There are a ton of computer offers now that back-to-school season is in complete swing. In the event you’re an engineering pupil, you’re going to desire a gadget that may take care of resource-intensive coursework. An impressive CPU and lots of reminiscence and garage are an absolute should. Portability is crucial issue too, particularly in the event you’re going from elegance to elegance. In the event you’re now not positive the place to start your seek, don’t sweat it. We’ve assembled a listing of laptops that are ideal for engineering scholars, as they’re each tough and transportable. Learn on to be told extra.
It’s again to college season and that implies you’ll rating some epic offers on nice laptops that will help you ace the following semester. Take a look at our roundup of best back to school deals to peer what’s to be had.
[Looking for something different? Check out our picks for the best laptops for college students!]
the whole lot in between. Within the listing beneath, you’ll discover our best choices for September 2023.
Why you must consider us: Howdy, it’s in our title! PCWorld prides itself on computer revel in and experience. We’ve been masking PCs since 1983, and we now overview greater than 70 laptops annually. All the choices beneath had been for my part examined and vetted by way of our mavens, who’ve carried out now not simplest efficiency benchmarks however rigorous usability requirements. We’re additionally dedicated to reviewing PC laptops at each and every worth level that will help you discover a gadget that fits your funds.
Easiest computer offers presently:
- Dell Inspiron, Intel Core i7-1360P CPU/Nvidia GeForce MX550 graphics/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/16-inch 2400p OLED show, $1,249.99 ($250 off at Easiest Purchase)
- Lenovo Slim Pro 7, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU/Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/14.5-inch 1600p show, $899.99 ($300 off at Easiest Purchase)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, Intel Core i5-1235U CPU/Intel Iris Xe graphics/8GB RAM/512GB SSD/13.5-inch 1504p contact show, $999.99 ($300 off at Easiest Purchase)
The Microsoft Floor Computer 5 is a brilliant choice for engineering scholars as a result of its very transportable at underneath 3 kilos, which is very best in the event you plan on taking it with you to elegance. It’s additionally tough sufficient to run engineering tool due to the Intel Core i5-1235U CPU. The sublime rose gold scheme is solely the cherry on best.
Dell XPS 17 (2023) – Easiest general

Execs
- Expansive 17-inch 16:10 show
- Skinny chassis
- Improbable battery existence
Cons
- Top worth with out OLED show
- Low-wattage GPU limits three-D efficiency
- Low-res 720p webcam
Worth When Reviewed:
From $2,449 | Style reviewed $3,099
The Dell XPS 17 has so much going for it. You’re getting super-fast efficiency, a vibrant show, and lengthy battery existence. The computer additionally supplies nice connectivity options with 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports and an impressively lengthy battery existence. Underneath the hood, it’s rocking an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD garage. That’s a ton of reminiscence and garage, which is a great factor in the event you’re the use of numerous resource-intensive programs akin to three-D CAD modeling techniques
The only genuine problem is that the XPS 17 weighs slightly below 5 and a part kilos, so it’s an actual beast. The webcam is simplest 720p, as neatly, that may be a problem if it’s important to do any on-line categories or video-conferencing. Purchase if you’ll reside with the ones minor shortcomings, the newest XPS 17 is an outstanding selection.
Learn our complete
Dell XPS 17 9730 review
Acer Aspire 3 – Easiest funds choice

Execs
- Spacious keyboard with quantity pad
- HD webcam
- Cast video playback efficiency
- First rate trade app efficiency
- Workday-long battery existence
Cons
- Deficient gaming graphics efficiency
- Elementary 1080p show
- Small 128GB garage pressure
Worth When Reviewed:
$329.99
In the event you’re taking a look to avoid wasting money, the Acer Aspire 3 is a worthy selection. It packs a just right quantity of efficiency for now not some huge cash. Plus, the full-size keyboard supplies lots of room, which is very best for writing the ones time period papers or editing the ones CAD fashions. Whilst that’s all neatly and just right, the internals are in point of fact what makes this computer a cast price purchase.
The Aspire 3 comes with a Ryzen 3 7320U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of PCIe SSD garage. The 15.8-inch 1080p show additionally has respectable colour high quality. In our assessments we discovered that the battery used to be in a position to carry a rate for as much as 8 hours of constant use—sufficient to remaining a complete day of categories. Some of the sudden options used to be the design. Whilst a bit of utilitarian, it’s one of the crucial sturdiest builds we’ve observed on the cheap computer. All in all, the Acer Aspire 3 offers you a lot of bang for slightly couple of bucks.
Learn our complete
Acer Aspire 3 (2022) review
Asus Zenbook 14X OLED – Easiest OLED show underneath $1,000

Execs
- Tough construct high quality
- Superb OLED show
- Relaxing keyboard and touchpad
- Lengthy battery existence
Cons
- Uninteresting external design
- Vulnerable graphics efficiency
- May just use some other USB-A port
Worth When Reviewed:
$799.99
The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED has so much going for it. This gadget gives lengthy battery existence, rugged construct high quality, and a pleasing typing revel in. On the other hand, the actual famous person of the display is the lovely 1800p OLED show. The 14.5-inch display includes a solution of 2880×1800 and a refresh fee of 120Hz. In line with our reviewer, it “supplies a limiteless distinction ratio that may succeed in a great minimal luminance of 0 nits.” That suggests you’re going to get a real looking revel in in dimly lit scenes. Need to know the most productive phase? The entire package deal simplest prices $799.99, which is a killer price.
The Zenbook 14X comes provided with an Intel Core i5-13500H CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD garage. In different phrases, it’s able to dealing with engineering tool in addition to on a regular basis duties like checking e-mail and staring at Netflix. On the finish of the day, it’s a wise computer with a excellent display. In comparison to different laptops on this worth level, you’ll see sacrifices within the {hardware} or keyboard, however that’s now not the case right here with the Zenbook 14X.
Learn our complete
Asus Zenbook 14X OLED review
Lenovo Legion 5 Professional (2023) – Easiest for gaming

Execs
- Good-looking design
- Superb keyboard
- A variety of connectivity
- Sturdy CPU and GPU efficiency
Cons
- Heavy and ponderous
- Mediocre show
- Quick battery existence
Worth When Reviewed:
$1,699.99
Lenovo simply continues to support upon its Legion 5 Professional computer, which gives superior gaming efficiency, excellent connectivity options, a sturdy design, and a lot more. It will probably simply take care of each schoolwork in addition to late-night gaming classes. Whilst it isn’t precisely reasonable, making an allowance for the efficiency options it offers you, the pricing can in fact be thought to be inexpensive as neatly.
This computer is rocking an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD garage. It carried out neatly in our gaming assessments with numbers that land it solidly within the midrange gaming computer pack. As for the 16-inch show, it has a solution of 2560×1600 and a most refresh fee of 165Hz. We weren’t too inspired with the display, which, whilst for sure vivid, isn’t as colourful as others we’ve observed. Nonetheless, in the event you’re on the lookout for a flexible computer that may do all of it—paintings and play—glance no additional than Lenovo’s newest Legion 5 Professional.
Learn our complete
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro review
Asus Chromebook CM34 Turn – Easiest battery existence

Execs
- Impressive battery existence
- Spacious touchpad
- 1080p webcam
- Pretty show
Cons
- Heavier than anticipated
- Show is simply too reflective in out of doors environments
- Middling efficiency
Worth When Reviewed:
$499
When going to and from categories, taking notes, after which doing assignments, you may now not all the time have a handy strategy to rate your computer so you wish to have one thing that may remaining all day. The Asus Chromebook CM34 Turn does simply that with an incredible battery that simply doesn’t appear forestall. It lasted a jaw-dropping 19 hours on a unmarried rate all the way through our trying out—we needed to run the benchmark two times simply to ensure. That’s definitely wild. For many laptops if you’ll eek out 10 hours on a unmarried rate it’s thought to be an enduring. However the CM34 Turn virtually doubles that quantity.
Lest you be fascinated about whether or not this Chromebook will likely be a cast performer, know that it options AMD’s Ryzen 3 7320C (just like the Acer Aspire 3 above), which is awesome to a Snapdragon CPU. This 2-in-1 Chromebook additionally comes with a colourful touchscreen show, at ease touchpad, and top of the range 1080p webcam. It’s now not essentially the most transportable even though, weighing in at simply over 4 kilos. However in the event you’re at the hunt for an enduring on a regular basis gadget that received’t cost a fortune, you’ll’t get significantly better than the CM34 Turn.
Learn our complete
Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip review
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano – Easiest keyboard

Execs
- Skinny, light-weight design
- Superb keyboard
- Excellent processor efficiency
- Helps Wi-Fi 6E and not obligatory 4G LTE
Cons
- Small touchpad
- Restricted bodily connectivity
- Quick battery existence
Worth When Reviewed:
$1,714
Lenovo laptops are all the time nice choices for pros and scholars alike and the newest ThinkPad X1 Nano is not any exception. Lenovo’s intention with the X1 Nano is to cram an stress-free computer with nice efficiency into the smallest footprint imaginable and it achieved this purpose. The X1 Nano comes with the newest Thirteenth-gen Core i7-1360P processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD garage. However the actual gem is the very good keyboard. The structure is unusually spacious with easy-to-find keys that experience just right go back and forth and a clicky, crisp bottoming motion.
All of that is one way or the other have compatibility right into a pint-sized footprint of eleven.54x 8.19 inches with a thickness of simply 0.58 inches. Plus it weighs a trifling 2.18 kilos. It’s an simply transportable computer to haul between categories or have compatibility into your bag for a shuttle to the espresso store for some paper writing. The one factor is the battery existence. In out real-world assessments we discovered that it had to be recharged in the midst of a workday with heavy use, which is a bit of less than we’d’ve appreciated. Regardless, if you wish to have a compact computer that gives a lovely typing revel in for whilst you’re operating on assignments or taking notes in school glance no additional than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano.
Learn our complete
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano review
Acer Swift Move 16 – Maximum transportable

Execs
- Narrow and lightweight for a 16-inch computer
- Sharp, high-contrast OLED show
- Wide vary of connectivity
- Sturdy processor efficiency
Cons
- Design doesn’t stand out
- Touchpad may well be greater
- Lackluster graphics efficiency
Worth When Reviewed:
$1,199.99
In the event you’re at the hunt for a light-weight 16-inch computer, the Acer Swift Move 16 is value making an allowance for. It weighs 3.64 kilos and measures .59 in profile, which is spectacular for a computer with a bigger display. The design is minimalistic and doesn’t stand out in any respect, however that could be a just right factor relying in your private style. It additionally gives first rate processor efficiency, however the graphics division is a bit of missing because of the Intel Iris Xe graphics. That’s now not a nasty factor, particularly in the event you’re working engineering tool or doing on a regular basis duties like surfing the internet and whatnot.
The Acer Swift Move 16 is rocking an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD garage. The 16-inch OLED show (how spacious!) includes a solution of 3200×2000 and a most refresh fee of 120Hz. Darker scenes glance deep and immersive whilst colours nearly soar off of the display. It additionally has a top brightness of 385 nits, which jumps as much as 541 nits in HDR. The show is undoubtedly vivid, however this may occasionally reason a subject matter with glare, particularly in the event you plan on the use of the computer outside.
Learn our complete
Acer Swift Go 16 review
How we examined
The PCWorld crew places each and every Home windows computer via a sequence of intense benchmarks that check GPU and CPU efficiency, battery existence, and so forth. The theory is to push the computer to its limits after which evaluate it in opposition to others we’ve examined. Beneath, you’ll discover a breakdown of every check and the the reason why we run them.
Home windows laptops
- PCMark 10: The PCMark 10 benchmark is how we resolve how neatly the computer handles common use duties like internet surfing, phrase processing, spreadsheets, streaming, and so forth.
- HandBrake: HandBrake is extra in depth than PCMark 10. It measures how lengthy a computer’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB record.
- Cinebench: Cinebench is a short lived tension check of the CPU cores. It renders a 2D scene over a brief time frame.
- 3DMark: 3DMark assessments if three-D efficiency stays constant through the years by way of working graphic-intensive clips. That is how we check a gaming computer’s GPU.
- Video rundown check: To gauge battery existence, we loop a 4K video the use of Home windows 10’s Films & TV app till the computer dies.
FAQ
How a lot processing energy will I would like in an engineering computer?
You’re going to desire a just right quantity of processing energy for engineering duties, so we’d suggest an Intel Core i5 or upper. On the other hand, an Intel Core i7 is regarded as ideally suited. This kind of processor is just right for multitasking, gaming, and significant workloads.
Is RAM necessary to an engineering computer?
Completely! The volume of RAM at once affects the velocity of your techniques. Engineering scholars shall be residing in techniques like Java and Python, so ensuring the ones techniques run easily is really essential. The naked minimal we’d suggest is 8GB, however 16GB is best.
What about garage?
You’re going to wish reasonably a bit of of area for a slew of engineering techniques, so we’d suggest a minimum of 512GB of SSD (cast state pressure) garage. If you wish to have extra space and feature the funds for it, opt for 1TB of NVMe SSD garage.
How a lot must my computer weigh?
You don’t need to be lugging a 5 pound beast from elegance to elegance. A transportable computer must weigh about 3 kilos or much less. With regards to portability and worth, we advise purchasing a computer with a 13- or 14-inch show.