When looking for the perfect laptop for an engineering student in 2019, you will come across several important criteria. A laptop needs to be powerful enough to handle coursework, yet flexible enough for entertaining in your free time. Graphics capabilities also play a key role given the complexity of engineering tasks.
Although the market is full of options, making the right choice can be difficult. It is important to find a balance between performance and cost.
However, there are several candidates who meet these criteria. Our list of the best laptops for engineering students will help you save time searching, leaving you more time to study.
Dell XPS 15
| Characterization | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7/i9 9th or 10th generation |
| RAM | Up to 64 GB DDR4 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti with 4 GB GDDR6 VRAM |
| Storage | Up to 2 TB SSD |
| Display | 15,6" InfinityEdge 4K UHD or FHD IPS |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Battery | Up to 12 hours battery life |
| OS | Windows 10 Home or Pro |
Pros:
- High quality display: One of the brightest and clearest panels on the laptop market.
- Performance: Powerful Intel Core i7/i9 processors and discrete graphics provide high performance.
- Quality case: Durable and stylish aluminum and carbon fiber body.
- Good battery life: Long operating time on one charge.
- Comfortable keyboard and touchpad: The keyboard has good key travel, and the touchpad is large and supports multi-touch.
Cons:
- High price: May be an expensive option for some students.
- Heat dissipation: The processor and graphics may become warm during intensive use.
- Lack of USB-A ports: You have to use adapters to connect older devices.
Strengths: Superb display, high performance, long battery life.
Price: The base model Dell XPS 15 starts at around $1,299, while more powerful configurations can cost over $2,000.
MacBook Pro
| Characterization | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | 5th, 7th or 9th generation Intel Core i8/i9/i10 or Apple M1 |
| RAM | Up to 64 GB LPDDR4X |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Plus or AMD Radeon Pro 5300M/5500M discrete graphics (depending on configuration) or Apple M1 |
| Storage | Up to 8 TB SSD |
| Display | 13,3" Retina with True Tone or 16" Retina with True Tone |
| Ports | 4x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 3.5mm audio jack |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours of battery life (on models with Intel processors) |
| OS | MacOS |
Pros:
- Performance: Powerful Intel Core i-series or Apple M1 processors provide high performance.
- Display quality: Retina display with True Tone technology delivers bright, clear images.
- Build quality: Like all Apple products, MacBook Pro is made using quality materials and has a stylish design.
- Battery: Long operating time on one charge.
- Apple ecosystem: Integration with other Apple devices and access to exclusive applications and services.
Cons:
- High price: The MacBook Pro can be an expensive option, especially for students on a budget.
- Restricted ports: Having only Thunderbolt 3 ports may require the use of adapters to connect older devices.
- Need to get used to macOS: Switching from Windows to macOS can take time to master the new operating system.
Strengths: Excellent performance, high-quality display, long battery life.
Price: Pricing for the base model MacBook Pro starts at approximately $1,299 (13-inch display model) and $2,399 (16-inch display model). With more powerful configurations the price can be significantly higher.
Asus ZenBook Pro 15
| Characterization | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7/i9 8th or 9th generation |
| RAM | Up to 16/32 GB DDR4 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti/1650 Ti with 4 GB GDDR6 VRAM |
| Storage | Up to 1 TB SSD + 1 TB HDD (depending on configuration) |
| Display | 15,6" NanoEdge 4K UHD or FHD IPS |
| Ports | 1x Thunderbolt 3, 2x USB 3.1, HDMI, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Battery | Up to 9 hours battery life |
| OS | Windows 10 Home or Pro |
Pros:
- Display quality: The 4K UHD display with NanoEdge technology delivers bright, clear images.
- Performance: Powerful Intel Core i7/i9 processors and discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics provide high performance.
- Storage: The combination of SSD and HDD provides both high download speeds and large storage capacity.
- Ports: A variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, and HDMI, make it easy to connect to a variety of devices.
- Design and build quality: Stylish design and durable body make the laptop attractive in appearance and reliable in use.
Cons:
- The weight: The laptop can be quite heavy to carry, weighing around 2kg.
- Battery life: Battery life may be a little short compared to some competitors.
- Price: Depending on the configuration, the price may be higher than average.
Strengths: High-quality display, high performance, variety of ports.
Price: The base model of the Asus ZenBook Pro 15 starts at around $1,499, while more powerful configurations can cost over $2,000.
HP Spectre x360
| Characterization | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5/i7 10th or 11th generation |
| RAM | Up to 16/32 GB LPDDR4X |
| Graphics | Integrated Intel Iris Plus or discrete graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX250 |
| Storage | Up to 2 TB SSD (PCIe NVMe M.2) |
| Display | 13,3" or 15,6" FHD or 4K UHD IPS with Sure View or OLED |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 Type-A, HDMI, microSD card reader, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Battery | Up to 17 hours battery life |
| OS | Windows 10 Home or Pro |
Pros:
- Design and build quality: The elegant and durable aluminum body makes the laptop attractive in appearance and reliable in use.
- Display: High-resolution display options with Sure View or OLED technology provide bright, clear images.
- Portability: Compact size and light weight make it easy to carry.
- Battery: Long operating time on one charge.
- Ports: A variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, and HDMI, make it easy to connect to a variety of devices.
Cons:
- Performance: Compared to some competitors, performance may be slightly lower.
- Graphic arts: For more demanding graphics tasks, integrated graphics may not be sufficient.
- Price: Depending on the configuration, the price may be higher than average.
Strengths: Design and build quality, portability, long battery life.
Price: Prices for the base HP Specter x360 model start at approximately $1,099 for the 13,3-inch display and $1,299 for the 15,6-inch display.
Lenovo ThinkPad P52
| Characterization | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7/i9 8th or 9th generation |
| RAM | Up to 128 GB DDR4 ECC (Error-Correcting Code) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA Quadro P3200/P4200/P5200 discrete graphics with up to 16 GB GDDR5 VRAM |
| Storage | Up to 6 TB HDD or 8 TB SSD (depending on configuration) |
| Display | 15,6" FHD or 4K UHD IPS with Dolby Vision HDR technology |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 3, 4x USB 3.1, HDMI, mini DisplayPort, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Battery | Up to 15 hours battery life |
| OS | Windows 10 Pro |
Pros:
- Performance: Powerful Intel Core i7/i9 processors and discrete NVIDIA Quadro graphics deliver the performance you need to tackle complex engineering tasks.
- ECC memory support: The presence of ECC memory provides increased system reliability when processing data.
- Storage: The ability to install up to 8 TB SSD provides large storage capacity and high data loading speeds.
- Ports: A variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, and HDMI, make it easy to connect to a variety of devices.
- Long battery life: Up to 15 hours of battery life allows you to work all day without recharging.
Cons:
- Weight and size: The laptop can be quite heavy and large to carry, weighing around 2,5 kg.
- Price: Depending on the configuration, the price may be higher than average.
Strengths: Performance, reliability, storage capacity, ports.
Price: The base model Lenovo ThinkPad P52 starts at around $1,500, while more powerful configurations can cost over $2,000.
How to choose the best laptop for engineering students?
When choosing the best laptop for engineering students, there are a few key aspects to consider. First, it is important to determine the requirements of your training program and the types of problems you will be working on. This will help you determine the performance, graphics, and storage requirements you need.
Next, consider CPU and graphics power, since engineering programs often require computing resources to handle graphics, 3D modeling, and other complex tasks. Factors like portability, durability, and battery life are also worth considering, especially if you'll be moving around a lot between classrooms and lectures.
Finally, the student's budget must be taken into account. There are many options in the market segment at different price points and it is important to choose a laptop that suits your requirements and is affordable. By carefully comparing the characteristics and pricing policy, you can find the optimal solution that will ensure effective educational and professional use.
That is why best gaming laptops are also an ideal choice for engineering students as they offer such a meal schedule, and what they can handle with games for relaxation after class is the icing on top.