7 Best laptops for designers: (2023 Guide & Reviews)

Designing is an inclusive term.

The designers that pursue this field have many options, from web designing to typography, and it has become one of the most distinguished online earning platforms.

Youngsters are pushing themselves to strive in this field to make the most out of their careers.

But when discussing designers and designing, the individual’s knowledge is insufficient to excel in this career.

A suitable device will also inevitably turn any image into realistic visualization.

Some striking devices are available in the market, but the choice should be made wisely to reflect the talent in the final product.

Which are the Best laptops for designers?

Here are my recommended top 7 Best laptops for designers:-

DELL XPS 13 (9310): (best laptops for designers)

Designer laptops are used in various ways and for multiple types of design.

One of my friends persuaded me to go with him to buy a computer for motion graphics and animation.

As I have been involved in editing and processing since I joined the photography industry, people around me appreciate my knowledge about the features of creative laptops.

After giving it much thought, I urged my friend to buy DELL XPS 13 (9310), one of the best laptop designers.

I have used DELL for some time, and it has a good rating on the internet.

Moreover, the Specifications seemed too adequate to me that it was one of my top choices for my friend.

Technical specifications:

Hard disk/SSD/SSHD:

512 GB SSD gives me sufficient storage for saving and transferring data when needed.

Solid state works fast on rendering data from the CPU without any heat-ups.

I thought the laptop would be unable to overcome data flow and would soon run hot, but I never felt warm while working.

RAM/ROM:

16 GB RAM with 4267 MHz speed does not shutter when I open 20 + tabs on chrome.

I tested the laptop by Playing 4k streaming on 3 to 4 tabs, but I never found any lag.

Display/Battery/Wi-Fi/Ports:

The display comes with a touch screen, and the feature I liked for content creation is an InfinityEdge display with an incredible 600 nits of brightness and 100% on the sRGB gamut.

It also has 90% of DCI-P3, making the show accurate and dynamic for designers.

The battery life is substantial for my daily work, approximately 8 hours.

Networking is with Wi-Fi 6.

The ports include only two thunderbolt/ USB-C ports.

I want more ports as it would be easy to make it a workstation, but still, it’s enough for a solo portable device.

Graphic chip/processor:

Although the graphics can have done better, the 11th gen i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM work admirably while rending 4k videos and undertaking lightroom for professional tasks.

The laptop’s performance while testing was reasonable for handling daily content creation work.

The handbrake test took 18 minutes to render 4k video to 1080p and just 30 sec to import 55 RAW images in lightroom in my testing.

Conclusion:

DELL XPS 13 (9310) is among the best laptops for designers because of its portability and performance.

It is not as snappy as a device might have been, but it still does all the work in the long term, including intense 4k video rending and motion graphics.

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Pros
  • CPU: Core i7-1165G7
  • GPU: Iris Xe Graphics
  • Storage: 512 GB
  • RAM: 16: GB
  • Display: 13.4 Inches
  • Battery: 51WH
  • Ports: 2*USB-C/thunderbolt
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6
  • Dimensions: 0.56* 11.69* 8.15 inches
  • Weight: 0.47 pounds
Cons
  • Limited port selection
  • Not-great webcam with no privacy shutter

Apple MacBook Pro 13: (best laptops for designers)

Photographers can be the best designers as they understand the color composition and stimulation of the graphics.

So if anyone wants to get into the designing industry, they must first learn a little photography.

As for me, my passion for capturing pictures makes me an even better designer.

I used reality-inspired ideas in my design while creating portfolios for clients; it gives me more Edge to blend my version of the colors and innovations in the final product.

I use the Apple MacBook Pro 13, one of the best laptops for designers.

It is probably one of the most remarkable devices to assist in content creation.

I have used it many times, bringing perfection to my work.

Technical specifications:

Hard disk/SSD/SSHD:

MacBooks are known for their flash drive.

The base model comes with 258 GB SSD, which is a bit slower, but the model I use comes with 1 TB SSD.

More storage gives more room for improvement in the transfer rate.

RAM/ROM:

One of the most striking features that the M2 chip offers is 100GBs of memory speed, so the 8 GB or 16 GB model doesn’t matter.

The rate gets the work done sprightly.

However, I have a 16 GB model that gives me edgy outcomes while working on simultaneous tasks.

Display/Battery/Wi-Fi/ports:

The 13.3-inch Retina display with 500 nits of brightness and wide color P3 gamut is what I need to get the utmost color accuracy and vivid screen.

In addition to picturing the work perfectly, the display also gives precise details of captain America’s shield in avengers, which I enjoy in movies.

The battery life has 15 hours of longevity that suffice the daily jobs for any creator.

Connectivity is with Wi-Fi 6.

The ports include only two USB-C/ thunderbolt ports.

Graphic chip/processor:

The M2 chip has a decent improvement over the M1 chip. It scored 8722 on CineBench multi-core and 8972 on GeekBench multi-core, giving a verdict of MacBook’s performance as a productivity device.

Conclusion:

The M2 chip is the first to be introduced in MacBook 13.

The sturdy performance and charming display make Apple MacBook Pro 13 among the best laptops for designers.

Apple admirers and people who want to switch from Windows to Apple must try this device for content creation, especially designing.

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Pros
  • CPU: Apple M2 (8-core)
  • Graphics: Integrated 10-core GPU
  • RAM: 16GB Unified
  • Display: 13.3-inch,
  • Storage: 1TB SSD with base model 258 GB hard disk
  • Ports: 2 USB-C
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6
  • Dimensions: 11.97*8.30*0.61 inches
  • Weight: 3.0 pounds
Cons
  • Low-quality camera
  • Limited port variety
  • No support for Wi-Fi 6

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (14.4″): (best laptops for designers)

I desired to promote my best work for quite some time but was clueless about the process.

After spending nights learning the various ways, I started my Instagram page as my images had a mesmerizing glimmer, so I soon became popular.

I wanted to go a step ahead and design my photography website.

I wanted to do it myself as I was well aware of the procedure.

I worked on my Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (14.4″), which is one of the best laptops for designers from my perspective.

It allowed me to use Pixpa to design my portfolio appropriately, and my website became a brilliant presentation of my work.

Technical specifications:

Hard disk/SSD/SSHD:

I keep installing and operating various apps and tools for my portfolio updates.

Website designing is not an easy task.

It needs plenty of storage and a maximum transfer rate to accomplish the work, and I did get all I needed with 1 TB SSD on my Microsoft.

RAM/ROM:

The 32 GB RAM helped me a lot through my designing process by supplying sufficient memory speed for multitasking.

I never got stuck on a tab or tool while opening or transiting.

Display/Battery/Wi-Fi/Ports:

The 14.4 Inch display, 100% sRGB gamut, and 87% of the DCI_P3 gamut give life to my creation, and I feel the designs to be the most realistic.

The battery life is long enough to make it through the daily working load without draining before 18 hours.

Connectivity is with Wi-Fi 802.11ax.

Graphic chips/processor:

Thanks to ray tracing with AI features and the 11th Gen Intel Core Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, I can make my product design, animation, and editing blazingly.

No matter how much working load I throw, this machine never breaks a sweat.

Conclusion:

Whether it comes to a life-like display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 3:2 aspect ratio, ergonomically comfortable screen position, or everlasting battery life Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (14.4″) is at the top of the best laptops for designers.

The classic performance of CPU and graphics is another specialty that obliges people to buy Surface Pro for professional use.

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Pros
  • CPU: Intel core i7 11700
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX -3050 Ti
  • RAM: 32GB
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Display: 14.4-inches LCD
  • Ports: 2 USB
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11ax
  • Battery: 58Wh
  • Dimensions: 9.84* 13.63*2.4 inches
  • Weight: ~5.25 pounds
Cons
  • No AMD CPU option
  • Slim Pen 2 doesn’t come included
  • Thick chassis
  • Limited ports

HP – Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6: (best laptops for designers)

About a month ago, I lost the laptop I used to have for processing my images, so I desperately needed a sturdy device for my content creation.

I often heard that HP – Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6 is one of the designers’ best laptops, so I bought it myself.

I was less into design and more into editing, but my curiosity about exploring graphic design compelled me to visualize some ideas about mental health.

I used GIMP software, and my layout turned out to be excellent.

Though I was no pro in designing, I had excellent knowledge about working productive devices, and HP didn’t disgruntle me.

Technical specifications:

Hard disk/SSD/SSHD:

512 GB PCIe storage and 16 GB of RAM are snappy and broad to accommodate all the larger files I save.

It gives a flash performance in the system and application boot-up.

RAM/ROM:

16GB RAM hurls through multiple tabs and gives a steady transition between tabs.

I never felt any flutter while multitasking, making HP a productive device for content creation.

Display/Battery/Wi-Fi/Ports:

The edge-to-edge glass display with a 100% sRGB gamut gives a convincing experience while designing illustrations.

The HP claims its 400 nits of brightness, but I have used it at a maximum of 300 nits of brightness, still enough to work in a coffee shop and outdoors.

The battery life excelled over its competition by giving 13 hours of daily work capacity for my productivity work.

Connectivity is with Wi-Fi 6.

The ports are plenty to accommodate external drives with one USB Type-C, two USB Type-A, and one HDMI 2.0b.

Graphic chip/processor:

Ryzen CPU and Radeon GPU exceed the race in benchmark testing with 8023 on CineBench and 5457 on PCMark, which shows its capability to handle day-to-day productivity tasks.

My illustration Software works snippily; cheers to HP’s features; I can produce the best work through digital designs.

Conclusion:

All in one package comes with this compact device that allows sturdy and extraordinary performance.

The battery life and ports add to the productivity of the HP – Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6, which makes it one of the best laptops for designers available in the market.

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Pros
  • CPU: Ryzen 7 5700U
  • Graphics: Radeon graphics
  • RAM: 16GB- DDR4
  • Display: 15.6-inch, 400 nits of brightness
  • Storage: 512GB PCIe Solid state
  • Battery: 51WHr
  • Ports: 3 USB, 1 HDMI
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6
  • Dimensions: 14.09* 0.74*9.06 inches
  • Weight: 4.11lbs
Cons
  • No IR; not Windows Hello compatible
  • Bloatware is annoying

ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX482: (best laptops for designers)

My brother started working as a designer a few months back.

He has specialties in creating cover photos for books and logos for websites.

As his laptop was not working, he needed my device to edit his work.

As an amateur designer, he needed my assistance to better understand visual tricks and composition.

We created the first logo of his career using my ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX482, which turned out to be one of the best laptops for designers.

Formerly I was using it for my photo station, and I never discovered the other uses of my device, but this coincidence led my brother to get his own ASUS for future use.

Technical Specifications:

Hard disk/SSD/SSHD:

1 TB SSD, make sure to deliver the fastest booting and app loading foot.

I work smoothly on my laptop, and so does my brother.

The adequate storage gives enough space to save and operate bulk data.

RAM/ROM:

The 16GB RAM allows me to open more than a dozen chrome tabs without any slowdown, and I can swiftly transfer from one account to the other.

Also, I often use Google Docs, stream videos simultaneously, and never notice any stuttering.

Display/Battery/Wi-Fi/Ports:

The Pantone validation color accuracy and 300 nits of brightness give a vivid experience on the NanoEdge display.

The first logo my brother and I created looked divine on the screen.

Its battery life is another remarkable feature that offers 17 hours of productivity.

Connectivity is with Wi-Fi 6.

The ports include a USB 3.0 port, an HDMI port, and two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, which make it a workstation.

Graphic chip/Processor:

The Core i7-1195G7 CPU and GeForce MX450 are powerful beasts for productivity tasks.

The device takes its stride to bring me the best professional development for my projects.

This device will never crack, whether it is 3D graphics, multi-layer editing, or complex 3D modeling.

Conclusion:

ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 is one of the best laptops for designers, as some of its ultra-edge specs give it an edge over other devices.

Besides a powerful processor, fast memory, and gorgeous display, it also offers ScreenExpert 2 software and an ergo-fit keyboard that boosts its productive outcomes by allowing fluid typing.

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Pros
  • CPU: Core i7-1195G7
  • GPU: GeForce MX450
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
  • Display: 14 inches
  • Battery: 70WH
  • Ports: 3 ports
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6
  • Dimensions: 12.76 x 8.74 x 0.67 inches
  • Weight: 3.57 pounds
Cons
  • Memory is soldered on
  • Slow MicroSD reader
  • Only one USB-A port

Acer Swift 3 SF314: (best laptops for designers)

My best friend is a graphic designer who earns through freelancing.

I was much impressed by her skills, so I also decided to learn about the basics of Graphic designing.

Though I am more skilled in photo editing, I was tired of wandering around the country to take pictures for my blogs, so I decided to give graphic designing a chance for part-time earnings.

I started researching an affordable laptop for designers.

After consulting with my friend and exploring the options on the internet, I decided to buy the Acer Swift 3 SF314, one of the best laptops for designers, especially amateur ones.

Technical specifications:

Hard disk/SSD/SSHD:

The 512 GB SSD is NVMe based, but an upgrade would still, an upgradation would be better for faster system loading.

The SSD of my configuration has 1167 Mbps read and 2180 Mbps Write speed, much less, but as I only do light designing, it manages to work through that.

RAM/ROM:

16 GB of RAM doesn’t hinder tabs while I do heavy web browsing, edit photos, and explore designing websites.

The RAM ensures that it gives me what I need for multitasking.

Display/Battery/Wi-Fi/Ports:

The 14-inch full HD display has 81% DCI-P3 gamut, 100% sRGB, and 325 nits of brightness.

Overall the display works fine in a well-lit room, but when I work in sunlight, the display’s anti-glare doesn’t seem effusive.

The battery life has 13 hours of longevity.

Connectivity is with Wi-Fi 6.

The port selection gives me more space to attach peripherals and convert Acer in the workstation.

The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 is an improvement on previous Acer models.

I also get this model’s HDMI out port and two USB type-A ports.

Graphic chip/processor:

The 11th Gen Intel 8-core processor scored 5186 on PCMark10 and 5408 on CineBench R23 Multi-core when I tested, making it one of the respectable devices for routine work.

The device is suitable for casual designers, but a more professional one needs a more robust machine.

Conclusion:

Acer Swift 3 SF314 is one of the best laptops for designers who don’t want to spend too much money on simple Graphic designing.

However, this device gives compact features for photo editing and routine tasks.

Click here to buy

Pros
  • CPU: Core i7-1165G7 (4 cores, 8 threads) Up to 4.70GHz
  • RAM: 16GB LPDDR4x
  • GPU: Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
  • Storage: 258GB/512GB/1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
  • Display: 14 inches
  • Ports: Thunderbolt 4, Two USB-A, one HDMI
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6
  • Battery 55.9Wh
  • Dimensions: 12.7* 8.4* 0.63 inches
  • Weight 2.65 pounds
Cons
  • No SD card reader
  • RAM not upgradeable
  • Display with low PWM frequency

Acer Aspire 5 A515: (best laptops for designers)

Typography is a unique graphic design; it involves arranging words in specific fonts and sequences to deliver a massage.

I often do it as a pleasure pursuit; organizing words in a communicable outlook and providing thoughts is captivating.

I mainly use typography on the pictures I upload on my Instagram page.

People love my skills of adding fonts and filters appropriately according to the background.

It helps in understanding the message behind the typography.

I have done kinetic and hand-drawn typography on my images, and I do most of it on my Acer Aspire 5 A515, one of the best laptops for designers.

Technical specifications:

Hard disk/SSD/SSHD:

The 512 GB SSD helps save and transfer data; however, as I need a bit more storage, I often use external drives, appreciating the abundance of ports that permit me to attach the drives.

RAM/ROM:

RAM works fine for me 16 GB is good enough for toggling the tab on the chrome browser, using online designing platforms for typography designs, and video calling my mom simultaneously.

Display/Battery/Wi-Fi/Ports:

The only problem I face while using the laptop is that it is no delight for my eyes; it does not have a striking color contrast or brightness.

On the other hand, its battery life matters more as it provides 11 hours of productivity.

Networking is with Wi-Fi 802.11ax.

Acer doesn’t withhold on ports; I can freely connect external drives and transfer data with four USB ports (3.2) and One HDMI port.

Graphic chip/processor:

The i5 processor scored 5010 on PCMark10, giving it an edge as a suitable productive device over all its rivals.

It also provides good results on the 3D Mark, with 1305 pushing down the competitors, but the score is not that good for it to be called an exponentially graphic solid performer.

Conclusion:

Acer Aspire is among the best laptops for designers, specifically those who do typography and lighter versions of graphic designing.

But truth be told, the SSD storage of more than 512 GB would be more pleasant in the successful completion of designing.

One of the best features of Acer is its swift keyboard that supplements typographic skills.

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Pros
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
  • GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
  • RAM: 8GB/16 GB
  • SSD: 512 GB
  • Display: 15.6 inches
  • Battery: 11 hours
  • Ports: 4 USB
  • Connectivity: 802.11ax
  • Dimensions: 0.7* 14.3 *9.4 inches
  • Weight: 3.9 lbs
Cons
  • The body is almost entirely made of plastic
  • The screen isn’t the most vibrant
  • Mushy keyboard

CONCLUSION:

Alright, guys, that concludes all the laptops we will discuss today in this article.

Do you guys have any experience with these laptops? What are your thoughts on them?

Which are your Best laptops for designers?

Is there a laptop you love to use that I didn’t mention in this article?

Would you please leave your thoughts and comments below?

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