Are you an aspiring animator but aren’t sure which laptop to buy that will give you the best results? Have no fear- we’ve got all the information needed to help make your decision easy.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss what makes the best laptop for animation in 2023- from processors and RAM to graphics cards and storage capacity.
Find out which laptops are at the tech vanguard, offering excellent performance without breaking the bank!
Plus, get our top recommendations to choose a machine that works perfectly for your needs.
Ready? Then let’s dive right into finding out what makes up the Best Laptop for Animation in 2023!
Our Top 5 Picks
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15+ Best Laptop For Animation In 2024 (Recommended by Experts)
- MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) – Best Laptop For Animation
- MacBook Pro 14-inch
- Razer Blade 17 (2022) – 3rd Best Laptop For Animation
- MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022)
- Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (2022)
- ASUS VivoBook 15 — The best value laptop for animation
- ASUS TUF Dash 15 (2021) — The best laptop on a budget for animation
- Asus Zenbook Pro Duo — The best laptop for animation with a dual-screen
- GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD — The best laptop for animation with a large display
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
- Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
- Acer Spin 5
- Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro
- Microsoft Surface Book 3
- Lenovo ThinkBook 14S Yoga
1.MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) – Best Laptop For Animation
Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display Processor: Apple M1 Pro 10-core | Graphics: Integrated 16-core – 32-core GPUi | RAM: 8GB | Storage: Up to 8TB
The new MacBook Pro 16-inch is the best choice for animators who demand the highest performance from their laptops. It’s filled with powerful processing power in either Apple’s M1 Max or M1 Pro chips and ensures your complex animation work is handled with ease. While its power alone is impressive, the mini-LED screen is a game changer – it offers incredibly vibrant colours, super sharp details, and something that no other laptop can match. There’s even an increase in ports to allow easier connection of drawing tablets and external monitors.
Best of all, the laptop itself is quite comfortable for use at a desk, though its size does mean you’ll need to measure where you plan on using it before you buy. If you’re after something smaller, there are other options available too. But if you want the absolute best in a laptop for animation, this will give you everything you need!
2.MacBook Pro 14-inch
Display: 14.2-inch 3024 x 1964 Liquid Retina XDR display | Processor: Apple M1 Pro chip with 8‑core CPU | Graphics: Integrated 14-core | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB – 8TB SSD
For animators, the choice of a laptop is incredibly important. Fortunately, Apple’s super-charged MacBook Pro offers the perfect fusion of power and portability to help make your animation workflow a breeze. With Apple’s M1 Pro or Max chip powering its impressive performance, this MacBook Pro isn’t just powerful and extremely thin and light for comfortable transport.
But its real selling point lies in its battery life; it’s the longest-running battery ever seen on a MacBook, so you can work all day without worrying about recharging. Of course, if you’d like something bigger but just as powerful, that option is also available. With its combination of cutting-edge performance, portability and long battery life, the Apple MacBook Pro is certainly one of the best laptops for animation.
3. Razer Blade 17 (2022) – 3rd Best Laptop For Animation
Display: 17.3-inch 1080p at 360Hz, 1440p at 240Hz, 4K at 144Hz | Processor: 12th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: I Nvidia RTX 3060 – Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti | RAM: 16GB, 32GB | Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
The Razer Blade 17 is the perfect laptop for anyone’s animation needs. Boasting a well-known build quality, this laptop allows its users to take advantage of Intel’s 12th-generation processors and Nvidia’s newest GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU.
This powerful GPU allows users to easily render some of the most detailed and complicated 3D animations. Even better, the RTX 3080 Ti also offers ray tracing capabilities that allow realistic lighting effects in animations, making them come alive. Though expensive, this laptop provides one of the best mobile technology packages available today, along with a stunning 17-inch screen that makes it ideal for creative work.
4. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022)
CPU: Apple M2 with 8-core CPU | Graphics: Integrated 10-core GPU | RAM: 8GB – 24GB | Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 display with P3 and True Tone technology| Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is a great addition to any animator’s setup. It comes with a brand-new M2 chip and can be configured with up to 24GB of unified memory, easily handling all your animation projects. The Touch Bar gives you quick access to tools and shortcuts, making workflows smoother, while the long battery life allows you to work all day and still have power. Despite being less powerful than the 14-inch and 16-inch models, it is much more affordable, making it a superb value-for-money investment.
5. Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (2022)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3060 – Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti | RAM: 32GBScreen: 16-inch 3840×2400 IPS, 16-inch 2560×1600 mini-LED, second 14-inch 3840×1100 IPS | Storage: 4TB
The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 stands out with its unique two-screen setup: a touch-enabled display just above the main keyboard. But this key feature is not just an impressive gimmick – it could revolutionize how animators work.
By moving apps and panels to the smaller screen, folks in animation have extra workspace – essential for multitasking or just doing a lot of stuff at once. With its powerful AMD Ryzen 5000 processors and high-resolution 4K or mini-LED displays, this laptop is certainly prepared to take on complex tasks with colour accuracy and speed that would easily dazzle any animation enthusiast. The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is truly an innovation for animators everywhere.
6. ASUS VivoBook 15 — The best value laptop for animation
Display: 15.6-inch OLED display | Processor: 11th generation Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris X Graphics | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 512GB SSD
The Asus VivoBook 15 offers more than just good value for a budget laptop. It also has a great selection of features, making it an impressive option for those who need superior performance and that extra edge when working with 2D or 3D animations.
Its stylish 15.6-inch OLED display provides the perfect canvas on which to craft your projects, with a 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, providing enhanced contrast ratio and response time that can take your visuals to the next level. And with plenty of storage space built in, you don’t have to worry about running out of room for any tasks – large or small! Plus, if security is a priority, the VivoBook 15 has you covered with its own advanced security solutions. There is no reason not to try out this laptop – it beats out most competitors while still staying within budget!
7. ASUS TUF Dash 15 (2021) — The best laptop on a budget for animation
Display: 15.6” 144Hz FHD | Processor: 11th generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Asus is known for delivering laptops that provide great value, and the TUF Dash 15 doesn’t disappoint. This laptop comes with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, cutting-edge NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics, full HD resolution on its 15.6-inch display, and a 144Hz refresh rate with Adaptive-Sync. It’s built to last us through all our computing tasks – gaming or productivity – and can withstand even the toughest of usage. The pairing of the latest hardware options enables smooth performance at an amazing price point, making it an excellent option for those seeking the most bang for their buck.
8. Asus Zenbook Pro Duo — The best laptop for animation with a dual-screen
Display: 15.6″ OLED 4K touch main display | Processor: 10th generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: GeForce RTX 2060 6GB/RTX 3070 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
If you’re a multitasker looking to maximize output, the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is a great choice. With its dual screens, you can use one as your primary window and the other as an auxiliary workspace, giving you the power to split windows and apps for maximum productivity.
The main 15.6-inch touchscreen display has a beautiful 4K resolution and the secondary touchpad display, known as ScreenPadPlus, is compatible with a stylus for drawing and sketching. Not only does it help you maximize your multitasking potential, but it can also be lifted at an angle for added comfort when drawing.
To power two displays while maintaining reasonable battery power, the ZenBook Pro Duo can last around 12 hours when the secondary display is off and up to 9 hours 44 minutes when it is powered on; more than enough juice to get through animations with ease.
9. GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD — The best laptop for animation with a large display
Display: 17.3″ UHD 4K IPS Anti-Glare Display | Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU 8GB GDDR6 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD
The GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD is the perfect laptop for those who prefer larger displays with a massive 17.3″ UHD to boast. It is just as powerful as it looks and will give you peak performance when developing animations or any other creative processes.
The latest gen i7 processor, RTX 3070 GPU and NVIDIA’s studio drivers are all combined to give you a smooth and seamless experience without interruption. The backlight keyboard is also top-of-the-range to work even in dark areas, while the DTS: X Ultra audio speakers bring clear, immersive sound. Connectivity won’t be an issue in this laptop since it has plenty of USB ports, Thunderbolt 3 ports and even HDMI 2.1 ports. These features make the AERO 17 HDR XD stand out amongst other laptops, allowing your creativity to take off to new heights!
10. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 /AMD Ryzen 5 – 7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe / AMD Radeon| RAM: 8GB – 32GBScreen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) touch | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD
Whether you’re looking for the premium build quality usually associated with Apple laptops, or the sheer convenience and portability of an ultraportable laptop, Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4 has you covered. Not content to simply rest on its laurels as a software company, Microsoft crafted the perfect combination of lightweight design and performance power.
From its stunning PixelSense touchscreen display to its powerful integrated graphics and hardware configurable between Intel or AMD, depending on your needs, it’s one of the most stylishly designed yet powerful business-grade laptops. Throw in its extraordinary battery life – over 13 hours on our tests – and you have one of the more well-rounded laptops we’ve come across in quite some time!
11. Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
CPU: 8‑core CPU (Apple M2 chip) | Graphics: 8-core GPU or 10-core GPU (Apple M2 chip) | RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 24GB (unified memory)| Screen: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with 2560×1664 resolution | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Apple recently updated their MacBook Air with the M2 chip, which offers slightly improved performance and efficiency over the already-excellent M1 chip. This added efficiency allows for an increasingly thin and light laptop that operates without a fan for silent operation and features incredible battery life – perfect for those on the move. Although the MacBook Air is unlikely to struggle with heavy workloads, it’s a great choice for tasks such as editing photos or videos, animation work, or other demanding work that requires working away from the office.
12. Acer Spin 5 (2022)
CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GBScreen: 13.5″ (2256 x 1504) 3:2 touchscreen display | Storage: 512GB – 1TB SSD
The Acer Spin 5 is an amazing value for the money, easily outperforming far more expensive laptops when it comes to animation work. As a 2-in-1 device, it can also be used as a tablet, with its clever flip-back screen. What makes it particularly special, though, is that it has a 3:2 aspect ratio which makes drawing easier and more comfortable than traditional laptop aspect ratios.
To top that off, this laptop even comes with its very own stylus included in the box. This means you can get creative with your animation right away and take advantage of the extra flexibility this stylus provides compared to simply using your finger on a touchscreen. Whether you’re a casual artist or an experienced animator looking for an affordable workstation laptop, the Acer Spin 5 should definitely be on your shortlist.
13. Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro
CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i7, Intel Xeon W | Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3080, Nvidia RTX A5000 | RAM: 32GBScreen: 15.6″ 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 IPS | Storage: 2TB
The Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro is one of the top animation laptops on the market and with good reason. It comes equipped with a high-end Nvidia RTX graphics card, making it perfect for animating complex 3D scenes.
The Pantone-validated 4K IPS screen offers crystal clear visuals, and we found animations look especially vivid and brilliant on this machine. And when it comes to rendering, this laptop impresses us with its sheer speed – operations don’t just run smoothly, but quickly as well! Though on the pricier side, this workstation has proven itself to be a great investment for anyone serious about animation.
14. Microsoft Surface Book 3
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 – i7-1065G7 | 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
The Surface Book 3 is a stylish yet powerfully-built laptop for animation purposes. It features a spectacular touchscreen display that will leave you awe-struck – perfect for viewing beautifully rendered animations. Additionally, with the optional Surface Pen stylus, you can control your creations with ease – no stretching or reaching around needed! For those needing an extra boost in performance, it offers the ability to order its discrete GPU configuration, which delivers up to 7th-generation Intel processors and even VR support.
Not only is it specced out to be reliable, but its lightweight design also makes going between tasks easier than ever when on the go. Get peace of mind knowing that you’ll have the latest software running, too, as this laptop runs Windows 11.
15. Lenovo ThinkBook 14S Yoga
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: Up to 40GBScreen: 14.0” FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, glossy, touchscreen, 300 nits | Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe SSD
The Lenovo ThinkBook 14S Yoga is a great choice for animation. It’s got powerful internals, including a 12th-gen Intel Core processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics, which will handle animation apps with ease. Best of all, its 2-in-1 design allows you to work on its touchscreen, and the included stylus means sketching is a joy. It’s nice and affordable as well, compared to some of the more expensive laptops on this list. Battery life is around 9 hours, which should get you through a workday before you need to plug it in to charge.
5 Tips for choosing the best laptop for animation
1. Consider your needs
The first step in choosing the best laptop for animation is to consider your needs. What type of animation do you want to create? 2D or 3D? Do you need a laptop that can handle complex graphics and rendering? Once you know what you need, you can start looking at laptops that offer the right features for your needs.
2. Look for a powerful processor
One of the most important features to look for in a laptop for animation is a powerful processor. The processor is responsible for handling all of the complex calculations needed to create animations. A powerful processor will be able to handle more complex animations and will be able to render them faster.
3. Look for a dedicated graphics card
Another important feature to look for in a laptop for animation is a dedicated graphics card. The graphics card is responsible for creating the images that you see on the screen. A dedicated graphics card will be able to create better-quality images than an integrated graphics card.
4. Look for plenty of rams
Another important feature to look for in a laptop for animation is plenty of rams. RAM is responsible for storing all of the data that the processor needs to access while it is working on an animation. The more RAM that a laptop has, the smoother the animation process will be.
5. Look for a large storage drive
The last thing to look for in a laptop for animation is a large storage drive. The storage drive is responsible for storing all of the data associated with your animations. You will need a laptop with a large storage drive if you plan on animating large or complex animations.
Conclusion for Best Laptop For Animation:
We hope you found this post helpful in your search for the best laptops for animation students and professionals. If you have any suggestions for other laptops that should be on this list or have questions about any of the laptops we’ve mentioned, please feel free to leave a comment below. And don’t forget to share this post with your friends and followers on social media!
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