The best laptops for graphic designers in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Apple’s new M4 MacBook Professional takes our high spot as the perfect graphic design laptop computer. This could come as no shock, as MacBook Professionals are sometimes lauded for their top-tier performance and high-quality screens. Actually, this mannequin shares many similarities to the earlier primary choose: the M3 MacBook Professional. It simply does all the pieces higher.

The newest MacBook Professional homes the tech big’s M4 chipset, bettering the laptop computer’s means to deal with resource-heavy software program like illustration apps. ZDNET’s Senior Opinions Editor Kerry Wan just lately reviewed the M4 MacBook Pro. In response to his exams, the mannequin “outperforms its predecessors, in addition to among the newest Home windows machines operating Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Intel Core Extremely (Sequence 2) chipsets.”

Wan mentioned the {hardware} makes “demanding workflows like 4K video modifying really feel pure.” This MacBook Professional additionally comes with 16GB, which it makes use of to run Apple Intelligence options and the now-upgraded Siri.

Assessment: Apple MacBook Pro M4

You will have a selection between both a 14-inch or 16-inch Liquid Retina Show, with the latter having a most decision of as much as 3,456 x 223 pixels. The M3 MacBook Professional had an identical display, however the M4 MacBook Professional has a nano-texture coating. This provides the show a “matte-frosted layering [that] considerably reduces glare.” In brief, you’ll be able to take this laptop computer beneath the solar and nonetheless see the display clearly, which is ideal for working or creating open air this summer season.

Apple M4 MacBook Professional specs: CPU: Apple M4 | GPU: M4 built-in graphics | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Show: Liquid Retina XDR | Worth: $1,299

In order for you Apple {hardware} that is lighter in your pockets and in your bag, we suggest the MacBook Air M3. The M3 chipset is a drive to be reckoned with, even on the light-weight MacBook Air.

Assessment: Apple MacBook Air M3

Along with the ultra-thin type issue, graphic designers will love that the M3 can output as much as two completely different exterior screens concurrently, permitting you to do your work on larger screens. The M3 chip on board the Air additionally permits for future-proofing down the road, with integration with Apple Intelligence and all of the upcoming AI options.

MacBook Air M2 specs: CPU: Apple M3 | GPU: M3 built-in graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Show: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina | Worth: $1,209 (used)

Lenovo’s current Yoga 9i 2-in-1 refresh earns our title of the perfect 2-in-1 graphic design laptop computer. Convertible 2-in-1 laptops lend themselves very effectively to skilled artistic work, as you’ll be able to write up a doc whereas the machine is in laptop computer mode and instantly flip the display to position it into pill mode.

Assessment: Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1

The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 contains a gorgeous 2.8K OLED with vibrant colours, so that is one thing graphic designers and different creatives will love engaged on. Moreover, the audio system are housed on the hinge, which helps them sound tremendous crisp and clear, particularly for a laptop computer. The system even comes full with subwoofers for that additional punch. You additionally get a free stylus with buy, permitting you to leap proper into your work.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 OLED specs: CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 155H | GPU: Built-in Intel graphics card | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Show: 14-inch 2.8K decision OLED | Worth: $1,490

Microsoft has made some nice drawing laptops, however now Asus is giving the tech big a run for its cash with the ProArt PZ13, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus. Much like Floor laptops, this machine consists of a 3K AMOLED touchscreen pill related to a removable keyboard, however Asus’ machine is healthier fitted to artistic professionals.

Additionally: Best drawing tablets

The laptop computer’s show helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient, VESA DisplayHDR True Black, and all the DCI-P3 shade gamut, all of which work collectively to ship a “gorgeous visible expertise.” Distinctive to this machine is the Creator Hub, a dashboard app that permits you to alter the colour output of the ProArt PZ13’s show on the fly. It is a helpful software that ensures colours are proven extra precisely. There’s even a particular mode that enhances the visible constancy of films.

Assessment: Asus ProArt PZ13

In addition to the show and lightweight design, Asus’ ProArt PZ13 has a ridiculously long battery life, able to lasting over 21 hours on a single cost. You’ll be able to depart it on in a single day and nonetheless discover it operating the following morning.

Asus ProArt PZ13 specs: CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus | GPU: Built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite GPU | RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X | Storage: 1TB SSD | Show: 13-inch 2,880 x 1,800 AMOLED touchscreen | Worth: $1,150

HP’s OmniBook 5 is a well-rounded laptop computer that might simply fulfill the function of a price range or secondary system for graphic designers. The show is the star of the present with a 2K OLED touchscreen, 16GB of RAM, and a battery-efficient Snapdragon X Plus for an approachable $549.

At a look, the OmniBook 5 seems very very like a MacBook. From the brilliant silver colorway to the colourful show, there’s undoubtedly some resemblance right here. What shocked me was simply how light-weight it was. At 2.84 kilos, lifting the OmniBook appears like lifting a paper pocket book.

Assessment: HP OmniBook 5

The light-weight type issue makes it incredible for commuting or journey, prioritizing the show and ergonomic keyboard for a cushty expertise, even when it is not your major driver. One factor to contemplate, nevertheless, is its restricted port choice. There is a pair of 10Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A, and a headphone jack. In order for you extra, you will should complement with a docking station.

Additionally, there’s a configuration obtainable with 32GB of RAM, however that may bump the worth as much as $900. At that value, it begins to depart from price range territory. 

HP OmniBook 5 specs: CPU: Snapdragon X Plus | GPU: Qualcomm Adreno | RAM: 16GB, 32GB | Storage: 512GB, 1TB | Show: 14-inch 2K decision OLED touchscreen | Worth: $900

Graphic designers consistently on the go ought to take a look at this 12 months’s Dell XPS 13. The collection is understood for its smooth designs and top-of-the-line efficiency, and this mannequin has the identical fashionable zero-lattice keyboard and capacitive contact panel.

It’s about 13.4-inches throughout and weighs a mere 2.6 kilos, that means you’ll be able to stuff it inside a bag and simply take it with you. Dell’s machine will not be going to encumber you in any means.

Assessment: Dell XPS 13 (2024)

Many of the vital modifications on the 2024 XPS 13 are discovered contained in the laptop computer. The early mannequin boasts an Intel Core Extremely 7 155H processor, an Intel Arc graphics card, and 32GB of reminiscence. All the things collectively leads to super-fast processing speeds, fast load occasions, and easy multitasking. We can also’t overlook to say the high-quality show, which is able to outputting a 3K picture decision.

The OLED mannequin has a peak refresh fee of 60Hz. If velocity and accuracy is vital to you, then we suggest buying the mid-range since its refresh fee can go as much as 120Hz.

Dell XPS 13 specs: CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 155H | GPU: x | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Show: 13.4-inch 3K OLED touchscreen | Worth: $1,100