Best Laptop for Drawing & Digital Art [2023]

When you’re looking for a good laptop, there are a few things that you need to look for. The specs of the laptop, like the RAM, the processor and the hard drive, are typically the main ones.

But some of us might want a laptop for more than just one purpose – nowadays, you can get laptops that are made specifically for drawing and design. A drawing laptop is not necessarily a good laptop for animation.

So if you’re an artist looking for a laptop for drawing, what should you be looking for? Do the standard specs matter as much, or should you be looking for something else in a laptop? Well, we’re going to look at some of the best drawing laptops today, and then discussing what you should really be looking for in a laptop if you want to use it for drawing.

Best Laptop for Drawing

Product	Screen Size	Specs	Get More Info
HP Spectre x360	15.6 inch	16GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon
Microsoft Surface Pro 7	12.3 inch	4GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon
Lenovo Chromebook C630	15.6 Inch	8GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon
Dell Inspiron 14 5000	14 inch	8GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Book S	13.3 inch	8GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon

HP Spectre x360

If budget isn’t an issue, then you might want to look at this version of the x360 from HP. The brand have released this model under all three lines, with the Spectre being the premium version of this laptop (and the Envy & Pavilion being cheaper alternatives).

It has a decent amount of RAM that will be comfortable for most, as well as an Intel Core i7 processor. This is a hexa-core processor with 12 threads to match, which means that it can cope with running larger programs very easily.

It has all the quirks that more expensive premium laptops do, like a fingerprint reader and even an anti-hacking webcam blocker. However, this isn’t what we’re interested in it for, as we’re looking for something specifically for drawing.

The large 15.6 inch screen is perfect for drawing, and gives enough space for you to easily draw whatever you want to. You can choose between a basic HD screen at the lower end all the way through to an Ultra HD (4K) display at the high end.

This laptop supports the pen and touch being used at the same time, which is handy when you’re drawing. It also has four different modes that you can use, which makes it much easier for you to find one that you’re comfortable with (it has a presentation mode specifically for presenting, for example).

All in all, the quality of the display combined with its size make it one of the best drawing laptops around. The only setback is the price, so it’s not a laptop to opt for if you’re on a tight budget.

Pros

For those looking for a good sized laptop, this is a good compromise between weight and size.

This laptop comes with a solid Intel Core i7 processor which should be enough for all your programs and applications.

The laptop has a high quality full HD display which is responsive to touch.

Cons

This isn’t a good choice for those looking for a bargain, as it’s pretty expensive and the Spectre series is one of the most costly from HP.

Overall Verdict – The high amount of RAM and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU make this one of the best laptops for drawing. – Check Best Price.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

If you’re looking for a laptop that’s a little cheaper, then the Microsoft Surface Pro series is definitely one that you should look at. Not all of the Surface models are cheap, but the Pro 7 provides pretty good value for money for those looking for a budget drawing laptop.

The standard version of this laptop comes with only 4GB of RAM and an i3 processor. In terms of specs, these aren’t great, and generally you’d want to get an 8GB laptop if you can afford it. You can easily upgrade this laptop to 8GB if you want to, and I’d advise you do if you have the extra cash.

The slim design lends itself well to artists, as you’ll be able to carry it around with you easily and use it anywhere. It has a HD high resolution display too, which works well with the Surface Pen. Not all models include the Microsoft Surface pen with it, so check this beforehand because obviously that’s an essential for drawing.

Another good thing about this laptop is that it has an extremely long battery life, and can last a full day without needing to be recharged. There are many different variations of the Microsoft Surface out there for you to go for. For those looking for a cheaper laptop, this Surface Pro 7 may be a good option.

Pros

One of the most responsive drawing laptops out there.

Awesome battery life will see you through an entire day of use.

Very lightweight and easy to carry around with you for the day.

Cons

The base model comes with only 4GB of RAM, which isn’t very powerful, especially with drawing software.

Could be a bit expensive with upgrades.

Overall Verdict – Similar to the Microsoft Surface Go, the Pro 7 offers a strong user experience with an accurate pen.

Microsoft Surface Book 3

When it comes to drawing on a laptop, there actually aren’t that many great choices out there. This is because accuracy is our most important factor, and many 2-in-1 laptops don’t really need the precision we may need for drawing and digital art.

Another exception to this rule is the Surface Book 3. One of the main benefits of this model is that the display is completely detachable from the keyboard. This means that you can basically use it as a tablet for drawing when you need to, and re-attach it back into laptop mode when you need to type stuff up too.

This is the most powerful of the Surface series, and it can be used for a variety of other tasks as well as drawing – editing and gaming are pretty seamless on this laptop too.

It offers good accuracy for a touch screen laptop, and the display is excellent quality. It’s an ideal choice if you’re looking to make the switch over from using a Wacom, but you’re not completely sold on the idea of using a big, bulky laptop for your drawing needs.

Pros

High resolution display.

Can use as a tablet.

Comes with a good amount of storage.

Cons

Very expensive.

Subpar battery life.

Overall Verdict – Like the Microsoft Surface book 2, this is a good laptop for artists, if you can afford the high price tag.

Lenovo Chromebook C630

Another slimline 2-in-1 laptop that’s perfect for sketching is the C630 from Lenovo. It’s a Chromebook, which runs on the Chrome OS as opposed to the Windows OS.

It has a large 15 inch screen, but it still weighs around 1.7kg, which means that it’s light enough to carry around with you. It’s very easy for you to turn it from laptop to tablet, with a 360° angle rotation that allows you to flip the device around completely. This laptop has a good quality screen for the price, and it’s the perfect model for those looking for something cheap.

The only downside of this laptop is that it isn’t the best for storage, with it only having 64GB of eMMC space. However, this isn’t going to be a problem for those who keep all their drawings online on a cloud based storage. Chromebooks are intended for this anyway, and they aren’t made for keeping a ton of stored documents on the device itself.

So if you don’t think you need all the additional things that a Windows laptop will offer you over a Chromebook, then this laptop might appeal to you.

Pros

As we expect from a Chromebook, it’s snappy and very quick to use.

The screen of this model is well made, and it works perfectly as a touchscreen, which is necessary for drawing.

East to set up and get started with very little effort.

Cons

Not the same functionality you’d get with Windows or Apple.

Very little in built storage, which will put some people off.

Overall Verdict – If you can handle the Chrome OS, you could save some money with this Chromebook.

Dell Inspiron 14 5000

Another good laptop is the Dell Inspiron 5000, which comes in a 14 inch screen size. This is a mid size drawing laptop, in comparison to the 15.6 inch laptops it offers more versatility and portability too. It is run by a quad core processor, which works well as the driving force behind this fairly powerful laptop.

It’s finished to a high aluminium standard, and the 1080p touchscreen is good for drawing. The IPS display is also good for viewing from different angles, which is quite important for artists who’ll want to see their image from different perspectives.

Another important thing to look for in any drawing laptop is to ensure that it doesn’t have any lag time, as there’s nothing more frustrating than drawing and having your pen follow you half a second later. This laptop has no lag, making it a good choice for sketching and other artistic techniques.

Overall, whilst it’s not the very best option out there, it’s still a decent laptop that is worth your consideration. It is pretty user friendly and simple to use, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get the most out of it.

Pros

Available at a really good price.

Easy to switch into tablet mode, making it perfect for digital artists.

High resolution touchscreen display that’s hard to beat.

Cons

Sound quality on this model isn’t the best out there.

This laptop doesn’t have the best connectivity out of all the models listed here.

Overall Verdict – Pretty chunky, but definitely has all the attributes of a valid choice.

Samsung Galaxy Book S

Another lesser known choice when it comes to the best laptop for drawing comes from unlikely contender Samsung. Yes, their Samsung Galaxy range branches all the way out to laptops as well as their well known Android phones.

The main reason that I really like this laptop is primarily for its design. It’s very lightweight, which makes it perfect for holding for long hours and drawing.

It will also fit into your bag very easily as well due to it’s thin design. And although it’s a very lightweight laptop, it’s still fairly powerful, and you can definitely use it for drawing. Although some people are dubious because it’s a Samsung, for the most part, it’s a really impressive laptop.

Whilst it does have a backlit keyboard it isn’t the best out there and it’s not very bright – so bear this in mind beforehand. But all in all, I do think that this laptop provides another great option. Maybe not for professional artists, but if you’re looking for a laptop with a responsive touch display, this one could be it.

Pros

The display is capable of producing some high quality graphics.

Definitely powerful enough for most softwares and tasks.

The keyboard and touchpad layout is good.

Cons

Although it’s not the most expensive laptop out there, it’s fairly costly for the spec.

It doesn’t come with a Stylus pen included.

Overall Verdict – This isn’t the best value laptop out there, but it’s super light and easy to use. – Check Best Price.

Common Questions about Drawing Laptops

Can you draw on a touchscreen laptop?

Generally, you can draw quite easily on any touchscreen laptop. Though, bear in mind that not all touchscreen laptops come with a stylus included, so you may need to purchase this as an extra accessory if you want to draw. Plus, not all touchscreen laptops will be good for drawing, especially if they’re older models as they made have some lag time between touch and draw.

What should I look for when buying a drawing laptop/tablet?

When you’re going to purchase a laptop for drawing, there are a couple of things that you’ll want to consider beforehand. The main things that you’ll want to look for are; the resolution of the laptop, the sensitivity of the screen, the speed of the tracking, the size of the screen and the compatibility of the laptop. These are just a few of the things that are of the utmost importance if you want a laptop for drawing.

Are 2 in 1 laptops good for drawing?

Although often 2-in-1 laptops are the best options for drawing, do bear in mind that not all of them are made for this purpose. Some may just be made to be flipped into a tablet for easy browsing, and not specifically for drawing. However for the most part, 2-in-1 laptops make the perfect choice for those interested in drawing and digital art.

How much RAM do you need for digital art?

If you’re looking for a laptop for drawing and digital art, then the bear minimum that you’re going to need is 4GB of RAM, preferably 8GB of RAM if you can afford it. The increased power of the laptop will be better for running programs that you might need to use, like Photoshop or Procreate.

Which laptop is best for drawing?

It’s difficult to say which one is definitively best, but many people would do well to stick with models they know have a good reputation. The Microsoft Surface series has this, and is well known as being a good option for artists. Stick with any of the models on this list and you should be good to go.

Conclusion

In conclusion, not all touchscreen laptops out there are considered to be a good choice for drawing. However, once you know what you’re looking for, then there are a few different models that stand out from the rest of the competition.

Whilst the Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo Yoga C940 are solid choices, they just miss out here. It can be difficult to know what exactly to look but, but as long as the laptop has a good display and resolution, and has a fairly sensitive screen, then it should be a fine choice.