There are a ton of laptop deals now that back-to-school season is in full swing. If you’re an engineering student, you’re going to need a machine that can handle resource-intensive coursework. A powerful CPU and loads of memory and storage are an absolute must. Portability is an important factor too, especially if you’re going from class to class. If you’re not sure where to begin your search, don’t sweat it. We’ve assembled a list of laptops that are perfect for engineering students, as they’re both powerful and portable. Read on to learn more.
It’s back to school season and that means you can score some epic deals on great laptops to help you ace the next semester. Check out our roundup of best back to school deals to see what is available.
[Looking for something different? Check out our picks for the best laptops for college students!]
Updated 9/4/2023: To include the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano as our pick for best laptop keyboard. Read more about this excellent professional laptop in our summary below.
Dell XPS 17 (2023) – Best overall
Pros
Expansive 17-inch 16:10 display
Thin chassis
Incredible battery life
Cons
High price without OLED display
Low-wattage GPU limits 3D performance
Low-res 720p webcam
The Dell XPS 17 has a lot going for it. You’re getting super-fast performance, a vivid display, and long battery life. The laptop also provides great connectivity features with four Thunderbolt 4 ports and an impressively long battery life. Under the hood, it’s rocking an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. That’s a ton of memory and storage, which is a good thing if you’re using a lot of resource-intensive applications such as 3D CAD modeling programs
The one real downside is that the XPS 17 weighs just under five and a half pounds, so it’s a real beast. The webcam is only 720p, as well, which may be a downside if you have to do any online classes or video-conferencing. Buy if you can live with those minor shortcomings, the latest XPS 17 is a phenomenal choice.
Read our full
Dell XPS 17 9730 review
Acer Aspire 3 – Best budget option
![Acer Aspire 3 - Best budget option](https://i0.wp.com/b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Acer_Aspire3.jpg?resize=2000%2C1361&ssl=1)
Pros
Spacious keyboard with number pad
HD webcam
Solid video playback performance
Decent business app performance
Workday-long battery life
Cons
Poor gaming graphics performance
Basic 1080p display
Small 128GB storage drive
If you’re looking to save some cash, the Acer Aspire 3 is a worthy choice. It packs a good amount of performance for not a lot of money. Plus, the full-size keyboard provides loads of room, which is perfect for writing those term papers or modifying those CAD models. While that’s all well and good, the internals are really what makes this laptop a solid value buy.
The Aspire 3 comes with a Ryzen 3 7320U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of PCIe SSD storage. The 15.8-inch 1080p display also has decent color quality. In our tests we found that the battery was able to hold a charge for up to eight hours of continuous use—enough to last a full day of classes. One of the most surprising features was the design. While a little utilitarian, it’s one of the sturdiest builds we’ve seen on a budget laptop. All in all, the Acer Aspire 3 gives you plenty of bang for relatively few bucks.
Read our full
Acer Aspire 3 (2022) review
Acer Swift 5 (2022) – Most portable
![Acer Swift 5 (2022) - Most portable](https://i0.wp.com/b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Acer-Swift-5-overview.jpg?resize=4032%2C3024&ssl=1)
Pros
Sturdy, compact design
Hi-res 14-inch display with 16:10 aspect ratio
12th-gen Core i7 delivers strong performance
Long battery life
1080p webcam
Cons
Terrible touchpad
So-so speakers
Need a lightweight laptop to take with you to class? The Acer Swift 5 will surely fit the bill, as it weighs a little under three pounds. It also has a compact design, a 1080p webcam, and impressive battery life. The 14-inch display is “bright and spacious” thanks to the 16:10 aspect ratio and 2560×1600 resolution. Under the hood, you’ll find an Intel Core i7-1260P CPU, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage. The only real knock we have against this machine is the undersized touchpad. However, it’s not a deal-breaker, as you can always plug into an external mouse. It’s a charming little laptop that’s both zippy and travel-friendly.
Read our full
Acer Swift 5 (2022) review
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (2023) – Best for gaming
![Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (2023) - Best for gaming](https://i0.wp.com/b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/784A1127.jpg?resize=6720%2C4480&ssl=1)
Pros
Handsome design
Excellent keyboard
Lots of connectivity
Strong CPU and GPU performance
Cons
Heavy and bulky
Mediocre display
Short battery life
Lenovo just continues to improve upon its Legion 5 Pro laptop, which offers awesome gaming performance, superb connectivity features, a durable design, and much more. It can easily handle both schoolwork as well as late-night gaming sessions. While it isn’t exactly cheap, considering the performance features it gives you, the pricing can actually be considered affordable as well.
This laptop is rocking an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. It performed well in our gaming tests with numbers that land it solidly in the midrange gaming laptop pack. As for the 16-inch display, it has a resolution of 2560×1600 and a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz. We weren’t too impressed with the screen, which, while definitely bright, is not as vibrant as others we’ve seen. Still, if you’re looking for a versatile laptop that can do it all—work and play—look no further than Lenovo’s latest Legion 5 Pro.
Read our full
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro review
Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip – Best battery life
![Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip - Best battery life](https://i0.wp.com/b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/main.jpg?resize=1382%2C840&ssl=1)
Pros
Spectacular battery life
Spacious touchpad
1080p webcam
Lovely display
Cons
Heavier than expected
Display is too reflective in outside environments
Middling performance
When going to and from classes, taking notes, and then doing assignments, you might not always have a convenient way to charge your laptop so you need something that will last all day. The Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip does just that with a fantastic battery that just doesn’t seem stop. It lasted a jaw-dropping 19 hours on a single charge during our testing—we had to run the benchmark twice just to make sure. That’s positively wild. For most laptops if you can eek out 10 hours on a single charge it’s considered a long-lasting. But the CM34 Flip almost doubles that number.
Lest you be concerned about whether this Chromebook will be a solid performer, know that it features AMD’s Ryzen 3 7320C (like the Acer Aspire 3 above), which is superior to a Snapdragon CPU. This 2-in-1 Chromebook also comes with a colorful touchscreen display, comfortable touchpad, and high-quality 1080p webcam. It’s not the most portable though, weighing in at just over 4 pounds. But if you’re on the hunt for a long-lasting everyday machine that won’t break the bank, you can’t get much better than the CM34 Flip.
Read our full
Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip review
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano – Best keyboard
![Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano - Best keyboard](https://i0.wp.com/b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-nano-5.jpg?resize=1500%2C1000&ssl=1)
Pros
Thin, lightweight design
Excellent keyboard
Good processor performance
Supports Wi-Fi 6E and optional 4G LTE
Cons
Small touchpad
Limited physical connectivity
Short battery life
Lenovo laptops are always great options for professionals and students alike and the latest ThinkPad X1 Nano is no exception. Lenovo’s aim with the X1 Nano is to cram an enjoyable laptop with great performance into the smallest footprint possible and it accomplished this goal. The X1 Nano comes with the latest 13th-gen Core i7-1360P processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. But the real gem is the excellent keyboard. The layout is surprisingly spacious with easy-to-find keys that have good travel and a clicky, crisp bottoming action.
All of this is somehow fit into a pint-sized footprint of 11.54x 8.19 inches with a thickness of just 0.58 inches. Plus it weighs a mere 2.18 pounds. It’s an easily portable laptop to haul between classes or fit into your bag for a trip to the coffee shop for some paper writing. The only issue is the battery life. In out real-world tests we found that it needed to be recharged in the middle of a workday with heavy use, which is a bit lower than we would’ve liked. Regardless, if you want a compact laptop that provides a satisfying typing experience for when you’re working on assignments or taking notes in class look no further than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano.
Read our full
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano review
HP Pavilion Plus 14 – Best display
![HP Pavilion Plus 14 - Best display](https://i0.wp.com/b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HP-Pavilion-Plus-14-overview.jpg?resize=4032%2C3024&ssl=1)
Pros
OLED display is gorgeous
Sleek, all-metal chassis
Strong multimedia performance
Cons
Woeful battery life
Onboard memory can’t be expanded post-purchase
Low contrast between keys and key symbols
If you’re an engineering student, chances are you’re going to be spending a lot of time staring at a screen. You might as well invest in a good one then, right? Well, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 has a gorgeous OLED display. The 14-inch screen has a resolution of 2880×1800, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and a 90Hz refresh rate. According to our tester, the display produces “incredible contrast and deep blacks” as well as a “sharp picture” overall. As for the internal components, it has an Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage. While we loved the superb display and durable all-metal chassis, we weren’t thrilled with the short battery life and the low contrast between the keys. Nitpicks aside, this is a great pick if you suffer from eye strain and tension headaches.
Read our full
HP Pavilion Plus 14 review
Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED – Best dual display
![Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED - Best dual display](https://i0.wp.com/b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221101_141145.jpg?resize=4608%2C3456&ssl=1)
Pros
Stunning primary display and easy to see secondary display
Excellent I/O options and wireless connectivity
CPU / GPU power meets the needs of content creators
Cons
The battery life is lacking for a productivity laptop
The trackpad is small and awkwardly placed
Rear orientated ports can be hard to reach
The Asus Zenbook Pro 14 takes the idea of a nice display and doubles it, sporting a 14.5-inch 4K touch OLED main panel and a truly intriguing secondary 12.7-inch 2880×864 screen located right above the keyboard. This second display is recognized by Windows as a second monitor and you can use it to help with all kinds of tasks, such as a trackpad or to display touch controls for some Adobe apps. It’s not just pretty screens though; the Zenbook Pro 14 comes with a Core i7 processor, RTX 3050 graphics, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD essentially making it a midrange workstation. The only real drawback is the mediocre battery life, which means you’ll probably need to carry around a charging cable while on the go or in class. Despite this, the Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is a well-tuned productivity machine complete with two high-quality displays and enough performance to create and render those next engineering masterpieces.
Read our full
Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED review
How we tested
The PCWorld team puts every Windows laptop through a series of intense benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them.
Windows laptops
PCMark 10: The PCMark 10 benchmark is how we determine how well the laptop handles general use tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, streaming, and so on.
HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file.
Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It renders a 2D scene over a short period of time.
3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. This is how we test a gaming laptop’s GPU.
Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies.
FAQ
How much processing power will I need?
You’re going to need a good amount of processing power for engineering tasks, so we’d recommend an Intel Core i5 or higher. However, an Intel Core i7 is considered ideal. This type of processor is good for multitasking, gaming, and demanding workloads.
Is RAM important?
Absolutely! The amount of RAM directly impacts the speed of your programs. Engineering students will likely be living in programs like Java and Python, so making sure those programs run smoothly is absolutely vital. The bare minimum we’d recommend is 8GB, but 16GB is better.
What about storage?
You’re going to need quite a bit of space for a slew of engineering programs, so we’d recommend at least 512GB of SSD (solid state drive) storage. If you want more space and have the budget for it, go for 1TB of NVMe SSD storage.
How much should my laptop weigh?
You don’t want to be lugging a five pound beast from class to class. A portable laptop should weigh about three pounds or less. In terms of portability and value, we suggest buying a laptop with a 13- or 14-inch display.