This article was last updated in September 2017
When it comes to choosing laptops for creative work, art or graphic design, digital painting or 3D modeling, there are a few considerations.
This article is split into two parts. The first part looks at what the specifications mean, and the second part looks at the different laptops available currently in the market.
If you're an art student looking to get a new laptop for school, or an professional looking for a workstation, the list below should help you save some time.
My background: I'm an artist/designer/journalist working at a newspaper. Over the years, I've used slow, fast, powerful and crappy computers (still do), and work on both Mac and Windows platform.
Operating system
The most important thing is to find out if the software you use is supported on Windows or Mac.
Not all applications are cross platform. For example, Autodesk 3ds Max runs only on Windows. Final Cut Pro runs only on Mac. Thankfully, most of Adobe's graphic applications are supported on both Windows and Mac.
Specifications
Just to be sure, you check with the software's website for their minimal supported system specifications. That should give you a good starting point from which to choose your computer's specification. Generally speaking, laptops nowadays are quite powerful even for the entry level ones.
Storage - This happens to be the bottleneck of any machine. It's best to get SSD (more expensive) so that your system can load fast, save and open files fast. Some laptops offer both solid state drives (SSD) and the slower spinning hard disk drives (HDD) which gives you the best of both worlds - you can install the OS on the fast SSD and store your huge files on the spacious but slower HDD. Most 13-inch laptops have only one slot for storage drives. When it gets to 15-inch, there are some that offer more than one slot for storage drives, which means you get to choose both SSD and HDD.
RAM - This is memory used to store temporary work, e.g. Photoshop layers you have yet to save, the many applications opened in the background but not in use, your many browser windows. Note that your OS uses RAM too. 8GB RAM is the very least you should get. It's best to get 16GB. RAM is affordable and this is not the area to save significant money.
Graphics card - If you're just creating 2D work, you can save money by not getting a high-end graphics card. A high end graphics card allows you to move around a highly detailed or textured 3D model with no lag. For the purpose of this article and the laptop comparison further below, when I mention that a graphics card is mid-range, it means it's suitable for 3D work for a relative large number of polygons in wireframe mode and may lag when it comes to previewing textured mode and moving around. High-end graphics card can handle detailed textured 3D scenes and move around without lag.
Processor - Either duo or quad core processors. Not many applications use quad core processors effectively yet. If you need to render 3D or videos regularly, definitely go for a quad core.
Weight
Since it's a laptop, portability is going to be a concern. If you bring your laptop around often, it might be better to get a lighter one. But seriously speaking, performance laptops are not going to be light.
Screen size and resolution
Screen size and resolution will affect your productivity. A resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels should provide ample working space and still be able to show menus, control palettes. Next consideration is screen size. A larger screen will enable you to see details clearer (if the resolution is high enough) and make it easier to click on the menus and control palettes. I suggest at least a 15-inch screen with 1920 by 1080 resolution.
Nowdays, there are screens that offer much higher resolution than 1080P. E.g. 4K screens at 3840 by 2160 resolution. If you want a high resolution screen, make sure that the software you're using supports it or the user interface, e.g. menus and buttons, are going to appear tiny and almost unusable. Do your research in respective software format. E.g. Adobe CS5 and CS6 menus are buttons are tiny and incredibly frustrating to use.
Panel type
It's best to get an IPS panel that will provide the widest viewing angle. In another words, you'll be able to see the same colour no matter the angle of the screen. For the laptop comparisons below, if there's no mention of IPS, it means I wasn't able to find any information regarding the type of panel.
It's also good to get a matte screen instead of one that's glossy. Glossy means you'll get reflections. I prefer matte. It's just a personal preference.
Gamut
If you're into print production or need colour accuracy, need to compare design on your screen against a physical printout, then get a laptop that supports as close to 100% Adobe RGB as possible. The laptops have good IPS screens with decent colours and viewing angles, however they don't come close to 100% Adobe RGB.
If you do not need the level of colour accuracy required for print production, you can just go for sRGB screens which still have more than satisfactory colour reproduction. 100% sRGB screens cost less than 100% Adobe RGB screens.
If you have the budget for laptops with 100% Adobe RGB screens, check out this list
Battery life
Graphic applications can be processor intensive and use up a lot of battery power. Of course it's best to have a laptop with longest lasting battery life but in the real world, you're likely to be plugging into a power supply.
Note that 4K resolution screens will use up more power as well.
The choices
Alright, here are the laptop choices.
Lenovo ThinkPad P-series (Released 1Q 2016)
The P-series Thinkpad laptops are the portable workstations offered by Lenovo. It used to the the W-series. I wish they would stop messing around with the letters as it gets confusing fast.
The P50s is considered low-end but still powerful. If you have the budget, go for the P50 or P70 for the quad-core processors and more configurable.
Note that there 3 screen options to choose from, 15.6-inch FHD, 15.5-inch (2880x1620) and 15.6-inch 4K. There's an anti-glare filter that's not totally matte.
Here's quick comparison.
Model | P50s | P50 | P70 |
Processor | Up to Intel Core i7-6600U (dual 2.6Ghz) | Up to Intel Xeon E3-1505M (quad 2.8Ghz) | Up to Intel Xeon E3-1575M (quad 3Ghz) |
Screen | 15.6 inch IPS | 15.6 inch IPS | 17.3 inch IPS |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
Graphics card | NVIDIA Quadro M500M 2GB | NVIDIA Quadro M1000M 4GB | Up to NVIDIA Quadro M2000M 4GB |
RAM | Up to 32GB | Up to 64GB | Up to 64GB |
Storage | Up to 512GB SSD | Up to 1TB SSD | Up to 1TB SSD |
OS | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Professional | Windows 10 Professional |
Weight | 2.2kg | 2.5kg | 3.43 |
Price | Click to check | Click to check | Click to check |
Surface Pro 2017 (Released 2Q 2017)
Microsoft Surface Pro 2017 is a huge improvement over the SP4. I know many website say that it's an incremental upgrade, but not to me.
First, Microsoft has done away with the fan for the Intel i5 model. SP4 was noisy because the fan kicks in often, even when the processor is not under heavy load. Now that the SP 2017 has no fan, it's silent.
Secondly, the battery life has improved significantly. Getting 10 hours of non-stop use at acceptable brightness is no longer a dream. SP4 had battery life that's below competition -- I'm talking about 4-6 hours depending on so many factors. If you're thinking of getting SP4 now that the older version is cheaper, don't do that. Get the SP 2017 for the longer battery life. Short battery life will become even shorter and that would be incredibly inconvenient.
Ports included are a USB-A port, a mini DisplayPort, Surface Connect port and a micro SD card slot. These are the same ports from SP4. There are many tech websites saying that USB type C port should have been added. I don't think so because many peripherals still use the standard USB-A port.
Below are the different configurations:
- Processor: Intel Core m3-7Y30 (1.0 to 2.6 GHz), Intel Core i5-7300U (2.6 to 3.5 GHz) and Intel Core i7-7660U (2.5 to 4.0 GHz)
- RAM: 4 - 16GB
- Storage: 128GB to 1TB SSD
Note that the Intel Core i7 model has fans in the system.
My personal recommendation would be to get the model in the middle, the one with Intel i5, 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, which to me represents the best value for money.
The downside of SP 2017 would be its small screen size of 12.2-inches, but you can connect to an external monitor via the miniDisplay Port. The other downside is actually the price which is actually not too bad but the Surface Pen (US $100) is no longer included, and if you need the keyboard cover, that's another $100 or more.
Dell XPS 9560 (Released 1Q 2017)
I used to recommend the Precision workstation series of laptops but on second thought, the XPS should be a more appropriate option for most artists and designers. The exterior of Precision and XPS laptops are very similar. The main difference is the Precision laptops are more configurable. With Dell XPS, you only get to choose from the specs that Dell has picked for you, which is really not a bad thing. If you require intense 3D modeling and rendering, I still recommend the Precision laptops because of their Quadro graphic card. Check out my review of the previous Precision 5510.
Dell XPS is one of the better laptops from Dell in terms of build quality, design and specifications. I mean the laptop looks good and is certainly very powerful.
Specs:
- Processor: i3-7100H (dual 3.0Ghz), i5-7300HQ (quad 2.5 - 3.5Ghz), i7-7700HQ (quad 2.8 - 3.8Ghz)
- Screen: 1080P matte, 4K glossy touchscreen (100% Adobe RGB)
- RAM: Up to 16GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 630, GTX 1050
- Weight: 2kg
I personally recommend the 15.6-inch model (9560) for the larger screen over the smaller XPS. The new model 9560 has switched to using Intel Kaby Lake and GTX 1050 graphics card. Do not get the dual core model. Get the i5 quad core model.
Dell XPS has a nice selection of ports included:
- 1 Thunderbolt 3 (USB type C)
- 2 USB 3.0
- 1 HDMI
- 1 SD card reader
- 1 Headphone and microphone combo jack
These laptops are quite heavy and start at 2kg which is actually quite standard for 15-inch laptops.
If you get the laptops from Dell, you have the options of buying additional years of warranty on top of the standard 1 year.
Zbook Studio G4 (3Q 2017)
HP Zbook Studio G4 competes with the Dell Precision at the high end market. Whatever the Dell Precision offers, you can find it on the HP Zbook Studio G3 also.
The main highlight is how configurable it is.
Specs:
- Processor: Intel i5-7300HQ (quad 2.5Ghz) to Intel i7-7820HQ (quad 2.9Ghz), Intel Xeon E3-1535M v6 (quad 3.1Ghz)
- RAM: Up to 32GB
- Storage: 2x internal storage for up to 1TB SSD each
- Graphics: Nividia Quadro M1200 4GB RAM
- Ports: Ethernet, 3x USB 3, SD card reader, 2x Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C), HDMI, headphone jack
The other thing I like is it has a 15.6-inch 4K matte screen with 85% Adobe RGB gamut support. While the colour gamut cannot match glossy screens, it is great for a matte screen.
If you have the budget, go for Dell Precision or HP Zbook Studio G4. Both are very solid top of the line workstation laptops.
Apple Macbook Pro with Retina Display (Released 4Q 2016)
There are 13-inch and 15-inch Macbook Pro models and the price range mentioned above are for the 15-inch models. The 13-inch screen may be too small for graphics work.
Key specifications
- Processor: Dual 2.0Ghz to Quad 2.9Ghz
- RAM: Up to 16GB
- Graphics card: Intel Iris Graphics 540, Intel Iris Graphics 550, Radeon Pro 450, Radeon Pro 455
- Storage: Up to 1TB Flash storage
- Weight: 1.37 - 1.83kg
- Screen: 15.4 inch, 2880 by 1800 pixels
- Warranty: 1 year warranty with optional 2 extra years with Applecare purchase
The Macbook Pro that came before the 4Q 2016 released was already quite good in terms of performance. The new Macbook Pro, in my opinion, offered only incremental improvement that's not worth the extra price that Apple is charging.
The screen is great and is now brighter at 500 nits but I've never seen anyone use monitors at their maximum brightness. Colour accuracy and viewing angles are great. The screen resolution of 2880 by 1800 is also sweet because details will appear sharp.
Macbook Pro 2016 has the new Touch Bar feature which is nice to have but it's just a different way of doing things, and does not mean you will save significant time using it.
Main downside of the Macbook Pro 2016 is they have replaced all the old ports with USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 ports. This means you'll may adaptors to connect to your external monitor, phone, SD card, scanner and other devices.
As with Apple computers, the most important thing to do before buying is to check if the software you're using is supported on the Mac OS, and for 3D programs whether they are supported by the graphics card.
If this is the first time getting a Mac, note that files created by an application can be opened in the same application running on Windows. E.g. Photoshop for Mac files can be opened by Photoshop for Windows.
In my opinion, Macbook Pro 2Q 2015 is represents greater value for money. It's only slightly slower but significantly cheaper. And you get to have all the commonly used ports. The future may be USB Type-C, but that future is not here yet so it's probably still better to stick with something accessible. For all friends who ask me for advice, I always ask them to save the money and get the 2Q 2015 model if they can find it at a good price. Try the refurbished section on Apple online store. Use the money you save to get the 2 additional years of AppleCare.
If you're going to be editing 4K video, then it makes more sense to get the Oct 2016 Macbook Pro for the really speedy SSD storage. Older Macbook Pros will choke when editing 4K.
Razer Blade (Release 1Q 2017)
Razer is an interesting company. In the incredibly competitive computer industry, it has somehow managed to build a strong reputation that of making quality and beautiful laptops. In terms of industrial design and engineering, their laptops almost have the quality to match Apple's Macbook Pros, except Razer Blades run Windows.
Specs:
- Processor: Intel i7-7700HQ (quad 2.8Ghz)
- Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
- RAM: 16GB
- Graphics: NVidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
- Ports: 2x USB 3, 1x USB Type C, HDMI
- Screen: 1080P Matte (91% sRGB), 4K glossy touchscreen (100% Adobe RGB)
- Weight: 1.86kg
While Razer is known for making gaming laptops, the Razer Blade is definitely more versatile enough to handle graphic design work.
Conclusion
As you can probably see, there are lots of options.
My preference for choosing a laptop would be to have at least SSD for storage, an IPS panel with at least 1080P resolution and at least 2 years of warranty.
As usual, check out more reviews on Amazon. All the links are provided for above.
62 Comments
Hey
Submitted by Lasse L Madsen on
Hey
Im going to study architechture, would a laptop(lenovo Y 700) with i-5 skylake, 8gb ram(room for up grade) gtx 960m, be sort of in The right direction or am i totally out of bounds,
Please help and give some recommendations
@Lasse L Madsen
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Lasse L Madsen
Lenovo Y700's specifications looks good enough. Should be no problem. Only thing I do not like is perhaps the 2.6kg weight. Lighter models should be around 2 kg.
I would like a laptop which
Submitted by Willie dee on
I would like a laptop which has memory for family storage, good media but really I wanted to learn digital illustration instead off carrying pads and pens everywhere I go. Can you recommend a laptop? for me, thankyou
@Willie dee
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Willie dee
Basic recommendations would be to get at least 8gb RAM, Intel i5 processor, and SSD-type storage (even if it is smaller in capacity compared to HDD). For extra storage, you can always get external drives in the future. Western Digital My Passport has 4TB at US$120.
As for digital illustration, if you get normal laptops, you have to get an external graphics tablet so that you can draw on it. Touchscreen tablets are not meant to be drawn on. The other option is to get tablets, e.g. Microsoft Surface Pro 2017, where you can draw directly onto the screen without getting an external device. But tablet screens are smaller.
Do you have any suggestion
Submitted by Amber Solomon on
Do you have any suggestion for a game design student on a budget? I'm 19, with a baby, married, and my husband's headed to boot camp in 3 weeks and need something like $600 or under...
@Amber Solomon
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Amber Solomon
I can't recall any specific model off the top of my head. I suggest you search for "256gb SSD laptop" on Amazon and check out the reviews for the various laptops there. Any laptop with SSD will be decent and fast enough for general purpose work.
My son is currently a 10th
Submitted by ShaRhon on
My son is currently a 10th grade high school student. His school specializes in digital arts. He has asked for a laptop he can draw on and do animations. Keeping in mind he's a high school student which laptop would you suggest?
@ShaRhon
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@ShaRhon
I can't pick out a specific brand, but the specifications you should look for should be a laptop that has Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD.
Those are the preferred specs. If you want to save a bit, perhaps you can get a 128GB SSD instead of the 256GB SSD storage. Do not get HDD storage even if they are much cheaper because SSD storage are a few times faster, which means your computer will be able to last longer and you won't have to upgrade as often.
A 13-inch screen should be enough. This is so that it's not that heavy. It's a comfortable size to work with.
For Mac OS, you can check out the Macbook Pro 13-inch. If you have limited budget, check out the refurbished section of Apple's website for refurbished Macbook Pro 13 (comes with 1-year warranty)
For Windows OS, you can check out the Dell XPS 13.
OR just do a search for "intel i5 8gb ram 256gb ssd" on Amazon and see what comes up.
Would an Alienware 13" R4 be
Submitted by Michelle on
Would an Alienware 13" R4 be suitable for creatives that use autocad, revit and Adobe creative suite?
@Michelle
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Michelle
The new Alienware R4 is certainly powerful enough to run those software.
Note that the 13-inch comes with two display option: 1366 x 768 TN panel and 1920 x 1080 IPS panel. If you have the budget, definitely go for the 1080P display which offers more resolution (more working space) and better colour reproduction.
If you do not have the budget for the 1080P version of the 13-inch Alienware. I would recommend you look for other laptops that offer such resolution. Having more resolution on the screen is going to be improve productivity significantly.
Do look at Autocad and Revit websites to see the minimal specifications they recommend.
As for Adobe CS, they practically run well on most, if not all, laptops.
Hi,
Submitted by Tin on
Hi,
would AVAdirect's Clevo P650HS-G with a 4K matte display be OK for primarily graphic design? I don't expect doing much photography editing, but would like to get in some 2D and 3D modelling at some point. But what I'm mostly interested now is the color gamut on the display.
Thank you for your time,
Tin
@Tin
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Tin
It looks like it's using the 15.6" 3840x2160 4K Samsung PLS (60Hz) LED Backlit Matt Display with NVIDIA G-Sync Technology. It should have decent colour reproduction. PLS is almost similar to IPS displays, which have decent colour reproduction.
I just got this info from
Submitted by Tin on
I just got this info from their customer service, that model covers 96% sRGB and 74 AdobeRGB, that should be good for graphic design?
I've been wondering for quite
Submitted by Audrey Vandermeulen on
I've been wondering for quite some time now what would work best for me. I am a college student at Pratt majoring in illustration. I do digital painting/concept art and traditional sculpture, but will probably need to work in zbrush soon where the industry is going. I LOVE portability, but I have used the campus cintiq and also love working on the big screen.
Currently I use a surface 3 (not pro) with a tiny attached bamboo after failing to use the surface 3 as a "mini cintiq"(it is not good for tablet digital art)
I have considered a Huion kamvas or ipad pro with pencil. I do not have a big display at home being in a dorm. I think I also need to upgrade my "laptop" in general, but I need to find one solution for now.
I want to have portability, work on screen, and eventually work in 3d modeling. Does a solution exist for that? Ideally I could afford a nice laptop, cintiq, and ipad, but that's not happening. What is my best option?
@Audrey Vandermeulen
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Audrey Vandermeulen
If you need to work on 3D, then you got to rule out the iPad because ZBrush does not run on iPad. Maybe you can check out Surface Pro 2017 or the upcoming Acer Switch 7 (larger screen). While they don't have dedicated graphics card, they should still be able to run ZBrush. Check out Zbrush website or online forums for compatibility with the Surface Pro, or Windows tablets.
@Tin
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Tin
96% sRGB is good enough. You will only need 90%+ Adobe RGB if you need to compare printed proofs with your screen.
Hey I am currently trying to
Submitted by Shakiah Johnson on
Hey I am currently trying to make a good portfolio to get into a great VFX college and don't wanna worry too much about my laptop failing midway or being unable to run all of the programs I am planning on using, so After effects, Premiere pro, Maya, Zbrush, and Photoshop.
I'm currently 16 and my parents don't really think this is a good industry for me to get into so I'm paying for the laptop ALMOST entirely myself and paying for everything else myself.
So anyways would the IdeaPad 720s Laptop (14") be good?
Hey.. Can u suggest me a
Submitted by Surendar Reddy on
Hey.. Can u suggest me a laptop under 600$ for using with Photoshop ,3dsmax and zbrush & keyshot , I already have budget wacom bamboo ctl471 tablet for digital art .
@Surendar Reddy
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Surendar Reddy
It's difficult to find a laptop for those purposes at that price. 3dsmax that you mention requires an average to good graphics card and not many laptops at that $600 will even included a dedicated graphics card. You can check 3dsmax page for their recommended specifications and use that info to look for your laptop.
@Shakiah Johnson
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Shakiah Johnson
Specifications for the IdeaPad 720s looks good enough for the price. It may start to lag when handling large files in Maya or Premiere Pro (video editing) but it can be done. See if you can find a laptop, with your current project, with quad-core processors instead of dual-core. That would be good for video editing.
I am writing a children’s
Submitted by Betsy on
I am writing a children’s book and want to be able to do my own illustration without need for pencil and paper. Which would be the best notebook or laptop for my illustrations?
Betsy
Hi, I've always been working
Submitted by Bernadette on
Hi, I've always been working with an I-mac (photography/visual art and some simple video editing) but I've been travelling a lot and for longer periods and have no access to my computer then. So I need to buy a laptop. But I also need to invest on subtitling software, and most only work with Windows. So I'm ready to make the plunge and buy my first laptop and first PC in one go...I'm not a tech person, but found your review very accessible. I would still love to have your recommandation though.Thank you.
@Betsy
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Betsy
There are two options. Either get a laptop with a tablet (Wacom, Huion or XP Pen), or those tablet computers (E.g. Surface Pro 2017).
If you're going with laptop, you can just go with any brand that offers Intel i5 processor (duo core is sufficient), 8GB RAM and SSD storage. Having a dedicated graphics card is not as important as most laptops have integrated graphics card that are good enough for graphic design and illustration.
If you have the budget, the Surface Pro 2017 has improved a lot. It's a very decent tablet computer for creating digital art now. The Surface Pen (sold separately) is accurate and sensitive. The only thing I don't like perhaps is the smaller 12.3 inch screen. I've got a full review here.
I'm personally not a big fan of those foldable 2-in-1 tablet computers where you can fold the keyboard all the way to the back.
If you have a limited budget, then the laptop+tablet route is better. A 14 inch screen would be nice. Asus makes some good tablets with the specs I mentioned above. You just have to get a tablet separately, I recommend XP Pen Star 06, Parblo A609, New Huion 1060 Plus or the Wacom Intuos Art in that preference order.
@Bernadette
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Bernadette
It really depends on your budget, but the minimum specifications I would recommend would be duo-core Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM and SSD storage. Most companies will offer that specifications so it's just a matter of spending some time to find them. You can perhaps look at Lenovo (I cannot remember which series as they have a lot of laptops), or the ASUS Zenbook, HP Envy, LG Gram.
If you need to do video editing software, you need to check if your software can support multi-core rendering, and if so it would be better to get a quad-core processor (usually Intel i7) but that is of course going to be more expensive.
Another recommendation is to go to Apple's website and check out the specifications of the 13-inch Macbook Pro. Then copy those specifications and go to other brands and see if they have those options.
Hi Teoh Yi Chie! Thank you
Submitted by Andrea on
Hi Teoh Yi Chie! Thank you very much for this article. I really looked up a lot of pages and this also helped me a lot. It seems from the specs+price, I will definitely go with an Asus Zenbook, as they have so high quality designed portables for reasonable price. Either UX330UA (QHD or FHD), or one of the later models, with 8GB RAM, 256 GB SSD and Intel graphics card (read some reviews on notebookcheck.com and exactly the same laptop had some % better sRGB results with Intel than NVIDIA). They offer in their later Zenbook models (like 330, 410, 430 etc.) 100% sRGB, 74% adobeRGB, 72% NTSC and given the budget, that's the best I can purchase. Thank you again!
@Andrea
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Andrea
At 13.3-inch, the lower resolution 1080P screen will still appear quite sharp so you can save some money there. But if you have the budget, you can choose the higher resolution screen.
What are your thought of 2017
Submitted by Hendrell T. Cab... on
What are your thought of 2017 Lenovo Flex 4 14", is it good to use?
Thanks
@Hendrell T. Cab
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Hendrell T. Cab
The specs look good enough for basic graphic design, digital art, photo editing. There's no dedicated graphics card so it's not that good for gaming or 3D software. You can do some video editing, but it won't be as fast compared to quad-core processors. Overall for the price US$650, it's quite reasonable.
I’m a game developer and I’m
Submitted by Yebel Knox on
I’m a game developer and I’m looking for a laptop that I can build and play games on but is also compatible with DirectX11. I was thinking about the MSI....but I’d like a suggestion from someone more computer savvy. I also do a lot of digital art since I’m running a business.
Hi! Thank you so much for the
Submitted by Andrea Deal on
Hi! Thank you so much for the article that has helped all of us so much. My head is swimming now, though, I'm so confused. I truly know very little about computers. I want to teach myself graphic design and I'd love to draw and create art as well. I was going to get either the surface book 4 or latest Pro, but then I found it wasn't listed on many "best laptops for graphic design" lists. I definitely want a screen I can work directly on. I know you said just look for
"intel i5 8gb ram 256gb ssd" but I'm still confused if those listed would have a screen I can draw directly on. I love the way macs look/reputation but I've never used one so I'd have a lot to learn. Also, the need of all those missing ports scare me, even if i don't yet know exactly what it all means. I'd also love to keep the budget under $800. Please help me. I'm about to get a headache, haha. I just don't know if i should spend a lot of money as a beginner. If there's a really great one out there perfect for me, or if I'm right to head towards the surface pro, please let me know. I'd also maybe use this computer for a "work at home" type job. THANK YOU so much for your time!!
@Andrea Deal
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Andrea Deal
It's difficult to find a decent performing tablet to draw on with US $800. Even the cheapest Surface Pro 2017 cost US $899 and that has only 4GB RAM and 128GB storage which isn't optimal.
I suggest getting a laptop with the specs "intel i5 8gb ram 256gb ssd". Then you can a wired tablet, like those Wacom or Huion, for your illustrations.
Apple computers are good but are also expensive.
So I guess in the end, you might have to look for laptops. Just compare various brands, like Dell, Asus, MSI.
Atm I have a Lenovo Yoga 720
Submitted by Nafisa on
Atm I have a Lenovo Yoga 720 13" 2 in 1. intel core i5-7200U (2.50-2.70Ghz), RAM 8 GB and storage 256 GB SSD and screen resolution 1920 x 1080. I just recently got into digital art and I don't want to get a better laptop any sooner since the current one I have is pretty new. Do you suggest I get an external drawing tablet for it or a pen?
Hi, I am a graduate of
Submitted by Michael on
Hi, I am a graduate of Graphic Design, looking for a laptop that can handle Indesign, Illustrator, Maya and photoshop software. The Macbook Pro I have used in school is seven years old and the logic board is defective, and I am looking for a laptop to replace it. Would you recommend that I get a new Macbook Pro or a Windows laptop that will accommodate the software I need?
@Nafisa
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Nafisa
You can get the Lenovo Active Pen 2 for it. I've not tested it though so I can't really say how good the drawing and writing performance will be. Maybe you can find some Youtube videos that talk about the performance.
http://amzn.to/2zqc7wS
@Michael
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Michael
Right now, i think Windows laptops offer better value for the money. Macbook Pro's advantage is, in my opinion, in video editing with Final Cut Pro software. If you're not video editing, then it's probably better to go with Windows.
You can check out the Dell XPS, Dell Precision, HP ZBook Studio G4. You can also research Razer Blade 14, or the MSI or ASUS (these two are usually more affordable) laptops.
Hi, i just have a quick
Submitted by Vel on
Hi, i just have a quick question. Im not very tech savy at all and i wanted to go into animation both 3D and 2D and i was wondering if this Desktop would be good?
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0747W15QL/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A...
@Vel
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Vel
All the specs look alright except the hard drive in there is 7200RPM, which is significantly slower compared to SSD. So your boot up time and launching of software, saving files will not be as fast. It's best that you look for a system with SSD storage. You should be able to find them because nowadays even laptops at that price will come with SSD storage.
Go to Dell's website to compare prices too.
Hey there! I am an art
Submitted by Mo on
Hey there! I am an art student studying 3D modelling and am a professional E-sports player. Have any laptops in mind that'll be able to handle both?
For gaming and 3D models, you
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
For gaming and 3D models, you can check out ASUS or MSI laptops. As for specific models, I can't say because there are too many. Just look at the games you play, check out their specifications, and look for similar or better specifications in the laptops.
Or check out the Dell XPS 15-inch, 9560 model, and compare with other brands.
First off, I'd like to thank
Submitted by Juan on
First off, I'd like to thank you for this article, it's very insightful and I learned a few things I didn't know about before. While I'll be looking at laptops on my own using this guide, I could still really use your opinion...
I'm a college student majoring in graphic design and looking to upgrade from my Surface Pro 3. I bought the Intel Core i7 model with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage and have had it for 2-3 years now. It usually gets the job done but as my projects get more complex and I dive into more graphic-intensive programs, my Surface starts to run a lot slower.
I normally work on Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, but I'm delving more into Dreamweaver, Animate, After Effects and all the other Adobe programs. I know those can run fairly well on my Surface (After Effects being an exception) but I would like to run programs like 3DS Max and Adobe Dimension.
I've tried gaming on my Surface but I can hardly get a game running on the lowest settings. Not sure if getting a gaming laptop would double as a "design" laptop. Though it would be cool, I guess I have a higher priority for a device that can smoothly and quickly run the programs I mentioned. Any advice?
Since this will be for school work and client work, my budget is fairly open. As for the laptop, the thought of a matte screen also sounds good to me (hate reflections on my Surface when the lights are on). I could deal with heavier laptops, 1 USB port, and anything else really. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
@Juan
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Juan
The Surface Pro 2017 is quite powerful now. However the main selling point is the ability to draw on the screen with the Surface Pen. If you don't do that, you can still find many other laptops that are really compact and portable as well.
If you want to run 3D software, it's best to get a laptop with graphics card. It will make your scene lag less when dealing with scenes with lots of polygons. If you game, the graphics card also helps.
As for specific recommendations, I would say look at Dell XPS's specifications and compare that with other brands. Budget laptops are usually from ASUS and MSI. Nowadays, even 13-inch laptops are very powerful and fast.
Or look at the list of laptops I've mentioned above, and look for equivalent or newer models.
Hi I'm going to major in
Submitted by David on
Hi I'm going to major in industrial design and i was wondering if the laptop should have a touch screen or not. If so, would the lenovo flex 5 be good enough. And any suggestions that are under $1000.
Hi Teo,
Submitted by Stephen on
Hi Teo,
What do you think about the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 for doing digital painting and illustration (on a separate pen display tablet)? It has 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd, and i5 processor. You recommend other Dell’s but this seems to have the same specs, and Is more affordable and portable . However I’ve read critiques of its display, battery, and even keyboard, but when I look at what the actual performance is it seems like they’d all be fine for my purpose—I'd mainly interface with the pen-tablet which has a great display. I’m just worried about reports the drive is actually slow despite being ssd. Any thoughts?
@Stephen
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Stephen
Sometimes prices of laptops with similar specs differ because of the design, build quality and weight. As long as the specifications are similar, the performance is going to be quite similar.
All SSDs are fast (they are already significantly faster compared to the traditional spinning hard drives) so there should be no problem with speed.
@David
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@David
For a tablet, it obviously should have touch screen, but on a laptop, not having a touch screen is not a deal breaker. A touch screen laptop is convenient, but not having it is not a big deal.
The Lenovo Flex 5 looks decent enough in terms of specs. Just make sure to get the model with the SSD storage (for speed).
As for laptop recommendations, there are really too many models out there. You can just go to all the big brands and looks for the minimum specs I recommend: Intel i5, 8GB RAM, SSD storage. The higher the better of course, if budget allows.
Hey there, so I am a beginner
Submitted by Ella on
Hey there, so I am a beginner and I have little to no idea on what to use, my budget is kinda poor, it goes from 350-400 €, I just want to draw in 2D, use photoshop or similar programs, something simple.
I'd really like if you could give me some recommendations.
Thank you!
Hi,
Submitted by C Catlin on
Hi,
i've been trying to find a laptop that will work well with Photoshop and Corel Draw and will still portable enough to travel with. I do travel a fair amount and currently use a desktop for much of my work. Currently my work is in graphic design and a fair amount of photography. However I would prefer to purchase something that has growth capacity. I look forward to your advice.
Hi, I'm looking for a laptop
Submitted by Jessica on
Hi, I'm looking for a laptop under $1,500. I am a uni student studying art and design and would need/ like to run programs such as adobe suite, microsoft, sketch up as well as a few games (e.g. minecraft and sims). Do you have and recomendations?
@C Catlin
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@C Catlin
Today's computers are more than powerful enough to run Photoshop and Corel. You can just go to any website of computer brands that you know of and check out the specs. There are just too many model names for me to remember so I can only recommend the basic specs you should get:
Intel i5 processor (duo core would be enough, best if higher than 2.4Ghz)
8GB of RAM (if you have budget, get 16GB)
SSD storage (avoid HDD storage)
As for graphics card, you don't really need particularly powerful ones, even integrated graphics card can work with Photoshop and Corel.
If you're looking for laptop, it's best to get something that's light. 15 inch laptops are typically around 2kg. The lighter the better. I think it's best to get something around 13 - 14 inches for the lighter weight unless you know you really need 15 inch. 12 inches would be too small.
@Jessica
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on
@Jessica
I'm actually copying the reply that I typed for another comment.
There are just too many model names for me to remember so I can only recommend the basic specs you should get:
Intel i5 processor (duo core would be enough, best if higher than 2.4Ghz)
8GB of RAM (if you have budget, get 16GB)
SSD storage (avoid HDD storage)
As for graphics card, you don't really need particularly powerful ones, even integrated graphics card can work with all the apps you mention.
If you're looking for laptop, it's best to get something that's light. 15 inch laptops are typically around 2kg. The lighter the better. I think it's best to get something around 13 - 14 inches for the lighter weight unless you know you really need 15 inch. 12 inches would be too small.
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