The 11 Best Laptops for Drawing of 2020 Reviewed
Looking back through the centuries, drawing has come a long way. Scratching images on cave walls, chiseling tablets, and etching ivory used to be state of the art ways to create artistic images.
But just like pencil and paper replaced those obsolete technologies, so have digital tools like stylus and drawing laptops have reshaped the way art is created and stored.
As hardware and software progress and become less expensive, more and more people get access to these amazing drawing technologies. And it isn’t just for professional artists and art students any more – amateurs of all levels to now afford to draw with a laptop.
Using a stylus pen and laptop can unlock a new world for illustrators, artists, painters, and even animators. And the explosion of popularity of these devices and the associated software is a testimony to how great this new avenue for artistic expression has been embraced.
Of course, before you can pick the best laptop for drawing, as a budding artist you have to know which primary features are needed for creating digital artworks. And since different types of drawing and art software have differing hardware requirements, you should start by looking at what your preferred platform needs for features before choosing a laptop. The good news is we go through all of that in our drawing laptop buyers guide. And while you won’t find a laptop under $400 or even a $600 laptop that will give you the required hardware, there are still a few bargain units that will give you what you need for not much more than that.
Want do skip right to our top choice? Check out the HP ENVY 13. It has a great balance of power and features that should more than cover what most artists will need.
Best Laptops for Drawing
Sorting through all of the different model laptops available for drawing can be daunting. To help you narrow down the field we took a hard look at what is available, including analyzing owner feedback to find out what works and what doesn’t. Based on that research here are our picks for the best laptops for drawing:
1. HP ENVY 13
The HP Envy 13 is a great portable computer that is great for everybody, from students to creatives, and even those that work in an office. Its big draw is its price, as it’s much less than its closest competitors. It’s 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8565U processor, 16GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of SSD storage, as well as an Nvidia MX250 graphics card means it packs considerable punching power. While the graphics card is not the most powerful around, it is a better option over integrated graphics cards in most standard notebooks.
The 13.3-inch, 4K (3840 x 2160) touch screen provides accurate high-quality images making it ideal for drawing and project creation. Each image looks fantastic on the screen, and the high resolution is very good quality on a laptop of this price. User-friendly wise, its keyboard and touchpad is comfortable for long-term projects, especially those that are sitting down for a long task. The battery life is over 10 hours, which beats the average ultrabook hands-down, and the aluminum lid shows a slim, sleek design, and its 2.93 lb weight makes it easily transportable.
Overall, it is a fantastic portable device that is a strong performer for most people. Throw into the mix the fact it’s cheaper than its closest competitors makes it a steal. Design-wise, it’s only a little better than its predecessor but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
- Cutting-edge security: State-of-the-art security features include webcam kill switch and integrated fingerprint reader
- 4K display: 13.3-inch diagonal 4K IPS micro-edge WLED-backlit touchscreen with durable protective corning(r) Gorilla) Glass nbt(tm) (3840 x 2160) to stand up to everyday bumps and scrapes. 8.2 million pixels bring your content to life in mesmerizing quality with 178-degree wide-viewing angles
- Bios recovery and protection: Automatically checks the health of your PC, protects against unauthorized access, secures local storage and recovers itself from boot-up issues
- Distinctive design: high-quality, durable, all-metal case built to last, with premium design features including a brilliant backlit keyboard and geometric pattern speaker grill
- SuperFast processor: 8th Generation intel(r) core(tm) i7-8565u, quad-core, 1.8 GHz Base frequency, up to 4.6 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology (8 MB Cache)
2. 2018 Newest Flagship Dell Inspiron 15.6″ Full HD Touchscreen Laptop
For those after a quick and responsive performance, this is one of the most effective laptops for those on a modest budget. The 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U Processor and 16GB of memory gives this laptop a lot of value for its modest price, making it ideal for multitasking with speed.
Its slender design makes it ideal for being out and about and the aesthetics will appeal to most, but is all plastic, which can make some people feel nervous. That said, the soft finish makes it feel sturdy without being on the cheap side. The slim design makes it a very useful laptop when you are out and about. While it weighs 5.12 pounds, this may prove a little too heavy for some, but it won’t weigh you down. Its 15-inch screen is portable enough but it’s not one of the most compact 15-inch laptops around. Performance-wise, it is fantastic for the vast majority of users who need to go on the web and do some photo editing at the same time. But its graphics system highlights just how powerful it can be, making it ideal for those looking for a bit more quality in their creations. As it’s a very strong system, it will make short work of graphic-heavy games.
With a battery life of around 7 hours, this guarantees you can get your work done when you are away from home. Its backlit keyboards make access easy. The touchpad is easy to use and its adequate connectivity means you can do most of your daily charging tasks. However, there is no USB-C port. But for those people on the move that need a laptop that is sturdy, performs well, and has to achieve so much with so little, this is certainly bang for your buck.
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3. Acer Predator Helios 300
This latest model of the Predator packs a considerable amount of power. Its 16GB RAM can be extended to 32GB if necessary and its 256 GB SSD guarantees more than adequate speed. The Nvidia 1660 Ti Geforce graphics card, 144Hz IPS panel, and the latest i7 processor are the big draws with this laptop and is a lot for its modest cost. Where it comes into its own is in gaming. Using this laptop with desktop-like specifications makes it a fantastically portable device for gaming sessions, although the battery life can let you down. The display gives you 70-80 frames per second in the heaviest of games and for the creative types, it will deal with everything you can throw at it.
With a unique design and sharp curves and slopes, it looks, and is, a pleasure to operate. The backlit keyboard and numeric keypad on the right is a refreshing change of pace from most contemporary laptops and is an incredibly connected piece of equipment; with an ethernet jack, type C port, and microphone/headphone jack combo means you can connect it to pretty much anything.
For such a premium device, it can seem a little on the precious side. While the plastic body looks nice, it can prove troublesome to carry around, and its 5.07-pound weight doesn’t make things any easier. The battery life is 6 hours which doesn’t allow for productive portability while out and about. That being said, it is a very good laptop for a good price.
- 9th Generation Intel Core i7 9750H 6 Core Processor (Up to 4.5GHz) with Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Graphics with 6GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6 inches Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED backlit IPS Display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time, 300nit Brightness and 72 percentage NTSC)
- 16GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory, 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD (2 x PCIe M.2 Slots; 1 Slot Open for Easy Upgrades) and 1 Available Hard Drive Bay
- Backlit Keyboard; LAN: Killer Ethernet E2500 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN; Wireless: Killer DoubleShot Pro Wireless AC 1550 802. 11ac; 4th Gen All Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan
4. 2019 Lenovo Yoga C930 2-in-1
At first glance, its two-in-one approach (it can double up as a tablet) should make life easy for most people on the go. While this is ideal for watching content and general entertainment, for the budding creative the touchscreen aspects are what will draw a user in. While the Lenovo Yoga C930 touch screen is a little bit on the slippery side and comes with a stylus to make life easier, it can be a little on the tricky side to shake free from its home. The chiclet keyboard is easy to use and the touchpad is also excellent.
Performance-wise, the i5-8250U processor with 8GB of RAM can seem a little sparse for its price tag. It’s not cut out for any high-end gaming and may not be able to do everything with the efficiency but where it comes into its own is its durability. Its battery life can go up to 10 hours and its weight of 3.04 pounds makes it lightweight and simple for anybody to transport with ease. Arguably, the biggest draws for this machine is the sound quality. The Dolby Atmos soundbar will guarantee the perfect entertainment experience, but this is not the deciding factor for everyone.
On the downside there are no additional memory slots, so there is no option to customize it, and its potential can seem somewhat limited due to its RAM, and it does have a tendency to get too hot, but it is the perfect short hop laptop for those who won’t place too many demands on their laptop.
- Premium craftsmanship and style - Crafted from premium aluminum with high-precision drills and polished twice for luxurious tactility. 360° flip-and-fold design; Rotating sound bar with Dolby Atmos speaker system
- 13.9" 4k Ultra HD touch screen - 3840 x 2160 resolution, IPS technology, LED backlight, Built for Windows Ink; Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
- 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U processor - Ultra-low-voltage, Quad-core, eight-way processing, Intel Turbo Boost technology; 16GB DDR4 2400 MHz memory; 1TB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD);
- Two Thunderbolt 3 ports for connecting advanced monitors and external drives; Built-in HD webcam with stereo microphone; Microphone-in/headphone-out combo jack.
- Weighs 3 lbs. and is 0.6" thin overall; Four-cell lithium-polymer battery. Windows 10 operating system; One-month trial of Microsoft Office 365.
5. ASUS TUF (2019) Gaming Laptop
For gamers, this is one of the cheapest laptops out there. But if gaming isn’t high on your priorities, this can do a lot for you anyway. Performance-wise, this is one of the few laptops that have the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H processor which were designed to compete with Intel’s Core i5-7700HQ and Core i5-8300H chips, and while it certainly works for maintaining productivity and its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card provides efficient performance for this price, where it falls down is in its battery life and user-friendliness.
While the keyboard is generally comfortable if you are using it for gaming, and the decent-sized keys make for some semblance of productivity, the travel can make the keyboard a bit unresponsive in comparison to a desktop. While the keys are backlit to add some extra help, this may not be the clincher when it comes to extra guidance for those keys. The battery life is pretty poor and barely goes beyond 4 hours, but as this is a cheap laptop you can make your peace with it.
But this is another sturdy laptop falling under the TUF brand and has undergone a wide variety of durability tests making it great for those people on the go, achieving the unique distinction of military-grade MIL-STD-810G certification. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, you may want to look elsewhere but if your budget is somewhat limited, you could do a lot worse.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB Graphics
- Quad-core AMD Ryzen 7 3750H Processor
- 15.6” FHD (1920x1080) 120hz IPS-Type display
- 256GB NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD | 16GB DDR4 RAM | Windows 10 Home
- Portable design with 1.02” thin profile | Durable MIL-STD-810 military standard construction
6. HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop
If you are looking for power in your laptop, this isn’t the strongest laptop out there, but what it lacks in sheer force, it makes up for in design and value. With the 8th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5+8300H Processor, 8GB of RAM, as well as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 and 512GB SSD forming its makeup, there are more powerful laptops on the market, but this really is a bargain for the price.
It is a good-looking design and while it’s made of plastic, it doesn’t look cheap like many others. The angular design makes it look modern and the green backlit keyboard feels better than it looks. It is easy to use, and the one big difference in comparison to most gaming laptops is the trackpad; large and very responsive, this is better than most gaming trackpads, making it great for drawing. The display of 1920 x 1080 display at 60 Hz won’t win any awards but it gets the job done.
With a battery life of up to 8 hours and 45 minutes with mixed usage and around 5 hours with Wi-Fi streaming, it will do the job for most, especially those looking to be creative while on the move. But as it doesn’t allow for additional upgrading, this may very well be the deciding factor for those who need a laptop to do drawing with a bit of gaming on the side. But for those who are on a modest budget, this can pack some power in comparison to its contemporaries.
- Processor: 8th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 plus 8300H Processor (Core i5 and Intel Optane memory), Quad-Core, 2.3GHz up to 4.0GHz.
- Video graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated).
- Display: 15.6-inch diagonal FHD IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080) with 144Hz refresh rate.
- Memory: 8 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (not upgradable).
- Hard drive: 1 TB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive.
7. Apple MacBook Pro
Apple is usually synonymous with quality and this is no different. While there are so many positives about the MacBook Pro, those who have already converted to Apple may want to keep their pennies for the time being. While the MacBook Pro does the job for newcomers to the world of Apple, it didn’t have the updates that the 16-inch version had which came out shortly after. For those looking for a complete redesign, they may be disappointed.
While it comes with a 9th-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor, 32GB, and a whopping 4TB SSD storage which is massive power for most mere mortals, with the price tag that comes with it, you wouldn’t expect anything less than perfection. For those that are moving to an Apple, this would be an ideal starting point. The majority of Apple users purchase one laptop and it sees them through for years, which is ideal for anybody looking for a durable laptop. Its lightweight design makes it easily portable and lightweight at 4.02 pounds is ideal for anybody on the go.
The battery life of 7 hours is suitable for most working a normal day, but this isn’t as long as previous models. Overall, if you’re looking to buy a new laptop and you are in the market for an Apple, this will blow your mind, but if you are just looking to upgrade your current MacBook it might be time to wait for something worth upgrading for.
- 9th-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
- Brilliant Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Radeon Pro 555x Graphics with 4GB of video Memory
- Ultrafast SSD
8. Dell XPS 9570 Laptop
The XPS 9570 is a perfect all-rounder. For those who need a little bit extra, the 8th-gen Intel Core i7-8750H CPU and the 16GB RAM make most tasks easily achievable. The performance will exceed the expectations of most, but for those who are looking for a new laptop and already have an 8th generation based model, they may not see much of a difference.
The downside to this is the storage. While you can install an external hard drive, the power behind this machine can cause a few sticking points. The storage is one issue as it can impact the graphics performance, especially for those that are looking to use this laptop for gaming purposes. And it’s such a small, slender laptop, it can mean it is prone to overheating, but this is incredibly rare. For its price, the power is the big selling point. In such a small package, it can do any job while you are on the move. The FHD display (1920 x 1080) provides beautiful detail, and the anti-glare screen can guarantee you can work on projects longer without getting eyestrain. And for those who need some extra power with their gaming, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti delivers the goods.
Weighing at 4.41 pounds and its sleek design allows you to work on projects wherever and the battery life can push 14 hours at a stretch makes it ideal for newcomers to the world of Dell. Dell provides good quality laptops and this is another one, but it’s now time to step up their game. For those looking for a reliable laptop, this is more than suitable but the price tag may be a little difficult to swallow.
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8750H Processor 9MB Cache, up to 4.1 gigahertz
- 16GB 2666 megahertz DDR4, 2x8GB
- 512 GB M.2 2280 [PCIe] SSD, No Optical Drive
- 15.6 inch FHD 1920 x 1080, Infinity Edge Anti Glare, Non touch IPS 100% sRGB 400-Nits display: Silver machined aluminum; Power Supply: 130 Watts Power Adapter
- Be more productive. Windows 10 is the best for bringing ideas forward and getting things done
9. ASUS VivoBook S
Looking for an all-round on a budget is difficult but this ultra-portable machine can perform a wide variety of tasks easily. Its 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8550U Quad-Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX150 makes it a speedy machine for those that need to get to work but also enjoy gaming in their downtime. The 8GB RAM and 256 GB SSD further bolsters its performance in any environment, allowing you to work with multiple tabs and stream at the same time.
As it is an incredibly slim design and has a profile of 0.7-inches and weighs a slight 3.2 pounds, this lightweight laptop is ideal for anybody on the move. Its full HD panel and anti-glare coating allows a 178-degree viewing angle, and is ideal for those that need to work and consume content while on the go. The chiclet keyboard is easy enough to use but it’s not the best out there, but the touchpad below the keyboard is more than spacious, and makes for very smooth usage.
Coming with a wide variety of ports and slots, from a USB 3.1 Type-C port and SD slot, you are able to do most charging and connecting jobs easily. The battery life is where it falls down. While it comes with fast charging, it lasts around 4 hours which isn’t ideal for many people out and about. It ticks all the boxes for average consumers that need a laptop for streaming and is a good one for those who need some extra power, but they need to be close to a power source.
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8550U (Turbo up to 4.0GHz) Quad Core processor and dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics 2GB
- 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD
- 14 inches Full HD Wide view display with up to 178 degrees wide view and Asus NanoEdge bezel for a stunning 77% screen to body ratio
- Slim 12.8 inches Wide, 0.7 inches Thin and portable footprint with metal cover and backlit keyboard with fingerprint sensor
- Comprehensive connections including USB 3.1 Type C (Gen1), USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, & headphone/mic combo port (*usb transfer speed may vary. Learn more at Asus website)
10. ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim
A laptop with a premium design and solid performance, the ASUS ZenBook is probably one of the best ASUS laptops out there, and is a bargain price for what it is. Its 8th Gen Core i5 processor guarantees speed where it counts, and the Intel UHD 620 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD makes short work of multiple tabs streaming without causing any slowing down, which is perfect for those who are drawing while listening to music or streaming.
A 1080p display is fine but nothing to write home about. But where it really comes into its own is the battery life. It can last up to 11 hours which is way above the premium laptop average, making it a perfect choice for those traveling long distances and need to get stuck into their project. Design-wise it is not too different to your average laptop, and the keyboards’ travel is a little slow to react. While it features some basic backlighting and has a digital number pad built into the touchpad for ease, this may require some getting used to.
Downsides? It can get a little bit warm, which may be a cause for concern but it’s really not dangerous. In fact, this is such a small quibble for a laptop that comes with many positives, all for a great price. It is a premium laptop at a less than a premium price.
- 13.3” wide-view Full-HD NanoEdge bezel display
- Intel Core i5-8265U Processor (up to 3.9 GHz)
- Fast storage and memory featuring 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD and 8GB LPDDR3 RAM
- Extensive connectivity with HDMI, USB Type C, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Micro SD card reader
- Sleek and lightweight 2.5 lbs aluminum body for comfortable portability
11. Acer Aspire E 15
Acer are already in the market for promoting high standards at reasonable prices. For those that are looking for more than the bare basics in their laptops, the Acer Aspire E15 will please the vast majority of people. Its 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor and 8GB Dual Channel Memory with 256GB SSD allows for convenient multitasking, which is ideal for people working on many things at once and needs to work at speed or under deadline and need their laptop to stay strong.
It is not the most portable of laptops, which can be a deal-breaker for some. It weighs 5.27 pounds and is quite bulky in comparison to other slimline models, although it’s not the worst thing to carry around. However, if you are looking for something that is sturdy and will travel with you wherever you go, this may not be the best. And while the laptop is made of plastic this doesn’t make it an ideal choice for those constantly on-the-go. That said, if you are using it for working at home, it is more than effective.
For a laptop that is bigger than most, you want a few more positives than the speed. With a convenient compartment door, you can upgrade the memory and hard drive to accommodate more projects, which is ideal if you are working on memory sapping programs like CAD. Where it shines is its battery life. With up to 15 hours of battery life, you can get a lot out of it while you are on the go. But with its plastic design and the fact that it’s bulkier than most laptops out there, you may find that you are working at home with it plugged in anyway. For those people who are in need of a user-friendly laptop, its keyboard and touchpad are better than you would expect for the price tag. Good, but not the best out there.
- 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz)
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-lit IPS Display
- 8GB Dual Channel Memory & 256GB SSD
- Up to 15-hours of battery life.Adapter: 65 W
- Windows 10 Home
Drawing With A Stylus
If you’ve never seen anyone use a computer and stylus to draw, check out this excellent YouTube video of a comic strip artist creating in real time: