If you're a 3D modeller looking for a laptop, you need one thing above all else: a lot of raw processing power. Your laptop needs to be to able to handle complex rendering processes, maintain smooth workflows with resource-intensive software, and deliver reliability during lengthy project sessions.
And, just as with the best laptops for CAD and AutoCAD and the best laptops for game development, you'll also be seeking decent display quality, effective thermal management, and portability. I've considered all these factors in choosing my ultimate list for you.
Erlingur has personally tested and overseen the testing of more than 100 laptops, PCs and tablets over the last two and a half years. He has worked on extensive testing and benchmarking processes to ensure we are putting the laptops through tests that truly nail what creatives need to do their best graphic design work. His favourite laptop brand is ASUS because they push the envelope, and led the charge for OLED touchscreens on laptops.
My top 3 laptops
The latest MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is so powerful, it could replace a dekstop. It will make light work of your 3D modelling tasks, the battery life is impressive and the screen superb.
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This entry-level gaming laptop maxes out at non-Ultra Intel Core 7 and Nvidia RTX 4050, positioning it as an affordable option for budget-conscious 3D artists. It's better suited to light 3D work, though.
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Equipped with a robust NVIDIA 5070 GPU, this excelled in our benchmark testing. The OLED touchscreen provides vibrant colours and sharp resolution. And you also get the famous ASUS Dial.
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The best laptop for 3D modelling overall
30-second review: Combining raw power, portability and Apple's signature build quality, the MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) seamlessly handles intensive tasks like modelling, rendering, and effects work. Its M4 Pro chip delivers unmatched performance, allowing 3D artists to work efficiently on the go. None of this comes cheap, but it's a worthy investment for professionals.
Price: Starting at $2,499 / £2,499, the M4 Pro model is an investment, and with higher configurations reaching $7,349 / £7,349 it's certainly not an impulse buy. But while the cost may seem steep, the performance, portability and reliability will justify the expense for professionals working in 3D.
Design: The MacBook Pro 16 retains Apple's iconic unibody design with a sturdy yet sleek form factor, and its lightweight yet durable design ensures it’s easy to carry for artists who frequently work on location. The Space Black finish is both professional and elegant. Its 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display provides exceptional colour accuracy and brightness. And with a robust array of ports, including Thunderbolt 5 and an SDXC card slot, connectivity is versatile. It doesn't have everything though: if you're specifically looking for a touchscreen then you'll need to look instead at the ASUS ProArt P16 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Performance: In our expert tests, this MacBook Pro excelled in rendering, animation, and simulations. Paired with 48GB of unified memory and lightning-fast 2TB SSD storage, the system handles demanding multitasking and large projects effortlessly. Its benchmarks rival high-end desktop workstations, making it ideal for complex 3D workflows, while the fluid macOS interface enhances productivity, with seamless integration of tools like Blender and Cinema 4D.
Battery: The MacBook Pro's exceptional battery life sets it apart from other laptops today. Our reviewer found that in practice it could sustain a full day of work, including rendering and design tasks, without requiring frequent recharges. This reliability makes it invaluable for artists who need mobility and consistency during client meetings or remote work sessions.
To learn more, read our MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) review.
"The 2024 MacBook Pro M4 Pro 16" is a powerful laptop for any use case. The portability and excellent battery life makes it suitable for working on the move."
Best budget laptop for 3D modelling
30-second review: The 2025 ASUS V16 is an entry-level gaming laptop that maxes out at an Intel Core 7 and Nvidia RTX 4050, positioning it as an affordable option for budget-conscious 3D artists. Our review model had the relatively limited Intel Core 5 210H processor, which we wouldn't recommend for 3D work, but upgrade to the Intel Core 7 240H and it becomes much more capable. That's the iteration that we recommend as the best budget 3D modelling laptop.
Price: Starting from around £700 / $749 at its basic version (which we reviewed), the ASUS V16 represents excellent value in the budget gaming laptop segment. However for serious 3D work you'll need to upgrade to the more powerful processor, which means you're looking closer to $900 / £990. Now, in context, the laptops above and below this one are over $2k, so this sub-$1k laptop still represents a great budget option at less than half the price.
Design: The V16 features a sleek matte grey finish in a surprisingly portable 16-inch form factor. At just 1.95kg, it's considerably lighter than many gaming laptops, making it ideal for students and anyone who works on the move a lot. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides useful extra vertical space for 3D software interfaces. However, the display suffers from excessive flex, so it requires careful handling when opening and closing the lid. Port selection is modest with just one USB-C, two USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and an audio jack.
Performance: Equipped with the Intel Core 7 240H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU in higher configurations, this laptop handles multitasking, rendering, and high-end gaming well, though our testing of the base Core 5 model tells a different story. The latter is fine for viewport navigation and real-time rendering, but becomes the limiting factor in CPU-intensive tasks like final rendering and complex simulations. For simple 3D modelling and visualisation work, it's adequate, but demanding workflows will expose its limitations.
Battery: Battery life reaches approximately 8 hours during light tasks like video playback, though this drops significantly under 3D workloads. For all-day work, you'll want to keep the charger handy.
Read more: ASUS V6 review
"This is at the more affordable end as far as laptops that are designed for gamers and creatives go. A 144 Hz refresh rate and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU demonstrate this laptop's gaming acumen."
Best laptop for 3D modelling with a touchscreen
30-second review: Like to work with a touchscreen? The ASUS ProArt P16 boasts a beautiful 16-inch OLED one, and that's not all. You also get some powerful internals, along with the ProArt Creator Hub with AI-powered tools like StoryCube and MuseTree for enhanced workflow and media organisation.
Price: For less than $3,000 / £3,000 this is a competitive price for a studio laptop that will last a demanding professional for years. We found that its benchmark scores in many cases rival (and sometimes outdo) the MacBook Pro M3 Max/M4.
Design: This laptop’s design is considered somewhat plain and utilitarian, lacking the flair of other premium laptops. We have had a downgrade on screen specs, from 4K to 3K, but the refresh rate has doubled from 60hz to 120hz, which will please those working with motion. Our display tests came out impressively, with the 500 nits claim turning out to be bang on, and the accuracy spot on too – with no weak points in the sreen. Note, though, that while it has a touchscreen, this isn't a hybrid laptop like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Performance: Equipped with a robust AMD Ryzen CPU and NVIDIA RTX GPU, this laptop excelled in our benchmark testing, often outperforming similarly priced competitors like the MacBook Pro M3 Max/M4. Our testing in Premiere Pro showed the processor ate up the tasks smoothly, and our reviewer found that there was an incredible 25-28% improvement in graphics performance with the 2025 model vs last year's.
Battery: The battery life appears to be the compromise here, with our tests showing it only lasts six hours compared to last year's 10. But it is power-hungry so this is often the trade off.
Learn more in our full ASUS ProArt P16 2025 review.
"The gorgeous OLED touchscreen complements fearsome internals, which include a 50-series graphics card, an AMD-made NPU and up to 64GB of high-bandwidth RAM."
Best laptop for 3D modelling with a big screen
30-second review: Want a big, beautiful screen to work on when 3D modelling? Then the Dell Precision 7780 is a great choice. It comes with a generously sized 17.3-inch FHD+ display, while a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13850HX processor and NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada GPU provide ample resources for demanding 3D modelling tasks.
Price: Starting at $3,499 / £3,118.82 for the base configuration, the Dell Precision 7780 is a significant investment. However, its powerful specs and large display justify the price for professionals who require high performance and screen real estate for their 3D modelling work.
Design: This laptop boasts a robust build with a metallic exterior and soft-touch interior. Its 17.3-inch display offers a spacious workspace, although it lacks 4K. The 180-degree hinge allows for flexible viewing angles. However, the off-centre trackpad placement may be a drawback for some users. At 3.05 kg, it's designed more as a desktop replacement than a portable workstation (as a comparison, the ASUS ProArt 16 only weighs 1.85kg).
Performance: Equipped with an Intel Core i7-13850HX and NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada GPU, the Dell Precision 7780 delivers exceptional performance. Our benchmarks showed it outperforming some Intel i9-equipped competitors in certain tasks. It excels in CPU-intensive operations and handles GPU tasks with ease, making it suitable for complex 3D modelling, rendering, and video editing.
Battery: The 93 Wh battery provides around three hours of creative work, which is relatively limited. This means the laptop is best suited for use near a power source, reinforcing its role as a stationary workstation rather than a mobile solution.
Learn more by reading our Dell Precision 7780 review.
"The 17.3-inch display is really the star of the show. It is huge and pretty much the largest screen you can get on any laptop. Creatives who don't have a dedicated monitor or want a laptop that can act as a secondary monitor will be more than pleased by the size."
Best gaming laptop for 3D modelling
30-second review: It might seem a little odd, but a dedicated gaming machine is offer an excellent tool to use for 3D modelling tool, as long as you don't mind the occasionally bit of game-focused styling. The Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 is our top pick: a hulking colossus of a laptop, and under the hood it sports the latest 50-series graphics card from NVIDIA, giving it serious graphical heft.
Price: The 32GB version starts at around $3,099.99 in the US and £2,799 in the UK (oh, don't worry, it can go higher), so the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 is not what you'd call a casual investment. You do get a lot for your money though.
Design: As long as you don't object to a laptop that weighs the same as two MacBook Airs, the design of the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 ticks pretty much every box for 3D modellers. It's got a lovely, big, high-resolution display with a roomy 16:10 aspect ratio, and a generous selection of ports, including Thunderbolt 5 (hooray!). There is quite a bit of RGB lighting, but thankfully you can switch it off, and I also appreciated the tactile and well-spaced keyboard.
Performance: The Aorus Master 16 unsurprisingly made mincemeat of our Cinebench and Geekbench tests, and we also saw great AI performance from the NVIDIA GeForce card. You'll have no problems running your 3D software on this thing. It's perhaps true that the Nvidia 50-series' performance improvements tend towards 'good' rather than 'incredible', but there's no doubt that this is one of the most capable laptops you can buy at the moment.
Battery: Battery life is impressive, thanks in part to the Intel NPU and the intuitive GiMate software, which are able to dynamically switch between power modes in accordance with what you have running currently.
For full details, see our Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 review.
"The Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 is a powerful gaming laptop with all the latest kit on-board, including a 50-series graphics card from NVIDIA, so any serious creative pro will find plenty to like here."
Best premium laptop for 3D modelling
30-second review: Got money to spend? Then meet the MSI Titan 18 HX, which represents the pinnacle of mobile workstation power. Its incredible specs, including up to 192GB of RAM, Intel Core i9 14900HX processor and RTX 4090 GPU, make it a formidable choice for 3D modelling, as well as gaming. The 18-inch Mini LED display with 4K resolution (3840 x 2400) and 120Hz refresh rate provide exceptional visual quality for detailed work.
Price: Starting at $4,999.99 / £4,379.98, this is one of the most expensive laptops available, and you'll have to have a specific need that this model meets to justify the price.
Design: At 3.6kg, the Titan 18 HX is built like a tank, with a magnesium alloy chassis that exudes premium quality. The Cherry MX mechanical keyboard offers excellent tactile feedback, and the full numpad is particularly useful for 3D work. Port selection is comprehensive, featuring multiple USB-C and USB-A ports, HDMI, and an SD Express Card reader. The design includes extensive ventilation to handle the powerful components inside.
Performance: The benchmark results are extraordinary. In Geekbench 6, it achieved 16,392 for multi-core and 2,899 for single-core scores. Its RTX 4090 GPU scored an impressive 184,184 in OpenCL tests. In Blender benchmarks, it achieved 187 samples per minute on the Monster scene, 128 on Junkshop, and 87 on Classroom; exceptional results for a laptop. The machine excels at video encoding too, completing our standard 4K to 1080p test in just 2 minutes 47 seconds.
Battery: While equipped with a substantial 99.9WHr battery, this is very much a desktop replacement machine that needs to stay plugged in for serious workloads. Battery life is limited when pushing the hardware to its limits. If that's a deal-breaker for you, the MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) will keep you going much longer when you're away from a pocket socket.
Read more in our full MSI Titan 18 HX review.
"For a penny under £5K, you get an Intel 14th Gen Core i9 HX processor, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, and 192GB of memory. My jaw has dropped while writing that sentence."
Best AI laptop for 3D modelling
30-second review: An AI-enabled laptop with a beast of a CPU/GPU combination, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI is a big beefy laptop that proved in our tests it can absolutely chew through 3D visualisation and rendering tasks. However, all those high-end chips are infamous for guzzling power, and the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI consequently has pretty middling battery life, barely cracking 2.5 hours in our tests. It's a fine machine, just not one for straying too far from a power socket.
Price: The high-performing version of the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI we tested cost £2,199/$2,899; there's also a slightly stripped-down version costing £1,799/$2,439. It does a lot to justify the cost, but there's no question that this is an expensive machine.
Design: Honestly, even without the truncated battery life, you'd likely not be porting this laptop around much anyway. Weighing in at 2.22kg, this 16-inch laptop is a bulky beast. It does at least feel well-built and like it could take a bit of a kicking – though if you're not going to take it anywhere, how likely is it to get one?
Still, let's not grouse too much. The OLED display is bright and beautiful, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a refresh rate of 240 Hz, all of which is good news for 3D modellers. There's a generous port selection, including two USB-C, three USB-A, HSMI, microSD and more, and all of them are well-positioned. The black anodised aluminium case does a good job of looking and feeling premium, even if it is a dab hand at collecting smudges.
Performance: Scoring well in our Cinebench multi-core test, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI is undoubtedly well-equipped for 3D visualisation and rendering. We also found in our review that it performed well when rendering on the GPU. For those interested in AI, we put the Predator Helios Neo 16 AI through Geekbench AI, Topaz Video AI, On1Resize AI, and Procyon Image Generation benchmarks, and found it to essentially be a mid-range performer in this area. If you're going to be doing a lot of AI imagery generation, there are more powerful machines out there for this purpose (the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 springs to mind).
Battery: As mentioned, this is where the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI really falls down. All those bleeding-edge chips simply guzzle up power, and 2.5 hours of life away from the power socket isn't really good enough for a machine that calls itself a laptop. You might as well just plug it in and use it as a desktop.
For more details, head over to our Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI review.
"With the latest in CPU and GPU technology, this is a laptop that is built for even the most demanding of creative workflows. Unfortunately, all of this power needs a beefier battery than has been supplied."
Best 2-in-1 laptop for 3D modelling
30-second review: For a long time, the flexibility of a 2-in-1 laptop meant a tradeoff in terms of power, but no more. The 2024 ASUS ProArt PX13 has the hardware needed for serious 3D work. Ist combination of AMD's Ryzen AI 9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4070 graphics delivers desktop-class performance in a remarkably portable package, making it ideal for 3D artists who need serious power on the go.
Pricing: Starting around $1,999 / £1,999, the ProArt PX13 sits in premium territory. However the combination of cutting-edge hardware, OLED display, and 2-in-1 functionality justifies the investment for professional creatives who demand the best portable performance.
Design and build: The ProArt PX13 embodies thoughtful design with its robust yet lightweight aluminium construction. The 2-in-1 hinge allows seamless transitions between laptop, tent and tablet modes, making it versatile for different creative workflows. The inclusion of the ASUS Dial on the trackpad provides intuitive control over creative applications, whilst the bundled stylus enhances the drawing experience.
Performance: Whether you're editing 4K video, rendering 3D models, or working with AI-driven applications, the ProArt PX13 delivers smooth, reliable performance. Our testing revealed impressive Cinebench scores that rival Intel's flagship i9 processors, whilst the RTX 4070 provides substantial GPU acceleration for viewport performance and final rendering. The 32GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM ensures smooth multitasking even with complex 3D scenes. The AMD Ryzen AI 9's integrated NPU adds future-proofing for AI-accelerated creative workflows, though current software support remains limited.
Battery: Battery life reaches approximately 3 hours 34 minutes under intensive creative workloads, which is reasonable given the powerful hardware but may require careful power management for all-day mobile use. The compact 200W charger helps maintain portability whilst providing rapid charging capabilities.
Read more: ASUS ProArt PX13 review
"The ProArt is aimed at creative power users, especially with that NPU, but it’s also going to be useful for playing games after hours, and you can take it with you to play movies in tent mode if you have to go on a trip."
Also tested
The above may be our top picks for 3D modelling, but there are plenty of other decent models to consider. Below you'll find some other laptops we've tested that also stand up well to 3D modelling, which may be better suited to your particular needs and budget.
How we test laptops for 3D modelling
✅ We are solely focused on what creatives need
✅ Benchmark tests based on real workflows
✅ We consult actual designers and creative pros
✅ Over 100 laptops tested over 10,000 hours in the last two years
Creative Bloq's team of hardware experts bring with them many years of experience using, testing and benchmarking laptops with a focus on running creative applications. All the laptops in this guide have been tested by either using 3D-modelling software and rendering packages or benchmarked to make sure the CPU and GPU are capable of running 3D-modelling software without problems, as well as using other creative tools you'll use such as Adobe Creative Cloud applications and more. We run different benchmark tests on each laptop depending on its intended use by its maker, but the benchmarks we've run all the laptops in this guide through include the following:
• Cinebench R23/2024 - this assesses the performance of a computer's CPU and GPU using real-world 3D rendering tasks
• Handbrake - we use this free and open-source transcoder for digital video files to render a short 4K animated film, using the same file for all our tests
• 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
• 3DMark - this assesses a laptop's ability to run 3D graphic rendering tasks
But perhaps more importantly than benchmarking, we evaluate machines in real-world scenarios, pushing them to the limit with multiple applications running to see how they perform in project-like conditions. Power, speed, flexibility, and what a laptop looks and feels like to use are all criteria in our reviewing process. 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 laptops, running them in real-life scenarios and done projects relevant to this guide, otherwise we wouldn't recommend these models to you.
How to choose laptops for 3D modelling
In short, you're looking for as much power as possible when it comes to the best laptops for 3D modelling. You want the laptop to have a higher RAM and powerful CPU to make sure it can handle more intense 3D modelling applications like Blender and Maya. You also need to consider if you prefer working with Windows or macOS when purchasing. All of the above picks will be able to handle your 3D software of choice.
Windows laptops have also become a lot stronger in this arena lately, thanks to NVIDIA introducing RTX Studio, a platform designed to showcase laptops that meet the right criteria for serious creative work, meaning that they deliver great performance for anyone working with 3D, animation, graphic design, video and photo editing software. For a laptop to meet the RTX Studio performance bar, it needs to have, at the bare minimum, an Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, plus GeForce RTX 2060, Quadro RTX 3000 or Titan RTX GPU, with a display resolution of at least 1080P. Look for that RTX Studio badge to ensure a laptop's going to be up 3D work; and of course, another option is to look for gaming laptops, as the demands of running AAA video games can be on a par with those of 3D content creation.
The latest graphics cards to look out for are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series (especially 4070 and 4090), but a 30-series graphics card could offer a more palatable balance between value and performance if you're working on a narrower budget.
If you prefer to create on Apple hardware, things are a little simpler, as the MacBook Pro line packs plenty of power itself. At the moment, the MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) is our top pick.
FAQ
What specs does a laptop for 3D modelling need?
When choose a laptop for 3D modelling, there are key hardware specs to look at. Firstly, you'll probably want a dedicated, powerful GPU, such as those in NVIDIA's RTX series or AMD's Radeon series (that said, the integrated graphics Apple's new M1-M4 chips do a decent job too). Complementing this, a multi-core CPU like an Intel i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9 ensures efficient rendering and multitasking.
As we've highlighted above, you'll want a minimum of 16GB RAM for a smooth working experience and solid multitasking performance, but it's well worth considering upgrading to 32 or 64GB. An SSD with 512GB or 1TB capacity provides fast loading times, and a high-resolution display with good colour accuracy is vital for detailed work.
Beyond hardware, consider the laptop's cooling system, portability, and software compatibility. A robust cooling system prevents overheating, while portability is crucial if you travel frequently. Ensure your preferred 3D modelling software is compatible with the laptop's operating system and hardware and also consider getting one of the best 3D scanners.
Are gaming laptops a good choice for 3D modelling?
Gaming laptops are often suitable for 3D modelling due to their powerful GPUs and CPUs. However, potential drawbacks include significant heat generation during prolonged sessions, shorter battery life, and sometimes, bulky designs. In many cases, though, the power they provide is often a worthwhile trade-off.
What ports should a 3D modelling laptop have?
For 3D modelling, a laptop should ideally offer a range of ports to accommodate various peripherals and displays. Multiple USB-A ports are useful for connecting common devices like mice, keyboards, and external drives. USB-C ports, especially those with Thunderbolt capabilities, are becoming increasingly vital due to their high-speed data transfer, power delivery, and ability to connect to external displays and docking stations, with Thunderbolt being especially useful for high-resolution monitors or eGPUs. An HDMI or DisplayPort output is crucial for connecting to external monitors, which are often essential for expanding workspace in 3D modelling. If your workflow involves camera assets, an SD card reader is highly advantageous. Finally, a standard audio jack remains handy for headphones or external speakers.
