Best Laptops for Graphic Designers in 2024

In the world of graphic design, having the right tools is essential, and at the heart of every designer’s toolkit is their laptop. Whether you’re working on 3D renders, complex illustrations, or high-resolution photo edits, the right laptop can make all the difference. With graphic design becoming more demanding, you need a machine that can handle intensive tasks, offers color accuracy, and doesn’t slow you down. As we head into 2024, the market is flooded with laptops that promise power, speed, and style, but which ones are truly the best for graphic designers?

This article explores the best laptops for graphic designers in 2024, focusing on performance, display quality, portability, and essential features that help you create stunning visuals effortlessly.

1. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3): The Ultimate Design Powerhouse

For years, the Apple MacBook Pro has been the go-to choice for many creatives, and the 2024 model with the M3 chip is no exception. The MacBook Pro 16-inch remains one of the best laptops for graphic design, thanks to its unparalleled combination of performance, display, and build quality.

M3 Chip Performance: Powered by Apple’s M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, the MacBook Pro delivers lightning-fast performance, perfect for running demanding software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and 3D rendering tools. The M3 chip’s advanced GPU ensures smooth operation when working with large files or multitasking across creative applications.

Display Quality: The 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display offers stunning visuals with extreme brightness, contrast, and color accuracy, which is crucial for any designer. With P3 wide color gamut and up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness, every design, photo, or video looks vibrant and true to life.

Battery Life and Portability: Despite being a powerful machine, the MacBook Pro 16-inch offers up to 22 hours of battery life, making it perfect for long work sessions. Its sleek and durable design also ensures portability for graphic designers who need to work on the go.

Why it’s ideal for graphic designers: The MacBook Pro with the M3 chip delivers high performance, superior color accuracy, and excellent battery life, making it the ultimate machine for creative professionals.

2. Dell XPS 17 (2024): Power and Precision for Designers

The Dell XPS 17 is another top choice for graphic designers looking for a Windows-based powerhouse. Known for its stunning display and top-tier performance, the XPS 17 is one of the best large-screen laptops in 2024.

Display and Color Accuracy: The 17-inch UHD+ InfinityEdge display offers an impressive 3840 x 2400 resolution, providing sharp and vibrant visuals. The 100% Adobe RGB color accuracy ensures that your designs appear exactly as intended, which is critical for print and digital work alike.

Performance: Equipped with 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processors and NVIDIA RTX 4080 GPU, the XPS 17 handles demanding tasks like 3D modeling, video editing, and graphic design software without breaking a sweat. Its powerful GPU makes it ideal for tasks that require GPU acceleration, such as rendering and animations.

Portability and Build: Despite its large display, the XPS 17 is surprisingly portable, thanks to its sleek aluminum chassis. Weighing around 5.3 pounds, it’s still light enough to be carried to client meetings or design studios without too much hassle.

Why it’s ideal for graphic designers: The Dell XPS 17 combines a large, color-accurate display with raw power, making it an excellent choice for designers who need both screen real estate and performance.

3. Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED: The Creative’s Dream Laptop

The Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED is specifically designed with creative professionals in mind. In 2024, it remains one of the best laptops for graphic designers, offering a combination of performance, color accuracy, and innovative design features.

OLED Display: The 16-inch 4K OLED display is the star of the show, delivering incredibly rich colors, deep blacks, and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. This level of display quality is essential for tasks like photo editing, video production, and graphic design, where color precision is paramount.

Asus Dial for Enhanced Workflow: One of the unique features of the ProArt Studiobook 16 is the Asus Dial, a physical dial built into the laptop that allows designers to quickly adjust settings in creative apps like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro. This feature significantly improves workflow, making it easier to fine-tune your work.

Performance: Powered by Intel Core i9 processors and NVIDIA RTX A3000 series GPU, the Studiobook handles demanding tasks like 3D rendering, video editing, and intensive graphic design projects with ease. With up to 64GB of RAM, multitasking is seamless.

Why it’s ideal for graphic designers: The Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED is built with creatives in mind, offering stellar display quality, powerful performance, and innovative features like the Asus Dial that enhance productivity.

4. HP Spectre x360 (2024): Versatile and Portable

For graphic designers who value versatility and portability, the HP Spectre x360 is a great option in 2024. This 2-in-1 convertible laptop offers the flexibility of a tablet and the power of a traditional laptop, making it ideal for designers who work on the go.

Convertible Design: The Spectre x360 features a 360-degree hinge, allowing you to switch between laptop, tablet, and tent modes. This is perfect for designers who want to sketch directly on the screen using a stylus, offering a more intuitive way to create.

Display Quality: The 4K OLED display provides excellent color accuracy and brightness, ensuring that your designs look vivid and sharp. With touchscreen capability and pen support, the Spectre x360 is perfect for digital artists and illustrators.

Performance: The laptop is powered by the Intel Core i7 13th Gen processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics, which are more than capable of handling most graphic design tasks, from vector illustrations to moderate 3D work.

Why it’s ideal for graphic designers: The HP Spectre x360 offers the perfect balance between portability, versatility, and performance, making it an excellent choice for designers who value flexibility in their creative process.

5. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio: Designed for Creators

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is a hybrid device that combines the best elements of a laptop and a drawing tablet, making it ideal for graphic designers who want versatility and performance in a single device.

Dynamic Display: The Surface Laptop Studio features a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision support. The display can be pulled forward into different modes, including studio mode, where the screen lays flat, mimicking a digital drawing tablet. This is perfect for sketching, drawing, and digital painting.

Powerful Performance: Equipped with Intel Core H-series processors and NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti graphics, the Surface Laptop Studio can handle heavy design software, ensuring smooth performance during multitasking or complex design projects.

Surface Pen 2 Integration: The Surface Laptop Studio is compatible with the Surface Slim Pen 2, offering a natural and responsive drawing experience. The stylus is magnetic, attaching easily to the device for charging.

Why it’s ideal for graphic designers: The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is built for creators, with its flexible design, excellent display, and powerful internals, making it one of the most versatile laptops for graphic design in 2024.

Conclusion: Which Laptop Should You Choose in 2024?

Choosing the best laptop for graphic design in 2024 depends on your specific needs, whether it’s raw power, portability, or a color-accurate display. The Apple MacBook Pro continues to lead with its incredible performance and display quality, while the Dell XPS 17 and Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 offer powerful alternatives for Windows users.

For those who need flexibility, the HP Spectre x360 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio stand out as excellent choices, combining touchscreen functionality and performance.

No matter which option you choose, these laptops are designed to help you create without limits, ensuring you have the tools you need to bring your creative visions to life. So, which one will be your new graphic design powerhouse?