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Best Laptops for Graphic Design

Windows laptops and MacBooks with a wide-colour or OLED screen and at least 16 GB of memory. Pen support is listed for each, for sketching and retouching.

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84 laptops

Choosing a laptop for graphic design

Design work is judged on colour, so a wide-colour screen comes first: every pick here has a DCI-P3, high sRGB or OLED panel. Pair it with 16 GB of memory, enough for Illustrator, Photoshop and a browser full of references at once.

A sharp, larger screen gives your artboards room next to the tool panels. 14 inches is the minimum most designers are comfortable with; 16 inches is easier for long sessions.

Pen support is listed for each laptop. If you sketch, retouch or illustrate, a 2-in-1 with a pen can stand in for a drawing tablet.

Working mostly with photos? See laptops for photo editing.

Frequently asked questions

Mac or Windows for graphic design?

Both run Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma and Affinity. Macs have long been the studio default, but a Windows laptop with a good screen and pen support is just as capable.

Do I need a touchscreen or pen for design?

Not for layout and UI work. For illustration and retouching, a 2-in-1 with pen support can replace a separate drawing tablet.

What screen size is best for graphic design?

14 to 16 inches. Bigger screens give room for tool panels and artboards; 14 inches is easier to carry to clients and classes.