In this guide, we help you find the best laptop for international relations students, one that supports your diverse academic demands and fast-paced student life. We’ve created this resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, and future diplomats who need a machine that’s as adaptable, reliable, and globally connected as their field of study.
We understand the challenges you face. Laptops today are built for niche users: creative professionals, gamers, developers. But you’re managing a cross-disciplinary academic path—you need speed, reliability, portability, and compatibility across a wide range of software and workflows. You may switch from annotating dense PDF articles in Zotero, to analyzing global trade data in Excel, to writing a policy memo, to attending a remote class via Zoom. And all of it might happen in a single day, in a café halfway across the world during an exchange semester.
So what’s the solution? A carefully chosen, well-balanced laptop that fits both your intellectual ambition and your practical needs.
Before we get to the picks, let’s define the criteria we use to evaluate the best laptops for international relations students. We assess:
Performance: You need a responsive machine that handles multitasking with ease. That means at least an Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5, Apple M Series processor, 16GB RAM minimum, and 512GB SSD for fast boot and file access.
Portability & Battery Life: Your schedule might include moving between classes, field work, and travel. A lightweight chassis (under 3.5 lbs), a durable build, and at least 10 hours of battery life are essential.
Display & Keyboard: You’re reading and writing constantly. A 13–14” Full HD display with anti-glare coating is easier on the eyes. Look for a tactile, backlit keyboard—long hours demand typing comfort.
Connectivity: International relations involves access and communication. So reliable Wi-Fi 6, multiple USB-C / HDMI ports, and a decent webcam for virtual meetings are non-negotiable.
Software Compatibility: From citation managers like Zotero and Mendeley, to productivity suites like MS Office, to region-specific tools like LexisNexis or SPSS, your system needs to stay agile and compatible.
Security Features: As a student dealing with sensitive geopolitical topics, digital security matters. A fingerprint scanner or TPM chip, and support for BitLocker encryption, adds another layer of protection.
These laptops also come in various sizes. You can choose from 11 inches, all the way to 15 inches. This largely depends on your needs. Generally speaking, the smaller the screen size the less it weights. You can also have a look at the best laptop for College Students.
Best Laptops for International Relations Students:
Contents
- Acer Predator Triton 300 laptop
- Alienware m15 R3 Laptop
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15” i7
- Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 - Laptop
- GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED XC
- Apple MacBook Air M1 13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB
- LG Gram 14 FHD Laptop
- ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED Laptop
- Acer Predator Helios 300
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 Laptop
- Alienware m15 R3 Laptop
- Dell Inspiron 5000 Series 5502 15.6 Laptop
- HP Pavilion Laptop 17-inch
Acer Predator Triton 300 laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10750H 2.6GHz Hexa Core Processor |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x1080 pixels |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USBs, Ethernet, HDMI, Type C, Audio Out |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 23 x 14 x 3 inches |
| Weight | 4.41 pound |
| Pros | Performance, Good Price |
| Cons | NA |
Alienware m15 R3 Laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10875 |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super 8GB |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, Audio |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 10.87 x 14.19 x 0.81 inches |
| Weight | 5.51 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Display |
| Cons | Weight |
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15” i7 |
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| CPU | 11th Gen Intel Core i7 |
| GPU | Iris™ Plus graphics 950 |
| Display Size | 15 inches |
| Display Resolution | 2496 x 1664 Pixels |
| RAM | 32 GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1 TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, Mini Display, Audio |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 10.76 x 14.6 x 2.12 inches |
| Weight | 3.4 pounds |
| Pros | Lightweight, Premium Deisgn, Good Performance |
| Cons | NA |
Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 - Laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10750H |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 15.6 inch |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16GB 2933MHz DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 512 GB M.2 [PCIe] NVMe (SSD) |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, Audio Jack |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 10 x 14.39 x 0.85 inches |
| Weight | 5.18 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Display |
| Cons | None |
GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED XC |
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| CPU | 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10870H (2.2GHz - 5.0GHz) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 4K/UHD 3840x2160 |
| RAM | 32 GB RAM |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 1 x Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C), 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4 | 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), 1 x HDMI 2.1 | 1 x UHS-II SD Card Reader |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 9.8 x 14 x 0.78 inches |
| Weight | 4.4 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Display Quality |
| Cons | n/a |
Apple MacBook Air M1 13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB |
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| CPU | System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1 chip; 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency core |
| GPU | Apple 8-core GPU |
| Display Size | 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS |
| Display Resolution | 2560-by-1600 native resolution |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage Space | 512GB SSD |
| Operating System | MacOS |
| Ports | Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports with support for: Charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 11.97 x 0.63 x 8.36 inches |
| Weight | 2.8 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Lightweight |
| Cons | Storage |
LG Gram 14 FHD Laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Quad-Core i7 |
| GPU | Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
| Display Size | 14 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 512 GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 1 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 (supports power delivery, display port, RJ45 gender), 2 x USB 3.1, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Micro-SD Card Reader, 1 x Audio Combo Jack |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.7 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches |
| Weight | 2.2 pounds |
| Pros | Long battery life, performance, Lightweight |
| Cons | None |
ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 OLED Laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Evo Platform Core i7-1165G7 |
| GPU | Intel |
| Display Size | 13.3 Inches |
| Display Resolution | 2560 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, HDMI |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.01 x 8.37 x 0.55 inches |
| Weight | 2.87 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Audio Quality |
| Cons | None |
Acer Predator Helios 300 |
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| CPU | 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H Processor (6-Core, 2.6 GHz Upto 5.0 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16 GB SDRAM |
| Storage Space | 512 GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 15.9 x 11 x 0.97 inches |
| Weight | 6.39 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Price, Display Quality |
| Cons | Weight |
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 Laptop |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS processor |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q 6GB GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, Audio |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 14.2 x 9.9 x 0.78 inches |
| Weight | 4.63 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Display Quality |
| Cons | n/a |
Alienware m15 R3 Laptop |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10875H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super 8GB |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Ports | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x Thunderbolt 3, 1x HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.2 Output, 1x Mini-Display Port 1.4, 1x Micro SD Card Reader, 1x Audio Out |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 10.87 x 14.19 x 0.81 inches |
| Weight | 5.51 pounds |
| Pros | Performance, Display |
| Cons | Weight |
Dell Inspiron 5000 Series 5502 15.6 Laptop |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Quad-Core i7-1165G7 (2.8 GHz base frequency, up to 4.7 GHz |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 512GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C; 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1; 1 x headphone / microphone combo; 1 x HDMI 1.4; 1 x Power jack; 1 x MicroSD Card Reader |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 9.23 x 14.02 x 0.7 inches |
| Weight | 3.74 pounds |
| Pros | Lightweight, Performance |
| Cons | |
HP Pavilion Laptop 17-inch |
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| CPU | 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| RAM | 16gb |
| Storage Space | 256GB |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Ports | USB Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge), 3 SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate (HP Sleep and Charge), RJ-45 Ethernet Port, 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo, AC smart pin, HDMI 2.0 |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 11.1 x 15.94 x 1 inches |
| Weight | 6.07 lbs |
| Pros | Performance |
| Cons | Storage, Weight |
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