AutoCAD is a challenging software that requires you to have a quality laptop. Laptop features like mobility and weight will become extremely important in the digital industry.
Choosing the right laptop is a subtle game between performance, weight, screen size, portability, maximum capabilities, and price.
This article will give tips on buying a laptop and discovering the best laptops for AutoCAD.
Remember that simple social media graphics require impressive hardware power and graphic design tools can work efficiently on any computer.
Review contents
Best Laptops for AutoCAD in 2023
Best Laptops for AutoCAD – FEATURE AND PERFORMANCE
- The processor is an integral part of the laptop, making it easy to run multiple applications. There are numerous processes, but the most suitable for graphic designers are Core i5, Core i7, AMD Ryzen, and Intel Xeon.
- RAM is essentially your device’s short-term memory. It temporarily stores (remembers) everything that runs on your PC, like all the services in Windows, your web browser, your image editing tool, or the game you’re playing. Whenever you request a new browser tab or load a new enemy to shoot, you don’t want the CPU digging through your slower storage, like a hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD). As fast as storage is compared to drives of years gone by, they’re still far slower than RAM.
- Storage Drive – Unlike RAM, it can store information permanently. An SSD can provide a super-fast startup and better processor performance.
- The screen is perhaps the most crucial part of choosing the right laptop. The higher resolution screen has more precise detail and color accuracy, making it more accessible for graphic designers. 15-inch screen size is the minimum in today’s graphic design world. The laptop for AutoCAD should have at least a full HD display.
- Keyboard & touchscreen – Graphic designers rarely do design online and usually work in teams or with clients, and a suitable keyboard is necessary. Keyboard shortcuts are often used in a design, so proper critical placement and ergonomic design can be crucial for speed. Want to buy a laptop with a touch screen? There is no universal approach when it comes to screens like this. Some love them because they provide a fast and easy zoom, while others hate that they do not offer many options. After a while, you get used to it, and it stops being a nuisance.
- Battery duration/capacity – Most CAD users love novelties because they bring inspiration and ideas. With a good battery, you can take your laptop anywhere and do business while enjoying your freedom. You will often have to replace your favorite workplace and do the work on the go or at the restaurant, and the lack of outlets in these places can be very frustrating. With a 12-14 hour battery life, you can cruise the Atlantic and do your job.
- Graphics card – This is an essential part of each laptop for AutoCAD. A laptop for AutoCAD needs a sound graphics card because this is what we need for successful 3D modeling of objects. The best graphics card today is NVIDIA GeForce RTX. The best model of NVIDIA GeForce RTX for workstation laptops today is 2080 SUPE, R, but you will rarely find this in the laptop for AutoCAD – it is reserved for gaming laptops.
Read Next – Best Laptops For Programming
Best Laptop for AutoCAD – Top 8 List
Laptops That Can Run AutoCAD
Apple MacBook Pro
If you are looking for the best laptops for graphic designers for the first time on the Internet, you will get a clear answer – Apple MacBook Pro.
Brand and operating system are the two main reasons graphic designers choose Apple products.
The Apple MacBook Pro is a powerful laptop with an Intel i7 Quad-Core processor and 16GB of working memory. However, this laptop is not for everyone; if you are a passionate Windows user, getting used to the new system will take time.
This laptop does not have USB ports, but because of the excellent design experience Apple offers and the courage to encourage its users to innovate and technology, the Apple MacBook Pro deserves a standing ovation.
Graphic designers will enjoy the work of AMD Radeon Pro Graphics and the high-resolution display. The only downside to this laptop is the high price tag.
Apple MacBook Pro Features
- Quad-core 8th-Generation Intel Core i5 Processor
- Brilliant Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
- Ultrafast SSD
- Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- 802.11AC WiFi
- Latest Apple-designed keyboard
- Force Touch trackpad
Apple MacBook Pro Specifications
- Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors; True Tone technology
- Processor: 1.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz, with 128MB of eDRAM
- Graphics and Video Support: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
- Charging and Expansion: Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt (up to 40 Gbps), and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)
- Wireless: 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible); Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
- In the Box: 13-inch MacBook Pro, 61W USB-C Power Adapter, USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
- Height: 0.59 inch (1.49 cm)
- Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
- Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm)
- Weight: 3.02 pounds (1.37 kg)
- Release Date: 5/21/2021
2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Intel Processor (13-inch, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD Storage) - Space Gray
2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray
Read Next – Best Apple Desktop Computers Our Top Picks
Microsoft Surface Book 2
The screen of the SurfaceBookk is smaller, but the performance of this laptop is the same as that of the MacBook Pro. The laptop runs on a Core i7 processor, and the screen resolution is 3000 × 2000, the best laptop screen for sketching and graphics.
The Surface Book is portable and can easily be transformed into a tablet. Add a touchscreen, and with the included pen, you’ll get a laptop perfect for creatives who hate to overload their fingers. You can also take an earlier Microsoft Surface mode to save more money.
Microsoft Surface Book 2 Features
It is built for performance.
Power professional-grade software all day with the latest quad-core Intel processors and the best graphics performance yet with the latest NVIDIA GeForce GPUs.
Adapts to the ways you create.
The new Surface Book 2 is a versatile laptop, powerful tablet, and portable studio in one. Get more done with four modes of use. They are designed with innovation in every detail.
Lightweight and powerful with unprecedented performance in a laptop this size.
Get ideas down fast with a backlit keyboard, a display designed for touch, and a Surface Pen.
Experience the best of Microsoft.
Work, play, and create without limits. Experience the best of every Microsoft innovation, including 3D experiences.
Laptop mode
Surface Book 2 is a sleek, portable powerhouse. Use demanding apps and tackle complex tasks on the go with up to 17 hours of battery life.
Get productive with a full keyboard and large trackpad, or use the interactive touchscreen.
Tablet mode
Detach the stunning PixelSense Display to transform Surface Book 2 into a powerful quad-core Intel Core i7 tablet you can take anywhere.
Studio
Fold Surface Book 2 into Studio Mode to draw and sketch comfortably. Add Surface Dial, Pen, and touch for an immersive creative experience.
View
Detach the screen with the push of a button, turn it around, and reattach it to share content and presentations. Interact with Cortana using only voice commands. Perfect for watching a movie or playing your favorite game.
Complete your experience with Surface Accessories.s
Surface Precision Mouse
Designed for exceptional accuracy, comfort, and control, the new Surface Precision Mouse helps you stay in your flow with flawless scrolling, three customizable thumb buttons, and the ability to use up to three computers simultaneously.
Surface Pen
Now better than ever, the new Surface Pen delivers the most natural writing and drawing experience.
With tilt support for shading, 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, and virtually no lag.
Surface Dial
Surface Dial is an entirely new way to interact with technology.
Store, customize, access, navigate, and reimagine physical tools in the digital world—from concept to creation.
Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5" (Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256 GB)
3 used from $435.00
Microsoft Surface Book 2, 128GB, 13.5", Windows 10 Pro, Core i5, 8GB RAM -Silver
Read Next – 7 BestLaptops for Note Taking In 2022
Dell XPS 15 – Dell Workstation Laptop
Dell has always been known for producing reliable devices. He recently entered the CAD design space with a powerful yet affordable product.
The Dell XPS 15 has a 15.6-inch display, runs on a Core i7 processor, and has 16GB of RAM. Dell may look too businesslike for a CAD designer’s taste, but it delivers one of the best designs on the market.
It has many ports,s including HDMI, two USBs, Thunderbolt, and an SD card reader. Dell XPS 15 has a 512GB SSD and Nvidia 1050Ti graphic car, so you have a high-quality laptop at a great price.
Dell XPS 15 Features
Meet one of the smallest 15.6-inch performance laptops on the planet.
- InfinityEdge display: The virtually borderless display maximizes screen space by accommodating a 15.6-inch display inside a laptop closer to the size of a 14-inch, thanks to a bezel measuring just 5.7mm.
- One-of-a-kind design: Measuring in at a slim 11-17mm and starting at just 4 pounds (1.8 kg) with a solid-state drive, the XPS 15 is one of the world’s lightest 15-inch performance-class laptops.
A stunning view wherever you go.
- Dazzling detail: With the FHD display (1920 x 1080), you can see every pixel detail without zooming in.
- Color: With 100% Adobe RGB color, the XPS 15 covers a wider color gamut and produces shades of color outside conventional panels to see more of what you see in real life. With over 16 million colors, images appear smoother,r and color gradients are amazingly lifelike with more depth and dimension.
- Beautiful from any angle: The anti-glare screen with superior 400-nit brightness frees you to enjoy outdoor entertainment. Plus, the IPS panel provides a wider viewing angle, so you can share your screen without missing a thing.
Dell Cinema
CinemaStream: Killer Wireless channels maximum bandwidth to your videos or music for a seamless, stutter-free experience.
CinemaSound: Waves MaxxAudio boosts volume and clarifies every tone, so you experience studio-quality sound.
Powerhouse performance
Super-speed processors: The most powerful XPS laptop we’ve ever built includes the latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card (4GB GDDR5 video memory), so you can blaze through your most intensive tasks.
Killer Wireless: The Killer 1535 Wireless-AC adapter provides a solid and reliable WiFi connection and was explicitly designed to make your online videos, voice, and games play faster and smoother.
It automatically detects, classifies, and prioritizes network traffic, ensuring that your most crucial data is prioritized over your other less urgent applications. Killer delivers your critical packets immediately, thus eliminating unnecessary latency and lag.
Maximum memory and storage
Supports 16GB of memory with a bandwidth of 2666MHz, 1.2 times the speed of 2133MHz. Faster memory means you get to the content that you need quicker.
Storage of 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Solid State Drive(SSDs) in a faster PCIe version provides plenty of storage room and high-performance responsiveness to quickly access and run your application. With a solid-state drive, the XPS 15 boots and resumes in a second, so you can do more without waiting.
Interact intuitively
See what you’ve been missing: A standard backlit keyboard illuminates your keys to stay productive while typing in low-light or no-light rooms. Pinch, zoom,m, and click confidently: The precision touchpad prevents jumping and floating cursors, while Accidental Activation Prevention stops unintentional clicks when your palm hits the touchpad.
Windows Hello: Enjoy a password-free sign-in with the fingerprint reader integrated into the power button that gives you the fastest, most secure way to unlock your laptop.
Using your finger, it recognizes you apart from all others. It waves you in with a friendly hello and even works on apps and Microsoft Edge websites.
More environmentally responsible than ever
Recycle-friendly: Over 90% of the laptop (by weight) can be easily recycled or reused. Maximum durability: Cut with precision from a single block of aluminum for a sturdy, durable chassis in a beautiful design.
Cool under pressure: The palm rest is made from carbon fiber. It’s firm and thin like aluminum but lighter and more relaxed.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti: Everyone deserves great gaming.
That’s why we created the fast, powerful GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. Now, you can turn your laptop into a proper gaming rig powered by NVIDIA Pascal—the most advanced GPU architecture ever created.
It’s loaded with innovative NVIDIA Game Ready technologies that let every gamer experience the latest titles in their full glory.
Dell XPS 15 7590 15.6 Inch 4K UHD Non-Touch 512GB SSD 2.6GHz i7 16GB RAM (6-Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GTX 1650, Windows 10 Home) Silver XPS7590-7992SLV-PUS
Dell XPS 15 laptop 15.6", 4K UHD InfinityEdge Touch, 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5, 1TB SSD storage, 16GB RAM, XPS7590-7565SLV-PUS
Acer Predator Helios 300
This is a Gaming Laptop designed to handle high-level graphics. How a laptop displays graphics directly affects the work of a CAD designer. This Gaming Laptop comes in four versions:
- CPU: i5-9300H/GTX 1660Ti/8GB/512GB
- CPU: i7-9750H/GTX 1660Ti/16GB/256GB
- CPU: i7-9750H/GTX 1660Ti/16GB/512GB
- CPU:i7-9750H/RTX 2060/16GB/512GB
Depending on the need for your graphic design, the laptop comes in two sizes: 17.3 inches and 15.6 inches. The larger screen version of the laptop weighs 9.26 pounds, and the smaller version weighs 8.16 pounds. You can also consider the Acer Aspire 15 ″, which has similar specifications at a cheaper price and looks more professional.
Acer Helios 300 Review – A Cheap Gaming Laptop with a GTX 1060!
Acer Predator Helios 300 Features
- 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 4. 5GHz) with Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15. 6″ or 17.3″ Full HD Widescreen LED-backlit IPS display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time, 300nit Brightness & 72% NTSC)
- 16GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD (2 x PCIe M. 2 Slots | 1 Slot Open for Easy Upgrades) & 1 – Available Hard Drive Bay
- Backlit Keyboard | LAN: Killer Gaming Network E2500 | Wireless: Killer DoubleShot Pro Wireless-AX 1650 WiFi 6 802. 11ac | 4th Gen All-Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan
- RAM Type & Size: DDR4, 16 GB
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-54-760S Gaming Laptop | Intel i7-11800H | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU | 15.6" Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB SSD | Killer WiFi 6 | RGB Keyboard
$1,084.99 in stock
1 used from $949.99
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, Intel i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU, 15.6" Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 6, RGB Keyboard, PH315-53-71HN
4 used from $898.00
Lenovo Flex 5
A laptop that combines reasonable price and excellent quality the Lenovo Flex 5 is equipped with a 15.6″ touchscreen display, has an Intel Core i5 or i7 and comes with 16GB of RAM with 256GB/512GB of upgradable space.
This laptop may not work as smoothly as a MacBook Pro or Microsoft Surface Book, but it still offers a great graphic design experience, and if you’re just getting started with graphic design and don’t have much money, this laptop is a perfect choice.
The screen is top quality, and the touchpad is too sensitive, but the mouse can quickly solve it.
Lenovo Flex 5 Specifications
- Color: Onyx Black
- Screen: 10-point TouchScreen 15.6″ 16:9 aspect ratio IPS LCD with LED Backlight (Full-HD)
- Processor: Intel Quad-Core i7-8550U 1.80 GHz (Turbo 4.0 GHz, 4 Cores 8 Threads, 8MB SmartCache)
- Memory: 16 GB 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM
- Storage Drive: 512 GB SSD
- Graphics: Dedicated NVIDIA 940MX 2GB Graphics, Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
- OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- Optical Drive: None
- Webcam: 720p HD
- Network: 802.11 Wireless-AC + Bluetooth Combo
- Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard
- MISC: Fingerprint Reader
- Battery: 3 Cell, Lithium Polymer, 52.5Wh
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 14.33×9.72×0.75″
- Weight: 4.4 lbs
- Ports: HDMI | Media Card Reader | Headphone/Mic Combo | 2xUSB3.0 | 1xUSB3.0 Type-C
Lenovo Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 Laptop, 14.0" FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch Display, AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor, 16GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, AMD Radeon Graphics, Digital Pen Included, Win 10, 81X20005US, Graphite Grey
$595.00 in stock
10 used from $334.58
Newest Lenovo Flex 5 14" FHD IPS Touchscreen Premium 2-in-1 Laptop, AMD 4th Gen Ryzen 5 4500U, 16GB RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint Reader, Digital Pen Included, Windows 10
3 used from $389.00
Asus ROG Strix SCAR II
If you are looking for a unique laptop with a unique design, then the Asus ROG Strix SCAR II Gaming laptop is the right choice. The laptop has high-performance hardware such as a Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX.
The battery life of this laptop is just over 2 hours, but for such an affordable price,e it’s a great machine that can display your work in the best light.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 2 Features
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 8GB GDDR5 | powerful gaming performance
- Tackle any task with the Intel Core i7 8750H (up to 3. 9GHz) processor
- 15. 6″ high refresh rate 144Hz IPS Type Display | Slim 5mm Bezel and 3ms response time gaming laptop
- 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM | 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB FireCuda SSHD | Windows 10 Home.Bluetooth 5.0
- Gigabit wave 2 802. 11AC WiFi | Quad antennas. Rog range Boost Technology provides up to 30% wider coverage than dual antennas bit WiFi with quad antennas. Rog range Boost Technology provides up to 30% wider coverage than dual antennas
- Hyper cool Pro thermal system | Dual 12V fans, Triple radiators, and heatsink, anti-dust technology
- Customizable ASUS Aura RGB Gaming Keyboard, RGB ROG logo, and light bar for an ambient lighting effect
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 (2021) Gaming Laptop, 15.6” 300Hz IPS Type FHD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 16GB DDR4, 1TB SSD, Opti-Mechanical Per-Key RGB Keyboard, Windows 10, G533QS-DS96
5 used from $1,153.40
CUK ASUS ROG Strix G17 Gaming Laptop (AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 64GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB, 17.3" WQHD 165Hz, Windows 10 Home) 17 Inch Gamer Notebook
HP Zbook Studio G5
This laptop is an 8th generation Intel i7 Core with 32GB of RAM and an NVIDIA Quadro P600 graphics card. It is one of the most powerful laptops on the market.
For those with 3D graphics, the HP ZBook Studio G5 delivers an immersive work experience without taking up much space on your office desk.
HP ZBook Studio X360 G5 Review
HP Zbook Studio G5 Features
- Memory: 32GB DDR4 RAM; Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD (reseal for upgrades ONLY)
- Intel Hex-Core i7-8850H vPro (6 Cores 12 Threads, 2.60GHz, up to 4.30GHz, 9 MB L3 Cache)
- 15.6″ Full HD Anti-Glare Glossy Display with HD Webcam
- 2 x USB 3.0 (one always on), 2 x USB 3.1 Type-C Thunderbolt 3, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x Audio Combo Jack
- Windows 10 Professional 64-bit – Ideal for Home, Professionals, Small Business, and Education
HP ZBook Firefly 15 G7 15.6" Mobile Workstation - Full HD - 1920 x 1080 - Intel Core i7 (10th Gen) i7-10510U Quad-core (4 Core) 1.80 GHz - 16 GB RAM - 512 GB SSD - Windows 10 Pro - in-Plane Switc
3 used from $659.00
HP Zbook Studio G5 15.6" Mobile Workstation - Core i7 i7-8850H - 16 GB RAM - 512 GB SSD - Windows 10 Pro - in-Plane Switching (IPS) Technology - English (US) Keyboard - Intel Optane Memory Ready
6 used from $418.78
Read Next – 7 Best Motherboards for CAD and Engineering in 2021
Dell Inspiron 13 5000The
It’s the perfect balance between performance and portability.
Dell Inspiron 13 5000 Features
- 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (6MB Cache, up to 3.4 GHz)
- 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 up to [16GB (additional memory sold separately)
- 256 GB (SSD)
- 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Truelife, LED-Backlit Touch Display with Wide Viewing Angles-IR Camera
- Be more productive. Windows 10 is the best for bringing ideas forward and getting things done
Dell Inspiron 13 5000 2-in-1 - 13.3" Touch Display - 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive - Theoretical Gray (i5379-7909GRY-PUS)
Read Next – Top 10 Best Gaming Laptops Under 1000 $
The Best Laptops for AutoCAD – WHAT’S THE BEST?
Graphic designers usually have a special list of laptop requirements, but you can rarely combine all of these features into one laptop.
The Apple MacBook Pro remains the most desirable option for many designers due to its stunning design and top performance. However, other brands offer high performance, which is no less pleasing to the eye.