I've rounded up the very best laptops for engineering students based on more than 1,800 laptop, Chromebook, and MacBook laptops reviews. What I'm looking for with those suitable for engineering courses is a well-sized display, a good processor, a lot of RAM, and a discrete graphics card for smoothly running CAD software in class.
My top pick overall is the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2. Not only does this mobile workstation boast some impressive specs, including top-tier CPU and discrete GPU that will easily tackle engineering and CAD workloads, it also offers one of the best typing experiences you can get on a laptop - perfect for taking notes and writing reports. For those on a budget who still want a decently specced machine, I also rate the HP Victus 15, which is worth a look. You can see the full round-up and reviews below.
My team and I have comprehensively tested out almost two-thousand of the best laptops and best student laptops. When looking for good laptops for engineering students, I've focused here on those that deliver a good balance of portability and performance, with dedicated GPUs that are built to handle computer-aided design software.
May 2025: I've updated this list to include the newest models of the ThinkPad P16, MacBook Pro 16-inch, and the Razer Blade 16. For those looking for a 4K laptop, I've added the Asus ProArt P16, which is a great Windows alternative to Apple devices, and a comparison table for at-a-glance specs.
The quick list
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 offers all the benefits you'd expect from a ThinkPad, including that comfortable keyboard, while packing in workstation-levels of power for CAD.
Equipped with an Intel Core i5 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, it's capable of tackling advanced programs such as CAD, which are essential for engineering students.
Offering a genuine alternative to the MacBook Pro, this laptop excels in performance, and its 4K OLED display really catches the eye.
Armed with the M4 Pro chip, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch has the performance of a mobile workstation, rivalling most desktop alternatives.
The Razer Blade 16 (2025) is a powerful laptop designed for anyone who needs high-performance computing, delivering exceptional speed and visuals.
See more
A 2-in-1 with a dedicated graphics card, the ProArt PX13 offers robust performance while working on the go.
This mobile workstation offers excellent performance for a whole range of tasks, from CAD to engineering - but it comes at a price.
Best laptop for engineering students overall
✅ You want a workstation: The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 offers workstation-levels of performance, packed with outstanding specs that will make running CAD tools smooth and responsive.
✅ You want a comfortable typing experience: Like all ThinkPads, the P16 has a keyboard I absolutely love, delivering an excellent typing experience, which will be useful for all your reports, essays, and more.
❌ You're on a budget or do not need high-end specs: This laptop is definitely not for those looking for a cheap laptop to just get them by. This is a high-end machine.
❌ You need a super-portable laptop: Weighing 6.5lb, it's a heavy laptop that's best-suited to setting up in one or two locations during the day, rather than being lugged around from place to place.
I'm a big fan of Lenovo's ThinkPad line-up - but then, as a writer, I would be, since the keyboards are easily the best you can get on any laptop, and make typing out essays and reports so much more comfortable. But that's not the star of the show with the Lenovo P16 Gen 2.
This upgrade on the already excellent P16 is a serious mobile workstation for serious workloads. Specs-wise, depending on your chosen configuration, it comes equipped with 13th or 14th Intel Core HX, up to i9-13980HX, and GPU options include Nvidia RTX 1000 Ada and Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada. RAM tops out at 192GB, with up to 8TB SSD. In other words, which ever model you choose, it's going to slice through just about any engineering task you throw at it.
In our own tests, this one capably handled general creative tasks like video editing, as well as 3D rendering, CAD, and AI workloads. Battery life isn't the best - we measured around two to three hours under heavier workloads, but considering the amount of power under the hood, that's understandable.
However, the laptop itself looks and feels premium, with a magnesium-aluminum chassis that feels sturdy and ready to take on the world. For a slightly cheaper variant, Lenovo also has the P14 with a 14in screen.
Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 review
Best laptop for engineering students on a budget
✅ You want a very affordable gaming laptop: At a starting price of $600, the HP Victus 15 offers solid gaming performance and excellent value for the price.
✅ You want a laptop that doubles as a work machine: The Victus 15 is not only good for gaming but can also handle work or school tasks efficiently.
❌ You need a long-lasting battery: The Victus 15 struggles with battery life, offering only about 4.5 hours of usage before needing to be recharged.
❌ Design and aesthetics are important to you: The Victus 15 has a rather plain, uninspired design, which might not appeal to users looking for something more stylish.
It might be marketed as a gaming laptop. Still, the HP Victus 15's simple design (free from the gaudy 'gamer aesthetic' of many powerful laptops) and RTX-equipped models make it a solid choice for any engineering student who will be running graphically-demanding programs.
It's also remarkably cheap for a laptop with a discrete GPU, likely to please any budding engineer on a budget. During testing, it performed below other gaming laptops in our standard benchmarks, but not by a huge margin. We also found that it takes air circulation seriously, boasting a dual-fan setup and a large air vent at the bottom. That's going to be a major benefit when working in those resource-intensive apps and large, complex projects that really test the mettle of any engineering laptop.
A bright 15.6-inch FHD display and generally robust build quality mean that while this isn't the most lightweight laptop in the business, it's tough enough to withstand the bumps and bruises of college life. If you're looking to save space in your dorm, this machine easily pulls double-duty as a laptop and a desktop replacement.
Read our full HP Victus 15 review
Best 4K laptop for engineering students
✅ You want a 4K screen: We found the 4K OLED screen here to be bright, vibrant, serving up plenty of detail. And while you may not need full color reproduction, it even boasts 100% DCI-P3 with Pantone validation.
✅ You want excellent performance: We loved how well the Asus ProArt P16 performed during tests, where it flew through a range of creative workloads without pause.
❌ You don’t need 4K: However gorgeous that screen is, it’s not technically a requirement for engineering courses, and you are paying extra for it. Worth it if it’s within your budget, but not a necessity.
❌ You want long battery life: As with most Windows laptops of this sort of spec, battery life isn’t the longest - and it’s one area where it fails to compete against the MacBook Pro. You’ll need the proprietary adapter to charge it up.
For us, the Asus ProArt P16 is a solid alternative to the MacBook Pro in a number of areas. Performance is one, with this laptop absolutely breezing through heavy-duty creative workloads like design and video editing.
What really stands out to me, however, is the 4K OLED display here. If you’re looking for a vibrant, detailed screen on a laptop, then this is it. While a wide color gamut isn’t strictly necessary for engineering students, I’m happy to see 100% DCI-P3 with Pantone validation, making it ideal for other creative tasks like photo and video editing. I also like the fact that there’s touch capabilities here, with a 4096 pressure sensitivity and stylus included in the box.
Arguably, the weakest area here is the battery life - it gets absolutely eaten away when performing heavy-duty tasks such as 4K video editing. We clocked it at an hour and eighteen minutes during our editing tests. And you’ll need to use the proprietary charger to charge it. No using a USB-C in a pinch here.
Price isn’t exactly budget, but you’re getting a lot of laptop for the money, with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, 64GB RAM, and a range of discrete GPU options, up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070.
Read our full Asus ProArt P16 review
Best MacBook for engineering students
✅ You want best-in-class performance: In our tests, the M4 Pro chip delivered impressive performance across the board, from lightweight office tasks to heavy-duty workloads like CAD and video editing.
✅ You want the best display you can get: With its 16in Liquid Retina Display, this is still the best screen you can get on any laptop - and also boasts True Tone technology and a Wide P3 gamut.
❌ You’re on a budget: It’s a powerful and beautiful laptop, but the MacBook Pro isn’t a cheap device by any stretch of the imagination. Nor does it seriously out-perform the older M3 Pro - it is an improvement, but not a ground-breaking one.
❌ Your course uses Windows apps: Alright, most apps these days work across Windows and macOS, but not all of them do, and your engineering course may be limited to software on Windows.
The Apple MacBook Pro is arguably one of the best laptops around - beautifully designed, the high-performance M4 Pro version is effectively a workstation that will effortlessly power you through your engineering course.
In our benchmarking, performance was excellent in both simulated and real-world tests, and using the MacBook Pro 16in left us impressed. It’s fast, responsive, showing no slowdown of lagging even with multiple apps open at once. But then, that’s to be expected. It’s built to tackle heavy workloads like design to 4K video editing (and performed these well during our time with the machine.
Overall, we found it silent and efficient regardless of what we threw at it. Better still, battery life is absolutely exceptional. In our testing, we squeezed over 21 hours of life from it on a single charge. This is going to be a life-saver for those working on campus - you won’t need to worry about hunting down a mains outlet. Nor did we feel performance was throttled in any way while running off the battery.
It’s not a cheap laptop, of course, and total overkill for everyday tasks like running office apps. And if you already own the M3 Pro model, I wouldn’t recommend upgrading if you don’t want to - the M4 Pro didn’t offer that much of a performance boost in our tests, and the design is basically identical. But if you want Apple’s latest and greatest, there’s a lot to like with the new MacBook Pro.
Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 16in (M4 Pro) review
Best laptop for engineering students and gamers
✅ You want a laptop for work and play: Built for gaming, this high-performance laptop has all the specs needed to power through your engineering assignments, then pull double-duty on your downtime, too.
✅ You want a thin, portable laptop: Ok, at 16in, it’s still relatively large, but it is Razer’s thinnest laptop yet, and we were pleasantly surprised with how portable it is overall.
❌ You’re on a budget: Given the specs here, it’s no surprise that the Razer Blade 16 is an expensive machine. It looks, feels, and performs like a premium laptop.
❌ You’d rather a 4K screen: The 2.5K resolution on this laptop isn’t to be sniffed at - but the older models did have a 4K option that’s just not available here.
The Razer Blade 16 gets top marks for gaming, smashes through heavy workloads, and has the specs to effectively future-proof the laptop for the duration of your course (and well beyond). Rocking a Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU, it’s one of the best you can get, with a serious emphasis on graphical prowess.
In our real-world tests, the combination of the RTX 5090 and Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 meant this laptop delivered best-in-class performance. In simulated testing, results were also strong - though not ground-breaking - across gaming and creative workloads. For its weight and size, the Razer Blade 16’s performance is still among the best we’ve ever tested.
However, battery life is disappointingly average - we measured it at around 7.5 hours during our tests - but we weren’t expecting Apple levels of longevity, and it’ll at least get you through most of the day in class.
As expected a machine this well-built and well-specced, it’s not cheap. But considering the price, what’s really lacking here - and, again, it’s not exactly necessary for engineering students - is a 4K display. It’s an option formerly available on the Razer Blade 16, but not this 2025 model (not yet, at least), which caps resolution at 2.5K. If you’re primarily using it for gaming, with coursework on the side, that may not be ideal, but I wouldn’t consider it a deal-breaker. In just about every other regard, this is a phenomenal performer across the board.
Read our full Razer Blade 16 (2025) review
Best 17in laptop for engineering students
✅ You want a 4K display: There's a lot to like about the Dell XPS 17's broad display, which at 17in takes full advantage of the 4K resolution.
✅ You want high performance: Performance is one of the factors that most impressed us about the the Dell XPS 17 during tests.
❌ You're on a budget: There's no getting away from the fact that the XPS 17 is an expensive machine - a good alternative would be the XPS 14 or XPS 15, which brings costs down.
❌ You want a good webcam for online classes: Despite premium components elsewhere, we were a bit disappointed with the 720p webcam here.
The Dell XPS 17 is one of those machines that kept us impressed from the moment we opened the box to the time we finished our review. It's a big beast, ideal for those who want a larger machine and the power to perform a full range of tasks, from engineering classes to video editing.
One of the best aspects of a frankly excellent laptop is the screen. At 17in with a 4K resolution, we found it offered a good experience, with bonus points for the 16:10 aspect ratio that delivers more screen real estate. If you need it, color accuracy is also good here, with 188.8% sRGB and 133.7% DCI-P3.
In terms of design, this is a sleek but pleasantly robust machine, well-made form carrying across campus and to and from lessons. the chassis is built from machined aluminum, while carbon fiber surrounds the keyboard. In use, we found the typing experience incredibly comfortable - which is a must for any student laptop as far as I'm concerned.
At this size, needless to say it's not lightweight, weighing 5.37 lbs / 2.44 kg. We also found the battery life only lasted nine hours on a single charge - enough for a day on campus, but we would've liked to see it last longer. It's also relatively expensive, and the price only rises once you start configuring it to your liking. If you need a cheap engineering laptop, this ain't it.
But if you want a machine that delivers strong performance across the board, with a stunning screen, and overall sleek design, we really like the Dell XPS 17.
Read our full Dell XPS 17 review
Best 2-in-1 laptop for engineering students
✅ You want a versatile 2-in-1 laptop: The Asus ProArt PX13 offers great flexibility, allowing you to switch between laptop and tablet modes for a variety of tasks.
✅ You need a convertible laptop with a dedicated GPU: Most two-in-one devices only come with integrated graphics, which isn't ideal for engineering students - but this machine is one of the few exceptions.
❌ You’re looking for a budget laptop: The ProArt PX13 may feel a little expensive for its size, making it less suitable for those on a tight budget.
❌ You need a larger screen: One of the compromises of this 2-in-1 is the screen, which is 13.3in. Good for portability, but not if you want a bigger display.
Effectively designed for creative professionals, the Asus ProArt PX13 is one of the few 2-in-1 laptops with a dedicated GPU rather an integrated graphics, so it's a good choice for engineering students looking for a little more versatility without compromising on graphical performance.
On the design side, we found the laptop's build quality was exceptional, while remaining slim and compact - which is what you want from a 2-in-1 that flips between laptop and tablet mode. Despite its size, it still packs in an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 or 4070 GPU, depending on your configuration. Connectivity is also good here, with all the ports you'll likely need for any engineering class, including two USB4 ports. Better yet, there's also a stylus with a 4096-pressure sensitivity, which felt very precise in our hands.
Performance proved great throughout our testing, whether we were running standard office software or 4K editing and grading. Even gaming was a smooth experience. So, on that score, you should have no issues using any standard engineering apps for modeling and rendering. Switching between tablet and laptop modes is a dream, it takes seconds and it's seamless, and I really like the fact that this comes with a full-sized keyboard and large trackpad, so again, no compromises there.
Where you will be making a compromise, however, is on the screen, which is 13.3in. It's crisp and vibrant, being an OLED, but for some engineering tasks, you may prefer a large display. For a super-portable 2-in-1 laptop with a discrete GPU, though, it feels like a fair trade, especially with these performance levels.
Read our full Asus ProArt PX13 review
Best workstation laptop for engineering students
✅ You want a powerful machine: The Precision 5690 from Dell is built around high performance with the specs to match.
✅ You want one of the most portable mobile workstation around: While it's not totally compact, it has one of the smallest footprints of any laptop of its class.
❌ You’re working to a budget: This is an expensive unit, as you'd expect with specs like these.
❌ You need a content creation station: While the GPU is good, the real focus for this is for business-type use cases, where it excels.
If you're looking for power, and your budget stretches to it, the Dell Precision 5690 is one of the best of its kind. A mobile workstation that, during our tests, smashed through every kind of task we threw at it, whether it was simple browsing and coding to CAD and 3D modeling. With benchmark results of the kind offered by this laptop, we have no worries about using it for engineering projects.
Specs are good, boasting a Core i9 CPU and Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada graphics card, which means it will capably handle almost any task an engineering student will perform. We also liked the broad and bright 16-inch display, making it easy on the eye and simple to drill down on the details.
As expected from a workstation laptop, we experienced no performance issues with this machine. It's also one of the smallest laptops of its class, giving it great portability without weighing us down (well, not too much, anyway).
But it's an expensive machine. On that score, I'd recommend seeing this as more of an investment for your engineering classes and well beyond that - especially with the right components.
Read our full Dell Precision 5690 review.
Best 18in laptop for engineering students
✅ You need the most powerful laptop for gaming and multitasking: The ROG Strix Scar 18 is built for top-tier performance, featuring cutting-edge specs for handling the most demanding tasks and games.
✅ You want a large, stunning display: The 18-inch QHD+ display with a 240Hz refresh rate offers exceptional visuals and is perfect for both gaming and productivity.
❌ You are on a tight budget: This laptop comes with a high price tag, which may be overkill if you don’t need top-of-the-line specs.
❌ Portability is important to you: At 7.28 lbs, this is a heavy and bulky machine, not ideal for frequent travel or carrying between classes.
The latest version of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 stands out as a dynamic, high-performance gaming laptop, offering an unparalleled blend of top-tier hardware and a visually striking design. Equipped with high-performance CPU and GPU, this laptop excels in delivering class-leading speed, ensuring it can effortlessly handle the most graphically demanding games and complex engineering software.
What distinguishes the Strix Scar 18 is its impressive 18-inch QHD+ display, boasting a 240Hz refresh rate for smooth, captivating visuals. This feature, combined with an advanced cooling system, promises an enjoyable experience during prolonged use, whether for gaming marathons or extensive engineering simulations. However, users should note the potential for loud fan noise under heavy use and the laptop's weight, which exceeds 7 lbs, impacting its portability.
While the Strix Scar 18 commands a premium price, its exceptional performance more than justifies the investment, particularly for engineering students who are also gaming enthusiasts. This laptop is not aimed at the casual user, but for those seeking raw power coupled with a large, high-quality display for both work and play, the ROG Strix Scar 18 emerges as one of the finest choices on the market. We reviewed the 2023 version and came away highly impressed with performance, and the new 2025 models are even better-equipped for heavy engineering workloads.
Read our full Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) review
You could save on your purchase with our Asus promo codes.
Best laptops for engineering students compared
Model | Screen | CPU | GPU | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16in, 2.5K or 4K | Up to Intel i9-13980HX | Nvidia RTX 1000 Ada – RTX 5000 Ada | Up to 192GB | Up to 8TB | |
15.6in, FHD | Up to AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3050 Ti / AMD Radeon 6500M | Up to 16GB | Up to 1TB | |
16in, 4K | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 - 4070 | Up to 64GB | Up to 2TB | |
16in, 4K | Apple M4 Pro - M4 Max | Up to 40-core GPU | Up to 48GB | Up to 1TB | |
16in, 2.5K | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti - 5090 | Up to 64GB | Up to 4TB | |
17in, 4K | Up to Intel Core i9-13900H | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 - 4080 | Up to 64GB | Up to 8TB | |
13.3in, 3K | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 - 4070 | Up to 32GB | Up to 1TB | |
16in, 4K | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada | Up to 64GB | Up to 8TB | |
18in, 2.5K | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 - 5090 | Up to 64GB | 1TB + 1TB |
Best laptops for engineering students: FAQs
What are the minimum laptop requirements for engineering students?
Laptops suitable for engineering students need to have that balance between processor performance and graphical prowess, particularly if you use CAD tools like Solidworks. However, the full specs will depend on which branch of engineering you're studying.
Here's what I'd look for as the absolute minimum specs when choosing a laptop for any engineering course. If your budget stretches to a higher-spec machine, I'd recommend it - especially if you want a more seamless experience.
CPU: Intel i5, AMD Ryzen 5, or M2 Pro if you use a MacBook.
GPU: Choose a laptop with a dedicated (or discrete) Nvidia or AMD graphics card. Laptops with an integrated GPU will be fine for certain branches of engineering, but aren't ideal for working in 3D.
RAM: 16GB memory, but opt for 32GB or more if you can. The workflow will be much smoother.
Storage: 512GB SSD would be the minimum for me, but 1TB + is preferable.
Display: 14in screen size at 1080p resolution is the lowest I'd go here, but ideally, 16in at 1440p or above will be better.
Are Apple laptops good for engineering students?
Are MacBooks good for engineering students?
Apple MacBooks have always been a solid competitor in the world of laptops for engineers. With the recent jump to Apple's own silicon with the M1 and M2 chips, these laptops have gotten even more efficient and even better at multitasking while also powering through even the largest of programs and tasks.
However, the issue is that many engineering programs, like those from Autodesk, will only work on the Windows operating system. If in doubt, ask your school or college which software you'll be using on your course.
If you do decide to buy an Apple MacBook Pro, check out our Apple promo codes to save money on your purchase.
Do engineering students need a powerful laptop?
Engineering students need a powerful laptop - although this need is balanced by the portability of the device and the type of software that's being run.
Using engineering programs pushes devices far harder than, say, the best laptops for writers. Even the best laptops for programming won't work as hard as laptops for engineering students.
Ultimately, a CAD or SolidWorks window pulls significantly more power than a text document or web search. As such, a dedicated GPU and plenty of RAM are key requirements, while CPU is more dependent on the chosen software.
How to choose the best engineering laptop for you
When choosing the best laptop for an engineering student, there are a number of factors to consider.
A great laptop for engineering students must operate high-powered applications simultaneously with many open program windows - a CAD window, a large mapping service, and a large Excel sheet.
Since you will likely be using complex programs like AutoCAD, MATLAB, and SolidWorks, you will need a laptop with sufficient power to run them smoothly and effectively. It can be graphically intensive when using programs like the best graphic design software and the best 3D modeling software.
For that reason, and for an uninterrupted workflow, look for laptops spec'd with the best graphics cards, best processors, and best RAM. We recommend a laptop with the latest Intel Core i5 or Core i7 chips as a minimum, 1TB SSD storage, and 16GB of RAM – although 32GB is even better.
A clear display with a minimum 1080p resolution is advisable - although size will be a matter of preference, unless you need as much information on the screen as possible.
Portability and ruggedness are key features - you should be able to carry your laptop around all day, wherever you need to work. And the device handle a few accidental bumps along the way. As part of this, check the battery life of each device. An all-day battery means you won't have to lug around a charger everywhere. But if you're mostly going to have your setup in one place, then a lower battery capacity will be acceptable too.
Typical laptops focus on a lightweight frame, long battery life, or other specifications for easy communication and media consumption (eg. webcams, WiFi, screens). Laptops for engineering students need to be able to perform advanced operations easily, even if they don't have all-day battery life.
It's also worth asking your school, college, or university if they have preferred machine, or minimum hardware specifications. In many instances, the engineering software you use will be restricted to a particular operating system - usually Windows - so it's best to get that information before committing.
How we test the best laptops for engineering students
✅ More than 1,800 laptops, Chromebooks, and MacBooks reviewed
✅ 15 years of product testing
✅ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
✅ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
Our team of reviewers have tested hundreds of the best laptops to find the top-rated for all students.
We take the same rigorous approach to our review process whether we’re reviewing the best laptops for MBA students, comparing the specs of the best laptops for computer science students, or benchmarking the performances of the best laptops for architecture students.
When testing the best laptops for engineering students, we compare all specs, and run simulated and real-world benchmarking tests. We also undertake a full battery life test to see how well it measures up to a manufacturer’s generous claims - because being able to work on the move is essential here.
We’re looking for devices that are powerful, running engineering programs across a range of disciplines without slowdowns or lagging. They should be discreet and high-performance machines that keep you focused on your classes, not the overwhelming noise from the fan.
We also look at portability - the best engineering laptops for students boast slim and sleek designs, comfortably slipping into your bag. While when we evaluate build quality, we expect to see a durable construction that can withstand a busy commute, crossing campus, and from dorms to libraries to labs.
We also assess connectivity and port selection, screen size, overall weight and dimensions, and test out extra features such as face recognition or fingerprint sensors. Finally, we look at which of the best student engineering laptops offer genuine value for money.
You can find out more in our detailed guide How we test laptops and desktops: our reviewing process explained.
