Best STEM Students Laptops under $600, with Touchscreen

What a STEM Student laptop means: a laptop that holds up to engineering coursework,fast CPU for compilation, enough RAM to run simulations or a VM, GPU headroom for the occasional ML or CUDA assignment, while still portable enough for daily campus life. Typical use: MATLAB, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Python and Jupyter notebooks, compiling C++ or Rust, occasional CUDA work, recorded lectures. Fits engineering, computer science, physics, math, and data-science majors,undergrads through PhD.

Also relevant for: STEM laptops · engineering laptops · CS student laptops · MATLAB & simulation

Updated: July 2026
Products evaluated: 2281
How we work: Editorial principles →

Showing: under $600 · Touchscreen

Showing 1–10 of 73 STEM Students laptops
  1. #1
    Champion
    Objective profile
    Dell Latitude 7430
    (i7-1265U, 32GB, 512GB)     Renewed
    Dell · 14" · 2022
    $451 – $499
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    65 / 100
    Weight–
    Battery11.0 hr
    Display14.0" 1920x1080
    RAM32 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 42
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 56
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 79
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 70
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 78
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 66
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  2. #2
    Runner-Up
    Objective profile
    Lenovo IdeaPad
    (i5-1335U, 16GB, 512GB)
    Lenovo · 15.6" · 2023
    $551 – $609
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    61 / 100
    Weight1.61 kg
    Battery9.0 hr
    Display15.6" 1920x1080
    RAM16 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 47
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 70
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 61
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 62
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  3. #3
    Top Pick
    Objective profile
    Dell Inspiron 15
    (i5-1334U, 20GB, 512GB)
    Dell · 15.6" · 2023
    $551 – $609
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    60 / 100
    Weight1.66 kg
    Battery8.0 hr
    Display15.6" 1920x1080
    RAM20 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 45
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 49
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 75
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 55
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 59
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 39
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  4. #4
    Objective profile
    Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13.5"
    (i7-1265U, 16GB, 256GB)     Renewed
    Microsoft · 13.5" · 2022
    $417 – $460
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    60 / 100
    Weight–
    Battery10.0 hr
    Display13.5" 2256x1504
    RAM16 GB
    Storage256 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 42
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 79
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 67
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 78
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 39
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  5. #5
    Objective profile
    HP Laptop
    (Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB, 512GB)
    HP · 15.6" · 2023
    $569 – $629
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    59 / 100
    Weight1.60 kg
    Battery8.0 hr
    Display15.6" 1920x1080
    RAM16 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 52
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 58
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 34
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 55
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 63
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 66
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  6. #6
    Objective profile
    Dell Latitude 5520
    (i5-1145G7, 16GB, 512GB)     Renewed
    Dell · 15.6" · 2021
    $427 – $472
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    58 / 100
    Weight1.68 kg
    Battery9.0 hr
    Display15.6" 1920x1080
    RAM16 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 35
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 57
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 34
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 61
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 58
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  7. #7
    Objective profile
    HP 15.6 Touchscreen Laptop
    (i3-1315U, 20GB, 512GB)
    HP · 15.6" · 2023
    $570 – $630
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    58 / 100
    Weight1.60 kg
    Battery8.0 hr
    Display15.6" 1366x768
    RAM20 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 42
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 49
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 72
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 55
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 63
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  8. #8
    Objective profile
    Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 15
    (i5-1335U, 16GB, 512GB)
    Lenovo · 15.6" · 2023
    $522 – $577
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    58 / 100
    Weight1.62 kg
    Battery9.0 hr
    Display15.6" 1920x1080
    RAM16 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 47
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 70
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 61
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 61
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
    View on Amazon
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  9. #9
    Objective profile
    Dell 15.6 Laptop
    (i5-1334U, 16GB, 512GB)
    Dell · 15.6" · 2023
    $570 – $630
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    57 / 100
    Weight–
    Battery9.0 hr
    Display15.6" 1920x1080
    RAM16 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 45
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 75
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 61
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 57
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 31
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  10. #10
    Objective profile
    Dell Latitude 5320 2-in-1
    (i7-1185G7, 16GB, 512GB)     Renewed
    Dell · 13.3" · 2021
    $332 – $366
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    57 / 100
    Weight1.31 kg
    Battery7.0 hr
    Display13.3" 1920x1080
    RAM16 GB
    Storage512 GB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 38
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 46
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 34
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 49
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 76
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
    View on Amazon
    View full review →

Quick Comparison

#LaptopScorePrice WeightBatteryDisplayRAMStorage
1 Dell Latitude 7430 (i7-1265U, 32GB, 512GB) 65 $451 – $499 – 11.0 hr 14.0" 1920x1080 32 GB 512 GB
2 Lenovo IdeaPad (i5-1335U, 16GB, 512GB) 61 $551 – $609 1.61 kg 9.0 hr 15.6" 1920x1080 16 GB 512 GB
3 Dell Inspiron 15 (i5-1334U, 20GB, 512GB) 60 $551 – $609 1.66 kg 8.0 hr 15.6" 1920x1080 20 GB 512 GB
4 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13.5" (i7-1265U, 16GB, 256GB) 60 $417 – $460 – 10.0 hr 13.5" 2256x1504 16 GB 256 GB
5 HP Laptop (Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB, 512GB) 59 $569 – $629 1.60 kg 8.0 hr 15.6" 1920x1080 16 GB 512 GB
6 Dell Latitude 5520 (i5-1145G7, 16GB, 512GB) 58 $427 – $472 1.68 kg 9.0 hr 15.6" 1920x1080 16 GB 512 GB
7 HP 15.6 Touchscreen Laptop (i3-1315U, 20GB, 512GB) 58 $570 – $630 1.60 kg 8.0 hr 15.6" 1366x768 20 GB 512 GB
8 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 15 (i5-1335U, 16GB, 512GB) 58 $522 – $577 1.62 kg 9.0 hr 15.6" 1920x1080 16 GB 512 GB
9 Dell 15.6 Laptop (i5-1334U, 16GB, 512GB) 57 $570 – $630 – 9.0 hr 15.6" 1920x1080 16 GB 512 GB
10 Dell Latitude 5320 2-in-1 (i7-1185G7, 16GB, 512GB) 57 $332 – $366 1.31 kg 7.0 hr 13.3" 1920x1080 16 GB 512 GB

How we ranked these

SelvaScore is independent. Rankings reflect our editorial judgment, not vendor relationships. No laptop manufacturer pays for placement, and affiliate revenue from retailers does not affect which laptop wins this list.

Every laptop here has been evaluated through the same lens for this use case. The same machines are evaluated differently for other use cases. What works for one use case doesn't always work for another.

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