Best laptops for graphic design 2022: top picks for graphic designers TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Best laptops for graphic design of 2022 top picks for graphic designers By Matt Hanson Contributions from Collin Probst, Michelle Rae Uy last updated 12 August 2022 Boost your skills with the best laptops for graphic design around PRICE VERDICT REASONS TO BUY REASONS TO AVOID VERDICT REASONS TO BUY REASONS TO AVOID These are the best laptops for graphic designers. (Image credit: Image Credit: Bruce Mars / Pexels) If you're in the market for the best laptop for graphic designers, you know that not just any portable will do. After all, 3D design and illustrations require a decent amount of horsepower to run smoothly. And, if that laptop can't keep up, then you're wasting your time with it. To get one capable of handling the workload needed for graphic designers, you'll want to have a speedy processor, a powerful graphics card, and a good amount of RAM. Just as importantly, make sure to grab one with a large enough SSD to hold all those large project files. However, you'll want more than a powerful machine to get you through your workload. It needs to have a fantastic display that accurately displays colors and comes with the right color spaces is just as crucial. Being a laptop, portability is almost as important a consideration. Not only do you want one in a size you're comfortable carrying around but you also need enough battery life to get you through the day. To help you find the best laptop for graphic designers, we've gathered our top choices here. No matter which one you go with, No matter which one you choose, they're more than capable machines. And, make sure to use our included price comparison tool so you can take advantage of the best laptop deals out there. Best laptops for graphic design of 2022 in full (Image credit: Apple) 1 MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021 Mightily impressive SpecificationsCPU: Apple M1 Pro 8-core – M1 Max 10-coreGraphics: Integrated 14-core – 32-core GPURAM: Up to 64GBScreen: 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR displayStorage: Up to 8TBspecificationsProcessorApple M1 ProRAM16GB RAMStorage Size512GB - 1TBRead more ▼Today's Best DealsView at Amazon (opens in new tab)View at Best Buy (opens in new tab)View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Brilliant performance+Best screen on a laptop Reasons to avoid-Screen may be a bit small for some Thanks to the launch of the M1 Pro- or M1 Max-armed MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021), the MacBook Pro has truly made its complete transformation as a laptop for creative professionals. And yes, that includes graphic designers. It absolutely impresses with breathtaking power and an equally breathtaking battery life. Apple then adds its XDR display with 1600 nits of peak brightness and a wide color gamut to the mix, which is ideal for graphics design. The SD card slot, an HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports (all of which can stay available thanks to MagSafe charging being back) are all there to make sure you also have access to all the peripherals you'll need. Read the full review: MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) The Dell XPS 17 (2021) is surprisingly portable for such a powerful workstation. (Image credit: Dell) 2 Dell XPS 17 2021 A powerhouse for creative design SpecificationsCPU: Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i9-11980HKGraphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4-3200MHzScreen: 17.0" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 17.0" UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-NitStorage: Up to 4TB M.2 PCIe NVMespecificationsStorage Size32GBColourSilverConditionNew Reasons to buy+Great performance+Gorgeous design Reasons to avoid-Lack of ports The Dell XPS 17 (2021) has the kind of power to handle just about any graphic designers work. With specs of up to an Intel Core i9 CPU, 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060 means you can even tackle some 4K video editing, especially if you upgrade to a UHD display. Somehow, all this performance fits in a 0.77 inch thick machine for a surprisingly portable workstation. While the XPS 17 does come at a premium and could come with a few more ports, it is a great machine for a creative professional. Read the full review: Dell XPS 17 (2021) The Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) is expensive but worth the money. (Image credit: Gigabyte) 3 Gigabyte Aero 17 2021 A creative professional's dream SpecificationsCPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9 Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Max-QRAM: 16GB – 64GBScreen: 17.3-inch UHD 4K OLED, HDR400, 100% Adobe RGB, Pantone-certifiedspecificationsProcessorIntel Core i7RAM16GB RAMStorage Size1TBRead more ▼Today's Best DealsView at Amazon (opens in new tab)View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Gorgeous display+Abundance of ports Reasons to avoid-Runs hot One of the most powerful mobile workstations out there, the Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) comes with a lot of power, a gorgeous display, and a whole lotta ports. Best yet, it's priced well below its less-powerful rivals, making it a better proposition even if you have a more flexible budget. It isn't by any means perfect. The battery life could use a bit of a boost, for example. But, for how much you're paying and for the other things you're getting in return, it's a miniscule sacrifice. Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) (Image credit: Apple) 4 MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 2022 Most affordable MacBook Pro for graphic design SpecificationsCPU: Apple M2 with 8-core CPUGraphics: Integrated 10-core GPURAM: 8GB – 24GBScreen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 display with P3 and True Tone technologyStorage: 256GB – 2TB SSDDimensions (H x W x D): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56 cmspecificationsRAM8GB RAMStorage Size256GB - 1TBColourSilverRead more ▼Today's Best DealsView at Amazon (opens in new tab)View at Amazon (opens in new tab)View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+M2 chip is a brilliant performer+Excellent battery life+Almost silent in use Reasons to avoid-No new design-Still only two Thunderbolt ports With the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) achieving better performance in both single and multi-core CPU tests than its M1 predecessor during our test, Apple's smallest MacBook Pro is most powerful than ever, especially for intensive tasks like video editing and graphics design. It also scored around twice as much as the Intel Core i7-1185G7-powered Surface Laptop 4, and lasted almost two hours longer than the M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch in our battery life test. What's more, we found that it stays quiet under pressure, which should minimize distractions from your creative process. It might not come with a new design update, which may somewhat be disappointing folks who've been craving an external overhaul, but the boost in performance more than makes up for it. Well, that and the fact that it keeps the same price tag as before. Read our in-depth MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) review The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 is a stellar machine for graphic design. (Image credit: Lenovo) 5 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 The perfect 2-in-1 for graphic designers SpecificationsCPU: 11th generation Intel Core i5 – i7Graphics: Intel Xe PlusRAM: 8GB – 16GBScreen: 14-inch, 1920 x 1200p, IPS touchscreen, 400 nitStorage: 256GB – 512GB SSDspecificationsProcessorAMD Ryzen 5, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7RAM8GB RAM - 64GB RAMStorage Size256GB - 8TBRead more ▼Today's Best DealsView at Walmart (opens in new tab)View at Walmart (opens in new tab)View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Fantastic 16:10 display+Outstanding performance for demanding tasks Reasons to avoid-Lack of SD card slot is a major disadvantage The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 might be pricey but it's well worth the cost. Not only do you get a fantastic screen with a wider 16:10 aspect ratio but excellent performance thanks to the latest generation Intel processors, Intel Xe graphics, and Evo certification. It will also last quite a while on a single charge if you need to work on the road or in the field. Its design is not the most awe-inspiring and an SD card slot would have been appreciated, but the X1 is an otherwise stellar machine for graphic designers. Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 (Image credit: Apple) 6 MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021 An extraordinary laptop for graphic design SpecificationsCPU: Apple M1 Pro 10-core – M1 Max 10-coreGraphics: Integrated 16-core – 32-core GPURAM: Up to 64GBScreen: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR displayStorage: Up to 8TBspecificationsRAM16GB RAM - 32GB RAMStorage Size512GB - 2TBColourBlue, SilverRead more ▼Today's Best DealsView at Best Buy (opens in new tab)View at Amazon (opens in new tab)View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Extremely long battery life+Plenty of ports Reasons to avoid-On the bigger side The MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021) is an extraordinary machine, partially due to that incredibly powerful M1 Pro chip (or M1 Max if you choose to upgrade). But, it offers much more. It comes with a gorgeous XDR screen that's a joy to work on, a battery life that will keep you going on the road without slowing down performance when unplugged, and a good selection of ports for your peripherals. It doesn't come cheap and it's not as portable as its 14-inch brother but you do get extra screen real estate to help you with your workflow. Read the full review: MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021) The Dell XPS 15 is about as close to perfect as a laptop can get. (Image credit: Dell) 7 Dell XPS 15 2021 Perfect for graphic design SpecificationsCPU: Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i9-11900HGraphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4-3200MHzScreen: 15.6" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 15.6" UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-NitStorage: Up to 4TB M.2 PCIe NVMespecificationsColourSilverConditionNewToday's Best DealsView at Best Buy (opens in new tab)View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Speedy performance+Gorgeous display and design Reasons to avoid-Could have better discrete graphics The Dell XPS 15 (2021) keeps everything that's made this mid-size flagship model special, but with some updated internals. While the XPS 15 doesn't reinvent the wheel, it makes a great laptop for graphic designers. With up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, you should be able to handle most image and video editing without breaking a sweat. It can even handle some gaming, though it is admittedly a bit underpowered compared to some of the competition. But, with that beautiful screen and the fantastic battery life that the XPS 15s have always come with, you'll forget about any shortcomings of this computer. And, considering its beautiful design, it's no wonder that the XPS 15 models consistently rank among the best Dell laptops out there. The Acer ConceptD 7 is a powerful mobile workstation. (Image credit: Acer) 8 Acer ConceptD 7 A mobile workstation for creatives SpecificationsCPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 – 2080RAM: 16GB – 32GBScreen: 15.6" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 IPSStorage: 1TBspecificationsProcessorIntel Core i7RAM16GB RAMStorage Size1TBRead more ▼Today's Best DealsView at Amazon (opens in new tab)View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Cheaper than MacBook Pro+Good selection of ports Reasons to avoid-Expensive compared to some rivals-Plain design-Not as thin and light as MacBook Pro For those who think that MacBook Pros are overpriced but still need a powerful mobile workstation, there's the Acer ConceptD 7. This formidable laptop capable of handling complex and demanding tasks, thanks in part to its Nvidia RTX graphics, was designed specifically with creative professionals in mind. Beyond that sheer power it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Obviously, it's still pretty pricey, but if you're looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for creative endeavors, it's certainly among the best laptops for graphics designers. Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7 The Razer Blade 14 is just the ticket for all your graphics design demands. (Image credit: Razer) 9 Razer Blade 14 Portable laptop for graphics design SpecificationsCPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HXGraphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 - RTX 3080RAM: 16GBScreen: 14-inch 144Hz Full HD – 14-inch 165Hz QHDStorage: 1TB SSDspecificationsProcessorAMD Ryzen, AMD Ryzen 9RAM16GB RAMStorage Size1TBRead more ▼Today's Best DealsView at Microsoft US (opens in new tab)View at Razer (opens in new tab)View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+Beautiful chassis+Thin and light Reasons to avoid-Expensive compared to some rivals This luxurious thin and light gaming laptop from Razer just oozes class, and is an ideal laptop for people who want a powerful device they can take around with them. It's one of the nicest looking modern gaming laptops we've seen. It isn't just for gaming, however. The Razer Blade 14 comes with cutting edge components as well, including the awesome AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and up to an RTX 3080 graphics card – just the ticket for all your graphics design demands. This means it's able to see you through the most intensive graphics design processes without breaking a sweat… while keeping things portable and solidly built, so you won't worry about it getting damaged when out in the field. Read the full review: Razer Blade 14 The Lenovo Legion 7i (2020) is stunning inside and out. (Image credit: Lenovo) 10 Lenovo Legion 7i 2020 A perfect machine for work and play SpecificationsCPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 - RTX 3080 RAM: 16GB Screen: 14-inch 144Hz Full HD – 14-inch 165Hz QHD Storage: up to 1TB SSDspecificationsColourBlackConditionNewToday's Best DealsView at Lenovo USA (opens in new tab)View at Best Buy (opens in new tab)Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy+144Hz display, 240Hz models available+Quiet fans that keep their cool Reasons to avoid-Mediocre battery life The Lenovo Legion 7i may be first and foremost a gaming laptop, but that stunner of an aluminum design and seriously impressive performance make it a boon to creative professionals like graphic designers as well. This wouldn't look out of place in an office, especially if you turn off those blinding RGB lights. Plus, it stays cool under pressure, thanks to its fantastic thermals. This may not be an RTX 3000 Series laptop, but you can get an RTX 2080 Super Max Q under the hood that's nothing to joke about. Of course, if that's overkill, there are other configurations on hand as well. Read the full review: Lenovo Legion 7i (2020)Round up of today's best dealsReduced Price (opens in new tab)Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,999 (opens in new tab)$1,599 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$3,149.50 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all pricesReduced Price (opens in new tab)Apple Macbook Pro 13 (2022) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,299 (opens in new tab)$1,149 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all pricesLow Stock (opens in new tab)Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 6) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$959 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all pricesReduced Price (opens in new tab)Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021 (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$2,499 (opens in new tab)$2,099 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all pricesReduced Price (opens in new tab)Dell XPS 15 (2021) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$2,399.99 (opens in new tab)$1,799.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Acer ConceptD 7 (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$2,999 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Razer Blade 14 (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$2,799.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all pricesRecommended Retail... (opens in new tab)Lenovo Legion 7i (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,349.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)See all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricespowered by Matt HansonManaging Editor, Computing and Entertainment Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Computing and Entertainment, looking after two of the best, and most exciting, channels on the site. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. Ever since he got an Amiga A500+ for Christmas in 1991, he's loved using (and playing on) computers, and will talk endlessly about how The Secret of Monkey Island is the best game ever made. He's also a huge film and TV fan and Marvel geek, and his favorite recent film is Dune.With contributions fromCollin ProbstB2B Hardware Editor, TechRadar ProMichelle Rae UyBuying Guides Editor See more Computing news Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to theTechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. 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