For Art Design Students Apple Macbook Pro 13inch

I go a lot of questions from both established and new aspiring artists nigh what computers, and especially notebook computers, are best for digital fine art, and so I decided to put this guide together to answer some basic questions:

What is the all-time laptop for artists and digital art on the market today?
Is an Apple or Windows Calculator Best for an Artist?
Is a Laptop or a Tablet All-time for an Artist?

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Tabular array of Contents

What Specifications should a Laptop for Digital Art Accept?
Should You Become a Laptop or a Tablet?
Overview: The All-time Laptops for Artists and Digital Art in 2022
- Asus Zenbook Pro Duo UX581LV 15.half dozen-Inches
- Apple MacBook Pro xvi"
- Microsoft Surface Laptop iii 15"
- Asus ZenBook Duo UX481 fourteen"
- Apple MacBook Air thirteen.3"
- HP Envy x360 Touchscreen 2 in 1 xv.half-dozen"
- Lenovo Flex 5 Touchscreen two in 1 xiv"
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12.4"
Final Thoughts: Who Makes the Best Laptops for Artists and Digital Art in 2022?

I will talk here a little about Windows versus Apple tree, tablets versus laptops, and fifty-fifty about how much RAM and storage an artist needs on their figurer every bit well as some other basic specifications.

And so we will get into the computers themselves, several unlike recommendations for the best Windows notebook computers for digital fine art and the all-time Macintosh notebook computers for digital art, with a few brief words well-nigh each of the recommended laptops.

I take also talked a lot about what computers may exist all-time for digital art, and in my recent article – The Ultimate Guide for the Cocky-Taught Artist – I gave some specific recommendations for the all-time Apple and Windows laptop computers.

How Much Should You Spend on a Proficient Laptop equally an Artist?

Having a good, loftier quality laptop computer can brand all the difference. Yep, there are lots of computers out there at very low prices, and they are generally fine for virtually uses – binge watching, surfing the net, playing near games and using basic programs like word processors.

But artists demand more from their computers. We need fast processors, adept storage and brilliant, loftier resolution screens with first-class color allegiance.

And there's some other affair, and that'southward immovability and reliability. Artists are not necessarily rougher on their computers than normal people, or more clumsy or heavy-handed – in fact, maybe the contrary is true. But nosotros do tend to fall in love with our tools, and if nosotros get a good laptop computer that actually works well for u.s.a., and supports and even enhances our creativity, we volition employ it more and more than and want it to last forever.

Then, bottom of the line opening model computers are out for usa, and I tin can't stress this enough. Even if you're on a upkeep, or just starting out, don't skimp on your workhorse. You need to run any and all fine art software without problems or delays, see your work (and possibly show it to clients) with authentic colors and in real particular, and proceed your entire portfolio on your local bulldoze if yous cull

You may not even think you are going to exercise bodily artwork on your new laptop – maybe you lot accept a tablet for that, or are more than into traditional media – merely yous volition yet want a computer which displays your (and others') art beautifully, opens files immediately, never runs out of storage, looks bang-up and lasts forever. Well, possibly not forever, but long enough for it to really be cheaper in the long run than a budget model.

A final thought almost cost: If you are a new, aspiring artist, you don't accept much money and/or haven't even so established a clientele or reliable income, please don't over-spend on a computer! At the same time, really pay attention to, and follow, the minimum requirements I'm suggesting.

To spend too footling on your laptop tin can fifty-fifty be a worse thought than spending too much – yous can hands end up with a machine that will be frustrating to use, that will discourage you and even hold y'all dorsum in your learning, advocacy and enjoyment. And one that might fifty-fifty toll you more in the long run due to wasted time, missed opportunities and maintenance costs.

What Specifications should a Laptop for Digital Fine art Accept?

Even though I'thou not into specifications that much, I still know that operation is extremely important for an creative person'south computer, and lack of performance oftentimes drives a working artist crazy – and can even frustrate and block creativity.

Equally such, the all-time laptop computers for artists should have, at a minimum:

eight GB of Ram – and preferably 16-32 GB
256 GB Storage – and preferably 512 GB – 1 TB
HD Display – and preferably Full Hard disk or 4K (all Apple laptops have full hd+ resolution)
A fast, powerful latest generation processor and a good, fast graphics co-processor

Now a computer with 32 GB retention, one or two TB of onboard storage and total 4K display may cost more than some of the states paid for our last car. But if we stick to at to the lowest degree the minimums (like every laptop reckoner on my listing) we can observe great laptop computers for artists, which is actually reasonably priced and which will fully support our piece of work (and fifty-fifty our occasional play) and never stand in our way.

Considering, believe me, there is nothing worse than being in the flow and having your calculator, or any creative person's tool, stand in your manner.

Should You Get a Laptop or a Tablet?

Many people want to get some sort of tablet, or even a phablet (I love new words!), so they can work direct on the screen – drawing or painting, retouching, stuff similar that – and then they stop up trying to do everything else on it as well.

This can end up being pretty frustrating and limiting, and the style I see information technology, every creative person should have a good laptop computer. Yous can also get an attachable display tablet or drawing pad (see my article Which Tablet is Better – Wacom or Huion?), and do incredible work on information technology, or fifty-fifty get a laptop with a touchscreen, or a 2 in one (convertible laptop/tablet), and work right on its screen.

But an artist – and a professional artist in detail – volition also need to use their calculator for administrative tasks likewise as lots of other work, and no matter how practiced y'all are with pollex typing this can get little frustrating on a tablet.

Besides, truthful Apple tree or Windows computers will run lots of the best and most industry standard fine art software that iPads or Androids won't, and will permit you (or, again, clients and prospective clients) to run across your work in all its glory on their big, cute screens.

I myself take a very nice iPad, and I use it all the time, just I couldn't become by without my MacBook!

Is an Apple Mac or a Windows Laptop Better for Digital Art?

Every bit y'all may imagine, one of the questions I hear most frequently is should I become a Mac or a Windows computer for my artwork?

For many years, decades now even, the Mac was always considered the "artist'southward computer" and the Windows PCs to be more than for… Well, I don't know – the sort of mysterious daily activities that all those not-artists get themselves up to all the time. Spreadsheets? Databases? Coding?

But that is definitely not the case anymore. In fact, at that place are now (I hate to admit it) more of the very best, most avant-garde and near capable professional art programs bachelor for Windows than for Apple tree.

That said, the most important loftier cease art software is at present being made bachelor for Macintosh also – the brilliant Adobe Suite, for example – and many fantastic fine art programs bachelor on Apple – like my favorite, Procreate – are non available on Windows computers.

At the stop of the twenty-four hour period, either the right Windows laptop or an Apple tree MacBook can exist a fabled reckoner for any artist. Both tin have extremely high functioning, incredible high resolution screens and all of the best art software (from the simplest to the most absurdly complex and avant-garde) you lot could want or demand.

So, if you know and love Macintosh, become a MacBook, and if you are a Windows fan – even if you're not actually sure what a spreadsheet is used for – become a Windows laptop. Either style, you lot will be amazed at how the correct computer can help, inspire and even advance y'all and your art.

Overview: The Best Laptops for Artists and Digital Fine art in 2022

Back to the basic question: What is the Best Laptop for Artists and Digital Art in 2022?

I have put together a list of a dozen different notebook computers, both MacBooks and Windows PC, any of which would be a great selection for whatsoever artist – whether you are a fully established working professional creative person, a fine creative person, or even if yous're just starting out.

I am choosing brands and models which I know to be extremely well fabricated and reliable, and which piece of work especially well for artists – based on my ain experience, on the feedback and recommendations of many of my colleagues and artist friends, and on countless Amazon verified customer reviews I pored through to gear up for this commodity.

They all are available with at to the lowest degree the minimum specs and performance you lot every bit an artist will need, and equally you go up in toll y'all will see a proportionate increase in functioning (not necessarily, though, in reliability, as they are all well fabricated and high quality laptop computers).

They all also have really good monitors, with superb color fidelity and resolution and low distortion. Most of them (though not the Macs) as well have fully accurate and sensitive fine-detail touchscreens, fifty-fifty though virtually working artists will have some kind of drawing pad or display tablet fastened to their calculator too. Still, the best affect screens definitely are fine enough to do fifty-fifty quite exacting and precise work, and they can make interacting with the computer itself – windows, menus and commands – quite intuitive and cool.

Whichever calculator you cull from this article – Best Laptops for Artists and Digital Art : An In-Depth Buyer's Guide – you will finish upwardly with a swell and useful tool. Really, you lot can't become incorrect!

So here's my pick of best laptop computers for artists available on the market today, presented here from highest to lowest price:

Asus Zenbook Pro Duo UX581LV 15.6-Inches

My PC Pick

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 fifteen.six"

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK 2.40GHz ProcessorGPU (Graphics Processing Unit): NVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 Graphics, VR Set

Many artists say that you lot shouldn't try to make art straight on your laptop's screen, merely I'm sure none of them e'er tried this incredible machine, with its amazing dual screen, cute 4K resolution and loftier sensitivity pen.

An expensive computer, the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo is too one of the most innovative, advanced and genuinely useful laptops ever made, and incredibly fast and powerful, and even at this toll users consistently report that it is well worth the money – and then some!

The ZenBook Pro comes standard with xvi GB of ultra-fast RAM and 1 TB of internal SSD storage, so fifty-fifty the nearly serious or advanced artists, animators, 3-D modelers or photographers volition have the memory, processing power and storage space they need.

And that screen!!! Anytime all computers will be this cool and clever, simply for at present you will accept to pay to get what might well exist the best computer for artists ever made – a true advancement and a brilliant tool, this should be a serious consideration for any advanced artist.

Features of Asus Zenbook Pro Duo UX581LV 15.6"

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Cadre i9-10980HK 2.40GHz ProcessorGPU (Graphics Processing Unit): NVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 Graphics, VR Ready
RAM: sixteen Gigabytes DDR4
Internal Storage: i Terrabytes PCle SSD
Screen Size: fifteen.6"
Display Resolution: 4K UHD (3840×2160)
Operating System: Windows 10

Apple MacBook Pro 16"

My Apple Option

The best Apple laptop made, the MacBook Pro has an admittedly pinnacle-notch screen – then expert, in fact, with so much depth, resolution and free energy and such cute colors that it can brand any artist amend (and any prospective client more beholden).

The Apple tree MacBook Pro is besides extremely fast and powerful and incredibly well congenital, and in my experience is so glitch gratuitous and problem complimentary that it never stands in my way when I'm working. It just supports me and allows me to do whatsoever I want to do, and shows me the results exactly and beautifully.

Capable of running any and all fine art software on the Macintosh platform, and able to store the largest files and even complete portfolios and display that work with awesome detail, color and life, the Apple MacBook Pro is definitely the best Apple calculator for artists on the market today.

Features of Apple MacBook Pro 16"

CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 or 2.3GHz Intel Core i9
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory and automated graphics switching
RAM: 16 Gigabytes
Internal Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB Ultrafast SSD
Screen Size: xvi.0-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
Display Resolution: 3072×1920
Operating Arrangement: Mac OS

Microsoft Surface Laptop iii 15"

Lean and Powerful

I've already talked a couple of times elsewhere near the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, which is a 2 in 1 convertible tablet/keyboard and a really great figurer for artists (and itself highly recommended).

Just here nosotros're going to include the new Microsoft Surface Pro laptop, which is a beautifully built figurer – light, sleek and sturdy – with a bright, hitting high resolution touch screen and enough of processing ability and memory for fifty-fifty the most avant-garde art or animation software.

Forth with its highly accurate and sensitive 15 inch bear on screen, the Surface Pro laptop has the fastest, latest generation processors, Radeon graphics co-processor and hyper-fast DDR4 RAM, and is a perfect selection for fifty-fifty the almost complex piece of work – animation, high resolution graphics, professional photography editing and all types of large files.

And it has a removable SSD drive, which can be very handy and especially useful to artists and photographers and makes the computer easy to upgrade.

Too available is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5" – smaller screen, slightly unlike specs and hardware, but still a powerful and highly desirable estimator for any working professional or fine artist.

And equally the perfect accessory – pretty much required, in fact – you should consider getting the Microsoft Surface Pen, which doesn't come up standard with the Surface Laptops.

Features of Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 fifteen"

CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 5 3580U or AMD Ryzen™ 7 3780U
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): Radeon Vega 9 or RX Vega eleven
RAM: viii, 16 or 32 Gigabytes
Internal Storage: Removable 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB Ultrafast SSD
Screen Size: xv" PixelSense Brandish
Display Resolution: 2496×1664
Operating Organisation: Windows ten

Asus ZenBook Duo UX481 14"

Pocket-sized and Powerful

Asus ZenBook Duo UX481 fourteen"

CPU: tenth Generation Intel i7-10510U

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): NVIDIA GeForce MX250 or Intel UHD Graphics 620

Ok, so perhaps you can't afford a ZenBook Duo Pro – does this mean you should miss out on what may be the coolest, most innovative and useful screen design for artists?

Not with the next calculator in my best laptops for artists buyer's guide, the Asus ZenBook Duo. Not quite the jaw-dropping 4K resolution of the Pro, only even so full loftier definition, and way more than sufficient for even the nigh detailed and complex images to really come up to life, and for yous to exist able to piece of work at the highest levels and always see perfectly what yous're doing.

It's also way more than powerful and faster than virtually any creative person might demand, and will run all professional art and photography software with no problems.

And actually it'due south pretty much simply every bit cool as the Pro – and at effectually one-half the price!

Features of Asus ZenBook Duo UX481 xiv"

CPU: tenth Generation Intel i7-10510U
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit of measurement): NVIDIA GeForce MX250 or Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 8 or 16 Gigabytes
Internal Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB PCIE SSD
Screen Size: xiv″ FHD Touch on Display
Display Resolution: 1920×1080
Operating Organization: Windows ten

Apple MacBook Air thirteen.3"

Best Value MacBook for Artists

This is the lowest priced Macbook currently bachelor, and for the toll you lot get a whole lot of computer.

It should be said right upwardly front that this is a smaller screen than I would normally recommend, but this 13.3 inch full Hd+ monitor is so vivid and clear as to brand it quite usable, and this cool fiddling notebook is absolutely perfect for working on the go, for taking to clients' offices or for even but moving effectually your dwelling or studio.

To make the "work on the become" feel even more than fun and productive, yous might also consider the vivid new Wacom One digital pen brandish and stylus to plug into your new MacBook Air – a consummate working mobile fine art studio in your rucksack!

Inexpensive and yet fully upwardly to Apple's loftier standards of quality and functioning, and able to run, and nicely brandish, whatsoever professional art software on the Macintosh platform, the Apple MacBook Air is the perfect small computer for any artist.

Features of Apple MacBook Air 13.iii":

Apple M1 Chip: eight-core CPU; 16-cadre Neural Engine
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit of measurement): Apple 8-core GPU
RAM: 8 Gigabytes
Internal Storage: 256 GB SSD
Screen Size: 13.iii-inch LED-backlit widescreen display
Brandish Resolution: 2560×1600
Operating System: Mac OS

HP Envy x360 Touchscreen ii in 1 fifteen.half dozen"

2-in-ane

The HP Pavilion is a great example of the cool new generation of touch screen notebook computers.

Not a convertible, the Green-eyed'southward keyboard cannot exist detached from the beautiful FHD (Total High Definition) screen, but information technology will fold all the mode over, making it effectively a slightly weighty but solid tablet, and the screen volition also fold to any angle, so you tin can use information technology equally a stand for watching videos… I mean, ahem, working on art.

This system does non give you quite the control, or the paper-like feel, of the best fine art tablets (come across my article xxx), but it is definitely a overnice and authentic plenty pen and screen interaction for all just the virtually detailed and demanding work (the splendid HP Tilt Pen is sold separately).

And, like all the items on this list of best notebook computers for artists on the market today, it has more than than plenty processing ability, memory and storage to come across any creative person'southward needs. This model in particular also features that legendary HP reliability and over-engineering.

Features of HP Green-eyed x360 Touchscreen two in 1 15.6"

CPU: tenth Gen Intel Core i7-10510U
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit of measurement): Intel UHD Graphics
RAM: 8 Gigabytes DDR4
Internal Storage: 256 GB SSD
Screen Size: 15.6″ FHD IPS Touchscreen
Display Resolution: 1920×1080
Operating System: Windows 10

Lenovo Flex five Touchscreen 2 in 1 fourteen"

ii-in-1

Another great affect-screen 2 in i notebook computer, the Lenovo Flex five has a slightly smaller screen than the HP listed just above, which is normally non always desirable, but in this instance actually makes this nice little computer fifty-fifty more portable and usable on the go.

And, with a sufficient 256 GB SSD bulldoze, and a huge amount of RAM – 16 GB!, the Lenovo Flex 5 is a peachy computer for even the most advanced artists and art software, and a peachy value besides – especially considering that the squeamish Lenovo Active Pen is included in the price!

Features of Lenovo Flex 5 Touchscreen 2 in 1 14"

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit of measurement): AMD Radeon
RAM: 16 Gigabytes DDR4
Internal Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB SSD
Screen Size: 15.6″ FHD Touchscreen
Display Resolution: 1920×1080
Operating Organization: Windows 10

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12.4"

Affordable

The least expensive notebook computer on our listing of best laptops for artists on the market place today, the Microsoft Surface Go is likewise i of the well-nigh gorgeous, with its sold feel and sleek contour.

The Surface Go laptop screen does not accept full HD resolution, just information technology nonetheless manages to be one of the best looking, clearest and brightest displays on the market, with numbers still well above the normal Hard disk drive resolution standards.

This is also non a fully fold-abroad screen, like on the 2 in 1 laptops to a higher place, but rather a standard notebook computer with a overnice touch screen. This makes actually doing artwork on the screen a little awkward, but in combination with the brilliant new Wacom One digital pen display and stylus you tin can have a whole working mobile fine art studio for still a very depression cost.

With enough of retentiveness – 8 GB – and the fast, powerful latest-generation Intel i5 processor, it is more than upward to the challenge any commercial artist or illustrator tin can throw at it.

Please note that the Amazon page my link volition take you to is for the college level 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD drive configuration at the lowest current toll – y'all can too opt for 4GB and a 128GB drive, but I would non recommend this simply slightly less expensive option for an artist.

Microsoft is known equally one of the true leaders in design and quality, and I think this new laptop is a corking example of why!

Features of Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12.4"

CPU: tenth Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor 1035G1
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): Intel UHD Graphics
RAM: eight Gigabytes LPDDR4x
Internal Storage: 256 GB SSD
Screen Size: 12.4" PixelSense Multi-Bear on
Brandish Resolution: 1536×1024
Operating System: Windows ten

Final Thoughts: Who Makes the Best Laptops for Artists and Digital Art in 2022?

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You lot notwithstanding may be wondering which manufacturer makes the best, highest quality and most reliable notebook computers, and the short reply is – everybody on the list above.

Just to be a piddling more specific, Microsoft and Apple are known for the extremely loftier material quality, workmanship and reliability.

At the same time, Asus, HP, Lenovo and some other brands are also well known for quality. And these days, with so many new notebook computers coming with solid state drives and basically no moving parts or mechanical processes (over again, similar all the computers above), they can all be expected to terminal a good long time without any issues, and to be a really expert investment.

I hope you've enjoyed reading my new commodity – All-time Laptops for Artists and Digital Art: An In-Depth Heir-apparent'southward Guide – as much as I've enjoyed putting it together. Please be sure to check out my site – Fine art Side of Life – for more buyer'south guides, articles, online art courses and all kinds of other resources for artists!

Other articles in the Laptops for Artists and Designers serial:

Best Laptop for Animation
Best Laptop for Cartoon
Best Laptop for 3D Modeling and Rendering
All-time Mouse for Designers
All-time Chromebook for Drawing and Artists

Howdy, I am Iva (rhymes with "viva"). I am an artist, illustrator, instructor, and the founder of Art Side of Life™. I've worked as a commercial artist since 2009. I believe that we are all creative in infinite numbers of ways so I've made it my mission to teach you everything I know, to contribute to waking upward your artistic genius.

McDonell Diferathe