7 Best Laptops for Graphic Design in 2024

When it comes to working with graphics design, it is a major requirement that tools and equipment used are of sound quality, as well as durable performance that doesn’t leave artists hanging especially when working on tedious and demanding tasks. With that in mind, they would be needing a laptop that does not only come with the looks for show, but with specs that can handle the toughest of their editing jobs. So which laptops are great for graphic designers? Here are 7 of the best laptops for graphic design in 2024 that you may consider in case you’re needing an option for what’s offered in the market.

Best Laptops for Graphic Design

1. Acer Aspire E 15

When it comes to effortless multitasking, the Acer Aspire E15 is one of the laptops that gain more attention, due to a processing ability that’s decent for a 15-inch laptop that does justice to a fair price tag. Upon purchase, you’re getting a Kaby Lake R, 8^th generation quad-core i5 processor, that’s equipped with simultaneous multithreading that can go more than twice its initial speed of 1.60 GHz, even at 3.40 GHz. And with a 6MB SmartCache, you can handle all sorts of graphic design tasks from making vector images to making 3D renders within data-hungry software.

And it’s not just the processor that does the work for you. With an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 with 2GB GDDR5 Video RAM, you can experience seamless execution of professional applications that are commonly problematic with graphic and video engines. Quality of videos and images are also boosted with high-definition quality, with screen resolutions that can be optimized for your meticulous attention to detail.

As for RAM, the Aspire E15 has a dual channel 8GB memory that can provide a maximum memory of 16GB; a decent RAM size for using various programs at the same time.

In the case that you’re bringing your work with you and you forget your charger, Acer laptops are known to be power efficient, while being decent with battery life, even for 15 hours when charged in full. The 6-cell Li-Ion battery has over 2800 mAh and can provide power that assures users that even if they are using an SMT-capable laptop with a powerful processor, it’s not meant to drain right away.

Buy it now: here

2. Microsoft Surface Book 2

The Surface Book 2 from Microsoft is a wonderful laptop experience due to its unique features, such as having a detachable monitor, which can be turned into a tablet for those who are more comfortable of utilizing the touch screen interface of the said 2-in-1. As a matter of fact, Microsoft would like to give users options of using the Surface Book 2, whether in laptop form, in tablet form, in Studio Mode, or in View mode, using the keyboard as a stand for presenting the screen without the common disruption found in a keyboard.

Just like the Apple MacBook Pro, the Surface Book 2 also comes with 13-inch and 15-inch variants, obviously with having the latter embellished with more powerful specs that can give graphic designers a run for their money. After all, who will not love having a multi-convertible laptop that renders a very sharp screen, displaying HD quality over 3240 x 2160 pixels, over 260 PPI that gives the eyes a treat it deserves. With a contrast ratio of 1600:1, you’ll see images come to life with colors that’s as vivid as what can be seen beyond the screen.

So, what makes the Surface Book 2 work? In the back end, you’ll experience the power of a hyperthreaded 8^th Generation Core i7 processor that has four cores, with double threads in each of the core. Not to mention that when the processor meets performance demands with a Turbo Boost, the base frequency of over 1.90 GHz goes to as much as 4.20 GHz, an excellent parameter for artists who are looking for a device that can manage to deploy various professional apps with no worry, whatsoever. Multitasking is also the Surface Book 2’s forte with a 16GB LPDDR3 RAM that can allocate so much information with the processor’s 8MB SmartCache in place.

As for graphics, you’re sure to reward yourself with such a wonderful purchase, deploying an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with a dedicated memory of over 6GB GDDR5. Couple that with a PixelSense Display, there’s no question that the Surface Book 2 is a must-buy gadget for creators and artists. Not just because of the performance, but more importantly, there are tools that only Microsoft can feel a sweet spot on.

There are three different accessories that can be used for whatever mode the graphic designer has in rendering his project. You could choose between the Surface Precision Mouse, the Surface Pen, and the ever-peculiar Surface Dial. Though all of these are different when it comes to application comfort and functionality, the one thing that makes them all similar is the objective of Microsoft to create an environment that the artist can weave his tool of choice to feed one’s imagination. The Surface Book 2 keeps the ball rolling with battery power that can last up to 17 hours, charged by a 102-watt power supply, connected via a USB-A port.

Buy it now: here

3. Apple MacBook Pro

More than just being an Apple MacBook, it’s a laptop that can help professionals do the work they need done. With power and performance as the main focus of the system, the MacBook Pro comes with bits and pieces that bring together a device that would help the pros finish tasks without the worry of lag or delay. There are two models, being the 13-inch and the 15-inch model, with the latter being chosen by majority of quality-hungry artists due to the screen size, as well as the Retina display that renders sharp and vivid images.

Since we’re talking about the latest 2019 model, we’re looking at the 9^th generation Intel i9 octa-core processors in place, giving speed a whole new dimension when working on RAM-demanding software like Adobe Photoshop. On idle and steady operation, the Coffee Lake processor runs at a satisfying 2.4 GHz that can handle anything you could throw. But bring in the works, such as rendering 3D models that have huge array of layers or editing billboard images that’s half the size of a building, expect that the Intel processors would enable its Turbo Boost, making operation speed run twice as hard to 5.0 GHz.

You’ll never go wrong with a solid-state drive storage of up to 4TB. With a sequential read and write speeds of 3.2 and 2.2 GB per second, respectively, it’s like you’re not scouring through tons of files that you used to feel when you’re using an older laptop.

But the MacBook Pro is not all just about speed, but it also comes with the capability of accommodating various tasks all at once with a 32GB DDR4 RAM that’s all about handling stress that commonly lags the laptop. And we’re not just talking about multiple tabs in a browser or using communication apps while editing images. But we’re talking about virtual machines and professional apps working at the same time. That may be taxing to some laptop, but definitely not with the Apple MacBook Pro.

When it comes to rendering quality images, the MacBook Pro is never left behind, especially that a Radeon Pro is in place in 15-inch models. Just how powerful? The graphics card embedded in the MacBook has 4GB DDR5, and can take on 3D rendering in the Final Cut Pro X like a charm.

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4. HP ZBook x2 G4

Another of the multi-in-one laptops that gives a take on empowering many Adobe applications to full extent is the HP ZBook x2 G4. Yes, you’ve read that promise right. The detachable laptop will bring programs like Aftereffects, Photoshop, or Premiere Pro to that point when exhaustion will not cause significant lag, hang-up, or delay. In a way, HP is touting the ZBook to be a staple for graphic artists that seek power with functionality. You may use it as a usual laptop, detached while having the keyboard connected via Bluetooth, as a tablet, or docked for bigger monitor projection.

So, what makes HP confident about the capabilities of the ZBook x2 G4? The detachable laptop runs on an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 that has four cores, and has the ability to exhaust two threads per core. With the Turbo Boost activated, the processor can operate to as much as 4.20 GHz with its optimized SmartCache that has 8MB in the system. Have that teamed up with an NVIDIA Quadro M620 that has a dedicated 2GB GDDR5 for video memory, you know you’re working fast and never would experience any sort of inconvenience while your imagination is at play.

Since majority of the files for graphics design are taking so much space, it helps that you’re getting a 512 GB solid state drive that’s working with the HP Z Turbo Drive on a PCIe NVMe to help you store, browse, and access files that won’t take a beating. After all, when you’re crammed with so much of your projects in one system, everything slows down and compromising into deleting files or using an external storage becomes an option. But that would never be the case as you’re also geared up with over a 32GB DDR4-2133 RAM in the background for keeping things in a smooth flow.

But here’s what’s amazing with this HP ZBook. When using the Wacom EMR pen, it’s as if you’re using a pencil and drawing stuff on a piece of paper. Aside from the response rate being felt in an instant, the pressure sensitivity is a bit insane for a no-charging stylus. The pressure levels could go to as natural as 4,096, giving the user a peculiar illustration of how every swish of your hand could create lines or curves, and not creating that generic pixelated limited feeling. And not only does the stylus does its wonders, there are over 18 preconfigured buttons located on the bezels of the screen, intended to provide shortcuts to certain commands on various Adobe software.

As for the display, HP calls it Dreamcolor Display, which comes in a 10-bit, 1 billion colors worth of visual quality. The color profile’s 100% Adobe RGB and image clarity goes to 4K. And the detachable laptop isn’t limited to be used in office spaces. Because the screen is created to be anti-glare, you could also use it against powerful sunlight, just in case you need to take creativity outside and away from the desk.

Buy it now: here

5. Dell XPS 15

For those who like to push their creativity to the edge, the Dell XPS 15 is an excellent laptop that has its screen stretched to the point that you’ll barely see bezels on the edges. That’s because Dell is aiming for an InfinityEdge display, making a 15.6-inch screen fit in the size of a usual 14-inch laptop by making the bezels as minimal as possible, being 5.7mm only.

Aside from the screen utilizing its space, the visuals are also considerable for graphic artists to pursue. With an UltraSharp 4K Ultra HD display, you can see more without the need of zooming into objects to appreciate detail. The pixels are so many that there’s over 6 million pixels compared to that of Full HD and over 3 million pixels more compared to some of the Apple MacBook Pro models. We’re talking about 16 million colors in full, presented in a color profile that’s comfortable to most designers. With the 100% Adobe RGB, you’ll see colors come to life with much more than what you see in other brands. But it’s not just about display that’s best in the office. Bring the XPS 15 outside and you’ll still enjoy watching movies or working with your projects as the maximum brightness of the screen is over 400 nits; an excellent contrast level that fares even with tough sunlight.

Talking about performance, the Dell XPS 15 comes with an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, enhanced by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU. Storage comes with 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe SSDs for files and compiling stuff, as well as 16GB 2666MHz RAM for quick access to everything in spite of having so much space on your end.

Buy it now: here

6. ASUS ROG Strix Scar II

Hail to a gaming laptop that screams clear details without question. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar II is a laptop that knows no boundaries when it comes to graphics processing and visual rendition. How’s an NVIDIA RTX 2070 that can render colors that’s close to the real thing. In fact, it’s used and recommended by most video games due to the real-time ray-tracing technology. What’s in it for designers is the power in displaying all colors, blacks, whites, and neutrals in all its uncompromised glory.

And since this is a gaming laptop, there are 15-inch and 17-inch models for those who are interested for seeing things bigger. Everything else about the laptop is just as big! An 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD and 1TB Seagate FireCuda SSHD. Yes, you read that right. Two powerful and huge drives that’s accessible at blazing speeds.

Though designed more with the gamers in mind, the Strix Scar II are for the graphic designers that handle huge projects and files that cannot compromise timing and tasking. With cooling systems that can handle the heat, as well as visual display that’s an eye candy for the meticulous, it’s all one could ask for, especially if the artist has been too used to the traditional way of doing things digitally.

Buy it now: here

7. Lenovo Yoga 730

Just think of a laptop that can flex the way you want, and you’ll imagine the Lenovo Yoga in mind. Though it also comes with the 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processors, as well as neat things like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 that’s close to many of the flagship laptops these days, there’s a unique offer that Lenovo has that other brands don’t provide. You’re getting a screen that can actively render touch and pressure sensitive writing and drawing with the Lenovo Active Pen 2. Just click your Bluetooth-enabled pen and you can open Windows Ink almost instantaneously.

The stylish design of the laptop is also something to take note, especially for graphic designers that are very particular to aesthetics; not just with their projects but with utilized tools as well. As for visual display, the screen can be purchased with optional 4K for illustrations, typographies, and videos that comes as natural as it goes. We’re not talking about the conventional LED screens to project the colors you need. Clarity and integrity come to your senses with an AMOLED display, just like what you see in common smartphones these days.

For what you’ll be buying, you would be getting a windows 10 Pro that works under a 1 TB PCIe SSD, operated with a 16 GB DDR4 2400 MHz RAM. Battery life also depends on the details of the screen you’ll be using. Have it in Full HD and you’re expecting to max the batteries up to 11 hours tops.

Buy it now: here

Best Laptops for Graphic Design Summary

All of the laptops mentioned here have their strengths depending on the comfort level of the graphic designer. Some may opt for speed, while others may resort to looking for functionality. But no matter the choice, all of these gadgets have the common denominator of rendering a display that would boost details without the burden of performance.