Best laptops for Artist: 2023 Comprehensive guide

Artists are known for their ability to bring colour, rhythm, balance, and emphasis to our lives, and it’s almost impossible to imagine our world without their talents.

However, when it comes to expressing their creativity digitally, artists need the right tools to bring their visions to life.

That’s where the best laptops for artists come in. With the latest software and advanced features, these best business laptops can help artists showcase their passion and skills in a way that was once thought impossible.

From painting to graphic design, the best laptops offer a range of tools that allow artists to express themselves digitally.

Whether you’re a professional artist or just starting out, having the right laptop can make all the difference in your creative journey.

The 12 Best Laptops for Artists in 2023

Are you an artist or an aspiring one? Do you need a laptop suitable for your creativity and art projects?

Finding the right laptop for any artistic task is of utmost importance, but not all work laptops are created equal.

With so many options out there, it can be hard to know which laptop can best meet your needs.

But worry not we’re here to help!

In this section of the guide, We’ll share our top picks so that you can make sure that whatever solution you choose will give you years of trouble-free computing power tailored specifically to your creative endeavours.

1. Dell XPS 13 9310

Unleash your artistic potential with the Dell XPS 13 9310, the ultimate laptop for artists.

Packed with impressive specifications and features, this Dell laptop is designed for professionals who demand nothing but the best.

Experience lightning-fast multitasking and seamless performance with the cutting-edge 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor.

No more worries about resource-intensive applications slowing you down. In case this becomes an issue refer to our guide on how to fix a slow laptop for digital artists

Immerse yourself in vibrant visuals on the breathtaking 13.4-inch OLED 3.5K InfinityEdge touchscreen display. With crystal-clear views and stunning colours, your creations come to life like never before.

Effortlessly switch between design software and photo editing tools with 16GB of 4267MHz LPDDR4x memory.

Say goodbye to performance bottlenecks that hinder your creative flow.

Store and access all your art projects and media files with ease on the lightning-fast 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid-state drive.

No more clutter or searching for files, everything is organized and accessible in one place.

Watch your artistic creations truly shine with the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, perfectly complementing the high-resolution display.

Stay connected at all times with Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.1 capabilities. Collaborate seamlessly online and never miss a beat.

Work comfortably in any lighting condition with the fingerprint reader and backlit keyboard. Your security and convenience are our priorities.

Enjoy a smooth and intuitive user experience with Windows 11 Home, fully compatible with a wide range of creative software.

Elevate your creativity to new heights with the Dell XPS 13 9310.

This portable and high-performance laptop is the perfect companion for digital artists, photographers, and creative professionals. Experience the power and beauty of true artistic expression.

2. Apple Macbook Air

The Apple MacBook Air M1 has emerged as one of the best laptops for artists due to its impressive specifications and features.

With its sleek design and exceptional performance, this best Macbook caters to the demanding needs of creative professionals.

The 13.3-inch Retina display provides an impeccable canvas for your creations, offering stunning visuals and accurate colour reproduction.

Say goodbye to slow loading times with the spacious 512GB SSD, giving you ample storage for your artwork, projects, and software.

Powered by the revolutionary M1 chip, this best laptop delivers exceptional performance and power efficiency, allowing you to work on complex projects seamlessly.

With 16GB of RAM, multitasking is a breeze, enabling you to switch between design software effortlessly.

Embrace the user-friendly macOS, renowned for stability and optimized integration with creative applications.

The Anti-Glare Coating on the screen ensures comfort during long hours of work, while the integrated GPU handles most graphic design tasks with ease.

Apple MacBook Air M1 includes a 16-core Neural Engine suitable for AI-assisted tools and complex image processing.

Artists seeking a powerful and reliable laptop will find endless possibilities with this device.

It enables you to bring your imagination to life with ease and efficiency like never before.

3. Dell XPS 17

Unleash your creativity with the Dell XPS 17 9710 the ultimate laptop for artists.

This high-performance device offers impressive specs and features designed to cater to your creative needs.

The 17-inch display one of the best Ultraportable laptops, provides a spacious canvas to bring your visions to life, with 4K Ultra HD+ resolution and touchscreen functionality for exceptional clarity and precise touch interactions.

Powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H CPU, this laptop delivers seamless multitasking and handles resource-intensive software like a breeze.

With 64GB of DDR4 RAM, you can work on large projects without any lag or slowdowns.

Storage capacity is no issue, thanks to the generous 2TB PCIe SSD. Store all your artwork, project files, and resources while enjoying faster data access and boot times.

The dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card accelerates rendering and 3D modelling, taking your creativity to new heights.

Windows 11 Pro enhances efficiency with its user-friendly interface and features like improved snap controls and virtual desktops.

Not only does the Dell XPS 17 9710 perform exceptionally, but it also looks stunning in its Platinum Silver design, perfect for professional environments or creative studios.

Hence Dell XPS 17 is recommended as one of the best laptops for music production.

Dell XPS 17 9710 is an excellent choice for artists because of its large, high-quality display, powerful processing capabilities, ample RAM, and generous storage.

Whether you are working on graphic design, multimedia, or other creative projects, this laptop can help you unleash your artistic visions with ease and efficiency.

4. HP Spectre X360

Unleash your creativity with the HP Spectre x360-16, one of the best laptops for artists and animators.

Its sleek design and Nightfall Black colour exude elegance and sophistication, making it a stylish choice for creative professionals.

Featuring a 16-inch touch-enabled display with a resolution of 3072×1920, this best laptop provides a spacious canvas for your artistic visions.

The visuals are crisp, and the touch response is smooth, offering an enjoyable drawing and animation experience.

Powered by an Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU and 16GB RAM, the HP Spectre x360-16 delivers exceptional performance and efficiency. Multitasking and rendering complex animations are a breeze, without any hiccups.

With a generous 512GB PCIe SSD, you’ll have plenty of storage space for your large animation files, high-resolution images, and creative software applications. Speedy data access is guaranteed.

The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics card ensures impressive graphical performance, perfect for most drawing and animation tasks.

Create detailed illustrations and work on animations with ease.

The active pen provides precise and natural drawing on the touch screen, making it feel like using a traditional pen or pencil on paper. Your strokes will be accurate and lifelike.

Security is a top priority, and the built-in fingerprint scanner ensures quick and secure logins, protecting your sensitive creative work from unauthorized access.

With Windows 11 Pro as the operating system, you’ll enjoy a smooth and intuitive user experience, enhancing your overall productivity.

The HP Spectre x360 16” is the best laptop for drawing and animation.

Its powerful specifications, large touch-enabled display, active pen support, and Windows 11 Pro integration make it the perfect choice for bringing your creative ideas to life. Don’t settle for anything less than the best.

5. Asus Zenbook Pro Duo

Discover the ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo, the best laptop for digital artists. With its cutting-edge features and impressive specs, this powerhouse device is designed to meet the demanding needs of creative professionals.

Experience the stunning dual-screen setup of the Zenbook Pro Duo.

The 15.6-inch OLED UHD NanoEdge touchscreen main display offers vibrant colours and deep contrasts, providing an exceptional canvas for your artistic creations.

And with touch functionality, sketching and drawing directly on the touch screen has never been easier.

The most impressive feature is the ScreenPad Plus, which is a 14-inch 4K matte touchscreen that enhances the main display and allows for more efficient multitasking.

You can use it to expand your workspace or divide Windows and applications across both screens. This is beneficial for keeping your tools and references on one smaller screen while working on your project on the other.

Zenbook Pro Duo has a powerful performance with an 11th-generation Intel Core i9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6GB VRAM.

With this lightweight laptop now, you can handle complex tasks easily without experiencing lags or stuttering. The rendering will also be smooth.

And with a spacious 1 TB hard disk and 32 GB of RAM, you’ll have more than enough storage and memory capacity to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

No more limitations on your creative workflow.

Designed for digital artists, the Zenbook Pro Duo runs on the optimized Windows 11 Pro operating system. Enjoy improved productivity features and enhanced touch support, creating the ideal environment for your creative work.

Elevate your creative process with the ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo.

With its powerful hardware, stunning displays, and innovative ScreenPad Plus, this laptop is the ultimate tool for bringing your artistic visions to life.

Whether you’re a professional or just starting out, get ready to take your creativity to new heights.

6. Dell XPS 15 9520

Experience the ultimate music production tool with the Dell XPS 15 9520.

This Best Dell laptop is a top pick for FL Studio enthusiasts, offering unbeatable power, performance, and portability.

At the heart of the Dell XPS, 15 9520 is the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor, boasting an incredible 14 cores.

Say goodbye to lag and hello to seamless multitasking and smooth handling of resource-intensive tasks while running FL Studio and other music production software.

Enjoy a spacious canvas for your music production with the laptop’s 15.6-inch display.

The FHD+ resolution ensures sharp visuals and accurate colour reproduction, perfect for precise audio editing and mixing. Plus, the anti-glare feature keeps distractions at bay for extended sessions of comfortable music production.

With a generous 32GB DDR5 RAM, the Dell XPS 15 9520 effortlessly handles large audio projects and sample libraries without any lag.

No need to worry about performance bottlenecks – focus on your creativity and let the abundant RAM capacity optimize your workflow.

Ample storage is a highlight of this laptop. The 1TB PCIe SSD offers lightning-fast read and write speeds, giving you enough space to store all your music projects, software, and plugins.

Unleash your creative freedom and explore endless possibilities in your musical journey.

The dedicated RTX 3050 graphics card ensures high-quality graphics performance, allowing smooth rendering of visual elements within FL Studio.

Work seamlessly with complex projects or visualizers, bringing your vision to life.

Running on Windows 11 Pro, the Dell XPS 15 9520 maximizes its potential as a powerful music production tool.

This optimized operating system enhances overall system performance and efficiency, giving you a user-friendly interface to work with multiple programs.

The Dell XPS 15 9520 is truly one of the best laptops for FL Studio. Its impressive specifications, advanced features, and reliable performance make it a must-have for music producers.

Experience the power, reliability, and limitless possibilities with the Dell XPS 15 9520 as your companion in the world of music production.

7. Apple Macbook Pro

Introducing the Apple MacBook Pro M1 2020, one of the best laptops for djing.

With its powerful specifications and sleek design, this best DJ laptop has everything a professional DJ needs.

The 14-inch touchscreen laptop, size and lightweight design make it perfect for gigs, while the elegant Silver colour adds a touch of sophistication.

Under the hood, the MacBook Pro M1 boasts a 512GB hard disk for storing huge music libraries and DJing software.

With 16GB of RAM, multitasking and smooth performance are guaranteed.

Powered by Apple’s M1 chip, this laptop delivers incredible CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance.

The 10-core CPU means DJs can work faster than ever before, while the 32-core GPU is perfect for handling graphics-intensive apps.

One standout feature is the 16-core Neural Engine, which accelerates machine learning tasks by up to 11x.

DJs will love this for audio processing, automated mixing, and AI-powered effects.

Battery life is crucial for DJs, and the MacBook Pro M1 delivers up to 17 hours of usage.

No need to worry about running out of power during extended performances or when on the go.

With up to 64GB of memory and 8TB of superfast SSD storage, everything runs fast and smooth. Plus, the Anti Glare Coating on the screen reduces reflections and glare, ensuring optimal visibility in any lighting conditions.

In conclusion, the Apple MacBook Pro M1 2020 is the ultimate laptop for DJs. With its powerful performance, long battery life, and sleek design, it’s the perfect choice for professional DJs who demand the best.

8. Microsoft Surface laptop studio

Unleash your creativity with the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, the ultimate choice for digital art and SketchUp enthusiasts.

This cutting-edge laptop offers unrivalled power and an innovative design, making it a top pick for architects, designers, and 3D modellers.

At its core lies the Intel Core i7-11700 processor, guaranteeing smooth multitasking and effortless handling of complex SketchUp models.

With 32 GB of RAM, you can work with large files and multiple applications simultaneously, boosting your productivity like never before.

Immerse yourself in the SketchUp experience with the 14.4-inch touchscreen display.

Its high resolution brings designs to life with stunning detail, while the touchscreen functionality allows for seamless navigation and interaction with 3D models.

From sketching to rotating models, the Surface Laptop Studio offers unrivalled convenience and precision.

Visualize your designs flawlessly, thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti dedicated graphics card. It ensures accurate colours and realistic rendering, empowering you to make critical design decisions with confidence.

With a generous 1TB SSD hard disk, you’ll have all the storage space you need for your projects and assets. Access your work effortlessly and breeze through large SketchUp files without any hiccups.

Experience the Windows 11 Home operating system, optimized for better performance and a seamless user experience.

The user-friendly interface lets you focus on your creative process without any distractions.

Not only does the Surface Laptop Studio offer impressive performance, but it also looks the part.

With its sleek Platinum colour and professional aesthetics, it’s the perfect device to carry to meetings or showcase your work to clients.

In summary, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the ultimate companion for SketchUp.

With its powerful hardware, stunning touchscreen display, dedicated graphics, and ample storage, it empowers architects, designers, and 3D modellers to bring their ideas to life with ease and precision.

9. Lenovo Flex 5i 13” Chromebook

Lenovo Flex 5i 13” Chromebook is an excellent choice and one of the best laptops for craft artists and illustrators who want to fully express their creativity.

Its versatile and powerful features make it a must-have for anyone in the creative field.

The 13.3-inch FHD touchscreen display offers the perfect canvas for your artistic endeavours.

It provides excellent colour accuracy and sharpness, allowing you to visualize your creations in vibrant detail.

Every stroke and detail of your digital art will be accurately portrayed, ensuring precision colour accuracy and perfection in your work.

Not only is the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook a practical tool, but it also exudes a modern and stylish appeal. Its elegant Abyss Blue colour adds to its visual appeal, making it a favourite among artists who appreciate aesthetics.

Under the hood, this laptop boasts a powerful Core i5 CPU and 8 GB of RAM, ensuring smooth and seamless performance.

Whether you’re running resource-intensive art software or multitasking between different creative applications, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook can handle it all with ease.

It provides a seamless creative workflow, allowing you to focus on your art.

While it may have 64 GB of storage space, the Lenovo Flex 5i 13” Chromebook is more than sufficient for most artists.

Digital files and cloud storage options make up for any lack of storage capacity.

The Chrome OS also provides artists with a suite of cloud-based productivity tools, allowing seamless access to their work across devices.

With its integrated Intel UHD Graphics card, the Lenovo Flex 5i 13” Chromebook delivers respectable performance for rendering digital art and illustrations.

It allows artists to work on complex artwork without sacrificing performance, making it an ideal choice for creating digital art.

The slim bezels around the display provide an immersive and distraction-free workspace – perfect for artists who want to maximize their creative potential.

If you’re a craft artist or illustrator searching for the ideal laptop to create digital art, the Lenovo Flex 5i 13″ Chrome has an Intel Core i5 CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and integrated Intel UHD Graphics, guaranteeing seamless and efficient operation.

Moreover, the 13.3-inch FHD touchscreen display is perfect for visualizing your art.

This Chromebook is lightweight, portable, and comes in an elegant Abyss Blue colour, making it an excellent choice of laptop for digital art artists.

10. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook stands out as one of the best laptops for 3D modelling and rendering due to its impressive specifications and versatile design.

These impressive specs and versatile designs make it a standout choice for artists, graphic designers, and tattooists alike.

Featuring a 10.1-inch WUXGA display, this 2-in-1 Chromebook offers a compact yet immersive visual experience, perfect for those who demand precision and clarity in their work.

Powered by the MediaTek Helio P60T CPU, the IdeaPad Duet Chromebook delivers seamless and efficient performance.

With 4GB of RAM for smooth multitasking and a 64GB SSD for ample storage, you can handle complex tasks without slowdowns, staying organized and productive.

Unlike traditional laptops, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet’s Chrome OS is specifically designed for web-based applications and cloud storage.

You can run resource-intensive 3D modelling tools and rendering apps effortlessly, saving storage space and accessing your projects from anywhere.

Equipped with integrated graphics, the IdeaPad Duet Chromebook can handle graphics-intensive tasks with ease. While not as powerful as high-end laptops, it offers solid performance for most 3D artists and designers.

For musicians, the 2-in-1 design and touchscreen capabilities of the IdeaPad Duet Chromebook are a game-changer.

Switch effortlessly between laptop and tablet modes, and explore a wide array of music apps on the Chrome OS for composing, editing, and recording.

In summary, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is the ultimate tool for creative professionals.

Its compact size, powerful processor, ample storage, and efficient Chrome OS provide a smooth and capable experience for any creative endeavour.

Whether you’re working on 3D models, designing tattoos, or composing music, this Chromebook is your perfect companion.

Things to consider when choosing a laptop for an artist

For artists, having the right laptop is paramount to their creative process and productivity.

With a plethora of options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to determine which laptop suits an artist’s needs best.

Whether you’re a digital illustrator, graphic designer, or creative professional, this comprehensive guide will walk you through essential factors to consider when choosing a good laptop used for your artistic endeavours.

1. Display Quality and Resolution:

When it comes to selecting a laptop for artistic purposes, the display quality and resolution are of utmost importance.

As an artist, you deserve a decent laptop, that showcases accurate and vibrant colours, provides wide viewing angles, and offers high resolution.

For exceptional colour reproduction and accuracy, look for laptops with IPS or OLED display technology.

These outshine traditional TN panels by delivering superior colour performance.

And if you want unparalleled clarity, consider upgrading to a 4K (3840 x 2160) display, although a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution is also a great option.

A high-resolution display ensures that your artwork is displayed in stunning detail, allowing you to make precise edits and truly appreciate your creations.

But display size matters too. Larger screens, such as 15 inches or more, provide a comfortable workspace for your artistic endeavours.

However, they may sacrifice portability. On the other hand, smaller screens like 13 or 14 inches offer enhanced portability, but they can be limiting when working on intricate designs.

To strike the perfect balance, choose a display size that meets both your artistic needs and portability requirements.

Get ready to elevate your artistry with the right laptop display!

2. Performance and Processing Power:

When it comes to your artistic endeavours, performance is key. That’s why finding a laptop with top-notch processing power is essential.

Whether you’re using resource-intensive programs like Adobe Creative Suite or working on intricate 3D modelling projects, you need a powerful laptop, that can handle it all smoothly.

Look for the latest generation processors from Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 series for excellent multi-core performance.

But performance isn’t the only thing to consider. The amount of RAM your laptop has affects how smoothly it can run multiple applications at once.

Aim for a minimum of 8GB, but if you regularly tackle large files and complex projects, consider upgrading to 16GB or even 32GB for optimal performance.

And let’s not forget about storage. As an artist, you need a Solid-State Drive (SSD) for faster data access and a seamless workflow.

Look for a laptop with at least 512GB of SSD storage, but if your budget allows, consider upgrading to 1TB or more for ample space to store all your artwork and projects.

Find the perfect laptop that combines power, speed, and storage to enhance your artistic journey.

3. Graphics Performance and GPU:

For artists tackling graphics-intensive tasks like 3D rendering, animation, and video editing, having a dedicated graphics processing unit (GPU) is crucial.

Not only does it boost your laptop’s overall performance, but it also allows you to effortlessly work with high-resolution assets and create intricate visuals without any lag or glitches.

When searching for the perfect laptop for your artistic endeavours, prioritize models equipped with top-notch GPUs from NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon.

Opt for a mid-range or higher model like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5600M to ensure optimal performance.

If your budget permits, consider investing in a laptop with a professional-grade GPU like the NVIDIA Quadro or AMD Radeon Pro, specifically designed to handle demanding creative tasks with ease.

Don’t overlook the importance of VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) when it comes to selecting a laptop.

The amount of VRAM directly impacts the GPU’s ability to handle graphical data simultaneously. Look for a laptop with a minimum of 4GB of VRAM.

However, if your artistic workflow involves working with massive textures or rendering large scenes, consider a model with 6GB or 8GB of VRAM.

Take your artistic endeavours to new heights with a laptop that offers exceptional graphics performance and a powerful GPU.

4. Portability and Battery Life:

As an artist constantly on the move, you know that performance and display quality are important. But what about the ability to take your creativity with you wherever you go? That’s where portability comes in.

Imagine attending workshops, meetings, or collaborating with clients without being bogged down by a heavy laptop.

A lightweight and slim laptop can be a game-changer for artists like you. Look for the best budget laptop, one that weighs around 3-4 pounds and boasts a thin profile for effortless transportation.

But it’s not just about portability. Consider the crucial factor of battery life.

We all know that as an artist, you don’t want your creativity to be stifled by constantly needing to charge your laptop. That’s why it’s essential to choose a laptop with long battery life.

With at least 8 hours of battery life or more depending on your typical working hours away from a power source, you can unleash your creative talents without interruption.

Say goodbye to the frustration of constantly searching for power outlets and hello to uninterrupted artistic inspiration.

When it comes to your digital art laptop, make sure the good battery life of your laptop supports your freedom. Choose a portable yet powerful option with a great battery life that keeps up with your imagination.

5. Touchscreen and Pen Support:

For artists who crave the tactile sensation of drawing directly on the screen, a laptop with a touchscreen and pen stylus support is a game-changer.

As the world of digital art and illustration soars in popularity, there’s never been a better time to explore the possibilities offered by touch-sensitive displays and stylus pens.

With their pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, modern stylus pens elevate your artistic capabilities, providing a natural and precise digital drawing experience that feels just like pen and paper.

When choosing a laptop with touchscreen and pen support, it’s crucial to ensure compatibility with reputable stylus pens like those from Wacom or Microsoft.

Some models even come bundled with their own stylus, amplifying the value you receive.

Unleash your creativity and take your art to new heights with the power of touchscreen and pen support.

6. Cooling and Thermal Performance:

Given the demanding nature of artistic software, laptops can generate significant heat during extended creative sessions.

Adequate cooling and thermal management are crucial to prevent overheating and potential performance throttling.

Look for laptops with efficient cooling systems and multiple vents for improved airflow. Reviews and user feedback can provide valuable insights into a laptop’s thermal performance under heavy workloads.

Additionally, consider investing in a laptop cooling pad or external fan system to further enhance thermal performance, especially if you tend to push your laptop to its limits during resource-intensive tasks.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, finding the right laptop for an artist is not an easy task.

As an artist, you need to focus on performance and features that will support your artistic process in the best way possible.

While some laptops feature great aesthetic options at a low price, they may not have the hardware or software essential to support high-end art designs.

On the other hand, expensive top-of-the-line laptops may offer everything you need but come with hefty prices.

When buying a laptop as an artist, it’s important to find a balance between performance and affordability so as to get the most out of both worlds.

Furthermore, don’t forget to consider storage capacity when choosing a laptop opting for something that can accommodate your artwork and accompanying files.

All these factors should be taken into account when researching what is the best laptop for artists in today’s market.

FAQ’s