Looking for the best engineering laptops? Don’t worry, you are in the right place.
Engineering is a vast educational degree itself that includes various fields including Electrical, Mechanical, Computer science, Civil, Electronics, and many other branches. As an engineering student, you’ll be dealing with a lot of different software and applications to do engineering work. Depending on your particular field these applications can range from C++, Java, AutoCAD Catia, etc., that don’t support any laptop.
You need a laptop that is capable of handling graphically intensive applications, has a powerful processor, HD display, and a lot of memory. In a way of searching for the best laptop for engineering students, you’ll find thousands of highly-priced laptops. But we understand that most of you may want something that does not hurt your pocket too much without compromising on the features.
To help you out in finding good engineering laptops, we have compiled a list of the best laptops for engineering students in 2021 with affordable and portable options.
But before rushing out to buy a laptop for engineering, we advise you to go through the guide first of a few things to consider as the best laptop for engineering students.
Things to consider before buying a laptop for engineering
These days there are many laptops are available in the market so it’s easy to make mistakes on this expensive investment. There are some specific requirements in the engineering field that other students or laptop users may not need as much. So, look at these critical suggestions on what specifications to look for in a laptop for engineering.
Processor
The processor is a very important spec to look at if you’re an engineering student. Some heavy engineering software like AutoCAD, Matlab, ANSYS, Excel, CATIA, etc. requires a fast processor to speed up your workflow. A laptop with an i5 processor or higher would be better to boost up your working speed. More is the RAM the better will be your laptop to handle multitasking.
RAM
Depends on your profession, you have to make sure that your laptop can actually store and run your applications smoothly. For heavy software like CAD and Matlab, your RAM should be at least 8GB. Although you can upgrade it up to 12GB or 16GB if needed.
Graphics Card
For 3D environment applications like CAD and MATLAB, your laptop should have a dedicated graphics card. The ideal graphics card for best engineering laptops should be of at least 2GB VRAM. However, if you consider high-end gaming a priority, then a laptop with a DDR5 graphics card like the NVidia GTX series would be the best choice.
Hard Drive
To store heavy applications and software like AutoCAD, Catia, Matlab, ANSYS, and Solidworks, etc. you will need adequate memory – then a laptop with SSD would be highly recommended over a conventional hard drive. But if you’re not on a tight budget then we’ll recommend you to go to a laptop with SSD + hard drive storage for the best value.
Display
A display is actually not a major requirement when it comes to laptops for engineering students. Get a laptop with 1920×1080 resolution no matter what type of software you want to run on your computer. You can also go for 3k, 4k quality if budget is not an issue for you. For display size, a 14 or 15-inch laptop is a perfect choice as these sizes are good for portability and work-friendly.
Source – Solidworks blog, AutoCAD, NVidia, Intel Xeon Processors, AMD.
These were some specs which you should keep in mind while searching for the best laptops for engineering students. We can understand finding a good laptop for engineering might be a daunting task sometimes but by following the above-mentioned specs, your task will become easier. So, without wasting a minute, let’s proceed to the list of top 10 laptops for engineering students of 2021.
Top 10 Best Laptops for Engineering Students
1. Acer Aspire 5 – Best Budget Laptop for Engineers #Best Seller
If you are on a tight budget but want to buy a powerful laptop for engineering then Acer Aspire 5 would be the best choice for you. With the Intel Core i5 11th gen processor, this laptop is capable to handle most of the demanding software for engineering like CAD, SolidWorks, and Revit, etc.
The laptop comes with a 15.6-inches full HD display with 1080p resolution that lets you experience crisp, lifelike colors and sharp details. The Aspire 5 runs on Windows 10 which makes it compatible with most applications. Moreover, the laptop features a full-size backlit keyboard with an ergonomic hinge design to give you a comfortable typing experience.
It comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM which can be upgradable up to 32GB if you need more intensive multitasking. The laptop has 256GB of solid-state drive for applications running. The laptop weighs around 3.6 pounds which is convenient enough to carry around.
Furthermore, the Aspire 5 gives a battery life of up to 8.5-hours which is good for a long day task. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is the best laptop to buy for engineering students due to its affordable price, robust design, and excellent performance.
Hardware Specifications of Acer Aspire 5 | |
Processor | 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor (Up to 4.2GHz) |
RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
Storage | 256GB NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6″ FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) WLED-backlit Display |
Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 8.5 hours |
Weight | 3.64 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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MORE: Top 10 Best Laptops Under $600
2. Lenovo Flex 5 – Best Convertible Laptop for Engineering Student
The Lenovo Flex 5 is a powerful yet lightweight laptop on the market that comes with high-end specifications. The device is backed with ample hardware, which is sufficient for most applications with no lag performance. It comes with grey color plastic chassis, that feels rigid and has a common textured finish. Being a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, it has a 360-degree hinge that lets you work in different modes.
The laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor paired with 16GB of DDR4 RAM which is good enough to handle multitasking. The graphics on the device are backed by powerful Radeon Graphics which is great to run most of the 3D software as well as gaming and multimedia content creation.
The port selection on Flex 5 is excellent, which includes two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, a full-sized HDMI socket, SD card reader, headphone jack, and a power connector.
With 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage, the Lenovo Flex 5 is a perfect machine for a gaming laptop as well as for engineering students. The eye-catchy aspect of Flex 5 is its classy looks and sleek design. The laptop provides a decent battery backup and weighs about 3.64 lbs. All in all, Lenovo Flex 5 is an excellent 2-in-1 convertible and also the best laptop for college engineering students of 2021.
Hardware Specifications of Lenovo Flex 5 Laptop | |
Processor | AMD Ryzen™ 5 4500U mobile Processor (Turbo to 4.0 GHz) |
RAM | 16GB Dual Channel Memory |
Storage | 256GB SSD |
Display | 14″ FHD narrow bezels (1920 x 1080) IPS touchscreen display |
Graphics | Radeon Graphics |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 10-hours |
Weight | 3.64 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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3. ASUS VivoBook K571GT Best in Mid-Range
Most people prefer portability and beautiful design after hardware specs while buying a laptop. The ASUS VivoBook K571GT is one of the stylish and sleek laptops that comes with powerful hardware specifications. It is a mid-range laptop that might be a perfect option to buy for engineering students.
The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch full HD display with IPS technology, which doesn’t strain our eyes even after very prolonged usage of 3D drafting and Design. Additionally, the VivoBook K571GT is quite lightweight which ensures easier portability to travel anywhere you want.
With a 120Hz refresh rate, the laptop further enhance your gameplay experience without compromising on visuals. The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home operating system that makes it suitable for multipurpose.
The laptop is powered by the latest 10th gen Intel Core i7 processor along with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD with 256GB of SSD storage. With NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, you will be able to run 3D software efficiently it. There are hardly any reasons to not go with this laptop and thus it is one of the most recommended laptops for engineering students.
Hardware Specifications of ASUS VivoBook K571 Ultrabook | |
Processor | 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H Processor (Turbo up to 4.5GHz) |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
Storage | 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD |
Display | 15.6” Full HD (1920×1080) IPS Display |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 9 hours |
Weight | 4.3 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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Also Read: Best Laptops for Programming Students
4. HP Notebook 15-dy2021nr – Best Laptop for Electrical Engineering Students
The new HP 15-dy2021nr laptop comes with a very premium and elegant design thanks to its brushed aluminum look. The HP 15-dy2021nr is a great laptop for engineering students who need a smooth 1080p display. It’s not only cheap but it’s also an excellent choice if you consider its high-end specifications.
It comes with the new 11th gen i5-1135G7 processor paired with a massive 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. The laptop sports a 15.6-inch full HD display with optimized contrast to deliver stunning photos and videos. Furthermore, this HP notebook features a full-size keyboard with a responsive touchpad that lets you work comfortably.
For connectivity, the laptop has USB Type-C 3.1 port, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, HDMI-out, and an SD card reader. For communication, there is an Intel 7265 2×2 WLAN module for 802.11ac and Bluetooth connectivity.
Additionally, the laptop weighs only 3.7 pounds with up to 7.5 hours of battery life, hence it’s the right choice for frequent travelers. If you are an engineer and looking for a powerful option with portability then HP 15-dy2021nr is a great choice for you.
Hardware Specifications of HP 15-dy2021nr Notebook | |
Processor | 11th Generation Qual-Core Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, 3.6GHz |
RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
Storage | 256GB NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6” Full HD WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080) anti-glare Display |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 7 hours and 15 minutes |
Weight | 3.75 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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5. Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Best Laptop for Mechanical Engineering Students
Are you a Civil engineer and looking for a perfect laptop to start your career in 3D designing? The Lenovo ThinkPad E15 is an ideal laptop for AutoCAD, Solidworks, and other CAD applications. This laptop is also a graphics-driven one, which is ideal for multiple uses like graphics designing, music production, architecture, and programming, etc.
The hardware configurations of ThinkPad E15 are pretty high quality that ensures constantly high, faster, accurate, and reliable performance. The laptop comes with a bright 15.6-inch Full HD display with an anti-glare property that lets the users view the images clearly for long hours, even outdoors.
Speaking about its specifications, it is powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor clocked up to 4.2GHz. The laptop sports 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for multitasking and fast file transfer speeds. The Intel UHD 620 graphics card is good and efficient enough to produce the images seamlessly with better color reproduction.
The ThinkPad E15 is pretty lightweight, weighing just a bit more than 4 pounds. The system features a wide range of connectivity ports including a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type C port, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, USB 2.0 port, HDMI port, RJ45, and an audio jack. Based on these specifications, it is a total winner when it comes to the best engineering laptop especially for CAD and 3D modeling work.
Hardware Specifications of Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Laptop | |
Processor | 10th gen Quad-Core i5-10210U Processor (Turbo up to 4.2GHz) |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6” Full HD (1920×1080) IPS Display |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
Operating System | Windows 10 Professional |
Battery Life | Up to 6 hours |
Weight | 4.30 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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Also read: best laptop for mechanical engineering students
6. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Overall Performance
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is primarily built for gamers, but the reason why we find it particularly useful for engineering students is its undeniably high-performing features. Speaking of its design, the gaming machine has a black metal chassis with two reflective strips and some tasteful chrome accents, transforming into a killer gaming machine.
Powered by Intel Core i7-10750H six-core processor, this laptop would be more than enough for engineering-related programs like CAD. Featured with GeForce RTX 2060 with 6GB of VRAM, it can run modern games at high settings and offers an excellent experience for using engineering-specific applications.
Furthermore, the Helios 300 sports a full Chiclet keyboard featuring 4-zone RGB backlighting, that you can personalize to enhance your gaming experience. The laptop weighs around 5.0-pounds that is not exactly easy to carry around but this laptop can act as a portable PC and one that works at home.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 sports 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, which you can easily upgrade its hard drive depends upon your storage requirements. The laptop’s 15-inch full HD display has a fast 144Hz refresh rate as well, which can run many games at more than 100 frames per second. Its dual fans keep the components cool even after long periods of use which makes it a great engineering laptop.
Hardware Specifications of Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop | |
Processor | 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0GHz) |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB SSD |
Display | 15.6″ FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) Display |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 VRAM |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 7-hours |
Weight | 5.0 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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You may like to read: Top 10 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000
7. ASUS ZenBook UX325EA-XS74 Best Lightweight Laptop
ZenBook has always been a different kind of ultraportable notebooks, but the elegant and sophisticated ZenBook UX325 is a new kind of portable machine. With a 13.3-inch display, the ASUS ZenBook is a slim and lightweight notebook that is featured with high-performance components. Its portable design and productive features making it a robust workstation for the engineering student who travels a lot for their work.
The ASUS ZenBook 13 is fitted with a 13.3″ OLED Full HD IPS display with better viewing angles compared to its predecessors. With 400 nits of brightness, the laptop allows you to easily work in full sunlight conditions. The ZenBook 13 also offers impressive connectivity such as two Type-C Thunderbolt 4 USB ports, a Type-A USB port, an HDMI port, and a microSD card reader.
The laptop is powered by a new Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor paired with 16GB of DDR4 RAM. For storage, the laptop has 512GB of solid-state drive which is good for running intensive applications like AUTOCAD and Solidworks very quickly.
The laptop offers a longer battery life that stays up to 13 hours. Overall, a powerful processor, vivid display, and lightweight design along with a long-lasting battery in the ZenBook UX325 make it the best laptop for computer engineering students.
Hardware Specifications of Asus ZenBook 13 UX325EA-XS74 | |
Processor | 11th-generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor, Up to 4.7GHz |
RAM | 16GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
Display | 13.3″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) 4-way NanoEdge bezel Display |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce MX250 2GB graphics |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 13-hours |
Weight | 2.45 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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You may like to read: 8 Best Laptops For AutoCAD and 3D Modelling
8. Dell Inspiron 15 5502
If you don’t want to compromise on performance and still want a lightweight machine for engineering, then Dell Inspiron 15 will be your best bet. This affordable and mid-range laptop is packed with a powerful Core i7-1165G7 processor with a turbo speed up to 5.0GHz. As far as the graphics on this laptop is concerned, it comes with a powerful 2GB of NVIDIA GeForce MX330 dedicated graphics. And you can play the latest demanding games at the lower settings and resolutions.
Sporting a 15.6-inch full HD display, this laptop offers clear and wide-viewing angles, which is best for designing based applications for engineering students. Furthermore, the Inspiron 15 has a silver backlit keyboard, allowing you to type comfortably in the dim light, and the silver palm rest with a fingerprint reader.
The laptop offers 8GB of RAM which is good for running multiple applications at a time. For storage, the laptop comes with 512GB of SSD storage which is an adequate amount and has many times more speed than the regular SATA hard drive.
The Inspiron 15 provides a battery backup of up to 8 hours of continuous usage. Based on its aforementioned list of specifications, the Dell Inspiron 15 is an ideal laptop for college engineering students who work on AutoCAD, Solidworks, and other heavy applications.
Hardware Specifications of Dell Inspiron 15 5502 Laptop | |
Processor | 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor (Turbo up to 4.7GHz) |
RAM | 8GB 3200MHz DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6″ FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare LED-backlit Display |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce MX330 2GB GDDR5 Graphics |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 8 hours |
Weight | 2.67 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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Also Read: Best Intel Core i7 Processor Laptops
9. Apple’s New MacBook Air M1 – Best With MacOS
If you’re tired of working with Windows and looking for buying a powerful yet budget-friendly MacBook, then the newly launched MacBook Air is undoubtedly an unmatched option for your engineering projects. This new MacBook Air comes with an eye-catching 13-inch retina display with 2560×1600 resolution that gives sharp and clear text as well as vibrant colors on a P3 color gamut.
The laptop is powered by a newly launched System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1 chip paired with a massive 8GB of RAM. On our test of the M1 silicon chip, almost everything works lag-free and the overall experience was really good.
Additionally, MacBook Air M1 comes with an improved fanless design, eliminating the heat the system generates, which means it can be used for intensive tasks over longer periods of time. Though MacBook Air doesn’t have a revolutionary design, it still feels premium when compared to other laptops.
Running on macOS BigSur, you can take advantage of rendering 3D models and encoding video. MacBook Air packs more performance into a lightweight design. The Apple M1 offers battery life — up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing, or up to 18 hours of video. So you’re free to keep watching, gaming, and editing from wherever you are. All these specifications make the Apple MacBook Air M1 — one of the best notebooks for engineering students.
Hardware Specifications of Apple New MacBook Air | |
Processor | System on Chip (SoC) Apple M1 chip; 8-core CPU |
RAM | 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 |
Storage | 256GB SSD |
Display | 13.3″ FHD LED-backlit Retina (2560×1600) Display |
Graphics | Apple 8-core GPU |
Operating System | macOS BigSur |
Battery Life | Up to 15-hours |
Weight | 2.8 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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You May Like To Read: Best Laptops for College Students (For Every Budget)
10. Acer Spin 5 Best Convertible Laptop
If you are looking for a convertible laptop to get your engineering tasks done then the Acer Spin 5 would be an ideal choice for you. It is a 13.5-inch budget-friendly laptop that offers all those powerful features that may require for engineering students. Speaking of its design, it comes with a magnesium-aluminum alloy body with a profile of 14.9mm and a weight of 1.20kg, which makes this airy convertible is so lightweight that it can easily fit in your travel backpack.
Powered by the Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM, the Spin 5 proved its multitasking muscle after opening a lot of Chrome browser tabs without stuttering. The storage department on the laptop is handled by a 512GB SSD for faster file transferring and accessing speeds.
The Spin 5 sports an island-style, backlit keyboard paired with a smooth precision touchpad with a responsive fingerprint reader embedded in it. Additionally, a fast-charging Acer Active Pen is included with the Spin 5 that gives a smooth pen-to-paper feel.
The laptop sports a 13.5-inch 2K resolution IPS Gorilla Glass display with a 360° hinge that allows you to convert from a traditional laptop to tablet mode, into display mode, or even tent mode. Thanks to its beautifully crafted slim and lightweight chassis design, this is one of the best 2 in 1 laptop for engineering students available at an affordable price.
Hardware Specifications of Acer Spin 5 Convertible laptop | |
Processor | 10th Generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor (Up to 3.9GHz) |
RAM | 16GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 13.5″ 2K (2256 x 1504) IPS WLED-backlit Touch Display |
Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 15-hours |
Weight | 2.65 lbs |
Pros
Cons
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Final Words
Choosing the one ‘best laptop for engineering students’ would be unviable. It all depends on your own experience and usage whether a machine is the best fit for you or not. With a premium display, HD graphics, fast processor, it perfectly sums up what the best laptops for engineering students should offer.
We think our short review of engineering student laptops will help you to find the best machine. If you still need any suggestions or guidance related to the laptops, feel free to ask and leave a comment below.
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