
Best Laptop for Artists : Guide to buying the best laptop for artists in 2024
As an artist a laptop is more essential than any other tool you have in today’s context. A laptop can be your canvas, studio and partner in creativity. Choose the quality of a laptop based on your artistic needs such as performance, display quality, portability and budget. After considering these things properly you will get a good laptop. This article will discuss the best laptop for artists and buying guidelines.
A short list of the best laptops for artists
- Best: Surface Laptop Studio 2
- Budget: Acer Chromebook Spin 514
- Portable: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- Best screen: HP Specter x360
- Dual-screen: ZenBook Pro 14
- Compact: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
1. Best: Surface Laptop Studio 2
When it comes to considering the best laptop for artists, one of the best laptop out there is the Surface Laptop Studio 2. This device is primarily feature-added for artists and can be a versatile laptop for creative professionals. The powerful performance, versatile design and attractive exceptional display of this laptop take the device to a unique level. All in all, this laptop is the best laptop for artists. So it is the best choice for commercial or private use.
Performance
Surface Laptop Studio 2 uses the latest Intel Core i7 and Intel Core i9 processors and is very efficient for handling creative applications. It has up to 32GB of RAM and is paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics. The performance of this laptop is so good that 3D rendering, video editing and heavy software work can be done on the laptop without any hindrance.
SSD storage is required for artists. It comes with up to (2TB) of storage to store many files or videos. So files and movies can be safely downloaded and stored. Video files require a lot of space to store. And if the storage is more then the load time is reduced and a lot of files can be saved in the storage.
Design and build quality
Surface Laptop Studio 2 has an outstanding design. It allows the screen to change to different modes, such as laptop, stage and studio. It is a comfortable best laptop for artists and an ideal device for typing, sketching and presentations. There is no quibble with the build quality of the laptop, it is top notch. The body and chassis of the laptop are of very high quality and the chassis is constructed of magnesium aluminum which is very strong and durable.
Display
The laptop’s display is a 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow Touch display, which offers a resolution of 2400 x 1600 pixels. The laptop supports 120Hz refresh rate, due to which it displays smooth and mind-blowing visual colors. The screen is compatible with the Surface Slim Pen 2. It is a very advanced feature that offers haptic process and low latency. And so perfect you’ll feel like you’re drawing on paper. Accuracy and brightness are emphasized in the use of colors. Due to which it is considered as one of the best laptop for artists for artistic work.
Connections and Ports
Surface Laptop Studio 2 has four ports for faster workflows. There are two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, one USB-A port and a headphone jack. Thunderbolt 4 allows you to provide high-speed external connections and add your hard drive or multiple monitors if you have one.
Battery life
Laptop battery life is very important for artists as they need to create a variety of designs on their laptop for long periods of time. In this regard, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a good battery life that provides up to 19 hours of backup. So there is no possibility of any kind of battery backup problem with this laptop. You get 16 to 17 hours of effortless breakup with Smoothly High Performance.
Software and Compatibility
This laptop has Windows 11 operating system. Besides, various types of creative software including Adobe Creative Suite, Corel Painter are set up. Therefore, the performance of the laptop is very good in terms of updated Windows and is capable of handling creative software smoothly. This laptop can be selected as the best laptop for artists.
2. Budget: Acer Chromebook Spin 514
Budget Friendly one of the best laptop for Artists is Acer Chromebook Spin 514, It is an affordable best laptop for artists. Although it may not have the high-end glass of premium laptops, it is considered to be a very suitable laptop for art and design. It gives a good performance in creative design and art. So we consider this laptop as the best laptop for budget friendly artists.
Performance
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is assembled with AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 processor and is mostly creative
It is suitable for work. It has up to 16GB of RAM and integrated Radeon graphics. However, its 128GB eMMC storage may seem limited, but it is sufficient and suitable for cloud-based tasks and lightweight applications.
Design and build quality
The Acer chromeBook Spin 514 has a 14-inch full HD touchscreen display with a 360-degree rotatable hinge, it’s basically a laptop but can be used in tent, stand or tablet mode. So this laptop creates an environment for artists to work creatively. It has an aluminum chassis that gives you a comfortable and premium feel while using it. The build quality of the laptop is superior and a best laptop for artists on a budget.
Display
One of the best features of this laptop is its full HD IPS display, due to which there is good color accuracy and no blurring is noticed for viewing from an angle. Although the laptop’s high resolution display and color depth are good, they are a little weak in most artistic work where large software is used. One good thing about it is that it has a very functional touchscreen and is compatible with a stylus which is perfect for multitasking.
Connections and Ports
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 laptop has two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports and a microSD card slot. There is also a headphone jack. Having ports makes it a good option for selection. The additional rear will require you to insert external lines for USB storage and mouse, keyboard.
Battery life
This laptop is capable of providing up to 10 hours of battery life which is enough to last a full day. Especially for artists whose work requires very long battery life. A long battery charge for creative work is a plus. So for a long time it was the best laptop for artists.
Software
Acer Chromebook Spin is powered by 514 series operating system due to which it is designed for cloud based web applications. Its biggest advantage is that you will get access to all Android applications from Google Play Store. To make creative art it is possible to use high-powered software that is capable of meeting artistic needs.
You can work using Google Play Store applications and various web-based applications.
3. Portable: Surface Pro 9
The Surface Pro 9 is one of the most preferred best laptop for artists. The performance of this laptop is very perfect and powerful. So the demand for this laptop is much higher than other laptops in the market. It provides a quality for its powerful performance. This portable feature is most useful for artists to work on the go.
Performance
The Surface Pro 9 is powered by the twelfth generation the Core i5 and Core i7. It ensures powerful performance for creative applications and has up to 32 GB and fast SSD storage up to 1TB. So the device is a reliable laptop for painting and graphic design. It has integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics which is essential for most artistic work.
Design and build quality
Surface Pro Nine twelfth generation weighs 1.7 pounds which is incredibly acceptable. It’s very slim and a detachable keyboard that’s easy to carry and perfect for working in any environment. The built-in kickstand allows you to draw comfortably and adjust the screen resolution from any angle.
Display
This laptop has a 13 inch pixelless low display and uses a resolution of 2880 x 1920 pixels. It supports 120Hz refresh rate which provides smooth and vivid visuals. The touch screen of this laptop is highly responsive and is compatible with the Surface Slim Pen 2, which is ideal for precise and accurate drawing. High pixel density and color accuracy give an artist a sense of professionalism.
Connections and Ports
The Surface Pro 9 laptop has two USB-C ports with a Thunderbolt 4 and a Surface Connect port and a headphone jack. Connecting to Thunderbolt 4 high-speed external storage will improve your performance. Also, if you want to use multiple monitors, you can use it seamlessly. It multiplies the performance of an artist.
Battery life
Surface Pro Nine offers up to 15 hours of continuous battery life. This ensures that you don’t need to charge frequently. The laptop needs to hold charge for a long time in case you need to travel outside for artistic work. In this case, the Surface Pro 9 can be a remarkable laptop that provides you with a long battery backup life while traveling.
Software and Compatibility
The Surface Pro 9 is primarily powered by Windows 11. There’s also a wide range of Adobe Creative Suite to Clip Studio Paint creative software.The versatile use of Windows 11 for art management helps any artist deliver a great performance. Apart from this, the software that is most used by artists is easy to install and can be used to create a high quality design.
4. Best screen: HP Specter x360
When it comes to the best screens for artists, the HP Specter x360 stands out as an unbeatable laptop. This laptop’s display provides stunning visual feelings that are most suitable for an artist to work with. As a graphic designer or artist, this might be the best laptop for you.
Performance
Used on HP Specter x360 Intel laptop 11th Gen Core i7 processor and up to 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage. It ensures a smooth performance for the creative needs that artists need. There is also integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics capable of handling all other graphics software including graphic design, photo design and editing. It will give you a good performance as an artist.
Design and build quality:
The HP Specter x360 laptop has a 360-degree hinge that smoothly bends and is an innovative design and a high-quality laptop. It can be used in laptop, tent, stand or tablet mode. It can be a laptop with quality full design and flexible fit for artists. Also the aluminum chassis gives a premium and high quality feel. It is also considered as the best laptop for artists as the display is of high quality.
Display
The biggest highlight of this laptop is the 14-inch OLED display with 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K) resolution and HDR-supported. The display is very attractive and is known for its color accuracy and brightness and offers touchscreen functionality with HP Tilt Pen. Which helps to produce a very high quality drawing by increasing the pixel density and colors more vividly. As an artist, a laptop with a good quality display is essential. Because if the display quality of the laptop is good, the quality of the laptop increases a lot.
Connections and Ports
The Specter x360 offers Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack.
Thanks to Thunderbolt 4 USB ports, you can quickly connect external hard disk monitors or other devices.
Battery life
This laptop supports up to 10 hours of battery life, so 10 hours of backup is enough for a day. This laptop is generally suitable and best laptop for artists as they can work continuously for long hours. Or there is no chance of running out of charge on the go.
Software and Compatibility
Windows 11 operating system also includes Creative Suite and can handle Corel Painter and many other creative software. Any laptop running Windows 11 operating system provides a great service for artists. It is the best choice laptop for non-stop multitasking and digital graphic design and artists.
5. Dual-screen: ZenBook Pro 14
Asus ZenBook Pro 14 is a laptop with better quality and a real screen best laptop for artists. It is a dual screen setup laptop that multiplies productivity and creativity. So if you as an artist want to buy a quality and state of the art laptop with dual screen then this laptop is best for you.
Performance
The ZenBook Pro 14 Intel laptop is powered by a 12th Gen Core processor, with options up to Core i9. There is also up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. So this laptop will give you a very good performance to increase the smoothness and productivity of your work as an artist. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics delivers excellent performance in 3D rendering, video editing, graphics design and various types of creative design creation.
Design and build quality
ZenBook Pro 14 has a sleek and stylish design with a secondary 14-inch ScreenPad Plus display above the keyboard. The secondary display used is very effective for mast multi-tasking and multitasking workflows. The main 14-inch OLED display and the secondary display are built with 4K resolution to create sharp and vibrant visual designs. Also, the body of the laptop is beautifully crafted with aluminum chassis to make it strong and durable.
Display
The ZenBook Pro 14 laptop has a 14-inch OLED main display offering 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K) resolution. And this device is HDR supported due to which it provides brightness and accuracy in terms of colors. And the second display it has also offers 4K resolution. Having two screens allows artists to move their control panels to different locations when creating different designs. Likewise, two screens play a very useful role in doing many tasks quickly. It also has a touchscreen and is convenient to use with a pen. As a result, creating a great design provides you with a comfortable experience and quality design.
Connections and Ports
It has two Thunderbolt ports, a USB-A port, an HDMI port and a headphone jack which are very useful for your work. Each of its ports will help speed up your work. And having a Thunderbolt port will help to use an external hard disk and transfer data at a faster speed. Also, if you want to manage other screens or devices, you will get better performance.
Battery life
This laptop can provide battery backup for a full day of operation with a high performance battery life of up to 8 hours. This laptop is one of the best laptop for artists who worry about running out of battery quickly. You can easily choose the laptop that has long battery life and can continue working for long periods of time even when traveling.
Software and Compatibility
ZenBook Pro 14 is powered by Windows 11 operating system and has other software such as Adobe Creative Suite Corel Painter and all kinds of creative graphic designing tools or software can be operated seamlessly. Windows 11 is basically an ideal operating system for artists to manage all the software or tools they have.
6. Compact: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is an ideal laptop for those who are looking for a versatile laptop or need a laptop with a compact design. This laptop is well known and popular for its performance, portability and design. So if you are a professional artist and looking for a multi-purpose laptop with a compact design then this laptop can meet your needs.
Performance
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop is powered by Intel’s 11th Gen Core processor with options up to Core i7. It has up to 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage. Artists especially need storage and more ram is better. This speeds up the work. Also this laptop offers a smooth performance in creative work. There’s also integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics to deliver outstanding performance in a variety of artistic tasks, including graphic design, photo editing, and more.
Design and build quality
The XPS 13 2-in-1 offers a sleek and stylish design with a 360-degree hinge. It can be used in different modes like laptop, tent, stand, tablet mode etc. For artists there is a great opportunity to use this laptop in different modes as the laptop is used in different fields. Also the body build quality of this laptop is very good and gives a premium feel due to the aluminum chassis.
Display
The XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop features a 13.4-inch Full HD or 4K UHD touchscreen display. It provides excellent color accuracy and vivid colors. So it is the best choice of artists to make art. If the display quality is good, any design can be displayed very finely and perfectly. In this case, the artist can complete his drawings well with this laptop. It has high pixel density and touchscreen functionality with Dell Active Pen. So this laptop gives a realistic form to the drawing experience. So in terms of display, the laptop is a qualified laptop.
Connections and Ports
This laptop has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a microSD card slot and a headphone jack. These ports are perfect for speeding up your work and the Thunderbolt 4 port allows you to add external hard disks and additional monitors or other devices. It will speed up your work and help you create quality designs.
Battery life
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is capable of providing up to 14 hours of battery backup which is enough for a full day. Artist laptops require a lot of charge so you can easily pick this laptop up and go for a long time on a single charge when traveling.
Software and Compatibility
This laptop is powered by Windows 11 operating system and Adobe Creative Suite with Corel Printer and other creative software can be easily managed. Windows 11 is considered an ideal operating system for artists who need to manage heavy software. This laptop is the best artist laptop for multitasking and versatile use.
How to choose the best laptop for artists
Artists need a high quality and functional laptop to create various types of art and designs. There are several things you need to carefully consider when you purchase a laptop. All things considered, finding a good laptop is not difficult at all. Now we are mentioning several points which if considered you will get a good laptop within your budget.
Performance
Laptop performance is considered an important factor for artists in the art field. Look for laptops with a powerful processor (Intel Core i5 or better, AMD Ryzen 5 or better), enough RAM (at least 8GB, preferably 16GB or more), and storage (1TB). And in terms of graphics, a dedicated graphics (NVIDIA or AMD) is very good, it is very effective in 3D rendering and video editing.
Display
If the display of the laptop you choose or the laptop for art is of high quality, your design will definitely look classy and beautiful. In this case OLED or IPS panels provide quite good color and angular viewing accuracy. Plus stylus and touch screen functionality further enhance performance. So these are the things you should consider for choosing a good quality laptop display.
Portability
Always consider the size of the laptop and the weight of the laptop when buying a laptop as you may need to travel or commute for a period of time. In that case it is difficult to carry your laptop. So always choose these lightweight compact design laptops which can be convenient for your work both indoors and outdoors.
Battery life
Another thing artists should keep in mind while choosing a laptop is the battery life of the laptop. You need to have a long battery life in cases where you may need to work outdoors and away from electricity connections for long periods of time. You should choose a laptop that offers at least 8 hours or more of battery backup.
Almost all tasks can be done with laptops that provide eight hours of backup. Also, there are laptops that provide 12 hours of backup so it is better to choose them. So it is better to choose a laptop with more battery backup so that you can run the laptop all day long without any worries.
Connection
Check that your laptop has some good port options. Thunderbolt 4 ports help transfer data quickly to the laptop. Also works in coordination with a high speed data monitor or any other device. Artists must choose qualified laptop ports.
Budget
Determine your budget before buying a laptop and search for laptops within your budget. While high end laptops offer great performance and features, there are some budget-friendly alternative laptops that can meet your needs. So always try to choose the best laptop within your budget.
Software and Compatibility
Check whether the laptop you buy is compatible with any operating system and creative software. Windows and Mac operating systems have several professional grade software that are great for artist laptops. There are also some laptops capable of running Chrome operating systems and web-based or Android apps.
How we test the best laptop for artists
When we picked the best laptop for artists, we chose these laptops with a few points in mind. So here are the factors that we have considered in selecting the laptops.
Performance
For artists, we tested how well creative laptops typically run Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Premiere Pro. We have reviewed each laptop’s processor, RAM, storage and performance.
Display quality
While choosing a laptop for professional artists, I always consider accurate colors, bright resolution and angular viewing quality. We also evaluated touch screen functionality and stylus support
Portability
An acceptable laptop is essential for artists, so I have analyzed the weight and size of laptops. And I tested creative software and video editing applications and tested how much battery backup it can provide.
Build quality and design
We have considered the overall aspects of each laptop including build quality, design, hinges, mechanisms. We also considered which laptops are aesthetically pleasing and which laptops are made of metal or plastic.
Connection
We’ve tested the laptop’s ports and connectivity options here, including USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, and headphone jacks for each laptop. And we tested wireless performance like WiFi and Bluetooth.
Value or price
We’ve analyzed which laptops fare best based on design and performance. I have mentioned which one is more expensive or which one is budget friendly. We have also analyzed the best laptop for artists based on the laptop’s performance features and price.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best laptop for digital painting?
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a high-end laptop with a powerful and versatile design perfect for digital painting.
2. Can I use a Chromebook for digital art?
Yes, you can use Chromebook Spin 514. Its high-quality creative software can get stuck in some areas, but can get most of the work done. Chromebooks can be used for general editing or graphic design.
3. Does Digital Art Need a Dedicated Graphics Card?
A dedicated graphics card can greatly increase your capabilities for 3D rendering or video editing. However, this is not essential for general quality editing. Integrated graphics such as (Intel Iris Xe) makes this laptop suitable for any type of 2D graphics design.
4. How much RAM do I need for digital art?
In most cases 8 GB RAM is enough for digital art, but for artists who need to do heavy work, 16 GB RAM is better. 16 GB RAM is enough for any type of work.
5. What is the best screen resolution for digital art?
For digital art it is best to use a higher resolution screen such as Full HD or better. In this case, 4K resolution is perfect for making the most beautiful artwork
6. Can I use the stylus with any laptop?
Not all laptops support stylus input, but some laptops do, such as the Surface Pro 9 or the HP Specter x360. By using the stylus you can create the designs very precisely.
7. How important is color accuracy for digital art?
Color accuracy is very important for digital art because if you are a graphic designer or doing work like photo editing or digital painting then color accuracy is something you must consider. So use a laptop that offers laptop resolution and color accuracy for digital work.
8. What is the best laptop for 3D rendering and animation?
ZenBook Pro 14, a highly effective laptop for 3D rendering and animation. It has a dual screen setup that gives you maximum peace of mind when it comes to editing.
9. Can I use a 2-in-1 laptop for digital art?
Yes you can use 2-in-1 laptops like Surface Pro 9 and Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 to do digital art. These are great laptops for digital art and perfect for use in tablet mode.
10. How do I choose the best laptop for artists needs?
For artistic needs you review factors such as performance, display quality, portability, battery life, connectivity, budget and software compatibility of a laptop. Assess your specific needs and preferences to find an artist work laptop.
So far we have discussed how to choose the best laptop for artists and mentioned which laptops are good for artists. We have selected the best laptops for different types of professional people in this blog. For example, if you are a teacher, you can read this article on the best laptops for teachers. Also, an article has been written about the best laptop for writers in case many people do blogging or content writing. We are always providing updated information to you. So feel free to share this article with your friends who are going to choose the best laptop for artists.
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Written by : khan.ehsanul.hoque
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