10+ Best Laptops for Digital Art & Artists in 2023

10+ Best Laptops for Digital Art & Artists in 2023

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

As a digital artists ourselves, we often get asked what’s the best laptop for digital art. In this post, we give you a rundown of the best laptops for digital art & artists based on performance, value, and our own experience.

Choosing the right laptop for digital art can be tricky, but as artists, we look for models that offer an exceptional sketching and illustration experience.

sponsored message

Adobe Creative Cloud Discount

With technology constantly evolving, deciding which laptop to go for can be overwhelming, with features like touchscreen technology, stylus support, and responsiveness adding to the confusion.

Many questions may arise.

  • Does a device allow drawing on the screen?
  • What size screen do I need?
  • How much storage do I need?
  • Does this laptop work with my favorite software?
  • What should be the ideal RAM and processor?

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Our list of the greatest laptops for artists includes answers to all your questions.

We’ve included all the reviews of the best laptops for digital art and artists.

Our Top Pick
Best Value
Best Budget
N/A
N/A
$329.99
Description:

If you need a high-performance laptop with a stylish appearance and exceptional display quality, the Apple MacBook Pro is our best pick for you.

Description:

Dell XPS 15 is our next best value choice for those looking for an extremely fast laptop that is portable as well. 

Description:

Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook is a great option for you if you're looking for a lightweight laptop on a tight budget.

Our Top Pick
N/A
Description:

If you need a high-performance laptop with a stylish appearance and exceptional display quality, the Apple MacBook Pro is our best pick for you.

Best Value
N/A
Description:

Dell XPS 15 is our next best value choice for those looking for an extremely fast laptop that is portable as well. 

Best Budget
$329.99
Description:

Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook is a great option for you if you're looking for a lightweight laptop on a tight budget.

05/26/2023 04:12 pm GMT

10+ Best Digital Art Laptops in 2023

  1. Apple MacBook Pro — The best laptop for digital art overall (Editor’s Choice) — 16″
  2. Microsoft Surface Book 3 — The most powerful digital art laptop — 15″
  3. Dell XPS 15 — The best value digital art laptop — 15″
  4. ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 — Best laptop with dual screen — 15.6″
  5. HP Envy X360 — The best budget digital art laptop — 15.6″
  6. Acer Spin — The best laptop with an impressive screen- 11.6″
  7. Apple Macbook Air — The best laptop for digital art for battery performance — 13.3″
  8. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook– The best budget-friendly laptop -10.1″
  9. Lenovo Flex 5 Touchscreen — The best 2-in-1 convertible digital art laptop — 15.6″
  10. Microsoft Surface Go — The most portable digital art laptop — 10″
  11. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 — The best big-screen laptop for digital art — 13.5″/15″

You may also be interested in the best drawing tablets and the best software for digital artists.

 

What is the Best Laptop for Digital Art?

The best laptop for digital art is the Apple MacBook Pro with M2 and we’ve listed some of the other great alternatives below.

Thumbnail
Best Overall
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Chip (13-inch, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray (2022 Model) -...
Best Power
Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5"(Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256 GB), silver
Best Value
Dell XPS 15 - 15 Inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia...
Best Budget
HP - Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Natural...
Fastest
Dell New XPS 17 9700 17 inch UHD Plus Laptop, Intel i9-10885H 10th Gen, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD,...
Best Portable
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM, 128GB)
Title
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Chip (13-inch, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray (2022 Model) -...
Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5"(Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256 GB), silver
Dell XPS 15 - 15 Inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia...
HP - Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Natural...
Dell New XPS 17 9700 17 inch UHD Plus Laptop, Intel i9-10885H 10th Gen, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD,...
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM, 128GB)
Prime Status
-
-
-
-
-
Reviews
16 Reviews
1,026 Reviews
179 Reviews
284 Reviews
37 Reviews
2,005 Reviews
Star Rating
CPU
8-core CPU and 10-core GPU
Intel Dual-core / Quad-core processor
Core i5-2410M
Intel Core i7
10th Generation Intel® Core™
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
Screen
13-inches
13.5” / 15”
15"
15.6” 1920 x 1080 pixels display
17"
10” PixelSense™ Display, 1800 x 1200 resolution
Graphics
Integrated
Intel HD Graphics 620 integrated GPU / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
‎NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
AMD Radeon R7 M265
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
Intel Integrated HD 615
RAM
Up to 16GB
8GB or 16GB
8 GB /16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB DDR4
8 GB
16 GB
4 GB / 8 GB
Storage
Up to 4TB SSD
256 GB / 512 GB SSD, 1 TB PCIe SSD
512 GB
256GB HDD
1 TB
64 GB
Battery Life
Up to 16 hours
Up to 17 hours
8 hours
Up to 12 hours
Up to 11 hrs
Up to 9 hours
Price
$1,477.95
$700.00
$1,999.00
$594.00
$2,499.99
$419.44
Best Overall
Thumbnail
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Chip (13-inch, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray (2022 Model) -...
Title
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Chip (13-inch, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray (2022 Model) -...
Prime Status
Reviews
16 Reviews
Star Rating
CPU
8-core CPU and 10-core GPU
Screen
13-inches
Graphics
Integrated
RAM
Up to 16GB
Storage
Up to 4TB SSD
Battery Life
Up to 16 hours
Price
$1,477.95
Buy Now
Best Power
Thumbnail
Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5"(Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256 GB), silver
Title
Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5"(Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256 GB), silver
Prime Status
-
Reviews
1,026 Reviews
Star Rating
CPU
Intel Dual-core / Quad-core processor
Screen
13.5” / 15”
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 620 integrated GPU / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
RAM
8GB or 16GB
Storage
256 GB / 512 GB SSD, 1 TB PCIe SSD
Battery Life
Up to 17 hours
Price
$700.00
Buy Now
Best Value
Thumbnail
Dell XPS 15 - 15 Inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia...
Title
Dell XPS 15 - 15 Inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia...
Prime Status
-
Reviews
179 Reviews
Star Rating
CPU
Core i5-2410M
Screen
15"
Graphics
‎NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
RAM
8 GB /16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB DDR4
Storage
512 GB
Battery Life
8 hours
Price
$1,999.00
Buy Now
Best Budget
Thumbnail
HP - Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Natural...
Title
HP - Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Natural...
Prime Status
-
Reviews
284 Reviews
Star Rating
CPU
Intel Core i7
Screen
15.6” 1920 x 1080 pixels display
Graphics
AMD Radeon R7 M265
RAM
8 GB
Storage
256GB HDD
Battery Life
Up to 12 hours
Price
$594.00
Buy Now
Fastest
Thumbnail
Dell New XPS 17 9700 17 inch UHD Plus Laptop, Intel i9-10885H 10th Gen, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD,...
Title
Dell New XPS 17 9700 17 inch UHD Plus Laptop, Intel i9-10885H 10th Gen, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD,...
Prime Status
-
Reviews
37 Reviews
Star Rating
CPU
10th Generation Intel® Core™
Screen
17"
Graphics
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
RAM
16 GB
Storage
1 TB
Battery Life
Up to 11 hrs
Price
$2,499.99
Buy Now
Best Portable
Thumbnail
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM, 128GB)
Title
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM, 128GB)
Prime Status
-
Reviews
2,005 Reviews
Star Rating
CPU
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
Screen
10” PixelSense™ Display, 1800 x 1200 resolution
Graphics
Intel Integrated HD 615
RAM
4 GB / 8 GB
Storage
64 GB
Battery Life
Up to 9 hours
Price
$419.44
Buy Now

sponsored message


If you’re interested in the best laptops for digital art, you might be interested in the best laptop stands for graphic designers as well as our compilation of Procreate brushes, perfect for creating digital art.

 

The 11 Best Laptops for Digital Art in 2023

Let’s have a look at the best laptops for digital art in detail with the pros and cons of each.

1.  Apple MacBook Pro (Editor’s Choice)

Apple MacBook Pro
Apple MacBook Pro. Image credit: Amazon

The best digital art laptop overall 

CPU: Apple M2 Pro chip (12‑core CPU and 30‑core GPU) | RAM: 16-32 GB |  Screen: 14 inch | Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB Ultrafast SSD

The Apple MacBook Pro is our pick for the best computer for artists in 2023, capable of running creative software on the Macintosh platform, storing the largest files and portfolios, and displaying the work in amazing detail, color, and vitality.

The MacBook Pro has an incredible screen that can help improve an artist’s work with its depth, resolution, and stunning colors. It has a long battery life of up to 21 hours and fast performance for graphic-intensive apps due to the 32-core GPU. It has a 1080p Facetime HD camera too for all those Zoom calls with clients.

The Apple MacBook Pro is also incredibly fast, and powerful, and runs design & art programs smoothly. As artists ourselves, we can confidently say that this MBP laptop will support any digital artist and allow them to accomplish their projects while accurately and elegantly displaying their artwork.

Below you can see digital artist, Jacob Cass, with his Macbook Pro laptop, which he has been using different variations of, for over a decade. You can see more of Jacob’s top design tools here.

Jacob Cass at Desk
Jacob Cass, Founder of JUST Creative & Digital Artist, at his desk with his Macbook Pro laptop.

 

Pros

Cons

➕ Perfect for digital artists ➖ Bulkier than some competitors
➕ 1080p high-definition web camera ➖ Pricier than PCs
➕ Connectivity ports and expansion

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU: 14.2-inch Liquid...
  • SUPERCHARGED BY M2 PRO OR M2 MAX — Take on demanding projects with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. M2 Pro has up to 12 CPU cores, up to 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB unified memory. M2 Max has 12 CPU...
  • UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. And the MacBook Pro laptop delivers exceptional performance whether it’s running on...
  • FULLY COMPATIBLE — All your pro apps run lightning fast — including Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Affinity Designer, Microsoft 365, and many of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps.
  • BEAUTIFUL PRO DISPLAY — The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display features Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1000 nits of brightness for stunning HDR content, and pro reference modes for doing your best...
  • ADVANCED CAMERA AND AUDIO — Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.

sponsored message


 

Apple MacBook Pro Review

Want to know more about this impressive Apple laptop for digital art? Check out this MacBook Pro 16-inch review video.

Video Credit: Matthew Moniz / YouTube

 

2. Microsoft Surface Book 3

Microsoft Surface Book 3
Microsoft Surface Book 3. Image credit: Amazon

The most powerful digital art laptop

CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 5 3580U or AMD Ryzen™ 7 3780U | Graphics: Radeon Vega 9 or RX Vega 11 | RAM: 8/16/32 GB |  Screen: 15 inch | Storage: Removable 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB Ultrafast SSD

The Microsoft Surface laptop is a sturdy piece of technology. It is strong, stylish, and lightweight.

sponsored message


As people who have used various animation and drawing software, we know the Surface Pro laptop is a game-changer.

Its touch screen is high-definition and incredibly responsive, making it easy to create intricate designs and animations. The impressive processing power and memory allow the software to run smoothly without any lag or glitches.

One of the standout features of the Surface Pro laptop is its impressive specs. It boasts the latest processors, a powerful graphics coprocessor, and DDR4 RAM, particularly helpful for those working on graphics-intensive projects.

As artists and photographers, we think you will appreciate the removable SSD drive, which makes it easy to upgrade your computer when needed.

We were delighted to discover that famous cartoonist Thom Zahler, who founded Archie Comics, uses the Surface Book 3 for digital drawing and inking. This speaks volumes about the quality.

Although the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5″ has a smaller screen, it is still a strong option for fine artists. In particular, it excels at providing precise color depiction, making it an excellent choice for those who require accuracy in their work.

However, our team discovered how dissuasive it can be for some of you. View the top iPads with a high display refresh rate as an example.

Pros

Cons

➕ Sleek design ➖ Poor battery life
➕ USB-C port is available
➕ Fast charging
➕ Fast processor

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

3. Dell XPS 15

Dell XPS 15 - Best all-round digital art laptop
Dell XPS 15. Image credit: Dell / Amazon

The best all-round digital art laptop

CPU: Core i5-2410M | Graphics: ‎NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8 GB /16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB DDR4 | Screen: 4-sided InfinityEdge  display, 16:10 AR, 1920×1200 / 3840×2400 resolution | Storage: 512GB| Dimensions: 15” | Battery life: 8 hours and 27 minutes of streaming on a 4K+ panel with 86WHr battery

The NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Ti graphics in the Dell XPS 15, also known as the Creator Edition laptop, are incredible. The laptop’s beautiful 4K display features a 94% CI-P3 color gamut and 100% Adobe RGB.

In our opinion, the Dell XPS 15 is an excellent laptop for digital art. It can handle demanding animation or drawing software thanks to its reliable performance. Also, Dolby Vision’s HDR image technology produces over 16 million vibrant colors.

The sleek laptop features sidewalls with diamond cuts and a highly polished finish. One of its best features is its quad-speaker with Waves Nx audio, making it a top choice for New York digital artist David McLeod. He uses it to create colorful, abstract 3D images.

The 15.6-inch FHD InfinityEdge non-touch, anti-glare display also helps prevent eye strain.

The laptop’s dedicated graphics card and powerful processor provide lightning-fast performance, making it an excellent option for running resource-intensive software.

However, it may not be the best choice for accurate color representation, so we recommend looking into the Microsoft Surface Book 3 for that.

Overall, we think the Dell XPS 15 is one of the best laptops for digital art, offering superb performance and a beautiful design.

Pros

Cons

➕ All-round performance ➖ USB-C-only support doesn’t fit for all
➕ GPU configuration available ➖ Quite heavy for its size
➕ Supports 3 USB-C ports, with 2 Thunderbolt 3
➕ Large touchpad

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

Sale
Dell XPS 15 - 15 Inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia...
179 Reviews
Dell XPS 15 - 15 Inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16GB Memory, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia...
  • 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

 

4. ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 - Best Laptops for Digital Art
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581. Image credit: Amazon

Best laptop with dual screen

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK 2.40GHz | Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 | RAM: 16 GB DDR |  Screen: 15.6 inch | Storage: 1TB PCle SSD

The Asus Zenbook Pro Duo, another premium laptop made especially for you, can easily tackle your most demanding assignments.

If you can try out the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo, it’s an impressive piece of machinery.

The laptop boasts a powerful Intel Core i9 processor, up to 32GB of RAM, and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card.

We think it is a great choice for heavy-duty tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, and photography.

But what really sets it apart is its exceptional dual-screen display. With a large, 14-inch touchscreen display located above the keyboard, it’s perfect for multitasking.

You can access reference materials while you work on your main screen. As artists, we found it especially helpful, as it could have your tools on one screen and your canvas on the other.

The display is also spectacular, with a 4K resolution that makes everything crisp and clear. And if you like to work with a stylus, the high-sensitivity pen is a nice touch.

Of course, there are some downsides to this laptop. It’s quite expensive, heavy, and bulky, making it less portable than other options.

If you’re looking for something more lightweight and convenient, we’d recommend the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook. Though, we think the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo is a fantastic choice for professionals who need a powerful and versatile machine.

If you’re interested in buying one, visit the official ASUS website or check it out on Amazon.

Pros 

Cons

➕ Two 4K touch OLED displays871 ➖ Hefty
➕ Has an eight-core Core i9 CPU ➖ Short battery life
➕ The processor handles heavy tasks well ➖ Lacks SD card slot

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 Laptop, 15.6” 4K UHD NanoEdge Touch Display, Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB...
202 Reviews
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 Laptop, 15.6” 4K UHD NanoEdge Touch Display, Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB...
  • ScreenPad Plus: 14 inch 4K matte touchscreen, giving your endless way to optimize your multitasking experience by extending the screen or split windows and apps on both displays
  • 15.6 inch 4K UHD NanoEdge touchscreen glossy main display
  • Latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H Processor (12M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz) with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
  • Detachable palm rest and ASUS active stylus pen included. Military Grade : US MIL-STD 810G military-grade standard
  • Fast storage and memory featuring 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD with 16GB DDR4 RAM

 

5. HP Envy X360

HP Envy X360 - Best digital art laptop for performance
HP Envy X360. Image credit: HP / Amazon

The best digital art laptop for performance

CPU: Intel Core i7| Graphics: AMD Radeon R7 M265 | RAM: 8 GB | Screen: 15.6” 1920 x 1080 pixels display | Storage: 256GB HDD storage | Battery life: Up to 12 hours

Do you know what a laptop-turned-tablet is? Check out the HP Envy X360 laptop. This 2-in-1 laptop’s versatility makes it ideal for us digital artists.

Once you get your hands on the HP Envy X360, you’ll be impressed. One thing that stood out was its 360-degree hinge, which allows for versatile usage. We especially loved using it in tablet mode for drawing and sketching.

As someone who loves gadgets, you might immediately be drawn to the sleek and minimalist design. The metal body weighs only 2.9 pounds and looks absolutely stunning.

The bezel around the screen is much slimmer than its 2019 model, giving it an edge in appearance. The keyboard reaches almost to the edge of the screen, leaving plenty of space for the mousepad.

The AMD Radeon graphics card is one of the standout features. It performs incredibly well for video games, movies, and even the most demanding digital art tools.

Another feature that we really liked was the flexible screen that can be used as a tablet. However, you might be disappointed that the laptop doesn’t have a pen or a 4K screen, which would have been ideal.

The camera is also worth mentioning as it follows and records your motions, making it ideal for video calls. Just make sure to position yourself in the center of the screen.

We would highly recommend the HP Envy X360, especially for presentations. It’s worth noting that American digital artist Megan Lara used this laptop to create her works for Disney and Marvel.

On the other hand, its 13-inch screen is somewhat small. We advise the Dell XPS 15 if you need a bigger workspace.

Visit Amazon, a great place to get an HP Envy X360. They provide a large assortment, affordable prices, and quick delivery.

Pros

Cons

➕ Super-fast 8-core Ryzen 7 CPU ➖ Does not come with a stylus
➕ Function-packed keyboard ➖ Does not support Thunderbolt 3
➕ Amazing build quality

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

HP - Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6' Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Natural...
284 Reviews
HP - Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Natural...
  • 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 mobile processor
  • 8GB system memory for advanced multitasking
  • 256 GB Solid State Drive (PCI-e)
  • 360° flip-and-fold design
  • 15.6" Full HD multitouch screen

 

6. Acer Spin 5 

Acer Spin 5
Asus Zenbook Duo UX481. Image credit: Asus / Amazon

The best laptop with an impressive screen

The Acer Spin 5 is a 2-in-1 laptop with a touchscreen display that is snappy and includes a stylus pen for your needs.

The Acer Spin 5 is one of the best laptops for digital artists. The stylus support is fantastic and effortless to use.

One of the things we love most about the Spin 5 is the 15-hour battery life. You can easily get through all your tasks without any interruptions.

The Intel Core i7 processor from the 10th generation means the laptop is fast and performs at its peak.

The 13.5-inch screen is just the right size for multitasking, and we also appreciated the fingerprint reader and LED touchscreen display.

The 360-degree hinge is useful too, – you can use it in different positions depending on what you are working on.

We definitely recommend the Acer Spin 5 to artists or students who need a high-quality display with precise input options.

It’s a great laptop for sketching and drawing from different angles and is versatile for all kinds of creative work.

You can purchase it online from Amazon, which offers a wide range of models at competitive prices.

Pros

Cons

➕ Great battery life ➖ A stylus might be flimsy
➕ Provides stylus
➕ Good value

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

Sale
Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop, 13.5' 2K 2256 x 1504 IPS Touch, 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7, 16GB...
1,124 Reviews
Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop, 13.5" 2K 2256 x 1504 IPS Touch, 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7, 16GB...
  • Aspect Ratio: 3:2
  • 10th Generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor (Up to 3. 9GHz) 16GB LPDDR4X Memory 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • 13.5" Acer VertiView 2K 2256 x 1504 Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Touch Display (3:2 aspect ratio) Intel Iris Plus Graphics
  • Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201 802. 11ax Backlit Keyboard fingerprint reader up to 15 hours battery life
  • 2 - USB 3. 1 Type C port supporting USB 3. 1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps), DisplayPort over USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, USB Charging, DC-in, 2 - USB 3. 2 Gen 1 port (one featuring power-off charging) & 1 - HDMI 2....

 

7. Apple MacBook Air

Apple MAcBook Air - Best laptop for digital art for battery performance
Apple MacBook Air. Image credit: Apple / Amazon

The best laptop for digital art for battery performance

CPU: Apple M1 Chip Processor  | Graphics: 8 core GPU|  RAM: 8 GB | Storage: Up to 2TB SSD storage | Screen dimension: 13.3 inch (diagonal) | Battery life: Up to 18 hours

The thinnest and lightest notebook made by Apple is the MacBook Air. It was released in 2018, overtaking the 11″ MacBook Air’s spot among thin laptops.

It’s a great choice for those who prioritize environmental sustainability. It’s entirely recycled aluminum, making it the greenest laptop Apple has ever produced.

Aside from its eco-friendly features, the MacBook Air also boasts impressive specs such as a beautiful retina display, Touch ID, a force-touch trackpad, a modern keyboard, and long-lasting batteries.

We recommend this laptop to college students and working adults who value a sleek design and vibrant color options.

However, if your work involves complex 3D graphics, consider a high-end laptop instead of the MacBook Air.

While it’s excellent for straightforward 2D graphics and art, its integrated graphics card may struggle with more demanding digital art applications. Opt for Macbook Pro.

One of the best things about the MacBook Air is its lengthy battery life, making it a practical and convenient option for those who need to work on the go.

If you want to purchase the MacBook Air, check out reputable e-commerce sites like Amazon. They offer models at different price points, starting at $800, and quick shipping options.

Pros

Cons

➕ Environment-friendly, made with 100% recycled aluminum ➖ Non-upgradeable RAM
➕ Impressive retina display ➖ Slow performance during intensive tasks
➕ Extremely lightweight ➖ Limited hardware upgradeability
➕ Excellent battery life
➕ Additional security with Touch ID
➕ Thunderbolt-3 support

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

Apple MacBook Air 13.3' with Retina Display, 1.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD,...
67 Reviews
Apple MacBook Air 13.3" with Retina Display, 1.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD,...
  • MacBook Air 13.3" with Retina Display (Gold) - 30W USB Type-C Power Adapter - USB Type-C Charging Cable (6.56' / 2m) - Apple 1 Year Limited Warranty
  • Retina display with True Tone
  • 1.1GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz
  • 8GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory
  • 256GB SSD storage

 

8. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook Image credits: amazon

CPU: MediaTek Helio P60T Processor | Graphics: ARM G72 MP3 800GHz | RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4X | Screen: 10.1in FHD (1920 x 1200) 16:9 IPS, glossy, touchscreen, 400 nits | Storage: 64 GB eMMC

Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook is a great option for you if you’re looking for a lightweight laptop on a tight budget.

Having the pleasure of using the Chromebook is quite impressive! The two-in-one design and touchscreen feature make it easy to use.

What’s cool is that the keyboard is detachable and has a plug-and-play design, turning the laptop into a powerful tablet.

Aside from its functionality, the Chromebook is also aesthetically pleasing. Its dual-tone design is made of aluminum alloy, and its fabric-like feel is quite impressive.

The 10.1-inch screen is another feature that stood out to us. The visuals are of excellent quality, making them perfect for streaming shows or working on a project.

Plus, the battery life lasts up to 10 hours.

We know that students, teachers, and digital arts professionals who need a portable device often choose the Chromebook because of its small size and reasonable pricing.

However, its processing and storage capabilities might not be enough for more difficult tasks. Another drawback is the limited number of apps available on Chrome OS.

Our team considers the Microsoft Surface Go to be an alternative that offers a fantastic experience while being significantly less expensive.

Amazon is a wonderful option if you’re looking for a dependable and practical buying option because they provide quick shipping and affordable prices.

Pros

Cons

➕ Budget-friendly ➖ Not as powerful as the competitors
➕ Great battery life
➕ Portable

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

Lenovo Chromebook Duet, 2-in-1, 10.1' WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Display, MediaTek Helio P60T, 4GB LPDDR4X...
1,277 Reviews
Lenovo Chromebook Duet, 2-in-1, 10.1" WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Display, MediaTek Helio P60T, 4GB LPDDR4X...
  • This ultraportable 2-in-1 Chromebook includes a fast and stable plug-and-play detachable keyboard enabled with 5-point pogo pin and magnet design
  • Take it with you everywhere. Thin and lightweight the Chromebook Duet offers up to 10 hours of battery life (2)
  • The unique dual-tone design with aluminum alloy on the tablet is a standout design with sophisticated fabric texture on the stand cover you'll be stylish productive and practical
  • Fast secure and easy to use: This touchscreen Chromebook boots up quickly with just your Google login to give you access to all of your cloud-based documents email and more
  • With the 10 1" FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS display and stunning colorful details you won't sacrifice for great visuals; The 10-point multi-touch touchscreen is also USI pen compatible (pen sold separately)

 

9. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Touchscreen

Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 - Best 2-in-1 convertible digital art laptop
Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5. Image credit: Lenovo / Amazon

The best 2-in-1 convertible digital art laptop

CPU: 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6GHz (up to 3.4GHz) | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX130 | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 2-in1 FHD LED-backlit IPS Display | Screen dimension: 15.6’’ | Battery life: Up to 9 hours

You can hardly get a high-end laptop for less than $1000. But with the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 selling for around ~$600, this 2-in-1 convertible laptop humiliates the competition by offering much better performance at nearly half the price.

We absolutely loved the 360-degree bendable hinge on this laptop! It’s a dream come true because it can fold completely around.

You can use it as a tablet or rest it on its keyboard by folding it beyond 180 degrees.

Lenovo had already released 2-in-1 convertibles with similar flexibility at different price points, but the Flex 5 stood out because of its sleek appearance.

In purchasing this laptop, always keep in mind its flexibility, speed, and battery life.

Although it didn’t have a lot of graphics or processing power to show off, the Ryzen 5 CPU made up for the shortcomings and offered respectable performance when using simpler design and drawing programs.

We think the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is the best option if you’re looking for a mid-range, 2-in-1 flexible laptop with respectable performance.

It could be used for professional projects like data analysis, presentations, and video conferencing, but it was also a fun media consumption gadget for everyone.

One of the best things about this laptop was its superb touch sensitivity, making it a terrific choice for fine details.

However, the Intel UHD Graphics integrated graphics card might not be powerful enough for demanding digital art applications, resulting in slower performance and lag. We suggest uninstalling unnecessary background apps.

If you’re interested in purchasing this device, Amazon is a great option with a starting price of $850.00 and a wide selection.

Pros

Cons

➕ Separate GeForce MX130 graphics ➖ Hefty for an ultraportable 14” Laptop
➕ Comes with Lenovo Active Pen ➖ Dim 250-nit display
➕ Good battery life
➕ High-speed SSD

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

Latest Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 15IIL05 2 in 1 Laptop 15.6' FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen Intel...
32 Reviews
Latest Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 15IIL05 2 in 1 Laptop 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen Intel...
  • 15.6" UHD (3840x2160) IPS 500nits Glossy, HDR400, 2-in-1 Touch Display. 3840 x 2160 native resolution. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Touch, tap, glide and make the most of Windows 11 Pro...
  • Intel 11th Generation Core i7-1165G7 Processor (2.80 GHz, up to 4.70 GHz with Turbo Boost, 4 Cores, 8 Threads, 12MB Intel Smart Cache). Experience power and responsive performance to boost your...
  • 16GB DDR4-3200 high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once, 1TB PCIe SSD for ample storage space. Get up to 15x faster performance than a traditional hard...
  • 【Ports】 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer and Power Delivery), 1x HDMI 1.4b, 1x Card reader, 1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm),...
  • 【Wi-Fi 6 & Webcam & Fingerprint】 Enjoy a smoother wireless experience with Wi-Fi 6 (2x2), all your connections are solid and up to 3x faster file transfer speeds than Wi-Fi 5. Equipped With 720p...

 

10. Microsoft Surface Go

Microsoft Surface Go - Most portable digital art laptop
Microsoft Surface Go. Image credit: Microsoft / Amazon

The most portable digital art laptop

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Graphics: Intel Integrated HD 615 | RAM: 4 GB / 8 GB | Storage: 64 GB | Screen: 10” PixelSense™ Display, 1800 x 1200 resolution, 3:2 Aspect Ratio | Battery life: Up to 9 hours

With its feature-packed tiny tablets, Microsoft Surface Go dominates the market. You might be perplexed as to why a tablet is among the finest digital computers for artists.

Even though it only has an Intel Pentium processor and a 10-inch touchscreen display with 1800 x 1200 pixels, it integrates the Windows 10 user interface.

While it may not have all the bells and whistles of a high-end computer, it’s perfect if you need a low-cost, lightweight option for running essential design applications.

Kyle Lambert, the digital artist, and illustrator behind the iconic “Stranger Things” poster, uses this technology for his digital artworks.

Thanks to its AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor and AMD Radeon graphics, the Surface Go has enough processing power to handle design applications.

However, it may not be as powerful as other, more expensive computers. Before purchasing, consider your specific needs.

You can find the Microsoft Surface Go at online retailers such as Amazon, which offers competitive pricing and quick shipping options for a variety of setups.

Pros

Cons

➕ Extremely lightweight and portable ➖ USB-A not supported
➕ Decent battery life with quick charging ➖ Poor repairability
➕ Spacious trackpad and smooth keyboard

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM, 128GB)
2,005 Reviews
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM, 128GB)
  • High res 10 inch PixelSense Display designed to be viewed, touched, and written on
  • Lightest Surface yet, starting at just 1.15 pounds
  • All day battery life, with up to 9 hours of unplugged power
  • Comes with Windows 10 in S mode, to do the things you want with performance that lasts, including Microsoft verified security, Windows Defender, parental controls, and world class support
  • Includes multi tasking USB C, fast charging Surface Connect, and headphone jack.Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology.Aspect ratio: 3:2 (Keyboard and pen sold separately)

 

11. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 - Best big-screen laptop for digital art
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4. Image credit: Microsoft / Amazon

The best big-screen laptop for digital art

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 / Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Radeon™ Graphics | RAM: 8 GB / 16 GB| Storage: 8GB, 16GB or 32GB LPDDR4x RAM | Screen: 13.5” / 15” PixelSense™ Display, 2256 x 1504 / 2496 x 1664 resolution, 3:2 AR, 10-point multi-touch | Battery life: Up to 17 hours

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is the solution if you’re looking for a laptop that runs graphic design software quickly and smoothly.

You can work on your art effectively because of its elegant design and amazing technological characteristics.

We’ve found that the 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is a fantastic option.

The large screen provides an excellent computing experience, and the laptop’s customized Ryzen 4th generation chip is powerful enough to run complex design applications quickly.

It’s impressive how it can handle demanding workloads like processing photos and editing 4K videos, usually associated with more high-end devices like the MacBook Pro and the XPS 15.

Although it only comes in gray and black, unlike the sandstone and icy blue options for the 13-inch model, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 remains one of our top choices for the best laptops for digital art.

Well-known digital artists like David Hockney, Chris Chin, and Angela Anderson used Microsoft Surface devices in their creations. They have also praised the portability, high-resolution displays, and compatibility with digital art applications.

Because the Surface Pen can be utilized with its touchscreen display, it has good drawing capabilities. Given that it is quite pricey compared to other laptops, we advise looking at our post on inexpensive laptops that don’t skimp on quality.

Amazon offers a wide selection of Surface Laptop 4 models if you’re looking for a convenient online option.

Pros

Cons

➕ Amazing performance ➖ Doesn’t support discrete GPU
➕ Sleek and sturdy body ➖ No Thunderbolt support
➕ Excellent battery life ➖ Low-speed SSD

 

Latest Price on Amazon:

Sale
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5” Touch-Screen – Intel Core i5 - 8GB - 512GB Solid State...
176 Reviews
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5” Touch-Screen – Intel Core i5 - 8GB - 512GB Solid State...
  • Power to do what you want with up to 70% more speed than before and an 11th Gen Intel Core processor.
  • Thin, light, elegant design in choice of two sizes: light, portable 13.5” or larger 15” that’s perfect for split-screen multitasking.
  • Show your best side on video calls with sharp video and image quality, even in low light, thanks to a front-facing 720p HD camera.
  • Enjoy theater-like sound for movies and shows with Omnisonic Speakers backed by immersive Dolby Atmos6.
  • Be heard loud and clear on calls with dual far-field Studio Mics that capture your voice and reduce background noise.

 

How to Choose the Best Laptop for Digital Art

How to Choose The Best Laptop for Digital Art
How to Choose the Best Laptop for Digital Art

You have to be very careful when choosing a digital art laptop as you’re making a sizable investment and, of course, don’t want to end up buying something you regret.

Before we discuss what to look for in a digital art laptop, first have your art goals set right, which essentially means you’ve penned down the tasks you intend to get out of your art lappy.

Following are a few things you need to consider before buying a digital art laptop.

1. Screen

If you can afford it, your first choice screen should be a 4K screen. Most laptops come with either an HD or a 4K screen. A 4K screen will allow you to view artwork in more detail than in high-definition work.

These days, most design applications provide interfaces for higher-than-HD screen resolutions. So using these applications on an HD screen would shortchange the use of the interface and your work, eventually.

Another reason why you should go for a 4K screen laptop is the color reproduction. Some 4K screens can reproduce 100% of Adobe RGB color space while HD screens, on the other hand, can only output 75% of Adobe RGB.

Also, some 4K models come with a touchscreen, which makes it easier to draw when you are short on elbow room and can barely use the trackpad. So we prefer a 4K touchscreen to any other.

2. RAM

RAM typically means the amount of information a computer’s short-term memory can store at a given time. The higher the RAM, the more the app information it can deal with at once, without the interference of the permanent memory. As a bare minimum, it is recommended to go for a digital laptop with 8GB RAM if you have a small budget.

Most drawing and design applications, however, run more efficiently on 16GB laptops. Furthermore, if you use heavy RAM usage apps like After Effects and Adobe CC, you might want to get your hands on a 32GB digital art laptop.

The bottom line here is, it depends more on your application usage. Go for a higher RAM laptop if you are someone who uses professional drawing apps requiring huge memory. Otherwise, an 8GB or 16GB RAM will do the job for you.

3. Processor

Picking the processor for your drawing needs can be tricky. While the Intel Core chips are ruling the processors market, other players like AMD and other specialist processor builders have seen a resurgence in recent times in performance and popularity.

Additionally, within the Core range, you get to choose from Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 models. The i5 and i7, however, are further split among models ending with U and H or HQ or HK. Most current-generation processors are 8th gen, which can be 0.5X faster than their 7th gen counterparts.

What you want to look for in a laptop processor speed is whether it has turbo speed. Simply put, turbo speed is the speed the cores achieve. If the functionalities your applications are performing are not utilizing all the core power, the computer tends to speed up the cores in use.

Look further if the vendor sells you a product noted as turbo speed rather than base speed. Be wary if the vendor sells you a product noted as turbo speed rather than base speed.

Also, you can tell what generation and type a processor is just by looking at the code name of the processor. For instance, a Core i9-8950HQ processor is an 8th gen (the first digit after the hyphen), H series (the last two digits in the code) processor.

4. Storage

Most 15-inch laptops come with 1 TB of storage. However, some of them offer 2 TB, which is quite pricey and unnecessary at the same time. Considering the kind of applications you can use for digital drawing, a 15-inch laptop with 512 GB is just the right option for you. Leave alone the 256 GB version as it is too small to work with.

Laptops come with either PCIe drives or SATA SSD drives which can be either striped together on one device or just two PCIe drives as in 4K video and animation laptops. Apple MacBook Pro offers 4 TB storage, possible only through the two drives striped together configuration.

5. Graphics

If you work predominantly on 2D drawing software like Photoshop, Sketchbook, Illustrator, InDesign, or Sketch, you can go for a laptop with an Intel UHD graphics card. For instance, if your job includes encoding videos and animation, and layering documents, a robust Intel graphics chip is all you need.

Alternatively, you can choose one with an AMD or Nvidia graphics card for more complex 3D tasks. Working on a 3D suite of apps like Houdini, Cinema 4D, and Autodesk 3DS Max requires the most powerful graphics card one can afford.

Also, you can opt for an eGPU to enhance your laptop’s 3D performance, as long as you are not using a powerful PC.

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Which laptop is better for digital art: Windows or Mac?

There’s no direct answer to this question. Both Windows and Macintosh can have incredibly fast performance, vivid colors, high-resolution screens, and can run from simple to most advanced design software. If you have prior experience using Mac, it’s better to go with a Mac as most design software are available on Mac as well.

However, some applications are specific to either Mac or Windows, like the Procreate software is available for Mac and not for Windows. If such restrictions exist, purchase the laptop which supports the software. Otherwise, the right computer, be it Mac or Windows, can help you take your art game to the next level.

Should I get a tablet or a laptop for digital art?

Generally, most professional artists have both a tablet and a laptop computer. Most budding artists love to try a tablet or phablet for their art needs, like drawing and retouching, without considering other tasks they might end up doing on it. Another advantage of using a laptop is that you can enjoy your artwork in its full glory on brightly lit big screens.

What is the optimal RAM for a digital art laptop?

A laptop for digital art should sport at least 8 GB RAM, preferably 16-32 GB, and a storage of 256 GB, preferably 512 GB or 1TB.

Which is the best Mac for art students?

Apple MacBook Air is the best Mac for art students and budding artists. Its impressive graphics, excellent color rendering, powerful performance, and 17-hours battery life makes it the first choice digital art laptop.

 

Best Laptops for Digital Art & Artists Summary

Finding the right laptop can be difficult, but what is more difficult is finding the best digital art laptop. With lots of options available on the market with varied feature sets for each laptop, you need a sure-shot guide to help you through your digital laptop purchase.

We hope this list of amazing devices helped in your endeavor to find the right one that fits your needs.

Do you have any more digital art laptop suggestions that you think are amazing but are not on our list? Let us know in the comments below!


Leave a Comment