Best Laptops for Architecture – Reviews & Buyers Guide

We’ve reviewed over 30 top of the range laptops in order to find those which we believe offer the best value for money when it comes to their specifications, performance and overall quality.

We’ve put together a list of laptops that we would recommend based on their specs and how well they handle design programs like AutoCAD or Revit. Our top pick is the Apple Macbook Pro with the 2.3Ghz Intel Core i9 Processor. This powerful machine has all the power needed to run demanding CAD applications while still remaining portable enough to carry around from site to site!

If you’re a budding architect and want the best laptop for your profession, look no further. Our well-researched list will help you find the perfect laptop that is able to keep up with all of your architectural needs. Our expert panel has reviewed the best laptops for architecture so you can make an informed decision when purchasing your next machine.

Whilst we value our experience, a bigger sample size makes for more accurate results. We considered some of the most fundamental parts of a laptop when it comes to performance:

• The processor ensures that the systems run processes seamlessly.
  
  A top of the range processor makes easy work of some of the most demanding tasks. RAM stores your working data; it is your laptop’s short term memory.
  
• The greater the RAM, the easier it is for a laptop to hold more working data.
  
  We have now progressed from the day of HDDs, and having a large capacity is no longer sufficient; an SSD is what we were after.

This Macbook was designed to surpass all other products on the market when it comes to performance. It utilizes a thermal design to make the most of the i9 processor. There are 8 core and 16 threads on which it runs.

That gives you a higher performance level for long periods, which is an essential element when working on architectural designs. To put this into perspective, you get over twice the performance you would get from a quad-core processor.

For RAM, you have a 16GB DDR4, but it can be upgraded to 64GB. Running several different software or general multitasking derives a lot of benefits from this.

The AMD Radeon Pro 5000M Series is a cutting edge graphics card and is twice as fast as the previous generation. The battery capacity is courtesy of the 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery; it can run for up to 11 hours on a single charge. 

This Acer AN515-54-8GB-256GB comes with an Intel 9th generation Quad-Core i5-9300H processor. It runs on a 2.4GHz frequency and can be boosted up to 4.1GHz. There are a total of 8 threads running on this processor.

That gives you a high performing laptop capable of taking on the software that laptops for architecture students or professionals should carry.

The RAM is an 8GB DDR4 memory. You also have the benefit of a superfast 256GB NVme SSD. For a clearer view, the 15.6” screen does a great job. It derives tremendous benefit from the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM.

When running demanding programs, it will be cooled down by the twin fans and dual exhaust ports. The pricing point makes it affordable and perhaps a good laptop for student architects.

The RTX2060 is marketed as being “Ultra fast, Ultra Small and Ultra Powerful.” It is these things that we wanted to put to the test. At a weight of just 4.6lbs, it certainly lives up to the small claim and is 0.78 inches thick as well.

That makes it incredibly portable. It comes with a powerful 9th Gen Intel processor, and further, there is 16GB of RAM on two channels. 

Architects will appreciate the 15.6-inch screen; it is a full HD 1080p screen. You are guaranteed to have excellent clarity when working. There are several upgrades that you can make on the base model to make it more advanced.

The best approach would be to give it a try and see if you would benefit from higher specifications before making the upgrade. A tip for this one is to make sure that the CPU is undervolted, as this improves performance.

MSI is often ranked as the best gaming brand, which is always a great indicator of performance. Gaming places a high demand on the hardware, with an Intel Core i7-9750h 2.6GHz, that should not be a problem for the MSI GF75. This makes it an ideal choice for architectural use.

It also has the benefit of 16GB of RAM, and you will appreciate the 17.3-inch screen. Not only is it a great display in terms of quality, its size means that you may not always need an external display. Speaking of the display, NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX Graphics card makes everything render in immaculate quality. 

For storage, the MSI GF75 comes with a 512GB SSD card with enhanced NVMe SSD read speeds. That means rapid start times. You will also appreciate how thin and light this laptop is.

If you like to keep your laptop cool, you will like this one. The Dell G5 15 Laptop has a dual fan cooling system which goes a long way when using the device on the go.

Your designs will benefit from the screen’s anti-glare LED display which makes it easier to maintain a clear view even while you are outside. Speed has not been found wanting either. That is thanks to the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750h processor that has 6 cores and software runs smoother because of the 16GB of RAM. 

You will not be struggling for storage space either. There are two drives in this laptop, the first one is a 265GB SSD. It is responsible for giving your fast starting times and responsiveness.

Additional storage comes from a 1 Terabyte SATA hard drive where you can store a lot of your work. I would recommend undervolting the CPU on this one as well.

If elegance is one of the things that you are looking for, then the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 – 15″ Touch-Screen is a contender. It is both thin and lightweight which does not come at the cost of the laptop’s performance.

It has an exclusive AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processor. This processor is renowned for delivering a responsive experience and is an Intel Core i5 processor. Part of this performance is courtesy of the 8GB of RAM that the device carries. 

The 256GB SSD is impressive. That is especially true when considering the size of the laptop. There is also room to upgrade the RAM and storage on this device from the base model.

Another characteristic that is worth mentioning is connectivity. That is something that tends to be cast away when devices are thin. It is not the case for the Surface Laptop 3.

As far as the screen size is concerned, you cannot possibly go wrong with the ASUS VivoBook Pro Thin & Light Laptop. It comes with a crispy clear 17.3-inch screen. You have the benefit of a full HD wide-view that combines 72% NTSC color gamut and NVIDIA 940MX discrete graphics. Fortunately, the screen size does not make it too bulky; it is a thin device.

Performance is delivered by the 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor. It combines with 16GB DDR4 RAM and 940MX graphics to give you a responsive device. Storage space is not to be sniffed at either, the Vivibook Pro comes with 1 Terabyte of HDD storage in addition to the 256GB SSD.

There is no fun in wasting space on bezels, is there? The ASUS F512DA-EB51 VivoBook 15 comes with an eyewatering 88% screen-to-body ratio. It makes the most of the device’s dimensions to provide an excellent display.

Under the hood is a Powerful AMD Quad Core Ryzen 5 3500U Processor so you are guaranteed a good level of performance which is aided by the 8GB DDR4 RAM for better multi-tasking. The keyboard has a finger sensor that is activated with Windows Hello. 

For storage, you have 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD all contained within a lightweight laptop. An interesting feature is the positioning of the bezel to facilitate easier typing.

For architectural students looking for the best architect laptop under $500, it’s a no-brainer: Reliable, Powerful & Affordable.