Nowadays, technology has taken over the world. Gadgets have replaced everything old-school. Now, notebooks have been replaced by notepads in the cell phones. A graphic design computer, laptop, or tablet is now used for drawing graphics instead of pencil and paper. With new technology, new skills have been developed and graphic designing is one such skill. As the field of graphic design developed, a need for improved and the best laptops for graphic designers arose.
In 2024, there is a wide variety of outstanding laptops for graphic design available in the markets.
But the question is – how do we decide on the best laptop for graphic design?
To do this, we need to know the requirements of the best laptop for graphic design before we buy one. These things aren’t cheap, so we need to invest wisely, especially if we are on a budget. So, before picking up any good graphic design laptop, we need to look at its specifications. And even before doing so, we need to be sure of our requirement from a computer/laptop for graphic designing.
So, let’s see what a graphic designer needs to look for in a graphic design computer/laptop.
Laptop Requirements for a Graphic Designer
A graphic designer usually earns his/her livelihood via graphic design. Therefore, it is crucial to invest in a good graphic design computer or laptop. Some of the most important specifications to be looked for in a good graphic design computer/laptop include:
- Operating System: Mac or Windows
- CPU: A quad-core or extreme series processor
- Memory (RAM): The more, the better
- Storage Drive: Hard drives and/or SD cards
- Display Type & Size: At least a 15” monitor with a HiDPI screen and 1920×1080 pixels
- Cost: Your best bet
- Battery Life: 8-15 hours
- Portability: Thin and light enough to carry around
Now that we have established what a good graphic design computer/laptop needs, let’s move forward.
Computer/Laptops for Graphic Designers
Below, we have shared the 5 fantastic laptops for graphic design. Go through their specifications and take your pick!
The list of our 5 ultimate laptops for graphic design includes:
- MacBook Pro
- Microsoft Surface Book 2
- Lenovo ThinkPad P1
- Dell Precision 3540
- Huawei MateBook X Pro
Keep reading for a detailed rundown of each and the best laptop for graphic designers.
MacBook Pro (16-inch)
The top choice for professionals
| +ves | -ves |
|---|---|
| 16-inch screen | Expensive |
| Improved Magic keyboard | Limited to four Thunderbolt 3 ports |
Specifications:
| Operating System | Mac |
|---|---|
| CPU | 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i7–i9 |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon® Pro 5300M–Radeon® Pro 5500M |
| RAM | 16GB–64GB |
| Storage | 512GB–8TB SSD |
| Display Type and Size | 16-inch Retina display with True Tone and 3072×1920 pixels |
| Cost | Starting from $2,399 |
| Battery Life | Up to 11 hours |
| Portability | Weighs 4.3 pounds, can be easily carried around |
Apple’s MacBook Pro laptop range has been a favorite among graphic designers. The reason for their popularity is the large screen with high resolution. Their designs are minimal, sleek, and light.
The MacBook Pro 16-inch offers complimentary technical support for 3 months along with a one-year warranty. You can also reset it without losing data. It is one of the most powerful MacBooks. Although it is slightly expensive, the features and services it offers are worth the price.
Microsoft Surface Book 2
One of the fantastic laptops for graphic design
| +ves | -ves |
|---|---|
| Converts into a tablet | Expensive |
| Color-accurate screen | Surface Pen not included |
Specifications:
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|
| CPU | 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i7–8650U quad-core processor, 4.2GHz Max Turbo |
| Graphics | Intel® HD Graphics 620–NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB–1TB SSD |
| Display Type and Size | 15-inch PixelSense™ display with 3240×2160 pixels |
| Cost | Starting from $1,149.99 |
| Battery Life | Up to 17 hours |
| Portability | Weighs 3.38 pounds, can be easily carried around |
Microsoft Surface Book 2 is one of the most popular computers/laptops for graphic design. It has almost everything that is needed by a graphic designer.
This particular laptop doubles as a tablet and if you have the Surface Pen (that is sold separately) you can work more naturally. It has a fast processor that helps run heavy apps and software.
The crisp color accuracy and display is all that is needed for professional graphic design. Moreover, it has a splendid battery life, i.e. up to 17 hours.
Lenovo ThinkPad P1
A graphic design computer that’s worth the cost
| +ves | -ves |
|---|---|
| Fantastic screen | Short battery life |
| Slim design | 8GB RAM can be problematic |
Specifications:
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|
| CPU | Up to 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i9-10885H with vPro™ or Intel® Xeon® W-10855M v7 with vPro™ |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® Quadro® P1000/P2000 |
| RAM | 8GB–64GB |
| Storage | 256–4TB SSD |
| Display Type and Size | 15-inch PixelSense™ display with 3240×2160 pixels |
| Cost | Starting from $1,299 |
| Battery Life | Up to 6-7 hours |
| Portability | Weighs 3.7 pounds, can be easily carried around |
The specifications of Lenovo ThinkPad P1 make it an ideal choice for graphic designers and content creators. It’s a powerful laptop for graphic design that aims to provide high-level graphics. The amazing screen resolution with a 4K display and 100% AdobeRGB coverage makes it a treat for graphic designers.
Dell Precision 3540
Light on the pocket, heavy on performance
| +ves | -ves |
|---|---|
| Large 1080p display | 8GB RAM is limiting |
| Discrete AMD graphics | Single internal SSD |
Specifications:
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel® Core™ i5-8365U Processor (4 Core, 6MB Cache, 1.6GHz, 4.1GHz Turbo, 15W, vPro) |
| Graphics | Intel® UHD 620/AMD Radeon® Pro WX 2100 2GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Display Type and Size | 15.6-inch Full HD display with 1920×1080 pixels |
| Cost | Starting from $769 |
| Battery Life | Up to 8-10 hours |
| Portability | Weighs 4.04 pounds, can be easily carried around |
The Dell Precision 3540 is a budget-friendly option for those graphic designers who are tight on budget. It is perfect for a newbie graphic designer, as well.
Dell precision 3540 is built in such a way that it can handle the most advanced graphic design software. It is perfect for 3D designing and CAD.
Huawei MateBook X Pro
A new name with a potential to rival the big names
| +ves | -ves |
|---|---|
| Stunning display | No SD card slot |
| Amazing battery life | Poor webcam |
Specifications:
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
|---|---|
| CPU | 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-10510U Processor, 1.8 GHz 4 cores, Turbo up to 4.9 GHz |
| Graphics | Intel® UHD Graphics 620, NVIDIA® GeForce® MX250 |
| RAM | 8GB–16GB |
| Storage | 512GB–1TB SSD |
| Display Type and Size | 13.9-inch with 3K FullView display and 3000×2000 pixels |
| Cost | Starting from $1,600 |
| Battery Life | Up to 11–15 hours |
| Portability | Weighs 2.9 pounds, can be easily carried around |
Huawei is a new name in the tech industry but it has made quite a name in a short span of time. It keeps bringing state-of-the-art new gadgets every day to the market. Moreover, the specifications of the Huawei MateBook X Pro are no less than a leading brand laptop.
This graphic design computer is packed with the latest technology. Its performance is brilliant and its battery life can put the best laptops to shame. It has a sleek design that makes it gorgeous to look at and easy to carry around.
The Final Verdict
In this article, we have shared 5 of the best laptops for graphic designers. Each laptop has the pros and cons of its own. Depending on your graphic design laptop requirements, you can choose the one that suits you the best.
