Some artists prefer a small and portable laptop, while others prefer a 2-in-1 that supports an active pen. And everyone will want to use Corel Painter, Photoshop, Illustrator, Affinity Designer, or another drawing and art program.
We compiled a list of highly suitable laptops for art students and artists based on extensive research and input from industry professionals.
What Should You Look for When Choosing the Best Artist Laptop?
If you’re an artist, any laptop will do. You’ll need a powerful laptop capable of running graphics programs. However, it must also offer advanced editing capabilities. It is critical to producing high-quality, detailed artwork.
Large, High-Resolution Display
To see your full designs when drawing, you need as large a screen as possible. Resolution and contrast are also important considerations. This is done to ensure that the colors and details are as vivid and crisp as possible.
Graphics Card with High Performance
Artists must have a powerful graphics card. Don’t skimp on the graphics or you’ll be sorry.
Performance
You want a system that can run multiple programs simultaneously without lagging or crashing. That is why it is critical to prioritize a powerful processor that can keep up with you. It’s not fun to be kept waiting when you’re trying to express yourself creatively.
Portable
If you frequently travel or work from anywhere, consider a lightweight, portable laptop. Consider whether you want a laptop with a rotatable screen that can also be used as a drawing tablet.
Long Battery Life
You don’t want to keep looking for outlets to charge your laptop when you’re on the go. Check the battery life of the model you want to make sure it can last at least 10 hours on a full charge.
- HP SPECTRE x360T
In any case, the Spectre x360 15 is a class act in the high-end, big-screen 2-in-1 market. It defines what that admittedly small subset of laptops can aspire to. If you have the money and the desire for a big, bold convertible, it will not disappoint.
Features:
- For 2020, HP shaved the Spectre x360 15. It weighs 4.23 pounds and is 8.9 inches deep, thanks to smaller top and bottom display bezels, resulting in weight and depth reductions of six-tenths of a pound and six-tenths of an inch over the 2019 model. It now outperforms some of the best non-convertible 15.6-inch laptops in those categories, including the 4.5-pound, 9.1-inch-deep Dell XPS 15 9500.
- The Spectre x360 15’s other dimensions remained unchanged. Its 14.2-inch width is only a few tenths of an inch wider than its screen, and its 0.79-inch thickness is tolerable for a large convertible 2-in-1. (At 0.71 inch, the XPS 15 9500 isn’t much thinner.)
- However, when used as a tablet, the Spectre x360 15 is still a large slab. Its 360-degree functionality, like that of most convertible 2-in-1s, is best served on a solid surface, especially in presentation mode. This position is ideal for watching movies. It’s also useful on an aeroplane or in the backseat of a car, where you might not be able to fully unfold a traditional notebook.
- Aside from the screen-rotating mechanics, the Spectre x360 15 is the most stylish 15.6-inch convertible 2-in-1 on the market. The Nightfall Black and Copper Luxe accents drew numerous compliments. HP’s customizable models also include a nautical-sounding Poseidon Blue with Pale Brass accents theme.
- Its appearance is matched by its quality. Its chassis and lid are entirely made of anti-glare-treated aluminium that conceals fingerprints and resists flexing. Although the chassis is not a unibody design, the gaps between its parts are so small that finding them by feel is difficult.
- The attention to detail continues with the palm rest’s subtly concave sculpting, perfectly smooth chassis edges, and rear corners that appear sharp but aren’t.
- One of the laptop’s two Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) ports is located in the rightmost corner, with the other on the right edge. This location is also advantageous because it angles at least one cord toward the rear.
- The Spectre x360 15 can be charged via either Thunderbolt 3 port, though full performance requires the use of the included 135-watt power adapter, as Thunderbolt 3 is limited to 100 watts. Other connectivity options include a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (which supports 10Gbps transfers, rather than the usual 5Gbps Gen 1 ports) and a microSD card slot.
- A webcam kill switch is located next to the Type-A port, which is not an exaggeration. When it is turned off, Windows 10 no longer considers the laptop to have a webcam. For those concerned about privacy, this is arguably more secure than a physical shutter that simply blocks the view, assuming you remember to activate it.
- On the other side, the power button is located in the left rear corner. The advantage of this location is that it is less likely to be accidentally bumped in tablet mode than a side-mounted location. The power jack, an HDMI 2.0a video output, and an audio combo jack (headphone/microphone) are also located on the left side.
- The most eye-catching feature of the Spectre x360 15 is without a doubt its AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) display. With its 4K/UHD (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) resolution and 10-point touch support, it is cutting-edge by any standard. The AMOLED technology is what truly distinguishes this Spectre. Unlike traditional notebook or desktop monitor displays, which use a backlighting unit, the pixels on this display are their own lighting sources. The black pixels on the display make it appear as if the display is turned off in those areas, which it is, at least for those pixels. This feature is responsible for the display’s infinite contrast ratio.
- It’s also extremely bright and colourful. HP rates it at a dazzling 400 nits and 100 percent coverage of the cinema industry’s DCI-P3 colour space. Color-sensitive apps, such as Photoshop, will benefit from the HP Display Control app, which allows them to switch between colour spaces such as sRGB and Adobe RGB.
- The anti-glare treatment for the Corning Gorilla Glass surface on this 2020 model is one display improvement, but it is not matte-surfaced like a TV. It still appears reflective (after all, it is glass), but the I-see-myself mirror effect that plagues most glass-surfaced screens is greatly reduced. The coating is also more resistant to fingerprints.
- The display has a passive digitizer that supports MPP 2.0 styli, making it ideal for artists and scribblers. One is available on HP’s website for customizable models.
- The Spectre x360 15’s keyboard is a comfortable place to be, thanks to snappy feedback, a flex-free keyboard deck, and two levels of white backlighting. It gets extra points for having a four-column number pad with a standard layout and full-size keys.
- Two of the laptop’s four Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers are located just above the keyboard, with the other two projecting sideways from under the palm rest. It’s a fantastic-sounding setup with plenty of volume. The buttonless touchpad below offers a smooth, expansive surface as well as tactile clicking.
- A built-in fingerprint reader, which can also be used for Windows Hello biometric logins, is located to its right.
- Its six-core, 12-thread Intel Core i7-10750H processor (with a base clock of 2.6GHz and a turbo clock of up to 5GHz) is a 45-watt chip that would be at home in a gaming notebook. Meanwhile, its 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (Max-Q) graphics card is more than capable of handling 1080p gaming.
- The Spectre x360’s AMOLED screen, 4K resolution, and powerful hardware quickly deplete its large 72.9-watt-hour battery; last year’s AMOLED model lasted 14 hours and 9 minutes with a low-wattage Intel U-class processor.
Pros:
- Design that is luxurious.
- Touch screen with AMOLED 4K/UHD resolution.
- As tested, a powerful six-core Intel CPU and Nvidia graphics.
- High-quality speakers.
- The keyboard and touchpad are both very comfortable.
Cons:
- Battery life is mediocre.
- Every configuration does not include a stylus.
- There is only one USB Type-A port.
- APPLE MACBOOK AIR
If you are a student of art, you should look into the new Apple MacBook Air. As an engineer, this M1-powered notebook may not be your go-to computing resource, but it certainly packs a punch in areas such as commerce, digital art, graphic design, accounting, and business processes. Before you buy it, make sure it’s compatible with the software you’re using. The M1 still has a long way to go before it can be used with most software.
Features:
- The new MacBook Air’s design is unsurprising for one of the world’s most popular computers. On the outside, not much has changed since the previous version, and you’d be hard pressed to tell the two apart from the shell. It is still available in three colours: Space Gray, Gold, and Silver. The all-metal design is sturdy and high-quality, delivering that envious MacBook feeling even after so many years.
- The MacBook Air is still one of the most luxurious portable builds available. It measures 0.63 by 11.97 by 8.36 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.8 pounds, making it one of the thinnest and lightest laptops available. Any student who needs to bring this to class, or any business professional who needs to carry it on a daily commute, will find it to be an excellent travel companion. You’ll hardly notice it in your bag, living up to its name of “Air.”
- Apple’s much-maligned butterfly keyboard, which was prone to dust and broken keys, has finally been replaced by the new Magic Keyboard. The latter is, of course, back, providing a far superior typing experience than the butterfly keyboard while avoiding the flaws that plagued the butterfly mechanism. Each key on the Magic Keyboard has a rubber dome and a scissor switch (an older, but time-tested mechanism) for a bouncy typing experience with more key travel. Because it isn’t new to this laptop, it doesn’t stand out as a major benefit of this model in particular, but it’s still a plus.
- Furthermore, the Touch ID sensor in the top right corner of the keyboard allows you to turn on the laptop and sign in with your fingerprint, eliminating the need for passwords. There is no Touch Bar option on the MacBook Air, as there is on the MacBook Pro, so you must rely on the physical escape button in the upper left corner of the keyboard. Some customers will see this as a benefit; the Touch Bar is divisive.
- The top-tier keyboard is complemented by arguably the best touchpad on any laptop, which should come as no surprise to any previous MacBook user. This isn’t unique to this version of the MacBook Air, like the keyboard, but if you’re upgrading from an older machine or switching from a Windows laptop, it will feel like a significant improvement. For starters, the touchpad is oversized for the size of the laptop, giving you plenty of space for panning and gestures.
- More importantly, thanks to its virtual haptics, the touchpad is extremely smooth and responsive when panning and pressing. Because the touchpad responds digitally, you’ll get the same feedback from clicks and presses no matter where you push on it. It has a uniquely satisfying and responsive touchpad, making this a great laptop for working without a mouse in a coffee shop or on a plane. (When working in cafes and flying 737s becomes commonplace.)
- The display is next, and it is as brilliant as ever. Apple’s 13.3-inch Retina Display, with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio, is used once more. This is noticeably higher than the full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) resolution found on the majority of mainstream laptops, but still falls far short of 4K. The latter is typically reserved for high-end content-creation laptops (and desktops) that can benefit from a higher pixel count, but it is a drain on battery life and significantly more expensive. The Retina Display’s resolution is extremely sharp without being overkill for the lighter type of general use work that a MacBook Air is intended for.
- Applications and the browser run quickly, even when multiple programmes and tabs are open, and it wakes up quickly from sleep. The touchpad and keyboard are both enjoyable to use, and the laptop is light enough to be carried around with one arm. Colors pop and textures are sharp on the display. The Big Sur macOS upgrade improves the overall usability of this computer, and you can learn more about it in our Big Sur in-depth review. Furthermore, because the laptop lacks an active cooling fan, it is a very quiet system.
- The MacBook Air has a front-facing 720p webcam, which is more important than ever in this era of remote work, as well as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth support. In terms of physical connections, there aren’t many on this laptop: The MacBook Air only has two USB Type-C ports on the left side and one on the right. Both of these USB-C ports are at least functional, as they support Thunderbolt 3, charging, and video output (DisplayPort). The ports can also support VGA and HDMI output through the use of adapters, which are sold separately.
- The 8GB RAM is faster than expected, allowing you to run resource-intensive applications such as QuickBooks, MS-Excel, and other software modules without experiencing system slowdowns. Storage-wise, there is a 512GB SSD unit in play, which is best known for quickly loading apps and booting up the latest macOS.
- The new Apple MacBook is powered by the renowned M1 processor. Based on the 5nm architecture, this chipset is arguably Apple’s fastest, with maximum clock speeds of up to 3.2GHz.
- This processor’s insane power allows you to work with graphic design apps like InDesign, Illustrator, Sketch, and Pro Tools with ease. There is also a seven-core GPU integrated into the system, which caters to casual games and improved visuals.
- The battery backup, which can last up to 18 hours, adds to the 2.8-pound Apple MacBook Air M1’s appeal as one of the best notebooks for film students and aspiring professionals.
Pros:
- Excellent value, especially for a MacBook.
- Apple’s new M1 processor provides significantly improved performance.
- The battery life is exceptional.
- Metal design that is both sleek and portable.
- Excellent keyboard, touchpad, and display.
- There are numerous colour options available.
Cons:
- There are only two USB Type-C connections available.
- There is still no touch-screen option.
- ASUS ZENBOOK 14
The ASUS ZenBook 14 ultra-slim laptop is one of the most powerful yet compact 14-inch notebooks on our list that digital artists, animators, and illustrators should look into.
Features:
- Despite the ZenBook 14’s attractiveness, it’s difficult to recommend an ultraportable with a “Ice Lake” CPU when ultraportables with Intel’s 11th Generation “Tiger Lake” chips are just hitting the market. Tiger Lake processors, on the other hand, are designed specifically for ultraportable laptops and will deliver refined artificial intelligence processing as well as a boost to the capabilities of integrated graphics with Intel’s next-generation Iris Xe graphics.
- Asus assures us that this ZenBook 14 model will be available for some time. However, Asus has already announced the ZenBook 14 (UX425EA), the new-CPU successor to this model, which is expected to be released later this month. The company has not released pricing information, but Tiger Lake laptops are expected to be slightly more expensive than their Ice Lake predecessors. And if that’s the case here, you should probably skip the UX425JA—unless it receives a significant price cut when the new ultraportable arrives.
- The ZenBook 14 is so small in part due to the narrow screen bezels on all four sides of the display. Many laptops, even those whose manufacturers brag about their bezels’ thinness, have a bottom bezel that is wider than the other three sides. The screen occupies nearly the entire space on the ZenBook 14 UX425JA—the system has a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, according to Asus, and that figure appears low when seated in front of the laptop.
- This model, like other ZenBooks, has Asus’ ErgoLift screen hinge. This hinge design not only makes the bottom screen bezel appear thinner by lifting the back edge of the keyboard deck slightly, but it also creates a more comfortable typing angle and allows for better airflow underneath the laptop to aid cooling.
- The aluminium chassis of the ZenBook lends the laptop a sleek, luxurious appearance, but when you pick it up, the lid and bottom panel flex in your grip, and when you type, the keyboard deck flexes under the pressure of your fingertips. The ZenBook 14 isn’t as stiff as other all-metal ultraportables.
- Aside from the flex when typing, the keyboard on the ZenBook 14 is spacious and comfortable. The keys have a shallow travel but feel snappy in your fingers. They are the polar opposite of “clacky” keys, resulting in a quiet typing experience. To fit the keyboard in the small chassis, no keys were shortened. In fact, Asus found room along the right edge for a column of useful, full-size keys for power, Home, Page Up, Page Down, and End, as well as the right-arrow key.
- The laptop includes Asus’ unique touchpad that also functions as a number pad. When you press the icon in the top right corner of the touchpad, an LED numeric pad appears. This is useful for spreadsheet tasks and when you need a calculator for quick tabulations. Even when in number-pad mode, it functions as a touchpad, allowing you to navigate Windows by swiping and clicking.
- The 14-inch non-touch display has a 1080p resolution and a brightness of 400 nits. The image appears crisp and bright behind the anti-glare coating and has a wide viewing angle. The 16:9 aspect ratio of the screen is ideal for watching movies.
- The ZenBook 14 comes with a pair of downward-firing speakers that are adequate for YouTube videos but lack bass response for music playback. If you like to listen to music while working, keep a pair of wireless headphones nearby. Because the ZenBook lacks a headphone jack. Instead, Asus includes a dongle (which converts a USB Type-C port to a 3.5mm audio jack) for users who want to use wired headphones, but if you’re anything like me, the dongle will likely vanish within hours of opening the box.
- If you want to connect to a wired network, you’ll also need to keep track of a second dongle—the laptop lacks an Ethernet port and instead comes with a USB Type-A to LAN adapter. The system’s two USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 3 compatible, which is great news. There is also one USB-A port, a full-size HDMI port, and a microSD card slot.
- The laptop is powered by a quad-core Intel Core i7-1165G7 11th Gen processor with a base clock speed of 2.8GHz and a turbo boost speed of up to 4.7GHz. Furthermore, the NVIDIA GeForce MX450 with 2GB VRAM is capable of running light games and supporting an external 4K monitor.
- The Zenbook 14’s 8GB RAM allows an artist to run multiple programmes in the background while browsing the web without issue. It also has a large amount of flash storage, 512GB to be exact, allowing the user to install software locally and store animations, drawings, and artwork without worrying about picture storage.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable.
- Long battery life.
- Excellent bezel-less display.
- Excellent keyboard.
- A distinct trackpad.
Cons:
- There are only a few ports available.
- A little pricey.
- ACER SPIN 5
Acer is known for producing portable laptops with long battery lives, and the Acer Spin 5 is no exception. As the name suggests, this is a convertible laptop that allows the owner to use it as a regular or touch screen device.
Features:
- If the steel-gray, fingerprint-resistant chassis of the Spin 5 were a person, it would be a clean-cut, urbane professional who enjoys saying, “I make the rules here!” The Spin 5’s center-positioned, reflective Acer logo, on the other hand, tells you that it has a mischievous twinkle in its eye, hinting at its fun, impish side.
- When you open the lid, you’ll notice that the Spin 5 has a squarish, 13.5-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Although the side bezels are slim, the Spin 5’s large chin, which sports a bold silver Acer logo, would make Jay Leno jealous. To accommodate the 720p camera, the top bezel is thick.
- The Spin 5’s entertaining personality was revealed beneath its cool, grey exterior thanks to its 2-in-1 feature. Above the function keys, between the 360-degree hinges, is the word “Spin.” A top-firing speaker grill is located above the word “Spin.”
- More steel-gray goodness can be found throughout the deck, which includes an island-style, backlit keyboard with black Chiclet keys. Under the spacebar is a large silver touchpad with a fingerprint scanner in the upper left corner.
- The Spin 5 is a light and thin device. This airy convertible is so light that you wouldn’t even notice it if you stuffed it into your travel bag. The Spin 5 weighs 2.6 pounds and measures 0.59 inches thick.
- The Spin 5 has a generous eight-port offering. A DC-in jack, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, a USB 3.2 Type-A port, and a microSD slot are located on the left side. On the right side, there’s another USB 3.2 Type-A port, as well as a headset jack, a Kensington lock slot, and a stylus garage.
- The Acer Spin 5 Convertible has a 13.5-inch touchscreen with a 2K resolution and capacitive pen input. The IPS display with such a high screen resolution improves the entertainment and streaming experience significantly over other models. The Spin 5’s display proved to be quite colourful; the convertible covered 111 percent of the sRGB colour gamut.
- The Spin 5 comes with the fast-charging Acer Active Pen. Simply place this bad boy in its stylus garage for 15 seconds and you’ll get 90 minutes of uninterrupted use. The stylus has 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels, which allows the Active Pen to simulate a smooth pen-to-paper feel. The Active Pen isn’t the most ergonomic digital writing tool on the market, but its skinny, toothpick-like dimensions allow it to fit snugly inside its stylus garage — a perfect solution for content creators who frequently misplace their styli.
- The Spin 5 has a backlit island-style keyboard with well-sized keys for a comfortable typing experience. On the top-left corner of the 4.3 x 3.1-inch silver touchpad is a Windows Hello-compatible fingerprint reader. The trackpad responded quickly and accurately to Windows 10 gestures such as two-finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom.
- It is powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor, which is one of the best quad-core processors on the market and provides the right amount of performance and efficiency that an artist or student may require from a laptop. In addition, the integrated Intel Iris Plus GPU can use device memory as video memory.
- Although the Spin 5 has Intel Iris Plus graphics, you’ll still need a discrete GPU to play your favourite graphics-intensive games.
- The Acer Spin 5, like most laptops designed for art students, has 16GB of RAM, which ensures that it will be able to handle all tasks in the future without issue. It also has 512GB of flash storage and the Windows 10 Home OS, which can boot in less than 10 seconds on this multipurpose art student-friendly machine.
- The Spin 5’s battery life will not win any awards, but it is thankfully longer than our preferred 8-hour runtime. The Acer 2-in-1 lasted 9 hours and 6 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Life Test, which involves continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits; this is less than the average premium laptop’s battery runtime (9:33).
Pros:
- Performance that outperforms the competition.
- A vibrant display.
- A stylus is included.
- There are two Thunderbolt 3 ports.
- Skinny and light.
Cons:
- Bloatware-infested.
- There is no dedicated graphics hardware.
- ASUS ZENBOOK PRO DUO
Since the first iteration of the Asus ZenBook Duo (UX481), Asus’ approach to dual-screen laptops has evolved, with improvements in build quality and ergonomics addressing some of the original issues. Is it mature enough for Asus’s vision of a dual-screen laptop to be desired by consumers? Yes, in some ways, but it still feels like a niche device for a specific group of content creators (who have large budgets).
Features:
- The celestial blue brushed magnesium-aluminum alloy of the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is stunning. It’s not too heavy to carry around at slightly more than 5 pounds. When you open the lid for the first time, the secondary ScreenPad Plus display rises, revealing two bright and colourful OLED displays. The effect is hypnotic. There were some complaints about the original Duo’s durability, but this one appears to be more robust.
- When you’re not drooling over the nearly bezel-less dual screens of the Pro Duo, you’ll notice a webcam at the top of the main screen. It lacks a physical shutter, but you can disable it by pressing the F10 key. It takes a few moments to get used to the backlit keyboard, which is positioned to the left of centre due to the placement of the touchpad (more on this below).
- The touchpad is also oddly placed to the right of the keyboard and functions as a number pad. The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 includes an active stylus and a dedicated palm rest for use at a desk.
- The ZenBook Pro Duo 15 measures 14.7 x 9.8 x 0.9 inches and weighs 5.3 pounds; it isn’t the thinnest or lightest device in its class, but dual screens may add a few ounces.
- The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 includes an infrared camera that works with Windows Hello facial recognition to securely lock your laptop and protect data and files when you walk away from it. TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is also used by the ZenBook Pro Duo, which adds an additional layer of system security by using hardware-based cryptography to ensure that the information stored on your computer is safe from outside software attacks.
- Another added security feature is the ability to completely turn off the webcam by pressing the F10 key rather than fumbling with a clumsy physical shutter.
- With only three USB inputs, the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is short on ports. A 3.5 combo headphone/mic port, an HDMI port, and a DC power port are located on the left. On the right, there are two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports (not the newer Thunderbolt 4 variant) and a USB-Type A port.
- For professional artists, this laptop will be a dream, and it is the best touch screen laptop for artists. A 15.6-inch 4K screen is included, as is a 14-inch matte touchscreen pad.
- The ZenBook Pro also comes with an Asus Stylus, which allows you to draw directly on the screen.
- The 14 x 4.3-inch 3840 x 1100-pixel ScreenPad Plus is colourful and bright. And, in response to your main question, yes, it is useful. On the left side of the ScreenPad plus, there is a handy app launcher menu that allows you to do things like launch apps, drag items into the display, sign documents, and draw.
- The ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is outfitted with bottom-firing Harman Kardon-certified speakers that work in tandem with Asus SonicMaster audio technology to provide a pleasant full-range audio experience.
- The vertical touchpad on the ZenBook is located to the right of the keyboard and measures 2.5 x 3.4 inches, making it not the largest. Its positioning may be bothersome to some, but it provides enough space to get things done. Windows 10 gestures, such as two-finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom, are quickly responded to by the touchpad. The touchpad on the ZenBook also serves as a number pad and works well when entering numbers.
- The ZenBook Pro Duo is equipped with an Intel Core i9-10980HK processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The specifications are impressive and comparable to those found in other premium laptops (although most have switched to 11th Gen chips by now).
- The ZenBook Pro Dup 15 is designed to power through video and photo editing, so staying cool is essential. When you combine two 4K screens, you might expect a meltdown. Despite this, the ZenBook Pro remained calm.
- The webcam on the ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is standard for laptop webcams; it is neither the best nor the worst. It reproduced colours well. In low-light situations, the ZenBook’s webcam will have some visual distortion and lack sharpness, as do most webcams.
Pros:
- Excellent build quality.
- Beautiful curb appeal.
- Punchy performance.
- The second display is functional.
- Excellent speakers.
Cons:
- Pricey.
- Inconvenient keyboard and touchpad.
- MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 6
The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 isn’t for everyone. It’s for people who will truly benefit from having a detachable 2-in-1 that’s small enough to carry around and versatile enough to use as a tablet or laptop.
Features:
- The Surface Pro 6 follows in the footsteps of previous models, albeit with a minor tweak. With the kickstand extended 165 degrees, you still have three primary modes: tablet, laptop, and studio.
- The Surface Pro 6’s metal kickstand is still easy to use. As you type, this 2-in-1 bounces around a little in your lap, but it feels sturdy and stable enough. The only real criticism levelled at the design is the somewhat thick bezels surrounding the display. When compared to the Dell XPS 13, it appears to be a little less modern.
- The Surface Pro 6 weighs only 1.7 pounds as a tablet and 2.4 pounds with the keyboard attached. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro, by comparison, weighs 1.4 pounds as a slate and 2.28 pounds with its keyboard.
- Call it stubbornness or simply a desire to stick with its proprietary docking connector, but Microsoft refused to embrace USB-C on the Surface Pro 6 for whatever reason. That means you can’t charge with USB-C or connect to a growing number of USB-C peripherals and Thunderbolt 3 docks. If you want to output to multiple monitors at the same time, you’ll need to use Microsoft’s Surface Connect port to connect to the company’s $199 Surface Connect dock.
- Aside from the Surface Connect port, the right side of the device has a USB 3.0 port and a mini DisplayPort. The headphone jack is located on the left side. The microSD card slot is located beneath the kickstand if you want to expand the storage.
- The Surface Pro 6’s 12.3-inch PixelSense display is one of the best you’ll find on a 2-in-1. At 2736 x 1824 pixels, this panel is not only sharp, but also bright and colourful.
- The Surface Pro 6’s two front-firing speakers produce loud and clear audio.
- The typing experience on the Surface Pro 6’s keyboard is exceptional for a 2-in-1 device. Given how thin the Type Cover is, the layout provides 1.3 mm of key travel, which is comfortable. In comparison, the keyboard on the iPad Pro has only 0.5mm of travel.
- The Surface Pro 6’s glass touchpad is as precise as ever. Scrolling was smooth, and gestures like three-finger app switching worked well.
- Microsoft charges an additional $99 for the Surface Pen, but if you’re purchasing the Surface Pro 6, this accessory is well worth it. The pen not only has 4,096 levels of sensitivity and a rubber eraser on the back, but you can also use tilt for shading in various apps. The Surface Pen is also useful for annotating in apps like Microsoft Edge, making handwritten notes in the Mail app, and pencilling in edits in Microsoft Word.
- The Surface Pro 6 outperforms the previous Surface Pro in terms of performance, thanks to its 8th-generation, quad-core Core i5-8250U processor and 8GB of RAM. (Serious power users can upgrade to a Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM.)
- The Surface Pro 6’s Intel UHD 620 graphics card is certainly powerful enough to handle casual games. This 2-in-1 achieved 80.9 frames per second in the Dirt 3 racing game, for example. That outperforms the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 (74 fps) and the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (47 fps).
- The Surface Pro 6’s improved endurance is without a doubt its best feature. The Surface Pro 6 lasted a solid 9 hours and 20 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which involves continuous web browsing at 150 nits of screen brightness. This is nearly two hours longer than the 2017 Surface Pro (7:30) and more than three hours longer than the ThinkPad X1 (5:59).
- The Surface Pro’s rear 8-MP camera will suffice in a pinch, and this slate is certainly light enough to use as a camera in the field. The 5-megapixel front-facing camera will suffice for Skype chats and other video-calling apps. The front camera also supports Windows Hello, making it simple to log in to the Surface Pro 6 by simply starting from the front.
Pros:
- Accessibility in two ways.
- Portable and lightweight.
- Both affordable and long-lasting.
- The battery life is excellent.
Cons:
- Expensive stylus.
- There are a limited number of connectivity ports.
- LENOVO IDEAPAD FLEX 6
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 6 ($809 as tested; starting at $470) is a 14-inch 2-in-1 that aims to provide a lot without breaking the bank. With an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce MX130 GPU, this system has enough speed to allow for solid productivity as well as some gaming. The keyboard and speakers are also noteworthy.
Features:
- Despite its low starting price, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 6 is a stylish machine with a matte Onyx black shell and metallic grey hinges. Those hinges allow the display to rotate 360 degrees and are dependable in their tightness. The Flex 6 has a brushed aluminium deck and a chassis made of polycarbonate/ABS plastic with 40% glass fibre.
- The IdeaPad Flex 6 weighs 3.6 pounds and measures 0.7 inches, making it smaller than the 15-inch HP Envy x360 15t (4.7 pounds, 0.7 inches). It’s also thinner and heavier than the 13.3-inch Acer Spin 5 (3.4 pounds, 0.6 inches) and the 13.3-inch Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 (3.4 pounds, 0.6 inches) (3.4 pounds, 0.6 inches).
- The Flex 6’s first USB 3.0 port, as well as an HDMI, USB Type-C, and a headphone/mic combo jack, are located on the left side. Its power button is located on the right edge (for easy access when not in a laptop position), along with a security lock slot, a second USB 3.0 port, and an SD memory reader. The fingerprint reader on the laptop supports Windows Hello and is located beneath the bottom right corner of the keyboard.
- The reflective coating on the display may be an issue if you’re using the notebook in a space with a lot of overhead lighting, such as our open office, because the lights will be reflected on the screen.
- The screen on the IdeaPad Flex 6 emits up to 236 nits of brightness, which is lower than the 305 category average and the 274-nit Spin 5. The Inspiron 13 had a similar 227-nit rating, whereas the Envy x360 15t had lower scores (186 on an Intel machine; 128 on an AMD machine).
- The touch-screen display on the Flex 6 allows for precise input as you navigate the desktop. It also recognised the edge-swipe gestures used by Windows 10 to open the Timeline view and the Action Center.
- If you’re going on a day trip, keep the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 6’s power cable in mind. On the Laptop Mag Battery Test (web browsing at 150 nits of brightness), the Flex 6 lasted only 6 hours and 41 minutes, which is significantly less than the 8:16 premium laptop average. The Envy x360 15t had faster times (4:49 on AMD and 5:22 on Intel), while the Acer Spin 5 had a longer time (7:15).
- Lenovo provided the IdeaPad Flex 6 with a fairly standard set of apps. Lenovo Vantage provides information about system health as well as access to hardware settings and updates directly from the PC manufacturer (as opposed to those downloaded from Microsoft via Windows Update).
Pros:
- Performance that is quick.
- Graphics from Nvidia.
- Minimalist design that is appealing.
- The keyboard is very responsive.
Cons:
- Battery life is limited.
- Display is dim.
- 8. APPLE MACBOOK PRO
This is one of the most powerful laptops available for CPU-intensive tasks such as video rendering, but we still wish Apple had addressed the lack of full-screen touch support and completely revamped the keyboard. Bolder moves are required.
Features:
- The latest update brings an even more powerful Core i9—an eight-core chip with a maximum boost speed of 5GHz—to a macOS laptop for the first time since last year’s MacBook Pro refresh. Both chips use the same “Coffee Lake” microarchitecture, but the Core i9 in the 2019 MacBook Pro is from Intel’s most recent 9th generation. Last year’s model’s 8th generation chip has six cores and a maximum boost speed of 4.8GHz. The new laptop also includes an upgraded AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics processor with a rarely seen type of fast video memory.
- The first oddity is the keyboard, which is a slightly updated version of Apple’s infamous butterfly-switch design, which has been a feature of MacBooks since 2016. Using butterfly switches produces an extremely stable key (even if you hit it off-center, the depress is even), but also an extremely short distance to travel when pressing the key. You don’t type; instead, you tap like you would on a smartphone.
- The Touch Bar, which is exclusive to Apple, is a narrow, touch-sensitive display with contextual controls that change depending on the app you’re using. Because Macs lack touch capability on their main screens, this is your only chance to interact with macOS via touch. The Touch Bar comes standard on every 15-inch MacBook Pro.
- Large speaker grilles extend from the top of the Touch Bar to the bottom of the keyboard on either side of the keyboard, taking up the entire margin between the keyboard and the chassis’s edges. The speakers on the MacBook Pro are among the best I’ve heard on a laptop of this size in a long time.
- The 15.4-inch LED Retina display is another standout feature. This panel uses in-plane switching (IPS) technology to increase viewing angles and has a bright 500-nit backlight. Its 2,880-by-1,800-pixel resolution isn’t quite 4K, but the colours are as vibrant and the text is as sharp as any 4K display in a recent laptop. This is due in part to support for the P3 colour gamut. Apple’s automatic True Tone white-balance adjustment is also in play. Depending on the light source in the room, the latter makes the colours on the screen appear warmer or cooler.
- The MacBook Pro includes a 3.5mm audio jack as well as four USB Type-C ports. The USBs are arranged in a row of two on each side of the chassis. However, that is the entire I/O complement. To connect to an external display, you’ll most likely need a USB Type-C-to-DisplayPort or Type-C-to-HDMI adapter, as well as an Ethernet adapter for wired networking. The silver lining is that, in addition to functioning as standard USB ports, all of the USB Type-C ports support the Thunderbolt 3 interface and its 40Gbps maximum data rates.
- Wireless connectivity consists of the standard 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. Support for the 802.11ax wireless standard, also known as Wi-Fi 6, is oddly absent. Wi-Fi 6 is still in its early stages, with only a few routers and other devices supporting it, but it is the Wi-Fi of the future.
- Arc Ice or ArcGIS Pro will not run by default on an Apple MacBook; to install it, you will need to install Windows OS on the machine using Boot Camp. So, if you don’t want to take some extra steps, this isn’t the tool for you!
- With a powerful 2.6 GHz Intel i7 processor, you can expect this Apple machine to be a powerhouse. By creating an animal for each of you, you can achieve turbo boosts of up to 45 GHz.
Pros:
- Excellent performance on CPU-limited workflows in test configuration.
- A stunning Retina display.
- Large and precise trackpad.
- There are four Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Cons:
- Expensive when configured, with a prohibitively expensive top-capacity SSD.
- The distance between key locations remains very short.
- Bezels could be slimmed down.
- There are no dedicated video output ports or USB Type-A ports.
- DELL INSPIRON 15 5502
Have you ever considered purchasing the most recent laptop at a low cost? If so, the Dell Inspiron 15 5502 may be of interest to you.
Features:
- The chassis is made of plastic and is more prone to flexing down the centre of the keyboard and the outer lid than, say, the more expensive HP Envy or Lenovo Yoga. However, when compared to the similarly priced Lenovo IdeaPad 3 or the older HP Pavilion 15, chassis rigidity is comparable and not significantly better or worse.
- The hinges are the most noticeable distinction between the 2020 Inspiron 15 and previous generation models. Dell has used what Asus calls “ErgoLift” hinges, which cause the base to rise at an angle when the lid is opened. Because this section of the lid will always slide against the table, the back is lined with rubber.
- Though the design of Inspiron laptops has changed over the last year, the keyboards have not. The keyboard on the Inspiron 5502 is identical to the ones on the Inspiron 15 7506 and Inspiron 5584, allowing for similar typing experiences. On the one hand, this consistency is welcomed because it makes switching between different Inspiron laptops easier to manage, especially in offices or large public spaces. Key feedback, on the other hand, remains shallow and somewhat soft, especially when compared to the keyboards on the HP Envy or Dell Latitude series.
- The Precision clickpad (11.5 x 8 cm) is smooth and sticky when gliding at slow speeds for precise clicks. Its integrated mouse buttons, on the other hand, are horribly spongy and shallow, making for an unsatisfying experience. Because of the soft feedback, even simple actions like double-clicking are difficult. When possible, we recommend using an external mouse.
- Dell’s budget G3 15 3590 gaming laptop and our Inspiron 5502 both use the same BOE NV15N3D panel. This panel has almost all of the characteristics of a low-cost display, such as a shallow colour space, slow black-white response times, a low maximum brightness, and a slightly cool colour temperature. The contrast ratio, on the other hand, is quite respectable at just over 1000:1. Nonetheless, don’t expect videos or images to be as vibrant or colourful as they are on the XPS 15. It is worth noting that pulse-width modulation is present at all brightness levels up to 98 percent. If your eyes are sensitive to flickering, you should avoid using this laptop for extended periods of time.
- The Intel Core i5-1135G7 chipset in the Dell Inspiron 15 5502 is capable of reaching a maximum clock speed of 4.2GHz. As a new-generation processor, you can expect sufficient power to manage a wide range of academic applications, resources, and software solutions.
- Furthermore, an Intel Xe graphics coprocessor is present, allowing you to get the best visual experience for a reasonable price. You have access to 8GB of system memory. The best feature of this RAM is its 3200MHz processing speed, which ensures faster file, cache, and data retrieval speeds.
- This sub-$700 device also includes a backlit keyboard, high-speed data transfer ports, a bright webcam, and the Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard. This device also includes a functional fingerprint sensor, allowing you to easily safeguard personal and academic resources.
Pros:
- Beautiful design.
- Processor of the eleventh generation.
- Excellent suite of connectivity options.
- For added security, a fingerprint sensor is included.
- RAM with a high data rate.
Cons:
- Not suitable for gaming.
- The anti-glare support isn’t as strong as it is on other competing laptops.
- HP PAVILION x360 14
If you are an aspiring art professional or a student who is most interested in graphic design, digital art, photo editing, and other non-engineering tasks, nothing works better than a convertible. This is why we’re betting on the HP Pavilion x360, thanks to its multi-mode operability and solid specs.
Features:
- HP continues to experiment with contrasting colours in order to distinguish its systems from standard notebooks. The silver finish of the convertible is offset by a dark, brushed-metal keyboard and palm rest. The lid features a chrome HP logo in the centre. Concave edges make it possible to open the laptop with one hand.
- The system’s 256GB NVMe SSD is supplemented by 16GB of Intel Optane Memory. It has 8GB of RAM, a quad-core 1.0GHz Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, and a 14-inch touch screen with a full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) resolution. The display can be folded into laptop, tablet, tent, or easel configurations thanks to two hinges. When tapped in laptop mode, the screen wobbles slightly, and there’s some flex if you grasp the screen corners or press the keyboard deck.
- On the Pavilion’s left side, you’ll find a USB 3.2 Type-A port and an audio jack. On the right, a USB-A port joins a USB Type-C port, an HDMI video output, and an SD card slot, as well as the SIM slot and an AC adapter connector.
- The webcam has an average 720p resolution but above-average colour and clarity. With the volume turned up, the sound from the top-firing speakers is a little hollow or boomy. At lower volume levels, however, it’s quite good, with predictable low bass but clear highs and midtones and easily discernible overlapping tracks. Having said that, the off-center viewing angles on the unit’s display are wide, and fine details appear sharp.
- Under the hood, HP uses an Intel Core i5 G-series processor, which is adequate for most graphics-intensive and mid-level academic tasks. While the base clock speed of 1GHz may not appear to be much, you can always overclock it to 3.6GHz to handle some of the more demanding applications.
- The integrated UHD graphics coprocessor is a dependable support system that is best known for enhancing visual quality. You also get 8GB of RAM, which can handle multi-tab browsing and other processor-intensive tasks at 3200MHz. However, the RAM module is not upgradeable, so proceed with caution if your processing needs are likely to change over time.
- In terms of functionality, the HP Pavilion x360 14 has an exciting yet typing-friendly keyboard, powerful speakers, and a powerful webcam for attending online classes. However, it is the convertible laptop’s multi-mode operability that steals the show, allowing you to use it in four different modes.
- The battery life, which is close to 9 hours, is also worth mentioning because it represents excellent value for art students.
Pros:
- The battery life is excellent.
- A wide variety of form factors are available.
- Alexa-compatible.
- Module for high-speed storage.
- Viewing angles that are sharp.
Cons:
- System memory is not upgradeable.
- Data transfer rates are slow.
- MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK
The Surface Book 3 is an ambitious device that aims to combine the best qualities of all three current laptop genres into a one-stop-shop. Digital artists and on-the-go professionals who require the portability of a detachable tablet as well as significant graphics horsepower will likely benefit the most from it. However, anyone with deep enough pockets could revel in this category-defying device’s unique capabilities. Nothing else compares to the Surface Book 3 from Microsoft or any other mainstream laptop manufacturer. It makes a compelling case for being the ultimate Windows device.
Features:
- It has a quad-core Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU with a base clock speed of 1.3GHz, 32GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU for graphics output. It measures 0.9 by 13.6 by 9.9 inches and weighs 4.2 pounds with the keyboard attached. The heavyweight is not unusual for a 15-inch laptop, but when the keyboard is removed, the display weighs a much more manageable 1.8 pounds.
- An Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 GPU and a 1TB or 2TB SSD are also available for the 15-inch Surface Pro 3. While the Quadro RTX 3000 isn’t significantly more powerful than the GTX 1660 Ti for general use, it may benefit users of professional apps with independent software vendor (ISV) certification that are specifically designed to run on Quadro chips.
- Two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full-size SDXC card reader are included. This is by far the best physical connectivity of any Microsoft laptop, with only two USB ports and a headphone jack on the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3.
- The headphone jack on the Surface Book 3 is the only connector located in the display portion, with all other ports located on the keyboard base. In the top left corner of the display, there is a power button and a volume rocker.
- Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 are available for wireless connectivity (802.11ax). That’s a significant improvement over the Surface Book 2’s older 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and it gives the Surface Book 2 a slight advantage over the MacBook Pro, which still uses this older standard.
- Some of the physical features of the Surface Book 3 are nearly identical to those of its predecessors, which is a good thing. The keyboard is consistent, with comfortable backlit keys that are quiet, satisfying to tap, and offer a good amount of travel without being mushy. The touchpad, which offers responsive tracking and a very stable clicking mechanism, has remained largely unchanged.
- The display is the same excellent PixelSense display that is available on the Surface Book 2. It has a stunning screen with a native resolution of 3,240 by 2,160 pixels, a contrast ratio of 1,600:1, and 10-point multi-touch support. That pixel count would qualify as 4K if it were a 16:9 display, but it uses the taller 3:2 ratio, which is uncommon in laptops in general but standard on Microsoft’s PCs. Not only is 3:2 useful for some digital artists, but it also allows you to see more of a webpage or other vertical document before scrolling.
- The Surface Book 3 has two cameras, just like its predecessor. A 5-megapixel front-facing camera with IR sensors allows for face-recognition logins to your Windows account, and an additional 8-megapixel rear shooter is located on the upper left side of the back of the display, near the power button. Both cameras capture 1080p video, and while they aren’t as sharp or capable as most high-end phone cameras, they are an improvement over the noisy, dull video captured by most 720p laptop webcams.
- The speakers are located on the tablet’s two top corners; there are no speakers in the keyboard dock. They do an admirable job for tablet speakers. They’re loud enough to be heard from a reasonable distance, if not booming.
- While the Surface Book 3 is not a gaming laptop, its graphics capabilities indicate that it could be used as one. Microsoft actually encourages it. The Surface Book 3 includes support for the Xbox Wireless Controller, and the company claims that it is “the best Surface for immersive gaming.” However, if you frequently run an ISV app that makes use of GPU acceleration to run more efficiently, you will reap significant benefits from the graphics oomph. These include scientific and AI apps, as well as some apps for creating multimedia content.
Pros:
- Outstanding performance with one-of-a-kind features.
- Excellent battery backup.
- Lightweight.
- Design that is both sleek and sturdy.
- Convertibles can function as both a laptop and a tablet.
- Excellent display quality.
Cons:
- The cost is prohibitively expensive.
- Thunderbolt 3 is not currently available.
- If you want to purchase the Surface Pen, there will be an additional cost.
- ASUS VIVOBOOK S S410UN-NS74
ASUS’ VivoBook series is one of its most popular. The VivoBook series is highlighted by incredible hardware combined with aesthetic design at an affordable price. You can’t deny that some of the features associated with the VivoBook series are difficult to find in some of the more expensive and premium brands. S410UN-NS74 is a new ultrabook in the ASUS Vivobook series that has received some intriguing features that make it a standout performer in its league. The 14-inch ultrabook market is crowded, but very few devices offer an unrivalled combination of beauty and performance.
Features:
- While we are accustomed to smartphones with thin bezels, Asus’ VivoBook and ZenBook series have also embraced the trend. Asus refers to it as the NanoEdge display. Asus has managed to fit a 14-inch Full HD (19201080 pixels) LED panel into a frame that would normally fit a 13-inch display on the VivoBook S14. This results in a fantastic screen-to-body ratio of 77 percent.
- The Full HD panel has an anti-glare coating on the top, allowing for a 178-degree viewing angle. It also keeps reflections and shadows from interfering with your viewing experience. When we were consuming content on the go, the combination of a Full HD panel with anti-glare and its compact design seemed nearly perfect.
- Splendid, an Asus utility, is also loaded to control the colours reproduced. There are numerous presets to choose from, ranging from vivid to eye comfort mode. Furthermore, Asus’ Tru2Life Video technology improves and boosts contrast by a whopping 150 percent, enhancing the video viewing experience.
- The VivoBook is equipped with an Intel Core i7-8550U chipset. The quad-core CPU runs at 1.8GHz (up to 4.0GHz on Turbo) and is supported by 2GB of Nvidia GeForce MX 150 graphics memory. 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD are required for this configuration.
- This configuration puts it in a sweet spot between running high-demand tasks and casual gaming. However, the GeForce MX 150 will not be able to provide much relief to graphics-intensive games, so keep that in mind when making your choice.
- The chiclet keyboard on the ASUS VivoBook S14 (S410UN-NS74) does the job, but it’s unremarkable. Seasoned typists will be disappointed by the keyboard’s shallowness, but it will suffice for the majority. The keys are perfectly shaped and sized, and they are backlit. The backlit keyboard has three brightness settings that users can select from. There is nothing wrong with the VivoBook S14’s keyboard, but if a good keyboard is a priority, there are better options available.
- Because this is a 14-inch laptop, there is a rather large touchpad beneath the keyboard, which was accurate and smooth in our testing. With Windows Hello, a fingerprint reader beside the trackpad allows users to quickly log in to the laptop.
- The VivoBook S14 includes a USB 3.1 Type-C port, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, and an SD Card slot. Users will be able to connect a variety of peripherals, including external displays and projectors. One of the disadvantages of portability is the lack of a DVD reader/writer on the laptop.
- The Asus VivoBook S14 has two 2W downward facing speakers. To improve the overall audio experience, the laptop also supports the company’s proprietary SonicMaster technology. Despite being downward facing, the audio output is muffled.
- The VivoBook, on the other hand, supports fast charging, so if you run out of juice, you can rest assured that it will not die on you.
Pros:
- The battery life is adequate.
- A sturdy design with excellent build quality.
- Outstanding performance.
- The presentation is quite impressive.
- It is portable and lightweight.
Cons:
- The GPU could have been improved.
- HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO
One of the best luxury laptops on the market is the Huawei Matebook X pro. It’s a beautiful piece of engineering, with a silhouette that flatters Apple’s house, but performance and display that show it’s far more than an imitator. The Matebook X pro is a serious challenger to Apple’s easy dominance in the ultralight laptop category, and the device of choice for those looking for a MacBook that runs Windows.
Features:
- Because of the careful weighing of the base and screen, you can open the lid with a single finger. The recessed chiclet keyboard appears too shallow for much travel at first glance, but once you start typing, the suspension of the keys feels satisfying and comfortable to tap away on.
- The button-sized fingerprint scanner in the top right corner of the keyboard also functions as a power button, allowing you to turn on the laptop and log into your Windows account with a single press.
- The attention to detail doesn’t stop once you’ve cracked it open. The 13.9in, 3000 x 2000px display is crisp and bright, with a slight brightness drop-off at sharp viewing angles but otherwise consistent colour reproduction.
- Because of the 3:2 screen ratio, the Huawei Matebook X pro’s screen is almost exactly the same size and shape as a sheet of A4 paper. This is significantly taller than a traditional 16:9 widescreen display and far more practical for tasks like web browsing and document editing.
- The Matebook X pro’s display is a touchscreen, which provides some convenience for those who prefer to tap on things rather than use the touchpad but necessitates a glossy display that is difficult to see outside or when facing away from a large window. Your treacherous fingers, as with any touchscreen display, quickly transform the screen into a greasy Jackson Pollock painting.
- Four front-firing speakers on either side of the keyboard provide adequate sound for a laptop this thin. Speakers require a lot of space to perform well, which is why laptop speakers are often tinny and hollow. The Matebook X Pro, on the other hand, mitigates this effect somewhat through clever engineering and audio post-processing. There’s enough volume behind the bass to give music and entertainment enough dimension that you can leave your headphones at home.
- The webcam on the Huawei Matebook X Pro 2022 is still hidden beneath a fake key on the top row, which pops up like a car headlight when pressed. Why? Of course, to preserve the sanctity of the edge-to-edge display. There simply isn’t enough space above the screen for a webcam, at least not without adding a notch – which is unthinkable on a laptop – or a thick border around the edge of the screen, which would ruin the aesthetic. Huawei considered its options and compromised, opting for a flawless display over a rationally placed front-facing camera.
- The Huawei Matebook X Pro is powered by an 11th generation Core i7 processor and 16GB of memory. This is more than enough power to handle your day-to-day tasks, such as working with memory-hungry Chrome tabs and streaming Netflix movies, as well as spreadsheets, databases, and emails.
- This laptop’s generous memory allows for creative work as well as manipulating large files, so post-processing digital photographs as well as audio and video editing are well within its wheelhouse.
- The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics can happily handle less graphically intensive games: anything with fewer than two dimensions, as well as some lighter 3D games that aren’t aiming for high-end photorealism, can be handled without breaking a sweat.
- The Matebook X Pro isn’t a gaming laptop by any means, but it can throw a few polygons around when necessary. When running multiple applications or games at the same time, the fans increase to a low, audible whirr, but the matebook X pro is generally very quiet and well behaved, even when working hard to keep itself cool.
- The Matebook X pro has two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, one of which is used for charging, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the left side. On the other side, you’ll find the rarest of things in 2021: a full-size USB-A port for connecting virtually any peripheral in the world.
- The Matebook X pro has an average battery life for a laptop of this size and screen resolution. The laptop lasted about 10 hours with near-constant use, dozens of open browser tabs, music playing, and various pieces of software running. That should be enough to get you through a working day without the need for a charger, assuming you arrive at your destination with a fully charged laptop.
Pros:
- Excellent battery timing.
- Lightweight.
- There is enough storage.
- Processing speed is quick.
Cons:
- Connectivity ports are low.
The Final Verdict
An artist or art student should consider one of these laptops. You can draw, paint, and even create animations using the touch screen display on the majority of them. A high-end CPU and professional image and photo editing software can also be used if your computer has these features. All but a handful of them offer active pen support.
As a summary, here are some of our top picks for you:
- Choose a computer with dedicated graphics, such as the ASUS ZenBook 14 or HP Spectre x360, if you plan to use it for years to come.
- In order to keep your devices in sync with each other, we recommend the new Apple MacBook Air with M1 Chip. With a powerful processor, retina display, and long battery life, it’s a great device.
- On a tight budget, consider the Dell Inspiron 15 5502 or the Microsoft Surface Go. In order to get through art school, you’ll need to buy both.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Which laptop is best for art students?
The best laptop for art students should have a good display and support for touch screens. It should be light in weight, making it easy to transport on a daily basis. Similarly, it should have a good battery backup and a good color calibration on its display.
Should an artist’s laptop have a touch screen?
Choosing a laptop with touch screen support is essential for an art student or artist unless they use a Wacom tablet. Because you will want to sketch or create a lovely illustration. The advantage of having a touch screen on your laptop is that you can work on your art from anywhere.
How much RAM should an art student’s laptop have?
If you are an art student, you should consider purchasing a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM to ensure that it can handle multi-tasking issues with ease. If you can find one with 16GB of RAM, the laptop will last for a long time with no problems.
Should an art student’s laptop include a GPU?
If you are a gamer and an art student, you should consider purchasing a laptop with at least 2GB of dedicated video memory. If you are not interested in gaming, a standard integrated GPU should suffice.
Is it necessary for an art student’s laptop to have a high-end CPU?
If you intend to use the laptop with software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe After Effects, it should have a powerful CPU, as most photo editing tools rely on CPU performance.
Is it possible for an art student to use a regular laptop?
Yes, an art student can use a regular laptop, but the models we reviewed offer increased productivity due to improved hardware and software. So, instead of thinking about a generic laptop, think about one of these.
Is it possible for an art student to use a MacBook?
Yes, an art student can use either a Windows-based computer or a MacBook, as most of the software used by art students is available on both platforms.