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10 Best Laptop for Graphic Design 2022

best laptop graphic design featured image

With so many brands available on the market claiming to be the best laptop there is, there is no shortage for graphic design artists out there.

Graphic design is a serious profession that necessitates the use of high-quality hardware and software.

Fortunately, laptop companies manufacture products for a variety of categories and professions. In this article, we’ll go through some of the best graphic design laptops on the market in 2022.

1. Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch

best laptop graphic design apple macbook pro 13 inch

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The 13-inch MacBook Pro, which was released in November 2020, didn’t look all that different from previous generations. On the inside, however, it was a completely different beast. The first ‘pro’ Mac, based on Apple’s Silicon M1 system-on-chip, delivered impressive performance, including GPU performance, which is crucial for creators.

However, while Apple’s Rosetta 2 technology made existing software and apps compatible with Apple’s new processors, developers still had to update their software to take advantage of the full performance benefits of Apple’s new processors.

Since then, Microsoft has announced native M1 compatibility for Office 365, and Adobe has just published the M1 version of Photoshop, which it claims gives a 50% performance boost over the MacBook Pro’s Intel-based predecessor.

The support of these prominent developers should promote acceptance of the new Apple Silicon Macs, and rumors of Apple’s next-generation M1X chip have Mac consumers eagerly expecting the next improvements for the MacBook Pro and iMac lines.

2. Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel

best laptop graphic design acer conceptd 7 ezel

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The ConceptD 7 is a stylish desktop replacement laptop for creative professionals, and the manufacturer has added an Ezel variant with an interesting display design.

The 15.6-inch touch screen with 4K resolution, which supports 100% of the Adobe RGB color gamut and will be suited for a wide range of graphics and design applications, is the star of the show. The ConceptD 7 Ezel, like many convertible laptops, allows you to fold the screen completely back to use the device as a huge tablet.

The hinged display panel, on the other hand, can tilt upwards, allowing you to sketch at a more comfortable angle using the integrated Wacom stylus.

3. Dell Precision 3560

best laptop graphic design dell precision 3560

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Dell’s Precision line of mobile workstations delivers impressive graphics and video performance, and the new 15.6-inch Precision 3560 is an appealing entry-level system that introduces Intel’s 11th generation processors to the line.

If you’re on a tight budget, a machine with Intel’s integrated Iris XE graphics costs roughly $1,200, but there are various different configurations available with discrete Nvidia T500 graphics. These models start at $1,879 and include a quad-core Core i5-1145G7 processor running at 2.4GHz (up to 4.2GHz with TurboBoost), 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage.

4. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch

best laptop graphic design apple macbook pro 16 inch

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With a totally new Mac Pro and this well-received redesign of its veteran 15-inch pro laptop, Apple switched its attention back to its usual creative audience towards the end of 2019, after years of focusing on the iPhone.

Of course, the clue is in the name, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro managed to squeeze a larger 16-inch display into a body that’s only 9mm wider than its 15-inch predecessor while still weighing only 2kg. The 3,072 by 1,920 (226ppi) display is stunning, and it adheres to the DCI-P3 color standard, which is used in professional broadcasting.

Apple is also making a renewed push into the audio and music businesses, cramming an outstanding high-quality speaker and microphone system into the thin design of the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Of course, it’s pricey, but with 6-core Core i7 and 8-core Core i9 processor options, AMD Radeon Pro graphics, all-day battery life, and a redesigned keyboard design, Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro has restored many long-time Mac fans’ faith.

5. Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED

best laptop graphic design gigabyte aero 15 oled

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Gigabyte recently announced upgrades to its Aero line of ‘creator laptops,’ taking a break from its usual gaming endeavors. The Aero 15 OLED is the company’s first product, and it features a 15.6-inch AMOLED display with 4K resolution (3840 x 2160, 282.4dpi) and updated Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 Series graphics.

The 2021 series has three versions, each starting at $1,599 or £1,699 (inc. VAT) and featuring an 8-core Core i7-10870H processor operating at 2.2GHz (up to 5.0GHz with TurboBoost), 16GB of RAM, 512GB of solid-state storage, and RTX 3060 graphics. A Core i9 processor and RTX 3070 or RTX 3080 graphics card are also available.

Along with the additional GPU options, this year’s Aero 15 OLED models now support both Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color standards for professional video editing, which were previously unavailable in previous generations. However, earlier RTX 20 Series graphics are still available in 2020 versions, so double-check the specs before purchasing.

6. Dell Precision 5750

best laptop graphic design dell precision 5750

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When Dell announced the Precision 5750 at the end of 2020, it boasted that it was the world’s most compact 17-inch workstation, clearly vying for a piece of Apple pie (and, briefly, claiming to be the lightest 17-inch model too). It weighs between 1.8 and 2.5 kg, depending on setup, but that’s still a reasonable weight for such a high-end performer.

Dell’s prebuilt configurations varies in the United States and the United Kingdom, but they are often lower-spec devices with modest FHD (1920 x 1200, 133.2ppi) displays and integrated graphics.

Instead, creative users should select the customized ‘Build Your Own’ option, which includes a 4K (3840 x 2400, 266.4ppi) touch-sensitive display for a starting price of $2,446.02 or £3,360.20. (inc. VAT). That pricing includes a quad-core Intel Core i5-10400H CPU clocked at 2.6GHz (up to 4.6GHz with TurboBoost), 16GB of RAM, 256GB of solid-state storage, and discrete Nvidia Quadro T2000 graphics. Core i7 and Xeon processors, as well as Quadro RTX 3000 graphics, are also available.

7. HP ZBook Fury 17 G7

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The lightweight Firefly is part of HP’s ever-expanding ZBook mobile workstation lineup, which now includes several different laptop designs. The ZBook Fury G7, on the other hand, sits atop the range like King Kong on a tower.

The Fury G7 is available with either 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch displays, but with a desktop replacement system like this, there’s no point in compromise, so we’d go with the 17-inch variant, which starts at 3kg depending on configuration. It’s also worth noting that HP makes no mention of battery life, implying that this is a laptop meant to be used as a desktop replacement at home or at work.

On HP’s website, prebuilt configurations start at $2,299 or £1,822.80 (inc. VAT) and include a 6-core Core i7-10750H CPU running at 2.6GHz (up to 5.0GHz with TurboBoost), 16GB of RAM, 512GB of solid-state storage, and Nvidia Quadro T1000 graphics.

8. Lenovo ThinkPad P15s

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Although Lenovo’s P-Series mobile workstations aren’t the most powerful, the 15.6-inch ThinkPad P15s is an appealing entry-level device that combines a lightweight, 1.75kg design with solid performance and cheap pricing.

A ThinkPad P15s with a 10th-generation Core i5-10210U processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, Nvidia Quadro P520 graphics, and an FHD (1920 x 1080, 141.2ppi) display costs $1,169 (after discount, from $2,009) in the United States. A Core i7-10610U processor (+$510), 32GB of RAM (+$620), and a 4K (3840 x 2160, 282.4ppi) screen (+$445) are available as ‘Build Your Own’ options. A ‘Build with Linux’ (Ubuntu 20.04) model is also available, beginning at $1,014.42. (Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Quadro P520, FHD screen).

The 4K display supports 100% of the Adobe RGB gamut, but there is no support for the DCI-P3 standard, which is extensively used in video editing, implying that the ThinkPad P15s is primarily focused at 2D graphics and design use cases. Other variants in the ThinkPad P-Series, on the other hand, include Xeon processors and more powerful GPU options for 3D design and video editing tasks.

9. HP ZBook Firefly 15

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HP’s ZBook notebooks have already impressed us, and the company is continuing to expand the ZBook line with a variety of models aimed at various types of creative customers and workloads. The ZBook Firefly is the thinnest and lightest model in the lineup, with a 15.6-inch display that measures 19mm thick, weighs 1.75kg, and has a 14-hour battery life. A 14-inch model with a weight of under 1.4kg is also available.

The G8 variant with 11th-generation Intel Core CPUs is available on HP’s US website for $1,580.60 for an FHD display, a Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD storage, and Nvidia T500 graphics (this is still listed as ‘coming soon’ on the UK website at the time of writing.

The ZBook Firefly is primarily focused on 2D graphics and design work due to its lightweight design, and the display only supports the sRGB color standard. Of course, there are larger and more capable ZBook variants that support DCI-P3 for video editing tasks.

10. Microsoft Surface Book 3 for Business

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The Surface Book’s detachable form has been immensely popular, particularly among creative customers who like the freedom of utilizing it as a tablet with (optional $80) pen for sketching and visualisation work.

Because standard Surface Book 3 models run Windows 10 Home, corporate users who require Windows 10 Pro must choose for the Surface Book 3 for Business model.

The Surface Book 3, like its predecessor, is available with either a 13.5-inch or a 15-inch display, though creative users will likely choose the 15-inch model with a not-quite-4K display (3240 x 2160, 260dpi). The entry-level model costs $1,699.99/£1,679 and is powered by a 10th-generation Core i5 processor with integrated Iris Plus graphics, although only the more expensive Core i7 variants include a separate GPU.

Prices for a quad-core Core i7-1065G7 processor running at 1.3GHz (up to 3.9GHz with TurboBoost), 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid-state drive start at $2,099.99 or £2,079 if discrete graphics are required. The pricing includes an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU, but you can upgrade to a Quadro RTX 3000 for a total of $2,599.99 if you double the RAM and storage.

What is the Best Laptop for Graphic Design in 2021?

Graphic designers typically have a long list of laptop specifications. However, it is rare to be able to check off all of the boxes on the list. More than likely, you’ll spend hours investigating all of your options and attempting to discover the best price-features ratio.

Because of its gorgeous look and superior performance, the Apple MacBook Pro remains the number one choice for many designers. Other brands, though, are coming up with high-performance products that are no less visually appealing.

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