The Dell XPS 17 also proves a large-screen laptop doesn't have to be big and bulky. The Dell XPS 17 is a laptop worth considering, then, as it packs a fantastic 17-inch UHD+ screen with HDR, which is bright, vibrant and comfortable to work on. Having a gorgeous, large screen with a high resolution can be a great help for using CAD applications, giving you more room to work, and to show off your projects to co-workers and clients.

See our LG Gram 17 (2021) for more information. This is a fantastic laptop that disproves the notion that large-screen laptops have to be big and bulky. When reviewing the LG gram 17, we were particularly impressed with how light it was. So whether you’re running AutoCAD or any other 3D modelling software, you can be sure of a smooth, responsive and speedy experience. It’s a strong performer overall, too, with the 11th Generation Intel Core processor, working with well the 8-16GB RAM and Intel’s integrated Iris Xe graphics. Plus with a resolution of 2,560 x 1600, you get the high level of detail you need when working with sophisticated 3D models. This WQXGA IPS display is both big and beautiful, with vivid and nuanced colours and deep, rich blacks. But maybe you want to see your CAD designs on a bigger display, allowing you to focus better on all the small details? In which case, let us point you towards the LG Gram 17, with its 17-inch screen. The laptops we’ve featured so far have all had mid-sized screens. See our MacBook Pro 14-inch review for more details. But if you’re looking for a premium Apple laptop and are willing to pay the price, you won’t find better. This laptop is very much the Rolls Royce option of MacBooks, and may be overkill for a lot of people’s needs. You’ll also benefit from the most beautiful, super-high res screen, and up to a whopping 8TB of storage. You’ll doubtless get less than that doing intense work in AutoCAD, but it’s a surety that you’ll get through a professional day without having to recharge.

The MacBook Pro also offers up to 17 hours of battery life: the longest of any Mac ever. Note also that you can run iOS here as well, so you can open up the AutoCAD mobile app if that helps your workflow. In our review, we found that it was more than capable of running both AutoCAD and resource-hungry 3D modelling software like Maya, 3DS Max, and Fusion 360 with ease. Running macOS Big Sur on Apple’s proprietary eight-core M1 Pro or Max chip, with up to 64GB RAM, this is the most powerful laptop Apple has ever created.

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