The world of art has revolutionized in recent years, straying away from pen and paper and further segmenting the diverse art industry to a new, modern form: digital art. While it hasn't totally eclipsed the traditional art styles yet, it's becoming ever more popular due to the accessibility with modern technology like smartphones, tablets and laptops. Nowadays, any and everyone can become an artist, and that's why today we're going to be checking out some of the best laptops for art students to help beautify the world with art in any form.
As you know, 'art' is a broad term which encapsulates things like paintings, sculptures, tapestries, to now art created digitally, graphic design, animation, and more. Since there's just so much to consider, we're going to try and recommend the best laptops for a broad range of art student. From Fine Arts undergrads to graphic design students, the laptops we'll recommend today will most likely fit with any art student.
Before that though, let's take a look at some of the specs we recommend as well as some minimum specs in case you're on a tight budget. Let's get in to it!
Minimum & Recommended Specs
For the most part, the laptops we're going to need for both Fine Arts and Digital Arts programs will be pretty similar in terms of internal specs. Having the specs stated below as a base will ensure at the least consistent performance.
Minimum Specs
This is a good base for a somewhat decently specced laptop. Mostly though, you're going to find laptops which trump these specs relatively easily, but it's a good reference for your own personal understanding. The best laptop for art students will need a core competency in three major specs. These include the processor, RAM and graphics card.
Processor
The processor is the main piece of hardware keeping your laptop in check. It will handle most CPU tasks like general browsing, typing in a Word document and watching movies. But it will also play a part in any art software and graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, etc. We've mentioned a base spec of something similar to an Intel Core i3, but you're better off checking out our recommended spec below.
RAM
The RAM handles your multitasking processes, basically keeping things running in the background. This makes it easier to manage, and also helps in loading things on your laptop much faster. 4GB RAM is a good base, again, it's best you check out our recommended specs below.
GPU
Lastly, the GPU will handle all graphically intensive programs and tasks you're doing on your laptop. This could mean a number of things like gaming, graphic design, digital art platforms, and video editing. It's an important spec that you'll need if you're going to be working with anything related to images, video, and graphic intensive programs.
That being said, let's now take a look at what we'd recommend you get for the best laptop for art students.
Recommended Specs
If you're in anyway familiar with the laptop industry and tech, you'll notice there's a steep incline in terms of power from the minimum specs.
Display
Firstly, we're going to recommend art students to find a laptop with a Full HD display or better. This is as a FHD resolution is essentially 1080p, making any and everything you seen on screen in high-resolution. It makes things clearer and crisper, an important spec you best be aware of, especially if you're working with colors, images, and drawings.
Processor
Next up, we're recommending you find a powerful processor like one of the latest Intel Core i5 processor or Intel Core i7 processor. Essentially you're going to need to find a laptop with at least a quad-core processor. Even something dated like the 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8565U will be pretty capable. A powerful, speedy and capable quad-core processor will help all programs and tasks execute efficiently with little to no lag in performance.
RAM
For our memory and storage capacities, we're going to recommend you find a 8GB RAM or better accompanied with at least 512GB SSD storage. This will be more than capable to handle all programs you're going to need, and any less than this and you might be met with some freezes, slowdowns and crashes. The memory your laptop has dictates how much your laptop can handle at any given time, adding in a boost like a 16GB of RAM will get you the best performance.
GPU
Lastly, we're going to recommend finding a Discrete GPU rather than an Integrated unit. This is because a discrete GPU is a much more capable performer, and anything from the NVIDIA GTX or NVIDIA GeForce RTX lineup will serve your purposes well.
Now that we better understand what specs you're going to need, let's take a look at some great extras that'll add in additional value for art students.
Features To Look For
1. Touch Display
One important feature we should highlight is a touch-screen display. This is simple enough to understand why this would be beneficial for art students, but we're going to recommend you find a laptop with a 2-in-1 functionality specifically. This is because having a touch-screen that is capable of turning into a tablet form factor will make it much easier to use touch-gestures and inputs via a digital pen or stylus.
Basically, hand drawing / writing on a tablet which is a great feature with numerous applications. It's a worthy feature that I think can greatly enhance a laptop for any student, and which will probably be featured on the overall best laptop for digital art students.
2. Portability
Portability is a feature that you can section off into two parts. How much the laptop weighs and how much battery life it has. We'll be talking about the battery life separately, so we'll mostly focus on the portability features related to weight and form factor. Portability is a feature that not many take into consideration, but has increasingly become more popular over the last couple of years. These days, you're going to find a variety of screen sizes fit into smaller laptop bodies. This is an ideal setup as you're getting more screen real estate, and still being easy to carry.
If you're going to be using this laptop when you're out and about, you're going to need a laptop that's easy to carry. It'll undoubtedly make things so much easier on your back and shoulders. Thank me then.
3. Battery Life
Battery life is another feature that affects portability, and that's simply because how much battery life indicates how long you can use the laptop untethered to a charger. It makes it easier to move around when you can depend on your laptop battery life, especially during class or when you're at the library. Plus, not needing to carry a charge for a hectic day as an art student? I think that'll be a great added value for almost any user. The best laptop for fine art students should have an accompanying long battery power, so keep that in mind during our search.
Now that we've highlight basically every essential feature, let's get straight into our search for the best laptops for art students!
Best Laptops For Art Students
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is an excellent choice for any art student around. With the focus on productivity and versatility, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a capable, premium 2-in-1 convertible laptop. You get a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with a 2736 x 1824 resolution. The 'laptop' does come in a tablet form factor, but you can purchase the Surface Pen and Surface Type Cover for a fully fledged experience. These two pieces of hardware is essential to the experience for an art student, which will greatly benefit from using on-screen touch-inputs with the Surface Pen.
On the inside, you're getting one of the latest Intel Core i7 processors, 16GB RAM and a sizable 512GB SSD in a small, compact design. It doesn't get better than this really, especially for those looking for a laptop that's lightweight, premium, with consistent performance. You're also getting some great extra features like up to 10.5 hours of battery life, Windows Hello sign in, two HD webcams, a built-in kickstand and weighs in at just 1.7lbs.
Overall, a fantastic flagship convertible laptop, for a premium price tag. For a cheaper, somewhat similar 'Microsoft' experience, check out the Microsoft Surface Go mentioned below in the Honorable Mentions. The Microsoft Surface Go is a great alternative if you really wanted a cheap, 2-in-1 laptop experience.
2. Lenovo Flex 5
For a more traditional laptop for art students experience, the Lenovo Flex 5 is another great 2-in-1 capable laptop with great specs and versatility. The Lenovo Flex 5 comes with a 14-inch screen with a FHD resolution and touch-screen capabilities. Similar to some other laptops on the list, you're getting a pretty great screen with versatile use-cases thanks to the 360º hinge which allows for 4 various modes: laptop mode, tablet mode, stand mode, and tent mode.
Under the hood, you're getting some capable performance as well starting off with an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U mobile processor. You also get 16GB RAM and a decently sized 256GB SSD. So far, a well equipped laptop with great versatility in terms of performance and form factor. You're also met with some great extra features like a built-in digital pen included, up to 10 hours of battery life with 0-80% charge in an hour, webcam privacy shutter, and a fully array of ports. For those looking for a powerful laptop in a familiar form factor, the Lenovo Flex 5 is well suited to the task.
However, even though this laptop is fairly affordable, for a cheaper, similar experience, check out the Acer Spin 3 that we mention below in the Honorable Mentions.
3. Microsoft Surface Book 2
If you were still keen on getting a Microsoft device, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a great option for a considerable discount. Mainly as the Microsoft Surface Book 2 isn't the latest in the Surface Book lineup. But still, it's a very capable laptop, featuring a 13.5-inch PixelSense multi-touch screen with a high-resolution of (3240 x 2160). Compared to the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, the Surface Book 2 features a detachable keyboard, so it's the best of both worlds really.
On the internals, you're getting a fairly dated 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8650U, 8GB RAM and a standard 256GB SSD. However, you do get a discrete GPU in the form of a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM. All together, the laptop has some great value that's perfect for an art student looking to find a 2-in-1 device that's a bit more affordable. The processor is actually a slight upgrade over the Intel Core i7-8565U I mentioned earlier, cementing this as a capable performer.
Other standout features on the Microsoft Surface Book 2 includes Windows 10 Pro, four modes of use: laptop mode, tablet mode, Studio mode, view mode, and up to 13.5 hours battery life. All together, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 has great value as a slightly dated, cheaper high-end best laptop for art students.
4. Apple MacBook Pro
For those art students with an inclination to Apple's lineup of laptops, the latest Apple MacBook Pro is a great choice. Since MacBook Pro lineup has always been a favorite for many artists ranging from graphic designers, video content creators, and music artists, it's no surprise it's on our list this time around. The latest MacBook Pro features the patented 13.3-inch Retina display with some great built-in features for a better viewing experience. This includes a P3 wide color gamut, True Tone technology and up to 500 nits of brightness.
On the inside, the MacBook Pro features a octa-core CPU, the Apple M1 Chip, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD storage. While it is straying away from the standard Intel Quad-Core processor lineup, so far, reviews have stated it's a very competent SoC. Meaning, you're going to be more than capable to handle anything in your art program and classes.
If you need a laptop that is high-specced, premium with a gorgeous design aesthetic, the MacBook Pro fits the description to a T. Of course, being an Apple device, you get some great extra features like the Touch Bar, Touch ID, HD Facetime webcam, backlit scissor keyboard, and up to 20 hours battery life. The latest MacBook is the best Mac laptop for art students looking for a high-quality, dependable and attractive laptop with the only downfall being a high price.
5. Dell XPS 15 9500
Last up on the list we've got the Dell XPS 15 which is a great choice if you wanted a traditional Windows 10 laptop. The Dell XPS 15 features a 15.6-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200, inching it slightly over the standard 1920 x 1080 resolution. The design you get with this laptop isn't conventional, but showcases a great, minimalist silver toned theme with the contrasting deep black carbon fiber palm rest.
Where the Dell XPS 15 truly shines is with some great on-board hardware. You're getting the latest Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. Great specs that'll get pretty much everything you need done, with the exception of the rather weak Intel HD Graphics GPU. Still, the laptop features some great extras like Windows 10 Home, quad-speaker setup, Wi-Fi 6 support, and up to 25 hours of battery. As a whole, the Dell XPS 15 has a lot to offer for art students looking for the best of the best laptops around.
While it may be dwarfed by some other laptops on the list, it's still a very impressive machine with great all-round specs in a stunning design.
For those looking for a few more laptops, check out some of the honorable mentions below.
Honorable Mentions
1. Microsoft Surface Go 2
2. LG Gram
4. Acer Spin 3
Conclusion
All in all, an impressive collection of the best laptops for art students. All of them have their own specific pros and cons, but for the most part, all the laptops on the list will serve well for most needs.
However, we do need to pick one as the best overall and this time our winner is the Lenovo Flex 5!
This laptop gets you everything you need with capable internals, versatility, and a built-in digital pen to get you straight into your artwork. Not to mention the affordable price tag and attractive minimalist design, the Lenovo Flex 5 is a great choice for any student looking to move up in the world of the Arts.
