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1. Best overall: MacBook Pro (M2)
2. Best for Windows: ASUS ProArt
3. Portable: Dell Precision 5470
4. Best power: Alienware m17 R5
5. Thin and light: MacBook Air (M2)
6. All-rounder: Acer Swift Edge 16
7. Most upgradeable: Framework
8. Dual screen: Zenbook Pro Duo
9. Best for stylus: MSI Creator Z17
10. Best 2-in-1: Dell XPS 13
FAQs
The best laptops for Photoshop (or any photo editing software, really) are devices with a lot of power, a modern processor and oodles of RAM. Though Photoshop isn't the most demanding software, if you're using it then it's likely you've got a lot of media files and demanding projects to work on, so you'll want a machine that can handle your workflow. And, of course, if you're choosing a laptop, portability is a key consideration as is battery life.
We've tested all the Photoshop laptops on this list personally, so we know exactly what they can do (look out for the linked reviews throughout), and included some budget picks as well as more expensive options. Bear in mind that the cheaper devices won't run any of the advanced machine learning tools but they'll be perfectly suited to more general Photoshop use (or any one of the best photo editing software options).
If you need a second screen to enhance your workflow, see our pick of the best monitors for photo editing, too. And those who want a laptop but don't yet have the software should check our Adobe Creative Cloud discount page.
Quick list
For the best machine you can buy, Apple's MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is just the thing. Its M2 chip makes it blisteringly fast and its 22-hour battery life is impressive. The screen boasts deep blacks and bright whites, reaches 1,600 nits and has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, ideal for photo editing.
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Our reviewer loved this laptop so much he said it can "handle anything you could possibly ask of it". With a whole host of powerful tech packed inside it, we also love the glossy screen. Sure, the battery life is a little short but if you have the means of charging it up it's a real winner.
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We called this a "wolf in sheep's clothing" in our review. This laptop is small, so great for portability, but packs a real punch – and even convinced our resident Apple addict that a Dell could be a real option. Technically a 'mobile workstation', there's speed and power with limited ports being the only drawback.
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Yes, this laptop may be aimed at gamers but the power is also brilliant for photo-editing. Photoshop's AI capabilities will fly on this machine – and it'll be perfect for working with a heavy load of layers. We adored the beautiful 4K display but weren't so keen on the small trackpad.
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This thin and light laptop does it all. Our review calls it a "jack of all trades" and comments on the "spectacular screen". It isn't cheap, but it's not the priciest either, it has good connectivity and is tremendously light for a 16-incher. In short, it's an excellent Windows option that almost holds its own against Apple competition.
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When we reviewed the Framework, we found its hot-swappable ports were "more than just a gimmick". The modular format is genuinely useful as it can adapt to your exact needs – it can offer the same power as a MacBook Pro M2 but with more flexibility. What's not to like?
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Best laptop for Photoshop
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is the best laptop that you can currently buy for Photoshop, if you’re willing to pay top price and you want a big screen (there is a 14-inch model from 2023 if portability is more your priority, and a 13-inch version from 2022 as well). This will also give you the latest M2 Pro or M2 Max chip, and a whole lot of RAM and storage options.
In fact, our review noted that it “takes all the things you love about the pre-Touch Bar-era Macs and polishes them to perfection.” If you’re an on-the-move content creator then you needn’t worry about battery life either, as this laptop will deliver a whopping 22 hours.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro came out in January 2023 alongside its 14-inch sibling, and boasts a display that reaches 1,600 nits of peak brightness. For context, the Dell XPS 17 can achieve just 500 nits, which is still considered to be over average for most laptops. The screen in question also happens to feature a Liquid Retina XDR panel with mini-LED tech that can achieve deep blacks and bright whites, plus a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio – ideal for photo editing.
Like the 2021 model, the newest MacBook Pro retains a slew of beloved ports, such as the HDMI and a memory card slots, alongside newer features such as ProMotion and HDR (High Dynamic Range). Not only is the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) one of the best laptops for Photoshop, it also just happens to be one of the most powerful laptops on the market.
Read our MacBook Pro 16-inch (M2, 2023) review to find out more about why we rate this laptop.
Best Windows laptop for Photoshop
If you’re serious about working in Photoshop and need a laptop that can offer as much power as you can handle, look no further than the ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED (H7604). It’s loaded up with powerful components that should be able to perform almost any task asked of it in Photoshop. It’s so good that our review raved that “The machine is powerful enough to deserve a place in any workplace that has the need for creative software.”
It offers up an Intel Core i9 CPU, one of the most powerful processors on the market. It’s perfect for chewing through large batches of photos and artificial intelligence-powered image edits in Adobe’s popular app. And with up to 64GB of memory backing it up, you shouldn’t experience slowdowns whatever you’re doing.
The large OLED display is gorgeous to look at and its high resolution is ideally suited to editing your images in close detail. And there’s even up to 8TB of storage – enough for hefty photo libraries.
Read our ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED (H7604) review for more information.
Most portable laptop for Photoshop
The best laptops for Photoshop don’t all have to be hulking beasts – you can still get excellent performance out of smaller, less assuming devices too. That’s proved by the Dell Precision 5470, a laptop whose modest exterior belies its powerful interior.
When we tested it, we were impressed with its ability to handle even intensive tasks like image editing and 3D rendering with no lag or performance issues to speak of. Interestingly, our reviewer found that “In comparison to other powerful laptops we’ve tested, the [Dell Precision 5470’s] results are extremely close to that of a MacBook Pro 14-inch M2 Pro” – a laptop that costs £1,000 more.
That makes it an excellent choice if you’re after a powerful device for creative work but are put off by the high prices Apple often charges for its MacBook line. You can read more in our Dell Precision 5470 review to see why else it’s a worthy purchase.
Most powerful laptop for Photoshop
Dell’s Alienware range is mainly aimed at gamers, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t serve up any laptops that excel at creative work. The Alienware m17 R5 is a great example – loaded up with a powerful AMD CPU and plenty of memory, it relishes the chance to bulldoze its way through Photoshop workloads.
Case in point: the large, beautiful display. Its 4K resolution is perfect for drilling down into your images in Adobe’s creative software, and our review found that “it feels bigger than it is, the sharpness and responsiveness is incredible, and the hardware underpinning it runs games and video in fantastic detail at high framerates.”
As for CPU performance, that is excellent too, and you can equip it with a beefy AMD Ryzen 9 chip if you want maximum output for your work. It’s bulky and its battery life isn’t great (thanks to the power-hungry chip and large display), so it’s more of a home workstation than a portable machine. But if that doesn’t bother you, it’s a super-powered option for demanding Photoshop tasks.
Read our Alienware m17 R5 review for more.
Most powerful thin and light laptop for Photoshop
The Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is a fantastic thin and light laptop for running Photoshop on, and comes with a range of improvements over the previous model, including a new 1080p webcam and a larger, brighter screen. That larger screen is particularly useful for photographers who want to see their snaps in the best possible quality while editing them in Photoshop.
It also packs the new M2 chip from Apple, which is a powerful bit of silicon that makes using the MacBook Air a real joy. It can also handle AI-powered tools in Photoshop thanks to that new M2 chip - which is the same as the one found in the more expensive MacBook Pro 13-inch.
Best of all, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022)'s battery life is amazing, lasting over 16 hours in our tests. So, you can work on this throughout the day without worrying about being plugged into a power source.
It's not all good news, though, as it is quite a bit more expensive than the previous model, which means it's not quite as good value for money. The 2020 model, with an M1 chip, is still a fine laptop, and is still on sale. It's definitely worth checking out if the M2 model is too pricey for your budget. Find out more in our full MacBook Air (M2, 2022) review.
Best all-rounder laptop for Photoshop
Not every laptop for Photoshop has to burn a hole in your finances. The Acer Swift Edge 16 is by no means cheap, but it’s a much more affordable alternative to the expensive devices that often fill the laptop world.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not capable – far from it. In fact, it’s a versatile, well-rounded device that performs well in a large number of circumstances. For instance, it’s large 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio boasts an OLED panel with a 4K resolution and support for HDR, making it absolutely gorgeous to look at. It’s ideal for Photoshop work, with deep blacks and great contrast, plus there’s plenty of space on the expansive screen for all your photos.
As well as that, it’s got a powerful Ryzen 7 chip and plenty of port variety, giving you plenty of options for hooking up your peripherals. As well as that, its excellent portability makes it well suited for working on the go. As our reviewer said, “If the thinness and lightness of your laptop are important to you, then the Acer Swift Edge 16 is a great choice.”
Read our Acer Swift Edge 16 review to find out more.
Most upgradeable laptop for Photoshop
The Framework laptop is one of the most unique devices in the computing world in that you can replace a huge array of its components yourself, upgrading them over time. This makes it a great laptop for Photoshop work, simply because it can evolve with you. As your image-editing needs change, so too can your laptop.
When we reviewed the Framework, we found its hot-swappable ports were “more than just a gimmick”, noting that “they are really useful, especially if you swap and change your workplace… Having the option to switch out the HMDI port for the MicroSD port when I wasn’t needing to use my monitor was so useful.”
It can’t offer the same level of power as the 16-inch MacBook Pro or the ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED, but it brings far more flexibility to the table than either of them can muster. If you want a laptop than can adapt to your work – whether that’s Photoshop, video rendering, or something else – this is a strong contender.
Read our Framework review to see why else we liked it.
Best dual-screen laptop for Photoshop
Most laptops only have one screen. Why would you need more? Well, Asus makes a very strong case for having two by way of its Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED laptop. Not only does it have a bright, beautiful 14.5-inch OLED display up top, but it adds a second 12.7-inch IPS screen below the main display and the keyboard.
This second screen is absolutely perfect for Photoshop work. You can move a reference picture onto it while you work on image adjustments on the main display, for example. Or you can move your toolbars to the second screen and use it as a sort of control panel. It even has built-in settings for Photoshop, as well as a slate of other Adobe apps.
According to our reviewer, “it won me over both with its speedy processor and by providing a genuinely useful second screen. It’s great for anyone who loves a double-monitor setup but needs to move about a lot or hot-desk.” If that sounds like you, it’s well worth a look.
Read our complete Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED review for more details.
Best laptop with a stylus for Photoshop
When you first look at the MSI Creator Z17, you might be drawn to its large 17-inch display, and rightly so. But it’s not just a large, pretty face – it also boasts touchscreen tech and is compatible with the MSI Pen stylus, too.
That makes it an excellent weapon in your Photoshop arsenal. If you’re up for some image-editing work and need the added powers of a stylus, it offers something that even the MacBook Pro can’t match.
Beyond that, it’s absolutely stacked with power, including an Intel Core i9 processor and up to an RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, plus 64GB of memory. It’s an impressive amount of performance to cram into a laptop; as our reviewer put it, “the Creator Z17 is for you if you want a whole lot of computing power that you can pick up and carry with you.”
Read our MSI Creator Z17 review for more info.
Best 2-in-1 laptop for Photoshop
The MSI Creator Z17 may come with a touchscreen panel, but the Dell XPS 13 9315 goes one step further: it’s a 2-in-1 laptop, meaning you can separate the display from the keyboard and use the former as a standalone tablet. That gives it a whole new perspective on Photoshop work – you could use it as a reference screen for your main image-editing workstation, or get drawing on your creations using a stylus. It’s a laptop that can fit around the way you want to work.
It’s not the most powerful device in this round-up, but it’s also one of the more affordable offerings. Not everyone needs something to power through incredibly heavy-duty Photoshop workloads, after all; sometimes, your image-editing tasks are more lightweight. If that’s the case with you, Dell’s laptop could be perfect.
As our reviewer put it, “if you’re looking for something that will let you bridge the gap between work and play and offers a stunning screen in a compact package, the Dell XPS 13 9315 is certainly one to think about.”
Read our Dell XPS 13 9315 2-in-1 review for more.
FAQs
What makes a laptop good for Adobe Photoshop?
Photoshop is a creative application beloved by Photographers and digital artists alike thanks to its varied toolset and wide range of features. It's far from the most demanding piece of software available, but it’s certainly one of the beefiest for photo editing. This means not every laptop can do a decent job of running it, but there are a few things to look out for when buying a laptop specifically for Adobe Photoshop.
Firstly, you’ll want a modern processor. Both Intel and AMD list CPUs in numerical order regarding power, and the rule is generally ‘the bigger, the better’, so a 9th-generation Intel i5 won’t perform tasks as efficiently as an 11th-generation Intel i9. We recommend at least a 9th generation Intel i5 or a Ryzen 5 3600.
Memory (also known as RAM) is also important, so look for a minimum of 8GB (though 16GB is preferred), and even a dedicated graphics card if your budget can stretch to it.
A laptop with a large SSD storage drive is also recommended, as it means you can keep all the photos you’re editing on the device, while the speed of an SSD (compared to a slower traditional hard drive) means you can load up and edit the photos in a matter of seconds.
Because you’ll be spending lots of time working on your laptop, you’ll want to make sure it’s comfortable to use, so the trackpad and keyboard need to be well built, without adding too much bulk to the laptop. If you’re going to need a laptop for Photoshop to edit photos while travelling, a thin and light laptop should be your priority.
A 2-in-1 laptop can also be very advantageous, as it combines the fluid editing benefits of a graphics tablet with your laptop, though these tend to be less powerful than a larger, design-optimised laptop.
New developments have also appeared in recent months too, with more 4K OLED displays appearing on laptops specifically created with photographers and creatives in mind. An OLED screen will provide rich, deep blacks and beautiful colours, so while they might be expensive, it’s worth every penny to get one if you can splash the cash.
What laptop do most photographers use?
This is entirely down to the personal preferences of each photographer. Many choose MacBook Pro devices, as they are some of the best-optimized laptops on the market for creative professionals. Windows-based laptops and 2-in-1 devices have come a long way, but Apple still reigns as the top choice.
This is thanks to a mix of great optimisation, long-lasting battery life, and that beloved Apple ecosystem, making it much easier to use other Apple devices together, such as a MacBook Pro alongside and iPad tablet.
Of course, if you don’t have a bunch of other Apple devices lying around in your home, Windows hardware is still a fantastic option for photographers and digital editors alike, especially if you’re not experienced using macOS. Apple also has yet to release a true 2-in-1 device or convertible laptop, which gives Windows an advantage for folks looking to leave a graphic drawing tablet at home and instead use a stylus directly with their laptop.
