Best Laptops for Engineering Students in 2023

Engineering programs encompass a wide range of technical disciplines including mechanical, civil, electrical, computer, chemical, aerospace, biomedical, materials science, and industrial engineering. With their complex curricula involving computer-aided design (CAD), analysis, simulation, and programming, engineering students must have a capable laptop that can handle all their software needs throughout their education.  

Discover the top-rated laptops for engineering students in 2023. Compare performance, battery life, displays, and specs like CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage needed for mechanical, electrical, civil, computer, chemical, and other engineering majors. Get recommendations for budget and high-end laptops for CAD, modeling, simulation, analysis, and other engineering software. Learn what engineering students should prioritize when purchasing a laptop for their coursework and projects.

When choosing the best laptop for an engineering major, there are several key factors to consider:

Performance - A powerful CPU and discrete GPU are essential for running engineering software and tasks like 3D modeling, computational fluid dynamics simulations, computer-aided manufacturing, and more.

Memory - A minimum of 16GB RAM is recommended for smooth multitasking and running demanding engineering apps. Upgradable RAM slots are ideal.

Storage- Fast SSD storage (512GB+) is required for quick access to large files and projects.

Display- A 1080p (or higher) resolution display with an IPS panel provides the best viewing experience for engineering work.

Battery life - Look for over 5 hours of runtime for a full day of classes, projects, and fieldwork. Charging ports are a plus.

OS- Windows is the best choice for full engineering software compatibility. MacOS limited for some applications.

 

Laptop Specifications for Engineering Software

Engineering programs require laptops with sufficient computing power to run intensive software applications and tasks involving 3D modeling, physics simulations, data analysis, and more. Here are the key laptop specs recommended for engineering majors:

CPU: Look for Intel Core i5 or i7 processors or AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 processors. Need at least 4 cores and 8 threads. Higher clock speeds like 2.5GHz+ boost performance. Newer generations like 11th or 12th gen Intel offer efficiency gains.

GPU: Discrete NVIDIA or AMD GPUs are essential, especially for CAD and engineering programs relying on graphics. NVIDIA Quadro or RTX cards are recommended over gaming GPUs. At least 4GB VRAM.

RAM: 16GB RAM or higher is recommended. Upgradable RAM gives future flexibility.

Storage: 512GB+ SSD storage offers fast performance for large engineering files and data. Avoid slow HDDs.

Display: 15" to 17" 1080p (or better) resolution IPS displays provide vivid colors and wide viewing angles important for engineering work. Anti-glare useful.

Battery: Look for over 5 hours of real-world battery life. Removable batteries offer the ability to swap in spares.

OS: Windows 10 or 11 is required to run full engineering software suites. Some specific programs are Mac-compatible.

 

Best Laptops for Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers use CAD software for product design and modeling, engineering analysis software for simulating stress, fluid flow, heat transfer, and more, CAM programs for manufacturing, and other tools.

Here are the top laptop recommendations for mechanical engineering students:

Dell XPS 15 - A premium pick, the XPS 15 packs excellent performance into a slim, lightweight chassis thanks to H-Series Intel Core i7/i9 CPUs up to 8 cores, NVIDIA GTX/RTX graphics, 16GB+ RAM, 512GB+ SSD, and a bright 15.6” 4K touch display.

Lenovo ThinkPad P15 - A workstation-class option, the ThinkPad P15 pairs Xeon or Core i7 CPUs with Quadro professional graphics, ample storage/memory, ISV certifications, and the rugged build quality ThinkPads are known for.

ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo - The unique dual 4K OLED touchscreen design improves multitasking workflows for CAD, coding, simulations, and more. Backed by Core i7/i9 CPUs, RTX graphics, and excellent connectivity.

MSI Creator 15 - A Content creator-focused laptop with excellent performance from the latest Intel CPUs and NVIDIA RTX graphics that can handle demanding engineering workloads. Has a vivid 15.6" 4K display.

More affordable options like the Acer Aspire 5, Lenovo IdeaPad 3, and Dell Inspiron 15 3000 offer decent specs for lighter ME workloads.

Overall the best laptops for mechanical engineering students offer a balance of power, portability, display quality, and long battery life for taking on demanding projects and coursework. Models with ISV certifications ensure full compatibility with major engineering software suites used in the mechanical engineering curriculum.

 

Best Laptops for Electrical Engineering 

Electrical engineering encompasses electronics, circuit design, signal processing, communications, control systems, and power. EEs need laptops with computing power for programming, simulations, PCB layout software, and more.

Top laptop picks for electrical engineering majors include:

MacBook Pro 16 - A top choice for EEs, the MacBook Pro 16-inch packs immense power via Apple's new M1 Pro/M1 Max ARM chips. Excellent battery life, slick macOS environment, and 16" screen. The tradeoff is the lack of full Windows compatibility.

Dell Precision 3560- A portable workstation with Intel Core i5/i7 processors, NVIDIA T1200 graphics, ECC memory support, Thunderbolt docking, and a bright 15.6” 1080p display. Rugged build quality.

LG Gram 17 - A lightweight Ultrabook with 17" WQXGA IPS display, 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and extremely long battery life. Easy to carry around campus.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme - A high-end option with fast H-series Intel Core i7/i9 CPUs, GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics, 64GB RAM capacity, 4K OLED display options, and slim carbon fiber chassis.

More budget-friendly picks like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i and Acer Aspire 5 offer decent performance for general EE coursework.

The top laptops for electrical engineering boast excellent processing power, RAM, graphics, displays, battery life, and portability for taking on complex circuit simulations, programming assignments, PCB design projects and other demanding EE work.

 

Best Laptops for Civil Engineering

Civil engineering encompasses structural engineering, construction engineering, transportation infrastructure, hydraulics, environmental engineering, and more. Civil engineering software involves 3D modeling, structural analysis, geospatial systems (GIS), and general data analysis.

Here are the top laptops recommended for civil engineering majors:

MSI Creator 15 - A great blend of performance and portability thanks to Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, thin profile and vivid 15.6" 4K display.

Microsoft Surface Book 3 - A detachable 2-in-1 with discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics, Intel 10th Gen Core i7 processor, up to 32GB RAM, immersive touchscreen display, and good portability.

Lenovo Legion 5i - A budget-friendly gaming laptop ideal for civil engineering applications with a new Intel Core i7 processor, GTX 1660 Ti GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and 15.6" 1080p IPS display.

 Dell XPS 15 - A premium yet portable pick with 10th gen Intel Core i7/i9 CPU, NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, UHD+ touch display, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and thin/light chassis.

Asus Vivobook S15 - An affordable option with Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and 15.6” FHD display. Lightweight at 3.5 lbs.

The right laptop for civil engineering students balances performance hardware like GPUs and CPUs for modeling and analysis software, portability for fieldwork, and long battery life for on-the-go use. The options above hit the sweet spot for CE majors.

Best Laptops for Computer Engineering

Computer engineering focuses on computer hardware design, electronics, circuitry, networking, programming, and more. CpE students need laptops capable of coding, simulations, compiling complex programs, and prototyping.

Top laptop picks for computer engineering majors:

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14- A gaming laptop with excellent performance from AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS CPU and NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU. Fast 120Hz 14” QHD display, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD in under 3.5lb chassis.

Razer Blade 15 - A popular premium laptop for CpE with 10th gen Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 2070 GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, CNC aluminum unibody chassis, and immersive 15.6” 4K OLED touch display.

Acer ConceptD 7 - Designed for creators, the ConceptD 7 delivers top-notch performance through 10th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and vivid 15.6" 4K IPS display under 5lbs.

Dell XPS 15-  A great mix of power and portability with 10th gen Intel Core i7/i9 CPU, NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, 15.6” 4K UHD+ touch display, 32GB RAM capacity, 1TB SSD, and thin, lightweight design.

HP Envy x360 - A convertible option with AMD Ryzen 5 4500U CPU, AMD Radeon Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6” FHD touch display, and sub 4lb weight. Affordable too.

 

Best Laptops for Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering involves thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer, unit operations, process design and control, and more. ChemE students need laptops capable of running simulation software for modeling chemical processes.

Top picks for chemical engineering majors include:

Acer Aspire 5 - A budget-friendly choice with AMD Ryzen 5 5500U CPU, AMD Radeon graphics, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6” FHD display, and long battery life. Offers decent performance for the price.

HP Envy x360 - A flexible 2-in-1 option with AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, AMD Radeon graphics, 15.6” FHD multitouch display, and solid battery life. Good value for money.

Dell XPS 13 - A portable Ultrabook with 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 13.4” FHD+ display, premium build quality, and compact footprint.

Asus ZenBook Duo - A dual-screen laptop ideal for chemical engineering multitasking. Packs 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, Iris Xe graphics, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and two FHD displays including a 14” tilt-up touchscreen.

LG Gram 14- An ultra-lightweight option at just 2.2 lbs with 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 14” WQXGA IPS display, military durability, and amazing ~20-hour battery life.

Chemical engineering students should look for laptops with capable processors, lots of RAM, fast storage, long battery life, and portability to handle simulation software and on-the-go coursework. The options above offer a great experience for ChemE majors without breaking the bank.

 

Best Laptops for Other Engineering Majors

Here are some quick laptop recommendations for other engineering disciplines:

Biomedical Engineering

 Dell XPS 15 - Powerful and portable with Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, 15.6” UHD+ display, and premium build.

 HP Spectre x360 - High-end 2-in-1 with Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 13.5” OLED display, and thin/light chassis.

 Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 - An affordable option with AMD Ryzen 5 4680U CPU, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon graphics, 13.5" touch display, Windows 11, and great battery life.

 

Aerospace Engineering

MSI WS65 - A mobile workstation with Intel Core i7 CPU, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 GPU, 15.6” 4K display, and lightweight 4.2lb chassis ideal for aerospace modeling, analysis and simulation.

 Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 - Packs excellent performance from 11th Gen Intel Core i7/i9 CPU, NVIDIA T1200 GPU, 64GB RAM capacity, 4K OLED display option, and durable chassis.

Gigabyte AERO 15 - A thin and light laptop with 11th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 15.6" 4K OLED display, and 94Wh battery.

 

Materials Science

 ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo - Dual 4K OLED touchscreens, Intel Core i9 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD provide exceptional multitasking experience for modeling and analysis.

Acer Nitro 5 - A budget-friendly gaming laptop with 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 3050Ti GPU, 16GB RAM, 15.6” FHD 144Hz display, 512GB SSD, and solid performance for the price.

Razer Blade 14 - Packs AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU, NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU, 16GB RAM into a compact 14” FHD 144Hz/QHD 165Hz chassis under 4lbs, delivering desktop-class performance.

 

Industrial Engineering

 Dell Latitude 5520 - Well-rounded business laptop with 11th Gen Intel Core i7 vPro CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6” FHD display with the durable build quality.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon - A premium ultraportable with 8-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 14” 2K display, and military-grade durability in under 3 lbs.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio - Innovative design with Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti GPU, 32GB RAM, 14.4” 120Hz touch display, and excellent Surface Pen integration for IE sketching and note-taking.

 

Key Factors to Consider for an Engineering Laptop

When picking out the best laptop for engineering students, there are a few key specifications and features to keep in mind:

Processor (CPU): Look for newer generation Intel Core i5, i7, i9, or AMD Ryzen 5, 7 processors based on your performance needs. Prioritize higher core count and base clock speeds.

Graphics Card (GPU): Discrete NVIDIA or AMD GPU required. NVIDIA Quadro RTX or Radeon Pro is recommended for engineering software certification. Minimum 4GB VRAM.

RAM: 16GB RAM or above is strongly recommended. Upgradable RAM provides future flexibility as engineering programs become more demanding.

Storage: Fast 512GB+ SSD offers quick access to large engineering files. M.2 NVMe SSDs preferred for max speed.

Display: 1080p (or better) resolution IPS panel with 15”+ screen size provides vivid colors and wide viewing angles important for engineering work. An anti-glare finish helps reduce eye strain.

Battery Life: Look for 7+ hours of real-world runtime through classes, labs, and fieldwork. Removable batteries are a plus for swapping spares.

Build Quality: Durable and rugged construction helps protect laptops through years of intensive use. Metal/carbon fiber materials are preferred over plastic.

Weight: Under 5 lb laptops offer the best portability for students on the move. But don't sacrifice performance for lightweight systems.

Keeping these criteria in mind helps engineering students purchase a laptop tailored to their software needs and rigorous coursework requirements.

 

Choosing the Best Engineering Laptop within Your Budget

With top engineering laptops often costing over $1000, budget is an important consideration for many students. Here are some tips for getting the best value laptop for your needs and budget:

 

Under $800 Budget

Acer Aspire 5 - Solid performer for the price with AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and 15.6" FHD display. NVIDIA MX350 GPU option.

Asus VivoBook 15 - Packs Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD into a 15.6" FHD chassis weighing just 3.5 lbs. Discrete NVIDIA MX350 GPU available. Great value.

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 - Offers 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 12GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and 15.6" FHD display in an affordable package.

 

$800-$1200 Budget

MSI Modern 14 - Ultraportable 14" laptop with Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, thin/light 2.6 lb chassis, and over 10 hours battery life.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i - Powerful mid-range option with Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA MX450 GPU, 16GB RAM, 14" 2.8K display, 512GB SSD, and premium metal design under 3.3 lbs.

HP Envy x360 - Well-rounded 2-in-1 with AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, AMD Radeon graphics, 15.6" FHD touch display.

 

$1200-$1600 Budget

Dell XPS 15 - Top pick with Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6" UHD+ touch display in thin, premium chassis.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 - Packs AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU into a lightweight 14” gaming chassis with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme - Loaded with Core i7 CPU, GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and 4K HDR400 Dolby Vision display in a 3.75 lb carbon fiber body. 

No matter your budget, prioritize the CPU, RAM, storage, display, and graphics suited for your engineering major before considering extras like touchscreens or 2-in-1 designs. Focusing on performance ensures your laptop keeps up with coursework demands through graduation.

 

Conclusion

Choosing the right laptop is crucial for engineering students to smoothly run the required software for their demanding coursework and projects. This guide has covered multiple top-rated laptop options suited for mechanical, electrical, civil, computer, chemical, and other engineering majors.

Key factors like the processor, RAM, graphics card, display resolution, storage, battery life, weight, and durability differentiate powerful and portable engineering laptops from average consumer notebooks. Prioritizing these performance-centric features over aesthetics or minor extras ensures engineering students get a laptop tailored to their needs.

Models like the Dell XPS 15, Lenovo ThinkPad P15, MSI Creator 15, Microsoft Surface Book 3, Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and more scored highly across several engineering disciplines thanks to the latest CPUs, GPUs, ample memory/storage, great displays, and good battery life. Even with a limited budget, students can find excellent value picks like the Acer Aspire 5, HP Envy x360, and Dell Inspiron 15 5000.

No single laptop is perfect for every engineering major. But by carefully weighing specifications like processing power, RAM, graphics, display resolution, and battery life needed for their field of study, students can find a laptop to carry them through a demanding engineering curriculum.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I get a desktop or laptop for engineering school?

For most students, a laptop is recommended over a desktop for the portability to take to classes, the library, and anywhere you need to study or work on projects. High-end laptops offer comparable performance to desktops in a mobile form factor.

 

Are refurbished/used laptops okay for engineering?

Refurbished business-class laptops can offer excellent value for money. Look for refurbs from reputable brands that were professionally inspected and tested. Consumer laptop refurbs carry more risk of issues.

 

What's the best OS for engineering - Windows, Mac or Linux?

Windows is the most compatible option to run all the required engineering software. Some specialized programs are Mac-only though. Linux offers open-source software many engineers use but has less commercial engineering app support. Dual booting is an option too.

 

How important is weight and battery life for an engineering laptop?

Look for laptops under 5 lbs for easier mobility. Battery life of 7+ hours gives you flexibility for full days of mobile use. Removable batteries help swap spares as battery performance degrades over time.

 

Should I get a gaming laptop for engineering programs?

Many affordable gaming laptops offer excellent performance from powerful CPUs and GPUs suited for engineering workloads. Just be aware of shorter battery life and flashy designs. Workstation GPUs provide better support.

 

Do I need a touchscreen laptop for engineering school?

A touchscreen isn't essential but can be handy for quick on-screen interactions like scrolling, zooming CAD diagrams, graphing, etc. Make sure to still get an accurate and color-rich non-touch display.

 

How much storage and RAM will I need?

16GB RAM is recommended to run multiple engineering programs simultaneously. 512GB+ SSD provides fast storage for large project files. Upgradeable RAM and expansion bays allow future upgrades as needs grow.