When it comes to photo editing and graphic design, Photoshop is still the best in its class despite some serious competition. If you are a photographer, designer, graphic artist, web developer, or a digital arts student wondering which laptop to get for graphic design, then we have done much of the research for you, and we’ve compiled a list of some of the best laptops for Photoshop you can find right now, within different price brackets.
This is quite a long buyer’s guide, and we’ve divided it into 3 parts: What you will need to check for running Photoshop, our laptop list, and an FAQ section.
As usual, we will list the laptops priced from lowest to highest, with specs and thoughts on each model. But before showing you our list, let’s first quickly have a look into Photoshop’s system requirements. In order to find a good laptop for Photoshop and photo editing in general, it’s important to understand what component will matter the most when using Photoshop.
If you’re in hurry, here are the best laptops for photoshop we carefully selected:
Best Laptops for Photoshop: Quick list
What specs to consider when looking for a laptop for Graphic design? Which laptop is best for Photoshop?
There is no definitive answer to that question, but the good news is that Photoshop will run on most laptops available today, even budget laptops. However, it all depends on what you need to do and the complexity of your work.
Actually, Adobe Photoshop can be quite resource intensive, especially on the processor, RAM, and the GPU. However, these are not the only things to look into when looking for a laptop for photo editing. And that’s exactly why we’ve put out this guide!
Let’s first look at Photoshop’s official system requirements for windows, as for 2022:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
| Processor | Intel® or AMD processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later | |
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909) or later; LTSC versions are not supported | |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more |
| Graphics card |
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| Display resolution | 1280 x 800 display at 100% UI scaling | 1920 x 1080 display or greater at 100% UI scaling |
| Hard disk space | 4 GB of available hard-disk space; additional space is required for installation | 16 GB of available hard-disk space; additional space is required for installation |
As you can see, Adobe recommends a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM, and a recent Intel or AMD processor, and GPU with DirectX 12 support. The good news is that these specs can actually be found on most laptops today! But while we have included a few cheap laptops for Photoshop in our list, they are not recommended if you’re a professional graphic designer, or if you’re working with large files. In this case, investing in a higher end laptop will give you better performance and speed up your workflow.
Here are the specs main specs to consider when looking for a laptop for Photoshop:
If you’re going to use your laptop mainly for Photoshop and graphic design, it is important to understand how Photoshop uses the different component of your computer. Here are the things to consider when shopping for a laptop for Photoshop and graphic design:
- Processor: The processor or CPU is without a doubt the most important element to consider when buying a new laptop. The processor will usually determine how powerful your computer is, and when it comes to Photoshop, it is recommended to get at least an Intel 8th gen or 9th gen processor, with 8 cores, or an AMD Ryzen 5 3600. For Photoshop, the processor is more important than the graphics card, and thus, investing in a better processor will give you better performance. Photoshop is a multi-threaded software, and will benefit from multiple cores. However, going beyond 8 cores will only give you a minimal boost in performance.
- RAM: For Photoshop, it is recommended to get a laptop with 8GB of RAM as a bare minimum, but 16GB is ideal since you will most probably be running Photoshop along other programs in the same time. The amount of RAM you need is going to be determined by the size of your projects, and what you use Photoshop for. Usually, 16GB Ram for Photoshop is more than enough for most people, but if you’re working with high resolution photos, or if your projects have many layers, Ram usage can quickly get out of control. You can also estimate how much RAM you will need for Photoshop, based on the size of your documents. If your Photoshop documents are less than 500MB, then a laptop with 16GB Ram is more than enough. If you documents are between 500MB and 1GB, then you should consider 32GB of RAM, and for documents larger than 1GB, you will definitely need more than 32GB of RAM.
- Storage: Although Photoshop does not rely too much on the drive, it is highly recommended to get a laptop with a Solid State Drive (SSD). In comparison to traditional hard drives, SSDs are faster and more reliable. If RAM is not sufficient, Photoshop can create a scratch disk. A Scratch disk is a drive that Photoshop uses for storing temporary files. So getting a laptop with and SSD is the best option, especially now that SSDs are not as expensive as they used to be. NVME SSDs are the fastest drives available right now, and they are even faster than SATA SSDs. You can read more about advantages of Solid State drives here.
- Graphics card: Although Photoshop is increasingly adding support for GPU acceleration, the truth is that Photoshop does not a dedicated graphics card to run, and only a few effects can currently benefit from a dedicated graphics card. Adobe has a list of effects that can utilize the video card, which can be found here. Spending extra on a laptop with a powerful graphics card will not give a performance boost when it comes to Photoshop, and if you won’t be using the laptop for GPU intensive tasks, such as video editing, then getting one with an entry or mid level graphics card can be the right choice. Also, Photoshop can run just fine on a laptop with integrated graphics; however, if you will be using multiple displays, then we highly recommend getting one with dedicated graphics.
- Display: A good display is important when looking for a laptop for Photoshop. The Screen is where you will see your work, and preview any effects and modifications you make. For graphic design and photo editing, it is recommended to get a laptop with at least a 14 inch display, good color reproduction, and at least at full HD resolution. More and more laptops today come with IPS panels- In-Plane Switching – which provides a better user experience because of their wider viewing angles and superior color accuracy. For most users, any laptop with a decent IPS panel will be just fine for Photoshop, however, not all IPS displays are equal, and some of them can produce more colors than others, which can be critical for if you are a professional user.
Unfortunately, laptop manufacturers rarely state how the display performs when it comes to color reproduction, with the exception of high end laptops. In fact, some manufacturer also put different panels on the same laptop model, which makes things even more difficult. Color gamut is a concept used to express the range of colors that a display can produce. In general, the most used color spaces are NTSC, sRGB, and Adobe RGB. These color standards are not equal, for example the sRGB color gamut covers about 72% of the NTSC gamut.
For most users, a laptop with a display than can cover 72% of the NTSC color gamut, or 100% sRGB, is considered good for Photo editing. But if your work requires high color accuracy, such as working with print material, then getting a laptop with 100% Adobe RGB display is definitely worth the extra cost.
The table below shows you how different color gamuts compare to each others, and you can also read this good article for more details on color gamuts:
| color space | coverage % NTSC | coverage % sRGB |
| NTCS | 100 | ~72 |
| sRGB | ~89.97 | 100 |
| Adobe RGB | ~99 | ~117 |
| DCI-P3 | ~96 | ~126 |
So, the CPU, RAM, GPU, Display, and Storage are the specs that matter the most for graphic designers. But there may be other important aspects to consider, for your specific needs. It’s always good to ask yourself exactly what tasks you need the laptop to perform and if there are any features that you need: for example, if you need a laptop with long battery life, or one that has plenty of ports…etc.
In the following list, I have selected 15 laptops that can meet the needs of graphic designers and photographers. There are budget friendly laptops as well as more expensive laptops.
15 Best laptops for Adobe Photoshop in 2022!
Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-50RS : The best laptop for Photoshop under 500 dollars!
If you’re looking for a reliable budget laptop for Photoshop, then the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-50RS is hands down the best option out there! The version features brings many significant improvements over the last generation. This laptop packs a 11th gen intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a 256GB of fast-loading M.2 PCIe SSD, and intel’s latest Iris Xe Graphics. The Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-50RS is one of the best and most competitive mid range laptops you can find.
In terms of design and build quality, the Aspire 5 looks and feels quite sleek thanks to the metallic finish. While the top plate is made of aluminum, the rest of the body seems to be made of high quality plastic. The build quality is very good overall.
This laptop also comes with 15,6 inch IPS display, with a resolution of 1080p. This display is more than enough for most people, but it terms of color coverage; you shouldn’t expect any miracles, since it’s only capable of 54% sRGB , which is totally fine considering it’s a budget laptop, but if your work needs color accuracy, you should consider getting an external monitor, or a higher end laptop.
Thanks to its Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, the Aspire 5 does a very good job when dealing with most daily computing tasks, it’s also capable of running Photoshop smoothly, and it’s even capable of handling 1080p video editing with no problems. The aspire 5 is a very good option if you’re looking for a budget laptop for daily use, and if you don’t necessarily need a color accurate display, this laptop can handle anything that you throw at it.
The aspire 5 also comes with plenty of ports, including 1 USB Type-C port, 2 USB 3.2 ports (one with Power-off Charging), 1 USB 2.0 Port , and 1 – HDMI Port with HDCP support.
Battery life is also very good, and you expect up to 8,5 hours of use from a single charge.
| Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 Processor |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB, M2 PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 1920X1080 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
2 – USB 3.2 port 1- USB 2.0 port 1 – HDMI port, Card reader, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 8,5 hours battery life |
HP 15-dy2024nr: Affordable laptop with good performance
The HP 15-dy2024nr is one of the best selling laptops as of 2022, and for good reasons. This budget oriented laptop offers an 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics.
This laptops packs a lot of performance under its stylish silver body, and it’s a good option to consider if you’re looking for an affordable machine for Photoshop.
However, you should be ready to make some compromises at this price range. While the 15,6 inch display offers vibrant images and good viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel, it’s not the best if you’re looking for a laptop with a color accurate display. The HP 15-dy2024nr is capable of displaying 45% of the NTSC color space, according to the manufacturer.
When it comes to performance, the HP 15-dy2024nr won’t falter, even when opening multiples Chrome Tabs, word processing, and will run Photoshop with no issues. Thanks to the fast PCIe Storage and the 11th gen processor, the HP 15-dy2024nr is actually snappier than many expensive ultrabooks.
The design is probably the thing that separates the HP 15-dy2024nr from most budget laptops out there. With its slim edges, 82% screen to body ratio, and silver chassis, it seems that HP has taken the design straight from their more expensive Elitebook lineup.
In terms of ports, the HP 15-dy2024nr comes with 3 USB 3.2 ports, 1 USB 3.2 Type C, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. The keyboard on this laptop is nice and provides decent tactile feedback, but it’s not backlit, which is something you should be aware of if you need this feature. Battery life is also average, and a full charge should give you around 7h to 8h.
| Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 Processor |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB, M2 PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 1920X1080 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
2 – USB 3.2 port 1 – HDMI port, Card reader, Bluetooth |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
Lenovo Yoga 6 13 : An affordable 2 in 1 laptop with a lot of potential for graphic designers
The Lenovo Yoga 6 is an affordable premium looking 13 inch laptop that offers plenty of value for its price. If you’re looking for and affordable 13 inch laptop for using Photoshop on the go, then the Yoga 6 13 has plenty of potential to be your next laptop.
Under its unique fabric lid, you will find an AMD 6-Core Ryzen 5 5500U processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a 256GB SSD, and integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 graphics. The Yoga 6 is perfect for working on the go, and it’s capable of handling most daily tasks, such as browsing the web, word processing, videoconferencing…etc. Although it’s not a machine for professionals, the Yoga 6 does a pretty good job when it comes to Photoshop, and can deal with most tasks with no issues.
The Yoga 6 is equipped with a 13,3 inch Full HD IPS display, that offers good color coverage, at 100% sRGB (or 72% NTSC), and good brightness (320 nits). And since this laptop is a convertible, the display is also touch screen.
In terms of ports, the Yoga 6 comes with 2 USB 3.2 type C , and 2 USB 3.2 type A. If you need to connect an external display, you should know that there is no integrated HDMI port on this laptop, instead, one of the USB-C ports supports DisplayPort. The keyboard is quite good, although it’s not comparable to what Lenovo offers on some more expensive laptops. Although it’s on the small side, the trackpad provides a smooth experience.
In terms of battery life, Lenovo promises up to 18 hours of use from a single charge. While you can achieve such figures if you keep the brightness at low levels and with light use, most people can expect 8h to 9h of use, since the screen gets dim quite quickly and even a few clicks will drop the brightness by a lot.
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Processor |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 |
| Screen | 13,3 inch, 1920X1080 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2- USB Type C
2 – USB 3.2 port Bluetooth, Fingerprint Reader |
| Battery | up to 18 hours battery life |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-43-R2YY : A Budget friendly laptop with an excellent display
The Acer Swift 3 SF314-43-R2YY is a thin and light laptop that offers plenty of features to help you do your work while on the move. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of NVMe SSD storage, and integrated AMD radeon RX Vega 8 graphics card.
The AMD Ryzen T 5700U has 8 cores, and can go up to 4,3GHZ when needed. The Acer Swift 3 is capable of running multiple apps simultaneously and is capable of running Photoshop as well as other Adobe programs with no issues. On the other hand, this laptop will struggle if you’re planning on doing some 4K video editing.
The display quality is another area where the Acer Aspire 3 shines, and that’s one more reason why it should be on your list when looking for a reliable budget laptop for Photoshop. This laptop sports a 14 inch Full HD IPS display, with 100% sRGB color coverage, vibrant colors, and excellent viewing angles.
In terms of build quality, the Aspire 3 is surprisingly well made considering the price. The chassis is made of aluminum, and the laptop feels durable and sturdy enough. The trackpad is wide and the backlit keyboard offers decent key travel for such a thin laptop.
There’s a good amount of ports too, including 1 USB 3.2 type C with DisplayPort and USB charging, 2 USB 3.2 type A, HDMI, and a fingerprint reader. Battery life is also excellent, and you can expect up to 12,5 hours of use from a full charge according to the manufacturer, which can be achieved with light use.
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Processor |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 512GB, NVMe SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, AMD radeon RX Vega 8 |
| Screen | 14 inch, 1920X1080 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
2 – USB 3.2 port 1 – HDMI port, Fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 12,5 hours battery life |
Asus Vivobook 15 K513EQ : The most affordable laptop with an OLED display
The Asus Vivobook 15 K513EQ is a unique laptop that brings premium features, without the hefty price. It’s definitely one of the best laptops for Photoshop under 1000 dollars you can find. You will find an intel core i5-1135G7 processor, 12GB of RAM, and a fast 512GB of NVMe storage. For daily productivity work, you won’t notice any lags or lack of power, even when opening multiple programs at once.
The display on the Asus Vivobook 15 is unheard of, when it comes to laptops at this price range. The Vivobook 15 K513EQ is equipped with a full HD OLED panel made by Samsung, a feature that’s usually reserved for laptops double its price. The OLED display not only takes the visual experience to another level, but it also brings many benefits for graphic designers, and photo editing. The Display is capable of 100% sRGB, 100% Adobe RGB, and 100% DCI- P3, which sets it apart even from more expensive laptops. The display is also very bright, and offers excellent contrast, and true blacks. So, if you’re looking for a cheap OLED laptop, then the Asus Vivobook 15 K513EQ is your first option!
Build quality is also very good, and the laptop is very light and easily portable despite the 15,6 inch screen. The chassis is made of plastic, but the styling is actually good and the laptop looks pretty professional, rigid and durable. The keyboard is also well laid out, and provides a nice typing experience, with 1.4mm of key travel.
In terms of ports, you will find 1 USB 3.2 type C, 1 USB 3.2 Type A, 1 USB 2.0, HDMI, and an SD card reader. Battery life is quite limited on the other hand.
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 512GB, NVMe SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel Iris Xe |
| Screen | 14 inch, 1920X1080 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
1 – USB 3.2 port 1-USB 2.0 type A 1 – HDMI port, Fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
Dell Inspiron 15 5510: A combination of style and good performance
The Dell Inspiron 15 5510 is another great mid range laptop for Photoshop and graphic design. The one recommended here comes with a 11th gen Intel i5-11320H processor, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and integrated Intel Iris XE graphics.
In terms of performance, the Inspiron 15 offers a fantastic performance when it comes to day to day tasks, such as browsing the internet, watching videos, typing documents…this laptop is going to be super fast. The Inspiron 15 is also capable of some video editing with no major issues. One thing to note is that Dell has done a good job with the thermals on this laptop, and most of the time, it runs pretty cool even when dealing with demanding tasks. The Inspiron 15 runs very quiet most of time, thanks to this efficient heat management technology.
What really makes the Inspiron 15 one of the best laptops for Photoshop at this price range, is its gorgeous display. It comes with a 15,6 inch Full HD display, with 100% sRGB color rating. Colors are vivid, and viewing angles are very good.
In terms of ports and connectivity, this laptop features 1 USB 3.2 Type C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery capabilities, 2 USB 3.2, and an HDMI port. Battery life is good, and you can get up to 7 or 8 hours of use.
The keyboard on this laptop is also very good, with large backlit keys, and excellent tactile feedback. Unlike many other mid range laptop, the trackpad on the Inspiron 15 is actually very nice, with no flex, plenty of room, and a glass finish surface.
If you’re someone who is looking for a laptop for Photoshop and lightroom, browsing the web, casual gaming, and some video editing, then the Dell Inspiron 15 5510 should definitely be on your shortlist.
| Processor | Intel i5-11320H Processor |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 512GB, PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 1920X1080 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
2 – USB 3.2 port 1 – HDMI port, Card reader, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 7,5 hours battery life |
HP Envy x360 15 (2021) : A multi purpose laptop with plenty of power
The HP Envy x360 15 is a mid range 2 in 1 laptop that has a lot to offer for its price, and it’s one of the best laptops for Photoshop around 1000 dollars you can find. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and integrated AMD Radeon Graphics. This laptop offers a solid performance when it comes to daily tasks, and can provide a smooth experience when it comes to Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign….etc. A while it’s not the perfect machine to do any GPU intensive work, such as video editing, the truth is that it’s still capable of handling video editing thanks to its fast AMD Ryzen processor, and fast RAM.
In terms of display quality, the HP envy x360 comes with a Full HD 15,6 touch screen, that’s capable of 99% sRGB and 76% Adobe RGB, which is very good for a laptop at this price range. The screen is multitouch enabled, and it also has stylus support, which can be useful for digital artists. However, the display is not the brightest one out there, with a maximum of 250 nits.
The build quality is very good, and the chassis is made of aluminum, and you won’t notice any flex, when using the laptop. The chiclet style keyboard provides a nice typing experience, and the travel distance is good, despite how slim this laptop is.
This laptop is also equipped with a decent amount of ports, including 2 USB type A, HDMI, 1 USB-C, and a full size SD card reader. Amazingly, the HP X360 does a good job when it comes to battery life too. Although it’s going to come down to what you’re doing with the laptop, most users will easily get 8 hours of mixed use.
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 1920X1080, Touchscreen |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
2 – USB 3.1 port 1 – HDMI port, Card reader, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
Dell Vostro 7500 15 : A mid range laptop with plenty of possibilities
The Dell Vostro 7500 15 is business looking mid range laptop that offers plenty of value of its price. In terms of specs, this laptop features a 10th gen Intel i5-10300H processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a dedicated Nvidia Geforce 1650Ti graphics card.
The Vostro 15 7500 has many features that can appeal to a wide variety of users. Not only is it capable of handling daily tasks such as web browsing, watching videos, editing documents, but it does also an excellent job when playing games and editing videos. Despite it being a couple of years old, the I5-10300H processor delivers enough computing power to handle demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing. The Geforce 1650Ti is also one of the best mid range dedicated graphic cards available right now, and it’s capable of running most games in full HD at medium to high settings. However, when playing for a prolonged period of time, the laptop can get quite hot, which can get affect performance. This is actually not surprising, considering how thin the laptop is, at just 0.74 inch.
On the other hand, the Vostro 15 7500 comes with a high quality IPS display, that covers almost 100% sRGB, with a delta E of just 1.6 after calibration. The Vostro 15 is definitely one of the best laptops for Photoshop under the 1000 dollars mark you can find.
In terms of ports, this laptop comes with 1 USB 3.2 Type C port, 2 USB 3.2 ports, HDMI 2.0, and a MicroSD Card Slot. Build quality is also very good, as to be expected from Dell. Despite its rather slim profile, the Vostro 15 feels sturdy and premium in the same time, thanks to the all aluminum body.
Battery life is also good, and most users can expect to get about 8 hours of average use.
| Processor | Intel i5-10300H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Dedicated, Nvidia Geforce 1650Ti |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 1920X1080 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
2 – USB 3.2 port 1 – HDMI port, Card reader, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro 16: A mid range laptop with excellent specs
The Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro is a 16 inch mid range laptop that offers great value for money. It comes with an 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB NVMe SSD, and integrated AMD Radeon 8 graphics. This laptop has plenty of power to handle all your daily work, and it’s also excellent for watching videos, or streaming movies thanks to its huge display.
And speaking of the display, the Ideapad 5 Pro has 16 inch IPS screen, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. Color coverage is very good, with 100% sRGB, and a delta E under 2. This makes the Ideapad 5 Pro and excellent laptop for creative professionals, especially if you work with Photoshop, Lightroom, Indesign, and you don’t need the power of a dedicated graphics card. This laptop also has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which offers more screen real estate, and which can be very helpful when browsing, writing documents, or editing photos.
The Ideapad 5 Pro is also very portable and light for a 16 inch laptop, with a weight of only 4.2lbs. So if you like working on the go, don’t be discouraged by the huge 16 inch display. Battery life is also quite good, considering the size and resolution of the display, and you can expect 7h to 8h of average use.
In terms of I/O, the Ideapad 5 Pro offers 1 USB-C 3.2 Type C, 2 USB 3.2 Type A, HDMI, and a card reader. The backlit keyboard is very good, with nice tactile feedback and a full size number pad. The trackpad is also wide and precise, although it’s not a glass finish.
There are also many versions of the Ideapad 5 Pro, including an Intel variant, a 14 inch version, and ones that have dedicated graphics. You should also note that the RAM on this laptop is not user upgradable, since all the memory is soldered to the motherboard.
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, AMD Radeon 8 |
| Screen | 16 inch, 2560 x 1600 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
2 – USB 3.2 port 1 – HDMI port, Card reader, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
LG Gram 16 : A lightweight 16 inch laptop for editing photos on the go
The LG Gram 16 is a premium lightweight laptop that packs a lot of power despite its slim design. There are many configurations available online, but here we feature the LG Gram 16Z90P-K.AAS9U1, which comes with an 11th generation Intel core i7-1165G7 Processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB PCIe SSD, and Intel Iris Xe graphics.
Performance wise, the LG Gram 16 is very smooth, thanks to the fast storage and RAM. In Photoshop and Lightroom, you won’t notice any lags or waiting wheels even when dealing with big files.
The display on the LG Gram 16 is also very good, with a resolution of 2560×1600, and almost 100% DCI-P3 in terms of color expression. The display also has a 16 by 10 aspect ratio, which is good for photo editing and multitasking in general.
The LG Gram 16 might be slim and lightweight, but it doesn’t mean that it will be easily broken. In Fact, The LG Gram 16 is one of the toughest laptops out there, with its full metal/magnesium alloy. It is also one of the few laptops that pass the military MIL-STD-810G durability tests.
Battery life is also very good, and you can get more than 10 hours or more easily of real world use, without needing to charge the battery again. There is also a good number of ports, including 2 USB-C /Thunder bolt 4 ports, 2 USB 3.2 type A, HDMI, and a micro sd card reader.
| Processor | Intel core i7-1165G7 Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 1TB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Intel Iris Xe graphics |
| Screen | 16 inch, 2560X1600 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2- Thunderbolt 4 // USB-C
2- USB 3.2 Type A 1 – HDMI port microSD card reader, Fingerprint reader |
| Battery | up to 22 hours battery life |
MSI Creator 15 A11UE-491: A stylish laptop designed for creative professionals
As we’re moving up the line, we have the MSI Creator 15 A11UE-491, which is a high end laptop designed for creative professionals, as its name implies. At this price range, we will start to see unique features, superior build quality, and solid performance.
The MSI Creator 15 A11UE-491 comes with an Intel Core i7 11800H processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. In terms of performance, the MSI Creator 15 A11UE-491 did very well in most CPU and GPU benchmarks, and it’s a perfect choice for advanced Photoshop users, and content creators.
The MSI Creator 15 A11UE-491 comes with a gorgeous 15,6 inch 4K OLED display, that offers unmatched viewing experience. This display is also capable of supporting 100% DCI-P3, which is very good for video and photo editing.
This laptop also comes with a nice and quiet keyboard, that feels well put together, and provides a comfortable typing experience. The trackpad is also very wide. There is also a very good amount of ports, including 3 USB3.2, 1 USB-C /Thunderbolt 4 port, 1USB-C port, HDMI, and RJ45. Battery life is below average on the other hand, which might be because of the OLED 4K display and poor software optimization. In general, you can expert around 6h to 7h when doing daily productivity tasks (browsing, word processing…etc), but when that can quickly drop to less than 4h or 3h when working with videos, or running intensive applications.
| Processor | Intel Core i7 11th Gen 11800H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 512GB, PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 3840 x 2160, OLED |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2- USB Type C ( 1 with Thunderbolt 4 support)
2 – USB 3.2 port 1 – HDMI port,RJ45 Bluetooth, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
Dell XPS 15 9500 : A combination of style, performance and portability
The Dell XPS 15 is a strong and stylish laptop that has a lot of popularity among creative professionals, and general business users. Featured here, is the Dell XPS 15 9500 7845SLV-PUS that comes with a 10th gen i7-10750H processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SS storage, and an NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Ti graphics card, with 4GB of video memory.
The Dell XPS 15 is not the most affordable laptop out there, but at this price range, you will definitely see the difference in terms of build quality and outstanding performance. You can also configure the laptop to add more RAM, an i9 processor, or a better GPU. But in terms of Performance/price ratio, the version featured here seems to be the most interesting one. The Dell XPS 15 is the perfect laptop if you need to edit content on the go. Not only is capable of handling big Photoshop files, but you can also edit huge video projects in Adobe Premiere Pro with no issues.
The quality of the display is also exceptional, and the extremely thin bezels will give you an immersive experience when watching videos. The Display has a 4K resolution, and is also touch enabled. Color accuracy is also excellent, with 100% adobe RGB.
In terms of ports, you will find 1 USB Type-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, and fingerprint reader.
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage | 1TB, PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Dedicated, NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Ti |
| Screen | 15,6 inch, 3840 x 2160 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C
2 – Thunderbolt 3 Fingerprint reader, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 8 hours battery life |
GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR : A desktop replacement for creative professionals
The GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD-73US524SP is another high end laptop designed to fulfill the requirements of both creative professionals and gamers. With its huge 17,3 inch display and outstanding specs, the GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD-73US524SP will handle anything you need with ease, whether it’s editing high quality images in Photoshop and Lightroom, Creating content, editing videos, and even gaming.
Under its stylish body, you will find an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, with 8GB of GDDR6 memory. This laptop does an excellent job when working with Photoshop, after effects and Adobe Premiere Pro, and thus it’s a perfect laptop for Photo and video editing. You can also easily upgrade the RAM, up to 64GB.
Performance is not the only reason why we recommend the GIGABYTE AERO 17 for creative professionals. In fact, there are many areas where this laptop shines, such as the build quality, gorgeous display, and excellent connectivity options.
The build quality is exceptional, and even with its huge 17 inch display, the GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR feels sleek and slim, thanks to the slim bezels around the screen. The chassis is very well designed and it’s entirely made of CNC aluminum.
But the real highlight of the GIGABYTE AERO 17 is the display. This laptop sports a 17.3 inch thin bezel 4K LCD IPS display, that produces color accurate images, and that comes calibrated from the factory. The display is capable of producing 100% Adobe RGB, and it’s validated by both Pantone and X-Rite for color accuracy. Delta-E is also exceptional, with values under 1. And while this laptop is not designed for mobility and outdoor use, it is good to know that in terms of brightness, the Aero 17 does a very respectable job, with brightness levels reaching more than 400 nits.
In terms of I/O, the Aero 17 has a wide amount of ports, 3 USB 3.2 type A, 1 USB Type C with Thunderbolt 4 support, HDMI, Mini DP, Microphone in, UHS-II SD card reader, and an RJ45 port.
The keyboard is extremely quiet, and has a nice tactile feedback. The RGB lighting is also very cool, and you can easily set up the RGB style you like from the Gigabyte control center, or even turn off the back-lighting completely. The trackpad is also wide and nice, with firm click and accurate gestures.
| Processor | Intel Core i7 11th Gen 11800H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 1TB, PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 |
| Screen | 17,3 inch, 3840 x 2160, IPS |
| Connectivity and Ports | 1- USB Type C // with Thunderbolt 4 support
3 – USB 3.2 port 1 – HDMI port,RJ45, Mini DP SD card reader, Mic In , Bluetooth, backlit keyboard |
| Battery | up to 6 hours battery life |
Apple MacBook Pro 16 : A fast multimedia laptop for creative work
This list cannot be complete without including the Macbook Pro 16, which is one of the most popular laptops among creative professionals. And the latest Apple Macbook Pro 16 offers even more performance gains, thanks to the outstanding Apple silicon M1 chip.
Featured here is the new Apple MacBook Pro 16, with the M1 Pro chip, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. You can also configure the laptop up to 64GB of RAM, and 8TB of storage if needed. In many tests and benchmarks, Apple’s M1 chip did an amazing job when it comes to running Photoshop, and in most cases, surpasses even Apple’s top of the line I9 Macbook pro. Adobe Photoshop also runs natively on M1 Macs, and according to Adobe, Photoshop for M1 Macs completes most tasks 1.5 times faster than when running on Intel.
Along with Photoshop, there are other applications from the Creative cloud that run natively now on M1 Macs, such as Illustrator, InDesign, and Lightroom. And in case, you need to use a program that doesn’t support M1 chips yet, you can always run it using Rosetta. Which is an emulator designed to bridge the transition between Intel and Apple processors. In practice, running apps through Rosetta is totally transparent for the users, and doesn’t come with any lags or decrease in performance.
As always, the display on this Macbook Pro 16 is gorgeous, with a resolution of 3456X2234 pixels, and 100% sRGB. According to Apple, the display can reach up to 1600 nits of brightness, and up to 120hz of refresh rate. The bezels around the display are very slim and that’s why Apple had to stick a notch at the top in order to house the webcam. And while I am not a big fan of notches, the truth is that the camera quality is very good.
In terms of ports, the Apple Macbook pro 16 comes with 3 Type C / thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, and an SD card slot. The keyboard is also very good and brings noticeable improvement over the last gen “butterfly” keyboard. The touchpad is humongous, which may or may not be good news for everyone.
Battery life is also outstanding, despite the screen size, and you easily get a full day of work without having to plug the laptop, even when doing intensive tasks.
| Processor | Apple M1 Max Processor |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 1TB, SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated, Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU |
| Screen | 16,2 inch, 3456 x 2234 |
| Connectivity and Ports | 3- Thunderbolt 4 // USB-C
1 – HDMI port SD card reader, Fingerprint reader |
| Battery | up to 21 hours battery life |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 : A professional grade workstation laptop
Last but not the least, we have the Lenovo P1 Gen 4. This powerful machine is probably out of budget for many people, but when it comes to mobile workstations, the ThinkPad P1 is definitely on top.
This laptop is designed for content creators who need a machine that handle graphic design programs, video editing, 3D …etc, and it’s also certified by many software companies. In terms of specs, the P1 gen 4 comes with a Core i9-11950H processor, 64GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3080 with 16GB of GDDR6. There are other configurations as well, in case you need a different processor, less RAM, or a different GPU. As expected, the performance is outstanding thanks to the beefy specs.
The Lenovo Thinkpad P1 also comes with a 16 inch 4K display, with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The display is also very bright, and is capable of expressing 100% of the Adobe RGB color gamut. The display also supports Dolby Vision and HDR 400.
In terms of ports, we have 2 USB-C / thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB 3.2 type A, HDMI, and an SD card reader. This laptop has a huge 99Whr battery, which is enough to power the laptop for up to 10 hours according to the manufacturer. But in real world use, it’s going to be very hard to achieve such figures, because of the huge 4K display and the beefy components.
| Processor | Intel Core i9-11950H Processor |
| RAM | 64GB |
| Storage | 1TB, SSD |
| Graphics | Dedicated, Nvidia RTX 3080 |
| Screen | 16inch, 3840×2400, |
| Connectivity and Ports | 2- Thunderbolt 4 // USB-C
2- USB 3.2 Type A 1 – HDMI port SD card reader, Fingerprint reader |
| Battery | up to 10 hours battery life |
FAQ
Do you need a graphics card for Photoshop?
While all computers come with a graphics card in order to display images on the screen, you don’t actually need a dedicated graphics card to run Photoshop.
For most tasks, Photoshop will usually utilize the CPU and RAM, with the exception of GPU-accelerated tasks. However, Photoshop is increasingly adding features that leverage the graphics processor, and even an entry level graphics card can make a difference in terms of performance. It is also recommended to get a laptop with a dedicated graphics card if you will be using an external 4K or multiple displays.
For example, the following features require a GPU for acceleration: Artboards, Blur Gallery, Camera Raw, Image Size, Lens Blur, Neural Filters, Select Focus, Select and Mask, and Smart Sharpen. Also, features such as 3D, Birds Eye View, Flick Panning, Smooth Brush Resizing…etc, will not work without a processor.
On the other hand, if you only need a laptop for Photoshop, and if you don’t plan on editing videos, working with 3D software, or anything that requires a powerful GPU, then there is no need to invest in an expensive GPU, since it won’t translate in any performance increase for Photoshop.
Can I run Photoshop with integrated graphics?
Yes, as mentioned above, Photoshop can run just fine on a laptop with integrated graphics only. However, getting a dedicated graphics card is recommended if you need to use external displays, and if you need to benefit from GPU acceleration.
What is the best graphics card for Photoshop?
Photoshop uses the graphics processor in your computer to provide a smooth Photoshop experience and improved performance with many features. Adobe recommends On a GPU with DirectX 12 support and 1.5 GB of GPU memory for Windows computers, and a GPU with Metal Support and 1.5 GB of GPU memory for Macs.
For Photoshop, the most important thing to consider is to check that GPU is supported, as the GPU performance doesn’t really have a big impact on the overall experience. So even an entry or mid level graphics card such as the Nvidia GTX 1650 or 1660 is more than enough.
Adobe doesn’t provide a list of all the supported graphics cards, but Photoshop will run with most GPUs found on the market today. After installing Photoshop, make sure to go to “Help > GPU Compatibility” and check the report dialog that opens If your GPU is supported, you should see a message that confirms that your graphics processor is compatible, and that it is not turned off.
How much ram for Photoshop? Is 8GB RAM enough for Photoshop?
The amount of RAM you will need for Photoshop depends on how you use the size of the images you will be working on, the complexity of your work, and also on how you will use the laptop.
In general, it is recommended to get a laptop with 16GB of RAM for Photoshop and photo editing. And while Photoshop can actually run on a laptop with 8GB of RAM, the truth is that you won’t be able to work with big PSD files and complex compositions. So instead you only work with small files, or if you will add more RAM in the future, it is better to get a laptop with 16GB of RAM.
If you already use Photoshop, you can estimate the amount of RAM you will need based on the size of your documents. The Document size is shown once you open it in Photoshop, and It’s not the size of the PSD file. The document size will depend on factors such as the number of layers, Resolution, Bit Depth…etc.
As a rule, if your projects are smaller than 250MB, then a laptop with 8GB of RAM can do the job, for documents between 250MB and 500MB, 16GB of RAM is recommended, 32GB for projects between 500MB and 1GB, and even 64GB of RAM for documents larger than 1GB.
Another important thing to consider when it comes to RAM, is that you will probably run Photoshop simultaneously with other programs, and 8GB of RAM can be just enough for everyday use.
Does Photoshop use multiple cores?
For Adobe Photoshop, the processor is the component that has the most impact on the overall experience. Photoshop is still largely a single threaded application, and getting a processor with a higher clock speed will usually translate into faster performance.
However, Photoshop is still able to benefit from having multiple cores, and many benchmarks have shown that Photoshop can efficiently use up to 8 cores, after which the difference in performance is not very significant. So the answer to this question is, Yes! Photoshop will use multiple Cores!
What is the best CPU for Photoshop?
As mentioned before, having a CPU with multiple cores will have an impact on the overall performance. And while it’s hard to recommend a particular CPU, you should always consider a recent Intel or AMD processor that has a minimum of 4 cores.
And because processor naming schemes can be quite confusing, you can read our article here, in order to understand how Intel and AMD name their CPUs and what the letters and numbers mean.
Does Photoshop run natively on m1 Macs?
If you’re interested in getting an Apple Macbook laptop, then you’re probably wondering if you will be able to use Photoshop on M1 powered Macs.
The M1 is the first Apple-designed Chip that’s been developed for use in Macs, and it uses a different computer architecture (ARM) from Intel-based Macs (x86-64). That’s why running non native apps on an M1 Mac is done through an emulator, called Rosetta 2.
Since March 2021, Adobe Photoshop will run natively on M1 powered Macs. Adobe also claims that Photoshop will run 1.5X faster on M1 machine, when compared to similarly configured Intel systems. There are a few features that are still not available in the native mode, including Import/Export and Playback of embedded video layers, Preset Syncing, Opening or Placing U3D formatted files, and starting bridge from Photoshop menus.
You can also run Photoshop using Rosetta 2.
Does Photoshop work on Chromebook?
You can’t run the desktop version of Photoshop on a Chromebook. However, it is possible to use the Photoshop apps or Lightroom from the Google Play Store.
Does Photoshop run better on SSD or HDD?
As a rule, you should always get a laptop with SSD storage. Photoshop does not rely too much on the storage, but an SSD will make opening files and launching apps faster, which will definitely speed up your workflow.
And while all SSD are better than traditional hard drives, not all of them are equal. NVMe SSDs are the fastest available right now.
Photoshop will also use a “scratch disk” which is a small space of your hard drive where photoshop stores parts of your documents and their history panel states that are too big to be stored in the memory of your laptop. If you need to set up a scratch disk, an SSD will perform better.
What screen resolution is best for Photo editing?
For laptops, it is recommended to get at least one with Full HD resolution. Some laptops also have 4K displays, which can give you more desktop space.
Buying an external monitor is also recommended for photo editing, as the bigger screen will make editing image much easier. In this case, a resolution of 1440p is recommended for 27 inch monitor or a 4K resolution for a 32 inch one.
What are color gamuts? And what color gamut is best for Photoshop?
A color gamut, or color space, is the range of colors that can be displayed or expressed by the screen. The more colors the display can produce, the better it is for Photo editing. Since the range of colors that can be reproduced will vary from a display to another, color ranges have been established in order to know how each device performs in terms of color expression.
There are different standards that govern color gamuts, and for laptops you will find terms such as sRGB, Adobe RGB, NTSC, and DCI-P3. Color gamuts are usually represented by triangles on a three-dimensional chromaticity diagram, as shown below:
Is a touch screen good for Photo editing?
While it’s a matter of personal preference, a touch screen can has a few advantages when it comes to photo editing. This is especially true for convertible 2 in 1 laptops that have active pen support.
If you’re into drawing and digital art, and still want the power of a computer, then you might find the experience of drawing directly on the screen satisfying. However, a touch screen is going to cost you more, and in terms of performance, 2 in 1 laptop are usually not suitable for working with large photoshop files.
