Finding the best laptop for drawing means balancing a responsive touchscreen, accurate colour reproduction and sufficient processing power – ideally with a quality stylus included. Whether you're a professional illustrator, graphic designer or just like drawing for fun, the right choice could transform your creative workflow.
Today's drawing laptops range from versatile 2-in-1 convertibles to powerful desktop replacements for demanding 3D work. We've tested dozens of models to find those that truly excel. Our top overall pick is the ASUS ProArt PZ13. Check out our guide to the best drawing tablets too.
Erlingur is knee-deep in laptops for most of the day, everyday. After testing over 100 laptops, he is a champion of finding the most powerful tech to do the job for all types of creative workflows – and has personally developed rigorous testing processes specifically for creatives. He loves ASUS machines because of the innovation onboard.
The best laptops for drawing in full
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The best laptop for drawing and digital art overall
Note: The ASUS ProArt PZ14 is now available and on sale, but we haven't reviewed it yet. Until we do, the PZ13 remains an excellent choice and is still a great option for artists.
30-second review: The ASUS ProArt PZ13 combines refinement and ruggedness in a unique way. The screen is brilliant for digital art, and the stylus is included, as well as other accessories, so you won't need to pay extra to have the perfect 2-in-1 for drawing. This laptop is best for artists who have a well-rounded workflow and money to spend.
Price: The ASUS ProArt PZ13 retails at $1,099 / £1,099, which makes it very competitive, particularly considering it comes with a stylus, keyboard, stand and protective sleeve (at least in the US and UK).
Design: This sleek OLED-screen tablet computer has a 13.3-inch screen and is impeccably designed. It weighs 850g, although this weight racks up once you add in the included screen and keyboard.
Connectivity: The ProArt PZ13 offers two USB-C ports plus an SD card reader. It could be worse, but it could be better.
Display: The 3K touchscreen is 2880x1800 and is a 16:10 ratio, which we think works brilliantly for drawing. The screen is Pantone validated and in our tests showed a 100% P3 and 99.4% sRGB colour coverage. It's sharp, it's bright, it's responsive, and our tester loved it.
Performance: The ProArt PZ13 lags slightly behind other Copilot+ releases we've reviewed, but for the price our reviewer still found the performance to be more than adequate. Note that this laptop is not for you if you want to create artwork for games, as the graphics driver isn't up to processing and rendering moving images, though for still images it works just great.
Battery life: Our tester was very impressed with the battery life on this machine, which lasted over 20 hours in our streaming video test. This is superior to the other machines on this list.
Read more: ASUS ProArt PZ13 review
The ASUS ProArt PZ13 is the most compact member of ASUS' newly retooled ProArt family, but it's certainly not the runt of the litter. It's unique and ideal for creatives.
The best budget laptop for drawing and digital art
30-second review: The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a rugged, budget-friendly 2-in-1 that prioritises durability and utility over raw power or aesthetics. Its 360-degree hinge and responsive 11.6-inch touchscreen make it a capable companion for light creative work and digital sketching, while MIL-STD 810H certification means it can handle the knocks of everyday life. The MediaTek Kompanio 540 isn't a powerhouse, but ChromeOS runs smoothly enough for web apps, light photo editing and digital crafting. Just be aware that active pen support is limited to passive styluses with no pressure sensitivity.
Price: At $579.99 / £349, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is one of the most affordable 2-in-1 drawing devices on the market. Excellent value for creatives who just need a lightweight companion device.
Design: It's almost identical to the standard Chromebook 311 in looks, but the Spin adds a robust 360-degree hinge that holds the screen at any angle without slipping. The MIL-STD 810H certification means it can handle drops, vibration and temperature extremes. At 1.26kg it's impressively light. The touchscreen uses Corning Gorilla Glass and supports 10-point multi-touch.
Connectivity: It's well-equipped for its class, with two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports and a 3.5mm jack. Wi-Fi 7 provides fast, stable wireless connectivity; a notable inclusion at this price point. Bluetooth 5.3 is also on board.
Display: The 11.6-inch IPS touchscreen runs at 1366 x 768 resolution, which is modest by today's standards, but the display is responsive and the Gorilla Glass provides a pleasingly smooth drawing surface. Brightness tops out at 250 nits, so best avoided in direct sunlight.
Performance: The MediaTek Kompanio 540 with 4GB RAM delivers a slightly sluggish experience even in ChromeOS, with brief delays when switching apps. That said, it handles web-based creative apps, Android drawing apps and light digital crafting without issue. It's not a machine for demanding workflows, but it's not intended to be.
Battery life: Acer claims up to 15 hours from the 45Wh battery, and fast charging is supported. In practice expect a full day of light use; more than adequate for a companion device.
Read more: Acer Chromebook Spin 311 review
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a rugged, budget-friendly 2-in-1 that prioritises durability and utility over raw power or aesthetics. Its 360-degree hinge, responsive touchscreen, and military-grade toughness make it a highly capable companion device for simple creative tasks.
The best premium laptop for drawing and digital art
30-second review: The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI is a compact creative powerhouse, combining a cutting-edge RTX 5070 GPU with Intel's second-gen Lunar Lake Core Ultra 9 processor in a slim 17.3mm chassis. The OLED screen is gorgeous – 97% P3, 100% sRGB, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate – and Nvidia's Studio drivers come pre-installed for professional creative stability. Be aware that the stylus in the box only works on the glass touchpad rather than the screen, and you'll need to use the supplied charger to unlock Turbo mode for peak performance.
Price: At $2,499.99 / £2,700, this is a serious investment. However, its GPU performance is approximately three times that of an Apple M4, making it justifiable for graphics-heavy workflows like 3D rendering, video editing and AI-assisted creative work.
Design: Acer has packed formidable internals into a 14-inch metal chassis that measures just 17.3mm at its thickest point. It's larger than a MacBook Air but feels compact for what it contains. The ports are well-distributed on both sides, though the USB-A and USB-C ports on the right sit too close together. Rainbow key backlighting adds a gamer aesthetic that can be switched off in software.
Connectivity: One Thunderbolt 4, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI, MicroSD and a 3.5mm audio jack. Annoyingly, the Thunderbolt 4 port is unmarked, so you may need to test which one it is. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 are both available for wireless connectivity.
Display: The 14-inch OLED delivers 2880 x 1800 resolution at 120Hz with measured brightness of 400 nits. Colour accuracy is exceptional: 100% sRGB, 95% Adobe RGB, and 97% DCI-P3. The touchscreen responds to finger input but not the included stylus, which is limited to the trackpad.
Performance: In Turbo mode with the correct charger, the Triton's performance is outstanding. Turbo mode adds around 8% to CPU scores and up to 50% to raw video processing scores in Premiere Pro benchmarks. The RTX 5070 GPU score in Geekbench is roughly three times that of Apple's M4. Battery life is nearly seven hours – impressive for a machine with this level of GPU power.
Read more: Acer Predator Triton 14 AI review
With its cutting-edge components and compact frame, the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI looks like a creative powerhouse, and it can be exactly that. It's an expensive laptop though, and there are a lot of other machines out there that will compete for your attention.
The best drawing laptop for portability
30-second review: Microsoft's latest tablet-laptop hybrid is a great choice for artists who prioritize portability. With an ARM-based Snapdragon X Plus processor, it delivers solid CPU performance for everyday creative tasks while maintaining impressive battery life exceeding 14 hours. The 12-inch touchscreen with 90Hz refresh rate provides smooth pen input, though the 71% P3 color coverage falls short of premium standards. Unlike previous Intel-based Surface Pros, the Snapdragon chip handles Photoshop and Illustrator well, though some Adobe apps remain in beta. The device's clean, portable design makes it ideal for sketching on the go, but remember that the keyboard cover and stylus are expensive add-ons.
Price: The Surface Pro 12 starts attractively at $799/£799, but costs escalate quickly. The keyboard cover adds $249/£249, the Surface Pen costs extra, and you'll need a charger for another $49/£49. Fully equipped, this "budget" Surface matches or exceeds mid-range laptop pricing, though it remains competitive against the similarly-priced iPad Air M3.
Design: Weighing just 686g and measuring 7.8mm thin, the Surface Pro 12 is genuinely portable. The integrated kickstand provides versatile viewing angles, while a magnetic recess securely stores the Surface Pen. The clean tablet form factor features minimal bezels housing a 1080p webcam with Windows Hello support. However, the lack of bundled keyboard and stylus feels disappointing at this price point, especially for artists expecting a complete creative setup.
Connectivity: The Surface Pro 12 offers two USB 3.2 Type-C ports, a welcome upgrade for charging, display output, and peripherals. While the inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 is forward-thinking, the downgrade from USB4 (found on the Surface Pro 11) to USB 3.2 is puzzling. Artists will likely need a USB hub for connecting drawing tablets, external drives, and other accessories simultaneously.
Display: The 12-inch LCD touchscreen offers 2196 x 1464 resolution in a creative-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures responsive pen input, crucial for digital sketching. Testing revealed 442 nits brightness and 96% sRGB coverage, suitable for general creative work. However, the 71% P3 and 72% AdobeRGB coverage indicates this isn't a colour-critical display for professional colour grading or print work. The non-IPS, non-OLED panel technology represents a compromise at this price point.
Performance: The eight-core Snapdragon X Plus delivers respectable performance for creative work, matching Intel Core Ultra processors in CPU-intensive tasks. Photoshop runs smoothly, and the ARM architecture handles most creative applications through Windows Prism emulation. However, GPU performance lags significantly behind competitors; the integrated Adreno graphics struggles with demanding tasks, taking considerably longer in AI image processing. InDesign and Premiere Pro remain beta versions on ARM. For sketching, illustration, and photo editing, performance is adequate; for video editing or 3D work, look elsewhere.
Battery life: The Surface Pro 12's standout feature is its exceptional 14-hour battery life in video playback testing. This all-day endurance makes it ideal for artists working remotely, sketching in cafes, or traveling without constant charging anxiety. The ARM architecture's efficiency shines here, offering battery performance that rivals the M3 iPad Air while running full Windows applications.
Read more: Surface Pro 12 review
"It’s both a tablet and a laptop, a device for office work and watching movies, for note-taking and painting with a stylus and switching into portrait orientation for reading ebooks and long web articles. It’s versatile and highly portable."
The best laptop screen for drawing
30-second review: The ASUS Zenbook A14 is a remarkable achievement in thin-and-light laptop design, tipping the scales at just 0.98kg; lighter than the MacBook Air. The OLED screen is gorgeous, delivering 100% sRGB, 98% Adobe RGB and 97% DCI-P3, making it an excellent canvas for artists and designers. Snapdragon X CPU performance puts it in the same ballpark as Apple's M1/M2 chips, and the tested battery life of over 20 hours is extraordinary. The one significant caveat is GPU performance: the Adreno graphics chip lags well behind Apple's integrated GPUs and isn't suitable for 3D work or GPU-heavy rendering.
Price: The A14 starts at $1,399.99 / £1,099.99 on ASUS' own portal; comparable to the M3 MacBook Air . Given the stronger GPU performance of Apple Silicon at this price, Windows users will need to weigh the portability gains accordingly.
Design: ASUS has built the lightest 14-inch laptop it can, using a Snapdragon chip and a plastic chassis to shave every gram possible. The result is slightly unexciting visually – available in light grey and sandy beige – but the sub-1kg weight is transformative for portability. Port selection is well considered: full-size HDMI, a USB-A 10Gbps port, two USB 4 Type-C ports, and Wi-Fi 6E.
Display: The 14-inch OLED uses a 16:10 aspect ratio (1920 x 1200) which is ideal for drawing and all sorts of creative work. While the 60Hz refresh rate is modest, OLED delivers rich colours and deep blacks that more than compensate. Measured brightness is 405 nits with outstanding colour coverage – 100% sRGB, 98% Adobe RGB, 97% DCI-P3.
Performance: The Snapdragon X1 eight-core processor performs well in CPU tasks, matching Apple's M1/M2 in Geekbench CPU workloads. The GPU is the weak link – Apple's M1 scores roughly twice as many points in OpenCL workloads, and the Adreno GPU is incompatible with several standard creative benchmarks. For illustration, photo editing and general creative work it's fine; for 3D or video work, look elsewhere.
Battery life: In testing the Zenbook A14 lasted an impressive 20 hours and 39 minutes of continuous video playback; pointing to two full days of normal use between charges.
Read more: ASUS Zenbook A14 review
The allure of the thin and light laptop is that you can take it anywhere, and do anything. The ASUS Zenbook A14 is so close to being a MacBook Air that it's even possible to see the resemblance between the names A14 and Air, and most of the time it puts on an impressive showing.
The best 2-in-1 screen for drawing
30-second review: The HP Omnibook X Flip 16 is a 2-in-1 laptop that truly shines in tablet mode, making it particularly appealing for digital artists. The responsive 16-inch IPS touchscreen offers a 1920 x 1200 resolution with a smooth 165Hz refresh rate, while the included HP MPP2.0 rechargeable stylus provides pressure and tilt sensitivity for natural drawing. Powered by Intel's Core Ultra 7 256V processor with AI Boost, it handles productivity tasks well, though the integrated graphics limit demanding creative applications.
Price: Starting at $1,179.99 / £1,049, this laptop offers competitive pricing for its class, with the versatile 2-in-1 design and included stylus providing solid value despite modest performance specs.
Design: HP has executed the 2-in-1 concept brilliantly with sturdy hinges that smoothly rotate the screen through 360 degrees, enabling laptop, tent and tablet modes. The aluminium construction feels robust with no flex, while weighing under 2kg makes it surprisingly manageable as a 16-inch tablet. The keyboard sits flush due to the convertible design, though key feel is somewhat limited. Port selection is generous, featuring Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, two USB-A ports, and an additional USB-C port.
Connectivity: Well-equipped with dual USB-C ports (including Thunderbolt 4 with DP 2.1 support), dedicated HDMI 2.1, two USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Both USB-C ports support charging, though one remains occupied during charging. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Display: The 16-inch IPS touchscreen delivers a bright 400-nit display with excellent touch responsiveness and a 165Hz refresh rate. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides useful vertical space for creative work. However, the colour gamut measures only 62.5% sRGB, which may limit professional colour-critical work.
Performance: Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor and Intel AI Boost NPU, the Omnibook handles office productivity and general creative tasks competently. Geekbench 6 multicore scores place it in the mid-range alongside similar models. The integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics limits performance in GPU-intensive applications, though it performs admirably for drawing and painting apps.
Battery life: This laptop showed impressive endurance with nearly 15 hours in testing, making it ideal for full-day mobile use without hunting for outlets.
Read more: HP Omnibook X Flip 16 review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Competitively priced | ★★★★ |
Design | Excellent 2-in-1 execution | ★★★★★ |
Performance | Solid CPU, limited GPU | ★★★ |
Battery life | Exceptional | ★★★★★ |
The HP Omnibook X Flip 16 transforms from decent laptop into sensational tablet. The large touchscreen and included stylus make it perfect for digital artists who want flexibility.
The best dual-screen laptop for drawing
30-second review: The ASUS Zenbook Duo (2025) boasts an innovative dual-screen concept, featuring two 14-inch OLED touchscreens that can be arranged in multiple configurations. The included ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus offers excellent sensitivity with interchangeable tips for different drawing experiences, making it ideal for digital artists and designers.
Price: Starting at $1,799 / £2,099, this remains a premium device with a price tag to match. The innovative dual-screen design and upgraded internals help justify the cost, but the continued lack of discrete graphics may disappoint some creative professionals.
Design: In this latest version, ASUS maintains the groundbreaking form factor that transforms from standard laptop to dual-screen workstation. The built-in stand provides multiple viewing angles, while the detachable wireless keyboard offers flexible workspace arrangements. At 1.65kg, it's remarkably portable considering its dual-screen capabilities and robust build quality.
Connectivity: Port selection includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Wireless connectivity has been upgraded to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, with the detachable keyboard functioning wirelessly when removed from the base.
Display: Both 14-inch OLED touchscreens deliver 2880x1800 resolution with 120Hz refresh rates. Color reproduction is excellent (98% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB), with measured brightness of 366 nits. While slightly reflective in bright conditions, these displays provide exceptional clarity and vibrancy for creative work.
Performance: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor with 32GB LPDDR5X RAM delivers impressive CPU performance, with a Geekbench 6 multicore score of 16,052. However, the reliance on integrated Intel Arc graphics continues to limit performance in GPU-intensive applications, making this less suitable for high-end video editing or 3D rendering.
Battery life: Single-screen usage provides over 10 hours of battery life, though using both screens will significantly reduce this duration. Artists should plan to work near power sources when using both displays for extended periods.
Read more: ASUS Zenbook Duo (2025) review
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Price | Premium pricing | ★★★★ |
Design | Revolutionary dual-screen setup | ★★★★★ |
Performance | Strong CPU, limited GPU | ★★★★ |
Battery life | Good with 1 screen only | ★★★★ |
"How is it possible not to adore such a mad, brilliant piece of PC engineering? Two OLED screens and a wireless keyboard that can be put together in a way that resembles a traditional laptop, then unfurled into a glorious portable workstation with enough screen space to run multiple apps at once."
Also tested
What we look for in the best laptop for drawing
When we're looking for laptops for drawing, we are primarily looking at 2-in-1 laptop/tablets. We are particularly interested in laptops with OLED or high-spec screens that can display your artwork with a high degree of colour accuracy. Of course, you won't be able to draw without a stylus, and whether or not one is included in the cost of the laptop is another thing we consider when looking at drawing laptops. Elsewhere, we look at the performance of the laptop overall, including how it can handle various programmes such as Photoshop or Illustrator, and thoroughly test out its battery life too, using both real-world use tests and a video looped streaming test.
How to choose the best laptop for drawing
The right choice for you depends how much you'll use it for drawing compared to other tasks, and how portable you want your laptop to be. For example, the HP Spectre x360 has a lovely big 16-inch OLED screen; a great canvas for drawing. But that makes it physically larger than other options on our list (you can also go for the 14-inch version).
In my opinion, it's key to have a flippable laptop that can also be used as a tablet because drawing on an upright screen isn't comfortable and won't allow you to get the best out of your art.
Battery needs very much depends on your own workflow - if you find yourself away from a power point a lot of the day you'll need one of the long lasting options. If you can compromise on battery, you're likely to get more power.
You'll want a high-brightness, sharp screen. For an IPS display, this means anything over 400 nits, or an OLED screen. A touchscreen is obviously key when choosing a laptop for drawing so you can draw onto the screen, and artists will especially appreciate laptops that can be turned into a tablet fully by spinning or sliding them into place. Whether or not the stylus is included is another thing you'll want to consider when making a decision.
To futureproof your laptop, you'll want 16GB of RAM. But if you only do some light digital art and drawing, you might be able to get away with 8GB. We wouldn't recommend anything less unless you're working on the cloud – but Chromebooks are unlikely to have good enough screens for the job anyway.
For CPU power, machines like the ASUS PZ13 has more than enough power, with Geekbench CPU tests clocking in at 11,000+. Anything with an Intel Core Ultra, the new Snapdragon X or a new-gen AMD processor will do nicely for a good long while, and last-gen processors that score over, say 9000, on Geekbench (with the required screen specs of course) will be very nice, too.
How we tested the best laptops for drawing
All the laptops in this guide have been tested by a Creative Bloq hardware expert, and every laptop we include as a top choice for drawing has been tested using drawing and artworking software. We run different benchmark tests on each device we get depending on its intended use by its maker, but the laptops we've included in this particular guide have all been run through the following:
• Cinebench R23/2024 - this assesses the performance of a computer's CPU and GPU using real-world 3D rendering tasks
• Geekbench 5/6 - this tests the CPU's processing power, both by using a single core for a single task at a time as well as all the CPU's core to see its ability to multitask
• PCMark 10 - this test assesses a computer’s ability to run all everyday tasks from web browsing to digital content creation, testing app launch speeds, running drawing and animation software, performing 3D rendering, and it also tests its battery life
But perhaps more importantly than technical benchmarking, we evaluate machines in real-world situations, pushing them to the limit with multiple applications running to see how they perform in real project-like conditions. Power, speed, portability, and what a laptop looks and feels like are all criteria in our reviewing process.In addition, every laptop we recommend for drawing has to have a good screen that's comfortable to work on for extended periods.
We do much more than simply unpack a test unit, run some benchmarks and then pack it up again; we have lived and worked with all of the above computers, running them in real-life scenarios and completed projects relevant to the subject of this guide, otherwise, we wouldn't recommend these models to you. For more details, see our article on How we test.
FAQs
Why should I use a touchscreen laptop for drawing?
The main options for digital drawing are a graphics tablet paired with a PC, a stylus-enabled tablet or pen display, or a touchscreen laptop. Graphics tablets are affordable and precision-built, but coordinating your hand separately from the screen can disrupt your flow. Pen displays are portable and intuitive for drawing, but get expensive when you want durability, and they're not versatile beyond art. Touchscreen laptops strike a good balance: they're the most versatile option for their price point, working as everyday computers as well as drawing devices, and improving in quality year on year.
Do I need a hybrid laptop for drawing?
No, but it can help. Also known as 2-in-1 laptops, hybrids are growing in popularity thanks to how versatile they can be. The ability to switch the laptop to tablet mode, getting the keyboard out of the way, provides better support and lets you draw in more natural positions and situations. With touchscreen technology improving rapidly, you'll be hard-pressed to find such flexibility at such a competitive price in any other type of device. Take a look at our guide to the best 2-in-1 laptops for creatives for more details.
What are the cons of using a hybrid laptop for drawing?
While drawing software for hybrid laptops has improved enormously, you still won't get quite the same dedicated experience as a purpose-built pen display or graphics tablet. Drawing on a regular clamshell touchscreen can also be awkward due to the obstructive lower half of the device, and many laptop screens will flex under pen pressure without a proper easel mount. Hybrid laptops largely solve these problems by folding the keyboard away – which is why they remain the recommended laptop type if drawing is your primary use case.
What specs should I look for in a drawing laptop?
Prioritise display quality above all else: aim for high-resolution screens (at least 1920x1080, ideally 2K or higher), wide colour gamut coverage (100% sRGB minimum, Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 for professional work), and factory colour calibration. For stylus input, look for at least 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, and if you work on location, prioritise models offering 8+ hours of real-world battery life. For performance, any current-generation processor (Intel Core Ultra, AMD Ryzen, Apple Silicon, or Qualcomm Snapdragon X) with 16GB RAM will handle most creative software smoothly; only bump up to dedicated graphics if you need 3D modelling or GPU-intensive effects. A 512GB SSD offers a good baseline for art file storage.
