If you are a graphic designer, then you understand the importance of owning the right laptop. The quality of your work can greatly depend on the kind of tools, display, and functionality that your device provides.
The best laptop for designers will need to do more than just your everyday computer. From the quality of the graphics to the processor speed and internal storage space, there are many important aspects to take into consideration.
Luckily, there are plenty of amazing products out there that can provide an optimal experience for all kinds of creatives. Here are some of the best laptops for graphic design work available. These range in prices and operating systems, in order to suit all kinds of tastes.
Best Graphic Design Laptops Reviewed
- Apple Macbook Pro
- Microsoft Surface Pro 2
- 2019 Dell Inspiron 15
- Lenovo Yoga 710-15
- Acer Aspire 5
- Asus Rog Strix Scar II
- Apple MacBook Air
Best Laptop for Design Comparison Table
Best Mac for Graphic Design
If you are a fan of Apple, then you will certainly want to find the best Mac to do your graphic design work on. While this brand produces some of the most premium and innovative devices available, our top pick would have to be the Apple Macbook Pro.
This laptop is incredibly powerful, functional, and technologically appealing. The vivid display, speedy processor, and innovative features all make it one of the best products out there for any graphic designer.
Best Laptop for Artists
Looking for a device that allows you to draw and really unleash your creativity? Our best choice here would have to be the Microsoft Surface Pro 2. This awesome laptop can be used with a Surface Pen, allowing your artistic creations to come to life. The easy tablet/laptop combination is also very appealing for artists.
Best Affordable Laptop for Graphic Design
Just because you are after a premium device for graphic design work, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have to fork out loads of money. If you are after a budget-friendly graphic design laptop, we would have to recommend the Acer Aspire 5. You get a brilliant display, a quality processor, and a solid device. This is all available at a very attractive price tag.
Best Laptops For Graphic Design
Looking for the ideal device for design work? With so many different laptops available, it can be difficult to know which one would be the best choice. Here are our top choices of laptops to be used for graphic design – suitable for all kinds of people.
Apple Macbook Pro
- Immersive 16-inch retina display
- Up to 32GB of memory
- 8th Gen core Intel i5 processor
- Includes a touch bar with touch ID
- Six speaker sound system and studio-quality mics
Apple always sets the tech bar high, and the latest Macbook Pro is a brilliant example of this. If you’re a creative, then working from an Apple device is often considered the golden standard. The Apple brand image is incredibly powerful for anyone to get behind, and so is this machine.
If you’re after a device that really pushes technological boundaries, then this laptop would be a good choice. You will get one of the fastest processors available (this laptop is incredibly efficient) to make your design work run really smoothly.
The graphics on this device are phenomenal. The 16-inch Retina display really transforms any experience on this computer – especially if you’re working on graphic design projects.
Beyond the top-class graphics and speed, this Macbook is loaded with cool innovative features. These include the touch bar, the touch ID, the T2 security chip, and the most versatile and powerful port available (the Thunderbolt 3).
If you’re after the best Macbook for graphic design, then this would have to be our top pick. It may take Windows fans some getting used to – but the sheer power and innovation of this device really put it in a league of its own.
Microsoft Surface Pro 2
- 13.5-inch touchscreen
- PixelSense Display
- 7th Gen Intel Core processor
- Windows 10 operating system
Microsoft has created one of the most advanced and user-friendly laptops out there. The Surface Pro 2 may have a slightly smaller screen than other comparable laptops on this list, but this doesn’t hold it back from packing loads of amazing features.
This laptop for graphic design is made extra special with its brilliant graphics and clever folding system. You can easily fold this laptop into a tablet format. Graphic designers will love using this with a surface pen for artistic work.
The Intel HD graphics on this device are also seriously impressive. You get really vivid colors that are a pleasure to work with. The device also comes with a speedy, high-quality processor, 8GB RAM, 3 USB slots, and a decent battery life.
Due to its many smart functions and features, this is possibly the best laptop for digital art. Especially when used with the cool Surface Pen.
2019 Dell Inspiron 15
- 15.6-inch full HD touchscreen
- 8th generation Intel Quad-Core processor
- Windows 10 Home operating system
- Integrated Intel UHD graphics
If you’re looking for a laptop that can be used seamlessly for design projects, as well as everyday use, then this device by Dell would be a good choice. Sure, this laptop may not be as advanced as some other, but it still has plenty of awesome features – and is available at a good price.
The large touchscreen is nice and responsive – perfect for design as well as general entertainment use. Designers will also enjoy the quality of the graphics, and clear bright colors. The 8th Gen Intel processor is speedy and efficient – allowing you to run advanced programs and get the job done easily.
A great graphic design laptop does not necessarily have to be an expensive Mac or advanced tablet. The Dell Inspiron is the perfect example of a powerful notebook that can be enjoyed completely by graphic designers.
Lenovo Yoga 710-15
- 7th Gen Intel Core processor
- 15.6-inch FHD touchscreen
- Windows 10 Home operating system
- 360-degree flip and fold design
This unique device is one of the best graphic design laptop options thanks to its cool 360-degree flip-and-fold design. Designers can enjoy using the Lenovo Yoga as a notebook, or as a tablet (this is great for drawing on). This design, combined with the device’s powerful features, makes it a brilliant choice for creative professionals.
Even though you get a powerful processor and vivid graphics on this Lenovo, it is still a fairly simple laptop. Using this device is really easy, and it lacks complex apps and features. Instead, you just get a quality product that simply functions very well.
This laptop is also incredibly thin. If you like to travel or want to take your design work with you to different places, then the Lenovo Yoga is one of the best products out there. The Windows 10 Home system will support all kinds of advanced programs too.
Acer Aspire 5
- 15.6-inch full HD IPS display
- Windows 10 operating system
- AMD Ryzen 3 processor
- Radeon Vega 3 graphics
Wanting a simple laptop to use for graphic design? This product by Acer is a smart choice. Anyone can enjoy this laptop, as it is so easy to use and offers such great value. While this a great everyday device, it will still be well received for graphic design work.
Designers will love the vivid display and powerful graphics. This, combined with the wide screen and decent processor, makes this machine a pleasure to work on. The laptop has plenty of ports, a backlit keyboard, a 128GB hard disk size, and a Windows 10 operating system. All of these work seamlessly together to provide a quality experience.
If you are after a fairly basic (but still powerful), device, then be sure to consider the Acer Aspire 5. This is one of the best laptops for designers based on its vivid display, easy functionality, and great value.
Asus Rog Strix Scar II
- 15.6-inch IPS full HD display
- Intel Core i7 processor
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card
- 512GB hard disk size
- 16GB RAM
The Asus Rog Strix Scar II is actually a specially designed gaming laptop. Even if you’re not interested in gaming though, it’s also one of the absolute best graphic design platforms available.
This laptop focuses on providing the best in its class for graphics and resolution, processing speed, and keyboard functionality. Designers will be particularly impressed by the NVIDIA graphics card – this is one of the best graphics cards available. You get a really clear image of any detail on the screen. This is perfect for advanced digital design.
The wide-spaced keyboard is comfortable to use and easy to navigate. This is enhanced by the cool colorful lighting behind the keys. This laptop also has excellent internal storage space, RAM, and a seriously fast processor. This will make any design work become seamlessly fast.
Although it has been created as a gaming device, this could still be the best computer for graphic design. User experience and speedy functionality hardly get better than this.
Apple MacBook Air
- 13.3-inch retina display
- Intel UHD graphics 617
- 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor
- 8GB RAM
Apple sets the bar high when it comes to design laptops. The MacBook Air is always a favorite choice in this industry. This laptop includes all of the great features that you would expect from a MacBook, packed into an ultra-slim and lightweight design. If you’re looking for a travel-friendly device, then this would be a good choice.
The i5 processor is well-suited towards designers, and there is plenty of onboard storage space to make sure that this device performs at its best. The graphics are of a very high standard and will make any kind of creative work far more enjoyable.
You can expect all of the usual innovative features and impressive design elements that Apple is known for in this laptop. It’s a powerful device in a convenient form.
Best Design Laptop Buying Guide
Graphic design requires the right tools for the job. This field can rely heavily on the kind of equipment available. So it is really important that you have the right laptop to get the job done properly. As there are so many different factors that go into buying technology, choosing the best device can be confusing. Here are some important factors to consider when choosing between the best laptops for graphic design.
Screen and Display
Choosing the right screen is one of the most important aspects of a graphic designer’s laptop. As this is visual work, the kind of screen and display that you get will make a big impact. First of all, look at the screen size.
A larger screen is generally preferred for working on, but this can also be difficult to transport. If you spend a lot of time traveling between meetings or like to work on the go, then a smaller screen may be a better choice. A 15-inch screen is generally the preferred size in graphic design.
Of course, color and resolution are also vital. The higher the resolution, the better. Try to get a laptop with the best graphics possible, as this will really enhance your design experience.
Technical Specs
The overall performance of the laptop comes down to the different specs that make up the machine. If you plan on running complex programs or want to work on large files, then you will need a device that performs well. The three most important elements here are internal storage, RAM, and the processor.
There are all kinds of processors out there, some being better than others. The processor is what ensures the smooth operation of your device and open apps. Some of the preferred processors for graphic design include Intel Xeon, 7th Gen Intel, AMD Ryzen, and Core i7.
The storage space is how much you can store on the device permanently. The higher this is the better.
The more RAM you have, the better the processor will work. If you are looking for a laptop that really performs well (especially when working with large design files), then make sure the device has some solid RAM.
Touchscreen and Keyboard
Some laptops come with a touchscreen, and some can even be converted into tablets. If you are after the best laptop for drawing, then this could be a brilliant feature. A touchscreen can make graphic design work far simpler and more hands-on – something that many designers prefer.
Also, make sure that the keyboard is convenient and responsive. Much of your design work may be spent typing, using shortcuts, and responding to emails. A comfortable keyboard can make all the difference.
Summary
Great graphic design work is all about letting your creativity come to life – and you don’t want to limit this with the type of laptop that you use! Graphic design laptops need to be chosen wisely in order to provide a smooth and enjoyable experience for working on.
Technology today is wide-ranging, and there are all kinds of different devices on offer. Just make sure that you understand what your design work requires, and what kind of programs you will use, before buying a product.
We hope that this best laptop for graphic designers list will make finding your ultimate device a little bit easier.
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Matt is about 80% nerd, 10% writer, 10% animal lover. His love for PC’s started at the tender age of 4 and his love for animation and motion graphics fairly soon after. You can normally find him behind a computer screen or playing with his dog Rusty.
One response to “Best Laptop for Graphic Design (Best Mac, Most Affordable) 2024”
I’m a graphic artist and I’m looking for the best bang for my buck. My budget is up to $800, willing to go a bit above, but I’d prefer not to. I’ll be using this for digital painting, graphic design , 2D&3D animation, maybe some video editing and light gaming (Sims, dragon age, OSU,ect)]. I currently use a 24″ XP-Pen Artist 24 Pro drawing screen .