Whether you’re starting down the academic path with illustration, looking for your next daily driver as a working professional or simply looking to cultivate a hobby, you’ve come to the right place. First, though, what makes a good laptop for illustration?
Mightier than the pen
Traditional forms of illustration aren’t going anywhere, but ever-improving technologies and shifting client demands make the PC a far more versatile tool than pen and paper in a wide variety of circumstances. Molly Pukes is a professional illustrator and animator, whose work with the likes of Channel 4 has won them awards; they work with a variety of media, but much of their client work revolves around digital illustration.
“Storage is a given,” says Molly. “When working in illustration, the files you’re using are so massive. Often when I’m working on projects, I have several copies of the same file to provide clients with different options. These files can add up!” They added, “The majority of illustrators I know use the cloud, but when you’re working on a project and you need those files right in front of you, you can’t afford to spend time downloading and uploading them.”
As important as storage is, it shouldn’t be the only criterion to bear in mind. “Processing power is a thing that a lot of people overlook when selecting a laptop to work from. There’s no point having loads of storage if your laptop is struggling to open the programmes you need to access your files.”
Molly also touched on the importance of visuals, not just in creating but in navigating creativity. “Visual interfaces are important. I don’t want menus within menus; I want the interface to be laid out visually. Some laptops have a specific taskbar screen for navigating shortcuts, which can streamline workflow.” And on screens: “when you spend so much of your day looking at a screen, it’s important to maintain your eye health; it’s also important to be able to colour correct properly.”
What should you look for in a laptop for illustration?
Perhaps the most important feature is the graphics processing power. Many laptops use an integrated graphics chip, but a separate GPU board is far more desirable for illustrators; these will be more powerful, and have more internal memory for handling high-intensity graphical tasks (including 3D rendering). Generally speaking, processing power is key, so look for ample RAM as well as a good GPU.
Second up: storage. Working with graphics can fill a hard drive quickly, whether from rendering out high-fidelity final images or gathering gigabytes of voluminous reference material – to say nothing of the space that illustration software can take up by itself (looking at you, Adobe). Look for incorporated SSD storage that enables rapid-fire access to files and applications.
As with pens, pencils and paper, choosing the right laptop as an illustrator is a personal thing. Different features will speak to you, and different specifications will suit you depending on the specifics of your discipline. Where some would prefer the I/O to plug their own graphics tablet in, others might be content using a touchscreen on the laptop itself – in which case, physical flexibility is key.
What follows, then, is a wide-ranging look at the world of laptops for illustrators. Amongst the following ten suggestions, you’ll find inexpensive entry-level notebooks, top-dollar ultra-specced rendering machines, and just about everything in between.
Best laptops for illustrators to buy at a glance
- Best overall: HP Envy x360 15-fe0512na 2-in-1 Laptop - £1299, Currys
- Best for price-no-object portability: Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition - £1749, Amazon
- Best for daily driving: ASUS Zenbook 14 UX3402VA 14" Laptop - £799, Currys
- Best for a sub-£500 sketchbook: LENOVO IdeaPad Duet 5 13.3" 2 in 1 Chromebook - £399, Currys
- Best for non-evil AI integration: HP OmniBook X 14 inch Touchscreen Laptop Next Gen AI PC - 14-fe0000na - £1099, HP
- Best for iOS aficionados: Apple 14" M3 MacBook Pro - £1900, AO
- Best for quietly powerful performance: Dell XPS 14 9440 Laptop - £1399, Amazon
- Best for hybrid working: Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 14" Laptop - £1199, Currys
- Best for an affordable student laptop: Acer Spin 714 Chromebook Plus - £549, John Lewis
- Best for heavyweight illustration work: ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Dual Screen Gaming Laptop - £4099.99, John Lewis
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HP Envy x360 15-fe0512na 2-in-1 Laptop
Best: overall
HP’s Envy x360 line has been consistently putting forward competitive high-end laptops for around a decade. This Envy is no different, but is of course different in a great many ways that matter to the jobbing illustrator. The x360 bit refers to the yogic hinge that allows the Envy to become a flat-top, its own stand or a tablet – an old USP which has aged well from gimmick to ergonomic.
This Envy x360 has 16GB RAM, a godsend for stacking processes or tabbing between the brief and the project. The Intel® Core™ i7-1355U CPU is more than capable, as is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GPU. Granted, the 4GB of VRAM is getting to be a little small against the next generation of GPUs, but this isn’t a concern for anyone but hardcore 3D animators and harder-core gamers.
Ultimately, this iteration of the Envy x360 is practical, and powerfully so for creative practitioners. Its 15.6” screen is plenty large, and its 11-hour battery life is plenty long – particularly for those who like to take their inspiration via more direct means. This machine could be your next workhorse, and a dependable one at that.
Buy now £1299.00, Currys
Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition – 13” OLED, 1TB SSD
Best for: price-no-object portability
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition is another AI-assisted behemoth, one degree of separation closer to Microsoft’s own Copilot AI ‘companion’. While AI has its allure for some, the Surface Pro 11th Edition has some more physical attributes which are absolute winners for the working illustrator.
For one, it is about as abstracted from a laptop as a laptop can get; here, the keyboard section is completely removable, and can be used independently of the screen/main unit as well – a first for 2-in-1 keyboards. The screen is an OLED powerhouse, and touch-sensitive; its touch-sensitivity comes in especially handy when used in tandem with the Surface Slim Pen 2 (unfortunately, sold separately).
16GB OF RAM and a terabyte of SSD storage seal the deal for the Surface Pro 11th Edition’s credentials as a powerful laptop for illustrators, but the cost – and cost of additional peripherals – could be a bit above most workhorse budgets.
Buy now £1749.00, Amazon
ASUS Zenbook 14 UX3402VA 14" Laptop
Best for: daily driving
ASUS’ Zenbook series has been a solid choice for ultrabooks since its early-teenies debut – quite literally, too, thanks to the sturdy aluminium chassis that set them apart from flimsier laptops elsewhere. This Zenbook 14 is a particular draw (geddit) for illustrators, in large part due to its high-resolution OLED touchscreen.
The Zenbook 14 UX3402VA has a 14” screen, but does a lot with it. This can also be said of the Zenbook’s chassis, which offers superb connectivity via two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, a HDMI port and a microSD slot. The Intel Core i5 processor could stand to be plussed-up for something more powerful, but at this price – and between the solid screen and practical I/O – this Zenbook 14 is a great daily driver.
Buy now £799.00, Currys
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 13.3" 2 in 1 Chromebook
Best for: a sub-£500 sketchbook
Lenovo’s IdeaPad Duet 5 bears more resemblance to a tablet than a laptop. Between its detachable keyboard and ChromeOS operating system, it acts more like a tablet than most laptops too. This chameleon computer is a mix of everything that makes either great, and, with a few caveats, is a powerful sketchbook too.
The price is an accessible one, to say the least. Not everyone needs a four-figure portable powerhouse, nice as it would indeed be; this plays to its less-expensive strengths, being a small, light and hence easily portable little device. Its small screen is plenty big for sketching – and it’s OLED too, so colours are better represented.
This is an ideal digital sketchbook, with the hardware to enable your daily administrative tasks too. Its two USB-C outlets support additional monitors, and its 8GB of RAM are plenty for handling your emails and your Sketchbook project.
Buy now £399.00, Currys
HP OmniBook X 14 inch Touchscreen Laptop Next Gen AI PC - 14-fe0000na
Best for: non-evil AI integration
AI is a touchy subject in illustration. We could write for hours about the illicit training of visual generative AI models on independent artists’ material, the plagiaristic outcomes of using said AI models and the overarching impacts on employment in creative industries – but we’ll kindly refrain. Besides, there’s no reason illustrators can’t benefit from some of the more benign applications of this Marmite-like new technology.
HP has jumped headlong into integrating AI in its laptops, along with dozens of other brands eager to hitch their wagons to the AI train. This is the Omnibook X, a 14-inch touchscreen laptop that boasts, amongst other things, AI integration to make your life as a user easier. The Omnibook X can learn from regular usage, and lessen the steps between you and productivity as a result.
The Omnibook X is plenty powerful for visual work, and the touchscreen is always handy; a little-acknowledged corner of working in illustration is the sheer amount of meetings involved – day in, day out, from client to client and project to project. The Omnibook X is a winner here too, for its smart AI-assisted video-calling tech that improves both voice and image.
Buy now £1099.00, HP
Apple 14" M3 MacBook Pro
Best for: iOS aficionados
It’s not a laptop lineup if Apple doesn’t make an appearance. Many of us are Mac-attached, whether out of familiarity, allegiance or necessity – the latter being a crucial reason many creatives are wedded to their MacBook. And MacBook this is, being the latest MacBook Pro that benefits from Apples’ own M3 integrated chip.
MacBooks have long been associated with creative industries, from graphic design to music to, naturally, illustration. This one boasts many of the modern features that have kept Apple a favourite amongst certain illustrators, from the vibrant Retina screen – that shows detail without fatiguing the eyes –, to an uber-powerful chip that nails graphics processing.
The M3 MacBook Pro was always going to be an excellent shout for the professional illustrator, especially if they already have time and experience with iOS-exclusive apps like ProCreate.
Buy now £1900.00, AO
Dell XPS 14 9440 Laptop
Best for: quietly powerful performance
The Dell XPS 14 9440 is an unassuming laptop at first glance, with a generic chassis design that belies its better internal qualities. An Intel Core Ultra 7 processor runs the show, and is particularly geared towards the streamlining of creative processes and applications. 16GB of RAM amply handles the stacking of tasks, and 512GB of SSD storage is a great start for hosting large project files.
Unassuming as the chassis is, it also hides some modern conveniences – including a glass touchpad with haptic feedback, that makes navigating admin a little bit sleeker and more comfortable between illustrating tasks. The £1000-plus price point isn’t quite justified by a HD-only screen, but this XPS 14 is otherwise well-apportioned for regular work.
Buy now £1399.00, Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 14" Laptop
Best for: hybrid working
Samsung’s technological prowess needn’t be litigated here, ubiquitous as the brand name is across smartphones, semiconductors and crucial computer innovations over the last 50 years. Samsung’s Galaxy computers bring the name full-circle, and the Galaxy Book4 Pro unsurprisingly reflects Samsung’s esteem.
The Book4 Pro is powerful and well-built, but an especially great laptop for illustrators on account of its AMOLED touchscreen. 3K resolution and vivid colour contrast makes it easier to spot prospective revisions, and the touchscreen makes tactile touch-ups a breeze.
The 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM is great for enabling the juggling of software, and the two Thunderbolt ports make it even easier to triple your screens with high-res monitors. This is an excellent choice for hybrid working, being ideal for plugging in peripherals and light enough to grab and go to your next client meeting.
Buy now £1199.00, Currys
Acer Spin 714 Chromebook Plus
Best for: an affordable student laptop
The Acer Spin 714 is a convertible chromebook with a compelling touchscreen, sturdy and well-suited to getting buffeted around a little. The Spin’s specs aren’t going to set anyone’s world alight – after all, an integrated graphics chip and 8GB of RAM can be quite hamstring-y for more involved software (looking at you again, Adobe) and larger project files.
Nonetheless, they’ll more-than-manage most illustrative tasks outside of the Big Suite, as well as the administrative necessities of the burgeoning illustration student. This entrant in Acer’s flexible laptop range is the perfect balance of price and capability for someone starting to explore digital illustration – and a well-priced foldything overall.
Buy now £549.99, John Lewis
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Dual Screen Gaming Laptop
Best for: heavyweight illustration work
It might be a bit jarring to see an edgily-designed, RBG-rich gaming laptop in a round-up of laptops for illustrators – particularly one that’s asking you to fork out over £4000 to own it. However, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is an unlikely contender for being an excellent illustration workhorse.
The most obvious reason for this would be the second tilt-up touchscreen, situated above the keyboard. This has the potential to improve your workflow considerably, whether it hosts toolbars in illustration software, a notepad for meetings or simply your reference materials when working. ASUS’ less ostentatious Zenbook Duos have this feature, though – so why the ROG?
That extra dosh isn’t just paying for a light-up keyboard. It’s also paying for powerful graphics processing, allowing you to do the heaviest-duty of heavy-duty illustration and touch-up tasks on the move. This is the break-the-bank set-up for a polyglot visual creative with 3D sculpting chops, and it’s a bonus that it can run Crysis too. Oh, and it lights up.
Buy now £4099.00, John Lewis
Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition is an objectively excellent choice as a laptop for illustrators, with brilliant internals and a literally brilliant screen – but the additional cost incurred by branded peripherals might exceed some budgets.
Our pick for the best laptop for illustrators is the HP Envy x360 15-fe0512na 2-in-1 Laptop, which combines powerful processing with practical utility.
