The best laptops for graphic design

Table Of Content

• MSI Creator Z16P — Best Laptop for Design Students
• ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED (H
• MacBook Pro 2023 (M2, 16-inch)
• Buying Guide: Finding the Perfect Laptop for Graphic Design
• Best laptop for graphic design in 2024 – the top laptops for graphic designers
• Best Laptops for Designers in 2024: Tested and Reviewed
• Should I buy a desktop computer or laptop for graphic design?

With a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, every detail is crisp and clear, ensuring that my designs and edits are pixel-perfect. However, one thing that took me some time to get used to is the unique hinge design. It’s very versatile, but it can be a bit tricky to open and close the laptop in different modes. The Surface Laptop Studio is also a bit heavier than some other laptops, so it’s not ideal for those who need something ultra-portable.

MSI Creator Z16P — Best Laptop for Design Students

I needed to make sure they could keep up with the tools I used without any hiccups or crashes. On top of that, the 120Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time allow for smoother transitions. The 16″ OLED 3.2K touch display of the ASUS ProArt StudioBook has completely transformed how I see and interact with my work.

ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED (H

The new MacBook Pro M3 14-inch is a beast, offering a whopping 17+ hours of battery life on or off the charger. Whether you're designing and editing on a plane, in the office, or conquering deadlines at a coffee shop, this laptop won't slow you down. Apple comes in strong in this list, with the MacBook Pro 14 M3 (2023) as the best laptop for graphic design overall and the MacBook Air 15 as the best budget option.

MacBook Pro 2023 (M2, 16-inch)

Established in 1855 as the St. Ignatius Academy, USF is San Francisco’s first university. When it opened, this private, Jesuit university had just three students. Today, University of San Francisco serves approximately 9,690 students enrolled in more than 100 program in five colleges and schools. University of San Francisco is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

And the best part is the laptop weighs a measly 2.6 lbs for easy carrying. California State University, Long Beach was established in 1949 as Los Angeles-Orange County State College. One of the 23 campuses of the California State University System, CSULB serves more than 38,000 students enrolled in over 300 programs across eight colleges. California State University, Long Beach is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Other program features include internship opportunities, workshops, career services, study abroad experiences, and participation in the Graphic Resources and Information Design Students (G.R.I.D.S.) organization. A student chapter of the AIGA, G.R.I.D.S. meets frequently and organizes additional workshops, field trips, and lectures.

Buying Guide: Finding the Perfect Laptop for Graphic Design

Storage is arguably a little less critical, as well-specified laptops now come with fast PCIe SSDs. But we still test sequential throughput and random access to make sure that nothing unusual is going on. We also assess ergonomics, build and usability, including keyboard quality, chassis rigidity, trackpad response and more to build up a practical picture of how well a laptop performs in the real world rather than merely benchmarks.

Best laptop for graphic design in 2024 – the top laptops for graphic designers

It has an eye-catching, striking design with a customizable backlit keyboard. Although the bright colors won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, of course. It can easily compare against Intel Core i7 CPUs, so there’s no doubt it’s up to the job.

M3 MacBook Air hands-on: 3 striking things about Apple's new laptop - Creative Bloq

M3 MacBook Air hands-on: 3 striking things about Apple's new laptop.

Posted: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Its unique screen-flipping feature further allows me to use the laptop in different modes depending on my needs. I can use the laptop in the traditional laptop mode for working on my designs. But when I’m feeling creative, I can flip the screen to the stage mode to use the laptop as a digital drawing board. The Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15 isn’t your average laptop, especially for design work like mine. With its dual-screen setup and robust specs, it significantly enhances creative workflows.

I was able to edit multiple high-resolution images simultaneously, render complex 3D scenes in real-time, and create intricate animations without any lag. Below I share the best based on performance, value, and my first-hand experience making sure they can handle everything from graphic design, to building intricate 3D models and editing high-quality videos. We also run real projects on real graphic design software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Cinema 4D, Adobe Illustrator and more, depending on the reviewer, their specialism and the laptop's intended user base. Its detachable keyboard and tablet functionality, coupled with a stunning 1080p OLED display, make it perfect for designers who need portability, flexibility, and vibrant image clarity for their creative projects.

With an impressive 16-hour battery life, significantly longer than average Chromebooks, it supports extended design sessions. Every laptop we review — which includes each pick on this list — goes through a series of benchmark tests by our dedicated testing team before it reaches one of our reviewers. To find the best laptops for graphic design, we primarily looked at testing results for performance, graphics, and the display. Sure, the design isn't a huge upgrade, but who needs flash when you have this much performance under the hood? The MacBook Pro M3 14-inch delivers the perfect combo of portability and muscle, making it a great choice for creators, and graphic designers on the move.

We also checked whether the device features accessories like a stylus or true drawing screen for those who demand color accuracy or professional workflows and outputs. Our comprehensive reviews of laptops and tablets tailored for drawing and digital art are aimed at guiding you to the perfect portable companion for your artistic journey. Through an extensive evaluation process, we've scrutinized everything from portability and computing performance to the quality of the display and its battery life. Recognizing the importance of affordability, our selections span a variety of price points and include devices from leading platforms such as Windows, Android, and Apple. When it comes to testing laptops for graphic design, we look for a good, high resolution screen, assessing pixel density, colour accuracy, contrast and more, to decide how well it performs for graphic design.

"One element people don’t often think about is the color science of different displays," he said, mentioning that final cuts of videos will look a lot different depending on what the viewer is watching them on. That's why making sure that your laptop can produce an accurate range of colors is a big deal. "[It] gives you the best chance at making content that will look amazing across the board," McQuaid concluded. Though, he also added that most laptop displays today are up to snuff in that regard, so unless you're shopping for an external monitor, you won't have to stress too much over this. When it comes to picking out a processor, it's a little more of a dealer's choice, although McQuaid called out Apple's latest M3 chip as a top contender. "Typically, the number of cores is more important than processor clock speeds, as more cores at a slightly lower speed outperform fewer cores with faster speed," he said.

Especially if you work in 3D graphic design or video editing, or just working with photos — these things require a lot of space on your disk. Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best laptops for graphic design you can get. We factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

It also features a fingerprint reader for secure login, ensuring your work remains protected. Additionally, the lack of fan power may cause the processor to heat up during intensive use. But that can be easily mitigated by using the laptop in a well-ventilated environment and employing cooling solutions such as a laptop cooling pad.