Previously, graphic tablets were the most sought-after devices that creators choose to use often. All they have to do is hook the device to a laptop or desktop and work. However, things have changed drastically thanks to technological advancements. These days, creators are using the best laptop for drawing.
The best part is that artists can use laptop screens to draw by using a digital pen. There are laptops specifically designed to provide the right precision like that of graphic tablets. But the problem is that not many models are given the term “drawing laptop”.
As such, comic artists and graphic designers find it hard to point them out. But there is nothing to worry about. We have handpicked some of the best laptops for drawing to make things easy for you.
Keep in mind that before picking up the best laptop for digital art, it is important to go through the specifications. That way, you can have an idea about the right laptop that meets your demand.
What specifications do you need to look for when buying a laptop for drawing?
Having a high-quality laptop makes all the difference. Probably, you need them to achieve outstanding results for your digital art. So, you need a laptop with a color-accurate screen and powerful hardware.
Reliability and durability are other important features that you cannot compromise. Even if you are on a budget, you need a great laptop that runs the popular art software without delays. Below listed are the important specs that you need to focus on when buying a laptop for digital art.
1. Screen Size, Resolution, and Panel Type
Screen size and resolution determine the clarity of images. The screen sizes vary from 11 to 18 inches. You can opt for laptops with bigger screens if you have a considerable amount of money to spend. However, laptops with 15 inches displays can be the best choice.
Screen resolution or the number of pixels on the screen is another factor you have to consider. They can vary from 1366X768 (HD) to 3840X2160 (4K). Always remember that if the screen has more pixels, you can identify smaller items easily. In short, you get the clarity you want.
Moreover, screen resolution depends on the screen size. It means, when the screen is bigger, it needs more pixels to cover the area. So, it is good to buy a laptop with a screen resolution of at least 1920X1080 (Full HD) for a 13-inch screen size.
For a 15-inch screen size, the resolution will be 2560X1440. Next, we will discuss the panel type.
The color accuracy level and viewing angles of the screen depend on the type of panel used.
- Twisted Nematic or TN panels provide a faster response time. They have poor viewing angles, display fewer colors, and cost less.
- Vertical Alignment or VA panels provide a dynamic contrast ratio, great color accuracy, and better viewing angles. But they have a poor response time.
- In-plane switching or IPS panels have the same properties as VA panels. However, the response time in IPS panel displays lies between the two types.
Therefore, you can choose a laptop with an IPS panel because it produces color accuracy without compromising the response time.
2. The Touch Panel or Touchscreen
Typically, the best laptop for drawing allows you to use a stylus on the touchpad to draw. Or, you can use a mouse instead. However, a touchscreen will be helpful if you want to finish your drawing project with more precision and faster.
3. Stylus or Drawing Pen
There is no use of a drawing laptop without a stylus or drawing pen. This input device gives you better control over your art. So, look out for laptops that support a stylus or come equipped with a drawing pen.
It is better if you get your hands on a drawing laptop that comes with a pen. For example, Apple Pencil comes with MacBook, Active Pens with Lenovo, and S Pens with Samsung. Having the stylus or pen will increase your creativity and bring great results in less time.
Therefore, make sure that the laptop you want to buy has this feature enabled. But what about the laptop that supports a stylus but doesn’t include one? Well, you have to buy a stylus or pen that is compatible with the laptop.
4. CPU Performance
The CPU decides the speed of the laptop. Unless you are using the laptop to transcode or edit videos, a high-end CPU is not a necessity. However, low-end CPUs might interrupt your creative work by causing lags.
The number of cores and the clock speed of a CPU are the two important things that you need to watch out for. For a good drawing laptop, a dual-core CPU with at least 1.5GHz clock speed is the minimum requirement.
But if you need sheer performance, a quad-core CPU with a clock speed of over 3.0GHz will work wonders. Software such as Affinity Designer, Procreate, and Photoshop will run smoothly.
5. Memory and Hard Drive
The memory or RAM determines the laptop’s ability to run multiple programs without lagging. And, the hard drive is the internal storage in your laptop. Apart from the CPU, both the hard drive and RAM are important.
For most digital art projects, a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM is required. But if you want more juice out of your machine, aim for 16GB of RAM. When it comes to a hard drive, you can choose between an HDD and an SSD.
HHDs give you more storage, whereas SSDs offer quick performance. However, SSDs are expensive compared to HHDs. These days, almost every laptop comes with an SSD. So, you do not have to bother about that. A 256GB SSD should be enough for your needs.
6. GPU requirements
A GPU or graphic processing unit is the least important thing that you can consider in a laptop for drawing. Unless you need a 2D drawing, a dedicated GPU may not be useful. There is no need to waste a significant amount of money in buying a laptop with a dedicated GPU.
But if you think that you might need to work on projects that involve 3D modeling later, a high-end GPU can get the work done faster. If you need the best drawing laptop to handle small projects, you can buy a good one without a dedicated GPU.
However, the GPU requirement for a graphic design laptop is almost similar. We have a separate post on the graphic design laptop buying guide, in case you are planning to buy one. The post highlights some of the important factors to consider before buying the best laptop for graphic design.
7. Operating systems
This is where things get controversial. Many artists support Windows OS because it is supported by several brands. Besides, it gives plenty of options to the users. Whereas, others like the macOS because of its smoother performance and better display.
If you think rationally, these differences cannot hurt your digital art. However, the only difference is that macOS does not support touchscreen panels. So, if you like drawing on the screen, macOS won’t allow you to do it.
Apart from that, both these platforms support popular digital art software and other graphic designing programs.
There are plenty of laptops on the market. And, a powerful one doesn’t mean it is better for digital drawing. An avid gamer needs a high-end CPU. But for an artist, a mid-level CPU works great.
While a dedicated GPU might be unnecessary, increasing the RAM makes a great difference. Moreover, don’t compromise on the display screen, drawing pen, and touchscreen abilities.
Keep these considerations in your mind when buying a
good laptop for digital art. We hope that you will find the best laptop for
drawing that suits your needs.