Home Buying Guide Best Laptops for Architects in 2025

[TOP 10] Best Laptops for Architects in 2025

Professional architects depend on high-end computers for complex projects. Here is our list of the top 10 best laptops for architects in 2025.

LAPTOPS FOR ARCHITECTS

I have been covering laptops for so long, and I must admit that modern laptops have improved a lot both in terms of design and performance. That is why you don’t need to spend too much money to buy a powerful computer because technology has become more affordable compared to the old days. This article I am going to dedicate to Architects after researching a lot about the current laptop market. This analysis includes various factors required by an architecture professional or even students currently pursuing degrees in the architecture stream.

Before reaching any conclusion, we should discuss the major requirements of architecture to make the final buying decision. Being an architect, you have to work on applications like 3DS Max, MAYA, Revit, AutoCAD, and other powerful CAD-based software. As we know, these apps are heavily dependent on graphics, so we need a powerful graphics processor. Not only that, but the rest of the hardware should also be compelling, whether it is a processor, RAM, or storage. In this article, we will be listing the top 10 best laptops for architecture students and professionals. Without any further delay, let’s get into the details!

Recommended: Best Laptops for 3D Modeling

List of 10 Best Laptops for Architects in 2025

Let’s check out the list of the top 10 best laptops considerable for architecture students & professionals in 2025:

RECOMMENDED
BEST MACBOOK
BEST VALUE PICK
Name
Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 (2021)
Apple Macbook Pro 16
Acer Predator Helios 300
Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max
Intel Core i7-11800H
GPU
Nvidia RTX 3080 16GB VRAM
16-core or 32-core
Nvidia RTX 3060 6GB VRAM
Display
15.6-inch FHD (300Hz)
16-inch QHD+
15.6-inch FHD (144Hz)
RAM
16GB DDR4
16GB DDR4
16GB DDR4
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
1TB NVMe SSD
512GB NVMe SSD
RECOMMENDED
Name
Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 (2021)
Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
GPU
Nvidia RTX 3080 16GB VRAM
Display
15.6-inch FHD (300Hz)
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
BEST MACBOOK
Name
Apple Macbook Pro 16
Processor
Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max
GPU
16-core or 32-core
Display
16-inch QHD+
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
BEST VALUE PICK
Name
Acer Predator Helios 300
Processor
Intel Core i7-11800H
GPU
Nvidia RTX 3060 6GB VRAM
Display
15.6-inch FHD (144Hz)
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
512GB NVMe SSD

1Asus ROG Strix Scar G15 (Overall Best Laptops for Architects)

The “Asus” is a prominent name for high-end laptops for gaming. And let me tell you that these gaming laptops can be a perfect choice for architects because of their top-notch hardware. Playing games also required similar configurations just like the architect needs. As a result, we have picked Asus ROG Strix Scar G15 as my primary recommendation for professional architectures. The laptop is powered by the highly power-efficient AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX octa-core processor. The chip is manufactured on TSMC’s 7nm FinFET technology, consuming very little power while performing high-end tasks.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 15
  • Display: 15.6-inch Full HD IPS (300Hz)
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
  • GPU: RTX 3080 16GB GDDR6 VRAM
  • RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

Alongside, it packs Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, and the company chose the high-end variant with 16GB GDDR6 VRAM. Therefore, it has additional video memory specifically designed for heavy workloads. The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a faster 300Hz refresh rate. The screen-to-body ratio is awe-inspiring, and the color-accurate display makes it a decent option for content creators. As far as storage is concerned, the laptop offers 1TB of NVMe SSD storage combined with 16GB DDR4 RAM. This combination makes it an impressive offering to store lots of data using internal storage, and RAM space is also decent.

Furthermore, the Opti-mechanical per-key RGB keyboard makes it an ideal choice, but some people hate the tickling noise. Overall, there is no reason to hate this device. The ROG-powered cooling system performs very well to enhance the performance. All the necessary ports are available, including Wi-Fi 6 connectivity support. In terms of design, it is crafted with a solid body construction made of high-quality plastic. Altogether, it is one of the most powerful laptops available in the market right now. Subsequently, it matches all the requirements of professional architecture.

Pros
  • AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX Processor
  • Opti-Mechanical RGB Keyboard
  • High Refresh Rate Display
  • Advanced Cooling System
Cons
  • Expensive Price
  • Quick Battery Drainage

2Apple Macbook Pro 16 (Most powerful Macbook for Architects)

If you are fond of using macOS, there is no alternative to the Apple Macbook series. So, the latest Macbook Pro 16 becomes a viable choice becuase it is the most powerful offering from Apple in 2025. Even if you don’t particularly focus on macOS, but need a long-lasting battery life with compelling hardware, you can surely go with this option. The laptop is backed by either 10-core Apple M1 Pro or an Apple M1 Max chipset, depending upon which variant you choose. There are some major differences between M1 Pro and M1 Max. Specifically, M1 Max comes loaded with a 32-core GPU, while the M1 Pro supports a 16-core GPU.

Apple Macbook Pro 16
  • Display: 16-inch 3456 x 2234 pixels
  • Processor: Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max
  • GPU: 16-core or 32-core
  • RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

Furthermore, the laptop offers a big 16-inch Retina display at 3456x2234p resolution. This display touches a peak brightness of 500-nits, making it usable in outdoor light. The display covers a wide P3 color gamut for superb accuracy. However, color accuracy doesn’t matter a lot for architects, but it could help you with other content creation tasks, such as video editing and photo editing. There is 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM with a huge 1TB SSD storage so that you can store tons of files. If you want more RAM & storage, Apple gives you an option to customize during purchase through Apple-certified stores. Besides, there are 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports along with a 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI port, and an SD card reader.

The laptop further adds a 1080p Webcam with a face detection feature to improve the overall camera quality. The camera quality is very good and suitable for video conferencingworking from homeonline classes, and similar tasks. Overall, it is the most powerful Apple laptop available in the market right now. Hence, if you rely on macOS for your architecture work, it may be the best computer that flawlessly handles all the graphics-intensive applications, including Revit, 3DS Max, AutoCAD, etc. Indeed, this is the most powerful MacBook available out there. A more prominent variant with the M1 Max chip is even more powerful than the “Pro” variant. That is up to you what your requirements are.

Pros
  • Elegant Display with Great Brightness
  • Additional Touch Bar
  • Super Rich Sound Quality
  • Excellent Keyboard
  • Great Battery Life
Cons
  • Limited USB ports
  • Weird Notch design

3Acer Predator Helios 300 (Best Value Pick)

Even though being an architect, you can’t compromise with performance, the budget shouldn’t be a hurdle. But what if I say you can get an inexpensive laptop without compromising performance? Yes, you heard it right! The latest Acer Predator Helios 300 is the best value pick for architects that deliver excellent performance without costing too much money. Priced under $1500, the laptop arrives with the latest Intel i7-11800H processor coupled with Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card for optimal performance. The provided chipset is potent, with an octa-core CPU and a base clock speed of 2.3GHz. Further, it can go as high as 4.6GHz using Intel’s Turbo Boost technology.

Acer Predator Helio 300
  • Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080p (144Hz)
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-11800H
  • GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 6GB VRAM
  • RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
  • Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD

Furthermore, the laptop accommodates a typical 15.6-inch Full HD display at 1920 x 1080p resolution. The display is highly color-accurate with 100% sRGB coverage and a 144Hz refresh rate, which is perfect for gaming as well as other productivity tasks, including architecture. As we discussed, the Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card handles the graphics performance with provided 6GB GDDR6 VRAM, more than sufficient to handle most of the apps used by architectures. The system does have the latest ray tracing and 3D scanning technologies that enhance your gaming experience. You can overclock the graphics on the laptop by pressing a button on the keyboard.

Besides, the keyboard has four zones of configurable RGB lighting to make it even more attractive while typing along with a flat trackpad and comfortable key traveling. Being a gaming laptop, its battery barely lasts 3-4 hours, which might be a concern for a few users working outdoors. But it’s a pretty much normal thing for powerful Windows laptops. Apart from that, the touchpad is flat and smooth. There are several ports on the laptop that make it a convenient option for daily use. It has 3 USB ports and one USB-C port. It allows you to connect all the gadgets that need charging and add a monitor or Ethernet cable if you need it. On a closing note, the Acer predator Helios 300 is a worthy laptop for architects, and students can also afford this.

Pros
  • Powerfu i7 Processor
  • RGB Backlit Keyboard
  • Expandable Hard Drive
  • RTX 30 Series Graphics
Cons
  • Not Thunderbolt port
  • Average Battery Life

4Dell XPS 15 9510 (Extended Mobility)

When we speak about the brand value, Dell doesn’t need any introduction. In that category, the latest Dell XPS 15 is a perfect combination of power and portability, a must-have combo for professional architects. So, without compromising on performance, you have an option to go with this portable machine. The laptop uses an 11th Intel Core i7-11800H processor to power the device. Mostly used on powerful laptops, this 11th generation processor generates up to 4.60GHz clock speed under Intel’s Turbo Boost Technology, while the base clock speed is 2.30GHz. Undoubtedly, being an architect, you would enjoy the performance of this octa-core CPU.

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The front portion is surrounded by a 15.6-inch Full HD+ display at 1920 x 1200p resolution, slightly sharper than the traditional FHD+ resolution, allowing a 16:10 aspect ratio panel.  This solution permits it to cut corners making its appearance eye-catching. The display seems to be almost bezel-less and comes with a dope 500-nits brightness. On top of that, the laptop brings a dedicated GPU belonging to the RTX 30 series (RTX 3050, RTX 3060, RTX 3070, RTX 3080), which means graphics processing would be on the next level. Yes, you heard it right!  The laptop is loaded with Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU coupled with a dedicated 6GB GDDR6 VRAM, making it an ideal choice for 3D Modeling, AutoCAD, game development, Blender, Solidworks, Revit, etc.

Regarding the memory, it accumulates 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD storage. Both RAM & storage arrive with speedy read/write speed to improve the overall performance. The laptop runs on Windows 10 Pro out of the box with some professional-grade features.  Other than that, there are 2X USB Type-C ports available with Thunderbolt 4 support, a charging USB Type-c port, a 4-in-1 SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. But, unfortunately, lacking the standard USB Type-A port. All the essential connectivity options are available with a bigger 86-WHrs battery, offering long-lasting battery backup. Altogether, Dell XPS 15 offers great mobility with top-notch performance.

Pros
  • Super Bright Display
  • Dedicated RTX 3050 GPU
  • Powerful I7-11800H CPU
  • Luxurious Portable Design
  • Pre-installed Windows 10 Pro
Cons
  • Quick Battery Drainage
  • Expensive Price

5Razer Blade 14 (Portable Yet Powerful)

The “Razer” brand is widely recognized for its gaming work. As we know, these gaming laptops come in very handy for architects, especially professional ones. Thus, Razer Blade 14 can be a great choice for handling complex architecture projects. Under the hood, It has a newly launched NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti that works perfectly for gamers. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and 16 GB RAM on this laptop make it an excellent choice for gamers. A 1TB SSD option provides plenty more storage space without losing any speed or efficiency, so your favorite movies can have extra room as well as with the important documents of work.

Razer Blade 14
  • Display: 14-inch 2560 x 1440p (165Hz)
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
  • GPU: Nvidia RTX 3070Ti 8GB VRAM
  • RAM: 16GB DDR5
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

Another major highlight of this laptop is its 14-inch QHD display. It comes with a 2560 x 1440 pixels super sharp QHD panel at a 165Hz refresh rate, making it a suitable gaming pick. The good thing about this display is that it supports a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut with very well-managed color calibration. Hence, it becomes a considerable candidate for professional work that requires good color accuracy, like AutoCAD and 4K Video Editing. It also has Nvidia G-Sync, which prevents tearing, stuttering, or blurry images that can occur when your PC is on an uneven internet connection due to other devices using bandwidth.

In addition, its RGB backlit keyboard provides lighting effects that match your gaming style. Moreover, It is a sleek gaming laptop that weighs only 3.92 lbs, making it easy to carry with you wherever you go. It has a large storage option of a 1TB SSD that is good for storing your games and multimedia files. The speakers are not so great, but you can plug in your external earphones for better audio. The mouse is also a problem since it’s on the right side, where all of those USB and HDMI ports will interfere with its use. In conclusion, if you want great portability without compromising on performance, Razer Blade 14 shines tremendously in that section.

Pros
  • High Refresh QHD Display
  • Dual-Channel Memory
  • RGB Backlit Keyboard
  • DTS X Audio
  • Potent AMD Ryzen 9 CPU
Cons
  • Loud Turbo Fans
  • Expensive Price

6ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 (Best Ultrabook for Architects)

Asus is a well-known and innovative laptop brand. They have implemented a lot of new things in the past couple of years. That is why we have selected ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 as a premium ultrabook for architects with lightweight design by maintaining the powerful specs sheet on board. The laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor. It is designed on the latest 7nm technology along with 8 powerful cores and 16 threads. With that, it offers up to 4.4GHz of max clock speed, while the base clock speed is 3.2GHz. This is an AMD 5000 series chipset that offers high performance. Alongside, it has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. If you want to work on troublesome architecture projects, it can handle that without any issue having 6GB of graphics memory.

ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16
  • Display: 16-inch 2560 x 1500p FHD
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
  • GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
  • RAM: 32GB DDR4 3200MHz
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

Speaking of its display, it features a 16-inch QHD+ NanoEdge display with 2560 × 1500p resolution. Besides, it has a 100% Adobe RGB color gamut and an anti-glare coating. As a result, it becomes a highly color-accurate display for productivity tasks, such as video editing, photo editing, and graphic designing. On top of that, you will get a sharp and clear view of this display. Moreover, Asus ProArt StudioBook 16 comes with Pantone validated color accuracy, 500 nits brightness, and Delta E <2 making it one of the finest panels in the given price range. Unquestionably, the provided panel works like a charm when it comes to color accuracy. Along with that, this laptop comes with 32GB DDR4 RAM and a 1TB super-fast SSD drive. You can upgrade them as well.

In terms of connectivity, it has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. There is an ethernet port for wired internet connection as well. Meanwhile, you will see one Thunderbolt 3 USB C, a Type-A port, an HDMI 2.0, and an SD card reader. Other than that, this laptop can last for about 12 hours on a full charge. Asus ProArt StudioBook 16 is designed for professionals and has a lot of power. It is well suited for high-profile software such as AutoCAD, Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Vegas Pro, Blender, and many more. Being an architect, you can surely consider this laptop for its portability and exceptional graphics performance.

Pros
  • Powerful Configurations
  • Designed for Professionals
  • Impressive Performance
  • Good Color Calibration
Cons
  • Average Speakers
  • Heats Up Quickly

7Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (Best Option for Architecture Students)

Lenovo is a reputed name in the laptop industry. We have picked Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 for architect students becuase of its affordable price and decent hardware offering. The laptop sports a 15.6-inch Full HD display bringing 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution at a 120Hz refresh rate. Regarding the CPU, it packs an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H chipset under the hood. The latest 5000 series takes advantage of refreshed capabilities, sufficient to run applications like Revit, Maya, AutoCAD, and other powerful 3D Modeling applications. Regarding the core structure, this six-core chipset is built on a highly power-efficiant 7nm processing node.

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Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3
  • Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (120Hz)
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
  • Graphics: GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4
  • Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD

The provided chipset offers a base clock speed is 3.3GHz, going up to 4.2GHz while running the demanding applications. Alongside, there is a GTX 1650 GPU installed inside with 4GB of video RAM. Altogether, there are no major issues with performance. It flawlessly manages most of the games. Apart from that, this computer accumulates the 8GB DDR4 RAM and ordinary 256GB SSD storage. As far as build quality is concerned, it adopts the traditional Lenovo design with strong body construction. There is no compromise made with the build quality. Additionally, there are additional slots available to upgrade the RAM & storage.

Indeed, the thermal offering is well capable of observing heat. Therefore, it mostly remains cooler during casual gameplay. But if you want to impose hardcore gaming, there might be some heating problems. One of its key highlights is a backlit keyword. However, it is not multi-color RGB backlighting. But, still, a worthy addition for improving the overall gaming experience. Other than that, All the essential connectivity features, including necessary ports. At the front, there is an HD webcam for video conferencing and streaming. Ultimately, it is a perfect choice for beginners and students in architecture priced under $700.

Pros
  • Refined Processing Power
  • Multi-Color Backlit Keyboard
  • Easy Upgradability
  • High Refresh Rate Display
  • Decent Performance
Cons
  • Some Heating Issues
  • Average Battery Life

8Lenovo ThinkPad P17 (Powerful Workstation for Professionals)

If your requirements looking for a professional workstation, we have picked the Lenovo ThinkPad P17 for applications requiring specific modules supported by certified workstations, such as 3DS Max and AutoCAD. The workstation is powered by the Intel Core i7- 10750H processor. It is a 10th Gen 14 nm processor made for high-end laptops. The provided chipset arrives with a Hexa-core CPU and 12 threads. With these powerful cores, it can produce up to 5.0GHz of clock speed. Furthermore, this processor is paired with an impressive cooling system that will help it run at full speed for a much longer time.

Lenovo ThinkPad P17
  • Display: 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 FHD
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H
  • Graphics: Nvidia Quadro T2000 4GB
  • RAM: 32GB DDR4
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

Regarding the graphics, the Lenovo ThinkPad P17 comes with the Nvidia Quadro T2000 GPU with 4GB VRAM. As we know, graphics are more important than any other component for animations. That is why it brings an impressive graphics performance. The laptop features an enormous 17.3-inch display on the front. This is an FHD display meaning it has a total of 1920 × 1080p screen resolution. It has no high refresh rate support but comes with 300 nits of max brightness. Additionally, it offers color-accurate picture quality. There are thin bezels on the sides of the display, but that is not a big deal on this laptop.

On top of that, it has a massive 32GB DDR4 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD drive pre-installed. Moreover, the laptop features both WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 in terms of connectivity. In terms of I/O ports, you will get three USB A, two USB C with Thunderbolt 3, and one standard USB C port. Moreover, it has an HDMI 2.0, an SD card reader, and an audio combo jack. You can charge this laptop through the USB C ports. In the meantime, this laptop weighs 7.7 pounds or 3.5 kilograms, which makes it a heavy workstation. Overall, Lenovo ThinkPad P17 is a perfect workstation laptop for high-performance professional applications, including Solidworks, AutoCAD, game development, etc.

Pros
  • Bigger 17-Inch Display
  • Outstanding Performance
  • Sufficient RAM & Storage
  • Suitable for Developers
Cons
  • Thick Bezels Around the Display
  • Average Battery Life
  • Heavyweight Body

9ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (Unique Dual-Screen Design)

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is a uniquely designed dual-screen laptop. However, a dual-screen setup is very common for desktop monitors but rarely found in portable laptops. Subsequently, it is not comparable to a desktop setup because it doesn’t attach the secondary display parallel to the first one. The primary display is a 16-inch Full HD panel with 2560 x 1440p resolution. Because this laptop is highly focused on gaming, it includes a 165Hz refresh rate, which can be a handy addition for gamers but doesn’t matter a lot to an architect. At the same time, there is another secondary 14-inch panel available on top of the keyboard. For some people, it could be annoying to use a secondary panel, while others can utilize it for performing multiple things.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16
  • Display: 16-inch 2560 x 1440p (165Hz)
  • Secondary display: 14-inch 4K UHD
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070Ti 6GB GDDR6
  • RAM: 32GB DDR5
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

Moreover, the laptop is powered by the AMD 6000 series Ryzen 9 6900HX chipset underneath. Using its powerful either cores and 16 threads, it generates a 3.3GHz base clock speed, going up to 4.9GHz. Even after being very powerful, the chipset is highly power-efficient because of its 7nm processing node, which doesn’t consume too much power. It would be worth noting that this chipset is the most powerful offering from AMD in 2025. Hence, you can utilize the best-in-class performance with this laptop. The powerful CPU is combined with a decently well-aligned Nvidia RTX 3070Ti GPU to handle the graphics performance. With this powerful GPU, it touches the 125W TGP while going up to 150W by utilizing Dynamic Boost 2.0 to extend the graphics performance.

There is no compromise made in the graphics section, and this is the best performance offered by this RTX 3060 GPU. In terms of connectivity, the laptop comes with all the major ports, including 3x USB Type-A ports, 1x USB Type-C port, HDMI 2.0b, RJ45 Ethernet Lan port, microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Other than that, the laptop packs a massive 90W battery, which easily lasts for 3-4 hours while performing a heavy workload. There is a Chiclet Backlit keyboard with multi-color backlighting. Overall, this is a powerful dual-screen laptop for architects. The laptop is not made for everyone. So, buy it with caution!

Pros
  • Most Powerful CPU from AMD
  • Unique Dual Screen Design
  • Excellent Performance
  • Decent Set of USB Ports
  • Bigger 90W Battery
Cons
  • Quick Battery Drainage
  • Not for Everyone

10Lenovo Legion 5 15 (Best Budget Laptop for Architects)

If you’re looking for the best budget laptop that allows you to work comfortably while traveling and gaming, the Lenovo Legion 5 is an ideal option. The laptop is powered by the AMD 5000 series Ryzen 7 5800H processing, which comprises an octa-core CPU with a base clock speed of 3.2GHz and a maximum 4.4GHz. Being a gaming laptop, it arrives with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti with 4GB GDDR6 VRAM. The graphics card is well-capable of running AAA titles, but hardcore gaming should be avoided due to noticeable heating in the long run. In terms of memory, as we discussed earlier, the computing machine packs best-in-class 16GB DDR4 RAM coupled with 512GB SSD storage.

Lenovo Legion 5
  • Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080p (165Hz)
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3050Ti 4GB GDDR6
  • RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
  • Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD

Both RAM & storage are sufficient to run gaming operations smoothly, and you can easily store large gaming files using internal storage. The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD display at a 165Hz refresh rate, suitable for a gaming laptop for smooth scrolling. The panel offers 100% sRGB coverage to provide you with a great experience with 4K video editing, photo editing, photoshop, AutoCAD, game development, and various other tasks requiring good color calibration. Undoubtedly, it is a multipurpose gaming laptop that can help you with graphics-intensive productivity tasks.

Apart from that, the laptop is equipped with a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard for immersive gameplay. However, the light output is a concern because it produces dim light. Other notable features include pre-installed Windows OS, essential ports, durable design, and dual speakers. As far as I/O ports are concerned, it doesn’t compromise either except the SD card reader. Unfortunately, the Lenovo Legion 5 doesn’t provide any SD card reader slot. The build quality is decent enough, and it looks like a traditional, muscular gaming laptop, but the laptop weighs around 5 lbs, making it a decent pick. I would recommend it over any other laptop if your budget is restricted to $1000.

Pros
  • Powerful Ryzen 7 Processor
  • Dedicated GPU with 4GB VRAM
  • Full-Fledged 4-zone Backlit Keyboard
  • Lots of USB Ports
  • Highly Competitive Price
Cons
  • Heavyweight Body
  • No Micro SD Card Slot
  • Average Audio Output

Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best Laptop for Architects?

Here is our step-by-step guide you should keep in mind before buying a suitable laptop for architects for both students & professional ones:

Professor & GPU

The professor is the primary component responsible for the overall performance of any laptop. Hence, a good processor is always an immediate need for any architecture application. You should have a very high-end multi-core processor to run 3D Modeling heavily required for architectures. We recommend using the latest 11th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processor or Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 chipsets from AMD. To get the best-in-class CPU performance, Ryzen 9 chip is there to serve you.

In terms of graphics processing, having a discrete or dedicated GPU on the specs sheet of your laptops is always a good choice, primarily when you use software like Revit, 3DS MAX, MAYA, and AutoCAD heavily dependent on graphics performance.  If you are a beginner or someone who deals primarily with basic 3D work, you might not need to have a high-end GPU. A dedicated GPU with 2GB of VRAM is more than enough for architecture students.

If you are a professional who needs a powerful workstation for 3D rendering. In that case, it becomes more important to have a good and powerful GPU on your laptop. Look for at least 4GB of dedicated GDDR6 video memory in whichever laptop you are opting for. Latest GPUs like the RTX 30503060RTX 3070, or the best-in-class RTX 3080 would be some of the great choices. Overall, a dedicated GPU is a must-have for architects.

RAM & Storage

The Random Access Memory (RAM) is a temporary memory that helps process data to the CPU by storing data initially. So, a decent amount of RAM is a must-have to avoid any potential bottleneck. From an architect’s perspective, it depends on how complex a project you are working on or which level of multitasking you do. If you are a beginner in 3D Modeling and plan to work on low-poly Modeling, you can have a minimum of 8GB DDR4 RAM. This is the least amount though I would still recommend having 16GB RAM. And for high-end work, take 16GB DDR4 RAM as the baseline with a minimum of 2933MHz of frequency.

As for storage, there should be SSD-based storage in any condition. Talking about the capacity, it should be at least 512GB or higher, depending on your use case. There can be a need for higher storage based on the complexity of your Blender project. Hence for storage purposes, you can have additional HDD-based storage.

Display

However, there is no direct benefit of having an exceptional display for architects. But, a good display with excellent color coverage can output more variations of color. As for panels, there are majorly three types: TN Panel, IPS Panel, and OLED or AMOLED panels. TN panel is something that is not at all for content creation and should be avoided. However, if you primarily use external monitors for your work and a below-average display will not bother you a lot, you can have a TN panel to save some bucks. Otherwise, always choose IPS or OLED panels.

In terms of display size, it depends upon your personal preference. Most of the laptops adopt a standard 15.6-inch display, while you can go up or down as per your choice. If your eye is on portability, you should either go 13-inch or 14-inch display, while, a 17-inch panel is on the bigger side. Some other aspects, such as refresh rate, color calibration, etc., do not matter a lot for architects.

Battery Life

Last but not least, battery life is also a deciding factor when you are buying a laptop. But, unfortunately, high-end laptops do not offer good battery life. Even it is always better to run on charging mode if you want to capitalize on the full performance. Due to power-hungry applications, most of the listed laptops offer around 3-4 hours of battery life on a single charge. If you want to focus on battery life, you have to compromise with performance.

Final Verdict

Being an architect, you must be curious to know the final conclusion, especially those with limited knowledge about laptop technology. If you are already aware of picking a good laptop, you may divert to buying guide to know more about architect requirements. Based on my research, Asus ROG Strix scar G15 (2021) is my primary choice for more complex architectural projects. It comes with a best-in-class Ryzen 9 processor combined with an equivalent GPU named Nvidia RTX 3080. Not only that, its build quality is exceptionally muscular with long-lasting durability.

Going forward, if you are already engaged to macOS, you must be looking for an Apple laptop because once an Apple user is always an Apple user, and myself is a prime example. For that reason, we have selected the Apple Macbook Pro 16 with fully up-to-date hardware. It functions on the latest Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, depending upon your usage. The new chip is a perfect example of power and efficiency, providing it with a long-lasting battery. Being an architect, if you work outdoors, it could be your perfect companion allowing you to run the whole day without charging.

Besides, Acer Predator Helios 300 is a perfect value-for-money laptop. By costing merely $1200, it delivers excellent performance well capable of handling heavy applications. Lastly, beginners & students can consider the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 as the cheapest option. This laptop comes with a dedicated 4GB VRAM to handle most of the powerful software. So, if you want to save some money, it is a cost-effective laptop. That’s All! If you have any questions or suggestions, you can head toward the “contact us” section to send your message!

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