9+ Best Laptop For Automotive Diagnostics 2021 | Products Overview & Guide

The automotive industry has grown exponentially over the past decade. Along with this, the importance of automotive engineers has come to be recognized and understood. Talented people with various mechanical skills provide information in various situations.

We need some help dealing with the most difficult cases, doing various complex activities, and explaining the condition of almost all vehicles. It’s the tools that help and the tools that virtually simplify the most complex and complex tasks and do so in less time.

Best Laptop For Automotive Diagnostics

Laptops for automotive diagnostics play a similar role when it comes to tools. It helps technicians in a variety of situations, including tuning and remodeling cars, speeding up the process, and making it a reality to get the job done faster.

These automotive professionals need the resources to meet the demands of power, speed, and reliable space. In other words, they need a fast laptop with plenty of storage space, incredible performance, and a perfect level of convenience and portability.

You are already working hard as an automotive engineer. Why bother looking for the perfect laptop when we have the right skills? Here’s a list of them.

Best Laptop For Automotive Diagnostics | Comparison Table 2021

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Best Laptop For Automotive Diagnostics| 2021 reviews

Product Overview:

The Acer Swift 3 is a sleek, lightweight laptop with a 14-inch Full HD IPS display, ideal for anyone looking for a reliable and powerful device that can handle a variety of tasks. The laptop is available in several different configurations, including different amounts of RAM, storage capacity, and bundle options.

The Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor with Radeon Graphics is a powerful and efficient CPU that can handle multitasking, gaming, and other demanding applications with ease. The laptop comes with 8GB of LPDDR4 memory, which is more than enough for most users, and a lightning-fast 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD that provides plenty of storage space for files, photos, and videos.

The 14-inch Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display has a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio, making it perfect for streaming video, browsing the web, or working on documents. The laptop also comes with an Intel wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax, which ensures fast and reliable internet connectivity, and an HD webcam (1280 x 720) for video calls and conferences.

Other features of the Acer Swift 3 include a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader for added security, and a variety of ports, including a USB Type-C port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, a USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port, which makes it easy to connect to external displays or peripherals. The laptop is also incredibly thin and lightweight, measuring just 0.63 inches thin and weighing 2.65 pounds, making it perfect for anyone who needs a device that they can easily take on the go.

Product Overview:

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 Gaming Laptop is a high-end device designed for gamers and power users who demand high performance and speed. It comes with a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display that delivers a 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, making it ideal for fast-paced action and gaming. The display offers a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a wide color gamut, allowing for stunning visuals with accurate colors.

Under the hood, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H processor, which offers eight cores and sixteen threads for lightning-fast performance. The processor is coupled with 16GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200MHz, which ensures smooth multitasking and fast application loading times.

The device features a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super graphics card with 8GB of GDDR6 memory and ROG Boost technology. This powerful graphics card can handle high-end gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering with ease, delivering stunning visuals and smooth gameplay.

The laptop comes with a 1TB PCIe SSD that offers fast read and write speeds, ensuring quick boot times and fast application loading times. The storage capacity is large enough to store large files and data without running out of space.

Product Overview:

The Apple MacBook Pro with M1 chip is a 13-inch laptop that offers top-of-the-line performance, long battery life, and a sleek design. This laptop is available in a Space Gray color and features 256GB of SSD storage, which is perfect for storing your files and programs.

The M1 chip is a custom-designed Apple chip that powers the MacBook Pro, offering unparalleled speed and power. With the M1 chip, the MacBook Pro is capable of handling even the most demanding tasks with ease, such as running complex programs, editing high-resolution videos, and playing graphics-intensive games. The 8-core CPU delivers up to 2.8x faster performance, while the 8-core GPU offers up to 5x faster graphics performance, ensuring that the MacBook Pro can handle even the most demanding tasks.

The MacBook Pro also features a 16-core Neural Engine, which provides advanced machine learning capabilities. This allows for tasks such as voice recognition, image and video analysis, and other AI applications to be completed quickly and efficiently.

In addition to its powerful performance capabilities, the MacBook Pro boasts a long battery life of up to 20 hours, which is the longest ever in a Mac. This means that you can work all day without worrying about running out of battery power. The superfast SSD storage also ensures that your apps and files launch quickly, while the active cooling system keeps the MacBook Pro performing at its best for extended periods of time.

Product Overview:

The Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop is a powerful and high-performance machine designed for serious gamers and content creators. It features a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-core processor with a maximum clock speed of up to 5.0GHz. The laptop is also equipped with an overclockable NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM, NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Dynamic Boost 2.0, and NVIDIA GPU Boost. These features make the Helios 300 capable of running even the most demanding games and applications with ease.

The laptop has a 15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS display with a refresh rate of 144Hz, a 3ms overdrive response time, and a 300nit brightness. This display provides stunning visuals with smooth and seamless gameplay. The laptop also has 16GB DDR4 2933MHz dual-channel memory and a 512GB NVMe SSD with 2 M.2 slots (1 slot open for easy upgrades) and 1 available hard drive bay.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop comes with Killer Double Shot Pro, which includes Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650i and Killer Ethernet E2600 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN. This ensures that you have fast and reliable internet connectivity for lag-free online gaming and streaming. The laptop also has a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, DTS X: Ultra Audio, and an all-metal AeroBlade 3D fan that keeps the system cool during intense gaming sessions.

The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home 64 bit operating system and has a refresh rate of either 360Hz or 165Hz, depending on the model you choose. It is available in a notebook-only version, or as a bundle that includes a backpack, dock, headset, or mouse.

Product Overview:

The Lenovo ThinkPad E495 is a high-performance laptop designed for business users, offering a sleek and professional design with a black color finish. With a 14-inch FHD (Full High Definition) screen, this laptop is compact enough to take with you wherever you go, but still provides plenty of screen space for productivity and entertainment.

Under the hood, the laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Processor, which has a base clock speed of 2.10 GHz and can boost up to 3.70 GHz when required. With 4 cores and 8 threads, this processor provides powerful performance for demanding tasks such as video editing, data analysis, and software development. The processor also features 4MB of cache memory, allowing for quick access to frequently used data.

The Lenovo ThinkPad E495 comes with 8GB of DDR4 2400MHz memory, which provides plenty of room for multitasking and running multiple applications simultaneously. It also features a 256GB PCIe SSD hard drive, which delivers fast read and write speeds for quick boot times and application launch.

In terms of graphics, the laptop features integrated AMD Radeon™ Vega 8 Graphics, providing smooth performance for video playback, light gaming, and other graphic-intensive tasks. The laptop's display is anti-glare, which helps reduce eye strain when working for extended periods. It has a maximum brightness of 220 nits, which makes it suitable for use in a variety of lighting conditions.

Product Overview:

The ASUS VivoBook 15 is a thin and light laptop that features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) 4-way NanoEdge bezel display, offering a stunning 88% screen-to-body ratio. This laptop has a sleek Slate Gray color and is equipped with the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU, with 4M Cache and up to 3.4 GHz clock speed. The 8 GB DDR4 RAM and 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD provide ample storage and fast performance, allowing for smooth multitasking and quick boot times.

The laptop's ergonomic backlit keyboard features a fingerprint sensor that is activated via Windows Hello, providing convenient and secure access. The exclusive Ergolift design of the laptop raises the keyboard to an improved typing position for comfortable usage, reducing strain on the wrists and ensuring efficient typing.

The ASUS VivoBook 15 features comprehensive connectivity options, including USB 3.2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 2.0, and HDMI. It is also equipped with Gigabit Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for high-speed internet access. This laptop is compatible with Google Classroom, allowing users to run Google Classroom on Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer 11 for online learning and collaboration.

Product Overview:

The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a powerful and versatile laptop that is designed to meet the needs of professionals and creatives alike. This particular version of the device comes with a 13.5-inch PixelSense display, which offers stunning visuals with a resolution of 3000x2000 and 267 PPI. The display also features 10-point multi-touch support, making it ideal for sketching, note-taking, and other creative tasks.

Under the hood, the Surface Book 2 is powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8650U quad-core processor with a maximum turbo speed of 4.20 GHz. The processor is paired with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive, making it a capable performer for a wide range of tasks. The device also comes equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 discrete GPU with 2GB of GDDR5 graphics memory, which provides smooth and responsive graphics performance.

The Surface Book 2 also features a sleek and stylish design with a silver magnesium casing and a black backlit keyboard. It has a range of ports including two USB 3.1 ports, a USB-C port, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. The device also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, making it suitable for video conferencing and taking photos.

The laptop runs on Windows 10 Pro 64-bit and comes with a variety of software pre-installed, including Microsoft Office. It also has a battery life of up to 17 hours, allowing you to work or play for extended periods without needing to recharge.

Product Overview:

The Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop (G5590-7679BLK-PUS) is a powerful and sleek gaming laptop designed to provide the ultimate gaming experience. It features a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) anti-glare LED-backlit non-touch narrow border IPS display, which offers stunning visuals and vivid colors. The laptop is powered by a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor, which has a base clock speed of 2.6GHz and can turbo boost up to 4.5GHz, providing excellent performance and power efficiency. The laptop comes with 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM, which ensures smooth and seamless multitasking and enables users to run multiple applications at the same time.

The Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4GB GDDR5 graphics card, which delivers smooth and immersive gaming experiences with high-quality visuals. The laptop also comes with a 256GB SSD and 1TB SATA hard drive, providing ample storage space for games, media, and other applications. The laptop runs on the Windows 10 Home operating system, which offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features.

The Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop has an elegant, sleek design that is sure to turn heads. It features an innovative dual-fan cooling system with an advanced thermal design that ensures the system stays cool even during intense gaming sessions. The laptop also comes with a backlit keyboard, which allows users to game or work in low-light conditions. The laptop also features a range of connectivity options, including USB 3.1, HDMI, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi.

Overall, the Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop is a powerful and stylish gaming laptop that is designed to provide an immersive gaming experience. With its powerful hardware, excellent graphics, and innovative cooling system, it is the perfect choice for gamers who demand the best in performance and design.

Product Overview:

The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is a 2-in-1 laptop that boasts a lightweight design and powerful features. At just under 3 pounds, the device is easy to carry and can be folded into tablet mode for comfortable browsing and viewing. The Chromebook Plus V2 also comes with an incredibly precise built-in pen that never needs charging, making it perfect for writing, sketching, editing, and taking screenshots.

In terms of performance, the device is powered by an Intel Celeron processor, allowing users to tackle anything with ease. It also comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in memory, which can be expanded up to 400GB with a microSD card. This provides users with plenty of storage for their files, documents, and media.

The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 also features a 13MP world-facing camera with autofocus, which allows users to capture clear shots and even zoom in for a closer look. The device runs on the secure Chrome OS, which enables users to create, explore, and browse on a bigger screen with the tools they use every day. The Chromebook Plus V2 also has access to the Google Play Store, giving users access to a wide range of apps and entertainment options.

In addition, the device comes with Bluetooth v4.0 for seamless connectivity with other devices. The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is available in the Light Titan color and has a 12.2-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio. This product is designed for use in the US, so users outside the US may need an adapter or converter to use it.

What are the things to keep in mind when getting a Best Laptop For Automotive Diagnostics laptop?

As a Car mechanical engineer, you will be using software like AutoEnginuity's ScanTool · ‎ProScan · ‎Automotive diagnostic software for Mac, etc.

Sometimes you will multitask with all this software and for that, you should look for powerful specifications that give you excellent performance without problems.

You may be thinking about what kinds of things you need to consider when acquiring a laptop as a car mechanical engineer. Don't worry, we'll clear it up with the important things/specs listed below.

# 1 Storage space

The first is storage space. The storage of the device depends on your need, but here we suggest that you choose a solid-state drive than the normal hard disk drive. This is because the SSD is faster and more expensive than the hard drive, which also improves the overall performance of the laptop.

Also, many laptops today come with dual storage segments like a small SSD size with a larger HDD storage.

# 2 powerful RAM

The second thing to consider is RAM because it is one of the important parts of a laptop. More RAM is needed as it helps you handle all your heavy multitasking work with ease.

If you are a newbie or on a budget, then 8GB of RAM is fine for you. But we recommend that you go with at least 12GB or 16GB of RAM if you get more than that, it's a good option for you.

# 3 A fast CPU

The CPU is one of the most essential parts of any laptop. For example, if the laptop CPU is faster, you will get good performance. But if the CPU is slower, it will take a long time to load your applications or process your files.

So, I will advise you to get at least one Core i5. You will need it if you want to run any of those programs, such as MATLAB, SolidWorks, ANSYS, etc.

# 4. Dedicated graphics card

Another thing to consider is having a dedicated graphics card. You will need software that requires high graphics, such as doing 3D rendering or 3D printing that is done in ANSYS or SolidWorks, then you need a laptop with a dedicated graphics card.

But, if you are doing normal graphics, then integrated graphics are enough for you.

# 5. Window operating system

The Windows operating system is another thing to consider on a laptop. Most software and automotive diagnostic programs are only compatible with a Windows operating system.

So if you are using a laptop like Mac that has a different operating system, you will have to install the Windows software in the middle of your disk. As it is the only way to run Windows programs on Mac OS.

# 6. Lightweight 

You will have to consider this, your laptop should be lightweight. Because if you carry a backpack and your laptop is inside, every day you take it to classes, then to the library and also to lunch. You will have a terrible posture that will hurt your back.

Therefore, I will advise you to carry a lightweight laptop and not a super heavy laptop.

# 7. Good backup battery

Also, having a good battery backup is very important. For students, laptops with good battery capacity are always the right choice.

A computer for mechanical engineering students should have at least 6-7 hours in reserve, therefore it can last up to full lectures and labs or you can find a power source until then.

Note that laptops with more than 7 hours of battery backup and excellent performance are expensive.

How to use a laptop as an automotive scan tool

Modern cars come equipped with an onboard diagnostic system. OBD-II is an advanced management system that professionals and home mechanics can connect to via the diagnostic port. You can also use a computer or laptop instead of a handheld scanner, however, you will need a kit.

Most laptop diagnostic programs are more advanced than handheld scanners and offer the ability to monitor engine performance and read fault codes.

Step 1
Purchase a laptop OBD-II interface kit. You can buy these kits at many auto parts stores; in addition, they are available online.

Step 2
Insert the software installation disc. Follow the instructions to complete the installation. If the installation does not start automatically, go to "My Computer" and double-click the disk to begin.

Step 3
Connect the components to your laptop. Most kits contain a USB-to-serial adapter for laptops without serial ports. Once the device is connected to the laptop, connect the OBD-II diagnostic port cable.

Step 4
Launch the software program. Double-click the icon on the desktop if the program did not start automatically. Get comfortable with the control interface.

Step 5
Bring your laptop to your vehicle. Turn the ignition key to the "On" position, but do not start the engine. Connect the OBD-II scan cable from the laptop to your vehicle's diagnostic port, usually located on the driver's side foot, below the steering well.

Click the "Scan" button on the control interface, if necessary. View engine codes and diagnostic information provided by the program.

Tip:

• Not all programs have the same number of functions. The basic program will read the “Check-Engine” codes. Enhanced programs may offer additional features, such as monitoring engine operation, power, and fuel economy.

Conclusion:

When asked which Laptop is Best For Automotive Diagnostics, to be honest, you can't choose. Each has something different. There's a reason these products are on the list of the best laptops for automotive technicians. Which one do you choose?