What’s the best laptop for architecture?
Choosing the best laptop for architecture can be a challenge. There are so many factors to consider, such as price, hardware specs and software compatibility. The truth is that most laptops marketed as being good for architecture are not! They may have good specs but they lack the necessary software and hardware needed to actually run your design programs smoothly.
Top 3 Laptops for Architecture:

- 16-inch screen
- 16GB of RAM
- 1TB of Storage
- 2.3Ghz Intel Core i9 Processor.
- Touch bar and Touch ID

- 15.6-inch screen
- 8GB of RAM
- 256GB of storage
- 2.4Ghz Intel 9th gen Quad-Core i5-9300H processor
- Power-off charging
Reviews: 7 Laptops for Architecture That Made The Cut
Our shortlist is a result of rigorous research and testing. The research gives us an overview of the experience other users had with each laptop.
1. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch – Best Architecture Laptop Overall
Hardware Specifications
Processor | Ninth-generation 8-Core Intel Core i9 Processor |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 (upgradeable to 64GB) |
Storage | 1TB SSD |
GPU | AMD Radeon Pro 5500M Graphics with GDDR6 memory |
Display | 16 inch Retina Display with Touch Bar |
Operating System | macOS |
Battery Life | Up to 11 hours |
Weight | 7.9 lbs |
UPC | 190199267961 |
Top 3 Features
- Carries both an onboard and a discrete graphics card.
- The performance and responsiveness of the machine are impressive.
- The screen is a good size and produces immaculate clarity.
- The touch bar is an added bit of convenience.
- Upgrading from a base model is costly.
- Connectivity options have been reduced (traditional USB ports are gone).
2. Acer Nitro 5 15.6 FHD – Best Laptop for Architecture Under $800
Hardware Specifications
Processor | Intel 9th gen Quad-Core i5-9300H processor |
RAM | 8GB DDR4 Memory |
Storage | 256GB NVme Solid State Drive (SSD) |
GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM |
Display | 15.6 Inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 |
Battery Life | Up to 8 hours |
Weight | 5.07 lbs |
UPC | 193199181114 |
Top 3 Features
- It is reasonably priced
- Has capacity for storage and RAM upgrades
- It is quite lightweight for its performance level
- Has two fans and exhausts for effective cooling
- The charging slot could be better
3. Razer Blade 15 Architects Laptop
Hardware Specifications
Processor | 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H 6 Cores |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB SSD |
GPU | NVIDIA GeForce 2060 RTX |
Display | 15.6 inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 |
Battery Life | 3-4 Hours |
Weight | 4.63 lbs |
UPC | 8886419365310 |
Top 3 Features
- Upgrading it is straightforward
- It is incredibly thin
- The screen display is excellent
- Runs fairly quietly even on demanding programs
- Battery life leaves a lot to be desired
- The trackpad could be better
4. MSI GF75 – Best Architecture Laptop under $1200
Hardware Specifications
Processor | Intel Core i7-9750h 2.6 |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB NVMe SSD |
GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 |
Display | 17.3 inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 |
Battery Life | Up to 7+ hours |
Weight | 4.85 lbs |
UPC | 824142181324 |
Top 3 Features
- High tech cooling system
- It is fairly lightweight
- Runs demanding programs smoothly
- Has a wonderful night light feature
- The bottom edges are sharp
- The screen tilting is poorly designed
- Pricey
5. Dell G5 – Best Windows Laptop for Architecture
Hardware Specifications
Processor | 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750h (12MB Cache, up to 4. 5 GHz, 6 Cores) |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM |
Storage | 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive + 1TB 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drive |
GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4GB GDDR5 Graphics |
Display | 15.6 inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 4 hours |
Weight | 7.2 lbs |
UPC | 884116315797 |
Top 3 Features
- It is reasonably priced
- Performs well even when running demanding software
- The non-glare screen is brilliant
- The graphics card is excellent
- It is quite bulky
- Set up took longer than I would like
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 – Best Touchscreen Laptop for Architecture
Hardware Specifications
Processor | 10th Gen Intel Core i5 |
RAM | 8GB at base (can upgrade to 32GB) |
Storage | 512 GB SSD |
GPU | AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics |
Display | 15 inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery Life | Up to 11.5 hours |
Weight | 3.4 lbs |
UPC | 889842480382 |
Top 3 Features
- Has a trackpad and touch screen
- It is incredibly lightweight
- The design is compact
- There is scope for upgrading
- The screen fades in and out on occasion
7. ASUS VivoBook 17″ Laptop
Hardware Specifications
Processor | 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 RAM |
Storage | 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD storage |
GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 |
Display | 17.3 inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 |
Battery life | Up to 11.5 hours |
Weight | 4.6 lbs |
UPC | 889349839492 |
Top 3 Features
- Offers good value for money
- It has plenty of storage space
- The build quality feels sturdy
- The screen size is excellent
- It is reasonably lightweight
- The fan can be noisy even under low usage
- OS was on HDD
8. ASUS VivoBook 15 – Best Budget Laptop for Architects
Hardware Specifications
Processor | AMD R5-3500U |
RAM | 8GB DDR4 SDRAM |
Storage | 256GB |
GPU | AMD Radeon Vega 8 |
Display | 15.6 inches |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
Weight | 3.53 lbs |
UPC | 192876310878 |
Top 3 Features
- The hardware is easy to upgrade
- The design is sleek and ergonomic
- The display is excellent
- Some bios issues reported
Laptops for Architecture – Buyers Guide
Now that we have covered all of the devices on our list, there are some terminology and features that you should know. These will help you better understand and therefore make the most of each product review.
We have put these into the context of their importance within the architectural processes and the software involved.
What is the best Processor/CPU for Architecture?
This is the brain of your laptop. It handles all of the computations. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, thus the brain reference. It deals with every input and the generation of a corresponding output.
The processor speed and the number of cores that it has determined how many processes it can deal with simultaneously.
It has a core and a cloak speed. Multiple cores mean that your laptop can run several programs at the same time.
Fewer cores with a higher clock speed will see your laptop perform well when running one program but struggle at multi-tasking.
Graphics Card/GPU
GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit. It is one of the most vital parts of your computer if you work with graphics or anything visual for that matter. It is responsible for rendering images, videos, 2D, and 3D graphics. That is why you will often find it referred to as a video card or graphics card.
They come in two forms; you can have an interlinked or a discrete GPU. The interlinked one is built into your laptop, while the discrete one is sold separately.
RAM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. We have already covered its work as a form of short term memory for the laptop. The importance of this is that it makes everything work quicker.
Instead of using internal memory to transmit and retrieve information, RAM allows for access and utilization of said information in very little time. It reduces the strain on the processor and storage.
Most programs that architects use require a significant amount of RAM to get the best performance out of them.
Screen Size & Resolution
An architecture laptop should have a great resolution and a large screen goes a long way. It will allow you to see the smallest of elements clearer as you work on them which is an integral part of drafting, seeing your error, or indeed genius along the way.
Storage
Storage is the space or room that is available to keep your files within the laptop. Programs such as ArchiCAD, Vectorworks, and Autodesk 3ds Max generate files that take up a lot of room. It may not seem that way on an individual project, but it soon adds up over time and several projects. Getting a decent amount of storage on your laptop reduces the need to carry additional external storage devices with you.
Internal Memory/Extension
Internal memory is the standard or factory memory that your laptop comes with. You will find that there may be an option to extend this memory. That can be down to purchasing additional RAM and adding it to the device or in other instances, the hardware may need to be soldered, if this is on the motherboard. Check what the highest memory that your device can take is.
OS
OS is the operating system within your device. It is what makes it easier to interact with your laptop and it is responsible for providing you with an intuitive user interface. There are two main systems used across the world, most laptops will either run on Windows or on Mac OS.
The fundamental things within these interfaces are similar. If you have used one and not the other, there may be some getting used to required for a smooth transition. For instance, the Mac OS devices do not have the right-click button that we are accustomed to on Windows devices. It is worth checking that the software that you intend to use is compatible with the OS that your laptop runs on.
Software (common software used by Architects)
Software | Use/Features |
SketchUp | Creating 3D drawings |
Revit | 2D and 3D projects |
3D Studio Max | 3D projects |
AutoCAD | Drafting and designing |
Cedreo | 3D home design |
Lumion | 3D project and video walkthroughs |
ACTCAD Professional | 2D and 3D modeling |
Space Designer 3D | 2D and 3D modeling |
Chief Architect | Residential designs |
Lumion | Architectural visualization |
Vectorworks Architect | Allows cross-platform collaboration |
ArCADia-ARCHITECTURE | Web-based documentation tool |
Arcon Evo | Automatic 2D and 3D interfaces |
Battery Life
The key function is its portability; it allows you to carry your work with you from one place to another. Battery life is an integral part of this. Adequate battery life means that you can work for several hours away from a power source. With a good battery, you can take your designs with you and work on them on the go.
Price
Price is a contentious one. On one hand, you do not necessarily want to spend an arm and a leg on a laptop. On the other hand, good devices do not come cheap. The sweet spot is being able to identify the best value for money within your budget. That is not going to be the same from one person to another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which laptop is best for architecture students?
A combination of affordability and performance makes the Acer Nitro 5 15.6 FHD Laptop the best laptop for architecture students.
Is a MacBook pro good for architects?
Yes, the Macbook pro is good for architects. It is important that you check that the software you intend to use is compatible with the operating system. You usually have the option to upgrade the hardware as well.
What RAM is best for architecture?
If we had to settle for one it would be a DDR4 RAM of at least 16GB
Conclusion
Creativity often depends on being able to channel into the zone. That is no different among architects. It is amazing how tiny things, such as hardware issues, can throw your workflow out of sync.
Now imagine that happening when deadlines are looming. There is no greater case than that to be made for getting the very best laptops for architecture. As such, any of the ones we have included on our list will serve you well.
If in doubt, go with our top pick; the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch.