STACK #256 February 2026

BACK to UNI

FEATURE TECH

5 great high-spec laptops for uni

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i 14" WUXGA OLED Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7) [1TB] Lenovo's Yoga Slim 7i packs some real power into its slender 1.39kg shell. It sports an Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 16-core processor, which is great if you're studying a subject that requires complex software, along with Intel® Arc™ graphics for highly optimised visuals and gaming performance. Equipped with 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, you'll feel this laptop's power even when you're just using it for web browsing and typing – it'll run extremely smoothly. The OLED display is bright and beautiful, and the high-quality metal build gives it a truly premium feel.

Certain university courses call for powerful laptops that can run complex software, tackle advanced digital tasks, deliver speedy performance, and hold up when the pressure is on. Words James O'Connor

Microsoft Surface Laptop CoPilot+ 13" Snapdragon X Plus 8 core 16GB/256GB

HP OmniBook X Flip WUXGA 2-in-1 Next Gen AI OLED Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 5) [512GB] HP’s OmniBook X Flip is a flexible mid-range laptop that uses AI enhancements to improve processing power and battery life. It sports an Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 8-core processor, along with 16GB of RAM, so no matter how you use it – whether in clamshell, tent, tablet, or reverse configurations – you'll be suitably impressed by its speedy performance. OmniBook X Flip WUXGA 2-in-1 Next Gen AI

This impressive laptop features a powerful Snapdragon® X Plus 8-core processor and a supercharged Qualcomm® Hexagon™ NPU with the ability to process 45 trillion operations per second! It’s a Copilot+ PC, which means it runs extremely efficiently and offers a variety of AI tools for when you need help with brainstorming ideas, study plans, and more.

The all-day battery can keep it powered for up to 23 hours* before needing to plug in and recharge – ideal for work and play when on the move. It's also lightweight at just 1.22kg, and features a touchscreen interface for easy navigation and quick sketching.

The brilliant 14” OLED screen and HP's proprietary Poly Camera Pro webcam software make it a great choice for meetings or online study sessions, and a 16:10 aspect ratio enables easy reading without constant scrolling.

ASUS Zenbook A14 14" OLED Laptop (CoPilot+ PC) [1TB]

HP OmniBook X Flip 14" WUXGA 2-in-1 Next Gen AI OLED Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7) [512GB] This is a more powerful version of the HP OmniBook X Flip, sharing all the same features and functions as the Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 model, albeit with a punchier Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 processor for fast CPU performance, double the memory at

Ultra-light at just under 1kg, the Zenbook A14 sports a sleek, minimalist design but is built with military grade durability to withstand shocks, scratches, and everyday campus life. Under the bonnet is a Snapdragon® X Series processor that enables Copilot+ PC generative AI tools, and also better power efficiency for up to a whopping 32 hours of battery life. You’ll get fast connection via

32GB, and a more advanced Intel® Arc™ 140V (16GB) graphics card. If your course involves 3D modelling, complex data analysis, or advanced programming, the extra oomph offered by this model could well prove useful for blitzing assignments.

Wi-Fi 7 support, and a generous 32GB of memory plus 1TB of SSD storage makes it a great choice for studying on the go and storing huge files locally.

* Battery life varies significantly with device, settings, usage, and other factors

7