Graphic design is a challenging job that requires a serious hardware and software. Graphic designers normally have a difficult time when choosing the best laptop to use. This is so because of many factors they need to consider before buying one. They need to put into consideration the type of graphic designers and what kind of design they will be doing on their laptop.
In the current digital nomad haze, laptop characteristics such as mobility and weight have also become extremely important. With every profession, the laptop choice is always a subtle game of balance between performance, portability, large screen, weight and affordable price. Currently laptop manufactures are producing products for different professions and categories.
What to look for in a Graphic Designer Laptop?
If you are a graphic designer looking for the best laptop, then you have to take same bold decisions and you should never be in a hurry to purchase a laptop. The designer should know that all laptops can run basic graphic designing software, but it takes the best laptop to run the process smoothly. Performing high-end tasks is not easy and not every machine can do this type of work. So as a graphic designer you need the most powerful laptop.
A good graphic designer laptop comes with a unique set of features that makes it fast enough to run heavy application. The screen and portability also play a huge role in defining how great the laptop is. Here are the factors/features to consider before buying a graphic design laptop.
Operating System (OS)
The operating system is the first thing you look at as a graphic designer. You will decide whether you like using windows or you consider switching to Macos or to a simple Chromeos
CPU
The most important factor when choosing on which graphic designer laptop to choose is how powerful it is. CPU is the brain of your laptop.
Using a poor performing laptop can be painful especially when you are working on heavy graphic software. An example is 3D Modelling or CAD, you will need to render huge models and scenes which take an incredible amount of time.
RAM
The smooth functioning of graphic software largely depends on the processing speed. it is important that you do not compromise with the RAM size of your laptop. As a graphic designer, you should avoid going for the laptops that have a RAM size less than 8GB. A RAM size of 16 GB to 64 GB is often considered as an ideal size of graphic designers because it can meet all kinds of needs. However, if you have very limited needs, you can even go for laptops that have a RAM size of more than 6GB.
Battery Life
It is always good to go for a laptop with a longer battery life whether you are graphic designer or in any other profession.
Most graphic designers love innovation, as it brings inspiration and new ideas. You probably have a favorite workspace, but also venture out to coffee shops or co-working spaces. The absence of plugs at your favorite coffee shop can sometimes be frustrating. But with a good battery life, you can take your laptop wherever you go and get the work done. Always go for the laptops that have a battery life of more than 6 hours.
Graphic Processor
Many people assume that graphics processors are only for gaming, but graphics processors are essential to any laptop that is going to be used by a designer. Almost all the popular packages today make good use of it.
Since the laptops for graphic designers cannot function properly only with the regular process or they need a graphic processor to ensure speed of processing and clarity of graphics.
Recommended processors are AMD, ATI Radeon, Firepro, Nvidia Quadro and Nvidia GeForce.
Display and Screen Size
The screen resolution not the screen size is a bottleneck. The general thumb rule for any laptop meant for designers is, the higher the resolution, the better. Most laptops screens run a resolution of 1366x768 which is good enough for web browsing but certainly not for any serious designing tool. Graphic designers should look for laptops with screens that run a resolution of 1600x900 or 1920x1080.
Screen size should not be ignored, and a resolution of 15 inches or higher is what is recommended. If the graphic designer needs more working space and screen areas, they can purchase and external monitor or connect their laptop to a 4k Tv or monitor.
To do their work effectively, graphic designers need a display that not only gives them ample screen real estate but also provides rich and vibrant colors. The last thing you would want is for that bright green to look dull. For most designers, a 15-inch laptop is suitable, although bigger can be better if you have space and the muscles to carry it around.
Storage
Depending on what specific graphics design work you do, you will need some space to save those often heavy files.
Laptops usually come built with two types of storage. Hard disk drives (HDD) and solid state drives (SSD). Hard drives are more affordable, but slower than solid state drives. SSDs are way more expensive and come in limited sizes.
The advantages of using an SSD is its speed which means rendering and loading of projects happens in seconds.
Here are the Best Laptops for Graphic Designers
Apple MacBook Air is the best laptop you can buy if you are work in a creative field. Packed with a revolutionary ARM –based M1 chip from Apple that powers it, the MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight laptop that offers great performance foe video editing and other creative jobs in 4K and over 11 hours of battery life on a single charge.
What we liked about it
If you are a designer that needs a laptop that not only looks but feels like a premium laptop without the premium price, you should check out the Envy x360. It has excellent performance. it is the best budget-friendly 2-in-1 laptop for creatives that you can buy.
What we liked about it
This is the most decent laptop for creatives who value quality and design. This Dell laptop combines powerful components in a thin, light and very stylish design making it a perfect choice for all creatives.
What we liked about it
This laptop is not only a great budget choice but it also comes with a very beautiful design. It has powerful processor that makes graphics render and it ensures minimal lag while using Adobe cc products.
What we liked about it
If you are looking for one of the latest pieces of technology with a powerful engine and excellent display, then this the laptop to consider.
The notebook is ultra-light yet gives you the optimized power and speed for high resolution rendering of your creative projects.
You can get up 16TB disk storage, which definitely comes in handy for heavy video.
What we liked about it
Conclusion
Buying the best graphic design laptop is not easy. Anyone can get confused with the variety of laptops in the market. If the designer wants to get the best machine, then a little research is needed.
It is good to set a good budget if you are looking for a laptop for the long run. A little investment will only benefit you in future. Also never look for design only. The features of the laptop matter the most when it comes to performance. Go for the machine that offers good performance. Get a laptop that fits your needs and offer value for money.
