When you are working as an illustrator or graphic designer, you need to have a high-performance laptop that works smoothly with Adobe Illustrator and other designing or graphics software. When you go to the market to buy a laptop for Adobe Illustrator, remember that all laptops might not support it that well.
While working on Adobe Illustrator, some of the common issues faced are bugging and lagging while working. While buying a laptop to use Adobe Illustrator, you should remember certain things. The laptop should be within your budget and work fast while using Illustrator.
Choosing the best laptop for Adobe Illustrator can be quite difficult if a survey is not done properly. As an illustrator, graphic designer, and cartoonist, you need to find the best laptop within your budget. In this article, we have compiled the top eight laptops that ensure the smooth running of Adobe Illustrator.
List of Best Laptops for Adobe Illustrator
1 Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
Looking for a laptop that uses all the power to amplify the operation with Adobe Illustrator? Well, Acer Aspire 5 does just that. A little on the expensive side but is loaded with loads of features to be a valuable buy.
The Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and advanced GPU are all things you need for it to be ideal for Adobe Illustrator. Paired with these, the integrated graphics card with a 15.6-inch full HD IPS display adds to the advantages. On top of that, the 512GB PCIe NVMe is almost two times faster than most SSDs.
The elegant design defined keyboard and silent performance sing in harmony with all other features. The added input/output options and webcam work together to make this stand out in the competitive market.
Best Features
- Advanced GPU with an i5 processor.
- Fast SSD.
- Advanced graphics card.
Pros
- High-quality 1080p.
- Silent performance.
- Increased input and output options.
Our take: Next-generation GPU coupled with advanced processor enhances the performance of the laptop.
2 Apple MacBook Air
Are you looking for a laptop that is the best in performance as well as graphics? The Apple MacBook Air comes with a 13-inch Retina display that has 2560 X 1600 with 4 million pixels. This makes the laptop an absolute choice for using Adobe Illustrator.
The laptop has an Apple M1 processor and Intel Iris Plus Graphics. The added DCl-P3 wide color gamut helps the creator for better correction. The 8GB memory and fast SSD storage make it ideal for software like Adobe Illustrator. The 7-core GPU makes the laptop suitable for people concerned with Adobe Illustrator.
The high-speed SSD storage makes the laptop work faster. Another advantage of this laptop is the silent operation even with heavy workloads.
Best Features
- High-quality display.
- High-speed SSD.
- Silent operation.
Pros
- 7-core GPU.
- Long battery life.
- 8GB memory.
Our take: Premium quality performance and display.
3 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14″ Laptop
Are you low on budget and in search of a laptop with maximum power and specifications to work on Adobe Illustrator? Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is here to your rescue.
The laptop features a full-blown SSD with a Ryzen processor that allows you to work on Adobe Illustrator with ease. Additionally, the 8GB of RAM with the dedicated GPU accelerates the effects while working. The 14-inch screen with an FHD display and 1080p resolution makes it ideal for color correction and editing.
The lightweight and long battery life add to making it the ideal low-budget laptop for Adobe Illustrator.
Best Features
- Advanced SSD with a Ryzen processor.
- The FHD display with 1080p resolution.
- 8 GB RAM.
Pros
- Low budget.
- Lightweight.
- Long battery life.
Our take: Ideal low-budget laptop for Adobe Illustrator.
4 HP 15-cs3019nr Pavilion
Looking to work on a high-end laptop without compromises for Adobe Illustrator? Then, this new-generation ultrabook by HP, the HP 15 Pavilion does just that. It is loaded with high-end features and will not disappoint in any way.
The quad-core Intel i7 processor with advanced GPU skyrockets the performance of this laptop while working on Adobe. The 16GB RAM coupled with fast processing 512GB SSD is the two drool-worthy features of this laptop. The 15.6-inch Full HD display with 1920 X 1080 pixels makes for an amazing display.
The 81% screen-to-body ratio and advanced keyboard make it easier to work with the laptop. The WLED-backlit display further improved the display, offering higher contrast, color accuracy, and crystal-clear display.
Best features:
- 16GB RAM.
- Amazing display. Clear image.
- Advanced processing.
Pros:
- Long battery life.
- Lightweight.
- 15.6-inch display.
Our take: Does not compromise on any feature.
5 Apple MacBook Pro
If you are in search of the best hardware and new-age capabilities for your laptop, then Apple MacBook Pro ends your search. Many of the illustrators using Adobe use this laptop to boost their productivity.
The two interchangeable GPUs, Intel GPU (Integrated) and AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU can be used according to your preference. Further, the Intel Core i7 processor speeds up the applications of the laptop. The fast 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM further enhance the performance. The 16-inch Retina display is excellent for color accuracy.
The lightweight and superb audio features add to the pros of the laptop. However, before buying you need to consider the pros and cons of using Mac OS.
Best features:
- Impeccable hardware.
- Advanced GPU and processor.
- Improved retina display.
Pros:
- 16GB RAM.
- Magic keyboard.
- Lightweight.
Our take: Newer version with advanced hardware.
6 HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 17-inch
Are you looking for the best laptop for Adobe Illustrator and graphic design? Then, HP Pavilion is just right for you. The 10th Gen Core i5 9300H processor and 8GB RAM enhance the performance of the laptop.
The dedicated NVIDIA 1650GTX graphics card and 17.3-inch Full HD display make it ideal for graphic design. The dedicated and fast SSD, paired with the big screen makes the life of the graphic designer smoother.
One drawback of this superb deal by HP is the heavy weight of the device. However, the long battery life compensates for it to a certain extent.
Best Features
- Fast SSD and pertinent GPU.
- High-quality graphics card.
- Full HD display.
Pros
- 17-inch screen.
- Long battery life.
- Advanced processor.
Our take: High-quality graphics card.
7 NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3
If you are looking for the perfect laptop for Adobe Illustrator and there are no budget constraints, then Microsoft Surface Book 3 is the perfect choice for you. This laptop even has a touchscreen with a stylus. This allows the user to design and edit their works
This device comes with the normal 10th generation i7 processor and the Adreno 685 GPU is powerful compared to the GPUs in most laptops. The fast 256GB SSD is also better for Adobe Illustrator. The 15-inch screen with 3000X2000 pixels.
The aluminum chassis and lightweight of the laptop are better for portability and add to the advantages of the laptop.
Best features:
- Touchscreen with a stylus.
- Powerful GPU.
- Large screen.
Pros:
- Amazing display.
- Aluminum chassis.
- Fast SSD
Our take: The touchscreen feature with a stylus makes it easy to work with.
8 ASUS VivoBook S512 S15 Laptop
If you are looking for a laptop with a high-quality design, then Asus Vivobook is the one for you. It is a powerful device with decent storage but is ideal for high-quality design.
The NVIDIA GeForce MX250 GPU is ideal for you to work in Adobe Illustrator on your laptop. On top of this, the Intel Core i7 processor with 16 GB RAM helps in the fast performance of the device. The magnanimous storage of 1 TB helps to run the machine smoothly. Moreover, the 15.6-inch display with 1920X1080 pixels is perfect for illustration.
The lightweight of the laptop makes working easier in it. The fast login with fingerprint sensor and backlit keyboard features also help to work on the laptop with ease.
Best Features
- Advanced GPU.
- Huge storage of 1 TB.
- Large screen.
Pros
- Powerful design.
- Lightweight.
- Fingerprint sensor and backlit keyboard.
Our take: Ideal laptop for high-quality design work.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Laptop for Adobe Illustrator
Some bare minimum specifications are required by Adobe to run smoothly on your laptop. They are listed below.
- 2 GB RAM
- Pentium 4
- An Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA video adapter with 2 GB VRAM.
- 1024 X 768 display
CPU
When you are looking at the CPU, there are primarily two things that you need to consider, the clock speed and the number of cores. The clock speed primarily affects the illustrator. The clock speed is measured in GHz. When you start your design, several calculations are carried out by the computer. Therefore, with a faster processor, the calculations will be better.
Now, let us discuss cores. The cores refer to the number of CPUs within the CPU. There will be more than one calculator to do the calculations. But for Adobe Illustrator, it is not the more the merrier. Most CPUs have at least two cores in the system but Adobe is only compatible with one core. So, you have to be very careful when buying a laptop for an illustrator.
Our advice: Go for any processor with 2.5 GHz or more.
RAM
You ought to be kidding if you are settling for the recommended 4 GB RAM by Adobe. The Windows 10 processor has 2 GB RAM. Therefore, the minimum RAM that you should look for is 8 GB. For bigger files and the effects that you use on them, you need a minimum of 8 GB RAM. Also, 16 GB is the maximum you should use for Adobe Illustrator.
Our take: The minimum RAM you should go for is 8 GB while the maximum is 16 GB.
Storage
SSD or Solid State Drive is 17 times faster than the HDD. They are a little on the expensive side with minimal storage but for storage, you can buy an external hard drive. Storage is not the only facility of the SSD. They will also open the software in a few seconds. Reading or writing and opening and closing functions of the software will also be faster with the SSD.
GPU
GPUs are important when you are dealing with complex situations with Adobe Illustrator. The GPU acceleration improves productivity and increases the speed of the software.
Our take: GPUs make Illustrator 12 times faster.
Display
The ideal resolution to work with at this time is 1080p. Now, regarding display, there are some calls to be made which are listed below.
Matte vs Glossy
This is the personal choice of an illustrator. For glossy displays, the colors are very vibrant but that might not reflect in the final product or print. For us, glossy displays are comparatively better. They do not trouble the eyes with the glare and even a bright working space will be problematic.
TN vs IPS
The IPS provides more color accuracy than the TN. However, the difference between the two for a laptop is negligible. If you are not concentrating on only color accuracy, then you can go for any of the two.
Final words on Buying a Best Laptop for Adobe Illustrator
If your laptop features a decent GPU, supportable memory, and 2.5 GHz but you still face problems while working on Illustrator then you need to check your hardware configuration. Then, you should look for the supporting frameworks for your laptop that support your illustrator.
Out of all the mentioned laptops, you can choose the one according to your preference. If you ask for our opinion, then the Acer Aspire 5 would be a valuable buy. It is loaded with noteworthy features and is perfect to work on Adobe Illustrator.
We have tried to list the best laptops for Adobe Illustrator. If you have any doubts or suggestions about the article, do write in the comments section below.
is i5 with xe graphics good for illustrator??
or dedicated graphics card is must?
Dedicated card is recommended.