Table of Contents
Best Laptop for Engineering Students: Engineering grads usually require a lot of computational power during the length of their degrees. It makes choosing a suitable laptop that much more difficult as it requires a careful inspection of available options and their ability to run the desired software.
Computers and gadgets are expensive; and for engineering students, they’re even more expensive. In this article, you’ll get to know the best laptop for engineering students 2022.
These days, many laptops are released every other week and their specifications also seem to overlap with each other. In these ever-evolving times, it’s very easy to make mistakes on this expensive investment.
Choosing the best laptop for engineering students is not easy. That’s because not all-powerful laptops are sold here-engineering students need portable PCs, and these portable PCs must achieve a delicate balance between processing power, graphics power, and reasonable prices.
The Best Laptops for Engineering Students: Top Choices
1. Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
The 2020 Acer Predator Helios 300 (click for current price) is not only a powerhouse laptop and a perfect engineering applications-oriented laptop, but also capable of meeting hardcore gaming needs. Let me tell you why.
RAM Capacities
With 16GB DDR4 RAM, you can rest assured that any game or program you are running won’t lag. Furthermore, NVIDIA’s GTX 1660 Ti graphics processor (dedicated 6GB graphics) is there to complement the RAM.
Acer Predator Helios 300 Overview
- is the most budget-friendly full HD screen laptop in its class.
- Has the most advanced battery life (7 hours playtime), motherboard, and graphics specifications in this price range
- Comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card
- Runs Windows 10 Full version
- Has Backlit Keyboard
- Comes with NexiGo Wireless Mouse included
As you can see, the 2020 Acer Helios 300 has a sufficient memory of 256GB full SSD with 1 TB extra HDD so that you don’t run out of space to store your Matlab, CAD, or SolidWorks projects. A battery life of 7 hours will keep it running all day long whether it be to write down notes or for gaming needs.
2. .Asus Zephyrus G14
This is one of the best laptops for computer engineering students. When the cover is opened, the keyboard and touchpad appear with a 14-inch display. The display is made as thin as possible, with the exception of the bottom, so that it can concentrate on the screen as much as possible.
The resolution is 1,920 x 1,080, which is a full HD standard. A 120Hz panel with a blink rate of 120 flashes per second was employed. ROG Zephyr’s G14 uses variable refresh rate technology for 120Hz panel products. In addition, 16GB of DDR4 memory and 1TB of high-speed storage (SSD) are also provided.
The relatively relaxed specifications make the system agile. However, depending on the specifications, the method such as SSD capacity and hard disk installation may differ. The graphics card is NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (Max-Q design). It is an active GeForce graphics card and is a mid-range gaming product.
3. Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
If you are considering getting a solid laptop that is fast, quiet, and has a bright display and good specs Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is the right choice.
Although this is not the latest Samsung product, it can get your work done. It can also take care of your video editing, photoshop projects and even simulations and coding.
One interesting feature about this device is that it can handle any engineering software program no matter the field which is a rare feature. Talking about the Keyboard, when you see this device keyboard, you will think that its been made by Apple. It has backlighting is nice and efficient and it’s can give you a good typing experience.
The only disadvantage is that it has outdated graphics card. but never to worry, it can serve you well.
Click the toggle below to see other specifications
- RAM & Storage: 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 256 GB SSD
- Processor: Intel i7-8550U
- Battery life: 12 hours
- Weight: 2.84 pounds
- Screen: full Hd 13-inch touchscreen
4. HP Spectre x360
When considering a good laptop to buy for your engineering program, HP Spectre x360 is a good choice. It has all the hallmarks of a premium device and is available in dark ash silver color.
This laptop is one of the best laptops for engineering students and also one of the latest models from the brand. HP Spectre x360 has two different versions; 13-inch and 15-inch version, but as an engineering student the 13-inch version is a good choice for you.
Interestingly, this engineering laptop has unique features that distinguish it from other laptops. some of the qualities include; excellent viewing angles of the screen, HP Pen, and very high battery capacity.
The only disadvantage about this laptop is that the trackpad is fairly average and it’s not portable or light to carry around.
- Display: 13-inch and 1.5. 6-inch
- RAM: 16GB RAM
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- Battery backup: 8hours
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with Max-Q design
- Screen: 15.6-inch, 3840 x 2160 pixels touch
- Storage: 512 GB – 2TB SSD
- Weight: 2.78 pounds
5. Dell G5 15
Dell G5 15 gaming notebook (G5 587-7139BLK-PUS) with Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB, 1TB HDD + 128GB SSD Storage, and 8GB RAM, has extremely fast reading and storage, the computer runs more efficiently. In appearance, the Dell G15 has inherited Dell’s low-key and calm design tradition.
The black body with the blue Dell logo is still classic. The weight of the body of 5.76 pounds, makes this laptop easy to carry. In terms of performance, the Dell G15 is equipped with the Intel Core i7-8750H, which can handle tasks under various conditions; equipped with large cooling vents and dual-fan cooling technology to ensure that the system runs quietly at low temperature. At the same time, this Dell G15 is equipped with IPS anti-glare screen display options,
6. Macbook Pro 16
When in doubt, there is a pretty good reason to stick with the juggernaut. The all-new powerful Macbook Pro 16 (click for full details) comes with a massive 16-inch Retina Display. Forget the days when you had to give up the viewing experience for the simplicity and versatility of a Macbook. With this, Apple has made it possible for Macbook to become a utility for engineers and architecture students alike.
Ram Capacities
16GB RAM expandable to 64GB.
MacBook Pro 16 Overview
- 512GB SSD expandable up to 8GB
- 8-core powerhouse Intel i7 CPU
7. HP Spectre x360 15T (2019)
The HP Spectre x360 15-inch’s beauty isn’t only skin deep. HP fitted it with powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics and an equally powerful processor, so that one of HP’s latest and greatest 2-in-1s has the brains and brawn as well.
This makes it a capable machine and one of the best laptops for engineering students. It also has a beautiful and responsive 4K touchscreen display, and the optional HP Tilt Pen so you can create those 3D models like a pro.
Powerful performance in a head-turning design
Specifications
- CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with Max-Q design
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB
- Screen: 15.6-inch, 3840 x 2160 pixels touch
- Storage: 512 GB – 2TB SSD
8. Dell G5 15
You’ve got a killer combo in the Dell G5 15, a gaming laptop that combines affordability with a solid gaming performance, an amazing battery life and the optional 144Hz refresh rate display. If you’re looking for a great value laptop, this one’s a winner, and not just for gamers everywhere.
This is a great option for professionals and students as well, especially those who often rely on graphics-intensive applications and 3D design software. The fact that lasts up to 10 hours (based on our tests) on a single charge, a plethora of ports, and a chassis that has a more subtle gaming aesthetic are only welcome extras.
Gaming laptop that delivers a killer combo
Specifications
- CPU: 9th Generation Intel Core i5 – i7
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 – RTX 2060
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB
- Screen: 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 300-nits – 15.6 inch FHD(1920 x 1080) 300nits IPS Anti-Glare LED Backlit Display, 144Hz
- Storage: 128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB SATA Hard Drive – 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
When you need a laptop that mirrors the classroom performance for 3D modeling or machine learning applications, the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 is the answer. With this laptop, you can do much of your work. Basically, the E15 has an Intel Quad-Core i5-10210U, 32GB DDR4 RAM, and 1TB SSD.
In addition, it has a 15.6-inch HD screen that offers bright colors and enough window space to run multiple applications nearby. The most impressive thing about the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 is that it has passed 11 different MIL-STD tests, which means it can withstand external stresses, like the one that comes with its daily packaging in your backpack. Windows 10 Professional 64-bit made this laptop one of the best laptop for software engineering students.
10. Lenovo Legion Y740
Interestingly, this laptop has a bright screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, and a sleek chassis. It is also good for games. It has a powerful internal devices, including a 9th Gen Intel Core processor and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 with Max-Q graphics.
This feature and more make it one of the best Lenovo laptops for engineering students. One bad it about this laptop is that the battery doesn’t last.
- Processor: 9th Generation Intel
- Grapics: Nvidia Geforce GTX 1660 Ti – RTX 2070 with Max – Q
- RAM: Up to 32GB DDR4
- Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, anti-glare, 144 Hz, 500 nits
- Storage: Up tp 1TB SSD PCIE- NVMe M.2 + 1TB 720RPM
What To Look out For when buying a Laptop
Before getting a best laptop for engineering students especially for your engineering programs there are features you should consider. You don’t buy a laptop because of its look or just color.
We all know that there are different areas of engineering and each area has apps and Softwares which you will run if you are studying any.
To help you out know want exactly to look for when buying a laptop, I made a list of features you should look out for whether you are into mechanical, computer, Civil, Chemical or any field of engineering.
Check this out!
- The laptop must come with Intel Core i5 (Latest Generation or Above)
- The RAM should be 8GB minimum.
- Don’t get a laptop that doesn’t have SSD.
- Minimum Storage: 256GB
- Display: 13-inch for people who prefer small screens, 15.6-inch for everyone.
- GPU: Integrated Graphics Card for non-gamers.
- Consider buying the one which comes with the NVIDIA graphics card if you want to play a game with it.
- Battery Life: The higher the better, but 5hrs of backup should suffice. If you are going to use your machine for gaming, get the one that comes with at least 6hrs+ backup.
Recommended Hardware for Engineering Students & Engineers
I know most of you just wanna be told what to buy so I’ll try to summarize the last section here (you can still check details at the end!).
For laptop buying purposes let’s divide engineers into 3D and 2D engineers.
If you are a CAD engineer(civil, mechanical, aeronautical) then you are a 3D Engineer and may have to worry about specs (just finding a laptop with a dedicated graphics card really). 2D engineers (electrical , computer, chemical, software,industrial, etc) can settle for pretty much any modern laptop that can run Windows 10 Home.
RAM
All engineers should aim for 8GB RAM. This will prevent any lag situation with any software & the number of browsing tabs you have open.
CPU
Intel Core i5/AMD Ryzen 5 Chips and above for both 3D/2D Engineers. 2D engineers can settle with core i3 and other AMD procesors if they’re short on cash.
SSD
The key of being succesful in every class is TIME management, if you want to save TIME get an SSD (this will max out productivity because everything will load up in less than a second including the time it takes to boot your laptop). Nearly all laptops in 2021 come with an SSD, just double check.
GPU
Any consumer or “gaming” GPU with 2GB vRAM(in other words any GPU released within the last 3 years, yes any) for 3D engineers will work!
2D engineers do not need to even look at this spec.
Only professional engineers should consider workstation cards (even then it might only be useful in every special situations).
Display
Size: If you are going to be staring at this thing for days, why not be kind to your eyeballs? Get at least a 13” display, with a matte finish if you can (or set brightness to low levels).
Resolution: 1080p for all engineers. This will give you enough workspace area & will scale up nicely with any software out there. Avoid 4k resolution displays( you will anyways, they cost an eyeball).
Weight
Probably the most important feature if you are a student. As light as possible. Keep it around 3lb (unfortunately powerful ultra lightweight laptops are expensive).
Connectivity
CD/DVD reader: As far as connectivity goes I don’t think there’s a need for a CD/DVD reader. You can use it to install software or watch movies but these days most software have install clients which only require an internet connection and i really doubt you’d want to get one solely to watch movies. It’s always a nice bonus though but not necessary.
Bluetooth: Bluetooth function can be useful to save you time when you want to share your work with your fellow students for a group project, it’ll work much quicker than regular flash drives. Most laptops today come with this feature anyways so it isn’t something to look for.
Serial port: A modern laptop these days does not have one but this is only important for connecting with DAQ systems (Data Acquisition Systems) for circuit design, should you have a project that involves circuitry/robotics/programming a design, just buy an adapter and you’ll be fine.
Projector port: This is useful when you have to give presentations to your class or group. Most systems today use an HDMI connection to connect to a projector or an external display. However most ultraportable laptops lack an HDMI port in which case you should consider buying an adapter. Don’t worry they’re cheap.
Keyboard
Backlit feature: I always found it a nice feature especially when studying in very low light conditions especially during final exams . You’ll probably be faced with these instanes too that is working with low light conditions for example in the library & labs overnight.
Full Size Keyboard: This is definitely something you should take into account. Some of us do a lot of data collection and analysis especially in excel (civil, mechanical and chemical engineers will make the most out of it) for which the numerical keypad becomes extremely useful and time saving to enter numerical data much faster.
When it comes to best laptop for engineering students, the requirements are extremely personal and one model may not be fit for everyone. Give second thoughts to priorities like screen size, hard disk size, and most importantly—your budget. Good luck!
Like this article on best laptop for engineering students? Then subscribe to our newsletter for more updates like this.
Also read:
For more such interesting article like this, app/softwares, games, Gadget Reviews, comparisons, troubleshooting guides, listicles, and tips & tricks related to Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS, follow us on Google News, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.
