Every web and a graphic designer needs a laptop that is functional considering their line of work, but when it comes to the designers who are running their own business, the choice becomes more specific. 

Since there are different types of laptops, choosing the right one that fits creative work such as graphic designing can be a daunting task. Whether you own a design company or you are a freelance designer, you simply cannot afford to invest in the wrong laptop.

You want to buy a portable laptop that has a strong battery life and is the right weight, among other powerful components and considerations. You also need to realize that the best laptop brand is the one that provides the right spec for your needs.

Price is the number one factor to consider when buying a gadget it should be worth it. If it’s out of budget, try looking for stores that offer laptop monthly payments, online. 

Choosing the ideal laptop for graphic design and creative work requires a few considerations.

Here are 7 critical points to consider for designers when looking for a new laptop:

Operating System:

Which software do you plan to use? Is it available on any particular operating system; Windows or Mac? Asking yourself these questions is important because they will guide you to make the right decision. This because not all applications or software are applicable across the platform, for instance, Autodesk 3ds Max runs only on Windows. However, many Adobe graphic applications are supported on both Mac and Windows.

Storage and Specs:

An ideal laptop for a graphic designer should have enough storage. It’s a wise idea to invest in an SSD to enable your system to load fast, save and open files fast. Various laptop offer both SSD (Solid States Drives) and slower HDD (Hard Disk Drives) which gives you a taste of both worlds. However, you can go ahead and install OS on the fast SSD and store your huge files on the spacious but slower HDD. 13 inch laptops have a one slot storage drive whereas 15 inch have more slot storage drives.

Remember to check with the software’s manufacturer or website for their supported system specifications. This will give you a good starting point when choosing your computer’s specification. Today, many graphic designing laptops are powerful even at entry level.

RAM and Processor:

RAM is the memory used to store your work, e.g. Photoshop layers that you haven’t saved yet, other applications opened in the background but not in use and your browser windows. A laptop of 8GB RAM is the very least you should get. The recommended RAM of a graphic designing laptop should be above 16GB. On the hand, the processor should either be a duo or quad core.

Graphic Card:

If you are designer creating 2D work then you can settle for a normal graphic card. The high-end graphic card has the ability to move around a highly detailed or a textured 3D model with no complications. A mid-range graphic card means that it’s suitable for 3D work and can move around without lag.

Panel Type and Weight:

When it comes to choosing the right laptop for graphic design, it’s better to get an IPS panel that will provide the widest viewing angle. This kind of laptop will enable you to view the same color no matter the angle of the screen.

As for weight, portability is a major thing to consider. If you carry your laptop around with you, you should choose a lighter one and these days there are several that fit the bill for that feature.

Screen Size and Resolution:

Your laptop screen size and resolution affects your productivity. A resolution of 1920×1080 pixels should be able to provide enough working space and still show control palettes and menus. The large screen will allow you to see details clearer and make it easier to click on menu. A laptop with at least a 15-inch screen and 1920 by 1080 resolution is a good choice.

Battery Life:

When it come to graphic applications, they can be processor intensive and use a lot of battery power. This is the reason why you need to invest in a laptop that offers the longest lasting battery life.

Conclusion

As you can see, these are the some of the main things as a graphic designer you should look for in a laptop. Our preference is to choose a laptop that has at least SSD storage, IPS panel with at least 1080P resolution and comes with a minimum of at least 2 years of warranty.