The best laptops for graphic design

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 – we think a 2-in-1 or touchscreen device is a great pick for graphic design, so we've provided a selection of those for different use cases. 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

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

A Space Black Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 sitting on a grey/blue tableCB

(Image credit: Future)
The best laptop for graphic design

Specifications

CPU: M3 Pro/M3 Max, 12-core/16-core CPU
Graphics: M3 Pro, 18-core GPU / M3 Max, 40-core GPU
RAM: M3 Pro, 16GB, 32GB / M3 Max, 64GB, 96G
Screen: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
Storage: 512GB - 8TB
Ports: SDXC card slot, HDMI, headphone jack, MagSafe 3, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C)

Reasons to buy

+
Great battery life
+
Plenty of ports
+
Beautiful big screen
+
Powerful new M3 chips

Reasons to avoid

-
You pay for the M3 magic

When we reviewed the MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 (2023), we knew it would earn the top spot in this best laptop for graphic design guide because we were blown away by the power. With the brilliant new M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, it’s faster than ever and has a big, bright screen that delivers an impressive 1,600 nits when you’re consuming (or producing) HDR content. For context, the average is around 500 nits.

Apple calls the screen a Liquid Retina XDR display, and it uses mini-LED tech so the colours are intense and vivid. There’s also a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio – perfect for design work that requires flawless colour detail.

If you’re often working on the move, the incredible 22 hours of battery life will be more than enough. If, on the other hand, portability is your aim, then the 14-inch MacBook Pro might be your best bet (see our MacBook Pro 14-inch (M2) review for more). What’s more, the newest MacBook Pro retains a smattering of beloved ports, such as the HDMI slot and an SD card reader.

Read our review of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3) to find out more about why we rate this laptop so very highly.

Best Windows laptop

A grey ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED, one of the best laptops for graphic design, sitting on a deskCB endorsed

(Image credit: Future)
The best Windows laptop for graphic design

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i9-13980HX
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 (8GB)
RAM: Up to 64GB
Screen: 16.0-inch, glasses-free 3D OLED display, 3.2K (3200 x 2000)
Storage: Up to 8TB (2x4TB SSD)
Ports: Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2, SD Express reader, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm headset jack, Ethernet

Reasons to buy

+
Dial above trackpad
+
High-end components
+
Bright display

Reasons to avoid

-
Low battery life

ASUShas managed something quite remarkable with its ProArt Studiobook OLED (H7604) laptop. It has crammed the device with a plethora of high-end components that are perfect for all manner of demanding creative tasks, yet the device manages to stay cool and composed almost at all times. If you want to be able to run your heavy workloads without worrying that your laptop is going to melt, we recommend the ASUS Studiobook over any other Windows device.

We loved its OLED display, which is bright and sharp, and is perhaps the greatest screen around for any graphic design or digital art purpose around on the market today. It packs in touchscreen functionality and hits 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, so it will handle colour-accurate work with ease. 

Plus, there’s a built-in dial that sits above the trackpad, and this can be customised and change its role depending on which app you’re running, and we loved using it in our testing. You can use it to scrub through a timeline, for example, or tweak brush sizes in your image editor of choice. With all that going for it, the ProArt Studiobook OLED is the laptop to go for if you’re not a fan of Apple’s MacBooks. And maybe even if you are.

Read our full Asus ProArt Studiobook OLED review

Best budget laptop

Acer Swift Go 14 OLED

(Image credit: Ian Evenden)
The best budget laptop for graphic design

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
Screen: 14in 2880x1800 16:10 OLED, 90Hz non-touch
Storage: 1TB SSD
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), USB 2.1

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent OLED screen
+
Almost as powerful as M2 Air
+
Great battery

Reasons to avoid

-
Not beautiful
-

This model is replacing our beloved M1 Air as it has been discontinued, but we're not sad about it. The Acer Swift Go 14 is a fabulous budget choice for a graphic design laptop. Surprisingly, it provides 83% of the power of an M2 MacBook Air (below), and our testing found that while it's not powerful enough for heavy 3D work, but graphic design tasks will fly. 

It's got a marvellous OLED screen, which our review declares to be an excellent implementation of the tech – it reaches 100% of the P3 colour gamut. It's super-bright, colour accurate and sharp – and the 16:10 panel means it doesn't feel cramped.

The battery life is impressive too, it will keep going for eight and a half hours as long as you don't push it too hard for the entire time. This, combined with its thinness and lightness means it's a great choice if you're on the move a lot.

All in all, we found this incredible value for money (we've seen it on sale for as little as $733 – a budget option that's powerful enough for true graphic design work isn't going to be found at the $300 mark). 

See our full Acer Swift Go 14 review for more.

MacBook Air laptop, one of the best laptops for graphic design, in an office on a black deskCB endorsed

(Image credit: Future)

Best lightweight laptop

The best lightweight graphic design laptop

Specifications

CPU: Apple M2 with 8-core CPU
Graphics: 8-core GPU or 10-core GPU
RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 24GB
Screen: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 3.5mm headphone jack, MagSafe

Reasons to buy

+
Larger screen
+
Excellent battery life
+
Very good performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Not as good value as previous model
-
Gets hot when under pressure

Apple’s MacBook Air range is a favourite among laptop lovers everywhere, and the 2022 version with the M2 chip updates the design with a fresh new look. But you’ll get much more than just aesthetic changes – the latest MacBook Air is still a frontrunner for designers.

One of the reasons we like it so much is the aforementioned M2 chip, which our testing found is ideal for graphic design work – if you don't need to go as heavy as the M3 option at the top of this guide. An upgrade over the previous M1, the M2 retains the superb combination of power and efficiency that we’ve come to expect from Apple silicon. It’s so efficient that the MacBook Air doesn’t even need a fan, and while we found it’ll get a little toasty under the most extreme workloads, for everything else it stays icy cold and whisper quiet. Plus there’s all the standard Apple goodness, including a beautiful display, Touch ID button, and fantastic metal construction.

The screen is bright and clear, with rich and accurate colours, and the 15-inch version in particular is an amazing choice for graphic design work – if you don't need the full whack of power the Pro brings. If you'd rather have portability then the 13-inch version still packs a punch. Read our full MacBook Air M2  review for more insight.

Premium 2-in-1 laptop

Surface Laptop Studio 2CB endorsed

(Image credit: Paul Hatton)
The best premium 2-in-1 laptop for graphic design

Specifications

CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core H
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 200 Ada  laptop GPU
RAM: 16GB - 64GB
Screen: PixelSense Flow 14.4in 2400 x 1600 120Hz touch display
Storage: 512GB – 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Great screen for drawing, with MPP stylus compatibility
+
Solid specs for graphics work

Reasons to avoid

-
A little heavy
-
Can get more power for the money elsewhere

If you need a drawing screen when you're designing, and you have a big budget, this could be the ideal choice. Boasting a sharp 3:2 screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and support for your choice of MPP stylus, and an ergonomic design that's specifically great for drawing – giving you far more potential angles for the screen than a simple L-shaped laptop – we see this as an excellent choice for graphic designers, digital artists or pen-based photo editors. It's a solid, premium option for a 2-in-1 (the highest specs can get pricey), so if you're on more of a budget, look below for other options such as the HP Spectre x360.

Our Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 review found that it's a great hybrid laptop, and we were impressed by the touchscreen in particular. While battery life doesn't quite live up to the lofty heights of the MacBook, it's still a great option for those who want the latest specs and a great touchscreen to work on.

This Gen 2 model gets the 13th Gen CPUs from Intel and a choice of either Intel Xe graphics or an Nvidia RTX 4060 and RTX 2000 Ada professional GPUs for added graphic oomph, so there's plenty of power here – though it does mean the build is a little bulky. Of course, if it's just the performance you want, you can get it for less from other laptops – but you'd have to give up the drawing abilities that make this a great pick for designers in the first place.

Mid-range 2-in-1 laptop

HP Spectre x360 16 2-in-1

(Image credit: Future)
The best mid-range 2-in-1 laptop for graphic design

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-1260P
Graphics: Intel Arc A370M
RAM: 16GB DDR5
Screen: 16-inch, 3,840 by 2,400, OLED, 400 nits, 100% DCI-P3
Storage: 1TB, PCIe Gen 3
Ports: 2x USB4 / Thunderbolt 40Gbps, USB-A 10Gbps, headphone, HDMI 2.1. microSD

Reasons to buy

+
Amazing OLED screen
+
16-inch display
+
Great connectivity

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy-ish

Our testing found the HP Spectre x360 is the top 2-in-1 16-inch laptop you can get at a mid-range price (it's cheaper than the Surface Studio 2 laptop above). The OLED screen is glorious, and the 16-inch size means you have got a massive canvas to work on. We thought 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 – a welcome addition. 

It has stellar battery life (we got an impressive 15 hours out of it), but that doesn't mean power is limited. The graphics card options range from the "interesting" Intel Arc card (entry level but it served us well in our tests), to options from Nvidia RTX 3050. The HP-native software is no replacement for Adobe's suite but might suit some with less intense workloads.

We also think it's great value for money, comparable to Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 for price, but with more going for it. Overall, we think this is a great pick for designers that want a true 2-in-1 machine with a 16-inch screen (of course, you can get smaller iterations). If you want something more portable, see the next pick on the list. See our full HP Spectre review here.

Portable 2-in-1 laptop

A Dell XPS 13 (9315) laptop on a desk

(Image credit: Rachael Phillips)
The best portable 2-in-1 laptop for graphic design

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-1260P
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB
Screen: 15.6-inch FHD+ / 4K OLED 400 nits
Storage: 512GB
Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C)

Reasons to buy

+
Detachable screen
+
Lightweight

Reasons to avoid

-
Folio is tricky to position
-
Stylus sold separately
-
Integrated graphics

If you want to work on your graphic design on the go, the Dell XPS 13 9315 is a 2-in-1 laptop, so can essentially be turned into a high-powered tablet by simply removing the keyboard. It offers a great balance of performance, portability, and design, as we found in our testing. The processor is powerful and it's got a stunning 13-inch touchscreen display, and we found in our testing 16GB of RAM will more than do for portable graphic design tasks. 

The one drawback here is that it's only got integrated graphics, so it might struggle with the heaviest-duty graphic design tasks, but anything outside that it will handle with ease, especially if you like to interact directly with the screen (although the stylus is sold separately...). This includes the option to work in Photoshop directly on the screen. Read our full Dell XPS 13 (9315) review for a complete rundown.

Best dual-screen laptop

An Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED laptop on a wooden desk

(Image credit: Future / Beth Crane)
The best dual-screen laptop for graphic design

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i9-13900H (14-core)
Graphics: Up to Nvidia RTX 4060 (8GB)
RAM: 32GB DDR5
Screen: 14.5-inch 2880 x 1800 120Hz OLED, 12.7-inch 2880 x 864 IPS
Storage: Up to 2TB SSD
Ports: 2x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB-A 3.2, SD card, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack, SD card reader

Reasons to buy

+
Second screen (with stylus input)
+
Great connectivity
+
Graphics power

Reasons to avoid

-
Squashed keyboard
-
Short battery life
-
Limited performance

The second screen is an absolute blessing on the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED, and that's especially true for graphic designers. You can even use a stylus on the second screen, turning it into a drawing tablet – a pretty handy workflow addition we were blown away by in our testing. Alternatively, you can use that second screen for extra space, moving apps and tools down to free up vital space on the main screen. 

It's geared for creative workflows, with inbuilt settings for Adobe apps, and it is extremely customisable. It has fantastic power for creative workflows, too, with a 13th gen Intel processor and you can add in an Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card to max out the power. 

Downsides are the battery life (the second screen really drains it, we only got about four and a half hours with it on, and six and a half with it turned off), and the uncomfortable ergonomics – if you're doing a lot of typing, or you're left handed, this may not be for you.

Read more in our Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED review.

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

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=8429&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2Fdp%2FB0BN1P1VND%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-21" data-link-merchant="Amazon UK"" target="_blank">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.
<a href="https://www.creativebloq.com/reviews/asus-zenbook-14x-oled" data-link-merchant="creativebloq.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon UK"">Read our 4-star review. 

Dell Precision 5470

<a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8150602-14460009?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/cty/pdp/spd/precision-15-5570-laptop/xctop5570emea_vp" data-link-merchant="dell.com"" target="_blank">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.
<a href="https://www.creativebloq.com/reviews/dell-precision-5470" data-link-merchant="creativebloq.com"" data-link-merchant="dell.com"">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.

Erlingur Einarsson
Tech Reviews Editor

Erlingur is the Tech Reviews Editor on Creative Bloq. Having worked on magazines devoted to Photoshop, films, history, and science for over 15 years, as well as working on Digital Camera World and Top Ten Reviews in more recent times, Erlingur has developed a passion for finding tech that helps people do their job, whatever it may be. He loves putting things to the test and seeing if they're all hyped up to be, to make sure people are getting what they're promised. Still can't get his wifi-only printer to connect to his computer. 

With contributions from