Looking for the best laptop for programming and graphic design?
Well, Finding a laptop that is suitable for both programming and graphic design is a difficult task. There are very few options out there that offer the same set of features as a Macbook or PC that can be used for both purposes.
A laptop may be one of the most important tools for a programmer or a graphic designer. It goes without saying that the laptop they use must have the right accessories for the job. For programmers, you are looking for a heavy-duty laptop that is capable of running heavy-duty software.
At a glance:
Best Pick
- CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
- RAM & Storage: 16GB & 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6″ IPS-Level FHD
- Battery life: 15 hours
- Weight: 3.7 pounds
Staff Pick
- CPU: M1 chip
- GPU: Apple 8-core GPU
- RAM & Storage: 8GB & 256GB SSD
- Display: 13.3″ (diagonal) LED-backlit IPS
- Battery life: Upto 18 hours
- Weight: 3 pounds
Best Budget
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
- RAM & Storage: 16GB & 256GB SSD
- Display: 15. 6″ FHD thin bezel 144Hz
- Battery life: 5 hours
- Weight: 8.68 pounds
When it comes to graphic designers you are looking for a lightweight laptop that is able to run the latest graphic design software. This blog will look at the different things you need to look for in a laptop and what features and specifications to look out for.
Few factors that you must consider before buying a laptop for programming and graphic design
Screen size:
Screen size is going to be really important, especially if you’re going to be spending hours in front of it coding or editing. A smaller screen can lead to eye strain and headaches quickly. Typically anything in the 15″ range should fit your needs nicely.
Note: Keep in mind that not all 1080p screens are created equal! You should definitely take a look at the screen quality before buying as this will play into how long your battery lasts as well as how comfortable it is to read text on the screen.
Hardware specifications:
Hardware specifications like processor speed (GHz) and system RAM (M) are also considerations that will play into how long your machine lasts for graphic intensive work like photo/video editing or CAD modeling etc…
Weight:
Laptop weight is also a consideration. If you’re going to be lugging it around in your bag, then the weight is something to consider.
Note: Keeping these factors in mind, the best laptop for programming and graphic design are laptops that have large screens, latest-generation CPUs (5th or 7th) with at least 8GB DDR4 system RAM with an SSD drive which are necessary for quick boot times. These attributes have been hand-selected by us so you only need to worry about finding the best deal!
So enough of my babbling, here are laptops that I have hand-selected for their ease of use for programming and graphic design work!
The Best Laptop For Programming and Graphic Design In 2021
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip |
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Microsoft Surface Pro 7 |
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Razer Blade 15 |
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Dell XPS 15 |
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Asus ZenBook 15 Ultra Slim |
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Huawei Matebook 13 Signature Edn. Laptop |
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LG gram 15Z970 |
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2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip
- CPU: M1 chip
- GPU: Apple 8-core GPU
- RAM & Storage: 8GB & 256GB SSD
- Display: 13.3″ (diagonal) LED-backlit IPS
- Battery life: Upto 18 hours
- Weight: 3 pounds
The new Apple MacBook Pro with its astonishingly thin and light design, beautiful Retina display, high-performance Integrated Graphics, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3 ports, and epic battery life is designed for those who need the most from a notebook. When it comes to programming, ethical hacking, or graphic design – from basic to advanced – this is one of the best laptops for programming and graphic design at a bargain price you can find.
As Apple’s first portable computer to feature their “Touch Bar” technology, the 2020 Apple MacBook Pro delivers incredible hardware, design, and performance. Apple continues its tradition of offering a best-in-class keyboard, (for better typing experience), wide color gamut display, (for graphics designing work activities) Touch Bar, TouchID, and other premium features.
This computer weighs only 3 pounds and is only 0.59 inches thin. The screen is a retina display and comes in 13 inches. The Apple M1 chip in this computer provides amazing processing power and graphics. This chip is the result of a collaboration between Intel and Apple and is designed to handle 3D and 4K video. The graphics power is also upgraded and is able to run 4K.
The retina display comes in a wide color gamut and has great contrast, making videos and text look really crisp and sharp. With all this power, this computer is still able to get 18 hours of battery life. This amount is higher than the previous generation and the Apple M1 chip delivers most of this convenience. This computer is a true laptop and can be used in any professional environment whether you’re a programmer or graphics designer.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
- CPU: 10th gen Intel Core i5
- GPU: Integrated
- RAM & Storage: 8GB & 256GB SSD
- Display: 10-inch Touchscreen (pen input)
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Weight: 1.70 pounds
The Microsoft Surface Pro is the ultimate laptop for programming, designing, and general day-to-day work. It’s sleek, slim design is lightweight and easy to carry, while the powerful quad-core Intel Core i5 processor delivers high performance. The touchscreen lets you work intuitively, and you can use the Surface Pro as a tablet thanks to the built-in kickstand. The new Surface Pen can be used as a mouse or as a digital pen. The Surface Pro also comes with Microsoft Windows 10 S, enabling you to run any desktop software.
Microsoft has upgraded the Surface Pro to version seven. The latest iteration of the world’s thinnest laptop is more powerful, efficient, and capable than ever before, offering a unique balance of portability, performance, and productivity. With a full range of creative software, Surface Pro makes it easy to turn inspiration into reality. Its unique 360-degree hinge, PixelSense display, and Surface Pen make it easy to draw, paint, write, and create.
Surface Pro delivers more power and performance than ever before, all while maintaining the lightness, versatility, and all-day battery life that are essential for productivity. With the new Surface Pen ( View On Amazon ), you get to write, draw, and doodle on Surface Pro like never before. The tip of the pen offers 4,096 levels of pen tip pressure sensitivity, allowing for a natural writing experience. The new Surface Pen also comes with an eraser and features inking in over 100 apps in the Windows Store.
Featuring a 7th gen Intel Core i3, i5, or i7, up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD storage and available in multiple colors and configurations, the Microsoft Surface Pro is the tablet that can replace your laptop. Whether you’re a power user looking for a faster way to take notes and create content, or a creative professional looking for a portable solution for graphic design and development, we’ve got exactly what you’re looking for.
Power to spare. Improved thermals let you run more powerful applications, have a better battery life to keep you working for longer, and display options tuned for even better contrast. The Surface Pro 1, 3, and 4 were exceptionally well-liked by programmers, so we expect this one to be much the same. If you need an even bigger screen for code editing or diagramming than the 13″, this is your best choice.
Razer Blade 15
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
- RAM & Storage: 16GB & 256GB SSD
- Display: 15. 6″ FHD thin bezel 144Hz
- Battery life: 5 hours
- Weight: 8.68 pounds
Razer Blade 15 is the perfect laptop for any programmer or designer. It boasts great specs, a high-performance graphics card, the latest generation Intel processor which is very competitive with other brands. Overall it’s a great purchase for those looking for a laptop with those features. Keep in mind that the screen might be too small for a lot of people to work on as the main monitor as it is only 15.6″.
Razer’s industry-leading technologies have won critical acclaim and numerous awards to become the standard for other gaming laptops. The unibody CNC aluminum chassis is compact, yet durable, weighing only 8.68 pounds. The dual-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos push the powerful sound to your ears to ensure you’ll feel the action.
The Razer Blade 15 is designed for uncompromising performance in a form you can take anywhere, anytime. It’s the latest in a long history of innovative, powerful laptops that have raised the bar for performance, responsiveness, and precision.
The 15.6-inch display is available in Full HD or 4K Ultra-HD. The Full HD display offers wide viewing angles and brilliant colors, bringing your games and entertainment to life. The 4K UHD display has the sharpest resolution and the highest PPI (Pixels Per Inch) on a laptop to provide you with the most immersive and crisp visuals for incredible gaming and workstation experiences. And with up to 5 hours of battery life, you can go all day without recharging.
This sleek ultrabook is slim and lightweight enough to carry from school to home without a second thought. Powerful as it is portable, the Razer Blade 15 has a beautiful QHD+ screen that’s perfect for photo editing or programming.
The Razer Blade 15 is the world’s smallest 15.6″ gaming laptop but still has powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 graphics. It also features a Full HD gaming display with ultra-fast 144Hz refresh rate and wide viewing angle, Thunderbolt 3 for lightning-fast graphics or data transfers, backlit keyboard with per-key RGB customization, high-performance 10th Gen Intel Core processor, and more.
This laptop’s high performance is due to its 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H Processor which runs at a clock speed of 2.20 GHz. Its 16GB Dual Channel Memory helps it to deliver outstanding multitasking performance.
The all-new Razer Chroma lighting feature allows for unlimited customization. Our pioneering automated laptop manufacturing technology delivers the world’s first 0.7” thin laptop with no visible screws and a solid aluminum cover. Razer’s award-winning thermal management system provides the best performance for the CPU and GPU in a thin and light form factor.
Dell XPS 15
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
- RAM & Storage: 16GB & 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6 FHD+ InfinityEdge Anti-Glare
- Battery life: 8 hours
- Weight: 6.27 pounds
Powered by the Intel Core i7 Processor, the XPS 15 is equipped to run your desktop software just as fast as a workstation while being able to power through intensive programs like Adobe CC and programs like Dreamweaver and many more. The Dell XPS 15 also delivers an impressive cinematic experience with TRUE COLOR (96% sRGB) display technology and an HD Webcam that lets you capture life in rich detail.
The XPS offers more power than ever before, with new 8th Gen Intel Core processors, a new Dell Premium Panel with 100% Adobe RGB color gamut, the largest display option yet on an XPS laptop, and all-new Dell Cinema with Dolby Vision HDR. The Dell’s Infinity Edge display maximizes screen space so you can see more of what you love. An optional 4K display delivers stunning visuals in every pixel. The XPS has enough power to handle video editing so you can show off your skills without slowing down.
The Dell XPS 15 is considered to be one of the best laptop for programming and graphic design. It has many features that will make you drool all over it. The Dell XPS 15 comes coated with that signature black color that makes it appear to look like an Apple MacBook. It’s brushed aluminum cover gives it that premium finish, yet remains durable.
This machine is one of the best laptops for programming and graphic design, thanks to its 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, 512 GB PCIe SSD, 16GB RAM, and NVidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card with 4GB GDDR6 VRAM. And RapidCharge to quickly get you back in action after an unexpected intermission, this versatile laptop is both compact enough to be your main workhorse yet powerful enough for demanding applications. And whether at home or on-the-go, you’ll enjoy bold stereo sound.
The 15.6″ Dell XPS Laptop provides powerhouse performance, with a 10th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor that helps keep your videos, photos, and games running smooth and fast, all while using less energy than previous generations.
Asus ZenBook 15
- CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
- RAM & Storage: 16GB & 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6″ IPS-Level FHD
- Battery life: 15 hours
- Weight: 3.7 pounds
Whether you’re coding and debugging, reviewing documents and media, or getting creative with videos and graphics, the award-winning Asus ZenBook 15 is at home wherever your work takes you. It’s compact yet powerful, portable yet built-in enough to handle demanding tasks. And with its stunning lines and our Zen aesthetic, it’s bound to turn heads along the way. The ZenBook 15 is built with metal and premium materials for a luxurious feel, but weighs only 3.7 pounds, making it perfect for taking to work or school or wherever life might take you!
The ZenBook 15 comes every inch as high as the laptop’s elegant appearance demands. It features a full metal chassis, an ultra-high-resolution display, and an innovative cooling system that mixes both hardware and software to ensure your performance won’t be slowed down by your hardware. From the hi-res screen to the lightning-fast keyboard and killer quad speakers tucked inside, this laptop is the complete package.
The keyboard has backlit keys that are 25% larger than those of some competing models. The ErgoLift hinge is designed for 15% more opening range for comfortable viewing. And the Active Aerodynamic feature helps the laptop maintain its balance. Its display’s bezel features a narrow 6.9mm width, which is just 18% of the screen’s total area. The display itself features a wide-angle, narrow-edge display that delivers a 178º wide-viewing angle.
With a premium brushed aluminum finish and an amazingly thin 0.7″ profile, the ZenBook 3 is the most beautifully designed laptop in its class. The 15.6″ Full-HD display has an incredible 400 nit brightness level to ensure comfort during viewing even in bright environments, and with touch technology for intuitive control. It combines innovative technology with premium design, providing a truly immersive experience for work and play!
This is the ideal laptop for the modern individual that is constantly on the move, whether it is work or leisure. It delivers brains and beauty with a brilliant 15.6″ display, powerful Intel Core i7 processor, whopping 16GB of RAM, and hard drive options ranging from 256 to 512GB. However, this specific model comes with 512GB SSD storage. With the advanced carrying case, you can easily bring all your gear anywhere–even to your meetings in style. The fast-charging design has a 50% charge in just 49 minutes.
Huawei Matebook 13 Signature Edn. Laptop
- CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
- RAM & Storage: 8GB & 512GB SSD
- Display: 13” 88% screen-to-body ratio, 2K touchscreen
- Battery life: 6 hours
- Weight: 2.86 pounds
Huawei, the world’s number-one selling smartphone brand, today unveiled its first laptop, MateBook 13 Signature Edition at CES 2020. It has more than enough performance for programming and large-scale graphic design. 13.9-inch high-resolution display with 3K resolution. Compact and ultra-slim, coming in at just 13.5mm thick and weighing around 2.86 pounds, the Huawei Matebook 13 showcases a colour co-processing chip that supports faster and smoother color-pressing for photo and video editing, and supports convenient and accurate face unlock.
Designed for the productive professional, the Huawei MateBook 13 Signature Edition is a powerful tool that can handle demanding tasks, including programming and graphic design. The Stealth-inspired chassis with its edgy diamond-cut finish has an aluminum top cover, giving it a sturdy yet lightweight feel, while the FullView display is coupled with Dolby Atmos sound to offer an immersive experience.
The MateBook 13 is a laptop with a 13-inch screen that uses Huawei’s unique “full screen” design with a fingerprint sensor built into the power button positioned on the top edge of the keyboard. Although not as thin as Huawei’s other laptops, the reduced bezels give it a 91% screen-to-body ratio. It has a maximum brightness of 370 cd/m2 using both Intel UHD Graphics 620 discrete graphics and a Narrow Bezel IPS display, making it usable in strong daylight. It comes preinstalled with Windows 10.
The new MateBook X Pro and the MateBook 13 feature slender, unibody designs for greater comfort and less bulk. The Hi-Res Audio Certification and SRS Premium Sound System ensure a richer sound experience whether listening to music or watching videos. The glass-covered keyboard is Huawei’s best-ever, with 1.4mm key travel for a smooth, tactile typing experience.
MateBook X Pro combines innovation and performance to create a breakthrough laptop. Its slim all-metal body with Dolby Premium Sound delivers an immersive entertainment experience. And the revolutionary EMUI is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make life simpler and easier – with AI capabilities including real-time translation, fun ambient sounds, and gestures, and facial recognition unlocks.
LG Gram 15 15Z970
- CPU: 7th Gen Intel Core i7
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620
- RAM & Storage: 16GB & 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6″ FHD IPS Touchscreen LCD
- Battery life: 15 hours
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
Lightweight, powerful, innovative, and attractive, the LG gram 15Z970 embodies everything that a modern laptop should be. Weighing in at just 2.04kg while still packing enough power to handle high graphic applications, this finely-crafted mobile wonder is the perfect choice for any mobile worker.
If you’re a programmer or a graphic designer then you need a reliable laptop that doesn’t sacrifice performance or design to achieve it. The Gram is a sleek and powerful 15-inch laptop with a footprint as small as a sheet of notebook paper so it’s perfect for those with a minimalist approach to their work. The lightning-fast solid-state drive boots up in seconds and the super-responsive keyboard and trackpad help you work as fast as possible. The 3K pixel-dense display works a treat for programmers and designers alike due to its enhanced color reproduction and comfortable viewing angle.
Whether you’re working on your thesis, redesigning your website, or kicking back with some Netflix, the LG gram 15Z970 will make sure everything looks sharp. This super-light laptop has an advanced solid-state drive (SSD) to speed up load times and its innovative cooling system keeps the laptop running cooler, quieter, and longer.
This laptop is meant for graphic design and programming. Ensures incredible and strong performance and long battery life with a 7th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor, up to 16GB DDR4 memory, and high capacity 512 GB SSD. Ergonomically crafted to make it easy to work for hours on end with the Signature LG Slim keyboard and precision touchpad. Brushed aluminum material gives it an anti-scratch layer of protection, while the Hanger Hooks allow you to attach it vertically on a wall or on a laptop bag strap.
LG’s Gram 15Z970 laptop is the best of both worlds. It has a large 15.6″ display, but is only 0.8″ thin and 2.4 lbs light. With this powerful laptop, it’s easy to be more productive on the go — whether you’re typing up reports or doing graphic design work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which laptop is suitable for programming?
To start with, I will suggest you buy anything other than a notebook. If you are not used to programming, it is very difficult to work on a small screen. And if you use the laptop, the screen size should be at least 12-14 inches. If you are looking for something portable to carry to the university, ultrabooks are the best option. As for the programming software, you can use any other software than VIM. VIM is the best text-based editor, but it is not intuitive for first time users.
Are gaming laptops good for programming?
I will not recommend a gaming laptop for a programming student. Gaming laptops are more suitable for gaming and multimedia purposes. Since a programming student will be using his laptop for software development, I will suggest you to go for a laptop that has an Intel processor. This processor is more powerful than AMD processors for software development purposes.
Which laptop is best for graphic design?
Apple Macbook Pro is the answer for you. If you are designing something on the go, Mac is the way to go. I’ve been using Macs since I was in high school and I’ve never looked back. As of today, I am using Macbook Pro for my design projects and I am more than happy with it. If you want to run Adobe Photoshop on Mac, then Mac is the only way to go. Mac is indeed the best laptop for graphic design and programming.
What laptop specs do I need for graphic design?
For Graphic design, you need a powerful processor and a lot of RAM. I’d stick with an i5 and above and a RAM of at least 8GB and above. Also, a dedicated graphics card is a must for graphic design. Like the Nvidia GeForce or AMD Radeon. If you’re still looking for a laptop, do check out this article: The 5 Mobile Workstations For Graphic Designers. It talks about some of the best laptops for graphic design.
Which laptop is best for Illustrator?
We can say illustrator is a very powerful and advanced software and requires a good laptop to run smoothly. If we talk specifically, we can say that an i7 processor is required and you should go for at least 8GB RAM. If you need to edit some video also then you should go for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card. We can also say that the best laptop is the one with an i7 processor and 8GB RAM.
Conclusion:
We’ve tried and tested many different laptops and we’ve found the best laptop for programming and graphic design. We’ve taken into account things like screen size, processor speed, and RAM. The laptops we’ve chosen are the best laptops we’ve found and the ones we use every day. We hope you find this blog useful!
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