Most artists like to draw on graphics tablet by hooking it up to the PC or laptop but what if you can directly draw on your laptop screen using a digital pen? Wouldn't it be easier and more accurate? These days there are laptops available with high resolution and color-accurate touchscreen displays and pressure sensitive digital pens that provides precision which goes head to head with graphics tablets.
Now the question here is what laptops are best for artists? And, what are the essential things to check on the laptop for drawing?
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Well, you can buy any laptop that has the color-accurate display and hook up the graphics tablet to start drawing from anywhere, but we are talking here about laptops that are built exclusively for artists to carry out drawing works. The ones that have all the features of graphics tablets built-in and wouldn't require any extra peripherals to accomplish an artwork. So, in general, you need to find a laptop that has a high-resolution and color-accurate touchscreen display and the one that comes with a pen which understands the different level of pressures. Moreover, you also need the laptop to be powerful enough to run your choice of drawing software smoothly, and it should be portable and versatile to draw on it comfortably.
Believe us, finding a laptop with all the features mentioned above is not easy!
So, to help you out with this, our team of laptop professionals tested dozens of 2-in-1 hybrid laptops and convertibles that comes with pen inside the box and have hand picked few best ones for drawing in different price brackets, to make your choice easier.
Best Laptops for Drawing – Top Picks
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Best Overall
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is one of the most versatile and best-selling 2-in-1 laptops in the global market. The laptop is not just powerful from its innards but is equally well-built for varied uses. It can be paired with a detachable keyboard, which makes it comfortable to use it as a tablet as well as a laptop. For drawing, the laptop is compatible with Surface Pen (4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity), which is one of the best digital pens on any gadget to date. The Surface Pro 7 is compact and comes with excellent ergonomics for ease of usage. However, both the Surface Pen and the Type Cover costs extra which adds about another $200 to its price.
Speaking about the specifications, the Surface Pro 7 is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. The device can also be bought with Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD which makes it stand out in the segment of powerful convertibles. Moreover, the device comes with a beautiful 12.3″ PixelSense display, which provides true to life color reproduction.
The comfort of usage, the beautiful display, the Surface Pen's feasibility, and the long-lasting battery life makes Microsoft Surface Pro 7 an ideal laptop for artists who wish to use their laptop for drawing and artworks.
Hardware Specifications of Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Processor
Intel Core i5-1035G4 1.1 GHz Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 3.7GHz)
RAM
8GB RAM
Storage
256GB SSD
Graphics
Integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Display
12.3″ PixelSense 10 point Multi Touch Display with 2736 x 1824 Resolution (267 PPI)
Pen
Surface Pen with 4096 levels of Pressure Sensitivity
Operating System
Windows 10 Pro
Battery Life
Up to 10 hours
Weight
1.70 lbs
$1,372.90 from Amazon
Microsoft Surface Go
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to Surface Pro 7 with the same functionalities, then recently launched Microsoft Surface Go tablet with type cover and Surface Pen can also be an excellent option for drawing. It starts at just $399, but we would recommend its $549 variant which offers 8GB of RAM, Intel Pentium Gold processor and fast 128GB of SSD storage. Of course, it isn't as powerful as Surface Pro 7, but it delivers similar drawing experience for the price that's less than $800 (with type cover and Surface Pen).
$585.00 on Amazon
2. Microsoft Surface Book 2Professional's Choice
For the artists, who are not bounded by the budget to get the best in class experience, the Microsoft's Surface Book 2 is one of the best options available for drawing. Considering the styles of work of an artist, or a person drawing on a laptop, the Surface Book 2 can be utilized in four versatile modes, which makes it stand out of other laptops in the market.
The device is built using premium, and lightweight materials and makes it easily adaptable in the way, its user wants to work and create. Drawing or painting is made easy and flexible in its Studio Mode using the Microsoft's Surface Pen and Surface Dial features. The device is also capable of handling heavy graphics and can provide beautiful visuals of the end work. The new Surface Pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity comes bundled, but the surface dial needs to be purchased separately.
It comes in two sizes, 13.5-inch and 15-inch PixelSense display with 10-point multi-touch support, which makes it work like a charm for drawing and provides fantastic color gamut.
On the hardware front, you get an option to select from 8th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 quad-core processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD option. You also get a powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU if you opt for the 15-inch model and GTX 1050 if you opt for a 13 inch i7 model.
Considering all the specifications, the Surface Book 2 is an ideal choice for professionals looking for a laptop for drawing or art.
Hardware Specifications of Microsoft Surface Book 2
Processor
8th Gen Intel Core i7-8650U 1.9GHz Processor (Turbo up to 4.2GHz)
RAM
8GB RAM
Storage
256GB SSD
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU with 2GB DDR5 graphics memory
Display
13.5″ PixelSense 10 point Multi-Touch G5 Display with 3000 x 2000 Resolution (267 PPI)
Pen
Surface Pen with 4096 levels of Pressure Sensitivity(Not included in box – Click here to buy)
Operating System
Windows 10 Pro
Battery Life
Up to 17 hours
Weight
3.38 lbs (with keyboard attached)
$920.00 From Amazon
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is yet another variant from the Surface series of laptops from Microsoft which we recommend to artists. Although the device, doesn't come with a detachable screen like other Surface devices, it still has the Microsoft's proprietary PixelSense 13.5″ touchscreen technology. And, thanks to its color-accurate display and the support of Surface Pen, this laptop can be used for drawing and other graphic artworks.
However, we won't recommend Surface Laptop 3 to someone who is looking for a proper drawing laptop. It can be a great secondary machine for artists for everyday productivity and random drawing and editing work.
Check Price on Amazon
3. Lenovo Yoga C940
What according to you might be the reason for not opting a digital medium for drawing? The most common answer is that they lack the accuracy when compared to a physical medium. Lenovo has worked out on the same point and has come up with an innovative idea of featuring a pinpoint accuracy for better and ease of drawing. The usability, portability, and aesthetics are few among the other unique aspects of this laptop for drawing.
Speaking about the specifications of the device, it features a 14-inch UHD IPS multi-touch display and integrated web camera. The device is powered by a latest 10th gen Intel Core i5 processor paired with a massive 8GB of RAM. Storage front on the device is backed by an SSD storage of up to 2TB.
The device offers stunning 4K display in its high-end variant and comes with Active Pen which is as comfortable as a regular pen to use. The pen also has 4,096 levels of sensitivity to provide those beautiful depths in the drawings and art. The device is multifaceted so can be used in multiple modes as per the user's convenience. Moreover, the laptop comes up with Windows Ink, which gives it the power to do more in terms of drawing, designing, and art.
Hardware Specifications of Lenovo Yoga C940
Processor
10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G4 Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 3.7 GHz)
RAM
8GB DDR4 RAM
Storage
256GB SSD
Graphics
Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Display
14″ UHD IPS Multitouch Display with 3840 x 2160 Resolution
Pen
Lenovo Active Pen with 4096 levels of Pressure Sensitivity (Included in box)
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Battery Life
Up to 10 hours
Weight
2.9 lbs
$1,499.99 From Lenovo
4. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Laptop
Dell XPS 13 is one of the most beautiful convertible 2-in-1 laptops, which can be used in multiple modes as per the user's convenience. The laptop is globally renowned for being one of the world's smallest 13-inch 2-in-1 laptop which comes with an InfinityEdge touchscreen display. The display provides a virtually borderless viewing experience and gorgeous details with its ultra-sharp QHD+ resolution.
The laptop comes in various variants and can be customized as per the user's requirements. There's an option to choose from Intel Core i5 and i7 processors with up to 32GB of RAM, and for storage, user get an option to select up to 1TB of SSD storage which provides a faster, much better, and resilient storage. Graphics on the device are backed up by Intel Iris Plus graphics and are powerful enough to handle the drawing applications on the device. The laptop comes with a premium 360-degree hinge for four, flexible positions – tablet, tent, laptop and stand mode – so you can watch, work or surf the way you want. The device comes with a long-lasting battery life of up to 15 hours on a single charge, which makes it one of the best laptop for artists.
Moreover, Dell's Active Pen is also among the best you can get for drawing right now. It supports4,096 levels of pressures which is on par with the Surface Pen and Lenovo's Active Pen, so if you are a sucker for good looks, then Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is probably the most premium looking laptop on this list.
Hardware Specifications of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Laptop
Processor
10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 3.6 GHz)
RAM
8GB DDR4 RAM
Storage
256GB SSD
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics
Display
13.4″ Full HD+ InfinityEdge Touch Display with 1920 x 1200 Resolution
Pen
Dell Active Pen with 4096 levels of Pressure Sensitivity (Sold Separately)
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Battery Life
Up to 15 hours
Weight
2.9 lbs
$1,379.99 From Dell
The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 is another excellent option if you are looking for a laptop with more power and larger display for drawing. It comes with powerful Intel Kaby Lake-G series processor which offers graphics powered by AMD which means it will be able to handle bulky drawing apps and intricate designing work a lot better than the XPS 13 2-in-1. On an overall note, the XPS 15 2-in-1 will be a great option for anyone who is looking for a power-packed thin and light laptop with larger real-estate for comfortable and lag-free drawing experience. | Check Price on Dell
5. HP Spectre X360 15-inch Convertible Laptop
HP Spectre X360 is probably one of the best-looking laptops in the segment and comes with a fantastic build quality and aesthetics. The laptop redefines the craftsmanship and makes sure that it remains an eye-catcher, for everyone.
This laptop is beautiful by all means, but does it also performs that well for our usage, that is, for drawing, designing, and art purpose? Let's find out.
Like most other laptops in the list, the Spectre X360 is also a convertible laptop which comes with a 360 degrees hinges and therefore it can also be operated in four different modes including the tablet mode which is how most designers and artists would like to draw. Moreover, the laptop comes with powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card which provides excellent visuals in its nearly borderless 15-inch UHD display, and it also ensures the smooth drawing experience with the HP Active Pen (included in the box). Bigger the display, better is the area for you to work on. This evidently elucidates how perfectly this laptop serves the need of drawing.
The laptop runs Windows 10 out of the box and is powered by a 9th Generation six-core Intel Core i7 processor paired with either 8 or 16GB of RAM depending on the variant you choose. The device comes with a varied storage options, and it can be customized as per the user's requirements. All in all, the HP Spectre X360 remains as one of the best laptop for drawing and provides impeccable performance at the same time, without compromising on looks and form-factor.
Hardware Specifications of HP Spectre X360 15 (2019)
Processor
9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-Core 2.6GHz Processor (Turbo up to 4.5 GHz)
RAM
8GB DDR4 RAM
Storage
256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB DDR5 Graphics
Display
15.6″ 4K IPS Anti-Glare WLED-backlit Display with 3840 x 2160 Resolution
Pen
HP Active Pen with 4096 levels of Pressure Sensitivity (Included in box)
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Battery Life
Up to 12 hours
Weight
4.8 lbs
$1,249.99 From HP
HP Spectre x360 15 (2019)
If you are not after the latest and greatest tech, then the last year's HP Spectre x360 15″ is a great value right now. It has similar design like the new model except a few minor changes here and there, but it's also unmistakably a great designed laptop overall. It comes with the 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8565U processor and Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB DDR5 Graphics as standard. It delivers adequate amount of punch to run all types of drawing softwares. Moreover, It comes with HP Active Pen inside the box which can sense up to 4096 different pressure levels. So, overall the 2019 HP Spectre x360 is also an excellent option if you don't want to pay the premium price tag of the newer model. | $1,039.99 from HP
6. Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
Samsung, the South Korean tech giant, needs no introduction in the field of electronics. The Notebook 9 Pro is one of the latest convertible laptops from Samsung, which is exclusively launched to serve artists and designers, who wish to use their laptop as a slate for their drawings and designing.
The device comes with an advanced, pressure sensitive (up to 4,096 levels), and intuitively responsive S Pen, which provides artists to draw with accuracy and precision like never before. The built-in pen with the laptop comes with an always paired mode so that you can easily navigate, and carry out your drawing and designing work. The laptop also offers various other features such as palm detection, quick select, gesture support, the creation of notes, and many other intuitive features, which compliments productivity on the device.
In addition to all these aspects mentioned above, the device also comes with a robust and latest set of innards such as an Intel Core i7-8565U processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, integrated Intel graphics and 13.3-inch LED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution. Better resolution means sharper images and crisper output. The screen is undoubtedly a deal maker when it comes to choosing a laptop for drawing and the Samsung NoteBook 9 Pro, offers a brilliant display.
The device with its powerful specifications and productive features proves out to be a very worthy laptop for artists. Oh, and yes, it can also be used in various modes, as per the user's convenience.
Hardware Specifications of Samsung Notebook 9 Pro 13
Processor
8th Generation Intel Core i7-8565U Quad-Core 1.8GHz Processor (Turbo up to 4.6 GHz)
RAM
16GB LPDDR3 RAM
Storage
512GB SSD
Graphics
Intel UHD 620 Graphics
Display
13.3″ Full HD LED Touchscreen Display with 1920 x 1080 Resolution
Pen
S-Pen with 4096 levels of Pressure Sensitivity (Included in box)
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Battery Life
Up to 11 hours
Weight
2.8 lbs
$999.99 From Best Buy
Samsung recently launched the Notebook 9 Pen convertible laptop which comes with new Whiskey Lake Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce MX150 GPU. The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is still the best value right now, but if you want the latest and greatest the Samsung has to offer, then you can get the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen for Price not available from Amazon
7. Lenovo Yoga Book C930
Lenovo Yoga Book C930 is by far the most unique convertible in the Yoga series of laptops by Lenovo. The device is crafted with a high-quality alloy, and it comes with a signature hinge which enables it to convert into different versatile modes which adapt to every user's usage with ease. The Yoga Book C930 is designed to be noteworthy, by all means. That said, the device comes with a Real Pen, which lets you digitize notes whatever you write on it. Be it sketches, be it notes, be it drawings, Yoga Book can take it all and digitize with perfection.
The Yoga Book C930 can be a picture perfect replacement of your general notebook, to carry, use, draw, and store. As mentioned above, the Real Pen, which is provided along with the Yoga Book plays a vital role in illustrations, drawing, and designing. The pen offers impeccable precision, and the laptop can take pressure sensitive touches, to draw with utmost precision and accuracy. The best part of the device, is you don't have to explicitly charge the pen, as it always stays charged up using the EMR (Electro Magnetic Resonance) technology. What does it mean to the general audience? You can directly plug and play with the device without having to worry about charging or pairing the pen with the Yoga Book.
Apart from all these features mentioned above, the Lenovo Yoga book C930 also offers decently powerful hardware to run drawing applications smoothly, and it comes with a lot of extra accessories in the box, which enables the user to get the most from their Yoga Book.
Hardware Specifications of Lenovo Yoga Book C930
Processor
Intel Core i5-7Y54 1.2 GHz Dual Core Processor (Turbo up to 3.2 GHz)
RAM
4GB LPDDR3 RAM
Storage
128GB SSD
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 615
Display
10.8″ IPS QHD (2560 x 1600) Touchscreen Display
Touch
Capacitive Touchscreen with AnyPen Technology Capacitive Touch Create Pad with EMR Pen Technology
Pen
Lenovo Real-Pen with 4096 levels of Pressure Sensitivity (Included in box)
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Battery Life
Up to 8 hours
Weight
1.7 lbs
$949.99 From Best Buy
8. ASUS Chromebook Flip C214MA Recommended for Kids Interested in Art & Drawing
Is your kid good at drawing or art? Does he like to sketch his ideas out on paper? Then why confine them to just pen and paper, when you can buy them the ASUS Chromebook Flip 11, which is a very affordable convertible laptop with pen.
The device sports an 11.6-inch HD display with multi-touch support and wide viewing angles. Under the hood, the device is powered by the mid-range, Intel Celeron N4000 Dual-Core processor, which can go as high as 2.6GHz of clock speed in its full throttle. For multitasking, the device comes with 4GB of RAM, and the storage segment is handled by a 32GB of internal storage which is also adequate for kids.
The device can be bought with an ASUS Stylus or any other EMR Pen to use for drawing, selection, editing, and more.
The laptop is also incredibly versatile and can be used in four different modes, just like the other laptops in the segment. But what makes the ASUS Chromebook Flip C214MA unique is its price, which makes it a super affordable laptop for drawing, designing, and other artwork purposes. On top of all these, the device is promised to provide a battery life of up to 10 hours in a single charge, making it a worthy buy.
Hardware Specifications of ASUS Chromebook Flip C214MA 11″
Processor
Intel Celeron N4000 Dual-Core Processor (Turbo up to 2.6GHz)
RAM
4GB DDR4 RAM
Storage
32GB eMMC
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 600
Display
11.6″ HD IPS Touch Display with 1366 x 768 Resolution
Pen
ASUS Active Stylus (Included in box)
Operating System
Chrome OS
Battery Life
Up to 10 hours
Weight
2.6 lbs
$373.99 From Amazon
For budget buyers and beginner artists, the HP Pavilion x360 14″ is a great option which offers Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD for about $500. It has a 14-inch HD display and comes with HP active stylus inside the box. For those who can extend their budget up to $700, the Acer Spin 3 is another excellent option which offers quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD. Both these machines are great options for those who want to try out this stream and doesn't want to spend much while doing that.
9. HP ZBook Studio x360 G5
HP ZBook Studio is a top-notch convertible laptop which provides a perfect mix of versatility and power. It can be a fantastic device for 3D designing and other similar intricate artworks that requires a lot of horsepowers. The laptop has several smart features and comes with an HP ZBook Pen which can sense up to 4096 levels of pressure. The device sports a 15.6-inch full HD touch display, and there's also a 4K option. Both the panels offer a crystal clear view and a very accurate color reproduction (100% sRGB), which makes it an ideal laptop for artists.
The device runs on Windows 10 out of the box and comes with various advanced features such as one-touch login and other enhanced security features with fingerprint sensor support. The device runs on the latest 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. Buyers can opt up to Intel Xeon processor and Nvidia Quadro graphics with up to 64GB RAM and 4TB SSD storage, so the HP ZBook Studio is a proper workhorse. However, despite such powerful hardware, it weighs under 5 pounds which is yet another impressive aspect of this laptop. The device is built using a premium grade metal and therefore, gives an excellent fit and finish to the laptop.
The HP ZBook Studio x360 is the most powerful laptop for drawing on this list, and it also comes with a price tag that matches its powerful specs. It starts from around $2500 and goes up to $5000 depending upon the options you choose. Hence, it is only for the select few artists who have to carry out some serious designing and drawing work every day.
Hardware Specifications of HP ZBook Studio x360 15″
Processor
9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-Core Processor (Turbo up to 4.5GHz)
15.6″ Full HD LED Touchscreen Display with 100% sRGB Color Gamut
Pen
HP ZBook Pen with 4096 Levels of Pressure Sensitivity (Included in box)
Operating System
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Battery Life
Up to 14 hours
Weight
4.9 lbs
From $2,408.25 at HP
Perfection is what every artist needs to have and to get the perfection; you now don't have to confine yourself to the traditional brushes. The technology is now advanced to a level that, you can get the same level of comfort, ease, and precision on a digital platform, i.e., on these laptops for drawing. The best part, all these devices can be used in multiple modes, and all of them deliver long lasting battery backup.
Each and every laptop mentioned above has been handpicked by our team of experts with the right guidance from professional artists who have been using these devices in their professional life. All the laptops excel over each other in certain aspects. But on an overall note, every device here is a worthy contender to serve as a digital mode to carry out your drawings and other design works.
If you are still finding hard to choose the right device for you from the above list, feel free to contact us or drop a comment to get an expert's advice on buying laptops for artists.
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to Surface Pro 7 with the same functionalities, then recently launched Microsoft Surface Go tablet with type cover and Surface Pen can also be an excellent option for drawing. It starts at just $399, but we would recommend its $549 variant which offers 8GB of RAM, Intel Pentium Gold processor and fast 128GB of SSD storage. Of course, it isn't as powerful as Surface Pro 7, but it delivers similar drawing experience for the price that's less than $800 (with type cover and Surface Pen).
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