We have you covered if you are looking for the best laptops for graphic design. On this page, we have selected the best laptops that can give you the tools and power you need for graphic design. For any digital creativity that doesn’t want to wade through jargon, we explain in plain language what makes these laptops ideal for graphic design work.
We consider each computer’s specifications to ensure they are powerful enough to run graphic design applications while offering high-quality displays (in various sizes) that will make your work look its best.
Buying any of these laptops will ensure you have a brilliant laptop for graphic design work. We have laptops suitable for various budgets, including Windows devices and Apple MacBooks.
On this page, the best laptops for graphic design aren’t just for professionals; we also have options for beginners and students (though students should also check out our roundup of the best laptops for students). We also have a viral list of the best laptops for video editing that are worth checking out.
How do I choose the best laptops for graphic design?
What should a graphic designer consider before buying a laptop? -Before purchasing a laptop, keep a few things in mind and check for them.
Seven things to consider according to the specific best laptops for graphic design needs:
Operating system (OS)
It would help if you first chose between using Windows and macOS. I used Windows to begin my graphic design profession before switching to macOS a few years later.
Processor (CPU)
The most important thing when choosing any laptop is how powerful it is. Any tremendous graphic design software needs a powerful processor (CPU) to do all your work beautifully.
See their CPU requirements for specific apps like graphic design software such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, etc. For example, you must go for maximum performance to do heavy tasks like 3d rendering and video editing.
RAM
The next thing to look for is RAM, which will help you run multiple apps simultaneously. What is the minimum RAM required for graphic design? – 8 GB, or 16 GB, or whatever you can afford. I would strongly recommend you go for maximum RAM.
As a graphic designer, you need to make changes in great software like Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and many more — so you need that extra RAM.
Hard Disk Storage
Depending on the type of Best Laptop for graphic design you will be doing, you will need some space to store heavy files. Graphic design files such as (PSD, AI, INDD, AEP, etc.) gradually become very heavy, so you need that extra disk to save them all.
Primarily if you work with 3d design, video editing, or just photos – you need a lot of space on your disk to store these things.
Display Size
The display is essential for a graphic designer; as a designer, the larger the screen of your laptop, the better the brightness and the excellent color accuracy. The 13 “screen is a little too small, the 15” is the best, and the 16 or 17 “is so much appreciated that you can think of a touchscreen to be able to use as a tablet (good for drawing).
Battery life
If you want to buy a laptop, battery life is essential because it needs to work anywhere. Especially if you live a nomadic life, running out of batter in the middle of your work can be very frustrating.
Price
One of the most important factors mentioned is affordability. You need to set your budget and look for laptops within that budget range. Considering all of the above, check out our list of the best laptops for graphic designers in the 2023 market.
Which are the Best Laptops for Graphic Design for Beginners?
My shortlist recommended the top 6 Best Laptops for Graphic Design for Beginners:-
1.MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019: Best Laptops for Graphic Design for Beginners
Recommended for You internal Hardware:
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9 | Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M – Radeon Pro 5500M | RAM: 16GB / 64GB | Storage: 512GB / 8TB SSD
Benefits & Features:
The new 2019 Apple MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops for graphic design and illustration. It’s a gorgeous machine with stunning visuals, and it’s packed with powerful features for both professional and casual use.
The most current generation of Intel Core CPUs gives the MacBook Pro all the power you need to create jaw-dropping designs. The graphics in this laptop are very powerful, so you can easily edit and work on any photo or video.
The 13-inch model is also available, but it’s only a slight upgrade from the previous version. The biggest difference between the two is that the larger display allows you to view more information simultaneously.
The MacBook Pro is designed to be portable and lightweight so that you can take it anywhere. It’s a sleek and stylish device designed for professionals and enthusiasts, perfect for graphic design and illustration.
What We Like:
- Powerful performance; great for graphic design work
- Great battery life
- A good value for money
- High-quality and stylish design
What We Don’t Like:
- Not good for gaming
- No backlit keyboard
- No touchpad
2.MacBook Pro 13-inch Apple (M1, 2020): Best graphic design laptop with a smaller screen
Recommended for You internal Hardware:
CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU | Screen: 13.3-inch | Graphics: Integrated 8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD | Dimensions : 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches
Benefits & Features:
We wanted a new laptop for graphic design, and we were impressed with what we saw in the early 2018 MacBook Pros. So we were excited to see what Apple offered with the latest MacBook Pro models.
The 13-inch model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage was our pick since we needed a more sizable display. We also picked up the Space Gray model since it was the only color option with a keyboard.
As far as Hardware goes, we love the new M1 chip. It’s a huge improvement over the A12X Bionic chip, a significant step forward in speed.
This translates into up to 2.8x faster performance for workflows. We’ve never seen a Mac with such a fast CPU, and we’re sure you’ll be able to get through your workflows quicker than ever.
The 8-core GPU is also twice as fast, delivering up to 5x faster graphics for apps and games.
The MacBook Pro is also among the first to provide 16GB of unified memory, meaning all your applications and apps are kept in one location for lightning-fast access.
It also has the fastest SSD available, so you can instantly open, save, and launch files. We’re talking about the latest PCIe SSD technology, and it’s 10x faster than the previous generation.
The MacBook Pro also has active cooling, keeping the machine cool even when working for hours.
The 13.3-inch Retina display is the brightest laptop screen ever, coming in at 500 nits. It’s also the sharpest, so you can see every pixel with crystal-clear clarity.
We also love the FaceTime HD camera with an advanced image signal processor, which makes video calls from your Mac pleasurable.
Overall, we love the MacBook Pro, and it’s the best laptop for graphic design for beginners.
What We Like:
- Super fast
- High-quality screen
- Extremely comfortable keyboard
- Long battery life; can be used for up to 20 hours on one charge
- Very powerful
- Supports macOS Sierra
- Includes an Ethernet cable
What We Don’t Like:
- Too expensive
- Does not have Thunderbolt 3
3. DELL XPS 13 (9310): Best Laptops for Graphic Design Students Running
Recommended for You internal Hardware:
CPU: Intel Core i7-1185G7 | Screen: 13.4-inch Full HD+ LCD | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | RAM: Up to 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Dimensions: 198.70mm x 295.70mm x 14.80 mm | Weight: 1.2 kg
Benefits & Features:
This laptop is the best one we could find for graphic design. It is easy to use because of how light and thin it is. Even the most demanding applications may function without issue on the most current generation of graphics processing units.
It features a great touch screen, making editing and creating films and photos easy. With its anti-glare screen, seeing the display from different angles is easier.
You won’t have to worry about connecting or charging additional devices to the computer using regular USB connections.
The battery life for a laptop is fantastic and may last up to 19 hours, which is amazing.
If you want a powerful laptop for graphic design work, choose the Dell XPS 13 7390. It will be enjoyable for you and is the best for graphic design.
What We Like:
- Good value for money
- Great performance
- Good battery life
- It comes with many useful features
- Sturdy and durable
- Durable; made of high-quality materials
- Lightweight
- Built-in speakers are loud and clear
What We Don’t Like:
- Not happy with the keyboard
- Not happy with the microphone quality
4. HP Envy x360:Best laptop for graphic design
Recommended for You internal Hardware:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U 2.0GHz Octa-Core (Beats i7-8550U) | Storage: 512GB PCle SSD – 2TB PCle SSD | Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics Integrated | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen | Dimensions: 14.1″ x 9.1″ x 0.7″
Benefits & Features:
The HP ENVY x360 is a fantastic choice if you’re searching for a small, compact laptop that can easily fit in your bag for long work hours. It has a 2-in-1 design and may be utilized for presentations or academic work in tablet form.
The screen is 15.6 inches and has a 1920 x 1080 resolution, comparable to most other laptop displays. Its IPS LCD offers vibrant color and clarity in the visuals.
The stylus works wonderfully on the huge, responsive touchpad. Although the keyboard is easy to write on, it lacks the fancy illumination of the MacBook Pro or the HP Spectre. Because the keyboard is relatively flat, typing won’t cause a wrist ache.
The CPU is an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, a quad-core processor with a 2.30GHz clock speed. It can run numerous apps and web browsers at once and is designed to be efficient.
A 512GB solid-state drive and 8GB of DDR4 RAM are inside.
The speakers are surprisingly effective and provide passable sound. You may answer calls on Skype or FaceTime using the built-in microphone. The HP ENVY x360 offers two audio connectors, a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, and a USB Type-C connection.
Additionally, it boasts a fingerprint reader and a backlit keyboard that makes it simple to type in dimly lit areas.
Use the HDMI port or the headphones and microphone included with the device to connect to a bigger display.
It is manageable to tote about since it only weighs 4.41 pounds.
You won’t have to worry about compatibility issues with older devices since there is a smart card slot, and the power adapter is USB-C.
The HP ENVY x360 is a fantastic choice if you’re searching for a small, compact laptop that can easily fit in your bag for long work hours.
What We Like:
- Stunning display
- Excellent performance
- Good battery life
- Comfortable keyboard
- Plenty of storage space
- Good speakers
- Very good design
- Fast charging
- Excellent value for money
What We Don’t Like:
- Not many ports
- The screen could be brighter
- No fingerprint reader
5. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14:Best Laptop for Graphic Design for Beginners
Recommended for You internal Hardware:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS – 9 4900HS | Storage: 512GB / 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Screen: 14-inch Non-glare Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Benefits & Features:
What We Like:
- Extremely powerful processor
- Excellent display
- High-resolution screen
- Good battery life
- Excellent connectivity
- Good speakers
What We Don’t Like:
- Camera quality could be better
- Could have the better cooling system
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4:Best Laptop for Graphic Design for Beginners
Recommended for You internal Hardware:
Display:13.5-inch, 2256 x 1504 resolution | Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5/i7 | RAM: 8GB or 16GB | Storage:128GB to 1TB SSD | Graphics Card: Integrated Intel Iris Xe/AMD Radeon
Benefits & Features:
We were instantly drawn to the Microsoft Surface Laptop’s svelte appearance and compact profile. It was created on a portable laptop that was simpler to use while on the road because of its touchscreen.
We also loved customizing the display to fit the material we saw, whether a video, spreadsheet, or picture. We also believed the video recording quality might have been better, even though we enjoyed the notion of being able to record our films.
With its dedicated graphics card, the gadget we’re discussing makes editing images and creating graphic designs very simple.
There are some drawbacks, such as the fact that it is a touch hefty and less slender than we would like. The Microsoft Surface Laptop is wonderful for visual artists; however, if you can get over those drawbacks.
What We Like:
- Large screen size
- Great battery life
- Excellent build quality
- Excellent keyboard
- Lightweight and portable
- Good value for money
- It comes with a screen protector
What We Don’t Like:
- Not happy with the keyboard backlighting
Final Opinion:
In My final opinion, this buying guide and reviews will help you find the best laptop for graphic design. If you have any suggestions or feedback, please comment below.
Hi, I’m David. I am an engineer. I am the founder of lapmacpc.com. I love gaming, content creation, and photography. We have expert writers and contributors. They all write for lapmacpc. If you have any questions, please tell me in the comment box or contact me at Email-lapmacpc@gmail.com.