Best 18-inch STEM Students Laptops under $2500

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: 18-inch · under $2500

Showing 1–10 of 22 STEM Students laptops
  1. #1
    Champion
    Objective profile
    ASUS TUF Gaming A18
    (Ryzen 7 260, 32GB, 2TB)
    ASUS · 18" · 2026
    $1,833 – $2,026
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    34 / 100
    Weight2.35 kg
    Battery7.0 hr
    Display18.0" 1920x1200
    RAM32 GB
    Storage2 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 61
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 56
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 49
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 49
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 61
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 40
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 58
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  2. #2
    Runner-Up
    Objective profile
    ASUS TUF A18
    (Ryzen 7 260, 64GB, 2TB)
    ASUS · 18" · 2026
    $2,279 – $2,519
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    30 / 100
    Weight–
    Battery6.0 hr
    Display18.0" 2560x1600
    RAM64 GB
    Storage2 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 61
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 70
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 49
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 42
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 61
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 28
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 66
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  3. #3
    Top Pick
    Objective profile
    ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815
    (Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB, 1TB)
    2 configs
    ASUS · 18" · 2025
    $1,815 – $2,006
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    29 / 100
    Weight3.42 kg
    Battery5.0 hr
    Display18.0" 2560x1600
    RAM32 GB
    Storage1 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 76
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 56
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 66
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 31
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 70
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 23
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  4. #4
    Objective profile
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18
    (Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB, 1TB)
    ASUS · 18" · 2025
    $1,805 – $1,995
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    29 / 100
    Weight2.85 kg
    Battery5.0 hr
    Display18.0" 2560x1600
    RAM32 GB
    Storage1 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 76
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 56
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 66
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 31
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 70
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 31
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 58
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  5. #5
    Objective profile
    ASUS TUF A18
    (Ryzen 7 260, 64GB, 2TB)
    2 configs
    ASUS · 18" · 2026
    $2,261 – $2,499
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    29 / 100
    Weight2.35 kg
    Battery6.0 hr
    Display18.0" 1920x1200
    RAM64 GB
    Storage2 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 50
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 70
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 58
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 43
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 42
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 40
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 58
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  6. #6
    Objective profile
    ASUS TUF A18
    (Ryzen 7 260, 64GB, 1TB)
    ASUS · 18" · 2026
    $2,279 – $2,519
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    28 / 100
    Weight–
    Battery6.0 hr
    Display18.0" 2560x1600
    RAM64 GB
    Storage1 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 61
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 70
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 49
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 42
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 61
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 28
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  7. #7
    Objective profile
    ASUS ROG Strix G18
    (Ryzen 9 8940HX, 16GB, 1TB)
    ASUS · 18" · 2024
    $1,519 – $1,679
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    27 / 100
    Weight3.00 kg
    Battery7.0 hr
    Display18.0" 1920x1200
    RAM16 GB
    Storage1 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 71
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 56
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 49
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 61
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 28
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 58
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
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  8. #8
    Objective profile
    ASUS Vivobook 18
    (Ryzen 7 260, 32GB, 1TB)
    ASUS · 18" · 2024
    $812 – $898
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    27 / 100
    Weight2.60 kg
    Battery6.0 hr
    Display18.0" 1920x1200
    RAM32 GB
    Storage1 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 41
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 56
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 58
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 43
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 42
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 61
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 35
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
    View on Amazon
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  9. #9
    Objective profile
    Alienware M18 R2
    (i7-14700HX, 16GB, 1TB)
    Alienware · 18" · 2024
    $2,090 – $2,310
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    23 / 100
    Weight4.23 kg
    Battery5.0 hr
    Display18.0" 2560x1600
    RAM16 GB
    Storage1 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 68
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 42
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 61
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 43
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 31
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 16
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 78
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
    View on Amazon
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  10. #10
    Objective profile
    ASUS TUF A18
    (Ryzen 7 260, 32GB, 2TB)
    ASUS · 18" · 2026
    $1,710 – $1,890
    STEM Student SelvaScore
    23 / 100
    Weight2.60 kg
    Battery6.0 hr
    Display18.0" 1920x1200
    RAM32 GB
    Storage2 TB
    SelvaScore breakdown
    • 61
      Multi-Core Performance Multi-Thread Scalability
    • 56
      System Memory RAM Capacity
    • 49
      Single-Core Speed Single-Thread Velocity
    • 58
      Storage Speed Storage Throughput
    • 42
      Battery Life Autonomous Runtime
    • 43
      AI Acceleration NPU Inference Capacity
    • 35
      Weight Gravitational Load
    • 49
      Thermal Stability Thermal Throttling Resistance
    View on Amazon
    View full review →

Quick Comparison

#LaptopScorePrice WeightBatteryDisplayRAMStorage
1 ASUS TUF Gaming A18 (Ryzen 7 260, 32GB, 2TB) 34 $1,833 – $2,026 2.35 kg 7.0 hr 18.0" 1920x1200 32 GB 2 TB
2 ASUS TUF A18 (Ryzen 7 260, 64GB, 2TB) 30 $2,279 – $2,519 – 6.0 hr 18.0" 2560x1600 64 GB 2 TB
3 ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815 (Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB, 1TB) 29 $1,815 – $2,006 3.42 kg 5.0 hr 18.0" 2560x1600 32 GB 1 TB
4 ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB, 1TB) 29 $1,805 – $1,995 2.85 kg 5.0 hr 18.0" 2560x1600 32 GB 1 TB
5 ASUS TUF A18 (Ryzen 7 260, 64GB, 2TB) 29 $2,261 – $2,499 2.35 kg 6.0 hr 18.0" 1920x1200 64 GB 2 TB
6 ASUS TUF A18 (Ryzen 7 260, 64GB, 1TB) 28 $2,279 – $2,519 – 6.0 hr 18.0" 2560x1600 64 GB 1 TB
7 ASUS ROG Strix G18 (Ryzen 9 8940HX, 16GB, 1TB) 27 $1,519 – $1,679 3.00 kg 7.0 hr 18.0" 1920x1200 16 GB 1 TB
8 ASUS Vivobook 18 (Ryzen 7 260, 32GB, 1TB) 27 $812 – $898 2.60 kg 6.0 hr 18.0" 1920x1200 32 GB 1 TB
9 Alienware M18 R2 (i7-14700HX, 16GB, 1TB) 23 $2,090 – $2,310 4.23 kg 5.0 hr 18.0" 2560x1600 16 GB 1 TB
10 ASUS TUF A18 (Ryzen 7 260, 32GB, 2TB) 23 $1,710 – $1,890 2.60 kg 6.0 hr 18.0" 1920x1200 32 GB 2 TB

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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