Engineering students must have laptops for studying because they have to deal with designs, drawings, and frameworks using complex software like CAD, Autodesk, Matlab, and CAM. All these software require powerful processing speed, sophisticated graphic cards, and memory to help students in the field. Finding the best laptops for engineering students on a budget is quite tricky, but many laptop brands offer high computational features to study their coursework.
Most of the engineering students will be working on college projects, thesis and also do internships. So laptops have become an inseparable part of engineers’ lives. They need to do everything that requires an internet connection like browsing, doing projects, creating presentations, etc. You can save more by buying a laptop with good hardware specifications and supporting all programming languages like C, C++, Python, Java.
Engineering is a dynamic field and has several branches like computer, mechanical, civil, and chemical, and so on. Some students may be studying computer engineering while other students may be studying mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or civil engineering, so they need a specific type of laptop for their studies.
Chemical engineers like any other professionals use computers and laptops for data analysis, modeling, process design, process simulation, lab automation, and other computing-intensive tasks. Chemical engineers are one of the leading groups using computers in research and development.
Your selection must consist of preferences that might help in studying the engineering domain and programs that will be used on laptops in the future. Some people might say that there’s no need to take a look at the hardware or software specifications of a laptop. And they will be completely right if you are going to use only Microsoft Office, browsing the internet and checking Facebook.
For engineering studies, you need a laptop with good hardware specifications so that the laptop will be able to run any software required of course. You may not face any problem running specific software, switching between different applications simultaneously, and holding multi-dimensional features to help in a smooth workflow.
On the other hand, if you want to get a good laptop with all specifications that fulfill the demand of engineering students at the best price then here is the solution to your problem. We have done our research in the market and found which laptops are best for engineers. We have reviewed a few top laptops for engineering students based on an operating system, hardware specifications, and price.
Best Budget Laptop for Engineering Students 2022
Here are some standard features for laptops suitable for engineers:
- Operating system – Windows (latest version), Linux, or Mac OS X.
- CPU – latest generation Intel or AMD processor.
- RAM – 4GB RAM is the standard requirement but you can go for 6GB or 8GB if needed. The more memory you have, the smoother your laptop will run.
- GPU – For better FPS, the graphics card is required with 2GB VRAM to 3GB VRAM. Otherwise, you might get low fps while playing high-end games.
- Storage – 500 GB hard disk or 1TB if more space is needed. A solid State Drive (SSD) will be a good option if you are looking for a laptop with SSD.
- Ports – HDMI port, USB 3.0 ports, and USB 2.0 ports are required to connect all your peripherals like keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.
- Make sure that no less than two USB 3.0 ports because more than one of these will increase the cost of a laptop which you don’t want if you are buying a laptop on a budget.
Best Laptops For Electrical Engineering Students
1. Dell XPS 15 9500 – Best Laptop for Mechanical Engineering Students
Dell is a world-renowned brand manufacturing affordable laptops for decades. Dell XPS is one of the most popular laptop series from Dell. XPS 15 comes with a 15.6-inch display and has all the above features which we expect in laptops for engineering students.
The laptop comes with the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H and has NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Ti graphics which you will need for gaming and video editing. It comes with 4GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB SSD which is enough for engineering students.
Design and Display
The laptop comes with carbon fiber and an aluminum body. It weighs only 6 lbs which is easy to carry and can be used as a gaming laptop because of its lightweight design and high-performance features. The beautiful backlit keyboard is very stylish and also comfortable for typing purposes.
Its 15.6″ FHD display comes with thin bezels which are ideal for the latest engineering programs, watching movies, and playing games. The 16:10 edge-to-edge view infinity display has full HD resolution which enhances the viewing experience of users.
The laptop equips a powerful graphics system with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 which is good and powerful and also supports VR.
The battery backup of the laptop is very good and in heavy work, it provides around 10 hours of battery life which makes this laptop a suitable choice for students who spend most of the time on the internet, watching videos, and playing games.
Pros
- Lightweight and powerful CPU
- Backlit keyboard
- Long battery backup
- 10-bit color depth
Cons
- No SSD in the base model
2. HP Spectre X360 Touchscreen Laptop – Best Laptop for Computer Engineering Students
HP needs no words for its introduction, its innovative range of laptops is enough to tell about the brand. X360 is one of their popular series and it comes with a 15.6 4K UHD display and has a 7th gen Gen Intel i7-10510U.
It has 16GB DDR3 RAM and 512GB SSD which is good for storage, but if you need more space to save your projects then you can add an extra hard drive or SSD to it.
Its powerful CPU can easily handle processing for 3D rendering or CAD software, it has i7-10510U CPU clocked at 2.1GHz which is one of the best in the market.
It is one of the best laptops for engineering students under a budget. It is also suitable for college projects, presentations, and studying purposes because it comes with great specifications at an affordable price.
This laptop from HP has been designed very differently from other laptops in this list. It comes with an almost bezel-less display with brushed aluminum material.
HP has used premium quality metal in its design which makes it more reliable, sturdy, and durable at the same time. The laptop keyboard has backlit support so you can work even in the dark.
Pros
- Sturdy and stylish design.
- Great performance with fast 7th gen processor.
- 4K display increases its value.
Cons
- A bit pricier but worth the price
3. ASUS ZenBook 15 Ultra-Slim laptop
ASUS is another biggest laptop manufacturing company from Taiwan. It has been manufacturing laptops for the past 20 years and has a good share in the market. Zenbook series by ASUS is popular for its premium quality design, latest specifications, and affordable prices.
This laptop from ASUS comes with a 15″ display with thin bezels which makes it more attractive. ASUS has used its patented ultra-thin technology for this laptop.
It has 7th gen Core i7-10750H which is one of the best processors available in the market. It has 16GB DDR3 RAM and 1TB storage. The GPU that it comes with is NVIDIA GeForce 940MX 2GB VRAM, so you can play high-end games on it smoothly.
This laptop has an almost bezel-less display which looks even better with its thin metallic body. ASUS has also used aluminum alloy in the making of this laptop’s exterior which makes it more durable and reliable for rough use.
Its NanoEdge FHD touch display provides great viewing angles, so you can work on it with ease.
ZenBook Pro 15 features a sleek design, but it doesn’t compromise performance. It has a high-end processor, graphics card, and large storage for all your requirements along with extra USB ports. This laptop is one of the best for college students who are looking to buy a new laptop on a budget.
Pros
- Great display with thin bezels.
- Attractive design with the latest hardware specifications.
- Solid battery life
Cons
- Windows 10 preinstalled might be a little difficult for some users to use
4. Acer Nitro 5 AN517-54-77KG
Acer is another well-known brand in the laptop manufacturing industry. It has a range of laptops with different specifications and prices, but Nitro 5 is one of the most popular series by Acer because it comes with powerful hardware specs at an affordable price.
This laptop from Acer comes with a 17.3″ LED IPS display which supports 1920 x 1080 resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has a 7th Gen intel core i7-11800H processor with turbo boost up to 4.6 GHz, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 1TB NVMe SSD which are for the engineering students under this price tag.
It also comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB VRAM for gaming, so you can play high-end games on this laptop. This laptop has a metal body with black color which makes it look classy and stylish at the same time, but its material is prone to scratches, so you need to be careful.
The laptop remains cool while running multiple programs with its cool boost technology. This laptop also has a long-lasting battery with fast charging support. It has a dual-fan cooling system with smart thermal technology; it helps the laptop to cool down even when working for long hours.
Pros
- Aesthetic design with Metal body.
- Great performance at an affordable price.
- Dual cooling system to keep the laptop cool.
- Solid battery life of 8 hours on a full charge.
Cons
- The laptop makes a little noise but that is bearable.
5. Lenovo Legion Y540 – Best Laptop for Software Engineering Students
Lenovo is a well-known brand in the laptop manufacturing industry with its high-end products for gaming and business purposes. Lenovo Legion Y540 comes with high-end hardware specifications at an affordable price range which attracts many customers towards it.
It has a 15.6″ full HD display that supports the anti-glare feature and it looks great while working under sunlight. This laptop comes with an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 124 GB DDR4 RAM, and 1TB HDD with 512GB PCI-E SSD storage which is enough for processing a large number of programs and software related to engineering.
Legion Y50 has an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB graphics card which makes it great for rich graphic programs and gaming as well. It also supports virtual reality (VR) headsets for a better gaming experience.
The laptop has a metal body that looks solid and stylish at the same time, and most importantly lightweight enough with 1.00 lbs weight. It has a dual fans cooling system to keep this laptop cool for long hours of usage, so you can work continuously on this laptop without any break.
Its battery life is approximately 5 hours on a full charge, so it’s not that much generally needed for students, but overall it’s a great performance and affordable as well.
Pros
- Great performance at an affordable price tag.
- Solid battery life of 5 hours with a full charge.
Cons
- The touchpad is confusing for a few users
6. New Dell Inspiron 15 5505 Laptop
Operating at 2GHz when you are surfing or watching movies, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U brings forth the beast mode with processors clocking at 4GHz. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 is your ally for 3D modeling, photo/video editing, rendering, etc. A gamer’s delight, it has enough juice to handle the newly released GTA V.
With 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD storage, there is nothing that you can’t handle on the Dell Inspiron 15 5505. The Windows 10 Pro brings in support for facial recognition using Windows Hello, making password-memorizing a thing of the past.
You get a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels for optimum viewing in well-lit or indoor conditions. The 250 nit Brightview panel has Truelife and antiglare components to offer clear visuals when you are engrossed in working on your laptop on the go, or outdoors. It is operated with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor which has specialized circuitry to reduce noise and heat output for fine performance even when you are multitasking on your Dell Inspiron 15 5505 laptops.
The full-sized keyboard comes with a separate numeric pad that is a boon for number crunchers. The top-notch design of the laptop has a large touchpad with enhanced left and right-click zones to let you play, or work on it without a mouse.
Those who have been using laptops from the Dell Inspiron series will know what they are getting into as far as connectivity is concerned. You get an Ethernet port, 3 USB ports (one of them being Type-C), and a headphone/microphone combo jack.
Heavily loaded dual screens will test the limits of a 73Whr battery, which Dell claims can last up to 6 hours. Microsoft Office support and Windows 10 Pro edition to run your business and personal needs make it an ideal choice for students as well as professionals. A powerful processing combo to handle graphic-intensive applications and occasional gaming.
Pros
- Powerful Core i7 CPU
- Sharp display
- Good connectivity options
Cons
- No USB Type-A ports (limited)
7. Acer Swift 5 Intel Evo Thin Laptop
The powerful 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U runs your laptop with processors 2.80GHz. An NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB card comes into play for faster rendering, video editing, gaming, or 3D modeling needs. A full HD 15.6” IPS display with Acer ComfyView technology to offer clear visuals even when under direct sunlight.
16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD storage is an ideal combination for multitasking as well as video editing, rendering, etc., on the Acer Swift 5 laptop. A 3220mAh battery pack promises up to 9 hours of usage on a single charge.
An edge-to-edge FHD webcam with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels makes for good quality video calling sessions. In addition, the Acer Color Intelligence technology dynamically adjusts gamma and saturation in real-time to produce life-like visuals. An ultra-thin 4.9mm bezel gives you a compact package that doesn’t feel bulky or awkward during usage.
The stylish metallic finish of the keyboard allows for great tactile feedback when you are engrossed in typing up on the go, à la laptops of old times. A fingerprint reader keeps your files safe while also allowing quick login into Windows 10 Pro. The performance aided by Acer Coolboost technology ensures that your system doesn’t heat up when things get a little too much.
Being a business laptop, the Acer Swift 5 comes with a good number of ports both on the left and right sides to meet your connectivity needs. You get an Ethernet port for faster internet speeds at home or in the office, 1 USB Type-C port, 2 USB 3.0 data transfer ports, an HDMI port for connecting to external display devices, and a headphone/mic combo jack.
Pros
- 8th Gen Core i7 CPU with MX150 GPU
- Sharp Full HD IPS display
- Good connectivity options
Cons
- A bit heavier
Conclusion
Since technology is changing rapidly, everyday new laptops hit the market with sophisticated features and better performance. We recommend our users not to go for less than Core i5 or Core i7, we have listed some of the best laptops that can sustain heavy workloads while running engineering applications and run the laptops smoothly. Choose according to your budget but never compromise on the quality and performance of a laptop.