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Arek Dvornechcuck
Branding Expert
It is important to understand that getting the best laptop for doing graphic design is as serious as it can be.
This is because as graphics designers we need powerful hardware to run our software to get the job done.
The good news is that, with so many brands available on the market, there is no shortage of good laptops for graphic design these days.
Nevertheless, when choosing a laptop, you need the right balance between performance and weight, a large screen and portability, battery life and affordable price, and so on.
Which laptop is best for graphic design?
Most creatives I know use Apple products, e.g., I still work on my Macbook Pro (late 2019)
It's no secret that most creatives love Apple products, but in case you're not an Apple fan...
In this article, I cover a variety of other great laptops that will certainly do the job.
When it comes to choosing the best laptop for your specific graphic design needs, you should consider these 7 factors:
Now let's briefly describe each of them and what they mean when it comes to getting the graphic design work done.
First things first, you need to decide whether you like using Windows or if you consider switching to MacOS, or perhaps simple ChromeOS would be enough.
I started my graphic design career using Windows, and then, after a few years, I made the transition to MacOS.
Clearly, the most important thing when deciding on which laptop to choose is how powerful it is.
Any serious graphic design software will require a powerful processor (CPU) to run all your tasks smoothly.
Go on sites like Adobe and check out their CPU requirements for specific apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro, etc.
For example: to do heavy lifting like 3D rendering and video editing, you must go for maximum performance—look for a quad-core.
The next thing to consider is RAM, which basically allows you to run multiple apps simultaneously.
How much RAM do I need for graphic design?—Get at least 8 GB of RAM, a recommended 16GB, or as much as you can afford.
I would strongly recommend you go for the maximum RAM.
As a graphic designer, you will often have to switch between different apps like the Adobe CC tools—so you need that extra juice.
Depending on what specific graphic design work you do, you will need some space to save those often heavy files.
Graphic design source files (PSD, AI, INDD, AEP, etc.) tend to be very heavy, so you need that extra disk space to save all of them.
Especially if you work in 3D graphic design or video editing, or just working with photos — these things require a lot of space on your disk.
Obviously, a decent display choice is very important to any graphic designer.
This is because, as a designer, you need optimal brightness and great color accuracy, and the bigger the screen the better.
When it comes to screen size: a 13” screen is a bit too small, a 15” is optimal, and a 16 or 17” will be very much appreciated.
Here, you can also think about whether you want to have a touchscreen to be able to use it as a tablet (good for drawing illustrations)
Since you want to buy a laptop, battery life must be important to you.
Especially if you're living a nomadic life or just have to move your laptop frequently without having to plug it in every single time.
A dying battery in the middle of your work can be a very frustrating thing.
And of course, probably one of the most important factors is affordability as well.
You should set your budget first and then look for laptops within that budget range—affordable, but powerful enough to handle your creative work.
Take all of that into consideration and check out my list of the best laptops for graphic designers in 2023.
Starting the list with the 16" MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, a powerhouse like no other.
The most efficient laptop for all your graphic design jobs.
This laptop is not only new in the market but because it is one of the most powerful ones for graphic design use.
No doubt that Macs are by far the best computers for graphic design, here we have the top-tier - MacBook Pro M2 2023.
First off, the Retina display is mind-blowing with the HDR support and a broad color spectrum, every hue pops out, making your design come to life.
The M2 chip is a powerhouse - You get a blazing-fast speed and glitch-free performance, even with the heaviest of files, so you can focus on creating magic, not troubleshooting.
This laptop's battery life offers you up to 20 hours of uninterrupted work time.
The thing with graphic design is you end up with tons of large files and with this MacBook's up to 8TB of storage and 96GB of RAM, it's like having a massive warehouse for all your creative goodies.
Let's not forget the six-speaker sound system and studio-quality mics.
Whether you're presenting designs or jamming to your favorite tunes, the audio is spot-on and the 1080p webcam makes you look good.
It also features its sleek, slim, and portable design, plus its seamless ecosystem, which allows your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch to play nice together, making your workflow smooth.
The Dell XPS 17 is a powerful companion to handle just about any graphic design work.
A reliable laptop that offers unique balance of power and design.
If you are not an Apple fan, here's a Windows laptop that's right on the heels of the MacBook when it comes to graphic design laptops.
This Dell XPS 17's display features its 4K Ultra HD, giving vibrant colors, deep blacks, and exceptional clarity - making your work as accurate as it can be.
It also highlights its latest Corei9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, giving you the power to store and utilize multiple Adobe Creative Cloud apps without any lags and problems.
When it comes to storage and memory, it offers up to 2TB SSD and 64GB RAM, giving you enough room to store your projects and allowing you to work seamlessly without any hiccups.
The Dell XPS 17 is generous with ports - four Thunderbolt 3 ports, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack, so you can connect all your devices without juggling a ton of dongles.
Let's not forget its sleek design - The metallic finish and the razor-thin design edges.
This laptop's got the looks and doesn't skimp on performance, a rare combination, indeed!
For all the fans of Microsoft, introducing the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 - a reliable choice for professionals on the go.
A powerful laptop for its high-quality performance options.
This laptop from Microsoft is not only a great budget choice, but it also comes with a very beautiful design.
The Surface Laptop 4 is a great choice if you're looking for the best overall graphic design laptop today.
It boasts a PixelSense display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which offers crisp resolution and vibrant colors, as well as providing you plenty of screen space for all your toolbars and panels.
This laptop is equipped with up-to-date Intel and AMD processors, plus it offers up to 32GB of memory, giving it the power to handle high-res images and complex vector graphics.
It also showcases a durable and stylish aluminum casing and its sleek, slim, and lightweight design.
What's very interesting about this laptop is the new fast-charging feature that enables an 80% charge in less than an hour!
CPU: Intel 11th Generation Core i5
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
Screen: 13.5 Inches
Storage: 256GB SSD, 512GB SSD, 1TB SSD
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 stands out as an exceptional laptop choice for graphic designers.
A top-tier laptop for its versatility and performance.
This laptop is great for its excellent mobility and powerful configuration, making it well-suited for content creation and graphic design work, offering a seamless experience.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 offers a dazzling display that features a 100% sRGB color gamut, which means that the colors it shows on the screen are stunningly accurate.
It is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 processor, so forget about lag because working on different Adobe CC products will surely be smooth.
This laptop boasts up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, providing you plenty of room for all your creative projects, while also allowing lightning-fast access to all your files and software.
When it comes to portability, this laptop passes the qualification with its 3.5 pounds weight - you won't even notice it's in your bag.
This laptop offers you around 10 hours of battery life, enough juice to get you through a full workday.
Lastly, it also features a customizable LED matrix on the lid, you can even make the laptop itself a piece of art.
Plus, it's got an array of ports for all your gadgets and peripherals.
The Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition isn’t just a gaming laptop; it's a creative’s dream come true.
The ultimate laptop for both graphic design and gaming.
This laptop features a combination of high-end specs, professional aesthetics, and workstation-grade capabilities.
First off, Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition is a looker - showing off its sophisticated aluminum chassis and its gorgeous 4K OLED touch display.
This laptop is powerful enough to handle heavy software demands...
from Adobe Creative Cloud Suite to 3D modeling software like Blender with its up-to-8-core Intel Core i9 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000.
Time is money, that's why you have to work with a companion that is lightning-fast...
Thanks to its NVMe SSD, this laptop will make sure you spend more time designing and less time waiting
Last, but not least, this laptop is built with a keyboard and trackpad that are responsive, comfortable, and backlit with that Razer Chroma magic.
Pros
Cons
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is another excellent laptop for high-level graphic designers who need a powerful yet portable machine.
The best 2-in-1 graphic design laptop for both beginners and pros.
A laptop for all the rough and tough graphic designers who need an indestructible device for their creative needs.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 offers a 14-inch display with up to 4K resolution, giving you spectacular visuals with its display of vivid colors and sharp details.
It is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core processor with Iris Xe integrated graphics, enough power to handle complex graphic design tasks without the annoying lags.
This laptop has a stellar battery life, which gives you approximately 10 hours of work time when on battery saving mode and an average of 8 hours and 43 minutes for regular use.
It is empowered by a Dolby Atmos audio system, preloaded with Dolby Access, which allows you to switch equalizer presets for games, movies, music, and voice calls, as well as custom profiles.
When it comes to connectivity, it provides you with one USB 3.2 Gen 1, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On), two Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 (40Gbps), one HDMI 2.0, one headphone/microphone combo jack, one nano-SIM card slot (optional.)
Lastly, ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 has undergone MILSpec durability testing, giving you that unbelievably thin and light laptop while being quite durable.
GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR is one of the latest pieces of tech with a powerful engine and an excellent display.
The most powerful laptop for 3D designers and video editors.
This laptop brings you everything you need from portability and great performance, which is ideal for every kind of designer.
The notebook is ultra-light yet gives you the optimal power and speed for the high-resolution rendering of your creative projects.
It also offers outstanding refresh rates for playing your favorite AAA games.
The GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR is a great choice for creatives looking for the best graphic design laptop for everyday use.
This laptop has zero compromises and is a versatile workhorse designed for modern on-the-go pros.
You can get up to 16 TB of disk storage, which definitely comes in handy for heavy video or 3D model renderings.
The GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR's battery life of 10.5 hours is extremely attractive for graphic designers who need a mobile version of their powerful desktop computer.
CPU: 4.6 GHz Intel_Mobile_CPU
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
RAM: 16 GB DDR4
Screen: 17.3 Inches
Storage: 1 TB SSD
The HP Spectre x360 stands out as one of the graphic designers' top choices with its convertible features and impressive suitability for producing intricate visual works.
The premiere 2-in-1 laptop for your resouce-intensive graphic design tasks.
This laptop is the one for those graphic design beginners who also want a portable solution with an industry-leading processor.
As a graphic designer juggling external hard drives, graphic tablets, monitors-you name it...
This laptop is the perfect one with its ports for HDMI, dual USB 3.0, headphone/mic jack, as well an SD card slot for easy transfer of those massive design files.
HP Spectre x360 also features its 4k Screen - the Adobe RGB color spectrum offers a more vibrant and accurate color experience...
Offering you very close to 100% color accuracy - a game changer for any graphic designer.
This laptop is packed with a Core i7-8550U processor and up to 16GB of RAM, making sure all apps and tools run smoothly.
Let's not forget about its NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU, a graphics card that is more than capable of handling intricate designs and even some video editing.
Apple MacBook Air M2 is Apple's latest fanless Air design and is also easier to carry about.
A sleek and powerful laptop for various tasks, from work to entertainment.
This is also suitable for designers as it comes with a Liquid Retina display, which is sharper and provides an extensive color range.
The Apple MacBook Air M2 has excellent battery life for designers who don't want to walk around with their chargers.
It can last you the whole day on a single charge while you work on your basic design applications.
The MacBook Air M2 is also fanless, making it efficient as it speeds up time-consuming tasks such as editing 4K videos.
It has an improved battery life compared to the M1 and has been tested and confirmed to run for over 21 hours.
The MacBook Air M2 has only two available models: the 256GB model and the 512GB model.
So which laptop should you buy for graphic design?— MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is a trusted choice by many designers due to its minimalist look and excellent performance.
If you're not an Apple fan, then any other item from my list of top laptops for graphic design like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 will surely do the job.
There are also an array of great brands that make good-looking, great-performing laptops that cost less than those two products.
This was my general buying advice on how to choose the perfect laptop for your specific graphic design needs...
Because graphic design is a very broad term, and your design software will dictate a specific list of hardware requirements.
Combine it with your own preferences and inclinations—and you can spend hours trying to find a great feature combination.
What's the laptop of your choice as a graphic designer?—Leave a comment below.
