When we think about the drawing tools, pen and paper come into our minds. However, in the last few years, digital drawing has replaced the traditional art form and become popular among people. Thanks to technological advancement, there are many tools and equipment present for digital art. For photographers, animators, artists, and graphic designers, the best laptop for drawing and animation is one of the most useful tools.
Whether you are a beginner animator or a high-end pro, you definitely have an idea that looking for a laptop specifically for digital art is quite different from searching for a casual college laptop. Because drawing and animation are graphics-intensive tasks and only high-quality laptops can help you turn your ideas and creativity into pixels.
So, if you are an animator or digital artist and looking to buy the best laptop for drawing and animation, then you are at the right place. We have mentioned the crucial features in this article that should be present in your laptop. In addition, you will find our top picks for laptops that are perfect for your needs.
Why Do You Need a Specific Laptop for Drawing and Animation?
Computer animation is the most fun task, but it involves many challenges. The animators have to make things that appear as natural as possible, and in this process, they have to deal with lags and delays, crashes, and slow rendering. Moreover, as a graphic designer or animator, you have to work with advanced software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Coral Draw, Flash Anim8or, Blender, and VFX works.
All these software have some special requirements to work flawlessly. But most of the popular laptops present in the market cannot fulfill these requirements, and thus they are not a good investment for a digital artist. However, the solution to all these problems is to have the best laptop for digital art that can keep up with your demands.
The ideal laptop for drawing and animation has a powerful processor, good storage, a high-end graphics card, high resolution, a color-accurate screen, and sufficient RAM. Whether you are using computer-generated 3D images, traditional hand-drawn art, or a mixture of two, these features are the basic requirement for better results and are not present in normal laptops.
Top-Rated Laptops for Drawing and Animation
It is difficult to find the best laptop for drawing and animation from hundreds of options presents in the market. To help you choose the best, we have listed the top six budget-friendly and high-quality laptops that will cater all your drawing and animation needs. The list is gathered up after proper research and expert recommendations. So, read on and choose the one that suits your requirements.
- Apple MacBook Pro
- HP Pavilion x360 14 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop
- ASUS ProArt StudioBook Pro X Mobile Workstation Laptop
- Acer Predator Helios 300
- Dell XPS 15
- Acer Swift 3 Laptop
| Images | Product Name | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Apple MacBook Pro | Check Price |
 | HP Pavilion x360 14 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop | Check Price |
 | ASUS ProArt StudioBook | Check Price |
 | Acer Predator Helios 300 | Check Price |
 | Dell XPS 15 | Check Price |
 | Acer Swift 3 Laptop | Check Price |
Apple MacBook Pro
Apple MacBook Pro is one of the perfect laptops for drawing and animation on the list. It has all the excellent features you need to create flawless art and amazing animations. Its processor, storage, battery life, graphics, and display make it the best choice.
Performance
MacBook Pro is equipped with a 10th generation quad-core i5 processor. This processor provides high-quality performance and Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz. So, you can run multiple applications and software easily and smoothly. No matter how large size the file has, it enhances the speed and workflow. In addition, you don’t have to compromise on your work as there will be no shutter or overheating.
GPU
The laptop has Intel Iris Plus Graphics that is designed and tested for creative workflow. Due to this graphics card, the animators will be able to see their characters come to life with ultra-realistic effects. In addition, it allows the laptops to handle the graphics-intensive task easily and ensure up to 80% faster graphics performance.
Memory
The MacBook Pro has 16GB RAM, which is the recommended memory for smoothly running the drawing and animation software. Also, it increases multitasking productivity.
Storage
It features a 1TB SSD storage. The large storage capacity facilitates storing all the large-scale projects and creations. Moreover, it loads heavy files quickly and easily.
Display and Design
This best laptop for 3D animations has a 13.3-inch LED-backlit Retina display. It has 500 nit brightness. The True Tone Technology and 2560 x 1600 resolution at 227 pixels per inch provides excellent visuals and image quality.
In addition, it allows you to see every detail clearly, and you can experience sharper images with a broader color spectrum.
Interfaces
For easy connection to peripherals, it features four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports. So you can easily and safely charge, transfer data, and output videos from either side of the MacBook Pro.
Other details
This laptop has up to 10 hours long battery life. The Magic Keyboard provides a responsive and comfortable typing experience, while the Touch ID provides fast authentication. In addition, the in-built speakers provide wide stereo sound. Finally, the lightweight design makes it highly portable. Also we have review of Best Android Tablet For Drawing.
Specifications
- Processor: 10th-generation quad-core Intel i5
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Display: 13.3-inch Retina Display
- Screen resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- RAM: 16GB
- Operating system: Mac OS
- Weight: 3.1 pounds
Features
- 10hrs battery life
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- True Tone Technology
- Wide stereo sound
- Backlit Magic Keyboard
HP Pavilion x360 14 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop
The HP Pavilion x360 14 laptop is the best 2 in 1 laptop for drawing on the list. The four versatile modes allow you to convert it easily from laptop mode to tablet, stand, or tent mode for easy drawing, note-taking, and other daily activities. With this laptop in hand, you can easily and comfortably draw designs, images, and animations. It is a small, lightweight, and powerful laptop with excellent features.
Performance
The 10th Generation quad-core Intel i5 processor with 3.6 GHz Turbo Boost Technology is present in this laptop. The powerful processor provides faster speed and allows to run different applications at the same time.
GPU
The laptop features Intel UHD Graphics that allows you to create high-quality drawings and animations. Moreover, it, along with the processor, enhances the laptop’s performance and allows easy rendering of images.
Memory
This best laptop for 2D animations has 8GB DDR4 RAM, providing higher bandwidth, speed, and efficiency. On this RAM, you can easily run the software required for digital art. Moreover, you can do multitasking without any interruption.
Storage
The HP Pavilion x360 features 512GB SSD storage. This high storage space ensures fast boot up, transfer files without delay, and store large data and image files easily and quickly.
Display and Design
The laptop features 14-inch diagonal full HD IPS display. The display screen has 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. In addition, the 80% screen-to-body ratio maximizes the viewing area. The 3-sided micro-edge touchscreen display provides crystal-clear visuals that make it worth buying. Furthermore, the backlit keyboard is also there for comfortable typing. Overall the design of the laptop is attractive.
Interfaces
For easy connection to peripherals, this laptop has one USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1 port, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one HDMI, and one headphone/microphone jack.
Other details
The HD webcam and dual-array microphone ensure a crystal clear connection for meetings and video chat. In addition, you can experience rich and authentic sound with dual speakers.
Besides, the laptop has a long battery life of up to 9hrs and 15 minutes, while the HP fast charge facility charges the battery from 0 to 50% in 45 minutes. It is portable as it weighs only 3.50 pounds. The HP 3D DriveGuard keeps the data safe from accidental bumps. Moreover, with the Amazon Alexa voice service, you can work hands-free and enable any of more than 50K skills.
Specifications
- Processor: 10th Gen quad-core Intel Core i5
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home
- CPU speed: 3.6 GHz
- Screen size: 14-inches
- Display resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Battery life: 9.25hrs
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
Features
- Works with Amazon Alexa
- Fast charging
- 360-degree hinge
- BIOS recovery and protection
- Four versatile modes
ASUS ProArt StudioBook Pro X Mobile Workstation Laptop
This laptop is built to handle any complex task of drawing and animation without any fuss. Its exceptional features make it a good choice for creative professionals. You can open it fully due to its 180o lay-flat hinge and can easily share your ideas and designs with clients and colleagues. So, with this powerful laptop in your hands, you can easily bring your creative ideas to life.
Performance
It has a 9th generation Intel Xeon Hexa-core processor, which offers outstanding performance. Also, It provides faster speed and is suitable for multitasking. It improves the productivity of the software and makes the laptop worth buying.
GPU
It features NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 GPU, which provides excellent graphics power. In addition, the Turing Architecture provides photorealistic visuals. It also provides the 16GB VRAM, which increases the memory of the laptop.
Memory
This best laptop for drawing and animation has 64GB DDR4 RAM. This memory is more than enough for the drawing and animation software. In addition, it ensures higher efficiency, improved speed, and responsiveness.
Storage
It has 4 TB PCIe SSD storage. This large storage space allows to open and transfer heavy files easily. It also increases the booting speed and enhances the performance of the laptop.
Display and Design
The laptop features a 17-inch full HD display. The four-sided slim-bezel Nano-Edge display provides exceptional color accuracy that sharpens each detail of the image. In addition, it offers more screen space with a 16:10 ratio display.
Besides that, the new ScreenPad 2.0 upgrades the traditional laptop experience. It has an interactive secondary touchscreen that enhances productivity and gives endless possibilities. The overall design of the laptop is highly attractive and durable.
Interfaces
It has high-performance I/O ports, which include three USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, an audio jack, two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, and HDMI 2.0.
Other details
The ASUS ProArt features hotkeys that immediately lock the system and keep it secure. For privacy purposes, you can also shut off the webcam and microphone during meetings or video calls. Moreover, the high-quality inbuilt webcam and audio speakers make it worth buying.
Specifications
- Processor: 9th generation Intel Xeon
- GPU: Quadro RTX 5000
- CPU speed: 4.7 GHz
- Display size: 17-inch FHD display
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels
- RAM: 64 GB
- Storage: 4 TB SSD
- Weight: 5.5lbs
- Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
Features
- Military-grade durability
- Lightweight
- Fast storage
- 180-degree hinge
- Slim-bezel NanoEdge design
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator delivers advanced performance in drawing and animation. Its processing speed, graphics, and other features make it an ideal choice for digital art. It let you do your work with zero fuss. In addition, it is a powerful and elegant laptop that makes your work much easier and enhances your work efficiency.
Performance
The Acer Predator Helios 300 features an 11th generation Intel core i7 processor that delivers unmatched speed and intelligence. It provides impressive drawing and animation experiences. This powerful processor features 8 cores and 16 threads that allow completing tasks efficiently.
GPU
This laptop features the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card that provides support for graphics-intensive tasks. It is powered by Ampere architecture with more Shader Cores and VRAM for a huge leap in performance. It provides up to 6GB of dedicated VRAM.
Memory
It provides 16GB RAM, and it is more than enough for drawing tasks. In addition, it allows multitasking and efficiently run the software required for drawing and animation.
Storage
There is 512 GB SSD storage available which is perfect for the required tasks. It allows to open the stored files in seconds and also store the large-scale projects and files easily.
Display and Design
The laptop features 15.6 inches full HD IPS LED-backlit display. It has a fast refresh rate of approximately 144Hz and a 3ms Overdrive response time for an excellent visual experience. Moreover, the design of the laptop is eye-catching.
Interfaces
The Acer Predator has multiple ports for connectivity. One USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, one HDMI 2.1 with HDCP support, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, Mini Display port 1.4, and many more.
Other details
The Acer Predator uses the 5th generation AeroBlade Fan with 89 blades that increase the air intake and keeps the system cool. It reduces the throttling and enhances the performance. You can also use the Alexa service on this laptop. In addition, DTS: X Ultra enhances the sound quality through dual speakers and provides a real-world sound experience.
Specifications
- Processor: 11th generation Intel core i7
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Weight: 5.07lbs
- Screen size: 15.6 inches
- CPU speed: 4.6 GHz
- Display resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home
- Average battery life: 6 hours
Features
- High-quality audio
- Heat dissipation system
- Comfortable keyboard
- Alexa supported
- Extreme performance
Dell XPS 15
Another best laptop for art students is Dell XPS 15. It is fully equipped with all the creative tools one needs to make quality drawings and animations fastly. In addition, the thin and lightweight design makes it portable and comfortable to use.
Performance
The laptop has a 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor. This high-power processor allows you to work fast, and you can run different software easily without any lags and glitches.
GPU
The NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Ti graphics ensure the easy rendering of high-resolution graphics, and you can create quality animations with ultra-realistic effects.
Memory
It features 16GB RAM that is more than enough for drawing and animation. In addition, it allows multitasking and smoothly run the software required for the work.
Storage
This laptop has a 512GB SSD. The laptops having SSD storage are best for digital art. So, it provides enough storage to store large work files and loads the bulky files without any delay.
Display and Design
The 15-inch screen is integrated with the eye-safe display technology. It has 500 nit brightness and FHD 4-sided InfinityEdge non-touch display. In addition, the Corning Gorilla Glass 6 is tough and damage-resistant. It is durable and allows for no flex in its display.
The high-polished diamond-cut sidewalls have in-layed stainless logos. The body is made up of good-quality aluminum, and the overall design is eye-catching.
Interfaces
There is one USB-C 3.1 port, two Thunderbolt 3, an HDMI port, and a headphone/microphone jack for easy connectivity.
Other details
The Dell XPS 15 has a 62% larger touchpad and a 5.6% smaller footprint. The Dell Mobile Connect allows connecting the mobile and laptop wirelessly. You can make calls, send text messages, and get notifications on your laptop. In addition, the laptop is energy efficient, and 90% of the laptop’s parts can be recycled and reused.
On top of that, the advanced thermal design ensures excellent performance. The quad-speaker design allows you to enjoy 3D quality sound.
Specifications
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Ti graphics
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i7
- Screen size: 15 inches
- Display resolution: 3840 x 2400 pixels
- Storage: 512GB
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home
- CPU speed: 5 GHz
- Weight: 6.27 pounds
Features
- 5% larger screen
- Advanced thermal design
- Immersive audio
- Durable
- Sleek and attractive design
Acer Swift 3 Laptop
Acer Swift 3 laptop is the best for drawing and animation. This lightweight laptop provides excellent performance, and its features help you accomplish everything regarding digital art. In addition, its sleek design makes it highly attractive and perfect for your needs.
Performance
This laptop provides high quality and powerful performance as it is equipped with AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Processor that has 8 cores to run your most demanding apps all at once with fast responsiveness. With this processor, you don’t have to worry about your laptop keeping up with your work-related tasks.
GPU
With AMD Radeon Graphics, you can easily handle graphics-intensive tasks on your laptop, including drawing and animation. It also enhances the performance of your laptop.
Memory
This laptop has 8GB RAM, which is enough for the software required for drawing and animation. Moreover, it allows multitasking without any lags and glitches.
Storage
The laptop provides 512GB SSD storage that allows you to store your files and media easily. It also loads the bulky files without any delay.
Display and Design
The 14 inches full HD IPS non-glare display pumps out a consistently rich, bright, and unwavering picture. It has an ultra-narrow 5.1mm bezel and offers an 85.73% screen-to-body ratio. Moreover, the sleek design and all-metal chassis make it lightweight and durable.
Interfaces
This laptop has one USB 3.2 Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one HDMI 2.0 with HDCP support, and a headphone/microphone jack.
Other details
The fingerprint reader and Windows Hello sign-in options keep your data and laptop secure. In addition, Acer’s Purified Voice technology feature enhanced digital signal processing that improves speech accuracy by canceling out the background noise.
You can also use the Alexa service on your laptop. Moreover, the Swift 3 gives you up to 12.5 hours of long-lasting battery life. It has dual stereo speakers, dual digital microphones, and an HD webcam.
Specifications
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
- RAM: 8 GB
- CPU speed: 4.3 GHz
- Storage: 512 GB
- Screen size: 14 inches
- Battery life: 12.5 hours
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Weight: 2.65lbs
Features
- Lightweight design
- Purified Voice technology
- Full HD display
- Backlit keyboard
- Powerful processor
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Laptop for Drawing and Animation
Before buying the best laptop for drawing and animation, there are some key considerations that you should keep in mind. Therefore, we have mentioned some important points to help you choose the best laptop in return for your hard-earned money.
Good processor
The first thing that you should pay attention to is the laptop’s processor because it executes most of the tasks on the laptop. Therefore, the processor with fast speed and multiple cores is the best for you. It ensures speedy performance and helps to avoid lags and glitches. In addition, the fast processor allows to run numerous applications at once and loads them rapidly.
Graphics
The most important factor to consider in a laptop for drawing and animation is the graphics card. To make your art well understood and well perceived, you require color richness and display sharpness and compromise on these will result in unsatisfactory work.
For better results, you need a laptop with a discrete GPU. Moreover, the GPU combined with the CPU increases the laptop’s performance and provides additional storage space.
Display
The display resolution and screen size are other key factors to be considered before buying the laptop for drawing and animation. The full HD resolution provides the finest image quality, and the bigger display helps to work on the minor details of your art.
So, it is better to choose a laptop that provides super high resolution and a large display screen. Moreover, if the model comes with a touchscreen, it will be more suitable for drawing purposes.
Storage
Art documents and files take up a lot of storage. Most laptops present in the market feature HDD storage that can store tons of data, but it lowers the processing and loading speed. On the other hand, some laptops feature SSD, which is faster than HDDs and provides faster boot time and quick loading.
Therefore, you must prefer the SSD laptops for your work as they are faster than HDD laptops. Moreover, most laptops in the markets have 256GB of storage, but to store more photos and videos, 512GB is recommended. So, you must consider this point before making any purchase.
Battery life
It is also an important consideration. Laptops with longer battery life allow you to work anywhere without any hassle of finding a power outlet. In addition, with long battery life, you can easily concentrate on your work, whether in the classroom or outside the office or at home.
If the laptop with a bright display does not work for long hours on a single charge, it is not worth buying. Therefore, you must check the battery life of the laptop before buying for a better experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best laptop for drawing and animation?
All of the laptops mentioned above are perfect for drawing and animation. They have long battery life, advanced technology, plenty of storage, a high-quality processor, and an excellent graphics card.
Is a touchscreen laptop good for drawing?
With the advancement in technology, touchscreen laptops are also available for drawing. They are convenient to use and offer all the features one need for animation and drawing. In addition, these touchscreen laptops also come with a super-sensitive stylus pen that allows making designs with more perfection.
Is 8GB RAM enough for 3D animation?
The minimum requirement of RAM for drawing and animation is 8GB. However, it is recommended to go for the laptops having 16GB RAM because it enhances the laptop’s performance. Therefore, it is always better to have a laptop with higher RAM for a better experience.
Conclusion
It is better to do general specs research before investing your money in a laptop for digital art. However, to get an excellent and powerful laptop, one must consider the features mentioned above and should not compromise on the laptop’s quality for a cheaper cost.