Best Laptop For Architecture Students

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Architecture remains one of the most competitive courses to take at college but it goes without saying that purchasing the resources can add up and become extremely expensive.

Among the piles of textbooks and drawing equipment, you’ll need to get a hold of a laptop that is suitable for you to help create your design.

Major computing manufacturers are always coming up with innovative ways to incorporate designing features into all of their laptops meaning that it is now more accessible than ever to purchase a high quality laptop that can be a huge asset during your studies.

Owning a laptop is important for architecture students a lot more than students taking other courses because of how advanced the software is when it comes to designing.

Students undertake internships and work placements throughout their college career so having a device that is reliable and easy to transport and use is crucial.

Lucky for you, you have come to the right place if you’re stuck as to where to start. With so many laptops available, where do you start with looking for one with a lot of storage space that can handle the various softwares you will be using.

There are many factors that go into researching laptops for architecture students and I’ve managed to compile it into one article for extra ease so you don’t have to worry about anything.

I’ve selected the top 5 laptops suitable for architecture students that you can buy now which is followed by a buyers guide telling you everything you need to know when researching and making your choice and ending with an FAQ where I answer the most common questions asked.

Can’t wait to read the entire article? Here’s our top pick: Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

The best-selling laptop for design students on Amazon comes in the form of Acer’s Aspire 5 model. Highly powered and easy to travel with, the Aspire 5 has sharp visual presentation and a large screen making it the perfect choice for your studies.

The best feature on the laptop is the Acer Colour Intelligence which makes the colors standout on the monitor as well as Acer BlueLightShield which stops your eyes from straining from excessive usage meaning you can work on your projects and designs for as long as needed.

The battery life is also extremely extensive with a 7.5 hour running time and the laptop can also be connected to Alexa meaning you can even use the laptop handsfree if needed. The sleek and slim design should slot easily into backpacks and makes it a dream to travel with.

Best Laptop For Architecture Students – Reviews

1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

The Acer Aspire 5 is a beautifully designed laptop that is extremely fast and perfect for architects who are on the go. A great tool to have for students who want a laptop that is easy to use.

The bonus is that it is selling at a great price for a laptop of its quality. The Aspire 5 comes with a basic 4GB RAM storage that can easily be replaced with an alternative hard-drive.

This means that you can easily give your laptop the amount of storage that laptops triple the price would come with for a fraction of the price. 

As this is the best selling laptop for architects, the Acer Aspire 5 actually has an average of 4.6 stars from over 18,500 reviews and the numbers don’t lie!

Ideal for those who are eager to kickstart their design career and want a high quality laptop at a decent price, the Aspire 5 is great for designing, taking notes and keeping track of your college progress.

Pros

• Fast for those who like to work quickly
• Reasonably priced
• Comes with 4GB of RAM 

Cons

• The touchpad can feel a little loose at times after a lot of use

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, Vega 3 Graphics, 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 in S Mode, A515-43-R19L, Silver

• AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual Core Processor (Up to 3.5GHz); 4GB DDR4 Memory; 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• 15.6 inches full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED backlit IPS display; AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
• 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports & 1 HDMI port with HDCP support
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Backlit Keyboard; Up to 7.5 hours battery life
• Windows 10 in S mode. Maximum power supply wattage: 65 Watts

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2. HP 15 15.6″ HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop

Our second option on the list comes with the best memory storage with a staggering 16GB. The 15 inch screen has a brilliant 1366 x 768 pixel resolution meaning that you can design knowing that the quality of the laptop is of the highest standard.

HP is a brand that is one of the pioneers in computing and remains one of the bestselling brands, especially for people who want an alternative to Apple products.

The laptop is also touchscreen meaning that it is perfect for designing and you can use the Microsoft apps available to design. 

With an average of 4.5 stars from over 1,000 reviews, the HP 15 has a brilliant 41 watt battery life meaning you don’t have to worry about the laptop running out of battery if you’re out and about. The design is also lightweight making it perfect for travelling around. 

Pros

• High memory 
• Touchscreen so you can use a stylus to design

Cons

• High price point
• Samsung Chromebook 4 + Chrome OS

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

2020 HP 15 15.6" HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop - 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1, 16GB DDR4, 512GB SSD, USB Type-C, HDMI, Windows 10 - Silver W

• Fast Processor 10th Generation intel(r) core(tm) i5-1035g1 Processor quad-core 1 0 GHz Base frequency up to 3 6 GHz with Intel's) Turbo Boost Technology
• Display 15 6-Inch diagonal HD SVA bright View micro-edge WLED-backlit touchscreen display (1366 x 768)
• Fast boot up with SSD Boot up in seconds transfer files without waiting hours and enjoy a snappier experience with the internal solid-state drive 512 GB pcie(r) nvme(tm) M 2 Solid State Drive
• 1 HDMI 1 4b 1 headphone/microphone combo 1 USB 3 1 Type-C Gen 1 (Data Transfer up to 5 Gb/s) 2 USB 3 1 Gen 1 (Data transfer only) 1 AC smart pin
• Windows 10 Home No DVD

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3. Samsung Chromebook 4 + Chrome OS

Our third choice is from Samsung and is their Chromebook which boasts a Chrome OS operating system and Intel Celeron processor.

Easy to set up and use, the Samsung Chromebook as you can easily design as well as using the various Google apps that can connect to the others meaning your work will be saved with backup.

The laptop also has ultra fast connectivity meaning that no matter where you travel, your laptop will work at fast speed.  

The praise for the Samsung Chromebook has been overwhelming, with an average of 4.4 stars from over 1,500 reviews thanks to its large storage capacity and extensive battery life. The Samsung model also has numerous USB ports meaning you can multitask with ease.

Pros

• High battery life
• Ultra fast connectivity
• Several USB ports

Cons

• The pixel resolution isn’t as sharp as the previous offerings

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Sale

Samsung Chromebook 4 + Chrome OS 15.6" Full HD Intel Celeron Processor N4000 4GB RAM 64GB eMMC Gigabit Wi-Fi -XE350XBA-K02US

• Large and immersive 15. 6” display in a compact frame
• Military-grade durability
• Ultra-fast connectivity with Gigabit Wi-Fi
• Advanced security with multiple layers of built-in virus protection
• 10. 5 hours of battery life

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4. ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop

Like the laptop before, the ASUS Chromebook also runs on the Chrome OS operating system, giving users the ability to connect their work and progress to various Google apps for backup to ensure its security.

It comes with a decent 8GB RAM which can be enhanced with an external hard drive and allow the user to use multiple softwares at once.

The ASUS Chromebook Flip has garnered an average of 4.4 stars from over 1,600 reviews thanks to the ease to use and portability. It’s ultra thin design means that the laptop is sleek and can be easily packed and taken anywhere and used anywhere for design inspiration and office use.

Pros

• 2 in 1 design so laptop can also be used as a tablet
• Touchscreen for easiness when designing

Cons

• High price point

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DSM4T 2-in-1 Laptop 14" Touchscreen Full HD 4-Way NanoEdge, Intel Core m3-8100Y Processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC Storage, Chrome OS (Renewed)

• 14 inch touchscreen FHD 1920x1080 4-way NanoEdge Display featuring ultra-narrow bezels (5mm thin) around each side of the display that allows for a 14 inch screen to fit in the body of a 13 inch Laptop footprint
• The FHD display has a durable 360 degree hinge that can be used to flip the touchscreen display to tent, stand, and tablet mode
• Powered by the Intel Core m3-8100y Processor (Up to 3.4 GHz) for super-fast and snappy performance. If you use a ton of tabs or run lots of apps, this has the power to get it all done with ease
• 4GB LPDDR3 RAM; 64GB eMMC storage and 2x USB Type-C (Gen 1) and 1x USB Type-A (Gen 1) ports plus a super bright backlit keyboard. Usb Type-C supports display-out and Power delivery
• The lightweight (3 lbs) all-aluminum metal body makes the C434 both durable and beautiful for a timeless look that will never go out of style

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5. Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop

The final choice we have picked is actually the cheapest laptop on our list. The Lenovo Chromebook S330 is a fantastic entrypoint laptop that has plenty of design features that are beneficial to those studying architecture.

The Lenovo Chromebook is proof that high quality technology doesn’t have to break the bank.

Equipped with 4GB RAM, this again can be increased with an external hard drive and a brilliant 10 hour battery life, the Lenovo is a reliable laptop that makes a brilliant starting point in your architectural career. 

Collecting an average of 4.3 stars from 1,300 reviews, the Lenovo has received a lot of excellent reviews, with praise for the 1920X1080 pixel resolution screen display being a major focus of acclaim.

It may be a bit more budget than the others, but it is still lightweight and reliable and decent speed.

The Lenovo Chromebook is perfect for those on a budget who don’t want to compromise on quality.

Pros

• Ideal choice for those on a budget
• Lightweight so it is easy to carry around

Cons

• Not as fast as the other devices on this list

Buy‌ ‌Here:‌ ‌‌Amazon‌ ‌

Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop, 14-Inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Display, MediaTek MT8173C Processor, 4GB LPDDR3, 64GB eMMC, Chrome OS, 81JW0000US, Business Black (Renewed)

• HIGH PERFORMANCE LAPTOP: The Chromebook S330 is equipped with a MediaTek MTK8173C Processor, Chrome OS, 4 GB LPDDR3, 64 GB eMMC 5.1 and so much more.
• SLEEK & STYLISH DESIGN: Sleek, stylish and secure, the Lenovo Chromebook S330 is less than one inch thin and 3.3 lbs. light with a 14-inch FHD Display perfect for day-to-day computing and multimedia, on or offline.
• POWERFUL PROCESSING: Perfect for all your daily computing needs, the Lenovo Chromebook S330 delivers a host of performance features. Enjoy powerful processing for daily tasks, LPDDR3 memory for multitasking, eMMC storage for quick boot-ups, fast software loading and additional 100 GB of cloud storage via Google Drive.
• BUILT TO CONNECT US: Full I/O support comes standard on the laptop computer with USB-C, microSD and USB 3.0 for effortless connectivity. Further this Chromebook also features powerful 2 x 2 WiFi ac with Bluetooth 4.1, a 720p webcam and two 2W speaker systems for effortless collaboration, all supported via a suite of collaborative apps via Chrome OS.
• EASY TO USE: The Lenovo Chromebook S330 is easy to use, offers built-in virus protection and keeps going with long battery life. Further no setup is needed, just a Google account so your stuff stays with you via cloud storage of your emails, maps, docs, pics and more.

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Best Laptop For Architecture Students Buyer’s Guide

As mentioned at the start of the article, purchasing laptops for architectural design has never been so accessible meaning that people don’t have to miss out.

When deciding which laptop is best for you, you need to consider the RAM storage, portability and budget.

With so much to buy in preparation for your course, the last thing you need to worry about is whether your laptop has the capability to store all of your work.

That is why the following three factors are so important when you look through the laptops should you choose to browse elsewhere. 

RAM 

The memory storage is key when deciding what laptop is best for you. It is recommended that professional architects purchase laptops that have around 32GB RAM but for students, it is expected that you will probably have a laptop with a lot less due to cost.

You should aim for a laptop with around 16GB RAM as you will be using numerous software for multitasking, however, if you do go for a laptop with less memory, simply purchase an external hard drive that can add memory space.

Laptops are starting to possess the power and storage that used to only be found in PCs but no more, you can use the highest quality software at your fingers wherever you are.

Portability

Another aspect is how well your laptop can realistically travel. All of the options on our list are relatively lightweight meaning that they can be taken around anywhere whether you are looking for simple inspiration or working in the office or from home.

Architecture students are expected to bring their laptops to classes so it’s important that you are selecting one that ideally has a slim design for easiness. 

Budget

Architecture is a course that requires a lot of resources from textbooks to drawing tools and a laptop that can be taken around wherever for inspiration. Naturally, the cost of these resources adds up and this can intimidate those who are on a bit of a budget.

However, now that computing brands are manufacturing their laptops with design features due to their increased popularity and demand, there are plenty of affordable choices on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do architecture students need laptops?

Laptops are essential to architecture students probably more than to any other student because of the design aspects. Naturally architects primarily designed by hand but nowadays, it’s all done on specialized software.

Having a laptop will mean you can easily travel with it so if inspiration strikes you or you are working in a firm for work experience or on an internship, you’ll have the equipment stored on your own device.

Is 16GB RAM enough for architecture?

When studying architecture, you will be running various software at the same time. Because of this, it is important that your laptop has a high RAM count.

Preferably your laptop will have 16GB but anything lower is fine, given that you have a hardware that you can plug in for background.

Some students even aim to purchase laptops that have 32GB RAM but this can be very excessive and expensive.

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