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12.11.2023
11 minutes

The best laptops for graphic design in 2026 recommended by experts

design-laptop

You work with graphics programs and know how to use colors, textures, shapes, and lighting to create a unique message that will 100% please the client. In this case, you spend most of your working time in graphics programs and applications, which, as you know, place high demands on the designer’s equipment. To make you work quickly and efficiently, we are ready to dive into the magical design world with you and pick the best laptops for graphic designers.

Believe it or not, good notebooks aren’t limited to Apple devices. You are offered many exciting options, from Asus to Razor, that vary in price. Look through our selection of laptops for graphic design that no one can refuse.


best-laptop-graphic-design


TOP Picks of the Greatest Notebooks for Graphics

Designers and architects are always highly demanding of their laptops. No one will like it if the program constantly stops and prevents the project from developing. Ideally, 16 GB of RAM, a processor, and a new-generation video card are the necessary characteristics of a graphics computer. We bring to your attention the best laptops for graphic design 2024 at different performances and price policies. After all, if you invest in your work, it should be a suitable device with exceptional characteristics.

1. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro

Undoubtedly, Apple leads the list of the most wanted apparatus for professional use. We will not discuss the design and the most luxurious display with natural color reproduction and contrast — these qualities are always at their best. Most likely, you will be pleasantly surprised by the power and battery life.

Best features:

  • Excellent color rendition and screen contrast.
  • High performance.
  • Long hours of autonomous work.
apple-16-macbook-pro

2. Dell XPS 16

The laptop’s extraordinary power will help you cope with almost any work in rendering. Manufacturers have awarded it with an Intel i9 processor and tons of RAM, except for GeForce 3060. You can easily edit not only pictures but also videos in all possible formats.

Best features:

  • Stylish design.
  • Excellent computing quality.
  • Long hours of autonomous work.
dell-xps-16-laptop

3. ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED (2024–2025)

This model is designed specifically for creative professionals who require uncompromising color accuracy, smooth performance, and complete control over their workflow. Its 16-inch OLED panel delivers exceptional clarity with deep blacks and a wide color gamut, making it ideal for tasks where precise visual evaluation is essential. The combination of a powerful processor and NVIDIA Studio-certified graphics ensures stable operation in design software, rendering tools, and large project environments.

Best features:

  • Industry-leading OLED display with wide color coverage.
  • ProArt Dial for precise adjustments inside creative applications.
  • Robust performance with Studio-certified NVIDIA GPUs.


4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8

Have you ever dreamed of a fantastic widescreen? You will get even more with Lenovo + excellent computing performance and the latest generation parts. The laptop will work quite a long time on a single charge so that you can work on your project outdoors without losing a single detail.

Best features:

  • Comfortable keyboard.
  • Flexibility.
  • Gorgeous display.
  • Great speakers.
lenovo-thinkpad-x1-yoga-gen-8


5. Dell XPS 16 (2024–2025)

A refined and powerful option for designers who prioritize display quality and consistent performance. The XPS 16 features a premium high-resolution OLED panel with exceptional contrast and wide color gamut coverage, making it ideal for evaluating visual details with precision. Coupled with the latest Intel processors and capable NVIDIA graphics, it handles demanding creative workloads, multitasking, and high-resolution content with ease. Its slim, elegant chassis and solid battery life make it a practical tool for both studio work and mobile productivity.

Best features:

  • High-resolution OLED display with excellent color accuracy.
  • Strong overall performance for graphic and video tasks.
  • Premium build quality with a sleek, professional design.

6. Razer 14 Blade

Every designer dreamed of such a gift! Thin and light but at the same time powerful, the machine is suitable for work in the office, at home, and whenever you want. You can work on a project everywhere and make edits directly during a meeting with a client without connecting to the network. The latest-gen graphics card, battery, and powerful processor ensure smooth operation for many hours.

Best features:

  • Great computing speed and power.
  • Vivid, colorful display.
  • Enough connecting ports.
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7. HP 17 G8 ZBook Fury

If, when choosing between a reasonable price and excellent quality and modern components, performance is essential to you, the ZBook is the best laptop for graphic design you may find. This is the most desirable premium model for graphic professionals because you invest in a portable workstation with tons of power. You’ll love the intelligent design, long-lasting battery, and easy upgrades.

Best features:

  • Wide possibility of an upgrade.
  • Powerful device.
  • Supports any programs and updates
hp-17g8-zbook-fury

8. MSI Creator Z17 HX Studio

This workstation-class laptop is built for designers who require maximum computing power and a large, high-quality display for complex creative tasks. The 17-inch panel provides ample workspace with excellent clarity, while NVIDIA Studio-certified graphics ensure smooth performance in rendering, animation, and heavy multi-layered compositions. Its robust cooling system allows the device to maintain stable speeds during long, intensive sessions, making it a reliable choice for professionals working with demanding 3D or high-resolution projects.

Best features:

  • Large, color-accurate display ideal for detailed visual work.
  • Studio-certified GPU optimized for rendering and animation.
  • Reliable cooling for sustained high performance.

9. ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (2024–2025)

A compact yet powerful choice for designers who need professional display quality in a portable format. Its 14-inch OLED panel delivers exceptional color accuracy, deep contrast, and impressive brightness—ideal for precise visual evaluation in branding, illustration, and interface design. Despite its lightweight profile, the laptop is equipped with capable processors and discrete graphics, ensuring smooth performance across Adobe applications and other design tools. It is a well-balanced option for creatives who work on the go but refuse to compromise on display fidelity.

Best features:

  • High-quality OLED display with excellent color accuracy.
  • Strong performance in a lightweight, portable body.
  • Ideal balance between mobility and professional-grade visuals.

10. Surface Laptop Studio 2

A versatile option for designers who value flexibility in their workflow. The unique sliding display allows seamless switching between laptop, studio, and tablet modes, making sketching, retouching, and stylus-based illustration exceptionally intuitive. The improved graphics performance and updated processors deliver noticeably smoother work in Adobe applications, while the high-resolution touchscreen ensures accurate color representation and crisp detail across creative projects.

Best features:

  • Flexible form factor with an excellent touchscreen for pen-based work.
  • Improved performance suitable for modern design software.
  • Premium build quality with a comfortable, adaptable workflow.
microsoft-surface-laptop-studio

11. MSI Creator Z17

You are holding a powerful solution for generating creative ideas in your hands! The machine is built on the classic combination of the latest i7 generation and legendary NVIDIA graphics, and the device itself has the appropriate certification. Thanks to a decent performance reserve, the device will be relevant for several years, mainly if you stick to design, not gaming.

Bets features:

  • Slim and attractive design.
  • Powerful video card.
  • Superb visual display.
msi-creator-z17

12. Razer Blade 16 (2024–2025)

A premium option for designers who require top-tier performance and exceptional display quality. The Razer Blade 16 combines a refined metal chassis with workstation-level components, offering smooth operation in demanding creative software, high-resolution editing, and GPU-accelerated workflows. Its advanced display options—including high-brightness panels with wide color gamut coverage—allow precise evaluation of visual details, while the powerful NVIDIA graphics deliver reliable performance for rendering, animation, and real-time previews.

Best features:

  • Exceptional display quality with wide color coverage.
  • Workstation-level performance in a slim metal chassis.
  • Strong GPU power for rendering and motion-focused tasks.

13. Lenovo 9i Yoga Book

The uniqueness of this device is that you can change its configuration and use it as a book, laptop, or tablet. It can be highly convenient when using many renders or working on dummy projects. Of course, such a modern-looking machine must have superb components, a powerful processor, and enough RAM capacity.

Best features:

  • On-screen keyboard.
  • Speedy, smooth performance.
  • Sturdy yet elegant design.
  • Audio performance.
lenovo_9i-yoga-book

14. ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED (2024 Edition) 

This laptop is built for professionals, combining countless features with advanced technology and great color accuracy which is a ‘wow’ factor for a graphic designer. 

Key features: 

  • 16-inch 4K OLED HDR display with a total color volume of 100% DCI-P3. 
  • AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. 
  • The ASUS Dial Feature allows users with greater precision control over applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro. 
  • Provides support for a maximum of 64GB RAM and 4TB SSD storage. 
  • The laptop has an effective thermal management system to ensure the system works under heavy workloads. 
asus-proart-studiobook-16-oled-2024-edition

15. HP Envy 16 (2024 Model) 

The combination of sleek design with strong hardware assures that the HP Envy 16 gives designers who seek aesthetics as well as work productivity the final outcome as desired. 

Key features: 

  • 16-inch 2.5K touchscreen display type with a 360 degree View Angle and 120Hz refresh rate as well as factory calibrated colors. 
  • Core i7-13700H processor along with GeForce RTX 3060 GPU. 
  • Supports up to 32GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB NVMe SSD to permit fast handling of files. 
  • Built-in Bang & Olufsen speakers provide an amazing audio experience. 
  • Has supporting ports of a laptop, Thunderbolt 4, and an SD card reader. 
hp-envy-16

16. LG Gram 17 (2024 Ultra-light Edition) 

This device, LG Gram 17 together with a low weight gives an opportunity for designers who dedicate themselves to multitasking and do fine detailed design work which requires large screen space.

Key features: 

  • IPS display offers 17 inches WQXGA (2560 x 1600) with 99% DCI-P3 coverage. 
  • The device features an Intel Core i7-1360P and Intel Iris Xe as graphics cards. 
  • This laptop weighs only 2.98 lbs (1.35 kg). 
  • The laptop has a maximum RAM of 32GB LPDDR5 and an SSD of up to 2TB. 
  • If you are looking for a device with long hours of work, then this is it. It lasts up to 19 hours.

lg-gram-17-2024-ultra-light-edition

5 Steps to Choose Your Perfect Graphic Laptop

Designers, architects, photographers, and other graphics specialists come to work with powerful graphics editors who dictate their rules for choosing a laptop. Let’s look at what you should look for when selecting the best laptops for a graphic design.

Understand Your Needs

Graphic editors and applications can put a severe strain on your laptop and stop the creative process. Therefore, for the creative process to proceed on time and according to plan, it is necessary to determine the machine with what power and what qualities you need so as not to overpay for unnecessary functions.

Decide on the Right Processor

For tasks involving extremely “heavy” content, such as video editing and 3D rendering, a minimum of 4 cores of processing power is required.

Choose Enough RAM

  • 8 GB is enough for Photoshop and similar programs.
  • 16 GB is a version for productive work and creativity.
  • 32 GB or more — this volume is helpful for video editing.

SSD or HDD

Nothing is better than a good designer machine with two drives — you will win in price and speed. SSD is especially helpful for the OS and applications, and HDD is perfect for photos, videos, and projects.

Determine the Budget

Manufacturers offer many options for graphic laptops for any task. Don’t look for a cheap product. Because graphics laptops must meet such high standards, they can be expensive.


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Summing Up

Now, deciding on the best laptops for graphic design, you can quickly narrow your search. Still, selecting a suitable machine is not so easy, and it often happens that the designer has high software requirements but needs more finances to purchase. This situation is common: modern graphic tools demand more power with every update, while not every designer is ready to invest in workstation-level hardware. Instead of pushing your laptop beyond its limits or compromising on project quality, it’s often more efficient to delegate the heavy visual workload to a dedicated production partner.

We at Genense 3D Rendering Studio are ready to help you design and print your photo materials. Our team can take your concepts, layouts, or artwork and translate them into high-quality visuals, photorealistic renderings, or presentation assets without requiring you to own a high-end device. This gives you the freedom to continue working comfortably on your current laptop while still achieving a level of detail and realism that typically requires powerful hardware.

This way, you won’t have to waste precious resources on buying a laptop with powerful graphics. You’d be much more productive to focus on developing your next brilliant idea, and our specialists will support its implementation. With the right balance between your everyday tools and our production capabilities, you maintain full control over the creative process while ensuring that complex visuals always meet professional standards.

FAQ

When aiming for top-notch graphic design, opt for a laptop boasting a robust processor – aim for Intel i7 or i9, or AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 – a generous serving of RAM (minimum 16GB), a top-tier display boasting spot-on color accuracy, a dedicated graphics card, ample storage space (preferably SSD), and a sturdy construction. Don't overlook its weight and portability, especially if your work keeps you on the move.

To keep your graphic design workflow seamless, a minimum of 16GB of RAM is essential. This guarantees smooth multitasking, enabling you to effortlessly run multiple design applications and manage large files without any sluggishness. However, for more demanding tasks like video editing or 3D rendering, it's advisable to aim for no less than 32GB of RAM.

Some of these laptops that are specifically optimized for graphic design duties are:
- Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch or 14-inch): This one has an amazing retina display and is very powerful.
- Dell XPS 15: The screen resolution is high, and the specifications are good enough for designers.
- HP Spectre x360: This one comes with strong hardware and has an awesome 4K OLED display.
- Microsoft Surface Book 3: The detachable screen makes it flexible while performing, and it does not disappoint.
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G14: A gaming laptop that is a powerful system that has a good display suitable for graphics designing works.

Generally speaking, a dedicated graphics card would be highly recommended when doing graphic design since it offers improved rendering capabilities, support for larger file sizes, and high-resolution images. Integrated graphics will do for simple design tasks; however, if you are dealing with more professional work or demanding applications, then it is better to have a dedicated graphics card as this makes your designs run smoother and faster.

The most important display specifications that should be noted in laptops used for graphic design include:
- Resolution: For better clarity, Full HD (1920x1080) with 4k (3840x2160) is best.
- Color accuracy: Displays that have accurate colors are usually quoted as having around 100% sRGB, Adobe RGB or DCI-P3.
- Panel type: IPS panels offer superior color reproduction and wider viewing angles than TN panels.
- Brightness: Higher brightness (300 nits or above) is preferable if you want to use the laptop under different lighting conditions.
- Matte vs glossy: Matte screens reduce glare, while glossy ones increase color brilliance but can reflect more light.

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interior designer 3d visualiser
Denys Borozenets
CEO at GENENSE

Denys is the CEO of GENENSE Studio. His mission is to build an international community of passionate CGI professionals, where everyone can unlock their potential by creating high-end digital content that helps highlight any product on the global stage. As a leader, he holds himself to the highest standard of responsibility - for both his own work and that of his team. For the members of GENENSE, responsiveness and open communication are the core values that drive their collective success.

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