The return to school is just around the corner, which means that for students who would like to purchase a new laptop, now would be the perfect time to do so.

The problem is, with so many brands and models out in the market today, choosing which laptop to buy is a massively daunting task.

Here are a few recommendations for the best laptops for students, along with a few general tips on choosing the perfect one to purchase.

Asus Zenbook UX305

Often tagged as a knockoff of the MacBook Air, the Asus Zenbook UX305 is among the best and cheapest Ultrabooks available in the market. The laptop packs either a 6th generation Intel Core m3 or m5 processor, with 8 GB of RAM and storage of 256 GB or 512 GB SSD.

The laptop goes for about $700, proving that perfectly capable laptops can be purchased for less than $1,000 at prices that are friendly to students.

HP Chromebook 14

For students who have constant access to an internet connection, perhaps you would like to try Google's web-based Chrome OS through the HP Chromebook 14.

The HP Chromebook 14, powered by the responsive and speedy Chrome OS, packs a 6th generation Intel Celeron CPU, RAM of either 2 GB or 4 GB, and eMMC storage of either 16 GB or 32 GB.

The laptop, which is not loaded with high-performance specifications, is going for a very cheap $200. For students who would have everything they need through the web-based Chrome OS, the HP Chromebook 14 is a highly recommended purchase.

Lenovo ThinkPad 13

The Lenovo ThinkPad 13 was named by LaptopMag as the best overall laptop for college, as the computer's sharp screen, great keyboard and long battery life will prove to be a boon to students. The laptop, while being an ultralight computer, is also built to pass 12 military specification tests for durability.

The laptop is now carrying a price of just over $700, making it a great deal for students who will always be on the go.

Apple Macbook

For students who are planning to acquire a creative arts degree, or in the middle of doing so, Gadget Review recommends the 12-inch Macbook by Apple. While not really a popular choice for students, the Force Touch mousepad of the laptop is perfect for those who would be navigating through a lot of content. In addition, macOS continues to be choice operating system for creative arts departments.

The laptop will cost a steep $1,299, but it will be a great investment for students looking to continue in the creative arts industry.

Alienware 13

A laptop for school should not only be for studies, as some students will still want to get their gaming fix in between classes. For a laptop that is portable enough to be brought around but powerful enough to handle high-end gaming, the Alienware 13 is a great choice.

The laptop, which is the first ever to feature a 13.3-inch OLED display, has a price tag that starts at $899.99.

Things To Keep In Mind

Of course, these five laptops are just a few out of the many options that are available to students. However, these choices show certain factors that will come into play when choosing a laptop for school.

First, students will have to keep the portability of the laptop in mind, especially if they will be taking the laptop along in all of their classes or if it will be mostly stationary. Students will also likely want as big of a battery as possible for their choice to lengthen the amount of time that it can be used away from a socket.

Students will also have to take into consideration what the purpose of the laptop would be. If it will be mostly used for typing reports and notes, minimum specifications may be enough, but if it will also be used for high-end processes such as graphic design or gaming with friends, the appropriate specifications will be needed.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly is the price of the laptop. Students will need to balance the size and specifications that they want with how big their budget is, but as the above options show, there are a variety of options for each price point.

Students will also want to make use of any educational discounts and bundles that some schools may be offering, which would help shave off significant amounts from a laptop's price tag.