Looking for a budget-friendly laptop that meets the needs of graphic designers can be challenging. It’s essential to find a balance between performance, design capabilities, and cost. Whether you’re a student or an experienced professional, the right laptop can make a significant difference in your work. In this blog post, we’ll highlight 10 budget friendly laptops for graphic designers to save you the time looking.
Here’s a quick look:
- HP Envy 13 (2021)
- Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (CP714-1WN)
- HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Laptop 14t-ek1000, 14″
- ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED UP3404
- Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (14″ AMD)
- Apple MacBook Air with M1 chip
- Dell Inspiron 16-inch / AMD Ryzen™ 7000 series Processor
- ASUS VivoBook S15 S533
- Acer Swift 3 OLED
- Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Finding the right laptop tailored to the needs of graphic designers can be a daunting task there are some important things to consider. It’s essential to think about screen resolution and color accuracy, processing power for those heavy design applications, and battery life if you’re always on the move.
Additionally, the laptop’s weight and build quality can be crucial, especially if you’re frequently traveling or commuting. Let’s explore and find the best fit for your needs and budget.
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HP Envy 13 (2021)
The HP Envy 13 (2021) has successfully re-established itself as a top value pick, offering a blend of modern design, swift performance, and impressive battery life at a competitive price. The laptop’s sleek aluminum design is a highlight, striking a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
It offers both USB Type-A and Type-C ports, a comfortable keyboard, and an excellent 1080p display. HP has put significant effort into making this mid-range laptop feel premium, and despite a few minor setbacks like the plastic touchpad, the Envy 13 stands out as a top choice for those seeking value without compromising on quality.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (CP714-1WN)
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is a 2-in-1 high-performance laptop designed to empower users to stay productive on the go. It boasts a 16:10 14” display, powered by a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor. With military-grade durability, this Chromebook is built to withstand the rigors of daily use. This particular model comes with an Acer Stylus and Acer Wireless Mouse, enhancing its versatility and user experience.
HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Laptop 14t-ek1000, 14″
The HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Laptop 14t-ek1000 is a versatile device designed for everyday use. With a 14″ screen size and powered by an Intel® Core™ i3-1315U processor, this laptop ensures smooth performance for various tasks. The laptop also boasts Intel® UHD Graphics and an 8 GB onboard memory, making it suitable for light graphic design work. The 256 GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD ensures quick boot times and efficient data retrieval.
ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED UP3404
The ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is a versatile laptop designed for those with an on-the-go lifestyle. It features a 14-inch 16:10 2.8K OLED HDR touchscreen with PANTONE Validated color-accurate visuals. The laptop supports a 4096-pressure-level MPP 2.0 stylus for natural input, making it ideal for graphic designers. Powered by the latest 13th Gen Intel processors, this Zenbook offers a class-leading 75 Wh battery. Its lightweight chassis is just 15.9 mm thin, with a 360° any-position hinge for versatility. The laptop also boasts a Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos sound system, ensuring an immersive audio experience.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (14″ AMD)
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a versatile 2-in-1 laptop designed to adapt to your dynamic lifestyle. Powered by the AMD Ryzen™ 7 4000 series mobile processor with Radeon™ graphics, this 14-inch laptop delivers excellent all-around performance. Whether you’re working on graphics-intensive tasks or multitasking, the IdeaPad Flex 5 is built to cater to your needs, offering flexibility and power in one compact device.
Apple MacBook Air with M1 chip
The MacBook Air with M1 chip is a testament to Apple’s commitment to power and efficiency. This incredibly portable laptop boasts a beautiful Retina display and is supercharged by the Apple M1 chip. It offers an 8-core CPU that balances high-performance cores with efficiency cores, ensuring tasks are devoured while conserving battery. The 7-core GPU delivers lightning-fast integrated graphics, allowing for seamless playback of multiple streams of full-quality 4K video. With thermal efficiency, the MacBook Air operates silently, and its 16-core Neural Engine enhances machine learning capabilities. The laptop also offers advanced security features, ensuring data protection.
Dell Inspiron 16-inch / AMD Ryzen™ 7000 series Processor
The Dell Inspiron 16-inch Laptop is a powerful device tailored for those who need both performance and portability. It’s powered by the AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U 8-core/16-thread Processor with Radeon™ Graphics, ensuring smooth multitasking and efficient graphic processing. The laptop comes with a 16.0-inch 16:10 FHD+ Anti-Glare Non-Touch display, providing clear and vibrant visuals. With 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, it offers both speed and ample storage. The laptop is finished in a sleek Platinum Silver, adding a touch of elegance to its robust performance.
ASUS VivoBook S15 S533
The ASUS VivoBook S15 S533 is a laptop that stands out with its bold design and unique color choices. It’s not just about looks; the VivoBook S15 is designed to reflect your personality both inside and out. The laptop features diamond-cut edges, textured finishes, and is available in four distinct colors. The “Enter” key comes with color-blocking edges, adding a touch of flair to your typing experience. Powered by up to a 10th Generation Intel® Core i7 processor with up to 16GB memory and NVIDIA MX250 discrete graphics, it ensures smooth performance for various tasks. The laptop also boasts a Harman Kardon-certified sound system, delivering high-quality detailed audio.
Acer Swift 3 OLED
The Acer Swift 3 OLED is a laptop that combines performance with a visually stunning display. It features a 14-inch 2.8K OLED display with DisplayHDR™ True Black 500, offering a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and lifelike colors with a 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut. The laptop is powered by 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, ensuring heavyweight performance in a lightweight shell. With up to a 90Hz refresh rate and ≤0.2ms response time, the display is smooth and responsive. The laptop also boasts TÜV RHEINLAND Eyesafe Display Certification, ensuring reduced blue light emissions for more comfortable viewing.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a versatile 2-in-1 detachable laptop that doubles as a tablet. It runs on Chrome OS and is known for its lightweight design and long battery life. The device features a 10.1-inch FHD IPS touchscreen display, making it ideal for browsing, entertainment, and light productivity tasks. Powered by a MediaTek Helio P60T processor and integrated ARM G72 MP3 graphics, it offers decent performance for its price range. The device also comes with a detachable keyboard, allowing users to easily switch between laptop and tablet modes.