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Best Laptops For Drawing & Animation in 2023

  • Danielle Slauter
  • Jun 14, 2022
  • 7 min read
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Unleash your creativity with these laptops.


Choosing a laptop to create with is very different than choosing a laptop to do your standard work on. Considering drawing and animation are highly-visual and creative tasks, having a laptop that can handle the workload you’re giving it is crucial. You’re going to want a high-res and color-accurate screen, powerful processor, and solid graphics. But does that laptop even exist?


Thankfully, there are plenty of great laptops out there when it comes to drawing and animation. We’ve picked our top seven favorites to help you embark on your creative pursuits. Each piece of tech listed here is even eligible for a Student Beans discount, saving you even more money!


1. Apple MacBook Pro — $1,999.00


It’s no secret that the Apple MacBook Pro has been the go-to choice for artists and animators for quite some time now. The recent design overhaul and much-needed boost in power makes it arguably the best option on the market right now. This laptop essentially does everything (except for gaming).


Apple’s M1 Pro processor is based on the latest technology, meaning it’s fast and a total powerhouse. It’s perfect for heavy amounts of drawing and 2D animation, along with plenty of 3D animation as well. The Liquid Retina screen provides a beautiful display for high-contrast and vibrant colors.


What’s in the box


  • MacBook Pro

  • USB-C charging cable

  • 61W USB-C Power Adapter


Technical specs


  • Operating system: iOS

  • RAM: 8GB

  • Processor: 8-core GPU

  • Storage: 256GB

  • Screen resolution: 1680 x 1050

  • Screen size: 13.3-inch

  • Screen type: LED

  • Battery life: 20 hours

  • Battery type: 58.2-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery

  • Audio connections: Stereo speakers with high dynamic range

  • Webcam: 720p FaceTime HD camera

  • Colors: Space gray or silver


Pros


  • Insanely fast

  • Beautiful display

  • Brilliant speakers


Cons

  • Touch bar is annoying




The smallest laptop on the list, there’s still plenty of power in this piece of tech. Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio was made for creatives. It comes with a stylus and was designed specifically to be used with the stylus, making it one of the best options for artists and animators of all sorts.


If you travel a lot around campus, this super portable laptop is the perfect choice. It’s able to run all your creative software, including 3D animation tech like Blender, Maya, and Zbrush. Grab the keyboard sold separately to turn this device into a full-fledged laptop in no time.


What’s in the box


  • Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

  • Intel® Core™ i5:65W Surface Power Supply

  • Intel® Core™ i7:102W Surface Power Supply


Technical specs


  • Operating system: Windows 11

  • RAM: 16GB or 32GB

  • Processor: Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ H35 i5-11300H

  • Storage: Removable solid-state drive (SSD) options: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1TB, 2TB

  • Screen resolution: 2400 x 1600

  • Screen size: 14.4-inch

  • Screen type: LED

  • Battery life: 19 hours

  • Audio connections: Quad Omnisonic™ speakers with Dolby Atmos®

  • Webcam: 1080p resolution front facing camera

  • Colors: Silver


Pros


  • Doubles as a drawing tablet

  • Excellent color accuracy

  • Incredible stylus


Cons


  • Only USB-C ports



3. Asus TUF Dash 15 — $939.00


If you’re looking for a great drawing and animation laptop for under $1,000, be sure to check out the Asus TUF Dash 15. This model is the perfect blend of price, power, and features that makes it a worthy competitor to its more expensive counterparts.


You’re cutting some corners on extra bells and whistles, but not in areas where it counts. The display, processing power, and graphics are all top-notch. This laptop handles graphic design and color work well, best-suited for artists and 2D animators.


What’s in the box


  • Asus TUF Dash 15 laptop

  • Power adapter and cord


Technical specs


  • Operating system: Windows 11

  • RAM: 8GB DDR4 on board, 8GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM, Max Capacity: 24GB

  • Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-11370H Processor 3.3 GHz, 4 cores (12M Cache, up to 4.8GHz)

  • Storage: 512GB PCIe® 3.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD

  • Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080

  • Screen size: 15.6-inch

  • Screen type: LED

  • Battery life: 16.6 hours

  • Battery type: 76WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion

  • Audio connections: 2-speaker system

  • Webcam: N/A

  • Colors: Eclipse Gray


Pros


  • Great value

  • Strong build

  • Great color display


Cons


  • No webcam

  • Single color on keyboard



4. Dell XPS 15 — $1,861.99


The XPS is one of Dell’s most premium laptops, with a sleek design that emulates the luxe vibe it gives off. It’s even arguably more stylish than the Microsoft Surface Pro or the Dell XPS. As far as the screen goes, you can get 4K or 1080p, depending on what you need out of your laptop.


Another huge feature the XPS boasts is that the RAM and is user-upgradable, which is perfect when you need that extra bit of memory to get you along. This laptop is best suited for drawing and 2D animation, able to handle bigger workloads without even hesitating.


What’s in the box


  • Dell XPS 15 laptop

  • Charging cable


Technical specs


  • Operating system: Windows 11

  • RAM: 16 GB, 2 x 8 GB, DDR4, 3200 MHz

  • Processor: 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-11800H

  • Storage: 512 GB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD

  • Screen resolution: 3.5K, 3456 x 2160

  • Screen size: 15.6-inch

  • Screen type: OLED

  • Touch screen: Yes

  • Battery life: 13 hours

  • Battery type: 6 Cell, 86 Wh, integrated

  • Audio connections: Stereo woofer 2.5 W x 2 and stereo tweeter

  • Webcam: 720p at 30 fps HD camera

  • Colors: Platinum Silver, Arctic White


Pros


  • Incredible OLED screen

  • Powerful CPU

  • Solid battery life


Cons


  • Price

  • USB-C only



5. Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 — $1,439.99


If you need a laptop that can handle a huge creative workload and plenty of gaming, the Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 6 laptop needs to be your choice. With a top of the line graphics processor, well-designed cooling system, and sturdy design, you’ll love using this laptop for work and play.


Both the CPU and GPU are the best you can get on the market right now, and the 165 Hz rate is worth noting as well. While it’s not quite as flashy as a MacBook Pro, this is a great laptop if you’re looking for a drawing and animation laptop on a budget.


What’s in the box


  • Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 6 (16") AMD

  • 300W AC Adapter

  • 4 Cell 80Wh Internal Battery


Technical specs


  • Operating system: Windows 11

  • RAM: Up to 32 GB DDR4 3200MHz

  • Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800H (3.20 GHz, up to 4.40 GHz Max Boost, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 16 MB Cache)

  • Storage: Up to 2 TB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD

  • Screen resolution: 2560 x 1600

  • Screen size: 16-inch

  • Screen type: LED

  • Battery life: 5 hours

  • Battery type: Lithium Ion batteries

  • Audio connections: 2 x 2W Harman® Speakers with Nahimic Audio

  • Webcam: 720p with E-Shutter

  • Colors: Storm Gray


Pros


  • Anti-glare coating

  • Excellent cooling

  • 165 Hz refresh rate


Cons


  • Average camera

  • Heavier



6. Asus Zenbook Flip 13 OLED — $1,149.99


While not as well known as their Apple, HP, or Dell counterparts, Asus is quietly working in the background, producing impressive laptops with an even more impressive list of features. The Asus Zenbook Flip 13 is no exception. Oh, did we mention it’s also a 2-in-1?


The touchscreen works with your finger or a stylus, making it a true 2-in-1 in every sense of the phrase. The OLED screen also means the display is top-notch, displaying colors with huge accuracy and vibrancy. It easily handles all your drawing and animation tasks.


What’s in the box


  • Asus Zenbook Flip 13 OLED laptop

  • Laptop sleeve

  • USB-C to audio jack adapter

  • Stylus

  • USB-A to ethernet adapter


Technical specs


  • Operating system: Windows 11

  • RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4

  • Processor: ‎2.8 GHz Intel Core i7

  • Storage: ‎1 TB flash memory, solid state

  • Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080

  • Screen size: 13.3-inches

  • Screen type: OLED

  • Battery life: 11 hours

  • Battery type: Lithium ion

  • Audio connections: SonicMaster

  • Webcam: HD camera with IR function to support Windows Hello

  • Colors: Pine Gray


Pros


  • Compact and lightweight

  • Fast-charging

  • Exceptional screen display


Cons


  • Cooling is an issue

  • No fingerprint reader



7. Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo — $3,499.99


Dual screens? DUAL SCREENS! Yes, Asus has changed the game for artists and animators by adding in a second screen to increase your productivity. The second touchscreen lives on your keyboard deck, allowing you to have multiple windows open at a time without sacrificing computing speed.


You’ll seriously never be able to live without it once you try it. Have your main drawing screen open on the bigger display, and have all your refs on the smaller screen below. File management is also easier thanks to this feature. We could sing its praises all day, but it’s worth noting the laptop is also great for gaming!


What’s in the box


  • Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo laptop

  • Stand

  • Stylus

  • Palmrest


Technical specs


  • Operating system: Windows 11

  • RAM: ‎32 GB DDR4

  • Processor: ‎2.1 GHz core i9

  • Storage: 2000 GB flash memory solid state

  • Screen resolution: 3840 x 2160

  • Screen size: 15.6-inches

  • Screen type: LED

  • Battery life: 5 hours

  • Battery type: Lithium ion

  • Audio connections: Built-in speaker

  • Webcam: HD camera with IR function to support Windows Hello

  • Colors: Celestial Blue


Pros


  • Dual screen is a game-changer

  • 300Hz refresh rate

  • Anti-glare coating


Cons


  • Unique keyboard layout may be an issue

  • Average battery life

  • Heavy



People Also Ask…


What Is The Best Laptop For Drawing & Animation?


What Is A Stylus Pen?


A stylus pen allows you to draw directly onto a screen for art and animation work. It’s an essential feature for digital drawing, illustration, or animation, allowing you to get more pinpoint accuracy than with a mouse. Most creative-focused laptops come with a stylus or are, at the very least, stylus-enabled.


How To Use An HP Pen


An HP Pen works very similar to a traditional stylus. The two buttons allow you to draw or erase with a push of a button, easily switching between the two. The top button acts as a right-click feature, as well. You can, however, configure the buttons in any way you choose.


Are you so inspired to get to creating yet? Before you dive headfirst into your next project, use your student discount to save money on your tech purchases! We can’t wait to see what you make!


Want the best accessories to go with your laptop? Find our favorites, right here. And find the best noise-cancelling headphones on a budget so you can tune out and get to working!


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