With the dawn of new animation technologies it has become an easier task to design and visualize your ideas. With right kind of software, skills and tools, animation can help you save your time, increase your precision in design and improve your productivity. To achieve this goal without any hurdle you need to have a best laptop for animation.
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| Model | HP ZBook 15u G5 | MSI GS65 Stealth-005 | Gigabyte AERO 15-X9-RT5W | Apple MacBook Pro | ASUS ROG Zephyrus |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR4 | 16 GB DDR4 | 16 GB RAM | 32 GB RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Hard Disk | 512 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD | 1TB SSD | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz Intel Core i7 | 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 | Intel Core i7-8750H (2.2Ghz-4.1GHz) | 2.4GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 | 3.9 GHz Intel Core i7-8750H CPU |
| Display | 1920 x 1080 pixels | 1920 x 1080 pixels | 1920 x 1080 pixels | 2560 x 1600 pixels | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX2080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 |
| Battery Life | 9 hours | 8 hours | 8 hours | 10 hours | 2 hours |
If you are a student with a passion for the animation profession or an individual who want to peruse an animation career then you need a laptop that can help you in drawing and animation with its hardware, features, powerful processor, and astonishing display then you have come to the right place. Previously the desktop computers were considered best for graphic design and animation but with time and thanks to the fast-paced technology, now a small laptop can do this job for you. Now there are 2 in 1 laptops which made the drawing easier than ever before. Here we have categorized the best laptops for animation students in terms of hardware quality, processing speed, graphics quality, product durability, and longer battery life. Let’s start with our product review one by one.
1- HP ZBook 15u
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U Quad-Core
- 15.6″ Full HD LED backlight ultra wide-viewing angle (UWVA)
- Slim Design (1920 x 1080) Display
- 16GB/32GB DDR4 SDRAM Memory | 512GB PCIe SSD
This silver chassis slim looking laptop is made with anodized aluminum. It has passed 14 MIL-STD-820G3 tests and that is enough to prove its capability and reason to put in best laptop for graphic and animation rendering list. With the powerful AMD Radeon Pro WX3100 GPU and multiple variation of RAM ZBook 15u is a beast in this list.
- Item Dimensions L x W x H: 9.9 x 14.6 x 0.7 inches
- Graphics Coprocessor: AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100
- Processor : Intel
- Processor Count: 4
- Average Battery Life (in hours): 10 hourse
2- Gigabyte AERO
- LG FHD 144Hz 1920×1080 IPS Anti-Glare display LCD
- Intel Core i7-8750H (2.2Ghz-4.1GHz)
- 94.24Wh 8hrs Long battery life
- 16GB DDR4 and 1TB Intel 760P SSD
Gigabyte AERO is also one the best laptops for animation and a strong competitor to all other laptops of same category. With Intel Core i7-8750H (2.2Ghz – 4.1GHz) processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphic coprocessor, it gives enhanced processing speed and stunning graphics. Gigabyte AERO is also world’s first and only all-intel-inside laptop. With the collaboration of tech giant Intel, Gigabyte created this high-end laptop that proved to be best laptop in terms of hardware and won European Hardware Award this year. It is indeed perfect candidate in best laptop for 3D animation, modeling and rendering.
Let’s take a look on all the greats specs that makes this laptop one of its kind:
- 15.6″ 3mm Ultra-thin bezel | LG FHD 144Hz 1920×1080 IPS Anti-Glare display LCD
- Intel Core i7-8750H (2.2 Ghz-4.1 GHz)
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR6 8GB
- 16GB DDR4 2666MHz Samsung DRAM module
- M.2 NVMe PCIe 1TB Intel 760P SSD
- Microsoft Azure AI | all Intel inside | Intel Thunderbolt 3 | Intel Wi-Fi AC adapter
- 94.24Wh 8hrs Long battery life
- per-key RGB backlit programmable keyboard
- UHS-II SD card reader
- Killerdoubleshot Pro | Nahimic 3D Audio
- 14 x 9.8 x 0.74 inch | 4.49 Ibis | 1 Year Global warranty
It is a best laptop for animators who want uninterrupted user experience. With the powerful hardware Gigabyte AERO runs all different kinds of animation software seamlessly and also gaming experience on this laptop is absolutely fantastic.
3- Apple MacBook Pro
- 2.4 GHz 8th-Generation quad-core Intel Core i5 Processor
- Brilliant Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
MacBook Pro is definitely the best product by the tech giant Apple. It takes high end performance and processing to a whole new level. With Intel powered processors and graphics coprocessors, signature design of Apple products and great hardware quality, Apple MacBook Pro is the best laptop for professional designing, 3D modeling, rendering and adding special effects. With stunning hardware specs and a reasonable price tag, Apple MacBook Pro is definitely a best laptop for anything you need to become an animation artist.
Some of the main features that Apple MacBook Pro offers are:
- 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz, with 128MB of eDRAM
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
- 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Retina display with IPS technology; 2560 x 1600 native resolution
- Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for: Charging, DisplayPort; Thunderbolt, USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)
- Wi-Fi; 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible; Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Ultrafast SSD of 512 GB
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Latest Apple-designed keyboard
- Force touch trackpad
So if you are a MacBook fan and also looking for a laptop with powerful processor, high-end graphics, stunning desing and eye opening display then this might be the best laptop to help you excel in the field of animation.
4- ASUS ROG Zephyrus
- 15.6” Full HD 144Hz IPS Type Display
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 8GB GDDR5
- 8Th generation Intel Core i7 8750H processor
- 16GB 2666Hz DDR4 | 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus is another monster in this list. It comes with amazing specs for 3D Modeling and rendering. This machines has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Graphics processor which makes a perfect combination along with 16 GB DDR4 RAM to render the animation. To make it more compact in shape, it does not have any optical drive.
Some more features in ASUS ROG Zephyrus are:
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Number of USB 2.0 Ports: 2
- Number of USB 3.0 Ports: 3
- Processor Brand: Intel
- Item Dimensions L x W x H: 14.17 x 10.55 x 0.62 inches
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
5- MSI GS65 Stealth
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX2080 8G Max-Q GDDR6
- Intel Core i7-8750H 2.2 – 4.1GHz
- 15.6″ 144Hz 7ms, 4.9mm 4-sided Razor Thin Bezel Display
- 16GB RAM with 256GB storage
MSI GS65 Stealth is considered to be a powerhouse in terms of its processing speed, graphics technology, memory power and astonishing display. This is considered to be one of the best laptops for gaming and streaming but this is not just for gaming purposes. With the powerful processor (Intel Core i7-8750H 2.2 – 4.1GHz) and cutting edge graphics (NVIDIA GeForce RTX2080), this laptop is also most favorite laptop for animators as it runs all top animation tools smoothly. It is best laptop for all kinds of animation software including Blender and Maya.
All the main features that this laptop has to offer are:
- 15.6″ 144Hz 7ms, 4.9mm 4-sided Razor Thin Bezel Display, FHD, Anti-Glare Wide View Angle, 72%NTSC
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX2080 8G Max-Q GDDR6 w/ New Ray Tracing Technology
- Intel Core i7-8750H 2.2 – 4.1GHz
- 16GB (16G*1) DDR4 2666MHz 2 Sockets; Max Memory 32GB
- 256GB NVMe SSD.Chipset:HM370
- 3 fans, up to 47 fans each, 6 copper heat pipes
- Silky Glass Touch Pad 10+ gestures 35% larger, Thunderbolt 3
- Customizable Per Key RGB Backlit Keyboard
- Killer Gaming Network E2500 + Killer N1550i Combo
- Windows 10 Pro
MSI GS65 Stealth is our top pick for the obvious reasons. Its powerful processor gives its users a unique and uninterrupted experience and its high quality graphics makes things look more realistic. In addition to that, its reasonable battery life and affordable price tag makes it the best laptop for animation tools.
6. Lenovo ThinkPad T480
- Intel Quad-Core i5 8350U
- Intel UHD Graphics 620
- 512GB SSD| 8GB RAM
- 14.0″ FHD (1920 x 1080)
For animation you need a laptop with powerful processor provides high performance with at least 8GB RAM and excellent battery life for your whole day work. You need a powerful efficient processor for animation purpose, it is available with Intel Core i5-8250U processor which provides enough power to your system to run heavy application in a fast and efficient way. It comes with all basic specs which make it perfect laptop for animation. Black chassis with smooth lid it comes in a sleek and lush design. At 18.7×11.9×3.2 inches dimension with 5.6 pounds it is not a slim and lightweight laptop.
A powerful GPU allows you to perform animation work in 3D spaces. It is equipped with NVIDIA MX 150 GPU that is enough to handle your animation work efficiently. In 14 inches screen size it produce good quality display with sharp images and wide viewing angle but it provides dull colour display. It comes with a number of port you need in animation, with thunderbolt 3 allows users to enhance the performance of the laptop. Typing on Lenovo ThinkPad T480 is just amazingly comfortable, it provides comfort in typing for a long period of time, it provides 1.7mm key travel with 72 actuation. Touchpad is smooth and provide quick response for navigation. It offers 17 hours of tremendously great battery life.
Lenovo ThinkPad T480 laptop carries cutting edge specs. It’s prime specs are:
- Lenovo ThinkPad T480
- 14.0″ FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS,AG,250nit
- Quad-Core i5 8350U /1.7GHz
- 512GB Solid State Drive PCIe OPAL2.0 M.2 2280 (16GT/s)
- Battery3 Cell Li-Ion 24Wh
7. HP Envy
- 8th Gen Intel i7-8550U
- NVIDIA GeForce MX150
- 1TB HDD| 16GB RAM
- 17.3″ diagonal 4K IPS
HP comes with a powerful specs to handle all you needs. It is available in 17.3 inches screen with 3840×2160 high resolution. It gives high quality 4k display that produces sharp, bright and accurate colour on screen. It is one of the best laptops for animation in market, it has all the technical specs that make it perfect for animation students. The 17.3 inches screen of this laptop gives everything clear and vibrant best for your animation work. Dedicated graphics provides more power to do anything but for animation dedicated GPU is best for you.
HP offers NVIDIA GeForce MX 150 GPU gives enough power to do you animation work efficiently. It is equipped with 8th Gen Intel Quad Core processor gives enough power to create your animation, with 16GB and 1TB HDD it provide sufficient storage capacity. Typing on the keyboard of the HP Envy is very comfortable with 1.7mm key travel and 78 grams actuation force suitable for your long time typing. It is available in the weight of 6.73 pounds with 11.14×16.38×0.92 dimension. It provides 5.5 hours of battery life which absolutely not excellent and not enough for your full day work.
HP Envy laptop carries cutting edge specs. It’s prime specs are:
- 8th Gen Intel i7-8550U Quad Core Processor
- NVIDIA GeForce MX150 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
- 17.3″ diagonal 4K IPS WLED-backlit (3840 x 2160) non-touch Display
- 16GB DDR4 Memory, 1TB HDD (Hard Drive)
- 802.11b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 combo
- 1 USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1; 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1; 1 HDMI; 1 RJ-45
- 1 headphone/microphone combo
- 3-cell, 55.8 Wh Battery
8. Lenovo IdeaPad 530S
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
- AMD Radeon Vega 8
- 256GB SSD| 8GB RAM
- 14″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS LCD
If you are looking for a laptop with great processor, efficient battery life and display screen with Anti-glare at an affordable price for your animation work then you should stop here. Lenovo comes with all the basic features which make it a good performance laptop for animation and you can get it at an average price. It comes in 14 inches screen size with 1920×1080 IPS screen resolution which provides you perfect view from any angle.
Display of the Lenovo Ideapad 530S is good but not impressive. It is a laptop with Ryzen 5 2500H processor is best for you daily tasks. It is equipped with 8GB DDR4 and 256GB PCIe SSD, SSD provides you fast and light storage system enough to create your animation. A laptop should have at least 8GB RAM for animation purpose, don’t settle for less than 8GB RAM. You need a laptop with powerful operating system if you buy a laptop for animation purpose, ideapad 530S comes with window 10 operating system which provides gives enough power for you daily animation tasks. It comes in 8 hours of battery life which is not quite excellent but it is enough for you full day work.
Lenovo IdeaPad 530S laptop carries cutting edge specs. It’s prime specs are:
- AMD 2nd Generation Quad-Core Ryzen 5-2500U 2.0GHz
- AMD Radeon Vega 8
- 14″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS LCD with LED Backlight (Anti-glare)
- HD Webcam, Backlit Keyboard.
- 8GB DDR4-2400MHz SDRAM; Hard Drive: 256GB PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive.
- USB Type-C 3.1, USB 3.0, HDMI, and a 4-in-1 card reader
- 802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.1.
9. Lenovo Flex 14
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
- AMD Radeon Vega 8
- 256GB SSD| 12GB RAM
- 14 Inch FHD Touchscreen Display
Lenovo Flex 14 is one of the best laptops with touch screen display at an affordable price. It is available in 14 inches touch screen with 1080p screen size provide good display quality. IPS technology gives wide viewing angle with sharp and vibrant display screen. Touch of Flex 14 gives quick response with its active pen it provides 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity It comes in great build quality with 3.5 pounds weight and 12.9×9.02×0.7 dimension relatively slim and light laptop, you can easily handle it.
It is one of the best convertible slim and light laptops available at this price for animation work. It’s 360 degree hinge allows user to flip its screen at any angle which provides comfort. It comes in a black color with plastic body looks simple and nice. It is available with many ports but no thunderbolt 3 which means that you can not upgrade its RAM and memory and won’t be able to connect a wide variety of external devices. Its AMD Ryzen 5 3500U giver powerful performance to create your animation, AMD Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics is excellent for gaming but for animation you need a laptop with dedicated graphics. It’s keyboard and touchpad gives excellent user experience.
Lenovo Flex 14 laptop carries cutting edge specs. It’s prime specs are:
- 1920 x 1080 Full HD touch screen Display
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500U mobile Processor
- AMD Radeon Vega 8
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
10. Lenovo Legion Y530
- 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
- 1TB HDD| 16GB RAM
- 15.6″ FhD Display
Lenovo comes with an excellent combination of high performance with great looks. It comes with high performance powerful 4.6 GHz Intel Core i7 allows user for multitasking, runs heavy application efficiently and excellent performance for animation. It’s dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics gives enough power to create your fantastic animation also best for gaming purpose. It is equipped with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD 7200rpm that is sufficient for your daily tasks, to store large amount of professional and personal data and good enough to create animation.
Audio quality of Lenovo Legion Y530 is good, it gives clear and loud sound. It available with number of ports that you need. Battery life of Legio Y530 is not so good, it just provide 5 hours of battery life, which is not enough for your full day work. Keyboard and touchpad of Lenovo gives good user experience, it is very comfortable to typing on a keyboard for a long time, it gives 2mm key travel with acceptable 63 gram actuation. It is a best laptop for animation with overall high performance.
Lenovo Legion Y530 laptop carries cutting edge specs. It’s prime specs are:
- 15.6″ FhD Display
- 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H
- 16GB RAM 16GB Optane 1TB HDD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB
- Speakers with Dolby Audio
- WiFi 2×2 AC + Bluetooth 4.2
Guide to Buy The Best Laptop for Computer (2D, 3D) Animation
Lot of software are available to perform 2D and 3D work and as the sequence shows, 3D Animation requires more advance computer than the one can be used for 2D rendering. Famous 2D animation programs are After Effects, Photoshop, Pencil2D and Moho. These software can be used on a laptop with 8GB RAM and any modern CPU processor. Where as, 3D animation needs more complex and advance processor based systems. Here are few main 3D animation software which are being used in the animators world.
- AutoDesk Maya
- 3D Max
- Blender
- Cinema 4D
Main Hardware Components in Animation Laptops
Selecting a laptop for animation, video editing or rendering requires lot of research before deciding the one, else you would end up buying a laptop which might look fancy outside but the hardware components are not the one you need. These four major components must be discussed before buying a laptop for animation work.
Recommended CPU in Laptops for Animation
The most important factor in any laptop is its CPU or the processor it has. And if are you interested in more details about how to chose the best CPU here, few important elements are cache size, clock speed and the number of cores a CPU has. Another important factor to note is the multi core systems plays an important factor in rendering the 3D animation.
Recommended RAM for Animation Laptops
RAM is another important element while buying the best animation laptop. As described above the importance of , a 2D animation work can be done on a laptop with 4GB RAM and any Core i5 based CPU. However for 3D rendering, minimum requirements should be 8GB and QuadCore AMD processor with GTX 680 or 690. The ideal RAM for a animation rendering laptop should be not less than 16 GB. The above laptops are the best laptop for animation and graphic design related work.
Graphic Card for Best Animation Laptops
As name shows, graphic card shows the color, textures and display on the screen attached to the laptop. The above list of laptops are equiped with latest and high performance enabled graphic card such as NVIDIA GTX 1070 or NVIDIA GeForce RTX2080.
Storage Devices and Capacity
Hard drives stores all the data, files, applications and operation system on a laptop. It is something which will be having more and more data each day. The average minimum hard drive available in a laptop now a days is 256 GB. However the more bigger space you can get is more good for you. There are two types of storage medium Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid State Drives (SSDs) which is more recent. Most of the laptop comes with SSD types of storage drive.
Final Words
Every laptop in this list has its own set of features and performance achievements. Hope you find it more easier to get an idea about which of laptop you find more suitable as per your requirements and budget. Please let us know which laptop you like most.
