The best laptop for students and office work in 2025 offers strong everyday performance, all-day battery life, portability, and reliable build quality, without a sky-high price tag. Whether you are studying at uni, working from home, or managing tasks on the go, this guide compares top modern models and refurbished business-class laptops that are still great options in Australia today.
Apple MacBook Air M3 (2024)
The MacBook Air with Apple’s M3 chip continues to be a standout choice in 2025. It is lightweight and fanless and delivers exceptional performance for everyday productivity tasks. The battery life can extend up to 18 hours, making it an ideal companion for long uni lectures or full workdays without needing to recharge.
Best For: Students in creative or media-based courses, professionals needing fast performance with minimal maintenance.
Dell XPS 13 (2024)
The Dell XPS 13 is a Windows-based ultrabook known for its premium construction, excellent display, and consistent performance. Its compact design and powerful internals make it suitable for students and professionals alike, particularly those in business, IT, or corporate roles.
Best For: Professionals in corporate environments, business or IT students, remote workers who want portability without compromise.
Acer Aspire 5 (2024)
The Acer Aspire 5 offers impressive value for money. It is a well-rounded laptop that performs well for day-to-day tasks such as web browsing, document editing, video conferencing, and light multitasking. It is also one of the most affordable options that still supports modern software and upgrades.
Best For: Budget-conscious students, home office users, and anyone needing a no-fuss productivity machine.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
The Surface Laptop Go 3 is Microsoft’s compact and lightweight notebook, balancing power and portability in a sleek design. It includes a touchscreen, a responsive keyboard, and a sturdy aluminium build. Although it is not intended for heavy processing tasks, it excels at portability and simplicity.
Best For: Students who frequently travel between classes, light office work, and professionals needing a stylish on-the-go laptop.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon series is a favourite among business professionals and academic researchers due to its enterprise-grade reliability, robust design, and superb keyboard. The 2025 model comes with the latest Intel chips, ample connectivity, and a carbon-fibre chassis built to last.
Best For: Business travellers, postgraduate students, power users who value durability and performance.
If you're working within a tighter budget or seeking a reliable device with proven performance, refurbished business laptops remain an excellent option in 2025. These models are known for their durability, upgradability, and enterprise-grade performance, often at a fraction of the cost of newer machines.
Below are the most recommended refurbished laptops that continue to deliver strong results for students and office professionals alike.
Dell’s Latitude line is known for its rugged build quality, long-term reliability, and efficient cooling systems. These laptops were designed for enterprise use, making them perfect for users who need dependable performance on a budget.
This model is a reliable workhorse, offering a 14-inch display and a comfortable keyboard. While not the lightest, it’s robust and handles office applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Zoom with ease when upgraded with an SSD and additional RAM.
A more portable version of Dell’s business lineup, the 6430u features a slim profile with respectable battery life. It is ideal for basic productivity tasks like emailing, web browsing, and cloud-based applications.
The E7440 combines a sleek ultrabook form factor with the durability of a business-grade laptop. It is a strong choice for students or professionals who travel frequently and need a compact, no-fuss device.
HP EliteBooks are trusted in corporate environments for their security features, sturdy design, and user-friendly interfaces. Even older models perform well for typical administrative or academic workloads.
Known for their durable magnesium alloy chassis and excellent keyboard, these laptops offer strong performance for day-to-day use. They're particularly effective for office software, light multitasking, and virtual learning environments.
This ultrabook provides a premium look and feel with a thin and lightweight build. It’s ideal for professionals working in finance, law, or education who require a practical and presentable device that can handle documentation, emails, and video conferencing.
Lenovo’s ThinkPad series is revered for its legendary keyboards, trackpoint control, and long-lasting build. Many refurbished ThinkPads are still highly competitive in performance, especially when upgraded with modern storage and memory.
These models are regarded as some of the most reliable and upgrade-friendly laptops on the market. They include excellent port selection (USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet), dual batteries in some variants, and strong CPU options for productivity tasks. The T470 and T480 in particular are excellent all-rounders for students and remote workers.
A more premium model, the X1 Carbon series combines high performance with an ultra-thin profile. Even earlier generations are well-suited for presentations, heavy multitasking, and corporate workflows. It’s the ideal choice for professionals who want power without bulk.
Apple’s older MacBook Pro models continue to hold up well, particularly for users already invested in the Apple ecosystem.
These models feature high-resolution Retina displays and remain capable of handling light creative work, document editing, and video playback. They’re best suited to students or creatives who do not require the latest Apple Silicon performance.
A more modern and still-relevant option, this M1 model delivers excellent performance for both student and professional users. The Apple Silicon chip ensures smooth multitasking, long battery life, and quiet operation, making it one of the best compact laptops for 2025—even refurbished.
The Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 detachable tablet and laptop hybrid that offers excellent portability and handwriting support. Even earlier versions such as the Surface Pro 4, 5, or 6 can run productivity software, Teams, and Office 365 without issue.
It’s an ideal choice for university students in design, education, or research who prefer working on a tablet with the flexibility of a full Windows OS.
Although typically marketed toward gamers, MSI laptops are often equipped with high-end processors, dedicated GPUs, and ample RAM, making them suitable for students and professionals in more demanding fields.
Why Consider MSI for Work or Study?
While heavier and less battery-efficient than ultrabooks, MSI laptops offer serious computing power that can outclass standard productivity devices.
Absolutely. Many refurbished business-class laptops remain highly capable in 2025, especially when upgraded with an SSD and at least 8GB of RAM. They are an excellent option for students who need something dependable on a budget, and for professionals who want performance without the premium price tag of new models.
At Laptop Rental, we offer a wide range of refurbished laptops for hire, including trusted models from Dell, HP, Lenovo, Apple, Microsoft, and MSI. Whether you're preparing for university, working from home, or managing a corporate event, our affordable laptop rental service ensures you get the right device without the long-term commitment or upfront cost.
When choosing a refurbished laptop—especially on a rental basis—make sure:
Looking to rent a reliable laptop in Australia? Contact Laptop Rental today for short-term and long-term laptop hire solutions tailored to students, professionals, and business needs.
