Buying a laptop for graphic design is not something you should take lightly, as it will be your work tool. Therefore, it is necessary for this machine to be powerful enough to process the various design programs.
In addition, it must have the ability to perform different functions quickly and smoothly. Fortunately, we have a wide variety of laptops for graphic design on the market, but it is necessary that the laptop you are going to buy adapts to all your professional needs.
What are the best laptops for graphic design?
To answer this question, we have made a list of the most powerful laptops for graphic design on the market, those that have powerful processors inside, the necessary amount of RAM to run 3D applications and design programs, among others. Learn about them here.
Dell Inspiron 3501
Here are the most notable technical specifications of the Dell Inspiron 3501 laptop:
- Processor: Intel Core i7 1165G7 (4.7GHz)
- RAM Memory: 16GB
- Graphics Card: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Display: 1920×1080 15.6″ LED
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD
- Battery: 4 hours
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Ports: 2 USB 3.2, USB 2.0, SD, HDMI
- Weight: 1.74kg
Perhaps one of the best laptops for graphic design students that you can consider for the price and features it provides, is the Dell Inspiron 15 3501. A computer that stands out mainly for offering the optimal configuration for this profession: Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD of storage, but at a cost that is difficult to improve.
Its light and slim design (only 1.74kg), is very convenient for mobile work, on top of its shell made of recycled materials in favor of taking care of the planet, it is very attractive, resistant and of excellent quality.
Its 15.6″ screen with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels is very sharp and although it does not have a dedicated graphics card, it presents good color accuracy. Finally, it has versatility of ports to connect a graphics tablet or some extra device that you need to design and what I would have loved is that the battery life was longer so as not to depend so much on its charger.
MSI Prestige 14
Here are the most notable technical specifications of the MSI Prestige 14 EVO:
- Processor: Intel Core i7 1195G7 (5.0GHz)
- RAM Memory: 16GB
- Graphics Card: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Display: IPS 1920×1080 14″
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD
- Battery: 9 hours
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-A, MicroSD
- Weight: 1.29kg
What I like most about the MSI Prestige 14 is its ultra-thin and light design, with only 1.29 kg it will not cost you anything to carry it with you, while you work as a designer in mobility. To consider that its aluminum casing is perceived as of very good quality. In my opinion it is very important to pay close attention to the design of the laptop, as it also gives you a certain prestige with your customers.
Its 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor fully complies with design tasks, in addition to its performance is fast, its Intel Iris Xe Graphics graphics card manages to give you a Full HD resolution with excellent image quality, on top of that if you get bored you can run games of up to 30fps with excellent fluidity. Its touchpad also stands out, which, being larger, favors Photoshop work.
Another point to highlight is its autonomy, the promise of battery life is more than 9 hours, which helps a lot when you have to leave your office or are on a work trip, it is also a great option if you are looking for cheap laptops for graphic design.
Lenovo Legion Y540
Here are the most notable technical specifications of the Lenovo Y540:
- Processor: Intel Core i7 9750H (2.6 to 4.5GHz)
- RAM Memory: 16GB
- Graphics Card: 6GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti
- Display: IPS 1920×1080 15.6″ (144Hz)
- Hard Drive: 256GB SSD
- Battery: 5 hours
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Ports: USB Type-C, 3 USB 3.1 Gen 2, HDMI
- Weight: 2.30kg
The first thing that strikes me about the Legion Y540 is its unconventional design. The base, a little larger than the screen and playing a little with the thicknesses, gives it an avant-garde touch. What I am completely convinced of is its aluminum casing, it looks elegant, as well as resistant, which in tune with its white backlit keyboard, (ideal for designing at night), end with a futuristic design.
The second thing is that it features a dedicated 6GB graphics card, which in combination with its anti-glare IPS panel screen, you will have ideal color accuracy for your projects. As for the specifications they are a little tight for me, but they are still optimal for graphic design (Intel Core i7 ninth generation, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage). It is worth mentioning that the battery only reaches 5 hours of use, so you will have to consider keeping this PC connected on your designer desk.
Another highlight of the keyboard is that the softness of the keys helps a lot to work comfortably, without you feeling like you’re tapping your fingers.
Acer Predator Helios 300
These are the most notable technical specifications of the Acer Predator Helios 300 model PH315-54-760S:
- Processor: Intel Core i7 11800H (4.6GHz)
- RAM Memory: 16GB
- Graphics Card: 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- Display: IPS 1920×1080 15.6″ (144Hz)
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD
- Battery: 6 hours
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1
- Weight: 2.49kg
The Acer Predator Helios 300 imposes from the moment you see it, in my opinion, its compact design, but robust, fits very well for a student or designer looking for power and style. The materials are perceived to be of good quality, the case is resistant and has a thicker gauge than usual, also in combination with its RGB illuminated keyboard, you can make different color harmonies per zone and work at night with your favorite environment.
Regarding specifications (Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD of storage), the notebook runs the most demanding programs, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, even doing other tasks simultaneously silently. Although you don’t expect this in advanced games, since the noise of the fans does increase considerably, in addition to the battery life also decreases.
Its 15.6″ screen is of excellent quality, you can design comfortably and in high resolution (1920×1080 pixels) thanks to its dedicated NVIDIA 6GB graphics card and its IPS panel, also in favor of your eyes.
Asus TUF Dash 15
These are the most notable technical specifications of the Asus TUF Dash 15 model FX517ZM-AS73:
- Processor: Intel Core i7 12650H (4.7GHz)
- RAM Memory: 16GB
- Graphics Card: 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- Display: IPS 1920×1080 15.6″ (144Hz)
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD
- Battery: 6 hours
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, HDMI 2.0b
- Weight: 2.00kg
Then, the Asus TUF Dash 15 stands out mainly for its 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor and 10 cores, which gives you optimal performance for your professional life, also if you want to increase its performance even more, it allows you to easily upgrade the RAM and SSD hard drive (16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage), in case you need more in the future.
At first glance I had the feeling of being a fragile team, but it was not like that, when I noticed that the quality of the materials are good and resistant. I also consider that the equipment is in the line of being called “light” (only 2kg), in case you are looking for a powerful computer to continue with the work outside the office.
In terms of connectivity and ports, it complies. It is also appreciated that the touch pad is a little larger than usual, which helps when using software for graphic design and although it does not stand out, the sound is balanced, perfect for relaxing with music while you are conceptualizing.
Speaking of the screen, it presents a quality to show off in Full HD, on top of that with 6GB of dedicated graphics card, you will have fluid graphics for work and video games. Where it could improve is the battery life (only 4-6 hours) and that demanding a lot, the fans make noise to consider.
MacBook Pro M1 Max
Here are the most notable technical specifications of the MacBook Pro M1 Max:
- Processor: Apple M1 Max chip (3.1GHz)
- RAM: 32GB
- Graphics Card: 32-core GPU
- Display: Liquid Retina XDR 3456×2234 16.2″
- Hard Drive: 1TB SSD
- Battery: 17 hours
- Operating System: Mac OS
- Ports: 3 Thunderbolt 4, SDXC, HDMI, MagSafe 3
- Weight: 2.15kg
I have already boasted in more than one article, what it is to have a MacBook Pro and I am not lying when I say that Apple is synonymous with quality, probably the best laptop brand for graphic design, with more than one ideal computer for any designer. Specifically speaking of this model, it stands out from the rest for its Liquid Retina display and its GPU of up to 32 cores, it will be difficult for you to find superior quality, which comes in handy for this profession where color and brightness to the extreme, if it matters.
It has the configuration more than enough for graphic design, with a silent performance (Apple M1 Max chip, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage), compared to my laptop, it has 4 times more specifications and if you get a computer without failures, it will probably last you about 40 years, mine is already in its eleventh year. In terms of portability, its battery helps a lot, you can work a full day, without worrying about charging it.
Finally, aluminum cases are one of my favorites, more so when they are of a thick gauge and I would have liked some USB 3.2 ports, but usually if you buy a Mac, you have to get used to many new things, such as its operating system, by the way very intuitive.
What are the characteristics that a laptop should have for graphic design?
As you saw in the ranking of laptops for graphic design that we made for you, each of these laptops have been built with powerful hardware to support very heavy files and programs, because that is why they have been created.
However, it is important to make it clear what are the features that you should take into account before buying a laptop to design. Here are some recommendations:
- It is important that the laptop or laptop has a processor that is not inferior to the Intel Core i5.
- In the case of its RAM, it should not fall below 8 GB. In case your budget is relatively high, the ideal would be to get a laptop with 16GB of RAM or more.
- Remember that the laptop must have an SSD hard drive. Even though these are not cheap, this hardware will make processes and programs run much faster. In addition, they must be 128 GB capacity and above.
- Screen resolution is essential for design, so you should make sure that the laptop has a panel with FHD resolutions. You can also connect an external display.
The Best Accessories for a Designer Laptop
There are many computer accessories to complement a laptop and make it provide a better, more comfortable and efficient user experience. If you have doubts about this aspect, we share a list of the best tools to boost your laptop.
- Mouse: Despite the existence of a touchpad built into the laptop, many choose to use a mouse for greater precision and comfort when designing.
- Cooling base: One of the disadvantages of laptops is that they tend to increase their temperature when you are working. Therefore, a cooling base can extend the life of your computer by helping to reduce the temperature.
- Power adapter: If you are going to work outdoors or have some pending projects, it is best to have a power adapter to recharge the laptop battery quickly.
- Security cable: If you need to leave your laptop in a public place, a security cable can help prevent theft.
- External hard drive: An external hard drive is useful for backing up important data or storing large files that don’t fit on the laptop’s hard drive.
- External speakers: In order to improve the sound quality of your laptop, external speakers can be a great addition.
- Laptop sleeve or case: A laptop sleeve or case can protect your laptop while traveling and may also have extra space for other accessories.
- External monitor: If you’re looking for a larger screen to work with, an external monitor is a great option. This can also help reduce eye strain and improve posture.
- External keyboard: If you prefer a physical keyboard for typing, an external keyboard is a great option. This can also help improve posture by placing the laptop screen in a more ergonomic position.