INTRODUCTION

Choosing a laptop for drawing and animation projects is different than a regular laptop. The best laptop for an artist is the one that can perform graphic programs efficiently. From fast processor to good storage there are many things to consider when you choose a laptop. If you are looking for a laptop that is reliable enough to do your art projects and has all the best features then stick to this article. We have got you covered. In this article, we have made a list of the best laptop for an artist that is based on a number of reviews of the users. All the products mentioned in the list do a great job and are reliable.

15 Best Laptops for Artists and Art Students in 2021

To ease your struggle of finding the best laptop for art, we have chosen the15 best laptops for artists after weighing the pros and cons of each. Here are our best art laptops to buy in 2021. Let’s check out the list!

MODEL	RAM	PRICE
HP Spectre x360	16 GB	Check Price
Newest Microsoft Surface Pro 7	8 GB	Check Price
New Apple MacBook Pro	16 GB	Check Price
HP ENVY 13	16 GB	Check Price
LG gram Thin	16 GB	Check Price
Acer Spin 3	8 GB	Check Price
Samsung Notebook 9 Pro	8 GB	Check Price
Dell XPS 13	16 GB	Check Price
Lenovo Chromebook C330	4 GB	Check Price
Acer Chromebook Spin	4 GB	Check Price
Microsoft Surface Go	8 GB	Check Price
ASUS UX333FA-AB77 ZenBook	16 GB	Check Price
Microsoft Surface Pro 7	8 GB	Check Price
Samsung Galaxy Book Flex	8 GB	Check Price
Lenovo Chromebook S330	4 GB	Check Price

1. HP Spectre × 360 – Best Performance Laptop for Artists – Our Choice

  Product Specifications

• Brand: HP
• Weight: 4.24 Ibs
• Resolution: 3840 × 2160 pixels
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• CPU speed: 2.60 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
• Memory: 16 GB
• Storage: 1 TB SSD
• RAM Type: DDR4 SDRAM
• Battery: 13 hours

If you in search looking for a laptop that covers all the essential aspects of an artistic laptop then the HP Spectre × 360 should be your primary choice. Featuring an enormous space of 1 TB, the laptop is heaven to secure all your digital art on this hybrid piece. Moreover, the 16 GB RAM is capable of processing data at high speed and stores data efficiently. The laptop comes with the latest 10th generation hexacore processor, which keeps the system’s performance at its peak. The high-speed processor lets you host various applications like designing apps, providing a smooth overall experience. Talking about the display, the HP Spectre offers an incredible 3180×2160 IPS touch screen display. The 15.6 inches laptop screen provides the perfect solution for art students and artists to display their artistic creations beautifully. Besides, the 4k display adds more quality to the already stunning piece of art. The best digital art laptops are the one that promises portability and long battery life. The HP Spectre weighs significantly lower than other laptops having the same functionality. Powered with a lithium-ion battery, the laptop can run for up to 13 hours on power. Hence, the battery life is sufficient to complete time-taking art projects without the need for excessive charging.

2. Microsoft Surface Pro – Best Affordable Hybrid Laptop

Product Specifications

• Brand: Microsoft
• Weight: 1.69 pounds
• Resolution: 2736 × 1824 pixels
• Screen Size: 12.3 inches
• CPU speed: 3.5 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 Professional
• Memory: 4 GB
• Storage: 128 GB SSD
• RAM Type: DDR4 SDRAM
• Battery: 13.5 hours

In addition to the HP laptops, Microsoft also features a range of exquisite laptops specially designed for artists. Therefore, it would be a sin not to include the Microsoft Surface Pro on our list of Best laptops for artists. The laptop displays an exceptional performance owing to its Intel core i5 fast processor. Plus, the 3.5 GHz speed processor performs the designing tasks quickly and hence increases the system efficiency. If you are an art student who travels a lot, you must consider getting the Surface pro laptop due to its compactness. The hybrid gadget weighs only 1.69 pounds, so it is easy to carry while traveling. The 2736×1824 resolution will also let you view your art on a 4k display. For storage, the Microsoft Surface Pro offers a generous space of 4 GB RAM and 128 GB SSD. This space is suitable enough to save all your ongoing and previous art projects effortlessly. The battery life of these Microsoft laptops is quite good, and you can enjoy up to 13.5 hours on your laptop unplugged.

3. Apple MacBook Pro – Best Laptop for Digital Art

Product Specifications

• Brand: Apple
• Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Resolution: 3072 × 1920 pixels
• Screen Size: 16 inches
• CPU speed: 2.6 GHz
• Operating System: Mac OS
• Memory: 16 GB
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• RAM Type: DDR4
• Battery:  up to11 hours

No matter how much you love HP or Microsoft, there is some specific software an artist needs that are only available on Mac laptops. If you are fond of Apple laptops, say no more because we’ve already found the best Apple laptop for Digital Art. The Apple MacBook Pro features a spacious 16 inches screen that lets you create, edit and view any complex art design effortlessly. The top-notch resolution and seamless Radeon display will leave you in love with this incredible Apple device. You can also customize your laptop according to the type of art you do by getting the Radeon Pro 5600M. This optional graphics features 40 compute units which will bring it to the next class. A lot of features like that make that apart from other laptops and help the user to adjust properly in front of the laptop screen. The size is bit small and seems perfect to anyone. For any artist or art student, a well-built keyboard system is as crucial as their art (or less). The MacBook Pro features a magical keyboard with dedicated arrow and escape keys to allow smooth and ultra-fast typing. The keyboard is also appropriate for gaming, so if you’re an avid gamer, you can avail additional benefits from this next-level laptop.

4. HP Envy 13.99 Inches – Best Thin laptop for Artists and Watching Movies

Product Specifications

• Brand: HP
• Weight: 2.60  Ibs
• Resolution: 3820 × 2160 pixels
• Screen Size: 13 .3 inches
• CPU speed: 1.8 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 home
• Memory: 16 GB
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• RAM Type: DDR4 SDRAM
• Battery: 12 hours and 45 minutes

Good laptops for art demands powerful graphics, an Ultra HD display, and substantial storage. Thankfully, the HP Envy laptop fulfills all these requirements and makes one of the best laptops for artists. The NVIDIA graphics offers a more professional look, and the 4k display delivers an exceptional view quality to bring your artistic imagination to life. The best feature of these well-built laptops is that they are some of the lightest and thinnest laptops available in the market. The small dimensions increase their portability, making them more preferable for outdoor use. Additionally, the HP laptop is fitted with a fingerprint security system that lets the user secure his/her laptop with fingerprints. This extra security allows more easy and quick access to the device. The battery life is quite good compared with other HP laptops, and they can be used continuously for 12 hours or more. The Happiest people do not use their laptops merely for work but also use them for some fun. Hence, the HP Envy 13 is an excellent choice to watch movies after having a tough day at work.

5. LG gram  17 inches – Best Portable Laptop for Art Students

Product Specifications

• Brand: LG
• Weight: 2.95  Ibs
• Resolution: 2560 × 1600 pixels
• Screen Size: 17  inches
• CPU speed: 4.1 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 home
• Memory: 16 GB
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• RAM Type: SDRAM
• Battery: up to19.5 hours

Next in line after exploring the HP, Microsoft, and Apple laptops, is the LG gram 17 inches laptop. Packed with extraordinary features, it could be the perfect match to compliment your artistic skills. A feature that makes it even more preferable is its compressed design. An art student needs inspiration from the outside world often, owning a portable laptop is a necessity. The compactness and lightness of the LG gram laptop allow you to easily carry it with you at all places, making it the best portable laptop for art students. The 17 inches large display is the perfect screen size for watching movies and creating inspiring pieces of art. Despite having a 17 inches screen, it is highly portable compared to other laptops having that big screen. The Intel Core 8th generation processor gives a fast CPU speed of 4.1 GHz. The clock speed is suitable to run important drawing and designing software smoothly. Also, the processor is fast enough to let you play your favorite games without hanging issues. Besides, the LG gram features nearly all the ports important for art students, that too, without the need of any external devices. The 19 hours phenomenal battery life is another reason to get the LG gram laptop as early as possible.

6. Acer Spin 3 – Best Convertible Laptop

Product Specifications

• Brand: Acer
• Weight: 5.50 Ibs
• Resolution: 1920 × 1080 pixels
• Screen Size: 14  inches
• CPU speed: 3.7 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 home
• Memory: 8 GB
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• RAM Type: LPDDR4
• Battery: 12 hours

The Acer Spin 3 laptop features a dual-torque Hinge technology which enables the user to use it in 4 different ways. As an artist, you need to change your working position frequently to avoid stress, so the convertible feature comes in super handy in such situations. Unlike other laptops, the Acer Spin 3 comes with a stylus that enhances your creative performance. Besides, the huge RAM and storage are sufficient to store all the essential data without additional storage devices. The Acer Spin laptop is the perfect fit for artists and art students looking to get a touch screen laptop with high-end performance. The 3.7 GHz, 8th generation processor offers the best possible speed to carry out your art projects at a lightning-fast speed. Moreover, the high processor speed also aids in the video streaming quality and makes it a great gadget to have. We all know the role of a durable battery when it comes to creating masterpieces that require much time and energy. Unfortunately, the Acer Spin laptop doesn’t promise a long-lasting battery life, but at its price, it does deliver quality performance.

7. Samsung Notebook 9 Pro – Best Touch screen Laptop

Product Specifications

• Brand: Samsung
• Weight: 2.84 Ibs
• Resolution: 1920 × 1080 pixels
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• CPU speed: 4.6 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 home
• Memory: 8 GB
• Storage: 2 TB SSD
• RAM Type: DDR4 SDRAM
• Battery: up to 14 hours

The Samsung Notebook 9 blends technology with style and provides the finest solution to all artists and art students out there. It features a robust touch screen system that is capable of quickly sensing the slightest hand movements. The screen can be rotated to 360°, hence making it versatile in function. The HD display is well-suited for all types of artistic work. The powerful processor delivers decent performance without any compromise on quality. Along with an efficient processor, the laptop also combines key features like enormous storage and long battery life. Other attractive features include a backlit keyboard, USB ports, and Bluetooth connectivity options. All in all, the Samsung Notebook Pro 9 is the best choice if you are an artist looking for affordable, premium quality laptops.

8. Lenovo Chrome Book C330 2-IN-1 Convertible Laptop

Product Specifications

• Brand: Lenovo
• Weight: 2.64 pounds
• Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
• Screen Size: 11.6 inches
• CPU Speed: 1600 MHz
• Operating System: Chrome OS
• Memory: 4 GB
• RAM type: SSD RAM
• Battery:  up to10 hours

If you want to have sleek and stylish yet functional laptop for your art work then check out this device. This laptop is affordable and is one of the best laptops for art students. Lenovo Chrome Book C330 is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop and has four different convertible modes including laptop mode, tablet mode, and studio mode. The screen resolution of this laptop is great and it rotates smoothly in 360 degree angle. It has a great battery life and feature type-C port for charger connectivity. It also features SD memory reader, HDMI port and USB 3.0. For smooth and comfortable typing, Lenovo Chrome Book C330 enables a great keyboard. For power and volume it has button on its right ride along with security lock and headphone jack. Besides, it has a good battery life, which is up to 10 hours on a single charge. With 11.6 inches IPS display and 10-point touchscreen you can enjoy watching web series or TV show and play your favorite online games in HD. This device delivers integrated graphics and powerful processing.

9. Acer Chrome Book Spin 311 Convertible Laptop

Product Specifications

• Brand: ACER
• Weight: 2.62 lbs
• Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
• Screen Size: 11.6 inches
• CPU Speed: 2.8 GHz
• Operating System: Chrome OS
• Memory: 4 GB
• RAM type: unknown
• Battery: up to 10 hours

This laptop is fast, efficient, and has number of unplugged power. With up to 10 hours battery life you can enjoy working on your projects all day without any interruption. This device works great for document editing and web surfing. It allows you four different modes to choose from. For your office work you can keep your laptop on laptop mode. Besides, if you have narrow space you can set this device on tent mode. If you want to enjoy your favorite TV show it allows you to set your screen on display mode. It brings the screen closer to you. For playing online games you can set this on tablet mode It features 11.6 inches HD display with IPS technology to give you clearer view of your screen. Besides, it has antimicrobial corning gorilla glass screen, which works smoothly and is durable. This device comes with powerful and consistent wireless signal with 2 x 2 MU-MIMU that can handle many wireless devices at a same time and offer faster wireless speed. For Bluetooth connectivity, video streaming, and ultra-quick data transfer it features two USB type-C ports and for extra storage it has microSD slot.

10. Microsoft Surface Go Intel Premium Gold

Product Specifications

• Brand: Microsoft
• Weight: 1.15 pounds
• Scree Resolution: 1800 x 1200 pixels
• Screen Size: 10 inches
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Memory Storage: 64 GB
• Processor: Intel Premium Gold
• Battery:  up to 9 hours

If you are looking for a versatile yet efficient laptop for your art projects then check out this one. It weighs just 1.15 pounds and is portable enough to carry with you wherever you want. The best thing about this laptop is that it can turn into 3 different modes including laptop mode, tablet mode, and studio mode. It comes with a surface pen that can draw and write smoothly and has precision ink on one side and rubber at the other side. For precise navigation and control, it can pair with new surface mobile mouse that works seamlessly. This laptop is compatible with all Microsoft Apps including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and OneNote. Besides, it is designed with 10 inches PixelSense touchscreen display, which is great for working, browsing, and watching your favorite show. Microsoft Surface Go features a 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, powerful Intel processor and great battery life that last up to 9 hours. Moreover, this device is secure to use and designed to give long-lasting performance.

11. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – 12.3” Touch Screen 10^th Gen

Product Specifications

• Brand: Microsoft
• Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Resolution: 2736 x 1824 pixel
• Screen Size: 12.3 inches
• Operating System: windows 10 home
• Memory: 8 GB 4GB
• Storage: 128 GB SSD
• Battery: up to 10.5  hours

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is an updated version of Microsoft Surface Pro 6. It has 12.3 inches display HD screen that is protected with sturdy glass screen. Besides, this device is durable and reliable. It comes with 10^th Generation processor, which is super functional and performs great all the time. One updated feature that users like in this laptop is that this device has introduced USB-C port. This feature allows its users to connect different accessories with the laptop including drives, display, Ethernet adapter, and many more. It also allows you to charge the surface and connect it to USB-C Dock. With up to 10.5 battery life this laptop functions well and is great for office use. It is sleek and stylish looking device that performs every task efficiently. It comes in two different colors. Besides, Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is lightweight and portable enough to carry with you in your bag.

12. ASUS UX333AFA-AB77 Zen Book Ultra Slim Laptop

Product Specifications

• Brand: ASUS
• Weight: 2. 06 LBS
• Resolution: 1920 X 1080 PIXELS
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• CPU Speed: 4.6 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
• Storage: 16 GB
• RAM type: DDR3 SDRM
• Battery: up to 10 hours

ASUS UX333AFA-AB77 Zen Book Ultra Slim Laptop is another best laptop in the list that is known for its durability and reliability. It has a high capacity long-lasting battery that does not require long charging hours. This laptop has a powerful operating system and great operating device. Besides, this laptop is design for day-to-day rough use. It can work in all types of environment. It is lightweight and portable and can fit easily into any size shelf. ASUS UX333AFA-AB77 features 8^th Gen Intel Core processor and 16 GB RAM for great storage. It also features great quality and high-performance components that are compatible with almost all devices. For high-resolution HD display, this device features gorgeous NanoEdge display. It allows you to watch any TV show with vibrant colors, vivid and wide view angle. One of the best features about this laptop is that it has dual-touch keypad. It means that the Number Pad allows you turn touch keyboard into a typing one for speedy typing, calculation, and data entry work. For extensive connectivity, this device features all the necessary ports including HDMI Port, UBS-A Port, USB-C Port, and a microSD card reader.

13. Lenovo Chrome Book S330 Laptop 14” FHD

Product Specifications

• Brand: Lenovo
• Weight: 3.3 lbs
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Screen Size: 14 inches
• CPU Speed: 2.1 GHz
• Operating System: Chrome OS
• Memory: 4 GB
• Battery: up to 9 hours

If you are looking for a budget-friendly laptop for your digital projects then this laptop is a great option. This device gives powerful performance all the time and is equipped with the best features. With 4k display, this laptop gives Yoga Chrome book screen style. It has 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution that gives the HD result. As this laptop offers high resolution and great pixel so, you can also enjoy watching movies in this laptop. Besides, the battery life of this laptop is pretty good, and allows you to enjoy up to 9 hours on your laptop unplugged. When it comes to the style and look, this laptop never fails to impress its users. For long-lasting error free performance, this laptop comes with built-in virus. One of the best features about this laptop is it offers safety protection feature. If you make Google account on your laptop then your stuff and work will stay there.

14. Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 13.3 inches Laptop QLED Display

Product Specifications

• Brand: Samsung
• Weight: 4 pounds
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• CPU Speed: 1.3 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Memory: 8 GB
• RAM type: DDR4
• Battery: 20 hours

This is one of the best laptops for digital work available in the market. It comes with a sleek and stylish QLED touchscreen, which gives you option to browse and stream virtually with its full bright screen wherever you want. It has an excellent battery life that is up to 20 hours, which makes this device everyone’s favorite. It has 360 degree hinge that permits your screen to turn into a beautiful and compact tablet style it weighs just 3.5 pounds and has dimension of 14 x 9 x 7 inches. It features different ports on its each side. On its left side there is a port for headphones or hands free, USB Type-C slot, and SD memory card slot. Onits right side, there is a thumberbolt port that allows users high-speed transfer.

15. Del XPS 13 (9310) 13.4 Inches FHD + Touch Laptop

Product Specifications

• Brand: Dell
• Weight: 2.8 lbs
• Resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels
• Screen Size: 13.4 inches
• CPU Speed: 4.8 GHz
• Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
• Memory: 16 GB
• RAM type: DDR4 SDRAM
• Battery: up to 10 hours

Another best laptop for art students and artist in the list is Del XPS 13 (9310). This device is portable and has smart and sturdy design. Del XPS 13 (9310) comes with a lot of useful features that make this laptop exceptional. Besides, it features 11 generation processor for great performance and battery life. It has a large Windows precision glass that is sturdy and works seamlessly. One of the best features about this laptop is that it has an IR cam. This feature allows you to recognize your device by facial recognizer and fingerprint expression. For long lasting performance Del XPS 13 (9310) is constructed with carbon fiber palm rest and machine aluminum. Besides, it has 4-sided Infinity Edge display. Besides, it has 16 GB RAM that is capable of processing data at fast speed and can store data efficiently. This laptop is perfect for those who are looking for a premium laptop at an affordable price.

Cannot decide which laptop to Choose? Read the Buying Guide to know what’s Important!

Despite knowing all the specifications, picking up the right laptop can be a tough choice. There are many laptops are available in the market for art students with different features. But, choosing the best one for you that fits all your need is a real task. Well, you do not have to worry about it either as we have already written a sweet and simple buying guides for selecting the perfect laptop. Although we are only concerned with the best laptops for artists, we will only discuss the features relevant for art and drawing purposes.

• Processor 

What can be more frustrating than working on a slow laptop? Slow processing speeds wastes time and leaves you exhausted. You may be wondering what the best processor for artwork is. Well, you need at least an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor for a smooth performance. Also, the Intel Core i7 processor is best recommended for drawing and designing.

• Storage

The best laptops for artists are those which offer enormous storage space. Art projects can take a significant amount of space on your laptop. Therefore, you need a laptop featuring suitable RAM and SSD storage. 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD work fine for art students, but if you’re a professional, you might need 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM. If you want to spend more, you can also buy additional storage to store your valuable art. But good laptops for art wouldn’t let you do that and already provide enough space to secure your data.

• Display Screen

All Digital at laptops offers a phenomenal display and screen size. Although, good display quality and massive screen size come with a price. In short, it’s up to you how much you want to spend on your laptop. The minimum display requirements include 13.3 inches screen and AMD graphics. However, the best laptops for digital art feature 15.6 inches screen and dedicated graphics.

• Battery life

For an artist who travels a lot, low battery life can be a matter of life and death. Obviously, you cannot find charging slots everywhere you travel. So, it’s better to buy a laptop having 8-10 hours battery life unplugged. If you have an office-based job, you don’t have to worry about battery life. You can buy a laptop having a moderate battery life and look for additional features instead of the battery.

• Additional Features

Additional features are a must for the enhanced functionality of the laptops. Look for artistic laptops featuring multiple ports for connectivity. In addition to the touch screen system, select a device with a powerful stylus to support effortless writing and digital art. Other additional features to look for in the best laptop for artists include an immersive audio system and variable modes.

FAQ’s

Why pen device is important for artists’ laptops?

Pen device is an essential accessory for laptops for artists or art students. This accessory helps you to improve your drawing skills on laptop and also helps you to have great control on your artistic skills.

How much RAM is ideal for laptops for artists?

The amount of RAM is depends on your needs but, for your digital work and art projects the ideal amount of would be 8 GB to 16 GB.

What is the best budget laptop for art work?

Lenovo Chrome Book C330 is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop is the best budget laptop for your art work. It is equipped with all the great features and can perform all your digital work tasks efficiently and smartly. Besides, this laptop has a great battery life and is portable.

Our Verdict: Which Laptop is the Best Laptop for Artists in 2021?

After conducting numerous performance tests, we have concluded that the HP Spectre × 360 is hands down the best art laptop available in the market. This device features an exceptional display and excessive storage for creating and saving artistic masterpieces. Other laptops mentioned above also make a superb choice for artists. You can buy any laptop from our list of 15 Best laptops for artists and art students considering your interest and budget. Each laptop mentioned in the above list is latest and comes with great feature. Hope our article helped you to get the best one for you. However, one thing to keep in mind is that no matter how much money you invest in your laptop, your art is the most valuable thing that you can own. Always acknowledge your capabilities and keep creating art!