Best laptops for photographers in 2021

Date:
Thu, 19 Aug 2021 08:57:50 +0000

Description:
We feature the best laptops for photographers, to make it simple and easy to get the most from your photo editing, whether at home, in the office, or on the go.

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When choosing the best laptops for photographers, dont just consider the ones with the best processor , the best graphics card , and the fastest RAM . Its vital for photographers to have a seamless creative workflow, after all. And, for that, it takes more than sheer power.

So, on top of having enough power and speed, the best laptops for photographers need a display that reproduces accurate colors and contrasts so that images are represented correctly when photo editing. A speedy and
sizable SSD is crucial as well since most photographers these day work with incredibly high-resolution images. Finally, design features like the right ports, an excellent keyboard, and a high quality trackpad should help as
well, as they can improve photographers workflow.

There are a few photographers out there who might default to one of the best MacBooks . But, you'll see quite a few non-iOS laptops up to the task as
well, including some that also make our best laptops and best Ultrabooks lists. But, we found the best laptops for photographers and put them all in this guide. No matter what programs you use, whether they be Adobe Photoshop
, Lightroom , or a free photo editor like GIMP , theres something out there that will fit the bill. (Image credit: Gigabyte) 1. Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021)

A creative professional's dream CPU: Intel Core i9-10980HK | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q 8GB | RAM: 64GB | Screen: 17.3-inch UHD 4K OLED, HDR400, 100% Adobe RGB, Pantone-certified Exceptional build quality Nvidia GeForce RTX 30-series GPU Incredible performance starting at a midrange price One of the most powerful mobile workstations for creatives Cheaper than less-powerful rivals Can become hot running intensive tasks

One of the most powerful mobile workstations out there, the Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) comes with a lot of power, a gorgeous display, and a whole lotta
ports.

Best yet, its priced well below its less-powerful rivals, making it a better proposition even if you have a more flexible budget. It isnt by any means perfect. The battery life could use a bit of a boost, for example.

But, for how much youre paying and for the other things youre getting in return, its a minuscule sacrifice. Read the full Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) review . (Image credit: Dell) 2. Dell XPS 15 (2020)

The ultimate laptop has arrived CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5 i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti | RAM: 8GB 64GB | Screen: 15.6" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit 15.6"
UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display | Storage: 256GB 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe One of the best laptops available High end hardware options Excellent keyboard and trackpad Cheaper than MacBook Pro Not best for gaming laptop

The Dell XPS 15 might just be incredible enough to tempt hardcore Mac users. Its easily the best laptop for photo editing at present, and in a lot of
ways, the best laptop (period).

Combining staggering power in a stylish thin and light chassis, this laptop doesnt hold back when it comes to internals and features that improve your computing experience overall. Among those amazing features are a gorgeous bright display with 500 nits of brightness, an extremely comfortable
keyboard, impressive speakers, and a terrific trackpad.

Were not saying that this laptop is perfect, but our coveted 5 out of 5
rating should speak for itself. Read the full Dell XPS 15 review . (Image credit: Apple) 3. MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)

The best Apple laptop for photographers CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Radeon Pro 5500M | RAM: 16GB 64GB |
Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone | Storage: 512GB 8TB SSD Stunning 16-inch screen New and improved keyboard Extensive RAM and storage options Limited to four Thunderbolt 3 ports

As thin, light and sleek as ever, the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) doesnt actually feel like a 16-inch behemoth. If youre worried that this was going
to be bulky and awkward to use, dont be.

Whether youre a nomadic photographer or you have your own studio, this laptop will feel just as compact as the 15-inch MacBook Pros that preceded it. Only, youre still getting that extra real estate on that stunning display, as well as the latest and greatest components behind it.

Apple then rounds those out with amazing (and loud) speakers and a much, much better keyboard. This is truly the best laptop for photographers. Read the full MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) review . (Image credit: Razer) 4. Razer
Blade 15 Studio Edition (2020)

The best premium laptop for photographers CPU: Intel Core i7-10875H | Graphics: Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 | RAM: 32GB DDR4-2933MHz | Screen: 15.6"
OLED 4K Touch 60Hz, 100% DCI-P3, factory calibrated | Storage: 1TB SSD One of the most powerful laptops available Powerful Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 graphics card 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD One of the most expensive laptops available

If you want the most powerful laptop ever made and money is no object, then the Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition (2020) might just be the best laptop for your photo editing needs.

This gorgeous, smart-looking mobile workstation will give some of the most powerful desktop PCs a good workout, running for their money, showcasing prowess in complex tasks like 3D animation and video rendering. Thats while delivering a delicious 4K touchscreen display with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, perfect for creative pros and accomplished multi-taskers.

Of course, itll also set you back a hefty sum. But, if youve got the dough, this has all the serious firepower you need. Read the full Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition (2020) review . (Image credit: Apple) 5. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)

Apples little MacBook Pro gets a big refresh CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8core
CPU | Graphics: Integrated 8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB 16GB unified memory | Screen: 13-inch Retina display with True Tone | Storage: 256GB 2TB SSD 13-hour battery life Powerful M1 chip Can run iOS apps More expensive than other featured MacBooks

The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) may not have gotten a massive design overhaul, but what it lacks in that department, it makes up for big time in performance and battery life.

Thanks to Apples groundbreaking M1 chip, the new MacBook Pro 13-inch delivers excellent performance and exceptional battery life. Its performance is so impressive, in fact, that it can easily handle 4K - and even 8K - videos.

If youre looking for a powerful laptop that keeps things small and lightweight, this is one of the best laptops for photographers money can buy. Read the full MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) review . See more like this: The best Macs and Macbooks 2018 (Image credit: Acer) 6. Acer ConceptD 7

A mobile workstation for creatives CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 2080 | RAM: 16GB 32GB | Screen: 15.6" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 IPS | Storage: 1TB Powerful Nvidia RTX graphics card Stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display Good selection of ports Cheaper
than MacBook Pro Not as thin and light as MacBook Pro

For those who think that MacBook Pros are overpriced but still need a
powerful mobile workstation, theres the Acer ConceptD 7.

This formidable laptop capable of handling complex and demanding tasks such
as photo editing, thanks in part to its Nvidia RTX graphics, was designed specifically with creative professionals in mind. Beyond that sheer power it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display.

Obviously, its still pretty pricey, but if youre looking for a
Windows-powered MacBook alternative for video and photo editing, its
certainly among the best laptop for photo editing. Read the full Acer
ConceptD 7 review . (Image credit: Microsoft) 7. Surface Laptop 3 15-inch

Longer-lasting than most CPU: Quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i5 i7 |
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB 32GB | Screen: 15 2496 x 1664 PixelSense Touch Display | Storage: 128GB 1TB Mid-range price competitive laptop Battery can last almost all day For those who want a larger screen
Just one USB-C port

With an impressive, reasonable price tag and some of the best battery life weve experienced in a 15-inch laptop, the Surface Laptop 3 certainly has a
lot going for it.

That also includes the fact that its got a great look and feel, as well as a weight that surprisingly light for a product its size. Performance-wise, it certainly knocks it out of the park.

While it isnt the most powerful 15-inch laptop out there, it has Intels 10th-generation chips and the Iris Plus graphics. Thats more than enough to make it one of the best Ultrabooks out there. Read the full Surface Laptop 3 review . (Image credit: Microsoft) 8. Microsoft Surface Book 3

An extremely premium piece of kit CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 i7-1065G7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q Design | RAM: 8GB 32GB 3733Mhz LPDDR4x | Screen: 13.5-inch 3000 x 2000 (267 PPI) 15-inch 3240 x 2160 (260 PPI) PixelSense Display | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB PCIe SSD Premium design Strong on power and performance One of the best displays and keyboards Weak U-series processor Tiny trackpad Lackluster speakers

In many ways, the Surface Book 3 is an example of just how far the best laptops have come in just a few short years.

It has an extremely premium piece of kit with one of the best displays weve used in a laptop, a keyboard that will put the MacBook Pros new Magic Keyboards to shame, and a hybrid design thats great for creative tasks. More specifically for what youre looking for, this follow up to the outstanding Surface Book 2 has configurations with a discrete GPU and more RAM than everyday consumers will ever need.

This all makes the Surface Book 3 an amazing choice for content creators and one of the best laptop for photo editing currently on offer. Read the full Microsoft Surface Book 3 review . (Image credit: Dell) 9. Dell XPS 13

Touchscreen can streamline photo browsing and culling CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i3 i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 4GB 16GB | Screen: 13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080) 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge Anti-Glare Non-touch IPS | Storage: up to 2TB SSD Top range Windows ultrabook Among the best laptops for photo editing. Extremely portable 13" design Limited battery life of 4 hours

This laptop's claim to fame is being the smallest 13.3-inch laptop on the market. It's slim screen bezel helps contribute to a svelte 304mm x 200mm x 15mm form that needs to be held to be truly appreciated.

But its also among the best laptop for photo editing. The XPS 13's screen is touch-sensitive, and it boasts a similar resolution and pixel density to the MacBook and Surface Book. Image quality is more in line with the ZenBook though, falling slightly short on colour and contrast intensity compared to Apple and Microsoft's displays.

A highly portable package with little compromise other than battery life.
Read the full Dell XPS 13 review . (Image credit: HP) 10. HP Spectre x360

A best 2-in-1 gets better CPU: Intel Core i5 i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch full HD (1,920 x 1,080)
UHD (3,840 x 2,160) touchscreen | Storage: 256GB 2TB PCIe SSD Strong Intel Whiskey Lake processors 12-hour battery life Thin, light, and portable Not as powerful as some rivals

Sartorially-conscious photographers will love the look of this 13-inch stunner, sure. But the Spectre x360 also takes things to another level, power-wise.

With its gem cut design and sleek profile, its this one of the most beautiful laptops on the market right now.

However, HP also fitted this with powerful Intel Whiskey Lake processors and long battery life, which means that youre getting one of the best laptop for photo editing. Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2019) . Key things to look out for in a laptop for photographers

Watch the video above for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop.

It's easy to get bogged down in the tech and spec soup of computer terminology, but there are a couple of key areas photographers need to think about.

The first is the quality of the screen. This used to be more eye-sore than eye-candy, with appalling contrast and viewing angles, but thankfully IPS display tech fixes this and you shouldn't settle for anything less.

An SSD (solid state drive) is a must as your primary storage in any new laptop. A conventional hard disk drive will bottleneck performance like flat tires on a Ferrari, and while dedicated graphics cards are great for gaming, they're not a necessity here. Today's processors can fill in for them, and they pack enough pixel-pushing punch for photo editing.

The MacBook is favoured by many photographers, and for good reason. But don't rule out comparably priced laptop PCs, which can offer more bang per buck
with better upgradability. Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop

Below is an excerpt of The Digital Darkroom: The Definitive Guide to Photo Editing by James Abbott, published by Ilex Press ( 17.70 on Amazon.co.uk ). James talks briefly about the essential photo editing accessories that any image manipulation aficionado need to consider.

"As a photographer, you will be well aware that there is a plethora of accessories that you can buy to aid your photography, and photo editing is certainly no exception; some are essential, others are nice to have while the remainder simply come down to personal preference. Its like any hobby really you can buy as much or as little as you want to but having all the gear does not always guarantee excellence.

You will need a computer a laptop or a desktop and, gear-wise, in many
cases this will get you 70 percent of the way towards where you need to be with image editing. But getting yourself up to 100 percent is a much steeper climb, and some essential accessories are required to help you get there. In reality, there are only two additional accessories you need, while the others can improve comfort and control. I use all the accessories recommended here, but the most important two by far are the monitor calibration device and a wide gamut monitor, in that order.

A powerful computer Image processing requires a lot of processing power, so powerful computers with multi-core processors and plenty of RAM are
essential. The minimum RAM you should consider is 16GB, but 32GB or even 64GB will better help image editing software run smoothly and perform tasks much quicker. If buying a new Mac youll need to increase the RAM at the point of purchase, but with Windows PC its much easier to upgrade at a later date. Also, with Windows, gaming PCs are ideal for photo editing.

Wide gamut monitor

A wide gamut monitor is one thats capable of displaying 98100 percent of the Adobe RGB (1998) colour space. These monitors will nearly always utilize in-plane switching (IPS) technology, which means the monitor will display a clear image from wider/multiple viewing angles, so you dont have to be
sitting directly in front of the monitor to view a reliable image. Some of
the best monitors for photography are produced by BenQ and EIZO, and these
can be connected to both laptops and desktops.

Monitor hood

Some of the BenQ and EIZO monitors designed for photo editing include monitor hoods, but you can also buy universal hoods for both external monitors and laptops. A monitor hood is simply a C-shaped plastic shade that helps to stop stray light from hitting the monitor surface from above and at the sides.
This means youll be viewing a clearer image thats more reliable than if the screen was being affected by glare.

Graphics tablet

A graphics tablet performs the same function as a mouse, but the difference
is that you move a special pen over a tablet connected to your computer to move the pointer. The advantage is that its more natural and comfortable than using a mouse and reduces the risk of developing repetitive strain injury (RSI). Plus, they provide a greater degree of pointer control and accuracy so its much easier to make fine adjustments they just take a little getting
used to at first.

Monitor calibration devices

A monitor calibration device, such as the Datacolor SpyderX, is an essential accessory. These devices ensure that photo editing monitors are displaying colour, contrast and brightness correctly because most uncalibrated screens wont be. The problem here is that youd be processing your images according to incorrectly displayed colour, contrast and brightness, so your images will exhibit these problems online, in print and on calibrated monitors." We've also featured the best Lightroom alternative Use your best snaps on personalized photo gifts We've also listed the best video editing laptops .



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