The best laptop for engineering is the one that works best for the specific tasks you require.
The laptops on this list represent a range of prices and features, so you can easily find a model that meets your needs. They’re also some of the most powerful laptops available today, with high-end processors and large amounts of memory.
Finding the best laptop for engineering students can be tricky, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Engineering entails working with huge data sets, so it’s important to find a computer that’s powerful enough to handle whatever tasks you throw at it.
We’ve done extensive testing to determine which laptops are truly worth their price tags. We looked at how each one performs in real-world scenarios and rated them based on price, performance, and features.
Our list includes models from Dell, HP, Lenovo, Apple, Asus and more. Whether you’re looking for an affordable notebook or a high-end workstation we have you covered.
1. Dell XPS 15
| Series | 9550-3628 |
|---|---|
| Item model number | XPS 15 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 3.9 pounds |
The new XPS 15 is a perfect example of why we love the PC. It pushes the boundaries of what’s possible on a desktop machine, but with the mobility of a laptop. With its 10th gen Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics, and up to 32GB of memory, you get real desktop-level power on the go in a package that weighs less than 5 pounds.
Pull it out at work, home or school and feel like you’re still using your desktop PC. And thanks to the display hinge design and an UltraSharp 4K UHD+ (3840×2400) panel with 100% Adobe RGB color, you won’t need to take notes on paper anymore. Just write on the screen with Dell’s Active Pen (included with select models), which supports up to 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity for more precise illustrations and handwriting.
It’s also one of the most future-proof PCs you’ll find anywhere thanks to Thunderbolt 3 ports (one of which you can use as a DisplayPort to connect a monitor) and an SD card slot for easy photo transfers from your DSLR camera. From work to play and everything in between.
2. Google Pixelbook Go
| Brand | |
|---|---|
| Series | Pixelbook Go |
| Item model number | GA00521-US |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
The Google Pixelbook Go is the Chromebook that goes anywhere, and keeps going. It’s light enough to go anywhere and has an all-day battery.1 Add to that its quiet keyboard, speedy processor, and stunning touchscreen display, and you’ve got a device that only weighs 2 pounds but delivers heavyweight performance.
Weighing in at just 2 pounds, Pixelbook Go is light enough to go anywhere. The grippable design makes it easy to carry around campus or on the go. And with up to 12 hours of battery life, you’ll have plenty of time to get things done on a single charge.
Pixelbook Go starts up in seconds3 and makes working a breeze with the 8th Gen Intel® Core Processor. And Chrome OS doesn’t slow down over time so it always feels like new.4 Plus, your files are safe in the cloud with 100 GB of free storage on Google Drive for 2 years.
You can use Pixelbook Go everywhere from cafés to coffee shops thanks to its low-light responsive keyboard that automatically adjusts to light levels. And Hush Keys reduce distracting noise while you type.
3. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
| Product Dimensions | 11.97 x 0.63 x 8.36 inches; 2.8 Pounds |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 2.8 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer |
| Language | English |
Rent or own? The choice is yours. With Google Play Movies, you can buy, rent, and watch the newest movies and shows right on your Pixelbook Go.
With Google Play Store apps, you can unlock creative and productive possibilities that are not available on other Chromebooks.
A battery that gets up to 12 hours on a single charge means you can go all day without recharging. And when you do need a charge, get up to 2 hours of use in just 20 minutes so you can keep going.
Titan C security chip and built-in anti-virus software help protect your data. And Chrome OS updates automatically with the latest features and security.
Starts up in seconds so it’s always ready when you are. The 8th Gen Intel Core Processor is quick and responsive powering everything you do. And Chrome OS doesn’t slow down over time so it always feels like new.
4. Asus Zephyrus G14
| Brand | ASUS |
|---|---|
| Series | ASUS ROG |
| Item model number | ASUS ROG |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
The Zephyrus G14 is an impressive little gaming laptop, so long as “little” is what you want. It’s small, light and powerful, with a minimal design that doesn’t scream “gamer!” in the way that most such laptops do. And it gets big points for having a battery that can actually last longer than two hours.
But it does have some drawbacks. The keyboard isn’t great for long-form typing, and the screen is very glossy. And if you really want to push the CPU and GPU to their limits, the fans are going to make a lot of noise.
There are four models of the G14 available, but we tested the midrange version with an AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU, which sells for $1,449 at Best Buy.
5. HP Spectre x360 (2021)
| Brand | LG |
|---|---|
| Series | 14Z90P-K.AAB8U1 |
| Item model number | 14Z90P-K.AAB8U1 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
The HP Spectre x360 13t is an excellent laptop that offers great performance for general office work and more intensive tasks like photo editing and light video editing. It has a beautiful design with an aluminum chassis that’s made from recycled materials and comes in a dark blue finish with copper accents on the edges.
The CPU provides good performance for general office work and even more intensive tasks like photo editing and light video editing. The battery life is very good for a premium laptop and lasts for more than 12 hours when browsing the web over Wi-Fi.
The display delivers excellent picture quality with full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080) and 400 nits brightness. You can also choose between 13- or 14-inch screens depending on your preference.
6. Dell G5 15
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Series | Dell G5 15 |
| Item model number | Dell G5 15 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
The Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop is a completely redesigned gaming laptop that’s a perfect balance of sleek design and superior performance.
This machine has been built with the gamer in mind, from its sleek look to its powerful features. The style of this laptop is impressive, with a matte black finish and a black interior with blue accents. It’s made to be easily portable thanks to its thin, lightweight design, so you can take it with you wherever you go. This laptop also offers a backlit keyboard so you can play comfortably into the night.
The Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, which delivers fast performance for smooth gameplay. It includes 8GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive for storage. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card delivers stunning graphics while allowing you to multitask efficiently. This laptop uses Windows 10 Home 64-bit as its operating system.
7. Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch)
| Brand | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Series | Microsoft Surface Book |
| Item model number | FUX-00001 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
The ultimate laptop. The new Surface Book 2 is the most powerful Surface Book yet, with improved speed, graphics performance and battery life. The 15″ model runs professional-grade software with high-speed Intel processors and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 discrete GPU w/2GB GDDR5 graphics memory. And the vibrant PixelSense Display has stunning resolution that supports Surface Pen* and touch.
The best of Microsoft at your fingertips. Surface Book 2 comes loaded with powerful software like Windows 10 Home, Office 365 30-day trial, 1TB OneDrive cloud storage and more.
Microsoft Complete extended service plan sold separately provides accidental damage protection, technical support and extended warranty coverage for your device within its first year of purchase.
8. Dell XPS 17 (2020)
| Brand | LG |
|---|---|
| Series | 14Z90P-K.AAW5U1 |
| Item model number | 14Z90P-K.AAW5U1 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Meet the smallest 17-inch laptop on the planet. 1 The Dell Small Business Advantage Featuring an innovative webcam and display, the XPS 17 laptop features a stunning edge-to-edge display with an 88.7% screen to body ratio that takes your breath away. Plus, with its 100% sRGB color accuracy, you’ll see every detail in accurate colors.
The first InfinityEdge display—the virtually borderless display maximizes screen space by accommodating a 15.6″ viewing area into a laptop closer to the size of a 14″, thanks to a bezel measuring just 5.7mm, 59% thinner than the Macbook Pro..
The world’s first active cooling system designed specifically for an ultra-thin laptop. Dual fans separated by heat pipes along with dual heat exchangers work in tandem to cool the system’s components and ensure optimal performance and long system life while running resource intensive applications like video editing or 3D rendering.
9. ThinkPad X1 Extreme Mobile Workstation
| Brand | MSI |
|---|---|
| Series | Stealth 15M A11UEK-009 |
| Item model number | Stealth 15M A11UEK-009 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme 1st Gen 20MF000LUS 15.6″ Notebook – 1920 x 1080 – Core i7 i7-8750H – 16 GB RAM – 512 GB SSD – Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (English) – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB, Intel UHD Graphics 630 – in-Plane Switching (IPS) Technology, Glossy – English (US), French Keyboard – Bluetooth
The ThinkPad X1 Extreme delivers extreme power with its Intel Core 8th Generation i7-8750H hexa-core processor and up to 64GB of DDR4 memory. With an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, it’s also geared for graphics performance. It offers a ThinkShutter camera cover, fingerprint reader, and dTPM 2.0 chip for added security.
A 15.6″ 4K Ultra HD display offers wide viewing angles and vibrant visuals in 3840 x 2160 resolution, while Dolby Vision HDR technology helps provide enhanced contrast ratios for darker blacks and brighter whites. A touchscreen is built in as well for intuitive navigation and use with compatible software. Furthermore, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme has a backlit keyboard with number pad for comfortable typing in low light conditions.
10. Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition (2020)
| Brand | Razer |
|---|---|
| Series | Blade 15 |
| Item model number | RZ09-03304E42-R3U1 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
The Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition is the first desktop-grade portable workstation certified to run professional applications. With a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 6 core processor and NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 graphics, it has the power to tackle demanding tasks on the go.
The 15.6″ 4K OLED touch display is individually calibrated to ensure true-to-life color accuracy. The 100% DCI-P3 color space and VESA DisplayHDR 400 support deliver stunning visuals, while the 4K resolution is ideal for video editing and graphic design workflows.
The Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition uses a CNC aluminum unibody frame for precise construction and durability, and comes in a mercury white finish with a tone-on-tone Razer logo. For connectivity, it offers Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0b, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen 2), and USB Type-A ports.
