Getting the best laptop with CD/DVD drive is bit difficult these days. In order to attain the attractive and slim look of the device, most of the manufacturers are evading this part. But this does not mean laptops with optical drive are not present these days. We are always here to help you out and this article contains a list of the best laptops with CD DVD drive so that you can easily get the one suitable for your needs.
See also: Top best ASUS gaming laptop
Apr 01, 2019 Here is a list of our top 5 best laptops under £400 for 2019. An affordable laptop is not impossible to find. Here is a list of our top 5 best laptops under £400 for 2019. Even in today’s world with digital music, movies, and cloud storage, many individuals still utilize optical discs in their computers. If you still enjoy your physical.
Top Best Laptops With CD DVD Drive
An Excellent AMD Laptop with SuperMulti DVD Burner
HP 15.6-inch Laptop with AMD Processor and Radeon Graphics
The HP 15.6-inch is a great option for people looking to get things done on a budget, but still, have access to a full DVD drive to access their old discs. The laptop sports a large 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768. The most unique aspect of this product is that it ditches Intel and Nvidia completely. The laptop runs on AMD Quad-Core A6-7310 processor clocked at 2.4 GHz with 4 GB of RAM, 500GB hard disk space and it also uses AMD Radeon R4 graphics, allowing you to do some light gaming. It has a DVD writer, SD card reader and is powered by a 3-cell 31 Wh lithium-ion battery. The laptop also has an HDMI port, USB and a full-sized numeric pad, providing you a full keyboard experience.
See it on AmazonRugged, Budget-friendly Lenovo Product with a DVD-RW
Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6-inch AMD A6 Quad Core Laptop
The first thing that will probably catch your attention on the Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6-inch could be its price tag, which is less than $300 and is a budget-friendly product ideal for students. The laptop has a decent 15.6-inch display with a 1366 x 768 resolution. Under the slim, rugged body, it is powered by an AMD A6 7310 processor clocked at 2.0 GHz and the graphical fidelity is provided by AMD Radeon R4. The device is responsive with 4 GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard disk for your storage requirements. The laptop from Lenovo has all the essential ports including HDMI, USB and has a DVD-RW. It runs on Windows 10 OS out of the box. The IdeaPad has a 3-cell Li-ion battery and weighs 4.85 lbs, with a versatile 180-degree hinge.
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Stylish Business Laptop with a Surface-Inspired Hinge
HP 2019 15.6-inch AMD Business Flagship Laptop
The HP 2019 business flagship laptop will easily impress you at first look as it has a clean, white finish combined with an Apple-inspired external appearance. The HP silver logo on the top of the laptop combined with its color choice makes it look more like a Mac and it also borrows the hinge design from Microsoft Surface. The laptop has a 15.6-inch display, with a 720p resolution and justifies its price tag with an AMD A12 9720 processor. The device has 12 GB of RAM with 1 TB hard disk and uses AMD Radeon R7 graphics for gaming, video and music editing. The HP laptop has a CD, DVD burner with ethernet, HDMI and USB ports along with an SD Card reader. It runs on a 2800 mAh battery and weighs 4.73 lbs. The keyboard has a full-sized numeric pad, making it easy to work on excel sheets on the go.
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Premium Flagship Laptop with DVD Drive and Full HD Touchscreen Display
2019 HP Envy 17.3-inch Full HD Laptop
While many of the products reviewed here are budget-friendly and fall within the $500 category, the 2019 HP Envy 17.3-inch laptop is a truly premium flagship model in every aspect. Having a DVD writer is your foremost requirement which is seamlessly solved, but there are more amazing features including; an exceptionally large full HD 1080p display, B&O audio and it even has a backlit keyboard to use the laptop in pitch dark conditions. The device is powered by an Intel i7 7500U processor with Nvidia 940MX with 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB SSD and 1 TB HDD. The laptop’s specs are fully customizable and it runs on Windows 10 operating system out of the box. When you customize the product with increased RAM, storage and SSD, it will further increase the price tag. You can consider it as an investment, as very few laptops offer such level of customization and have a large screen, as the one found in this HP Envy model.
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Colorfully Vibrant Laptop in the Dell Inspiron Series with a CD DVD drive
2019 Dell Inspiron Business Laptop 15.6-inch Display
The 2019 Dell Inspiron Business is a colorful laptop that finally breaks the norms of silver or black colored office laptops. It is available in three variants including purple, blue and red, adding some flavor to your everyday work. The laptop has a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 and is powered by an AMD A9-9400 processor with Radeon R5 graphics. It is adequately powerful for a price that is close to $400. The device has 8 GB of RAM with 1TB hard disk and runs on Windows 10 operating system. It is available for a discounted price on Amazon and you should be able to get a great laptop that has a DVD reader, a writer without breaking the bank; and also supports MaxxAudio with Bluetooth connectivity, to connect your headphones when required.
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A Bulky Laptop from Dell with Powerful Intel i7 Processor and Full HD Display
Dell Inspiron 15.6-inch FHD Display Laptop with i7 Processor
Before you start complaining about how bulky and outdated the Dell Inspiron 15.6-inch model looks, you should probably use it and see how efficient it is. The laptop is impressive in a range of areas including robust build quality, can withstand usage and also has ample thickness to support a full DVD drive, including a writer. The Dell Inspiron product’s Intel lineup is powered by the i7 processor, the 7500U with AMD Radeon R7 M445 graphics. It has 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage space for your everyday office needs. The display has a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080, making it great to browse the web; watch movies and work on excel files with great screen real estate. The laptop runs on Windows 10 and has a couple of basic ports making it easier to connect to the internet or use external devices.
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A Lenovo Product with Standout Keyboard and Trackpad Quality
Lenovo ThinkPad E570 15.6-inch Business Laptop
The Lenovo ThinkPad E570 screams of premium finish and build quality geared towards business users. Right from the price tag to the features provided in it, the laptop is definitely a class apart from budget models. The E570 has a 15.6-inch display with a 720p resolution and runs on Intel i5 7200U processor clocked at 3.1 GHz. It has 8 GB of RAM and the 256 GB SSD should keep the Windows 10 operating system responsive at all times. The Lenovo ThinkPad has Intel HD Graphics 620 and is integrated with a DVD RW for your discs. The front has a 720p webcam with multiple USB and HDMI ports. It also has Wi-Fi AC for the fastest wireless connectivity but is a bit heavy at 5.07 lbs.
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Powerful Business Laptop with DVD RW and Slim Design
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Laptop
The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a business laptop that is slim, easy to carry and has a professional design that would appease most buyers. The specifications justify the price tag as the laptop sports a decent 15.6-inch display with a 1080p resolution and it’s even got a touchscreen display that makes the Windows 10 operating system more intuitive to use. The device is powered by the latest 8th Gen Intel Quad Core i5 8250U clocked up to 3.4 GHz and is paired with 8 GB of RAM and 1 TB hard disk space. It has a DVD RW, Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity and uses Wi-Fi AC for faster wireless connection. The Inspiron 15 5000 uses Intel Graphics 620 and is not meant for media editing or gaming, but will offer a 720p HD webcam, SD card reader and long lasting battery life for business use.
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Best Ever Gaming Laptop with DVD RW and a Nvidia 1050Ti Graphics Card
Asus 17.3-inch FHD Gaming Laptop
If you really love gaming and want an amazing product without breaking the bank, the Asus 17.3-inch model ticks all the right boxes and surprisingly doesn’t get rid of the DVD RW. After all, a good gaming laptop always needs thickness for good air ventilation and the extra space has been brilliantly housed to have lots of ports and a powerful graphics card. The Asus laptop has a large 17.3-inch 1080p display and is powered by Intel i7 7700HQ processor. The chipset is paired with Nvidia’s 1050Ti graphics card, 8 GB of RAM and 1 TB of hard disk space. The backlit keyboard favors gaming in the dark, it also has USB Type C port and multiple other ports for easy connectivity. If you love FPS and MOBA games as well as invest in physical discs, the DVD RW will come in very handy.
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Super Expensive Laptop with a Brilliant 4K Display and Premium Finish
HP Envy 17t 17.3-inch 4K Display Laptop
Gaming laptops could go way above $2,000 in most cases, but business laptops are usually below the thousand dollar mark. The HP Envy 17t dares to break the norms by providing a brilliant 4K display on a business laptop and an impressive finish that rivals the MacBook Pro models. Despite all the upgrades, they have maintained the old school concept of using a DVD RW using which you can easily use to read data and even make use of old movies lying in your AV collection. The Envy 17t has a large 17.3-inch 4K display powered by 8th gen Intel i7 8550U processor clocked up to 4 GHz. It is paired with 16 GB of RAM, 1 TB HDD and MX150 Nvidia graphics card. The performance of the graphics card may hardly justify the 4K display, but this was never meant to be a gaming device and it shouldn’t be a problem for office use. The laptop has a full-sized keyboard, USB C port, Wi-Fi AC and runs on the Windows 10 operating system.
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Great Gaming Laptop with CD Drive, Steelseries Keyboard and a large 120Hz Display
MSI GE72VR Apache 17.3-inch Gaming Laptop
MSI has a vast collection of gaming laptops and the Apache series has always provided the best value for money against performance. The MSI Apache GE72VR justifies the claim again with a large 17.3-inch 1080p display that has a 120Hz refresh rate for the immersive gaming experience. The laptop is powered by Intel i7 7700HQ processor clocked at 3.8 GHz with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD. The 1 TB hard disk is ample to store all your games and it uses the latest Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card that can easily handle most AAA titles at HD resolution in medium to high graphical settings. The DVD drive allows you to buy physical copies of games at cheap prices and it also features a Steelseries designed a backlit keyboard that picks up keystrokes accurately during intense gaming sessions.
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Cheap Laptop with Touchscreen Capability and DVD Writer
Asus 15.6-inch HD Touchscreen Laptop
The Asus 15.6-inch laptop is a fairly new model which sells for an affordable price range of $400, but there have been some compromises made in it. The laptop sports a nice 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768, while it runs on an entry-level Intel Celeron N3450 processor with 2.2 GHz speed in turbo mode. It is paired with 8 GB of RAM and 1 TB hard disk. The DVD writer sits subtly on one side while all the other ports including Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, USB Type C, USB 2.0 ports are all on the opposite side of the laptop. The Asus product supports Bluetooth, has a memory card reader but you can’t expect Wi-Fi AC on it and wireless internet speed might be slightly lower. It also has touchscreen functionality, making it easy to access Windows 10 OS without having to rely on your input devices all the time. The laptop weighs about 4.4lbs and delivers great value for money.
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Gaming Laptop with Better Heat Dispersion and a Dedicated DVD RW
Asus FX Series 15.6-inch Flagship High-Performance Laptop
The Asus FX Series laptops have been around for some time now and the latest version of the product has received a significant upgrade in terms of hardware specifications. The 15.6-inch display has a 1080p resolution, allowing you to enjoy games at the best visual fidelity which is powered by NVidia GTX 1050. A Ti version could have rendered more frame rates but at the $1000 mark, this is good enough and it also runs on Intel i7 7700HQ processor to compensate any bottlenecks by the GPU. The laptop has 16 GB of RAM with 256 M.2 SSD and 1 TB hard disk to install your game titles. The thickness of the design allows them to incorporate a DVD RW and also ensures that heat is dispersed properly increasing the lifetime of the Asus laptop.
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Multi-Purpose Gaming Laptop with AMD Graphics and CD Disc Tray
Lenovo 15.6-inch Laptop with AMD Radeon Graphics
At first look, this Lenovo may fool most buyers and even gamers because you can hardly guess it houses an actual graphics chip from AMD and powerful specifications to try most multiplayer games. The laptop has a 15.6-inch display which has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixel. It is powered by AMD A12 9720p quad-core processor, paired with AMD Radeon onboard graphics, has 8GB of RAM and 1TB of hard disk storage for keeping all your games intact. The laptop has all the basic ports including Ethernet, memory card reader, USB 3.0, USB Type C, SD card reader and-Fi AC so as to let you play games wirelessly at the fastest possible speed. The Lenovo laptop runs on Windows 10 out of the box and houses a dedicated DVD drive for using your physical media copies. PC games are still being sold in discs and are sometimes cheaper during a sale that you could make use of when you buy a laptop with this feature.
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A Laptop that Merges Business and Gaming with a DVD RW
Dell Inspiron 17.3-inch IPS Panel Laptop with AMD Graphics
The Dell Inspiron should be a hard sell for business people because the display is pretty large, but for gamers who like a more subtle approach to the design, this is a perfect laptop. If you are an office goer and likes a gaming laptop without colorful RGB lights, this model with a large 17.3-inch 1080p IPS display is a great choice. The Dell laptop, however, is a bit expensive at above $1000 but provides excellent build quality and specs. The laptop is powered by an Intel i7 processor, the 8550U with 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of hard disk storage. The DVD, CD writer is an added advantage to transfer files or use old discs you already have purchased. It also has an ethernet port, HDMI, USB Type C and your gaming needs are taken care of by the AMD Radeon 530 graphics chip. The laptop uses the backlit keyboard but has a clean business-like design making it usable in any scenario.
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Other laptops worth buying
Best Laptop With DVD Drive Having A Longer Battery Life
Acer Aspire E 15 Laptop
This is one of the best laptops with DVD drive that is must be included in the list which contains 8X DVD-Super multi double layer drive. This laptop is best for gaming purpose which packs NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics card with 2GB DDR5 VRAM for smooth gaming. Other features include Intel Core i5 6200U Processor clocked at 2.8GHz, a big 15.6 inch full HD display that is just perfect for gaming and watching movies, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD storage etc. for high performance. Also, the backlit keyboard makes it easy to type. With all these, the longer battery life ensures your laptop can be alive for 12 hours due to the high capacity 6-cell Li-Ion battery.
See It On AmazonBest Laptop With Optical Drive From HP
HP Notebook 15-ay011nr
This is another best laptop with an optical drive from HP which comes packed with super-multi DVD along with the read-write optical drive. This one too has a 15.6-inch full HD display with the anti-glare properties and WLED backlit. Inside it packs Intel Core i5 6200U processor along with 8GB RAM. Also, the 1TB hard drive at 5400 rpm ensures that you will hardly run out of memory. It runs on Windows 10 so you will be able to enjoy the latest features as well.
See It On AmazonBest Laptop With CD DVD Drive under $400 dollars
Asus 15.6 inch X540LA-SI30205P Laptop
This laptop is just perfect if you are looking for the one with CD and DVD drive. ASUS has brought this laptop with 15.6-inch full HD display, 5th Generation Intel Core i3 5020U processor, 4GB memory and 1TB hard drive. With all these the main thing that you are looking for is the inclusion of super-multi CD DVD burner. Also, you will get other important features such as webcam, USB 2.0 Bluetooth Adapter etc. Everything starting with watching movies, playing games etc. is fun on this laptop, so it can be no doubt one of the great choices for a laptop with CD Drive.
See It On AmazonOne Of the Best CD DVD Drive Laptop With Amazing Sound Quality
Lenovo IdeaPad 300 Laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad 300 is another great addition to the list which you will get within budget. Lenovo is no doubt a big name in the market of laptops and Lenovo IdeaPad 300 will help you accomplish all your tasks with ease due to its high performing processor. The 6th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB Hard drive, latest Windows 10 operating system and moreover the important feature DVD Read write drive are there to ensure great performance. Another feature which makes it so great is the addition of Dolby speaker that is able to provide greater, louder and of course, better sound.
See It On AmazonBest Laptop With CD Drive Having Excellent Keyboard
Asus F555LA-AB31 Laptop
One more laptop from ASUS which comes packed with double layer read-write DVD so, if you are particularly looking for the ASUS brand, you will have few options to choose from. This laptop is packed with features like 15.6-inch full HD display which is highly sharp and provide enough clarity, the 5th Generation Intel cCorei3 5010U Processor, 4GB RAM, 500 GB 5400 rpm hard drive etc. The keyboard of this laptop is specially designed for easy and comfortable typing. It is ergonomically designed wrapped with IceCool Technology for maintaining a perfect temperature.
See It On AmazonOne of the Best Laptops with CD DVD Drive Great for Gaming
MSI GE62 Apache Pro-004 Laptop
This laptop is bit expensive as it is especially a gaming laptop which is wrapped up with high-end features and specifications. So, if your budget is around $1000, this would be a great choice to look for. Its features include Intel Core i7-6700HQ Quad Core Processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB Hard Drive at 7200 RPM, Super Multi DVD optical Drive, Windows 10 OS, and for gaming it has packed 2GB NVIDIA Geforce GTX960M graphics card. This laptop too has a 15.6-inch display great for watching movies and playing games. Also, the true color technology and the Anti-ghost key are among the special features.
See It On AmazonBest Laptop With DVD Drive Packed With an Excellent Touchscreen
Dell Inspiron i5558-2859BLK Touchscreen Laptop
This Dell laptop has Tray load DVD Drive, the read and write CD DVD for using CD and DVD. The display is 15.6-inch HD with 1366 x 768 pixels with LED lit Truelife touch screen. So, if you are looking for the touchscreen laptop, this might be the best option to go for. Inside it packs Intel core i3 5015U dual-core processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD storage so there is enough memory which does not require you to worry about memory space. It runs on Windows 10 operating system thus lets you enjoy all the latest features.
See It On AmazonBest Laptop With DVD Drive From HP
HP Pavilion 15 Flagship Laptop
2016 newest HP Pavilion 15 is another great laptop with CD/DVD Drive which has high-end features and specification to offer the high-quality performance. The latest Intel Core i7-6700HQ Skylake processor is responsible for offering such fast performance up to 3.5GHz. Also, Tray loads DVD Drive, 8GB RAM, 1TB Hard Drive, 15.6-inch Full HD IPS touch screen are among other important features to mention. It has support for high connectivity as well such as Bluetooth, 11AC WiFi, Gigabit 802, 1G LAN Ethernet etc. This is no doubt one of the best to choose if you are looking for something really great.
See It On AmazonConclusion
If you are looking for one of the best laptops with CD DVD drive you can’t go wrong with any of the laptops listed here. A laptop with an optical drive option is not as popular as it was, but still, there are plenty of models that come in various price ranges to ensure all can afford one. The laptops mentioned here go from $400 to $1000, so you can choose the one that suits your needs and budget best.
If you're on the hunt for the best laptop for graphic design, you've come to the right place. Whatever your budget or specialism, our handy guide has an option that's ideal for your needs.
Best laptops for graphic design: Top 5
01. Microsoft Surface Book 2
02. Lenovo ThinkPad P1
03. Dell Precision 3540
04. MacBook Pro (2018)
05. Huawei MateBook X Pro
Read on for more information on each of our picks
02. Lenovo ThinkPad P1
03. Dell Precision 3540
04. MacBook Pro (2018)
05. Huawei MateBook X Pro
Read on for more information on each of our picks
Whether you need a powerhouse of a machine that'll cope with demanding design work, or a cheaper option that'll help you smash through simple tasks while you're on the go, there's a laptop here for you. If you're not sure where to start, at the bottom of this guide you'll find pointers on what to look for when choosing a laptop for graphic design.
Taking into account its features and price, our overall pick for the best laptop for graphic design right now is the Microsoft Surface Book 2, which, aside from being an excellent all-round laptop, also doubles up as a ridiculously good tablet. Plus, there are some good deals around on the lower specced versions.
If your budget can’t stretch that far, Dell’s new Precision 3540 (number 3) may be the right laptop for you. It’s an affordable quad-core laptop designed for graphics work, with some tasty options such as discrete AMD graphics and a FullHD display. And LG’s recently launched Gram is not only the lightest 17-inch laptop in the world, it’s also more than capable of top-end graphic design work. We were so impressed with it when we reviewed it that it has earned its own spot in our pick of the best laptops for graphic design.
If you can hold out a couple more weeks for a new laptop, it might be worth bookmarking our best Prime day deals page to see if the machine you've chosen is discounted. If not, you'll find the best prices right now on this page.
Prefer working on a desktop PC or Mac? Then take a look at our pick of the best computers for graphic design. And if battery life has you worried, then you may want to check our list of the best power banks available.
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01. Microsoft Surface Book 2
The Surface Book is the ultimate laptop for graphic design
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15-inch PixelSense (3240x2160) | Storage: 256GB - 1TB SSD
Doubles as a tablet
Expensive
Microsoft's Surface Book 2 is an incredible 2-in-1 laptop – even in its lowest spec option. If you're a designer who draws as well, this is the best laptop for graphic design you can get. It’s fast and immensely powerful, thanks to Intel’s quad-core Coffee Lake Core i7-8650 processor and 16GB of RAM. And it boasts an impressive battery life, plus a stunning, crisp display with superb colour accuracy.
It’s also incredibly versatile: use it as a graphics, video or photo-editing workstation on the go, or as a sketchbook. Just detach the screen and use it as a tablet with the Surface Pen (which doesn't come included, our one gripe) or buy the innovative Surface Dial and have an intuitive way of controlling your creative tools. Even better, flip the screen around, reattach it and you can use it to draw at a more natural angle.
Too expensive? If you can cope with less screen real estate, the 13-inch Surface Book 2 is significantly cheaper, with a similar core specification and only slightly less impressive overall performance. For even cheaper, Microsoft's original 13-inch Surface Book remains a ridiculously accomplished laptop, with a smaller price tag. But if you've got the cash, the Surface Book 2 is an utterly fantastic laptop for graphic designers.
Also read: Microsoft Surface Book 2 review
02. Lenovo ThinkPad P1
This amazing laptop is well worth the hefty pricetag
CPU: Intel Core i5, Core i7, Core i9 or Xeon | Graphics: Nvidia Quadro P1000 / P2000 | RAM: 8GB-64GB | Screen: 15.6' Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256-4TB SSD
Fantastic screen
Oodles of performance
The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is one of the most powerful Windows laptops around, and is aimed squarely at high-level content creators. It gives you the option of an Intel Xeon processor and a professional-grade Nvidia Quadro P2000 graphics, up to 64GB of memory and has all the ports you could need (two USB 3, two USB-C Thunderbolt 3, an HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort and SD card reader). This machine sports a slick design, with a slim chassis and a 4K display with 100% AdobeRGB coverage. The screen alone makes it a joy for creative work, but with all the performance it offers too, the ThinkPad P1 is a seriously good laptop for graphic designers.
03. Dell Precision 3540
The best laptop for graphic design if you're on a budget
CPU: Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel UHD 620 / AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 2GB | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256GB SSD
Large 1080p display
8GB RAM may be limiting
Dell’s new 15.6-inch Precision 3540 has a specification that can handle even the most advanced features in tools such as Photoshop and Lightroom. It has an Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with a 1080P display and an entry-level discrete AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 2GB graphics card, which will help with 3D and anything that uses OpenCL. A 256GB fast M.2 SSD, 8GB of system memory and support for Thunderbolt 3 round off a package that’s priced incredibly well as an entry-level computer for visual design.
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04. MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2018)
The latest MacBook Pro doesn’t disappoint
Processor: Intel Core i7-i9 | Graphics: Radeon Pro 555X-Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory | RAM: 16-32GB | Screen: 15-inch 1920x1200 IPS display | Storage: 256-4TB SSD
Very powerful
Expensive
Apple is back on great form with its 15-inch MacBook Pro 2018 with Touch Bar. If you need sheer power – and have the cash – this is one of the best graphic design laptops you can get. The new Macbook Pro offers a substantial upgrade over previous versions. Aimed at creative professionals, this is the most powerful MacBook device ever created, with more RAM, a choice of 8th-generation Intel Core processors (that Apple claims make it up to 70 per cent faster than the MacBook Pro 2017) and better discrete graphics cards. It also comes with blisteringly fast SSDs and a quieter keyboard.
On the downside, there are just four USB-C ports and one headphone jack port, so you’ll need an adapter if you want to plug in an Ethernet cable or legacy hardware. And while the screen is absolutely gorgeous, 4K would have been nice. Nevertheless, the Apple MacBook (2018) gives you the CPU and memory horsepower to make mincemeat of large files and complex tasks – and it absolutely looks the part too.
05. Huawei MateBook X Pro
Design and performance to rival the mighty MacBook Pro
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.9-inch 3K (3,000 x 2,080) | Storage: 512GB SSD
Fantastic display
No SD card slot
Huawei may not be the first name that springs to mind when considering the best laptops for graphic design, but with the Huawei MateBook X Pro, the Chinese company has proved it has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the biggest names in the laptop market. This is a gorgeously designed laptop with a stunning screen (albeit with a rather odd aspect ratio), and it comes packed with cutting edge components that allows it to perform brilliantly, and a battery life that runs rings around many of its rivals. It has a design and performance that rivals the mighty MacBook Pro. Also, it runs Windows 10, so you can install all the digital art apps you're used to using.
Read: Our sister site TechRadar’s Huawei MateBook X Pro review
06. HP ZBook Studio G4 DreamColor
Power meets portability – the G4 has repeatedly proven that it's a fantastic laptop for graphic design
CPU: Intel Xeon CPU | Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro M1200 | RAM: 32GB | Screen: 15.6-inch 3840x2160 | Storage: 512GB SSD
Excellent screen
Relatively slim for power
If you’re looking for all-out power, check out the rip-roaring HP ZBook Studio G4. The top-end model isn’t cheap, but it packs incredible specs including a 15.6-inch 4K DreamColor display that can easily be colour calibrated, a blazing-fast Core Intel Xeon CPU, 32GB RAM, a 512GB SSD and NVIDIA Quadro M1200 dedicated graphics with 4GB VRAM. If you like to connect up your favourite peripherals and monitors, then there’s also a healthy range of ports – it features a Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI port, a legacy VGA connector, SD card reader, one USB 3.0 port, and two USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports. Oh, and let's not forget the Bang & Olufsen speakers in case you want to crank up the tunes while you work.
At just over 2kg (4.6lbs), it won’t break your back carrying it around, and it’s pretty thin at 18mm. If you're worried about security, then you'll be glad of the built-in fingerprint reader and the optional (and extremely fast) HP Z Turbo NVMe PCIe SED (self-encrypting drive) SSDs.
07. Dell XPS 15
A stunning laptop with a top-notch display
CPU: Intel Core i5 | Graphics: GeForce graphics | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6' FHD 1920x1080 Anti-Glare 100% sRGB InfinityEdge display | Storage: 1TB HD/32GB SSD
Amazing screen
Slim and light
The Dell XPS 15 is a truly stunning laptop – and now that the 2017 version has been replaced by the Dell XPS 15 (2018), it's much more affordable, too. For your money, you get the virtually borderless InfinityEdge display at Full HD resolution, a Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM and a 1TB HD and 32GB SSD. Spec it up a little (or a lot, actually) and you can have a 4K display with multi-touch, turning it – with the help of the Dell stylus – into a portable sketchbook. 15.6-inches of UHD definition (3,840 x 2,160) equals a lot of pixels, making for some incredibly sharp images.
Depending on the complexity of the projects you'll be working on, you can pump the Intel HD Graphics 630 GPU up to an impressive Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. We can't imagine what you could possibly be designing that the latter wouldn't be able to handle. If you don’t need a 15-incher, look to the XPS 13, which is perhaps the perfect blend of power and portability.
08. Huawei MateBook 13
The best laptop for graphic design if you're on a budget
CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13-inch 1440p (2,160 x 1,440) | Storage: 256GB-512GB SSD
Relatively affordable
Optional Nvidia graphics
If you aren’t willing or able to fork out the high sums demanded by the most high-end laptops, but you don’t want to compromise on performance, the Huawei MateBook 13 is made for you. Huawei has sensibly built a mid-range MacBook clone that delivers the goods when it comes to processing, so is perfect for students and anyone on a budget. That means ultra-responsive Photoshop performance that can be used for any demanding graphics task you throw at it. With a bright 1440p screen, portable design and Nvidia graphics, it’s not much of a compromise in other areas either.
09. Apple MacBook Air (2018)
The new MacBook Air is perfect for portable graphics work
Processor: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 (dual-core / quad-core) | RAM: 8-16GB | Screen: 13.3' 2,560x1,600 Retina display | Storage: 128GB - 1.5TB SSD | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617
Lightweight and slim
Pricier than original Air
After a much-needed refresh, the MacBook Air (2018) has had a few choice updates that make it a real winner for graphic design work. Although it’s not quite the powerhouse the MacBook Pro is (or some high-end Windows laptops), it now has a bright Retina display, which is a great upgrade over the dated screen in the old Air and better for working with graphic design software. The processor is much faster and will cope with Photoshop, Illustrator, and so on with ease. But Apple has sensibly ensured the Air is as portable as ever, with a seriously lightweight design that makes it a great choice for graphics work on the go.
10. HP ZBook X2
HP's stunning 2-in-1 option takes on the Surface Book 2
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro M620 with 2GB dedicated GDDR5 graphics memory | Memory: 32GB RAM | Screen: 15-inch 1920x1200 | Storage: 512GB SSD
4K multi-touch Dreamcolor display
Bulky
Created specifically with creatives in mind, the HP ZBook X2 packs a serious amount of power, and with it a pretty hefty price tag. But if money is no issue and you're contemplating abandoning a desktop or laptop as a primary creative tool, the HP ZBook X2 deserves a look. It boasts some seriously impressive designer-focused specs, including a stunning 10-bit, 100% Adobe RGB, 4K multi-touch UHD dreamcolour display and extra ports to keep you well connected.
It also comes pre-installed with Adobe's Creative Cloud desktop application for easy access, and sports a fully detachable Bluetooth keyboard so you can switch from laptop to tablet whenever inspiration strikes. That's all backed up with the power of an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM – double that of its Microsoft rival – and NVIDIA Quadro graphics.
However, power requires more juice, so battery life on the ZBook2 is shorter than some of the other laptops featured in this list. It's also heavier than some of its competition, which isn't ideal when you're on the go. That said, while the X2 doesn't come cheap, it's still a serious option for designers looking to liberate themselves from a desktop without compromising on apps and performance.
11. Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
Microsoft’s touchscreen bargain is sleek, light and powerful
CPU: Intel Core i5 - i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD
![Laptops under 400 Laptops under 400](http://www.laptopmag.com/images/wp/laptop-landing/thumb/319636.jpg)
Touchscreen sketching with optional Surface Pen
Lovely new black colour scheme
Too few ports for its size
The Surface Laptop 2 is Microsoft's follow up to its popular original laptop, and once again the company has created a very good laptop for graphic design students. Microsoft has boosted the hardware of the Surface Laptop 2, making it an even better proposition for people looking for the best laptop for graphic design for their needs. As with its predecessor, even the lowest-end model is powerful enough to run Photoshop and Illustrator on a daily basis, and the fact you can use the optional Surface Pen to draw directly on screen makes it even more appealing. It no longer comes with Windows 10 S Mode as default either, instead you get the full Windows 10 experience, which means you can install Creative Cloud apps and other programs easily.
Read: Our sister site TechRadar’s Surface Laptop 2 review
12. LG Gram 17'
A highly capable 17-inch laptop that’s amazingly light and portable
CPU: Intel Core i7-8565U (quad core, 4.6GHz Max Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 17-inch WQXGA (2560x1600) | Storage: 512GB SSD
Amazingly light
Limited upgrade options
![Gaming laptop under 400 Gaming laptop under 400](/uploads/1/2/4/7/124784739/745522706.jpeg)
The LG Gram 17 is a high-spec silver laptop built from a strong and light alloy. 17-inch laptops that are actually capable of serious design work are usually too big, heavy and bulky to be considered portable – but LG has well and truly bucked this trend with this machine. It weighs an impressive 1.34kg, which is comparable to many 13-inch models, and it measures just 1.7cm at its thinnest point, again impressive for a 17-inch laptop. Expect all the performance you’ll need for heavy duty Photoshop edits and effects, all the while looking sumptuous on its 2560x1600 WXGA IPS screen that has 99% sRGB colour coverage. At time of publish, it wasn't yet available in the UK.
Read more: LG Gram 17 review
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Laptops for graphic design: What to look for
So how do you pick the best laptop for your graphic design work? Clearly you'll be guided by what you can afford, which is why we have the best options for all budgets here. But there are a few other things to consider too.
One is power versus portability: you need something that’s thin and light enough to throw in your backpack, but also powerful enough to run your suite of creative tools. You also need to decide whether macOS or Windows is right for you. The former used to be the staple of creative professionals, but it really doesn’t matter what platform you use these days.
Whatever your preferences, each of the machines here will give you all the power and performance you need to hit the ground running with your latest, greatest project.
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