If you’re someone who loves drawing and artwork, a good laptop can do wonders for your creativity.
With the advancement in technology, laptops for drawing have become incredibly versatile and efficient. They come with powerful features and deliver a superb performance.
It is now possible to use your computers for drawing and producing stunningly detailed pieces of art. However, not all laptops have the features to enable a stellar drawing experience.
It’s important to carefully consider their specifications and features before you make a purchase.
The good news is that there are good drawing laptops available to meet all kinds of budgets, tastes, and preferences.
We have put together a list of the best laptops for drawing so that you can pick one that is best suited to your unique requirements.
How To Choose A Laptop For Drawing
There are many options for drawing laptops. However, if you want the best computer for drawing, you should know what features to look for.
We have identified the most crucial features that you need to keep in mind when shopping around for the best laptop for sketching.
Processor
It is the processor in your laptop that processes and executes the commands. You can have great features on your laptop and excellent software to create your next masterpiece.
However, if your processor is not up to the mark, you will face lags, interruptions, and slow performance in general.
We recommend going for laptops that at least have an Intel Core i5 processor. You can go higher if your budget permits it. A good processor will ensure that you have no glitches when you are working on your next creation.
Display
The size of the screen and the resolution are vital factors to consider. Small screen size will be inadequate for drawing. It may also be challenging to identify the finer nuances of your artwork.
Anything above a 13-inch display is ideal for drawing and sketching. We do not recommend laptops with a screen size lower than 11 inches.
Look for laptops that offer full HD resolution of or higher than 1024×768 pixels. It helps bring all the colors and designs to life. The laptop should also have a touchscreen so that you can use a stylus to draw directly onto the screen.
Graphics
For a creative person, graphics are of utmost importance. Good graphics will help you bring out the vividness and brightness of your artworks.
The best touchscreen laptops for drawing will have a robust graphics processing unit (GPU) also known as a graphics card.
We recommend buying a laptop with a GPU of 4 GB to 8 GB for a seamless experience.
Battery Life
Battery life can elevate or diminish the overall experience of your laptop. As an artist, you would like to focus on your art rather than looking for sockets everywhere you go.
A good battery life ensures you can be stress-free and focused, especially when you are on the move. For example, digital nomads or bloggers love to buy laptops that have excellent battery life.
We recommend looking for laptops that can last for 10 hours on a single charge.
Memory
Your laptop’s memory can have a significant impact on its performance. As an artist, you may like to work on several projects that the same time. It means your computer’s Random Access Memory may need to store quite a bit of data that is in active use.
We recommend that you go for laptops that offer 8-16 GB RAM for a hassle-free experience. This is more than the minimum requirement mandated by a commonly used design software which makes a significant difference.
Stylus
While this is not a deal-breaker, it is good to look for laptops that come with a stylus. It becomes important if you don’t have a separate drawing tablet.
The stylus should be easy to grip and the screen should respond to the stylus with minimal pressure.
Top Laptops For Drawing
Now that you know what to look for when buying a drawing laptop, here are our recommendations for the best laptops for drawing to make the selection process easier for you.
We have described the key features of each of these laptops. The description also lists out the pros and cons so that you can pick the one that works best for you.
By clicking on the images below, you’ll be redirected to Amazon to see the current prices.
Microsoft Surface Book 2
It is the most sought-after laptop for people who don’t want to compromise on design or functionality. Surface Book 2 is the best convertible laptop for artists.
With its advanced features and splendid design, it is geared towards professionals who need high-end specifications to deliver quality work.
The laptop is sleek and weighs 4.2 pounds. One of its best features is the detachable screen. You can easily remove the screen from the laptop and use it as a tablet. It also has fulcrum hinges that allow you to turn the screen at an angle of your choice.
The screen measures 15 inches and is very responsive to touch. The resolution of 3240 x 2160 pixels allows you to notice the minutest of details and make your art look vibrant. It also comes with a surface pen which is extremely beneficial for artists.
As far as performance goes, Surface Book 2 packs in a punch. It comes with a 1.9 GHz Intel Core i7-8650 Quad-Core processor that lets you multitask without any lags. You also get 16 GB of RAM along with 1TB SSD storage.
It has a solid GPU configuration which highlights the strength of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. It is a major plus for artists who are involved in graphics-heavy work. These configurations also make this laptop a great choice for gaming.
To top it all you get an insane battery life of 17 hours. Let the time fly as you bring your art to life without having to worry about charging your laptop.
Overall, it is the best laptop-tablet for drawing. It is a little heavy on the pocket but the performance more than makes up for the price.
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Detachable screen and dynamic fulcrum hinge
- Surface Pen is a great addition
Cons
- The initial setup process is time-consuming
- Absence of regular ports
Dell XPS 13 9370
This Dell laptop is a preferred choice for many drawing enthusiasts. It is durable and attractive at the same time.
Dell XPS 13 9370 delivers on the performance front. It comes with Intel Core 8th generation i7 8550U processor which allows you to multitask seamlessly. You will not experience any lags or glitches.
The performance is further enhanced by a 16 GB DDR3 RAM and a 512 GB PCle SSD unit, making it easy for you to create high quality without any technical troubles.
The company has branded this laptop as the world’s smallest 13-inch laptop. It weighs merely 2.67 pounds, making it perfect for those creative souls who are always on the move.
Dell XPS also has a 4K Ultra HD Infinity Edge touch display. It has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, making for a vibrant and sharp viewing experience.
For the graphics nerds, this laptop comes with an integrated Intel Ultra HD Graphics 620, making it a great choice for editing videos and gaming.
Lastly, it does not disappoint as far as the battery life is concerned. It can go 11 hours on a full charge, giving you ample time to play around before you need to charge it again.
Pros
- Excellent display quality
- Attractive design
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Stylus not included
- Webcam placement is not great
Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
If you are looking for a drawing laptop that delivers good performance without burning a hole in your pocket, Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is the right choice for you. Its sleek design and powerful performance make it the best drawing laptop at this price point.
It comes with a 1.8 GHz Intel Core i7 8550U processor which delivers a stellar performance. There is ample storage for all your designs with 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD unit.
Samsung Notebook 9 Pro has a 15 inch LED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and the panel is fully touchscreen. It has an excellent 360-degree flip-and-fold convertible design, making it very comfortable to use.
This feature is great for sketching, drawing, and doodling.
It has an impressive GPU configuration. The AMD Radeon 540 with 2GB VRAM is a boon for artists and graphic designers.
Lastly, a battery life of 12.5 hours makes it a formidable drawing laptop.
Pros
- Stylus pen included
- Tablet mode
- Impressive 15-inch display
Cons
- Average speaker quality
- The keyboard could have been better
HP Spectre x360 2-in-1
This HP laptop marries performance with style in a brilliant manner. It is a convertible laptop that offers the convenience of a tablet and the functionality of a laptop in one powerful machine.
It comes with a 1.8 GHz 10th generation Intel i7 -10510U Quad-Core processor which delivers a power-packed performance. The laptop also has 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM and a 512 GB SSD unit provides an impressive speed without any lags.
You can multitask as much as you like with this one.
The 15.6-inch touchscreen has a 4K Ultra HD WLED display with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. It is also accompanied by NVIDIA GeForce MX330 graphics, making it a great choice for artists and graphic designers.
This laptop comes with an impressive battery life of 13.5 hours and comes with a variety of ports that offer great functionality.
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Flip and fold design
- High-quality display
Cons
- Slightly heavy
- Can run a bit hot
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Another one on our list from Microsoft that does not disappoint. This laptop for drawing is a definite upgrade from the Surface Pro 6 and it shows that the company gives importance to feedback.
It comes with an Intel Core i7 processor which delivers a smooth performance. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 has 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD storage capacity which allows you to multitask productively without any interruptions.
It’s backed by the Intel Iris Plus Graphics Processing Unit that allows you to draw and sketch in vivid detail.
The screen measures 12.3 inches and has a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels. It is bright, color balanced, and also has an ambient light sensing technology that adapts to the light in the room.
The touchscreen is highly responsive. This laptop does not come with a stylus pen which will need to be purchased separately.
The company also added a USB- C port on top of the USB-A port. However, it still does not have a Thunderbolt 3 port.
The Windows Hello sign-in allows you to sign in without a password. It has a battery life of 10.5 hours. It also charges quickly and can go from 0 to 80% in an hour.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Lightweight
- Impressive display
Cons
- Stylus not included
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
Final Thoughts On Laptops For Drawing
Picking the best laptop for drawing can be tricky. There are several options to choose from. The requirements will vary if you are a professional artist or an enthusiastic amateur.
Therefore, we recommend that you evaluate your needs and requirements thoroughly. Identify the features that are most important to you and those that you can compromise on.
Our buyer’s guide has some important factors that you must take into account. There are drawing laptops on the market that cater to all kinds of budgets and unique needs.
Our list featuring the best drawing laptops has some stellar options that not only deliver great performance but also provide value for money.
No matter which one you decide to purchase, you are sure to pick one that takes your artistic skills and creativity to the next level.
Looking for something more versatile? Take a look at our list featuring the best laptops for artists.
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