Which is the best laptops for engineering students? That was our question and we set out to find out the answer! Finding the right laptop for an engineering program is going to be 
one of the most critical pieces of equipment while in school so we went to the schools as well as researched online to determine what were the requirements from dozens of engineering programs at colleges and universities.
While there was certainly some variation between programs and requirements, there was definitely a general theme for school recommendations for laptops.
Check out Dell Inspiron: Best Laptop Under 500 for Engineering Students!
Best Engineering Laptop Under 1000? Lenovo Flex 4 – Check It Out Now!
Top Laptops for Engineering Students – Technical Requirements
When choosing the best laptops for engineering students, we spent a lot of time understanding what were the technical specs that many schools were requiring in order to make the right choices for our list this year. The following are basic guidelines and minimum requirements a mobile workstation for an engineering student should meet. If you can afford to upgrade from the basic list, it is something worth considering.
- Intel Core Processor (Core i5 or i7)
- ISV-certified graphics card (AMD FirePro or NVIDIA Quadro preferred or comparable)
- Windows 8 or 10 pre-installed
- Most engineering software will not run on Mac OS X without using Parallels software
- Display resolution 1280×800 (WXGA) minimum
- 250 GB Hard Disk Drive minimum, SSD recommended
- Wired Ethernet network interface and Cat-5e cable
- Wireless LAN 802.11 N minimum
We noted that many schools were recommending both desktops and laptops for Engineering majors which is different than many other programs that we’ve researched. In addition, the best laptops for Engineering students were along the lines of PCs over Macs. That’s due, in part, to the fact that several of the applications and programs utilized in an engineering program are PC based. A Macbook can be used by those Mac lovers, but you’ll have to run Parallels or another option to handle some of your school’s program requirements.
Best Laptops for Engineering Students
Dell Laptops for Engineering Students:
The good thing about Dell laptops is they are well established, popular and used widely in many fields. For this reason, if you are looking for a reliable laptop that won’t disappoint you and will be able to keep up with your needs, Dell is a good brand to consider. Furthermore, this brand has so many cool models on the market and therefore, you have a variety of choices to choose from. However, for the purposes of engineering students, we’ve picked Dell Inspiron a model that is not only top rated but has nice specs that meet the requirements of engineering students.
Dell Inspiron – Best Laptops Under 500
Dell Inspiron series of laptops have a good reputation when it comes to performance and stability. The specs of this 15.6 inch laptop allow it to feature on this list thanks to a 6th generation Intel Core i5 processor 2.3 GHz with maximum boost speed up to 2.8GHz; 4MB L3 Cache, 8GB DDR3L 1600 MHz, and 1 TB Hard Drive meaning speed is something you don’t need to worry about. In addition, it has a Full HD 1920 x 1080 screen and Intel HD Graphics 520 to ensure your graphics remain top quality as you enjoy working with the laptop.
Other features include Intel RealSense 3D camera, Waves MaxxAudio Pro, Backlit keyboard, SD card reader, DVD+/-RW, 2 USB 3.0 ports and HDMI. You can comfortably multitask and still have your laptop remain stable and perform optimally. This is important given the fact engineering applications may be memory intensive and therefore, stability is a key factor. At around $500, it’s definitely a good deal you wouldn’t want to miss!
There’s a new model of this laptop that’s out as well and fits our criteria for top laptops for Engineering students. Priced at under $1000, you can check out that model on Amazon.
Dell Precision Laptops for Engineering
Dell Precision models make it to the list of the best laptops for engineering students because of their cool specs and ability to quickly execute tasks. They may not be the cheapest options on our list, but they definitely are some of the best performing ones. We also ought to mention the numerous awards and Editor’s Choice selections that this line has earned as well! Packed with the latest technologies, Dell Precision laptops have been built for excellence and built with the latest technological features to help you realize reach your goals. These laptops work at their peak level and focus on increasing your efficiency and maximizing your time while working.
The following are top rated Dell Precision models that have high marks for performance as well as fitting our list of the Best Laptops for Engineering Students.
Dell Mobile Precision 5520 –
This is a thin and light laptop with exceptional results and priced over $2000, it ought to deliver all that it does. This awesome laptop comes with exceptional features that include a Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD Drive NVIDIA Quadro M1200 4GB. This mobile workstation is seriously a top performer that can get a lot of work done in less time. Using this laptop, you can fast-track your work and work efficiently with the most demanding software applications. Professional grade graphics make it easier to work with intense graphic applications which is a key advantage for engineering students.
Dell Precision 7520
Quality is everywhere in this laptop! It’s currently priced over $2000 so if you are looking for one of the best laptops for Engineering that guarantees a smooth and versatile PC experience and comes in a 15 inch size, the Dell Mobile Precision 7520 is definitely a good pick. With a PremierColor UHD display, powerful Core i7 Processor and 32GB RAM, there is so much you can achieve with this premium laptop. Thanks to a powerful 7th generation processor, the speed is superb. In addition, high performance graphic features make it possible to see crisp images and comfortably work with intensive-graphic programs.
HP ZBook
HP ZBook series of laptops makes it to the list of the Best Laptops for Engineering Students because they are popular with professionals, including engineers, as well as the student crowd. This workstation has been exceptionally designed which makes it ideal in meeting the needs of both professional and student engineers. Using these laptops, you can expect high levels of productivity thanks to the superb multitasking capabilities. The inclusion of excellent specs and ability to run specialized engineering software applications makes HP ZBook a worth while contender. If you haven’t tried HP ZBook laptops yet, it’s time to do so.
HP ZBook 15u G4 – Best Laptops Under 1500
Engineering students looking for a 15.6 inch laptop that offers superb performance can opt for this extraordinary laptop that is known for its fast performance and stellar graphics. Packed with the latest features such as Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and up to 32 GB DDR4 memory. There is so much you can achieve with this laptop that combines technology and style to cater for the needs of modern users. There is no doubt this laptop is a great pick that offers you good value for your money.
HP ZBook 15 inch G4 – Best Laptop for Engineering Students
There is no doubt this laptop is designed to improve performance, productivity and all for increased mobility. Specifically created for creative and design professionals, it is considered among the top best laptops for engineering students. There is no compromise happening here as you won’t need to settle for less but, rather, have an enjoyable experience using this laptop.
The HP ZBook 15 has been used by NASA in their International Space Station; you can imagine all that you can achieve with it. With a Core i5 Processor and 16GB DDR4 SDRAM, HP ZBook deserves to be on this list of engineering students looking for an awesome laptop and is currently priced around $2400.
HP ZBook 17 G3 – Best Laptop for Engineering School
Despite having achieved great success with other HP ZBook models, HP has raised the bar higher with this new state-of-the-art ZBook 17 that is associated with faster speeds, light in weight and extended battery life. In addition, this brand has awesome features which include Core i7 Processor, 16GB memory, a wide variety of GPU and display options. A lot of people love ZBook 17 because of its friendly price tag that averages around $1,500. Windows 10 and UHD displays are some of the major highlights of this mobile workstation. This is definitely a great option especially for buyers looking for a great laptop with a limited budget.
Lenovo
There is no doubt Lenovo has worked hard to release great models for both businesses and engineers. These laptops are excellent portable workstations which makes them rank highly among the best laptops for engineering students. The super fast speeds and awesome features built specifically for engineers makes this brand a great option to consider. If you are thinking of investing in an engineering mobile workstation that won’t disappoint, think of Lenovo Thinkpad. Below are the best and top rated Lenovo Thinkpad laptops for engineering students.
Lenovo ThinkPad P40 Yoga
If you’re looking for a laptop that doesn’t disappoint in performance, you’ve got to try out Lenovo ThinkPad P40 Yoga. With a 6th Generation Core i7 processor, 8GB SDRAM and a 14” Full HD IPS 1920 x 1080, this laptop definitely deserves a spot as one of the best laptops for engineering students. Using this laptop, you can take your creativity and productivity to a whole new level. This laptop comes with ISV- certified NVIDIA graphics for crisp visuals. It’s also one of the more affordable laptops for engineering students.
Lenovo Flex 3 – Best Laptop Under 700
Lenovo Flex 3 is an innovation masterpiece whose great specs make it a good option for the best laptops for engineering students. This 2-in-1 laptop is built with a 15 inch Full HD touchscreen and a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 3MB cache, 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256 GB SSD. Before discussing other specs, it’s already evident Lenovo Flex 3 is a powerful laptop that quickly responds to user requests and supports multitasking. It’s worth noting this workstation has Turbo technology with the capability of speeding up the processor to 2.8GHz in cases that call for greater speed and performance.
If you love working with laptops with crisp and clear HD images, this model has a 1920 x 1080 resolution and an LCD display with an aspect ratio of 16:9. For faster connections, this laptop comes with 1 USB 2.0 ports and 2 USB 3.0 ports. Get to enjoy up to 8.5 hours of battery life meaning you can go anywhere with this laptop and continue with your work. A 360 degree flip-and-flop design allows switch between laptop and tablet modes.
Lenovo Flex 4 – Best Laptops Under 1000
This Lenovo Flex 4 is a 14 inch 2-in-1 Full HD Premium Flagship laptop that comes with a highly responsive touch. The major specs that make this laptop stand out as one of the best laptops for engineering students include a powerful Intel Core i7 2.7 GHz processor up to 3.5 GHz 4MB cache, 512 Solid State Drive, 16GB DDR4, AMD Radeon R5 M430 2 GB and 2 USB 3.0 ports. This model comes with 1920 x 1080 FHD LED backlight IPS Display Touch Screen and 360 degrees flip-and-flop design.
Engineering students can rely on this laptop whose specs have been designed to ensure a smooth computing experience. The cool thing about this laptop is you can use it for both work and play. Just like other Lenovo models, a lot of thought was put into designing this laptop. It may be small with a 14” screen but it’s powerful and stable.
Lenovo ThinkPad P51
The Lenovo ThinkPad is a favorite for many. Coming with a 15.6-inch screen, you have the option of choosing whether you want 7th generation Intel Core or v6 Xeon CPU, Quadro GPU and an amazing UHD IPS display that allows you to enjoy 180-degrees viewing. Lenovo ThinkPad P51 is excellent with both performance and expandability. In addition, you have plenty of memory for your engineering projects as this laptop is built with 64GB RAM and 4TB storage. There are numerous high-speed ports, HDMI, Ethernet and a card reader.
With all these great specs, there is no reason why Lenovo ThinkPad P51 shouldn’t meet your expectations though it’s price is currently around $3,000, making it the most expensive option on the list.
Acer Aspire
Acer Aspire’s have been winning awards and gaining high marks since they first hit the market. Recent honors include Computex’s Design and Innovation award as well as International CES Innovation Awards for Design and Engineering.
Acer Aspire F15 – Best Laptops for Engineering Students Under 1000
No, the Acer Aspire F15 is not going to take off and land like the plane! But it is going accelerate what and how you perform in your engineering program this year. Acer calls it “Powerhouse Everyday Computing”, and that exactly what this machine does!
Loaded with features like some more expensive laptops, this 15 inch laptop is definitely worth checking out. Comes with a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor 2.7 GHz w/ turbo boost technology to 3.5GHz, 12GB DDR4 dual channel memory, 128GB SSD and 1 TB SATA hard drive means there isn’t anything that you won’t be able to do in school this year! Plus we love the up to 12 hours of battery life since we’ve yet to meet a student that doesn’t forget to re-charge occasionally (ok, often…).
Getting ready for college or university is an exciting and challenging time! Making sure that you have the right equipment that you need to succeed in school is critical to your long term success. And having the right laptop for engineering is certainly one piece that can make a huge difference!
Whether you are going to be studying computer engineering, electrical engineering, or are looking for the best laptop of mechanical engineering (to name a few areas) – We’re certain that one of these laptops that made our list for Best Laptops for Engineering will help you achieve your goals in school!