When you’re designing 2D floor plans, detailing MEP systems, creating civil schematics, or modeling in 3D, AutoCAD demands hardware that’s precise, responsive, and reliable.
This guide is for architects, civil engineers, mechanical designers, construction professionals, students of design, and technical drafters — anyone who uses AutoCAD as a central part of their workflow. If you rely on crisp line accuracy, layer-heavy designs, or 3D visualization tools, you need a laptop that can handle CAD precision without any lags, crashes, or slowdowns.
AutoCAD is CPU-sensitive, RAM-reliant, and often tied to GPU-accelerated rendering or 3D navigation. It also demands file system responsiveness, especially in projects that involve Xrefs, large DWGs, or linked external libraries. A basic laptop might run AutoCAD, but it won’t run it well — especially when your files grow in complexity.
This guide helps you identify laptops that can deliver fluid panning, fast rendering, stable multitasking, and accurate display output when working in AutoCAD and AutoCAD-based verticals like Civil 3D, Plant 3D, or AutoCAD Architecture.
Here’s what we prioritize when recommending the best laptops for AutoCAD:
CPU Power: AutoCAD is primarily single-threaded in 2D workflows but shifts toward multi-threaded operations in rendering, regeneration, and 3D modeling. That’s why we recommend laptops with Intel Core i7 or i9 H-series (12th or 13th Gen) or AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 6000/7000 series CPUs. High boost clocks (over 4.5 GHz) make a real difference when regenerating complex geometry or processing parametric changes.
GPU Acceleration: While AutoCAD isn’t as GPU-heavy as Revit or Blender, it still uses your GPU for 3D modeling, orbiting, shaded views, and visual styles. For this reason, we recommend NVIDIA RTX 3050 or better, ideally with RTX 3060/3070 for users working in 3D-heavy environments or running Civil 3D. If you’re focused on 2D drafting, integrated graphics like Intel Iris Xe or AMD Radeon 680M can suffice, but discrete GPUs offer longevity and better 3D support.
RAM: AutoCAD projects can balloon fast — multiple layers, annotation scales, references, and complex linetypes add up. You’ll want a minimum of 16GB RAM, with 32GB recommended if you’re working on large infrastructure plans, mechanical assemblies, or architectural models. RAM also supports background processes like rendering, simulations, or cloud-based BIM workflows.
Display Accuracy: You’re looking at fine lines, hatches, callouts, and dense detail. That requires a 15- or 17-inch IPS or OLED display, ideally with Full HD+ (1920×1200) or QHD (2560×1600) resolution, 100% sRGB coverage, and high contrast. A taller 16:10 aspect ratio gives you more vertical room to work — which is perfect for layered drawings.
Storage Speed — Faster File Access, Quicker Loads: AutoCAD projects are I/O intensive. That’s why we recommend laptops with a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD. It significantly reduces file open/save times, especially when referencing multiple files or handling project backups. For mobile users, look for models with secondary SSD slots or external NVMe enclosure support.
Connectivity: You’ll need to connect to external displays, digitizers, USB drives, and licensed hardware keys (dongles). So make sure your laptop has Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C with PD, HDMI 2.0+, USB-A ports, and preferably a full-size SD or microSD slot.
Every model we recommend has the processing power to handle heavy DWG files, responsive drawing navigation, and hardware-accelerated 3D workflows.
Best Laptops for AutoCAD;
Contents
- Acer Predator Helios 16 Gaming Laptop 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
- Acer Predator Triton 14 GamingCreator Laptop 13th Gen Intel i7-13700H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 OLED Laptop 15.6” FHD Touch Display, AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti gpu, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD
- Asus TUF 15.6 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 16GB RAM 512GB SSD
- Legion 7i 15” Gaming Laptop 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK 8 Core up to 5.30 GHz GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q 8GB 15.6 FHD IPS 240Hz 1ms (1.5TB SSD
- ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) Gaming Laptop, 16” 1610 FHD 165Hz, GeForce RTX 4060, Intel Core i7-13650HX
- ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) Gaming Laptop, 16” Nebula Display QHD 240Hz, GeForce RTX 4070
- Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook Gaming Laptop Intel Core i7-1065G7 4 Core, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, 13.3 FHD 1080p 60Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- MSI Crosshair17 17.3 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop Intel Core i7-11800H RTX3050TI 16GB 512GBNVMe SSD Win10
- GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD - 17.3 UHD 4k IPS Anti-Glare, Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
- Gigabyte AERO 16 OLED 16.0 1610 Thin Bezel 4K UHD+ 3840x2400 60Hz OLED, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Gigabyte AORUS 15 15.6 169 Thin Bezel QHD 2560x1440 165Hz, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop
- Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 - 11th Gen Intel 8-Core i7 CPU - 15.6” QHD 240Hz - 32GB RAM - 1TB SSD
- HP OMEN 16.1 QHD Gaming Laptop, Core i7-11800H 4.6 GHz, GeForce RTX 3070, 165 Hz IPS (2560 x 1440) 300 nits, Thunderbolt 4
- ASUS ROG 16'' WQXGA (2560x1600) 165Hz IPS Display Gaming Laptop (Intel i9-11900H 8-Core, 40GB RAM, 4TB PCIe SSD, RTX 3060
- HP OMEN 17t 17.3 240Hz 2K QHD IPS Gaming Laptop 13th Gen (Intel i9-13900HX 24-Core, 64GB DDR5
- Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gaming Laptop, 16 WQHD IPS 165Hz Display, GeForce RTX 4070, Intel 13th Gen i9-13900HX
- MSI GE76 Raider 17.3 144Hz (64GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Intel 8-Core i7-11800H (Beat Ryzen 7 5800H), RTX 3060), FHD
- Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop, 17.3 Full HD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Acer Predator Helios 16 Gaming Laptop 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 |
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| CPU | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 |
| Display Size | 16" |
| Display Resolution | 2560 x 1600 165Hz G-SYNC Display |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB Gen 4 SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | USB, Audio, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 14.15 x 0.98 x 10.88 inches |
| Weight | 5.73 lbs |
| Advantages | Display Quality, Performance |
| Disadvantages | RAM |
Acer Predator Triton 14 GamingCreator Laptop 13th Gen Intel i7-13700H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
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| CPU | 13th Gen Intel i7-13700H |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Display Size | 14" |
| Display Resolution | 2560x1600 |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | HDMI, USB, Ethernet, Audio |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 12.34 x 0.78 x 8.94 inches |
| Weight | 3.75 lbs |
| Advantages | Lightweight, Good performance |
| Disadvantages | None |
ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 OLED Laptop 15.6” FHD Touch Display, AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti gpu, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti |
| Display Size | 15.6 inch |
| Display Resolution | 400 nits FHD OLED NanoEdge bezel touch display |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB PCIe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | HDMI 2.0b, USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Type-C, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.0, and 2-in-1 card reader |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 13.94 x 9.37 x 0.7 inches |
| Weight | 7.30 lbs |
| Advantages | Good performance |
| Disadvantages | Quite heavy |
Asus TUF 15.6 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 16GB RAM 512GB SSD |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-11800H |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | 144Hz FHD |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage Space | 512GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, Audio, HDMI |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 14.2 x 10.1 x 1 inches |
| Weight | 5.07 pounds |
| Advantages | Performance, Design and Build Quality |
| Disadvantages | n/a |
Legion 7i 15” Gaming Laptop 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK 8 Core up to 5.30 GHz GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q 8GB 15.6 FHD IPS 240Hz 1ms (1.5TB SSD |
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| CPU | Intel Core i9-10980HK 8 Core up to 5.30 GHz |
| GPU | RTX 2080 Super Max-Q 8GB |
| Display Size | 15.6" |
| Display Resolution | FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, anti-glare, 240Hz, less then 1ms response time, 100% sRGB, 500 nits, VESA Display HDR 400-certified |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR4 2933MHz |
| Storage Space | 2 TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USB,HDMI, Audio Jack, SD Card |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 14.1 x 10 x 0.8 inches |
| Weight | 4.60 lbs |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | n/a |
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) Gaming Laptop, 16” 1610 FHD 165Hz, GeForce RTX 4060, Intel Core i7-13650HX |
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| CPU | 4.9 GHz core_i7 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 |
| Display Size | 16 Inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 512 GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, Audio |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 13.94 x 0.89 x 10.39 inches |
| Weight | 5.51 pounds |
| Advantages | Good performance |
| Disadvantages | Storage space may be inadequate for some people |
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) Gaming Laptop, 16” Nebula Display QHD 240Hz, GeForce RTX 4070 |
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| CPU | Intel Core i9-13980HX |
| GPU | GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Display Size | 16” |
| Display Resolution | 2560 x 1600 pixels |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB PCIe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | USB, Audio, Ethernet |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 13.94 x 0.89 x 10.39 inches |
| Weight | 9.97 pounds |
| Advantages | Quality Build, Outstanding performance |
| Disadvantages | Weight |
Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook Gaming Laptop Intel Core i7-1065G7 4 Core, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, 13.3 FHD 1080p 60Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-1065G7 4 Core |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q |
| Display Size | 13.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | FHD 1080p 60Hz |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage Space | 512GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, AUDIO |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | |
| Weight | 6lbs |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
MSI Crosshair17 17.3 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop Intel Core i7-11800H RTX3050TI 16GB 512GBNVMe SSD Win10 |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-11800H 8 Core 2.4 - 4.6GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050 TI Laptop GPU 4G GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | Thin Bezel FHD, IPS-Level 144Hz, 72% NTSC |
| RAM | 16GB (8G*2) DDR4 3200MHz; 2 Sockets |
| Storage Space | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 0.95 x 15.68 x 10.76 inches |
| Weight | 5.07 pounds |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | NA |
GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD - 17.3 UHD 4k IPS Anti-Glare, Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD |
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| CPU | 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H (2.3GHz~4.6GHz) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | UHD 4k 3840x2160, IPS Anti-glare Display LCD (VESA DisplayHDR 400, 100% Adobe RGB), X-Rite Certified, per unit factory calibrated & Pantone Validated Color Accuracy |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10- Upgradable |
| Ports | Ethernet, Audio, USB |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 10.6 x 15.6 x 0.85 inches |
| Weight | 5.50 lbs |
| Advantages | Display performance |
| Disadvantages | None |
Gigabyte AERO 16 OLED 16.0 1610 Thin Bezel 4K UHD+ 3840x2400 60Hz OLED, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
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| CPU | i9-13900H Processor |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Display Size | 16.0" |
| Display Resolution | 3840x2400 Pixels |
| RAM | DDR5 4800 16GB*2 (32GB) |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB 3.2 (Type-C), 1x USB 3.2 (Type-A), 1x RJ45, 1x Audio Combo Jack, 1x DC In |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 13.9 x 10.1 x 0.71 inches |
| Weight | 4.63 pounds |
| Advantages | Very good performance |
| Disadvantages | Expensive for some people |
Gigabyte AORUS 15 15.6 169 Thin Bezel QHD 2560x1440 165Hz, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700H |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6 |
| Display Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Resolution | QHD 2560x1440 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | 1x Thunderbolt 4 (Supports Power Delivery), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Mini DP 1.4, 3x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), 1x RJ45, 1x Audio Combo Jack, 1x SD Card Reader, 1x DC In |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 14.2 x 10.7 x 0.82 inches |
| Weight | 4.96 pounds |
| Advantages | Very good performance, Quality display |
| Disadvantages | Heavy for some people |
Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 - 11th Gen Intel 8-Core i7 CPU - 15.6” QHD 240Hz - 32GB RAM - 1TB SSD |
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| CPU | 11th Gen Intel 8-Core i7 CPU |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 |
| Display Size | 15.6” |
| Display Resolution | QHD 240Hz |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | USB, Ethernet, Audio Jack, HDMI |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 19.8 x 13.7 x 4 inches |
| Weight | 4.4 pounds |
| Advantages | Good performance, Quality display |
| Disadvantages | None |
HP OMEN 16.1 QHD Gaming Laptop, Core i7-11800H 4.6 GHz, GeForce RTX 3070, 165 Hz IPS (2560 x 1440) 300 nits, Thunderbolt 4 |
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| CPU | Core i7-11800H 4.6 GHz |
| GPU | GeForce RTX 3070 |
| Display Size | 16.1 inches |
| Display Resolution | 165 Hz IPS (2560 x 1440) 300 nits, |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB PCIe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | Audio by B&O with dual speakers,HDMI 2.1. Thunderbolt 4. |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 14.54 x 9.76 x 0.91 inches |
| Weight | 5.11 pounds |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | Quite expensive |
ASUS ROG 16'' WQXGA (2560x1600) 165Hz IPS Display Gaming Laptop (Intel i9-11900H 8-Core, 40GB RAM, 4TB PCIe SSD, RTX 3060 |
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| CPU | Intel i9-11900H 8-Core |
| GPU | RTX 3060 |
| Display Size | 16 inches |
| Display Resolution | WQXGA (2560x1600) 165Hz IPS Display |
| RAM | 40GB |
| Storage Space | 4TB PCIe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | 1 HDMI, 2 USB 3.2 Type-C Gen2, Micro SD Reader, No Optical Drive, |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 9.7 x 14 x 0.9 inches |
| Weight | 4.5 pounds |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | Very expensive |
HP OMEN 17t 17.3 240Hz 2K QHD IPS Gaming Laptop 13th Gen (Intel i9-13900HX 24-Core, 64GB DDR5 |
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| CPU | Intel i9-13900HX 24-Core |
| GPU | GeForce RTX 4090 16GB |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | Quad HD (2560x1440) |
| RAM | 64GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | HDMI, Audio, Ethernet, USB |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 10.32 x 15.65 x 1.5 inches |
| Weight | 6.2 pounds |
| Advantages | Very good performance, Good display, Large storage |
| Disadvantages | Might be heavy for some people |
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gaming Laptop, 16 WQHD IPS 165Hz Display, GeForce RTX 4070, Intel 13th Gen i9-13900HX |
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| CPU | 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900HX |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8GB GDDR6) |
| Display Size | 16-inch |
| Display Resolution | 2560 x 1600) |
| RAM | 64GB DDR5 SDRAM |
| Storage Space | 2TB + 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | 2 x USB Gen 2 Type-C, 4 x USB Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x Headphone/microphone combo |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 14.31 x 10.25 x 1.06 inches |
| Weight | 5.6 pounds |
| Advantages | Good performance, Quality display |
| Disadvantages | N/A |
MSI GE76 Raider 17.3 144Hz (64GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Intel 8-Core i7-11800H (Beat Ryzen 7 5800H), RTX 3060), FHD |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-11800H (8 cores 16 threads, base clock speed 2.3GHz, max turbo to 4.6GHz, 24MB L3 Cache) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 6GB GDDR6 VRAM |
| Display Size | 17.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | FHD (1920x1080) IPS-Level 144Hz, 16:9, 45% NTSC |
| RAM | 64 GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1 TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Ports | 2 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 USB4 (Supports DisplayPort and Power Delivery); 1 x Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x HDMI (supports 4K @ 120Hz, 8K @ 60Hz), 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x RJ45, 1x SD Card Reader SD7.0 (XC/HC), 1 x Audio Combo (1/8") |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 15.63 x 10.57 x 1.08 inches |
| Weight | 6.39 pounds |
| Advantages | Large display, Good performance |
| Disadvantages | None |
Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop, 17.3 Full HD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H 3.30GHz 6-Core Processor (up to 4.20GHz) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB GDDR5 |
| Display Size | 17.3" |
| Display Resolution | Full HD IPS Anti-glare Micro-edge Screen (1920 x 1080) |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ-45 Connector, 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo, 1 x SD media card reader |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 15.7 x 11.4 x 1.03 inches |
| Weight | 6.57 lbs |
| Advantages | Good performance, reasonable price |
| Disadvantages | Weight |
All the laptops in this list, meet the minimum requirements for AutoCAD. You should, also take a look at the best laptops for Architecture Students best laptop for Engineering Students.
