As an aspiring UI/UX designer, you know the importance of having a great laptop to use in the field. It’s your lifeline to the outside world and can make or break a project. That’s why you must buy the best laptops for UI/UX designers that you can afford so that your clients will be able to trust you with their projects, knowing that you have the right tools for the job.
UI/UX designers need intensive tools to design amazing projects and make satisfactory delivery. However, you cannot install this software on a device, which has limited configurations. Thus, you will need a device that has decent specifications and run smoothly, even when a couple of designing software is installed in it.
Best Laptops for UI/UX Designers
Apple Macbook Pro
Apple has two different MacBook Pro models available. The 13-inch model is what most UX Designers prefer. It’s perfect if you are just starting because it’s affordable and provides excellent performance. If you require more power, Apple also offers a 15-inch MacBook Pro model, which will provide you with a bigger screen size to work on.
However, of course, you will have to pay a little more to get all that power under your fingertips. The laptop also comes with multiple configuration settings, and you can also upgrade them by paying extra money. The best ones you can get if you are a beginner are 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and Intel core i5 processor.
However, if you are a professional and need something that can run smoothly under an extensive workload, go for a 16 GB RAM option along with a 512GB SSD and Intel core i7 processor. All these specifications make it perfect for UX design work. Moreover, it also has an impressive battery life. You will get a battery life of around 14 hours, which is perfect for a professional laptop.
The screen is anti-glare, and the design is portable and lightweight. It also uses a graphics card Intel UHD Graphics 600, making it a perfect device if you are looking for one of the best laptops for UI/UX designers.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
If you are looking for a thin and lightweight laptop that is perfect for UI/UX designers, the Surface Laptop 2 features Microsoft’s latest hardware that provides smooth performance and is perfect for the job. With 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD, this laptop will be sufficient for all your needs as a UX designer.
Plus, you can also upgrade its configurations by paying the extra money if you feel the need for it. It is also available in four colors (Platinum, Burgundy, and Cobalt Blue). The ports are limited, so you will have to carry around dongles or extra cables just for power and data transfer purposes. But those are some things that a UI/UX designer should keep with them just in case.
With an i7 processor, you will get all you need in terms of performance. The laptop’s 13.5-inch screen features stunning details with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels, and the battery life is reliable as well. The long 14 hours of battery life is perfect for every workaholic that likes to spend a lot of time working on their projects.
In addition to that, its display is a touchscreen, so it will be easier to navigate through different programs while working. This convertible laptop is perfect for designers no matter if you use Figma, Photoshop, or any other software. You will get everything that you will pay for in this device, making it a worthy option to consider.
Dell Inspiron 16 7610
Featuring a display size of 16 inches the laptop is an amazing device for working on projects. Dell makes quality laptops no matter if you need one for working, studying, or just for browsing. You will get an Intel Core i7-11800H processor along with 8GB RAM and 512 GB SSD. The configurations are perfect for running heavy software and downloading multiple files on your system without slowing it down.
With 8GB of RAM, it can handle most tasks thrown at it with no problem, which is reasonable considering the amount of time that you’ll spend in front of the computer designing your projects. It also has a very durable design, so you won’t have to worry about damaging it while traveling or bringing it around to client meetings.
Furthermore, like many other Dell laptops, this one is also an upgradable device. You can upgrade the configurations according to your needs making it a perfect workstation for most people. Additionally, it features a bezel-free design giving you all the screen space that you might need to work on your projects.
And if battery life is something that you prioritize, this laptop features a battery life of 13 hours, allowing you to work for a long period without any breaks. Plus, thanks to its reasonable price tag a lot of people prefer it over another device as it provides amazing performance while being decently priced. Therefore, if you want one of the best laptops for UI/UX designers, you should give the Dell Inspiron 16, a try.
HP Pavilion 14
With a screen size is 14 inches, the laptop only weighs around 3.1 pounds which means it is an amazing travel-friendly option for people who are always on the go. Moreover, you will get the Intel Core i3 processor along with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB SDD making it a fast and efficient device.
The HP laptop has a battery life that ranges from 6 to 9 hours which is suitable for everyday use. It is a pretty average battery life but will give you enough time to work smoothly. It also has a comfortable keyboard, an anti-glare display, and a touchpad with gesture support, which makes this device a suitable option for UX design.
You will also get a decent amount of connectivity ports on this device. Plus, it also features a biometric fingerprint scanner providing more security and easy access to the device. The device will work smoothly for the most part, but for some heavy software, it might slow down.
However, if you are just a beginner, this device is the way to go, thanks to its affordable price tag. Lastly, you can also pay some extra money to get a better version with higher configurations like 512GB SSD or intel core i5 processor for much faster performance.
HP Stream 11
HP Stream 11 comes with an anti-glare display with a screen size of 11.4 inches. The laptop is lightweight and easy to carry around, making it perfect for you if you move around a lot. However, it is a very affordable laptop that will not provide you with a professional-level experience, but for beginners, it is perfect.
It comes with a very affordable price tag, and the configurations are adequate as well. You will get an Intel Celeron processor along with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB SSD. The configurations are limited, but you can run software or two without any hurdle, making it a great device for starters.
Additionally, with a battery life of approximately 9 hours, which is pretty decent considering that it is an entry-level device. The design might look a bit chunky, as well, due to thinking bezels, but the display quality is pretty bright and provides are smooth entry-level experience.
FAQ
Things to consider before buying the best laptops for UI/UX designers
When buying a laptop, it is important to consider what you need it for and how much you are willing to spend. For example, if you’re looking at the best laptop with 8GB RAM, it may not be enough if you’re working on video editing or other high-demand tasks.
It also depends on what type of design work you are doing: Macs are good for UX design while PCs are better suited for UI. If your budget is around $700-$900 and wants to use your laptop as a primary computer, then one that has a quad-core processor should be sufficient.
When considering the best laptop for UI UX designers, keep in mind that more expensive laptops will have better hardware and come with longer warranties. Additionally, three major components that you should keep in mind before getting a designing laptop are:
CPU
CPU power determines how well your laptop can handle different types of programs, so make sure you know which ones you’ll be using before making any purchases. An eight-core Intel Core i7 is good for 3D rendering and other demanding programs.
While a six-core Intel Core i7 will suffice for most people who do photo editing or word processing. Laptops running on an Intel Core i3 can’t handle many intense programs because they don’t have the processing power required by these applications.
GPU
GPU power doesn’t matter too much when choosing the best laptop for UI/UX designers. You won’t find any significant differences between Nvidia graphics card and AMD graphics card in terms of performance when designing user interfaces or user experience designs. To figure out what GPU works best for you, research whether certain CAD programs run well on certain GPUs (ex: Autodesk Maya only runs smoothly on Nvidia).
Storage
It is a major factor when deciding on the best laptop for UI/UX designers. The good thing about storage nowadays is that prices depend on the size rather than just storage itself. So if you don’t plan to store a lot of files locally, opt for SSD hard drives instead of traditional hard drives because they load faster and take up less space. But SSDs also cost more than traditional hard drives, so they aren’t ideal if your budget is tight.
Do UX designers need a laptop?
One of the most common questions about becoming a UX designer is Do I need a laptop? In short: yes, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. The computer you already own can probably do the trick, but if you’re looking to buy one specifically for your design needs.
There are plenty of options out there that won’t break the bank. You don’t need 8GB RAM or a fancy touchscreen with an ultra-high-res display. A good quality laptop with a keyboard and monitor will do just fine.
Is a 256GB SSD enough for UX design?
We think 8GB RAM is a good amount of RAM to have on your laptop. We also think that a 256GB SSD is a good amount of storage space. It would be cool if more than one USB port was available, but it’s not the end of the world if there’s only one.
Sometimes We like to plug in an external mouse, so that would be nice too! We are not sure what the best laptop is for UX design because everyone has their own opinions on this and you’ll have to weigh your options and figure out which one will work best for you.
Is Intel HD graphics enough for UI/UX designing?
A graphic designer’s workstation should have powerful hardware to handle the rendering of high-resolution graphics and large files. If you are designing complex art, animations, or 3D models, then you will need the best graphics processing unit (GPU) available to increase performance.
A laptop with an Intel HD Graphics card is not enough to produce anything worth showing your client. The more RAM you have, the better performance you can expect from your computer, and the longer it will last on a single charge. For example, 8GB of RAM provides better performance than 4GB and 16GB RAM is much better than 8GB RAM for complex projects like 3D rendering or animation.
Conclusion
So, to summarize, the best laptop for UI/UX designers depends on your needs and preferences. For most people who need a good everyday computer with some extra power to use in Photoshop or Sketch, the MacBook Pro is a great choice.
If you’re looking for a PC, but want something more affordable than Mac, Dell and HP have you covered. Lastly, if you’re looking for a high-performance machine that won’t break the bank and can stand up to your workload without any problems, then go with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2. As long as you take into account what type of tasks you will be using it for and what features are important to you when making your decision, picking out the best laptop for yourself should be easy.
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