Laptops for digital art
Overview
This document provides some advice for buying a laptop where you will connect it to a drawing tablet.
If you are looking for a laptop that works like a drawing tablet, go here: Standalone: en-enabled laptop recommendations
The community can help you!
Please make use of the community (for example on reddit) to get feedback and guidance on a laptop for your needs.
Reddit: r/SuggestALaptop
Reddit: r/DigitalPainting
Operating System
There are three possible operating systems for laptops:
Windows
MacOS
ChromeOS
Frist, I DO NOT recommend getting a ChromeOS laptop (aka chromebook). In my testing they do not work well with drawing tablets. See: Connecting a drawing tablet to a ChromeOS device.
This leaves Windows or MacOS as choices for your laptop.
Neither Windows or MacOS is better at using drawing tablets. Both have advantages and disadvantages with how they work with drawing tablets.
Here are some considerations for choosing:
Which one that supports the apps you want to use? Some apps are Windows-only and some Mac-only. Some apps like Photoshop work on both.
Which one is similar to laptops you already have? If you are used to using Windows, then staying with Windows for the laptop is generally an easier thing.
If you are buying one for school, what is everyone else using? Does the school have a recommendation?
Processor
I'm not knowledgeable enough to give an exact list. But I can share some thoughts.
Drawing tablets themselves don't strain the processor of laptops.
The specific apps you are using is what places require what does affect your choice is the apps that you use and how you use them. For example
3D apps would general need more powerful processors
2D apps usually don't have such high requirements
RAM
Your choice depends on the the apps and kinds of work you are going to be doing.
3D apps tend to need more powerful processors, GPUs, and more RAM
2D apps can get by with not much ram (8 GB) but definitely more is better - especially if you work with lots of layers
These days the minimum I would recommend is 16GB of RAM. 16GB works will for me when I do 2D illustration using Krita and Clip Studio Paint.
4GB
NOT ENOUGH. AVOID.
8GB
OK. Should be fine basic 2D art. Good place to start for a beginner.
16GB
GOOD. The average person will be fine here and will be able to handle a decent workload.
32GB
EXCELLENT.
Pen display connection
The biggest mistake people make in buying a laptop is in not verifying how they will connect a pen display to it. You would be surprised how many times someone buys a laptop and only then realizes there isn't a way to physically connect it. Sometimes this can be solved with adapters and docks, but sometimes not. Do not make this mistake.
Before you buy a laptop, please ensure that you are clear how you intend to connect it to your pen display. More here: Connecting a pen display
I recommend that you get a laptop with at least 1 USB-C port that supports DP-alt mode (any thunderbolt 3 or thunderbolt 4 port will so). Ideally, a laptop should have two such ports. See: USB-C DisplayPort alt mode
If you want to connect to a pen display with a single USB-C cable, you should really this document to ensure you understand the requirements for ports and cables: Connecting a pen display with a single USB-C cable.Power consumption
Pen tablets don't draw much power at all from a laptop, so it won't diminish your battery time.
Pen displays on the other hand draw a lot of power and if your laptop is powering your pen display, then it is going to limit the time your laptop can work on battery power.
For a pen display, you should either
Keep the laptop connected to power from the wall.
Or, connect the pen display to get power from another source.
Simultaneous monitors supported
If you are getting as pen display it essential will act as another monitor.
So you should verify your laptop can handle that many monitors.
Some laptops for example can only handle two displays: their built in display and external monitor.
Some laptops can handle 3 displays simultaneously
And a few laptops can handle 4
Laptops have used and I recommend
2023 M3 MacBook Pro - 2023 M3 MacBook Pro
Surface Laptop 5 & 6 (but NOT 7 - see the note on Windows on ARM Below)
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360
Laptops I have not used but should work well
Check the reviews for these laptops
Surface Laptop Studio
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360
ASUS ProArt PX13
ASUS ProArt P16
Notes on specific kinds of laptops
Windows ARM laptops
When Windows ARM laptops launched in 2024, drawing tablet drivers did not support ARM processors. Now, they do.
However, ARM support for tablet drivers is very new, so consider Intel-based Windows laptops until we've had more experience using ARM on Windows.
More here: Windows on ARM.
Ports
Ideally I think a laptop should have:
AT LEAST 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports or 2 USB-C USB4 ports
The more ports Thunderbolt or USB4, the better
1 USB-A port
1 full-size HDMI port
1 headphone jack for audio
Keep in mind some power adapters may need to use one of the USB-C ports.
Videos
Brad Colbow - Top 5 Laptops for Artists 2021 2021/11/19
Ergojosh - 4 Reasons Why I Switched to Mac! [Digital Artist] 2021/11/12
Resources
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