As a college or university student, you might need help deciding whether to buy a new laptop or bring your old one from home.

If your course does not require a laptop, you can bring an old one from home and ensure it is compatible with Canadian outlets and voltages; later on, you can purchase one in Boxing Day or Thanksgiving Day sales.

If your course requires a high-configuration laptop, you want to buy a new one. Then read this article; it’s for you.

Is it worth it to buy a new laptop as an international student in Canada?

As an international student in Canada, buying a laptop is a significant investment. Instead of a notebook and pen, you can take notes in class using a laptop. It helps you do research, write assignments, find a job, edit resumes, connect with teachers and classmates, or work from home.

How to get a free laptop for students in Canada?

1. Firstly, email your college or university to confirm they provide free laptops to students because some colleges or universities offer free laptops for their students. For example, Columbia College has a laptop assistance program.
2. Contact with Electronic Recycling Association. It’s a non-profit organization across Canada; they provide refurbished electronics for a small amount or free, depending on your income.

How can I get a discount on a laptop as an international student?

1. Buy excellent condition refurbished or second-hand laptops online or from stores. For example, Apple, Walmart, Best Buy, Dell, Kijiji app, eBay, Microsoft and Newegg.
2. Join the Student loyalty discount program to get the best laptop deals. 

Is a laptop necessary for international students in Canada?

No, on the first day of college or university, you just need a notebook and pen to make notes, not a laptop. It’s optional to bring a laptop to make notes on a computer instead of a notebook. If your course does not require a laptop, then good to use in the library.

Is it cheaper to buy a laptop in Canada?

A laptop’s price depends on tax, shipping charges, brand, features, design, performance, etc. The best way to check laptop prices is to use the Amazon website to compare whether the price is lower in Canada or your country.

The top five factors to take into account when purchasing a laptop as a student are:

1. Your Budget: As a student, your priority is to manage the budget, like grocery, travel expenses, room rent, and necessary bills; after that, you can think about the laptop.
2. Operating System: Windows is a widely used software because of its budget, design and flexibility.
3. Memory and Processor: Don’t buy a laptop with more than two generations old processor. When you come across a store or warehouse, you will find old-generation processor laptop is cheaper, but in the long run, you have to spend more money.
4. Size: I don’t think a smaller laptop offers a smaller price. Small laptops are generally heavier and pricy than larger ones.
5. Storage: For most laptops, the RAM range falls between 128 GB to 256 GB, which is sufficient for general use. 

Which laptop is best for international students in Canada (2023)?

Students in 2023 will need a laptop to aid them in their complicated lives because they are occupied 24 hours a day with work, school, homework, and entertainment.

The following article will advise you on the five best budget machines for your needs.

1. HP Pavilion 14
   • Specifications:
     • 8th generation intel core i5-8250U(CPU)
     • Intel UHD Graphics 620 (Graphics)
     • 8GB (RAM)
     • 14-inch 1,920*1,080 (Screen)
     • 256GB SSD (Storage)
   • Pros:
     • All-round Storage specs
     • Solid build quality that will last
     • Big internal storage space
     • Battery life upto 11 hours
     • A pre-installed fresh copy of window 10
   • Cons:
     • Not great for heavy Photoshop work
   • Today’s Best Deal:
     • Amazon
2. Dell XPS 13(9310)
   • Specifications:
     • Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor (CPU)
     • Intel Iris Xe (Graphics)
     • 16 GB (RAM)
     • 13.4-inch Full HD+LCD 1920×1200 (Screen)
     • 512GB (Storage)
     • Window 10 Home 64-bit (OS)
     • 198.70×295.70×14.80mm (Dimensions)
     • 1.2 Kg (Weight)
   • Pros:
     • Powerhouse performance
     • Sleek design and big screen
     • Long life
   • Cons:
     • Average audio
     • Limited ports
   • Today’s Best Deal:
     • Amazon
3. Acer Chromebook 315
   • Specifications:
     • Intel Celeron 3205U 1.5GHz (Dual-core CPU)
     • Intel HD (Graphics)
     • 4GB (RAM)
     • 15.6 inch 1920×1080 pixels (Screen)
     • 32 GB SSD (Storage)
     • 802.11ac Wi-Fi Connectivity
     • 720p Camera quality 15.08×9.65×0.95 inches dimensions
   • Pros:
     • Quality screen
     • Long-lasting battery 
     • Lovely price point
   • Cons:
     • Basic Keyboard and audio
   • Today’s Best Deal:
     • Amazon
4. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7I Carbon
   • Specifications:
     • 11th generation intel core processors (CPU)
     • Intel Iris Xe (Graphics)
     • 8GB/16GB (RAM)
     • 13.3inch Quality HD 2560×1600 (Screen)
     • 256 GB / 512 GB SSD (Storage)
   • Pros:
     • 13.3-inch Quality HD Screen
     • Facial recognition Decent performance
   • Cons:
     • Average battery life
     • No fingerprint sensor
   • Today’s Best Deal:
     • Amazon
5. 14-inch and 16-inch Apple MacBook PRO(M1, 2021)
   • Specifications:
     • Apple M1 Pro or Apple M1 Max (CPU)
     • Apple M1 Pro or Apple M1 Max(Graphics)
     • 64GB (RAM)
     • 14.2-inch or 16-inch (Screen)
     • 8GB (Storage)
     • 1080 p Facetime camera
   • Pros:
     • Top-tier performance
     • Quality design
     • Excellent display
   • Cons:
     • We’re still determining the display notch
   • Today’s Best Deal:
     • Amazon

F&Q

Where is the best place to buy a laptop in Canada?

You can check out the best deals in stores or online, like at Staples, Best Buy, Canada Computers, Apple, and Amazon, because different brands provide different offers in-store or online.

Should I take my old laptop to Canada as a student, or would it be better to buy one from Canada?

Firstly, check whether your course requires a laptop or not. You can bring your old laptop with a Canada-compatible power converter if the study doesn’t need it. If you want to buy a new one, you can check the price on Amazon in your country or Canada, then decide.

Which is more critical for a student, a phone or a laptop?

Both are important and useful. Smartphones are used for communication and brief internet tasks like using Google Maps to find a location or checking the weather, among other things. The laptop will be used for studying, coding, project assignments, research projects etc.