The Best Laptops for Graphic Designers in 2021

The best laptops for graphic design in 2021

Technology changes every day and what was the best option that existed even six months ago can suddenly be yesterday’s news. With 2021 in full swing, we wanted to make sure we brought you the best laptops available so you can be successful all year long.

With our list of best laptops for designers in 2021 , the technology featured makes it the perfect time to buy a new laptop that can help make all your work wow your customers. To find out what to look for, we created a shopping list to focus on with any laptop.

Shopping list for your next designer laptop

CPU

The processor controls the functions of your laptop. With graphic design work, you need a processor that is fast and powerful so that you can run complex design software. While the best processor brands may change from time to time, your best bet for a CPU is one with a quad-core processor or even an extreme series.

RAM

Memory contains the data that your computer users use when the computer is working when you are working on a design project. When you work on large files or tend to have more than one program, more RAM will allow you to perform these types of tasks much more easily. Your laptop should come with as much of it as possible. However, if you don’t include enough RAM, you can always buy and install more easily.

Storage unit

With laptops, you will come across a hard drive or solid state drive. Hard drives tend to be cheaper and offer more capacity, but they can cause problems for your laptop. Solid state drives, on the other hand, are lighter, faster, and have better durability. Most of the newer laptops come with solid state drives. If not, the computer can be retrofitted with a Solid State Drive, if desired.

Screen size

Graphic design is a visual medium which means that all the work you do is meant to be seen. Choosing a laptop with a small screen will only make things more difficult when it comes to getting work done. The optimal screen size should be at least 15 inches. Having a 17-inch screen is better for the workspace, but it could become a burden.

Best Laptops for Designers in 2021

Macbook Pro

Laptops: Macbook Pro

Apple’s Best Laptop for Graphic Design

CPU: eighth generation | Intel Core i5 – 8th Generation Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 – 655 | RAM: 8 GB – 16 GB | Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2,560 x 1,600 | Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD

The MacBook Pro Apple is many people’s definition of an amazing laptop. With an included touch bar that gives you a faster way to access applications or even log in. A beautiful 13-inch screen makes all your work look amazing while the Core i5 processor can handle your design work with ease. While it’s not the cheapest option on our list, the quality speaks for itself.

Acer Predator Helios 300

Laptops: Acer Predator Helios 300

A powerful graphic design laptop

CPU: 6-core Intel Core i7-8750H processor | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630; Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB GDDR5) | RAM: 16 GB | Screen: 15.6 ”(1920 × 1080) | Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD

Equipped with 16 GB of RAM and a Core i7 processor, the Predator Helios 300 it is a beast of a machine. You can create amazing works of art with color precision, and the 15-inch screen has great resolution. While there are many other options, the Helios 300 is great for anyone.

Microsoft Surface Book 2

Laptops: Microsoft Surface Book 2

Best laptop / tablet combination

CPU: Intel Core i5-7300U – Intel Core i7-8650U 1.9GHz | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620; Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB GDDR5 VRAM) | RAM: 8 GB – 16 GB | Display: 3,000 x 2,000 PixelSense display (267 PPI), 3: 2 aspect ratio | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

2-in-1 laptops offer many designers the best of both worlds – a traditional laptop with a tablet you can work on. One of the most powerful 2-in-1 laptops available, Surface Book 2 it’s packed with enough hardware to handle everyday tasks, and with a dedicated graphics card, it can handle all of your design applications. If you’re not a fan of MacOS, you’re in luck, as the Surface Book 2 uses Windows 10.

Dell XPS 13

Laptops: Dell XPS 13

Best 4K laptop

CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8 GB – 16 GB | Display: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – 4k (3840 x 2160) | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

The perfect laptop for graphic design, XPS 13 Dell is impressive with an incredible 4K display paired with an 8th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7. Dell is known for the options they offer when it comes to customizing their products and there is no lack of options with the XPS 13. At the top of the range, you can have 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage, effectively turning this machine into a beast.

Apple MacBook Air (2020)

Laptops: Apple MacBook Air (2019)

The thinnest laptop for graphic design

CPU: 1.6GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 / M1 Chip | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617 | RAM: 8 GB – 16 GB | Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology | Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD

Seeing more than one Apple laptop on the best list should come as no surprise to anyone. The quality of their products speaks for itself and that is evident with the MacBook Air . With a thinner and lighter design with a Retina display, this might just be the best MacBook Air available. Packed with an 8th gen processor and 16GB of RAM when all things are considered, this is one of the most affordable MacBooks out there and a great option for anyone just starting out.

Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

The best 2-in-1 for graphic design

CPU: Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Radeon RX Vega M GL Graphics with 4GB HMB2 Graphics Memory | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD

Despite its launch in 2018, the XPS 15 2-in-1 It’s still one of the best graphic design laptops out there. Being able to switch between using the XPS as a laptop and a tablet makes it very versatile for the work you do. With an Intel G-series Kaby Lake CPU and Radeon graphics card, this laptop stands out from the crowd. With the power of this laptop, it certainly does.

12-inch Apple MacBook

12-inch Apple MacBook

Best 12-inch laptop for graphic design

CPU: Intel Core M3 1.2GHz – Intel Core i7 1.4GHz | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8 GB – 16 GB | Screen: 12 inches, (2,304 x 1,440) IPS 16:10 | Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

The Apple macbook is the perfect little brother to the MacBook Pro. With a 7th-generation Kaby Lake processor along with improvements in both battery life and laptop performance, the 12-inch MacBook is second only to the beautiful design and the quality that Apple puts in its products. While it’s not the productivity powerhouse that its big brother is, there’s no question that for your graphic design work, it’s an amazing laptop.

Huawei MateBook X Pro

Huawei MateBook X Pro

Best Overall Laptop for Graphic Design

CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8550U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR | RAM: 16 GB | Display: 13.9-inc | Storage: 512GB SSD

Not many people are aware of the quality products that Huawei produces, including the MateBook X Pro . Equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor along with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, the MateBook has the specs that a graphic designer needs to create their best possible work. Along with an affordable price, good battery life, and blazing fast speed, Huawei has created a high-quality laptop that can change many graphic designers’ opinion of the laptop they use.

Asus Vivobook Pro 17

Asus Vivobook Pro 17

A graphic design laptop with a beautiful screen

CPU: Intel i7-8550U | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 | RAM: 16 GB | Screen: 17.3 inches | Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD

The large 17.3-inch screen is the first thing many people notice when they look at the Vivobook Pro 17 from Asus, but a look under the hood will show any graphic designer a powerful laptop that can meet their needs. An Intel i7 processor plus 16GB of RAM will help make any program easy to use and with storage options from a 256GB SSD to a 1TB HDD, it comes with enough space to store all your work.

HP Specter x360 15t

HP Specter x360 15t

The most powerful laptop for graphic design

CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | RAM: 16 GB | Screen: 15.6 inches | Storage: 512GB + 1TB SDD

The Specter X360 15t HP is easily the most powerful choice for graphic designers on our list. This is especially good for those who have to have the best technology available. The beautiful 15.6-inch screen hides a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. All in all, the Specter x360 is a powerful laptop and it also has a responsive touchpad that makes your graphic design work with ease. While the price is a bit high if it is within your budget, it is worth buying.

Best Laptops for Designers in 2021

A great laptop can make your entire design so much easier to complete, and so much easier for your projects to look their best. We hope that with our list of the best laptops for designers in 2021 you can have a productive and successful 2021.

Have a laptop that you can’t stop raving about? Let us know in the comments below!

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