Finding the right laptop for all of your creative endeavors can be challenging, especially when you consider how many viable options are out there. Today, we’ll be looking at the most important features to keep in mind when shopping for your next creative laptop.
Processor
The processor is the core of your system. It determines how everything else in your system will work. It handles the speed and general bandwidth of each component as well as the devices you plug into your computer. The more you are doing, the more powerful a processor you need.
There are multiple companies out there that make powerful processors including Intel and AMD. They are both built from different architectures but don’t change much to your user experience. Keep an eye on the processor name and generation. When it comes to running photo editing software, an Intel Core Ultra 7 or an AMD Ryzen 7 would be a great starting point. They offer great flexibility and can easily handle your applications. If you are video editing, 3D rendering, or doing any sort of resource intensive task then I would suggest kicking it up to either an Intel Core Ultra 9 or an AMD Ryzen 9 processor.
Memory
Random Access Memory, or RAM, is incredibly important to your laptop. The more you have, the faster you can render projects and multitask. There are multiple types of RAM and it may be different depending on the unit you are looking for. Memory often comes in DDR4 or DDR5 which denotes the generation of the memory while something like LPDDR5 signifies that the memory is soldered on the board, preventing you from modifying your memory capacity.
No matter which type of memory you have, I would suggest at least 32GB to start with when it comes to photo editing. Video editors and modelers would find that the more memory you have, the better. You could stay with 32GB but the more memory you add, the faster your render time becomes, which is why I often suggest 64GB for these use cases.
Storage
Laptop storage is relatively straightforward. It basically comes down to capacity and interface. You want enough capacity to store all of your creative assets, so anything between 1TB and 2TB should be sufficient. Almost all modern laptops use M.2 storage, which is the interface type. This particular interface enhances the load times of your programs. We have evolved from the days of physical drives in laptops, so as long as it uses M.2 storage, you are good to go!
Graphics
There are two types of graphics systems, integrated and dedicated. Integrated graphics work off the processor and usually has a name like Intel Arc Graphics or AMD Radeon Graphics. When you are doing simple tasks like some lightweight photo editing, integrated graphics systems work just fine. When you start getting into more advanced editing techniques, I suggest getting a laptop with a dedicated graphics card.
Dedicated graphics cards are built into the laptop and feature isolated processors and memory units to handle resource demanding tasks. Currently, most laptops with a dedicated graphics card use NVIDIA graphics. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics family of cards come in multiple tiers with the RTX 5060 or 5070 for lightweight tasks and the RTX 5080 or 5090 series for heavier workloads. NVIDIA also offers the RTX Ada series graphics cards, which offer multiple performance levels and memory profiles similar to the GeForce series but intended more for design workloads. These go from the NVIDIA RTX 1000 Ada all the way up to the RTX 5000.
Display
It is really easy to get carried away when we talk about displays. There is so much jargon out there and it can be easy to get lost in it all. So, to make this even easier, the most important aspect of a display for creatives are resolution and color space. The higher the resolution, the clearer your image will look, and the color space (or gamut) will determine the color accuracy of the image within a specific range. Color space is also determined by the panel, which I will get into briefly.
For editing photos, I suggest a minimum resolution of 1440p (2560 x 1440). You could go full 4K (3840 x 2160), but depending on the size of your display, you might experience diminishing returns. Obviously, 4K would be great for both photo and video editing, but 1440p is just fine.
Color spaces get a little advanced, but if you are a creator, you are more than likely familiar with this concept. There are multiple color spaces—such as sRGB and DCI-P3—which are associated with a percentage rating. So you might see a display that says “98% of the DCI-P3 color space,” meaning that it supports that particular spectrum of colors along with hue, contrast, brightness, and so on. It is important because you want your work to be color accurate to avoid any imperfections.
![HP 16" ZBook Power G11 Mobile Workstation](/explora/sites/default/files/hp_aa8z1ua_aba_16_zbook_power_g11.png "HP 16" ZBook Power G11 Mobile Workstation")
This is also where the panel type comes into play. Most flat panel displays are In-Plane Switching (IPS) displays made to provide great color and fluidity, making it a jack of all trades whether you are photo or video editing. More recently, OLED panels have been gaining popularity, and they tend to offer great color grading, brightness, and fluidity.
Connectivity
Ports are essential to your creative endeavors and can expand the capabilities of your system. Having a few USB-A ports is a good start, but other ports like Thunderbolt 4 and 5 ports would allow you to use various external storage arrays, hubs, and displays. Other nice to have ports include a dedicated HDMI port if you feel like connecting another display or a TV to show off your work.
Form Factor
Last but not least, you should consider the overall form factor of the laptop. The traditional standard of opening up the clamshell to get your screen and keyboard is an old classic that still holds up. But there are a few systems that have adjustable hinges that can fold up to 360 degrees, transforming your traditional laptop into a tablet-like experience—a great feature for creators.
And there you have it, these are the most important features you should consider when it comes to your next creative laptop purchase. If you are looking for some inspiration, we have a wide range of devices worth looking at with multiple price points to fit your creative needs.
