As an engineer or engineering student, it is often necessary to look for the best, powerful and flexible laptop endowed with a lot of computing power and capable of handling complex tasks and running demanding applications. While some will favor the fixed workstation, others will prefer the portability and flexibility of a laptop.
However, finding the right laptop for our needs is not always easy.
Laptops for engineering students as well as professionals need to be fast, efficient, and versatile.
Given the investment that this implies, it is important to have all the cards in hand to make the best possible choice.
How to choose a laptop suitable for engineering work? What are the important criteria to know? What are the best laptops for engineers right now?
These are the few questions you will find answers to in this guide.
Best Laptops For Engineering Students & Engineers 2021
I’ve put together a selection for you of what I consider to be the best engineering laptops on the market today. I will suggest five to 12 models based on the above criteria as well as on my personal experience.
Best Laptops For Engineers | Comparison Table 2021
Image | Title | Brand | Buy |
---|---|---|---|
Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop, 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, 8GB DDR4, 256GB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Backlit Keyboard, Alexa Built-in, AN515-54-5812 | Acer | Check Price | |
ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 9 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 - 1TB SSD - Moonlight White | ASUS | Check Price | |
Dell XPS 15 - 15 Inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6, Windows 10 Home (Latest Model) - Silver | Dell | Check Price | |
HP Spectre x360 15T 2020 i7-10750H Hexacore, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Nvidia GTX 1650Ti 4GB Graphics, 15.6 4K Touch, Wi-Fi 6, Win 10 Pro, Nightfall Black, HP Pen, 64 GB Tech Warehouse Flash Drive | HP | Check Price | |
Lenovo Legion Y740-15IRH Gaming Laptop, 15.6" Screen, Intel Core i7, 16GB Memory, 1TB Hard Drive/256GB Solid State Drive, Windows 10, 81UF0001US | Lenovo | Check Price | |
New Microsoft Surface Book 2 15" (Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 256GB) | Microsoft | Check Price | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" Laptop, 15.6" HD (1366 x 768) Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3250U Processor, 4GB DDR4 Onboard RAM, 128GB SSD, AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics, Windows 10, 81W10094US, Business Black | Lenovo | Check Price | |
New Dell XPS 17 9700 17 inch UHD Plus Laptop (Silver) Intel i9-10885H 10th Gen, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6, Windows 10 Home, 17-30.99 inches | Dell | Check Price | |
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-73L3 Gaming Laptop, Intel i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER, 15.6" FHD NVIDIA G-SYNC Display, 300Hz, 16GB Dual-Channel DDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, RGB Backlit KB | Acer | Check Price | |
Latest Gen 8 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 14" FHD Ultrabook (400 nits) with 10th Gen Intel i7-10510U Processor up to 4.90 GHz, 1 TB PCIe SSD, 16GB RAM, and Windows 10 Pro | Lenovo | Check Price | |
Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition Laptop 2020: Intel Core i7-10875H 8-Core, NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000, 15.6” 4K OLED Touch, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, CNC Aluminum, Chroma RGB, Thunderbolt 3, Creator Ready | Razer | Check Price | |
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD (Latest Model) – Platinum with Black Type Cover | Microsoft | Check Price |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Best Laptops For Engineering Students | Products Overview 2021
1.Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop
- 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz)
- 15.6 inches Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
- 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory; 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD (2 x PCIe M.2 slots - 1 slot open for easy upgrades) & 1 - Available hard drive bay
- LAN: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port); Wireless: Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax
- Backlit keyboard; Acer Cool Boost technology with twin fans and dual exhaust ports
2.ASUS – ROG Zephyrus G14 High-End Laptop For Engineers
- AMD 3rd Generation Ryzen 9
- 14 Full HD display with 120Hz refresh rate
- 16GB system memory for intense multitasking and gaming
- Solid State Drive 1 TB
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
- Moonlight White
3. Dell XPS 15 – Laptop For Engineering Students
- 62% larger touchpad, 5% larger screen, and 5.6% smaller footprint
- 16:10 FHD+ edge to edge display equipped with DisplayHDR 400 and Dolby Vision
- Integrated Eyesafe display technology
- Quad speaker design with Waves Nx audio
- High-polished diamond-cut sidewalls
- 15 Inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6, Windows 10 Home (Latest Model) - Silver
4. HP Spectre x360 15T Engineer’s Laptop
- HARDCORE PERFORMANCE: Latest Hexacore 10th gen Intel i7- 10750H (2.6 GHz base frequency(2b), up to 5 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost, 12 MB L3 cache, 6 cores) + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti with Q-Max Design 4GB + 16 GB DDR4 RAM, 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, Windows 10 PRO. Includes a Super Sleek & cool 64GB ULTRA SLIM Tech Warehouse LLC USB Flash drive. A speedy little performer with a great look! Please see the picture illustrations. This laptop is Brand New with HPS tamper-proof factory seal intact.
- IMMERSIVE DISPLAY AND SOUND: You’ll love the 15.6 diagonal 4K 340 nits (3840 x 2160) IPS IPS micro-edge BrightView WLED-backlit touch screen that brings your videos and photos to life. It also includes Bang & Olufsen Quad Speakers, HP Audio Boost, and custom tuning by the experts at Bang & Olufsen, entertainment comes to life with sound you can feel, Nightfall Black
- BLAZING SPEED WITH SSD AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE MEMORY: 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD (17x faster than a traditional 5400-rpm laptop hard drive),16 GB DDR4-2933 SDRAM of system memory for intense multitasking and gaming, smoothly run your graphics-heavy PC games and video-editing, 1 x Multi-Format SD Media Card Reader, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 Combo (Supporting Gigabit file transfer speeds), Camera Kill Switch, Mic-Mute Key, HP Pen
- HP TRUE VISION, ThunderBolt 3 and USB-C Support: HP TrueVision HD IR Camera with Dual array digital microphone - WINDOWS HELLO COMPATIBLE WITH IR CAMERA, USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 3 support - This single interface supports both high-speed data and high-definition video. 1 Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps signaling rate) with SuperSpeed USB Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.2, HP Sleep and Charge)
- ALL-DAY BATTERY: Stay unplugged for up to 13 hours courtesy of the 6-cell 72.9 Wh Li-ion battery. Built to last you through the day, it gives you the freedom to confidently travel with your convertible HP touchscreen laptop and work on the go without constantly worrying about charge. Click ‘Add to Cart’ and enjoy our 100% satisfaction guarantee!
5. Lenovo Legion Y740-15IRH Expensive Laptops For Engineering Students
- Processor Manufacturer: Intel
- Processor Type: Core i7
- Processor generation: 9th Gen
- Processor model: i7-9750h
- Processor speed: 2.60 GHz
- Gaming Laptop, 15.6 Screen, Intel Core i7, 16GB Memory, 1TB Hard Drive/256GB Solid State Drive, Windows 10
- Keyboard backlit, perfect speakers, high performance
6. Microsoft Surface Book 2
- Microsoft Surface Book 2 features a 8th generation Intel Dual Core i5 Processor, 256 GB of storage, 16 GB RAM, and up to 17 hours of video playback
- Includes an Intel HD Graphics 620 integrated GPU
- The fastest surface Book yet, with 2x more power
- Vibrant PixelSense Display: Now available with an improved 15 Touchscreen
- Four versatile modes of use and new USB-C port
- 15 Screen, very light weight & Thin
7. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Cheapest Laptop For Engineering Students
- Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen 3 3250U processor with Radeon Vega 3 graphics, the AMD multi-core processing power offers incredible bandwidth for getting more done faster, in several applications at once
- The 15. 6 HD (1366 x 768) screen with narrow side bezels and Dopoundsy Audio deliver great visuals and crystal-clear sound for your entertainment
- 128 GB SSD M.2 NVMe storage and 4 GB DDR4 memory; Windows 10 installed
- Keep your privacy intact with a physical shutter on your webcam for peace of mind when you need it
- Stay connected: 2x2 Wi-Fi 5 (802. 11 ac/ac(LC)) and Bluetooth 4.1; webcam with microphone; 3 USB ports, HDMI and SD card reader
- Business Black
8. Dell XPS 17 9700 Big Screen Laptop For Engineers
- Desktop-caliber creativity in a laptop:Packed with staggering performance typically only available from desktops, 10th Gen Intel Core processors bring desktop-caliber creativity to your laptop
- More creating, less waiting:GeForce RTX 2060 laptops are built with the breakthrough graphics performance of the award-winning GeForce GPUs. Dedicated GPU power accelerates the creative apps you use every day
- The XPS 17 delivers unprecedented performance in an incredibly thin form factor. discrete graphics feature unique dual opposite outlet fans, that increase fan airflow by approximately 30%
- Model number: XPS9700-9415SLV-PUS
- 17 inch UHD Plus Laptop (Silver) Intel i9-10885H 10th Gen, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6, Windows 10 Home, 17-30.99 inches
- Pricy
9. Acer Predator Triton Engineer’s Laptop
Check Price10. Latest Gen 8 Lenovo
- Outstanding Battery Life: Rated Up to 19.5 hours (MM14) and Up to 13.5 hours (MM18) by MobileMark 2014, an industry standard PC performance benchmark. Actual results will vary depending on your system’s usage and settings, including power management and screen brightness.
- With WiFi 6 AX201 802.11AX (2 x 2) Wireless, you get fast and reliable connections, even on networks with lots of devices attached. Rapid Charge boosts battery life up to 80% in just an hour. Weighs only 2.40 lbs
- HD 720p webcam with ThinkShutter privacy cover, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Spill resistant US English Keyboard, Bluetooth 5.0, Dolby Atmos Speaker System, 4 x 360-degree far-field microphones
- Ports: 2 x USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) Intel Thunderbolt 3 (DisplayPort, Data transfer), 2 x USB 3.2 (Gen 1) (1 always on), HDMI 1.4, Network extension for Ethernet/side mechanical docking, Headphone / mic combo
- Tested against 12 military-grade requirements from the Arctic wilderness to desert dust storms, from zero gravity to spills and drops, you can trust this laptop to handle whatever life throws your way.
11. Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition High-End Laptop For Engineering Studies
- More Power, More Cores: The 8-Core 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H processor provides the ultimate level of performance with up to 5. 1GHz Max Turbo.
- Studio Ready: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q Design (8GB GDDR6 VRAM) graphics is up to 25% faster than the original RTX 20 Series with more cores and higher clocks.
- Vivid Visuals: The 4K OLED touch display delivers blazing fast 1ms response time and a wide color range covering 100% of the DCI-P3 space, while the HDR 400 True Black ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors.
- Thin and Compact: The CNC aluminum unibody frame houses incredible performance in the most compact footprint possible, while remaining remarkably durable and just 0. 7 thin.
- Innovative Cooling: A unique vacuum sealed, liquid filled, copper vapor chamber spans the heat generating components and is the key to getting maximum performance and user comfort in a compact, thin design.
- Connectivity technology: HDMI
12. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Touch Screen Laptop For Engineers
- Next-Gen power to fuel your ideas: Powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core processor and over two times faster than Surface Pro 6, Surface Pro 7 keeps up with you. This next-generation laptop features the versatility of a studio and tablet, so you can type, touch, draw, write, work, and play more naturally.
- With multitasking speed, improved graphics, amazing entertainment, quality Wi-Fi performance, and long battery life. The high-resolution PixelSense display with ambient light sensing automatically adjusts to lighting conditions.
- More ways to connect: Now with both USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports for connecting to displays, docking stations, and more, as well as accessory charging.
- The standout design won't weigh you down - ultra-slim and light - Surface Pro 7 starts at just 1.70 lbs. All-day battery life up to 10.5 hours, plus the ability to go from empty to full faster - about 80% in just over an hour.
- With Windows 10 Home, enjoy familiar features, such as password-free Windows Hello sign-in. Create your best work with Office 365 on Windows, and keep photos and files safe in the cloud with integrated OneDrive.
- Best Budget Laptop for engineering students
Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to Pick the Laptop For Engineering Students 2021
The power of the processor
The processor is the main element of a computer. It is in a way the heart of the PC. The CPU is all the more essential when it comes to a laptop computer whose primary function is to run engineering software.
Whether it is essential software such as Autocad, Matlab, Solidworks, STAAD Pro, or Primavera, the speed of your processor will have a heavy impact on their performance when performing the tasks you entrust to them.
To be sure that you are not limited by the capabilities of your laptop, opt for a Core i5, but if your budget allows it, a Core i7 is still the best choice.
In the case of a tight budget, you can fall back on a core i3. Forget about dual cores.
When choosing, pay attention to the denominations of the different processors. Processors whose names end in “HQ” perform better, while those ending in “U” perform less well but are more battery efficient.
So it’s up to you to decide what matters for you between performance and autonomy.
Hard Disk Size
CAD software like AutoCAD, Catia, ANSYS, Solidworks along with the files they generate consume space, so you need storage for all of that.
500 GB is a reasonable amount, but if you are also going to use your computer as a multimedia device, 1 Terabyte is the minimum.
Fortunately, most laptops today come with a high-capacity hard drive.
Having an SSD can also be interesting for a laptop computer intended for engineers because of the massive gain in speed it offers. It’s more a choice of comfort than anything else but personally, since I discovered the SSD, I can not do without it.
The amount of RAM
How Much RAM is Required for an Engineers Laptop?
In engineering, we often have to use a multitude of programs, each performing specific tasks, sometimes at the same time.
This is where RAM shows its importance. Each program launched on a computer consumes RAM, the more it is limited the fewer margins there are for multitasking.
Your laptop should therefore have the correct amount of memory. The recommended capacity is 8 GB, although 12 GB and 16 GB are also good.
It is possible to work with 4 GB but at the cost of multiple concessions. As the RAM is expandable, nothing prevents you from opting for 4 GB and expanding it to 8 GB thereafter.
However, in some cases, it is better to have a good graphics card rather than a huge amount of RAM.
Dedicated Graphics Cards
Often used engineering work solutions such as CAD software, MATLAB, and Solid Works are used for 3D environment applications and video rendering.
These types of applications require a dedicated video card because integrated graphics cards (like Intel HD) cannot meet the power requirements to run them properly.
Opting for a DDR5 graphics card with 2 GB of video memory will be sufficient for the majority of the software you will use. If you have to use 3D modeling software extensively, going up to 4 GB of video memory is recommended.
A small bonus, if like me you are a fan of video games, you can also play your favorite games in good conditions.
Mac or PC?
The eternal debate in the computer world. But what about in the world of engineering?
Well, there is no real debate in this specific case.
Of course, Mac devices are incredibly well designed, and their workmanship is impeccable not to mention their fabulous Retina displays. Like architecture, some flagship software used in engineering runs only on Windows.
Of course, you can still use a Mac, but that means you will be installing Windows in Bootcamp especially for certain software, which can be tedious and sometimes annoying in the long run.
These are things to keep in mind if you are looking for a laptop for engineering purposes.
Personally, I can only recommend a Windows laptop. First of all for the compatibility with the various engineers’ software but also the prices significantly lower than the Apple brand computers.
However, if you are used to Macbooks, don’t want to leave your comfort zone, and don’t mind using virtual machines, then choose a Macbook.
Screen size
Screen size isn’t really a major parameter when it comes to engineering laptops. The choice of one size or another will depend above all on your affinities and the comfort you are looking for.
In general, a 14 or 15-inch laptop is fine. For work related to technical drawings, a 17-inch laptop is a must.
Also, it is important to keep your portability needs in mind. A 17.3-inch screen won’t be as portable as a 15-inch or 14-inch screen.
Connectivity
When it comes to an outdoor display or a USB stick, most laptops will need to connect to something. Adapters are well in a pinch, but it’s easier if you buy a laptop that has a lot of connectivity choices.
We recommend that you get a laptop with some USB 3.0 interfaces. This is useful for connecting a hard drive if you want to save your documents. SD card slots can also be fantastic, especially if you are an image editor as it makes transferring photos easy.
Battery:
FAQs
What are the essential laptop features for engineering students in 2021?
The laptop should have at least 7 hours of battery life and preferably a 15-inch screen. Most students should also opt for a laptop with an integrated AMD graphics card or an Nvidia graphics card to support graphically intensive processes such as CAD.
Can I install Windows 10 64-bit or Linux if needed?
Some laptops come preinstalled with Windows 10 64-bit, but if they’re Home Edition, you can choose to upgrade it separately. Linux is open-source software and should be easy to install if you follow the guide available online.
How to replace the battery in case of failure?
Depending on whether you purchased your laptop from Dell, HP, Lenovo, or other brands, you should contact their support center to get officially authenticated products.
Can I install all my engineering software on these laptops?
The answer is yes and no! No one can guarantee that every software would work, as many programs require multiple cores, increased RAM, and specific operating system requirements to run efficiently. Compare your laptop’s specs with the software’s recommended requirements to find out.
Can I connect Bluetooth mice, a keyboard, and a drawing pad for engineering studies?
Yes. Most modern laptops support Bluetooth connectivity. You can also use the Wi-Fi dongle supplied with the wireless mice to connect. Drawing tablets generally work best on the USB port.
How do I connect my laptop to an external display?
You can use the VGA port to connect to an external display, but an HDMI port is found in newer models and should allow you to push your display limit to large 25- or 27-inch monitors.
Is the software used in engineering courses free with any laptop?
In most cases, you won’t find them bundled together unless it’s a specific student deal. You need to purchase them separately and install them to start using them for your studies.
Which laptop is best for mechanical engineering students?
Ans- You can read our in-depth article on this question, We have covered everything regarding the best laptop for mechanical engineering students.
Is the gaming laptop good for engineering?
Ans – Yes, gaming laptops are good for engineering students because gaming laptops come with high processors and heavy graphics which help engineering students run their software very easily.
Which brand of laptop is best for engineering students?
Years – We have selected the best-branded laptop for engineering students, you can check the above list, according to our research, Apple, HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo are the best laptop brands.
Conclusion
We’ve done our research on the best laptop for engineering students that you can buy in 2021. We’ve added laptops in different price ranges and made sure each has good performance and decent battery life. battery so that you can enjoy working on the laptop even when using heavy programs. We also kept durability in mind when putting together our list, as students would want something that is durable enough to last throughout their college without having to take them to the store too often for repair.
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