Drawing is one of the most popular pastimes in the world. But not everyone who wants to draw has space to set up a studio, or time for lengthy art class schedules. Luckily there are some great laptops for drawing that make it possible to take drawing anywhere you go!
There is no other piece of technology out there that will do more to help you develop your skills while also providing all the convenience and ease-of-use that you deserve.
Choosing a laptop for drawing is a very individual way in which you can express yourself. Most laptops for drawing have the basic components that are standard in most laptops, but the one distinguishing feature of these types of machines is that they have a screen that is actually calibrated to display a sharper image and more vibrant colors.
People who draw or who do graphic design work typically need to be able to see their work in detail, so an oversized screen is the best option. You don’t want to have to squint at your sketches when you’re focused on every little detail.
These laptops are also tailored to the needs of a designer or artist in their ability to run high-end software and programs. Most of these devices are going to feature integrated graphics cards along with at least one high-resolution full-HD screen.
Some of these laptops also have custom hotkeys that the artist will be able to customize to draw on them with a pen, paintbrush or pencil.
The best laptops for drawing are not always the most expensive ones, and you don’t have to spend a fortune if money is tight. There are plenty still out there that offer great value for the money.
5 Best Laptops For Drawing
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is the lightest and thinnest laptop on the market by far. It comes in 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch models each capable of running Windows software thanks to a program called Parallels.
These laptops come with custom graphics cards designed to handle demanding graphics work and they are also capable of multitasking, so you can have multiple applications or windows open at once without any issue. The screen is a great 12-inch LCD with LED back lighting. The average battery life is 9 hours, which is great for a laptop like this.
For drawing , this is as good as it gets in terms of portability, functionality and price. The only downside is that it’s a Mac so you won’t be able to run certain software.
Pros:
- Thin and light
- Runs Windows applications in Parallels
- Durable and long battery life
- Below average price.
Cons:
- No touchscreen
- No pen input
- Screen resolution is minimal.
Asus ZenBook UX305CA
This laptop has a 13.3-inch screen that features full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. It also comes with a solid Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM to handle just about anything you could throw at it. Plus, it’s only a bit over an inch thick.
The thing that stands out the most about the ASUS ZenBook Pro is the battery life. It is advertised as able to get up to 9 hours of battery life while playing videos and 12 hours when browsing the web. That’s impressive for a 13-inch laptop, especially one that comes with this price tag and specifications.
Pros:
- Amazing battery life
- Runs most light and medium apps without a problem
- Installation of Windows 10 was easy
- Slick design
Cons:
- No USB 3.0 ports
- Trackpad can be problematic at times.
Dell XPS 13″ Laptop (2015 Model)
This laptop is a bit thicker than the others on this list, weighing in at just under 3 pounds, but it still has great features for artists that require portability from time to time. It features a beautiful 13 inch 1080p display with soft edges that make it comfortable to use in tablet mode. That display is protected by Gorilla Glass NBT, which is tougher than the basic stuff.
It also comes with a pressure-sensitive stylus that works with more than just the touchscreen. The Dell Active Pen allows you to write or draw on any other part of the screen and it will show up as though you’d written directly on that part of the screen. Not only does this make using Photoshop much easier, but it can be useful for inking and designing to your heart’s content. This is definitely not a cheap stylus either, meaning you won’t have to worry about replacing or repairing it anytime soon.
This product is geared toward the entertainment industry and can also be used for media applications, business presentations, or even making notes in a classroom. It’s not just for professionals either. Whether you’re a student doing homework or a big league artist, this stylus can help you take your work to new heights and turn simple ideas into true masterpieces.
Pros:
- Very well made, solid piece.
- Nice, large screen.
- Strong, high quality pen.
- Capable of multitasking.
- Great battery life (up to 11 hours).
- Popular model, extremely low price.
Cons:
- Limited to Windows apps.
- No touchscreen capabilities.
- Requires a lot of manual scrolling.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (256 GB, 8 GB RAM)
The Microsoft surface is a surprisingly capable computer despite the fact that it runs Windows 10 instead of MacOS or Windows 7 and 8, but if you’re looking strictly for drawing capabilities, this is one of the best options out there.
The Surface Pro 4 is powerful, yet lightweight which makes it ideal for drawing or other creative endeavors. Zero to sixty-four seconds, this machine can be setup in less than four seconds thanks to its instant on feature and HP’s battery management.
This is the perfect device for artists who want a comfortable laptop that can run their software more efficiently along with their favorite applications like Photoshop, Affinity Designer, or Illustrator. This hybrid device has an impressive 12-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and . The keyboard also has backlight and the keys are individually adjustable which makes it ideal for typing up those long winded scripts or designing layouts.
Pros:
- Great drawing tablet
- Lightweight, ergonomic, and long battery life makes this a great drawing tablet for artists.
- Highly portable drawing tablet for artists.
- Long battery life.
- Multiple connectivity options including Bluetooth and USB 3.0 Type C port.
Cons:
- No touchscreen.
- Pen is placed on the backside of the display making it difficult to use with one hand while drawing with the other.
Acer Predator 15
If you’re into gaming and want a serious laptop that can handle your workload, this offering from Acer is about as capable as they come when it comes to running Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M is a great video card that should be able to handle many games on high settings and it will be able to run some of the latest and greatest titles out there. It’s also one of the biggest graphics cards you can get in a laptop this size, which makes it ideal for those who want more power.
This device has a lot to offer even outside of what it can do for an artist. It’s equipped with a 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD, which is more than enough to run most applications you need. Plus, the price is surprisingly cheap considering what you’re getting.
Pros:
- Incredibly good value for a gaming laptop.
- Can handle most light to medium workloads.
- Gamer oriented design and powerful components make it perfect for gaming.
- Plethora of ports including a USB 3.0 slot and an HDMI port for external monitors.
Cons:
- Minor screen tearing at times (screen tear only visible when exporting video files).
Features to Consider
Before selecting the best laptop for drawing, you need to look at the features that are being offered. Here are some of the most important things to look out for when you start shopping.
Type
There are three main types of laptops available on the market today. They include traditional laptops, 2-in-1s, and the Surface Pro which is essentially a tablet that uses a keyboard but can be used as a laptop by flipping it over.
Processor and RAM
Processors generally go up in speed as the generations progress, but they also increase in price. You need to look for something that will be compatible with your software applications and won’t bottleneck your computer’s performance. The processor is the brain of the computer, so it’s important that you spend some time learning about what goes on inside a processor before you buy one. Learn more about how recommended CPUs are selected here .
The amount of RAM needs to be considered as well. Many software applications are not as optimized for computers with low amounts of RAM and will not run well or at all on computers with less than 8GB.
If you’re working on large projects that require a lot of memory, you might also want to consider getting a laptop with more than 8GB since many software companies tend to use up the memory faster than expected as they come up with larger versions of their products. If you can expand your RAM however, it’s better to get something higher than 8GB
Graphics
This is the most important factor when it comes to choosing a laptop for drawing. You want to ensure that the video card is compatible with your software applications and that it’s powerful enough to handle your needs.
If you’re interested in graphic design, you’ll also want to pay attention to the resolution of display since higher resolutions will result in a sharper image.
Also, keep in mind that this is where things can get complicated.
Stylus
Some laptops have a stylus that is included in addition to the touchscreen, while others do not. Having a stylus can be helpful because it allows for more precision and control when you’re drawing on the screen. Some artists prefer drawing on a tablet with their fingers instead of a stylus however, so it’s important that you do some research into what’s right for you and your style.
Storage
Storage size is also important because, where RAM can be expanded in most cases, storage is something you need to consider when you’re buying it because it’s difficult to change. If you’re getting a computer for drawing and want to use the application of your choice, you might want to consider getting one with more than 500GB of storage space. It’s also a good idea to get one with an SSD as well so that your computer will boot faster and run applications faster, which means fewer delays and frustrations in the long run.
Screen
Another important factor to consider when buying a new computer is the screen. While you might think that it doesn’t matter what kind of screen your computer has, that’s not true because there are different types of screens available on the market today.
Conclusion
We hope you can use the info above to find the right computer for your needs. If you’re interested in any of the computers that were mentioned above, we recommend checking them out here.