TOP 13 BEST LAPTOPS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN CANADA

A computer is an essential tool for civil and structural engineers, as well as engineering students, who rely on computers for the majority of their work. Most engineering tasks were laborious and required a large number of human resources prior to computers, but today engineers use the power of computers and software to design, test, and make changes to products in real-time.

LIST OF TOP 13 LAPTOPS

1. ASUS ZENBOOK 14

The ASUS ZenBook 14 ultra-slim laptop is one of the most powerful yet compact 14-inch notebooks on our list that digital artists, animators, and illustrators should look into.

Features:

• Despite the ZenBook 14’s attractiveness, it’s difficult to recommend an ultraportable with an “Ice Lake” CPU when ultraportables with Intel’s 11th Generation “Tiger Lake” chips are just hitting the market. Tiger Lake processors, on the other hand, are designed specifically for ultraportable laptops and will deliver refined artificial intelligence processing as well as a boost to the capabilities of integrated graphics with Intel’s next-generation Iris Xe graphics.
• The ZenBook 14 is so small in part due to the narrow screen bezels on all four sides of the display. Many laptops, even those whose manufacturers brag about their bezels’ thinness, have a bottom bezel that is wider than the other three sides. The screen occupies nearly the entire space on the ZenBook 14 UX425JA—the system has a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, according to Asus, and that figure appears low when seated in front of the laptop.
• This model, like other ZenBooks, has Asus’ ErgoLift screen hinge. This hinge design not only makes the bottom screen bezel appear thinner by lifting the back edge of the keyboard deck slightly, but it also creates a more comfortable typing angle and allows for better airflow underneath the laptop to aid cooling.
• The aluminum chassis of the ZenBook lends the laptop a sleek, luxurious appearance, but when you pick it up, the lid and bottom panel flex in your grip, and when you type, the keyboard deck flexes under the pressure of your fingertips. The ZenBook 14 isn’t as stiff as other all-metal ultraportables.
• Aside from the flex when typing, the keyboard on the ZenBook 14 is spacious and comfortable. The keys have a shallow travel but feel snappy in your fingers. They are the polar opposite of “clacky” keys, resulting in a quiet typing experience. To fit the keyboard in the small chassis, no keys were shortened. In fact, Asus found room along the right edge for a column of useful, full-size keys for power, Home, Page Up, Page Down, and End, as well as the right-arrow key.
• The laptop includes Asus’ unique touchpad that also functions as a number pad. When you press the icon in the top right corner of the touchpad, an LED numeric pad appears. This is useful for spreadsheet tasks and when you need a calculator for quick tabulations. Even when in number-pad mode, it functions as a touchpad, allowing you to navigate Windows by swiping and clicking.
• The 14-inch non-touch display has a 1080p resolution and a brightness of 400 nits. The image appears crisp and bright behind the anti-glare coating and has a wide viewing angle. The 16:9 aspect ratio of the screen is ideal for watching movies.
• The ZenBook 14 comes with a pair of downward-firing speakers that are adequate for YouTube videos but lack bass response for music playback. If you like to listen to music while working, keep a pair of wireless headphones nearby. Because the ZenBook lacks a headphone jack. Instead, Asus includes a dongle (which converts a USB Type-C port to a 3.5mm audio jack) for users who want to use wired headphones, but if you’re anything like me, the dongle will likely vanish within hours of opening the box.
• If you want to connect to a wired network, you’ll also need to keep track of a second dongle—the laptop lacks an Ethernet port and instead comes with a USB Type-A to LAN adapter. The system’s two USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 3 compatible, which is great news. There is also one USB-A port, a full-size HDMI port, and a microSD card slot.
• The laptop is powered by a quad-core Intel Core i7-1165G7 11th Gen processor with a base clock speed of 2.8GHz and a turbo boost speed of up to 4.7GHz. Furthermore, the NVIDIA GeForce MX450 with 2GB VRAM is capable of running light games and supporting an external 4K monitor.
• The Zenbook 14’s 8GB RAM allows an artist to run multiple programs in the background while browsing the web without issue. It also has a large amount of flash storage, 512GB to be exact, allowing the user to install software locally and store animations, drawings, and artwork without worrying about picture storage.

Pros:

• Lightweight and portable.
• Long battery life.
• Excellent bezel-less display.
• Excellent keyboard.
• A distinct trackpad.

Cons:

• There are only a few ports available.
• A little pricey.

Specifications Table:

Display Size	14.00 inch
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Touchscreen	No
Processor	i3 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	512 GB
Graphics	Integrated Graphics Processor
Weight	1.13 kg

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2. HP SPECTRE x360T

In any case, the Spectre x360 15 is a class act in the high-end, big-screen 2-in-1 market. It defines what that admittedly small subset of laptops can aspire to. If you have the money and the desire for a big, bold convertible, it will not disappoint.

Features:

• For 2020, HP shaved the Spectre x360 15. It weighs 4.23 pounds and is 8.9 inches deep, thanks to smaller top and bottom display bezels, resulting in weight and depth reductions of six-tenths of a pound and six-tenths of an inch over the 2019 model. 
• The Spectre x360 15’s other dimensions remained unchanged. Its 14.2-inch width is only a few tenths of an inch wider than its screen, and its 0.79-inch thickness is tolerable for a large convertible 2-in-1. (At 0.71 inches, the XPS 15 9500 isn’t much thinner.)
• However, when used as a tablet, the Spectre x360 15 is still a large slab. Its 360-degree functionality, like that of most convertible 2-in-1s, is best served on a solid surface, especially in presentation mode. This position is ideal for watching movies. It’s also useful on an aeroplane or in the backseat of a car, where you might not be able to fully unfold a traditional notebook.
• Aside from the screen-rotating mechanics, the Spectre x360 15 is the most stylish 15.6-inch convertible 2-in-1 on the market. The Nightfall Black and Copper Luxe accents drew numerous compliments. HP’s customizable models also include a nautical-sounding Poseidon Blue with Pale Brass accents theme.
• Its appearance is matched by its quality. Its chassis and lid are entirely made of anti-glare-treated aluminum that conceals fingerprints and resists flexing. Although the chassis is not a unibody design, the gaps between its parts are so small that finding them by feel is difficult.
• The attention to detail continues with the palm rest’s subtly concave sculpting, perfectly smooth chassis edges, and rear corners that appear sharp but aren’t. 
• One of the laptop’s two Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) ports is located in the rightmost corner, with the other on the right edge. This location is also advantageous because it angles at least one cord toward the rear. 
• The Spectre x360 15 can be charged via either Thunderbolt 3 port, though full performance requires the use of the included 135-watt power adapter, as Thunderbolt 3 is limited to 100 watts. Other connectivity options include a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (which supports 10Gbps transfers, rather than the usual 5Gbps Gen 1 ports) and a microSD card slot.
• A webcam kill switch is located next to the Type-A port, which is not an exaggeration. When it is turned off, Windows 10 no longer considers the laptop to have a webcam. For those concerned about privacy, this is arguably more secure than a physical shutter that simply blocks the view, assuming you remember to activate it.
• On the other side, the power button is located in the left rear corner. The advantage of this location is that it is less likely to be accidentally bumped in tablet mode than a side-mounted location. The power jack, an HDMI 2.0a video output, and an audio combo jack (headphone/microphone) are also located on the left side.
• The most eye-catching feature of the Spectre x360 15 is without a doubt its AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) display. With its 4K/UHD (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) resolution and 10-point touch support, it is cutting-edge by any standard. The AMOLED technology is what truly distinguishes this Spectre. Unlike traditional notebook or desktop monitor displays, which use a backlighting unit, the pixels on this display are their own lighting sources. The black pixels on the display make it appear as if the display is turned off in those areas, which it is, at least for those pixels. This feature is responsible for the display’s infinite contrast ratio.
• It’s also extremely bright and colorful. HP rates it at a dazzling 400 nits and 100 percent coverage of the cinema industry’s DCI-P3 color space. Color-sensitive apps, such as Photoshop, will benefit from the HP Display Control app, which allows them to switch between color spaces such as sRGB and Adobe RGB.
• The anti-glare treatment for the Corning Gorilla Glass surface on this 2020 model is one display improvement, but it is not matte-surfaced like a TV. It still appears reflective (after all, it is glass), but the I-see-myself mirror effect that plagues most glass-surfaced screens is greatly reduced. The coating is also more resistant to fingerprints.
• The display has a passive digitizer that supports MPP 2.0 styli, making it ideal for artists and scribblers. One is available on HP’s website for customizable models. 
• The Spectre x360 15’s keyboard is a comfortable place to be, thanks to snappy feedback, a flex-free keyboard deck, and two levels of white backlighting. It gets extra points for having a four-column number pad with a standard layout and full-size keys.
• Two of the laptop’s four Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers are located just above the keyboard, with the other two projecting sideways from under the palm rest. It’s a fantastic-sounding set up with plenty of volume. The buttonless touchpad below offers a smooth, expansive surface as well as tactile clicking.
• A built-in fingerprint reader, which can also be used for Windows Hello biometric logins, is located to its right.
• Its six-core, 12-thread Intel Core i7-10750H processor (with a base clock of 2.6GHz and a turbo clock of up to 5GHz) is a 45-watt chip that would be at home in a gaming notebook. Meanwhile, its 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (Max-Q) graphics card is more than capable of handling 1080p gaming.
• The Spectre x360’s AMOLED screen, 4K resolution, and powerful hardware quickly deplete its large 72.9-watt-hour battery.

Pros:

• Design that is luxurious.
• Touch screen with AMOLED 4K/UHD resolution.
• As tested, a powerful six-core Intel CPU and Nvidia graphics.
• High-quality speakers.
• The keyboard and touchpad are both very comfortable.

Cons:

• Battery life is mediocre.
• Every configuration does not include a stylus.
• There is only one USB Type-A port.

Specification Table:

Display Size	13.30 inch
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Touchscreen	Yes
Processor	i5 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	256 GB
Graphics	Intel Integrated HD Graphics 620
Weight	1.32 kg

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3. LENOVO THINKPAD E590

The ThinkPad E590, today’s hero, is a direct successor, if not simply a refresh, to the ThinkPad E580 series. It is aimed at the small to medium-sized business market, which is not overly concerned with raw performance. The most important features, however, are security, usability, and battery life.

Features:

• This laptop is made of aluminum and plastic, with the former covering the lid and the latter covering the rest of the chassis. Despite its mostly plastic body, it is very sturdy and well-constructed. A quick glance at the technical specifications confirms the resemblance to its predecessor – 19.9 mm profile and 2.12 kg weight.
• When you shift your attention to the keyboard, you can see one of the best units on the market so far. It is very comfortable to type on due to its long key travel and clicky feedback, and it is not overly loud, so it would suffice in a quiet environment.
• On the left side, there is a Type-C 3.1 (Gen. 2) connector that also serves as a charging port, followed by an HDMI 1.4b, two USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen. 2) ports, and the Jack. There is an RJ-45 connector, a USB Type-A 2.0 port, and a microSD card slot on the other side.
• The LG LP156WFC-SPDB Full HD IPS panel on the Lenovo ThinkPad E590 is model number LG LP156WFC-SPDB (LEN40BA). It has a diagonal of 15.6′′ (39.62 cm) and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a 16:9 screen ratio, a pixel density of –142 PPI, and a pitch of 0.18 0.18 mm. When viewed from a distance of 60cm (24′′) or greater, the screen becomes Retina.
• It has a maximum brightness of 280 nits in the center of the screen and an average brightness of 270 nits across the entire area, with a maximum deviation of 13%. On a white screen, the Correlated Color Temperature is 6250K, which is slightly warmer than the optimal for the sRGB standard of 6500K. Before profiling, the average color temperature across the greyscale is even warmer – 6300K.
• The Lenovo notebook can also be customized in the Lenovo store. There are three processor options: the Intel Core i5-8265U, the Core i7-8565U, and the Core i3-8145U. The AMD Radeon RX 550X is included in the more expensive models; otherwise, the Intel UHD Graphics 620 is in charge of GPU performance. 
• In terms of memory, Lenovo sells the ThinkPad E590 with 8, 16, or 32 GB DDR4-2400 RAM out of the box. The ThinkPad should be able to be upgraded to 64 GB (two RAM slots with 32 GB modules). The E590 is also very upgradeable in terms of mass storage, as it can accept SSD storage of 128, 256, or 512 GB, as well as an HDD of 500 GB or 1 TB.
• Lenovo has very well optimized the active cooling system of the ThinkPad laptop E590, as the fan is generally turned off when the laptop is idle. Of course, this changes under load, but even then, the fan remains relatively silent – exactly what a 15.6-inch laptop with an Ultra Low Voltage processor should be. The fan on the HP ProBook 450 G6 is much louder and more frequent in comparison.

Pros:

• IPS display with a matte finish.
• The construction is sturdy.
• The keyboard is very comfortable.
• Excellent trackpad/TrackPoint combination.
• The operation is quiet.

Cons:

• The cooling system is insufficient.
• GPU can only work in short bursts at a full clock rate.
• Only a 12-month guarantee is provided.
• There is only one microSD card slot.

Specification Table:

Display Size	14.00 inch
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Touchscreen	No
Processor	i7 Core
RAM	12 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	256 GB
Graphics	Intel Integrated HD Graphics 520
Weight	1.36 kg

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4. MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 6

The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 isn’t for everyone. It’s for people who will truly benefit from having a detachable 2-in-1 that’s small enough to carry around and versatile enough to use as a tablet or laptop.

Features:

• The Surface Pro 6 follows in the footsteps of previous models, albeit with a minor tweak. With the kickstand extended 165 degrees, you still have three primary modes: tablet, laptop, and studio.
• The Surface Pro 6’s metal kickstand is still easy to use. As you type, this 2-in-1 bounces around a little in your lap, but it feels sturdy and stable enough. The only real criticism levelled at the design is the somewhat thick bezels surrounding the display. 
• The Surface Pro 6 weighs only 1.7 pounds as a tablet and 2.4 pounds with the keyboard attached.
• Call it stubbornness or simply a desire to stick with its proprietary docking connector, but Microsoft refused to embrace USB-C on the Surface Pro 6 for whatever reason. That means you can’t charge with USB-C or connect to a growing number of USB-C peripherals and Thunderbolt 3 docks. If you want to output to multiple monitors at the same time, you’ll need to use Microsoft’s Surface Connect port to connect to the company’s $199 Surface Connect dock.
• Aside from the Surface Connect port, the right side of the device has a USB 3.0 port and a mini DisplayPort. The headphone jack is located on the left side. The microSD card slot is located beneath the kickstand if you want to expand the storage.
• The Surface Pro 6’s 12.3-inch PixelSense display is one of the best you’ll find on a 2-in-1. At 2736 x 1824 pixels, this panel is not only sharp but also bright and colorful.
• The Surface Pro 6’s two front-firing speakers produce loud and clear audio.
• The typing experience on the Surface Pro 6’s keyboard is exceptional for a 2-in-1 device. Given how thin the Type Cover is, the layout provides 1.3 mm of key travel, which is comfortable. In comparison, the keyboard on the iPad Pro has only 0.5mm of travel.
• The Surface Pro 6’s glass touchpad is as precise as ever. Scrolling was smooth, and gestures like three-finger app switching worked well. 
• Microsoft charges an additional $99 for the Surface Pen, but if you’re purchasing the Surface Pro 6, this accessory is well worth it. The pen not only has 4,096 levels of sensitivity and a rubber eraser on the back, but you can also use tilt for shading in various apps. The Surface Pen is also useful for annotating in apps like Microsoft Edge, making handwritten notes in the Mail app, and penciling in edits in Microsoft Word.
• The Surface Pro 6 outperforms the previous Surface Pro in terms of performance, thanks to its 8th-generation, quad-core Core i5-8250U processor and 8GB of RAM. (Serious power users can upgrade to a Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM.)
• The Surface Pro 6’s Intel UHD 620 graphics card is certainly powerful enough to handle casual games. 
• The Surface Pro’s rear 8-MP camera will suffice in a pinch, and this slate is certainly light enough to use as a camera in the field. The 5-megapixel front-facing camera will suffice for Skype chats and other video-calling apps. The front camera also supports Windows Hello, making it simple to log in to the Surface Pro 6 by simply starting from the front.

Pros:

• Accessibility in two ways.
• Portable and lightweight.
• Both affordable and long-lasting.
• The battery life is excellent.

Cons:

• Expensive stylus.
• There are a limited number of connectivity ports.

Specification Table:

Display Size	12.30 inch
Display Resolution	2736 x 1824 pixels
Touchscreen	Yes
Processor	i5 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	256 GB
Graphics	Intel Integrated Graphics UHD
Weight	775 g

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5. ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300

The 2020 Predator Helios 300 from Acer continues to do what this line has always done well: provide an upscale metal chassis and features in the face of mostly plastic competition. It’s better than ever this time, with a super-smooth 240Hz display and dominating the gaming performance charts for notebooks in this class.

Features:

• The IPS screen has a refresh rate of 240Hz, which is the unstated standard for premium gaming notebooks in mid-2020. It’s a winning combination for high-speed fragging, with a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution and an advertised 3ms response time.
• Outside of gaming, the display is so smooth that it’s easy to appreciate. Simply clicking and dragging a window or minimizing it is a novel experience. A practical anti-glare surface, plenty of brightness, and good colour round out the package. There is no Nvidia G-Sync support (click here for a primer on the technology), but it’s difficult to find without spending a few hundred dollars more.
• The short and quick key throws on the keyboard allow for some fast typing. A slight bump on the W key aids your fingers in finding it. 
• The Predator Helios 300 can accommodate up to three drives via two M.2 slots, one of which is occupied by a 512GB solid-state drive and a traditional 2.5-inch bay. It would be simple to add a 1TB or even a 2TB hard drive for cheap storage, which would eliminate the need to constantly swap games off the included drive due to space constraints. This level of upgradeability is a fantastic feature that many thinner notebooks lack.
• The Predator Helios 300 is equipped with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor that can reach speeds of up to 3.8 GHz at Turbo speeds, allowing you to easily install powerful software such as GIS and RKGS without experiencing any system glitches. enables you to run from In terms of storage, you’ll get 16GB of RAM for fast processing, as well as 256GB of SSD and 1TBHD, making it a total beast.
• There is no need to compromise on graphics because an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card is built-in. It allows you to use real-time imagery with your GIS and Arc IS to make everything more realistic. You won’t find a better combination of specs with 7 hours of battery life!
• The port selection for the 2020 Predator Helios 300 remains unchanged. The left edge is adorned with a pair of USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5Gbps) ports, an audio combo jack, and a Killer E2600 Ethernet port. On the right, you’ll find a USB Type-C port (10Gbps), another Type-A port, and video outputs for HDMI and mini-DisplayPort. Thunderbolt 3 isn’t included, but it’s not expected in this price range. The Kensington-style cable lock slot on the left rear corner is useful in public areas. The location of the power jack around the back is convenient because it means one less cord sticking out from the side.
• The Predator Helios 300 has built-in overclocking, which can be accessed by pressing the Turbo button above the keyboard or by using the Predator app.

Pros:

• Durable.
• Budget-Friendly.
• Extraordinary Storage Space.
• Rapid Cooling System.

Cons:

• Not so impressive Battery Life.
• Very Bulky.

Specification Table:

Display Size	17.30 inch
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Touchscreen	No
Processor	i7 Core
RAM	16 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	No
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
Weight	2.70 kg

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6. APPLE MACBOOK PRO

This is one of the most powerful laptops available for CPU-intensive tasks such as video rendering. Bolder moves are required.

Features:

• The latest update brings an even more powerful Core i9—an eight-core chip with a maximum boost speed of 5GHz—to a macOS laptop for the first time since last year’s MacBook Pro refresh. Both chips use the same “Coffee Lake” microarchitecture, but the Core i9 in the 2019 MacBook Pro is from Intel’s most recent 9th generation. Last year’s model’s 8th generation chip has six cores and a maximum boost speed of 4.8GHz. The new laptop also includes an upgraded AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics processor with a rarely seen type of fast video memory.
• The first oddity is the keyboard, which is a slightly updated version of Apple’s infamous butterfly-switch design, which has been a feature of MacBooks since 2016. Using butterfly switches produces an extremely stable key (even if you hit it off-center, the depression is even), but also an extremely short distance to travel when pressing the key. You don’t type; instead, you tap like you would on a smartphone.
• The Touch Bar, which is exclusive to Apple, is a narrow, touch-sensitive display with contextual controls that change depending on the app you’re using. Because Macs lack touch capability on their main screens, this is your only chance to interact with macOS via touch. The Touch Bar comes standard on every 15-inch MacBook Pro.
• Large speaker grilles extend from the top of the Touch Bar to the bottom of the keyboard on either side of the keyboard, taking up the entire margin between the keyboard and the chassis’s edges. The speakers on the MacBook Pro are among the best I’ve heard on a laptop of this size in a long time.
• The 15.4-inch LED Retina display is another standout feature. This panel uses in-plane switching (IPS) technology to increase viewing angles and has a bright 500-nit backlight. Its 2,880-by-1,800-pixel resolution isn’t quite 4K, but the colors are as vibrant and the text is as sharp as any 4K display in a recent laptop. This is due in part to support for the P3 color gamut. Apple’s automatic True Tone white-balance adjustment is also in play. Depending on the light source in the room, the latter makes the colors on the screen appear warmer or cooler.
• The MacBook Pro includes a 3.5mm audio jack as well as four USB Type-C ports. The USBs are arranged in a row of two on each side of the chassis. However, that is the entire I/O complement. To connect to an external display, you’ll most likely need a USB Type-C-to-DisplayPort or Type-C-to-HDMI adapter, as well as an Ethernet adapter for wired networking. The silver lining is that, in addition to functioning as standard USB ports, all of the USB Type-C ports support the Thunderbolt 3 interface and its 40Gbps maximum data rates.
• Wireless connectivity consists of the standard 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. Support for the 802.11ax wireless standard, also known as Wi-Fi 6, is oddly absent. Wi-Fi 6 is still in its early stages, with only a few routers and other devices supporting it, but it is the Wi-Fi of the future.
• With a powerful 2.6 GHz Intel i7 processor, you can expect this Apple machine to be a powerhouse. By creating an animal for each of you, you can achieve turbo boosts of up to 45 GHz.

Pros:

• Excellent performance on CPU-limited workflows in the test configuration.
• A stunning Retina display.
• Large and precise trackpad.
• There are four Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Cons:

• Expensive when configured, with a prohibitively expensive top-capacity SSD.
• The distance between key locations remains very short.
• Bezels could be slimmed down.
• There are no dedicated video output ports or USB Type-A ports.

Specification Table:

Display Size	13.30 inch
Display Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels
Touchscreen	No
Processor	i5 Core
RAM	12 GB
OS	macOS
Hard Disk	No
SSD	512 GB
Graphics	Integrated Graphics Processor
Weight	1.37 kg

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7. HP ENVY 15

The HP Envy isn’t the most powerful portable workstation on the market, but it has a fantastic price to performance ratio, making it a very strong competitor to the MacBook Pro for creative or engineering professionals – and it can even hold its own as a gaming laptop when you need a break.

Features:

• The HP Envy 15 (2020)’s minimalist grey aluminium chassis and easy-open lid could fool you into thinking it’s another professional laptop popular among creatives, but the stylized HP logo on the lid is visible enough to tell the difference at a glance. Nonetheless, the chassis is sleek and solidly built, indicating that it is a professional machine.
• Opening the lid reveals a standard chiclet-keyed setup that is responsive and provides just the right amount of touch feedback to function without making the keys too stiff.
• What does stand out is the hotspot between the trackpad and the spacebar when the laptop is in normal use. Again, depending on the Command Center mode you’re in, the more heavy-duty the hardware in your configuration, the more energy it will require and the hotter the whole thing will become.
• Instead of a button or switch on the side of the chassis, the laptop’s power switch is a key on the top-right of the keyboard. The power button is located between the webcam shutter lock on the left and the delete button on the right.
• Meanwhile, the webcam shutter lock key is a very useful feature. Rather than covering your webcam lens with tape to prevent malicious code from activating the camera to spy on you, the shutter lock physically locks the lens’ shutter closed, so that even if someone were to gain access to the webcam’s output, all they would see is a black screen with the shutter locked in place.
• A similar microphone toggle switch is available, allowing you to quickly mute and unmute your microphone, which is especially useful during remote work meetings.
• HP has adopted “vapor chamber” cooling technology found in more specialized gaming laptops, as well as a few other cooling solutions from the gaming world, for use in a professional creative workstation.
• In addition to the secondary heat vent on the right side of the chassis, there are several ports on either side, giving the laptop plenty of I/O and even the ability to run a multi-monitor setup.
• The performance of the HP Envy 15 is one of its most appealing features, especially in models equipped with an RTX 2060 Super GPU.
• The 6-cell, 83WHr lithium-ion battery is another noteworthy feature of the HP Envy 15.

Pros:

• Excellent productivity results.
• Most low to medium loads are quiet.
• RAM expansion and M.2 storage are available.
• Excellent keyboard.

Cons:

• Adobe applications perform poorly.
• There is no IR, and it is not compatible with Windows Hello.
• There is no Thunderbolt support.
• There is no stylus.

Specification Table:

Display Size	15.60 inch
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Touchscreen	Yes
Processor	i5 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	Windows 8.1
Hard Disk	750 GB
SSD	No
Graphics	Intel Integrated HD Graphics 4600
Weight	2.55 kg

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8. APPLE MACBOOK AIR

Features:

• It is still available in three colors: Space Gray, Gold, and Silver. The all-metal design is sturdy and high-quality, delivering that envious MacBook feeling even after so many years.
• The MacBook Air is still one of the most luxurious portable builds available. It measures 0.63 by 11.97 by 8.36 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.8 pounds, making it one of the thinnest and lightest laptops available. 
• Furthermore, the Touch ID sensor in the top right corner of the keyboard allows you to turn on the laptop and sign in with your fingerprint, eliminating the need for passwords. 
• The top-tier keyboard is complemented by arguably the best touchpad on any laptop, which should come as no surprise to any previous MacBook user. 
• The display is next, and it is as brilliant as ever. Apple’s 13.3-inch Retina Display, with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio, is used once more. 
• The Retina Display’s resolution is extremely sharp without being overkill for the lighter type of general use work that a MacBook Air is intended for.
• Applications and the browser run quickly, even when multiple programs and tabs are open, and it wakes up quickly from sleep. The touchpad and keyboard are both enjoyable to use, and the laptop is light enough to be carried around with one arm. Colours pop and textures are sharp on the display. 
• The MacBook Air has a front-facing 720p webcam, which is more important than ever in this era of remote work, as well as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth support. 
• In terms of physical connections, there aren’t many on this laptop: The MacBook Air only has two USB Type-C ports on the left side and one on the right. Both of these USB-C ports are at least functional, as they support Thunderbolt 3, charging, and video output (DisplayPort). The ports can also support VGA and HDMI output through the use of adapters, which are sold separately.
• The 8GB RAM is faster than expected, allowing you to run resource-intensive applications such as QuickBooks, MS-Excel, and other software modules without experiencing system slowdowns. Storage-wise, there is a 512GB SSD unit in play, which is best known for quickly loading apps and booting up the latest macOS.
• The battery backup, which can last up to 18 hours, adds to the 2.8-pound Apple MacBook Air M1’s appeal as one of the best notebooks for film students and aspiring professionals.

Pros:

• Excellent value, especially for a MacBook.
• Apple’s new M1 processor provides significantly improved performance.
• The battery life is exceptional.

Cons:

• There are only two USB Type-C connections available.
• There is still no touch-screen option.

Specification Table:

Display Size	13.30 inch
Display Resolution	2560×1600 pixels
Touchscreen	No
Processor	i3 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	macOS
SSD	256 GB
Graphics	Integrated Graphics Processor
Weight	1.29 kg

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9. RAZER BLADE 15

The Razer Blade 15 2021, now outfitted with Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs, is simply the pinnacle of today’s premium gaming laptops. It’s an unmistakable source of envy because it’s portable, powerful, and slick.

Features:

• Its svelte design remains one of the sleekest among gaming laptops in terms of style, quality, and portability, all while increasing power under the hood. The all-black paint job, sharp edges and clean appearance create a striking silhouette that several competitors have emulated in their more recent designs.
• In a world of hefty slabs, the Blade 15 was one of the first high-end gaming laptops to be reasonably portable. This iteration measures 0.67 by 14 by 9.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.4 pounds, making it thin and light while packing more power than previous models. (In fact, it is slightly thinner than the previous version, which was 0.7 inches thick.)
• It’s worth noting that Razer’s power adapter is reasonably sized in comparison to the bricks that come with some gaming laptops, which adds to the portability argument.
• While some rivals have surpassed this trendsetter in portability since its debut, it remains the most premium-feeling. The metal chassis feels satisfyingly hefty in the hand, and it boasts to have the best touchpad on a Windows laptop—roomy, it scrolls incredibly smoothly and has the same high-end feel as Apple’s superb MacBook touchpads.
• The keyboard isn’t industry-leading, but it’s still quite nice. The travel and feedback are balanced, neither too mushy nor too resistant, and the keys are individually backlit with customizable RGB lighting. The included Razer Synapse software allows you to customize the color and visual effects of each key to create appealing patterns or useful highlights. The keyboard hasn’t changed much in the last few iterations.
• The display, on the other hand, has undergone some significant changes. Over the last two years, high-refresh-rate screens have become common in gaming laptops. This has typically taken the form of full HD (1080p) panels with 144Hz refresh rates, especially on lower-cost systems, with more expensive options offering 240Hz or even 300Hz full HD displays.
• The screen on the new Blade 15 is, however, one of the first laptop panels to combine 1440p (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. Desktop 1440p monitors have become more common as more powerful GPUs have been able to push high frame rates at this more demanding resolution, but that was too far away for mobile s until Nvidia’s “Ampere” launch. That has changed thanks to the GeForce RTX 3070 and 3080.
• Even if 1080p resolution remains more common overall, expect to see this resolution and refresh-rate combination on more high-end gaming rigs as 2022 progresses. The Razer features an RTX 3080, making it an excellent candidate for making the most of this sophisticated screen for a variety of gaming purposes. The screen quality is excellent, with vibrant colors and sharp images, and the thin screen bezels add to the overall sleek appearance.
• Despite the thinness of the frame, there are a plethora of ports. Two USB 3.1 Type-A ports, a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 support, a headphone jack, and the power connector are located on the left flank. On the right, you’ll find another USB-A 3.1 port, a USB-C port (without Thunderbolt), an HDMI video output, and an SD card reader. There are plenty of ports for peripherals and secondary displays, so there isn’t much to complain about in terms of connectivity. The system also includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, as well as a 720p webcam on the top bezel.
• The core components are the exciting draw of this Advanced Edition update, in addition to the lovely new display. (A Blade 15 Base Edition is also available from Razer, but it is a functionally separate laptop with a thicker chassis.) All Advanced Editions feature Intel’s Core i7-10875H CPU and a 1TB SSD, but graphics, memory, and display options differ. While the starting price is high, it’s still nice that you get 1TB of storage across the board, as gaming laptops (even expensive ones) frequently skimp to half that, despite the fact that game install sizes have ballooned.
• This system includes Nvidia Optimus, which is designed to dynamically switch between the CPU’s integrated graphics and the discrete Nvidia GPU as needed. Optimus mode conserves power and battery life when you’re simply clicking around on your desktop or browsing the web and not doing anything graphically intensive. Part of this power savings is achieved by capping the refresh rate at 60Hz, so when gaming, make sure the dedicated GeForce GPU is active to take advantage of the display.
• When plugged in, the laptop will switch modes automatically when necessary (for example, when you launch a game and will default to Optimus mode when running on battery power. You can force one or the other to activate manually via the Nvidia Control Panel, but don’t be alarmed if you see the 60Hz refresh in Windows settings while Optimus is active. Razer also informs that, unlike previous models, you can no longer switch modes within the Synapse software.
• The new Blade 15 falls in the middle of the pack, but in terms of real-world performance, these are all very fast laptops for home and office use. Everyday multitasking is a breeze with a system fast enough for gaming. Similarly, the SSDs in all of these notebooks ensure quick load and boot times, which is now a common benefit for gamers.
• Because of its thinness, the Blade 15 relies on a vapor cooling chamber. It definitely gets warm, and in some places it gets downright hot. The keyboard and deck on either side of the touchpad are mostly toasty, but the area above the top row (which you don’t need to touch) and the underside of the laptop get hot enough to hurt your fingers if you leave them there for a few seconds. This isn’t a major issue because it doesn’t appear to affect performance and you’ll almost certainly be using the system on a desk rather than your lap, but it’s not ideal.
• In terms of fan noise, the Razer does a good job of keeping the fans from becoming too loud. They are relatively quiet and keep the same volume level.

Pros:

• Sleek, slim design with a premium metal construction.
• 1440p panel with powerful GPU power to take advantage of its 240Hz.
• There are numerous ports and 1TB of storage.
• Excellent touchpad.
• Battery life is extended.

Cons:

• The starting price is quite high.
• While gaming, the chassis gets hot in places.

Specification Table:

Display Size	15.60 inch
Display Resolution	2560 x 1440 pixels
Touchscreen	No
Processor	i7 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	Windows 10
SSD	1 TB
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
Weight	1.99 kg

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10. DELL XPS 13

A sleek chassis, a stunning screen, and a cutting-edge Intel “Tiger Lake” processor help the latest Dell XPS 13 cement its position as today’s best high-end ultraportable.

Features:

• The XPS 13 is admirably thin and solid, if not particularly light. The touch-screen configuration reviewed here, measures 0.58 by 11.6 by 7.8 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.8 pounds. Versions without a touch screen weigh slightly less, at 2.64 pounds, because they lack the Gorilla Glass 6 coating over the display found on the touch version. 
• The extra weight of the XPS 13 allows for high-quality materials and a sleek design. As soon as you take the system out of its sleek white box and run your fingers over the aluminum lid and edges, you’ll notice how densely built it is. The edges are anodized twice, according to Dell, to prevent scratch damage from repeated plugging and unplugging of peripherals.
• Opening the lid reveals, even more, to look at. Platinum Silver with a black carbon-fiber palm rest or Frost White with an Alpine White composite-fiber palm rest are the two color options. 
• The palm rest is particularly stylish, with a UV- and stain-resistant coating to prevent yellowing and discoloration.
• There’s an XPS for everyone, whether you want an ultraportable for frequent travel or a large-screen machine with serious computing power. 
• There’s even a 2-in-1 version of the XPS 13 with a 360-degree hinge that converts the laptop into a tablet.
• The XPS 13’s display comes in three sizes, all of which have an unusual 16:10 aspect ratio rather than the more common 16:9. The former results in more vertical space, which is useful when scrolling through websites or updating long documents.
• The resolution is slightly higher than full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) due to the aspect ratio, but significantly lower than the Retina Display of the MacBook Pro or the PixelSense display of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3. The XPS 13 can, however, be ordered with a 3,840-by-2,400-pixel panel, which outstrips not only those two laptops, but also the dimensions of standard widescreen 4K displays (3,840 by 2,160 pixels).
• A 720p webcam with IR face recognition sensors is located above the centre of the display in an impressive feat of downsizing. It has average video quality for a laptop camera, which means that indoor shots are slightly noisy and fuzzy when compared to the quality of even a mid-range phone’s camera. 
• Dell claims that a new four-piece lens and temporal noise reduction have improved the camera quality, but if you’re planning a Skype session in your living room at night, you’ll probably want to use your phone. 
• The camera’s main innovation is its tiny size—the screen on the XPS 13 occupies 91.5 percent of the chassis’s footprint, which means the bezels around it are razor-thin.
• One of the consequences of a small laptop is that there is less room for ports. The XPS 13 is limited to two USB Type-C ports, one of which supports Thunderbolt 4, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. To connect an external monitor or USB Type-A peripherals, you’ll need an adapter or dongle. (Dell includes a USB adapter in the box, which is a nice touch.) This could be a disadvantage for those who work from home and will most likely use the XPS 13 with an external display. While the XPS 13 is simply following the trend of fewer and fewer ports, its selection is stingy even among its peers. 
• The ultraportable features the most recent Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5 wireless connectivity standards, which are ideal for stable internet connections as well as wireless keyboards and mice. However, many users will be content with the built-in touchpad and keyboard. The large keycaps and large surface area of the pad are welcome improvements over some competitors’ cramped equivalents, such as the Asus ZenBook 13.
• The power button in the upper right corner of the keyboard also functions as a fingerprint reader, allowing you to log in to your Windows 10 account without entering a password.
• The stereo speakers on the XPS 13 provide excellent audio quality. They produce up to 4 watts of output when combined, and they’re well-balanced enough to give the laptop far richer and more dimensional sound than you’d expect from such a small package. Much of the audio is routed through a grille on the laptop’s bottom.
• It, too, only has 8GB and is soldered, so it cannot be upgraded in the future. Nonetheless, RAM implications aside, the majority of entry-level users or bedroom music dabblers should find it meets the majority of their needs. Beatmakers who rely heavily on samples may struggle.
• It has a modern 7th generation dual-core i5 processor to handle heavy workloads, a 128GB SSD and runs Windows 10 64 bit.
• Dell provides a one-year hardware warranty on the XPS 13, with optional extensions of up to four years available for an additional fee.

Pros:

• Intel “Tiger Lake” CPU performance has been improved.
• Elegant design.
• The screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio.
• The chassis is extremely compact.
• The USB adapter is included.
• Battery life is extended.

Cons:

• There is a small port selection.
• As configured, it is costly.

Specification Table:

Display Size	13.30 inch
Display Resolution	3200 x 1800 pixels
Touchscreen	Yes
Processor	i5 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	128 GB
Graphics	Intel Integrated HD Graphics 520
Weight	1.29 kg

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11. DELL XPS 15

This laptop is high on the list of the best laptops for civil engineering students in 2022 for a civil engineering student. If you like Macs, you’ll like this laptop.

Features:

• It has a 15.6-inch screen with an impressive resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels.
• The processor is a 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7300HQ Quad-Core processor with 256 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM storage space.
• The SSD space is sufficient for a civil engineering student to install a variety of engineering software and run multiple programs at the same time without stalling or lagging.
• Its graphics processor is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, which is adequate for 3D modeling and design software. It is powered by the Windows 10 Home operating system.
• This device’s 4K screen is a touch display. (It should be noted that this laptop is also available in HD.) It has a backlit keyboard and a sleek trackpad for easy navigation.
• This device weighs only 3.9 pounds, which is impressive given its 15.6-inch screen size. When in use, the Dell XPS 15’s battery can last for 6 hours before needing to be recharged.

Pros:

• It’s very portable, and because it’s so light, it’s easy to transport.
• This device is capable of running any civil engineering software without lagging.

Cons:

• It does not have an optical drive.
• It may be prohibitively expensive for a student on a tight budget.

Specification Table:

Display Size	15.60 inch
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
Touchscreen	Yes
Processor	i5 Core
RAM	4 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	256 GB
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
Weight	1.80 kg

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12. ASUS VIVOBOOK S S410UN-NS74

S410UN-NS74 is a new ultrabook in the ASUS Vivobook series that has received some intriguing features that make it a standout performer in its league. The 14-inch ultrabook market is crowded, but very few devices offer an unrivaled combination of beauty and performance.

Features:

• Asus has managed to fit a 14-inch Full HD (19201080 pixels) LED panel into a frame that would normally fit a 13-inch display on the VivoBook S14. This results in a fantastic screen-to-body ratio of 77%.
• The Full HD panel has an anti-glare coating on the top, allowing for a 178-degree viewing angle. It also keeps reflections and shadows from interfering with your viewing experience. 
• The VivoBook is equipped with an Intel Core i7-8550U chipset. The quad-core CPU runs at 1.8GHz (up to 4.0GHz on Turbo) and is supported by 2GB of Nvidia GeForce MX 150 graphics memory. 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD are required for this configuration.
• The chiclet keyboard on the ASUS VivoBook S14 (S410UN-NS74) does the job, but it’s unremarkable. Seasoned typists will be disappointed by the keyboard’s shallowness, but it will suffice for the majority. The keys are perfectly shaped and sized, and they are backlit. The backlit keyboard has three brightness settings that users can select from. 
• The VivoBook S14 includes a USB 3.1 Type-C port, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, and an SD Card slot. Users will be able to connect a variety of peripherals, including external displays and projectors. 
• The Asus VivoBook S14 has two 2W downward-facing speakers. To improve the overall audio experience, the laptop also supports the company’s proprietary SonicMaster technology. 
• The VivoBook, on the other hand, supports fast charging, so if you run out of juice, you can rest assured that it will not die on you.

Pros:

• The battery life is adequate.
• A sturdy design with excellent build quality.
• Outstanding performance.

Cons:

• The GPU could have been improved.

Specification Table:

Display Size	14.00 inch
Display Resolution	1920 x1080 pixels
Touchscreen	No
Processor	i7 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	256 GB
Graphics	Intel Integrated UHD Graphics 620
Weight	1.30 kg

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13. MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK

The Surface Book 3 is an ambitious device that aims to combine the best qualities of all three current laptop genres into a one-stop shop. Digital artists and on-the-go professionals who require the portability of a detachable tablet as well as significant graphics horsepower will likely benefit the most from it. However, anyone with deep enough pockets could revel in this category-defying device’s unique capabilities. Nothing else compares to the Surface Book 3 from Microsoft or any other mainstream laptop manufacturer. It makes a compelling case for being the ultimate Windows device.

Features:

• It has a quad-core Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU with a base clock speed of 1.3GHz, 32GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU for graphics output. It measures 0.9 by 13.6 by 9.9 inches and weighs 4.2 pounds with the keyboard attached. The heavyweight is not unusual for a 15-inch laptop, but when the keyboard is removed, the display weighs a much more manageable 1.8 pounds.
• An Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 GPU and a 1TB or 2TB SSD are also available for the 15-inch Surface Pro 3. While the Quadro RTX 3000 isn’t significantly more powerful than the GTX 1660 Ti for general use, it may benefit users of professional apps with independent software vendor (ISV) certification that are specifically designed to run on Quadro chips.
• Two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full-size SDXC card reader are included. This is by far the best physical connectivity of any Microsoft laptop, with only two USB ports and a headphone jack on the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3.
• The headphone jack on the Surface Book 3 is the only connector located in the display portion, with all other ports located on the keyboard base. In the top left corner of the display, there is a power button and a volume rocker.
• Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 are available for wireless connectivity (802.11ax). That’s a significant improvement over the Surface Book 2’s older 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and it gives the Surface Book 2 a slight advantage over the MacBook Pro, which still uses this older standard.
• Some of the physical features of the Surface Book 3 are nearly identical to those of its predecessors, which is a good thing. The keyboard is consistent, with comfortable backlit keys that are quiet, satisfying to tap, and offer a good amount of travel without being mushy. The touchpad, which offers responsive tracking and a very stable clicking mechanism, has remained largely unchanged.
• The display is the same excellent PixelSense display that is available on the Surface Book 2. It has a stunning screen with a native resolution of 3,240 by 2,160 pixels, a contrast ratio of 1,600:1, and 10-point multi-touch support. That pixel count would qualify as 4K if it were a 16:9 display, but it uses the taller 3:2 ratio, which is uncommon in laptops in general but standard on Microsoft’s PCs. Not only is 3:2 useful for some digital artists, but it also allows you to see more of a webpage or other vertical document before scrolling.
• The Surface Book 3 has two cameras, just like its predecessor. A 5-megapixel front-facing camera with IR sensors allows for face-recognition logins to your Windows account, and an additional 8-megapixel rear shooter is located on the upper left side of the back of the display, near the power button. Both cameras capture 1080p video, and while they aren’t as sharp or capable as most high-end phone cameras, they are an improvement over the noisy, dull video captured by most 720p laptop webcams.
• The speakers are located on the tablet’s two top corners; there are no speakers in the keyboard dock. They do an admirable job for tablet speakers. They’re loud enough to be heard from a reasonable distance, if not booming.
• While the Surface Book 3 is not a gaming laptop, its graphics capabilities indicate that it could be used as one. Microsoft actually encourages it. The Surface Book 3 includes support for the Xbox Wireless Controller, and the company claims that it is “the best Surface for immersive gaming.” However, if you frequently run an ISV app that makes use of GPU acceleration to run more efficiently, you will reap significant benefits from the graphics oomph. These include scientific and AI apps, as well as some apps for creating multimedia content.

Pros:

• Outstanding performance with one-of-a-kind features.
• Excellent battery backup.
• Lightweight.
• Design that is both sleek and sturdy.
• Convertibles can function as both a laptop and a tablet.
• Excellent display quality.

Cons:

• The cost is prohibitively expensive.
• Thunderbolt 3 is not currently available.
• If you want to purchase the Surface Pen, there will be an additional cost.

Specification Table:

Display Size	13.50 inch
Display Resolution	3000 x2000 pixels
Touchscreen	Yes
Processor	i5 Core
RAM	8 GB
OS	Windows 10
Hard Disk	No
SSD	256 GB
Graphics	Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Weight	1.53 kg

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The Final Verdict

Most of the less expensive devices on the market are unlikely to perform half as well as the ones listed. Even if you do not have the funds to purchase what you require to enjoy your job, you can either save for a while or simply choose the more affordable options from this list.

If money is no object and you want the most powerful laptop ever made, the Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition (2020) might be the best laptop for engineering students like you. Of course, it will cost you a lot of money. However, if you’ve got the cash, this has all the serious firepower you’ll ever need.