What’s the best laptop for graphic design students?

As a graphic design student, you need a laptop that can handle high-resolution graphics, run complex design software smoothly, and provide accurate color representation—all while fitting within your student budget.

You don’t want to get caught in the middle of a critical project with a lagging laptop that crashes frequently or fails to display colors accurately. These issues disrupt your workflow and can impact coursework marks. The wrong laptop can mean the difference between easily meeting deadlines and feeling frustrated and stuck.

The key is to choose a laptop specifically designed for graphic design—or at least one with the right specs. This guide will help you consider the pros and cons of laptops recommended for graphic design students. We’ll break down the essential features you must look for and highlight top models that balance performance and affordability.

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What to look for in a laptop for graphic design

Without a laptop, computer, tablet, or iPad, how you’ll get any graphic design done is a mystery. Each device has its own pros and cons, but we think it’s essential for graphic design students to have laptops.

First off, let’s talk about processing power. A laptop often offers a more powerful CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) than a sketching tablet, ensuring you have the necessary computing capabilities to handle large files and intricate graphics. You can run demanding design software and create large graphic design files without issues. 

Next, consider the display quality. A high-resolution screen with accurate color reproduction is vital for detailed design work. Most iPads have excellent displays and color handling, but a laptop's screen is bigger, giving you more space for multitasking and working on complex projects.

Design students must often run multiple applications simultaneously, such as design programs, web browsers, and communication tools. Compared to iPads used for graphic design, laptops more easily allow this kind of multitasking.

Lastly, drawing tablets are great for sketching ideas while on the go, but laptops provide a better experience when you’re typing at a desk or lecture or finalizing designs.

Comparison table: recommended laptops for design students

The table below compares some of the best laptops for design students, focusing on important factors like performance, storage display quality, graphics, and price.

Let’s look at each of these laptops in more detail to find the one that fits your schedule and pocket.

MacBook Pro (16-inch) 

The MacBook Pro (16-inch) is a top choice for design students requiring exceptional power and crystal clear display quality. It should come as no surprise that it is also the most expensive. Equipped with the Apple M3 Pro chip, it easily handles intensive design tasks, whether you're working on high-resolution graphics or complex animations.

MacBook Pro pros

• M3 Pro chip: Top-notch processing power for demanding tasks.
• Large, high-resolution display: Excellent for detailed design work.
• Long battery life of up to 22 hours: Great for extended work sessions.
• Excellent software support: Compatible with a wide range of professional design tools.

MacBook Pro cons

• Price: High compared to other options.

MacBook Pro pricing

• Starts at $2,499 and can reach as high as $3,999.00

“When it came to choosing a laptop, my go-to has always been a MacBook. The reason for this choice is the display screen, which is essential for designers working closely with RGB colors. If properly cared for, a MacBook can last 3–4 years, making it a significant investment for a freelance business. I initially bought a laptop with 8GB of RAM, but I highly recommend upgrading your MacBook to 16GB or 32GB RAM. As a designer, you'll be working with multiple applications that need to function seamlessly together, not just Adobe Illustrator.”—Michelle Deborah, Freelance Graphic Designer

MacBook Air 13-inch

The MacBook Air 13-inch is perfect for graphic design students looking for an Apple product and seeking portability without sacrificing speed. Apple’s M2 chip powers this laptop (also available with the latest M3 chip) and delivers enough processing power for memory-intensive tasks like running multiple software simultaneously.

Its 13.6-inch Retina display with True Tone technology offers crisp, vibrant visuals, meaning your designs look stunning on screen and make them look that much more impressive. 

MacBook Air 13-inch pros

• Excellent performance: Powered by the M2 chip, it handles design software like Linearity with ease.
• Retina display: The 13.6-inch Retina display offers sharp visuals and precise color accuracy, essential for design work.
• Portability: It weighs only 2.7 pounds, making it incredibly easy to carry between classes or design studios.
• Battery life: It offers up to 18 hours of battery life, perfect for long design sessions without needing to be charged.

MacBook Air 13-inch cons

• Limited ports: Only two Thunderbolt ports, which may require adapters for external devices.

MacBook Air 13-inch pricing

• Starting at around $899 for the base model.

“MacBooks have large displays, access to a wide range of professional design software, better hardware capabilities (compared to iPads), and they can be connected to larger monitors for enhanced productivity”—Sandra Grabowska-Lampa, Design Assistant at Linearity

Dell XPS 15

The Dell XPS 15 has a powerful Intel Core i7 processor and an Intel Iris Xe Graphics card. The 15.6" non-touch FHD+ (1920x1200) display provides vibrant colors and sharp details, making it a solid choice for anyone wanting to become a graphic designer.

The XPS 15 is perfect for creatives, whether you're into photography, graphic design, music production, or more. Its full SD card slot makes importing RAW photos seamless for photographers. At the same time, the quad speaker design with Waves Nx® 3D Audio delivers a 3D sound experience that is ideal for enhancing your music, movies, or games.

Dell XPS 15 pros

• Powerful CPU and GPU: Handles demanding design applications smoothly.
• 5.6" non-touch FHD+ display: Provides excellent color accuracy and detail.
• Expandable storage: Upgradable to fit your needs.

Dell XPS 15 cons

• Battery life: Can be less than other models with similar specs.

Dell XPS 15 pricing

• Starts at $1,299 and can reach as high as $1,759.00

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a high-performance laptop with a compact design, making it ideal for students who want to take their laptop with them from class to class (and who doesn’t). Its AMD Ryzen 9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card are powerful, while the 14-inch ROG Nebula display balances size and resolution.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 has NVIDIA Studio Drivers, giving your design portfolio a creative edge. Real-time ray tracing provides incredibly realistic graphics, while the exclusive AI-assisted tools in NVIDIA Studio accelerate your design process from concept to completion.

For those who don’t know, NVIDIA Studio is a platform designed by NVIDIA to help creative professionals—like graphic designers, video editors, and 3D artists—work faster and more efficiently. It combines powerful GPUs, special software drivers, and creative apps optimized to run smoothly on their hardware.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 pros

• Powerful CPU and GPU: Ideal for high-end design work.
• Portable: Compact and lightweight for easy transport.
• Good display quality: Sharp and vibrant screen for design tasks.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 cons

• Cooling: Can get hot during intensive tasks or prolonged usage.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 pricing

• Starts at $1,599.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a high-resolution PixelSense display that can be adjusted to different angles for various tasks. With its 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 14.4” PixelSense^™ Flow touchscreen, and NVIDIA Laptop GPU, it’s well-suited for design work that requires flexibility.

This laptop is compatible with the Surface Slim Pen 2, Microsoft’s most advanced stylus. It gives you a pen-on-paper feel with enhanced precision, making your graphic designs smoother and more accurate.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 pros

• Flexible design: Adjustable display angles for different work modes.
• Strong performance: Handles design applications effectively.
• High-resolution display: Provides excellent color accuracy.
• Battery: All-day battery life

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 cons

• Price: Higher cost compared to other models.
• Clunky build: This laptop is definitely the heftier option. It’s powerful but is about 1 inch thick and weighs almost 2 kilograms.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio pricing

• Starts at $1,899.99.

HP Spectre x360 14 

The HP Spectre x360 14 is a versatile 2-in-1 laptop with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor and a 13.5-inch 3K2K OLED display. It’s a good choice for students who need a laptop that can also function as a tablet, offering both capability and flexibility for design work.

Take control of your screen time and privacy with advanced features like adaptive color settings and EyeSafe® Certified low blue light panels to keep your eyes comfortable during long design sessions. 

HP Spectre x360 14 pros

• 2-in-1 design: Can be used as a laptop or tablet.
• OLED display: Provides vibrant colors and high contrast.
• Good performance: Handles design tasks effectively.
• Cheaper: Compared to the other laptops discussed, this is one of your budget-friendly options

HP Spectre x360 14 cons

• Battery life: It may not last as long under heavy use.
• Smaller screen: This may be less comfortable for extended design sessions.

HP Spectre x360 14 pricing

• Starts at $1,099.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1

The Lenovo Yoga 9i is a fantastic option for design students who want flexibility and functionality in a single device. This 2-in-1 laptop features a 14-inch 4K touch display, allowing you to switch between laptop and tablet mode seamlessly. Whether you're sketching, editing, or creating digital artwork, the Yoga 9i’s touchscreen offers a natural, fluid drawing experience.

Powered by Intel's Ultra 7 155H processor, it allows for smooth performance when running design software and handling large image files.

This laptop is also compatible with the Lenovo Slim Pen. This pen offers endless ways to express your creativity, from sketching and doodling to precise note-taking. With tilt sensitivity and pressure levels that mimic the feel of real paper, every stroke feels natural. Plus, it attaches magnetically to your laptop, so you’ll (hopefully) never lose it.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 pros

• Versatile 2-in-1 design: Can switch between laptop and tablet mode, which is useful for brainstorming directly on the screen.
• 4K touch display: The 14-inch screen offers vibrant colors and high resolution, great for detailed design work.
• Pen support: Comes with a stylus, offering a natural drawing experience for digital artists.
• Premium build: Sleek and sturdy design that feels high-end.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 cons

• Battery life: While decent, the 4K display drains the battery faster than models with lower resolutions.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 pricing

• Starting at around $1,299, depending on configuration.

ASUS ProArt Studiobook

The ASUS ProArt Studiobook is designed for creative professionals and serious design students looking for power. It features a 16-inch 4K OLED display with Pantone validation and exceptional color accuracy for projects where precision is key. Powered by high-end 13th Gen​ Intel Core ​i9-13980HX​ and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, it effortlessly handles 3D modeling, rendering, and other intensive design tasks. 

The ProArt Studiobook features a 180° lay-flat hinge, allowing the laptop to fully open for seamless collaboration—perfect for group projects that, as a student, you know are coming. This design makes it easy to share ideas and work together more efficiently.

ASUS ProArt Studiobook pros

• ProArt Dial: A unique feature that allows you to easily control design software settings like brush size and zoom.
• Ample ports: Plenty of USB, HDMI, and other connections, making it easy to connect peripherals.

ASUS ProArt Studiobook cons

• Pricey: On the higher end of the spectrum, making it more of an investment.
• Heavy: It weighs around 4.4 pounds, heavier than most laptops.

ASUS ProArt Studiobook pricing

• Starting at around $1,999 for the base model.

Key features to consider when choosing a laptop

Display quality

The display is one of the most critical factors for design students, as it directly affects how your work looks. A high-resolution screen (ideally 1920 x 1080px or higher) lets you see fine details clearly.

Choosing a laptop with an IPS panel or OLED display will also ensure better color accuracy and wide viewing angles, which is crucial when working on graphics, digital illustrations, or photo editing. Some laptops also support touchscreens, which can offer more direct interaction with your designs, especially when paired with a stylus.

Available software and apps

Make sure the laptop you choose is compatible with the design software you need, such as Linearity Move and Curve, Adobe Creative Suite, CorelDRAW, or Affinity Designer. Compatibility with the latest software updates is also important, as some design software might be exclusive or perform better on certain operating systems.

Performance and storage

Consider the laptop’s CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage capacity. A powerful processor and ample RAM (random access memory) will ensure smooth performance, while sufficient storage is necessary for handling large design files and software.

• A dedicated GPU is ideal for graphic design due to its superior performance with complex tasks, while integrated graphics may struggle with advanced projects. 
• A fast processor is crucial for the smooth operation of design software, the handling of large files, and efficient multitasking. 
• For optimal performance, especially with large design files, an SSD is preferred over an HDD for faster data access and quicker program loading.

Portability and battery life

If you’ll be carrying your laptop around campus or working on the go, choose a lightweight model with good battery life. This will keep you productive without needing to constantly plug it into a wall.

Aim for a laptop with at least 15 hours of battery life (so you have some leeway), especially if you plan to work on the go. Graphic design work can be demanding on the battery, so having a longer battery life will ensure you can work through extended periods without recharging.

Connectivity and ports

The right ports can make a big difference in your workflow, especially when connecting to external monitors, drawing tablets, or storage devices. USB-C, HDMI, and Thunderbolt ports are particularly useful for design students.

• USB Ports: Ensure you have enough USB-A and USB-C ports for peripherals like a mouse, external drives, or graphic tablets.
• Thunderbolt 3/4: Thunderbolt ports allow for high-speed data transfer and support multiple monitors, which can enhance your workspace setup.
• SD Card Reader: Useful for transferring files from cameras or other devices directly to your laptop.
• HDMI/DisplayPort: Essential if you plan to connect your laptop to an external monitor for a larger workspace.

Budget considerations

Laptops vary greatly in price, so consider your budget and look for options that offer the best value for your money. Don’t forget to check for student discounts or trade-in programs that might be available.

A more expensive laptop, while a bigger upfront investment, typically offers more power, better build quality, and a longer lifespan. On the other hand, a cheaper laptop can be a smart choice if you're on a tight budget or just starting as a design student. But, these laptops may not last as long.

The verdict: which laptop should you choose?

Choosing the best laptop for studying graphic design depends on your specific needs and budget. Plenty of options are available, whether you prioritize portability, power, or price.

Investing in a high-performance laptop might offer more longevity and smoother multitasking, but affordable options can also handle most design tasks. Remember to weigh the importance of features like processing power, screen quality, and battery life to ensure your laptop can support you throughout your studies.

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