There are a few important things to consider while choosing the finest laptop for graphic design and photo editing. A high-resolution screen on your laptop is recommended for viewing images in their true colours and fine details.
Additionally, you’ll want a powerful processor and plenty of RAM to handle the demands of editing large images and running design software. A dedicated graphics card is also a plus for handling the demands of 3D rendering and other demanding tasks.
They should also keyboard and touchpad be considered because they are crucial tools for any designer or photo editor. Looking for a laptop with a nice trackpad and keyboard is important because it can significantly improve productivity.
Finally, because many designers and picture editors need to work on the road, you should consider how portable the laptop is. For people who must bring their work when traveling, a portable laptop that is both lightweight and thin and has a long battery life is a perfect choice.
Choosing the finest laptop for picture editing and graphic design should balance performance, display, ergonomics and portability. These laptops are ideal for graphic design and photo editing because they balance performance, portability, and power.
You can buy under our recommendations for the best laptops for photo editing and graphic design. You can also see our recommendations for the Best Laptops for Graphic Design for Beginners and the Best Laptop for animation and graphic design.
A Brief Overview of My Favorite best laptops for photo editing and graphic design.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
What are the best laptops for photo editing and graphic design?
Check out our top picks for the best laptops for photo editing and graphic design!
1.Lenovo IdeaPad 3i:(best laptops for photo editing and graphic design)
Here are the technical specifications for the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i:
- Processor: 12th generation Intel Core i5 U series processor
- Graphics card: Intel Iris Xe
- Display: 15.6″ FHD IPS display
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Memory: 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
- Webcam: HD webcam with privacy shutter
- Audio: Dolby Audio sound, dual microphones, Smart Noise Cancelling
- Ports: full-function Type-C port, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB 2.0 Type-A, HDMI
- Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
- Battery life: up to 8 hours
- Weight: 3.74 pounds
- Dimensions: 14.07″ x 9.18″ x 0.78″
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
My laptop, which I purchased in November 2019, is still in use.
That laptop is fantastic, and it’s quite simple to operate. It includes a high-quality screen, a huge trackpad, and a great keyboard.
The processor is quick enough for typical use, and the 8 GB of Memory should be more than adequate for most people.
The battery’s incredible longevity is why I haven’t experienced any problems.
This laptop’s portability is a major selling point. It’s lightweight and tiny. At only 3 pounds in weight, it’s a breeze to transport wherever you need.
The screen is another great feature. It’s big enough to graphic design, edit pictures, and type lengthy documents.
The speakers are fine, but I’d prefer them on the laptop’s underside. The same holds for other forms of entertainment, like movies and music.
Generally speaking, this laptop is fantastic. This tiny device packs a tremendous punch and has many applications.
It’s a powerful machine, ideal for graphic creation and photo processing.
What We Like:
- Slim and lightweight design
- High-quality display
- Fast charging
- Easy to carry anywhere
- Supports multiple platforms
- Great value for money
What We Don’t Like:
- Not happy with the keyboard design
- Not the best camera quality
2.Acer Aspire 5:(best laptops for photo editing and graphic design)
Here are the technical specifications for the Acer Aspire 5:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual Core Processor with up to 3.5GHz clock speed
- Memory and Storage: 4GB DDR4 Memory and 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage
- Display:15.6 inches full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display
- Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
- Ports: 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports & 1 HDMI port with HDCP support
- Keyboard:802.11ac Wi-Fi and Backlit Keyboard
- Battery life: Up to 7.5 hours of battery life
- Windows: Windows 10 in S mode
- Maximum power supply wattage of 65 Watts
The Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop might be a good option if you seek a reasonably priced laptop to perform picture editing and graphic design chores. Below are some specifics on its qualities and features:
The laptop sports a 15.6-inch full HD IPS screen with 1920 x 1080 pixels. While dealing with photos or graphics, the screen’s good colour fidelity and wide viewing angles are crucial. At a price, the AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics card also delivers respectable graphics performance.
While unsuitable for large projects, the 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD and 4GB DDR4 memory are adequate for basic graphic design and photo editing tasks.
It has 802.11ac Wi-Fi for quick internet access and a backlit keyboard for speedier typing in less-lit areas. An affordable laptop’s battery life of up to 7.5 hours is respectable.
People on a budget who require a laptop to handle simple picture editing and graphic design jobs might choose the Acer Aspire 5 Thin Laptop. Even if its specs might not be the most advanced, it offers a respectable display, adequate performance, and valuable features at a reasonable cost.
What We Like:
- Good display and speakers; great value for money
- Good battery life
- Speedy performance
- Decent keyboard
- Comes with a good operating system
What We Don’t Like:
- Not much storage space
3.Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio – 14.4″
Here are the technical specifications for the
- Product Name: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Screen Size: 14.4 inches
- Aspect Ratio: 3:2
- Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core H Series Quad-core Processor
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti with 2nd gen RTX architecture
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Colour: Platinum
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Software: Microsoft 365 (sold separately)
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio should be considered if you’re seeking a laptop that can perform the most demanding picture editing and graphic design tasks.
The 11th Gen Intel Core H Series processors are quad-core powered, providing excellent processing power to quickly finish even your most demanding jobs.
Incredibly smooth and spectacular images are provided by the award-winning Ampere NVIDIA’s 2nd generation RTX architecture, which also supports ray-traced graphics and cutting-edge AI features from NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s adaptable design is one of its best qualities. With a stylish 14.4 “Touchscreen, a conventional laptop can quickly transform into an entertainment-ready stage or a mobile blank canvas.
The Surface Slim Pen 2 provides the finest digital pen experience to date, with a feeling of pen on paper, and is magnetically attached, stored, and charged under the front of the keyboard.
Moreover, the Surface Laptop Studio’s stunning 14.4 “PixelSense Flow touch display boasts consistent, realistic colour and contrast. Because of its high refresh rate, which may reach 120Hz, scrolling is exceptionally smooth.
The laptop also has 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, offering plenty of storage and quick performance.
To finish your setup, you should add Microsoft 365, which comes with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is an excellent option for graphic designers and picture editors who need a solid and adaptable computer to tackle their duties because it has all these features and capabilities.
What We Like:
- Dolby Atmos
- Dolby Digital
- Optimized for Photo Editing
- Sound quality and comfort
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like:
- Pricey
4.Dell XPS 15:(best laptops for photo editing and graphic design)
Here are the technical specifications for the
- Brand: Dell
- Model: XPS 15 9500
- Processor Type: Intel Core i7
- Processor Generation: 10th Gen
- Processor Speed: 2.6 GHz (up to 5.0 GHz with Turbo Boost)
- RAM Size: 16 GB
- Memory Technology: DDR4
- Storage Type: 1 TB Solid State Drive (SSD)
- Graphics Card Model: GeForce GTX 1650 Ti
- Display Size: 15.6 inches
- Display Resolution: 3840 x 2400 pixels
- Colour: Silver
- Weight: 4.5 lbs (2.05 kg)
- Dimensions: 13.57 x 9.06 x 0.71 inches (34.4 x 23 x 1.8 cm)
The Dell XPS 15 9500 is a great laptop for graphic design and photo editing because of its potent hardware and gorgeous display.
This laptop is equipped with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, making it capable of handling even the most demanding jobs.
Extensive data and programs are easily stored on the 1TB SSD, and the Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti graphics card with 4GB of GDDR6 memory guarantees quick and fluid performance.
The panel is excellent for color-critical work because it has 922k more pixels than a typical 4K display and supports 100% Adobe RGB and 94% DCI-P3 colour gamuts.
Dolby Vision and VESA-certified DisplayHDR 400 further improve the display by offering 40 times more vibrant and ultra-vivid colours than ever before.
The laptop is meticulously crafted from high-polished diamond-cut sidewalls to inlaid stainless logos.
The Dell XPS 15 9500 is distinguished by its integrated Eyesafe display technology, which lessens harmful blue light emissions. As a result, eye strain and fatigue are reduced during extended work hours.
The laptop screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6, a sturdy, scratch-resistant, and rigid material.
A strong, high-quality laptop for picture editing and graphic design is the Dell XPS 15 9500.
What We Like:
- Great battery life
- Excellent display quality
- Excellent sound quality
- Elegant design
- Good value for money
- Excellent performance
What We Don’t Like:
- Only available in black colour
- Heavy
5.Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon:(best laptops for photo editing and graphic design)
Here are the technical specifications for the
- Brand: Lenovo
- Processor Generation: 8th Gen
- Processor Model: Core i7-8650U
- Standard Memory: 16 GB
- Solid State Drive Capacity: 512 GB
- Screen Size: 14″
- Display Screen Type: LCD
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Graphics Controller Model: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Finger Print Reader: Yes
- Total Number of USB Ports: 4
- Dimension: Height: 0.6″ x Width: 8.5″ x Depth: 12.7″
- Weight (Approximate): 2.49 lb
For demanding tasks like graphic design or photo editing, consider the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Laptop.
The 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution 14-inch LCD uses in-plane switching (IPS) technology. Also, the touchscreen display makes it perfect for graphic design projects that call for accurate input.
Most picture editing and graphic design software run without problems on the graphics controller provided by Intel’s UHD Graphics 620.
Built-in wireless LAN and Bluetooth on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Laptop simplify connecting to the internet and other devices. Moreover, it has an HDMI connector, fingerprint reader, and a front camera/webcam.
The keyboard is intended for localization in English (US) and is cozy for extended use. The laptop is portable and only 2.49 pounds in weight, making it simple to take wherever you go. The PC also has a sophisticated, business-like black finish.
When it comes to graphic design and photo editing, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Laptop is an excellent choice.
Even they may easily handle the most demanding applications thanks to their high-performance processor, large memory, and quick storage.
Also, the laptop has a three-year limited guarantee, giving users who depend on their laptops for work peace of mind.
What We Like:
- Excellent value for money
- A highly portable device
- Comfortable keyboard,
- Touchpad and screen
- Good battery life; can last up to 15 hours of continuous use.
- Long lasting and lightweight; sleek and stylish
What We Don’t Like:
- The keyboard is too small; I could have made it bigger
- Can be expensive
6.Razer Blade Pro 17:(best laptops for photo editing and graphic design)
Here are the technical specifications for the
- Brand: Razer
- Model: Blade Pro 17
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10875H 8-Core
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- Display: 17.3″ 4K 120Hz
- RAM: 32GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Features: Chroma RGB, Thunderbolt 3, SD Card Reader
- GPU Architecture: NVIDIA 2nd-gen RTX
- CPU Turbo Boost: Up to 5.1GHz
- Display Options: 360Hz FHD, 120Hz UHD, or 165Hz QHD
- Cooling System: Vapor Chamber Cooling
- Connectivity: WiFi-6, UHS-III SD card slot
The Razer Blade Pro 17 is a powerful laptop for photo editing and graphic design. It has an Intel Core i7-10875H 8-Core CPU that can easily handle heavy tasks.
The CPU is paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Graphics, built on NVIDIA’s award-winning 2nd-gen RTX architecture. It provides realistic ray-traced graphics and cutting-edge AI features, making it one of the most powerful graphics laptops.
One of the standout features of the Razer Blade Pro 17 is its advanced cooling system. It uses a vapour chamber cooling method that dissipates heat efficiently through the evaporation and condensation of internal fluid.
This method ensures the laptop runs smoothly and coolly, even under intense loads, without producing any noise.
The Razer Blade Pro 17 also offers advanced connectivity options for greater convenience. It comes with built-in WiFi-6 and a UHS-III SD card slot, which reduces the need for adapters and allows you to travel light.
The Razer Blade Pro 17 is a laptop powerhouse for photo editing and graphic design. Its powerful CPU and graphics card, advanced cooling system, and various display options make it a great choice for creatives who demand the best performance.
What We Like:
- Amazing performance for the price
- Ultra-thin form factor
- Supports the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics
- Great battery life (Up to 9 hours of battery life)
- Super fast transfer rates
- Fast charging
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- Beautiful and stylish design
- Strong build quality
- High-performance GPU
What We Don’t Like:
- Lacks dedicated audio ports
- Average speakers
Our Full Review Razer Blade Pro 17
7.ASUS ZenBook 13:(best laptops for photo editing and graphic design)
Here are the technical specifications for the
- Brand: ASUS
- Model: ZenBook 13 UX325EA-ES71
- Display: 13.3 inch OLED 400nits Full HD (1920 x 1080) Wide View 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor 2.8 GHz (12M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 4 cores)
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home with a free upgrade to Windows 11 (when available)
- Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Camera: Built-in IR camera for facial recognition sign-in with Windows Hello
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
- Color: Pine Grey
ASUS’ ZenBook 13 is a solid laptop for photographers, designers, video editors and others who want a high-end ultrabook that can handle a lot.
While it’s pricier than its competition, this model has much to offer, especially regarding specs.
The ZenBook 13 is the first laptop I’ve seen with an OLED display, which is a nice touch. It’s extremely bright and provides a wide viewing angle.
The ZenBook 13 is a beautiful laptop with a sleek, minimalist design, making it a pleasure to look at.
It has a great keyboard that’s responsive and easy to type on. It also has a smooth trackpad and no odd bumps or ridges.
As far as specs go, the ZenBook 13 has plenty of power. It has a 13.3-inch display, a 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, and 8 GB of RAM.
This is plenty of storage and RAM for most users, but if you’re doing a lot of photos or video editing, you might consider upgrading to a model with a larger drive and more RAM.
The ZenBook 13 has a powerful processor. It’s an Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU, which is a powerful chip that’s comparable to the ones found in higher-end laptops.
It has a 12-core processor, which means that it has a total of 24 logical processors. This gives the ZenBook 13 a huge boost in performance.
When using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, or other intensive software, the ZenBook 13 can easily keep up with tasks.
Another feature of the ZenBook 13 is the ZenBook Screen, which is a super thin bezel. This minimizes the bezel between the screen and the laptop’s body.
This bezel isn’t a big deal, but it does make the ZenBook 13 a bit thicker than other laptops.
However, this is a small price for a thinner, more stylish design.
There are three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a Type-C port, making it easier to connect all your devices.
One thing I like about the ZenBook 13 is the IR camera, which lets you sign into Windows 10 using facial recognition.
The ZenBook 13 is a great choice for people who need a high-end, stylish laptop that can handle a lot.
What We Like:
- Amazing display quality
- Thin and light
- Can connect to 4K displays
- Fast storage and memory
- Comes with Windows 10 Home and a free upgrade to Windows 11 (when available)
What We Don’t Like:
- No discrete graphics card
- No DVD drive
8.HP Victus 16:(best laptops for photo editing and graphic design)
Here are the technical specifications for the Victus 16 Laptop:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Mobile Processor with up to 4.2 GHz max boost clock
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 with 4 GB of dedicated memory
- Display: 16.1″ Full HD IPS micro-edge display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080
- Memory: 8 GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours and 30 minutes
- Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2
- Ports: 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C, 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1 HDMI 2.0b, 1 RJ-45 Ethernet port, 1 AC smart pin, 1 headphone/microphone combo
- Audio: Dual speakers with audio by B&O
- Keyboard: Full-size, backlit keyboard
- Touchpad: Precision Touchpad with multi-touch gesture support
- Cooling System: Dual fan and vent system with enhanced thermal solution
As a photo editor and graphic designer, I need a laptop to handle my workload without compromising performance. That’s why I chose the Victus by HP 16.1 inch laptop PC.
This laptop is built for editing, with a powerful AMD processor, great graphics, an upgraded cooling system, a high-resolution display, and OMEN Design Hub.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 architecture with 4 GB of dedicated memory provides stunning and immersive visuals, making editing photos and creating graphics easier.
The anti-glare panel ensures that I see every detail of the Full HD (1920 x 1080), IPS, and micro-edge display no matter where I take it. Plus, the elite AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Mobile Processor with up to 4.2 GHz max boost clock never compromises performance.
The laptop’s 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage gives me a boost to system responsiveness and improved frame rates while editing, and shorter load times and faster boot-ups.
I can keep work for up to 10 hours and 30 minutes with the laptop’s battery life, and it can be recharged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
The Victus by HP 16.1 inch laptop PC is effortlessly connected with ultra-fast gigabit data rate through Wi-Fi 6 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2 combo.
Plus, the OMEN photo editing and graphic design HUB elevates my design as I control my device’s every detail, from lighting options to software enhancements.
In conclusion, the Victus by HP 16.1 inch laptop PC is a perfect fit for any photo editor or graphic designer looking for a laptop that provides excellent performance, stunning visuals, and long-lasting battery life, all while keeping the environment in mind.
What We Like:
- High definition (HD) screen: 16.1” IPS full HD
- Long battery life
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Excellent sound quality
- Lightweight
- Good build quality
- Good connectivity
What We Don’t Like:
- Not good microphone quality
- Not enough storage space
FAQs: Best laptops for photo editing and graphic design
These are a few often-asked questions that you could have when shopping for the best laptop for picture editing and graphic design. To aid you with your search, the following are some answers:
Q: What laptop operating system is best for graphic design and photo editing?
A: Windows and Macs are well-liked operating systems for photo editing and graphic design. However, many designers like MacOS because of its compatibility with Adobe Creative Suite and other design programs.
Q: What kind of processor in a laptop should I look for when doing graphic design and photo editing?
A: Using design tools and editing huge photos require a powerful processor. To work with the most demanding software, seek a laptop with at least an Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU. If you can, however, afford it, consider an AMD Core i9 or its equivalent.
Q: What amount of RAM should I look for in a laptop for graphic design and photo editing?
A: A minimum of 8GB of RAM is advised for photo editing and graphic design, while 16GB is preferred for multitasking and handling huge files.
Q: Do I need a laptop with a dedicated photo editing and graphic design graphics card?
A: While not necessary, a dedicated graphics card can be helpful for 3D rendering and other labor-intensive applications. A dedicated graphics card is advised because more than an integrated one might require for some demanding applications.
Q: How much storage space should I look for in a laptop for photo editing and graphic design?
A: Solid-state storage with a minimum capacity of 256GB is advised for graphic design and photo editing. In comparison, larger capacities of 512GB or 1TB are preferred for huge files and several projects.
Q: What are the greatest graphic design and photo editing laptop brands?
A: Popular laptop brands for graphic design and photo editing include Apple, Dell, Lenovo, and ASUS.
Q: Should I seek a laptop with a touch screen for graphic design and photo editing?
A touch screen can be helpful in some jobs, but graphic design and photo editing are optional. A touch screen can be an excellent choice for designers who prefer to use touch gestures to navigate their work.
Q: A laptop that isn’t made for picture editing and graphic design: Can I still use it?
A: You can edit photos and make graphics on any laptop. However, a laptop for picture editing and graphic design will perform, display, and be more ergonomically sound.
Considering these commonly asked questions, you can choose the ideal laptop for your picture editing and graphic design needs. A brand’s warranty and customer service should also check out because they may be useful in the event of an issue or damage.
Final Opinion:
In conclusion, balancing performance, display, ergonomics, and mobility is critical when choosing the finest laptop for picture editing and graphic design. Using design tools and editing large photos requires a powerful processor, a high-resolution display with good colour accuracy, and lots of RAM.
You may complete tough activities like 3D rendering with a specialized graphics card. A comfortable and responsive keyboard and touchpad are essential for seamless and effective productivity.
The finest graphic design and photo editing laptop will ultimately depend on your unique requirements and financial situation. To make an informed choice, assess all the features and consider the buying advice and FAQs in this article.
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.