The best laptops for graphic design are the ones that combine outstanding performance with genuine portability, all in a stylish shell.
Our team of expert reviewers have gone hands-on with a massive range of creator-friendly machines, including the best laptops for photo editing and the best video editing laptops. Now, we’re putting graphic design laptops to the test.
Choosing the right laptop is absolutely essential for maintaining a creative flow. Even the best graphic design software can be pretty resource-intensive, slowing down the computer, stuttering to a halt.
To help you hit your next creative brief, our reviewers have benchmarked each of the top laptops for graphic designers. We’re comparing specs, build quality and design, and overall performance – from running software smoothly to staying cool under pressure. We’ve also checked sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 coverage for when you need a color-accurate screen.
The quick list
1. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023)
The MacBook Pro is the gold standard in creative work for a reason. It performs as beautifully as it looks. We found it has incredible power under the hood, fantastic cooling, a impressive screen, and a great port offering. There’s even all-day battery life.
The Dell XPS 17 (2022) easily handles creative work with a GeForce RTX 3050/3060, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to a 12th Generation i9 Processor. In our tests, it tore through tasks. Battery life is excellent, and the design is sleek and gimmick-free.
Gigabyte’s Aero 17 is a large powerhouse – but you get a big screen boasting Pantone factory calibration of 100% Adobe RGB. Under tests, we can say the battery could be better, and it runs a bit hot. But it more than makes up for it with a beautiful display and graphic experience.
4. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022)
In our experience, even older Apple MacBook Pro like 2022’s MacBook Pro 13-inch remain highly portable and highly capable devices. We saw the same excellent battery life here as with larger, newer versions, and that the Apple M2 chip is still absurdly fast.
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8
We love ease with which the very flexible Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 2-in-1 slips between tablet, hybrid, and laptop, purring through graphic design jobs. And that gorgeous 16:10 display showcases exactly why it’s considered the “golden ratio.”
The Dell XPS 15 is nearly perfect. It doesn’t have the best graphics or CPU, but this laptop pushed well beyond what we expected in performance. We particularly like the dedicated discrete GPU and the almost all-day battery life.
The Razer Blade 14 is a beast in a small case. Coming in a 14-inch case, while showcasing a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and 16GB RAM. This gaming laptop has impressive and vivid colors, a great chassis and phenomenal ports, while pushing games at 1440p and 1080p.
For Windows powerhouse creative users, the Gigabyte Aero 16 is hard to beat. The Aero 16 has a 12th Gen i7 or i9, a 16-inch 4K UHD+, and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070. This creative laptop has a great keyboard, a 16:10 golden aspect ratio and remarkable overall power.
Best laptop for graphic design in 2023
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Below you’ll find full write-ups for each candidate for the best laptop for graphic design in 2023. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
Best laptop for graphic design overall
It’s difficult to picture a better laptop for digital designers than the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch. Seemingly tailored for creators and designers, the design is beautiful, performance is outstanding, and the display is stunning.
That beautiful 3456 x 2234 Liquid Retina XDR screen is brilliant in the original sense of the word, providing a broad, crisp canvas for all graphic design work. It’s so good, in fact, that after extensive testing, we called it “the best screen on a laptop”.
Performance across the board is excellent. The MacBook Pro is powered by the M2 processor – an impressively efficient chip that we found easily handled a range of creative software. Benchmarking the laptop, it managed a PugentBench Photoshop score of 1,060; Premier Pro scored 1,095; Blender, 123.97. Unlike many workstations, the M2 doesn’t throttle performance when you’re running on the battery, either, making it ideal for working anywhere. With the coming arrival of the M3-powered MacBook Pro, we’re expecting even faster performance too.
The only real downside is that it’s not the lightest laptop for digital designers, and the larger screen will affect portability compared to the 13-inch model or the MacBook Air. The base configuration features a 10-core CPU, a 16-core GPU, 16GB memory, and 512GB SSD storage. However, we recommend professional graphic designers and artists opt for the 32GB RAM model and 1TB storage configuration.
Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review
Best Windows laptop for graphic design
The Dell XPS 17 (2022) may look like its predecessor – but it’s still one of the slickest and sleekest 17-inch laptops for graphic designers. If you’re looking for a top Windows machine, this is worth consideration. In our tests, we found Intel’s latest 12th Gen CPUs delivered epic performance and surprisingly good battery life.
This is a super-sleek machine. Even its display has ultra-slim bezels. It’s build of machined aluminum, with carbon fiber palmrests. During our testing, the chassis felt very solid. The keyboard bed was also fairly stable, although we did detect some flex present.
Benchmarking the device, CPU performance delivered everything you could ask for. Easily capable of tearing through the likes of video encodes and 3D renders. And the Alder Lake’s performance also means day-to-day tasks like browsing the web feels snappy.
With a laptop like this, the biggest trade-off is portability. Yes, the battery life is good – but it weighs in at well over 2kg, measuring more than 14 inches across. So, it’s not something you want to be lugging around from meeting to meeting, studio to studio. In our experience, the XPS 17 is about as portable as 17-inch laptops get, with the exception of the LG Gram 17.
Read our full Dell XPS 17 (2022) review
Best graphic design laptop for heavy workloads
While there are plenty of laptops for designers and creators, the Gigabyte Aero 17 is, in our experience, a creative professional’s dream.
It’s easily one of the most powerful and portable machines you can find. In our tests, we found the build quality exceptional, the display (not to mention the overall design) to be gorgeous. Oh, and there’s plenty of ports for attaching all necessary peripherals.
It’s built that way, of course – a sort of Windows alternative to the creator-focused MacBooks. In fact, one of the main reasons we recommend the Aero 17 for graphic design is that the screen features Pantone factory calibration for 100% Adobe RGB.
Running the Cinebench20 CPU benchmark, we found the Core i9-10980HK scored 3,352cb in the multi core rendering test. That performance is about as well as we expected, We also ran several rendering benchmark tests from 3D modeling software Blender. The laptop proved 73% and 53% faster than the median times provided by Blender. The performance of the RTX 3080 with Max-Q is one of the best you’ll find in a laptop geared toward the creative class. But it’s in the 3DMark benchmark tests that the Aero 17 really pulled away from the competition.
While the overall build quality is stellar, we did the find trackpad just…ok. It’s responsive enough – but if you’re a creative professional, you won’t want to rely on this for anything more than for day-to-day tasks.
Read our full Gigabyte Aero 17 review
Best budget MacBook for graphic design
Ok, it may not be much of an upgrade on the previous 13-inch MacBook Pro, and with the release of certain new MacBooks, it might not feel quite as essential as it used to, but the MacBook Pro 13-inch is still a stellar laptop for graphic design – especially if you’re looking for a more affordable Apple device.
It’s beautifully designed, of course, in the way you’d expect from Apple. And the performance is just as slick – ably assisted by that powerful M2 processor. In our own testing, this chip offered better performance in single and multi-core CPU tests, with noticeable uplifts when multitasking with multiple apps open. It also scored twice as much as Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4, which boasts Intel’s i7-1185G7.
Our real-world tests also showed strong performance. That’s across browser apps like Safari and Chrome to creator-driven software like Final Cut Pro and GarageBand. They were all fast-loading, and ran smoothly. In our experience, it’s effectively a creator’s dream machine. You might not see that increased performance unless you’re pushing the laptop hard, but it’s there.
In our battery life test, where we play a looped video until the battery dies, the MacBook Pro 13-inch lasted 15 and 31 minutes – that’s almost two hours longer than when we conducted the same tests with the M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch. Perfect for hopping from home to studio to cafe throughout the day.
Read our in-depth MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) review
Best 2-in-1 laptop for graphic design
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 might be pricey but the high-quality makes it worth every penny – especially if you’re looking for a performance-driven laptop for professional use.
It may not be centered on content creators and designers – this is, after all, a business laptop. But that heritage means it’s built for power and efficiency.
We found the form factor to be great. The Aluminum casing gives this a real robustness, with a responsive trackpad and a comfortable keyboard. There’s something about those ThinkPad keyboards. They offer the perfect amount of feedback without making typing overly taxing. However, it’s also pretty no-frills. You won’t find any fancy bells and whistles, no flagship features , outside of the 2-in-1 nature of the device. But that’s part of its charm. This is no-nonsense stuff.
The laptop’s screen is gorgeous, made better by the 16:10 golden ratio screen which when we used it, felt far larger than it really was. If you’re looking for a well-sized canvas in a small form, this is just ideal.
Port selection is excellent – we like to see so many connectivity options especially in a laptop of this size. You’ll find a HDMI port, two USB-A and two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a headphone jack. Overall, we found the ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 an excellent laptop for core design. The power is impressive, the looks are stunning.
Read the full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 review
Best graphic design laptop for perfectionists
When we reviewed the 2022 edition of the Dell XPS 15, we said it “delivers laptop perfection.” We weren’t kidding. With its Intel Alder Lake processor and RTX GPU, one of the best laptops ever made just got even better.
Running those 12th-gen Intel chips and up to RTX 3050 Ti graphics, we found performance was excellent. In our own benchmarking, the laptop had a high bar to clear – and it performed rather brilliantly, beating other laptops in its class, even when they had somewhat better hardware. That discrete GPU meant XPS 15 performance was exceptional in our 3DMark benchmarks. Notably, its Blender benchmark scores were about twice that of an M1 Max-powered Apple MacBook 14-inch in the same tests. Depending on the model, the 500 nit screen also covers 100% sRGB,100% Adobe RGB, and 99% DCI-P3 of the color space.
On the portable side, the all-day battery life impressed us – how is it even possible on an Intel Alder Lake chip? But that slimline design does mean a lack of ports. You’ll only find three USB-C ports. We would’ve liked to see more.
Overall, the Dell XPS 15 (2022) offers outstanding performance in a stylish, brushed CNC aluminum chassis. It even boasts comfortable carbon fiber palm rests. While you may be tempted by the 2023 model, in our Dell XPS 15 (2023) review, it’s fair to say we found it paled in comparison to its predecessor.
Read our full Dell XPS 15 (2022) review
Best laptop for graphic designers and gamers
Good things come in small packages is how we described the Razer Blade 14 after reviewing the 2022 model.
We’ve tested out a couple of Razer Blade 14 models over the years, and every iteration has proved exceptional. It’s an intensely powerful laptop that won’t have any issues running design software since it’s effectively a gaming laptop. It’s been built to run resource-intensive, hardware-hogging triple-A games. We found CPU performance was good across the board.
When it came to battery life, we played a looped video at 50% brightness – the laptop lasted over eight hours, which is not bad at all. The AC adapter is ok – it’s not bulky and it’s fast to charge, but it does have a proprietary charging port, which is disappointing to see. Elsewhere, you’ll find the absolutely not proprietary two USB-A and two USB-C ports, and one HDMI port for connecting a second screen.
What really impressed us was just how quiet the Blade 14 was while running through our gauntlet of performance tests. The admittedly cramped keyboard did get warm to the touch after extended use, but internal components ran cooler than even larger laptops with louder fans.
If you’re predominantly using this laptop for graphic design, you’ll likely be as impressed with the screen as we were. Nearly all Razer Blades have outstanding displays, and this is no exception. And there’s up to 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction, making it perfect for digital art and photo editing.
Read our full Razer Blade 14 review
Best mobile workstation for graphic designers
Like the MacBook Pro and the Aero 17, the Gigabyte Aero 16-inch is tailored for designers, creatives, and content creators of all types.
It’s a well-designed machine, built to look as good as the masterpieces being created on it. When we first unboxed it, we absolutely fell in love with its clean, simple, stylish aesthetic. Better still, although it clocks in at 1.9kg, the aluminium chassis feels genuinely robust – which is handy in the commuter crunch or working on the go.
When it came finally testing the machine, we found it fun to use. That may sound odd, but there’s no denying that the glass touchpad, tactile keyboard, and smooth finish genuinely make this laptop enjoyable in use. We did find the port placement somewhat odd as, unlike many mobile workstations, these are located to the rear of the device. But back there, you’ll find a good selection, including USB-C, USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, microSD card reader, HDMI port, and a headphone jack.
Performance-wise, the laptop is excellent. Day-to-day tasks were handled with no problems. Only once we got into photo editing and some light video editing did we notice the Aero 16 really start to rev its i9. The 16:10 Golden Ratio OLED display is gorgeous, making colors feel lively and bright without seeming artificial. The aspect ratio also means a wide workspace for any graphic design project.
Read our full Gigabyte Aero 16 review
Best laptops for graphic designers: FAQs
What is the best laptop requirements for graphic design?
Depending on the kind of tools you are using, your GPU and CPU hardware requirements may vary, but there’s one thing that all laptops for graphic design must have: memory.
Media files can be quite large, and if you’re working with a design that features a lot of layers or effects added into the mix, these are all going to fill up your app’s RAM memory allocation very quickly. You’ll need at least 16GB, but 32GB RAM is ideal.
Are Macs really better for graphic design?
There are some things that Macs do better than Windows laptops when it comes to graphic design work, with font rendering being one of the biggest. But overall, Windows laptops have come a very long way in the past several years to closing that gap. Now, it really is a matter of preference for the OS ecosystem, since all major graphic design software appears on both platforms and display quality (as well as color gamut coverage) for the best Windows laptops can even exceed what you’d get on the best MacBook.
How to choose the best laptops for graphic design for you
When choosing which laptop is best for graphic design, there’s no one answer. With so many makes and models on the market, the trick is to first identify how you’re planning to use the device.
There’s no one graphic design laptop – it all depends on the work you’ll be doing. As a baseline, however, we recommend minimum specs of 16GB RAM and 1TB of SSD storage – paired with one of the best photo cloud storage services for backups. Ideally, choose a display that features DCI-P3 for the most accurate on-screen colors.
Alternatively, a screen with a very high-percentage sRGB coverage will suffice. A machine with this power will keep you in the zone.
Professionals and power-users will want to opt for portables that ramp up the power and performance as high and as hard as they go. Graphic design apps like Adobe Illustrator can take their toll on hardware, so it’s important to select one that can manage running them smoothly without any lag.
Look for the best RAM, best CPU, and best GPU specs that your budget allows- and consider a device that offers plenty of storage space, too. You can really spend out on the very best graphic design laptops, but it’s not always necessary – especially if you’re more of a casual user or you’re designing using less resource-intensive tools like the best logo makers and best free logo makers or online design apps like Canva.
Check the screen specs. As a graphic designer, particularly if you’re working with print assets, what you create on the screen should be as accurate to the finished article as possible. Look for those with a wide color gamut, ideally hitting 100% DCI-P3, although a high-percentage sRGB coverage will be fine for more general use.
As the recommended specs are similar, it’s also worth exploring the best monitors for graphic design and the best monitors for photo editing if you need a second display.
How we test the best laptops for graphic design
We test hardware built for a range of industries and professions, including the best laptops for writers, best laptops for engineering, and best laptops for video editing.
When it comes to best laptops for designers, we rigorously test each device against a list of features, with special focus on screen quality and performance. These are two of the most important assets when running creative apps like graphic design software, photo editors, and graphics-hungry apps like the best VFX software, and best 3D modeling and rendering software.
Generally, we opt for laptops with at least 16GB of RAM – although 32GB is preferred – with internal SSD storage of 1TB and above. They also feature the latest-generation CPUs from AMD, Intel and Apple.
Some of the devices we’ve assessed are often marketed as the best business laptops or best gaming laptops – perhaps that’s no surprise, since these also need to be able to handle hardware-hogging applications without missing a beat.
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