Digital art has come a long way in the last decade. Today we have tablets, software and powerful computers that allow us to do practically anything that crosses our minds. Inspiration comes to us at any time, unfortunately you cannot carry a desktop computer with you all the time, so having a laptop is essential if you are dedicated to creating digital art.
If your laptop is barely good for browsing, it will be more difficult for you to draw, illustrate, create 3D designs or any form of digital art in which you shine, therefore, your best investment will be a laptop that allows you to work with better precision and comfort. I will show you the 10 best laptops for artists.
Features that you’ll need to make digital art
Although digital art includes different features that range from graphic design and illustration to digital painting and 3D projects, there is no formula to find the ideal laptop for artists, however, these are some of the aspects which have to be taken into account.
Display:
Your work is visual, so you need a high resolution screen where colors appear as true and accurate as possible, so that no detail is lost.
RAM Memory:
If you work with illustration software or need to keep multiple tabs on your computer open while looking for inspiration, then 8GB is currently the minimum acceptable for working without difficulties.
Graphics:
It is necessary to have a graphics card that provides power to the laptop and allows you to work without lag.
Processor:
The power of the processor you require depends on the type of digital art you do. Intel Core i5 processors and up, are a great alternative for digital artist and art students.
Ports and connections:
If you use a graphics tablet or need to connect a device for your creative process, your notebook must have ports that facilitate connectivity.
Battery:
You need a laptop with a battery that provides hours of continuous wireless use, so you can spend time creating content without worrying about plugging into an outlet.
Storage:
A hard drive with 512 GB of storage is enough for you to store all your portfolio and additional content you need. Laptops fail, so it’s always good to have a backup, also consider getting an external SSD.
Top 10 Best Laptops for Artists
Just as a sculptor uses a chisel and a painter his brush, digital artists require the perfect tool to shape their artwork. Here’s my pick of the best laptops for art:
- Apple MacBook Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Laptop
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1
- Acer Aspire 5
- ASUS VivoBook 15
- Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop
- HP Spectre 13T
- Dell Inspiron 5000
- ASUS VivoBook S15
- HP Envy x360
So, if you are a student, and you are looking for the best laptop for your online classes, keep reading.
1. Apple MacBook Pro
I couldn’t start this list without the Brightest MacBook Ever. In terms of performance and quality, this one stands out as the Best Laptop for Digital Art, mainly with the incorporation of Apple’s very own processor M1 Pro chip Up to 10-core CPU, which is the biggest change since it first MacBook, 512 GB available for storage of digital art and a 14-inch screen where you will enjoy hours of lag-free artistic work, thanks to its Apple 14-core GPU and 16GB RAM. It is available on Amazon for around $2,400.00.
Features
This MacBook comes in silver and space gray colors, it is well equipped with SoC Apple M1 Pro chip Up to 10-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores and 16-core GPU (200GB/s memory bandwidth). Its storage options are 16GB of unified memory which is ideal for multitasking and 512 GB of superfast SSD storage to save all your portfolio and creative ideas. Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 GBps), to you to connect devices such as a drawing tablet, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, and it includes MagSafe charging port, 3.5 mm audio jack and with its Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technologies you will enjoy the fastest connectivity protocols up to now.
Its six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers, studio-quality three-microphone and 1080p FaceTime HD camera will allow you to have videoconferences with your clients, and with its Touch ID technology all your work will be safe.
Specifications
Its 14.2-inch (diagonal) mini-LED backlit Liquid Retina XDR display is powerful, delivering 3024 x1964 pixels with ProMotion technology (120Hz), 1600 nits peak brightness and True Tone technology, with support for up to 1 billion colors, so your art will look absolutely realistic. The weight is 3.5 pounds and the whole architecture measures 8.71 x 12.31 x 0.61 inches. This MacBook comes with a Backlit Magic Keyboard, large Force Touch trackpad and offers up to 17 hours of battery for working with inspiration.
2. Samsung Galaxy Laptop
The second best laptop for digital art is this Samsung 2-in-1 laptop, because of its distinctive features. For $1,399.00 you can work on a 13.3-inch Full HD QLED touchscreen with standard Intel Iris Xe Graphics and a powerful Intel Quad-Core i7 1165G7 up to 4.7GHz. With its 16 GB of performance memory and 2 TB of storage, which is plenty, digital artists will only need creativity and practice to excel.
Features
The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha 2 will match with your needs if you are a beginner or experienced artists, thanks to its 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor (12 MB Cache, up to 4.7 GHz), Intel Iris Xe Graphics and 16 GB LPDDR4x SDRAM Memory, so you can keep several apps open while you search for resources on the internet. 2 TB PCIe SSD for your media content and 1 HDMI, 2 USB3.0, 1 Headphone out/Mic-in Combo and MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader to connect peripherals. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.1 will allow you to connect wirelessly and securely, while using its native operating system, Windows 11 Home, 64-bit. Also includes a 720p HD webcam and Backlit Keyboard.
Specifications
Designed by Samsung Electronics, its 13.3 in Full HD QLED touchscreen (1920 x 1080) with 10-finger multi-touch support is great for sketching and drawing, supporting up to 4096 levels of pressure and offers a 360° flip-and-fold convertible design to add versatility to your workplace that you can enjoy through up to 17 hours (battery life). Its dimensions are 12 x 7.95 x 0.55 inches, with its whole Solid Aluminum Black structure weighing 2.62 pounds only.
3. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is one of the best buys if you need an art laptop, it is not by accident that it is the nine one of this series. The highlight here is a remarkable 14” FHD Non-Touch Screen, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB NVMe SSD and Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics inside its structure, being a device suggested for art students, in addition it has Rear ventilation, many security options and a variety of ports and slots. You can find it for $1,849.99 on Amazon.
Features
ThinkPads are among the favorites of students and creative workers who require quality devices. 16 GB soldered memory and 512 GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe x4 NVMe are more than enough to run demanding programs and store thousands of folders with your wonderful creations. Featuring Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics and 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor with vPro (up to 4.80 GHz with Turbo Boost), 4 Cores, 8 Threads and 12 MB Cache, so performance won’t be a problem.
You can connect devices using its Type-C (Thunderbolt 4), USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 and HDMI 2.0. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth® 5.2 with vPro are the wireless connectivity options. An integrated Intel UHD Graphics Webcam with Microphone (720p) with privacy shutter, Backlit Keyboard, wide touchpad and Fingerprint Reader into the power button are also integrated. It comes with loud 0.8 W speakers, the representative ThinkPad Red Button and Killer 2.5G Ethernet to USB-C Adapter.
Specifications
Its 14″ FHD IPS 400 nits Anti-glare display IPS 1920 x 1200 (Full HD Plus) will allow you to work with vivid colors and high contrast at 16:10. Its ultrathin Carbon + Magnesium body measures 12.4 x 8.72 x 0.59 inches and weighs 3 pounds. The Chinese company equipped this matte finish laptop with a battery that provides up to 9 hours of continuous use.
4. Acer Aspire 5
If you are in search of the Best Laptop for Artists, the fourth may fulfill all your requirements. The Acer Aspire 5 is a versatile laptop that adapts to different careers, it comes with 15.6″ Full HD IPS, AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor, AMD Radeon Graphics, 8 GB DDR4 and 512 GB NVMe SSD, more than enough features to run without problems any app for image editing, illustration or software that graphic artists require for work. It delivers all-day battery life and is the best cheap laptop for artists (around $500,00).
Features
The Acer Aspire 5 A515-45-R8K1 is available with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor 1.8GHz with Precision Boost up to 4.3GHz with AMD Radeon Graphics, 8 GB DDR4 On-Board Memory and 512 GB NVMe SSD for fast storage. Comprehensive connections including USB-C 3.2, USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 2.0, HDMI 2.0 Ports, Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 to connect the laptop with other devices and the internet. The Multi-Touch Gesture touchpad and the Backlit Keyboard will be of great help for art students who need to learn quickly and dynamically, even in the dark.
Specifications
A big 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display with 81.61%1 screen-to-body ratio is one of its best features, with Acer Color Intelligence and narrow border to protect the user’s eyes while creating. Its Lithium-Ion Battery brings up to 11-hours battery life, and Windows 11 Home is the default OS. The Aspire 5 dimensions are 14.31 x 9.86 x 0.71 inches, its weight is 3.88 pounds and its sandblasted aluminum structure comes in pure silver color.
5. ASUS VivoBook 15
When it comes to the best cheap laptop for artists, ASUS VivoBook 15 has an undisputed place. For around $750 you get a device capable to switch between laptop and a tablet, with 14″ FHD Touchscreen available to unleash your creativity, AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Processor and 8 GB DDR4 RAM for the power your creating and editing apps need, and a 512 GB SSD to save all your artistic content. In addition, you can use it to enjoy leisure time when you require a break after so much work.
Features
Inside it is equipped by Powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.3GHz, 8 cores), with AMD Radeon Graphics, 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe® 3.0 SSD and 8 GB DDR4 RAM plus another slot free to upgrade it up to 16 GB.and, which deliver fair performance to bring digital art to life. This gray VivoBook is the fifth best artist laptop because it is great and comfortable to do creative tasks, comes with an Ergonomic Backlit Keyboard and has some physical connectivity options, like USB 3.2 Type-A (Gen1), USB 3.2 Type-C (Gen1), USB 2.0 and HDMI. Its wireless option is Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), but it still works at decent speed. Security features include password protection, fingerprint reader and face recognition lock.
Specifications
It has a 15.6 inch IPS Full HD NanoEdge bezel display with a stunning 83% screen-to-body ratio which boasts 178 viewing angles for immersive photo editing, graphic design and digital painting work sessions. You can create creative art without getting disturbed by charging issues for around 7 hours (battery life). This ASUS laptop comes with Windows 10 Home, its reinforced body includes ASUS SonicMaster speakers, has a total weight of 3.97 pounds and the dimensions of 14.18 x 9.25 x 0.78 inches.
6. Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light Laptop
Acer Swift 3 is the sixth best laptop for art, a lightweight 14-inch Ultrabook powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor that includes an integrated Radeon graphics card, it also has 8 GB of RAM for performance and a 512 GB NVMe SSD for storage. This laptop is one of the best-built laptops you can buy if you are a tech-savvy artist. It includes interesting features such as a fingerprint reader for security and fastest recognition, a 14” screen with 16:9 and outstanding battery life for a laptop under $700.00.
Features
With AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor and Radeon Graphics this laptop will run your most demanding apps, with fast responsiveness due to its 8 GB LPDDR4X on-board memory, and it comes with 512 GB NVMe solid-state drive storage to store your portfolio and so much more. Your art will be safe inside its lightweight chassis, with its Biometric fingerprint reader and Windows Hello sign-in options. USB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, 3.5 mm audio, and USB-C provide plenty of connection options, also it works with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless technologies. It is an all-aluminum laptop, with backlit keyboard, average silver touchpad and DTS stereo speakers with Acer’s Purified Voice technology and full compatibility with Amazon Alexa.
Specifications
The screen on this Acer Swift 3 model is a 14″ Full HD widescreen LED-backlit 100% sRGB display with 85.73% screen-to-body, 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels, which delivers great colors and outstanding brightness levels. The Swift 3’ measurements are 12.71 x 8.35 x 0.63 inches. With 7 hours of real autonomy, weighing just 2.62 pounds and stereo ring fan for greater cooling, in addition to its considerable internal features, it is the best artist laptop designed by Acer.
7. HP Spectre 13T
Another best laptop for art from the HP brand is this model with 10th Gen i7-1065G7 GPU, Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 8 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD. The HP Specter x360 offers endless possibilities for those who know the basics of art, are capable of creating beautiful illustrations or even 3D art works. With its 4K OLED touchscreen with HP Pen Control you can use it similarly to a graphic tablet and draw in a colorful and bright workspace. With these features it cost around $1550.
Features
This laptop from HP comes with strong specifications like 10th Generation Quad Intel Core i7-1065G7 four-way processing up to 3.9 GHz with 8 MB SmartCache, high-efficiency performance with Intel Turbo Boost Technology; 16 GB DDR4 RAM, 512 GB NVMe SSD, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics chip, managing 46 frames per second (fps), for a solid performance.
The operating system is Windows 10 Home 64 bit, from where you can work through Fingerprint reader and have access to technologies such as Webcam Kill Switch, Mic Mute Key and wireless connectivity that Intel Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 Combo offer. The list of ports is not that extensive, 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, 2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C with Thunderbolt 3, 1 headphone/microphone combo, SD card reader and HD IR Webcam.
Specifications
As a great laptop for artists, this one comes with 13.3” 4K UHD OLED touch screen (Resolution: 3840 x 2160) for hands-on control and IPS technology for wide viewing angles, diagonal IPS micro-edge OLED-backlit touch screen with NBT, it is fully compatible with HP Active Stylus Pen. The screen is very responsive and the 360-degree hinge will allow the screen to flip back. Its elegant aluminum body with cutting edge gem cut design comes with Nightfall Black overcoat. Its dimensions are 12.08 x 7.66 x 0.67 inches and weighs 2.88 pounds, which is impressively light for HP notebooks. The battery life for the laptop stays up to nearly 7 hours.
8. Dell Inspiron 5000
It may not be on quite the same level as the Apple MacBook Pro or Samsung Galaxy Laptop, but if you need a 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop loaded with powerful components, which is also capable of running performance-demanding apps, then the 2021 Dell Inspiron 5000 is the one for you. With 14″ FHD Touch Display, Intel Core i5-1035G1, 2 TB SSD and 32 GB RAM, this laptop is perfect for graphic artists looking for the highest storage options, who can spend $1,289.00 on Amazon.
Features
This Dell Laptop brings in the top balance of versatility and performance. On top of that is its 32 GB Random Access Memory and 2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State, allowing you to work with multiple applications, without lag and have space enough to save any artwork. Graphics-intensive processing requirements are reached with its 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor (4 Core,8 MB Cache, up to 3.6GHz with Max Turbo Frequency) working with Intel UHD Graphics with Shared Graphics Memory. The tech connections are covered with Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen, 1 USB Type-C and HDMI 1.4 ports, Universal Audio jack and Micro SD Card Reader.
Specifications
That its 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Reflective IPS LED-Backlit WVA Touch Display can be used as a laptop or tablet makes drawing, tracing and designing completely intuitive. Its battery allows up to 6 hours of continuous work with a single charge. Its ultra-minimalist Titan gray design is not for everyone, but you will surely appreciate the backlit keyboard, the praise-worthy trackpad, B&O Speakers and the fingerprint scanner that will make it easier for you to use this art laptop. With dimensions of 12.77 x 8.77 x 0.75 inches and 3.79 pounds, you can take it anywhere.
9. ASUS VivoBook S15
The VivoBook S15 can support Adobe Illustrator, Corel Painter, and other software for digital painters, it is not only one of the best laptops for digital art, but also a powerful choice for Graphic Designers and Architects. This 15-inch ultra-slim laptop with Intel Core i5-10210U CPU and 8 GB DDR4 RAM offers fast performance, delivering up to 512 GB PCIe SSD to save whatever you want. Its price is around $600, so it is also an affordable option.
Features
This is another great deal which also has a maximum 8 GB DDR4 RAM and 512 GB PCIe SSD, along with Windows 10 Home as operating system. Unlike most cheap devices for a digital artist, it comes with a powerful Intel Core i5-10210U Processor 1.6 GHz (6M Cache, up to 4.2 GHz, 4 cores) and NVIDIA MX250 discrete graphics. Peripherals can be connected via USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 2.0, HDMI 1.4, 3.5 mm Combo Audio Jack, DC-in, card reader SD/MMC and Micro SD card reader. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 are the wireless connectivity options for this device.
Specifications
The build quality of the second ASUS on my list is great. Its diamond-cut edges design comes in Dreamy White, Gaia Green, Resolute Red and Indie Black colors, with textured finishes, so even though it is one of the Best Laptop for Artists, I suggest it especially for students who are looking for a functional and fun-looking notebook.
You have a 15.6-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 aspect ratio, IPS-level Panel, LED Backlit, 250 nits, 45% NTSC color gamut for non-OLED, Anti-glare display, Screen-to-body ratio: 86%, which is comfortable for the eyes while working up to 9 consecutive hours, its battery charge duration. At 3.97 pounds, the VivoBook S15 comes with a metal chassis and its measures are 14.1 x 9.2 x 0.6 inches.
10. HP Envy x360
At the end of my list of the 10 Best Laptop for Artists, I would like to draw attention to another HP device. The Envy x360 offers enough performance for all creative tasks thanks to its AMD Ryzen 5 5500U 6-Core Processor, which is supported by 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD. This 15.6″ Full HD Touchscreen laptop is available by paying $999.00.
Features
With AMD Ryzen 5 5500U 2.10GHz Hexa-Core Processor up to 4.0GHz and AMD Radeon Graphics, the HP Envy x360 2-in-1 Flip Laptop delivers a great performance. 16 GB high-bandwidth RAM memory is available to run multiple apps at once and with 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive you will have fast storage for your art. Its ports and connectivity options include USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.0, Combination Audio Jack, Multi-format SD Media Card Reader, Wireless-AX Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth Combo. The HP Stylus Pen is included, and also, its structure comes with Backlit Keyboard, Built-in HD Webcam with Microphone and HP Audio Boost 2.0 with Bang & Olufsen Stereo Speakers.
Specifications
This HP laptop for artists comes with 15.6″ Full HD Micro-Edge Touchscreen (1920 x 1080) Display, Multitouch-enabled, Edge-to-edge Glass, 250 nits, 45% NTSC, with calibrated color space
Windows 11 Home, and weighs 4.1 pounds. Its dimensions are 14.1 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches, and the battery delivers up to 8 hours of constant usage. The device is available in Nightfall Black, with a sturdy aluminum alloy design which is quite discreet.
Conclusion
Art is relative, so your requirements vary from artist to artist. However, I hope you will find in my list of the 10 best laptops for artists the equipment you need to add to your artistic tools.