Laptops offer unbeatable versatility and portability that make working virtually anywhere possible. This is especially important for Graphic Designers who wish to take their work on the go; whether in a café, a library or working comfortably at home, the best laptops for gaming and work offer an increased level of productivity and ease for everyday activities.

Although the options for laptops are nearly endless, there are certain standards creatives should approach when picking a laptop best for graphic design. For a start, laptops best for graphic design should include a high-resolution display, with acceptable color accuracy. Next, a laptop needs to be equipped with a fast processor, graphics card, and at least 16GB of RAM to ensure no interruptions or slowdowns while working with memory and graphically intensive software. Finally, these laptops should offer more than enough storage to save projects, without the worry of running out of space.

This Game ZXC guide explores some of the best laptops ideal for graphic design in terms of build quality, specs, design, and performance.

  • Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2(1)
    Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2
    Best Overall Laptop for Graphic Design
    $2500 at Walmart
  • Dell 2023 XPS 17 9720 Laptop 17(1)
    Dell 2023 XPS 17 9720 Laptop 17"
    Best Premium Laptop for Graphic Design
    See at Amazon
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2nd Gen
    Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2nd Gen
    Best Gaming Laptop for Graphic Design
    See at Amazon
  • Razer Blade 18 Gaming Laptop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
    Razer Blade 18 Gaming Laptop
    Best High-End Laptop for Graphic Design
    See at Amazon
  • ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Business L
    ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Business Laptop
    Best Budget Laptop for Graphic Design
    $1000 at Best Buy
  • Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio amazon
    Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
    Best Budget Laptop for Graphic Design
    $1000 at Walmart
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Factors To Consider When Purchasing A Laptop For Graphic Design

Generally, the hardware requirements associated with Graphic Design and other forms of creative work are a bit more demanding than a laptop only utilized for general tasks and casual browsing. Due to this, there is often a significant increase in price to compensate for the higher-quality displays and more powerful hardware. For users determining the most suitable laptop for graphic design, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind:

  • RAM Requirements: A laptop ideal for graphic design tends to include more intensive hardware choices. Users should prioritize a laptop that has at least 16 GB of RAM, but opting for expensive options may be necessary depending on the demanding nature of the software. For users experiencing significant slowdowns, 32 GB of RAM or more may be more appropriate.
  • GPU Requirements: Although graphic design requires less graphically intensive hardware than gaming, graphic designers should still prioritize a laptop that includes a dedicated GPU. This means it is important to decide on a laptop that doesn't run graphics off of the processor, i.e. integrated graphics. The most ideal graphics cards should at least be something along the lines of the Quadro T1000, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050.
  • CPU & Storage Requirements: The best CPUs for graphic design should include a fast, multicore processor to handle multitasking and promote efficiency. Additionally, graphic designers should opt for at least 1-2TB of storage, although more is better. Optionally, users should consider investing in an external hard drive to add extra storage to one's device.
  • High-Quality Display: One of the most important qualities that sets a creative laptop apart from the standard machine is its display. Users should look for a large, high-resolution, color-accurate display. Opting for at least a 2K or a 4K display is ideal, offering more than enough resolution to help define and include subtle details. Additionally, the importance of color accuracy cannot be understated as color accuracy promotes a more uniform image across different platforms and ensures more uniform colors during printing.
  • Portability: Although maybe not as necessary as other features, users should consider the portability of a laptop if they intend to bring the laptop to various places to work or to clients. Users interested in portability should look for a laptop that offers a long-lasting battery, is lightweight, and isn't too large.
  • Stylus Support & Other Features: Having a laptop that includes stylus support offers an additional tool for graphic design that users might find helpful. Additionally, look for other features to improve the working experience, such as 2-in-1 convertible laptops or even a second display.

Game ZXC's Best Laptops For Graphic Design in 2024

The Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch laptop features a beautiful design, stunning display, and outstanding performance. Its 3456 x 2234 Liquid Retina XDR screen offers a broad, crisp canvas for all graphic design work. The M2 processor powers the laptop and boasts 19 GPU cores, 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU, and up to 32GB of unified memory, allowing it to handle a range of creative software and take on even the most demanding graphic design jobs. Offering up to 22 hours of battery life, designers can go all day with their work to deliver exceptional performance, whether plugged in or running on battery.

It also has advanced audio and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera that sounds great and looks sharp with minimal background noise, better performance, and cinematic sound. Alongside its wide array of accessories, it features a quiet and comfortable keyboard for a more secure way to unlock it. As for the display, its 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has an extreme dynamic range for stunning content and excellent work on the go. Furthermore, it's fitted with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI, an SDXC, and a headphone jack. While this is not the lightest laptop for designers, it's great for graphic designers looking for a computer with 32GB RAM and 1 TB storage.

The Dell 2023 XPS 17 9720 is one of the most impressive graphic design laptops for video rendering and photo editing. It is powerful, portable, and has a stunning display, making it one of the best-value laptops on the market. The laptop's 17-inch touchscreen display and 3840 x 2400 resolution make every design element pop. While working on design, it lets designers see every detail of their work precisely as they use the touchscreen for sketches and quick edits.

It is also powered by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, a dedicated graphics card with 6GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM. This makes it very easy to use even on some of the most intensive design works and handle multiple applications without any performance issues. As for the downsides, its battery life is only 9 hours, which is limiting for those working on the go. Its 720p is also not ideal for professional meetings or presentations. Overall, the Dell 2023 XPS 17 9720 is still the perfect laptop for photo editors and graphic designers who need a machine with a powerful processor and impeccable graphics performance for stunning displays.

Although the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 might be expensive, its high quality makes it worth it, especially for those looking for a graphics design laptop for professional use. One great thing about this laptop is its aluminum casing, which makes it robust, a comfortable keyboard and a responsive trackpad for graphic designers. The laptop also features a gorgeous screen with a 16:10 golden ratio screen that feels larger, hence suitable for those looking for a sizable canvas in a small form. As for connectivity options and port selection, it has two USB-A, two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a headphone jack.

This laptop is also powered by a 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5-7200U dual-core processor and features 8GB RAM and integrated Intel HD graphics. Those who need more space can also connect it to external storage solutions using its multiple USB. Furthermore, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 features 802.11ac Wi-Fi, a webcam with microphones, Bluetooth 4.1, a fingerprint reader, speakers, a mic/headphone jack, and a Windows 10 Pro (64-bit).

A blend of elegance, power, and functionality, it’s ideal for professionals looking for a machine they can use on the go. Although lightweight, this doesn't compromise performance, making it one of the best laptops for graphic design.

For those looking for an ultra-high-end laptop with a larger screen, the Razer Blade 18 is the right choice. This machine is a fantastic laptop for serious computer work, including graphic design. With its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, this laptop can effortlessly support all kinds of graphical work. It also brings exceptional performance with DLSS 3, full ray tracing, and the Max-Q suite of technologies.

Combined with a stunning 18-inch screen and unique build quality, this is a brilliant creative machine for designers looking for more power. Furthermore, the Razer Blade 18 boasts up to 8 TB of storage and Ultra-fast 5200 MHz RAM to allow users to experience quick load times for content creation.

It features the largest vapor chamber and a specially tuned 3-fan system for ultra-efficient cooling to ensure high performance. With its laptop convenience and desktop features, it's excellent for cinematic audio and video calls, allowing users to enjoy full functionality. While it's a bit expensive, it's one of the best mobile techs available right now.

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is a graphic design laptop that offers maximum power while still being light.It also has an extra slim design built for effortless portability and features ASUS 3D Noise Reduction to ensure that designers work in a quiet environment. Its 13th Gen Intel 12-core i5-13500H Processor and 18MB Smart Cache makes graphic design seamless.

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Plus, the laptop boasts a 14.5" 2.8K (2880 x 1800) touchscreen display to ensure users don't experience eye strain while working. Anyone looking for a light-performance laptop should give this laptop a chance compared to others. Overall, the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED is ideal for those who choose machines for their computing power. Plus, the Zenbook is also cheaper and runs on Windows 11. As for the negatives, the only issue with the laptop is the battery life. Some users have also complained that it could be more sturdy.

Microsoft Surface Lato Studio features a convertible, 2-in-1 design that allows it to fold to be used as a normal laptop or a tablet. It's also fitted with an additional hinge that makes it easy to use, hence suitable for designers who handle illustration work. Although it has a lightweight design, it feels sturdy. Its 14.4-inch touch-sensitive display and sharp 1600p resolution make it a delight to work with. The laptop is also powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core H Series, thus allowing users to handle some of the most complex design works.

NVIDIA's 2nd gen RTX architecture enables cutting edge AI features and ray-traced graphics. For those who are looking for the best digital pen experience yet, this laptop is the right pick. However, since there is no mention of Adobe RGB or DCI-PE support, users will probably still need an external display for high-end graphics or video work. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is an excellent designer machine, offering flexibility, power, and premium features.

Factors To Consider When Choosing the Best Laptop for Graphic Design

With several laptops for graphic design in the market, picking one can take time and effort. Users must consider the features and specs and choose the one that suits their needs. Here is how to choose the best laptop for graphic design:

Graphics Card

The integrated graphic design software works well with 2D designs and is cheaper since it comes fitted within the laptop. Contrary to this, dedicated graphics cards can handle more graphic design even though they are a bit expensive and require installation.

Memory

Also known as RAM, this is the total amount of cache the laptop has access to. A laptop with the best RAM works up to 100 times faster than accessing the computer's hard drive. Hence, getting a laptop with good RAM specs of about 8GB is recommended as the starting point, depending on whether one can afford that or not.

Processor

As the central processing unit of a laptop, a sound processor makes one work on even the most complex design work with relative ease. The best choice should be one with core i7 or equivalent because they can run different programs relatively quickly.

Screen

The complexity of the design work should determine the screen size. Users should settle on one with at least 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and a size of at least 14 inches. Users can also opt for an OLED display due to its deeper backs and contrast for working on intricate details and dark themes.

Performance

For complex tasks such as animation, 3D rendering, and complex photo editing, a powerful laptop such as an Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 processor is crucial. But an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 is okay for lighter design work. The smoother the laptop runs, the more seamless the work will come out.

Portability

For those who envision designing or sketching on the go, the laptop's portability is a priority. It's therefore essential to consider a weight of below 4 pounds. With a lighter laptop, users can capture their inspiration whenever they strike.

Battery Life

Nothing affects creativity more than a laptop with a low battery life. That said, designers should choose a machine that can last at least 8 hours to ensure uninterrupted working sessions. This is especially important for those who can access readily available power outlets. Remember, a dead battery can mean no productivity, so designers should be careful.

Build Quality

Since laptops for graphic design undergo long hours of use, choosing one with good build quality is often essential. These laptops are manufactured with premium materials and can withstand constant wear and tear while maintaining a sleek appearance.

Extra Features

Although the laptop specs are important, users should consider additional features such as a comfortable keyboard with a backlight and a precise touchpad to enhance their work. They should also look for one with the best touchscreen that resonates with their individual workflow and personal preferences.

MORE: The Best Laptops For Artists in 2024

FAQ

Q: Which is better for graphic design, between a laptop and a PC?

While both laptops and PCs can handle graphic design work, laptops are more portable than PCs, even though PCs can easily be upgraded.

Q: What are some of the requirements for the best laptop for graphic design?

Good laptops for graphic design should have 16GB if possible or 8GB minimum. They should also feature a Full HD display with a minimum resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.

Q: Which processor works best for graphic design

The best processor for graphic design should be in the Core i7, i9, or Xeon series so they can handle graphic design software efficiently