Best Laptop for Animation and Graphics Design Updated 2021

Animation including 2D and 3D animation cannot be done on a mediocre workstation and many animators are aware of this fact. For doing animation without any lag or other pc problems, you will need an ideal machine that will be able to carry out all functions quickly.

A best laptop for animation means it has got ample specs to handle programs with large consuming memory and power. In this case, an ideal laptop should have a powerful processor, a large amount of RAM, a good graphics card and plenty amount of storage space.

We are here to review some of the best laptops for animation so that you can make an easy choice. These laptops are worthy for using to make perfect animations on different heavy applications.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best laptops that you can buy in 2018 for animation and graphic designing work.

Best Laptop for Animation in 2020

NoPictureDevice NameProcessorRamPrice
1Apple ME665LL/ACore i7 quad-core16GB DDR3
2Microsoft Surface LaptopCore i7 7th gen. 16GB DDR4
3ASUS ZX53VWCore i5 6300-HQ8GB DDR4
4Acer Aspire VX 15Core i7 7700-Q16GB DDR4
5Acer Aspire 7Core i7-8750H8GB DDR4
6Acer Predator Helios 300
Editor's Choice
Core i7-7700HQ16 GB DDR4
7Apple 15" MacBook ProCore i7 quad-core16GB DDR3

How We Choose Best Laptop for Animation?

Our criteria for choosing an ideal laptop from the market is very simple. The products that we have got on our list are properly researched and tested on the basis of their performance, working capability, unique design, less weight and user ratings.

Your trust is our foremost priority and we will never let it down for sure.

Let’s review some of your favorite laptops to make things more clear and easier for you :

1. Apple MacBook Pro ME665LL/A

Best Laptop for Graphic Design and Animation

best laptop for animation and graphic design

Apple MacBook Pro ME665 tops our list for being the best computer for animation. This laptop has got all those specs that are needed for doing continuous animation without any slowing or lagging issues. The laptop has got a unique and slim design with a lightweight feature making it easy to take it anywhere you want.

Let’s have a look at its technical features and some of its positives and negatives in details below :

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Key Features

  • This computing machine has got a powerful 2.7 GHz Core i7 processor with a turbo boosting for up to 3.7 GHz. The fast processor allows you to make animations without any lagging issues.
  • 16GB DDR3 memory running at 1600 MHz rate is more than enough to open heavy programs for animation. This amount of random access memory will never slow down the computer in any case.
  • This laptop has also got a large 512GB space. The special flash storage offers a reading and writing at a high rate making it easier for the laptop to render animation processes easily.
  • The best laptop for animation has got a 15.4″ retina display having a resolution of about 2880×1800 pixels. It won’t hurt your eyes even after looking at it for a long period of time. Nvidia GT 650M graphics card is also present for a perfect display.
  • The laptop runs on Mac OS X 10.8 Lion and has got a 7-hour battery life too. You won’t have to worry about the battery issues that are common with many other rigs.

Why Professional Animators Like It?

The reason that most of the pro animators like this laptop are its fast processor, retina display large RAM and flash storage feature. Besides, a sleek design and lightweight construction are a few of the other reasons to like this amazing laptop.

Cost and Value

Apple MacBook Pro ME665LL/A is the best laptop for animation and graphics designing purposes. This laptop has got a lightweight construction and is packed with a lot of features allowing you to animate for a long period of time without any worries. Better buy it if you are in need of an ideal workstation for graphics and animation.

Pros
  • Quad Core Processor
  • Ideal for animation
  • 7 Hour Battery Life
  • 16Gb DDR3 RAM
  • 15.4″ retina display
  • Nvidia GT650 graphics card
  • Lightweight construction
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Graphics card is average

2. Microsoft Surface Laptop

Best Laptop for Animators

best-laptop-for-cartoon-animation-graphics

Microsoft Surface Laptop is specially made for rendering large animation and graphics designing processes with ease and convenience. The laptop has got a very simple and slim design and it doesn't weigh much so you will not face any issues in carrying it with yourself. This workstation comprises of a fast processor with a large random access memory and integrated graphics card.

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Key Features

  • Microsoft surface laptop has got a powerful core i7, 7th generation processor that is more than enough to run all animation programs with ease. With this fast processor, you can also do multitasking which is very important for animation purposes.
  • The laptop has got a 512GB space with a good writing and reading speed for rendering the projects easily. Furthermore, 16GB RAM is also available for carrying out different tasks at a fast rate.
  • This laptop has also got a 14.5 hours battery timing. You will never run out of battery even when you are operating high-end applications. This laptop has been backed by the best of Microsoft and it has got a free copy of Windows and Office too.
  • Four tones on tone color combinations make the design more vigorous. Exterior aluminum casing keeps the laptop away from scratches and dust issues.
  • This workstation has got a natural typing experience with an amazing trackpad as well. Its ultra-thin design with a lightweight construction makes it ideal for animation and enhances the portability option.

Why Pro Designers Like It?

Microsoft Surface Laptop is ideal for designers and animators and that’s because of its powerful and updated processor with a large amount of RA. Integrated graphics card are also present for a better display. Lightweight construction with an ultra-thin design makes this laptop a top priority for animators.

Cost and Value

Microsoft Surface is one of the best machines that are used for animation and graphics designing. Though the graphics card it has got is a bit average but still with a fast processor and an ample amount of memory, you will be able to carry about different animation projects on this laptop at the same time.

Pros
  • Ultra-thin design.
  • Lightweight.
  • Perfect for animation.
  • Powerful Core i7 processor.
  • Four color combinations.
  • Aluminum exterior.
  • Fabric-covered keyboard.
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Graphics card is average

3. ASUS ZX53VW

Best Laptop for 3D Animation and Rendering

best-laptop-for-3d-animation graphics

Asus ZX53VW is more of a gaming laptop and is perfectly suited for making animated videos without any worries as well. It's just that, its specs are powerful and you can play different games as well as run heavy animation applications on it easily. The laptop has got a unique gaming design with a backlit keyboard too.

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Key Features

  • The best laptop for animation has got a 15.6″ full HD 1920×1080 display for having a better graphics experience. Moreover, it comes with Windows 10 OS already installed in it.
  • This gaming rig has got a powerful 6th generation core i5 processor which runs at 2.7 GHz. You can also boost it to almost 3.2 GHz. The fast processor plays its role in rendering animation projects at a high rate.
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 4GB graphics card is also present for providing a better graphics experience whenever you are playing games or operating animating work.
  • This laptop has got a lighting fast SSD of 512Gb that helps you in storing large animation projects quickly. Moreover, 8Gb DDR4 memory makes work even faster than ever.
  • Last but not least, this laptop comes with good connectivity options such as HDMI port, USB-C ports, Wi-Fi connection and SD card reader at the same time.

Why Animators Like It?

One of the most amazing reasons to like this laptop is its multipurpose feature. You can use it both as a gaming laptop and the best animation laptop. Fast processor, powerful graphics card, updated RAM, and SSD makes this laptop an ideal choice for animators and gamers.

Cost and Value

ASUS ZX53VW can be used both as a gaming laptop and as an animation laptop. The laptop has got a lot of features and it offers a fast browsing plus animation rendering speed. Better buy it in case you are an animator and a gamer at the same time.

Pros
  • 15.6″ full HD display.
  • Powerful Nvidia graphics.
  • Powerful Core i5 processor.
  • Backlit keyboard.
  • Gaming design.
  • 512 GB fast SSD.
  • 8GB memory.
Cons
  • Bulky.
  • Core i7 is better than core i4

4. Acer Aspire VX 15

Best Laptop for Graphic Design Students

best-computer-for-graphic-design

Another versatile animation laptop on our list is none other than Acer aspire VX 15. This laptop has got a lot to offer to those people who are looking for an ultra-fast and perfect machine for animation purposes. The laptop comes with a solid construction. Its trackpad and keyboard are both backlit with bright red color and it looks gorgeous at the same time.

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Key Features

  • With a powerful 7th generation core i7 processor, animation working becomes easier. this laptop is accompanied with a super fast processor for running different applications at once making the work for animators easy.
  • 6″ full HD display is also present with IPS display for more vigor colorization so that you can enjoy animating different projects for your clients or your company.
  • The laptop has got one of the most updated versions of the graphics card as well. It comes with Nvidia GTX 1050ti having a dedicated GDDR5 VRAM as well which makes a better graphics experience as well.
  • 16GB DDR4 memory makes all operations ultra-fast and quick. With a blink of an eye, you can open heavy applications like Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects.
  • However, SSD is a bit low and only of 256GB but there is a 2.5″ bracket available with a SATA and power cable that allows you to increase the storage of laptop sufficiently.

Why Animators Like It?

For starters, in this price, all these specs are only a dream but Acer has made this dream into reality by introducing the best laptop for animation. With an ultra-fast processor, updated graphics card, a large amount of DDR4 memory and an SSD, animators can work with their projects in no time.

Cost and Value

Acer Aspire VX 15 is all-in-one best laptop for computer animation and is perfectly suited for people who demand a lot of features from a single workstation. The best laptop for animation is perfect for animators, graphics designers, and gamers and is available in a reasonable price range.

Pros
  • Ultra-fast processor
  • Unique Construction
  • Full HD IPS display
  • Perfect for animation/gaming
  • Backlit keyboard
  • DDR4 memory
  • Powerful graphics card
Cons
  • Bulky
  • SSD is less. (Upgrade kit available)

5. Acer Aspire 7

Best Laptop for Animation Students

If you are looking for a perfect animation laptop in a reasonable budget then Acer Aspire 7 would be a perfect choice. The best laptop for animation has got all these features that are required for making quick animation videos and for rendering different projects easily. It has got a stylish design with a solid construction.

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Key Features

  • This laptop comes with the most updated 8th generation core i7 processor for carrying out all heavy animations tasks with ease and convenience. You can also multitask on this laptop as it is made for bearing all type of heavy work.
  • Nvidia GTX 1050ti with a 4GB GDDR5 VRAM graphics card provides a better display experience so that you can make animations without any display problems.
  • On the other hand, this laptop also comes with a 15.6″ full HD display for a better viewing and so that you can speed up your animation work.
  • 8GB DDR4 memory is more than enough to speed up all animation projects running on this laptop. you will never face hanging or lagging issues even after running 3 to 4 applications at the same time.
  • Lastly, all connectivity options are available such as Wi-Fi, and USB 3.1 ports etc. Furthermore, a fingerprint reader is also available for extra protection and backlit keyboard features are present that allows you to work at night easily.

Why Animators Like It?

Acer Aspire 7 is a dream laptop of many animators and graphic designers because it is able to provide multitasking feature with a fast speed. Most of the people like it because it has got updated specs on a very reasonable budget.

Cost and Value

Acer Aspire 7 is a laptop perfectly suited for animators, graphics designers, and gamers. This laptop is available at a very reasonable price range and you should buy it in case you are looking for a short-budget laptop with many specs.

Pros
  • Affordable Price
  • Backlit Keyboard
  • Powerful Processor
  • Nvidia updated graphics card
  • Ideal for animation work
  • Fingerprint reader
  • DDR4 memory
Cons
  • Randomly shuts off after intensive use
  • Heating issues are common

6. Acer Predator Helios 300

Best Cheap Laptop for Animation

best-laptop-for-designers

Acer Predator Helios 300 has been a top-notch laptop for many years and it is still a perfect laptop for animation purposes. The best laptop for animation provides ample specs that are more than enough to render different projects quickly. You can also do multitasking on this laptop as it is specially made for this purpose. The design it has got is unique and gorgeous at the same time.

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Key Features

  • With a powerful 7th generation core i7 processor running at a 2.8GHz rate, you can easily edit different animation projects. The processor of this laptop can also be turbo boosted to about 3.8 GHz which is just ridiculous.
  • Latest Nvidia graphics card, GTX 1060 with a 6Gb of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM is also available for a better graphics experience whenever you are operating different applications.
  • 6″ full HD display with a widescreen option allows you to have a better viewing interface. IPS feature offers a smooth display and red backlit keyboard in this laptop makes it more gorgeous than ever.
  • The best laptop for animation has got a 16GB DDR4 memory which is perfect for speeding up different projects easily. You can also speed up your multitasking projects with the help of a large amount of RAM.
  • The laptop also comes with 256GB SSD. SSD is a bit low but you can increase the storage space as this laptop comes with an HDD upgrade kit. Long battery life makes sure that you can complete your work even when the laptop is not plugged into power.

Why Animators Like It?

Acer Predator Helios 300 is probably one of the most favorite choices for animators because it has got a very reasonable price and offers many updated specs too. Graphics designers and gamers can also take benefit of this laptop as it comes with a powerful graphics card and a lot of memory.

Cost and Value

Acer Predator Helios 300 is a laptop with most updated features. It is available in a very reasonable price range and would be a perfect choice for animators looking for a powerful and ultra-fast laptop with affordable budget.

Pros
  • Affordable price
  • Powerful processor
  • Updated graphics card
  • 16GB memory
  • Perfect for animators
  • 7 hours of battery life
  • IPS display
Cons
  • Heating issues
  • Bulky

7. Apple 15" MacBook Pro

Best Mac for Animation

best-laptop-for-digital-art

Apple MacBook Pro is the last laptop on our list which is regarded as the best computer for animation. This laptop has got some ideal features for animators and graphic designers. The slim and simple design with an ample amount of specs makes it easier for an animator to work on his or her animation projects.

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  • The best laptop for animation has got a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor that runs on 2.9 GHz and can easily be boosted to almost 3.9 GHz easily. The fast processor allows you to carry out different animation projects at once.
  • 16GB DDR3 memory is more than enough for speeding up different projects easily. With a large amount of RAM, you can multitask and can make different animations at once easily.
  • This laptop comes with SSD storage and has got a 512Gb of space. The lightning-fast SSD has got a high rate of reading and writing and allows you to store a lot of projects with no trouble
  • With a Radeon Pro 560 graphics card, you can also enjoy a better display experience without any worries.
  • Last but not least, features like touch bar and touch ID are also present that offers a good protection against different security risks.

Why Do Animators like it?

Apple MacBook Pro is specially made for 2D and 3D animations. It helps a lot in a fast rendering of projects with its fast processor and a large amount of memory. With its sleek and ultra-thin design you can take it anywhere you want in order to complete your projects.

Cost and Value

Apple MacBook Pro is one of the best machines one can buy for animations and for running heavy applications. The price is high but this price range is normal for Apple products. Better buy it if you have got enough budget to spend on the best laptop for animation.

Pros
  • Quad Core Processor.
  • 16GB memory.
  • Ideal for animations.
  • Radeon Pro graphics card.
  • Touch Bar and Touch ID.
  • Sleek Design.
  • Solid construction.
Cons
  • Pricey.
  • Graphics card is average.

Conclusion

We have reviewed some of the best laptops for you from an animation point of view and now it's your time to choose the best of them. If you are still confused, our recommendation will be to go for

So, what are you waiting for? Pick up the laptop you like and start making awesome animation projects with an ease of access.

Good Luck!!

Best Laptop For Animation - Complete Buyer's Guide

I love to write articles about the best laptops. While searching for a product, I came across this amazing website Whatlaptops.com and O, Boy, this is just awesome. This website is like a small encyclopedia for laptops.

Buying a good laptop for animation is always a tiresome work because there are many aspects to consider. Without any prior knowledge about what a good laptop for animation is, one can end up buying an overly priced or a faulty product.

To keep you away from this type of confusion and worrisome situation, we have decided to write down a buyer's guide for animators.

The purpose of this buying guide is to educate people about which kind of laptop will best suit them if they are an animator or a graphic designer.

Without further ado, let's explore the best laptop for animation in an ideal way

Why You Need a Laptop for Animation?

best laptops for animators

The first question that comes to a mind of any person is, Why I need a laptop for animation? Well, there are many reasons for choosing the best laptop for animation. Some of them are as follows :

Portability

Laptops are portable. You can carry them anywhere you want. You can work on them as you want and there is no need of carrying mouse or a separate keyboard with a laptop as it comes with a built-in keyboard and a trackpad.

Therefore a lightweight laptop can do wonders for you easily as you will be able to carry out different operations on it even if you are on a travel.

Battery

Even if there is no electricity to plug in your device, a laptop can assist you in the best possible way. Imagine if you are working on an animation project on a computer and it suddenly shuts off due to power crisis. All of your work will go in vain in just a moment.

What a laptop offers is a backup battery option. Even when there is no electricity, you can carry out your work for a longer period of time on a laptop as it will shift to battery usage.

Laptops these days are equipped with good batteries and they can last up to 7 hours on intense usage.

So, it is a pretty good deal to go for a laptop for animation in case you are doing any type of animation work.

Updated

Most of the laptops are updated to advanced specs already so you don't have to do any modification in them. You just have to buy one and start making animation projects.

The laptops with most advanced specs provide an ultra-fast experience and allow you to wind up your work easily.

Important Factors to Consider before Buying Best Laptop for Animation

Best Laptop for Cartoon Animation graphic design rendering

There are a lot of important factors to consider before rushing for a laptop. We will explain them one by one so that you can have a clear idea about which laptop is perfect for you in case you are an animator or a graphic designer.

Let's take a look at them one by one

Screen Size :

Screen size impacts the work of an animator to a greater extent and it would be better if you opt out for a laptop with a bigger screen size.

Now as we all are aware that laptops didn't come with a big screen and you will usually get a 15.6" display after buying a good laptop.

15.6" display should be a preference for you and you should not go for a laptop with a screen size lower than this standard.

A small screen size will not be able to provide you with a good interface to work on animation projects.

RAM :

The second factor to consider before buying the best laptop for animation should be RAM or random access memory.

RAM plays an important role in multitasking and it keeps the system to run at a higher rate even after you are running a lot of heavy applications on it.

A good laptop must have an 8GB memory. Animation applications require a lot of RAM and we will recommend you to go for 16GB of memory as a laptop with that kind of RAM is perfect for multitasking.

Storage Space :

Storage space is also a necessary factor. If you are looking for a laptop that can render your animations quickly then you should opt out for an SSD rather than HDD.

SSDs are better than HDDs in terms of writing and reading speed but they are also very pricey. An SSD of almost 256GB will do the work for you but in case you want more space, you can buy a spare 1TB HDD for storing extra programs in it.

Processor :

A fast processor is very necessary in a laptop meant for animation purposes. In our recommendations, the best choice will be to go for a core i7 processor. Anything below that will only slow down the rendering of your animation products.

So, it is better to go for a laptop with an ultra-fast processor such as 7th generation core i7 in order to make quick animations and complete the tasks in time.

Battery Life

A good laptop for animation should have a good battery so that you can't run out of power in case you are on travel and you need to do animation.

Weight :

Always opt out for a laptop with less weight as lightweight laptops won't tire you and you can easily make animations with a lightweight laptop.

Graphics Card :

A high-end graphics card can do wonders for you as it will provide a better graphics experience and you must look out for a laptop with almost Nvidia GTX graphics card in it.

The Final Word 

That's it. Remember these important factors in your mind as you are going to buy a laptop and you will end up choosing an ideal match for your animations and graphics work.

 

Good Luck!!

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