The best laptops for graphic design

Acer/Apple/Asus products on green background
(Image credit: Acer/Apple/Asus)

The best laptops for graphic design certainly aren't the most affordable, but they do offer exceptionally powerful performance. And that's important because as a graphic design professional, you need a reliable machine that can handle creative software, paired with an outstanding display at the very least. Not sure what specs to look out for? See our guide to the requirements needed for a graphic design laptop.

Our experts have years of collective experience reviewing laptops for creative-specific purposes, and we've personally reviewed each model listed below, while conducting benchmark tests, and verifying suspicious manufacturer claims. For the full breakdown of our process, check out how we test laptops, but in a nutshell, we aim to complete real-world projects with these devices to assess their suitability for creatives.

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

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Key features
AttributesNotesRating
PriceNot a budget option, but good value overall.★★★★½
DesignStreamlined, portable and an excellent display.★★★★★
PerformancePower designed for professionals and heavy workflows.★★★★★
Battery lifeStellar battery life, this goes all day.★★★★★
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Test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceExpensive but worth it for serious users★★★★★
DesignGorgeous OLED touchscreen and great feature set★★★★½
PerformanceAll the power you could ever need★★★★★
Battery lifeMuch improved with over 10 hours★★★★
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Test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceWith the deals running, this is an excellent value option. ★★★★½
DesignA bigger, brighter screen and lightweight frame.★★★★★
PerformanceHandles most creative tasks easily.★★★★
Battery lifeIncredible battery life, beating every other pick.★★★★★
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Test results
AttributesNotesRating
PricePremium features at a budget price★★★★★
DesignGorgeous touchscreen, lovely build quality★★★★★
PerformanceAmple power for cloud-based creativity★★★★
Battery lifeGreat but not as good as MacBook.★★★★★
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Test results
AttributesNotesRating
PriceMid-range, good value★★★★
DesignNot lightweight, great screen★★★★
PerformancePunchy, discrete graphics card★★★★★
Battery lifeExcellent, top performance★★★★★
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED

ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED
With a 14-core Intel i9 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card and 32GB of RAM, this ASUS model combines MacBook Pro-level power with a sub-£/$1,500 price tag. Bonus points for the gorgeous OLED screen, although battery life can't quite keep up with the leaders.
Read our 4-star review.

Dell Precision 5470

Dell Precision 5470
It may not have a large display, but this 14-inch parcel comes loaded still very powerful - our testing put its performance close to that of a 14-inch MacBook Pro M2 Pro. This portable powerhouse is comfortable to use, feels well-built, and exudes quality.
Read our 4.5-star review.

ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED (H7604)

ASUS ProArt Studiobook OLED (H7604)
This ProArt Studiobook is a beast of a laptop, perfect for creators thanks to the beautiful OLED screen, power and handy customisable dial. It can handle any creative task you throw at it, perfect for power users, but if you have a lighter workflow you may not need all the power it has to offer.
Read our 4.5-star review.

Erlingur Einarsson
Tech Reviews Editor

Erlingur is the Tech Reviews Editor on Creative Bloq. Having worked on magazines devoted to Photoshop, films, history, and science for over 15 years, as well as working on Digital Camera World and Top Ten Reviews in more recent times, Erlingur has developed a passion for finding tech that helps people do their job, whatever it may be. He loves putting things to the test and seeing if they're all hyped up to be, to make sure people are getting what they're promised. Still can't get his wifi-only printer to connect to his computer. 

With contributions from

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