The best laptops for graphic designers: Expert tested and reviewed

Taking the top spot as our best graphic design laptop is Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro from 2023. This entry probably comes as no surprise, as MacBooks are lauded for their hardware performance, and this model is no different. It boasts the latest rendition of Apple silicon in the form of the M3 chip. The hardware allows the MacBook to multitask across various apps, handle resource-heavy software like games, and allow users to edit 4K resolution videos without missing a beat. 

Review: MacBook Pro (M3 Max)

Its high-performance level is apparent thanks to the stunning 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, which outputs content at 4K resolution. Moreover, it has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio for bright, vivid colors and support for ProMotion tech, enabling an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. To top it all off, the M3 MacBook has a maximum battery life of 22 hours, enough to last an entire day.

There are two versions of the 2023 MacBook: the 14-inch model we just described and the 16-inch option. We recommend the former for its more compact design and lower price point. However, if you want the best of what the MacBook Pro can deliver, go with the 16-inch laptop. Keep in mind that both are still expensive.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch specs: CPU: Apple M3 | GPU: M3 integrated graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Display: 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display 

If you want Apple hardware that’s easier on your wallet, we recommend the M3 MacBook from 2022. Although the model isn’t as powerful as its sibling laptop, the device is still capable of meeting all of your graphic design needs. The M3 chipset is a force to be reckoned with, even on the lightweight option. It can clean up noisy photographs faster than the M2 MacBook Air. Our benchmarking tests show the hardware is able to render images much more quickly than the previous generation. A big part of the M3 MacBook Air’s fast rendering is owed to the neural engine. 

macOS Sequoia is the next OS upgrade for Apple computers, and it’s heralding the arrival of the company’s first set of generative AI features, some of which include image generation. We have no doubt that the neural engine will play a big role in supporting Apple Intelligence and every feature it brings.

Review: M3 MacBook Air review: Apple’s AI computer for the masses has arrived

Of course, there are other great aspects to the M3 MacBook Air, too. It can output up to two different external monitors simultaneously so that you can do your work on a bigger screen. And the lightweight body makes it easy to carry. Also, it’s a great time to buy a M3 MacBook Air because Apple recently cut its price tag. Now it costs less than $1,000

MacBook Air M2 specs: CPU: Apple M3 | GPU: M3 integrated graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display

Earning its place as the best 2-in-1 graphic design laptop is Lenovo’s recent Yoga 9i 2-in-1 refresh. These types of devices lend themselves very well to this line of work. You can write up a document while the machine is in laptop mode and immediately flip the screen to place it into tablet mode. What’s great about this particular model is it houses a stunning 2.8K OLED display. Vibrant colors practically leap from the screen, showing off various shades. Our review referred to it as the “shining jewel” of the Yoga 9i.

Review: Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1

Lenovo also made some great design choices. The speakers are housed on the hinge, allowing users to hear the full breadth of the Yoga 9i’s audio system. Media, from music to movies, sound great coming out of the model, complete with subwoofers giving it that extra punch. Each key has a travel distance of 1.5mm, ensuring comfortable typing. A light touch is all you need to register an input. It’s easy on the hands and allows you to work fast. If that wasn’t enough, the Yoga 9i looks lovely in its Cosmic Blue color scheme and polished metal on the sides. Also, you get a free stylus when you purchase.

If you buy this laptop, keep the charger close because Lenovo’s Yoga 9i quickly drains its battery. On a single charge, it will last around 7.5 hours.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 OLED specs: CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H  | GPU: Integrated Intel graphics card | RAM: 16 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 14-inch 2.8K resolution OLED

Microsoft has consistently made some of the best drawing laptops out there, and that trend continues with the 11th-generation Surface Pro. This device sees multiple improvements, with the most important upgrade being the Snapdragon X Elite chipset. Microsoft’s marketing material would have you believe the hardware enables the Surface Pro to be a MacBook killer, and that’s true to a certain extent.

While it can’t beat an M3 MacBook Pro, the device can outperform the MacBook Air, which isn’t too shabby for a lightweight tablet. Of course, you can turn the device into a proper laptop with the Flex keyboard accessory, which we recommend you pick up. Microsoft did a great job designing the keyboard to be sturdy enough for comfortable typing.

Review: One of the best tablets for work travel I’ve tested is not made by Lenovo or Apple

What makes the Surface Pro so good for drawing comes down to three key features. The back has a flap that pops out, serving as a stand. The display is a stunning 13-inch OLED touchscreen, consistently showing an image resolution of 2,880 x 1,920 pixels. And its Slim Pen accessory is incredibly accurate, perfect for catching every brush stroke.

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition specs: CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite | GPU: Integrated Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite GPU | RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X | Storage: 512GB SSD | Display: 13-inch 2880 x 1920 OLED touchscreen

Dell started 2024 off strong with the launch of the XPS 16. It is a fantastic laptop that’ll make any graphic designer smile from ear to ear because it has so much going for it. For starters, the 4K display is stunning. Colors leap out of the screen. Shadows look as dark as the abyss, and the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio will allow you to see a high level of detail. I called it the crown jewel of the model in the review. It’s that good. And it’s made even by the thin bezels around the glass, making the display more prominent than it is. Dell’s machine takes full advantage of the real estate it’s given.

Of course, not everything is skin deep, as the XPS 16 boasts impressive hardware. At its best, the laptop houses an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card and an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, supported by 64GB of RAM alongside a 4TB SSD. Hardware at this level is overkill for scenarios. The model’s base configuration is still quite powerful. However, creative professionals who want a machine that can handle their work, like rendering large video files, will need all the strength they can get. And that can get it in the 2024 XPS 16.

Review: Dell XPS 16 (2024)

Don’t just take my word for it. User reviews on Dell’s website are filled with glowing praise from people who love the performance, speed, and output of the OLED display.

Now, the laptop is tricky to travel with. It’s bulky and relatively heavy, so carrying this device around won’t be easy. Something else you should know is that the laptop is expensive. Start saving those pennies.

Dell XPS 16 specs: CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | GPU: Intel Arc, 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB GeForce RTX 4060, 8GB GeForce RTX 4070  | RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB | Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB SSD | Display: 16.3inch Full HD Plus, 16.3-inch Ultra HD Plus

A good work laptop of any repute has a great battery. It’s not a good idea to have a machine that can barely last a few hours to and from the office. You’ll need something that meets your needs, so we recommend Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5i.

It’s a laptop that lasts around 8.5 hours on a single charge, so it’ll last the whole day. Keep in mind that the number was reached without the battery saver being turned on. With the feature active, it should last you even longer. What’s impressive about the nearly nine-hour battery is it supports a laptop sporting powerful hardware.

Review: One of the longest-lasting OLED laptops I’ve tested is not from Samsung or Asus

Normally, you’d expect a computer running an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, a 2K OLED screen, and 32GB of RAM to be exceptionally power-hungry. Not so with the IdeaPad Pro 5i. Lenovo successfully created a well-optimized machine that balances tough graphic design workloads and a good battery.

Lenovo’s latest device also houses powerful upward-firing speakers to fill an entire room with sound. The full-sized keyboard is quite nice too. Remember that the IdeaPad Pro 5i is a bit heavy at 4.27 pounds.

Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i specs: CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 | RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 16-inch 2K OLED display

Samsung’s Galaxy Book4 Ultra is a fantastic graphic design laptop for many reasons. Chief among them is the stunning 16-inch 3K AMOLED touchscreen, which is the device’s shining feature. Thanks to the display supporting DCI-P3 and a color volume of 120%, colors practically come to life. Image quality is out of this world. Also, the touchscreen works with multi-touch gestures, and you can edit content directly on the display. 

For people who like to work outside the home or office, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Book4 Ultra with two helpful features. The first one is the anti-reflective Corning Gorilla glass. It greatly reduces reflections and glares, so content stays readable all the time. The laptop also has a Vision Booster to enhance an image’s brightness, color, and contrast.

Review: I tested Samsung’s flagship laptop and it gave my MacBook Pro a run for its money

Besides the high-quality display, the device has other great aspects. The battery lasts, on average, 10 hours before needing a recharge. That length of time on a machine with a 3K resolution screen and a discrete graphics card is pretty crazy. What makes the battery even better is that it can recharge up to 55% in about 30 minutes.

As good as the Galaxy Book4 Ultra may be, it is primarily meant for Galaxy smartphone users. It houses many apps catered to that group. Galaxy S24 owners will appreciate being able to connect their phone to the computer and use it as a webcam. Everyone else will consider it bloatware.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra specs: CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 185H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RYX 4070 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 16-inch 3K Dynamic AMOLED

Game laptops lend themselves very well to being awesome graphic design machines. Their hardware configurations make them a good fit for the task. But some professionals may be hesitant to buy them since A) they light up like a Christmas tree due to their RGB lights and B) they can be huge. Well, Asus’ ROG Zephyrus G14 is none of those things and still delivers awesome performance.

The first thing you may notice about the device is that it sort of looks like a MacBook. It has a primarily white body, square-shaped keys, and a screen surrounded by thin, black bezels. Its display even has a similar resolution output, and it costs about the same as a MacBook. They have many similarities. However, the Zephyrus G14 outshines Apple’s device in multiple ways. 

Review: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

First, it has better hardware, sporting an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card. This configuration allows the laptop to be flexible in tackling different workflows. When the day, you can game on it without skipping a beat. This is something very few MacBooks can boast. Second, the Zephyrus G14 has a fantastic keyboard. Each key has an indent guiding your fingers to the center, and every button has a springy feel. It all results in a comfortable typing experience.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 specs: CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS 8 Core | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 | RAM: 16TB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 14-inch 3K OLED