This post was most recently updated on June 20th, 2023
The best laptop for digital art is the Apple MacBook Pro M1. If you’re looking for the best laptop for digital art in 2023, look no further.
We’ve reviewed all of the top laptops on the market and have compiled a list of the best ones for digital artists and digital art enthusiasts. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, we have a laptop that will suit your needs.
With our buying guide below, you can find the perfect laptop to take your artwork to the next level. We know how important it is to have the right tools for the job, and we want to make sure you have everything you need to create beautiful pieces of art.
Apple MacBook Pro M1 Space Gray
“Insanely fast and sharp”
Get he Apple MacBook M1 Pro or M1 Max chip for a massive leap in CPU. Up to 10-core CPU that delivers up to 2x faster performance to fly through pro workflows quicker than ever.
ALSO: Read our review of the best laptop for art students or the best laptop for video editing.
LaptopRider Top 5 Choices | Summary of the 5 best laptops for digital art
Here is a list to compare our best 5 and our headline comment for each one:
| Image | Product | Detail | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro |
| Price |
 | Dell Inspiron 2 in1 |
| Price |
 | Acer Spin 3 |
| Price |
 | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 |
| Price |
 | Lennovo Flex 5 |
| Price |
Review of the 13 Best laptops for digital artists in 2023
Even if you are a professional artist or an art student, our top 13 choices of laptops will be very useful for you. No matter what your requirement, you can easily find the best laptops for artists with great processing power.
1.Lenovo 2-in-1 11.6″ Convertible Chromebook
Product Specifications
- CPU: MediaTek MT8173C Quad-Core
- RAM: 4GB Memory
- Internal Storage: 32GB eMMC
- Display Screen: 11.6″ Convertible Chromebook Touchscreen Laptop
- GPU: PowerVR GX6250
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
The Lenovo 2-in-1 11.6″ Convertible Chromebook is an amazing laptop. It has premium quality at competitive prices. It is just one of the best laptops for artists.
It’s not only a fantastic tool for digital art, but it’s also ideal for regular activities. It includes a 360-degree hinge, making it especially suited to changing the system into a tablet.
The touchscreen on this laptop is really responsive and works beautifully with a stylus. You may also use your fingertips to operate it.
It has a MediaTek MT8173c 2. 1 GHz Quad-Core processor with the help of a PowerVR GX6250 graphics card. Despite its low price, it is still quite capable of running diverse sketching and drawing applications.
If you just want to sketch and paint. You won’t be concerned with the low RAM of 4 GB if that’s all you need it for. Along with a 4GB RAM, you’ll get roughly 32GB eMMC storage space.
The long battery use of 10 hours is something that is of worthy mention. You can reliably use this laptop for the entire day. It makes a good laptop great for artists or professionals who travel and paint.
2.Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Product Specifications
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5
- RAM: 8GB Memory
- Internal Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display Screen: 12.3″ Touch-Screen Display
- GPU: Iris Plus graphics
- Battery duration: Up to 8 hours
Microsoft offers a wide range of laptops, both inexpensive and expensive. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Pro 7 is a fantastic option. That’s why it’s our top pick for the best laptops for digital artists.
The HP 15-ck001TU features a 10th Gen Core i5 processor and an Iris Plus graphics card. The Iris Plus graphics card allows you to work on graphic-intensive tasks in a fluid and efficient way. Although it isn’t a dedicated GPU, it will still provide you with outstanding performance.
The outstanding 12.3″ Touch-Screen Display and stylus are the finest aspects of this laptop. The only issue with this laptop is that the stylus is not included.
The battery life is excellent, and the fact that it has a 10-hour battery backup for only $1,000 is fantastic. All things considered, if you’re looking for a laptop that’s both portable and convenient, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Pro 7 is just what you need to get as a digital art laptop.
3.Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5″
Product Specifications
- CPU: 8th Gen Core i7-8650U (quad-core)
- RAM: 8GB RAM
- Internal Storage: 256GB Solid State Drive
- Display Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense 3260x2160P Display with HD resolution
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
- Battery duration: Up to 17 hours
Another option for the finest laptop for artists is the Microsoft Surface Book 2. It has the most powerful features in a laptop under a budget.
The Pixi 3’s keyboard doubles as a drawing surface for artists. You may readily remove the display screen from the keyboard to use it as a tablet.
Another aspect to consider is the 13-inch 3,240 x 2160 pixelSense display. It aids in the most crystal clear viewing of photos. Furthermore, it features 8GB RAM and 256GB solid state drive storage. These are excellent specs for video editing or picture editing.
With a powerful 8th Gen Core i7-8650U quad-core processor, the NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1050 graphics card, and a large display screen. These two components work in tandem to deliver outstanding results.
It’s all you need to create images and run different picture editing programs.
4.Google Pixelbook Go
Product Specifications
- CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
- RAM: 8 GB
- Internal Storage: 128 GB
- Display Screen: 13.3 inches Full High Resolution Display 1920 x 1080p
- GPU: Integrated
- Battery duration: Up to 12 hours
- Backlit keyboard with Hush Keys
The Google Pixelbook Go is another good option for those in the market for a lightweight, portable laptop. It’s a super light and thin laptop with a decent battery life of 12 hours. Digital art in 2023, will be an excellent choice for people in digital art who are on the go.
It is the perfect choice for digital art students or pro who is always on the move. It comes with impeccable storage of 8GB along with a storage space of 128 GB.
The specifications are simply outstanding for running a variety of art programs. Alternatively, you may utilize this laptop only to draw. The processor is powerful enough to provide you with a fluid experience without any speed hiccups.
The amazing High- Definition touchscreen of this laptop is its main selling point. It enhances the appearance of your work and makes it more vivid and vibrant. Overall, it has the most incredible characteristics available in a laptop for an artist.
5.Samsung Chromebook pro
Product Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core m3
- RAM: 4GB RAM
- Internal Storage: 64GB eMMC
- Display Screen: 12.2 Inches FHD 1920 x 1200p Display
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 615
- Battery duration: Up to 10 hours
The Samsung Chromebook Pro is just the best for artists just getting started with digital art. It comes with everything that an artist needs on a laptop. Plus, it comes along with a Stylus pen.
You can draw or write straight on the touchscreen without any problem. The best thing about this pen is that it doesn’t require any charging.
It has a sleek and thin lightweight body, this makes it easy for you to carry the laptop along with you.
Moreover, the Intel m3 processor with support of the Intel HD Graphics 615 graphics card gives enough juice to the laptop to run multiple tasks.
Another really great thing about this laptop is that you can easily convert it to tablet mode. The tablet mode in the Samsung Chromebook pro makes it yet another decent choice.
6.Lenovo Chromebook C340
Product Specifications
- CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4417U Processor
- RAM: 4GB DDR4 RAM
- Internal Storage: 32GB SSD
- Display Screen: 15.6″ FHD 1920 X 1080p Touch Display
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 610
- Battery duration: Up to 10 hours
The Lenovo Chromebook C340 is a really great choice of laptop perfect for artists. Also has a 2 in 1 design. You can easily use this laptop in tablet mode as well as laptop mode. It allows you to use the laptop for sketching and for drawing.
The only drawback in this laptop is that a stylus is not included in the package. You may need to get the stylus separately. At such a budget price you get really amazing specifications.
It runs on an Intel Pentium Gold 4417U Processor with the support of an Intel HD Graphics 610 graphics card. Also, it includes 4GB DDR4 RAM along with a 32GB SSD storage space. It is an excellent choice for beginners that are looking for a good laptop.
7.Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop
Product Specifications
- CPU: 10th Gen Core i5-1035G4
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
- Internal Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
- Display Screen: 14″ Full HD IPS Touch screen display
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Battery duration: Up to 12 hours
- Fingerprint reader
If you are an artist, you will fall in love with the specifications of the Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop. It is an amazing laptop available at a very affordable price. It has a powerful 10th Gen Core i5-1035G4 processor with the support of an Intel Iris Plus Graphics card.
An amazing touch display laptop computer. It comes along with a pen that gets fixed in the slot on the side of the laptop so that you don’t lose it. Another really amazing feature of this laptop is that it has a fingerprint reader.
It has a really great 14″ Full HD IPS Touch screen display that you can easily draw on. You don’t even need to take all your brushes along as long as you have this laptop.
So, what else do you need? The Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop is a fantastic laptop for digital art.
8.Lenovo Flex 5 15.6-Inch 2-in-1 Laptop
Product Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Internal Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD
- Display Screen: 15.6″ IPS 1920×1080 p Touch display (High resolution screen)
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620
- Battery duration: Up to 8 hours
- Keyboard: Non Backlit
If you are looking for a long battery life with a very robust construction. Then the Lenovo Flex 5 15.6-Inch 2-in-1 Laptop is just what you need. It surely is the best cheap laptop for artistsas well as students. It has a fantastic screen size of 15.6″ with an impeccable touchscreen IPS display.
Along with a resolution of 1920x1080p. This combination allows you to view and work on pictures with the most amazing quality. Moreover, the laptop runs on a Core i5-8250U processor with the support of an Intel HD Graphics 620 graphics card. You can easily run basic tasks, and make drawings without any problem.
Besides, it has an 8GB DDR4 and storage space of 256GB PCIe SSD. It has a powerful processing speed combined with decent storage space enables you to work in a smooth and efficient manner.
Another really amazing thing about this laptop is its battery runtime. After a full charge, you can use this laptop continuously for 8hours. It makes it a great choice for you if you travel on a frequent basis. Some people may think that this laptop is a little heavy. But all things considered, it is the best laptop for artistswith speed and functionality combined.
9.Microsoft Surface Go
Product Specifications
- CPU: Intel Pentium Gold (comparable to Intel core i7)
- RAM: 4GB RAM
- Internal Storage: 64GB
- Powerful laptop
- Display Screen: 10 inch PixelSense Full HD Display
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 615
- Battery duration: Up to 9 hours
If it’s a laptop for artists that you are looking for. Then the Microsoft Surface Go is the right choice. It has a 2 in 1 design that comes packed with the most fantastic features. It is run on an Intel Pentium Gold processor with the support of an Intel HD Graphics 615 graphics card.
It has a very lightweight and portable design that makes it easy to carry the laptop around on the go. Plus, another really great feature of this laptop is its long battery runtime of 9 hours.
The 10-inch PixelSense Display is just what an artist needs to make paintings and sketches. All things considered, the Microsoft Surface Go is just the best laptop you need to get for all your art needs.
10.Lenovo Yoga Book
Product Specifications
- CPU: Intel Atom x5-Z8550
- RAM: 4GB RAM
- Storage: 64GB SSD
- Display Screen: 10.1″ FHD IPS Touchscreen Display
- GPU: Intel HD 400 Graphics
- Battery duration: Up to 13 hours
- Halo keyboard (Great for Digital art in 2023)
- Real pen & 3 ink refills. (Also Great for Digital art in 2023)
Lenovo Yoga Book is a very amazing 2 in 1 convertible laptop that is available at a very reasonable price. It has a very compact footprint with hardly any weight. The laptop features a foldable screen, you can use it as a notebook or even like a sheet of paper for drawing or taking notes.
The foldable screen of the laptop makes it possible to write notes in your own writing. It is in fact in a true sense a very handy notebook for art students and professionals. You also get a real pen and a small notebook having 15 pages along with the laptop.
You can use the Lenovo active pen on the digital screen of the laptop, as well as the notebook that comes along with it. This laptop comes in two different versions, Windows and Android. You can pick whichever depending upon your use and personal preference.
Moreover, it features a 360 degree hinge as well. It makes it easy to use the laptop like a slate or a mini canvas for drawing or sketching. Though, all the specifications of this laptop makes it the laptop for digital paintings of choice. To use it like a traditional laptop with just a push of a button you can activate a digital keyboard.
11.ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop
Product Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core M3-8100Y Processor
- RAM: 8GB RAM
- Storage: 64GB SSD
- Display Screen: 14″ Full HD 4-Way NanoEdge Touchscreen display
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 615
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Keyboard: Backlit
The ASUS Chromebook Flip has a very chic and stylish body that looks so aesthetically pleasing. It features a 14″ Full HD 4-Way NanoEdge Touchscreen display that is very rare to find at such an affordable price.
Moreover, it has Intel Core M3-8100Y Processor with the support of an Intel HD Graphics 615 graphics card. Also, it has 8GB RAM along with 64GB SSD storage. It is just what you need for an aspiring artist. You can easily convert this laptop into tablet mode for drawing sketching.
It is just what an artist needs for drawing without any problem. So, if you are looking for the best laptop for art and drawingthen the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop is just what you need. Another laptop computer that is upcoming in people’s choice.
12.Lenovo Flex 14
Product Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core I5-8265U Processor
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 128GB Nvme SSD
- Display Screen: 14 Inch FHD 1920 X 1080p IPS Touch Display
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 615
- Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
The next best for artistson our list is Lenovo Flex 14. It is just the laptop that you need to get for drawing and art projects that too at a very reasonable price. It comes with a powerful Intel Core I5-8265U Processor along with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 128GB Nvme SSD storage space.
The stylus pen that comes with this laptop is its winning feature. It has an impeccable 4096 Levels of sensitivity to pressure. It makes you draw and make strokes in any way you want without any problem. Also, the laptop includes configurable buttons that make working on this laptop a breeze.
An Intel UHD Graphics 615 graphics card gives an amazing graphical performance. You can use this laptop for light gaming and also for different video editing tasks as well.
13.Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 5000
Product Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i3-8145U Processor
- RAM: 8GB RAM
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display Screen: 14 inch HD 1366 x 768p Touch Display quality with HD resolution
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Battery Life: Up to 4 hours
The Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 5000 is top in its line. It comes packed with the most amazing specifications. It runs on a Intel Core i3-8145U Processor with the support of an Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card. It has impeccable specifications that can handle any kind of heavy-duty task without any speed delays.
It features a 14 inch HD 1366 x 768p Touch Display that has very striking display. Also, it allows you to view your artwork in the starkest colour display. Plus, you can convert your laptop into tent mode or tablet mode or just use it as a normal laptop.
All things considered, we can conclude that the Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 5000 is undoubtedly the best choice of cheap laptops for artists both beginners and professionals.
Buying guide
The best laptops with options available make it super easy for you to pick the right laptop for digital art. Finding a premium laptop is becoming super easy. All you need to know is to look for what to get on a laptop.
So, if you are an artist, you need to get a laptop for your drawing and editing needs. We have put together a list that has the most essential points that you need to look out for when getting a laptop for all of your artistic needs.
Processor
A processor is the most essential part of a system. It actually defines how well your system is going to perform. Either you get an Intel Core i7 or AMD processor, depends on your personal choice. The dual-core processor is pretty okay to meet normal day-to-day tasks in comparison to a quad-core processor that gives much better performance. This can make all the difference.
The Intel Core i7 is a great base to handle the HD display quality you are looking for as well as the software you intend to run.
Display and Graphics
The display and graphics are the most important features that you need to look for in a laptop. It is because as an artist you will be drawing, and so you need a display.
It enables you to view your pictures in the most striking and vivid display. Your laptop is actually going to be an easel on which you will be drawing on. We recommend that you get a display screen size of about 12 inches.
While a screen resolution of 1024 x 768p is the minimum requirement that you need to get.
RAM
The RAM memory refers to the memory that is used for running different tasks. For an artist, a minimum of about 4 GB of RAM is just perfect for performing different tasks.
Design
Choosing what to get between a laptop or a tablet for artwork can be very confusing. There may be times where having a keyboard is going to be useful. But, other times it can be very inconvenient at other times.
Since it’s really difficult to choose between the two. It’s rather easy to go for a 2 in 1 hybrid laptop. It is easy for you to use and convert the laptop in tablet mode or laptop mode.
Digital Pen
Look out for any option that gives you the possibility to add a digital pen to your new laptop. Will definitely help you create digital art that stands out.
Battery life
The battery runtime of a laptop is a very important feature to consider when it comes to getting the best cheap laptop for artists. Since, artists are always on the go, going here and there for painting and drawing pictures.
So, it will be very difficult to get access to a socket for charging. It is the reason why you need to get a laptop that has a long battery runtime.
Operating system
This will depend on whether you choose to go for a Windows operating system or Macbook operating system, but both are easily adaptable to most software available on the market. An apple laptop for digital art is an excellent choice.
What is the best laptop for digital art?
The best laptop for digital art is the Apple MacBook Pro one that can satisfy the following criteria:
- Reliable operating system and powerful processor to support your digital art software;
- Sufficient storage space for your artwork;
- HD Display quality and high resolution screen that will marvel your digital art and take it to the next level;
- Screen size that allows you space to view relevant images when creating digital art;
- A digital pen, drawing tablet or touchscreen laptop that gives you the flexibility to take your art to new heights; and
- Battery life that allows you to work from anywhere.
If you’re looking for a budget laptop, then the best budget laptop is number 5 and 6 on our list above. The Apple Macbook air can also make a good alternative to the best apple laptop aside from the Macbook pro which is the obvious choice. These are both premium laptops.
Which laptop brand is best for digital art?
The best laptop brand for digital art is undoubtedly Apple. Their MacBooks are used by many professional artists and offer excellent performance and features. If you’re looking for a Windows-based machine, then Dell’s XPS line (Series 15 all in one) is also very good.
However, any decent laptop operating system should be able to handle digital art applications without too much trouble. Just be sure to get one with a good-quality screen!
What specifications should a laptop for digital art have?
When looking for a laptop for digital art, there are a few key specifications to keep in mind. First, the laptop should have a good amount of RAM (at least 4GB) and a powerful processor (2.5GHz or faster). It’s also important to find a laptop with a graphics card that is designed for graphic-intensive tasks.
A higher-end card like an Nvidia GeForce or AMD Radeon will give you the best results. Finally, make sure to get a laptop with a large screen size (15 inches or larger), as this will be helpful when working on detailed projects.
Have a look at some comments in this Reddit thread for more comments
What computer do digital artists use?
Digital artists typically use high-powered computers with plenty of RAM and fast processors. GPUs are also important for many digital art processes.
Many artists build or buy custom computers specifically for their digital art work. Some popular brands among digital artists include Apple, Dell, and HP with Windows or Mac operating system.
Can you do digital art on a laptop?
It is possible to do digital art on a laptop, but there are some things you should keep in mind. Laptops are not as powerful as desktop computers, so they may not be able to handle some of the more complex software programs used for digital art.
Also, laptops tend to get hot when they are being used for intensive tasks like digital art, so you may need to keep an eye on the temperature and make sure it doesn’t get too hot. Finally, laptops usually have smaller screens than desktops, so that may also affect your ability to work on digital art projects.
How much RAM do I need for digital art?
A digital artist needs at least 2 GB of RAM to work effectively. Some recommend 4 GB, while others even recommend 8 GB or more, depending on the type of project and level of detail involved.
However, for most digital art applications, 2-4 GB should be sufficient. If you are working with large files or doing a lot of multitasking, you may need more RAM. This might rule out a surface laptop.
What do I need for digital art?
First and foremost, in order to get started in digital art, you need a laptop that is capable of running software like Photoshop or Illustrator. In terms of the specific tools you’ll need to purchase, here is a list of items that are recommended for a beginner’s digital art setup:
- Wacom drawing tablet (Bamboo or Cintiq are good choices)
- Graphics tablet mouse
- Adobe Photoshop software or Illustrator software
- Good quality photo editing software (Photoshop Elements, GIMP)
- Digital brushes and textures (these add realism and texture to your work)
- Stock photos or video footage (if you want to create artwork that includes scenes or elements from real life)
How do I start digital art in 2023 on my laptop?
Here’s a list of some recommended things you need:
- A great laptop with a powerful graphics card. This is the most important thing you need because it will be your main tool for creating digital art.
- A drawing pad. This will allow you to draw directly onto your laptop, which can be very helpful if you’re used to traditional methods of art.
- Digital art software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or Corel Painter. These programs will give you the ability to create almost any kind of digital art imaginable. Important to get an Intel Core i7 for added processing power. An Asus zenbook pro duo is a good choice for this.
- A reference library. This could be either physical books or online resources that contain references for inspiration and tutorials on how to start your drawings.
