MacBook Air (Apple silicon)
- Excellent battery life and silent, fanless design
- Unix-based, so the terminal works like most servers
- Choose 16 GB of RAM or more
Gear for a CS degree
You do not need expensive gear to study computer science. Here is what actually matters, what you can skip, and a few picks we would recommend to a friend.
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Laptops
Your laptop runs an editor, a browser, a terminal and maybe a few containers. Almost any modern machine can do that. Spend on the parts you will feel every day.
What matters
- 16 GB of RAM or more. This is the spec that ages worst. Browsers, IDEs and Docker all want memory.
- 512 GB SSD. Toolchains, virtual machines and datasets add up fast.
- All-day battery. Lecture halls rarely have enough outlets.
- A good keyboard and screen. You will stare at both for four years.
What you can skip
A gaming GPU. Unless you plan to train machine learning models locally, coursework runs fine on integrated graphics, and many universities give you access to lab or cloud GPUs.
Lenovo ThinkPad T or E series
- Some of the best laptop keyboards available
- Strong Linux support and easy to service
- Often discounted for students
Framework Laptop 13
- Upgrade the RAM, storage and even the mainboard later
- Swappable ports, so you choose the mix you need
- Popular with Linux users
Keyboards
An external keyboard is the cheapest upgrade for long study sessions, especially if you raise your laptop screen to eye level.
What matters
- Layout. Tenkeyless or 75% boards keep your mouse closer, which is easier on your shoulder.
- Noise. Loud clicky switches are fun at home and unwelcome in a library or shared room.
- Multi-device switching. Handy if you move between a laptop, tablet and desktop.
Logitech MX Keys
- Low-profile keys that feel close to a laptop
- Pairs with up to three devices
- Quiet enough for shared spaces
Keychron K or V series
- Mac and Windows keycaps included
- Hot-swappable switches on many models, so you can try different feels
- Compact layouts that fit a small desk
Logitech Pebble Keys 2 (K380s)
- Small and light enough to carry in a backpack
- Runs for months on batteries
- Switches between three devices
Headphones
Good headphones turn a noisy dorm, bus or lab into a place where you can focus, and a decent microphone matters for group calls and remote interviews.
What matters
- Active noise cancelling if you study in busy places.
- Comfort for multi-hour sessions. Over-ear is usually easier on long days than earbuds.
- Microphone quality for calls, especially internship interviews.
Sony WH-1000X series
- Class-leading noise cancelling
- Long battery life for full days on campus
- Older models are often discounted and still excellent
AirPods Pro or Sony WF-1000X series
- AirPods Pro if you use an iPhone, Sony if you use Android
- Pocketable noise cancelling
- Good microphones for quick calls
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
- No battery to charge and no pairing problems
- Very durable, with a replaceable cable
- Pair with a cheap USB microphone for calls
On a tight budget?
- Check your university's student discount and refurbished stores before buying new.
- A used business laptop with 16 GB of RAM and an SSD is a great Linux machine.
- Put money into RAM first. You can add a keyboard and headphones later.