuela pagara 100.000 dólares para trasladar la ceremonia desde su campus de Claremont al lugar cerca de la USC.

Los manifestantes del grupo pro palestino exigen que Pomona College se deshaga de empresas y fabricantes de armas vinculados a Israel.

El Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles publicó en X, anteriormente conocido como Twitter, diciendo que hubo un altercado entre un manifestante y un oficial.

“Un grupo de manifestantes cargó contra los agentes de policía que respondieron y un manifestante intentó golpear a un agente. La respuesta policial resultante ha restablecido la calma y un pequeño grupo de manifestantes permanece en la zona.

Los oficiales permanecerán en el área hasta que todos los participantes se hayan ido de manera segura. El manifestante que intentó golpear a un oficial fue arrestado por agresión a un oficial de policía. Una vez que este sospechoso haya sido procesado, habrá información adicional disponible”.

Ha habido múltiples protestas en la USC en las últimas semanas, cuando grupos pro palestinos y pro israelíes convergieron en el campus.

La semana pasada, agentes de LAPD con equipo antidisturbios despejaron otro campamento formado por manifestantes pro palestinos en el campus, mientras 100 manifestantes habían levantado tiendas de campaña y erigido pancartas en Alumni Park, ubicado en el centro de la universidad privada.

La USC no es la única universidad local donde manifestantes y contramanifestantes se han enfrentado en las últimas semanas.

En la Universidad de California, Los Ángeles, las autoridades estuvieron notablemente ausentes cuando estalló la violencia en el campus entre Manifestantes pro-israelíes y pro-palestinos.

Docenas de contramanifestantes, muchos de ellos con máscaras blancas y banderas sobre los hombros, llegaron alrededor de las 22:45 horas del 30 de abril e intentaron desmantelar el campamento pro palestino.

Las protestas por la guerra en Gaza han abrumado algunos campus universitarios en todo el país. Los legisladores en el Capitolio están divididos sobre cómo manejar los disturbios.

La guerra en Gaza continúa desde el 7 de octubre del año pasado, tras el ataque liderado por Hamás contra Israel. Murieron unas 1.200 personas, en su mayoría civiles, y también se tomaron varios rehenes israelíes.

La respuesta de Israel ha continuado desde el ataque, y se estima que 35.000 palestinos murieron, según el Ministerio de Salud de Gaza dirigido por Hamás.

La guerra continuó mientras las fuerzas israelíes avanzaban hacia Rafah el domingo.



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The best college graduation gifts

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Graduating college is a huge achievement. If you’d like to show your appreciation for a tech-savvy grad, or if you just want to help them acclimate to their new life, there are tons of gadgets and services you can gift to make it easier for them. We at Engadget spend our days testing these kinds of products and figuring out which ones are actually good — if you need some help jogging your brain, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite college graduation gift ideas below.

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

There’s a good chance that your graduate will be working from a few different locations when they start their first job. Maybe they’ll spend half of their time in an office and the other half in their new apartment, but you can help them stay focused anywhere by gifting them the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. These are our current favorite high-end cans thanks to their excellent sound quality and equally stellar active noise cancellation. Their Adaptive Sound Control feature automatically changes the level of noise cancellation depending on your location and what you’re doing, blocking out as much of the world as necessary without the user needing to do much work. There’s also multi-device connectivity, so your graduate can seamlessly go from listening to music on their laptop to taking a call from their smartphone. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor, Buying Advice

$325 at Amazon

Chipolo

Losing stuff is a bummer for anyone, grads included. I tried out Apple’s AirTags, Tile trackers and Chipolos for our Bluetooth tracker guide and ended up picking the Chipolo One as the best option for most people. That’s because it simply does what it’s supposed to do without hassle: help people locate their keys and let them know when they’ve been left behind. Chipolo One doesn’t have the massive, community-enabled (and potentially creepy) location tracking of Apple’s FindMy, but it rings loud with a tap from your phone and sends alerts about forgotten items faster than any other tracker we tried. – Amy Skorheim, Reporter, Buying Advice

$25 at Amazon

Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget

The Marshall Emberton II is a stylish Bluetooth speaker that offers impressively smooth and balanced sound for its compact size. It’s not the loudest or most bass-heavy device of its kind, but it’s a pleasant listen for smaller get-togethers and personal use. The six-inch frame has an IP67 rating, so your grad can safely use it to listen to podcasts in the shower, and Marshall says it can last up to 30 hours on a charge. Most appealingly, the guitar amp-style design looks classy in both its cream or black finishes. All of this was enough to earn the Emberton II a spot in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter, Buying Advice

$132 at Amazon

CARTMAN

I received this Cartman 39-piece tool set right after college when I moved into my first apartment, and now, over 10 years later, it’s still with me in my home’s garage. I put this thing and all its contents through the ringer hanging pictures, putting together Ikea furniture, changing light fixtures and even repairing a broken door lock late on a Saturday night after coming home from a party (ah, youth). It includes all of the essentials one would need to do what I listed above, and much more, without much hassle: a measuring tape, hammer, screwdriver with 20 different bits, pairs of pliers and scissors and more. The plastic case that comes with all of the pieces has spaces designed to fit each tool and, while it’s a little flimsy, mine lasted a number of years before I accidentally broke the handle (totally my fault, too). The fact that it comes in a few different accent colors is icing on the cake; my “pink toolset” was a running joke in my family for a long time, but we were always laughing with the tools rather than at them because I used them so much. This is one of those gifts for graduates that isn’t flashy, but it’s necessary — and they will thank you for it. – V.P.

$23 at Amazon

LEVOIT

That first domicile after college isn’t always ideal — mine was above a heavily-trafficked LA boulevard, which didn’t result in the cleanest indoor air. We tested out the Levoit Core 300s air purifier and found it cleared out both VOCs and particulate matter (PM) quite efficiently, particularly for its size. It runs quietly and can automatically increase the fan speed when it detects the air is getting murky. Plus the replacement filters are much more affordable than other models, something any recent grad will appreciate. — A.S.

$150 at Amazon

Apple

If you really want to treat the iPhone-toting graduate in your life, get them the Apple Watch Series 9. It’s the best Apple Watch for most people right now, and it’s the best smartwatch, period. In addition to delivering all of their phone’s alerts to their wrist, the Series 9 is a solid workout companion, tracking most exercises and even connecting to some gym equipment. The new S9 SiP makes the Watch run a tad faster and makes Siri speedier at responding to requests, adding reminders to their lists and more. The new Double Tap feature is handy as well, as it lets the wearer use gestures to navigate the Watch’s interface if they’re unable to tap the screen at any time. If you have a new grad who’s constantly on the go, or who wants to whip out their phone less during the day, the Series 9 will be a welcomed gift. – V.P.

$329 at Walmart

Engadget

If the graduate in your life constantly has Spotify playing in the background, switching from lo-fi beats while working to today’s top hits when they want to unwind, a gift subscription will be much appreciated. A six-month gift card will set you back $60, but it will give them peace of mind knowing that something they already use regularly is paid for the next few months. Spotify is one of the best music streaming services available right now, and it’s particularly adept at suggesting new music that listeners might like based on their current habits. There are also a bunch of podcasts and audiobooks available to Spotify subscribers as well; in fact, Premium subscribers can listen to 15 hours of audiobooks per month for no extra cost. Ultimately, the best part of this gift is taking care of a recurring monthly cost for your graduate, just for a little while, so they can use those funds for other things. — V.P.

$60 at Walmart

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Google’s Chromecast dongle topped our list of streaming devices, but our runner up is probably better for new grads. Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K not only converts just about any screen into a smart TV, it also opens up access to an endless flow of free content and live programming (most of which is also free). Even if they don’t pay for every streaming service under the sun (or any), they’ll still find loads of stuff to watch. We like Roku’s uncluttered interface and playful illustrated robot motif. Plus the dongle hides neatly behind the screen, supports 4K content with Dolby Vision and has a long Wi-Fi range. – A.S.

$46 at Amazon

Instant Pot

The Instant Vortex Mini is a powerful little air fryer that any new college grad should be able to fit into even the most cramped of kitchen setups. It has an easy to use touchscreen with a few different cooking modes, but we expect most graduates will use it to cook snacks like mozzarella sticks and reheat leftovers to crispy perfection. We recommend checking out our air fryer guide if you want to give them something a little bigger that can cook more food at once — but if you’re only looking out for your grad and maybe their partner or favorite roommate, the Instant Vortex Mini will feed them well. — V.P.

$50 at Amazon

Engadget

Xbox Game Pass remains a great value for any grad who owns an Xbox or gaming PC and likes to play games in their downtime. The subscription’s library includes big-name series like Halo and Minecraft alongside more experimental gems like Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment, and it still gets you access to first-party Xbox games on day one. Each title is available to download on-demand. The Ultimate tier includes perks like cloud gaming and online play, but there are cheaper options for just Xbox consoles or PCs as well.

If your graduate plays more on PlayStation or the Nintendo Switch, there are similar services you can gift: PlayStation Plus for the former, Switch Online for the latter. These will almost certainly be appreciated if you’re buying for someone who games frequently, though they’re not quite as strong a value as Game Pass in terms of cost or included games. — J.D.

$45 at Amazon

Anker

Whether they’re hitting the streets for interviews or heading out for the weekend with friends, either way, your grad will likely appreciate having a way to recharge their phone on the go. The Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K is our current favorite MagSafe charger in our guide. It has a sturdy but unobtrusive stand to prop up an iPhone, holding it in either landscape or portrait orientation so your grad can still make use of the handset as it charges. There’s a readout on the side that tells you how much juice remains and it can even charge the phone while it’s plugged into the wall. Plus, thanks to the new Qi2 charging standard, the wireless charging speeds are impressive — it got our tester iPhone 15 from near-dead to half-full in about 45 minutes. — A.S.

$90 at Amazon

Anker

If your grad plans on working remotely, a webcam that keeps them looking sharp and in focus during video calls is a wise investment. The Anker PowerConf C200, a recommendation from our webcam buying guide, is a great choice: It shoots crisp 2K resolution video, autofocuses quickly and does well to keep its subjects visible in darker settings. It can’t swivel from side to side, but it’s a cinch to set up and has a built-in lens cover for extra peace of mind. At $60, it’s relatively affordable to boot. — J.D.

$48 at Amazon

1Password

If your giftee thought they had a lot of logins to keep track of in school, just wait until they get into the workplace. A password manager will be a must-have, and you can easily give them a 1Password digital gift card so they have no excuse not to use one. Our favorite password manager is easy to use, even for those who have never had a password manager before, and it provides top-notch security. It uses industry standard encryption, a “secret key” that only your giftee knows along with their one password to keep all of their other information safe. In addition to login credentials, new graduates can keep other information like credit card numbers, banking information and sensitive notes in their 1Password vaults for safekeeping — and they can easily access it all on their phone or laptop whenever they need. At minimum, it’s much more secure than a tattered sticky note for keep tracking of their most important passwords. At best, it could be a crucial service that your grad decides to keep paying for long after they’ve used up their gift card. – V.P.

$25+ at 1Password

iRobot

There are a lot of things you need to learn (and remember) when you first move out of your dorm room and into your own space — keeping your home clean is one of them. And even if your grad isn’t “moving out” as much as they are moving into a dedicated portion of their parents’ home, they still need to make sure they’re tidying up on a regular basis. iRobot’s Roomba 694 is one gadget that can help them partially automate their cleaning routine. Our favorite budget robot vacuum, the Roomba 694 is dead simple to use — it can be a one-button process if they want it to be — and it does a good job sucking up dirt and debris across carpet and hard flooring. We also like iRobot’s mobile app, which is just as easy to use as the machine alone, and it gives them the ability to set cleaning schedules. If they go that route, it’s a one-and-done situation and they can sit back and watch the robo-vac do the work for them. — V.P.

$180 at Walmart

Kobo

Now that they’re done with syllabi, recent grads can read whatever they want (and maybe enjoy it). Topping our list of the best ereaders is the Clara 2E from Kobo, which has a six-inch, 300 ppi E-Ink display that’s far easier on the eyes than a tablet. The Clara 2E is waterproof, comfortable to hold and has a quick, responsive interface. It can access titles from the Kobo store, the local public library via built-in Overdrive integration or any other e-book source (except the Kindle store). On top of that, the warm light is great for reading late into the night – something that’s far more fun when you’re not doing so to cram for a test. – A.S.

$120 at Walmart

Headspace

Those early days in the working world can be an especially stressful time in anyone’s life. If your grad has expressed interest in using meditation to help manage their mental health, a Headspace subscription could be useful. It has a large and well-organized selection of guided meditations and mindful exercises to help reduce anxiety and build self control, including several sessions for beginners. There are one-off exercises designed to help with specific, real world crises (nerves before a job interview, for example) as well as courses that seek to address more complex states (grief, self-doubt, lack of focus, etc.) over multiple sessions. A “sleepcasts” feature, meanwhile, combines guided relaxation exercises with soothing narration to create a more healthy sleep environment. Apps like this aren’t cure-alls for mental distress, nor are they the only ways to meditate. Still, they can provide a more organized way for your grad to work toward better peace of mind. — J.D.

$6 at Headspace

nuphy

Mechanical keyboards can be pretty noisy, so they may not be the best gift if your grad has to work in an office all the time. But if they won’t have any coworkers or roommates around during the workday, a good keyboard like the NuPhy Air75 V2 should be a welcomed upgrade. This wireless, low-profile model puts the more gratifying feel of mechanical switches in a design that’s flatter and thinner than most enthusiast keyboards. For something so compact, it’s a joy to type on, with crisp keycaps, a wealth of different switch options and no annoying rattling on the larger keys. It works across Windows and macOS, and its playful design is just plain cute. Plus, if your grad ever wants to go wild and customize it with new switches and keycaps down the road, doing so is straightforward. — J.D.

$140 at Amazon

Otterbox

A recent graduate might be simultaneously looking for jobs, apartments and new places to hang out, so they’ll be out and relying on their phone a lot. If they have a model that accommodates wireless charging, they could probably use the OtterSpot wireless charging system from Otterbox. It earned the top spot in our guide to wireless chargers because it pulls double duty as a desk-based charger and a portable battery. The disc-shaped accessory accommodates up to three, coaster-like 5,000mAh batteries that can charge devices on the go. The batteries stack on the charger and the phone goes on top, allowing everything to power up at once. The batteries can even deliver a charge via USB-C, too. – A.S.

$100 at Otterbox

Anker

A good power bank will be an accessory your graduate won’t want to leave home without. The Anker Prime Power Bank is one of our favorites, and it’s pretty luxe for a portable battery. It has an attractive yet compact, rectangular design with a built-in screen that shows you how many watts are being pumped out into each device you’re charging, plus the remaining juice in the battery itself. The included base makes it easy to recharge the power bank, too, and it has a few extra built-in ports so they could treat the whole thing like a power station. The portable charger’s 20,000mAh capacity will be more than enough to juice up a smartphone a couple of times, and it can power larger devices like a tablet or laptop easily, too. – V.P.

$185 at Amazon

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The best laptops for college students

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Whether you commute to a physical campus, take classes online or do a little of both, a laptop is likely the center of your studies. If you’re working with an aging machine, upgrading to a newer model can make all of your academic pursuits a little easier by helping you stay on top of your schedule and multitask better with dozens of tabs devoted to research while you write your essays. While almost every new laptop the comes out is a bit more expensive than the last, there’s good news, too: laptops are lasting longer than ever before, so your new machine should serve you well for years to come. That is, as long as you pick one from a reliable company and with the right specs. To help you find the best buy as you shop, we put together this collection of things to look out for as well as a list of the best laptops for college.

What to expect

Apple has completed its transition to its own Silicon, so you’ll no longer have the option of Intel-powered Macs. Nor should you want to, really, since the M-series MacBooks have proven to be reliable, speedy and long-lasting. And with each new generation of chip, older models get cheaper while still offering excellent performance. This means you’ll have more options to consider without having to stretch your budget.

Meanwhile, new PCs keep getting announced, with the latest models typically powered by 13th-gen Intel processors or the latest AMD Ryzen chips. Though the shift to ARM-based systems has been successful for Apple, the PC industry is still struggling to keep up, and Windows on ARM is basically dead in the water. Don’t waste your time or money on an ARM-based PC; they’re hard to find nowadays anyway.

Speaking of, laptops with top-of-the-line specs can cost you around $1,800 to $2,000 these days. For most college students, though, a midrange machine to use primarily for writing papers and web browsing might be enough. Depending on your field of study, you could get by with an Intel Core i3 processor or equivalent, with at least 6GB of RAM. If you need to run specialized software for design or programming, consider upgrading to a beefier system with more processing power and memory. On the other hand, if you do most of your coursework online or in a browser, getting a Chromebook could save you a lot of money.

You’ll also want to pay attention to a device’s weight, especially if you plan on lugging your laptop to classes in person. There are a lot of premium ultraportables in the 13-inch category, with chips like Intel’s Core i3 or i5, that cost around $1,000. If these light laptops are too expensive, you’ll still have respectable options in the $600 to $800 price range, but they might be heavier and use older, slower processors. I’ve included our recommendations for the best budget laptops in this college-centric guide but we also have more affordable top picks that you can check out as well.

See Also:

With some laptop makers deciding to get rid of headphone jacks, it’s important to check specs lists when you’re shopping for newer machines. If you don’t have wireless headphones or use equipment that plugs into the 3.5mm jack, you’ll want to steer clear of devices like Dell’s XPS 13 Plus.

Finally, while most laptops offer WiFi 6 or 6E and Bluetooth 5.0 or later, you may not have one of the compatible routers or other devices that would enable those faster connections yet. Chances are, your campus WiFi might still be stuck on an older setup, too, so it’s not crucial that you get a system with the latest standards yet. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to get a laptop that’s future-proof, but just know that of all the things to look out for, WiFi 6E shouldn’t be a dealbreaker in your decision-making process.

The best laptops for college students

Photo by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget

Read our full review of the Apple MacBook Air M3

It’s hard to beat Apple’s MacBook Air if you want a powerful machine for college that won’t weigh you down. You have a few good options this year — the 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air M3 and the MacBook Air M2. The M3 laptop earned a score of 90 from us for its impressive performance, gorgeous 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display and its thin-and-light design. However, the M2 remains a fantastic machine and, with the launch of the M3 models, it received a $200 price cut. We recommend springing for an M3 Air if you want a more future-proof laptop, but the MacBook Air M2 will likely be enough for most students’s needs.

Apple has officially stopped selling the M1 MacBook Air in its online store, but it’s still floating around the internet for under $1,000. It has the wedge design of older MacBook Airs, larger bezels and only a 720p webcam. But if you’re coming from an Intel machine, the performance gains will be noticeable even if you pick up an M1 machine on clearance. However, we expect stock to become limited as the year goes on.

$1,099 at Amazon

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Read our full review of the Dell XPS 13 Plus laptop

The best PC has long been Dell’s well-rounded XPS 13 series and I still recommend it to anyone that doesn’t want a Mac. Yes, the XPS 13 Plus lacks a headphone jack, and some of its buttons are hard to see and use. But the XPS 13 is a well-rounded machine and reliable workhorse that will get you through classes and late-night writing sessions without breaking a sweat.

Like its predecessors, the XPS 13 Plus offers a lovely OLED screen with impressively thin bezels and packs a roomy, comfortable keyboard. It also features a new minimalist design that looks more modern and offers a performance boost over the standard model. The row of capacitive keys at the top in lieu of traditional function keys may irk some as they can be hard to see outdoors, but if you become familiar with where they are you might not need to see where they are to find the right ones. The invisible trackpad can also be tricky since its boundaries aren’t clear.

If you don’t like the changes Dell has made to the XPS 13, or if you definitely need a headphone jack, the older generations are still solid options. There’s also the Samsung Galaxy Book series, which feature beautiful OLED screens and sharper webcams in thin and light frames. I also like Microsoft’s Surface Laptops, and the most recent edition offers great performance and battery life, albeit in an outdated design.

$1,400 at Dell

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Read our full review of the Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop

Just because your laptop might primarily be for coursework doesn’t mean you can’t use it for fun, too. Those looking to game on their machines should prioritize responsive screens and ample ports for their favorite accessories that can best help them defeat their virtual enemies. If you’re considering a gaming-first machine that you can use for school, check out our guide to buying a gaming laptop. It covers details about different CPUs and GPUs, minimum specs and more. Our favorite gaming laptop is the Razer Blade 15, which has an Intel Core i7 processor, and an NVIDIA RTX 3070 graphics for $2,500.

At that price point, it’s the most expensive item on this list, but you also get a 15-inch quad HD screen that refreshes at 240Hz. Different configurations are available, depending on your preference, including Full HD 360Hz and 4K 144Hz versions. The Blade series is also one of the most polished gaming laptops around, and Razer consistently updates it with the latest processors, graphics and other hardware advancements. If you really want to go all-out, you could consider the new Razer Blade 16 that has NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 or 4070 GPUs.

Students and gamers looking for something cheaper and more portable should consider the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, which was our favorite model in 2021. The main reason it got bumped down a notch is because the 2022 refresh is almost $600 more expensive. It’s still a solid gaming laptop though, with an excellent display, roomy trackpad and plenty of ports in spite of its thin profile.

$2,900 at Razer

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Read our full review of the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook

If you can do most of your schoolwork through web-based apps, a Chromebook is worth considering for your college laptop. Sure they don’t generally look fancy, nor have high-end specs. But they’re often more affordable and have longer battery life. Our favorite Chromebook is Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook, which Engadget’s resident Chrome OS aficionado Nathan Ingraham described as hitting “the sweet spot for a lot of Chromebook buyers.”

This laptop nails the basics, with a 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen that’s bright and sharp, an excellent backlit keyboard and an 11th-generation Intel Core i3 processor. The 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage may sound meager, but it’s more than enough for a Chromebook, especially at this price. It’s also nice to see USB-A and USB-C ports, a microSD card slot and eight-hour battery life. Weighing 3 pounds and measuring 0.66 inches thick, the Flex 5i is not the lightest or slimmest laptop around, but hey, at least your wallet won’t also feel light as feathers after buying this.

Notably, the Flex 5i is supposed to receive software and security updates until June of 2029, so it will last you for years to come. That’s nice to see, considering this laptop has been out for more than a year now, and we’re expecting Lenovo to release a replacement soon. When that happens, or if another manufacturer launches a comparable option, we will update this list. The Lenovo Flex 5i is no longer available directly from Lenovo, but you can commonly find it on Amazon for about $400 (as of this writing, it is selling for about $350). That’s an outstanding value.

$365 at Amazon

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

Read our full review of the HP Pavilion Aero 13 laptop

If you’re looking for a sturdy student laptop under $800, your best bet is the HP Pavilion Aero 13. Yes, it’s almost two years old, but it’s still one of the best cheap laptops for college students available now. For an affordable price, you’ll get a Full HD screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and surprisingly thin bezels, as well as a comfortable keyboard and spacious touchpad. Importantly, the Aero 13 provides relatively powerful components compared to others in this price range, with an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and Radeon graphics. Plus, it has a generous array of ports and enough hours of battery life to last you a full day and then some.

$600 at HP

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

Read our full review of the Microsoft Surface Pro 9

For those who need their laptops to occasionally double as tablets, the Surface Pro series is a no-brainer. Compared to notebooks or 2-in-1 laptops with rotating hinges, tablets with kickstands are often much slimmer and lighter. The Surface Pro 9 is the most recent model and it features Microsoft’s sleek design with a thinner profile and minimal bezels. The Pro 9 also has a 120Hz display that makes scrolling long documents or spreadsheets feel much faster, and you can drop the refresh rate down to 60Hz if you want to conserve battery life. Just make sure you get an Intel processor rather than an ARM-based configuration, since app compatibility might be an issue on the latter. You don’t want to be the only one in class who can’t install the obscure app that your professor wants everyone to use, do you?

We also like Microsoft’s Type Covers and the Surface Pens, though it’s worth noting that they’ll have to pay extra for both if you want them. Unless you’re bent on sticking to Apple’s ecosystem, in which case an iPad Pro would suit you best, the Surface Pro 9 is arguably the best convertible laptop around.

$873 at Amazon

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