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Laptops have varying specifications. A student would not use the same laptop as an illustrator. An amateur graphic designer will not use the same as a professional graphic designer. Whatever your needs are, it's important to choose the best laptop. Digital artists can be more productive with specific laptop types. You’ll want to consider several factors, such as screen size, memory space, CPU capacity, and more. Come along as we explore the essential laptops for demanding drawing, graphic design, and creativity as digital artists. Whether you’re looking for the best laptop for artists in 2024 or simply want to find the best laptops for illustrators, we’ve got you covered.
Key Features to Look for in a Digital Art Laptop
Before you can choose the best laptop for creating digital art, you need to select one that fulfills its intricate demands. Whether you are a designer, illustrator, or in any other niche within digital art, consider these features before you make a choice.
Display Quality and Color Accuracy
Laptops for digital artists should have excellent screen quality. If you’re seeking the best laptop for drawing or a good laptop for artists, the screen size should be large enough to display your entire artwork. Look for a laptop with a high-resolution display. A resolution of 1920 by 1080 is ideal for good visuals in terms of quality and size, especially if you’re looking for the best laptop for artists or the best budget laptop for artists who require sharp, detailed displays without breaking the bank.
Performance: Processor, RAM, and Graphics
The CPU largely determines the performance of a laptop, making it crucial when choosing the best MacBook for creatives or any best laptop for artists that need robust processing power. Digital art’s heavy demand requires an Intel Core i5 processor and above. Any laptop with a lower processor will only function well as a laptop for browsing and typing. Dual-core and quad processors are also very good for digital art.
You also need a laptop with a high-performance graphics card and large RAM capacity. RAM allows you to store work temporarily on the screen. The higher the RAM capacity, the faster your work runs, which also increases the number of tabs you can open without lagging. A minimum of 8 GB RAM is ideal for any digital artist, but 16GB or more is recommended for smooth performance. The graphics card or Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is as important as the CPU since it processes every image displayed on the screen. For those using Blender, selecting the best GPU for Blender can make a noticeable difference in rendering performance. A laptop with at least 2GB graphics memory is recommended for graphic artists.
Storage and Connectivity Options
While RAM stores your active data, your laptop needs enough storage for inactive art. Older generation computers come with hard disk drives (HDDs). Newer laptops use solid state drives (SSDs), which are faster and more reliable. So, if you prefer speed, go for SSDs, and if larger storage space is your priority, go for HDDs. This advice is particularly useful when looking for the best laptops for artists on a budget who need a balance between performance and storage.
Before choosing a laptop, check for the available ports. For instance, you will need a media card slot to easily access your art. You may also need an HDMI or display port if you decide to connect your laptop to a larger display.
Top Laptop Picks for Digital Artists
While we considered the features above, here is a list of our top laptops for artists of different budgets.
High-End Laptops for Professional Artists
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop
CPU: Apple M2
Graphics: 10-Core and 16-Core GPU
RAM: 16GB
Screen: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display
Storage: 512GB SSD
Price Range: $2,379 - $2,500
The Apple 2023 MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops for digital art. The M2 Pro chip allows you to carry out designs with blazing speed, preventing any form of lagging. It has a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display that provides a clear visual of your digital art. It also has a battery life of up to 18 hours.
MSI Creator Z16 HZ Studio
CPU: Intel Core i9
Graphics: GeForce RTX 4060
RAM: 32GB
Screen: 16-inch 2560 x 1600
Storage: 2TB SSD
Price: $1,749
MSI Creator Z16 HZ Studio is regarded as a machine. It has the Intel Core i9 processor, which makes it capable of demanding creative tasks. Creator Z16 HZ Studio has a display that ensures accurate color reproduction. This makes it suitable for professional color-critical work such as print design and color grading. Also, the Creator Z16 HZ Studio has an advanced cooling system that efficiently dissipates heat and keeps the laptop running cool and quiet, even during intense creative tasks.
Dell XPS 17 Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Screen: 17-inch UHD touch
Price Range: $1,650
Dell XPS 17 has a 17-inch display in 4K view. This gives you an excellent view during your art design process. The laptop has an 11th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, which suggests relatively fast activity. It combines a powerful display with a high-end processor for top-notch drawing & artwork at a high price.
HP Spectre x360 16 OLED
CPU: Intel Core i7 1355U
Graphics: Intel Iris Xᵉ Graphics
RAM: Up to 32 GB
Screen: 16-inch, 3,840 x 2,400, OLED display
Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
Price: $2,299
The HP Spectre x360 16 is an excellent option if you’re searching for the best laptop tablet for drawing. It has a fancy outlook. The 360-degree hinge makes it flexible, usable as a laptop and as a tablet. The screen is a 4K+ OLED display of color and brightness at 400 nits. It also has a relatively good battery life as long as you activate some battery-saving tips. HP Spectre x360 has a pair of fast 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and a microSD card reader. It features a touchscreen that comes with a Tilt Pen for drawing.
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo
CPU: Intel Core i9
Graphics: Intel UHD
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Screen: 15.6-inch 3840 x 2160 IPS display
Price Range: $1,700
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo’s focal point is the excellent screen display. It has a primary display of 15.6-inch OLED and a secondary 14-inch screen above the keyboard, giving you an additional screen for tools and other applications. The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, giving you clear visual artworks. The downside to this laptop is that it is heavy with a weak battery life.
Mid-Range Options for Serious Hobbyists
Lenovo 7i 2-in-1 Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i7
Graphics: Intel Iris X
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Screen: 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display
Price Range: $850
The Lenovo 7i is a sleek, 2-in-1, portable laptop that’s perfect for serious digital art hobbyists. It is an upgrade from the 14-inch Lenovo laptop series, with a 16-inch display offering a resolution of 2560 x 1600. The Lenovo 7i has an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an Intel UHD Graphics which all come together to prevent breaks and lagging when you’re working with more than one software. Along with all these, Lenovo adds to its qualities a long battery life.
Apple 2023 MacBook Air
CPU: 8-core CPU
Graphics: 10-core GPU
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
Screen: 15.3-inch 2560 x 1664 500nits
Price: $1,159
The Apple 2023 MacBook Air has the M2 chip with a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display. The Liquid Retina display offers a vibrant display for professionals in the art field. One downside is that it has an 8GB RAM, which means you may experience a lot of lagging as a digital artist. However, its 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU allow it to multitask across a few integrated software seamlessly.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
CPU: Intel Core i7-1250U processor
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB
Screen: 13-inch IPS touch display
Storage: 512GB
Price Range: $800 - $1,000
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is so-called as a result of its detachable screen. This model is among the best laptops for cloud computing, offering versatility and portability. You can use it as a laptop and an iPad. It's also thin and lightweight, which makes it portable. It is a touchscreen device that gives you an excellent drawing experience. Compared with other expensive laptops, Dell XPS 13 has a better battery life.
Acer Aspire 5
CPU: AMD Ryzen 4-core
Graphics: Radeon Vega 6 Graphics
RAM: 20GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Screen: 15.6 FHD
Price: $599
The Acer Aspire 5 is for hobbyists and digital art students. It runs with an i5 AMD Ryzen 3 Quad-Core Processor, which is heavy-duty for design software. Although it does not have a touch screen, the 15.6″ Full HD Anti-glare widescreen IPS Display covers up for that. Also, the AMD Radeon Vega 6 Mobile Graphics represents your artworks in vibrant colors and sharp contrasts.
Lenovo Flex 5
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U
Graphics: AMD Radeon
RAM: 16 GB
Screen: 14-inch Full HD
Storage: 256GB
Price: $514
The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor makes Lenovo Flex 5 a high performer with data and graphics. If you're into 3D modeling or rendering, comparing Blender vs. Houdini can also help you decide which software pairs best with your hardware. It has a 14-inch Full HD touchscreen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. The touch screen lets you design with flexibility, while the screen displays your art in clean and clear color. As a lover of art, you will love the Lenovo Flex 5 14″ 2-in-1 laptop. It has a thin and light design, with a durable paint finish. An additional feature is the 360-degree hinge that lets you use this masterpiece with convenience.
Budget-Friendly Laptops for Beginners
Acer Chromebook Spin 514
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor quad-core
Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics
RAM: 8 GB
Screen: 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9
Touchscreen Storage: 128 GB Flash Memory
Price: $219
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a brilliant option for drawing. Its focal point is the 14-inch screen. The full HD touchscreen is wide enough for your drawing creativity. You could call it a 2-in-1 laptop, as it converts into tablet mode, perfect for drawing. It is suitable for a beginner or a student of digital art.
HP Stream 14″ HD Laptop
CPU: Intel Celeron N4120
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400
RAM: 16 GB
Screen: 14-inch Full HD (1366 x 768)
Storage: 64 GB
Price: $195
The HP Stream 14″ laptop was designed as a portable, functional, and minimal load digital art laptop. The Intel Celeron N4120 processor assists it to deliver reliable performance for regular non-art tasks. It has a 14-inch HD display with a micro-edge design suitable for some designers. It displays your design in clear and accurate color. The screen also has an anti-glare coating to reduce eye strain. 16GB of RAM is better than 8GB, with smooth video playback and efficient data management.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
CPU: Intel Core i5
Graphics: Intel Iris and HD graphics
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256 GB
Screen: 12.3 Inches
Price: $599
The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is a hybrid device, making it one of the best budget laptops for artists who need a flexible tool that can effortlessly handle a variety of digital art tasks. You can use it as a laptop and a tablet, suitable for creatives who want more from their gadgets within budget. It has a 12.3-inch screen size with a sophisticated display. You may need to add extra fees for a keyboard. Also, it has limited ports, lacking the HDMI and type-C port.
Acer Swift 3
CPU: Intel Core i15
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
RAM: 8GB
Screen: 14.2-inch 1920 x 1080
Storage: 512GB SSD
Price: $618
Acer Swift 3 can be configured with an Intel 11th Gen Core i5 or i7 CPU. It has a 1920 x 1080p IPS display, which is not ideal for print graphics but good for digital media. It is a thin and light laptop with a fingerprint sensor. It is a low-budget laptop with a battery that lasts over 13 hours.
HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
Graphics: 10-Core and 16-Core GPU
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 128GD SSD
Screen: 15.6" FHD IPS Touchscreen
Price: $329
The HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 laptop has a strong 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U Processor which gives it its high performance. The RAM and SSD storage allow you to run multiple software without lags or glitches. It has several ports for maximum connectivity and increased productivity. Also, the 15.6-inch FHD IPS display gives you a different and immersive viewing experience. Its bulky design can be a disadvantage.
Top PC Picks for Digital Artists
Even if you spec out your laptop, the performance can never match the heat management and desktop-grade internals a PC provides. If your space allows it and you find that you don’t work on your projects on the go, investing in a desktop computer instead of a laptop can bring worthy benefits.
HP Omen Series Desktop
The HP Omen series desktop PCs are an excellent choice for digital artists who need a powerful, reliable machine without the hassle of building one from scratch. These pre-built PCs come equipped with high-performance processors, ample RAM, and top-tier NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards, making them ideal for tasks like 3D modeling, rendering, and graphic design. The convenience of a pre-built system means you get a professionally assembled, optimized setup right out of the box, saving time and ensuring compatibility and stability in your creative workflow.
Custom Build PC’s
When looking for a desktop PC, custom-build computers help you get the exact specs for what you need and enable easily upgrading parts down the line. For 3D artists looking to build a custom PC, selecting the right components is crucial for maximizing performance. Start with a high-end CPU like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X or Intel Core i9-13900K, which provide excellent multi-core performance essential for rendering and modeling. Pair it with at least 32GB of DDR5 RAM to handle large project files smoothly. For the GPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or 4090 is recommended for real-time rendering and AI-accelerated workflows. Ensure your build includes a fast NVMe SSD (1TB or more) for quick load times and ample storage. A reliable power supply unit (PSU) with adequate wattage and an efficient cooling system is also essential to maintain stability during intensive tasks.
Cloud Computer for Digital Artists
As a digital artist, you will require tons of software to achieve a top-quality result. A good laptop, coupled with cloud computing, can increase your speed and productivity. Cloud computing enables scalability and remote access to design resources on the cloud. A cloud computing service like Vagon lets you into powerful cloud tools and software like Blender and Autodesk. You don’t have to spend so much to get hardware; Vagon reduces the cost by making the tools accessible virtually.
Comparison: Traditional Laptops vs. 2-in-1 Convertibles
Years before now, every digital artist would use a traditional laptop. Modification and evolution brought about the need for flexible and convenient laptops like the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop, which ranks among the best laptop tablets for drawing and digital art. Convertibles can be detachable or a hybrid. The detachable allows you to separate the keyboard from the screen completely, while the hybrid is rotatable or foldable.
Traditional Laptops
They have more ports for connectivity
They usually have more internal storage
Not flexible
They have a larger screen size
They run with less heat
They have relatively shorter battery life
2-in-1 Convertibles
They have fewer ports for connectivity
Internal storage for convertibles is smaller
Convertibles are flexible as they can be switched to use as a notebook or sketchpad in seconds
They have a smaller screen size
Convertibles will likely overheat due to smaller working space
The batteries last longer due to fewer components
Software Compatibility and Operating System
In selecting a laptop for digital art, you may also consider the operating system. Some software used by digital artists are not compatible with certain operating systems. For example, Adobe is not available on most Linux devices. Artists who go for macOS and iOS prefer it for some of its in-built tools like Final Cut Pro, and its compatibility with the latest creative software. On the other hand, Windows users have a wider software, hardware, and customization options.
Conclusion
There is no single laptop that is best for every digital artist, but by considering your needs, you can find the best laptop for artists, tailored to your workflow and budget. Consider your preferences, the software and hardware you will use along the way, find a balance, and make a choice.
FAQs:
What are the best laptops for digital artists in 2024?
The best laptops for digital artists in 2024 include the Apple MacBook Pro 2023, MSI Creator Z16 HZ Studio, and HP Spectre x360 16 OLED for professionals. For those on a budget, options like the Lenovo 7i 2-in-1 and Acer Aspire 5 offer excellent performance at a lower price point.
What features should I look for in a laptop for digital art?
Key features to look for in a digital art laptop include a high-resolution display with accurate color reproduction, a powerful processor (at least Intel Core i5 or i7), ample RAM (8GB minimum), a dedicated graphics card, and sufficient storage space, preferably SSDs for faster performance.
Are 2-in-1 laptops good for drawing?
Yes, 2-in-1 laptops are excellent for drawing as they offer flexibility with touchscreens and stylus support. Models like the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and HP Spectre x360 16 OLED are great examples of laptops that can be used both as traditional laptops and as tablets for digital art.
Can I use a budget laptop for digital art?
Absolutely! Budget laptops like the Acer Aspire 5 and Lenovo Flex 5 provide sufficient power for beginners and hobbyists in digital art. While they may lack some high-end features, they are capable of handling most digital art software with proper optimization.
What is the best MacBook for digital art?
The best MacBook for digital art is the 2023 MacBook Pro. It features the powerful M2 Pro chip, a stunning 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, and 16GB of RAM, making it ideal for professional digital artists who require top-tier performance and display quality.
Why should digital artists consider cloud computing?
Cloud computing allows digital artists to access powerful tools and software without needing high-end hardware. Services like Vagon provide scalable cloud resources, enabling artists to work on complex projects from any device with internet access, thus reducing the need for expensive local hardware.
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