How to Choose the Best Laptop for Graphic Design

The main question is, what laptop is good for graphic design? Before researching and getting too far in the decision-making process —consider the kind of work you do and your budget. If you do complex 3D work, you will need to be on the upper end of all the specifications. If your work is mostly 2D, you can be at the mid to low end of the range.

Graphic design laptop specs

The most important laptop specs to look at for graphic design are the operating system, CPU, memory (RAM), storage drive, display type and size, and color accuracy.

There is more to a good laptop than just speed. Sure, you need speed to run your programs but, you also have factors such as deciding between Mac or PC, RAM, drives, displays, and color accuracy.

CPU

The CPU, or processor, controls the functions of the computer. For graphic design, you need a fast, powerful processor to run complex design software. The top brands change quickly, but generally you need a quad-core or extreme series processor for graphic design.

Memory

Memory, or RAM, holds the data the computer needs to access on the fly, such as all the information in the file you're currently working on. If you typically work with multiple applications open, or if you work with very large files, you need more RAM to provide seamless switching between applications and scrolling through complex files. Try to get as much memory as you can in your laptop. If the configuration does not include enough RAM for your needs, you can buy and add memory easily.

Storage drive

Storage drives can be either a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). Hard drives, although they tend to be cheaper and have more capacity, can be problematic in laptops. Solid state drives are lighter, faster, and more durable than hard drives. Most laptops are sold with solid state drives, but computers can be upgraded with SSDs if they didn't happen to come with one.