The Best Laptops for Engineering Students in 2024

As an engineering student, your laptop is more than just a tool for taking notes. It’s your mobile workstation, your research assistant, and your portal to a world of complex simulations and demanding software. You need a machine that can keep up with your rigorous academic schedule, handle resource-intensive applications, and still be light enough to carry across campus. Finding the right laptop can be daunting, so we’ve compiled a list of the best options for engineering students, covering various budgets and performance needs.

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Here are some of the best laptops for engineering students:

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is a well-rounded laptop that delivers excellent performance, outstanding battery life, and a stunning display, all at a sub-$1,000 price point.

Pros:

• Reliable performance

• Exceptional battery life (17 hours)

• Gorgeous 14-inch 1400p display

Cons:

• Uninspired design

The Inspiron 14 Plus boasts a PCMark 10 score of 7,061, surpassing comparable machines like the Acer Swift Go 14 and the more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Its impressive battery life ensures you can power through a full day of classes and study sessions without needing to hunt for an outlet. The 14-inch display offers a maximum brightness of 418 nits and an anti-glare coating, making it suitable for use in various lighting conditions. While the design might not be the most visually striking, its performance and battery life more than make up for it.

Alternative: If you’re willing to invest more, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i offers a more premium experience with a faster processor (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H), more RAM (32GB), a higher resolution display (3200×2000), a bigger screen (16 inches), and an excellent keyboard.

Acer Aspire Go 15

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a budget-friendly option perfect for day-to-day tasks like web browsing, streaming, and Microsoft Office.

Pros:

• Affordable

• Decent 15.6-inch 1080p display

• Good port selection

Cons:

• Limited performance for demanding applications

The Intel Core i3-N305 CPU is suitable for light workloads but might struggle with more demanding engineering applications. However, its 12-hour battery life is respectable and should be sufficient for a full school day. At just $300 on Acer’s online store, the Aspire Go 15 offers excellent value, with a decent display and a good selection of ports, including USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, a Kensington lock slot, and a headphone jack.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 stands out for its exceptional battery life, lasting an incredible 24 hours on a single charge.

Pros:

• Extraordinary battery life (24 hours)

• Lightweight (2.66 pounds)

Cons:

• Okay keyboard

• Display isn’t the sharpest

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 processor, the T14s Gen 6 is incredibly power-efficient. Its lightweight design makes it ideal for students constantly on the move. While the keyboard and display might not be the best, its portability and long battery life make it an excellent choice for busy students. A decent port selection, including HDMI 2.1, Type-A, and Type-C ports, allows for easy connection to external peripherals.

Alternative: The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro offers a long-lasting 2-in-1 experience with a battery life of 23 hours and 15 minutes and a gorgeous 2800×1800 AMOLED display.

Acer Nitro V 16

The Acer Nitro V 16 is a gaming laptop that offers excellent value for its hardware and performance, making it suitable for both schoolwork and gaming.

Pros:

• Powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU

• Fast 165Hz display

Cons:

• Short battery life (4 hours)

• Plastic build

Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, the Nitro V 16 can handle most modern games on Medium or High graphics settings. Its 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS display with a 165Hz refresh rate provides a smooth gaming experience. However, its battery life is limited to about four hours, so you’ll likely need to stay plugged in. Despite the plastic build and average keyboard, the Nitro V 16 offers excellent performance for the price.

Asus Zenbook S 14

The Asus Zenbook S 14 is a featherlight and compact laptop that offers a fantastic balance of portability and performance.

Pros:

• Featherlight (2.65 pounds)

• Spectacular battery life (21 hours)

• Beautiful OLED touch display

Cons:

• (None mentioned)

Weighing just 2.65 pounds, the Zenbook S 14 is lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air. Its lightweight design doesn’t compromise its structural integrity. With a battery life of 21 hours, it’s a true productivity powerhouse. The Zenbook S 14 features a sharp 2880×1800 OLED touch display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, providing a smooth and visually stunning experience. Its unique design with silvery cracks on the lid adds a touch of elegance.

Asus Zenbook 14 OLED

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED delivers peppy CPU performance, outstanding battery life, and a vibrant OLED touchscreen display at an affordable price.

Pros:

• Affordable

• Great Performance

• OLED Touchscreen

• Excellent Battery life (16 hours)

Cons:

• Connectivity is Limited

Movies and games look realistic on the 14-inch 1980x1200p OLED touchscreen. Its battery life lasts 16 hours, outclassing other machines in its class. It performs well with everyday tasks. Overall, this is an exceptional budget laptop.

Key Considerations for Engineering Laptops:

• Processor: For engineering tasks, an Intel Core i5 or higher is recommended, with an Intel Core i7 being ideal.

• RAM: Aim for at least 8GB of RAM, with 16GB being preferable for running demanding programs like Java and Python.

• Storage: A minimum of 512GB of SSD storage is recommended, with 1TB of NVMe SSD storage being ideal for storing large engineering programs and files.

• Portability: Choose a laptop that weighs three pounds or less, with a 13- or 14-inch display for optimal portability.

How PCWorld Tests Laptops:

The PCWorld team puts every Windows laptop through a series of intensive benchmarks to test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and other key metrics. The goal is to push each laptop to its limits and compare its performance against other models we’ve tested. Our comprehensive review methodology ensures we provide accurate and reliable assessments.