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10 Best Laptops for Photography in 2024 (March)

10 Best Laptops for Photography in 2024 (March)

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Boost up your digital artistry with our top pick for the best laptop for photography: stunning visuals and lightning-fast performance.

Our Top Pick
Dell XPS 15 9520
4.8
$1,620.00 $1,199.00

Our top pick for professional photographers, the Dell XPS 15, offers powerful photo and video editing performance. With a vibrant 15.6" FHD+ display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics, and a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor, it delivers exceptional visuals and smooth multitasking. Its lightweight design, long battery life, and fast internet connectivity make it perfect for on-the-go work. Despite potential thermal concerns, the Dell XPS 15 is an excellent investment for photographers and graphic designers.

Pros:
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Long battery life
Cons:
  • Overheating during intensive tasks
  • Non-removable battery
Buy Now Read Our Review
02/19/2024 09:28 am GMT

Ever found yourself twiddling your thumbs, waiting for your laptop to finish processing that one high-res image? Yes, we’ve been there, it’s like watching paint dry. Well, in the fast-paced world of photography, a slow laptop is just downright frustrating (and we’re here to fix that!)

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Adobe Creative Cloud Discount

We’ve rummaged through the tech market, making it our mission to deliver the most powerful laptops that will supercharge your photo editing process. We’ve looked under the hood of each laptop, assessed their displays, and checked their performance. Basically, we’ve done the legwork, so you don’t have to.

So, grab a cup of coffee as you explore our meticulously curated list of the 10 best laptops for photography in 2024. Let’s dive right in!

Also, see our features on the best monitors for photo editing as well as how to get an Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop discount.

The 10 Best Laptop for Photographers in 2024

  1. Dell XPS 15  — Best Overall (Editor’s Choice)
  2. Apple 2023 MacBook ProOutstanding Color-Accurate Screen
  3. ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED — Best Laptop with Powerful GPU
  4. GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5 — Best with Cutting Edge Display
  5. Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED (2022) — Best with Impressive Dual Screen Technology
  6. HP Victus 15  — Best for Beginners
  7. Lenovo 2023 ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 — Best Overclocking Laptop
  8. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 — Best Convertible Laptop
  9. Apple 2022 MacBook Air — Strikingly Thin Design
  10. Lenovo Newest IdeaPad 3 — Best Budget Laptop

And make sure to check out the best camera tripods, the best memory cards, and the best studio lighting kits.

What is the best laptop to buy for photography in 2024?

Our top pick goes to the Dell XPS 15 but you can discover the pinnacle of photo editing prowess with our top three laptops below, delivering unrivaled performance and precision for photographers at the cutting edge.


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Top 3 Picks

Here are our top 3 picks for the best photo editing laptops in 2024:

Best Overall
Outstanding Color-Accurate Screen
Best Laptop with Powerful GPU
4.8
4.5
4.3
$1,620.00$1,199.00
$1,999.00$1,720.34
$2,650.91
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Long battery life
  • Exceptional performance with M2 Pro chip.
  • Long-lasting battery up to 18 hours.
  • Vibrant Liquid Retina XDR display.
  • High-performing 16" OLED 4K display
  • Intel Core i7-12700H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU
  • Customizable ASUS Dial
Best Overall
4.8
$1,620.00$1,199.00
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Long battery life
Outstanding Color-Accurate Screen
4.5
$1,999.00$1,720.34
  • Exceptional performance with M2 Pro chip.
  • Long-lasting battery up to 18 hours.
  • Vibrant Liquid Retina XDR display.
Best Laptop with Powerful GPU
4.3
$2,650.91
  • High-performing 16" OLED 4K display
  • Intel Core i7-12700H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU
  • Customizable ASUS Dial
02/19/2024 09:28 am GMT

 

Detailed Reviews of the Best Laptops for Photo Editing in 2024

1. Dell XPS 15 — Best Overall (Editor’s Choice)

Dell XPS 15 9520
Dell XPS 15 9520. Image Credits: Amazon

The overall best laptop for photo editing

CPU: Intel i7 12th Gen | GPU: RTX 3050 | Hard Disk Size: 512GB PCIe SSD | RAM Memory Size: 16GB

As a professional photographer, you need nothing less than a reliable laptop that can effortlessly deal with your demanding photography tasks. At the same time, it should have a display and GPU powerful enough to do justice to your photos and videos. And that’s where the Dell XPS 15 shines.

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To begin with, its XPS 15’s 15.6″ FHD+ 1920×1200 generous display, boasting a non-glare and 500-nit InfinityEdge screen, offers vibrant and accurate colors, critical for photo and video editing. It delivers a larger screen real estate and more detailed visuals, essential for precise edits.

On top of that, this powerful laptop is fueled by the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H with 14 cores- thus eliminating lags and crashes, no matter how hefty the photo or video editing task. Coupled with 16GB DDR5 RAM, multitasking becomes a breeze. Similarly, the 512GB PCIe SSD storage space not only lets you store those large RAW files but also ensures rapid data access and transfer.

Additionally, the Dell XPS 15 comes equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, providing excellent graphics capabilities. This integrated graphics card, coupled with 4GB GDDR6 memory, lets you deal with graphics-rich photos and videos with ease while visualizing your work in stunning detail and color accuracy.

Need to work on the go? The durable, lightweight design and impressive 86Wh battery of this photo editing laptop ensure longevity and portability, never letting you miss a beat. It also boasts the Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 for fast internet connectivity, making cloud storage access and online collaboration seamless. Plus, its multiple ports, including USB-C and Thunderbolt 4, offer versatile connectivity options for all your devices.

But while the Dell XPS 15 is a powerful laptop, its thermal management isn’t as robust as some photographers may need. Extended periods of intensive photo editing could lead to overheating, which may hinder performance over time. But that is something you can easily handle with a cooling pad.

In conclusion, the Dell XPS 15 is an excellent laptop for photo editing and other photography needs. Its powerful 11th Gen Intel i7 CPU, substantial RAM, and SSD storage, coupled with its superior NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, makes this versatile device an ideal solution for professionals in video editing and graphic design.

PROS CONS
➕ Powerful i7-12700H processor for seamless photo editing tasks ➖ Potential heat generation during high-resource tasks
➕ Vibrant 15.6″ InfinityEdge display for precise editing
➕ Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU for faster rendering
➕ Ample storage and high-speed RAM for efficient multitasking
➕ Durable, lightweight design with a long-lasting battery for mobility

Latest Price on Amazon:

Best Overall
Dell XPS 15 9520
$1,620.00 $1,199.00
Buy Now
02/19/2024 09:28 am GMT

 

2. Apple 2023 MacBook Pro (Outstanding Color-Accurate Screen)

Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop. Image Credits: Amazon

Best Mac for photographers in 2024

CPU: M2 Pro chip | GPU: Apple 30-core GPU | Hard Disk Size: 512GB SSD | RAM Memory Size: 16GB

The Apple 2023 MacBook Pro stands out among the best photo editing laptops 2024 for its impeccable color accuracy. This, coupled with a vibrant 14.2″ Liquid Retina XDR display, industry-leading processor chips, a great battery life, and much more, makes it a perfect tool for creative professionals.

The MacBook Pro’s M2 Pro chip, with up to 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, and a whopping 32GB of unified memory, can handle any photo or video editing software or project, regardless of size or complexity. This means no more lags or freezes while editing those high-resolution images or crafting stunning HDR compositions.

And if you are someone who often works on the move, you’ll love how its battery can last up to 18 hours- all thanks to the power-efficient design of the M2 Pro chip. That’s almost a whole day of uninterrupted editing without worrying about plugging in.

Running on macOS, this Apple laptop ensures that your favorite editing apps, like Adobe Creative Cloud or Affinity Designer, operate at lightning-fast speeds. The vibrant 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display brings your photos to life with over 1000 nits of brightness, ensuring you catch every detail in perfect color and contrast.

But on the flip side, the Apple 2023 MacBook Pro lacks legacy ports like USB-A or HDMI, which can be a nuisance for photographers looking to connect older peripherals or display their work on external monitors. Though it’s nothing you can solve with adapters.

Still, with the MacBook Pro, not only do you get advanced hardware but also seamless integration with your other Apple devices. Plus, its outstanding performance, gorgeous display, and seamless compatibility make it a valuable tool for all your photography and image editing needs.

PROS CONS
➕ Exceptional performance with M2 Pro chip ➖ The lack of legacy ports may complicate connections to older peripherals and external displays
➕ Impressive battery life ➖ Higher price point compared to competitors
➕ Superb display quality
➕ Seamless app compatibility

Latest Price on Amazon:

Outstanding Color-Accurate Screen
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro
$1,999.00 $1,720.34
Buy Now
03/04/2024 10:05 pm GMT

 

3. ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED (Best Laptop with Powerful GPU)

ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16
ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16. Image Credits: Amazon

Best laptop for graphic design and photo editing

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CPU: i7-12th Gen | GPU: RTX 3070Ti | Hard Disk Size: 1TB + 1TB M.2 SSD | RAM Memory Size: 16GB

As a photography professional, you need a high-performing GPU to deal with your graphics-intensive tasks. In that sense, the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED is a perfect photo editing laptop for you.

The heart of the StudioBook is its 16″ OLED 4K display. With 3840×2400 resolution and Pantone-validated color accuracy, this laptop ensures your photos pop in all their glory. Working with Adobe RGB color space? No problem. This screen ensures accurate, vibrant color reproduction– paramount for creative professionals like you.

Equipped with an Intel Core i7-12700H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU, this machine offers robust performance for demanding tasks such as editing images with high-resolution or complex layer compositions. Its 16GB DDR5 RAM coupled with 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ensures quick access to your large image files and smooth multitasking.

Moreover, the machine comes bundled with a complimentary 3-month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, directly addressing your software needs. The innovative ASUS Dial, customizable via ProArt Creator Hub, gives you quick and intuitive control over parameters like brush size and saturation, enhancing your workflow efficiency.

Though StudioBook 16 is an excellent laptop for photo editing, it is not without flaws. For one, its high-performance specs make it a tad heavy at 5.29 lbs. But with a sturdy laptop bag, you’ll be good to go.

Also, the battery life is not exactly impressive, given the power-hungry internals. Still, for such a good photo editing machine, all these trade-offs are worth it.

Simply put, the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED is simply the best photo editing laptop out there in terms of GPU. Its blend of a color-accurate OLED screen, powerful GPU, and handy creative tools, despite a few compromises, make it a machine that can genuinely elevate your creative output.

PROS CONS
➕ Stunning 16″ 4K OLED screen ➖ Slightly heavier
➕ Powerful GPU for intensive tasks ➖ Poor battery life
➕ Bundled Adobe Creative Cloud subscription
➕ ASUS Dial for enhanced workflow

Latest Price on Amazon:

Best Laptop with Powerful GPU
ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16
$2,650.91
Buy Now
02/19/2024 12:07 pm GMT

 

4. GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5 (Best with Cutting Edge Display)

GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5
GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5. Image Credits: Amazon

Best display quality laptop for photography

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CPU: i7-12th Gen | GPU: RTX 3070 Ti | Hard Disk Size: 2TB SSD | RAM Memory Size: 16GB

We understand how you as a photographer value crisp, clear, and true-to-life display in a laptop. With that said, the next on our list is the GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5. It outshines other laptops for photo editing with its unique blend of powerful performance and stunning display.

At the heart of this laptop is the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700HK processor, boosted by a hefty NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU. With this combination, you’ll experience lag-free editing, even with the heaviest of software. Even with multiple editing software open, the 16GB of DDR5 memory doesn’t break a sweat, keeping things smooth and responsive.

On top of that, this AERO photo editing laptop stands out with its 17.3-inch 4K/UHD miniLED 120Hz Display with VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification. This means you’ll see your photos in magnificent detail, with vibrant colors, stark contrasts, and breathtaking dynamic range.

Moreover, it offers a generous 2TB storage, ideal for high-resolution images and the software they require. Additionally, this laptop runs on Windows 11 Pro, assuring a seamless user experience. Coupled with Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, it guarantees fast internet, enabling smooth operations and easy collaboration with colleagues or clients, even remotely.

The AERO 17 XE5, though an excellent laptop for photo editing with impeccable screen quality, isn’t perfect. To name a few, at 5.73 lbs, it’s not the most portable option, and lugging it around may be a hassle.

In conclusion, if you’re a professional photographer or photo editor seeking a laptop with a top-notch display and high-performance specs, and aren’t fussed about portability, the GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5 is a solid contender.

PROS CONS
➕ Powerful Intel Core i7 processor and RTX 3070 Ti GPU for smooth photo editing. ➖ Slightly heavier compared to other laptops, potentially limiting portability.
➕ Stunning 4K/UHD miniLED 120Hz Display for vibrant and detailed image preview.
➕ Large 2TB storage for extensive photo libraries.
➕ Comes with Windows 11 Pro and excellent connectivity for collaborative projects.

Latest Price on Amazon:

Best with Cutting Edge Display

 

5. Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED (2022) (Best with Impressive Dual Screen Technology)

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15. Image Credits: Amazon

Best dual touch screen laptop for photo editing

CPU: i9-12th Gen | GPU: RTX 3060 | Hard Disk Size: 1TB | RAM Memory Size: 32GB

If you want to up your creativity and productivity game with a brand new addition to your photography arsenal, the 2022 Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo touchscreen laptop can be a brilliant option. It’s engineered to handle power-intensive tasks, while its striking dual-screen technology revolutionizes your digital workspace.

To begin with, the chassis of this laptop houses a powerful 12th generation Intel Core i9-12900H Processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU, allowing it to handle heavy photo editing applications like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom with ease. Plus, with a whopping 32GB of DDR5 RAM, multitasking between these applications will be a breeze. 

But where Zenbook Pro 14 Duu really shines is its vibrant 15.6-inch OLED FHD main display and an additional 14-inch 4K ScreenPad Plus. The main display’s high-resolution (1920 x 1080) guarantees true-to-life color reproduction, ensuring your photos look just as you envisioned.

These displays are not only vibrant but also ensure reduced eye strain with low blue light emission, keeping your eyes fresh even after long editing sessions. The best part? Both screens are touch-enabled, offering a more intuitive and direct way to interact with your images.

Additionally, the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED comes armed with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU. As a photo editor, this means you can effortlessly handle GPU-intensive tasks, such as 3D rendering, applying complex filters, and working with high-resolution images.

And that’s not all! It comes with a complimentary 3-month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. This way, you can make full use of its capabilities right out of the box.

While the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is a fantastic laptop for editing photos and videos, its dual screens are not equally color-accurate, which could affect color-critical photo editing tasks.

To sum up, the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is an excellent investment for photographers and photo editors who require a powerful system with enhanced multitasking capabilities, exceptional display quality, and ample connectivity options. It beautifully blends power with visual brilliance, making it a stellar choice for image editing.

PROS CONS
➕ Powerful processing and graphical capabilities for heavy-duty photo editing. ➖ Unequal color accuracy across dual screens.
➕ Exceptional dual-screen display with touch capabilities.
➕ Extensive connectivity options for versatile use.

Latest Price on Amazon:

Impressive Dual Screen Technology
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15
$2,799.99 $1,999.00
Buy Now
02/18/2024 07:01 pm GMT

 

6. HP Victus 15  — (Best for Beginners)

HP Victus 15 Gaming Laptop
HP Victus 15. Image Credits: Amazon

Best computer for beginner photographer

CPU: Intel i5 12th Gen | GPU: GTX 1650| Hard Disk Size: 1TB PCIe SSD | RAM Memory Size: 32 GB

In the realm of laptops for photo editing, the HP Victus 15 is a beast in terms of processing power, GPU, capacity, and image quality. After thorough testing, we can confidently say that this HP laptop has got all it needs to take on the heaviest of photo and video projects.

For starters, the HP Victus 15 houses a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H processor, which, coupled with a base clock speed of 2.0GHz and turbo boost up to 4.4GHz, promises snappy and smooth performance. This means quicker loading and processing of your high-resolution images in Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or other image editing applications.

And with a whopping 32GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM, multitasking between these applications will be a breeze. You won’t have to worry about your laptop slowing down while you manage multiple editing tasks simultaneously.

Now, a quality display is indispensable for photographers. That’s why the HP Victus 15 comes with a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with a refresh rate of 144Hz, ensuring clear and crisp visuals. This means precise details and color grading for your photos and videos.

For storage, the Victus 15 boasts a massive 1TB PCIe SSD. Not only does this provide ample room for your extensive photo libraries, but it also ensures swift load and transfer times for those large RAW files.

Additionally, this laptop features the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5 graphics card that can handle graphic-intensive tasks with ease. This means smoother image rendering and a lag-free experience while you apply complex filters or layering effects.

However, the HP Victus 15 lacks Thunderbolt support, limiting its ability to connect with high-speed storage devices and peripherals, which could hinder your workflow. It’s also not the best photo editing laptop if you often work on the move, due to its relatively heavy build.

Still, with its robust performance, excellent display, and generous storage space, it’s a solid investment for beginners serious about their craft. It’s a reliable photo editing laptop for starting out as a professional in the field of photography.

PROS CONS
➕ The powerful 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ensure top-notch performance. ➖ The laptop is relatively heavy, which could limit its portability.
➕ Equipped with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD, the laptop can handle multiple applications simultaneously and store ample data. ➖ No Thunderbolt support for high-speed device connectivity.
➕ The 15.6-inch FHD display offers a detailed and immersive visual experience.
➕ The design is stylish and sophisticated, adding a premium look and feel to the laptop.
➕ Cutting-edge hardware ensures rapid data processing and loading times, making it efficient for gaming and professional use.

Latest Price on Amazon:

Best for Beginners
HP Victus 15 Gaming Laptop
$697.00
Buy Now
02/20/2024 02:10 pm GMT

 

7. Lenovo 2023 ThinkPad E15 Gen 4  (Best Overclocking Laptop)

Lenovo 2023 ThinkPad E15 Gen 4
Lenovo 2023 ThinkPad E15. Image Credits: Amazon

Fastest laptop for photography and editing

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 | GPU: ‎AMD Radeon 7-Cores | Hard Disk Size: 512GB NVMe SSD | RAM Memory Size: 16GB RAM

Next up is the Lenovo 2023 ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 a powerful laptop for photo editing— tailor-made to suit the rigorous, creative demands of photographers like you. While fairly powerful, it also offers over-clocking, which is basically like nitro for your laptop.

Powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U Hex-Core processor, this Lenovo laptop has the strength to handle complex image editing tasks swiftly. Pair that with 16GB RAM— this system guarantees lag-free multitasking, even with heavy software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. Moreover, the 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD ensures quick boot times and rapid file retrieval, streamlining your workflow like never before.

As a photographer, a crucial feature for you is the 15.6″ Full HD, IPS, 300-nits Anti-Glare Display. It provides vibrant, true-to-life colors, perfect for precision color grading. And with its 45% NTSC color gamut, your images will always have just the right color balance.

And that’s not all! Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics will ensure you experience no stutter or lag during high-resolution image rendering, allowing you to bring your vision to life seamlessly. The laptop also sports a multitude of ports, including USB-C, HDMI, and USB 3.2, allowing you to connect your camera, graphic tablet, or external monitor effortlessly.

The laptop also features a privacy shutter on the built-in FHD camera. It’s a small but valuable feature, especially in our current privacy-conscious digital age.

One thing to consider, though, is that this model does not come with a dedicated graphics card. Similarly, it does not have a high-resolution display, capping out at only an FHD IPS and possibly limiting the detail visible during photo editing and retouching.

To sum it up, the Lenovo 2023 ThinkPad E15 Gen 4 is a high-performance, sleek, and reliable companion for any professional photographer or image editor. Its robust processing power with scope for overclocking especially makes it worth every penny.

PROS CONS
➕ High-performance processor and abundant RAM ➖ No dedicated graphics card
➕ Vibrant Full HD, Anti-Glare Display ➖ Lower resolution display limits detail visibility
➕ Ample storage with fast SSD
➕ Multiple ports for connectivity
➕ Compact and lightweight

Latest Price on Amazon:

Best Overclocking Laptop
Lenovo 2023 ThinkPad E15 GEN 4
$899.00 $849.00
Buy Now
02/20/2024 02:10 pm GMT

 

8. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Best Convertible Laptop)

Microsoft Surface Pro 9
Microsoft Surface Pro 9. Image Credits: Amazon

Best 2-in-1 laptop for photo editing

CPU: i5-12th Gen | GPU: Iris Xe Graphics | Hard Disk Size: 512GB SSD | RAM Memory Size: 8GB RAM

If you want the power of a laptop but the portability and convenience of a tablet, then you might just find the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Laptop to be the best laptop for photo editing and other photography-related tasks. This 2-in-1 laptop can turn into a tablet whenever you like.

Firstly, the 13″ PixelSense Flow 10-Point Multi-Touch Display with a resolution of 2880 x 1920 and impeccable color accuracy is just a marvel. It ensures that your photos look just as good on screen as they do in real life. Plus, the display supports Dolby Vision, providing you with vibrant, high-contrast visuals. And the best part? It’s a touchscreen, which can be an absolute boon for editing precision.

Under the hood, the Surface Pro 9 boasts a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U processor, delivering blazing-fast performance to handle demanding photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom effortlessly. With 8GB DDR5 RAM and a 512GB PCIe SSD, you’re also equipped with plenty of memory and quick storage for handling large, high-resolution photo files.

Despite its mighty specs, the Surface Pro 9 maintains an impressively sleek and lightweight design, weighing just under 2 pounds. It’s superior portability like this that allows you to edit your photos wherever inspiration strikes, whether it’s in a café, on a train, or in the great outdoors itself.

However, the lack of a dedicated GPU can be a major downer. While the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics should suffice for most photo editing tasks, for more intensive tasks or 3D work, you might find it limiting. But, for the majority of photographers and photo editors, this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.

In sum, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a robust, versatile, and portable option for any photographer or photo editor, providing impressive power and an exceptional display packed into a light, easy-to-carry body.

PROS CONS
➕ Stunning 13″ PixelSense Flow 10-Point Multi-Touch Display ➖ The lack of a dedicated GPU may limit performance for very intensive tasks or 3D work
➕ High-performance 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U Processor
➕ Generous 8GB DDR5 RAM and 512GB PCIe SSD
➕ Light, compact, and highly portable design
➕ Touchscreen capabilities enhance editing precision

Latest Price on Amazon:

2-in-1 Convertible
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (2022) 12th GEN
$2,599.99 $1,914.99
Buy Now
02/19/2024 06:01 pm GMT

 

9. Apple 2022 MacBook Air — (Strikingly Thin Design)

Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop. Image Credits: Amazon

Most compact photography laptop

CPU: M2 chip | GPU: Apple 10-core GPU | Hard Disk Size: 256GB | RAM Memory Size: 8GB RAM

For creative professionals on the move, you need a laptop for photo editing that is not only powerful and color-accurate but also highly portable. The Apple 2022 MacBook Air — weighing just 2.7 lbs- blends all these elements with its impressive hardware and strikingly thin design- making it an excellent choice for on-location photo shoots or working from your favorite cafe.

For starters, this MacBook Air comes equipped with the M2 chip, boasting an 8-core CPU that enhances speed, providing lag-free performance even with heavy photo-editing apps like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. To add to that, the 8-core GPU renders those high-resolution images or even 4K video content like it’s nothing.

And with up to 24GB of unified memory, multitasking between apps or dealing with large files is a breeze. However, if your workload is particularly intensive, you may want to upgrade to the standard 8GB RAM to avoid potential bottlenecks.

Coming to its display- Liquid Retina with a 13.6-inch screen size- offers over 1 billion colors, 500 nits of brightness, and a P3 wide color gamut. This makes it perfect for editing photos with exceptional detail and vibrancy. The True Tone technology also adjusts the display’s color temperature based on ambient lighting, providing a comfortable viewing experience during long editing sessions. 

Lasting for up to 18 hours with a single charge, the Apple MacBook Air 2022 also boasts a stellar. That’s more than enough to get through a day of photo editing or shooting without reaching for the charger. And with versatile connectivity options, including two Thunderbolt ports, transferring raw images or high-resolution video files from your camera to your laptop is quick and effortless.

However, the MacBook Air 2020 does not offer a full-size USB port, limiting direct camera connectivity for photographers. So, you might want to invest in a docking station. Additionally, if color accuracy is critical for your work, you may want to opt for an external color-calibrated monitor.

Still, the 2022 MacBook Air is a powerful, portable laptop that’s perfectly suited for photographers and photo editors on the move. Despite a few potential limitations, its performance, display, battery life, and lightweight factor make it stand out among the best laptops for photo editing. And if you already subscribed to an Apple way of life, all the better!

PROS CONS
➕ Powerful M2 Chip for seamless photo editing ➖ The lack of a full-size USB port limits camera connectivity.
➕ Vibrant Liquid Retina Display for accurate color representation ➖ You may need to opt for an external monitor for precise color calibration.
➕ Impressive battery life
➕ Light and portable

Latest Price on Amazon:

Strikingly Thin Design
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop
$1,049.66
Buy Now
02/20/2024 04:44 pm GMT

 

10. Lenovo Newest IdeaPad 3 (Best Budget Laptop)

Lenovo New Ideapad 3
Lenovo New Ideapad 3. Image Credits: Amazon

Best laptop for photo editing on a budget

CPU: i7-11th Gen | GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Hard Disk Size: 1TB NVMe SSD | RAM Memory Size: 20GB RAM

If you are a beginner or simply tight on budget, the Lenovo Newest IdeaPad 3 is your best laptop option for photo editing in the current market. Despite being light on your pocket, this device can easily fulfill your specific photography and editing needs with its robust performance and incredible features.

The IdeaPad 3 boasts an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor with 4 cores & 8 threads, a base frequency of 2.8GHz, and up to 4.70GHz Max Turbo Frequency. This allows you to run multiple high-demand photo editing applications simultaneously swiftly. Imagine the possibilities of working on Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop without the dreaded lag. That’s a reality with IdeaPad 3.

As a photographer, you understand the significance of storage and the difference it makes in the fluidity of your editing process. The more, the merrier, right? The IdeaPad3 excels in this regard as well with its 20GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB NVMe SSD, this laptop ensures quick file loading and enhanced multitasking.

On top of that, the 14″ FHD (1920×1080) Anti-glare, micro-edge display offers crisp visuals and vibrant colors that bring your images to life, enhancing your editing precision. The IdeaPad 3 also offers a range of I/O ports for your convenience, ensuring easy data transfer and device connectivity. 

The laptop also boasts a Fingerprint Reader for added security. For photographers often working with sensitive client images, this feature adds an additional layer of data security. Although it’s worth noting, it’s not a replacement for a strong password and secure file storage practices.

But on the downside, while the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics copes well with image editing, it might not handle extremely complex editing tasks as smoothly as a dedicated GPU would. Additionally, the laptop’s lack of a 4K display may affect your ability to make precise color corrections and adjustments during photo editing.

But all in all, the Lenovo Newest IdeaPad 3, with its stellar performance and impressive features, is an affordable choice for photographers and photo editors. It may have its downsides, but with a few workarounds, it has the potential to be a reliable workhorse for your professional needs.

PROS CONS
➕ Powerful processor for demanding applications ➖ Not ideal for 4K editing.
➕ Generous RAM and SSD storage ➖ No dedicated GPU, thus restricting graphics capabilities.
➕ Crisp FHD display for precise editing
➕ Fingerprint reader for added security
➕ Diverse I/O ports

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Best Laptops for Photography: Selection and Testing Process

Being a designing and branding agency, we collaborated with professionals in the field of photography from out team. This allowed us to get a better understanding of what photographers and photo editors like you look for in a laptop. Based on that, we rummaged through the market to find the best photo editing laptops and had our team test them.

Then, we conducted an internal survey which allowed us to review the performance of each laptop for photo editing and other photography tasks. Here’s a detailed breakdown of our selection and testing process.

Selection Process

Our selection process for the best laptops for photography is systematic and meticulous and centers around the unique needs of photographers and photo editors. Here’s an in-depth breakdown of our methodology:

  1. Identifying Key Features: First, we reviewed photography styles and daily usage patterns to identify vital features. We started by understanding various photography styles and usage patterns to pinpoint essential features, focusing on commonly used software such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
  2. Matching Needs with Hardware Specifications: We aligned the identified needs with hardware specs. The selected laptops must have a powerful CPU, substantial RAM, and a top-tier graphics card to enable swift rendering.
  3. Evaluating Storage: With high-resolution images requiring significant space, we ensured the laptops we recommend provide a minimum of 512GB storage, ideally 1TB or more, preferably SSD, for faster performance.
  4. Assessing Display Quality: Color accuracy is key. Hence, we favored laptops featuring large screens with high RGB coverage and an expansive color gamut. We also took into account the presence of touch screens, which could be a handy tool for some photographers.
  5. Considering Mobility: We factored in the importance of mobility for photographers, selecting laptops that are lightweight yet durable, with a robust array of connectivity options, including USB-C, HDMI, and an SD card reader.
  6. Factoring Price and Support: Our mission is to recommend laptops priced within a range of $1,000 to $2,500 without compromising on features or performance. Plus, we acknowledged the importance of customer support for troubleshooting and consider this during our selection process.

Testing Process

Post-selection, we conducted comprehensive testing on each laptop to authenticate its capabilities and performance. This involves the following:

  1. Performance Tests: Utilizing benchmarking tools and photo-editing software, we stress-test the CPU, RAM, and GPU to confirm the laptop can manage resource-demanding tasks without experiencing slowdowns or crashes.
  2. Display Evaluation: The laptop’s display was calibrated, and color accuracy was tested using colorimeters and professional-grade software, ensuring the screen can deliver precise and vivid colors, a vital aspect of photo editing.
  3. Storage Speed Assessment: Disk speed tests were run to ascertain the speed at which the SSD could read/write data. Rapid storage is a prerequisite when working with bulky image files.
  4. Build and Portability Evaluation: The laptop’s build quality, weight, and size were evaluated to determine its aptitude for on-the-go work.
  5. Battery Life Test: We monitored battery life under an assortment of workloads, ranging from light tasks to resource-intensive operations. This helped evaluate the laptop’s endurance during extended shoots or travel.
  6. Heat Management Check: We examined how well the laptop manages heat under load, ensuring it neither overheats nor throttles performance.
  7. User Experience: Lastly, the overall user experience was gauged. This encompassed the quality of the keyboard, trackpad, and any unique features the laptop may offer.

By adhering to this stringent selection and testing protocol, we ensured that our recommendations for the best laptops for photography align with the needs and expectations of professional photographers and photo editors like you, empowering you to deliver your best work.

A Buyer’s Guide to Selecting the Best Laptop for All Your Photography Needs

If you are still unsure or on the hook about what the best device for your unique requirements is, go through our buying guide given below to arm yourself with the information needed to make a better choice for your photography needs:

✅ High-resolution Display:

For photographers, the display is where your work comes to life. Look for a high-resolution screen, preferably a 4K UHD display. This will ensure your photos appear sharp and vivid, revealing every detail.

For those prioritizing a high-resolution display, the Dell XPS 15 is the top pick. Its vibrant 4K UHD display is a feast for the eyes, bringing out every fine detail in your photos with startling clarity. You’ll appreciate its vivid color and sharpness, which is truly an asset for photography.

✅ Color Accuracy:

Color reproduction is vital for photography. Seek laptops with high color gamut coverage, such as Adobe RGB or DCI-P3. This ensures your edited photos look as intended when printed or displayed on other devices.

The ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 OLED stands out when it comes to color accuracy. Thanks to its OLED panel and ASUS’s calibrated color technology, it provides an ultra-accurate color reproduction essential for detailed photo editing tasks.

✅ Powerful Processor:

Photography software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom can be CPU-intensive. A robust processor, ideally an Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7, will help these applications run smoothly, making your editing process seamless.

The Apple 2023 MacBook Pro is a beast when it comes to processing power. Equipped with Apple’s M2 chip, this laptop handles complex image editing tasks seamlessly, making it a top choice for photographers and photo editors.

✅ Ample RAM:

Large, high-resolution photos demand ample RAM. A minimum of 16GB is advised for professional photo editing tasks, but the higher, the better. It allows you to work on multiple files or layers simultaneously without your laptop slowing down.

For users demanding ample RAM, the HP Victus 15 stands out. With a generous 32GB of memory, it can juggle multiple photo editing programs and heavy files with ease, catering perfectly to photographers’ needs.

✅ Solid-state Drive (SSD):

Fast storage is key in photo editing. SSDs, unlike traditional HDDs, offer quick file access and reduce the load times of your editing software. A minimum of 256GB SSD is recommended, but more is always better.

If a Solid-state Drive (SSD) is your priority, then the GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5 is your go-to laptop. The 2TB NVMe SSD it sports allows quick access to files and guarantees a responsive, fast experience, essential for any photography workflow.

✅ Good Battery Life:

If you’re editing on the go, battery life is crucial. A laptop with a robust battery lets you to work for hours – or in places without express outlet availability – without worrying about finding an outlet.

For those seeking good battery life, the Apple 2023 MacBook Pro is a top contender. With its remarkable power efficiency, it ensures uninterrupted photo editing sessions, eliminating the worry of constant recharging.

✅ Dedicated Graphics Card:

While not necessary for all photo editing tasks, a dedicated GPU can speed up the process, especially if you work with 3D or video content. Look for laptops with dedicated graphics card like the NVIDIA GeForce series.

The GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5 stands out with its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070ti Laptop GPU. This high-performance graphics card, equipped with 8 GB GDDR6 dedicated memory, ensures optimal color rendering and fast photo processing, making it a photographer’s dream machine.

✅ Portable Design:

Though not a priority for everyone, a lightweight and slim design can be beneficial for photographers who are always on the move. A slight and lightweight device is also perfect for those outdoor shoots where you don’t want to load up on too much travel weight.

The Apple 2022 MacBook Air embodies the true essence of portability. Its thin, lightweight design paired with a sturdy aluminum chassis – weighing in at just 2.73 lbs – allows photographers to effortlessly carry it along, making on-the-go photo editing a breeze.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What laptop do most photographers use?

Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition, MacBook Pro 16, HP Spectre x360 are the top laptops that most photographers use.

What laptop specs do I need for photo editing?

Specs a laptop should have for photo editing are -

  • CPU - Intel I7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor
  • RAM - 16Gb
  • Resolution - 1080p
  • Memory - 500Gb SSD
  • Ports - at least 2 USB ports

Which laptop is best for Photoshop?

MacBook Pro 16 is the best laptop for Photoshop software.

 

Finding the Best Laptop for Photography: Summary

It’s crucial to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing the best laptop for photo editing. Everyone has unique needs, preferences, and budgets. That’s why we’ve provided an extensive array of choices with diverse features in this guide that not only fulfill your needs but also fit seamlessly into your workflow.

Speaking of fitting seamlessly into your workflow, we would like to give a special shout-out to the Dell XPS 15. If you’re searching for a reliable companion that will elevate your photography game, this is the one. It blends high performance with a sleek design, making it a fantastic choice for photographers and photo editors alike. It’s a stunning combination of aesthetics and functionality, serving as a testament that you don’t have to sacrifice style for power when it comes to laptops.

Have you used any of these laptops? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!

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