The 5 Best Laptops For Graphic Design - Fall 2024

The best laptop for graphic design we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023). This 14-inch premium workstation offers a fantastic user experience with its gorgeous Mini LED display, a comfortable keyboard, a gigantic haptic touchpad, and tons of ports. The display's factory calibration is near-perfect, so you can get right to work without further calibration. The only drawback is its lack of full Adobe RGB coverage, which might be a dealbreaker for those in print graphics. Apple's M3 Pro/Max SoCs bring exceptional performance and offer up to 128GB of RAM, making it a fantastic choice for memory-intensive workflows like 3D modeling. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023) is also a good choice if you want more screen space; it has better-sounding speakers but is more expensive and bulkier.

For Windows users, we recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024). this 16-inch workstation provides an amazing user experience and can easily handle demanding workloads. However, you can only get up to 64GB of RAM (user-upgradeable to 96GB), whereas the MacBook Pro is configurable with up to 128GB, so it might not be ideal if your work requires a lot of memory. It has Wi-Fi 7 wireless connectivity, a fingerprint sensor, a facial recognition camera for added security and quick logins, tons of ports for peripherals and external displays, and an SD Express 7.0. The laptop gets hotter and louder under load, though, and its battery life is slightly shorter.

If you don't need all the processing power of a mobile workstation and prefer something thinner and lighter, get the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024). It has a larger display with the same 100% DCI P3 coverage and superb factory calibration—it just isn't a Mini LED display. The main downside is its limited port selection, as it only has two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. Beyond this, the MacBook Air 15 has a spacious, tactile keyboard and a large, easy-to-use haptic touchpad. Battery life is also a positive, as you can easily get through a full day of light productivity without needing to reach for the charger. If you want something more portable, consider the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024), essentially a cheaper version of the same laptop with a smaller screen and slightly worse speakers.

The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a great Windows alternative to the MacBook Air. This premium 14-inch 2-in-1 convertible sports a gorgeous 120Hz OLED display with near-full Adobe RGB coverage, a haptic touchpad, and a 4k webcam. It has a wider port selection, including two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s and a USB-A. There's pen input support if you need to draw with a stylus, though you may have to buy the pen separately, depending on the region and retailer. One thing to remember is that the OLED display flickers at 480Hz, which might cause eye strain if you're sensitive to display flicker. The display is also dimmer, so visibility can be an issue in well-lit settings.

Our best mid-range pick is the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023). It has a large 16-inch display, so you get plenty of room to work comfortably. You can choose between an FHD+ or QHD+ panel; we recommend the latter because it looks sharper, has full sRGB coverage, and gets brighter to combat glare. It's a 2-in-1 convertible with stylus support, though you may have to buy the pen separately, as it doesn't always come with the laptop. Port selection is excellent; you get two USB-As, two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s, a MicroSD card reader, and an HDMI port. It's available with Intel 13th Gen U- and P-series CPUs, which perform well; however, it only has integrated graphics, so it isn't ideal for 3D graphics requiring lots of GPU processing power. Final note: this model is discontinued. You can still get it through third-party sellers on marketplaces, but configuration options are limited.

The best laptop for designers we've tested in the budget range is the Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023). It's a 2-in-1 convertible with pen input support like the Lenovo above. However, it has a smaller 13-inch FHD+ display. The screen still looks sharp with a pixel density of 173 PPI; it just doesn't get as bright, so visibility may be more of an issue in well-lit settings. Another downside is that it doesn't have as much processing power and lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. You get a fingerprint sensor and facial recognition camera for added security, and its battery lasts comfortably through a full workday.

If you like the 2-in-1 tablet form factor, check out the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024). Like previous Surface Pros, this 2024 model is a premium-feeling tablet with a sturdy, built-in kickstand, a comfortable Alcantara-covered type cover keyboard, and pen input support. The new Flex keyboard has a larger haptic touchpad that's easier to use, and it's Bluetooth-enabled, so you can use the keyboard even when detached from the tablet, giving you more flexibility to position the device to your liking. You get Wi-Fi 7 wireless connectivity, an outstanding 1440p front-facing webcam, a 10MP back-facing camera, and Windows Hello support for quick logins. Unfortunately, you must buy the keyboard and stylus separately.

The most important thing to know is that this tablet PC runs on an ARM processor. This means that some apps might not run at all, and even if they work through Microsoft's Prism emulation, performance can be a little iffy, so it's best to check that the apps you use are compatible before making any purchasing decision. Another thing to know is that the Snapdragon X Plus model has an IPS panel, while the X Elite model has an OLED panel. The latter will give you deeper blacks, but it exhibits what's commonly known as the 'screen door effect,' meaning its digitizer is visible, creating a grid-like pattern that some may find distracting. The battery lasts around 11 hours of light use, which is pretty impressive for such a thin tablet PC.