Being an engineering student isnt just about having a fast laptopits about having one that can actually keep up with everything youre throwing at it. Classes, projects, and all those heavy-duty programs like CAD or simulations? Your machine needs to handle it all.
Youll want something thats got a good mix of power, portability, and battery life. A fast processor, enough RAM, decent storage so youre not always clearing space, and a screen thats easy on the eyes. Also, dont forget a decent keyboard, a wide selection of ports (because dongles are the worst), and a battery that lasts all day.
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Best overall
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED tops our list thanks to a winning combination of power, portability, and solid battery life. The AMD Ryzen 7 chip inside (eight cores and 16 threads, by the way) can handle heavy stuff like CAD without slowing down, even if youve got a bunch of tabs open. The 14-inch 1920�1200 OLED touchscreen also looks fantastic and will make your diagrams and projects really stand out.
One of the standout features is its battery life. It lasted over 16 hours in our standard battery test, so that means you can get through a full day of classes and not worry about scrambling for an outlet. The audio is also quite good and it should offer you good volume and clarity during remote lectures.
The build qualitys pretty good, especially considering its just $850 right now. Its also thin (0.59 inches) and light (2.82 pounds), by no means back-breaking. While the keyboard isnt the best weve ever used due to the undersized keys, its totally fine for daily tasks.
Read our full Asus Zenbook 14 OLED review
Acer Aspire Go 15 Best budget option
Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15?
If youre on a strict budget and need a straightforward laptop for note taking and running light coding software, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is a fantastic choice. The Intel Core i3-N305 processor can easily run basic tasks like research, basic coding, and video streaming. You can also count on solid battery performance here, with up to 12 hours on a single charge. The port selection is pretty generous as well, offering USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI.
This Acer Aspire Go 15 laptop is made of all plastic, so it may feel a bit flimsy to some. Theres no backlit keyboard or fingerprint reader, either (if that matters to you). That said, for students doing just general coursework, this laptop will get the job done very affordably.
Read our full Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) review
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition Best battery life
If you need a laptop that just wont quit, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 is an excellent choice with its incredible battery lifePCWorld recorded up to 25 hours on a single charge. That means you can power through long study sessions without constantly searching for an outlet.
Weighing just under three pounds, its actually pretty portable for a 2-in-1 device. The switch between laptop and tablet modes is truly seamless. This is great if youre sketching out engineering diagrams or taking notes with the included Lenovo Yoga Pen.
The keyboard is comfortable to use, and youve got the classic ThinkPad TrackPoint there if precision is your thing. The 14-inch 1920�1200 IPS touchscreen is also bright (500 nits) and has an anti-reflective coating, making it easy to see even when youre outside in the elements.
This laptop is a premium business machine and the price definitely reflects that ($2,336). But keep in mind that youre paying for good build quality and a battery life that only a select few can match right now.
Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition review
Acer Nitro V 16 Best for work and gaming on a budget
If you want something that can handle school and gaming without fuss, the Acer Nitro V 16 is a pretty sweet pick. Its got a Ryzen 7 CPU and an RTX 4060 GPU, so most modern games run smooth on medium to high settings. Plus, if youre into 3D modeling or any heavy graphics work, the GPU has got your back. The 16-inch 1920�1200 screen with a 165Hz refresh rate also makes faster paced games look super smooth too.
Design-wise, it leans into a gamer aesthetic with its orange backlit keys and noticeable branding but its not overly flashy. Still, it might not suit everyones taste. As you might expect from a gaming rig, the battery life doesnt last too longaround four hours on average. The keys also feel somewhat mushy.
Read our full Acer Nitro V 16 review
Microsoft Surface Pro (2025) Best ultraportable
If youre an engineering student with a jam-packed schedule, often needing to run from class to class, the Surface Pro 2025 is so lightweight (just a little over a pound) youll hardly notice its presence. Inside this laptop youll find a Snapdragon X Plus chip and Intel Arc 130V graphics, so you can expect it to deliver a quiet, fanless experience (perfect for working in libraries and lecture halls) and it should handle basic coding and homework just fine.
The 12-inch 2196�1464 screen offers sharp colors and touchscreen capabilities, allowing you to draw and take notes with the (optical) Slim Pen.
Though we really vibe with the high-resolution display, its a bit small if youre the kind of person that has many windows open at once. Battery life is also all over the place, ranging from two to three hours under heavy loads to 19 hours with light usage. Youre also limited to just two USB-C ports, so youll probably want to pick up a dock or hub.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 2025 review
A couple of laptops just missed the cut but are still worth a look. The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2in1 has got a stunning OLED screen as well as marathon battery life, which is great for design work and long study sessions, though the high price tag may deter budget-conscious students. Then theres the Framework Laptop 13 (2025), which is super cool if youre into repairability and customizing your gear (perfect for tinkerers), but battery life and initial upfront cost kept it from nabbing a top spot. Another standout is the Asus ZenBook A14. Its impressively lightweight at just a little over two pounds and it delivers truly incredible battery life (24 hours!), making it ideal for students always on the move.
The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of 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 weve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests.
For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops.
Its in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. Weve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, whove applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. Were also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
Who curated this article?
Hi, Im Ashley Biancuzzo, and I oversee all laptop and Chromebook coverage at PCWorld. While youll see me review Chromebooks on occasion, Im also really into the broader world of consumer tech. I spend a lot of time writing and thinking about where laptops are headedfrom AI and sustainable designs to long-term trends. When Im not deep in the world of tech, youll probably find me gaming, getting lost in a good book, or chilling with my rescue greyhound, Allen.
The following are important questions to ask before making a purchase.
Youll need a good amount of power. Engineering classes usually have you running some pretty heavy stuff like CAD, MATLAB, SolidWorks, and simulations. That stuff can slow your laptop down if its not up to the task, especially if youve got a bunch of apps open. A Core i5 or Ryzen 5 will get you through most of it, but if you want things to run smoother, a Core i7 or Ryzen 7 is where its at (so long as your wallet agrees).
For sure. Youll be using code editors, compilers, simulation tools, sometimes all at once. RAM keeps your laptop from freezing up when youve got a ton going on. 8GB might work if youre just starting out, but 16GB is way betterespecially later on when your classes get more intense.
Youll collect a ton of filesproject folders, software installs, maybe some video editing or game dev work depending on your focus. Wed say go for at least 512GB SSD so youre not constantly clearing space. If you can get 1TB, do it. Its faster and gives you more breathing room for whatever your classes (or side hobbies) throw at you.
1.If youre an engineering student who needs something light, fast, and reliable for coding or writing papers (plus a great screen and battery), the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a dang fine pick.
2.If youre on a tight budget and just need a no-fuss laptop for lighter coding programs, the Acer Aspire Go 15 gets the job done for under $500.
3.Heck yeah! Long battery life means you can power through those long nights at the school library.
4.Wed say the best screen size is anywhere from 13- to 15-inches. It cant be too cumbersome otherwise itll get too difficult to carry around.
