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1. Best overall
2. Best value
3. Best budget
4. Best Windows
5. Best 2-in-1
Also tested
How to choose
How we test
While few laptops perfect for graphic design come cheap, they do make for excellent and highly capable machines. However, shopping for them can be a minefield; that's where our expert testing and review process comes in.
If you're running the best graphic design software, you'll need ample power and an excellent display to render your creative works, and that's exactly what we look for when we test laptops for graphic design. We've tested every model included in this guide ourselves, running extensive benchmark tests, cross-referencing specs like the battery life and screen brightness against the manufacturer's claims and completing graphic design projects to see how well each device stacks up.
Right now, our top choice is the MacBook Pro (M3), as Apple's new M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max chips set yet another benchmark for other laptop makers to follow, combined with a fantastic screen and familiar, easy-to-use ergonomics. However, there are other considerations beyond a traditional, powerful laptop, such as needing a 2-in-1. Whatever your needs, you should find an option for you in the list below. If you prefer to consider a desktop device, see our pick of the best computers for graphic design.
For full information on our process check out our guide to how we test laptops.
Quick list
This lightning-fast, mega-powerful laptop has the hot new Apple M3 chip, boasting a big, vibrant screen and a whopping 22 hours of battery life to see you through all your graphic design needs. It's also got a wide range of ports, including an HDMI slot and an SD card reader.
Read more below
Thanks to the M2 chip, this laptop packs a superb combination of power and efficiency – and it's at a very reasonable price now it's been superseded by the M3. We think this combination makes it the best value.
Read more below
If you're on a tight budget, and you're happy to go cloud-based for your apps, we think this Chromebook is the way forward. The base model's processor is powerful enough for the cloud and it has a glorious touchscreen – plus it's often on sale for around $550.
Read more below
Packed with high-end components designed to tackle all manner of demanding creative tasks without going into meltdown, this laptop has a bright and sharp OLED display with touchscreen functionality that hits 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. Plus, it even has a built-in dial.
Read more below
The glorious OLED screen is part of what makes this a top pick. It has 16:10 aspect ratio, and glorious colour accuracy. It comes in a massive 16-inch version, brilliant for those who want a true 2-in-1 laptop with space to draw.
Read more below
The best laptops for graphic design in full
Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best laptop for graphic design overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You have a heavy workflow: If your work uses a monster amount of apps and 3D or motion work, the M3 Pro and Max power does the job with zero lag.
✅ You want a glorious screen: See your work in crystal clear definition, and at a peak brightness of 1,600 nits for HDR work.
✅ You want the latest Apple chips: The M3 Pro/Max means you won't have to upgrade for a good while.
❌ Your apps aren't optimised for Apple: Some 3D and CAD-based apps aren't available for macOS. This won't bother most graphic designers, but it's something to be aware of.
❌ You don't need top-spec power: For graphic design alone, it may be overkill for many people.
❌ Price is an issue: The newest, most powerful MacBook comes at a high price. There are more affordable options.
🔎 MacBook Pro M3 can't be beaten if you're a professional. It will handle any graphic design task with ease, no matter the assets or apps (even if there is 3D crossover). The screen is excellent, and the battery lasts all day. ★★★★½
What you need to know
When we reviewed the MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 (2023), we knew it would earn the crown of the best laptop for graphic design because we were blown away by the power and performance. With the brilliant M3 Pro or M3 Max chips, it’s faster than ever and has a big, bright 14 or 16-inch screen
Design: Apple didn't stray far from the previous design, which we don't mind at all – the Pro is sleek, streamlined and hides its power well. While the new Space Black colour is much appreciated, more exciting is the tremendous Liquid Retina XDR display, which is one of the best things about this laptop. It's big and bright, with a peak brightness of 1,600 nits if working in HDR (compared to 1,000 average) – plus the gloss finish doesn't create issues thanks to how bright it is.
Performance: Our testing of the MacBook Pro Max showed it eats up creative tasks, we were able to run multiple heavy-duty apps at once without any fuss at all. For lighter users, we recommend the Pro, which will sit nicely in the right spot for most professionals. If you're a hobbyist or have a light workflow, as an alternative we recommend looking at the MacBook Air M3, or even the previous iteration of the MacBook Pro.
Battery life: Apple suggests a lighter workload should allow you 24 hours of juice. We got an impressive 10 hours out of the MacBook Pro whilst using Cinema 4D to complete a heavy project, which is double the battery life of the best Windows pick, the Asus ProArt Studiobook when using its full feature set, and is comparable to the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1.
Price: Starting at $1,499/£1,499, we think the Pro offers good value for money given its high-end feature. But this isn't a budget option, and you will need to pay more if you want the maximum it has to offer, including the M3 Max chip.
Read more: MacBook Pro M3 review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not a budget option, but good value overall. | ★★★★½ |
| Design | Streamlined, portable and an excellent display. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Power designed for professionals and heavy workflows. | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Stellar battery life, this goes all day. | ★★★★★ |
Best value graphic design laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Price is a consideration: The M2 Air is seeing some incredible discounts right now. For the performance it offers, we think it's tremendous value.
✅ You aren't a power user: For most graphic design tasks, the MacBook Air M2 is enough power – ideal for mid-range workflows.
✅ You want portability: The M2 Air is thin and light – even the 15-inch version. The battery life is also excellent, with enough to last a almost two full work days (we got 16 hours).
❌ You need multi-screen setup: The M2 Air only supports one external display – go for the M3 Air if you like the range but this is a deal-breaker.
❌ You've got a heavy workflow: This model can handle most creative tasks, but if you're a power user, or likely to need heavy apps, we recommend the MacBook Pro.
❌ You want the newest model: The M2 Air has been superseded by the M3. We think that the M2 still offers the best value – but if you want the performance increase, see the newer model below.
🔎 MacBook Air M2 is a lightweight, zippy laptop with a fantastic screen. And it's great value now that it is frequently on sale, making it the perfect blend of price, portability and performance for most users. ★★★★½
What you need to know
Since the MacBook Air M2 was superseded by the M3, it has been subject to some stellar price cuts. Taking into consideration the performance jump from the M2 to the M3 chip (ranging from 17% to 21%) we think the significant price difference makes the M2 a great value option.
Design: Apple introduced a beautiful aluminium finish and bigger, brighter, almost bezel-less screen with this redesign. The display comes in 13.6 or 15.3-inches, and the larger is ideal for design work. Despite the increase, the laptop is thinner and lighter than before, at 11mm thick the 13.6-inch model weighs only 2.7 pounds.
Performance: Coming close to the M2 MacBook Pro 13-inch in performance, this MacBook Air confused the range when it came out because of its excellent power. Our testing found it edited 4K video with ease, and had no issue with Photoshop AI tools, but if you're planning on a sustained heavy workload the temperature could be an issue as there's no fan.
Battery life: This model's battery life was a big jump from the M1 – we got five hours more in our tests. We rain a looped 1080p video for 16 hours before it died, so longevity is definitely a standout feature of the M2 Air – unsurprisingly given its portable credentials, but still beating out every other laptop on this list except the MacBook Pro.
Price: The starting price for the M2 is $999/£999, which is only $100 under that of the M3. However, the almost-constant deals from third-party retailers is what makes this our value pick – it's currently available for $849, for example. When it came out it wasn't as competitively priced as the M3 model is now, but the deals that can be had now make it a great value option at its price point. If price isn't such a consideration but you like all the qualities of the Air range, and need more power, we recommend its successor, the MacBook Air M3.
Read more: MacBook Air (M2) review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | With the deals running, this is an excellent value option. | ★★★★½ |
| Design | A bigger, brighter screen and lightweight frame. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Handles most creative tasks easily. | ★★★★ |
| Battery life | Incredible battery life, beating every other pick. | ★★★★★ |
Best budget laptop
✅ You use cloud-based apps: A Chromebook won't be right for everyone, but if you use cloud-based apps, it can do the job.
✅ Price is your top consideration: You won't get a laptop powerful enough for full desktop graphic design programs at this price, but if budget if tight, this is a reasonable compromise.
✅ You want a Full HD touchscreen: The touchscreen is a standout feature of this Chromebook, making it ideal for graphic designers who want to draw.
❌ You don't want a 2-in-1: The Spin is a bit more expensive than other Chromebooks, partly due to the spin into a tablet.
❌ You need desktop apps and won't always have Wi-Fi: Cloud apps are getting better, but if you need full desktop suites, or travel without Wi-Fi, Chromebooks aren't for you.
❌ You want it even cheaper: The build-quality and 2-in-1 function make this pricier than other Chromebooks. You could get an i5 device for less, with some compromises.
🔎 Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is a premium Chromebook and a real budget option as a graphic design laptop. The features that set it apart are what make it perfect for designers willing to work in the cloud. ★★★★
What you need to know
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 has some features not usually found in a Chromebook, so if you're happy to work in the cloud this is an excellent budget option. With 2-in-1 functionality, it has a glorious Full HD touchscreen, lovely build quality and powerful processor (for a Chromebook).
Sure, there are compromises with a Chromebook such as needing Wi-Fi and cloud apps not always being replicas of desktop versions. But if price is truly a deal break, this is an option worth considering for excellent value.
Design: We love the aluminium chassis, which gives a premium feel not always found in a Chromebook. It's weighty and smooth, and the spin function turns it into a capable tablet. The screen is bright, in 16:10 aspect ratio and has the benefit of being touchscreen, and our testing found it to be responsive and easy to use.
Performance: The basic model comes with a 12th-generation Intel i5 processor, which is plenty powerful enough for creative tasks if you're working on cloud apps – our testing had around 30 tabs open and the machine didn't blanch. If you're planning on using it as a tablet, you'll need to buy a decent third-party stylus.
Battery life: We got around 11 hours in tests streaming video, and managed four hours after just 30 minutes of charge. While it's no MacBook, this is extremely decent performance – and surprising for a Chromebook with this power.
Price: The starting price is $599, but this is frequently reduced further. We'd struggle to recommend anything much cheaper than this if you want a laptop that's suitable for graphic design work. There are slightly cheaper Chromebook options available if you forgo the touchscreen, the power and build quality, but we wouldn't recommend them for graphic design if you can stretch to this option.
Read more: Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Premium features at a budget price | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Gorgeous touchscreen, lovely build quality | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Ample power for cloud-based creativity | ★★★★ |
| Battery life | Great but not as good as MacBook. | ★★★★★ |
Best Windows laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want Windows: If you don't like MacBooks, or working in macOS, the ASUS ProArt Studiobook is our top pick as it runs heavy loads with ease.
✅ You want an OLED display: The ProArt screen is a thing of beauty, one of the best we've seen – ideal for graphic design work.
✅ You like productivity features: It's a laptop set up for creative work so comes with add-ons like a built-in dial you can customise for apps and tasks.
❌ You need long battery life: we only got four and a half hours, though dimming the screen helps here.
❌ You're on a budget: With a starting price of $1,999 this isn't cheap but you're paying for a lot of features and power – if you need less power, this isn't for you.
❌ You like a traditional keyboard: The keyboard is a bit strange – full-size squeezed into the clamshell – so some buttons aren't where they should be.
🔎 Asus ProArt Studiobook OLED is a powerhouse with an array of useful features, plus a glorious screen. It's pricey, and has low battery life but the performance makes up for it. 50 words ★★★★½
What you need to know
The Asus ProArt Studiobook is a beast of a laptop, perfect for creators thanks to the beautiful OLED screen, power and handy customisable dial. Much like the MacBook Pro M3, it can handle any creative task you throw at it so the higher specced models will be perfect for power users. Though there are other features that will be appreciated by all types of graphic designers, if you have a lighter workflow you may not need all the power it has to offer.
Design: This is a thoughtfully designed laptop on the whole, with a customisable dial you can program for different apps. This can be used for scrolling through brushes or a timeline, or changing through different modes. The keyboard is an oddball, it's a slightly altered version of a full size keyboard, so keys won't always be where you think they are. The star of the show is the OLED display, which is among the best we've seen – we highly rated the colour accuracy.
Performance: The model we tested was on par with the MacBook Pro M2 in performance, with our benchmarks showing it will be more than capable of handling heavy workloads in Affinity Photo or Blender. It's power for professionals. However, the fans are noisy and you need to manage the cooling profiles in the ProArt app – though they do a good job.
Battery life: All that power means Battery life is a letdown. We got about four and a half hours out of it before it died a death. You can extend it by dimming the screen but we recommend planning to be near a power source.
Price: With a starting price of $1,999, you can pay up to $2,999 for the highest specs so this isn't cheap by any means. But the amount of features and power, plus that screen, explains the price. If you're a pro or power user, you can't do much better than this.
Read more: Asus ProArt Studiobook OLED review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Expensive but worth it for serious users | ★★★★★ |
| Design | Gorgeous OLED screen and great feature set | ★★★★½ |
| Performance | All the power you could ever need | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Low. We got four and a half hours. | ★★★ |
Best 2-in-1 laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a good mid-range 2-in-1 laptop: This performs well as both tablet and laptop, and has a great screen and stylus.
✅ You want to customise your specs: You can substitute the Intel graphics card for options by Nvidia, making this as powerful as most graphic designers would want.
✅ Your workload is mid-power: This isn't one for super-heavy workloads, you won't be able to edit masses of RAW photos, but for light-to-mid workloads, it's idea.
❌ You prioritise portability: This isn't the most lightweight of laptops, though it's manageable.
❌ You need a bright screen: The OLED screen is great, but only hits 400 nits of brightness, which isn't great for outdoor use.
❌ You download a lot of apps: We found app installation sluggish, though we didn't encounter the same issue with working performance.
🔎 HP Spectre x360 16 is a brilliant 2-in-1 laptop with excellent power, discrete GPU option and a wonderful OLED display. It's less portable than others but worth it for the feature set – and it's ace value for money. ★★★★
What you need to know:
This is the best 2-in-1 laptop for graphic design because of its fantastic screen, power and portability. It will run your creative apps without fault, and actually has its own HP suite of creative software (though it won't compete with others you're likely already using). You can also swap out the graphics card, which is great for designers with varying workloads.
Design: It's not lightweight, but reasonably portable – and the build quality is great. The 16-inch OLED screen is a solid performer (smaller options are available), if a little dimmer than we'd like. Our testing found the the colour spectrum was accurate and vibrant, and the 16:10 aspect ratio gives you a bit more vertical space than the standard 16:9, and it comes with a stylus.
Performance: The performance is punchy enough for most graphic design workflows, including image editing and digital art work. We found it a little sluggish when installing apps, but this didn't translate to actually working on the machine. If you need power for big assets, you'll need to look at the highest specs and Nvidia graphics cards.
Battery life: Our tests got 15 hours out of one charge, which brings it in line with the impressive MacBook Air range. It's tons more battery than other Windows options on the list, such as the ProArt Studiobook.
Price: This is a mid-range 2-in-1, which is why it's nudged out the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 (which is more expensive). Starting at $1,599, it's frequently subject to deals. For such a capable hybrid laptop, this is a reasonable price.
Read more: HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 (2022) review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Mid-range, good value | ★★★★ |
| Design | Not lightweight, great screen | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Punchy, discrete graphics card | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Excellent, top performance | ★★★★★ |
Also tested
While the laptops above get our ultimate nod of approval as fantastic laptops for graphic design, there are more laptops worthy of your attention. If none of the above quite tickle your fancy, we've also tested all of the below laptops and will happily recommend them as great laptops for graphic design, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out.
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED
With a 14-core Intel i9 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card and 32GB of RAM, this ASUS model combines MacBook Pro-level power with a sub-£/$1,500 price tag. Bonus points for the gorgeous OLED screen, although battery life can't quite keep up with the leaders.
Read our 4-star review.
Dell Precision 5470
It may not have a large display, but this 14-inch parcel comes loaded still very powerful - our testing put its performance close to that of a 14-inch MacBook Pro M2 Pro. This portable powerhouse is comfortable to use, feels well-built, and exudes quality.
Read our 4.5-star review.
How to choose
How to choose a laptop for graphic design?
When choosing a laptop for graphic design, you’ll want a laptop with a lot of power. Graphic design work can be pretty intensive and so you’ll need a laptop that can properly support that and run your host of creative tools.
If you’re frequently on the go and do your work outside the home, you’ll want to strike that proper balance between power and portability. You may have to sacrifice some power to get a laptop that is thin and light enough to throw in your backpack. If you plan to rarely or never tote your computer then we recommend focusing on purchasing a heavier, more powerful laptop.
The next thing you’ll want to consider is what operating system you prefer. MacOS used to be the staple of creative professionals, but nowadays it really doesn’t matter if you use Mac or Windows - both can do the job for graphic designers just fine. It’s up to personal preference, and that shows among the Creative Bloq team, where some of us prefer Mac laptops, while others lean towards Windows.
Finally, budget can be a huge factor in laptop purchases. Many of the laptops in this guide can be quite expensive. If budget is no constraint we recommend the MacBook Pro (M3), but if you’re a student or just starting out, the the MacBook Air (M1) will give you the most bang for your buck.
What laptop specs do I need for graphic design?
When buying a laptop for graphic design, you’ll need to take into account the specifications of the models you’re researching. But what specs do you need in the first place?
For a good graphic design laptop, you’ll want a modern processor from either Intel or AMD. When it comes to MacBooks, Apple has its own chip – the M1 – which performs brilliantly as well. If you’re going for Intel or AMD, we recommend getting an 13th gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 7000 mobile processor if you want to future-proof the laptop. For Apple fans, look for the M2 series of chips.
When it comes to RAM, the more you have, the better, especially if you want to multitask. We suggest a minimum of 8GB RAM, but ideally 16-64GB if your budget can stretch to it.
A dedicated graphics card is also worth thinking about, especially for graphically intensive workloads. However, these can up the price of a laptop considerably, and modern integrated GPUs are good enough for day-to-day graphic design use. For any heavier usage, though, a discrete graphics card is a must.
How we test
When it comes to testing laptops for graphic design, we look for a good, high resolution screen, assessing pixel density, colour accuracy, contrast and more, to decide how well it performs for graphic design. We also test for both CPU core and graphics performance to make sure you'll get the performance you expect from the latest processors and GPUs.
We also run real projects on real graphic design software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Cinema 4D, Adobe Illustrator and more, depending on the reviewer, their specialism and the laptop's intended user base.
Storage is arguably a little less critical, as well-specified laptops now come with fast PCIe SSDs. But we still test sequential throughput and random access to make sure that nothing unusual is going on. We also assess ergonomics, build and usability, including keyboard quality, chassis rigidity, trackpad response and more to build up a practical picture of how well a laptop performs in the real world rather than merely benchmarks.
Finally, battery life is important for any laptop and it's also a metric by which different models can differ dramatically, both from each other and from the manufacturer claims.
