Laptops are PCs that are compact, powerful, portable, and versatile. They are a blessing for office-goers and students as they can work on it without any restrictions. Laptops are quintessential for software and design engineers. They are necessary for engineering students to hone their skills in coding and designing.
If you’re an engineering student, you must be confused about whether to buy a desktop or a laptop. The laptop surely has an edge over the desktop due to its efficient portability. You can use the laptop at your home, college, and even while traveling! But, choosing the right laptop can be difficult, especially if you’re having budget constraints.
Here, in this review, we have shortlisted multiple mid-range laptops with good quality, specs, durability, and service. The process of shortlisting is done after taking inputs from hundreds of students. If you’re in doubt then go through the review, and choose the best laptop for your education!
Factors
The following factors are considered for shortlisting the TOP 7 models of the laptops.
1. SIZE, WEIGHT & DESIGN:
These factors are the most significant factors of the laptop. If you’re concerned with flexibility, you’re the first to look at laptops with smaller sizes, light-weight, and sleek design. Specifically, go for a laptop that has a size range between 12 and 13.3 inches. Go for a laptop of weight between 1.5 kg to 2.5 kg.
2. RAM (Random Access Memory)
RAM allows your computer to perform many of its everyday tasks. Such as loading applications, browsing the internet, editing a spreadsheet, playing games, and many more. The greater the RAM you have, the more applications you can simultaneously open. If you’re an avid multitasker then you should look for higher RAM. Greater RAM also assists in the smooth functioning of applications.
3. SCREEN QUALITY
As a student, you would spend hours on the laptop. If you’re most like us, you will probably be staring into your laptop screen for hours every day. So, make sure you buy a laptop that won’t affect your eyes. Though resolution and colour quality is more important, having a brighter screen provides a better experience.
The brighter laptop on the market has a screen that can reach 300 nits or more. Though resolution and colour quality is more important, having a brighter screen provides a better experience. Better quality laptop screen use IPS (in-plan switching ) technology. The most colourful type of screen you can get is one that uses OLED technology.
4. BATTERY LIFE & CHARGING TIME
If you are a student, working personnel, or one of those who spend most of their time with the laptop, then your laptop will need a better battery backup. So, whenever you buy a laptop remember that instead of focusing on the number of hours the manufacturing quotes, first look at the rating of the battery in watt-hours (Wh) or milliampere-hours (mAh). The bigger the number, the longer the battery will last. Similarly, a quicker charging time is also an asset for a laptop.
5. CPU & MICROPROCESSOR
Think of the CPU as the heart of your laptop. For the laptop, there is nothing much better than Intel’s core-based range microprocessors. Laptops come with Intel’s Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7. Also, the AMD Ryzen series can be an alternative to Intel’s microprocessors.
The best microprocessor depends on your budget. If your budget is mid-range then a laptop with Intel Core i5 would be the best. You will find core i7 in higher-end laptops.
6. STORAGE
For storage, two types of drives are HDD (Hard Disc Drives) and SSD (Solid State Drives). SSD gives you a golden benefit that, the laptop will load faster, and once logged in, it is ready to go.
As compared to HDD, SSD is used to load Operating Systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) and applications such as the MS Office Suite, Web Browsers, etc. A laptop with 256 GB SSD gives you more data for storage as compared to HDD.
So, if you’re looking at a laptop to replace your desktop as your primary system that will hold all your documents, videos, programs, etc. Consider a laptop with an HDD of at least 256 GB or larger.
7. OTHER FEATURES
If you want to plug in and use peripheral devices, such as external hard drives, mouse, and keyboards for your laptop, you would require additional USB 3.0 ports. There are many additional features like inbuilt OS, free MS Office suite, customer care & support, service centers, and many more.
The top 7 products include one from each company. These companies include Dell, HP, Acer, MI, LG, Asus & Lenovo.
Best laptops for engineering students
1. Dell Inspiron:
2. Acer Aspire 7:
3. HP Pavillion Gaming:
4. LG Gram 14:
5. MI Notebook 14:
6. Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3:
7. Asus Vivobook 14:
PERFORMANCE BASED ON RESPECTIVE FACTORS
1. SIZE, DESIGN & WEIGHT
Dell Inspiron
Screen Size: 14 inches, Weight: 1.85 kg
Dell Inspiron laptop has a slim and portable 14-inch screen. But many users have a problem with its weight because it is a little bulky as compared to other laptops. Its design elevates the laptop a bit off the table so that you can feel comfortable while typing.
Acer Aspire 7
Screen Size: 15.6 inches, Weight: 2.15 kg
It is surely not lightweight & users have mentioned that it is slightly uncomfortable to carry. It has a narrow border and an 81.61% screen-to-body ratio that enhances the viewing experience. It has a Full HD screen of size 15.6 inches.
HP Pavillion Gaming
Screen Size: 15.6 inches, Weight: 2.04 kg
This HP laptop has thin micro-edge bezels that measure less than 7 mm on three of its sides which provide more display area, and also edge-to-edge keyboard offers more keyboard area. It comes with 15.6 inches anti-glare IPS display and a 1080p Full HD resolution. It also has a good rating on design and display by consumers.
LG Gram 14
Screen Size: 14 inches, Weight: 0.999 kg
It is stylish, thin, and lightweight. This LG Laptop weighs about 0.999 kg (approximately 1 kg) which is very little when compared to other laptops in this list. Consumers have highly rated its design & portability aspects. You can easily carry it anywhere and do your work effectively. It has a sleek screen design & a very attractive look.
MI Notebook 14
Screen Size: 14 inches, Weight: 1.5 kg
It comes with a 14 inch Full HD anti-glare display that offers an immersive viewing experience while playing games, watching videos, or while working on a project. It weighs about 1.5 kg. So, you can carry it easily. It has negative to mixed reviews from consumers on the aspects of its design.
Asus Vivobook 14
Screen Size: 14 inches, Weight: 1.4 kg
This Asus laptop has a sleek design. It is lightweight. So, you can carry it without any discomfort. On the keyboard also you can find the colour-blocking Enter key. The keys of the keyboard are 1.4 mm apart so that you can type away conveniently.
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3
Screen Size: 15.6 inches, Weight: 2.2 kg
It is heavyweight & bulky to carry along. It has an attractive sleek design. This laptop is an impressive gaming machine that completely aids you to improve your gameplay.
2. RAM (Random Access Memory)
Dell Inspiron:
8 GB with DDR4
Acer Aspire 7:
8 GB with DDR4
HP Pavillion Gaming:
8 GB with DDR4
LG Gram 14:
8 GB with DDR4
MI Notebook 14:
8 GB with DDR4
Asus Vivobook 14:
8GB with DDR4
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3:
8GB with DDR4
So, overall all the laptops have good RAM.
3. SCREEN QUALITY
DELL INSPIRON CORE i5:
FHD Wide-Viewing angle full HD, LED-backlit anti-glare.
Users have specified that they can experience clear visuals with this FHD wide-viewing-angle display. As soon as you open the lid, whether this laptop is powered down or it is in hibernation, it starts instantly.
ACER ASPIRE 7 CORE i5
16:9 aspect ratio, Full HD LED Backlit ComfyView TFT LCD Display
It has a Full HD LED Backlit ComfyView TFT LCD Display with an Aspect Ratio of 16:9. Screen Resolution is about 1920×1080 Pixels. Further, its Acer Color Intelligence and Acer ExaColor features & enhances your viewing experience as every visual that appears on the screen will be more appealing to your eyes.
HP Pavillion Gaming Ryzen 5
Full HD LED Backlit Display
HP Pavilion laptop has an anti-glare IPS display and 1920×1080p Full HD resolution. Users have agreed that it surely revolutionizes the way you view content on your laptop. You can play your games in dim-lit also, because of its illuminated keyboard and integrated numeric pad.
LG Gram 14 Core i5
FULL HD LED Backlit IPS Display (sRGB over 96%, Colour Gamut)
The users have mentioned that IPS Screen offers amazing picture quality with exceptional picture clarity. It has a Full HD Display (1920×1080) and has sRGB Over 96% Color Gamut, allowing greater color adjustment accuracy.
MI Notebook 14 Core i5
Full HD LED Backlit Anti-glare Display with Aspect Ratio 16:9
Its Full HD anti-glare display with 1080p resolution offers an immersive viewing experience whether you are playing a game, watching videos, or working on a project. The inbuilt 720p HD Webcam helps you to stay connected with your friends and family.
Asus Vivobook 14 Ryzen 7
Full HD LED Backlit Anti-glare Display with 200 nits Brightness, 45% NTSC, 85% Screen-to-body Ratio.
Its thin-bezel NanoEdge display (84% Screen-to-body Ratio) enhances your viewing experience. Users are content with the Full HD display of the laptop that lets you enjoy wide viewing angles and vibrant colours. It ensures that the screen appears larger in its smaller framework.
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 Ryzen 5
Full HD LED Backlit Anti-glare IPS Display with 250 nits Brightness and 60 Hz Refresh Rate
Lenovo Ideapad has a 39.62 cm (15.6) FHD IPS with an Anti-glare 3-sided narrow bezel display that comes with a 60 Hz refresh rate offers an immersive viewing experience with bright and vivid colours. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB GDDR6 graphics provide you an exceptional gaming experience.
4. BATTERY LIFE & CHARGING TIME
DELL INSPIRON CORE i5:
3 cells with a battery backup of 6 hours.
Users have specified that if you’re working (except gaming & simulation software) for 5 to 6 hours then this laptop would be good for you. Its Express Charge technology boosts the battery up to 80% in just 30 charging time.
ACER ASPIRE 7 CORE i5
3 cells with a long-lasting battery backup of 8.5 hours.
Many users have specified a review on battery backup that it drains very fast while gaming & simulation. If you want to play games on your laptop for about 5 to 6 hours, its battery life is insufficient. For work & study purposes this laptop has been highly rated for battery backup.
HP Pavillion Gaming Ryzen 5
3 cells with a battery backup of 7 hours.
According to the users, battery backup is not that good as required for a gaming laptop as it drains in 4 to 5 hours while playing games. If you are using it for working purposes then it’s a great one to have. This laptop provides a good battery backup of about 7 hours.
LG Gram 14 Core i5
4 cells with a battery backup of 18.5 hours.
According to the users, it has a very good battery backup & you can continuously work, study & watch movies without worrying about the battery. LG Gram has a battery of 72 Watt-hour, so you can keep working continuously for as long as 18 to 19 hours. It is highly rated for its battery backup. If you want to complete your work with ease while traveling or anywhere, you should definitely go for this laptop.
MI Notebook 14 Core i5
6 cells with a battery backup of 10 hours.
It has a 46 Watt-hour battery & 65 W charger that offers a runtime of up to 10 hrs on a single full charge. It also charges from 0 to about 50% in just 35 minutes. According to the users, the battery backup is as specified & doesn’t drain a lot (unless used for gaming & simulation).
Asus Vivobook 14 Ryzen 7
3 cells with a battery backup of 6 hours.
Many users have shared their reviews that they are content with its battery backup. According to reviews, the average battery life is about 4 to 5 hours with semi-heavy usage.
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 Ryzen 5
Battery backup of 6 to 7 hours.
The 45 Watt-Hour battery allows for faster charging, thanks to its Rapid Charge Technology. It also has many modes such as Performance Mode, Quiet Mode, and Balanced Mode with this you can easily optimize your performance of the laptop as per your requirements. According to the users, its battery backup is good but while gaming & simulation, the battery can be drained easily.
5. CPU & MICROPROCESSOR
Dell Inspiron:
Intel Core i5,10th gen.
Acer Aspire 7:
Intel Core i5, 10th gen
HP Pavillion Gaming:
AMD Ryzen 5 Hexa Core
LG Gram 14:
Intel Core i5, 10th gen
MI Notebook 14:
Intel Core i5,10th gen.
Asus Vivobook 14:
AMD Ryzen 7 Octa Core
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3:
AMD Ryzen 5 Hexa Core
6. STORAGE
Dell Inspiron:
512 GB SSD.
Acer Aspire 7:
512 GB SSD.
HP Pavillion Gaming:
No SSD.
LG Gram 14:
256 GB SSD.
MI Notebook 14:
256 GB SSD.
Asus Vivobook 14:
512 GB SSD.
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3:
256 GB SSD
7. USB FEATURES
Dell Inspiron:
1×USB 3.2 (1st Gen),2×USB 3.2(1st Gen).
Acer Aspire 7:
1× USB 2.0, 1× USB Type C, 2× USB 3.2 (1st Gen)
LG Gram 14:
2×USB 3.1,1× USB type C.
MI Notebook 14:
1×USB 2.0, 2×USB 3.1
Asus Vivobook 14:
1×USB 3.1 Type C (1st Gen), 1×USB 3.1 Type-A (1st Gen), 2× USB 2.0
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3:
2× USB 3.2 (1st Gen), 1× USB 3.2 Type C (1st Gen)
Let’s compare them side by side,
| Factors | Dell Insipiron Core i5 | Acer Aspire 7 Core i5 | HP Pavillion Gaming Ryzen 5 | LG Gram 14 Core i5 | MI Notebook 14 Core i5 | Asus Vivo Book 14 Ryzen 7 | Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 Ryzen 5 |
| SIZE | 14 inch | 15.6 inch | 15.6 inch | 14 inch | 14 inch | 14 inch | 15.6 inch |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| SCREEN QUALITY | Full HD LED Backlit Anti-glare Display | Full HD LED Backlit Anti-glare Display with 200 nits Brightness, 45% NTSC, 85% Screen-to-body Ratio. | Full HD LED Backlit Display | Full HD LED Backlit IPS Display (sRGB Over 96% Color Gamut) | Full HD LED Backlit Anti-glare Display | 200 nits Brightness, 45%NTSC, 85% Screen-to-body Ratio | 250 nits brightness |
| BATTERY Capacity | For 6 hours | For 8.5 hours | For 7 hours | For 18.5 hours | For 10 hours | For 6 hours | For 6.7 hours |
| CPU | Intel core i5 | Intel core i5 | Ryzen 5 Hexa Core | Intel core i5 | Intel core i5 | AMD Ryzen 7 Octa Core | Ryzen 5 Hexa Core |
| STORAGE | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | No SSD | 256 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD |
| USB | 1×USB 3.2 (1st Gen),2×USB 3.2(1st Gen). | 1×USB 2.0, 1×USB Type C, 2× USB 3.2 (1st Gen) | 2×USB 3.1,1× USB type C. | 1×USB 2.0, 2× USB 3.1 | 1×USB 3.1 Type C ( 1st Gen),1× USB 3.1 ( 1st Gen) type A, 2× USB 2.0 | 2×USB 3.2 (1st Gen), 1×USB 3.2 Type C (1st Gen) | |
| Valuemantra Score (Overall) | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
Conclusion:
Best Value for Money: MI notebook 14
Best All-Rounder: Aspire Acer
Best Premium: LG Gram 14
Value Mantra reviews are based on multiple customer reviews and their experiences. All of the products we highlight are recommended for their quality, performance, and overall reputation regardless of any affiliate relationship. We bring forth their thoughts, ideas, and concerns so that you would understand what is best in the market. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. We may earn a small commission for the endorsement, recommendation, and links to any products or services from this website.
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