11 Top Picks
4 Reviewers
40 Hours of Research
30 Options Considered
Pro Tools is primarily one of the best digital audio workstation (DAW) used by musical artists, from beginners to pros. Being a standard for music production, many professional studios have adopted it. Personally, this tool allows me to record and edit my music projects. Besides, I can also use it to mix my music projects.
3 Top Laptops for Pro Tools
1. [Best Overall]
4.9/5
This is a high-end laptop, and I was particularly impressed by its premium features. It has a powerful Intel i3-1005G1 CPU, with a high processing speed, allowing me to run my projects smoothly without any challenges.
2. [Best For The Money] 2019 Apple MacBook Pro
4.8/5
This is a space gray laptop with premium features suitable for Pro Tools. It has quality features that I find very significant as far as Pro Tools is concerned. It has a 16 inches display that offers the space I need for Pro Tools.
3. [Best For Video Editing] Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
4.7/5
This laptop has a powerful Intel i7-10750H processor that lets me run my projects and finish them within a shorter period. It also features the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, which is robust for Pro Tools and gives me better graphics and visuals for my video editing.
However, Pro Tools has high resource consumption. Thus the limiting factor for extracting the best from this software. This music production software demands high-end and advanced specs in a laptop. Ranging from the CPU, GPU, RAM, etc. As much as I can work around it with a budget laptop, I won't get the best from Pro Tools. Therefore, I realized that investing in a quality laptop for Pro Tools is ideal to realize the best out of the software.
I have taken the time to come up with a list of some of the laptops I felt were best for Pro Tools. Stick around as I go in-depth on each one of them and see what best suits you.
Best Laptops for Pro Tools - Minimum System Requirements
Memory capacity - 8GB
Storage space - 256GB SSD
Processor - 9th Gen Intel Core i5
Graphics card - 2GB NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Screen size - 14 inches
Display resolution - 1920 x 1080 Full HD
Battery life - up to five hours
Best Laptops for Pro Tools - Recommended System Requirements
Memory capacity - 16GB
Storage space - 512GB HDD
Processor - 9th Gen Intel Core i7
Graphics card - 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Screen size - 15.6 inches
Display resolution - 1920 x 1080 Full HD
Battery life - up to eight hours
What Are the Best Laptop for Pro Tools
The best laptops for Pro Tools are listed below.
ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop
2019 Apple MacBook Pro
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
Acer Aspire 5 A515-44-R41B Laptop
ASUS TUF FX505DT Gaming Laptop
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop
ASUS TUF Dash 15.6" FHD i7-11370H Laptop
MSI GP Series Laptop
Apple MacBook Pro
GIGABYTE AORUS 5 SE4
Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop
Best Laptop for Pro Tools Reviews
[Best Overall]
4.9/5
ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop is a slate gray laptop ideal for Pro Tools. It is a high-end laptop, and I was particularly impressed by its premium features. It has a powerful Intel i3-1005G1 CPU, with a high processing speed, allowing me to run my projects smoothly without any challenges. Besides, it has 8GB RAM, which allows this i3 laptop to run multiple tasks simultaneously without experiencing any lag. Other features that caught my attention include a backlit keyboard, an FHD display, and a long-life battery.
ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop Features
Here are my top features for the ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop:
I love the extended display of this laptop. It gives me enough space to multitask, mix my videos or edit my soundtracks.
The 1920 x 1080 Full HD display resolution offers quality visuals for my projects.
The 8GB DDR4 RAM lets me multitask without experiencing lag. Also, the 128GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage lets me save and access my media files more rapidly.
It has the latest 10th Gen Intel i3-1005G1 processor that delivers a steady performance allowing me to run my background tasks smoothly without slowdowns.
The laptop has a backlit keyboard with well-fit characters that let me enter commands efficiently. The keyboard is also super responsive.
The fingerprint sensor on the laptop lets me sign in easily.
It supports Windows 10 Home with more advanced accessibility features for ease of use.
The laptop has HDMI, USB 3.2 Type-C, USB 2.0, and USB 3.2 Type-A ports that let me connect it to external devices.
Pros
Cons
[Best For The Money]
4.8/5
2019 Apple MacBook Pro is a space gray laptop with premium features suitable for Pro Tools. It has quality features that I find very significant as far as Pro Tools is concerned. It has a 16 inches display that offers the space I need for Pro Tools. On the other hand, the ninth-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 processor is super fast, allowing me to finish my projects within a shorter period.
2019 Apple MacBook Pro Features
Below are the features of the 2019 Apple MacBook Pro.
The laptop has a 16 inches screen, which gives me enough space for Pro Tools.
It has a powerful ninth-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 processor that delivers high processing speed allowing me to finish my Pro Tools projects fast.
The 16GB RAM allowed me to host several tasks simultaneously without slowing down.
Its touch bar is super responsive that ensured I navigate the Pro tools more efficiently.
It has a dedicated graphics card, AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics, with GDDR6 memory for quality graphics rendering that ensured I get precise and accurate details every time I edited my project.
The laptop has four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), DisplayPort, and USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, allowing me to connect it with other external devices for files and data sets transfer.
It is compatible with 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology, letting me share files wirelessly.
It has 512GB of storage that lets me save the files and data sets I use for my Pro Tools projects.
The laptop has a six-speaker sound system that lets me listen to audio files precisely to acquire accurate data for my projects.
The laptop has a high brightness of up to 500 nits, ensuring I get clear visuals in brighter conditions.
The 4.3 lbs, enhances portability, allowing me to work with the laptop from anywhere.
Pros
Cons
[Best For Video Editing]
4.7/5
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop is a high-end laptop I highly recommend for Pro Tools. The laptop has a powerful Intel i7-10750H processor that lets me run my projects and finish them within a shorter period. It also features the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, which is robust for Pro Tools and gives me better graphics and visuals for my video editing. I also find the 15.6 inches display convenient for running my Pro Tools projects.
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop features
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop features are listed below.
It has a 15.6 inches screen that offers enough space for my Pro Tools projects.
The laptop has a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB graphics card that produces quality visual rendering, allowing me to edit my videos effectively.
It is a Full HD laptop with 1920 x 1080 display resolution for clear and better visuals.
The laptop is super-responsive with a 3ms response time, allowing me to finish my projects within a short period.
It has an IPS display with wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction for the quality of my Pro Tools projects.
The 16GB Dual-Channel DDR4 allows me to multitask without experiencing lag or slowdowns.
The 512GB NVMe SSD storage lets me save my media files and retrieve them anytime I need them.
The RGB Keyboard has well-spaced characters and is easy to enter commands.
The 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core processor has a fast speed of up to 5.0 GHz, letting me run tasks and programs smoothly without slowdowns.
Has an average weight of 5.07 lbs.
Pros
Cons
Acer Aspire 5 A515-44-R41B Laptop is a high-performing laptop for Pro Tools. It has a large display that lets me multitask and edit my video projects. It also has a high Full HD resolution that ensures the visual integrity of my projects. I prefer AMD processors over Intel ones, and this laptop has that. It features the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Hexa-Core mobile processor that is super fast, ensuring all my tasks run smoothly without slowdowns.
Acer Aspire 5 A515-44-R41B Laptop features
Acer Aspire 5 A515-44-R41B Laptop has the following features.
The laptop has a 15.6 inches screen with enough space for my Pro Tools projects.
It is a Full HD laptop with a display resolution of 1920 x 1080 for the visual integrity of my projects.
The laptop has 8GB DDR4 RAM that allows me to multitask without running into problems.
The 256GB NVMe SSD storage lets me save and access my media files.
It has a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Hexa-Core Mobile Processor that lets me run programs smoothly without slowdowns.
It is compatible with 802.11ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, letting me efficiently share my media files between devices.
It has a backlit keyboard that will well-fit characters, making entering characters easy.
It has an IPS panel with accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles for visual integrity, which enhances my Pro Tools experience.
The laptop has one USB-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 1, one HDMI (HDCP support), and one USB 2.0 Port that lets me connect it to other devices.
Pros
Cons
4.5/5
ASUS TUF FX505DT Gaming Laptop is a powerful Windows 10 laptop best suited for Pro Tools. The laptop has extensive features that simplify my sound recording, video editing, and video mixing tasks. It has a powerful processor that delivers fast processing speed, ensuring I finish my projects in time. Its Nvidia GeForce GTX also delivers quality graphics rendering, ensuring I have better visuals.
ASUS TUF FX505DT Gaming Laptop Features
ASUS TUF FX505DT Gaming Laptop features are listed below.
15.6 inches screen that offers enough space for my projects.
Full HD display panel with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080, ensuring high quality and vivid display, allowing me to edit my videos efficiently.
A powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB graphics delivers quality rendering, ensuring I get quality visuals.
120Hz refresh rate that eliminates image ghosting when doing my projects.
An IPS display with wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction for precise detailing of projects.
A high 8GB DDR4 RAM that allows me to multitask without lags.
256GB NVMe SSD storage lets me save and access my media files.
Compatibility with WiFi 5 (802.11AC) and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, letting me share my media files between devices.
Anti-dust technology that keeps the laptop free from dust.
I find RGB backlit keyboard with well-fit characters makes it easy to enter commands and navigate the laptop.
Has an average weight of 4.80 lbs.
It supports HDMI, USB, and Ethernet ports that let me connect the laptop to other devices. The Ethernet port lets me connect to the WiFi router directly for an uninterrupted connection.
Pros
Cons
4.4/5
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop is a reliable laptop for Pro Tips. It has features that make video editing, sound recording, and mixing easy and effective. It has a powerful 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4 that delivers fast processing speed, allowing me to finish my projects within a short period. Besides, it features an IPS panel with accurate color reproduction, making my video projects precise. The fingerprint reader also lets me sign in easily.
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop Features
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop features are listed below.
I was able to run multiple tasks more efficiently, thanks to the 14 inches wide display.
Full HD with 1920 x 1080 screen resolution enhances the display quality, boosting my Pro Tools experience.
An IPS display with accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles enhanced my performance and general experience.
The powerful 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4 has a high processing power that lets me run my projects efficiently without slowdowns and finish them in time.
8GB LPDDR4 RAM, allowing me to run multiple tasks simultaneously without lags.
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage lets me save and access my media files.
Compatible with WiFi 6 AX201 802 11ax and Bluetooth wireless technologies, letting me share my media files between devices
A fingerprint reader that lets me sign in to the laptop more easily.
A powerful battery lasts more than 12 hours, making me use the laptop for long sessions without recharging.
Supports one USB-C, one HDMI 2.0, one DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 3, and two USB 3 2 Gen 1 ports that let me connect it to other devices.
Pros
Cons
ASUS TUF Dash 15.6" FHD i7-11370H Laptop is an eclipse gray laptop I find interesting for Pro Tools. The laptop features a powerful processor that delivers the high power I need to efficiently run my Pro Tools projects. Besides, the powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4 GB delivers the graphics quality I just need to enhance my performance. In addition, the high storage capacity allows me to save and freely access my media files.
ASUS TUF Dash 15.6" FHD i7-11370H Laptop Features
ASUS TUF Dash 15.6" FHD i7-11370H Laptop features are listed below.
I was able to multitask efficiently, thanks to the 15.6 inches wide display.
8GB DDR4 RAM allowed me to run multiple tasks simultaneously without problems.
512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage lets me save and freely access my files.
Intel Core i7 i7-11370H is a powerful processor with high processing power, letting me run my tasks smoothly without slowdowns.
The powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4 GB graphics card delivers quality rendering, allowing me to edit my videos efficiently.
A high refresh rate of up to 144 Hertz lets me run smooth Pro Tools projects without image ghosting.
An IPS panel with accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles enhances my experience
A backlit precision keyboard with well-spaced characters makes my typing experience top-notch.
The laptop measures 9.9 x 14.2 x 0.8 inches and has an average weight of 4.4lbs. The lightweight design makes it possible, allowing me to carry it around easily.
It supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and BlueTooth wireless connectivities, letting me share media files efficiently.
Pros
Cons
4.2/5
MSI GP Series Laptop is a Windows 10 laptop with features designed for Pro Tools. It has an extended display that offers enough space for my Pro Tools projects. In addition, it has a high refresh rate that eliminates image ghosting while I perform my tasks. It also has a powerful processor and graphics card that enhances my performance, boosting my productivity.
MSI GP Series Laptop Features
MSI GP Series Laptop features are listed below.
The 15.6 inches screen allows me to multitask efficiently without slowdowns and lags.
A high refresh rate of up to 240 Hertz eliminates image ghosting when undertaking my projects.
Full HD with 1920 x 1080 screen resolution enhances the display quality, boosting my Pro Tools experience.
A powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8 GB GDDR6 that delivers quality graphics rendering, enhancing my performance.
An IPS display with accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles, enhancing the performance.
The powerful Intel Core i7 11th Gen 11800H (2.30 GHz) has a high processing power that lets me run my projects efficiently without slowdowns and finish them in time.
16GB DDR4 RAM, allowing me to run multiple tasks simultaneously without lags.
1 TB NVMe SSD storage allows me to save and access my media files.
An anti-glare screen reduces eye strain, allowing me to work for long sessions without developing eye problems.
The laptop measures 14.1 x 10.5 x 0.9 inches and has an average weight of 5.25 lbs.
Compatible with one Mini DisplayPort 1.4, one HDMI, and three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, allowing me to connect it to other devices.
Supports Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6E wireless connectivities, allowing me to share my media files effectively with other devices.
Pros
Cons
4.1/5
Apple MacBook Pro is a premium laptop for Pro Tools I would recommend. It has high-end features that ensure I achieve higher performance. It has an extended space that lets me work freely. It also has a powerful battery with good battery life for long product life.
Apple MacBook Pro Features
Apple MacBook Pro features are listed below.
The 16 inches screen provides enough space for my Pro Tools projects.
A 10-core CPU Apple M1 Pro chip that ensures I run my programs faster and efficiently.
A 16-core graphics card that delivers quality graphics rendering, ensuring I achieve better visual performance in my Pro Tools projects.
A 16GB RAM ensures I run multiple background tasks without lags and slowdowns.
1TB SSD storage lets me save and freely access my media files.
A powerful battery with up to 21 hours of battery life, ensuring I run my tasks uninterruptedly for long sessions, even in power cuts.
The laptop measures 9.8 x 14.0 x 0.7 inches.
A touch ID that lets me sign in faster.
A USB-C and HDMI connectivity ports let me connect the laptop to other external storage devices.
Compatible with WiFi and BlueTooth wireless technologies, letting me share my media files efficiently.
Pros
Cons
4.0/5
GIGABYTE AORUS 5 SE4 is a Windows 11 premium laptop ideal for Pro Tools. It is a Full HD laptop with a high performing CPU, ensuring I enhance my performance and boost my productivity. The laptop's extended display means I have enough space to work freely on my Pro Tools. Besides, its design is satisfactory and generally appealing.
GIGABYTE AORUS 5 SE4 laptop Features
GIGABYTE AORUS 5 SE4 laptop features are listed below.
15.6 inches offers extended space for my Pro Tools assignments.
Thin Bezels with a high screen-to-body ratio increase the display I use for my work.
A full HD laptop with a maximum screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 ensures quality and vivid display, enhancing my experience.
A powerful Intel Core i7-12700H processor with high processing power ensures a smooth run of activities, ensuring I finish my studio tasks within time.
16GB DDR4 RAM lets me multitask without experiencing lags.
The 512GB SSD allows me to store and access my media files.
An IPS panel with accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles, enhancing my experience.
An anti-glare screen that protects my eyes by limiting eye strain.
Supports one Thunderbolt 4, one HDMI 2.1, one mini DP 1.4, and three USB 3.2 Gen1 ports, allowing me to connect it to external storage devices.
Pros
Cons
3.9/5
The last one on my list is the Lenovo Legion 5 15 gaming laptop. Like other Windows laptops, it integrates high-end features to enhance its performance. It integrates high performance and a quality battery, and I find its design outstanding. It has a powerful processor and GPU that enhance my performance, boosting my productivity.
Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop Features
Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop features are listed below.
15.6 inches screen that offers enough space for my Pro Tools projects.
Full HD screen resolution (1920 x 1080), ensuring high quality and vivid display, allowing me to edit my videos efficiently.
A powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics that delivers quality rendering, ensuring I get quality visuals.
A Quad-core AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor with high processing speed, ensuring I run my programs smoothly without lag and slowdowns.
An IPS display with wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction for precise detailing of projects.
A high 16GB DDR4 RAM allows me to run multiple tasks simultaneously without lags and slowdowns.
512GB NVMe SSD storage lets me save and access my media files.
Compatibility with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity, letting me share my media files between devices.
I find RGB backlit keyboard with well-fit characters makes it easy to enter commands and navigate the laptop.
It supports one HDMI 2.1, one USB Type C, one RJ45 Ethernet, one DisplayPort 1.4, and four USB ports, allowing me to connect it to external storage devices. The RJ45 Ethernet port lets me connect to the WiFi router directly for an uninterrupted connection.
100% sRGB wide color gamut coverage provides an enhanced color depth, making my Pro Tools ultimate project stunning.
AMD FreeSync premium eliminates screen tearing and stuttering, allowing me to have smooth operations.
Pros
Cons
Best Laptop for Pro Tools Buying Guide
Before buying a laptop for Pro Tools, consider the factors I have listed below.
CPU
The laptop's processor should be the first thing to look at for almost any application. Pro Tools is demanding software, so I need a powerful processor. Therefore, the latest generation processor should work smoothly for my projects. I recommend laptops with Intel i5 Core processor. It is a powerful processor that can handle huge workloads smoothly.
However, the Intel Core i7 is a much better option that I would opt for if I have the cash to splash. But, for professional musicians or sound engineers with huge workloads, I would recommend an AMD Ryzen 7000 processor, which is more powerful than Intel.
RAM
The memory capacity I need for a laptop depends on the number of tasks I run simultaneously when multitasking. Pro Tools requires me to multitask, so I'll need a higher memory capacity. 8GB RAM should be enough for my music projects with Pro Tools. Any lower amount of memory capacity would result in slowdowns and lags. However, I would always go for 16GB RAM for the best and smooth operations.
Storage
Pro Tools needs a lot of space. Therefore, I would need to consider a hard drive with a large space. 512GB should be good to go for Pro Tools. An SSD should be an affordable alternative. They respond fast and allow me to run my projects using Pro Tools without experiencing any issues. 256GB SSD is enough. However, if I have more files and project data that I would wish to store, I would be much more comfortable with 1TB storage or a larger SSD storage space.
GPU
Music and art quality are dependent on graphics quality. My laptop's graphics card should handle and cater to all the graphical functions. Therefore, a powerful GPU is essential for Pro Tools. I recommend the AMD Radeon card, which works well for Pro Tools. Similarly, the Nvidia GeForce GTX also suits the program. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 is an affordable option for my project. However, I would go for the GTX 2060 or RTX-30-series if I have the cash.
Battery
The battery life is what I look forward to in a laptop. The battery needs to sustain its power if there are no power outlets in areas I move to. Pro tools are energy-consuming programs. Therefore, I need a laptop with extended battery life to last during my long working sessions. Sometimes I need to travel and carry along my laptop.
Most laptops for Pro Tools have a battery life of up to five hours. However, I recommend one with up to ten hours of battery life for convenience and an enhanced experience.
Display
The display encompasses the screen size and the display resolution. For the screen size, I can have any size for Pro Tools that isn't that specific with screen sizes. However, an ideal laptop for the program should have at least 14 inches screen, although many pros prefer laptops with 15.6 inches or larger displays.
The laptop's resolution is what I focus more on when buying a laptop for Pro Tools. The ideal laptop for this program should have a higher resolution, not lower than 1920 x 1080 pixels. Higher display resolutions will make my experience with Pro Tools even better.
Connectivity Ports
Pro Tools requires coordination and frequent sharing of files between different devices. Therefore, I would need a laptop with rich port connectivity, both input, and output. The ports that I find a must-have in these laptops are HDMI, USB-C, and Thunderbolt. I also refer to a laptop with an SD card slot for Pro Tools. This addition will allow me to export or import media files and upload them to my project.
Wireless Connectivity Technologies
Bluetooth and WiFi are the wireless technologies I always look for in a laptop for Pro Tools. They help me share files and data efficiently without a wired connection. 802.11ac WiFi is a good alternative. However, WiFi 6 802.11ax is the option I would go for as it has better performance. An Ethernet port is an alternative to a WiFi wireless connection. But in this case, you'll need an ethernet cable to connect to your router directly.
Portability
I don't like heavy laptops, and I won't recommend one. Pro Tools, in particular, need a lightweight laptop. Having a portable laptop allows me to move around with it without strain. The best laptops for Pro Tools should weigh no more than 4.0lbs.
FAQs
How Much Ram Do I Need to Run Pro Tools?
Pro Tools is among the graphics-intensive apps that require a large memory capacity. To run Pro tools, I need a RAM capacity of not less than 8GB. 8GB RAM lets me run multiple tasks without lag or slowdowns. However, 16GB RAM provides a much-improved performance.
What Is the Most Affordable Laptop for Pro Tools?
The most affordable laptop for Pro tools is ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop. It has a 15.6 inches screen, offering enough space for my Pro Tools projects. It also has an FHD Display and a powerful Intel i3-1005G1 processor, making my studio assignments run smoothly. Other features that I find significant include 8GB RAM, a 128GB SSD, a fingerprint sensor, and a backlit keyboard.
What Are Some Things to Consider When Buying a Laptop for Pro Tools?
Before I buy a laptop for Pro Tools, I need to consider the following factors.
Memory capacity - 8GB or larger
Storage space - 256GB SSD Minimum
Processor - 9th Gen Intel Core i5 or newer generations
Graphics card - 2GB NVIDIA GeForce MX250 minimum
Screen size - 14 inches screen or larger
Display resolution - 1920 x 1080 Full HD
Battery life - Not less than five hours
