Graphic designers require powerful laptops since their primary need is working with RAM consuming media such as images, HD videos, GIFs (Jiff, as the debate goes on). This article presents you with a list of the best laptops for graphic design as well as a detailed laptop buying guide for the same.
Graphic designing laptops are one of the most expensive ones since they ask for ‘A Grade’ specifications in almost all the important factors such as display, performance and graphics, which leads to only one thing, high price. Normal laptops aren’t efficient enough to run software like Illustrator or CAD or even Photoshop with some browsing.
Looking for cheap price over high quality will most probably make your graphic designing career sluggish like that sluggish laptop until and unless you opt for a valuable one. For finding the right device you should care more about some factors than the others. Below are five factors aligned according to their importance:
A GPU helps in loading videos, games and images and makes sure that they run at optimal frame rates without lag. You will generally hear about either integrated graphics or dedicated graphics card. The latter is far better than the former in terms of performance and power. But a graphic designer needs the best of the best dedicated Graphics Cards.
NVIDIA and AMD are two BIG producers of graphics cards. For NVIDIA, something close to a Geforce GTX 1050ti with 6 GB VRAM is moderate and for AMD, a Radeon pro with 6 or more GB graphics can run multiple software at once.
It is advisable to attach externally or try for a laptop with a graphics card of at least 6 GB VRAM. But something less than 4 GB is a sure shot loss for your money.
Display cannot be missed at all if the primary purpose for buying a laptop is judging the color and quality of images/videos every day and editing them. A colorful, vibrant and bright screen with awesome viewing angles and a wide resolution is perfect for the ultimate graphic designer.
Technically, a 15 or sometimes a 17-inch screen works well given that it has a resolution of something close to 2560 x 1440 WQ HD. The most eye-catching graphics can be enjoyed through a 3840 x 2160 pixel 4k resolution.
More importantly, color reproduction is another amazing quality that separates premium from mediocre. sRGB percent is a perimeter that identifies color reproduction. Most vivid displays have 100% or more in sRGB.
RAM is the reason why a laptop works and how it handles tasks. Every program loads and functions in the space provided by the RAM. Bigger RAM space means that you can open more applications and swiftly move from one window to another.
Modern laptops’ RAM varies from 4 to 32 GB of RAM but a good laptop that handles multiple graphics software like GIMP, Illustrator, and Sketch simultaneously has 16 GB inbuilt RAM. 8 GB RAM suits entry-level designers who make simple posters and create GIFs.
“CPU is the brain of the computer”. This nostalgic line perfectly defines why processors even matter at the first place. A processor controls everything from the start to finish. Gone are the days of Intel i3 and Reyzen 3 that worked fine four years ago.
In 2019, you need the processors that at least came out recently like the i7 or the AMD Radeon pro 560x. Updated processors are relevant 3-4 or even 5 years from present which is why newer laptops are better investments since their processors are efficient and effective. Plus we are talking about processing 4k videos and images every second here.
You have game maps to create and videos to edit, but where to store these so they do not slow down the laptop’s processor? Answer: in an SSD (Solid State Drive).
LENOVO LEGION Y530: GREAT FOR ENTRY-LEVEL GRAPHIC DESIGN
8 GB DDR4 RAM
6 GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1060 GPU
15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS DISPLAY
INTEL I7-8750H PROCESSOR
1 TB HDD + 128GB SSD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ HDD+SSD Storage space – Average screen resolution
+ Cheap price for good specs – Moderate battery life
+ Screen tilts to 180 degrees – bloated color reproduction
Primarily an entry-level low budget gaming laptop, the Lenovo Legion Y530 is also a pretty well-suited laptop for guys who want to use After Effects, Photoshop, etc. The one thing that catches our eyesight is that it has very thin bezels that gives it a look of a modern workstation with the RAM and GPU of a satisfactory graphic design laptop.
The 15.6 inch FHD IPS display seems OK for editing HQ videos but not much is to be expected here, since the color reproduction on this screen is really mediocre which makes it tough to satisfy the inner artist inside a pro designer. The brightness according to Lenovo reaches 300 nits which is nonetheless, average and nothing else.
Performance wise, the Y530 offers high potential for multitasking. The 6 GB GTX 1060 is promising enough for using multiple files simultaneously but on the downside, it barely lasts 4 hours if you continue browsing for images, downloading and editing them.
ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300: SATISFACTORY SCREEN WITH RESPECTABLE SPECS
16 GB DDR4 RAM
6 GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1060 GPU
15.6” FHD LED LIT (1920x 1080) DISPLAY
INTEL i7-8750H PROCESSOR
1 TB HDD + 256 GB SSD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ HDD+SSD Storage space – Low color reproduction
+ 144 Hz screen refresh rate – Heavy body
+ Latest Intel i7 8th gen processor – Average battery life
Acer created a value for money laptop in the face of the Predator Helios and upgraded it in 2018. One thing they got right in 2018 is the screen. The screen seems nothing more than an average one but the 144 Hz refresh rate makes Video editing as smooth as glass. Though the color reproduction is not even close to the mark, winding up at 82% of sRGB (close to 90-95 would have been good).
The red and blue aesthetics in the Helios are just like a normal gaming laptop. The body weighs 2.7 kg which is pretty heavy but you have to consider the fact that there is 16 GB RAM, a 6GB GTX 1060 and even an HDD with an SSD. The big air vents on the back ensure cooling even while multitasking.
One big feature to keep in mind is the battery life. Most of the laptops that offer great specs for graphic designing are the ones that were primarily made for gaming, which is why they consume battery like the fat uncle that eats up all the food. The same is the case with the 48WHr battery which runs note for more than 5 hours. You would have to carry your charger around adding to the 3 kg bulk.
HP ZBOOK 15V G5: UNDERRATED BUT VALUABLE16 GB DDR4 RAM
4 GB NVIDIA Quadro P600
15.6” FHD (1920x 1080) DISPLAY
INTEL i7-8850H PROCESSOR
1 TB HDD + 256 GB SSD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ HDD+SSD Storage space – Below average graphic details
+ Satisfactory color reproduction – Heavy body
+ Durable body of military standards – Viewing angles are narrow
Workstations are very often seen as the sweet spots between daily use notebooks and heavy duty gaming beasts, which makes them perfect for a graphic designer who wants both the efficiency of an Ultrabook and the power of a gaming laptop under a single chassis. HP’s Zbook 15v G5 delivers that sweet spot while slightly missing out on the most important media editing aspect, the display.
The G5 is equipped with a 1 TB HDD combined with a 256 GB SSD and 16 GB DDR4 RAM (varies with configuration). The 4GB NVIDIA Quadro P600 is fine for beginners but an extra GPU can be connected using thunderbolt port on the right. It can’t be denied that applications like CAD and Premiere Pro can run absolutely smooth and you can do gaming as well in the free time.
This workstation lasts about 8 hours on moderate usage which is really nice because video editing uses battery life. There are a lot of add-ons built inside the G5, such as a fingerprint sensor, spill-proof backlit keyboard, HDMI and thunderbolt ports, speakers built on the chassis above the keyboard and big air vents all around for airflow. All of these makeup for an in and out workload machine that just needs to fix its display problems in order to become a perfect pick.
GIGABYTE AERO 15X V8-BK4K4P: MASTER OF FUNCTIONALITY
16 GB DDR4 (UPTO 32 GB)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GDDR5 8GB
15.6″ UHD (3840×2160) IPS DISPLAY
INTEL i7-8750H PROCESSOR
512 GB SSD + EMPTY SLOT FOR HDD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ Unmatched performance specs – Screen hinge isn’t durable
+ 4k UHD IPS display – Lack of heat control
+ Thin bezels – Webcam points toward your nose
If you want your laptop to be as functional and as durable as possible for really long term (more than 7 years on a single device), it is hard to think of a good competitor to the Gigabyte Aero 15x. It has every spec so advanced as well as accurately structured in a 2 kg body that you would rarely have to look around for better choices.
16 GB RAM, 8 GB GTX 1070, 4k UHD IPS display and an i7 combined with two slots for storage and even a color-customizable backlit keyboard make the Aero a master of almost everything required to ace editing without your tools holding your creativity back. Gigabyte claims 100% in Adobe RGB in its anti-glare screen.
But there are some features that really need to be checked out. The hinge looks pretty but makes the screen wobble. You need to take extra care of the hinge while opening/closing the laptop. Something that Gigabyte can work on is the 6-hour average battery life, which tops as far as gaming laptops are concerned but for a work-oriented laptop, 6 hours are pretty average.
The body also heats up with multiple software due to lack of air vents that could not be placed in the process of making the body thin. Nonetheless, the Aero is a good laptop for your buck.
ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR II: FASTEST IN RESPONSE TIME
16 GB DDR4 RAM
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR5 8GB
15.6″ FHD (1920X1080) IPS DISPLAY
INTEL i7-8750H PROCESSOR
512 GB SSD + 1 TB SSHD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ Fastest response time in a screen – Average color reproduction
+ Perfect storage combination – Beginner level screen resolution
+ Thin bezels – Heavy body and thick aesthetics
+ Customizable lighting in keyboard,
front edge and the lid
Asus always wins the battle by somehow fitting very unseen and unique features in its laptops. The ROG Strix Scar II is an update of Scar I and it really feels like a big update because of its display. The display seems like a very normal 1920 x 1080 FHD display used for beginner media editing experience and it actually is, but that same display is speedy with its 144 Hz refresh rate, even faster than the Predator Helios 300.
Other remarkable characteristics include a whopping 8 GB NVIDIA RTX 2070 GPU and 16 Gigs of RAM, topped with an i7 8th gen CPU. One innovative thing about the design is the lighting in various places that can be customized by you at your own will. One of the models offers 1 TB SSHD (faster than an HDD) with a 512 GB SSD, which is hands down the best combination this list offers.
To remove the shiny glitter in your eyes that you’ve got till now, it is necessary to remind that the resolution, graphics detail, as well as color reproduction (114% of sRGB) is basic, and the battery life cannot even last for 5 full hours on a single charge.
DELL PRECISION 5530: SMALLEST 2-IN-1 MOBILE WORKSTATION
16 GB DDR4 RAM
4 GB AMD RADEON PRO WX MEGA GRAPHICS
15.6″ FHD (1920X1080) 2-IN-1 DISPLAY (STYLUS ENABLED)
INTEL i7-8th GEN PROC. + 1 TB SSD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ 2-in-1 body with included stylus – Less than average color reproduction
+ Large SSD storage space – Low screen resolution
+ Thin bezels – Mediocre battery life
Enough of heavy machinery that doesn’t even look sleek like modern laptops. Dell’s latest 2-in-1 precision borrows the small size and flexibility from Ultrabooks and hands them to the aesthetics of the original workstation without even minimizing performance anywhere.
To begin with, the most unique thing about this workstation is the 2-in-1 body on which the Dell’s stylus runs extra buttery and helps you give an artistic touch to your projects. Normal workstations cannot even produce something near this. It is topped with 16 GB RAM/1 TB SSD and an Intel i7 8th gen, all are fast and efficient enough for opening multiple files.
The GPU though requires an external Graphics card attachment through the laptop’s Thunderbolt connection since the 4 GB VRAM in the Radeon Pro graphics card is not big enough to handle processes fast like converting 4k movies on Premiere Pro. Also, the screen resolution and the 98% sRGB hint towards just a decent graphic designing experience and not a superior one, even in the tablet mode itself.
The battery life just topples after 5 hours on browsing and a little bit of Photoshop, which is again a clear signal of “nothing much to be expected here”. However, the fact that Precision 5530 is able to achieve the title of smallest 2-in-1 workstation is itself a big thing.
APPLE MACBOOK PRO (15 INCH): BEST APPLE DEVICE FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN
16 GB DDR4 RAM
4 GB AMD RADEON PRO 560X GRAPHICS
15.4″ (2880×1800) LED LIT IPS DISPLAY
INTEL i9 9th GEN PROCESSOR
512 GB SSD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ Thin, lightweight & durable – Mac OS doesn’t have enough flexibility
aluminum body – Extremely highly priced
+ Latest Intel 9th gen processor – Less number of ports
+ Detailed, bright and vivid display
+ Long battery life
Apple cannot be left out from any category of best laptops (except for gaming laptops) because its minimalistic yet highly durable laptops tend to push the extra factor. The 15 inch Macbook Pro does the same with its really outstanding display which has a “True Tone” sensing technology that changes the warmth of the display according to the light outside.
On paper, the display is a 15.4 inch 2880 x 1800 IPS LED that produces 500 nits of brightness (even 300 is effective under sunlight) and reproduces 117% of sRGB. And in reality, the display is as astounding as in paper. MacBooks have always been prominent in the display department and the one released in 2018 is at par with Apple’s standards.
Apple isn’t as flexible as Windows laptops in terms of ports, because Apple wants it slim. There are only Thunderbolt (total 4) ports in the Apple which means you would need to connect to an adapter. Apple has updated the CPU to the latest Intel i9 9th gen. Other necessary specs include a 16 GB RAM/512 GB SSD and an AMD Pro 560x with 4 GB VRAM. You can connect to an external GPU to maximize productivity while working on peak software. The battery lasts for 10 hours which is humongous.
One thing that Apple notoriously manages to do well is to make users pay more for the value, which means the MacBook isn’t a cheap deal at all.
ASUS ZENBOOK PRO UX550GE: WINDOWS VERSION OF MACBOOK PRO
16 GB DDR4 RAM
4 GB NVIDIA® GEFORCE® GTX 1050 Ti GRAPHICS CARD
15.6” LED-backlit 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) DISPLAY
Intel i7-8750H PROCESSOR
512 GB SSD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ Exceptional color quality and reproduction – Normal built quality
+ Touchscreen available – Battery lasts half your day
+ Upgradable to i9 8th gen Intel processor – Cooling mechanism isn’t effective
Some of the readers love windows laptops for what they are, and yes, it is pretty normal since they are very functional and flexible in terms of configurations and ports. Asus took care of this fact in mind while redesigning the Zenbook pro 15 this year to make it as an alternative to premium Apple MacBook and it really shows.
One big reason why the Zenbook is on this list is the display. It is unmatched if we combine color reproduction, details and brightness together in a laptop. The 4K UHD version outperforms Apple MacBook with a 132% sRGB (Macbook stopped at 117%) to begin with. Moreover, the panel is touch-enabled for every sort of extra finishes that you cannot make singularly on the trackpad. BUT the 4k display eats up a lot of battery as well.
Performance specs in the Zenbook pro are as awesome as they seem for video editing and rendering. There is a 16 GB RAM/ 512 GB SSD, and an i7 8th gen Intel combined with an NVIDIA GTX 1050ti with 4 GB VRAM. Asus allows you to plug in extra graphics through the Thunderbolt ports. Being cheaper than a MacBook, you can buy an extra GTX for times when things get serious.
DELL XPS 15 957O: THE CLASSIC ALL-ROUNDER
32 GB DDR4 RAM
4 GB NVIDIA® GEFORCE® GTX 1050 Ti GRAPHICS CARD
15.6” 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) INFINITY EDGE DISPLAY
Intel i9 8th GEN PROCESSOR
1 TB SSD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ One of the brightest, most vivid – Webcam points at your nose
4k displays – Heating problems and fan noise persist
+ Comes with a backlit keyboard – Expensive
and fingerprint sensor
+ One of the thinnest and lightweight bodies
+ Awesome battery life
You have probably heard of the Dell XPS before if you are into laptops and Ultrabooks but instead of just being the talk of the town, the XPS lineup is worth the hue and cry, at least for graphic designing. But why is that? It’s the display and premium aluminum built in a thin, but powerful device that makes it so unique. And the XPS 15 9570 introduced in 2018 is no anomaly.
The Infinity Edge 4k Ultra-HD display has really thin bezels to maximize the viewing and editing experience. One sacrifice that had to be made was the webcam that had to be adjusted on the bottom bezel, which points straight up to your nose and you cannot change that. Though the score of 99% at Adobe RGB may seem normal on paper but it’s actually a lot more vibrant because of the glossy panel and 400 nits of maximum brightness.
Performance in the XPS 15 outweighs competitors like Lenovo Thinkpad and even the Apple MacBook Air, because of the Intel i9 and 16 GB RAM (up to 32 GB)/ 1 TB SSD combination. It is very similar to the competitors but the GTX 1050ti gives it a plus point and makes it much more valuable. Another huge winning factor is the battery life of this XPS that reaches 10-11 hours. No laptop combines these specs together.
MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2: THE ULTIMATE WINNER
16 GB LPDDR3 RAM
6GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GRAPHICS CARD
15” PIXELSENSE DISPLAY (3240 X 2160) 3:2 RATIO
Intel i7 8650U PROCESSOR
1 TB SSD
DEAL MAKERS DEAL BREAKERS
+ Detachable 2-in-1 laptop with stylus – The most expensive laptop in this list
+ Bright, vivid and colorful 4k Display – Tablet alone runs for 2.5 hours only
+ Ahead of the generation Aesthetics – Unnecessarily thick and dark bezels
+ Gigantic battery life of 10+ hours
“Bizarre”. There is no better reaction to the Microsoft Surface book 2. A completely detachable tablet and keyboard that fit magnetically, added to a touchscreen and a WACOM Stylus, added to a 3240 x 2160 display makes it useless to buy a tablet at all. But Microsoft isn’t stupid for letting out all that value because it is probably the priciest convertible. The question arises, is it worth it?
Being a new generation convertible, the Surface book 2 does not miss when we talk about Memory and Graphics. There is a 16 GB LPDDR3 RAM (we may see DDR4 in upcoming years) and an SSD that ranges from 128 GB to 1 TB in the Surface Book with the choice of a 6 GB GTX 1060. It is recommended to go for all the high limit specs if budget isn’t a problem for you.
Coming to the display, the 15 inch 4k screen becomes a tablet in a snap. You can run the stylus on for giving an artistic touch. The color reproduction on this thing is 131% of sRGB which is a pretty respectable score. The tablet can even be rejoined opposite to the keyboard. Microsoft did a commendable job with battery life here, which lasts for 10-11 hours.
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