Graphic design is a challenging job that requires serious hardware and software. In the current digital nomad haze, laptop characteristics such as mobility and weight have also become extremely important. As with every profession, the laptop choice is always a subtle game of balance between performance and weight, large screen and portability, maximum features, and affordable price.
Luckily, laptop providers produce products for different categories and professions. In this article, we’ll provide general buying advice on how to choose the perfect laptop and list some of the best laptops for graphic designers on the market in 2021. Keep in mind that for simple social media graphics you don’t need impressive hardware power and online graphic design tools can run effectively on any computer.
Need more power or a bigger screen? See here for the best desktop computers for graphic designers.
Do more programming/coding? See our post on the best laptops for programming.
What factors define the best laptops for graphic designers?
OS (Operating System)
The operating system should be the first thing you look at. While traditionally, the choice came down to either macOS from Apple or Windows from Microsoft, Google’s Chrome OS is also a very popular option and is usually found on laptops that are a little more budget-friendly.
CPU
The CPU is the brain of your laptop. If you’re doing design work, a processor that is fast and powerful is key. You want it to be able to run complex software without any issues. While there are many options out there, look for a quad-core or an extreme series processor.
RAM
When you’re working on your latest project, the number of programs you’re using runs much smoother if you’re laptop has got a good amount of RAM inside. The laptop you choose comes with as much RAM as possible. Don’t fret if you buy one without a lot of RAM, you should be able to buy and install more RAM if you need it.
Storage
There are mainly two different types of hard drives that you might find in a laptop: hard disk (HDD) or solid-state (SSD). While HDD drives are cheaper and can have more capacity, they can give your laptop issues. On the flip side, SSD drives are lighter, faster, and are more durable. Newer laptops tend to pack in an SSD. If you find one that doesn’t, you can always modify the laptop to add one.
Display
To do their work effectively, graphics designers need a display that not only gives them ample screen real estate but also provides rich and vibrant colors. The last thing you’d want is for that bright green to look dull. For most designers, a 15-inch laptop is suitable, although bigger can be better if you have space and the muscles to carry it around.
Looking to buy a laptop with a touchscreen? There is no universal approach among designers when it comes to touchscreens. Some love them as they provide a quick and easy way to zoom in and out, others hate the touchscreens since they don’t add much to the experience. But, certainly, after some time, you get used to the touchscreen.
Battery Life
Most graphic designers love novelty, as it brings inspiration and new ideas. You probably have a favorite workspace, but also venture out to coffee shops or co-working spaces. The absence of plugs at your favorite coffee shop can sometimes be frustrating. But with a good battery, you can take your laptop wherever you go and get the work done, all the while enjoying the digital nomad freedom.
What is the best laptop for graphic design?
These are the top 15 best laptops for graphic design in 2021.
- Apple MacBook Air– $999 (Best Overall Laptop)
- HP Envy x360– $829 (Best Budget 2-in-1 Laptop)
- MacBook Pro 16″– $2199. (Best Apple Laptop)
- Asus Chromebook Flip– $517 (Best 2-in-1 Laptop)
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G14– $1097 (Best Gaming Laptop)
- Asus TUF A15– $749 (Best Affordable Gaming Laptop)
- Google Pixelbook Go– $1399 (Best Chromebook)
- Acer Swift 3– $829 (Best Budget Laptop)
- LG Gram 17– $1238
- HP Elite Dragonfly– $1750
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 3– $1469 (Best Microsoft laptop)
- HP Spectre x360– $1395 (Best Design laptop)
- Dell XPS 13– $1999 (Most Popular Laptop)
- Asus VivoBook S15 – $1499
- Dell XPS 15 – $1999
Prices are approximate. For live rates, see each item below.
Out of your price range? See our post:
Top Laptops for Graphic Designers Compared
The 15 Best Laptops for Graphic Designers 2021
Apple MacBook Air
The best overall laptop of 2021
CPU: Apple M1 | Graphics: Integrated 7-core /8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch (diagonal) 2,560 x 1,600 LED-backlit display with IPS technology | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD | Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches
Not just the best laptop Apple has created, the MacBook Air is hands down the best laptop you can buy if you work in a creative field right now. Packed with a revolutionary ARM-based M1 chip from Apple that powers it, the MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight laptop that offers great performance for video editing and other creative jobs in 4K and over 11 hours of battery life on a single charge. While many Apple products reach the high end of most consumers’ budgets, the price of the MacBook Air is relative to many other options on our list. However, the ability to not only use Mac apps but also iOS apps for iPhone and iPad make this laptop a game-changer. Even if you’ve only owned Windows laptops before, the MacBook Air from Apple is worth jumping to macOS.
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- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life
- 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance to tackle projects faster than ever
- Up to eight GPU cores with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
- 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
HP Envy x360
The best budget-friendly 2-in-1 laptop for designers
CPU: AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U (Beats i7-8550U) | Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics Integrated | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen | Storage: 256GB PCle SSD – 2TB PCle SSD | Dimensions: 14.1″ x 9.1″ x 0.7″
If you’re a designer that needs a laptop that not only looks but feels like a premium laptop without the premium price, you should check out the Envy x360 from HP. Thanks to its compact and sturdy design and excellent performance, it is the best budget-friendly 2-in-1 laptop for creatives that you can buy. A 15-inch touchscreen is bright and brilliant plus it also supports the MPP2.0 pen from HP which gives you a great way to create beautiful images easily. The most exciting aspect of the Envy is what’s inside: AMD’s Ryzen 4000 series powers the laptop which can handle multitasking with ease and with AMD’s Integrated Radeon graphics card, you can expect to have good gaming performance delivered as well.
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- 【CUSTOMlZED, Professional Upgraded to】: 8GB RAM | 256GB PCIe SSD
- Equipped With The Powerful and Latest AMD Ryzen 5 processor, AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U (Beats i7-8550U), (2.3 GHz base frequency, up to 4.0 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 3 MB L2 / 8MB L3...
- 15.6 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen micro-edge edge-to-edge glass, 250 nits, 45% NTSC Widescreen LED Display I AMD Radeon Graphics Integrated
- 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gb/s signaling rate, Power Delivery 3.0, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gb/s signaling rate, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB 3.2 Gen...
- Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit), Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Keyboard, Alexa Built-In, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 Combo (Supporting Gigabit file transfer speeds), HP Wide Vision HD...
MacBook Pro 16″
Still one of Apple’s best laptops
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M – Radeon Pro 5500M | RAM: 16GB – 64GB | Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone | Storage: 512GB – 8TB SSD
The 16-inch MacBook Pro from Apple is still one of their best laptops although it may not be the newest (see 13″ Macbook Pro). Even at a size of 16 inches, the MacBook Pro comes with a thin, light, and sleek design that contradicts its size. That extra size gives you extra real estate to create incredible designs on a stunning display that is just the beginning of the latest and greatest components that Apple has to offer inside. For content creators, designers, or any other creative professional, the MacBook Pro is easily the best MacBook out there as it also has a set of amazing speakers and a great keyboard to go along with it.
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- Ninth-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
- Stunning 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics with GDDR6 memory
- Ultrafast SSD
Asus Chromebook Flip
The best affordable Chromebook for graphic designers
CPU: Intel Pentium – Core m7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 510 – 515 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 12.5-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED backlit anti-glare display | Storage: 32GB – 128GB eMMC”
When you have to choose the best Chromebook for designers, you find yourself having to pick between two completely different options. You could go high-price with the Chromebook Pixelbook Go or the much more affordable and still excellent Chromebook Flip. With an Intel Core processor, Full high-definition display, touchscreen, plus backlit keyboard and USB-C port, the Flip is a great option for those designers who are on a budget or even students as the Chromebook Flip is one of the best budget-friendly Chromebooks and laptops that you can buy today.
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- Plus Chromebooks offer fast performance, smooth video calls and ample storage.
- The 14 inch Full HD Touchscreen NanoEdge display has a durable 360 degree hinge that can be used to flip the touchscreen display to tent, stand, and tablet mode
- Powered by the Intel Core m3-8100Y Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.4 GHz) for super-fast and snappy performance. If you use a ton of tabs or run lots of apps, this has the power to get it all done with...
- 4GB LPDDR3 RAM; 64GB eMM4GB LPDDR3 RAM; 64GB eMMC storage and 2x USB Type-C (Gen 1) and 1x USB Type-A (Gen 1) ports plus a backlit keyboard (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)C...
- The lightweight (3 lbs) all-aluminum metal body makes the C434 both durable and beautiful for a timeless look that will never go out of style
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
2021’s best gaming laptop for designers
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS – 9 4900HS | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Screen: 14-inch Non-glare Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS-level panel, 120Hz – 14-inch Non-glare WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS-level panel, 60Hz | Storage: 512GB / 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0
While it’s missing a Thunderbolt 3 port and a webcam, the Zephyrus G14 from Asus comes darn close to being a perfect laptop for designers and the best gaming laptop of 2021, and the biggest reason why is because of the incredible performance that it musters with an AMD Ryzen 4000 processor and Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card under the hood. While it’s geared toward gamers, the specs will keep any designer happy. An exceptionally long battery life that will last all day long and a display that comes with a 120Hz refresh rate all packaged into a lightweight, ultra-thin design that will make your latest project look incredible or help you beat the competition during long hours of gaming after work.
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- AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS(beat 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H), 8 Core processor up to 4.20 GHz, features machine intelligence that anticipates your needs. Discover true responsiveness with 8 cores and 16...
- 14" Full HD display, windows 10. 12GB dual channelhigh-bandwidth DDR4 runs for intense multitasking and gaming, 512GB PCIe SSD saves files fast and stores more data.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650graphics, Backlit keyboard, Virtual Reality Ready with required specs to run Virtual Reality hardware and software and is compatible with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows...
- Chiclet keyboard with white backlight allows you to enjoy comfortable and accurate typing, even in dim lighting.
- Wireless/Wired connectivity (WiFi 6 - 802.11 ax), 2 x USB 3.0 Type A Ports, 1 x USB Type C Charging Port, 2 x USB 3.2 Type C Port, 1 x HDMI Output, Virtual Reality Ready, Weighs 3.64 lbs. and measures...
Asus TUF A15
2021’s best affordable gaming & design laptop
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H – 7 4800H | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660TI – RTX 2060 | RAM: up to 32 GB SDRAM | Screen: 15.6″ (16:9) FHD (1920×1080) 60Hz Anti-Glare IPS-level Panel – 15.6″ (16:9) FHD (1920×1080) 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS-level Panel | Storage: 1TB 5400 rpm SATA HDD – 256GB/512GB/1TB PCIe Gen3 SSD
While the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the best gaming laptop for designers in 2021, it may be out of some people’s price range. The TUF A15 from Asus may be more affordable but that doesn’t mean that it lacks in terms of performance. Packed with an incredible AMD Ryzen 4000 processor inside makes the TUF a great machine with great value, long battery life, and durability as well. An Nvidia RTX 2600 graphics card makes every image you create look incredible in 1080p and it does all of this without punching a hole in your wallet. If you’re a designer in need of a great laptop on the cheap one that can handle the occasional bump, the TUF A15 from Asus is a clear winner.
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- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6 Graphics (Base: 1380MHz, Boost: 1515MHz, TDP: 50W)
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H Processor (up to 4.0 GHz)
- 15.6” 144Hz FHD (1920x1080) IPS-Type display
- 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | 8GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM | Windows 10 Home
- Durable MIL-STD-810H military standard construction
Google Pixelbook Go
The best Chromebook for designers in 2021
CPU: Intel Core m3 – Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) or 4K LCD touchscreen | Storage: 128GB – 256GB eMMC
The Pixelbook Go from Google is a designer’s dream, especially if you’re a fan of Chromebooks. While their previous release, the Pixelbook was an amazing piece of tech, it was also very expensive. The Pixelbook Go keeps a lot of that same excellence but without the high price and it also comes with some upgrades including an incredible keyboard and amazing battery life that will help you complete every project. With impressive specs, the Chrome OS soars on this laptop and the overall performance is on par with many other laptops on our list. If you’re a Chromebook fan, this is the Chromebook to own in 2021.
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- Pixelbook Go lets you stay unplugged for up to 12 hours, [1] so you don’t need to carry a charger; when you do need a charge, get up to 2 hours of battery use in just 20 minutes so you can keep...
- Lightweight Chromebook laptop that’s barely 2 pounds and 13 millimeter thin with a grippable design, making it easier to carry[3]
- Protects your data, passwords, and information with the Titan C security chip and built-in antivirus software; Chrome OS updates automatically to give you the latest features and security [4]
- Starts up in seconds so it’s always ready when you are; the 8th Gen Intel Core Processor is quick and responsive, powering everything you do[5]
- Pixelbook Go is a quiet and comfortable laptop with a backlit keyboard, ultra quiet keys, and and a spacious touchpad that only needs a light touch
Acer Swift 3
The best budget-friendly laptop for designers in 2021
CPU: up to Intel Core i7-8565U | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX150, Intel HD Graphics 620 or AMD Radeon Vega 8 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 14-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) ComfyView IPS – 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) | Storage: 128GB – 1 TB HDD, 16 GB Intel Optane Memory
Although it has a modest casing, the Swift 3 from Acer is an excellent laptop for designers with plenty of power for all of your design needs. An inexpensive laptop with a basic chassis, the Swift 3 has a strong, Intel Core i7 engine under the hood. While the performance of the Swift 3 is similar to that of other higher-priced laptops, the display comes with a lower resolution than others but the biggest difference is the affordable price. A roomy trackpad and backlit keyboard make for a comfortable typing experience that makes writing easy whether you’re traveling or in the office, the Swift 3 from Acer is a great affordable laptop for any designer.
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- AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Octa-Core Mobile Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz) with Radeon Graphics | 8GB LPDDR4 Memory | 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 14" Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display (1920 x 1080 resolution; 16:9 aspect ratio)
- Intel wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax | HD webcam (1280 x 720) | Backlit keyboard | Fingerprint reader
- 1 - USB Type-C port USB 3. 2 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) DisplayPort over USB Type-C & USB Charging, 1- USB 3. 2 Gen 1 port (featuring power-off charging), 1 - USB 2. 0 port & 1 - HDMI port
- Just 0.63" thin and 2.65 pounds and up to 11.5 hours of battery life
LG Gram 17
An incredibly light 17-inch laptop
CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 17-inch 1600p (2,560 x 1,600) | Storage: 2 x 512GB SSD
When designers normally shop for a 17-inch laptop, they tend to be stuck buying a laptop that is not great in terms of portability. 17-inch laptops tend to be large and bulky, although they come packed with the most powerful components available to attract creative professionals. The LG Gram is the antithesis of the standard 17-inch laptop with an Intel Ice Lake Ultrabook processor which makes the laptop as light as some 13-inch options. At less than three pounds, the LG Gram 17 comes with a glorious display and a battery that lasts more than 14 hours is the perfect recipe for any designer who is sick and tired of lugging around a sub-par, heavy laptop
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- 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 Quad-Core Processor (1.3 GHz up to 3.9 GHz with Turbo Boost) / 16GB DDR4 Dual Channel @ 3200MHz SDRAM / 512GB M.2 Solid State Drive (SSD)
- 17 Inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS Display / Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 WLAN 2x2 + Bluetooth 5.0 / 2x 1.5W Stereo Speakers / Integrated HD Webcam / Back-lit Keyboard / Thunderbolt 3 Interface
- 1.5W x 2 Stereo Speakers / 3 USB 3.1, 1 USB 3.1 Type-C, 1 HDMI / Micro-SD Card Reader / Fingerprint Reader
- 2 Cell 80Wh Lithium Ion Battery / Windows 10 Home / Magnesium Alloy Chassis
HP Elite Dragonfly
The best 2-in-1 laptop in 2021
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3″ diagonal Full HD touch display – Full HD touch Sure View display | Storage: 256 GB SSD
The Elite Dragonfly from HP is one of the most stylish and slimline laptops available today, plus it’s also loaded with powerful components and incredible features that make design work a breeze to complete. Even though it’s marketed as a business laptop, that doesn’t mean it isn’t great for designers as well. With a beautiful build design and amazing screen, the Dragonfly comes with excellent battery life, a keyboard that is a joy to type on, and comes with LTE connectivity. Not found on many other laptops, this allows you to plug in a SIM card and access mobile internet wherever you’re located without having to worry about slow or compromised Wi-Fi hotspots. Whether you’re in business or work in graphic design, the Dragonfly from HP certainly delivers.
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Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
The best Microsoft laptop for designers in 2021
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics / AMD Radeon Vega 9 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) / 15-inch PixelSense (2,496 x 1,664) | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD
The Surface Laptop 3 is Microsoft’s best laptop yet and until they announce the release of the Surface 4, the best Microsoft laptop in 2021. While it’s not an incredible upgrade over its predecessor, it does improve on almost every aspect. Seeing your work come to life on its 15-inch display is a sight to behold and you get a choice of either Intel or AMD processor while enjoying the incredible design that the series is known for. The aluminum body gives the laptop a premium feel and protects it from accidental drop or knock. While the continued lack of ports is still an issue, it doesn’t change the fact that this is one of the best laptops you can buy right now.
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- Clean, elegant design — Thin and light, starting at just 2.79 pounds, Surface Laptop 3 is easy to carry
- Choose from rich tone-on-tone color combinations: New Sandstone, plus Matte Black, Cobalt Blue, and Platinum
- Improved speed and performance to do what you want, with the latest processors – Surface Laptop 3 is up to two times faster than surface Laptop 2
- More ways to connect, with USB-C and USB-A ports for connecting to displays, docking stations and more, as well as accessory charging
- All-day power on the go, with up to 11.5 hours of battery life, plus standby time when you’re away. Go from empty to a full battery with fast charging - up to 80% in about 1 hour
HP Spectre x360
An amazing 13-inch laptop for designers
CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch – 13.3″ diagonal 4K (3840 x 2160) UWVA BrightView micro-edge AMOLED multitouch | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
In 2020, HP gave the Spectre x360 2-in-1 a massive refresh, plus a boost to the specs including a 10th-generation Intel Core processor and Iris Plus graphics card from Intel, all to help graphic designers and other creatives create the best work possible. Its incredible 2-in-1 design and beautiful chassis easily put HP’s laptop on our best for graphic designers in 2021 list. While it’s a bit pricey, it does come with some nice extras including formidable security features and Bang & Olufsen speakers. The 13-inch Spectre x360 is only rivaled by the excellent MacBook Air in terms of build quality, design, and pure performance. If you’re more of a Windows user than MacOS, the Spectre x360 is a great choice
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- Newly Launched HP Spectre x360 13T Cutting Edge GEM CUT Design - 10TH GENERATION QUAD CORE CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 (1.3 GHz, up to 3.9 GHz, 8 MB cache, 4 cores) four-way processing 1.30 GHz to 3.9...
- UNMATCHED AUDIO PERFORMANCE with QUAD Bang & Olufsen speakers: The partnership between Bang & Olufsen and HP brings premium sound to your personal computing device. With HP Quad Speakers, HP Audio...
- SUPERIOR SPEED and NETWORKING: Fast Data Access with 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 Combo. Security management Mic Mute key; Webcam kill switch, 1...
- IMPRESSIVE HD PANEL with HD Active Stylus Pen and Thunderbolt Support: Experience exceptional colors and clarity with 13.3" Full HD touch screen (Resolution: 1920 x 1080) for hands-on control and IPS...
- 16GB SDRAM(ONBAORD), Bang & Olufsen Quad Speakers, HP Audio Boost, Fingerprint Reader, ALSO includes a Super Sleek, Super cool, 64GB ULTRA SLIM Tech Warehouse LLC USB Flash drive. A speedy little...
Dell XPS 13
Another great Dell laptop for 2021
CPU: Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 | Graphics: Up to Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: Up to 32GB 4267MHz LPDDR4x | Screen: 13.4″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 13.4″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display | Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe
It seems like every year, we’re talking about another amazing laptop from Dell and the XPS 13 continues that trend by being an incredible machine for designers and creatives in general. Not only is the XPS 13 a beautiful machine but it also comes with superb performance, a beautiful display, and excellent battery life. Like many Dell laptops, it can get a bit expensive depending on the specs that you choose but the price shouldn’t be what keeps designers from buying one of the best laptops they can get to ensure a great 2021.
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- Dell 13.4" XPS 13 9300 Multi-Touch Laptop (Platinum Silver)
- 10th Generation Intel(R) Core( TM) i7-1065G7 Processor (8MB C ache, up to 3.9 GHz)
- 13.4" UHD+ (3840 x 2400) Infin ityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display
- 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive - 32GB 3733MHz LPDDR4x Memory On board
- Windows 10 pro - Black Backlit English Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader
Asus VivoBook S15
The best budget-friendly 15-inch laptop for 2021
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB DDR4 | Screen: 15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) | Storage: 512GB SSD
While the Vivobook S15 from Asus hasn’t been out long enough to collect any dust yet, it’s already made quite an impression with designers. With the combination of a thin and light design plus great performance, the Vivobook earns a spot on our list. With an Intel processor, 8GB of RAM, and lightning-quick SSD storage, the Vivobook S15 can handle just about any project you use it for or any task you ask of it – except for gaming that is. The beautiful 15.6-inch screen is crystal clear and vibrant. The laptop comes with enough ports to make connecting your peripherals a breeze and the price is well within a financial-conscious designer’s budget. The only downsides are that the battery life leaves something to be desired and the ScreenPad, which replaces the touchpad below the keyboard takes time getting used to.
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- Featuring the latest mobile technologies with 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U 1.8GHz (Turbo up to 4.0GHz) Processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics
- 15.6" Full HD Wide View display with up to 178° viewing angle optimized for entertainment
- Slim 14.2" wide, 0.7" thin and portable footprint with 0.3" bezel for a stunning 80% screen-to-body ratio
- 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD combo; Ergonomic backlit keyboard
- Comprehensive connections: USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen1), USB 3.0, USB 2.0, & HDMI
Dell XPS 15
The best Windows laptop of 2021
CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Screen: 15.6″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS – UHD+ (3840 x 2400) | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD
We’ll say it right now. If it weren’t for the MacBook Air from Apple, the XPS 15 from Dell would be the best laptop of 2021. Why? Well, first of all, the XPS 15 checks off everything a designer would want in a laptop. With the latest and best mobile tech from Intel, the laptop can be configured to have a discrete GPU which makes it skillful at images, video editing software, and some light gaming. Even though the price is very high, you get what you pay for with the XPS 15 – an incredibly designed chassis, excellent battery life, and a gorgeous 15-inch display that comes in FHD or UHD for incredible visuals. If you’re not a fan of MacBooks, this is the laptop to get.
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- 62% larger touchpad, 5% larger screen, and 5.6% smaller footprint
- 16:10 FHD+ edge to edge display equipped with DisplayHDR 400 and Dolby Vision
- Integrated Eyesafe display technology
- Quad speaker design with Waves Nx audio
- High-polished diamond-cut sidewalls
What is the best laptop for graphic designers in 2021?
Graphic designers tend to have a specific list of requirements for laptops. But rarely can you tick all the boxes from the list. More likely, you’ll spend hours researching all the different options and trying to find the best price-features combination.
The Apple MacBook Pro remains the #1 preferred option for many designers due to its stunning design and top performance. But other brands are also catching up with high-performance offers, that are no less pleasing to the eyes.
6 Best Graphic Design Laptops in 2021
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