You’ll need an incredibly powerful notebook if you’re looking for one of the best laptops for graphic design. It’s not going to be able to ...
You’ll need an incredibly powerful notebook if you’re looking for one of the best laptops for graphic design. It’s not going to be able to handle all that editing and rendering, particularly at high resolutions, if its performance is subpar. Whatever you choose needs to come with one of the best processors and graphics cards to keep up. However, there are a few more things beyond power that make a perfect machine for graphic design.
You also need the space to store all your project files, which tend to get pretty big fairly fast, so a larger capacity SSD is necessary, not to mention adequate RAM for when your projects are open and active. Since you’ll probably be staring at your screen for hours at a time, a screen that won’t cause eye strain is an important consideration. And, that display also needs to accurately reproduce colors. Portability is also key, especially if you work on the go a lot, so it needs to be light and thin as well as durable.
While there are a ton of options to sort through, we’re here to help you narrow it down. We’ve collected our top picks for the best notebooks for graphic design, including options for both Windows and macOS fans. Don’t forget to check out our included price comparison tool so you can find the best deals on whichever laptop you’re interested in.
Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, you’ll start to see plenty of Black Friday Laptop Deals out there, making this the perfect time to get your next laptop for graphic design.
Thanks to the launch of the M1 Pro- or M1 Max-armed MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021), the MacBook Pro has truly made its complete transformation as a laptop for creative professionals. And yes, that includes graphic designers. It absolutely impresses with breathtaking power and an equally breathtaking battery life. Apple then adds its XDR display with 1600 nits of peak brightness and a wide color gamut to the mix, which is ideal for graphics design. The SD card slot, an HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports (all of which can stay available thanks to MagSafe charging being back) are all there to make sure you also have access to all the peripherals you’ll need.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021)
The Dell XPS 17 (2021) has the kind of power to handle just about any graphic design work. With specs of up to an Intel Core i9 CPU, 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060 means you can even tackle some 4K video editing, especially if you upgrade to a UHD display. Somehow, all this performance fits in a 0.77 inch thick machine for a surprisingly portable workstation. While the XPS 17 does come at a premium and could come with a few more ports, it is a great machine for a creative professional.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 17 (2021)
One of the most powerful mobile workstations out there, the Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) comes with a lot of power, a gorgeous display, and a whole lotta ports. Best yet, it’s priced well below its less-powerful rivals, making it a better proposition even if you have a more flexible budget. It isn’t by any means perfect. The battery life could use a bit of a boost, for example. But, for how much you’re paying and for the other things you’re getting in return, it’s a miniscule sacrifice.
Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021)
The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) may not have gotten a massive design overhaul, but what it lacks in that department, it makes up for big time in performance and battery life. Thanks to Apple’s groundbreaking M1 chip, the new MacBook Pro 13-inch delivers excellent performance and exceptional battery life. Its performance is so impressive, in fact, that it can easily handle 4K - and even 8K - videos. If you’re looking for a powerful laptop that keeps things small and lightweight, this is easily one of the best MacBooks for graphic design money can buy.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 might be pricey but it’s well worth the cost. Not only do you get a fantastic screen with a wider 16:10 aspect ratio but excellent performance thanks to the latest generation Intel processors, Intel Xe graphics, and Evo certification. It will also last quite a while on a single charge if you need to work on the road or in the field. Its design is not the most awe-inspiring and an SD card slot would have been appreciated, but the X1 is an otherwise stellar machine for graphic design.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6
The MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021) is an extraordinary machine, partially due to that incredibly powerful M1 Pro chip (or M1 Max if you choose to upgrade). But, it offers much more. It comes with a gorgeous XDR screen that’s a joy to work on, a battery life that will keep you going on the road without slowing down performance when unplugged, and a good selection of ports for your peripherals. It doesn’t come cheap and it’s not as portable as its 14-inch brother but you do get extra screen real estate to help you with your workflow.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)
The Dell XPS 15 (2021) keeps everything that’s made this mid-size flagship model special, but with some updated internals. While the XPS 15 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it makes a great laptop for graphic design. With up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, you should be able to handle most image and video editing without breaking a sweat. It can even handle some gaming, though it is admittedly a bit underpowered compared to some of the competition.
But, with that beautiful screen and the fantastic battery life that the XPS 15s have always come with, you’ll forget about any shortcomings of this computer. And, considering its beautiful design, it’s no wonder that the XPS 15 models consistently rank among the best Dell laptops out there.
For those who think that MacBook Pros are overpriced but still need a powerful mobile workstation, there’s the Acer ConceptD 7. This formidable laptop capable of handling complex and demanding tasks, thanks in part to its Nvidia RTX graphics, was designed specifically with creative professionals in mind. Beyond that sheer power it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Obviously, it’s still pretty pricey, but if you’re looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for creative endeavors, it’s certainly among the best laptops for graphics design.
Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7
This luxurious thin and light gaming laptop from Razer just oozes class, and is an ideal laptop for people who want a powerful device they can take around with them. It's one of the nicest looking modern gaming laptops we've seen. It isn’t just for gaming, however. The Razer Blade 14 comes with cutting edge components as well, including the awesome AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and up to an RTX 3080 graphics card – just the ticket for all your graphics design demands. This means it’s able to see you through the most intensive graphics design processes without breaking a sweat… while keeping things portable and solidly built, so you won't worry about it getting damaged when out in the field.
Read the full review: Razer Blade 14
The Lenovo Legion 7i may be first and foremost a gaming laptop, but that stunner of an aluminum design and seriously impressive performance make it a boon to creative professionals like graphic designers as well. This wouldn’t look out of place in an office, especially if you turn off those blinding RGB lights. Plus, it stays cool under pressure, thanks to its fantastic thermals. This may not be an RTX 3000 Series laptop, but you can get an RTX 2080 Super Max Q under the hood that’s nothing to joke about. Of course, if that’s overkill, there are other configurations on hand as well.
Read the full review: Lenovo Legion 7i (2020)
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