Web and UX design is some serious business. It requires specialized and advanced software, which you can’t run on just any laptop. You need a device with a specific set of features.
However, finding an excellent choice with the most appropriate technical specifications is rather tricky. Fortunately, for you, we’ve got it covered. We put on our research glasses and analyzed numerous laptops to choose the most suitable ones for UX designers.
Before we dive into our list of best laptops for WEb, UI and UX designers, we are sharing an overview of minimum and recommended system requirements for web design. Let’s get started!
Best Laptop for Web Design (2022)
Minimum & Recommended System Requirements for Web Design Laptops
| Description | Minimum/ Recommended |
Windows Requirements | Mac Requirements |
| Operating System | Minimum | Windows 8.1 | Macintosh OS 10.13 or higher |
| Recommended | Windows 10 Home or Pro | ||
| Processor | Minimum | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i5 |
| Recommended | Intel Core i7 or Higher | Intel Core i7 or Higher | |
| Memory | Minimum | 8GB | 8GB |
| Recommended | 16GB | 16GB | |
| Hard Drive | Minimum | 128GB SSD & 1TB HDD | 128GB SSD & 1TB HDD |
| Recommended | 256GB SSD & 1TB HDD or 512GB SSD | 256GB SSD & 1TB HDD or 512GB SSD | |
| Graphics | Minimum | Inbuilt Intel Graphics with at least 2GB VRAM | Inbuilt Intel Graphics with at least 2GB VRAM |
| Recommended | Dedicated Graphics Card with 4GB VRAM | Dedicated Graphics Card with 4GB VRAM | |
| Battery | Minimum | 5 hours | 5 hours |
| Recommended | 10 hours | 10 hours | |
| Display | Minimum | 13.3-inch HD | 13.3-inch HD |
| Recommended | 15.6-inch FHD or Higher | 15.6-inch FHD or Higher |
8 Best Laptops for Web and Graphic Design
It’s a no brainer, the better the laptop’s specs, the more convenient it would be for Web design. However, as the performance increases, the cost also goes up. This is something that restricts many of us from getting our hands on our desired specs. Keeping all these issues in mind, we have compiled a list of best laptops for webdesign ranging from budget-friendly options to high-end ones. Let’s get started!
Microsoft Surface Book 3 15 inches
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor: Quad-Core 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor
- Memory: 16GB, or 32GB
- Hard Drive: Solid-state drive (SSD) options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB PCIe SSD
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design w/4GB GDDR5 graphics memory
- Battery: Up to 17.5 hours of typical device usage
- Display: 15” PixelSense display (3240 x 2160)
If you are looking for a unique 2-in-laptop with a blend of versatile features, then there isn’t a better and latest option than the Microsoft Surface Book 3. Although it comes in two different screen dimensions (13” and 15”), we are going to review the 15” one in this post.
This smart device features a combination of all of the three categories of laptops, i.e., clamshell, convertible, and detachable. In order to convert this platinum-silver beauty into a tablet, all you need to do is press a key and its hidden release mechanism will be activated. You can also use it as an easel or kiosk, which is a position in which the keyboard is lying on a flat surface while the display is facing you.
It has a weight of 4.2 pounds, which might be slightly heavy for a few of you. Most of the weight is due to the keyboard base, which when detached, reduces the weight to a mere 1.8 pounds.
Surface Book 3 has 1.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, which is excellent when it comes to graphic design. You have an option to choose from 16 GB and 32 GB RAM, and a storage of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, which is compatible with high-end web design software. If you are into colorful websites, then its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU will provide amazing support.
It is portable, has excellent computing power, and allows you the flexibility of detaching the keyboard base if you don’t need it; what else can you ask for?!
Pros
- 2-in-1 detachable laptop
- Powerful 1.3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor
- A RAM of up to 32 GB and storage of up to 1 TB
- Comfortable keyboard
- Excellent graphics
- PixelSense display
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy
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Apple MacBook Air
- Operating System: macOS Catalina
- Processor: 1.2 GHz Quad-Core 10th Generation Intel Core i5
- Memory: 8 GB
- Hard Drive: 512GB PCIe-based SSD Configurable to 1TB or 2TB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Plus
- Battery: 11 hours
- Display: 13.3” Retina display (2560 x 1600)
Apple, no doubt, is among the leaders when it comes to tech. Their MacBooks are almost everyone’s favorite whether they require it for business activities or techy stuff such as web development. However, most of them are on the pricey side. Fortunately, there is an option that is slightly affordable but still works like magic, the Apple MacBook Air.
This MacBook edition is the lightest among our listed MacBook models and just weighs 2.9 pounds. This makes it commuter-friendly, and thus, an excellent choice for freelance web designers to complete their projects on the go.
However, weight is only one of the considerations, the major one is the machine’s processor. The Apple MacBook Air is powered by the 1.2 GHz quad-core 10th generation Intel core i5, coupled with 8 GB RAM and a storage of 512 GB, which is substantial for the majority of the UX development software.
The biggest upgrade in the MacBook Air’s 2020 model is its keyboard. The previous versions suffered from intense backlash due to numerous keyboard failures. Keeping this in mind, Apple brought in Magic Keyboard, which features a rubber dome and a switch beneath every key. This addition is quite handy for web developers because their work’s major chunk depends on typing.
Its graphics and display are quite promising as well. The true tone covers up for the lack of OLED technology. On the other hand, the Retina display’s resolution of somewhere between HD and 4K is more than enough for 13.3”.
Pros
- Better keyboard than the previous versions
- Lightweight
- Reasonable price
- Excellent battery
Cons
- Lack of touch screen
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Apple MacBook Pro 13 inches
- Operating System: macOS Catalina
- Processor: 2.0 GHz 10th Gen Quad-Core Intel Core i5
- Memory: up to 16 GB
- Hard Drive: 1TB SSD storage
- Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Battery: 10 hours
- Display: 13.3” Retina Display (2560 x 1600)
If you are looking for a heavier processor with a better speed in an Apple machine, and are ready to spill some cash, then the new Apple MacBook Pro 13” is a great option for you.
The major upgrade in the 2020 version is the introduction of the Magic keyboard. It”s pretty soft, and thus, allows you to type faster.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13” could easily be labeled as one of the best laptops in terms of performance among its counterparts, thanks to its 2.0 GHz 10th gen quad-core Intel Core i5 processor alongside 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB SSD storage.
One of its strongest suits is its battery life of over 10 hours, which is quite impressive if you look at all the power you’ll be getting with this device. Another eye-catching quality is its 2560 x 1600-pixel display, which performs pretty well even in bright daylight.
Regardless of all these qualities, if you have a relatively newer version of MacBook then stick with it or move over to the MacBook Pro 16”, because you won’t notice much difference between your previous one and the new MacBook Pro 13”.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Magic keyboard
- The battery life of over 10 hours
- Vibrant display
Cons
- Mediocre webcam
- Expensive for a 10th Gen processor
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Apple MacBook Pro 16 inches
- Operating System: macOS Catalina
- Processor: 3GHz 9th Generation 8‑core Intel Core i9
- Memory: 16 GB
- Hard Drive: 1TB SSD
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Battery: 11 hours
- Display: 16” Retina display (3072 x 1920)
If you are into intensive coding and game development, and budget isn’t an issue, then there’s isn’t a better option than the Apple MacBook Pro 16”, whose processor exceeds our initially provided recommended processor performance. It is the most powerful machine in our list of the best laptops for UX designers.
The 2.3GHz 9th generation 8‑core Intel Core i9 powers this beauty, which has the sleekest design from amongst our suggested MacBooks in this list, thanks to its slim bezels. You can upgrade its memory to up to 64 GB and storage to up to 8 TB. All these specifications are a dream come true for a webdesigner. Are we right or are we right?
However, all these upgradations will cause you some serious cash!
One of the major reasons behind its design was 4K video editing, which clearly explains the power of its 16” Retina display (3072 x 1920). Another impressive feature of this high-end device is its battery life of 11 hours, which beats the majority of its counterparts offering similar power.
Similar to other latest MacBooks, this one also features a Magic keyboard for fast and convenient tying. Did we mention that its audio will make you go wow?!
Its only setback is its slightly heavier weight of 4.02 pounds, which might not be manageable for everyone while traveling. However, this MacBook’s pros overshadow this con completely!
Pros
- Sleek design with slimmer bezels
- Magic keyboard
- Excellent audio quality
- 3GHz 9th generation 8‑core Intel Core i9 processor
- The battery life of over 11 hours
Cons
- Heavy
- Absence of 4K display
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Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Processor: 8th Gen Quad-Core Intel Core i7
- Memory: 16 GB
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD
- Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Battery: Up to 15 hours
- Display: 14″ FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) 300 nits
Are you a freelance web designer whose always on the go? Are you on a lookout for a portable laptop with a powerful processor?
If yes, then check out the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon, which only weighs 2.49 pounds. This is thanks to its ultraportable chassis, which is made from a combination of carbon fiber and magnesium. In addition to portability, its design is minimalistic yet modern, which gives it a clean and stylish look.
Its weight isn’t the only feature that qualifies it as an excellent choice for traveling, it has 12 MIL-STD certifications, which show its impressive sand, dust, UV radiation, and high altitude and humidity resistance.
This laptop’s protection isn’t just limited to its exterior, the TPM 2.0 chip, fingerprint sensor, and facial recognition make it digital attack resistant as well.
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon’s 8th Gen quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, coupled with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD storage, will cope with and provide complete support to all of your graphic design requirements.
As far as the display is concerned, this sleek machine provides a resolution of 1080p. However, its graphics won’t be happy if you play intensive games.
Lenovo promises that the Thinkpad X1 Carbon’s battery won’t give up before 15 hours. Another excellent feature that supports portability!
Pros
- Lightweight (2.49 lbs)
- 4K display
- 15 hours of battery life
- 12 MIL-STD certifications for sand, dust, UV radiation, and high altitude and humidity resistance
- Vibrant display
Cons
- Doesn’t have a microSD card slot
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Lenovo ThinkPad T15
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10510U Quad-core 1.80GHz
- Memory: 16GB
- Hard Drive: 1TB PCIe-NVMe SSD
- Graphics: Intel UHD
- Battery: Up to 15.3 hours
- Display: 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS 250nits
Are you concerned about your laptop’s security? Do you want your data to be safe from cyber-attacks?
If yes, then Lenovo ThinkPad T15 is one of the best options for you out there. It has ThinkShield, a suite of sophisticated in-built security solutions, which ensures that hackers stay away from your data. In addition to this, the Trusted Platform Module encrypts it for an extra layer of protection.
Also, if you have concerns that someone might be spying on you, then the ThinkShutter is there to stop them!
The ThinkPad T15 isn’t just cyber-attack resistant, its body is quite sturdy as well. Lenovo performed 12-military-grade sturdiness and 200 other quality tests to ensure that it withstands drops, spills, zero-gravity, and harsh weather conditions.
You won’t need to charge it more than once daily, thanks to its 15.3 hours of battery life. In addition to this, the ThinkPad T15 goes from a charge of 0% to 80% in just one hour.
Its main component, the Intel core i7-10510U quad-core 1.80GHz processor houses considerable power, which alongside 16 GB RAM and 1TB PCIe-NVMe SSD storage qualifies it to be one of the favorites of graphic designers.
Pros
- ThinkShield and ThinkShutter’s protection against intruders
- Cleared 12-military-grade sturdiness and 200 other quality tests
- The battery life of 15.3 hours
- Goes from a charge of 0% to 80% in just one hour
Cons
- Speakers lack bass and have low volume as compared to this its counterparts
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Dell XPS 15 9500
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H
- Memory: 16 GB
- Hard Drive: 1 TB M.2 PCIe NVMe
- Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Ti
- Battery: Approximately 14 hours
- Display: 15.6” UHD+ (3840 x 2400) Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit
As soon as the Dell rolled out it’s Dell XPS 15 9500, people became a fan of its UHD+ display. A few of them have even labeled it a benchmark for other brands. In addition to being UHD+, its 15.6” (3840 x 2400) touch display is anti-reflective, with narrow bezels, which has made it InfinityEdge.
This laptop is quite sturdy, thanks to its chassis, which is made from carbon fiber, a material 10 times stronger than steel. This durability will allow you to carry it around in almost all types of conditions; however, if you want to keep its aesthetics intact then get a sleeve for scratch-protection.
It’s 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor will easily cope with the majority of your UX development-related tasks. Its 16 GB memory will make sure that you don’t pull your hair out of frustration due to slow processing.
The most eye-catching feature of this laptop is its rather massive touchpad, which has significantly improved the navigation from the earlier XPS 15 versions. Dell has also introduced speaker grilles on both sides of the keyboard with this model.
Dell promises that the XPS 15 9500’s battery won’t leave your side for at least 14 hours. Such a powerful battery coupled with its sturdy construction makes it an excellent choice for commuting. However, the weight of around 1.8 kgs might be heavy for some of you.
Pros
- InfinityEdge UHD+ display
- Sturdy chassis
- Speaker grilles on both sides of the keyboard
- Large touchpad
Cons
- Weighs 1.8 kg
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Razer Blade 15
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor: 8-Core 10th Gen Intel Core i7
- Memory: 16 GB
- Hard Drive: Up to 512GB PCIe
- Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER
- Battery: 7 hours (as per external tests)
- Display: 300Hz FHD Matte or OLED 4K Touch
The Razer Blade 15 is gamers’ absolute favorite. However, its functionality and power aren’t just limited to gaming, its specifications are a great match for web design as well. Although it is pricey, it combines the best features of the top laptop options currently available n the market.
One of the major reasons behind its demand in gaming is its NVIDIA GeForce RTX with Max-Q design (8GB GDDR6 VRAM), which has real-time ray tracing ability.
After graphics, the next thing that crosses everyone’s mind is, how’s the display?
Well, we expect nothing less from one of the most hyped gaming laptops of 2020 than a 4K touch screen. However, you’ll need the advanced version to enjoy this superior display.
Apart from this, its 8-Core 10th Gen Intel Core i7 pretty much indicates its power just by its name. You have the option to choose whatever memory and storage you require at varying rates.
Although the device is a bit heavy at over 4 pounds, it isn’t chunky, which is a plus for people who are into aesthetics. Also, we were pretty impressed that the manufacturers successfully punched in so much power in a relatively thinner (others with these specs are quite think) chassis.
Pros
- OLED 4K touch display
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX with Max-Q design (8GB GDDR6 VRAM) with real-time ray tracing ability
- An excellent choice for gaming
- Good battery life according to the specs it provides
Cons
- Expensive
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These are our top picks for the best laptops for graphic and web designers. Let us know which one is your favorite or impressed you the most. Also, if you’ve used any of these before then share your reviews in the comments below!
