The average price of a new laptop is about $700.
Architects and engineers need to be picky about a lot of things, especially their computers.
Revit and other industry-standard software require hardware that can support large files, a lot of storage, memory, and processing power.
But which computer should you choose? Here’s our guide to the best laptop for Revit.
Image Title Price Prime Buy 
Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-73AP, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 6, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Keyboard Prime Buy Now 
NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3 - 13.5" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum PrimeEligible Buy Now 
Newest Asus TUF 15.6" IPS FHD Premium Gaming Laptop | AMD Ryzen 7 3750H | 8GB RAM | 256GB PCIe SSD | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Backlit Keyboard | Windows 10 + Woov Accessory Bundled Prime Buy Now 
Lenovo_ThinkPad_T490 Touch Business Notebook (Intel i7-10510U, 32GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, 14.0" FHD Touch IPS, Windows 10 Pro) Professional Touchscreen Laptop Computer Prime Buy Now 
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-51M5-15.6" - i5-9300H - NVIDIA GTX 1650-8GB - 1TB HDD+128GB SSD, Black Prime Buy Now
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-73AP, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 6, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Keyboard | Prime | Buy Now | |
| NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3 - 13.5" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
| Newest Asus TUF 15.6" IPS FHD Premium Gaming Laptop | AMD Ryzen 7 3750H | 8GB RAM | 256GB PCIe SSD | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Backlit Keyboard | Windows 10 + Woov Accessory Bundled | Prime | Buy Now | |
| Lenovo_ThinkPad_T490 Touch Business Notebook (Intel i7-10510U, 32GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, 14.0" FHD Touch IPS, Windows 10 Pro) Professional Touchscreen Laptop Computer | Prime | Buy Now | |
| Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-51M5-15.6" - i5-9300H - NVIDIA GTX 1650-8GB - 1TB HDD+128GB SSD, Black | Prime | Buy Now |
Best Laptops for Revit
Before we get into the best laptops for Revit. It’s important to know what you should be looking for in the ideal machine. The more knowledge you have when making a purchasing decision, the better.
Requirements for Revit laptops:
- At least 8GB of RAM
- CPU minimum Intel Core i5 and AMD Ryzen 5
- An SSD is non-negotiable
- Display resolution of at least 1080
- A dedicated GPU, either an Nvidia GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon 580 at minimum
If a laptop you’re considering a laptop that checks all of these boxes, you’re probably safe. But, understand that these requirements are the minimums required to run Revit efficiently.
Even if a laptop checks all of these boxes and can run the Revit program, you still might need more if you’re a professional that’s managing many projects or creating complex designs.
1. Acer Aspire 5
This laptop has enough RAM and eight gigabytes of storage. But, this laptop is more affordable than others because it lacks slightly when it comes to GPU. But, if you’re not designing complicated infrastructures this type of laptop will likely be enough.
With a 128GB SSD, managing files that are 50MB are ideal for this machine. This laptop comes with a 15-inch HD 1080p screen. This makes it a positive visual experience while working long hours on projects.
This laptop’s battery life lasts about eight hours. This makes it ideal for both students and entry-level engineers and architects. But, this laptop also weighs just over five pounds, so it’s a little hefty.
- Get high performance, responsiveness and long battery life with the Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor - up to 4.7GHz, 4 cores, 8 threads, 12MB Intel Smart Cache
- 15.6 Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Widescreen LED-backlit Display | Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 16GB DDR4 Memory (Expandable to 24GB) and 512GB NVMe SSD
- 1 - USB 3.2 (Type-C) Gen 1 port (up to 5 Gbps) | 2 - USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port (one with Power-off Charging) | 1 - USB 2.0 Port | 1 - HDMI Port with HDCP support
- Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 | Acer Fingerprint Reader | Backlit Keyboard | Up to 8.5 Hours Battery Life
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
2. Surface Book 3
Most laptops that are compatible with Revit aren’t known for their slenderness or delicacy. To put it bluntly, they are hunkers. If you’re a student or a professional on-the-go, carrying around a heavy backpack can get old really quick.
The Surface fills the void for lightweight laptops that run Revit. At 3.45 pounds, this is one of the most easy-to-carry Revit laptops.
This computer comes with a Quad-Core i7 processor and 16 to 32GB RAM. This might not be as strong as some of the other options on this list. But, this is about as good as it gets when your priority is portability.
What’s even more intriguing for the architect on the go, is the server hour battery life. In terms of the most portable computer for architects, you won’t find much better than the Surface Book 3.
- 13.5in. PixelSense Display (3000 x 2000)
- Quad Core 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor
- 16GB RAM Memory | 256GB SSD Storage
- Windows 10 Pro
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 w/4GB GDDR5 graphics mem
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
3. ASUS TUF
Most students and professionals are familiar with the Acer Nitro. The Acer Nitro is the laptop that pops-up whenever you search for the best laptops for Revit.
The Nitro has a higher GPU than the TUF, but with a 1650 GPU, the TUF is enough for Revit. Higher GPU will also cost a lot more, so working with a machine on the lower-end of the GPU spectrum will provide you with the most cost-effective performance.
The ASUS TUF doesn’t get as much attention as the Nitro, but it’s a heavy-duty alternative. This computer carries 8GB DDR4 and a 256GB PCIe SSD. This type of power makes this ASUS computer capable of managing complex projects, just like the Nitro.
All of this power makes the battery life of this machine relatively shorter, at only five hours. But, this laptop is only 4.85 pounds.
- 【Upgraded Configuration】 This computer has been upgraded to 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB PCIe SSD Hard Drive. RAM is upgraded to 8GB DDR4 memory for multitasking Adequate high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications. The Hard Drive has upgraded to 256GB PCIe SSD provides massive storage space for huge files, so that you can store important digital data and work your way through it with ease.
- 【AMD Ryzen 7 3750H processor】Push the limit for desktop computing with AMD Ryzen 7 processors. Their bold new architecture delivers intuitive cooling and multi-core processing for gaming, streaming, creativity, VR, and more.
- 【NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics】Backed by 4GB dedicated video memory for an ultrafast, advanced GPU to immerse you in incredible realism and performance in the latest games.
- 【15.6 FHD (1920x1080) IPS-Type display】The new NanoEdge design has an even thinner bezel for extreme immersion in a much more compact package. Wide viewing angles ensure vivid and consistent colors, even when viewing from extreme positions.
- 【Woov Accessory Bundle】Bundled with Woov accessory set that includes a HDMI cabel, mouse pad and USB extension cab
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
4. Lenovo ThinkPad
If you need a lot of muscle to support complex building designs, architects know the Lenovo ThinkPad is an industry-standard. If you’re considering this machine, you’re likely already aware of what it does and why it’s a possible option.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P53 uses an Intel i7-9850H processor and offers 32GB RAM, an NVIDIA Quadro T1000 4GB, and 1TB NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD. With all of this power, it’s no surprise that the battery life is only three hours.
This computer is best used as an at-home or at-work mission control. It’s not designed to be carried around and used on-the-go. It’s a stable machine that will work well for years. It’s a smooth operator that can handle large files just as well as the most expensive computers.
But, this laptop really embodies the phrase “bag for your buck.” It offers all of the benefits of the industry’s top-tier computers, but for about $1000 less.
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10510U Quad Core Processor (8MB Cache, 1.8GHz-4.9GHz) 15W
- RAM: 32GB DDR4 2666MHz | Hard Drive: 1TB NVMe Solid State Drive
- Wireless: 802.11 AX Wireless with Bluetooth 5.0 | Operating System: Windows 10 Pro x64 Lenovo Factory Image
- Security: Touch Fingerprint Reader | Display: 14.0 Full HD Touchscreen IPS Anti-Glare Display (1920 x 1080)
- 16GB RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD Upgrades | 3-Year CUK Limited Warranty (View warranty section below for more detail
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
5. Acer Nitro 5
We mentioned Nitro earlier in this article. Most of the laptops we’ve mentioned so far are ideal for students (with the exception of the Lenovo). But the Nitro hurdles the boundary between student and professorial usability.
The Intel Core i5 9300H and GeForce GTX 1650 make this computer usable for professionals too. Professional architects will be able to max out this machine without noticing delays in operation and downloading times.
Eight GB of RAM and a 256 PCIe SSDmake make this machine a total memory knock-out.
- Package Quantity: 1
- Product Type: Notebook Computer
- Package Dimensions: 9.525 Cm X 32.385 Cm X 54.61 Cm
- Country Of Origin: Ch
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Conclusion
The Best Laptops for Architects
So, you might have noticed that no Macbooks were included in this list. Although you can definitely try to use Revit on a Mac, Apple isn’t known for making the best laptops for Revit.
Think of Macbooks as the best laptops for designers. Even though architects are designers too, they need laptops with more technical capabilities. The needs of architects and engineers are similar to the laptops gamers need.
Looking for more information about any laptop mentioned on this list? Click over to our reviews section to see what owning any of these machines is really like.
