The best laptops for architects

The best laptops for architects need to run resource-intensive design software such as AutoCAD, 3DS Max and SketchUp, sometimes simultaneously. They also need to have enough storage to back up work. And as much of an architect's work is on the go, ideally battery life will be good too.

We've compiled the list below, picking out the best laptops for architects at different price points based on our own expert reviews and testing. We tested each machine over several weeks, running demanding design programs to assess the performance, features, screen quality and value of each laptop.

For further options, you might want to check out our guide to the most powerful laptops. Meanwhile, if you need to complete your office setup, don't miss our guides to the best office chairs and best L-shaped computer desks. 

Quick list

The best laptops for architects available now

The best laptop for architects overall

We found the ASUS ProArt Studiobook to be an absolute powerhouse, and it keeps things running cool thanks to some nifty new cooling tech. It delivered great results in our benchmark tests, and was easily able to handle working across multiple programs at the same time. 

The 3.2K 120Hz OLED touchscreen also impressed in our tests, with a Delta-E of less than one for excellent colour accuracy (the ProArt Creator Hub has a whole section for tweaking this). We also tested 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. For architects who use a stylus, the screen has 4,096-pressure-level stylus support. And an additional boon is the glasses-free 3D display tech, which could help provide a more tangible experience for architects working in 3D.

As well as being our pick as the best Windows laptop for architects, this laptop breezes through 4K video, games, image processing and looks good while doing it, although inevitably all that power did have an impact on battery life in our tests. It's also fairly good value compared to some other laptops on our list, so it could also be an option as laptop for architecture student.

Read our ASUS ProArt Studiobook review for more details.

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The best laptop for architects with a large screen

If you're looking for a slightly larger screen, the Dell XPS 17 is a rare thing: a 17-inch laptop that's impressively light and portable. Of course, this is relative: it's clearly not going to be as easy to fit in a bag as a 14-inch laptop, but we were amazed at how slim this is for a 17-inch laptop. And weighing in at 2.21kg for the starting model, it's not much heavier than the MacBook Pro 16.

As for that big screen, it's UHD+ resolution with HDR and up to 500 nits brightness. We found it to be bright, vibrant and comfortable to work on. We also found the laptop provided all the power we needed for architectural work too thanks to the 13th generation Intel Core processor, up to 64GB RAM and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Ti graphics, which kept even the most demanding architectural software run smoothly and efficiently. The downside is that if you opting for the top specifications, you will be spending a lot of money, but that's the case with any laptop of this calibre.

See our full Dell XPS 17 review for more details.

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The most powerful laptop for architects

If you want power, the MSI CreatorPro X17HX has bucketloads of it. It comes with a Intel Core i9-12900H paired with Nvidia's Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080Ti GPU, and you can take RAM up to 64GB. The device feels very well built. The display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, and with a 165Hz refresh rate, it should also please any architects who also enjoy gaming. It’s also compatible with the MSI Pen, a clever stylus that wasn’t included with our review model, but which can write on paper as well as the screen thanks to a graphite tip.

In our MSI Creator Z17 review, we found that the laptops blitzed through simultaneous processing in multiple apps, with a potential 5GHz of turbo boost on offer. The cooling system makes itself known when it’s working hard, although that it means it’s functioning as intended. The big issue is battery life – we only got 3.5 hours in our tests using a general office workload.

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The best 2-in-1 laptop for architects

Want a laptop that turns into a tablet? We found the Surface Laptop Studio 2 to be super versatile. It boasts a gorgeous design and a premium build quality, with a PixelSense touchscreen that's a pleasure to use. 

But best of all, it has a useful form factor that allows you to slide the screen forward into an easel-like position, or lay it completely flat over the keyboard, effectively turning the laptop into a large tablet with a touch screen that's compatible with a stylus. We think this can be a real game changer for design work, sketching and note taking. Our reviewer was also impressed with battery life, and the keyboard a joy to use. This laptop is also somewhat cheaper than the other we've mentioned so far. See our Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 review for more information.

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The best MacBook for architects

There's a reason that all the entries above on our list run Windows. Historically, there has been a much smaller range of software available for Mac, and that includes architecture software. That's started to change, but even today popular programs including Revit and Microstation.

If the software you use as an architect is compatible with Mac, and you're a big fan of Apple, the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is the one we'd go for. We found it offers excellent performance for handling demanding software, and you can upgrade to as high as 64GB RAM and 8TB storage. The 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is one of the best screen we've seen on a laptop, and there are multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports and a full-size HDMI port. And, of course, it's Apple, so it looks impeccable for meeting clients. See our MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review for more details.

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The best compact laptop for architects

You might want a more compact laptop for architecture if you often work on the go. The Dell XPS 13 9315 is a 2-in-1 laptop like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio above, and can essentially be turned into a high-powered tablet by simply removing the keyboard. We found it to offer a great balance of performance, portability and design. The flatness of the keyboard takes some getting used to, and the tablet options aren't as versatile as the Surface with its easel mode option, the compact size makes it a great option for travel. As with the Surface, there's also the option of buying a stylus.

One major drawback is that it only got integrated graphics, so it might struggle with the heaviest-duty graphic tasks, but anything outside that it should handle with ease. It also has the benefit of being more affordable than many of the other laptops on our list, making it a good option as the best laptop for architecture students. Read our full Dell XPS 13 (9315) review for a complete rundown.

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How to choose the best laptops for architects

Laptops for architects need to have some serious computing power, because so much of the software regularly used by architects can be quite demanding. So you should be looking for a laptop with a modern multi-core processor and graphics card. To be safe, 16GB of RAM (or more) would be ideal, but you could get away with 8GB at a push. Also check that the software you need to use is compatible with the laptop: for example, Revit and Microstation are not compatible with macOS.

The screen size is also important, to reduce potential eye strain and ensure you (and your clients) can easily see your work. It’s important to think about peripherals you might want to use too. You’ll want an HDMI port to connect an external monitor if you regularly give presentations, as well as enough USB ports for peripherals like a mouse, touch pads and external hard drives. 

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How we test laptops

Creative Bloq's team of hardware experts bring with them many years of experience using, testing and benchmarking laptops with a focus on running creative applications. All the laptops in this guide have been tested either by using software used by architects or benchmarked to ensure the CPU and GPU are capable of the most intensive architecture jobs around. We run different benchmark tests on each device depending on its intended use by its maker, but the benchmarks we've run all the laptops in this guide through include the following:

• Cinebench R23/2024 - this assesses the performance of a computer's CPU and GPU using real-world 3D rendering tasks

• Geekbench 5/6 - this tests the CPU's processing power, both by using a single core for a single task at a time as well as all the CPU's core to see its ability to multitask

• 3DMark - this assesses a computer's ability to run graphic rendering tasks, which is necessary for architects

• PCMark 10 - this test assesses a computer’s ability to run all everyday tasks from web browsing to digital content creation, testing app launch speeds, 3D rendering and even battery life

But perhaps more importantly than benchmarking, we evaluate machines in real-world scenarios, pushing them to the limit with multiple applications running to see how they perform in real project-like conditions. Power, speed, flexibility, and what a computer looks and feels like to use are all criteria in our reviewing process. We do much more than simply unpack a test unit, run some benchmarks and then pack it up again; we have lived and worked with all of the above laptops, running them in real-life scenarios and completed projects relevant to the subject of this guide, otherwise we wouldn't recommend these models to you. For more details, see our article on How we test. 

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FAQs

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