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The Best Laptops For Engineering Students in 2022

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The Best Laptops For Engineering Students in 2022

If you’re a student taking up engineering, you will encounter programs like CAM and CAD. Such programs consume a lot of power from a laptop, so you will need to invest in a laptop with specs that can handle it. The laptop you pick should have a top-notch CPU and GPU. You wouldn’t want to encounter any lag or setbacks while working on a project. You should also make sure that the laptop of your choice isn’t too heavy, since you will be carrying it around with you at school. Finding a power outlet wherever you go will also be a hassle, so it would be best to pick a laptop with excellent battery life. Before buying one, you should also think about how big a screen you want. Your laptop’s display should have a high resolution, and it should have accurate colors. Its brightness and contrast should also satisfy you since you will probably be working in different environments. Laptops that meet all the criteria for engineering students won’t have the lowest price tags, but they will be a worthwhile investment since you will still use them even once you’re a full-fledged engineer. Here are some of the best laptops for engineering students in 2022.

01 Dell XPS 15

The Dell XPS 15  is everything an engineering student could want in a laptop because it’s both powerful and stylish. The base model costs less than $1,500, but you still have the option to get variants with more advanced components for a higher price. The laptop features a 12th Generation Intel Core i5-12500H processor, and it runs on Windows 11 Home. It has an Intel UHD Graphics GPU and 8 GB DDR5 RAM. The lowest storage capacity Dell offers for this laptop is a 512 Gb SSD. They also have 1 TB and 2 TB SSD models. The XPS 15 has a 15.6-inch FHD+ non-touch and anti-glare InfitiyEdge display with a 500-nit peak brightness. Customers can also pick a variant with a touch display and a higher resolution. The laptop comes with a backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader. The XPS 15 features a black interior with a platinum silver exterior. The laptop has one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with DisplayPort and PowerDelivery, one SD card slot, two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort and PowerDeliver, and one 3.5mm microphone/headphone jack. You can take Zoom calls with the laptop since it has a 720p at 30 fps camera with dual-array microphones, but the webcam quality isn’t the best.

Pros

  • Powerful performance
  • High-quality display
  • Excellent backlit keyboard
  • Premium design

Cons

  • Disappointing webcam
  • Not the best battery life

Specification

  • Price $1,449
  • Processor 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-12500H
  • Operating System Windows 11 Home, English
  • Video Card Intel® UHD Graphics
Dell XPS 15

02 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a powerful laptop that offers the endurance most engineering students need from a computer. It features a 14-inch Full HD display with thin bezels that give it a sleek and modern look. It has a 120 Hz refresh rate, so it would also make a great gaming laptop if you want to take a break from your engineering projects. The laptop comes with a 2.9 GHz AMD Ryzen 7 8-Core Processor and 8 GB RAM, so you won’t have trouble loading heavy programs or games. The graphics you get from the laptop’s display are also top-notch since it’s equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. You will still have to bring the laptop’s charger with you if you plan to use the laptop for an entire day because you only get ten hours of usage with every charge. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 promises an excellent network signal since it supports Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax. The laptop has Bluetooth 5.0, one HDMI port, two USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one Display Port and G-Sync, one USB Type-C 3.2 with Power Delivery, and one audio jack. Unfortunately, the laptop doesn’t have a webcam, so it won’t be ideal for those who always have to hop on Zoom calls.

Pros

  • Powerful
  • Modern and portable design
  • Superb display quality
  • 120 Hz refresh rate

Cons

  • Lacks a webcam
  • Can encounter issues with keyboard's backlight

Specification

  • Price $1,015.00
  • Processor AMD Ryzen 7 8-Core Processor
  • Operating System Windows 10 Home
  • Video Card GeForce RTX™ 2060 GPU
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

03 Macbook Pro 16-inch (2021)

Apple has always made laptops that pack a punch and make your life easier, and their latest 16-inch Macbook Pro doesn’t disappoint. The laptop has a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology, True Tone technology, and a 120 Hz refresh rate that makes everything look crisp and clear. It’s equipped with Apple’s new M1 Pro chip with a 10-core CPU, 16-core Neural Engine, and 16-core GPU that makes everything run smoothly, and multitasking will be a breeze. You get 16 GB of unified memory, but you also can upgrade to 32 GB. The Macbook Pro 16-inch is available in 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, and 8 TB SSD storage. The latest 16-inch model doesn’t have the touch bar anymore, but you still get a touch ID sensor. The laptop’s battery life is also superior to its competitors because one full charge gives you up to 21 hours of battery life. Like older Macbooks, this model also comes with a FaceTime HD camera, but it’s now 1080p rather than the older 720p. The laptop also has a unique high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers. It supports Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology and 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6. You might no longer need a USB hub for the laptop because, aside from the three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, you get one HDMI port and one SDXC card slot. If you can afford the Macbook Pro 16-inch’s hefty price tag, you can expect to have a laptop that will be a great helping hand for your engineering classes.

Pros

  • Premium display
  • Excellent performance thanks to Apple's M1 Pro chip
  • More ports than previous models
  • Upgraded webcam
  • Touch ID sensor

Cons

  • Pricey
  • No more touch bar

Specification

  • Price $2,499
  • Processor M1 Pro
  • Operating System macOS
  • Video Card Radeon Pro 5500M or 5600M
Macbook Pro 16-inch (2021)

04 Google Pixelbook Go

Not everyone wants to or can spend more than $1,000 on a laptop, but more budget-friendly options like the Google Pixelbook Go prove that you don’t always have to pay a premium price to get a laptop that can get the job done. The Pixelbook Go is perfect for students who are always on the go because it’s slim, lightweight, and has a grippable design. It has a 13.3 HD touchscreen display, so you can still navigate it easily even if you don’t have an external mouse. Google designed the laptop for speed, and you can expect a ton of power from its 8th Gen Intel Core Processor. The laptop starts up quickly, and its Chrome OS remains consistently fast in the long run. You don’t have to worry about your laptop getting hacked or filled with viruses because it has built-in anti-virus software and the Titan C security chip. Typing for long hours won’t be a hassle with the Pixelbook Go because of its comfortable backlit keyboard and hush keys. You also get a spacious touchpad that is responsive. When you want to take a break from schoolwork and watch a movie, you will love the audio quality you get from the laptop’s dual stereo speakers. The Google Pixelbook Go is available in two colors: Just Black and Not Pink.

Pros

  • More affordable than competitors
  • Touchscreen display
  • Fantastic keyboard and touchpad
  • Built-in anti-virus software and Titan C security chip
  • Dual stereo speakers
  • 8th Gen Intel Core Processor
  • Chrome OS stays fast and responsive in the long run

Cons

  • Not everyone will like the 16:9 screen
  • Could use more ports that are not USB-C
  • Most tasks require an internet connection

Specification

  • Price $580.00
  • Processor Intel Core m3
  • Operating System Chrome OS
  • Video Card Intel UHD 615 GPU
Google Pixelbook Go

05 Razer Blade 15

The Razer Blade 15 might be an attractive choice for gamers, but its overall performance also makes it ideal for future engineers. The laptop features a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor that guarantees superior performance. It comes with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB of SSD stage, which are both expandable. You can expect its display to have cinematic-quality visuals thanks to its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. The laptop has a 15.6-inch full HD display, and you will get to maximize your screen because of its thin bezels. Gamers love the Razer Blade 15 because of its 144 Hz refresh rate, which means that you can expect a smooth flow of your content when working on heavy programs. The laptop has an ultra-slim design, but it still promises the utmost durability thanks to its CNC aluminum unibody frame. In terms of connectivity, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth. It also has a Thunderbolt 3 port, USB Type-C and Type-A ports, and an HDMI port. The laptop’s keyboard isn’t like the others on this list because you can customize the color of its backlight. Sadly, one major downside it has is its disappointing 6-hour battery life. The Razer Blade 15 comes preloaded with Windows 10 Home.

Pros

  • Powerful processor that promises longevity
  • Excellent GPU
  • Slim and durable design
  • Upgradeable RAM and storage
  • Wi-Fi 6 support
  • 144 Hz refresh rate
  • Wide range of ports

Cons

  • Noisy fans
  • Poor battery life
  • Keyboard is pretty shallow

Specification

  • Price $1,622.99
  • Processor Intel Core i7-10750H
  • Operating System Windows 10
  • Video Card NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
Razer Blade 15

06 Macbook Air (M1, 2020)

If you feel like the 16-inch MacBook Pro is too expensive for you, you can always go for the more affordable 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 chip. Its chip with an 8-core CPU, 16-core Neural engine, and 7-core GPU guarantees a snappy performance with superb graphics. Everything will look sharp and detailed on the laptop because of its 13.3-inch Retina display. The base model for the MacBook Air comes with 8 GB of unified memory, but you have the option to upgrade to 16 GB. The same applies to its storage; you can settle for the base model’s 256 GB SSD or upgrade to 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB SSD. The laptop comes with a Touch ID sensor since it doesn’t have a touch bar like the latest line of MacBook Pros. The webcam on the MacBook Air is pretty outdated since it still uses the 720p FaceTime HD camera. The laptop has stereo speakers with wide stereo sound and Dolby Atmos playback support. Its Magic Keyboard is comfortable to use, and you’ll also love its ambient light sensor and Force Touch trackpad. The laptop’s battery life is also a selling point because you can get up to 18 hours of usage per charge. The MacBook Air comes with two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and a headphone jack. Customers will receive a 2 m USB-C charging cable and 30W USB-C power adaptor along with the laptop.

Pros

  • Slim and lightweight design
  • Powerful M1 chip
  • Silent operation
  • Great battery life

Cons

  • Outdated webcam
  • Could use more ports

Specification

  • Price $999.00
  • Processor Apple M1
  • Operating System macOS
  • Video Card Apple M1
Macbook Air (M1, 2020)

Brett Clarke

May 6, 2022

82 Articles Published

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