Best Laptop For Crafting Business? The 185 Detailed Answer

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If you’re looking for the best laptop for CAD (Computer Aided Design) in 2022, you’ve come to the right place. You may be an architect or engineer or a prospective student and the laptops on this page could prove to be indispensable tools for your projects.

Today’s laptops are more powerful than ever while remaining thin and light, and that means that instead of having to work at a PC from a desk, you have the flexibility to work almost anywhere, which is great for those of us who switch in between , great is working in the office and working from home,

CAD software requires powerful hardware to run it, so you need to make sure you invest in a laptop that has enough powerful components to keep up with your projects – no matter how complex they may be.

When choosing the best laptops for CAD, we make sure they come with high-end components that can handle projects with ease. This includes plenty of RAM, a multi-core processor and even a dedicated graphics card for particularly complex work.

A large screen that is comfortable to use is another important consideration, as is battery life. While the powerful components in these laptops ensure you don’t get ridiculous battery life, we made sure these laptops offer enough to get you through a work day without having to charge them, giving you more freedom to work.

Value for money is also more important now than ever, so we’ve made sure we offer a range of laptops to suit every budget.

To make choosing a laptop as easy as possible, each laptop on this page has been tested by us (you can read about how we test laptops) to ensure it can run the most popular CAD applications with ease.

If you need AutoCAD, you can purchase it from the Autodesk website (opens in new tab). If you are looking for a laptop for other purposes, check out our guide to the best laptop for graphic design and the best laptop for animation.

The best laptops for CAD available now

(Image credit: Future)

01. MacBook Pro 14 inch (2021) The best laptop ever made for CAD Specifications Processor: Apple M1 Pro or Max Chip RAM: 16-64 GB Screen: 14 or 16 inch Resolution: 3024 x 1964 Storage: 512 GB- 8 TB Weight: 3.5 lbs Today’s Best Deals View on Amazon (opens in a new tab) View on Currys (opens in a new tab) View on very.co.uk (opens in a new tab) Reasons to Buy + Incredible Performance + Huge Battery Life Reasons to Avoid – Expensive

The MacBook Pro 14 inch (2021) is a brilliant laptop for CAD and by far the best you can buy right now.

Running macOS Big Sur on Apple’s proprietary eight-core M1 Pro or Max chip and up to 64GB of RAM, this is the most powerful laptop Apple has ever made. In our testing, we found it to be more than capable of running both AutoCAD and resource-hungry 3D modeling software like Maya, 3DS Max, and Fusion 360 with ease. Also note that you can also run iOS here, so you can open the AutoCAD mobile app if that helps your workflow.

MacBook Pro also offers up to 17 hours of battery life: the longest of any Mac ever. You’ll no doubt get less if you work intensively in AutoCAD, but it’s sure to get you through a pro day without having to top up. You’ll also benefit from the most beautiful, super-high-resolution screen and up to a whopping 8TB of storage.

This laptop is very much the Rolls Royce option of MacBooks and can be overkill for many people’s needs. But if you’re looking for a premium laptop from Apple and are willing to pay the price, you won’t find anything better. Check out our MacBook Pro 14-inch review for more information.

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02. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) A cheaper laptop for CAD specifications CPU: Apple M2 with 8-core CPU Graphics: Integrated 10-core GPU RAM: 8GB – 24GB Screen: 13.3-inch Display with 2560 x 1600 P3 and True Tone technology Storage: 256 GB – 2 TB SSD Dimensions (H x W x D): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56 cm Today’s Best Deals Check on Amazon ( opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + M2 chip is a brilliant performer + Excellent battery life + Virtually silent in operation Reasons to avoid – Not a new design – Still only two Thunderbolt ports

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is a great alternative if the 14-inch MacBook Pro above is overpriced. A new model with the brand new M2 chip is on the market, and while the M1 Pro and M1 Max still have the edge, the M2 is a brilliant performer in its own right, processing CAD programs without a hitch.

The new MacBook Pro 13-inch also offers incredibly long battery life. We’ve tested it ourselves and it’s really impressive as it allows you to work all day and still have battery life. That means you can visit clients, work on the go, and do a lot more without worrying about getting connected.

Also read: MacBook Pro 13 inch (M2, 2022) in review

(Image credit: Future)

03. Honor Magicbook 16 The best notebook for CAD at low price Specifications Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H RAM: 16GB DDR4 Screen: 16.1 inch Resolution: FHD (1920 x 1080) Storage: 512GB SSD Today’s best deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + Stunning 16.1″ 144Hz display + Sleek, modern design Reasons to avoid – Battery life is disappointing – Regional availability is patchy

The Honor MagicBook 16 proves that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great laptop for CAD. With some great specs thanks to AMD and a large 16.1-inch screen with a high refresh rate, this is ideal for engineering and architecture students who want something to work with.

It’s also one of the best looking laptops you can get for this low price, offering a design that reminds you of a MacBook – but without that hefty price tag. It runs Windows 11 and has enough power to run your favorite CAD applications, although there’s no dedicated graphics card, so more complex designs might put a bit too much strain on this laptop.

Battery life isn’t great either, so you’ll probably want to make sure you have the charger with you. Honor is a Chinese company, and that means it can sometimes be difficult to buy its products in the US. So if you’re based there, you might need to look around.

Read our Honor Magicbook 16 review for more information.

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If you’re running huge, complex CAD projects in a demanding managerial role, you may need the premium MacBook Pro performance listed above. However, for most CAD designers, the cheaper MacBook Air (M1 2020) is more than adequate for your needs.

That means making some small compromises in terms of performance. For example, the MacBook Air’s memory can only be expanded to 16GB, compared to the Pro’s 64GB. Likewise, the battery life is only 15 instead of 20 hours.

While the MacBook Pro 14-inch is a lot more powerful on top, during our time with the MacBook Air we found that it’s still capable of running any CAD or 3D modeling software on the market, so if you’re on a tighter budget , the MacBook Air should probably be your default choice. Check out our MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air guide or our full MacBook Air (2020) review for more on this.

05. LG Gram 17 (2021) The Best Large Screen Laptop for CAD Specifications Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7 (2.8GHz) RAM: 8GB-16GB Screen: 17 inch Resolution: 2,560 x 1,600 Storage: 256 GB See today’s best deals at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 17″ screen + Demanding display Reasons to avoid – You might want more storage

The laptops we’ve featured so far have all had medium-sized screens. But maybe you want to see your CAD designs on a larger display so you can better focus on all the small details? In this case, let’s refer to the LG Gram 17 with its 17-inch screen.

This WQXGA IPS display is both large and beautiful, with vivid and nuanced colors and deep, rich blacks. Plus, 2560×1600 resolution gives you the high level of detail you need to work with sophisticated 3D models.

It’s also an overall strong performance with the 11th Gen Intel Core processor working well with the 8-16GB of RAM and Intel’s integrated Iris Xe graphics. Whether you’re using AutoCAD or any other 3D modeling software, you can count on a smooth, responsive, and fast experience. When reviewing the LG gram 17, we were particularly impressed with how light it is. This is a fantastic laptop that shatters the notion that big screen laptops have to be big and bulky.

For more information, see our LG Gram 17 (2021).

(Image credit: Future)

06. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio A unique Windows 11 laptop that is great for CAD Specifications CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core H Graphics: Intel Iris Xe / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU RAM: 16GB or 32GB Screen: PixelSense Flow 14.4-inch 2400 x 1600 touch display Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD Today’s Best Deals View on Scan (opens in new tab) View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on John Lewis ( opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Comfortable keyboard + Nice touchscreen with stylus compatibility Reasons to avoid – A bit heavy

If you’re looking for something different, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is a solid choice.

Not only does it have a beautiful, versatile design, but it also has an excellent PixelSense touchscreen that makes your work look its best. The screen can

also offer a snappy refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This touchscreen in particular will appeal to many thanks to its stylus compatibility (although you’ll need to purchase the stylus separately).

There’s a lot more to like. It also has an excellent keyboard and powerful specs (including state-of-the-art integrated graphics from Intel or NVIDIA, depending on the configuration you choose) so it can run any CAD application with ease. It also offers a very impressive battery life. All in all, it’s a fantastic showcase for Windows 11. Check out our Surface Laptop Studio review for full details.

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07. Acer ConceptD 7 A powerful laptop for CAD and 3D modeling Specifications Processor: Intel Core i7-9750H (4.5 GHz) RAM: 32 GB Screen: 15 inch Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Storage: 1 TB The best offers from today View on Scan (opens in new tab) View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on Acer UK (opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + High resolution + Smooth, fast graphics + 32GB as standard Reasons to avoid – Too much of a good thing for some

If 3D modeling is your main interest, we recommend the Acer ConceptD 7. With a six-core Intel i7 processor with a capacity of 4.5 GHz, paired with a whopping 32 GB of RAM, we found in our test that it could handle itself the most demanding 3D software can handle. Thanks to the integration of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics chip, the graphics are smooth, fast and responsive. While this isn’t Nvidia’s latest GPU, it’s still an impressive graphics card.

With a resolution of 4K (3840 x 2160), the screen is as detailed as you could wish for. Plus, the display is bright, vibrant, Pantone-validated, and supports 100% of the Adobe RGB color space. Given these specs, the Acer ConceptD 7 is excellent value for money and a great choice for professional 3D modelers.

Read our Acer ConceptD 7 review for more information.

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08. Dell XPS 17 (2021) The best big screen laptop for CAD Specs CPU: Up to 11th gen Intel Core i9-11980HK Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4-3200MHz Screen: 17.0″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-nit – 17.0″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-nit Storage: Up to 4TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Today’s Best Deals Check out Currys (Opens in new tab) Check out Amazon (Opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + Thin for a 17″ laptop + Excellent display with HDR Reasons to avoid – Unimpressive ones battery life

A beautiful, large, high-resolution screen can be of great help when using CAD applications, giving you more space to work and present your projects to colleagues and clients. So the Dell XPS 17 is a laptop worth considering as it packs an amazing 17-inch UHD+ screen with HDR that’s bright, vibrant and pleasant to work with.

The Dell XPS 17 also proves that a big-screen laptop doesn’t have to be big and bulky. This is an impressively thin and light laptop with the same attractive design as the smaller Dell XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops. It’s also packed with some powerful components, including 11th Gen Intel Core processors, up to 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060 graphics card. We found this to be more than enough power for even the most intense CAD workloads when we tested it – see our Dell XPS 17 9710 review for more details.

Can all laptops run AutoCAD? Almost everyone who works with CAD must use AutoCAD, a computer-aided design and drafting software application developed by Autodesk. It’s been used to create both 2D and 3D designs since 1982 and is the industry standard for all of the professions we’ve mentioned. The requirements for the latest version of AutoCAD are as follows:

Processor: 2.5 GHz (3+ GHz recommended)

2.5 GHz (3+ GHz recommended) Memory: 8 GB (16 GB recommended)

8GB (16GB recommended) Storage space: 10GB

10GB Display: 1920 x 1080 resolution

Which laptop is best for CAD? If you want to run AutoCAD, your best bet is to look at a laptop with the latest Intel Core i5 or Core i7 chips, but how powerful is a machine you need in practice? It really depends on what kind of work you do in CAD. If you’re a student working on relatively simple projects, you’ll probably be content with meeting the minimum requirements. However, if you are a CAD professional, you may need a more powerful processor. In general, the more complex and large your projects, the more you have to spend. Especially if you want to run other 3D modeling software on your laptop besides AutoCAD. Of course, the more power you need, the more it costs in general.

Continue reading:

The best laptops for Cricut Makerschines have a variety of overlapping features, as Cricut cutters and heat presses need the right software to run their hardware properly. Ultimately, though, Cricut machines aren’t that demanding when it comes to laptop system requirements; A good display, a decent processor and enough RAM are really all you need to get started.

But for die-hard developers looking to spend a little more money, why not upgrade their workstation to future-proof that inner muse? Finally, if you’re already into Cricut crafting, you might as well own a laptop that lets you easily edit photos and videos, while also confidently completing tasks whenever your artistic journey takes you.

The best Cricut machines offer creative customization options

The best 4K laptops are unstoppable centers of productivity

create unstoppable centers of productivity The best workstation laptops can take whatever you throw at them

withstands everything you throw at them Are you still buying? Check out the best laptop for every use case and budget

Whether you’re interested in macOS or Windows computers – sorry Chromebook power users, compatibility is limited for now – we’ve rounded up some of the best laptops for Cricut computers. Read on for our top picks.

What are the best laptops for Cricut machines?

Powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, the 1080p OLED edition of the Dell XPS 13 is perfect for work, play and – most importantly – slick content creation. The bright, vibrant display is great for watching Netflix videos while creating iron-on shirts for your corporate softball team, and the super-slim design makes it an ideal laptop for on-the-go professionals.

Looking for a sophisticated notebook that’s as versatile as your creative lifestyle? The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is already one of our favorite laptops for students and jetsetters on the go, so Cricut fanatics will have plenty to appreciate when it comes to creative portability.

Thanks to a fantastic keyboard/touchpad combo, powerful speakers, and a 1080p webcam, the Surface Laptop Studio finds its place as one of the best laptops for creatives – and anyone else looking for a particularly versatile hybrid notebook. It even lasts a whole day on just one charge.

The best overall laptop for Cricut makers

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1. Dell XPS 13 OLED (Late 2021) The Best Overall Laptop for Cricut Makers : 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches Weight: 2.8 pounds Today’s Best Deals Check out Best Buy (will be in a opens in new tab) See at Walmart (opens in a new tab) See at Amazon (opens in a new tab) Reasons to buy + Stunning 3.5K OLED display + Eye-catching, ultra-slim design + Fast performance Reasons to avoid – Limited port selection – No webcam shutter

The Dell XPS 13 OLED is the result when the best laptop meets the latest display technology. The combination of the two creates something almost magical – an ultra-portable device that can perform most tasks while still providing a cinema-like viewing experience. The whole setup is ideal for Cricut Design Space (opens in new tab), the central hub for every Cricut machine.

When you opt for the 13.4-inch, 3456 x 2160 pixels (3.5K) OLED touchscreen, you get colors that are as vivid as a lush forest after a fresh rain. Icons burst with saturated tones, web images come to life, and 4K videos are beyond cinema quality. It helps that the borderless screen and 16:10 aspect ratio draw your eyes in and offer an immersive viewing experience.

You can edit photos or videos and stream 4K content without sluggishness, but don’t expect to run demanding simulations or play the latest games with high graphics settings. Overall, the XPS 13 OLED is a great upgrade to our already favorite laptop, and without sacrificing too much.

Check out our full Dell XPS 13 OLED review (Late 2021).

The best 2-in-1 laptop for Cricut makers

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2. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Cricut Maker 1200 Size: 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches Weight: 2.4 pounds Today’s Best Deals At See Amazon (opens in a new tab) See at Amazon (opens in a new tab) See at Walmart (opens in a new tab) Reasons to buy + Slim, attractive design + Bright 13.4″ display + Long battery life + Fast 11th Gen Intel CPUs Reasons to avoid – Slightly lackluster display

Do you like the XPS 13 but prefer convertible laptops over traditional clamshells? Good news: the latest XPS 13 2-in-1 is without question one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy. Of course, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Dell cleverly used the XPS 13 as a blueprint for the XPS 13 2-in-1, an almost identical laptop but with the ability to transform into a tablet.

Cricut projects require some design know-how up front, which means you want a top-notch touchpad at your fingertips. The massive 4.4 x 2.6-inch touchpad is one of the best we’ve used, and the satin finish is great for Windows 10 gestures (e.g. three-finger swipe to switch apps, scrolling with two fingers).

Of course, the main advantage of the XPS 13 2-in-1 over its clamshell sibling is its ability to convert into a tablet. You can also set up the laptop in tent mode or fold away the keyboard when watching series and movies. In our testing, the hinge had just the right amount of resistance; The screen doesn’t shake when tapped, and rotating the display back doesn’t require much effort. In short, there are very few laptops with a chassis as sleek yet premium as the XPS 13 2-in-1, a Cricut-enabled convertible that’s as customizable as you are.

Check out our full Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020) review.

The best hybrid laptop for Cricut makers

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3. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio The best hybrid laptop for Cricut makers Inches Weight: 4 pounds Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in a new tab) View at Amazon (opens in a new tab) At Best Buy View (opens in a new tab) Reasons to Buy + Clever hinge allows for new modes + Gorgeous 14.4-inch, 120Hz display + Comfortable keyboard and responsive touchpad + Long battery life Reasons to avoid – Stylus sold separately – Expensive

The Surface Laptop Studio can not only be transformed into a digital drawing board without affecting the standard laptop mode. This flexibility, along with great performance and long battery life, make the Surface Laptop Studio a compelling option for Cricut-mad creative professionals. Add in an awesome keyboard/touchpad combo, powerful speakers, and a 1080p webcam, and the Surface Laptop Studio finds its place as one of the best laptops to consider for anyone with a big enough budget.

In Stage mode, the bottom of the screen sits in a groove between the touchpad and keyboard. If you move the screen even further forward, the laptop switches to studio mode, or the closest thing to being converted into a tablet. This mode is great for artists or designers who need a stable surface to e-ink.

The Studio’s 14.4-inch display comes with a standout of its own: a 120Hz refresh rate. Windows 11 supports variable refresh rates, which means the screen will switch from 60Hz to 120Hz depending on what’s being displayed for the best viewing experience to offer without sacrificing endurance. Additionally, the Laptop Studio is compatible with the company’s Slim Pen 2, which supports haptic feedback, or what Microsoft calls “tactical signals,” to mimic the feel of drawing on paper. (It costs $129 for the pen and $39 for the accompanying charging case.)

The touchpad uses special haptic engines to send a vibration to your finger when it feels extra pressure. It works as advertised, and you can even change (or turn off) the intensity of the feedback in the touchpad settings menu. Whether you Cricuten custom t-shirts, mugs, hats, or wine bags—yes, that’s one thing—this is the hybrid laptop to beat for performance, portability, and ease of use.

Check out our full Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio review.

The best thin and light laptop for Cricut makers

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4. Acer Swift 3 (Late 2021) The best thin and light laptop for Cricut makers Size: 12.7 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches Weight: 2.6 pounds Today’s Best Deals Check out at Walmart (opens in a new tab) Check Amazon (opens in a new tab) Could use an extra USB-C port

The Acer Swift 3 is an ultra-thin, sleek, silver, peppy performer that aims to make multimedia multitasking that much smoother. The 4.2 x 2.7 inch touchpad is responsive when navigating websites or documents; The smooth surface lends itself to performing Windows 10 gestures like two-finger swipe and three-finger tap. The bottom corners give firm feedback and are very responsive to right or left clicks.

The Swift 3 brings all-day battery life and more to the plate. That means you can Cricut to your heart’s content without ever having to search for an outlet. When we ran the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which consists of continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness, the Acer Swift 3 lasted 14 hours and 48 minutes, beating the ultraportable average (12:45).

Starting at less than $800, this affordable, ultra-thin laptop and travel companion won’t slow you down. That’s a good thing, because the more Cricut cutting and heat-pressing supplies you buy, the more room you’ll need in your backpack when you’re getting creative.

Check out our full Acer Swift 3 review.

The best MacBook for Cricut makers

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5. MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 2020 The best MacBook for Cricut makers 0.6-inch Weight: 3 pounds Today’s Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in a new tab) View at Amazon (opens in a Opens in new tab) View at Apple (opens in a new tab) Reasons to Buy + Excellent overall performance + Excellent battery life + Lightning- Fast SSD + Comfortable keyboard Reasons to avoid – Poor ports for power users

This MacBook opens a new chapter in both Apple computing and computing in general. What is behind the monumental change? Apple’s new M1 processor, which promises 3.5x CPU performance, 6x faster GPU performance, and the ability to outperform 98% of PC laptops on the market. This is sure to add an extra zest to any Cricut creator.

Apple’s Retina display continues to add innovative technologies like TrueTone to the mix. This feature intelligently and almost imperceptibly adjusts the color temperature of the display based on how well or poorly lit the environment is, creating an optimal viewing experience at all times. The display also has a wide P3 color space, which represents a wider color gamut than sRGB. The final result? More vibrant colors, which is always a good thing with digital crafts.

At 5.1 x 3.2 inches, the MacBook’s massive Force trackpad takes up most of the actual palm rest area. And thanks to stellar palm rejection, the cursor is never compromised by accidental palm contact.

But wait, there’s more! The new macOS Big Sur update signals what some are calling the “iPadification of the MacBook.” The fancy term simply refers to the universal apps that run natively on all Macs using Apple silicon, as well as several new design features. For example, Big Sur gives users a control panel, which is ironic since Microsoft is talking about dropping the feature. The macOS version offers instant access to key utilities like volume, Bluetooth, keyboard brightness, and AirDrop to name a few.

Check out our full Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) review.

The best MacBook Air for Cricut makers

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6. MacBook Air (M1, 2020) The Best MacBook Air for Cricut Makers : £2.8 Today’s Best Deals View on Amazon (opens in a new tab) View on Amazon (opens in a new tab) At Watch Musician’s Friend (opens in a new tab) Reasons to buy + Stunning performance + Great battery life + Slim aluminum unibody + Great speakers and Magic Keyboard Reasons to avoid – Fewer ports than other MacBooks

The new MacBook Air is an improvement over the previous model in every way, bringing monumental improvements in performance and battery life. Those bold claims Apple has made about the M1? They weren’t exaggerations. This MacBook Air outperforms every laptop in its class and lasts all day on a single charge. And it does so with a fanless design, meaning the Air is rock-solid.

An important but overlooked change to the MacBook Air with Apple Silicon is support for the P3 color space. What does that mean? The 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600 pixel Retina display on the MacBook Air with M1 is more vivid this time. The 4.7 x 3.2 inch trackpad is massive and takes up a good portion of the deck below the keyboard. You can easily place four fingers on the surface to perform certain macOS gestures, such as For example, switching between full-screen apps (four-finger swipe left or right) or opening the Mission Control interface with a four-finger swipe up.

With unmatched performance, the M1 transforms MacBook Air from a low-powered entry-level Mac recommended for light everyday tasks into the fastest ultra-thin laptop ever. Thanks to the ARM-based chip, the Air is now capable of running demanding apps required by professional users and we have the benchmarks to prove it. With a score of 653 on the Photoshop benchmark, the MacBook Air clinched the win over the XPS 13 (588), while beating the category average (613) and demolishing the previous model (459). It also lasted 14 hours and 41 minutes on our battery test, which includes continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. If you want the fastest, most durable ultrathin laptop, MacBook Air sets a new standard – and the competition is far behind.

Check out our full Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review.

How to choose the best laptop for Cricut machines

We’re pretty confident in our list of the best laptops for Cricut makers, but there are countless other Windows and Mac systems that meet the minimum software requirements (opens in new tab). If you’re looking for a new laptop to complement your Cricut machine(s) of choice, here’s what you should expect under the hood.

window

Operating system: Windows 10 or higher

CPU: Intel Dual-Core or equivalent AMD processor

Memory: 4GB

Free disk space: 2 GB

Connectivity: USB connection or Bluetooth connection

Display: Screen resolution 1024 x 768

Mac

Operating system: macOS 11 or higher

CPU: 1.83GHz

Memory: 4GB

Free disk space: 2 GB

Connectivity: USB connection or Bluetooth connection

Display: Screen resolution 1024 x 768

Note: These specifications may change over time, but Cricut will update these specifications on their website.

iOS devices

iOS 14 or later

Android devices

Android 9.0 or higher

Mobile devices and tablets only

Chromebooks are not supported

Don’t have an extra coin for a new laptop? Do not worry. You can still run Cricut’s Design Space directly from your phone or tablet if your current laptop doesn’t meet the minimum requirements. But for creators of all media, the art you are capable of is only as good as the tools at your disposal. So the more serious you are about your new hobby, the more sensible it is to upgrade your workstation every now and then.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided to you. This means that when you click through and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you

If you’re a Cricut newbie, you might be wondering which devices to use with Cricut. There are SO many options and it’s hard to know which devices are best to use with Design Space.

In this post, you’ll learn some Cricut tips to help you choose a device that works best with Cricut Design Space. We’ll help you narrow them down to one that suits your needs and budget. We’ll discuss our favorites and also tell you about some devices that you should think twice about using with your Cricut.

Which apps should I use?: Must have apps to use Cricut

Devices to use with Cricut

The good news is that all of these devices are Bluetooth-enabled, whether you bought a Cricut Explore Air 2 or Explore 3, a Cricut Maker or Maker 3, or a Cricut Joy. That means no matter which Cricut machine you bought, you can go wireless if you want. So let’s jump in and talk about your options.

What devices do not use

We’ll start with the ones you should NOT choose to use with your Cricut device.

Chromebook – A Chromebook is neither a computer nor a tablet. It’s something of a separate unit designed to work with cloud-based Chrome applications, mostly for students. They don’t allow you to add apps like Cricut Design Space.

Tablets and smartphones – Yes, you can use many tablets and smartphones with your Cricut, but it’s really important to note that there are some functions and features that aren’t available on them. For example, the new offset feature is only available on a desktop or laptop computer. Additionally, some of the adaptive tools like the Knife Blade cannot be used with a mobile device.

Restrictions on using mobile devices

Don’t get us wrong. We use our phones and tablets with our Cricut. However, we tend to use them to access previous projects and just cut something that has already been designed. Or maybe there’s a project that just needs resizing, or something very simple and basic like that – getting it on any of our mobile devices is quick and easy.

They make great wearables to take to friends and tinker together, but remember these are limiting.

Pro tip: Things in Cricut Design Space are in different places depending on whether you’re using your phone/tablet or desktop/laptop. If you’ve watched videos of how to do something in Design Space, where someone is demonstrating on a laptop, and then you try to follow along with your iPad, it’s important to keep this in mind.

Your best option for devices to use with Cricut

Your best option for Cricut is a laptop or desktop computer. The good news is that you don’t need a lot of RAM, processing power, or storage space to run Cricut Design Space. It’s internet-based and easy to use, so you don’t need to buy a high-end computer to use it.

We recommend you buy a good quality branded machine. Any type of Mac or reliable PC brand will work for you. If you’re looking at a PC, make sure you do your research. Make sure it has an I5 or I7 processor, an SSD (solid state drive) and decent graphics. Remember, you don’t need much to run Cricut Design Space! Still, you want to invest in a machine that performs well and will last as long as possible.

Here at Makers Gonna Learn we use Macs. We highly recommend the refurbished section of the Apple Store for reliable, durable and affordable computers.

We think a 13-inch MacBook Air is a good, solid option. It’s lightweight, works well with Cricut, and will last for years to come. Of course, there are some PCs that are cheaper than Macs, but it’s important to think about longevity. We’ve never had a PC that lasts anywhere near as long as the Macs.

We can also highly recommend Apple Support. They’ve always been very good to us, even on things that are no longer under warranty, so that’s something to take into account as well.

If you’re considering working with a desktop instead of a laptop, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Can you place your desktop close enough to your Cricut device? We run a very long USB cable to ours in the studio, so our Cricut and desktop computers are hardwired.

Choosing the right laptop can be an arduous task, and finding the best laptops for digital art can be an even greater challenge.

Given the speed at which companies are making laptops for specific categories of users, hundreds of products with few differences are flooding the gadget world. And that’s why you need the right buying guide to help you in this endeavor.

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There can be many questions about what kind of device to choose for creating digital art.

Does a device allow drawing on the screen?

How much would a design software cost?

Which software to install for a specific device?

What should be the ideal RAM and processor?

But fret not, because we’ve answered every question you need to answer before buying your first digital art laptop.

And we’ve included all the reviews of the best laptops for digital art and artists. Continue reading!

What is the best laptop for digital art?

The best laptop for digital art is the Apple MacBook Pro with M1 and we’ve listed some of the other great alternatives below.

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Thumbnail Best Overall Best for Digital Art Best Allround Digital Art Laptop Best for Performance Fastest Art Laptop Most Portable Digital Art Laptop Title 2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD storage) – Space Gray Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5″ (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB), Silver Dell XPS 15 – 15″ FHD+, 10th Gen Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia.. .HP – Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6″ Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Core i5 – 8GB Memory – 256GB SSD – Natural… New Dell XPS 17 9700 17″ UHD Plus Laptop, Intel i9-10885H 10 .Gen, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, … Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM, 128GB) Prime Status – – – Ratings – – – – – – Star Rating – – – – – – CPU 8-core CPU with 4 Intel dual-core/quad-core processors Core i5-2410M 10th Gen Intel Core i7 Intel® Core™ Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y on Graphics Apple 8-core GPU Intel HD Graphics 620 integrated he GPU / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 ‎NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 AMD Radeon R7 M265 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6 Intel Integrated HD 615 RAM Up to 16GB 8GB or 16GB 8GB / 16GB / 32GB / 64 GB DDR4 8 GB 16 GB 4 GB / 8 GB Storage Up to 4 TB SSD 256 GB / 512 GB SSD, 1 TB PCIe SSD 512 GB 256 GB HDD 1 TB 64 GB Battery life Up to 16 hours Up to 17 hours 8 hours Up to 12 hours Up to 11 hours Up to 9 hours Price $1,217.93 $550.99 $1,479.87 $645.00 $2,177.62 $260.00 Buy Now Buy At Amazon Buy At Amazon Buy At Amazon Buy At Amazon At Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Best Overall Thumbnail Title 2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) – Space Gray Prime Status – Reviews – Star Rating – CPU 8-core CPU with 4 screens 14-inch Graphics Apple 8-Core GPU RAM Up to 16GB Storage Up to 4TB SSD Battery Life Up to 16 hours Price $1,217.93 Buy Now Buy At Amazon Best for Di gital Art Thumbnail Title Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5″ (Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB), Silver Prime Status Ratings – Star Rating – CPU Intel Dual-Core / Quad-Core Processor Screen 13.5″ / 15″ Graphics Intel HD Graphics 620 Integrated GPU / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 RAM 8GB or 16GB Storage 256GB / 512GB SSD, 1TB PCIe SSD Battery Life Up to 17 hours Price $550.99 Buy Now Buy At Amazon Best All Round Digital Art Laptop Thumbnail Title Dell XPS 15 – 15 inch FHD+, Intel Core i7 10th Gen, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia… Prime Status Ratings – Star Rating – CPU Core i5-2410M Screen 15 inch Graphics ‎NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 RAM 8GB /16GB / 32GB / 64GB DDR4 Storage 512GB Battery Life 8 hours Price $1,479.87 Buy Now Buy at Amazon Best for Performance Thumbnail Title HP – Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6 inch Touchscreen Laptop – Intel Core i5 – 8GB Memory – 256GB SSD – Natural… Prime Status Reviews – Ster review – CPU Intel Core i7 Screen 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 pixels Display Graphics AMD Radeon R7 M265 RAM 8GB Memory 256GB HDD Battery Life Up to 12 hours Price $645.00 Buy Now Buy At Amazon Fastest Art Laptop Thumbnail Title New Dell XPS 17 9700 17″ UHD Plus Laptop, 10th Gen Intel i9-10885H, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD,… Prime Status – Reviews – Star Rating – CPU 10th Gen Intel® Core™ Display 17″ Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6 RAM 16GB Storage 1TB Battery Life Up to 11 hrs Price $2,177.62 Buy Now Buy at Amazon Most Portable Digital Art Laptop Thumbnail Title Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM , 128 GB) Prime Status – Reviews – Star Rating – CPU Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y Screen 10 inch PixelSense™ display, resolution 1800 x 1200 Graphics Intel Integrated HD 615 RAM 4 GB / 8 GB memory 64 GB battery life Up to 9 hours price 260.00 $ Buy Now Buy on Amazon

If you are interested in the best laptops for digital art, you might be interested in the best laptop stands for graphic designers or the best software for digital artists as well as our compilation of procreate brushes. If you are a student and want to buy yourself a good laptop, please read our article about the best laptop for students.

How to choose the best laptop for digital art

You need to be very careful when choosing a laptop for digital art as you are making a significant investment and of course you don’t want to end up buying something you regret.

Before we discuss what to look for in a digital art laptop, it’s best to first get your art goals right, which essentially means you’ve written down the tasks you want to get out of your art lappy.

Below are some things to consider before buying a digital art laptop.

1st screen

If you can afford it, your screen of choice should be a 4K screen. Most laptops come with either an HD or 4K screen. A 4K screen lets you view artwork in more detail than high-resolution work.

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Today, most design applications interface with screen resolutions higher than HD. So using these applications on an HD screen would ultimately affect the use of the interface and your work.

Another reason why you should choose a laptop with a 4K screen is the color reproduction. Some 4K displays can display 100% of the Adobe RGB color space, while HD displays can only display 75% of Adobe RGB.

Some 4K models also have a touchscreen, making it easier to draw when you’re short on movement and can barely use the trackpad. That’s why we prefer a 4K touchscreen to any other.

2. Memory

RAM usually means the amount of information that a computer’s short-term memory can store at a given point in time. The higher the RAM, the more app information it can handle at once without affecting persistent storage. As a bare minimum, it is recommended to go for a digital laptop with 8GB RAM if you are on a budget.

However, most drawing and design applications run more efficiently on 16GB laptops. Also, if you use RAM-heavy applications like After Effects and Adobe CC, consider getting a 32GB digital art laptop.

The bottom line here is it depends more on your application usage. Go for a laptop with higher RAM if you’re someone who uses professional drawing apps that require a lot of memory. Otherwise, 8GB or 16GB of RAM will do the work for you.

3. Processor

Choosing the processor for your drawing needs can be difficult. While the Intel Core chips dominate the processor market, other players such as AMD and other specialty processor manufacturers have recently seen a resurgence in performance and popularity.

Furthermore, within the Core range you can choose between Core i3, i5, i7 and i9 models. However, the i5 and i7 are further broken down into models ending in U and H or HQ or HK. Most current generation processors are 8th generation processors, which can be 0.5 times faster than their 7th generation counterparts.

What you should look for in a laptop processor’s speed is whether it has turbo speed. Simply put, turbo speed is the speed that the cores reach. If the functions your applications are running aren’t using all of the core performance, the computer tends to speed up the cores that are being used.

Keep looking if the seller is selling you a product labeled as turbo speed rather than base speed. Be careful if the seller sells you a product that is labeled as turbo speed and not base speed.

You can also use the processor’s code name to identify the generation and type of a processor. For example, a Core i9-8950HQ processor is an 8th generation (the first digit after the dash) H-series processor (the last two digits in the code).

4. Storage

Most 15-inch laptops come with 1TB of storage. However, some of them offer 2TB, which is quite expensive and at the same time unnecessary. Considering the type of applications you can use to draw digitally, a 15-inch 512GB laptop is the right option for you. Leave the 256GB version alone as it’s too small to work with.

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Laptops come with either PCIe drives or SATA SSD drives that can be aggregated into either one device or just two PCIe drives like 4K video and animation laptops. The Apple MacBook Pro offers 4TB of storage, which is only possible with the two-drive striped configuration.

5. Graphics

If you mainly work with 2D drawing software such as Photoshop, Sketchbook, Illustrator, InDesign or Sketch, you can opt for a laptop with an Intel UHD graphics card. For example, if your work involves encoding videos and animations and overlaying documents, all you need is a robust Intel graphics chip.

Alternatively, for more complex 3D tasks, you can choose one with an AMD or Nvidia graphics card. Working on a 3D suite of apps like Houdini, Cinema 4D, and Autodesk 3DS Max requires the most powerful graphics card you can afford.

You can also opt for an eGPU to boost your laptop’s 3D performance as long as you’re not using a powerful PC.

11 Best Laptops for Digital Art in 2022

Let’s take a detailed look at the best laptops for digital art with the pros and cons,

The best laptop for digital art overall

CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 or 2.3GHz Intel Core i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M | Memory: 16 GB | Screen: 16 inch | Storage: 512GB or 1TB ultra-fast SSD

The Apple MacBook Pro is 2022’s best Apple computer for artists, capable of running any creative software on the Macintosh platform, storing the largest files and portfolios, and displaying work in amazing detail, color and vitality.

The MacBook Pro has an incredible screen because it can enhance an artist’s work with its depth, resolution, and stunning colors. It has a long battery life of up to 21 hours. Thanks to the 32-core GPU, it enables fast performance for graphics-intensive apps. It features a 1080p Facetime HD camera.

The Apple MacBook Pro is also incredibly fast, powerful and interference-free. It can support any digital artist and allows them to realize their projects while displaying the results accurately and elegantly.

Pros Cons ➕ Upgraded M1 Pro and M1 Max chips ➖ Bulky ➕ 1080p HD web camera ➖ Lack of face recognition ➕ Connectivity ports and expansion

Current price at Amazon:

Offer Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 16 GB RAM,… Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max chip for a massive leap in CPU, GPU and machine learning performance

A CPU with up to 10 cores delivers up to 2x faster performance to run professional workflows faster than ever

Up to 32-core GPU with up to 4x faster performance for graphics-intensive apps and games

16-core Neural Engine for up to 5x faster machine learning performance

Longer battery life, up to 21 hours

The most powerful laptop for digital art

Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 3580U or AMD Ryzen™ 7 3780U | Graphics: Radeon Vega 9 or RX Vega 11 | RAM: 8/16/32 GB | Screen: 15 inch | Storage: Removable 256GB, 512GB or 1TB Ultrafast SSD

The Microsoft Surface Laptop is a well built machine. It’s lightweight, smooth and durable. It features a bright, high-definition touchscreen, plenty of processing power, and storage for even the most demanding art or animation software.

The Surface Pro laptop features the latest generation of fastest processors, a Radeon graphics coprocessor and hyper-fast DDR4 RAM, making it the perfect choice for complex tasks such as animation, high-resolution graphics and professional photo editing.

It also has a removable SSD drive, which is convenient for painters and photographers and makes it easy to upgrade the computer.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5″ is also available with a smaller screen and slightly different specs and hardware, but it’s still a powerful and desirable device for any working professional or visual artist.

Pros Cons ➕ Sleek design ➖ Poor battery life ➕ USB-C port is available ➕ Fast charging ➕ Fast processor

Current price at Amazon:

Offer Microsoft Surface Book 3, Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Platinum (SMG-00001) Processor: Intel Core i7 1065G7 (1.3GHz).

Memory: 16GB RAM. Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, 6GB.

Storage: 256GB SSD.

Display: 15-inch PixelSense display, 3240 x 2160 (260 PPI), 10-point multi-touch G5.

Operating system: Windows 10 Home. Colour: platinum.

The best all-round laptop for digital art

Processor: Core i5-2410M | Graphics card: ‎NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Memory: 8GB / 16GB / 32GB / 64GB DDR4 | Screen: 4-sided InfinityEdge display, 16:10 AR, resolution 1920×1200 / 3840×2400 | Storage: 512GB | Dimensions: 15″ | Battery life: 8 hours and 27 minutes streaming on a 4K+ panel with 86Wh battery

Popularly known as a Creator Edition laptop, the Dell XPS 15’s NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Ti graphics are something to die for. The laptop’s stunning 4K display features 100% Adobe RGB, 94% CI-P3 color gamut with more than 16 million ultra-vivid colors, all with Dolby Vision’s HDR imaging technology. It has highly polished sidewalls with diamond cuts. The quad speaker design with Waves Nx audio is one of the highlights of the Dell XPS 15.

The Dell XPS 15 features a 15.6-inch FHD InfinityEdge non-touch display with anti-glare to reduce eye fatigue. Its sleek design and lightning-fast performance make it one of the best laptops for digital art.

Pros Cons ➕ All-round performance ➖ USB-C-only support doesn’t fit all ➕ GPU configuration available ➖ Fairly heavy for its size ➕ Supports 3 USB-C ports, with 2 Thunderbolt 3 ➕ Large touchpad

Current price at Amazon:

Offer Dell XPS 15 – 15-inch FHD+, 10th gen Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB Solid State Drive, Nvidia… 62% larger touchpad, 5% larger screen and 5.6% smaller footprint

16:10 FHD+ edge-to-edge display with DisplayHDR 400 and Dolby Vision

Integrated Eyesafe display technology

Quad speaker design with Waves Nx audio

Highly polished diamond cut sidewalls

Best laptop with dual screen

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK 2.40GHz | Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 | RAM: 16 GB DDR | Screen: 15.6 inch | Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD

Many artists discourage creating work on your laptop’s screen, but when you have an amazing machine that boasts an excellent dual screen, stunning 4K resolution and a highly sensitive stylus, what else do you need?

While the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo is an expensive computer, it’s also one of the most innovative, advanced, and useful laptops ever made.

It is great for professional artists, animators, 3D modelers and photographers as it offers enough memory of 16GB, processing power and storage of 1TB.

Pros Cons ➕ Two 4K touch OLED displays871 ➖ Powerful ➕ Has an eight-core Core i9 CPU ➖ Short battery life ➕ The processor handles heavy tasks well ➖ No SD card slot

Current price at Amazon:

Offer ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 laptop, 15.6 inch 4K UHD NanoEdge touch display, Intel Core i7-10750H, 16 GB… ScreenPad Plus: 14 inch 4K matte touchscreen that offers you endless possibilities to optimize your multitasking experience , by extending the screen or sharing windows and apps on both displays

15.6-inch 4K UHD NanoEdge touchscreen, glossy main display

Latest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor (12MB cache, up to 5.0GHz) with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060

Detachable palm rest and ASUS active stylus pen included. Military Grade: US Military Standard MIL-STD 810G

Fast storage and memory with 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD with 16GB DDR4 RAM

The best digital art laptop for performance

Processor: Intel Core i7| Graphics: AMD Radeon R7 M265 | Memory: 8 GB | Screen: 15.6 inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixels | Storage: 256GB hard drive space | Battery life: Up to 12 hours

The looks of the HP Envy X360 could make any gadget lover long for its minimalist and clean design. The aluminum body looks sublime and weighs 2.9 pounds. One notable improvement made on this model compared to the 2019 model is the bezel around the screen. With an almost borderless display, the keyboard of the HP Envy X360 runs almost from one edge to the other and thus also creates enough space for the mouse pad.

One of the highlights of the HP Envy X360 is the integrated Radeon graphics from AMD. It promises amazingly high performance not only for movies and games, but even for some of the most complex digital art software programs.

Another feature that caught our eye is the convertible screen that allows you to use it as a tablet. The downside, however, is that the laptop doesn’t come with a stylus and 4K screen – something every artist looks for in a digital art laptop.

It is equipped with a smart camera that tracks and frames your movements. It helps focus on calls and keeps your face in the center of the frame during a call.

Overall, the HP Envy X360 is a decent, presentation-friendly desktop replacement laptop and should be your go-to big-screen convertible laptop.

Pros Cons ➕ Super-fast 8-core Ryzen 7 CPU ➖ Doesn’t come with a pen ➕ Feature-rich keyboard ➖ Doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3 ➕ Amazing build quality

Current price at Amazon:

The best laptop for digital art in terms of aesthetics

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U Processor | Graphics: Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX250 | Memory: 8 GB | Screen: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) LED-backlit touchscreen | Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD, expandable up to 1TB capacity | Battery life: Up to 9 hours 44 minutes with ScreenPad Plus on and up to 11 hours 50 minutes with ScreenPad Plus off

Asus has finally started making dual-screen laptops available to the mainstream with the release of the Zenbook Duo UX 481 second display. The ScreenPad Plus is an exceptional add-on for creatives and artists that maximizes screen functionality and space.

With the Zenbook Duo’s 15W Intel Core i7 processor, you can rest assured that you’ll keep up with complex drawing software while simultaneously running dozens of Chrome tabs and streaming music. You might suspect the Zenbook Duo’s battery life as it has two displays to power. Surprisingly, it lasts almost 12 hours with the secondary display off and around 9 hours 44 minutes with the second display on.

Bottom line, if you’re looking for more space on your laptop without having to buy an additional monitor, the Zenbook Duo is what you need. Fast performance, amazing battery life and a fully functional second display make this laptop the perfect choice for an artist’s digital needs.

Pros Cons ➕ Stunning 14-inch matte display ➖ Stronger than the competition ➕ Amazing battery life ➖ Slim trackpad ➕ Functional second screen ➖ No Thunderbolt 3 support

Current price at Amazon:

Offer ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481 14″ FHD NanoEdge Bezel Touch, Intel Core i7-10510U, 8GB RAM, 512GB PCIe… ScreenPad Plus: 12.6″ matte touchscreen that allows you to endlessly optimize your multitasking experience , by extending the screen or splitting windows and apps across both displays

14″ Full HD NanoEdge touchscreen main display with high gloss finish

Latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10510U processor (8 MB cache, up to 4.9 GHz)

Fast storage and memory with 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD with 8GB DDR4 RAM

Integrated IR camera for facial recognition Login with Windows Hello

The best digital art laptop for battery life

CPU: Apple M1 chip processor | Graphics: 8-core GPU | Memory: 8 GB | Storage: Up to 2TB SSD Storage | Screen size: 13.3 inches (diagonal) | Battery life: Up to 18 hours

The Apple MacBook Air is by far the lightest and thinnest notebook from Apple. Introduced in 2018, it ousted the market share of the 11-inch MacBook Air and is now the leader in the thin laptop market.

Made from 100% recycled aluminum, MacBook Air is also Apple’s greenest laptop ever. This laptop packs other eye-catching features, including a brilliant Retina display, Touch ID, Force Touch trackpad, a latest-gen keyboard, and great battery life.

The Macbook Air is a good buy for college goers and professionals who prefer sleek design and vibrant colors. If your work involves simple 2D illustrations and art, this laptop should be at the top of your list. Otherwise, you may need a high-end laptop to handle your complicated 3D software.

Pros Cons ➕ Eco-friendly, made from 100% recycled aluminum ➖ Non-expandable RAM ➕ Stunning Retina display ➖ Slow performance for intensive tasks ➕ Extremely light ➖ Limited hardware upgradeability ➕ Excellent battery life ➕ Added security with Touch ID ➕ Thunderbolt 3 support

Current price at Amazon:

Apple MacBook Air 13.3″ with Retina Display, 1.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD,… MacBook Air 13.3″ with Retina Display (Gold) – 30W USB Type -C Power Adapter – USB Type-C Charging Cable (6.56’/2m) – 1-Year Apple Limited Warranty

Retina display with True Tone

1.1GHz quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz

8GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory

256GB SSD storage

The fastest digital art laptop

Processor: 10th Gen Intel® Core™ | Graphics card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6 | Memory: 16 GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch anti-glare 500 nit display | Screen size: 17.0″ | Battery life: up to 11 hours

Just as the Apple Macbook Pro was gaining a foothold in the big-screen power laptop market, Dell released the 17-inch Dell XPS 17 9700. As the latest addition to the high-end XPS lineup, the XPS 17 9700 offers some serious MacBook Pro competition and rivals. It is aimed at professionals willing to make colossal expenses for demanding needs.

The combination of the 10th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics makes the XPS 17 9700 one of the best high-end desktop replacement laptops out there. Its exceptional build quality, performance, and large 17-inch display convey the feel of the MacBook Pro and its 15-inch predecessor, the XPS 15.

We recommend this ultra-slim, large-screen desktop replacement laptop that’s powerful enough to handle your design tasks, intense 3D gaming, streaming movies, and more with nearly a day’s battery life.

Pros Cons ➕ Sleek aluminum chassis with diamond-cut edges ➖ Expensive for given configuration ➕ Thunderbolt 3 support and SD card reader ➖ Operation noisy at times ➕ Excellent touchpad and keyboard ➖ Poor webcam ➕ Blazing fast performance

Current price at Amazon:

Offer New Dell XPS 17 9700 17″ UHD Plus Laptop, 10th gen Intel i9-10885H, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD,… Desktop-grade creativity in a laptop: Packed with stunning Performance normally only available from desktops, 10th Gen Intel Core processors bring desktop-level creativity to your laptop

More creativity, less waiting: GeForce RTX 2060 laptops are equipped with the breakthrough graphics performance of the award-winning GeForce GPUs. Dedicated GPU performance accelerates the creative apps you use…

The XPS 17 offers unprecedented performance in an incredibly thin form factor. discrete graphics cards feature unique dual opposed exhaust fans that increase fan airflow by approximately 30%

Model number: XPS9700-9415SLV-PUS

The best convertible 2-in-1 laptop for digital art

CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6GHz (up to 3.4GHz) | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX130 | Memory: 8 GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 2-in-1 FHD IPS display with LED backlight | Screen size: 15.6 inch | Battery life: Up to 9 hours

It’s hard to find a high-end laptop for less than $1000 these days. But with the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 selling for just $600, this 2-in-1 convertible laptop humiliates the competition by offering much better performance at almost half the price.

One feature I absolutely loved about this laptop is its flexible 360 ​​degree hinge. You can put the laptop on its keyboard by folding it more than 180 degrees, or use it as a tablet by folding it into a full circle ー a digital artist’s delight, isn’t it?

The Flex 5 isn’t the first flexible 360-degree laptop from Lenovo, which has previously released 2-in-1 convertibles with similar flexibility at different price points. Still, the Flex 5 stands out from the crowd with its unexpectedly slim design for a 360-degree hinged laptop.

Besides its looks and feel, its flexibility, blazing fast speed and battery life are other pluses to consider when purchasing this laptop. The Flex 5 doesn’t have much to offer in terms of graphics and processor, but its Ryzen 5 processor makes up for the disadvantages and ensures decent performance when working with lighter design and drawing applications.

If you’re looking for a mid-range 2-in-1 convertible laptop with decent performance, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is for you.

Pros Cons ➕ GeForce MX130 discrete graphics ➖ Powerful for a 14-inch ultra-portable laptop ➕ Comes with Lenovo Active Pen ➖ Weak 250 nit display ➕ Good battery life ➕ High-speed SSD

Current price at Amazon:

Latest Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 15IIL05 2-in-1 Laptop 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen Intel… 15.6 inch UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS 500nits Glossy HDR400 2-in- 1 touch display. 3840 x 2160 native resolution. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Touch, tap, slide and get the most out of Windows 11 Pro…

11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor (2.80 GHz, up to 4.70 GHz with Turbo Boost, 4 cores, 8 threads, 12 MB Intel Smart Cache). Experience power and responsive performance to power your…

16GB DDR4-3200 RAM with high bandwidth to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs at the same time, 1TB PCIe SSD for enough storage space. Get up to 15X faster performance than a traditional hard drive.

【Anschlüsse】 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (unterstützt Datenübertragung und Stromversorgung), 1x HDMI 1.4b, 1x Kartenleser, 1x Kopfhörer-/Mikrofon-Kombibuchse (3,5 mm),…

【Wi-Fi 6 & Webcam & Fingerabdruck】 Genießen Sie ein reibungsloseres drahtloses Erlebnis mit Wi-Fi 6 (2×2), alle Ihre Verbindungen sind solide und bis zu 3x schnellere Dateiübertragungsgeschwindigkeiten als Wi-Fi 5. Ausgestattet mit 720p…

Der tragbarste Laptop für digitale Kunst

Prozessor: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Grafik: Intel Integrated HD 615 | Arbeitsspeicher: 4 GB / 8 GB | Speicher: 64 GB | Bildschirm: 10-Zoll-PixelSense™-Display, Auflösung 1800 x 1200, Seitenverhältnis 3:2 | Akkulaufzeit: Bis zu 9 Stunden

Microsoft Surface Go bringt es auf kleine Tablets mit leistungsstarken Funktionen. Sie fragen sich vielleicht, warum ein Tablet auf der Liste der besten digitalen Laptops für Künstler steht. Nun, das liegt daran, dass das Surface Go die Windows 10-Oberfläche in einem 10-Zoll-Tablet zusammenfasst.

Ausgestattet mit einem 10-Zoll-1800 x 1200-Pixel-Touchscreen-Display und nur einem Intel Pentium-Prozessor kann es eine erstaunliche Arbeit leisten, die Ihre grundlegenden Designanforderungen abdeckt. Niemand erwartet, jedes High-End-Feature in einem so kompakten Design-Laptop zu finden, den Sie in Ihre Tasche werfen und überall hin mitnehmen können.

Wenn Sie sich nur einen kleinen, budgetfreundlichen Laptop mit geringem Stromverbrauch wünschen, um Ihre grundlegenden Design-Apps auszuführen, dann ist Surface Go einen Versuch wert.

Vorteile Nachteile ➕ Extrem leicht und tragbar ➖ USB-A wird nicht unterstützt ➕ Anständige Akkulaufzeit mit Schnellladung ➖ Schlechte Reparaturfähigkeit ➕ Geräumiges Trackpad und glatte Tastatur

Aktueller Preis bei Amazon:

Angebot Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB) Hochauflösendes 10-Zoll-PixelSense-Display zum Betrachten, Berühren und Beschreiben

Das bisher leichteste Surface, ab nur 1,15 Pfund

Ganztägige Akkulaufzeit mit bis zu 9 Stunden Strom ohne Netzstecker

Kommt mit Windows 10 im S-Modus, um die Dinge zu tun, die Sie wollen, mit dauerhafter Leistung, einschließlich von Microsoft verifizierter Sicherheit, Windows Defender, Kindersicherung und erstklassigem Support

Enthält Multitasking-USB-C, schnell aufladbares Surface Connect und Kopfhöreranschluss.Bluetooth Wireless 4.1-Technologie.Seitenverhältnis: 3:2 (Tastatur und Stift separat erhältlich)

Der beste Großbild-Laptop für digitale Kunst

Prozessor: AMD Ryzen 5 / AMD Ryzen 7 / Intel Core i5 | Grafik: Radeon™-Grafik | Arbeitsspeicher: 8 GB / 16 GB | Speicher: 8 GB, 16 GB oder 32 GB LPDDR4x RAM | Bildschirm: 13,5″ / 15″ PixelSense™ Display, Auflösung 2256 x 1504 / 2496 x 1664, 3:2 AR, 10-Punkt-Multitouch | Akkulaufzeit: Bis zu 17 Stunden

Als nächstes auf unserer Liste der besten Laptops für digitale Kunst steht ein weiterer Surface-Laptop. Der 15-Zoll-Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 bietet ein erstklassiges Computererlebnis auf einem großen Bildschirm. Dieser Laptop ist nur in zwei Farben erhältlich, Grau und Schwarz, was für diejenigen enttäuschend sein könnte, die Sandstein- und eisblaue Lackierungen wie beim 13-Zoll-Modell erwartet haben.

Der spezielle Ryzen-Chip der 4. Generation der Microsoft-Edition ist leistungsstark genug, um die komplexe Designsoftware problemlos auszuführen. In Bezug auf die Bewältigung intensiver Arbeitslasten wie dem Rendern von Bildern und dem Bearbeiten von 4K-Videos ist es mit komplizierten Geräten wie dem MacBook Pro und dem XPS 15 vergleichbar.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 ist einer unserer Favoriten für die besten Laptops für digitale Kunst, und wir empfehlen Ihnen dringend, darüber nachzudenken.

Vorteile Nachteile ➕ Erstaunliche Leistung ➖ Unterstützt keine diskrete GPU ➕ Schlankes und robustes Gehäuse ➖ Keine Thunderbolt-Unterstützung ➕ Hervorragende Akkulaufzeit ➖ Langsame SSD

Aktueller Preis bei Amazon:

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13,5-Zoll-Touchscreen – Intel Core i5 – 8 GB – 512 GB Solid State… Power, um das zu tun, was Sie wollen, mit bis zu 70 % mehr Geschwindigkeit als zuvor und einem Intel Core-Prozessor der 11. Generation.

Dünnes, leichtes, elegantes Design in zwei Größen: leichtes, tragbares 13,5-Zoll- oder größeres 15-Zoll-Display, das sich perfekt für Multitasking mit geteiltem Bildschirm eignet.

Zeigen Sie sich bei Videoanrufen dank einer 720p-HD-Frontkamera mit gestochen scharfer Video- und Bildqualität auch bei schlechten Lichtverhältnissen von Ihrer besten Seite.

Genießen Sie Kino-ähnlichen Sound für Filme und Shows mit Omnisonic-Lautsprechern, die von immersivem Dolby Atmos6 unterstützt werden.

Mit dualen Fernfeld-Studiomikrofonen, die Ihre Stimme erfassen und Hintergrundgeräusche reduzieren, werden Sie bei Anrufen laut und deutlich gehört.

frequently asked Questions

Welcher Laptop ist besser für digitale Kunst: Windows oder Mac? Auf diese Frage gibt es keine direkte Antwort. Sowohl Windows als auch Macintosh können eine unglaublich schnelle Leistung, lebendige Farben und hochauflösende Bildschirme bieten und von einfacher bis hin zu fortschrittlichster Designsoftware ausgeführt werden. Wenn Sie bereits Erfahrung mit Mac haben, ist es besser, sich für einen Mac zu entscheiden, da die meisten Designprogramme auch für Mac verfügbar sind. However, some applications are specific to either Mac or Windows, like the Procreate software is available for Mac and not for Windows. If such restrictions exist, purchase the laptop which supports the software. Otherwise, the right computer, be it Mac or Windows, can help you take your art game to the next level. Should I get a tablet or a laptop for digital art? Generally, most professional artists have both a tablet and a laptop computer. Most budding artists love to try a tablet or phablet for their art needs, like drawing and retouching, without considering other tasks they might end up doing on it. Another advantage of using a laptop is that you can enjoy your artwork in its full glory on brightly lit big screens. What is the optimal RAM for a digital art laptop? A laptop for digital art should sport at least 8 GB RAM, preferably 16-32 GB, and a storage of 256 GB, preferably 512 GB or 1TB. Which is the best Mac for art students? Apple MacBook Air is the best Mac for art students and budding artists. Its impressive graphics, excellent color rendering, powerful performance, and 17-hours battery life makes it the first choice digital art laptop.

10+ Best Laptops for Digital Art in 2022

Finding the right laptop can be difficult, but what is more difficult is finding the perfect digital art laptop. With lots of options available on the market with varied feature sets for each laptop, you need a sure-shot guide to help you through your digital laptop purchase.

We hope this list of amazing devices helped in your endeavor to find the right one that fits your needs.

Do you have any more digital art laptop suggestions that you think are amazing but is not on our list? Let us know in the comments below!

Related posts:

If you’re looking for the right desktop to use as a digital artist, check out my list of the 10 best computers for digital art.

As a creative professional, it’s important to choose the best device for your specific needs.

That’s why having the best computer for digital art is such a huge benefit for people doing art digitally.

What is the best computer for digital art?

In all honesty, there are many computer brands that claim they have the best PC for digital artists.

So I understand that it might be confusing for you to choose the one that is right for you.

This article aims to introduce you to some of the best digital art desktops to buy in 2022.

For those looking for the best Apple computer for digital art, I would recommend the Apple iMac 2021, which is also the best overall.

However, if you are interested in buying the most powerful PC for creatives, then the Alienware Aurora R10 is a solid choice.

Whether you want to buy the best value digital art computer or the most affordable, I have rounded up the best products for you.

So, without keeping you waiting, here is my list of the 10 best computers for digital art in 2022.

Would you like to add your product to the list? – Find my address on the contact page and send your product for review.

The 10 best computers for digital artists

How to choose the best computer for digital art?

If you are a digital artist planning the best PC for digital art, remember that there are certain things to consider when making your purchase.

To help you buy the best digital art computer for you, here are the top things to check:

Display processor GPU RAM memory

And so that you understand why these things need to be considered when buying a computer for digital art, here’s why:

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One of the most important considerations when choosing a digital art desktop is the screen or display.

Computers these days have either a High Definition (HD) or 4K display.‍

While a PC with an HD display is great, it’s best if you go for the 4K display, especially if you’re a digital artist.

This gives you the best view of the creative work you’re working on.

processor

Choosing the best computer processor can be confusing, but let me help you find the best processor for your needs.

In fact, Intel Core and AMD are both ideal processors for a computer.

When choosing a CPU, look for the highest possible clock speeds within your budget while also making sure you have the cores/threads you need for your workload.

This way you ensure that you as a digital artist have the best computer.

graphic card

On the other hand, when choosing the right graphics card for your needs, you must first consider the complexity of your work.

If your workload involves editing photos and videos, an Inter graphics chip will suffice.

However, if you have more complicated work like creating 3D artworks, you can choose between AMD and Nvidia.

Just remember that an ideal GPU can usually be identified with a large memory bus, 64-bit or higher, and a high memory clock speed.

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to check the graphics card of the digital art computer you’re considering buying so you don’t end up with the wrong equipment.

R.A.M.

RAM refers to the maximum amount of data that can be stored in a computer’s short-term memory at any given time.

If you’re on a tight budget, I think your best bet is to go for an 8GB digital desktop.

However, keep in mind that 16GB laptops are better suited for drawing and design tasks.

You should also consider a 32GB digital art PC if you frequently use creative software related to digital art, including Adobe apps.

If you frequently use professional drawing tools that require a lot of memory, consider investing in a computer with more RAM.

storage

The last thing to consider when buying a computer for digital art is the memory of the device.

Technically, the more memory the PC has, the better off you are as a digital artist.

It allows you to save and keep your creative work and you don’t have to delete other files just to have enough space for your new art.

And that’s all for my guide to buying computers for digital art – now let’s move on to my list of the 10 best desktops for digital art.

If you are looking for the most advanced and powerful computer with great tools to take any idea to the next level, the Apple iMac 2021 is the best choice for you.

The best overall computer for digital art.

In terms of features, the new 2021 Apple iMac looks like an update to the series, with colors reminiscent of Apple’s iconic G3 all-in-one computers.

In addition to Apple’s own Silicon M1 SoC, an updated webcam, and the beautiful, colorful makeover, it uses the latest integrated graphics.

The Apple iMac 2021 features the M1 chip, the most powerful and advanced chip ever made by Apple.

The 4.5K Retina display is well suited for digital illustration and graphic design applications and runs pretty much any graphic design app with ease.

The Apple iMac 2021 is a great choice for creatives looking for the best Apple computer for digital art.‍

A dedicated graphics card may be required if you intend to use your PC for 3D sculpting or animation.

Although the 24-inch iMac is an excellent PC for visual design, in terms of sheer performance, the 27-inch iMac is far superior.

specifications

Display: 24″ 4.5K retina display

CPU: Apple M1 chip

GPU: Radeon Pro 555X with 2GB VRAM

Memory: 16GB

Storage: 1TB

advantages

Outstanding Performance Speakers deliver rich, vibrant sound

Disadvantages

The entry-level model lacks features

Buy Apple iMac 2021 on Amazon

On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 7700 is an ideal option for those who want to buy the best mid-range computer for digital art.

The best mid-range digital art computer in 2022.

This is elegantly packaged in an AIO PC design that saves space by elevating the screen onto a tented platform made of curved metal tubes.

The 27-inch Infinity Edge touch display is framed on three sides by slim 8mm-thick silver bezels and a wider chin at the bottom that anchors a silver speaker bar.

With the new design, Dell has eliminated the all-in-one 4-resolution screen option on the 27-inch AIO series.

Currently, the only display options are a Full HD (1920 x 1080) touchscreen or a non-touch display.

Unlike the 4K and 5K options available on the iMac, there is no 4K option here.

The Inspiron 7700 is a powerful computer that doesn’t stutter when you load content-rich websites into many browser tabs.

specifications

Display: 27″ FHD display

Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7

Graphics Processor: Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Memory: 32GB DDR4

Storage: 1TB SSD

advantages

Comfortable keyboard dual storage drives

Disadvantages

Requires external power supply

Buy the Dell Inspiron 7700 from Amazon

For digital artists who love to paint, this IdeaCentre AIO 3 may be the perfect computer for your needs.

The best computer for digital painting.

This digital art computer is also capable of multitasking, so you can increase your productivity as a creative.

Take advantage of the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Mobile Processor and Radeon Graphics with the IdeaCentre AIO 3.‍

Thanks to the solid state drive, apps, films and everything else can be loaded and transferred in milliseconds.

There are plenty of ports on the IdeaCentre AIO 3 for all your devices, including USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, a 3-in-1 card reader and an HDMI output.

Because of the FHD display’s 90 percent screen-to-body ratio and wide-angle view, colors are rich and dramatic from every angle.

Do more in less time with the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U mobile processor with Radeon graphics in the IdeaCentre AIO 3.

specifications

Display: 24″ FHD

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U

Graphics processor: AMD Radeon

Memory: 16GB DDR4

Storage: 512GB SSD

advantages

Sleek design with funky excellence

Disadvantages

dim screen

Buy Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3 on Amazon

If you are a digital artist who wants one of the fastest computers you can use for your daily work, then this product is for you.

The most powerful computer for digital art.

The Alienware Aurora R10 is an amazing choice if you want to buy a powerful digital art computer.

AMD Ryzen 9 5900 processor and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB GDDR6 graphics allow you to experiment with new creative styles.

Most importantly, it comes in a variety of configurations, making it easy to find one that fits your specs and budget.‍

Since AMD’s phoenix has risen from the ashes, this is a wonderful alternative for those who prefer an AMD-powered desktop over an Intel computer.

The Alienware Aurora R10 offers excellent value for money, especially considering the high build and design quality.

specifications

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB GDDR6

Memory: 32GB DDR4 XMP HyperX™ Fury

Storage: 2TB SDD + 2TB HDD

advantages

Outstanding Performance Customizable from the factory

Disadvantages

Loud fans

Buy Alienware Aurora R10 on Amazon

As for the next product on my list, the Apple iMac 2020 also gives you a better experience and comes with an incredible design that best suits your needs.

The most affordable computer for digital art.

With a faster processor and graphics, more memory and storage, and a Retina 5K display, the new 27-inch model is an improvement in every way.

A Retina display, with its 1 billion colors and 500 nits of brightness, meets your needs as a digital artist better than any other display.

When it comes to graphic design, iMacs are the PCs of choice, and MacOS offers all the software you need.

An all-in-one design means you don’t have to buy a separate monitor and run cables everywhere.

The Apple iMac 2020 offers great storage and all-flash SSD storage is now standard on all iMac models, offering both high capacity and lightning speed.

Apple’s largest iMac has powerful 10th generation Intel Core processors, although it’s a bit older.

You can also get a 10 core Intel processor which is very powerful making this a great PC for digital art.

specifications

Display: 27″ 5k Retina

CPU: 3.1 GHz 6-core 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor

GPU: Radeon Pro 5300 with 4GB GDDR6

Memory: 8 GB of memory

Storage: 256GB SSD

advantages

Fast computing power Graphics power

Disadvantages

Expensive

Buy Apple iMac 2020 on Amazon

If you draw digitally, the next product on my list, the Dell XPS 8940, might be what you need.

The best computer for digital drawing.

Since this is an office-friendly PC, it’s also powerful enough to do some basic editing. We all know that every digital artist wants a powerful PC that’s also affordable.

This digital art computer allows you to optimize every graphic parameter to the maximum.

The Dell XPS 8940 is a great choice for creatives looking for the best computer for digital drawing.

Stay in the flow with a new 11th Gen Intel Core XPS desktop that makes editing photos and videos quick and easy.

And since it has an impressive amount of storage space, it’s ideal for digital artists like you, as it lets you store a lot more art that you have.

specifications

Processor: Intel Core i7-11700

Graphics processor: Intel UHD Graphics 750

Memory: 32GB DDR4

Storage: 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD

advantages

Good performance. Small, quiet design

Disadvantages

No extremely strong

Buy the Dell XPS 8940 Desktop from Amazon

For those looking to get started with digital art, this computer from HP is a great option for you.

The best computer for digital art beginners.

The HP Pavilion 590 is the perfect entry-level choice for those looking for the best digital art computer for beginners.

The Intel Core i7-8700 in the HP Pavilion 590 is an ideal PC as it comes with powerful specs including 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

Despite the fact that the hard drive is slower than a solid state drive, it’s an acceptable compromise for a good desktop computer at this price point.

While the HP Pavilion 590 may be a few years old, it has a reputation for being an excellent budget desktop computer and is a solid option for budget-conscious designers.

With the processor’s integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630, you can perform 3D modeling in real time.

It’s also worth noting that the Pavilion 590 packs plenty of ports, including USB Type-C, Type-A (3.1, 2.0), HDMI, and DVI.

specifications

Processor: Intel Core i7-8700

Graphics processor: Intel UHD Graphics 630

RAM: 12GB RAM

Storage: 1TB hard drive

advantages

High-quality chassis Great workmanship

Disadvantages

Weak computing power.

Buy the HP Pavilion 590 from Amazon

Another impressive Apple digital art desktop on this list is this Apple Mac Mini 2020.

The best budget computer for digital art.

This computer is suitable for both beginners and hobbyists as it comes at an affordable price.

The M1 chip takes Apple’s most versatile, do-it-all desktop to a new level of performance that’s ideal for most artists.

The Apple Mac Mini runs the same operating system as other Apple computers, making it compatible with any graphic design software that works on an iMac.

The Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine is included in the base model, which also has a 256GB SSD.‍

Because of Mac mini’s small size, it can be carried around like a laptop.

On the back there are four expansion ports for external USB or Thunderbolt storage, as well as an HDMI 2.0 port that can support two monitors simultaneously.

The 8-core GPU in the M1 chip is the most advanced and powerful graphics processor Apple has built to date.

Overall, the Apple Mac Mini 2020 is an excellent choice for creatives looking for a budget-friendly computer for digital art.

specifications

Processor: Apple M1 chip

GPU: Apple 8-core GPU

Memory: 8 GB of memory

Storage: 256GB SSD

advantages

Brilliant performance Surprisingly quiet

Disadvantages

Fewer USB-C ports than Intel model

Buy Apple Mac Mini 2020 on Amazon

If you’re a digital artist and gamer at the same time, then the ROG Strix GA15DK is perfect for you.

The best computer for digital art and games.

Aside from its ability to run creative digital art software, it’s also great for gaming and streaming.

ROG Strix GA15DK has been redesigned from the ground up to deliver the best possible artistic and gaming experience with best-in-class cooling.

In the digital art industry, where responsiveness is critical, crisp and fluid graphics are essential.

Streaming and video editing are no problem for the powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and the reliable NVIDIA GeForce graphics thanks to their excellent frame rates.‍

Using a multi-zone chassis minimizes thermal interference between the CPU, graphics card and power supply, resulting in lower operating temperatures.

Overall, the ROG Strix GA15DK is the perfect choice for digital artists looking for the best computer for gaming and art.

specifications

Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

GPU: GeForce RTX 3070

Memory: 16GB DDR4

Storage: 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD

advantages

Great Design Outstanding Performance

Disadvantages

Expensive

Buy the ROG Strix GA15DK on Amazon

And as the last product on my list, I would like to mention the best computer for graphic designers, namely the Apple iMac 21.5″.

The best digital art computer for graphic design.

For Windows users considering a move to macOS, Apple’s 21.5-inch iMac is one of the best all-in-one options available.

With its 4K display and brilliant tones, the specs of the 21.5-inch iMac were already enticing, not to mention the rich and detailed photos and movies that can be viewed on the computer.

Desktop computers for everyday use, such as B. web browsing, email and productivity software, can perform much better.

Even the most demanding software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects can be run on this device.

For those who don’t plan on using their computer for any length of time, this is a great option as it packs so much power into such a small package.

The Apple iMac 21.5″ is the ideal choice for graphic designers looking for the best computer for digital art.

specifications

Display: 21.5 inches

CPU: 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor

Graphics processor: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640

Memory: 8 GB of memory

Storage: 256GB SSD

advantages

Elegant all-in-one design Potential video boost with macOS High Sierra

Disadvantages

Flat keyboard

Buy Apple iMac 21.5” from Amazon

Conclusions

For digital artists, buying a computer to help you with your daily tasks is a great investment.

Luckily, there are plenty of suitable digital art computers to buy in 2022.

Which PC is best for digital art?

As a creative, I can say that the Apple iMac 2021 is the best PC for digital art.

It can provide you with the best possible and fastest performance, which is ideal for boosting your productivity.

Another great option is the Alienware Aurora R10, the most powerful computer for digital art.

Note, however, that the Aurora R10 is one of the most expensive digital art computers out there. So if you are on a budget, the Apple Mac Mini is a perfect alternative.

Additionally, for those looking for the best digital art gaming computer, the ROG Strix GA15DK is a must-have.

I hope this list of the 10 best computers for digital artists will help you choose the best desktop for your needs.

After giving you my top tips, what do you think is the best computer for digital art? – Leave a comment below.

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As an artist, the right tools can make all the difference when it comes to creating your art. That goes for graphic designers, musicians, and every artist in between.

Mac computers continue to be one of the best tools for creative designers. In fact, 99.9% of graphic designers use a Mac instead of a Windows PC.

Why do artists use Macs? What makes her so special?

Artists, graphic designers, and musicians use Mac computers because Apple has developed a variety of high-quality creative applications designed to run in the Apple ecosystem. In addition, Mac’s operating system and user interface are simpler and more intuitive for creative-minded people.

Read on as we dive into the ins and outs of what makes Mac Computers (Amazon) best for many artists, musicians, and graphic designers, and we’ll also discuss some of the artist-friendly programs Apple has developed for the Mac, such as z Logic Pro, Garageband, Sketch and more.

(This article may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you) Up Your Creative Game! Master your craft with courses taught by the world’s top creatives → View all creative courses

Why do artists use Mac computers instead of Windows?

As mentioned above, many artists – including musicians, graphic designers, etc. – choose Mac computers over other options like Windows for a variety of reasons.

Let’s examine some of them below:

Excellent build quality and performance

From the new MacBook Pro and the elegantly thin Air to the classic iMac desktop computer, Apple’s range of computers is considered by many to be premium products.

The main reason is the elegant design and excellent build quality of Apple’s products. For the most part, Mac computers are ahead of the curve when it comes to hardware and aesthetic design.

Apple’s computers are known for their sleek and sleek contemporary designs — take the Macbook’s aluminum unibody, for example — not only look good, but they’re built to last.

As a graphic designer, I personally appreciate the retina display on my Macbook Pro, which really makes my designs stand out.

Not to mention that when comparing my Mac laptop to my Windows laptop, there is a day and night difference in terms of speed and ease of use.

This is of course partly thanks to the Mac OS itself, but the M1 chip in my Macbook Pro was designed to significantly increase performance and battery life, and I find it definitely delivers on both fronts.

Wide range of accessories useful for artists

Designing or putting together music-related projects on a computer without the right accessories can be nearly impossible.

Luckily, there are a variety of unique and helpful external tools for Mac computers that make an artist’s life a whole lot easier.

Apple Pencil and Magic TrackPad

While pens aren’t a new accessory, the Apple Pencil (Amazon) is arguably one of the best out there.

Creative vs. Artistic (Is there a di… Please enable JavaScript

Not only is it often praised for its ergonomic design (which feels good in the hand), but it also offers precision when designing with programs like Pixelmator Pro or Affinity Photo.

The Magic TrackPad (which is a separate accessory) acts as a tablet, allowing you to take notes and sketch with your Apple Pencil, just like you would on a piece of paper.

magic mouse

Unlike most “wireless” mice on the market, the Magic Mouse (Amazon) allows users to perform simple gestures to quickly scroll through documents, swipe between programs, and more.

The mouse’s design is perfect for artists who work fast and need a mouse that doesn’t lag behind.

It also has long battery life so it won’t die when you’re in the middle of a creative project.

AirPods

The Airpods (Amazon) are very popular among music listeners and anyone who wants to chat wirelessly on their iPhone.

That being said, the sound quality of these wireless earbuds makes them an incredible accessory for musicians and producers working on a track in Garageband or Logic Pro.

What Mac apps and programs are available for artists?

Whether you use a Mac computer to make music, design logos, or create sketches, the operating system has a few applications and programs designed specifically for artists like you.

Apps for musicians

Logic Pro

Both music producers and artists of all genres use Apple’s Logic Pro. This digital audio workstation lets you mix and record tracks in one place with a range of other useful features including:

Thousands of samples and instrumentals

loops and sound effects

An easy-to-use interface for fast music production and recording on Mac computers

garage band

Garageband is similar to Logic Pro in that it allows you to produce and record tracks in one all-in-one application.

You can create anything from songs to podcasts while using a library of samples and sound effects to enhance your projects.

Both applications are specially designed to run on Apple devices and the Mac operating system. While there are workarounds to running these programs on a Windows computer, it’s not as seamless as running them on a Mac.

Affinity Photo & Pixelmator For graphic designers and artists

As a graphic designer and Mac owner, I use these two apps on a daily basis. However, Affinity Photo has a slight advantage over Pixelmator Pro in my opinion.

affinity photo

Available at a much lower price than similar apps, this top-notch photo editing tool allows you to edit images, create layered graphics, and more.

If you’ve ever used Adobe Photoshop in the past, Affinity Pro will look and feel a lot like you.

With that in mind, it is one of the best apps for designers and artists who are moving from a Windows PC to a Mac.

Pixelmator Pro

Pixelmator Pro lets you draw and edit images in a single app with a special feature that not many photo editors have: an automatic color matching tool powered by machine learning.

This allows designers to easily make color changes. Beyond this feature, you can also export images directly to your website.

Here are some additional features of Pixelmator Pro that I think digital artists and designers will appreciate:

The preview option allows users to see what changes will look like before committing them

Text editing tool

Easily edit and export SVGs

Draw and sketch by hand with built-in painting tools

https://youtu.be/ZEoGS_ESXBU Cannot load video because JavaScript is disabled: Why some graphic designers choose Mac (https://youtu.be/ZEoGS_ESXBU) See why many graphic designers choose Mac computers.

Conclusion

Why do artists use Mac computers? As we’ve discussed, artists, designers, and musicians choose Mac primarily because it offers the most widely used operating system in the creative design industry.

In addition, however, an Apple computer offers excellent build quality, a wide range of accessories and a wide range of applications and programs that artists can use to work on their craft.

That being said, Macs cost significantly more than other computers out there, like Windows PCs, and they’re not for everyone.

If you’re an artist, we encourage you to do some research and find the best computer for you.

More questions and answers about artists found by Artistik

resources

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Creative Bloq experts spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Learn more about how we test

Using the best drawing tablets can make creating art digitally as natural as sketching on paper or painting on canvas. The best drawing tablets used to be expensive and exclusive to professional artists, but in recent years as new brands have come out these art tools have come down in price.

Whether you’re a beginner, a hobbyist, or a dedicated professional looking for a bargain or a good replacement for your drawing tablet, there are many options to choose from. With so many new brands and models to choose from, it can actually be daunting. That’s why I put together this buying guide to the best drawing tablets.

You can rest assured that the devices I have selected have been rated by artists who use these tablets on a daily basis

Our reviewers have tried all of the drawing tablets on this list—and even more that didn’t make it—so you can rest assured that the devices I’ve picked have been reviewed by artists who use those tablets every day. They rated each tablet for display and build quality, and overall drawing and user experience (see How We Test for more on our forensic testing approaches).

Whether you’re looking for a graphics tablet, pen display, or tablet computer (and if you’re not sure what you’re looking for, scroll down to the bottom of the page where we explain what those terms mean), you will find it Here are the best options.

All of the best brands are in my list, including drawing tablets from Wacom, Huion, XP-Pen, and Xencelabs. However, I also recommend some of the broader tech brands like Apple and Microsoft, as tablets from these manufacturers can also be used as drawing tablets – the excellent Procreate, for example, works beautifully on the iPad Pro.

If you want to know more about what drawing tablets are available, check out some of our other guides including best tablets for students and best drawing tablets for kids. We also take a closer look at the best animation drawing tablets if you’re passionate about this unique art form.

The best drawing tablets currently available

(Image credit: Ben Brady)

01. Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle The best pen tablet comes with excellent accessories Specifications Active drawing area: 10.3 x 5.8 inches Pen pressure sensitivity: 8192 Connections: USB-C to USB-A See today’s best deals at Amazon (opens in new tab ) Reasons to Buy + Fantastic build quality + Nice drawing experience + Included accessories Reasons to avoid – Requires an external display

For our money, the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is the best drawing tablet you can get right now. Xencelabs is a relative newcomer to the market, and while the name sounds like another cheap knock-off Chinese brand, its designers at Wacom cut their teeth and the results speak for themselves. This is an outstanding drawing tablet that is beautifully designed and hits the absolute sweet spot of price and quality.

When we tried the tablet we found the texture of the drawing area to be spot on, with the perfect amount of “bite” against the stylus making it very satisfying to use. The tablet also comes with two included styluses, a regular and a slim version, and you can customize them fairly extensively. This is a handy way to set up the two pens for different purposes, such as: with one optimized for drawing lines and the other for shading. Pressure sensitivity and tilt sensitivity are excellent.

While we think this tablet is well priced, Xencelabs also offers a cheaper, smaller version of the tablet that offers a similarly premium drawing experience if it’s outside your budget.

Would you like to know more? Take a look at our Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle Review, where we gave the tablet bundle five stars.

(Image credit: Future)

02. Apple iPad Air (5th generation, 2022) One of the most powerful drawing tablets you can buy Specifications Active drawing area: 9.74 x 7 inches Resolution: 2350 x 1640 Pen pressure sensitivity: N/A (requires optional Apple Pencil) Connections: USB – C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth OS: iPadOS 15.4 Today’s Best Deals View on Amazon (opens in a new tab) View on John Lewis (opens in a new tab) View on very.co.uk (opens in opened in a new tab) Reasons to buy + M1 chip performance + Exceptional screen quality Reasons to avoid – Screen maxes out at 60Hz – No Thunderbolt 4

Apple’s in-house M1 chips have been an absolute game changer in recent years. They’ve beefed up Apple’s laptop and desktop computers, transformed the iPad Pro and are now found in the iPad Air, bringing with it super-smooth performance. This, coupled with Apple Pencil 2 compatibility, means the latest iPad Air is one of the best drawing tablets available today, as well as a superb all-round tablet.

We reviewed the Apple iPad Air (5th gen, 2022) and found it had a great deal to love. Its display is absolutely stunning: a 2360 x 1640 IPS LCD panel that delivers 264 pixels per inch for incredible clarity, with full color support and even backlighting, with a maximum brightness of 500 nits. Granted, the iPad Pro offers a superior display, with 600 nits of brightness on the 11-inch version, or a whopping 1,000 nits on the flagship 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The Pro also offers a much smoother refresh rate of 120Hz instead of 60Hz (more on that in a bit), but it’s also a significantly more expensive offering.

Put the two tablets side by side with an Apple Pencil 2 and the different refresh rates mean you’ll notice the difference in terms of latency. But let’s not overdo it here: in practice, 60Hz is more than enough, and the iPad Air 2022 is still one of the smoothest drawing experiences you can currently experience – plus you can watch Netflix on it and much more that you’re using Done drawing what you can’t do on a Wacom.

(Image credit: Future)

03. iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M1, 2021) An incredible feature-rich drawing tablet Specifications Active drawing area: 10.32 x 7.74 inches Resolution: 2732 x 2048 Pen pressure sensitivity: N/A (requires optional Apple Pencil) Connections: Thunderbolt 4 , Bluetooth, Wi-Fi OS: iPadOS 15.4 Today’s Best Deals View on Amazon (opens in a new tab) View on very.co.uk (opens in a new tab) View on John Lewis (opens in a New tab opened) Reasons to buy + Unbeatable processing power + New ultra-strong display Reasons to avoid – iPadOS needs a refresh – More than you need?

The iPad Pro offers the best of both worlds; When the best drawing tablet just isn’t enough for you and you want the all-around best tablet, there really is only one choice: the latest 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro. It’s so far ahead of the rest of the tablet market that it’s not even funny.

Not only is the iPad Pro powered by Apple’s blazing-fast M1 chip for absolutely stunning performance, it also features a mini-LED XDR display with amazing brightness, as well as local dimming to deliver amazing contrast. Combine the two (and add the wonderfully smooth and intuitive Apple Pencil 2) and you have a nearly unbeatable all-in-one system for creating digital art and showing it off to its best advantage.

Despite all this, why isn’t it our first choice? Well it depends on what you need. The iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M1, 2021) is so capable, and priced accordingly, that if you’re just looking for a drawing tablet and don’t need its many other features, it’s probably not worth it. Special tools like the ones above offer a better price – money. Still, let’s not lose sight of the fact that this is one of the overall best tablets out there right now, and arguably one of the best for drawing.

Check out our iPad Pro 12.9-inch M1 (2021) review for an in-depth look at why this tablet is so good. Also note that the 11-inch iPad Pro is another excellent, albeit pricey, choice; our iPad Pro 11 inch (M1, 2021) review goes into detail.

(Image credit: Future)

04. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 The new flagship brings a much-needed refresh to Microsoft’s offering Specifications Active drawing area: 11.25 x 7.5 inches Resolution: 3000 x 2000 Pen pressure sensitivity: 4,096 levels (with Surface Pen) Connections: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, USB-C OS: Windows 10 Pro Today’s Best Deals View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on Microsoft UK IE (opens in new tab) View on very.co.uk (opens in new tab ) Reasons to Buy + Runs on Windows 11 + Great, responsive display Reasons to Avoid – Stylus costs extra – And it starts at $1099.99

Microsoft’s Surface tablets have never quite achieved the cachet enjoyed by Apple’s iPad line, but the latest Surface Pro 8 feels a lot more like a challenge to Apple’s dominance. It’s roughly the same price as the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and Microsoft has clearly put a lot of work into making this tablet look like a viable alternative, both in terms of looks and performance.

Even the base model, which packs an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD, packs plenty of power. If that’s not enough for you, there are even more powerful configurations, but be aware that the price will go up even further.

Windows 11 is also a great benefit for this tablet, allowing you to use the full desktop version of programs like Photoshop

When we tested it we thought the display was excellent, with a resolution of 2880 x 1920 and the option to boost the refresh rate up to 120Hz. This makes it very responsive when used with the Surface Pen stylus. Note, however, that you must purchase this separately.

Having Windows 11 is also a huge boon for this tablet, as you can use the full desktop version of programs like Photoshop instead of messing around with tablet apps. If you’re already in the Windows ecosystem, this tablet definitely makes sense as a purchase. Our Surface Pro 8 review takes a closer look at this tablet and compares it to previous iterations of the Surface Pro.

(Image credit: Wacom)

05. Wacom Cintiq 22 This drawing tablet is still awesome Specifications Active drawing area: 19.5 x 11.5 inches Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Pen pressure sensitivity: 8192 levels Connections: HDMI, USB 2.0 Today’s best deals Check out Amazon ( opens in new tab) Watch at Currys (opens in new tab) Watch at Wex Photo Video (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent pressure sensitivity + Fantastic price Reasons to avoid – Low screen resolution for the size – No built-in ExpressKeys

Wacom used to have the drawing tablet pretty much to itself, but in recent years a whole host of challenger brands have popped up to take a bite out of its lunch, particularly at the cheaper end of the market. However, despite increasing competition, the Wacom name is still very serious, and in our opinion the Wacom Cintiq 22 is definitely one of the best drawing tablets you can get your hands on.

With a 22-inch display, this is a serious tablet with plenty of room to play. It’s Full HD resolution – not as many pixels as some newer, flashier tablets, but more than enough for most people. You can get sharper screens on other Wacom tablets, but they tend to cost more, and this model is all about offering Wacom quality at an affordable price. And let’s not forget that many tablets, including Xencelabs, don’t have a screen at all.

What really makes using the Cintiq 22 so enjoyable is the Wacom Pro Pen 2 with a whopping 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity plus tilt sensitivity. Wacom has been in this game for a long time and it’s hard to imagine an artist complaining about the Pro Pen 2. It just works really, really well.

One benefit of Wacom tablets for students and those looking to get into digital art professionally is that they’re pretty much the industry standard, so learning to use a tablet is a very good step. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider other tablets, it’s just something to keep in mind. Find out more in our Wacom Cintiq 22 review.

(Image credit: Wacom)

06. Wacom Intuos Pro (large) The best graphics tablet for artists and illustrators Specifications Active drawing area: 12.1 x 8.4 inches Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels Connections: USB, Bluetooth Operating system: Windows or macOS See today’s best offers Check out Jessops (opens in new tab) View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on Laptops Direct (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent pen sensitivity + Fluid drawing + Wired or wireless connection Reasons to avoid – The drawing area could be larger

Ideally, to create artwork on a drawing tablet, you need plenty of space to work with and a pen that feels the same as the one you would use on paper. In that case, you should go for the Wacom Intuos Pro Large, which offers pretty much the most natural drawing experience you can get digitally.

While the drawing surface isn’t the biggest you can get, it still gives you plenty of space, and the pen’s 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity make it feel as close as possible to using a real pen. All of this is supported by Wacom’s broad ecosystem of alternative pens and texture sheets to give your drawing surface a distinctive feel.

The Intuos Pro is also available in other sizes. So if the asking price is a bit high and you’re willing to work with a smaller screen, you might want to consider the Intuos Pro Medium or the Intuos Pro Small. Both tablets offer similar features as the largest version, just with smaller workspaces. Find out more in our detailed Wacom Intuos Pro review.

(Image credit: Ben Brady)

07. Huion H430P Start with this inexpensive but very user-friendly mini drawing tablet ) Reasons to buy + Brilliant starter tablet + Low cost Reasons to avoid – Four shortcut keys – Drawing area too small for some

Huion is a name that has given Wacom a run for its money in recent years with a range of drawing tablets that offer impressive features at great prices. If you’re just starting out and not quite sure if you want to spend a lot of money on a tablet, the Huion H430P is a perfect way to test the waters, as it offers just enough features without costing you a lot.

Yes, the drawing area is small, but the stylus is sensitive enough to give you a real sense of the creative benefits that drawing tablets can bring. It may not be long before you outgrow this tablet, but it’s a very affordable way to get started.

Note, however, that this is a graphics tablet and not a pen display. So you need to hook it up to some sort of external display to be able to see what you’re drawing. A monitor is ideal, although a smartphone or other tablet will do the job in a pinch. Our review of the Huion Inspiroy H430P examined why this small but mighty graphics tablet is a good choice for beginners.

(Image credit: Ben Brady)

08. XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 A sleek tablet that offers a professional experience at a tempting price Specifications Active drawing area: 13.42 x 7.55 inches Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels Connections : USB-C Today’s Best Deals Watch on Amazon (opens in a new tab) Watch on Wex Photo Video (opens in a new tab) Watch on Currys (opens in a new tab) Reasons to Buy + Excellent Feeling of drawing + Minimal parallax Reasons to avoid – No stand included – Screen could be brighter

Besides Huion, XP-Pen is the other company that has made big strides in the drawing tablet market and the XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 is a great example of their range, offering a professional drawing experience at a surprisingly affordable price. It’s an updated version of the Innovator 16 that offers an amazing drawing interface with 99% Adobe RGB coverage and hardly any parallax.

The XP-Pen Artist Pro 16’s new pen is equipped with an intelligent chip that XP-Pen says offers 10 times more touch sensitivity than previous offerings. This allows for a really light touch when it comes to making fine lines, requiring only 3g of pressure to make a mark. Two dials and eight customizable shortcut keys make controlling the Artist Pro 16 a pleasantly tactile process, as does the all-metal body that surrounds it.

The lack of an included stand is a bit of a letdown, and some monitor setups may require a bit of cable clutter to work, which can annoy those who prefer a clean desktop. But other than that, this is an impressive, sleek and enticing tablet. Read more about the pen and how this tablet compares to the others in our full XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 review

(Image credit: Ben Brady)

09. Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) An updated version of Huion’s popular mid-size tablet Specifications Active drawing area: 344.16 x 193.59 mm Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) Pen pressure sensitivity: 8192 levels Connectors: USB-C View today’s best deals at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + Laminated textured screen + Great pen technology + Excellent drawing experience Reasons to avoid – Could be brighter – Stand sold separately

If you are looking for a good entry-level pen display drawing tablet, the upgraded Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) is a very good option. This is a pen display that can be used for many different types of art, as well as a screen for playing video games, editing videos, and learning.

Our review of the Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) notes that this device has a Full HD screen with excellent color accuracy, making it ideal as a good second screen too. Our reviewer also noted that the stand for this device is sold separately but is worth purchasing as it’s ergonomically designed to make drawing easier.

(Image credit: Mike Griggs)

10. Wacom One (2020) Wacom’s most affordable version, providing a great tablet for the masses. macOS or Android (some devices) Today’s Best Deals Watch on Amazon (opens in a new tab) Watch on Currys (opens in a new tab) Watch on Wex Photo video (opens in a new tab) Reasons to buy + Great for on the go + Unparalleled Wacom Quality Reasons to Avoid – No iPhone compatibility – Small drawing area

Wacom has long had a reputation for being reassuringly expensive, so it’s good to see the company responding to an influx of challengers by releasing a much cheaper drawing tablet to lure users away from cheaper brands. The Wacom One (not to be confused with previous Wacom Ones) is a great little 13-inch portable tablet that offers a fantastic drawing experience but doesn’t cost you a fortune.

Its Full HD display offers 72% NTSC color and an anti-glare film, and the tablet even has little legs to stand on when you’re on the go and want to jot down a few ideas quickly. It’s the ideal tablet to put in your day bag; For more information on what to expect from this device, check out our in-depth Wacom One review.

(Image credit: Mike Griggs)

11. XP-Pen Deco Pro Medium Extremely cheap Wacom alternative but without some features Specifications Active drawing area: 11 x 6 inches Resolution: n/a Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels Ports: USB-C Operating system: Windows, macOS or Android Active drawing area: 11″ x 6″ Resolution: n/a Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels Connections: USB-C Operating system: Windows, macOS or Android Today’s best deals View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on Wex Photo Video (opens in new tab Tab) Watch at Currys (opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + Excellent value for money + Solid build quality Reasons to avoid – Software a bit choppy – No iPhone/iPad support

If you’re looking for a cheap alternative to Wacom’s Intuos Pro, the XP-Pen Deco Pro is worth considering. It’s about a third the price of the Intuos Pro and honestly it shows in places; It doesn’t quite have Wacom’s premium feel and the software drivers can be clunky, but when it comes down to it, it offers a solid drawing experience.

You get a smooth drawing surface and a stylus with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, and the tablet’s overall design won a Red Dot award. This isn’t just a cheap knockoff – it’s a premium knockoff, and if you’re an artist on a budget it definitely deserves consideration, as our XP-Pen Deco Pro review confirms.

(Image credit: Ben Brady)

12. Huion Kamvas 22 Plus Huion’s 22-inch tablet offers an excellent screen at an enticing price Specifications Active drawing area: 18.77 x 10.56 inches Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Full HD Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels Connections: USB-A/USB-C/HDMI Today’s Best Deals View on Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent screen + Great value for a 22″ tablet Reasons to avoid – None Touchscreen – The stylus is pretty basic

Have your eye on the Wacom Cintiq 22 further up the page but can’t quite go for the price? The Huion Kamvas 22 Plus would like to talk to us. It’s significantly cheaper than the Cintiq, but it’s still a quality drawing tablet with a nice and spacious display. It’s 16:9 and Full HD resolution.

The big selling point is that it’s made from etched anti-glare glass rather than having an anti-glare film; The end result is a pen display that feels really comfortable to draw on, with a tactile and decidedly analog drawing experience.

With an anti-parallax design, 140% sRGB coverage and the ability to reproduce 16.7 million colors, this is a very impressive tablet. The included stylus is basically decent and will get the job done – it’s perhaps a bit unfussy, with just one type of nib.

Overall, as we found in our Huion Kamvas 22 Plus review, this Huion tablet is a good buy, especially when compared to the competition at this price point from XP-Pen – it has better color coverage and an overall better drawing feel.

The best drawing tablet accessory

Wacom Pro Pen 3D

A third button might not sound like a huge innovation, but it enables the Pro Pen 3D (opens in a new tab) to support panning and zooming in three dimensions, giving 3D artists unrestricted navigation at their fingertips.

Wacom ink pen

For that traditional feel, you can use the Inking Pen (opens in a new tab) to place a piece of paper on your Wacom tablet and then draw in ink on it while the tablet simultaneously captures your drawing movements. The ink pen is only suitable for Intuos tablets: it can damage the screen of Cintiqs and MobileStudios.

Adonit Jot Pro

If you don’t like the Apple Pencil or your iPad isn’t compatible, the Adonit Jot Pro (opens in new tab) is a stylish stylus that works on any iPad (or Android tablet). The nib, which combines a fine tip with a plastic circle for registration on the tablet screen, looks odd but works well in practice.

The best drawing tablets: what types are there?

Broadly speaking, there are three main types of drawing tablets. Each takes a different approach to the core challenge of helping you draw on your Windows PC or Mac as if you were drawing on paper.

When it comes to drawing tablets, there is everything from professional high-resolution graphics tablets to portable tablets that cost under £40 and fit in a small backpack. There’s also a growing market for drawing tablets for little ones, and you can check out our dedicated guide to drawing tablets for kids if that’s what you’re looking for. Want to unplug for a while? Take a look at our best lightboxes for more hands-on creativity. And if you’re specifically looking for an editing tablet, check out our best tablets for photo and video editing.

graphics tablets

(Image credit: Wacom)

If you’ve been around computers for a long time, when you mention a drawing tablet, you probably instinctively think of this: a smooth surface on which you draw with a stylus, with your work displayed on a separate computer monitor (opens in new tab). Graphics tablets remain the cheapest category of drawing tablets. Their main drawback is the feeling of “disconnection” between the artboard and the screen, although most people get used to it quickly.

pen displays

(Image credit: Wacom)

Pen displays consist of a flat screen with a pressure-sensitive surface on which you draw with a pen. They don’t have that disconnected feeling you might get with graphics tablets, and they’re more portable; however, they cost more. Also, there are many cables between the display and the computer (see the best computers for graphic design) and the display surfaces don’t offer the “bite” that graphics tablets have.

tablet computer

(Image credit: Apple)

Android and iOS devices like the Surface Pro and iPad Pro compete against the other drawing tablets in two ways. You don’t need another computer: just download an art app and start drawing with your fingertip or a stylus. If you want to use the Creative Cloud suite (opens in new tab) on your main computer, these can also act as graphics tablets with apps like Astropad (opens in new tab).

The Best Drawing Tablets: Which Ones Should You Buy?

Right now we’re confident to say that the absolute best drawing tablet you can buy is the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle, which offers some super cool features and is very affordable. If you want a more recognizable name, the Wacom Cintiq 22 is next. This offers Wacom’s famous quality in a pleasantly large tablet at a surprisingly affordable price.

If you’re totally new to this market, it’s worth pointing out that there are three distinct categories to consider.

Graphic tablets on which you draw directly with a pen

, which you draw directly on with a pen. Pressure-sensitive pen displays that connect to a monitor

that connect to a monitor Tablet computers that can be customized via an app for drawing

Need a summary? Here are the best drawing tablets, graphics tablets and tablet computers of the moment…

Related articles:

If you’re looking for the best laptop for drawing on the market today, I’ve got you covered. In this article, I share my recommendations for the best portable laptops for any artist that offer the best possible on-screen drawing, painting, editing, and retouching experience.

💡 Please note: This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks very much! For more information, please read our disclosure.

If you’re in a hurry and want to get straight to the point, here are my top picks for the best character laptop

For Surface Tablets Microsoft Surface Pen For Surface Pro 8, 7, 6 Surface Laptop 3 Surface Book 2 Laptop 2 Surface Go Studio 2 Pro 5 Pro 4 | 4096 pressure points | Different colors

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Table of Contents

I’ve written quite a bit lately about drawing tablets and how great they are for artists.

The ability to work on the go – and not just work, but work to a very high standard and see your work on a beautiful high-resolution screen anywhere, anytime – is absolutely fabulous, and the best art tablets are understandably popular.

But some people find tablets a bit limiting. They either can’t do everything that a full-fledged computer can do, or they’re not really designed and optimized for normal, routine tasks. And yes, sometimes even artists have to at least pretend to be normal and have a routine.

And some artists can’t really afford to buy a laptop, a tablet, and maybe a desktop computer, and would love to have a single drawing laptop that they know can really do it all.

Some of my friends and colleagues actually want the best budget art laptop they can find, with a whole host of capabilities at a very low price, and others don’t mind spending a little more (or even a lot more). to get the best machine they can afford, knowing that they are only making an investment and they really want to pay off.

What is a 2-in-1 drawing laptop?

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2 in 1 simply refers to a portable computer that functions as both a regular laptop and a tablet computer.

Offering touchscreen capabilities as well as beautiful, full-featured keyboards and touchpads, these nifty machines are designed to not only allow drawing and painting on the screen, but also a normal user interface with the operating system Windows 10 (or Chrome OS) and all your software too.

Because they work so well for artists, all of the recommendations on my best laptops for drawing list are 2-in-1 touchscreen laptops.

If you’ve already researched the best portable computer for artists, you may have come across questions like these on the internet:

What is the best laptop for drawing, but also:

What is the best convertible laptop for drawing and

What is the best detachable laptop for drawing?

Is the Surface Pen a good pen for drawing on a laptop?

But what is the difference between these different types? There are two basic types of 2-in-1 drawing laptops:

A convertible laptop for drawing

This design features a keyboard that opens fully – really fully – so it folds flat at the bottom and gets out of the way, allowing you to use the screen only as a touchscreen tablet.

A detachable laptop for drawing

A detachable drawing laptop has a keyboard that can be completely detached from the computer screen, getting it even more out of the way and allowing you to go back to using just the screen as a touchscreen tablet.

Both types offer full and normal laptop functionality as well as full tablet use.

The convertible behaves a bit more like a laptop, often with a sturdier base and a sturdier keyboard, while the detachable is more tablet-like and is usually lighter and still has a very nice and usable keyboard.

So if you’re more concerned about stability and type a lot more, you might like a convertible, but if you plan to use your new laptop more as a tablet, or at least more on the go, you might prefer a detachable – just keep that in mind a detachable becomes an attachable only if you don’t leave your keyboard on your desk at home!

What is the best laptop for drawing?

I should say right away that we don’t include Apple laptops here, although it breaks my poor heart.

While of course they keep popping up in my various buying guides for the best artists’ computers and tablets, and they get loads of props there, Apple hasn’t internalized the 2-in-1 idea yet and doesn’t offer a true laptop convertible in either case detachable or convertible design.

This leaves us with two main options for the best 2-in-1 character laptops for artists – Windows 10 operating system or Chromebook. And even though Chromebook has been around for quite a while, many still don’t understand what that even means.

What Is a Chromebook and Are They Good for Artists?

Chromebooks are portable laptops that use a new (kind of) operating system and really focus on Google Drive, Google Docs, Gmail – so cloud-based computing instead of using apps on your computer and storing files locally.

Chromebooks are lightweight, often surprisingly cheap, and now run most Android apps as available on Google Play. With that, you have at least some pretty nice art applications, like:

Autodesk sketchbook

Ibis color

Adobe IllustratorDraw

Adobe Photoshop Sketch

art flow

Windows computers are still far more popular and widely used, offering processing power and a range of top-notch applications (not just for artists) that Chromebooks can’t match.

While they tend to be more expensive, they can offer significant value for money – especially with the ones listed in our buyer’s guide to the best 2-in-1 laptops for artists.

However, many commercial and visual artists consider that a Windows 10 2 in 1 laptop operating system is the standard and necessary choice, especially since it allows you to use the best art programs such as:

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

CorelPaint

Affinity Designer

Adobe Premiere Pro

So in the end, both touchscreen laptops running Windows 10 and Chromebooks are great for artists. Most people still prefer Windows, and the software is better, but a Chromebook can be a cheap, lightweight, and easy-to-use alternative that offers both good art software and full computing functionality.

Budget becomes a major issue here, especially if you’re looking for an extremely affordable 2-in-1 laptop for artists.

You see, I haven’t found any Windows-based convertible or detachable laptops that I would recommend for less than $500 while there are excellent and very usable Chromebook 2 in 1s in this lower price range.

So the Chromebooks I recommend here are all lower-priced models, but there are definitely some wonderful top-end Chromebooks out there too – if you want to see a wider selection of Chromebooks that are great for artists, please check out my recent article : The Best Chromebook with a Stylus for Artists: A Detailed Guide to the Best Chromebooks for Drawing.

How do you find the best 2-in-1 laptop for drawing?

But whichever platform you choose—Windows or Chromebook—you’ll find the best device for your needs and budget here.

To make my list of the best 2-in-1 laptops for artists on the market today, a computer has to be reputable, including:

Excellent graphics including resolution, color fidelity and saturation, brightness and contrast

Enough memory and storage space to be really useful (again, this is more true for Windows-based computers – Chromebooks are designed to store most of your data in the cloud)

High performance and great speed

The best interaction between pen and screen

The best overall creative experience

Excellent material quality and reliability

Great value for money

We’re going to feature the four best 2-in-1 Windows laptops for artists, listed from most expensive to cheapest, and also two great Chromebooks, and you can pick any of them – based on your needs and budget – and yourself feel absolutely confident that you get everything you need for creative work and normal computing.

I’m not going to overwhelm you with myriad choices, just the convertible and detachable laptops that I know aren’t just made for an artist, they’re the best in performance, reliability, fit and finish, and – most of the time – the very best in creativity provide experience.

Overview: The best laptops for drawing in 2022

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Microsoft Surface Book 3 detachable laptop with 13.5 inch touch screen

For Surface Tablets Microsoft Surface Pen For Surface Pro 8, 7, 6 Surface Laptop 3 Surface Book 2 Laptop 2 Surface Go Studio 2 Pro 5 Pro 4 | 4096 pressure points | Different colors

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With massive memory, an ultra-fast Intel i7 processor, an extremely powerful graphics processor and an excellent high-resolution display optimized for the pen-to-screen interface, the latest Microsoft Surface Book 3 is without question the very best convertible notebook for artists the market today.

Performance, design and interface, reliability and material quality, look and feel, user experience – the Surface Book 3 laptop has it all.

Yes, this is an expensive computer, but if you are a serious commercial or visual artist, animator, illustrator, photographer, or just someone who simply wants the best performance, the highest quality of materials and construction, the best user experience, and a machine Handles any type of work, anywhere, anytime, the Surface Book 3 does it.

My absolute pick for the best 2-in-1 computer on the market today, the Microsoft Surface Book 3 is not only the best detachable artist laptop available today, it’s quite possibly the best artist computer overall.

And while it’s nominally a detachable 2-in-1, the Book 3’s keyboard folds down completely, making it a perfect convertible 2-in-1 too. However I’ve used it, I absolutely loved it, and the Surface Book 3 is the only computer that somehow, maybe just a little, makes me tempted to switch from Apple to Windows.

Of course I won’t, but if I did, or if someone wanted the best of the best and wanted their work and work experience to be the best it can be, there’s no choice but the Microsoft Surface 3 13.5-inch -Laptop with detachable touch screen.

If it’s within your budget or you want the very best, don’t hesitate!

The Microsoft Surface 3 has a brilliant keyboard, but for the full experience you’ll also need a pen, and your best bet is the excellent new Microsoft Surface Pen.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to apologize to my MacBook…

Microsoft Surface Book 3 Detachable Laptop Features

Type: Detachable 2 in 1 Laptop

10th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU (Central Processing Unit)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU (graphics processor)

32GB of memory

Storage 512GB SSD

3000 x 2000 pixels resolution

Screen size: 13.5 inch touch screen

Requires Microsoft Surface Pen

Exceptional battery life

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 convertible laptop

If you don’t need to spend more than two grand for a machine, but still need an absolutely incredible 2-in-1 laptop for drawing, animating, illustrating, or any type of digital art or graphics, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro 2 is just that Right the best I’ve found.

And it has a larger screen than the Microsoft Surface Book 3 above, for truly detailed work and intense impact when showcasing your digital artwork.

The Notebook 9 Pro is a convertible laptop, which again means the keyboard doesn’t detach but pivots completely out of the way, allowing you to use the Samsung Notebook 9 as a tablet, which offers a wonderful pen-to-screen experience, absolutely Brilliant Full HD display with deeply saturated and highly accurate colors and amazing vibrancy and realism.

And with the size and quality of the display, everything you do is easier, more precise and more effective.

Compared to the aforementioned Microsoft Surface, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro has half the RAM, a less powerful GPU, a slower CPU and a lower resolution, but it should be clearly said that this is still a top-of-the-line computer the finest performers available today and superb in every way.

I’m comparing it here to the best of the best, the Surface 3, but it’s half the price of the Microsoft and an incredible computer for the money.

In fact, the Samsung is truly on par with the Microsoft Surface in terms of fit and finish, design and user interface, screen-to-pen interaction, and overall creative experience, and it’s hard to imagine many jobs or situations would match the Surface’s advanced specifications even make themselves felt.

The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is indeed the best convertible 2-in-1 laptop I’ve ever used, and without a doubt the best bargain in a premium 2-in-1 laptop for any artist. And it includes the wonderful, awesome Samsung Active Pro Pen, so you have a complete professional mobile digital art studio in one fell swoop!

Features of the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro convertible 2-in-1 laptop

Type: Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop

8th Generation Intel Quad-Core i7 CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Intel UHD 620 GPU (graphics processor)

16GB of memory

Storage 256GB SSD

1920 x 1080 pixels resolution

Screen size: 15 inch touch screen

Exceptional battery life

New HP Pavilion 2-in-1 14-inch convertible laptop with Full HD touchscreen

I have to say that my overall experience with the HP Pavilion convertible laptop was pleasantly surprising. For example, it’s surprising to enjoy such fast and smooth performance at this price point, even with the most advanced graphics software and large, complex files – nothing seemed to slow down the Pavilion.

It’s also surprising to find a computer that doesn’t cost much more than $700 with this premium level of fit, finish, and overall quality. And given its large 14-inch display, the HP Pavilion is surprisingly light and portable.

The HP Pavilion is a really easy-to-use computer and appears to have been designed with artists in mind. It’s got a beautiful display, rich, bright and high-contrast, feels good on the screen surface, and offers extremely precise and controllable pen interaction, as well as a solid workhorse feel that’s (again) surprising from a 2-in-1 laptop with such a nice touch and subtle design.

The Pavilion doesn’t come with a stylus, which you’ll need, and the HP Digital Pen is the best stylus available for the Pavilion.

With enough storage and processing power for any digital art software and type of work, a massive solid state drive and a beautiful 14″ display, this is a truly functional and quality artist studio in a beautiful, portable package with a premium feel to it, that feels like it will serve you well for many years to come.

The HP Pavilion 15.6-inch convertible laptop is my pick for best mid-range 2-in-1 laptop for an artist and I highly recommend it.

Features of the new HP Pavilion 2-in-1 convertible laptop

Type: Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop

8th Generation Intel Core i5 CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Intel UHD Graphics G1 GPU (graphics processor)

8GB of RAM

Storage 512GB SSD

1920 x 1080 pixels resolution

Screen size: 14 inch touch screen

Exceptional battery life

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 12.3 inch Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop

Small but powerful Microsoft Surface Pro 7 12.3-inch touchscreen – 10th gen Intel Core i7 – 16GB storage – 256GB SSD (latest model) – Matte black with black type cover Buy now at Amazon

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Microsoft is the only company to feature twice on my list of the best laptops for drawing, and it’s easy to see why when you’ve used one of these brilliant 2-in-1s.

The Microsoft Surface 3 is clearly the best detachable laptop on the market today, and this Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is, in my opinion, the best value computer for artists on the market today.

With all the brilliant design and user experience that Surface computers are known for, and with the same incredible fit and finish and premium feel, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 costs around $500 — a quarter the price of their flagship and still worth it great device and a powerful and wonderful artist tool.

The beautiful, high-resolution screen of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 not only looks stunning, it is also optimized for use with pens, enabling even the most precise and detailed work and making all work flow smoothly and naturally. And the powerful Pentium Gold processor ensures that the flow of work is not interrupted by lag, processing delays or other interruptions.

The best artist tools simply avoid the artist, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, even at its relatively low price, is a flawless machine in this regard and on par with many 2-in-1s that are far more expensive.

Please note that the base price of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is only for the tablet itself, and to turn it into a fully detachable 2-in-1 mobile artist studio, you must also purchase the Microsoft Type Cover and Microsoft Surface Pen – You can find cheaper options, but once you’ve tried the genuine Microsoft products, you probably wouldn’t even consider others.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a great choice for the somewhat budget-conscious artist who wants a reliable and extremely easy-to-use 2-in-1 laptop for digital art and everything else and a gadget with an undeniably high coolness factor, an amazing computer and gets my highest recommendation.

Features of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 detachable laptop

Type: Detachable 2 in 1 Laptop

10th Gen Intel Core i7, i5 and i3

Intel Iris Plus Graphics (i7, i5) Intel UHD Graphics (i3)

16GB 8GB 4GB RAM

Storage 1TB SSD 512GB SSD 256GB SSD 128GB SSD

2736 x 1824 pixels resolution

Screen size: 12.3 inch touch screen

Requires Microsoft Surface Pen

Exceptional battery life

Acer Spin 11 Chromebook 2-in-1 convertible laptop with 11.6 inch HD touchscreen

The Acer Spin 11 Chromebook is a nice little convertible laptop and an amazing machine for its money – it’s sort of a premium machine for its low price, with great build quality and looks and feels, a fast processor and an absolutely brilliant screen.

It’s possible to find slightly better specs for the money, but not a computer that offers a better creative experience or one that feels as solid and durable and inspires so much light-hearted confidence when you toss it in your backpack.

The Acer Spin 11 is a remarkably user-friendly and intelligently designed device that offers a transparent and intuitive user interface, and it’s easy to get into a real flow with the Spin 11. Pen-to-screen interaction is great – predictable and controllable and with nice flow, and it includes Wacom’s fantastic digital pen.

The HD screen offers really good brightness, contrast and colors, is big enough for most people and still keeps the Spin 11 small and light. All programs work flawlessly, without any interruptions or lags, and you are never yanked out of your creative space or distracted by performance issues.

Chromebooks keep getting better and now even run almost all Android apps for even more utility, but they’ve always been known for being great values ​​and great inexpensive computers. The Acer Spin 11 is an amazing example of this, one of the best budget laptops of all kinds for drawing and the best mid-range 2-in-1 Chromebook computer for artists on the market today.

Features of the Acer Spin 11 Chromebook convertible laptop

Type: Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop

Processor 8th Generation Intel Core CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Intel HD Graphics 500 GPU (graphics processor)

4GB of RAM

Storage 32GB SSD

1366 x 768 pixels resolution

Screen size: 11.6 inch touch screen

Lenovo Duet 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook with 10.1″ HD touchscreen

The Lenovo Duet 2-in-1 Convertible Chromebook perfectly demonstrates what all the Chromebook fuss is about – a whole lot of computing for a very low price.

The 10.1 inch display has beautiful high definition graphics that look great and display colors accurately and with excellent contrast and brightness, making drawing and painting a real pleasure.

The screen’s surface is nicely finished and works very well with a stylus, with good feedback and control, a natural feel and real flow. The Duet does not come with a stylus but is fully USI compliant and I would recommend the Penoval USI stylus which offers excellent control and feels good in hand too.

Chromebook specs don’t really compare directly to numbers for Windows computers. Being cloud-based systems, they don’t have nearly as much on-board storage, their RAM storage is generally less, and their processors are less powerful as they are designed to work perfectly with Chrome OS and Android software are optimized.

And indeed, the Lenovo Flex 3 runs fast and reliably, starts up and saves quickly, and I’ve never had any lag or lag issues while working – I actually had a really nice and very focused creative experience with the Flex 3, which kept me undisturbed could lose in my work and for me that is the most important thing in every artist’s tool.

Solid feel, beautifully designed, with a beautiful screen and great pen interaction, lightweight and easy to carry, the Lenovo Duet is an ideal budget Chromebook for any artist, designer or art student.

If you can’t afford more, don’t feel like you have to compromise – the Lenovo Duet 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook has everything you need and is an absolute pleasure.

Features of the Lenovo Duet 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook

Type: Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop

MediaTek Helio P60T CPU (central processing unit)

ARM G72 MP3 GPU (graphics processor)

4GB of RAM

Storage 64GB SSD

1920 x 1280 pixels resolution

Screen size: 10.1 inch touch screen

Final Thoughts: Is a 2 in 1 a Good Choice for a Drawing Tablet?

If you’re wondering whether a 2-in-1 laptop is good for artists, either a Windows-based computer or a Chromebook, I’d say yes, it can really make sense for a lot of different artists.

In fact, as I mentioned earlier, I didn’t even include any of the nice regular touchscreen laptops in my buying guide for the best laptops for drawing.

Many of them have great touch controls and impressive displays, but can be quite cumbersome for drawing, painting, and illustrating, and even worse for very precise and detailed work.

However, a convertible or detachable 2-in-1 laptop offers a true tablet-like experience with nothing getting in the way or distracting you, and the best of these are truly excellent creative tools as well as excellent computers in every other way.

In fact, I’d go as far as to say that if you’re buying a new Windows laptop or Chromebook—even if you don’t plan on using it for artwork—you should definitely consider a 2-in-1 anyway. That way, if inspiration strikes you, you can just put the keyboard out of the way and start creating – the best of both worlds!

Thank you for reading my latest article – Best Laptops for Drawing: A Detailed Buying Guide for 2-1 Artist Laptops – and I encourage you to visit my blog – Art Side of Life – for more buying guides, online courses , articles etc many other resources.

Other articles in the Laptops for Artists and Designers series:

Read the article in French 🇫🇷 Le meilleur ordinateur portable for the design in 2022

How much RAM do you need for digital art?

An ideal amount of RAM would be 8-16GB, and 32GB would be fantastic if you can afford it. Photoshop is the biggest RAM hog on my Mac, and artists found that 16GB was more than enough to run smoothly with no slowdowns or annoying hangs.

RAM prices might be counterintuitive, and 32GB of RAM isn’t twice the price of 16GB. Although RAM is relatively easy to assemble, it is safer to hire a specialist to do it. Much better when buying a new device, buy one that already has the amount of RAM you need.

The bottom line is, the more RAM you get, the better. Before you spend money on a new computer, you should upgrade the memory. You will be surprised how much faster your computer would be after the quick update. When you buy a new computer, make sure it has as much RAM as you can spare. Aim for at least 8GB, preferably 16GB.

Computers have limitations on how much RAM can be added, both due to the number of slots available for memory installation and structural limitations in the computer that limit the amount of RAM that can be provided. For example, an old laptop may only support 4GB of RAM total, while a new laptop may already be loaded with 16GB.

Hard drives serve as the long-term memory of the setup. Nothing to say about that because the only thing you have to worry about is the storage capacity. Bigger numbers are better, meaning they can hold more information. When you want to work from a notebook, we’re talking about external hard drives, and you want drives that are both physically compact and have the most storage space. It’s still preferable to have fewer things to carry around and more storage space for more files.

We recommend purchasing all hard drives as external drives rather than replacing the internal drives in the computer. The explanation for this is that every time you want to replace your machine, you have to put the hard drives in the new computer. It is much easier.

As already mentioned, SSD drives are a modern technology that is appearing in computers. SSD drives are solid-state drives, which means they don’t have physical components that rust over time like traditional hard drives. The downside is that they are expensive. The advantage is that they are extremely fast. Yes, if you can afford it, you can get an SSD trip. No, it is not required.

processor rate

As mentioned before, any computer bought in the last three years is very strong. And entry-level computers, like the Mac mini. You no longer need to worry about processing speed. More memory and providing an SSD solution should be prioritized.

monitors

Our recommendation for monitors is to get something good and cheap – don’t overdo it, but don’t be cheap either. A minimum of 20″ display is required, and a 24″ or larger monitor is preferable. However, a 20-inch display would suffice. If you work with a laptop, you can connect an external display for home or studio use. This allows you to work on a larger screen while still having the flexibility to work remotely if needed or desired.

A panel calibration kit is another worthy investment. This way you can ensure that the colors you see on TV match the print. And you’ll be surprised at how off-balance panel colors can get, even on high-end displays. Don’t even think about switching computers manually.

RAM required for Photoshop and Illustrator

If you work in Photoshop and Illustrator, your graphic design laptop should have at least 8GB of RAM; If you don’t have a quota, you should have at least 16 GB of RAM. Also, if you want to plan for the next two to four years, 32GB of RAM is good for you. Don’t miss the opportunity to study graphic design online along with Photoshop and Illustrator with Blue Sky Graphics.

By increasing RAM, Photoshop and Illustrator would have more “super fast” memory available while you work. In addition, if you want to create smooth images and videos, you should consider buying a laptop with a dedicated graphics card, e.g. For example, the HP ZBook X2, which includes a 2GB NVIDIA Quadro M620 graphics card.

processor

A good processor ensures that work runs more smoothly and comfortably. Consider the processor name, cache size, clock speed, and generation before making a purchase.

The Intel i7-7700k processor is a respectable performer with respectable performance. At mid-range prices, the Ryzen 7 1700 is also very cool. However, if you have the means, you can upgrade to an Intel Core i5 7600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600K. These two processors are the most powerful under £200. If you are an expert, you can visit one of these processors.

However, if you are new to computing, you can buy an AMD Ryzen 3 AMD FX 6300 or an Intel Core i-5 7400 2.4GHz processor. These processors cost less than £100 and are fast enough to handle regular graphics.

motherboard

Your computer’s motherboard determines its compatibility and how often you can update it. In other words, you should buy the right motherboard to customize and future-proof your PC.

Asus Maximus VIII Hero, Gigabyte GA-Z270P-D3 and Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 are four of the best high-end motherboards for graphic design. These are some of the most powerful motherboards out there right now. If you have both, you can easily upgrade your PC for years to come.

computer graphics card

A graphics card or GPU is a crucial component of your PC if you plan to use it for graphic design. With a more powerful GPU, you can create higher quality graphics. You should choose the right GPU with the money you have available. NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti is currently the fastest GPU available and costs around £699. It will offer you the most lucrative results of any process.

AutoCAD is the most popular computer-aided design software for creating accurate drawings in 2D and 3D formats. It also offers valuable design features such as 2D regeneration, 3D drawing, photorealistic and mental ray rendering, and design automation. If you are aspiring to a job or currently working in a job that uses AutoCAD, you will probably be interested in knowing the best laptops for AutoCAD to help you achieve your daily goals.

In this article, we are going to talk about some powerful AutoCAD laptops, considering important factors such as cost, storage space, graphics cards, RAM, and processor power. This information can help you make the right choice when purchasing a laptop for AutoCAD. We’ve also included some of the best laptops for AutoCAD under $1,000 if you’re on a budget.

How to choose the best AutoCAD laptop

You might have all the AutoCAD knowledge in the world, but without a powerful laptop that provides the technical infrastructure to run AutoCAD projects, you will encounter some problems while using the application. There are some system requirements that a laptop must meet in order for AutoCAD to run smoothly.

Running AutoCAD on a weak laptop can cause the app to crash or your laptop to overheat and shut down. You can prevent this by making sure your laptop meets, and ideally exceeds, the minimum requirements and specifications for AutoCAD. Below are the variables to consider before making your purchase.

CPU

AutoCAD is a high CPU usage application. Computer processor (CPU) strength is the first thing to consider and is determined by the number of cores and clock speed. Clock speed is the number of iterations the computer can perform in one second, and core count is how many physical cores the processor contains.

AutoCAD is a single-core application, i. H. it is not multithreaded. More cores don’t improve performance, so having a laptop with higher clock speeds is more important. According to Autodesk, the maker of the software, AutoCAD only supports multi-core processor technology during 2D regeneration. The minimum processor speed for AutoCAD is 2.5-2.9 GHz, but we recommend a processor speed greater than 3.0 GHz for optimal performance.

R.A.M.

RAM, short for Random Access Memory, is the computer’s workspace to access and interact with data. As you work on your computer, your computer stores information in your RAM for easier and faster access. As a rule of thumb, more RAM equals faster processing speed. If you have enough RAM, you can seamlessly transfer information to other components.

Despite the high CPU requirements, the application only needs 8GB of RAM to perform basic tasks in the AutoCAD application. However, Autodesk recommends 16GB because more advanced tasks can be tiring. Despite the added cost, it’s a good idea to use as much RAM as you can afford.

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storage

There are two types of storage – Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD). HDDs use magnetic rotating platters and write heads to store and access data, while SDDs use flash memory to store data. We recommend SSD storage options as they allow the AutoCAD application to start faster and perform basic tasks. HDDs can still get the job done, but they’re slower, louder, and more easily damaged than SSD drives.

graphics cards

A graphics card may not be such an important requirement for running AutoCAD, but it certainly improves performance. Some laptops can run AutoCAD seamlessly using the laptop’s built-in graphics adapter. Others may need a little help from graphics cards to effectively perform graphics-intensive tasks in AutoCAD.

How to find cheap laptops for AutoCAD

find discounts. Timing is everything and the same goes for laptop purchases. You can find laptops at a reduced price around Black Friday, Boxing Day or the back to school months. Overall laptop prices also drop when a newer model is released and sellers try to dump the older models.

Timing is everything and the same goes for laptop purchases. You can find laptops at a reduced price around Black Friday, Boxing Day or the back to school months. Overall laptop prices also drop when a newer model is released and sellers try to dump the older models. Buy refurbished laptops. A good way to save money when buying a laptop is to buy refurbished laptops. Refurbished or open box laptops are used laptops that are returned to the manufacturer and then resold at a lower price. You can get refurbished laptops from laptop manufacturers like Apple and Dell. They come with warranty protection and guarantees

A good way to save money when buying a laptop is to buy refurbished laptops. Refurbished or open box laptops are used laptops that are returned to the manufacturer and then resold at a lower price. You can get refurbished laptops from laptop manufacturers like Apple and Dell. They come with warranty protection and guarantees Subscribe to promotional newsletters. You can often find good deals on laptops thanks to the promotional newsletters that retailers send out in the mail or online. Subscribing to newsletters can keep you informed of price drops that you might otherwise have missed. There are also online services that allow you to track the price of certain laptops and alert you when they fall within your price range.

The Best Laptops for AutoCAD in 2022

Laptop Manufacturer Price Features Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Lenovo $2,759.00 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11950H, 15.6″ FHD Touchscreen (1920 X1080), NVIDIA T1200 4GB GDDR6 HP ZBook Power Mobile Workstation PC HP 2,314 $.00 Stylish design, Intel Core i5-1150H, 1TB PCIe SSD Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 ASUS $1,999.99 Intel UHD Graphics, AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Acer Nitro 5 Acer $1,349.98 Intel Core i7 processor the 11 Acer $1199.99 Intel Core i7-10750H processor, 512GB NVMe SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 MSI GF63 MSI $999.00 15.6-inch Full HD display, Intel Core i7 10770H, 8GB Memory/512GB SSD Asus Tuf FX505DT Asus $949.00 AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660Ti, 8GB DDR4-2400 Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 12.3-i ch Touchscreen Display Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Lenovo $686 .37 11th gen Intel Core i5-1135G7, 15.6 inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS, 8GB DDR4 3200MHz

Top Rated Laptops for AutoCAD: In Detail

Lenovo ThinkPad P15

Best for: Heavy workloads

Heavy Workloads Price: $2,759.00

If you are looking for a laptop that can handle any AutoCAD task, the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 is an ideal option. Its reliable processing power makes it the perfect laptop for engineers, students and architects. It offers an 11th generation Intel Core processor with a base clock frequency of 2.60 GHz and up to 5.0 GHz with Turbo Boost. It also comes with a dedicated graphics card to help it handle graphics-intensive tasks seamlessly.

HP ZBook Power Mobile Workstation

Best for: Professional designers looking for a powerful laptop with a portable design

Professional designers looking for a powerful laptop with a portable design. Price: $2,314.00

The HP ZBook Power Mobile Workstation offers professional performance at an affordable price. Combining NVIDIA graphics with an Intel Core i5 processor, it offers superior performance to handle 3D modeling workloads. It also comes with an internal 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD drive that offers fast storage and large storage configurations.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA401QEC

Best suited for: CAD professionals who need high processing power

CAD professionals who need high computing power. Price: $1,999.99

Asus Zephyrus is a popular choice among leading CAD professionals, architects, mechanical engineers and infrastructure designers. Its AMD Ryzen 9 processor offers high processing power to efficiently handle CPU-intensive 2D and 3D modeling tasks and features a hexa-core architecture and a turbo clock speed that can reach up to 4.6 GHz. It also features the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 dedicated graphics card to perform photorealistic and 3D rendering with ease.

AcerNitro5

Best Suited For: People who want speed and performance

People who want speed and performance. Price: $1349.98

In terms of value for money, the Acer Nitro 5 is one of the best gaming laptops in the world. It offers the right combination of speed and performance to seamlessly run AutoCAD with an 11th Gen Intel Core processor and powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card. Even if you use the laptop continuously for hours, it stays cool thanks to Acer CoolBoost technology and dual fans.

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Acer Predator Helios 300

Best for: People who want exceptional performance at an affordable price

People who want exceptional performance at an affordable price. Price: $1199.99

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is considered one of the best gaming laptops out there and is perfect for AutoCAD. AutoCAD users need a powerful laptop that can efficiently balance the processing unit and dedicated graphics cards, and the Acer Predator Helios 300 is one of the few laptops that can do this comfortably.

Thanks to its Intel Core i7 processor, it offers high computing power. It also has an Nvidia GeForce 2060 that can comfortably handle heavy tasks like 2D regeneration and photorealistic rendering. The laptop also comes with a 15.6-inch display with an overdrive response time of 3ms and a screen refresh rate of 144Hz, which helps AutoCAD users with rendering and simulation tasks.

Best Laptops for AutoCAD under $1,000

MSI GF63

Best Suited For: CAD professionals performing demanding design tasks

CAD professionals who perform heavy design tasks. Price: $999.00

If you are looking for a laptop with a powerful processor that allows you to seamlessly create high-end 3D modeling, design, and mechanical prototyping, then the MSI GF63 is your ideal choice. Its ample RAM, SSD storage and 60Hz guarantee you high performance at a low price. It also comes with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card that helps performance in high-performance tasks.

Asus Tuf FX505DT

Best for: People who want a powerful mid-range laptop under $1000

People who want a powerful mid-range laptop under $1000. Price: $949.00

This is one of the most powerful budget laptops. It is equipped with an AMD Ryzen quad-core processor and a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti for smooth gaming, design and live streaming. It also offers 8 GB of RAM memory and 512 GB of SSD memory, which allows the AutoCAD application to load in a short time.

Acer Aspire 5

Best for: Anyone looking for a powerful, lightweight laptop on a budget

Anyone looking for a powerful, lightweight laptop at a great price: $899.99

The Acer Aspire is a slim, portable and effective notebook with an aluminum cover. It can meet the software and hardware needs of the AutoCAD application and is available with either Intel or AMD processors and either Nvidia or AMD graphics. The fast-loading M.2 PCIe SSD offers plenty of space for your AutoCAD tasks.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Best Suited For: CAD professionals who want a portable laptop

CAD professionals who want a portable laptop. Price: $849.99

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a professional laptop designed for maximum performance. With its 10th generation Intel Core processor, you can easily run various software programs throughout the day. It features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics. Even more impressive is that it’s versatile and can be converted into a tablet. The battery offers around 10 hours of battery life without a power connection.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i

Best for: People who want to work on the go

People who want to work on the go. Price: $686.37

The Lenovo IdeaPad handles the hardware and software demands of the AutoCAD application thanks to its 11th generation Core i5 processor that can reach up to 4.20 GHz with Turbo Boost. Its Intel Iris Xe Graphics also offers advanced GPU infrastructure to handle AutoCAD tasks. It has other features like a USB-C port, a 512GB PCIe SSD, a fingerprint reader and a Novo button

Should I use a laptop for AutoCAD?

yes you should AutoCAD is one of the most popular CAD software applications in engineering and architecture disciplines. As a prospective or professional engineer, you need a laptop that meets the minimum laptop requirements for AutoCAD when working on the go.

AutoCAD is a CPU-intensive application, meaning it is more dependent on its processor than its other laptop components. We recommend you to place an emphasis on powerful CPU laptops. Make sure the other parts like RAM, GPU, and storage also meet the minimum requirements. We encourage you to research the features and specs of your favorite laptops before making a choice.

Frequently asked questions about the best laptops for AutoCAD

Which laptop is best for AutoCAD? All of the above laptops are among the best laptops for AutoCAD on the market. Other notable mentions include Acer Aspire 5, LG Gram 17, Razer Blade 15, HP Specter X360, and MacBook Air

Can laptops run AutoCAD? Yes, laptops can run AutoCAD. Like all computers, laptops must meet software and hardware requirements before they can run AutoCAD effectively.

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Is there a free version of AutoCAD? Yes, there is a free version of AutoCAD. Autodesk offers free AutoCAD trials in its design suites. The trial version gives you full access to AutoCAD features.

System requirements for AutoCAD 2021 including Specialized Toolsets (Windows) Operating system 64-bit Microsoft® Windows® 11, Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. See the Autodesk Product Support Lifecycle for support information. Processor Basic: 2.5-2.9GHz processor

Recommended: 3+ GHz processor

Multiple processors: Supported by the application Memory Basic: 8 GB

Recommended: 16 GB display resolution Traditional displays:

1920×1080 with True Color

High-Resolution and 4K Displays:

Resolutions up to 3840 x 2160 supported on Windows 10, 64-bit systems (with suitable graphics card) Basic graphics card: 1 GB GPU with 29 GB/s bandwidth and DirectX 11 compatible

Recommended: 4 GB GPU with 106 GB/s bandwidth and DirectX 11 compliant storage space 7.0 GB Network deployment via Deployment Wizard.

The license server and all workstations running applications that depend on the network license must be running the TCP/IP protocol.

Microsoft® or Novell TCP/IP protocol stacks are acceptable. The primary login on workstations can be Netware or Windows.

In addition to the operating systems supported for the application, the license server runs on Windows® Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 editions. Pointing device MS Mouse compatible .NET Framework .NET Framework version 4.8 or higher

System requirements for AutoCAD for Mac 2021 Operating system Apple® macOS® Monterey v12 (requires update 2021.2)

Apple macOS Big Sur v11 (requires update 2021.1)

Apple macOS Catalina v10.15

Apple macOS Mojave v10.14

Apple macOS High Sierra v10.13 Basic model: Apple Mac Pro® 4.1, MacBook Pro® 5.1, iMac® 8.1, Mac mini® 3.1, MacBook Air®, MacBook® 5.1

Recommended: Apple Mac® models that support the Metal Graphics Engine

Apple Mac models with the M series chip are supported in Rosetta 2 mode. CPU Type 64-bit Intel CPU

Recommended: Intel Core i7 or higher Memory Base: 4 GB

Recommended: 8 GB or higher screen resolution Basic: 1280 x 800 screen

High resolution: 2880 x 1800 with Retina display Hard disk space 3 GB free hard disk space for download and installation Pointing device Apple-compatible mouse, Apple-compatible trackpad, Microsoft-compatible mouse Graphics card Recommended: Mac-native installed graphics cards Hard disk format APFS, APFS (encrypted), Mac OS Extended (Journaled), Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)

Additional requirements for large datasets, point clouds, and 3D modeling Memory 8 GB RAM or more Hard disk space 6 GB free hard disk available, with no installation requirements Graphics card 1920 x 1080 or higher True Color video display adapter; 128MB VRAM or more; Pixel Shader 3.0 or higher; Workstation-class Direct3D® capable graphics card.

Specialized toolsets (Windows only)

Toolset Additional Requirements AutoCAD Map 3D Disk Space: 16 GB

Memory: 16GB

Database and FDO Requirements (see below) AutoCAD Electrical Hard Disk Space: 12 GB

Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable (x64) AutoCAD Architecture Disk Space: 12 GB AutoCAD MEP Disk Space: 12 GB AutoCAD Plant 3D Disk Space: 10 GB AutoCAD Mechanical Disk Space: 7 GB AutoCAD Raster Design Disk Space: 1 GB

Additional Requirements for AutoCAD Map 3D (Windows Only)

FDO Provider Requirements FDO Provider certified with Notes Microsoft SQL Server Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Standard and Enterprise Edition

Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Standard and Enterprise Editions

Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Standard and Enterprise Editions

Industry models of the Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Standard and Enterprise Edition also support the versions of Microsoft SQL Server listed on the left. Oracle 11g version 2 Oracle 11.2.0.4.0

Oracle Express, Standard and Enterprise Edition industry models support the same Oracle versions as listed on the left. Oracle 12c version 2 Oracle 12.2.0.1.0

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Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition 2 industry models support the same Oracle versions as listed on the left. Raster DEM, JPG2K, DTED, MrSID®, ECW, PNG, ESRI® Grid, TIFF, JPEG, ESRI® ASCII Autodesk SDF 3.0 ESRI ArcGIS ArcGIS® 10.7.1

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ODBC Driver Tested Versions Microsoft® Access® Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb) Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 (English) 16.00.4513.1000 Microsoft® Excel® Driver (*.xls, *xlsx, *.xlsm, * .xlsb) Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 (English) 16.00.4513.1000 MySQL® ODBC 8.0 Driver 8.00.13.00 SQL Server® 10.00.18362.01 Oracle® in OraClient19Home1 19.00.00.00

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AutoCAD is not a particularly heavy program to run on its own. The minimum system requirements you will encounter are actually pretty low. However, to achieve the best performance, you need a machine that goes above and beyond. For example, rendering multiple 3D models can be quite taxing for your system. If you aim for maximum productivity and optimal user experience, you need to analyze your setup and make upgrades and adjustments if necessary.

When it comes to building the perfect workstation for AutoCAD, you must consider the following technical specifications.

Processor (CPU)

graphics card (GPU)

R.A.M.

memory configuration

In this article, we examine each of these factors and how they affect AutoCAD performance. At the end you will have all the information you need to create the best rendering system for AutoCAD.

What is the best processor for AutoCAD?

When it comes to processors (CPU) for AutoCAD, you have to keep in mind that the software is designed for single-threading. This means that only a single core of the CPU is used to perform all rendering operations. For this reason, the number of cores does not affect how smoothly AutoCAD runs – with some exceptions, of course. What matters, however, is clock speed – the frequency at which the CPU is operating. In general, the best rendering system for AutoCAD contains a high-speed processor.

CPUs like Intel Core i7 to i9 and AMD Ryzen 7 to 9 are perfect for AutoCAD users. Processors in this range offer good speed and have multiple cores that you can use for efficient multitasking. If you need to do heavy 3D design rendering or Mental Ray rendering, we recommend looking for a CPU with more cores in addition to high speed.

In general, both Intel and AMD processors work great for AutoCAD. However, AMD has a slight advantage as it offers more value for the money. A few years ago, Intel Xeon was the most popular CPU for AutoCAD users as it had many additional features and was quite reliable overall. Today, however, both the Intel Core and AMD Ryzen processor series offer more or less the same performance at a better price.

When it comes to creating the best rendering system for AutoCAD, speed is essential and these CPUs have everything you need.

Which GPU is best for AutoCAD?

If you mainly do 2D rendering, all you need is a simple GPU to get the job done. However, 3D rendering and high-resolution models require significantly more GPU power. If you’re on a tight budget and doing 2D rendering, our advice is not to overspend on the GPU and invest more in a faster CPU and more RAM instead. Regardless of the type of rendering, it is highly recommended to invest in a professional graphics card to ensure stability, performance and reliability.

For 2D workflows, you should get a GPU with at least 2 GB of VRAM – any mid-range graphics card will meet this requirement. However, for optimal 3D and pixel rendering, you need a GPU with at least 5GB of VRAM. In general, more frames per second means better 3D processing performance. Keep in mind that AutoCAD isn’t a particularly heavy program when it comes to VRAM usage, so you don’t have to go for top-of-the-line products – all that money is better off elsewhere.

When it comes to GPUs for Full HD 3D rendering workloads, AutoCAD has officially certified the NVIDIA Quadro line of graphics cards as optimal for the software. While a standard mid-range NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon chipset will also perform well, you’ll need a Quadro GPU if you want optimal rendering and visualization performance. Note, however, that NVIDIA is moving away from Quadro and is now producing the RTX line as the de facto successor. Not only does it offer you the best in terms of compatibility and performance, but it also allows you to take advantage of NVIDIA’s specialized support should a problem arise.

How much RAM do you need for AutoCAD?

Luckily, AutoCAD doesn’t require a lot of RAM to run smoothly. It all depends on the type of projects you are working on. The larger and more complex they are, the more RAM they require. In general, running AutoCAD requires at least 8GB of RAM, which is next to nothing in today’s world. However, we recommend you have at least 16GB of RAM for your workstation as AutoCAD will not be the only software using it. To get the best rendering system for AutoCAD, you need to have enough RAM for all processes.

Keep in mind that having a large amount of RAM available will not result in noticeable performance gains. On the other hand, not enough RAM greatly impacts the workflows of not only AutoCAD but your computer as a whole. We recommend 16GB as the best starting point. However, if you are dealing with large, complex 3D animation projects, you may want to upgrade to 32GB to ensure system stability and performance. Given that RAM is cheaper and more accessible than ever these days, upgrading isn’t going to hit your budget much.

What memory configuration is optimal for AutoCAD?

While the type of memory you use may not seem like a big factor in building the best rendering system for AutoCAD, it’s actually a lot more important than you think. Your memory configuration affects every aspect of your setup, from startup and render times to the performance of each operation. HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is a thing of the past as SSD (Solid State Drive) configurations offer much more speed. It is highly recommended to use an SSD to store your operating system, AutoCAD and any related projects you are working on. If you have the budget, it’s even better to have one SSD for AutoCAD and the operating system and another for your active projects. In this way, your storage resources are optimally and efficiently distributed.

However, you should not underestimate the advantages that a hard drive offers. HDD is much cheaper than SSD and can be used as a long-term storage space for your archived projects. It is advisable that you get an HDD in addition to the SSD you use for your operational work. A 500GB/1TB hard drive can be extremely useful given that such drives are available at fairly low prices.

List of rendering systems for AutoCAD

Now that you know the factors that determine the best rendering system for AutoCAD, we have some examples for you. Below are some optimal configurations to ensure you get the best performance from AutoCAD.

1. Optimal configuration (heavy 3D rendering)

Operating system: Windows 10/11

Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core

Cores: 16 / 24

Frequency: 5.2GHz

Memory: 64GB DDR4

Graphics card: NVIDIA RTX A6000

Storage: 500GB SSD, 1TB HDD

2. Average configuration (2D and light 3D rendering)

Operating system: Windows 10

Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core

Cores: 16 / 24

Frequency: 5.2GHz

Memory: 32GB/64GB DDR4

Graphics card: NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000

Storage: 500GB SSD, 1TB HDD

3. AMD configuration (2D and 3D rendering)

Operating system: Windows 10

Processor: AMD RyzenZen 2/3

Cores: 16 / 24

Frequency: 5.2GHz

Memory: 32GB DDR4

Graphics card: AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT

Storage: 500GB SSD, 1TB HDD

Choosing the best trays for Cricut is all about making the most of Cricut design space, which plays an essential role in the quality of the work, especially when the technology is at such a high level. There are many steps that can be performed on a tablet such as: B. designing projects, uploading designs from external sources and customizing the final look.

If you’re new to cutting machines, then take a look at our guide to the best Cricut machines, and we also list the best Cricut alternatives for anyone who wants to see what other technologies out there. It’s also worth exploring the best software for Cricut to see what it takes for a tablet to run.

Best tablets for Cricut: you must know

Some tablets are not compatible with all Cricut features and its Cricut Design Space software. In our guide to the best tablets for Cricut below, we’ve looked at factors you need to get more out of Design Space, such as projects often take a very long time.

For the all-round craftaholics, our reviews of the best drawing tablets may come in handy. And when a tablet won’t do, the best laptops for drawing might just do the trick. But read below what we think are the best tablets for Cricut.

The best tablets for Cricut: available now

(Image credit: Samsung)

01. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite The best all-round tablet for Cricut Specifications Weight: 476g Dimensions: 244.5 x 159.5 x 5.7mm Screen size: 10.4 inch Storage: 64GB / 128GB Best deals from today View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on John Lewis (opens in new tab) View on Currys (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + S Pen stylus included + Good battery life + Great display Reasons to avoid – Not as powerful as the Galaxy Tab S7

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a great option for Cricut users for several reasons. First off, the high-quality display is great for designing anything that has fine detail and is super sharp. Battery life can last around 15 hours on a single charge, meaning it’s perfect for designing on the go and tucking in a briefcase or purse on the go. Paired with a Cricut Joy, you can effortlessly craft on the go.

The great performance of this tablet is ideal for running Cricut Design Space, and unlike most devices, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite comes with the S Pen stylus at no extra cost, which is great especially for those who like to be creative will. This lite version offers many of the features of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 but without the steep price tag.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

02. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 10.1 The best Chromebook tablet for Cricut Specifications Weight: 430g (tablet only), 920g (with full cover and keyboard) Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 0.7 inch Screen size: 10 .4″ Storage: 64GB / 128 DE Today’s Best Deals View on very.co.uk (opens in a new tab) View on Amazon (opens in a new tab) View on Box (opens in a new tab opened) Reasons to buy + Great design + Good battery life + Keyboard and stand included Reasons to avoid – Isn’t the most powerful tablet

If you’re looking for an alternative to Windows or iOS, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 10.1 is the best Chromebook option. For a long time, Cricut didn’t support Chromebook or Android, but now it’s possible to install Android apps from the Chrome Store and therefore users can go ahead and design like they would on any other tablet. So if you’re a die-hard Chromebook fan, fear not.

This tablet is fast, light and has great security features and automatic backups, which is crucial when developing something that takes time. While there isn’t much storage space on the device, you don’t really need it since this is a Chrome browser tablet, so everything is in the cloud. It may take some getting used to, but the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 10.1 is an affordable option with great features and an extra keyboard and stand.

(Image credit: Samsung)

03. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ The best tablet for Cricut when you want some power Specifications Weight: 930 g Dimensions: 0.6 x 18 x 28 cm Screen size: 12.5 inches Storage: 128 GB / 256 GB The best offers from today View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) View at Currys (opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + Has a great processor + Accessible and easy to use Reasons to Avoid – No headphone jack

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is a great tablet for Cricut lovers, and especially with Cricut Design Space, this tablet from Samsung is a competitor for the Apple iPad Pro. With a large screen that offers picture perfection, the crisp, bright screen is an ideal option for designers of all kinds.

For those willing to invest at a slightly higher price point, this incredibly thin and light tablet offers fantastic battery life, a bright and clear display, and fast performance – everything you could need if you know your way around vinyls . If you’re on a budget the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (above) is perfect, if price isn’t an issue then the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is a great option.

(Image credit: Apple)

04. Apple iPad Pro (5th Gen, 2021) The best Apple tablet for Cricut Specifications Weight: 641g Dimensions: 33 x 8.2 x 26.3cm Screen size: 12.9 inches Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512 GB Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View at John Lewis (opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + Incredibly powerful + Stunning Design + High Speed ​​Reasons to Avoid – Very expensive

The Apple iPad Pro (5th Gen, 2021) is the best tablet for Cricut if you have the budget to buy the best tablet money can buy. Currently Apple’s best iPad, this tablet features an M1 processing chip that guarantees it has many of the same qualities as a Macbook, a classic but pricey option for any art and design lover.

The HDR display is stunning, with a peak brightness of 1,600 nits and great dimming control, this tablet is a great option for those who may be looking at their screen for long periods of time. The performance is also incredibly fast and paired with an Apple Pencil you will create masterpieces. This iPad Pro has excellent storage and is a great tablet for Cricut for those on a budget.

(Image credit: dragon)

05. Dragon Touch Max10 Tablet The best budget tablet for Cricut Specifications Weight: 926 g Dimensions: 24 x 17 x 1 cm Screen size: 10.1 inches Storage: 32 GB Today’s best deals Check out Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Very affordable , + Good performance Reasons to avoid – Not particularly fast, – Lacks a good camera

While the Dragon Touch Max10 tablet doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that come with iPad Pro or a Samsung Galaxy tablet, it’s certainly a brilliant option for those looking for something that still packs most of the features you want would have to work with Cricut Design Space, and at a fraction of the price.

The display is very good and a surprise at this price; The Dragon Touch Max10 tablet offers the high resolution and brightness you expect from a more expensive device. While the battery isn’t the strongest, for those who just want to design, this tablet is more than enough.

(Image credit: Apple)

06. Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen, 2021) The best small Apple tablet for Cricut Specifications Weight: 293 g Dimensions: 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm Screen size: 8.3 inch IPS LCD Storage: 64GB / 256GB Today’s Best Deals View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on Apple UK (opens in new tab) View on AO.com (opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + Super slim and portable device + Features a brilliant camera Reasons to avoid – No headphone jack

The Apple iPad Mini (6th generation, 2021) has many of the features you’d expect from Apple’s iPad Pro, but at a fraction of the cost, and it’s more portable. But after this 2021 update, the iPad Mini just got even better. This tablet is now compatible with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil, making it a match made in heaven for designers.

With Apple’s A15 Bionic processor and a Liquid Retina IPS LCD screen, this tablet offers brilliant specifications and fast performance. And while it’s not possible to plug in your headphones to block out the world while you work, you can become the next Picasso with the Apple Pencil (if you decide to buy one), which attaches magnetically to this iPad.

Weighing in at under 300g and with a super slim design, users might assume this tablet can’t beat it, but they’d be wrong. The screen size might not suit all Design Space and Cricut users, but if you can get by with the smaller screen, you’ll get the quality of life that Apple offers.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

07. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 The best Windows tablet for Cricut Specifications Weight: 891g Dimensions: ‎28.7 x 20.8 x 0.93 cm Screen size: 13 inch Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB Best deals from today View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on Microsoft UK IE (opens in new tab) View on very.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Brilliant design and ease of use + Good performance Reasons to avoid – It is an expensive device

If you’re willing to shell out a grand for a Windows tablet, then the Surface Pro 8 is pretty impressive. This version offers a number of improvements over the Surface Pro 7, while also boasting a brilliant screen and powerful processor.

This tablet holds its own against several excellent laptops, but it’s far more portable and lighter. 11% larger, 10.8% higher resolution, 12.5% ​​brighter, individually calibrated and nearly borderless – this Surface Pro is easily the best in its class. Users will be carving beautiful decals in no time as long as they are willing to shell out just under a grand.

(Image credit: Apple)

08. iPad Air 4 (4th generation, 2020) The mid-range Apple tablet for Cricut Specifications Weight: 458 g Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm Screen size: 10.9 inches Storage: 64 GB / 256 GB Today’s best deals See at Currys (opens in new tab) See at Amazon (opens in new tab) See at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Brilliant quality + Very light + Great display Reasons to avoid – Not the cheapest

The iPad Air 4 (4th generation, 2020) is an excellent option for those looking for something that has many of the features of an Apple iPad Pro but without the expense. More affordable than an iPad Pro, this tablet has great performance and brilliant battery life.

With Apple’s A14 processor, you can rest assured that you can expect super-fast performance from this lightweight iPad, making it perfect for flipping apps, tabs, and photos while designing on Cricut Design Space.

To allow for a wider view when using the iPad Air 4, the bezels are reduced to the extreme part of the device, although they’re fairly small and users may be typing in the wrong place.

(Image credit: Amazon)

09. Amazon Fire HD Tablet The best tablet for Cricut if you want Alexa ) View on very.co.uk (opens in new tab) View on argos.co.uk (opens in new tab) Reasons to Buy + Great Value- Value for money + Excellent performance + Good battery Reasons to avoid – Not the best screen

The Amazon Fire HD tablet has a processor powerful enough to play with and an epic high-definition display. With a battery life of up to 12 hours, this tablet offers major technical improvements, including specs, display and performance over the brand’s previous Fire tablet.

While users may not need to use Alexa all that much when designing for Cricut, it’s an excellent feature that makes finding any information (well, sort of) a snap. This tablet doesn’t have the perfect image quality of an OLED screen, but for the exceptional price, it has everything to handle both design and everyday tasks.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

10. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Best Tablet for Cricut for Windows Bargain Hunters Specifications Weight: 771g Dimensions: 32.4 x 23.1 x 4.9cm Screen size: 12.3 inch Storage: 128GB/256GB/512 UK Today’s Best Deals View on Amazon (opens in new tab) View on Currys (opens in new tab) View on Scan (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + A quality device + Brilliant battery life Reasons to avoid – The display is similar to that of the Surface Pro 6

With a mix of a great PixelSense display, fast performance and brilliant battery life, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 tablet is ideal for anyone who wants to invest in a Surface Pro but doesn’t necessarily need the highest and latest specs.

While the display and design haven’t changed much from the Surface Pro 6, there are plenty of additional features to delight users, such as: B. the USB Type-C connector. What makes this tablet particularly great for those who design Cricut is that it’s a fantastic choice for multitasking. The 1.1GHz Intel Core processor means you can run multiple apps in the background and have little to worry as this tablet is incredibly smooth and fast.

The best tablets for Cricut: common questions

Can you use a tablet with a Cricut? Tablets are ideal for use with Cricut because you need the flexibility of a touchscreen and stylus if you want to get the most out of Design Space. Cricut has Design Space apps for Apple, Windows, and Android (and it now works on Chromebooks).

Can I use Cricut Design Space with a Chromebook? yes you can now Cricut support for Chromebooks was missing for a while, but now you can download the Android Design Space app and use it on your Chromebook. Here’s how: 1. Go to the Google Play Store and download the Design Space app. 2. Open the app and sign in or set up a new profile account. 3. Connect to your Cricut device by turning it on. 4. Then open your Chromebook’s system menu, usually at the bottom right, and select Bluetooth to pair the device

Can I use Cricut with my phone? Yes, the Cricut Joy is even perfect for use with an Android or Apple phone. The focus on stickers and cards ensures the size is just right for a phone screen. We recommend that you need a tablet or laptop for larger projects on Cricut Maker and Explore.

Can I use my iPad with Cricut? Yes, Cricut has the Design Space app and the Cricut Access app on the Apple Store, and the iPad is a great tablet to use with Cricut Maker 3 or Explore. Ideally, you will also need an Apple Pencil or Apple Pencil 2.

Continue reading:

Cricut with a Chromebook? (Yes you can!)

Be smart! Connect your Cricut to your Chromebook!

Android apps make the impossible possible (like connecting a Cricut cutter to a Chromebook)

A few weeks ago I wanted to work on a project that required a vinyl cutter (check out my Instagram for some examples!).

My sister-in-law does all sorts of clever things with a Cricut cutting machine, so I started researching to get one and took advantage of some great Black Friday deals.

The problem: I only use a Chromebook and it didn’t look like the Cricut would work with ChromeOS. At least that’s what it said on their website:

Important: Design Space is not compatible with Chromebooks or Unix/Linux computers.

Android apps: the solution I was looking for

Design Space, the software that communicates with the Cricut cutter, is only available for Mac and PC. It now has an Android app.

I quickly opened up the Google Play Store on my Chromebook to see if I could download the Design Space Android app.

Note: Just because an Android app exists doesn’t mean it’s compatible with your Chromebook. Always check if you can install it on your Chromebook.

Sure enough, the app was compatible!

Again, all the articles and videos I looked at said I couldn’t connect a Cricut cutter to my Chromebook, but I ignored them and bought one anyway!

Note: I bought the Cricut Air 2 (in black, of course), but any Cricut model should work just fine with your Chromebook.

I’ve never used Design Space’s desktop version, but I’m pretty sure the Android app is simplified.

If you’re an experienced Cricut user, you might find the Android app restrictive compared to the desktop version. For someone like me who has never used the “regular” version, it works great and does everything I need!

I’ve connected my Cricut to several Chromebooks including the HP x360 and the Samsung Chromebook Pro. While both work well, any Android-compatible Chromebook should work just fine.

Tip: To find out if your Chromebook is Android compatible, check this list.

How I connected my Chromebook to a Cricut cutting machine

After a short wait of 2 days (thanks Amazon!) I pulled my Cricut out of the box and set about connecting it to my Chromebook.

Here are the specific steps I followed to connect my Cricut to my Chromebook:

1. Download the Design Space app from the Google Play Store.

2. Open the app and login/create an account

Note: When you first open the app, it took a while to load. Leave it on for a few minutes if it doesn’t come up right away.

Tip: The green button in the image below says “Set up machine” but I don’t recommend using it.” Click “Sign in” and use your existing account or create a new one. We’ll connect your device in the next step.

3. Turn on your Cricut cutter

The cutter must be turned on in order for it to send out a Bluetooth signal for your Chromebook to find.

4. Open the system launcher on your Chromebook (i.e. click on the time) and select Bluetooth.

5. Your Cricut cutter should appear in the Bluetooth menu. Select it to connect it to your device.

Tip: When you connect your Cricut cutter to your Chromebook for the first time, you will be asked to enter a PIN code. The default code is 0000. If you haven’t changed it, this should work!

6. Prepare a project in Design Space.

When you get to the Make screen, you’ll be prompted to select your Cricut (it should already be connected), and now you’re ready to cut!

Android apps make your Chromebook better!

If given the opportunity, I would prefer a web application to a mobile app.

Web apps are faster, smoother, and more reliable than Android apps on a Chromebook.

That being said, the ability to dive into the Google Play Store to access tools that DO NOT have a full-featured web app is a great option!

So yes, thanks to the Design Space Android app, you CAN connect your Cricut cutting machine to a Chromebook!

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Most modern laptops can work with Cricut Maker, Explore Air, Air 2 and Joy without any problems. But why buy one that is JUST compatible when you can get a much better machine that offers high performance without breaking the bank?

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert at precision crafting, the laptops in this list keep up with the performance so you can focus on your work. For those who don’t know anything about electronic clippers, we’re going to explain them a little.

But if you already know enough about them, work with them a lot and are just looking for laptop suggestions, feel free to jump to the list.

The Cricut Maker & Explore Air, Air 2 are among the top rated electronic cutting machines. They are very popular with people and businesses based on crafts. He cuts out the paper on a special adhesive mat. These cutters can cut vinyl, foam paper, leather, and other fabrics and materials for craft purposes. Besides all of the above, the device can also be used as a printer to print designs.

Is your current laptop not working properly with Cricut Design Space (some call it Design Studio) software or Maker, Explore or even Air & Air 2 after trying all the troubleshooting steps? You definitely need to look for a new laptop that can work efficiently and connect to the device.

System requirements for Cricut Maker, Air, Air 2, Cricut Explore and Design Space

You will use the Cricut Design Space software frequently when working on the Cricut cutting machines. Not only does it provide space to design, but it is also an interface between the laptop and the machines, be it Cricut Joy, Air, Air 2, Cricut Maker or even the old Explore One. Below we have listed the minimum and recommended specs to focus on. We’ve also listed the specs for each laptop for easy comparison.

Minimum system requirements Recommended system requirements CPU Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 Intel Core i5 or higher RAM 4 GB 8 GB or higher Storage 128 GB SSD or 1 TB HDD 512 GB SSD Display 13″ HD (1366 x 768) 15.6″ FHD ( 1920 x 1080 ) Battery Up to 5 hours Up to 9 hours Connection USB port or Bluetooth® connection USB port or Bluetooth® connection Operating system Windows 8 or higher Windows 10 Home/Pro

Not compatible with Windows in S mode

A laptop that meets the above specs will help you multitask and use other software, web browsers, etc. at the same time. In addition, it can ensure buttery smooth performance when paired with Cricut Explore and Maker.

The best laptops to use with Cricut Maker, Air 2, Joy and Cricut Explore in 2022

Now that you know the system requirements, it’s time to go through the most suitable models for all Cricut machines. In the sections below, we’ve ranked and reviewed the top models from notable laptop brands to cover your crafting needs!

MSI Modern 14 CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-10210U

Memory: 8GB

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 14 inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)

Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD

Battery: Up to 10 hours

Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0

What’s the best laptop for a Cricut maker? For us, it has to be the one with the best color reproduction, which the MSI Modern 14 prides itself on. However, the OEM doesn’t compromise on other heights to accommodate a brilliant display, and the overall spec sheet is class leading. say the least.

CPU and RAM

The laptop is powered by the mobile SoC Intel Core i5-10210U, which can reach maximum clock rates of up to 4.2 GHz. Despite being a mid-range, low-power processor, it can still help you create Cricut-ready designs through Design Space. The 8GB of DDR4 RAM is pretty snappy, ensuring the Modern 14 boots up quickly and provides enough firepower for your crafting needs.

storage

In terms of storage, the 512GB SSD is a value-for-money addition that’s best known for loading the Design Studio and Windows 10 OS in pretty much a snap. As previously mentioned, the display steals the show with the 14-inch panel featuring the 72 percent NTSC color gamut. Paired with a 1080p panel, the featured display helps you view the accurate colors and design patterns, making Modern 14 one of the best laptops for Cricut Makers.

keyboard and connectors

This laptop also comes equipped with a backlit keyboard, powerful speakers, and a True Color control panel for additional display-focused productivity. Additionally, this ultra-light laptop weighs only 2.62 pounds, making it one of the most portable options.

Aside from the unmatched portability, we also liked the connectivity suite in play with MSI, which offers Type-C, Type-A, Wi-Fi 5, HDMI, and Bluetooth 5.0 support. Therefore, you can connect any Cricut device to this laptop either wired or wirelessly. The 10-hour battery backup exceeds expectations, allowing you to manage multiple designs and prints without the need for refills.

In summary, if you’re looking for a powerful laptop that comes heavily loaded with display-specific benefits, then the MSI Modern 14 is for you.

Benefits 10th generation processor

A decent connectivity suite

Long-lasting battery

Brilliant display

Lightweight and portable Cons Lack of Wi-Fi 6 support

Does not provide discrete GPU check on Amazon

Dell Inspiron 15 5502 CPU: 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-1135G7

Memory: 8GB

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080)

GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe

Battery: Up to 6 hours

Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1

The Dell Inspiron 15 5502 comes with a fast processor and plenty of RAM. Not only does it meet the screen resolution requirements needed to run Cricut Design Space, it exceeds them. So if you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop that can run Cricut machines like the Explore & Joy, then this is it!

Display, CPU, RAM and storage

It is an excellent choice for casual movie watching. It has a 15.6 inch Full HD display. It’s a well-constructed silver laptop with a smart and ergonomic design. It is equipped with a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with 8GB DDR and 512GB SSD, increasing efficiency and making performance seamless and fast.

periphery

The laptop is also equipped with an HD webcam and a dual microphone that simplifies video calls. It features MaxxAudio Pro Audio to give you the best music experience. The SD card reader helps you quickly transfer files to and from the device to your laptop. It also has a headphone and microphone combo jack with high-quality built-in speakers.

The laptop has Windows 10 Home operating system and can also be a good option for playing and streaming games on platforms like Twitch with devices like Elgato Game Capture.

ports

It is also equipped with a DVD burner and digital media reader. Additional features include wireless dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for better connectivity. The laptop has 2 USB ports, which are 3.1 USB ports and one 2.0 USB port, which helps you connect to almost any type of device.

Benefits Widescreen display for a better view

Audio sound system for a good audio experience

Battery life is good for extended use. Cons The processor can be a bit slower

It will overheat very quickly. Check at Amazon

Apple MacBook Air CPU: 8-core Apple M1 chip

Memory: 8GB

Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 13.3-inch FHD Retina (2560 x 1600)

GPU: Integrated Apple 7 core

Battery: Up to 18 hours

Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0

Without a doubt, the new MacBook Air M1 is considered one of the best computers to use with Cricut Design Studio. And yes, macOS and Apple computers are compatible with Design Space. If you love the Apple experience and are looking for a lightweight yet efficient device that can be part of your Cricut workstation and help create almost any type of design for your Cricut, the MacBook Air is a great choice.

CPU

At its core, Apple houses the proprietary M1 chip that can reach maximum clock speeds of up to 3.2 GHz. In addition, the octa-core chipset is equipped with 4 efficient and 4 powerful cores, so it is good enough for almost any design regardless of the resource load.

GPU and RAM

Plus, the MacBook Air M1 also features a 7-core GPU, paving the way for faster graphics and easily qualifying as the best laptop for vinyl cutting. As vinyl cutting demands complex designs and customizations throughout Design Space V4.0.51, the high-speed 8GB RAM comes into play as a reliable ally.

storage

Although storage is on the lower side at 256GB, we would still call this the best laptop for use with the Cricut Explore Air 2 due to the availability of high-speed ports. However, the existing memory module is insanely fast, outperforming even the NVMe-compatible units.

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The 13.3-inch display could be a deal-breaker for certain Windows-dependent individuals. However, the retina display and the overall resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels add to the quality of the visual representation. Therefore, if you are interested in complex designs, the existing screen allows you to assess the quality of the colors to precisely help you perfect your craft. And the Thunderbolt ports make it easy to connect up to two more monitors to this device.

keyboard and peripherals

The MacBook Air M1 also makes room for the Magic Keyboard, built-in FaceTime webcam, powerful microphones, Force trackpad, and secure Touch ID support. Not only that, the metal-clad, 2.8-pound MacBook Air M1 also features a fanless design that lets you work without distractions.

The connectivity suite deserves a special mention with two Thunderbolt 4 ports leading the way. You also get Wi-Fi 6 support for faster Design Space uploads and BlueTooth 5.0 for seamless, zero-latency Cricut Maker Bluetooth connections.

Not only that, the 18-hour battery backup furthers the credibility of this excellent computing resource. If you’re a Cricut design enthusiast and have a penchant for machines like the Explore Air 2, Joy, and Maker, few machines can match the new MacBook in terms of performance and functionality.

Pros Efficient AI-enabled processor

Best-in-class integrated GPU

High speed RAM for faster processing

Wi-Fi 6 support

Long battery life Cons Expensive

It lacks the ability to connect to Windows-based theme apps. Check at Amazon

ASUS VivoBook 15 CPU: 2.3GHz AMD Ryzen R7-3700U

Memory: 8GB

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 15.6 inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)

GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 10

Battery: Up to 6 hours

Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2

Undoubtedly, the Asus VivoBook 15 is the best portable laptop for all Cricut machines. Asus takes laptop innovation to the next level, even meeting various laptop requirements for Cricut machines and Cricut’s proprietary design space.

CPU

At its core you have an AMD-optimized processor with turbo clock speeds of up to 4 GHz. The AMD Ryzen R7-3700U chipset may be mid-range, but it’s capable of facilitating any Cricut-friendly design via Photoshop, Illustrator, and other resources.

GPU and RAM

The quad-core processor is perfectly complemented by the integrated AMD Radeon Vega 10 graphics card. Despite being an integrated GPU with an additional 8GB of RAM, this laptop will not disappoint when it comes to the tasks of the Cricut design section.

storage

As for storage, there’s a 512GB SSD unit that easily handles the needs of the Cricut Explore Air 2. Also, the VivoBook 15 runs Windows 10 OS, to the right of the box.

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Additionally, the 15.6 inch screen is one of the better features of this Cricut compatible laptop. The FHD IPS panel assumes an overall resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, followed by narrower bezels and a wide-angle viewing experience, just to envision each Cricut element as it is.

keyboard and theme

This notebook doesn’t fall short in terms of functionality, stacking up on several key assets including the webcam, Alexa compatibility, backlit keyboard, and MIL-STD durability.

ports

Not to mention the lightweight form factor where the VivoBook 15 only weighs 3.53 pounds to be exact. However, the connectivity suite deserves our full attention. The excellent proliferation of Type-A, Type-C, and HDMI ports, followed by the Wi-Fi 5 standard, make it one of the better options for Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore, and just about any other device.

However, Cricut Maker’s Bluetooth support is quite fast and allows you to connect the machines without any lags. Not only that, this notebook delivers nearly 6 hours of battery backup.

All in all, the thin and portable Asus VivoBook 15 is the best option to invest in if you’re looking for the best laptop for Cricut Explore Air, Cricut Maker, or any other machine that involves vinyl cutting and other crafting solutions.

Advantages IPS display

Fast processor

Commendable battery backup

Lightweight and portable

Stellar display Cons Mediocre storage space

GPU could be better Check on Amazon

HP Pavilion x360 CPU: 1GHz Intel Core i5-1035G1

Memory: 8GB

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 14-inch FHD IPS Touch (1920 x 1080)

GPU: 2GB Nvidia GeForce 940MX

Battery: Up to 9 hours

Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0

The new and improved HP Pavilion x360 is arguably the best 2-in-1 laptop for Cricut makers. While this notebook has a lot to offer, as tested by our team of experts at Laptop251, the way it handles Cricut Design Space is second to none.

CPU

Under the hood, HP houses the graphics-optimized i5-1035G1 processor. This Intel Core chipset doesn’t look like much, but it packs decent processing firepower for all your Cricut crafting needs. Not only that, the quad-core architecture followed by HyperThreading technology allows you to edit the Photoshop designs with precision.

graphic card

In addition, the HP Pavilion x360 also houses the GeForce 940MX graphics card. This keeps you ahead of the curve with the design-specific needs of Cricut Maker. This GPU accelerates graphics-accelerated design processes while satisfying the embossing and engraving needs of the crafter in you.

RAM and storage

You also get 8GB of RAM, which handles themes, files, and Design Space uploads at 3200MHz. The ultra-fast part of the system memory is complemented by the 512 GB solid state drive. Now that the Design Space is limited to a subscription-only model, which limits the number of uploads to 20, the existing memory module could come in handy.

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In terms of user interface, the HP Pavilion x360 easily qualifies as the best laptop for use with the Cricut maker with the Windows 10 Home operating system, beating newer compatibility feats. For the display fanatics, the 14-inch 1080p touchscreen display is one of the highlights. Plus, thanks to the Micro-Edge fairing, you hardly have to worry about the bezels.

keyboard and peripherals

In terms of productivity, this laptop packs in a fairly durable backlit keyboard, Alexa support for hands-free control, stylus compatibility, B&O speakers, and a responsive webcam for video conferencing. Also, the computer weighs 3.5 pounds, which promotes the portability quotient.

ports

However, if you are serious about designing products for personal and commercial use, the HP Pavilion x360 is the best laptop to invest in. While handling Cricut Maker like a pro, it also offers the best laptop specs for Cricut Design Space and the machines, including USB Type-C, HDMI and other relevant slots.

However, the Wi-Fi AX and Bluetooth 5.0 standards ensure faster and better wireless connections in relation to the selected Cricut device. Battery buffering extends past the 9 hour mark and even responds to fast charge support. Overall, the HP Pavilion x360 ticks all the boxes for Cricut’s diverse laptop needs and qualifies as the best touchscreen option for the hardcore crafter.

Advantages Portable machine

Excellent battery life

Graphics-optimized processor

High Speed ​​RAM

Latest connectivity standards Cons Smaller screen

RAM is not expandable. Check at Amazon

HP Pavilion 15-CS CPU: 1GHz Intel Core i5-1035G1

Memory: 12GB

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 15.6 inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)

Graphics: Intel UHD graphics

Battery: Up to 8 hours

Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0

Assuming you’re looking for a functional, Cricut-friendly mid-range laptop for your crafting needs, the HP Pavilion 15-CS is a solid choice.

CPU

While there’s a lot to be said for this HP-branded laptop in terms of spec sheet, it’s mid-range Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor that stands out. The 10th Gen graphics-optimized chipset isn’t a processing behemoth, but it still gets the job done, thanks to exceptional Turbo Boost clock speeds of up to 3.9GHz.

GPU and RAM

Coupled with UHD graphics support, the mobile processor is capable of navigating even the most intricate Cricut designs inspired by Illustrator and Sure Cuts. In addition, HP offers access to 12 GB of RAM, which turns out to be an exceptional multitasking resource.

storage

Storage doesn’t take a backseat as you can still work with a cost-effective 512GB SSD. However, it’s the additional 32GB of Optane storage that sets it apart from the otherwise decent specs. Ultra-fast Optane memory makes it the best laptop for cutting vinyl, as Design Space uploads are almost instantaneous.

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In addition, the storage setup also launches the Windows 10 operating system in a snap. The 15.6-inch display isn’t child’s play either and assumes a total resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. However, we were most impressed by the touchscreen functionality and the energy-efficient WLED-backlit screen.

keyboard and connectors

Other relevant and functional attributes on offer are the Wide Vision webcam, a backlit keyboard and dual speakers, further aided by Audio Boost technology. At 4.08 pounds, this isn’t a heavy laptop either.

In terms of connectivity, you get a variety of attributes. including Type-A, Type-C and HDMI output, followed by Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 support for wireless setup of Cricut machines.

Finally, the 45W battery module delivers almost 8 hours straight and easily qualifies the HP Pavilion 15-CS as one of the best options for your Cricut and crafting tasks.

Benefits Future-proof processor

Excellent connectivity suite

Reliable battery module

touch screen panel

Ultra-fast Optane memory Cons Not intended for GPU-accelerated designs Check on Amazon

7. Most suitable for Cricut Design Space: Lenovo Ideapad 3

Lenovo Ideapad 3 CPU: 1GHz Intel Core i5-1035G1

Memory: 12GB

Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 15.6 inch HD Touch (1366 x 768)

GPU: Integrated Intel UHD G1

Battery: Up to 7 hours

Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.0

If you need a fast i5 processor, are on a tight budget and want more than 8 GB of RAM at the same time, then the Lenovo Ideapad 3 is for you! This device covers all of these aspects on a $600 budget!

CPU and GPU

The laptop is equipped with the 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor and Intel UHD Graphics G1, which is excellent for the given price. The storage space in this laptop is sufficient to store data quickly and the performance of the laptop is seamless with no hiccups.

RAM and storage

It has a whopping 12GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage support. The 12GB of RAM should be more than enough to run Cricut Design Space and other software at the same time!

display and peripherals

The display is 15.6 inches wide to offer a better view. The laptop weighs only 4.07 pounds, making it lightweight. The operating system of this laptop is Windows 10.

The brand new line of Lenovo Ideapad 3 is now thinner and lighter, making it more compatible and easier to travel with. So if you use the design space to create designs at home and carry the laptop to the office to use the Cricut Explore device (Air 2 or Air), this lightweight laptop can really reduce your burden. It claims to have a state-of-the-art processor, accelerated graphics and a recreated keyboard.

ports

The laptop has multiple ports, namely HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, audio/microphone combo jack. This wide range of USB ports ensures that you can easily connect to all types of devices. The laptop also has Bluetooth, a 720HD microphone and a Wi-Fi connection, so you can easily connect to the internet.

Advantages Attractive and elegant finish

10th generation i5 processor

Touchscreen support

12GB RAM

Budget friendly Cons No USB Type-C port Check on Amazon

8. Best Laptop for Cricut under $500: Acer Aspire 5

Acer Aspire 5 CPU: 2.1GHz AMD Ryzen 3 3350U

Memory: 4GB

Storage: 128GB SSD

Display: 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080)

GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 6

Battery: Up to 10 hours

Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1

Still confused about buying a Cricut-friendly laptop that won’t burn a hole in your pocket? Don’t worry because the second product on the list, namely the Acer Aspire 5 turns out to be one of the better investments.

CPU

To start with, Acer prefers to keep the feature sets strictly conventional with the Ryzen 3 3350U chipset. The mobile 12 nm SoC assumes increased clock rates of up to 3.5 GHz and offers four cores to work with. Therefore, the elementary Cricut processes that involve designing through apps like Silhouette Studio and Adobe Illustrator can be managed without a sweat.

graphic card

Additionally, as mentioned, a dedicated GPU is not required to run Cricut Design Space. Therefore, the graphics co-processor Radeon RX Vega 6 will work well.

R.A.M.

Acer packs in 4GB of RAM, which is good enough to handle professional Cricut workloads. However, this may not be enough when viewing a theme, as creating, creating, and uploading themes to Design Space requires a large chunk of system memory.

memory and operating system

128GB of storage is just enough to create designs you might create in other software. Since most designs and patterns are uploaded to the cloud thanks to Cricut Design Space, Cricut’s laptop requirements are rarely impacted by lack of storage space.

In addition, the existing NVMe storage unit is able to boot the Windows 10 Home operating system faster than laptops with SATA drives. However, when it comes to installing and using Cricut Design Space, the Windows operating system is the most accommodating.

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The display, on the other hand, is on par with any good laptop for a Cricut machine, with Acer sporting a 15.6-inch IPS panel. As far as resolution goes, you get 1920 x 1080 pixels right out of the box. Not only that, the slimmer bezels and Color Intelligence technology allow you to view the designs the way you envisioned them.

keyboard and peripherals

In terms of productivity, this is one of the more reliable laptops on the list, and it comes with a standard backlit keyboard, stereo speakers, an HD webcam, and a premium-looking chassis. Additionally, at less than 4 pounds, this is also one of the more mobile and portable laptops for professional use.

ports

In terms of connectivity, you get access to USB 2.0 and USB 3.1 ports to pair external storage devices and peripherals with the laptop. Other specifications include an HDMI port, Wi-Fi 6 standard and Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connection of Cricut Joy, Explore Air and other laptops.

In terms of battery life, this device offers 10 hours of standard backup, making the Aspire 5 the second best cheap laptop for Cricut.

Pros Larger memory

portability

Long-lasting battery

A decent range of ports Cons Speakers may sound muffled Check on Amazon

Buying guide: 8 important things to consider before buying your laptop for Cricut

Whether you’re looking to buy a laptop for Cricut Maker (or Cricut Maker 3), Explore Air, Air 2, or Joy, they have two things in common:

1. You use Cricut Design Space

2. You want a reliable laptop

Choosing an efficient laptop to run your Cricut machine and with Cricut Design Space can be difficult because there are so many factors to consider.

We hope we’ve made your job easier by compiling this buying guide below. Keep that in mind when choosing your new laptop for Cricut. By the way, we took all this into account when choosing the best notebooks for this site.

1. Operating system

The good news is that Cricut Maker is compatible with both Windows and macOS. However, you will need a laptop with a higher operating system to support any future updates to the software. I recently got my Cricut Maker (the earlier version) and am working on a MacBook Pro. I’ve had no problems at all with my Cricut machine or Design Space.

While you can easily run Cricut Maker on Windows 8, we recommend running it on Windows 10 or 11 Home/Pro.

IMPORTANT: Cricut official software is not compatible with Windows in S mode or with Chromebooks or Unix/Linux operating systems.

TIP: You can get a “Windows in S mode” laptop for a lot less than a “regular” Windows 10. Then you can “exit” S mode by following these simple steps

2. Processor power and RAM

You don’t need a powerful computer to work in Design Space. As mentioned, most newer laptops work just fine. But also think about what other software you will be using.

According to Cricut’s official requirements, you just need to have at least 4GB of RAM on your laptop. Even budget laptops come with 4GB of RAM. However, Adobe Illustrator, for example, requires 8 GB of RAM and 16 GB is recommended.

Also, not all laptops can be upgraded. If this is important to you, be sure to add more RAM or replace it with larger memory sticks in the future.

If you are looking for a budget laptop and are only planning to run Cricut Design Space with one of the Cricut cutting machines, you can go for a budget-class processor like Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3. You’ll get a decent cutting and shaping performance out of them, and still within your budget.

However, if you plan to also use other design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw etc. invest in a laptop with an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor or better.

Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 can’t run this software. However, you may experience poor performance and lag. Because of this, you should choose a processor that will give you effortless performance and can handle future software updates.

3. Storage

The storage requirement depends on how much you save on your hard drive. Because Design Space for Web is no longer supported, the Design Space desktop version saves your designs locally on your computer. Also, you need to save images directly to your device.

Also, you may need to store bulky files like videos and images on the laptop as they can be useful in designing. We therefore recommend at least 256 GB of SSD storage. If you plan to work on a lot of larger files, or if you use your laptop for video or store a lot of photos, consider a laptop with 512GB of SSD storage.

Wenn Sie jedoch ein knappes Budget haben, können Sie sich für einen 128-GB-SSD-Speicher entscheiden und einen externen USB-Stick oder einen externen SSD-Speicher für etwa 25 bis 35 US-Dollar erwerben.

Stellen Sie sicher, dass Sie einen Laptop mit SSD und nicht mit HDD auswählen. Du wirst mir später danken. Der Grund, warum wir SSD gegenüber HDD empfehlen, ist, dass es energieeffizient und viel schneller ist. Ein SSD-Speicher auf Ihrem Laptop bedeutet also, dass das Gerät schneller hochfährt und Ihr Laptop schneller ist.

4. Anzeige- und Bildschirmgröße

Stellen Sie sicher, dass die Bildschirmauflösung des Laptops ausreichend ist, um Cricut Design Space auszuführen, und dass die Größe problemlos in alle Menüs und Fenster auf einem Bildschirm passen sollte. Es unterstützt Ihre Effizienz bei der Arbeit mit größeren Projekten oder der Entwicklung von Designs.

Die gute Nachricht ist, dass die meisten der neuesten Laptops mit einer anständigen Auflösung ausgestattet sind, um die Mindestanforderung von 1024 × 768 für die Ausführung von Design Space zu erfüllen.

Wir empfehlen jedoch mindestens eine Full-HD-Auflösung von 1080p, insbesondere wenn Sie beabsichtigen, mit komplizierten Designs zu arbeiten und Ihren Laptop auch für andere Designsoftware wie Adobe Photoshop und Adobe Illustrator verwenden.

Und wenn Sie auch visuell arbeiten, wird es einen großen Unterschied machen, etwas Höheres wie 2K (oder 4K, wenn Ihr Budget es zulässt) zu wählen.

Auch hier hängt es natürlich von Ihrem Budget ab, da Laptops mit 4K-Monitoren tendenziell am teureren Ende des Spektrums angesiedelt sind.

Die Displaygröße ist eine persönliche Wahl, wir empfehlen jedoch, nicht unter 12 Zoll zu gehen, da alles darunter Ihr Seherlebnis beeinträchtigt.

15-17 Zoll ist die ideale Größe, wenn Sie sich nicht viel bewegen.

Oder Sie können erwägen, sich einen oder zwei externe Monitore anzuschaffen. So ist mein Setup und ich liebe es.

Die meisten Laptops unterstützen mindestens einen Monitor, aber stellen Sie sicher, dass sie den richtigen Anschluss dafür haben. Weitere Informationen finden Sie im Abschnitt „Konnektivität“ weiter unten.

5. Akkulaufzeit

Das ist ziemlich offensichtlich, aber wenn Sie viel reisen oder gerne in Cafés usw. arbeiten, entscheiden Sie sich für einen Laptop mit einer Akkulaufzeit von 8 bis 10 Stunden.

Wenn Sie hauptsächlich dort arbeiten, wo Sie Ihren Laptop anschließen können, sind etwa 5 Stunden in Ordnung.

Auch hier kommt es auf Ihren Lebensstil und Ihre Vorlieben an.

6. Konnektivität

Der Standard-USB-Typ-A ist der wichtigste Anschluss für die Verbindung mit Cricut. Stellen Sie jedoch sicher, dass Sie die neueste Version 3.0+ für eine zuverlässige und schnellere Verbindung erhalten.

Für die Datenübertragung unterwegs sollte der Laptop zudem mindestens mit Bluetooth 4.0 ausgestattet sein.

DisplayPort, HDMI, Thunderbolt 3 oder USB Type-C sind auch für den Anschluss an ein externes Display unerlässlich.

Wenn Sie eine zuverlässigere Internetverbindung wünschen, stellen Sie sicher, dass der Laptop mit der neuesten Wi-Fi-Karte ausgestattet ist.

Alle neuen Modelle sind mit der neuesten Wi-Fi-Karte wie Wi-Fi 5 oder 6 ausgestattet, die eine stabilere Reichweite als die älteren bietet.

8. Portabilität (Gewicht)

Dies ist ein weiterer offensichtlicher Grund, aber wir wollten dies erwähnen, um diesen Leitfaden umfassend zu machen: Wenn Sie beabsichtigen, den Laptop zu Hause oder im Büro zu verwenden, können Sie den Faktor der Mobilität vernachlässigen.

Wenn Sie das Gerät jedoch von einem Ort zum anderen tragen müssen oder oft unterwegs sind, wählen Sie einen leichten Laptop.

Für eine hohe Portabilität sollte der Laptop nicht mehr als 5 Pfund wiegen. Alles, was schwerer ist, ist nicht geeignet, wenn Sie ständig unterwegs sind.

9. Upgrade

Sie sollten in der Lage sein, den besten Laptop für Cricut Maker einfach aufzurüsten.

Aktualisieren Sie es wie?

Da sich die Technologie schnell weiterentwickelt, kann es sein, dass der Laptop nach einigen Jahren nicht mehr dieselbe Leistung erbringt.

Wir sprechen hier über das Aufrüsten des Arbeitsspeichers. Der Arbeitsspeicher einiger neuerer Laptops kann entweder nicht aufgerüstet werden oder ist sehr begrenzt. we

Sie können etwas zusätzliche Zeit gewinnen, indem Sie den Arbeitsspeicher aufrüsten, bevor Sie den Computer endgültig ersetzen müssen.

frequently asked Questions

Welcher mobile SoC sollte für die Ausführung von Cricut Design Space priorisiert werden? Wenn Sie gerne basteln und für die Verwaltung professioneller Arbeitsabläufe auf Cricut-Maschinen angewiesen sind, ist es wichtig, in einen Laptop mit mindestens einem Quad-Core-Prozessor zu investieren. Während die 6-Kern-Chipsätze der H-Serie insgesamt geeignet sind, empfehlen wir den Kauf von Maschinen mit i5- oder i7-Prozessoren der 10. Generation, vorzugsweise denen der U-Serie. Prozessoren der U- und G-Serie sind energieeffizient und Laptops mit diesen sind ziemlich erschwinglich. Außerdem müssen mobile SoCs der 10. Generation priorisiert werden, um die nachfolgende Version des Design Space und die damit verbundenen Funktionen zu verwalten. What is the best RAM setup for Cricut Design Space? If you are a professional using Cricut Maker and you use Adobe Software suite in addition to Cricut Design Space, you want to aim for something in the 16GB ballpark. If you are more of a hobbyist and want to use only Cricut Design Space for Cricut Joy and Cricut Explore Air 2, a computer with 8GB will be sufficient. Given that you are not planning to use multiple applications simultaneously. For complex designs and subsequent prints via Cricut Maker look for a laptop with at least 12GB to avoid system slowdowns. What are the best software solutions for professional Cricut users? Although you can always prepare designs for mugs, leather rings, and other 3-Dimensional products using Photoshop and Illustrator, these applications hardly adhere to the complexities that a Cricut machine is capable of handling. This is why you must invest in Cricut-compatible software solutions, apart from the proprietary Design Space. Some of the best software solutions for Cricut including Make the Cut, best known for preparing exceptional die-cut designs, Inkscape, Sure Cuts a Lot, and for vinyl crafts the famed Silhouette Studio. Does Cricut work with Linux? According to Cricut’s official system requirements, Cricut’s Design Space software is not compatible with Unix / Linux Computers. Does Cricut Explore Air 2 work with a laptop? Yes, all Cricut machines and their official software: Design Space are all compatible with laptops running Windows 8 or later and macOS 10.15 or later operating systems. What Laptops Are Compatible With Cricut Design Space Cricut Design Space will run on pretty much any Windows or MacBook laptop. Laptops that meet the minimum system requirements can be used to run Cricut Design Space. For Windows, the laptop must have a Pentium 4 or higher (any core i3, i5, etc.) processor, 2GB of RAM, and a graphics card with at least 128MB of onboard memory. For Macs, pretty much any laptop that was manufactured after 2010 will work just fine.

The judgment

While each laptop mentioned on the list handles Cricut designs and crafts like a pro, not every notebook is created alike. Moreover, as the specs sheet is comparable in most models, it often becomes difficult to choose the perfect one, as per budget and preferences.

Therefore, if your mind is rife with confusion, here are some of our curated recommendations:

If you want best portable laptop for Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore, and every machine there is followed by excellent compatibility with Cricut Design Space, consider the ASUS VivoBook 15.

The HP Pavilion x360 is best convertible not just for Cricut but also for other graphics-focused tasks like photo editing, video editing, and more.

While if you’re looking for a notebook for complex photo editing, Cricut crafts, streaming, and other graphics-optimized processes, we recommend Dell Inspiron 15.

For Apple fans, we suggest Apple MacBook Air. It is capable of handling the latest version of the Cricut Design space while doubling down as a feature-packed business laptop

While these are some of the personalized recommendations, you are free to pick any device from the list and pair the same with a Cricut Machine of choice. However, if you want to explore the most complex designs and patterns, it is necessary to have a discrete GPU handy for the GPU-accelerated effects.