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11 Best Laptops for Art Student Reviews in 2023 | With Color-Accurate, Precise and Sensitive Displays

11 Top Picks

4 Reviewers

37 Hours of Research

32 Options Considered

The days I would sit for hours swirling my brush to and fro on my canvas are long gone. Nothing would matter to me more than throwing myself for hours to come up with my next masterpiece.

While such art would earn you a lot of appreciation then, now you can even use NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to monetize your works. So, what has succeeded the traditional brush and canvas? A stylus pen to scribble with and your laptop screen to draw on.

A reliable laptop for digital art is a new sword to wield, especially with a touch screen laptop; you can expand your knowledge and enhance your talent efficiently. You have numerous options, and finding the best laptop for your creative needs can be hectic.

But don't fret. I've created this detailed review of the best laptops for art students through comprehensive research and tests. You'll learn the leading consideration factors when looking for the best laptop and the most reliable brands to narrow your search.

3 Top Laptops for Art Student

 Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop

1. [Best Overall]

 Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop

5/5

Acer laptops are known for their remarkably long battery life; the same applies to the artist-friendly Acer Spin 5. It is competitive in becoming the best laptop, as this convertible laptop allows users to choose between a touch screen laptop and a regular computer. It's among the best laptops for digital art I've ever used. 

  • Rich port connectivity
  • Includes a stylus pen
  • Value for money, like most Windows laptops
2022 Apple MacBook Air Laptop

2. [Best For The Money]

 2022 Apple MacBook Air

4.9/5

A little tech finesse can make your art studies more enjoyable, and this is what you'll get with the MacBook Air M2. It is competitive in becoming the best laptop because of its color-accurate, aesthetic display, and excellent performance, making it ideal for scholars.

  • Outstanding battery life
  • Exceptional retina display
  • Touch ID provides an extra security layer
 ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo Laptop

3. [Best For The Impressive OLED Display]

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581

4.8/5

Most art enthusiasts prefer to work away from their laptop screens, and they have never tried the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo. This machine has a remarkable dual touchscreen, a highly sensitive pen, and an impressive 4K resolution. 

  • Impressive OLED display

  • It comes with a functional secondary touchscreen
  • Expansive internal storage space

Best Laptops for Art Students Reviews

5/5

Acer laptops are known for their remarkably long battery life; the same applies to the artist-friendly Acer Spin 5. It is competitive in becoming the best laptop, as this convertible laptop allows users to choose between a touch screen laptop and a regular computer. It's among the best laptops for digital art I've ever used. 

Among the things I fancy with this laptop for digital art is its 13.5-inch touchscreen comprising a 2K resolution alongside the ability to read capacitive pen input. The impressive IPS display and top resolution make the laptop streaming and entertainment experience far better than rival brands. 

 Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop

The Spin 5 also runs on a 10th gen Intel Core i7-1065G7, arguably among the most reliable quad-core processors. With this, you'll get the right amount of efficiency and performance a digital art student might need from a specialized 15-inch laptop. Moreover, it comes with an integrated Intel Iris Plus GPU, which can turn the device memory into video memory. 

You also get an impressive 16GB RAM and 512GB of flash storage, things you'd expect with the most remarkable art student laptops. The memory needs to be improved to handle your tasks and future projects seamlessly. Moreover, the versatile student-friendly laptop also comes with the Windows 10 operating system that takes less than ten seconds to boot.

At 2.6 lbs., The Acer Spin 5 is relatively heavier than most devices on my list. But this should be fine for art students considering the machine costs almost half the price of other brands with similar features and capabilities, which should do the job. Furthermore, it could last as much as nine hours under a medium workload, which is good. 

Acer Spin 5 is among the best Core i7 laptops for art students and budding digital professionals looking for a reasonably priced premium touchscreen laptop. 

Specs

CPU

10th Gen Intel Core i5 – Intel Core i7

RAM

8GB – 16GB

Graphics

Intel Iris Plus Graphics

Screen size

13.5-inch 3:2 touchscreen display

Storage

512GB SSD

Battery life

9 hours

Weight

2.6 lbs.

Pros

  • Long battery life
  • Value for money, like most Windows laptops
  • Includes a stylus pen
  • Sufficient flash storage

Cons

  • Has bloatware
  • It lacks dedicated graphics 

[Best For The Money]

2. 2022 Apple MacBook Air

4.9/5

A little tech finesse can make your art studies more enjoyable, and this is what you'll get with the MacBook Air M2. It is competitive in becoming the best laptop because of its color-accurate, aesthetic display, and excellent performance, making it ideal for scholars.

Its nimble M2 processor allowed me to handle graphic design and drawing seamlessly. The manufacturer's CPU naturally aligns with the entire MacBook ecosystem, so you can expect a fully optimized performance. I never experienced any lags.

2022 Apple MacBook Air Laptop

MacBook Air M2 has impressive battery life. This machine's juice can span 18 hours on a single charge. Of course, the exact duration will depend on the task you're handling. But the ability to manage daily digital art tasks is fair.

The machine's display capabilities are on another level. Its 13.6" Liquid Retina display runs on True Tone technology. You'll also like the vivid, 100% sRGB precise colors and automatic brightness adjustment that aligns with your current environment. You can count on this color accuracy if you constantly create 3D art pieces using tools like AutoCad, Blender, Photoshop, or Illustrator. 

The thin laptop weighs 2.7 lbs. and fits easily into my backpack. Combining this with the long battery life makes it a top choice for scholars who handle long digital art projects.  

Only one thing is needed to make this MacBook Air M2 the best laptop for art: the touchscreen. And still, it offers a remarkable display quality that's easy on the eyes, a significant priority for me. 

Also, most students may not be happy with the laptop's pricing, but the machine is relatively inexpensive compared to other brands. 

If you're looking for a durable laptop for digital art, consider the MacBook Air M2.

Specs

CPU

8-core CPU

RAM

8GB

Graphics

10-core GPU

Screen size

13.6 inches

Storage

256GB SSD

Battery life

Up to 15 hours

Weight

2.7 lbs.

Pros

  • An eco-friendly pick considering its construction comprises 100% recycled aluminum.
  • Outstanding battery life
  • Exceptional retina display
  • Touch ID provides an extra security layer
  • Supports Thunderbolt-3

Cons

  • The RAM is non-upgradable
  • Hardware upgradeability is limited.

[Best For The Impressive OLED display]

3. ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581

4.8/5

Most art enthusiasts prefer to work away from their laptop screens, And they have never tried the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo. This machine has a remarkable dual touchscreen, a highly sensitive pen, and an impressive 4K resolution. 

A relatively costly pick, the Pro Duo comes with one of the most advanced, innovative, and genuinely valuable digital drawing machines ever made. This 15.6-inch laptop is also powerful and fast.

 ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo Laptop

Here's what I'm talking about:

The ZenBook Pro boasts the latest Intel Core i7-10870H, an astonishing 1 TB SSD internal storage, ultra-fast RAM of 16GB, and 8GB video RAM. It is among the best laptops for serious artists, photographers, game developers, videographers, and 3-D modelers who will enjoy sufficient processing capability, memory, and storage space. 

And that display! A remark about the laptop's second screen deserves every point. The main screen is incredibly realistic, sharp, and deep. If you believe your current machine doesn't let you see everything or that your machine display's visibility holds you back, the ZenBook Pro is on another new level. Moreover, it comes with an astounding workspace/touchpad display. 

Of course, all laptops for digital art will be this brilliant and cool. But at the moment, you'll have to part with the deserved amount to get a machine that might be the best for creatives – a brilliant tool and true advancement that should feature on any advanced artist's list.

Specs

CPU

Intel Core i7-10870H

RAM

16 GB

Graphics

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070

Screen size

15.6 Inch 4K OLED Display

Storage

1TB SSD

Battery life

Up to 6 hours

Weight

5.3 lbs

Pros

  • Expansive internal storage space
  • It comes with a functional secondary touchscreen
  • Impressive OLED display
  • Ample RAM

Cons

  • A little costly
  • Battery life isn't impressive

Fractal art is among the most intricate drawings I've ever handled. It's been my obsession since I learned about it, and I've created mind-blowing results with this technique. It's challenging to create one by hand, but the Lenovo Flex 5 laptop has always ensured my Ultra Fractal software runs seamlessly.

The laptop is among the most popular two-in-one machines in the market, and it's often sold out. Its remarkable performance, affordability, and excellent value for money stand out. That's why most art scholars love it.

 Lenovo Flex 5 14 2-in-1 Laptop

Of course, it doesn't deliver the power of the Surface Book or MacBook. However, you'll fancy the touch screen and the stylus, which simplify your drawing and boost accuracy. The laptop is lightweight and has a long battery life. So you're also allowed to explore your creativity on the desk. 

The laptop's affordable price range and portability make it the best touch screen laptop for art students with a tight budget. Lenovo Flex 5 lets you work in standard or tablet mode by flipping the screen over, thus perfect for drawing and other digital art forms. 

It was easy to shift between my daily tasks and regular art schedules without compromise. The machine is also incredibly portable. All these capabilities are almost every art student's dream of having the best affordable laptop, and this machine makes it to my list.

Specs

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 (6-cores) 4500U 2.3GHz

RAM

16 GB

Graphics

 Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Screen size

1920×1080 on a 14" screen

Storage

256GB SSD

Battery life

Up to 10 hours

Weight

3.6 lbs

Pros

  • Touchscreen display
  • The screen rotates 360 degrees
  • Long battery life
  • 360-degree screen rotation
  • It's in an affordable price range
  • It comes with Google Keyboard
  • Lots of ports

Cons

  • Small internal storage but it isn’t limiting as much
  • It's not the most portable pick

Any art student or aspiring art professional invested in photo editing, digital art, or graphic design prefers the best laptop they can quickly turn into tablet mode. Thanks to the reliable specs list and multi-mode operability, I vouch for HP's Pavilion x360. 

This laptop borders right on the edge of a first-rate machine, offering a comfy keyboard, robust processor, and a pair of quality Bang & Olufsen speakers for a pretty affordable price. Under the hood, the machine runs an Intel Core i5 G-series processor, sufficient to handle most mid-level and graphics-intensive apps. It offers a 1GHz base clock speed, which is negligible, but I could manage some demanding applications by overclocking at 3.6GHz.

HP Pavilion x360 14 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop

The Core i5 laptop also comes with a UHD graphics coprocessor, a reliable support system that enhances the machine's visual quality. You also get 8GB RAM, enough memory to enable processor-intensive tasks, and multi-tab browsing at 3,200MHz. While the machine's ram module is non-upgradable, it can still handle your processing requirements.

What about internal storage? Well, the machine offers 512GB of solid-state drive. Thus, you're guaranteed faster file retrievals and reduced boot times. The laptop's 14-inch screen is an asset, thanks to the bright IPS paneling, WLED-backlit support, and 1080p resolution. 

The HP Pavilion x360 also stands out in terms of functionality. It has robust audio systems, an ergonomic, typing-friendly backlit keyboard, and an impactful webcam for those online art class sessions. But the machine's multi-mode operability is what steals the show. You can use the convertible laptop in up to four specific modes.

I tested the Pavilion x360 14 with 8GB of RAM, an Intel Core i3, 1080p IPS display, Intel UHD Graphics G4, and 256GB solid-state storage. The machine is the best laptop for light to medium-intensity multitasking functions thanks to its sufficient RAM and quad-core CPU. It also performs well in 3D rendering

All these capabilities are perfect for art students. But if you want to go professional or have many browser tabs and applications open, you need the best laptop with at least 16GB of RAM that can work without stutters or slowdowns.

Specs

CPU

Intel Core i5-1135G7 4.2 GHz

RAM

16 GB

Graphics

Intel Iris XE graphics 80EUs

Screen size

14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel

Storage

Replaceable 256GB SSD

Battery life

Up to 8 hours

Weight

3.35 lbs

Pros

  • Aesthetic, quality build
  • Excellent keyboard quality
  • Fast storage module
  • Impressively portable
  • Sharp viewing angles
  • Solid audio
  • Remarkable performance

Cons

  • The system memory isn't upgradable
  • Slower data transfer

Ever since Microsoft revealed the Surface Pro series in 2012, the tech giant has done everything to convince the world to love PC tablets with floppy keyboards. The company has actualized this vision with the Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4.

I've spent several weeks with the Surface Pro 5 (the 2017 model), and I can confidently state that Microsoft fully realized its dream of making this device the best laptop. Never has a Surface Pro machine felt so well-rounded, balanced, and complete, and it rightfully deserves the attention of art students.

The Surface Pro Five is similar to the Surface Pro 3, considering the machine's overall layout and execution, which stand out. It offers the same magnesium chassis solidly designed with no creaks or flex.

Microsoft Surface Pro

The manufacturer maintains the 12.3" PixelSense display characteristic of the Surface Pro, keeping it at the ideal aspect ratio of 3:2. I like the impressive IPS LCD screen with glossy edge-t-edge glass and 10-point multi-touch. The Surface Pen has been reworked to offer up to  4,096 pressure levels. Microsoft enhanced the previous pen's sensitivity four times!  

I also find the reduced latency fantastic. The machine, alongside its advanced pen, is smoother, lifelike, and more fluid than its predecessors. It always motivated me to use the pen, and my brother couldn't avoid it despite his complete lack of artistry.

Lastly, the machine comes with a refreshed Surface Type Cover line isn't a complete redesign, but it only includes some minor enhancements. The previous version's Type Cover (Surface Pro 4) is arguably the best Microsoft created. Therefore, bringing the same forward with an additional Alcantara deck makes sense.

Specs

CPU

Intel Core i7, m3, or i5

RAM

4GB, 8GB, or 16GB RAM

Graphics

Intel HD Graphics (m3 and i5) or Intel Iris Plus Graphics (i7)

Screen size

12.3" PixelSense™ Display

Storage

Replaceable options from 128GB

Battery life

Up to 13.5 hours

Weight

1.69 lbs

Pros

  • The Intel Core i7 model has a quieter fan, while the Core i5 and M3 are fanless.
  • Enhanced battery life
  • Upgraded type cover and Surface Pen

Cons

  • It lacks USB Type-C support
  • You'll purchase the essential Surface Pen and Type Cover separately

Lenovo Flex 5 laptop differs from its two-in-one counterpart I've reviewed in a previous section. It's a typical laptop with no tablet mode. It is perfect for budding artists and art students looking for value in a long-lasting machine in terms of physical attributes, not battery life. 

It's designed like a tank, which makes it slightly heavier than most options. But you might overlook the weight once you know what more it brings. 

The machine is an almost bezel-less laptop with 1920 x 1080p native resolution on a 14'' screen. A quality web camera is above the display, which can come through for Zoom meetings, art students attending online classes and video conferences

 Lenovo Flex 5 Laptop, 14.0" FHD Touch Display

Under the hood, the art laptop runs on an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U 2.3GHz processor. This remarkable base clock speed enables the Lenovo Flex 5 to deliver good thermal performance while enhancing its power efficiency. Some users might be concerned about its lack of a dedicated GPU. However, thanks to the AMD Radeon, you can still handle basic graphics operations without problems. 

The machine offers 256GB SSD storage, significantly boosting its speeds. It also has 16GB RAM that it shares with the GPU for video memory. If you're looking for a sophisticated performance, consider a model with at least 8GB RAM. 

While testing the Lenovo Flex Five, I noticed that a single charge could span up to 10 hours. It is the best laptop to handle an entire day's artwork without plugging the charger into the socket. The mid-range laptop also supports fast charging, making it one of the best laptops for digital nomads

At 3.78 lbs., this laptop is heavier than most other devices in this review. However, it's a great machine with outstanding build quality and performance.

Specs

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 5500U 2.3GHz

RAM

16GB

Graphics

Integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega eight

Screen size

14 Inches 1920 x 1080 touchscreen

Storage

256GB SSD

Battery life

Up to 10 hours

Weight

3.6lbs

Pros

  • Remarkable battery life
  • Well built
  • Multiple ports
  • It has the Google Keyboard feature

Cons

  • It lacks dedicated graphics
  • The trackpad needs work

In many ways, this is the closest it gets to the MacBook: beautiful, quality display with touchscreen, 32GB of high-speed RAM (3733MHz), and practically fast SSD drive. Moreover, the base comprises a proper NVIDIA GPU, and the trackpad and keyboard are phenomenal. 

The Surface Book 3 has the latest, fastest-generation processors and hyper-fast DDR4 RAM. Its Radeon graphics processor is perfect for complicated art projects, including animation, high-resolution graphics, and professional photo editing.  
Microsoft Surface Book 3 Intel Core i7 10th Gen

The machine comes with a high-definition touchscreen, a reliable processor, and sufficient memory for the most demanding software for art scholars. You can choose between 15-inch or 13.5-inch display sizes and vast internal component configurations. 

I love almost every aspect of the Surface Book 3 build. It's sleek, lightweight, and durable. The screen, which also serves as the tablet, is necessarily heavier; hence the balance is slightly off. However, the aluminum finish is surprisingly soft to the touch and highly rigid simultaneously.

Notably, the Surface Book 3's SSD drive is removable, hence beneficial to photographers and painters. It also makes it easier to upgrade the computer. Overall, it's a desirable and the best laptop for art students, fine artists, or working professionals. 

Specs

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 3580U or Ryzen 7 3780U

RAM

8/16/32 GB

Graphics

Radeon Vega 9 or Vega 11

Screen size

13.5-inch or 15-inch PixelSense Touchscreen

Storage

256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB Ultra Fast SSD

Battery life

Up to 15 hours

Weight

3.38 lbs to 4.20 lbs

Pros

  • USB-C port available
  • Sleek design
  • Uniquely detachable
  • Ergonomic keyboard
  • Amazing PixelSense display
  • Vast configuration options
  • Fast charging

Cons

  • The battery life isn't as satisfactory 

Nature photography and art aren't just a profession for me but a means to express myself. I was recently going through my old collections when I found my masterpiece on Victoria Falls. The digital image had mesmerizing fluid motion and was alluring enough to spice up my digital portfolio with the most likes.

I did the project, and many more like it, using the Surface Pro 8, one of the best digital art Windows laptops I've ever used.  
Microsoft 8PV 00017 Surface Pro 8

Strictly speaking, this isn't a laptop in the real sense but a tablet that runs Windows 11. Thus, one can use fully-fledged art software for a PC on a compact, highly portable device. When you attach the optional keyboard (called Type Cover), you'll have a great light and thin computer capable of handling your artwork. 

This device also comes with some of the latest mobile tech advancements, running digital apps seamlessly. The stunning screen delivers a refresh rate of 120Hz, so drawing on it will feel smooth and enjoyable. 

The Surface Pro is more tablet-like, making it light and small enough to draw anywhere, whether on the hammock or the train. Of course, iPads can offer the same convenience for student artists, but you can only run popular desktop software on them with this. 

Besides its super-convenient portability and size, I rank the Surface Pro 8 among the best machines for art students because of its outstanding stylus support. Most two-in-one laptops (including a good number in this list) have the best of both worlds, but many are comparatively bulkier. 

Specs

CPU

Intel Core i5-7300U 6GHz

RAM

8 GB

Graphics

Integrated Intel UHD 620

Screen size

13" PixelSense™ Flow touch touchscreen

Storage

256GB SSD (Removable options)

Battery life

Up to 13 hours

Weight

1.96 lbs.

Pros

  • Premium, quality design
  • Reliable processing power
  • Amazing screen
  • Light and thin
  • USB 3.0 port
  • Excellent software optimization

Cons

  • You'll buy a keyboard and stylus pen separately
  • Relatively costlier

Before many users' eyes, Microsoft Surface Go is a powerful small tablet. So why have I included it in this list of premium laptops for art students?

It is because the machine combines the Windows 10 user experience with the right trimness for users who prioritize portability. Only on some days, you find all the exclusive capabilities in such a compact computer that you can toss in the bag quickly and travel with a laptop at your convenience.

Anything that entails Windows 10 PC recalls is possible with this lightweight device. Weighing only 1.18 lbs., its unmatched adaptability is simply head and shoulders beyond traditional PCs. Furthermore, the device has a brilliant, utterly flexible kickstand and feels durable.

Microsoft Surface Go

This device could cover my basic needs and handle my digital art and design projects with a 10" touchscreen. The PixelSense display always made my videos and images come out enlivened. It also comes with an Intel Pentium processor and a powerful S mode that ensures peak performance whether you're drawing, creating graphics, or typing. I never experienced any lagging beyond two seconds.

The laptop's extra console is another standout feature, cutting on effectively and rapidly with robust magnets. It also has a responsive trackpad, and I like its gracious "clicky" feeling. While the 64GB SSD storage seems small to many users, it's practical as it instantly lets me launch apps.

The Surface Pro also boasts an outstanding battery life. I've used it for up to 11 hours on a single charge, which makes it perfect for a day's work. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0, so I can share files wirelessly and enhance my multimedia experience by connecting to other Bluetooth devices.

Many users argue that the screen is too small, but the fact that I could view more screen content at the same exceptional display quality makes it worth it.

If you're looking for a low-power, small-sized device to run your art software, then the Microsoft Surface Go is a worthy investment.

Specs

CPU

Intel Pentium processor

RAM

4GB or 8GB

Graphics

Intel® HD Graphics 615

Screen size

10 inches 10-point multi-touch

Storage

64GB eMMC or 128GB SSD

Battery life

Up to 11 hours

Weight

1.17 lbs

Pros

  • Supports tablet and laptop modes
  • Impressive touchscreen display
  • Portable
  • Satisfactory battery life

Cons

  • It lacks a USB-A port
  • It could be better for tasks that demand high-performance graphics.

Anyone shopping for a budget-friendly laptop must always be ready to make some sacrifices to get the best value. However, the Dell Inspiron 3000 series has proven to be an exception to this notion, offering a range of quality budget laptops at value price tags. The Dell Inspiron 15 is probably the best laptop in this model range.

Dell Inspiron 15 5502, 15.6 Inch Fhd Thin & Light Laptop

This incredibly budget-friendly laptop is ideal for art students who browse the web frequently but want to be wider than just the Chromebook alone. It's equipped with 8GB of ram and 256GB SSD, and an integrated UHD graphics chip. You can choose between AMD or Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor.

The laptop wades in the graphics pool's shallow end, and the memory may need to impress more to be considered a decent laptop. However, the processor is a significant upgrade from the Celeron CPU typical in cheaper laptop brands.

This may not be the best laptop for 3D renders, but it's a perfect machine for an art student with low hardware requirements. I recommend the device for art students shopping on a tight budget, but it's also perfect for budding professional artists working from home.

Specs

CPU

Intel Core i3-1115G4

RAM

From 8GB RAM

Graphics

Intel UHD Graphics

Screen size

15.6 inches

Storage

256GB SSD

Battery life

Up to 7 hours

Weight

3.82 lbs

Pros

  • An expansive 15.6" screen
  • Sufficiently powerful to handle daily art tasks
  • A good number of ports

Cons

  • It lacks a USB-C port
  • Middling graphics

How to Choose the Best Laptop for Digital Art

Whether you're just starting your art journey or a digital artist, finding the best laptop can make all the difference. To get the perfect machine for your creative needs, consider the following factors:

Color accuracy 

A broad color palette and color accuracy are crucial elements of your monitor. Consider a monitor with at least 100% of Adobe RGB when shopping. But if color isn't among your priorities, you can get away with 100% sRGB. A laptop's measurement unit for color accuracy is Delta-E. Ideally, the best laptop should score less than 5, which means the screen has a smaller color palette.  

Processor

A laptop with a powerful internal processor can perform more tasks simultaneously. Intel offers a broad scope of processors, but a digital artist who needs heavy computing power should go for an i5 processor or more. A 10th gen intel core machine is perfect. For Apple enthusiasts, the Max and Pro chips deliver heavy-duty computing power. But the M1 standard is enough unless you handle complex art projects. 

Display size and type

Since digital art is a visual medium; you need the best display size and quality you can afford. While a 10-inch monitor can handle vast art projects, it could be better for graphic design, which needs at least 15 inches. On the other hand, a 17-inch laptop is perfect for working. But it could be a better pick if you prioritize portability. 

Windows on a monitor in the dark


Moreover, resolution determines a laptop's clarity. A higher resolution number means you'll have sharper and clearer images. When looking for a computer with a high-resolution display, consider the ones marketed as 4K or HD. 

A touchscreen computer is perfect if you want to use the device in tablet mode. It can be effective if you want to use it for drawing or intend to work with a different input device, like a pen. This decision will dictate the best laptops you can use. 

Portability

It is a crucial consideration for art students as they always have to use the device away from school or home without sacrificing too much desk space. So when deciding the display size, always consider the ideal dimensions for your needs. Moreover, these laptops come in different weights. Since "heavy" is a relative term, check if it's the right weight to move around. 

RAM

Random Access Memory is the computer device's short-term memory. When you have sufficient space to keep stuff within reach, you can complete more tasks faster. You may need sufficient processing power when you're multitasking or rendering software. 

The higher the RAM, the more efficient your laptop will be. For multitasking and graphics software requiring extensive processing, choose at least 8GB. The more, the better.

Moreover, it's possible to upgrade the RAM, but only some laptop models have room for user upgrades. Consider a machine that allows enhancements when looking for a laptop for your art projects. 

Woman sitting and painting

Internal Storage

It is your computer's filing cabinet. The more room your laptop has, the more items you can store inside it. Depending on your needs, you can choose from a broad scope of storage options. Like RAM, it's possible to upgrade your device's internal storage. However, this depends on your laptop model. 

You always have the option to store crucial files on an external device. So always ensure you have space in your computer and, at the same time, back up your crucial files on an external drive. 

Price

How much a laptop costs significantly determines your buying decision. But while the expense should be your top consideration when shopping on a budget, always consider value for your money. The machine should be more than just cheap, but also be able to meet your needs. If money isn't an issue, you can disregard the machine's cost and explore your vast options. 

Battery Life

A better laptop processor translates to more extended battery life. Your battery can wear out when doing heavy multitasking or running graphics programs. It would be best if you had sufficient power to handle the anticipated tasks when you're on the go. Five hours of battery life is short for an artist, and you'll be safer with a laptop that can deliver a minimum of 8 – 10 hours. 

Woman and man painting

FAQs 

What Are The Key Points To Look For In The Best Art Computer?

When rummaging through your vast options, you can focus your search by considering several key points, including

  • Color accuracy

  • Processor

  • Display size and type

  • Portability

  • RAM

  • Internal storage

  • Price

  • Battery life

Aligning these consideration factors with your needs and circumstances could help you narrow down to the best laptops for your digital art projects.

Are Touch Screen Laptops Good For Drawing?

Yes, touchscreen laptops are great for drawing. Touchscreen technology has advanced tremendously in recent years. The remarkable improvements in stylus responsiveness have ensured a less awkward and more comfortable experience than the traditional graphics tablet. You no longer struggle to align your pen strokes with your canvas. 

Why Do Creative Professionals Use Macs?

Most professionals in the creativity space love Macs because Apple optimizes the operating system to operate seamlessly with all hardware components. Macs have fewer assaults and protection threats, enhanced software-hardware operations, and a quick graphics user interface, providing a cleaner user experience for creatives. All these make it better than most laptops for art students. 

Which Is A Better Choice For Drawing - A Laptop Or A Tablet?

Generally, professional artists use both a laptop computer and a tablet. So a device offering the best of both worlds is preferable. Budding artists and students can use a phablet or tablet for tasks like retouching and drawing and do even more projects on the devices. But a laptop is more advantageous as it lets you enjoy art in full glory thanks to the larger, brightly-lit screens.

About Dusan Stanar

I'm the founder of VSS Monitoring. I have been both writing and working in technology in a number of roles for dozens of years and wanted to bring my experience online to make it publicly available. Visit https://www.vssmonitoring.com/about-us/ to read more about myself and the rest of the team.