10 Best Laptops For Drawing 2022 – Reviews & Guide
If you’re an artist, designer or illustrator then you probably have the need for a system with a great screen and high performance.
Graphics tablets are becoming ever more popular but there are still many artists who prefer to draw directly on the screen. There are many great laptops which are well suited for drawing but it can be difficult finding the one which is ideal for your needs.
In this article, we’re going to be looking at our top picks for the best laptops for drawing, as well as discussing some of the key things to consider when buying a system for art or design work.
Here is our guide on the top 10 Best Laptops For Drawing. It can be quite difficult to draw on a tablet or a computer because of the options and buttons that are close to you.
The only way to really enjoy drawing is by using a digital drawing pad with a pen-like the Intuos Pro Pen & Touch Small Tablet. I’ve reviewed them both so use the quick links below or scroll down further to read more about all the different types of drawing tablets.
Read Also: 10 Best Laptop For Writers 2022 – Reviews & Guide
Advantages of Having Laptop For Drawing
Laptops have their advantages and disadvantages. Some laptops are better for drawing than others, so the first thing you need to do is find a laptop that will work for you.
Advantages:
Portability: The biggest advantage of a laptop is that you can draw anywhere and anytime. Just grab your bag and go.
Convenience: Your laptop usually has all the software you need, plus internet access, so you don’t have to worry about carrying around CDs or other external hard drives.
Disadvantages:
Laptops are more expensive than desktops because they’re more compact.
They’re not as powerful as desktops, so they can’t run as many applications at once without slowing down or crashing.
Because laptops are smaller, it can be difficult to see the screen if it’s not at eye level (like when you’re laying in bed).
If you want to use a tablet for drawing with your laptop, then make sure there’s enough space on both sides of the keyboard for your hands when using the pen/stylus.
Is laptop good for drawing?
The short answer is yes, you can use a laptop instead of a desktop computer for drawing. However, the experience will be significantly different than on a desktop. The most important consideration is the size of the screen, which is often smaller than typical desktop monitors.
Some people are fine with using a laptop for drawing, but it’s not ideal for everyone. For example, some artists prefer having multiple monitors when they work because it allows them to see more of their work at once. This isn’t possible with a laptop because you can only have one screen.
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
| Brand | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Item Height | 9.21 Inches |
| Item Width | 2.68 Inches |
| Standing screen display size | 12.3 Inches |
Easily increase productivity with Microsoft Surface Pro 7 which comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen. It features a 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor that enables 2x faster performance and increased battery life. With 8GB RAM and 256GB storage capacity, it helps you handle your daily tasks smoothly. Its matte polyurethane design has an overall
Windows 10 in S Mode works with apps from Microsoft Store only, not third-party apps; Microsoft account required for some features; Internet access fees may apply.
Performance and clock frequency will vary depending on application workload and your hardware and software configurations. Intel’s numbering, branding, and/or naming is not a measurement of higher performance. Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries.
Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Battery life Surface Pro 7: Up to 10.5 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage. Testing was conducted by Microsoft in September 2019 using preproduction software and preproduction configurations of Surface Pro 7.
Testing consisted of full battery discharge during video playback. All settings were default except Wi-Fi was associated with a network and Auto-Brightness disabled. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage, and other factors.
Up to 10.5 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage. Testing was conducted by Microsoft in September 2019 using preproduction software and preproduction configurations of Surface Pro 7. Testing consisted of full battery discharge during video playback. All settings were default except Wi-Fi was associated with a network and Auto-Brightness.
2. New Apple MacBook Air
| Product Dimensions | 11.97 x 0.63 x 8.36 inches; 2.8 Pounds |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 2.8 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer |
| Language | English |
Apple MacBook Air Laptop – 13.3 inch, Gold, 1.1 GHz Intel Core i3-1000NG4 Dual-Core, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, macOS Catalina – Gold
MacBook Air is completely transformed with the M1 chip. Now featuring a quad-core CPU, up to 8‑core GPU and our Neural Engine for up to 9x faster machine learning, the Apple M1 chip delivers an unprecedented combination of speed and power. Enjoy a fast and responsive experience when working on resource‑intensive projects in Adobe Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop or Premiere Pro.
The M1 chip gives MacBook Air an incredible boost in performance for everyday tasks like organizing photos and videos or editing files in Pages. And with an average of 18 hours of wireless web browsing, you can get more done throughout your day without looking for a charge.
Power through your workflow with the speed and responsiveness of macOS Big Sur running on the M1 chip. Built from the ground up to take full advantage of the advanced capabilities of the M1 chip, macOS Big Sur is designed to optimize battery life and take advantage of the blazing‑fast performance of M1. With new features
3. Microsoft Surface Book 2
| Brand | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Series | Surface Book 2 |
| Item model number | HMW-00001 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
A laptop built to meet the demands of your busy life. A powerful Intel Core processor gives you plenty of speed, with up to 17 hours of battery life. The fastest Surface Book yet, with 2x more power.
A stunning screen that responds to your touch. Draw on the screen with Surface Pen* and touch, work with Surface Dial, and maintain your connection with USB-C* and full-size SD card slot.
Our thinnest LCD tablet display ever provides a stunning screen made for touch.
Surface Book 2 is a robust laptop, powerful tablet, and portable studio in one. With exceptional performance, loaded with the latest Intel processors and up to 1060 NVIDIA graphics, it packs a powerful punch. Get productive your way with the new Surface Pro 6 – now faster than ever with the latest 8th Generation Intel Core processor for faster, smoother multitasking and improved graphics performance while running multiple demanding apps.
4. Samsung NoteBook 9 Pro 2
| Brand | SAMSUNG |
|---|---|
| Series | Samsung Notebook 9 Pro |
| Item model number | T8TJG |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is a 15-inch laptop that features the latest components from Intel and AMD, a slick design and an included stylus. It’s no powerhouse, but it will do less demanding tasks like browsing the web and using Office applications.
The Notebook 9 Pro is made of aluminum, which gives it a premium feel. A long hinge connects the screen to the keyboard deck and it can rotate 360 degrees to become a tablet. Samsung calls this configuration “Tent mode,” and you can use it to watch movies or when giving presentations.
A backlit keyboard sits in the middle of the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro’s keyboard deck, while a large touchpad sits below that. To the right of the keyboard is a fingerprint reader, flanked by right and left mouse buttons.
On the right side of the laptop are two USB 3.0 ports, while on the left side are another USB port (this one is USB-C), a microSD card slot, and a combo headphone/mic jack. A full-size HDMI port sits on top of the right side, while a power jack sits on top of the left side. The power button is squeezed between those two sides on top of the hinge.
5. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
| Brand | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Series | LQL-00001 |
| Item model number | LQL-00001 |
| Hardware Platform | Unknown |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
The Surface Laptop 3 is a laptop for everyone, offering style and performance in a slim package. It’s all about the details. The aluminum body, the keyboard that feels like a dream to type on. And it’s fast. You won’t be waiting on any applications or programs to load. We’ve got Surface Laptop 3 models available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, so you can choose the right fit for your lifestyle!
We have the latest Intel® Core™ processors and up to 11.5 hours of battery life when you’re not near a power source. Not only will you get an all-day battery, but it’s quick charging too — 80% battery in just under an hour!
The laptop has been tested to meet military standards, so it’s tough enough for whatever your day brings, wherever it takes you. It’s also been engineered with dual far-field Studio Mics and Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby® Audio™ sound. That means you’ll always sound your best on calls and hear every detail of every track as clearly as if you were listening live!
6. Dell XPS 9370 13.3in 4K UHD Touchscreen Laptop
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Series | XPS 13 |
| Item model number | I5E26VK |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
The XPS 13 cleverly fits a stunning 13. 3-inch display in an 11-inch size laptop, making it the smallest 13-inch laptop on the planet. The XPS 13 has a unique virtually borderless InfinityEdge display, with only a 5. 2mm bezel on the top and both sides. That’s the thinnest frame on a notebook today.
The XPS 13 is cut with precision from a single block of aluminum for a sturdy, durable chassis in a beautiful design. The Corning Gorilla Glass NBT QHD+ display is up to 10 times more scratch-resistant than soda-lime glass. And the edge-to-edge hardened Corning Gorilla Glass 4 is twice as damage resistant compared to competitive products.
Dell XPS 9370 13.3in 4K UHD Touchscreen Laptop – Intel i7-8550U Quad-Core Processor (up to 4.0GHz with Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache), 8GB LPDDR3-2133MHz SDRAM, 512GB PCI-E Solid State Drive, 13.3-inch UltraSharp 4K Ultra HD InfinityEdge Touchscreen Display (3840 x 2160) with Intel HD Graphics, Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64-Bit) – direct with Dell.
7. HP Spectre X360
| Brand | HP |
|---|---|
| Series | Spectre |
| Item model number | L0Q51UA |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 8 |
The HP Spectre x360 keeps getting better and better. The latest version offers Kaby Lake processors, more than 12 hours of battery life, and a new style that’s sure to impress.
HP has kept the same sleek look from last year’s model but gave it a new coat of paint with the Dark Ash Silver finish. It’s still the same 13-inch convertible laptop for those who want a touch screen and don’t mind paying extra for style, but there are some key upgrades under the hood.
The biggest change is the processor, as HP has upgraded from Skylake to Intel’s latest 7th generation Kaby Lake CPUs. In addition to promising increased performance, Kaby Lake also enables support for Thunderbolt 3 on all USB-C ports, which essentially turns them into mini DisplayPorts (when used with an adapter).
Besides a new processor and USB-C ports, not much has changed on the outside since last year’s model. While this isn’t a bad thing — I really like the gold trim and ash silver color scheme — I do wish HP had found some way to slim down the bezel around the display.
8. HP ZBook Studio X360
| Brand | HP |
|---|---|
| Item model number | HP ZBook Studio x360 G5 2YS52AV |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
| Item Weight | 4.99 pounds |
Powerful. Versatile. The world’s first convertible PC with a dream color display and a dream color display and a 4K UHD touch display option.
Create your best work with the power of a dream-color display, Intel® Core™ i7 processor and NVIDIA® Quadro® graphics. Get the versatility you need with the world’s first convertible PC with HP DreamColor technology.
Create your best work with the power of a dream-color display, Intel® Core™ i7 processor, NVIDIA® Quadro® graphics, and an epic battery life.
Power through anything with a 6-core Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA Quadro graphics, and epic battery life of 15 hours[3]—the HP ZBook Studio x360 is like no other convertable PC.
Multi-task like never before with support for simultaneous pen and touch input on a 15″ screen that can be used as a tablet or laptop.
9. HP – ENVY x360 2-in-1 15.6″ Touch-Screen
| Brand | HP |
|---|---|
| Series | HP Envy |
| Item model number | 15M-ED0013DX |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
HP ENVY x360 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Work or enjoy entertainment anywhere with this lightweight HP Envy convertible laptop. The Windows 10 Home OS and 128GB solid-state drive offer rapid boot times and responsiveness, while Bluetooth technology supports wireless devices for convenience. This HP Envy convertible laptop delivers an immersive media experience with an LED-backlit touchscreen and high-definition display.
Intel Core i7 processor eighth-generation 1.80GHz Ultra-low-voltage platform.
Intel Turbo Boost Technology provides dynamic extra power when you need it; 12GB of RAM to ensure your programs run smoothly.
128GB solid-state drive (SSD); While offering less storage space than a hard drive, a flash-based SSD has no moving parts, resulting in faster start-up times and data access, no noise, and reduced heat production and power draw on the battery; Intel UHD Graphics 620 On-processor graphics with shared video memory provide everyday image quality for Internet use, basic photo editing and casual gaming.
15.6″ Full HD multitouch screen; The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. Natural finger-touch navigation makes the most of Windows 10; Energy-efficient WLED backlight
10. Lenovo Yoga Book
| Brand | Lenovo |
|---|---|
| Item model number | ZA3S0136US |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 1.71 pounds |
The Yoga Book is a high-quality tablet that’s been optimized for work and play. The device has 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, so you’ll be able to run your favorite apps smoothly. It comes in a gunmetal gray color for an attractive appearance. With its 8-megapixel rear camera, this Lenovo tablet provides crisp images.
There’s also a 2-megapixel front camera for capturing quality selfies. Its 10.1-inch HD display makes it easy to read or watch from any angle. This Android tablet has a dual-core processor, so you’ll be able to run numerous tasks simultaneously without slowing down the system’s performance. The Intel Atom processor ensures fast processing speeds, making multitasking simple.
There are speakers with Dolby Atmos technology that produces high-quality sound, which is ideal for listening to your favorite music or watching movies on the go. This device has a lithium polymer battery that allows up to 15 hours of run time before needing another charge, giving you plenty of time to get your daily tasks done. The Yoga Book features a built-in Halo keyboard that’s backlit and responds to touch input like a touchscreen keyboard.