Most of the corporate offices and brands are taking the help of graphic designers and their skills to represent their brand value in the market. In fact, graphic designing has become an integral part of our daily lives because in this modern-day world of social media, online marketing can only be achieved properly with good results through ads that are made with great designing skills.
On the other hand, freelancers and content marketers are also offering their graphic designing skills online and it has become a proper industry in the last couple of years. If you’re looking to enhance your skills in this field then you’d most probably need a powerful laptop with multi-tasking abilities.
There are laptops that are specifically made for graphic designers and their relevant work patterns. You cannot apply your skills completely if you don’t have a nice working laptop that is dedicated to graphic designing only.
Design work is a difficult task requiring plenty of power to operate the software required. A graphic designer should not deal with the lagging and freezing of his laptop, particularly in the middle of a project.
Efficiency, weight, a large enough display, portability for travel, excellent features, and a price that works for you are ideally suited to find. The processor plays a major role in the success of any laptop, but particularly as far as graphic design is concerned. You will at least need a 2-core processor, but ideally, a 4-core or higher, if you are using Photoshop graphics. Seek at least a 2H memory clock.
Intel processors are currently dominating the market and everybody knows about the Intel Core, AMD Ryzen and Intel Xeon. These chips provide the power-packed performance along with good results as far as graphic designing is concerned.
A good enough RAM is also pretty important to keep the speed of the device going strongly. RAM has this ability to store data temporarily and when you turn off your laptop, the data stored temporarily can be lost immediately.
RAM and processor complement each other and the RAM also allows the processor to process more information on the go. 16GB RAM is typically best for graphic designing but 8GB RAM should also be able to carry out most of the designing tasks.
As far as the storage capacity and devices are concerned for ultimate graphic designing, you’d need at least 512 GB SSD. The great thing about SSDs is that they increase the overall speed of the computer and processing of data consumes less time.
Most of the graphic designers are also pretty selective about their workplaces. As most of them are freelancers working for different organizations, they tend to change their places of work more often. If you also want to work in different places then, you’d also need a portable laptop that is easy to carry around with any hustle and bustle.
These were some of the points we wanted to make before we get into the list of Top 6 Best Laptops for Graphic Design.
Top 6 Best Laptops for Graphic Design
MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 (2023)
Price: $2,299 USD
In our guide to the best laptops for graphic design, the spotlight falls on the MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 (2023). Its impressive specifications make it a standout choice in the realm of creative computing.
Boasting the powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, this laptop delivers unparalleled speed, ensuring seamless performance for graphic-intensive tasks. The expansive 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is a visual feast, offering a stunning brightness of 1,600 nits for HDR content – a significant leap from the industry average of 500 nits.
Apple’s innovative mini-LED technology enhances color reproduction, resulting in vivid and lifelike imagery on the screen. With a remarkable contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, this display excels in rendering precise color details crucial for graphic design work.
For professionals on the move, the MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 provides an impressive 22 hours of battery life, ensuring uninterrupted creativity wherever you go. Alternatively, if portability is your priority, consider the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Furthermore, the latest MacBook Pro model retains essential ports such as an HDMI slot, SDXC card slot, headphone jack, and MagSafe 3, along with three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, ensuring seamless connectivity for your peripherals.
Benefits:
- Great battery life
- Plenty of ports
- Beautiful big screen
- Powerful new M3 chips
Drawbacks:
- You pay for the M3 magic
ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED (H7604)
Price: $2,199 USD
Gaming laptops are also quite good at graphic designing work and this phenomenon has been proven right by this ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED.
ASUS presents an exceptional offering with its ProArt Studiobook OLED (H7604) laptop, catering to the needs of demanding creative professionals with its top-tier specifications.
Powered by an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor and equipped with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card (8GB), this laptop ensures seamless performance for a wide range of creative tasks. With a maximum RAM capacity of 64GB and storage options of up to 8TB (2x4TB SSD), it offers ample space for your projects and files.
The standout feature of the ProArt Studiobook OLED is its stunning 16.0-inch glasses-free 3D OLED display, boasting a resolution of 3.2K (3200 x 2000). This display is not only bright and sharp but also supports touchscreen functionality and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it ideal for color-accurate work in graphic design and digital art.
Furthermore, the laptop features a built-in dial above the trackpad, which can be customized to suit different applications. This versatile dial enhances productivity by allowing users to perform various functions such as scrubbing through timelines or adjusting brush sizes in image editing software.
With its powerful performance, stunning OLED display, and innovative features like the customizable dial, the ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED is a compelling choice for creative professionals seeking a Windows laptop that can rival Apple’s MacBooks.
Benefits:
- Dial above trackpad
- High-end components
- Bright display
Drawbacks:
- Low battery life
Acer Swift 3 OLED
Price: $1,166 USD
Introducing the Acer Swift Go 14 OLED, a compelling addition to our lineup of recommended laptops for graphic design, especially for those on a budget.
Featuring an Intel Core i7-13700H processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics, coupled with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, this laptop offers commendable performance for graphic design tasks. Its 14-inch 2880×1800 16:10 OLED display with a refresh rate of 90Hz provides vibrant colors and sharp visuals, covering 100% of the P3 color gamut.
Replacing the discontinued M1 Air, the Acer Swift Go 14 proves to be a worthy successor, offering approximately 83% of the power of an M2 MacBook Air, as per our testing. While it may not handle heavy 3D work, it excels in graphic design tasks.
The standout feature of this laptop is its marvelous OLED screen, praised for its brightness, color accuracy, and sharpness. The 16:10 aspect ratio ensures a spacious workspace without feeling cramped.
Impressively, the Acer Swift Go 14 boasts a battery life of up to eight and a half hours, making it an excellent choice for those frequently on the move. Its slim and lightweight design adds to its portability, making it ideal for remote work or on-the-go productivity.
Offering exceptional value for money, with prices as low as $733 during sales, the Acer Swift Go 14 OLED stands out as a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on performance, making it a solid choice for graphic design enthusiasts.
Benefits:
- Excellent OLED screen
- Almost as powerful as M2 Air
- Great battery
Drawbacks:
- Not beautiful
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip
Price: $899 USD
Introducing the 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with the revolutionary M2 chip, Apple continues to impress with its iconic MacBook Air lineup, offering a blend of sleek design and exceptional performance tailored for graphic design enthusiasts.
The inclusion of the M2 chip marks a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the M1, providing an ideal balance of power and efficiency for graphic design tasks. In our testing, we found the M2 chip to be well-suited for graphic design work, offering remarkable performance without the need for a fan. While it may warm up slightly under heavy workloads, it remains remarkably cool and quiet for everyday use.
Beyond its powerful internals, the MacBook Air boasts the standard Apple excellence, including a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display that delivers vibrant and accurate colors. Whether you opt for the 13.6-inch or 15-inch version, you can expect an immersive viewing experience ideal for graphic design work.
The MacBook Air’s sleek metal construction, Touch ID button, and a range of storage options further enhance its appeal. Whether you prioritize portability with the 13-inch version or crave the larger screen of the 15-inch model, the MacBook Air with the M2 chip is a standout choice for graphic designers seeking performance and style in one package
Benefits:
- Larger screen
- Excellent battery life
- Very good performance
Drawbacks:
- Expensive-
- Not as good value as previous model
- Gets hot when under pressure
Mavark New Yoga Book 9i 2-in-1
Price: $2,899 USD
Introducing the Mavark New Yoga Book 9i 2-in-1, a top-tier choice tailored for graphic designers seeking innovation and versatility in their creative arsenal.
Featuring an innovative dual-screen design with two 13.3-inch displays, the Mavark New Yoga Book 9i redefines multitasking and unlocks new creative possibilities without sacrificing portability. This ingenious setup mirrors a dual-monitor configuration, offering ample space for sketching, image editing, and running design software simultaneously, enabling graphic professionals to optimize their workspace for maximum productivity.
Powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, the Yoga Book 9i delivers robust performance, ensuring seamless operation during intensive design tasks without compromising efficiency. Its dual OLED screens provide vibrant colors and deep blacks, essential for accurate graphic work, while offering up to 9.5 hours of battery life to support extended creative sessions.
Despite its premium price point, the Mavark New Yoga Book 9i stands out with its innovative features, including its unique design, mobility, and endurance, making it a worthwhile investment for graphic designers seeking a laptop that seamlessly aligns with their dynamic and creative workflow demands.
Benefits:
- Impressive dual displays
- Multiple modes, plenty of features
Drawbacks:
- Takes a while to get used to
- Expensive
SAMSUNG – Galaxy Book3 Ultra 16″
Price: $2,999 USD
Introducing the SAMSUNG Galaxy Book3 Ultra 16″ 3K AMOLED Laptop, a compelling option for graphic designers seeking powerful performance and stunning visuals outside the Apple ecosystem.
Weighing in at just under 4 pounds, the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is remarkably lightweight yet packs a punch with its impressive specifications. Priced at $2,399, it features an Intel 13th Gen Core i7 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU with 6GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, and a spacious 1TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD.
Performance-wise, the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra excels, boasting a Geekbench 5.4 score of 12,212 and acing the 3DMark Fire Strike graphics test with a score of 14,307. These results highlight its capability to handle graphics-intensive applications and projects with ease.
Designed to impress, the laptop sports a stunning 16-inch 2880 x 1800 Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, delivering vivid visuals and remarkable color accuracy. While its brightness averaged at 378 nits and covered 86.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut in testing, enabling HDR boosts brightness to an impressive 509 nits.
Furthermore, the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra offers strong battery life, lasting 9 hours and 3 minutes in testing, ensuring productivity throughout the day.
In summary, with its powerful performance, stunning display, and impressive battery life, the SAMSUNG Galaxy Book3 Ultra emerges as a formidable contender for graphic designers seeking a high-performance laptop outside the Mac ecosystem.
Benefits:
- Stunningly accurate 16-inch AMOLED display
- Sub-4 pound weight
- Strong performance for its size
- Full-size keyboard and massive trackpad
- Blistering fast SSD
Drawbacks:
- Below 10 hours of battery life
- Disappointing webcam
Conclusion:
We have thoroughly reviewed all the laptops for you that can be used for extensive graphic design. If you’re still undecided about the best suitable option, we’d suggest that you check around the market once again and research properly before pulling the trigger.
In our view, the Apple Macbook Pro along with Yoga Book are the best on this list because of its powerful performance and its ability to carry out heavy tasks in designing softwares and applications. We truly hope that this guide has been helpful enough in picking up the topmost suitable choice for you. Good luck, until we meet again.