Looking for the best laptop for architect? This guide will have you back designing in no time!

Architecture has greatly influenced the quality of our lives over the centuries. Not a lot of people can appreciate how design and planning can affect their lives, but architects do.

Take for example designing a hospital. If a hospital was just a rectangular building with windows and doors, it won’t be efficient enough to handle emergencies and crises. Doctors and nurses would have to run very far to get to their patients. But if a hospital was designed to prioritize the emergency room, ICUs, and all the other important equipment, then life would be way easier.

To be able to create such designs, architects need to be equipped with the right tools. This is where the best laptops for architects comes in.

Architects use a lot of CPU-intensive software and programs to create and design models for clients. These models are used as a visual representation of the ideas of the architects. This way, their clients can better understand the plans of architects.

In this article, we will also discuss the factors you need to consider in buying a laptop for architecture. We will then follow it up with product recommendations that will fit the needs of architects.

9+ Best Laptops for Architects in 2022

Let us now find the best laptop for your architectural needs.

1. MacBook Pro 16-inch — Best Laptop for Architects Overall
2. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) — Best Budget Laptops for Architects
3. Dell XPS 17 — Best Value Laptop with Large Screen for Architects
4. ASUS ZenBook Duo 14  — Best Dual-Screen Laptops for Architects
5. LG Gram 17 — Best Lightweight Laptops for Architects
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 — Best Touch-Screen laptops for Architects
7. Razer Blade 15 — BestGaming Laptop for Architects
8. Acer Predator Helios 300 — A Powerful Laptops for Architects
9. HP Omen 17 — Best HP Laptops for Architects
10. Apple Mac Book Pro 13 Inch — Best Secure Laptops for Architects
11. Apple Mac Book Pro 14 Inch — Best 3D Animations Laptops for Architects
12. Acer Concept D 7 — Best Architectural Laptop for Creative Professionals

What is the Best Laptop for Architects?

There are many laptops out there that contend they are the best for architectural work. Despite the competition, there can be only one that truly stands above them all as the best laptop for architects, and for us, that’s Apple’s MacBook Pro 16-inch. 

Are you interested in checking our other top choices? Have a look at our comparison table below.

How to Choose the Best Laptop for Architects

Knowing what factors are to be considered in finding the right laptop will help you make a better decision. Here are the specifications that an architect should consider when buying a laptop.

Display

A lot of modern laptops have great dynamic range and color accuracy. A great starting point for architects in terms of resolution is 1920 x 1080. But if you’re creating more intricate designs and presenting them to high-profile clients, it would be great if you can invest in laptops with 4K resolution.

Processor

The processor is like the brain of your computer. For you to be able to use your programs, you’ll need the right processor that can handle it. When it comes to processors, it’s best to consider first what programs or software you use for your design.

A great starting point for architects is Intel Core i5 but if you have the budget to spare, you can go all the way up to i7, i9, or any equivalent.

RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It’s the short-term memory of your computer. It dictates how well your computer can hansoftware for 3D modelingdle applications that are currently running. This is also involved in your computer’s multi-tasking or how many programs can it run without it lagging?

A great starting point for any architect is 8GB of RAM. But if you have the budget to spare, getting a laptop that has 16 to 32GB of RAM is even better. Your processes will be buttery smooth and you’ll have no problems multitasking.

GPU

GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit. What it does is it helps out the CPU of your computer is handling the graphics of your programs and software.

By freeing your CPU of the burden of processing graphics, your computer can run faster and smoother. This comes in handy when you’re rendering and using high graphics programs and software. It’s perfect for architects who render lots of projects and models.

A great starting point for GPUs is having a RAM size of 4GB. But if you have the budget to spare, go ahead and invest in a GPU with a RAM size of 6 to 8GB.

Storage

There are currently 2 kinds of storage in the market. There’s SSD or Solid State Drive, and there’s HDD or Hard Disk Drive. SSD is way faster at retrieving information than HDD. But then HDD tends to have larger storage capacity compared to SSD at a cheaper price.

SSD is better for the files that you usually use and HDD is better for storing files that you’re going to archive. If you have to choose only 1 for your laptop, go for the SSD storage. You can always buy an external hard drive for files you need to store long-term.

Top 9 Best Laptops for Architecture in 2022 

1. MacBook Pro 16-inch 

Best Laptops for Architects Overall

Operating System – Mac OS | Processor – Apple M1 Pro chip, 6-core CPU | Display –  16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology | RAM – 16GB | Storage – 512GB Storage | GPU – AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 graphics memory, Intel UHD Graphics 630

When it comes to graphics, the MacBook Pro comes with a beautiful 16-inch Retina display with 500 nits of brightness which gives you very bright whites.

As for its processor, it has an Intel Core i7 which means that you’ll be able to run the usual programs and software for 3D modeling with this laptop without problems.

To help speed up your rendering, the MacBook Pro comes with AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics with GDDR6 memory. This also ensures that you have a smooth experience while you work with graphics-heavy programs and software.

As for multitasking, there’s no need to worry if you’re running multiple programs when you’re presenting your designs to your clients. The MacBook Pro has 16GB of RAM that can handle multitasking very well. You can even have this upgraded to 32 or 64GB of RAM.

This makes it our top pick for the best laptop for architecture.

Pros	Cons
➕  Excellent battery life of up to 11 hours	➖  Expensive
➕ Good display	➖  Heavier compared with other MacBooks

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

2. Apple MacBook Air M1

Best Budget Laptops for Architects

Operating System -OS X 10.11 El Capitan | Processor – Apple M1 chip, 8-core CPU | Display – 13.3″ with Retina Display| RAM – Up to 16GB | Storage – 1TB SSD | GPU – Integrated 8-core GPU

This Apple laptop comes with 13.3 inches Retina display. Because of this display, architects are able to see even the tiniest details of their projects clearly. It’s also great for presenting models and 3D renders to clients because the colors are crisp and vibrant.

A lot of architects use CPU-intensive programs like Autodesk Maya or Autodesk 3ds Max. Naturally, they need a laptop that can keep up with these programs. When it comes to multitasking and handling these programs and software, the Apple MacBook Air M1 can also perform well.

It comes with Apple’s latest M1 chip and a RAM of up to 16 GB. It also comes with an integrated 8-core GPU to assist in the rendering of models and projects. This hardware will guarantee smooth sailing no matter what program or software you use.

Pros	Cons
➕  Fast performance	➖  Expensive
➕  Easily Portable

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

3. Dell XPS 17

Best Value Laptop with Large – Screen for Architects

Operating System – Windows 10 Home | Processor – 10th Generation Intel Core i9-11980HK | Display –  17.0″ FHD+ InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 17.0″ UHD+ InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit | RAM – 16 – 32GB | Storage – 1 TB SSD | GPU – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6

What makes the Dell XPS 17 really striking and unique is its massive 17 inches screen. It has a 4-sided Infinity Edge display that makes your screen look absolutely stunning. It is one of the best laptops for architects.

It doesn’t just look amazing, it also performs amazingly. The display has a peak brightness level of 531 nits which gives you really bright whites. It also has a low 0.26 nits so your blacks are also very rich blacks. This is a great contrast ratio if you’re an architect who likes designing with highlights and shadows.

The laptop has a processor of Intel Core i9 10th Gen. It’s a great investment since it’s the latest model. This means that you’ll be able to easily use all the latest software and programs without any fear of being phased out any time soon.

As for its graphics card, this laptop has an NVIDIA RX 2060 graphics card. It has a memory speed of 14GB per second so you’re assured that you’ll be able to render your projects easily and quickly.

Finally, it’s worth noting that this laptop has 32GB DDR4 RAM. This means that you won’t have any trouble running multiple programs at once. It also means that you’ll be able to work smoothly and quickly even if you’re using CPU-intensive designing programs and software.

Pros	Cons
➕  Advanced cooling system	➖  Expensive
➕  Excellent display
➕  Fast processor and RAM

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

4. ASUS ZenBook Duo 14

Best Dual-Screen Laptops for Architects

Operating System – Windows 11 Pro | Processor – Intel Core i7-1195G7 Processor 3.0GHz | Display –  14″ FHD Touch + ScreenPad Plus | RAM – 32GB LPDDR4X RAM | Storage –  1TB SSD | GPU – NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics

What makes the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 perfect for architects is that it comes with 2 touch screens. Forget needing a second screen for your workflow, ASUS has got both screens for you in just one laptop. And it is a good laptop for architects.

This is all thanks to ASUS ScreenPad Plus. This is a second screen that is located at the top of your keyboard. It’s powered by the new ScreenXpert 2 software which makes cross-screen multitasking easier.

This can help you customize your workflow in new ways. For example, you’re in a meeting with a client and you want to make real-time adjustments to the design of your project. You can continue talking to your client and make your adjustments accordingly in the ScreenPad Plus.

It’s also worth noting that because of its 2 screens, this laptop also comes with an advanced cooling system. It has dual fans and triple heat pipes to keep the laptop cool.

As for the screens, it is engineered with the new Active Aerodynamic System Plus. It uses the ErgoLift hinge mechanism to lift the screen and it tilts the ScreenPad Plus upward. This increases airflow by 49%.

Pros	Cons
➕ ScreenPad Plus feature	➖  It takes time for beginners to understand the ScreenPad Plus features
➕  Good battery life	➖  Thunderbolt connection is absent
➕  Stylus support

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

5. LG Gram 17

Best Lightweight Laptops for Architects

Operating System – Windows 10 Home | Processor – 11th-generation Intel Core i7 | Display –  17-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS LCD | RAM – 16GB DDR4 | Storage –  Up to 2TB NVMe SSD | GPU – Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics

Most of the laptops featured in this article have very good specs. They are all great for programs and software that are CPU-intensive. It is one of the good laptop for architects.

Of course, LG Gram 17  isn’t going to fall short in that category. It runs on Intel Core i7 and has a 16GB LPDDR4X 4266mhz RAM. These 2 hardware ensure smooth workflows and speedy processing. You don’t have to worry about your design and 3D rendering lagging.

What is unique and very striking about this laptop is its beautiful screen and overall lightweight build.

The display is a 17-inch IPS LCD screen that has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. It’s a large screen that looks absolutely gorgeous.

The laptop only weighs a measly 2.98 pounds or 1.35 kilograms. It’s perfect for architects who are always on the go and would want a large laptop that they can use during presentations.

Pros	Cons
➕  Battery life of up to 19.5 hours	➖  Expensive
➕ It has a big screen with a high-quality display

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

6. Microsoft Surface Book 3

Best Touch-Screen laptops for Architects

Operating System – Windows 10 Home | Processor – 1.3GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7 | Display –  15.6-inch IPS PixelSense (3240 x 2160) | RAM – 32GB | Storage –  1TB SSD | GPU – 6GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. It also has 32 GB DDR4 of RAM so you’re assured that you can easily and confidently multitask without experiencing any lag.

The screen has a max resolution of 3240 x 2160 which is a great laptop for architects who are very meticulous with details.

What is unique about this laptop is that it’s not only a laptop. It’s also a studio and a tablet. You can get a Surface Pen and a Surface Dial to make this laptop a studio. These tools will help you sketch, design, and paint easily with your Microsoft Surface Book 3.

Once you’re done with work and would want to relax and watch a movie, simply detach your screen and use it as a tablet. It also comes in very useful if you’re going to do a quick presentation to a client and want to bring something light.

Pros	Cons
➕  A touch-typing-friendly keyboard.	➖  Thunderbolt is absent
➕  Good battery life
➕ Detachable and portable screen.

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

7. Razer Blade 15

Best Gaming Laptops for Architects

Operating System – Windows 10 Home | Processor – 1.9GHz Intel Core i7-11800H | Display –  15.6-inch FHD G-Sync (2560 x 1440) | RAM – 32GB | Storage –  1TB SSD | GPU – 10GB ‎NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

The Razer Blade 15 is a beast of a laptop that can fit the needs of any architect. It runs on Intel’s latest and most powerful processor which is the Intel 12th Gen 14-core i9. With this processor, you can run the latest programs and software in design with no problems.

To keep up with such an advanced processor, the Razer Blade 15 comes with 32GB of RAM. This ensures that your laptop can keep up with your creative mind as you multitask and go through different programs at once.

It also comes with RTX 3080 Ti which is an advanced and powerful graphics card. This can easily handle all your graphic needs.

To keep everything cool and running smoothly, this laptop comes with the Next-Gen Vapor Chamber Cooling. This means that the Razer Blade 15 has more exhaust fins, quieter fans, and a larger liquid capacity.

Pros	Cons
➕ well-calibrated display	➖ Expensive
➕  Ultra-Fast 360Hz Full-HD Display
➕ Vapor chamber cooling system

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

8. Acer Predator Helios 300

A Powerful Laptops for Architects

Operating System – Windows 10 Home | Processor – 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor | Display –  15.6″ Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS | RAM – 16GB | Storage –  512GB NVMe SSD | GPU – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is also a very good option if you’re looking for a laptop that can handle architecture programs and software.

It runs on a 10th-generation Intel core i7 processor. It also comes with 16GB of RAM. This is good for multitasking and making sure that your programs don’t hang and lag while you’re using them.

This is a good mid-range laptop. It’s a good option if you want something a little more advanced than the basic but not as expensive as the high-end laptops.

Pros	Cons
➕  Accurate color display	➖ It is heavy to carry compared to other laptops on the list
➕ Fast 144Hz refresh rate

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

9. HP Omen 17

Best HP Laptops for Architects

Operating System – Windows 10 Home | Processor – Intel Core i7-11800H | Display –  17.3” Full HD 144 Hz Display| RAM – 16GB | Storage –  512GB SSD | GPU – 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

The HP Omen 17 is another reliable laptop to use for architecture. It runs on an Intel Core i7 processor with 16 GB of RAM. This hardware makes up a smooth experience in designing and editing.

To help out with handling graphics, this laptop comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060. It’s a 6GB GDDR6 graphics card so you’re assured that your laptop won’t have any trouble handling heavy graphics. This is perfect for any architect who uses CPU-intensive programs and software.

This laptop also comes with an Eyesafe-certified display. It’s perfect for architects who work all day and all night on their laptops. It protects your eyes despite the hours of designing and editing.

To keep everything running smoothly, the HP Omen 17 comes with an Omen Tempest Cooling Technology. It has a 3-sided venting solution and 5-way airflows to keep the laptop cool. This ensures that your designing programs and software run smoothly despite hours of usage.

Pros	Cons
➕  A bigger screen that helps for a good workflow	➖  A bit bulky
➕  Bright 144-Hz display
➕  Good connectivity

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

10. Apple Mac Book Pro 13 Inch

Best Secure Laptops for Architects

Operating System – macOS | Processor – 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz | Display – 13-inch Retina Display with True Tone | RAM – 8 GB | Storage –  512 GB| GPU – Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655

The MacBook Pro 13-inch laptop reaches greater heights in performance. The new eighth-generation quad-core processor on the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar makes it ready to take on the toughest tasks. 

This MacBook Pro comes with the Apple T2 Security chip that makes everything you do more secure. The Apple T2 Security Chip includes the Secure Enclave coprocessor that provides a good foundation for secure boot and encrypted storage capabilities. 

This security chip compiles many discrete controllers that include the system management controller, audio controller, and SSD controller into one.

MacBook Pro also houses the SSD drive that delivers speed at the rate of 3.2GB/s. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is available with a 2 TB SSD, which is enough to take the biggest file with you so that you can boot up with many applications on the go and also import huge files in Flash. With the T2 Security chip, everything is automatically encrypted. 

The mechanism of the MacBook Pro keyboard provides you with key stability and great comfort. The 13-inch MacBook Pro model with the Touch Bar has a keyboard that gives you a quieter typing experience. 

The Retina Display in the MacBook Pro is the best among the MacBooks. It also provides you with a bright LED backlight and a high contrast ratio that delivers deep black and bright white colors.

The battery life of the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch allows you to use it straight out of the box and not use the charger for days. The battery can sustain for a few days with limited browsing and writing emails, but with many more intense tasks, the battery life will deplete faster. 

Pros	Cons
➕ Ergonomically designed keyboard	➖ Low-quality camera
➕ Good battery life
➕ Excellent computing performance
➕ Four thunderbolt-3 ports available

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

11. Apple Mac Book Pro 14 Inch

Best 3D Animations Laptops for Architects

Operating System – macOS  | Processor – Apple M1 Pro | Display – 14.2 inches mini-LED backlit | RAM – 16 GB | Storage –  512 GB | GPU – 16 Core GPU

The MacBook Pro 14 gives you a mixture of portability with several useful ports and eliminates the touch bar.

The blazing-fast M1 pro or the M1 Max chip is the best choice for great performance and battery life. This laptop has the Liquid Retina XDR display and all the ports you may require.

The sharp Mini LED display can help you quicken the refresh rate at the rate of 120Hz to smooth the appearance of motion pictures. It can also produce bright highlights and deep blacks that can in turn give you an extraordinary HDR experience. 

The wide color gamuts of this laptop make it suitable for content creators due to the ergonomic design of the keyboard which does not cause fatigue.  Apple’s M1 Pro can handle demanding workloads like 3D animations efficiently. This laptop has incredible power efficiency, as it can last for over 12 hours while working normally, but with video playback, the battery can last for more than nine hours.

The return of the ports is the other major design change in the MacBook Pro. You get three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a MagSafe port with this laptop. You may use the type C port to charge the laptop, but this is not as fast as the MagSafe port.

The trackpad on the MacBooks is always good and this laptop is not an exception to it.

The M1 Pro chip or the M1 Max chip delivers a great gaming performance with tremendous battery life. It helps you to handle 8k video editing, compiling codes, and rendering various complex scenes in 3D. 

Pros	Cons
➕ Wide port selection given	➖ Zero upgradeability
➕ Excellent color accuracy
➕ Wide color gamut support
➕ Improved display performance
➕ Better Apple M1 chip performance

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

12. Acer Concept D 7

Best Architectural Laptop for Creative Professionals

Operating System – Windows 10 Pro | Processor – 4.5 GHz apple_ci7 | Display –  15. 6″ 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display | RAM – 16 GB DDR4 | Storage – 1TB NVMe SSD | GPU – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 

The Acer Concept D7 is a powerful and stylish-looking laptop for creative professionals. With the latest NVidia graphics card, this makes it a great workstation laptop for creative needs.  

This laptop is perfect for creative professionals because it comes with features that many mainstream laptops do not have, like the Pantone validated screen, support for Adobe RGB, and the Delta E<2 color gamut. Professionals who view color accuracy of utmost importance in their professions like photographers and video editors will gravitate to this laptop.  

The Concept D palette UI is a pre-installed software in the Concept D7 that helps you adjust the colors of the screen. 

If you are looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for video and photo editing, then this is a great choice. 

While the price of the laptop is high, it gives you an impressive performance for intense video and graphical editing.

The other area that this laptop is quite impressive in is the series of ports that it has to offer. This laptop has three USB 3.1 ports, a full-size HDMI 2.0 port and a Mini Displayport 1.4, a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port, and an Ethernet port for wired networking. As a professional device, you can easily plug into your device without the need for adapters. 

Pros	Cons
➕ Excellent series of ports	➖ Expensive
➕ Ideal for intense graphical editing	➖ No finger print reader
➕ Attractive display
➕ Ergonomically designed keyboard

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Laptops for Architects Summary

We have discussed the specifications you need to consider when choosing a laptop. We have also given you product recommendations of the best laptops for architectse. But at the end of the day, it’s important to be realistic with what you’ll get.

If you’re working with programs and software that don’t really require high specs, then there’s no need to get expensive laptops. The best laptop will be the one that fits your needs and your budget.

Good luck in finding the perfect architecture laptop for your needs!

 

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