Best Laptops For Designers (2025)

In this guide, we help you find the best laptops for design work so you can sketch faster, render smoother, and move seamlessly between concept and creation. If you’re a graphic designer, UX/UI specialist, digital illustrator, branding expert, or 3D artist, this article is built for you.

Let’s address the core issue right away: design software demands serious hardware. From Adobe Creative Cloud to Figma, Blender, CorelDRAW, and AutoCAD, these applications thrive on processing power, GPU acceleration, color-accurate displays, and generous memory.

Not every laptop marketed as “creative” is actually equipped for real-world design demands. Some fall short on display quality. Others pack powerful CPUs but ignore thermal limits. And many consumer-focused models don’t offer the input/output flexibility needed to support peripherals like drawing tablets, external monitors, or high-speed storage drives.

That’s where we step in, to help you find the laptops that truly support your design process.

Here are the critical factors we assess when recommending laptops for designers:

CPU Performance: Modern design tools rely heavily on single-thread speed and, in some cases (like video compositing or 3D rendering), multi-core scalability. We recommend at least an Intel Core i7 (13th gen or newer) or AMD Ryzen 7 (7000 series), capable of balancing heavy workloads across Adobe and other creative apps.

Graphics Processing (GPU): A dedicated GPU enhances rendering, accelerates previews, and enables real-time effects. For 2D and UI/UX work, an NVIDIA RTX 3050 or better is sufficient. For 3D modeling, motion design, or CAD, step up to RTX 4060 or higher.

RAM (Memory): Design work is RAM-hungry. 16GB is usable for mid-range workflows, but 32GB offers headroom for multitasking across large PSD files, RAW image processing, vector design, and video editing. It also keeps performance stable when bouncing between Figma, Lightroom, and After Effects.

Storage (SSD): A fast NVMe SSD ensures quick boot times and minimal load delays when opening large design files. We recommend at least 1TB of storage, especially if you’re working with RAW images, complex Illustrator files, or layered video projects.

Display Quality: This is non-negotiable. You need at least a Full HD IPS screen with wide color gamut support—100% sRGB at minimum, with bonus points for AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 coverage. A 15.6” or 16” panel balances workspace and portability. If color fidelity is critical to your workflow, look for factory-calibrated displays or OLED panels.

Thermal Management: Heat kills performance. You want a laptop with intelligent cooling dual fans, vapor chambers, or passive enhancements to keep clock speeds high during long design sessions. A machine that stays quiet under load is also a creative-friendly bonus.

Build Quality and Portability: Designers are mobile. A durable chassis, long battery life, and lightweight design are essential for studio-to-client mobility. Bonus if the laptop includes stylus support or a convertible form factor for on-the-go sketching.

Port Selection: Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C, HDMI, SD card readers, and support for dual displays are all workflow boosters. You’ll often need to plug in drawing tablets, color calibrators, or external drives—and you shouldn’t need dongles for everything.

The minimum specs we consider for professional-level design work include:

• Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7
• NVIDIA RTX 3050 or better (4060+ for 3D/CAD)
• 16GB RAM (32GB ideal)
• 1TB NVMe SSD
• 15.6” IPS or OLED, 100% sRGB (or wider gamut)
• Wi-Fi 6 or 6E

Best Laptops For Graphic Designers:

Alienware m17 Gaming Laptop 2023 Newest, 17.3 360Hz Display, AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX Processor, AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080
RAM	32GB DDR5
Storage Space	2TB SSD,
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x SD card reader, HDMI 2.1, 1x Headset Jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎15.64 x 1.05 x 11.76 inches
Weight	7.3 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Average display

GIGABYTE AORUS 17X 17.3 Thin Bezel QHD 2560x1440 240Hz Display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
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CPU	Intel Core i9-13900HX
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU 12GB GDDR6
Display Size	17.3"
Display Resolution	QHD 2560x1440
RAM	16GB DDR5
Storage Space	1TB SSD
Operating System	Window 11
Ports	1x Thunderbolt 4 (Supports Power Delivery), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Mini DP 1.4 (120Hz), 3x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A), 1x RJ45, 1x Audio Combo Jack, 1x DC In
Dimensions (L x W x H)	15.6 x 11.5 x 0.86 inches
Weight	‎6.17 pounds
Advantages	Performance
Disadvantages	Pricy for some people

GIGABYTE G5 KF 15.6 FHD 1920x1080 144Hz, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
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CPU	12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
Display Size	15.6 inches
Display Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels
RAM	8GB
Storage Space	512GB
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1x Thunderbolt 4 (Supports Power Delivery), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Mini DP 1.4 (120Hz), 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), 1x RJ45, 1x Audio Combo Jack, 1x DC In
Dimensions (L x W x H)	14.2 x 9.4 x 0.94 inches
Weight	‎4.39 pounds
Advantages	Good entry laptop, Moderately priced
Disadvantages	Storage space

ASUS Flagship ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop 16 QHD+ IPS 240Hz 13th Gen Intel 14-core i9-13900H
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CPU	13th Gen Intel 14-core i9-13900H Processor
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8GB
Display Size	16" QHD+
Display Resolution	(2560x1600) IPS
RAM	32GB DDR5 SDRAM
Storage Space	1TB Solid State Drive
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB-C 3.2, 2 x USB-A 3.2, 1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	9.69 x 13.98 x 0.88 inches
Weight	‎4.64 pounds
Advantages	Lightweight, Good performance, Quality Display
Disadvantages	Price

Best Performance Laptop for Designers

ASUS ProArt StudioBook Pro 16 OLED Laptop, 16” 3840x2400 OLED Display, AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 32GB DDR4, 2TB PCIe SSD, Nvidia RTX A2000
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
GPU	Nvidia RTX A2000
Display Size	16”
Display Resolution	3840x2400 OLED Display
RAM	32GB DDR4
Storage Space	2TB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB, Audio Jack, HDMI, Ethernet
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎14.25 x 10.39 x 0.78 inches
Weight	‎10.3 pounds
Advantages	Quality display with good performance
Disadvantages	Very heavy

Best Intel Core i7 Laptop for Designers

Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 - 11th Gen Intel 8-Core i7 CPU - 15.6” FHD 360Hz - 32GB RAM - 1TB SSD
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CPU	11th Gen Intel 8-Core i7 CPU
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
Display Size	15.6”
Display Resolution	FHD 360Hz
RAM	32GB
Storage Space	1TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 10
Ports	USB, Ethernet, Audio jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎9.25 x 13.98 x 0.62 inches
Weight	4.4 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Quite pricy

Best Ryzen 7 Laptop for Designers

Lenovo - Legion 5 - Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800H - 16GB RAM - 512GB Storage - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti - 15.6
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti
Display Size	15.6"
Display Resolution	‎1920 x 1080 pixels
RAM	16GB
Storage Space	512GB Storage
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB, Audio, HDMI
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎21.25 x 13.5 x 3.38 inches
Weight	‎5.29 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Storage capacity

Best Mid-Range Laptop for Designers

HP 15 Laptop, 15.6 Full HD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Hexa-Core Processor, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Hexa-Core Processor
GPU	AMD Radeon Graphics
Display Size	15.6"
Display Resolution	‎1920 x 1080 Pixels
RAM	32GB DDR4
Storage Space	512GB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	2 x SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1 x SuperSpeed USB Type-C, 1 x HDMI 1.4b, 1 x Headphone/microphone combo, 1 x AC Smart pin; Multi-format SD media card reader
Dimensions (L x W x H)	14.11 x 9.53 x 0.7 inches
Weight	‎6 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Storage and weight

Best Budget Laptop for Designers

ASUS TUF Gaming F17 Gaming Laptop, 17.3” 144Hz Full HD IPS-Type, Intel Core i7-11800H Processor, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 16GB DDR4, 512GB PCIe SSD
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CPU	Intel Core i7-11800H Processor
GPU	GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	144Hz Full HD IPS-Type
RAM	16GB DDR4
Storage Space	512GB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 10
Ports	USB, Ethernet, Audio
Dimensions (L x W x H)	15.71 x 10.59 x 0.94 inches
Weight	5.73 pounds
Advantages	Performance
Disadvantages	Storage and weight

Best Laptop for Design Students and Beginners

ASUS TUF Dash Premium Gaming Laptop 15.6 FHD 144Hz IPS Display, Intel Gaming H Core H 8-Core i7-11370H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 4GB GeForce RTX 3050Ti
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CPU	11th Gen Intel Gaming Core i7-11370H processor (Base Clock 3.3GHz, Max Boost Clock Up to 4.8GHz, 12MB Smart Cache, 8-Core, 16-Threads)
GPU	RTX 3050Ti
Display Size	15.6"
Display Resolution	FHD 144Hz IPS
RAM	16GB DDR4
Storage Space	512GB SSD
Operating System	Windows 10
Ports	3x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x Thunderbolt 4 (support DisplayPort/power delivery), 1x HDMI port, 1x RJ45 LAN port, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combination Jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	14.1 x 10.1 x 0.97 inches
Weight	‎4.41 pounds
Advantages	Good design and performance
Disadvantages	Storage capacity

Best 17 Inch Laptop for Designers

MSI Titan GT77 17.3 UHD 120Hz Gaming Laptop Intel Core i7-12800HX RTX 3070 Ti 32GB DDR5 1TB NVMe SSD
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CPU	Intel Core i7-12800HX
GPU	RTX 3070 Ti
Display Size	17.3"
Display Resolution	4K UHD, 120Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3
RAM	‎32 GB DDR5
Storage Space	1 TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB, Ethernet, Audio
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎15.63 x 12.99 x 0.91 inches
Weight	13.95 pounds
Advantages	Performance
Disadvantages	Very Heavy

Best 16 Inch Laptop for Designers

HP OMEN - 16.1 Micro-Edge QHD 2K 165Hz Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 11800H - B&O - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 - 16GB Memory 1TB SSD
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CPU	Intel Core I7 11800H Processor (2.30 Ghz, Up To 4.60 Ghz Max Boost, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 24 Mb Cache )
GPU	Nvidia Geforce Rtx 3070
Display Size	16.1''
Display Resolution	Qhd (2560 X 1440) Led-Backlit Ips Display With 165Hz Refresh Rate | 3Ms Overdrive Response Time | 100% Srgb | 16:9 Aspect Ratio | Dc Dimming
RAM	16GB
Storage Space	1TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB, Audio, Ethernet, HDMI
Dimensions (L x W x H)	14.54 x 9.76 x 0.91 inches
Weight	5.11 lbs
Advantages	Quality display, Good design and build quality
Disadvantages	Price

Best 15 inch Laptop for Designers

ASUS TUF A15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6 Full HD 144Hz Display, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H Processor, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD + 1TB SSD
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
GPU	GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
Display Size	15.6 inches
Display Resolution	Full HD 144Hz Display
RAM	16GB
Storage Space	512GB SSD + 1TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x RJ45 LAN port, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack; Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.1; RGB Backlit Keyboard
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎14.13 x 10.08 x 0.96 inches
Weight	5.1 pounds
Advantages	Quite affordable, Good performance
Disadvantages	n/a

Best 4K Laptop for Designers

ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Gaming Laptop, 16” 165Hz ROG Nebula HDR QHD 1610 Display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD
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CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
Display Size	16”
Display Resolution	4K (3840x1100)
RAM	32GB DDR5
Storage Space	2TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB, Ethernet, Audio, HDMI
Dimensions (L x W x H)	13.98 x 10.47 x 0.81 inches
Weight	5.70 lbs
Advantages	Good performance, Quality doisplay
Disadvantages	Heavy

Best Lightweight Laptop for Designers

MSI GF65 Gaming Laptop, 15.6 FHD 144Hz Display, Intel Core i5-10500H, 32GB DDR4 Memory, 1TB PCIe SSD, GeForce RTX 3060
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CPU	Intel Core i5-10500H
GPU	‎NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Display Size	15.6 Inches
Display Resolution	‎1920x1080 Pixels
RAM	32GB DDR4
Storage Space	1TB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	2 x SuperSpeed USB Type-C 5Gbps signaling rate | 2 x SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate | 1 x HDMI 1.4b | 1 x RJ-45 | 1 x headphone/microphone
Dimensions (L x W x H)	13.27 x 8.94 x 0.72 inches
Weight	4.1 pounds
Advantages	Affordable, Good performance
Disadvantages	n/a

Best 64GB RAM Laptop for Designers

MSI WE76 11UK Workstation Laptop (Intel i7-11800H 8-Core, 64GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Quadro RTX A3000, 17.3 Full HD (1920x1080)
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CPU	Intel i7-11800H 8-Core
GPU	Quadro RTX A3000
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	1920x1080
RAM	64GB
Storage Space	1TB PCIe SSD
Operating System	Windows 10 Pro
Ports	USB, Ethernet, Audio Jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎11.1 x 15.6 x 1.25 inches
Weight	‎6.39 pounds
Advantages	Very Good performance
Disadvantages	Quite heavy for some people

Best 32GB RAM Laptop for Designers

MSI Pulse GL76 Gaming Laptop 17.3 144Hz FHD + IPS Display (Intel i7-12700H 14-Core, 32GB DDR4, 1TB PCIe SSD, RTX 3060 6GB
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CPU	12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H 2.70GHz Processor (upto 4.7 GHz, 24MB Cache, 14-Cores, 20-Threads, 6 Performance-cores)
GPU	NVIDIA RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
Display Size	17.3"
Display Resolution	Full HD (1920x1080) 144Hz Refresh Rate IPS Display
RAM	32GB
Storage Space	1TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	1TB PCIe NVMe SSD; 2 USB 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, USB 3.1 Type-C Gen1, No Optical Drive, Headphone/Microphone Combo
Dimensions (L x W x H)	11 x 16 x 1 inches
Weight	‎6 pounds
Advantages	Good performance, Quality display
Disadvantages	Quite heavy

Best Large Storage Laptop for Designers

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop I 15.6 Full HD IPS 144Hz ComfyView I AMD 8-core Ryzen 7 5800H (i9-10885H) I 64GB DDR4 2TB SSD + 1TB HDD I GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
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CPU	AMD 8-core Ryzen 7 5800H
GPU	GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
Display Size	15.6 inches
Display Resolution	Full HD (1920 x 1080) ComfyView IPS 144Hz Display
RAM	64GB DDR4
Storage Space	2TB SSD + 1TB HDD
Operating System	Windows 10
Ports	3 x USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-C 3.2 (Up to 10 Gbps), 1 x HDMI, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x Audio Jack
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎10 x 14.3 x 0.94 inches
Weight	‎5.09 pounds
Advantages	Large storage, Good performance
Disadvantages	Pricy

Best Long Battery Life Laptop for Designers

Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 - 11th Gen Intel 8-Core i7 CPU - 15.6” QHD 240Hz - 32GB RAM - 1TB SSD
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CPU	11th Gen Intel 8-Core i7 CPU
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
Display Size	15.6”
Display Resolution	QHD 240Hz
RAM	32GB
Storage Space	1TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	USB, Ethernet, Audio Jack, HDMI
Dimensions (L x W x H)	‎19.8 x 13.7 x 4 inches
Weight	4.4 pounds
Advantages	Good performance, Quality display
Disadvantages	None

Best Stylish Laptop for Designers

Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 6 Laptop, 16 WQXGA IPS 165Hz 500nits 100% sRGB Display, AMD 8-Core Ryzen 7 5800H (Beats i7-10750H), 16GB RAM 1TB SSD, GeForce RTX 3070
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CPU	AMD 8-Core Ryzen 7 5800H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6, Boost Clock 1560 / 1620MHz, TGP 140W.
Display Size	16" WQXGA
Display Resolution	QHD (2560x1600) IPS WQXGA (16:10) 500nits Anti-glare, 165Hz, HDR 400, 100% sRGB, Display. Free-Sync, G-Sync, DC dimmer.
RAM	16GB
Storage Space	1TB SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer only), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (support data transfer and DisplayPort 1.4), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (support data transfer, Power Delivery 100W and DisplayPort 1.4), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Ethernet (RJ-45), 1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm), 1x Power connector.
Dimensions (L x W x H)	10.23 x 14.17 x 0.93 inches
Weight	5.5 pounds
Advantages	Good performance, Quality display
Disadvantages	n/a

Best Windows 11 Laptop for Designers

MSI GE76 Raider 17.3 144 Hz FHD Gaming Laptop 14-Core Intel i7-12700H 32GB DDR5 1TB NVMe SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX3060 6GB
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CPU	12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H mobile processor (Up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost, 6 Performance + 8 Efficient Cores, 20 threads, 24 MB Smart Cache)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (6 GB GDDR6 dedicated)
Display Size	17.3 inches
Display Resolution	FHD (1920 x 1080), 144 Hz, IPS Level, Thin Bezel, 45% NTSC
RAM	32GB DDR5
Storage Space	1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Operating System	Windows 11
Ports	Ethernet LAN, 1x USB 4 with Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps); 1x USB 3.2 Type-C; 4x SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Type-A (5Gbps); 1x HDMI; 1x Mini Displayport; 1x SD media card reader; 1x RJ-45 LAN
Dimensions (L x W x H)	15.63 x 10.57 x 1.08 inches
Weight	‎6 pounds
Advantages	Good performance
Disadvantages	Might be heavy for some people