Best budget laptops for Photoshop and graphic design : 2020 Buyers’ Guide!

Photoshop is the industry standard when it comes to photo editing and graphic design, and for good reasons. If you are a professional photographer, graphic designer, or a digital arts student and looking for an affordable budget laptop for Photoshop, you are in the right place!

Photoshop is a resource hungry program, especially in terms of ram and processor and when it comes to budget laptops, these are some of the main components that usually make up the price of any laptop. In this guide we will try to answer some of the questions about the specs that a laptop must have in order to properly run Photoshop (or any similar graphic design program), and we have also compiled a list of some of the best budget laptops for Photoshop you can find in 2020.

What  important Specs to check for in a design laptop?

Before we proceed, let’s take a look at what Adobe says about Photoshop’s system requirements for windows: For running Photoshop CC , Adobe recommends at least an Intel® Core 2 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor; 2 GHz or faster, 2 GB of RAM (8 GB ideally), free disk space, 1024 x 768 display (1280×800 recommended), and 512 MB of dedicated VRAM.

We will look to each component individually to see why it should be your primary focus, and also why you shouldn’t really spend money on other components.

Processor speed: It’s the engine of your laptop and undeniably the most important component. For Photoshop or any other similar design program, consider at least a laptop with an Intel Core i3, and the faster processor you can get the better. For basic use, such as browsing or typing text, you don’t need a super powerful processor, in fact for typing and browsing even a cheap chromebook can be sufficient. However, once things get more demanding, such as applying an effect to an image, you’ll need a more capable processor.

RAM:  Photoshop is pretty demanding when it comes to RAM. In general, you should always get as much memory as you can afford in a laptop, since more RAM is one of the simplest ways to improve overall performance, and in particular your Photoshop experience.  It is not uncommon that Photoshop eats up upwards of 2-3GB RAM while it is running, and that’s why you should choose a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM or more. If you are going to regularly process large files (over 500MB) and/or work on complex documents with multiple layers and effects, consider a system with even more than 8GB RAM. In most laptops, RAM is upgradable, and you can add more memory to your system if needed. However, more and more models come with RAM soldered to the motherboard, or with no free RAM slots. So choose wisely!

Storage type/ Capacity: Your drive provides access to the operating system and installed programs, it’s where your image files and documents will be stored, and for programs like Photoshop it gives extra memory resources (called virtual memory or scratch disks) when is installed RAM is not sufficient. So getting the fastest hard drive you can get is very important. A solid state drive provides the fastest speed, but they are very expensive. Traditional mechanical hard drives offer more space and are more affordable, but they are considerably slower than SSDs. You can read our article to know more about the advantages of SSDs.

So if you need a large storage capacity and/or you have a limited budget, go for a traditional hard drive, you can always upgrade the hard drive for an SSD later. However, if you need a more responsive system and if you need to open documents instantly choose a laptop with SSD.

Display: Your laptop’s display is very important, it’s where you will actually “see” the project you are working on, and preview all the changes that you make.  For photo editing, it is recommended that you go at least with a 14 inch laptop, because unless connected to an external screen, using Photoshop on a small display is just not going a good experience. Screen resolution is also another factor you should take in consideration, and it’s recommended that you buy a laptop with A Full HD screen at least.  More and more laptops today come come with IPS panels- In-Plane Switching – which provides a better user experience because of their wider viewing angles and superior color accuracy.  For most users, any laptop with a decent IPS panel will be just fine for Photoshop, however, not all IPS displays are equal, and some of them can produce more colors than others, which can be critical for professionals.

In order to have an idea how each laptop performs when it comes to color reproduction, we usually indicate a percentage of the sRGB color space. A color space, or color gamut is a subset of the entire visible light spectrum (because being able to reproduce the entire visible spectrum is impossible at this time). The sRGB, or standard Red Green Blue gamut is an RGB color space which is the standard used on all PCs and the Internet. But there are wider  gamuts used in the PC industry, such as the Adobe RGB gamut, developed by Adobe in 1998, and the P3 color space.

For example, a display that’s capable of 100% Adobe RGB is considered a high end display, and is suitable for professional users.

Do you need a dedicated graphics card to run Photoshop?

A lot of users wonder if they can run Photoshop on a budget laptop and if Photoshop requires a dedicated graphics card, so here is the answer to that question. While Photoshop does utilize the graphics card to improve performance and 3D enhancements, it should be noted that most of the time the onboard card is more than enough and can handle Photoshop just fine. So unless you’re editing videos or doing advanced photo editing with Photoshop, don’t make it a priority to get a laptop with dedicated graphics.

Over the last few years Adobe has been working more and more to support GPU acceleration in Photoshop. However, only a small number of effects can utilize the video card currently. So, if you’re someone who is using Photoshop fairly casually, or if you’re on a budget (since adding a dedicated graphics card will add up to the price of the laptop), then you should be ok with a built-in graphics card. A dedicated graphics card is necessary, if you’re a professional, if you want better performance: Some features in Photoshop require a dedicated graphics, such as Perspective Warp, 3D, Birds Eye View, Smooth Brush Resizing.. and others require a GPU for acceleration, such as Lens Blur, Artboards, Camera Raw…etc

So, now that you have an idea what to look for when buying a new laptop for Photoshop and lightroom; let’s check some of the best budget laptops for photoshop we selected for you! All of them are priced around $700, and we’ll be updating this list on a continuous basis, so if you have a laptop that you think we should add to the list, talk to us in the comments 🙂

Best budget laptops for Photoshop and graphic design

Now that you have general idea about Photoshop’s system requirements and the important factors that you should take into account when looking for a budget laptop for Photoshop, let’s take a look at our list of some of the best affordable laptops you can use for graphic design. Most laptops in this list are priced around $700 or less.

• Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-59W2

The new Acer Aspire 5 comes with quite a few improvements over the previous generation; it’s packed with a 10th gen Intel Core -i5-10210U Processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe SSD. It’s a great backlit keyboard laptop for everyday use, for school, and of course for it’s a great budget laptop for Photoshop and Lightroom thanks to its 15,6 inch Full HD IPS display.

The Aspire 5 also comes with a good amount of ports and the chassis is considerably thinner than the E15. The Aspire 5 definitely feels more premium despite its lower price. Battery life is also great, and you can easily get 8 hours of use from a single charge.

Processor	Intel i5-10210U Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB, PCIe SSD
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD 620
Screen	15,6 inch, 1920X1080
Connectivity and Ports	1- USB Type C 2 – USB 3.0 port 1- USB 2.0 port 1 – HDMI port, Card reader, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard
Battery	up to 9,5 hours battery life

Powered by a 10th-Gen Intel Core i5 Processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB NVMe solid state drive, the MSI Modern 14 A10M-460 is a powerful business laptop with a premium feel. The included dual core i5-10210U processor (clocked at 2.5 GHz) is not only power efficient, but also delivers more than enough computing power for routine use and even demanding applications or multitasking.

The MSI Modern 14 A10M-460 also comes with a 512GB NVMe solid state drive, which means a more responsive system and an almost instant access to your files and applications, which is particularly helpful if you will be using this laptop for Photoshop. You can also upgrade the RAM memory up to 32GB if necessary.

The MSI Modern 14 A10M-460 also sports a gorgeous 14 inch FUll HD matte display, hich offers almost 100% sRGB coverage. In addition to that, the build quality is superior to many similarly priced laptops, and I/O options are also good.

Processor	Intel Core i5-10210U Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	256 SSD
Graphics	Integrated, Intel Iris Graphics 6100,
Screen	14 inch, 1920X1080
Connectivity and Ports	2 – USB Type C port 2 – USB 3.0 Ports 1 – HDMI Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	up to 8 hours battery life

With its attractive slim and compact design, the Acer Swift 5 SF515 is a lightweight 15,6 inch laptop if you’re looking for a laptop to edit psd files on the go. For a price tag about 700$, you’ll get a 8th generation i5-8265U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB Solid State drive. This is a pretty standard configuration at this price range, but what makes the Acer Swift 5 a good laptop for photo processing and graphic design is its beautiful 15,6 inch IPS screen, and its build quality and premium design.

The Acer Swift 5 SF515 comes in an all aluminum chassis, and definitely looks and feels more expensive than it actually is. The 15,6 inch matte screen offers great color accuracy for Photoshop, and can produce  almost 98% of the sRGB reference. Battery life can go up to 12 hours, according to Acer.

Processor	Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB, SSD
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Screen	15,6 inch, 1920X1080, IPS
Connectivity and Ports	1 – USB Type C 2 – USB 3.0 ports 1 – HDMI port Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	up to 12 hours battery life

• Acer Spin 3 SP314-53N-53SH

The Acer Spin 3 SP314-53N-53SH is a good choice if you’re looking for an affordable 2 in 1 laptop for drawing in Photoshop, thanks to its active stylus and vibrant display. The Acer Spin 3 comes with Intel’s 8th generation core i5-8265U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD.

According to Guru Verdict, the Acer Spin 3 is a great laptop for everyday use, photo editing, and is also it’s a perfect choice if you’re on the hunt for a an affordable laptop for notetaking, since it’s also a 2 in 1 laptop.

The 14-inch screen has a native resolution of 1920X1080 pixels, it’s an IPS display, and viewing angles are excellent. In terms of color accuracy, the Spin 3 can produce about 80% of the sRGB color gamut. Which is very respectable at this price range, since laptops with 100 per cent AdobeRGB, will usually cost you more double its price. The display is also touch capable and comes with an included active pen.

Processor	Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB, SSD
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Screen	14 inch, 1920X1080, IPS
Connectivity and Ports	1 – USB 3.1  port 1 – USB 3.0 ports 1 – HDMI port Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	up to 12 hours battery life

• • • Asus Vivobook S15 S532FA-DH55

Thanks to its slim design and smooth performance, the Asus Vivobook S15 S532FA-DH55 offers great value for money. The Vivobook S15 comes with an 8th generation  Intel core i5-10210U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a fast 512GB solid state drive. This laptop is perfectly capable of running Photo editing softwae such as Photoshop, Gimp, or Inkscape.

The Vivobook S15 also sports a Full HD IPS screen that produces sharp and color accurate images. It is not the brightest display out there on the other hand.

If you’re a student or simply  looking for a versatile laptop that you can use for photo editing, then the Asus Vivobook S15  is a very good option.

Processor	Intel Core i5-10210U Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	512GB, SSD
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Screen	15,6 inch, 1920X1080, IPS
Connectivity and Ports	1 – USB 3.1 Type C 1 – USB 3.1 2- USB 2.0 port 1 – HDMI port Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	up to 8 hours battery life

The Dell Inspiron 17 3780 is an affordable 17 inch laptop that offers  great value for the money, especially if you’re looking for a desktop replacement, and don’t care too much about the size or the looks. This laptop comes with a Quad-Core i5-8265U Processor, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB PCIe SSD and a 1TB HDD, and a dedicated AMD Radeon 520 graphics card. This laptop is great for editing in photoshop, or for casual video editing. And although the Radeon 520 is not the best graphics chip out there, it’s still a great value and should offer a performance similar to an MX 150.

But what makes the Inspiron 17 3780 a good laptop for Photoshop is its IPS display: first of all, it’s a huge 17 inch full hd matte display, which offers an extra workspace. In terms of color accuracy, it’s capable of displaying 88% of the sRGB colro gamut, which is quite good at this price. Although, this laptop suffers from noticeable backlight bleeding, and the bezels are a little too big… these are no deal breakers.

Processor	Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	128GB, PCIe SSD +1TB HDD
Graphics	Dedicated, AMD Radeon 520
Screen	17,3 inch, 1920X1080, IPS
Connectivity and Ports	-2x USB 3.1 – 1 USB 2.0 -1x HDMI, Ethernet -1x SD card reader, DVD/RW
Battery	up to 6 hours battery life

With its stunning Full HD display, 8th generation Intel processor, and fast 256GB PCIe Solid state drive, the Lenovo Yoga 730 is a very convincing 2 in 1 laptop, but there are actually three main reasons why we recommend this laptop for Photoshop users: it’s relatively affordable, comes with a thunderbolt 3 port, and most of all a 15 inch IPS display.In terms of colors, the Yoga 730 can produce approximately 84 percent of the sRGB color space, which is more than enough for most users.

Also, if you like to draw in photoshop or take notes, you can also purchase an active pen, as it’s not included with the laptop. While the Yoga has a 360 degree hinge, using it in tablet mode is not very comfortable, being a 15 inch notebook, and relatively heavy at 4.4 lbs.

Processor	Intel Core i5-8250U Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB, SSD
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Screen	15,6 inch, 1920X1080, IPS
Connectivity and Ports	1 – USB 3.1 (Type C) port // thunderbolt 3 2 – USB 3.0 ports 1 – HDMI port Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	up to 9 hours battery life

Packing a 8th gen Quad-Core i5-8300H processor, the Dell G3579-5965BLK-PUS is a solid mid range gaming laptop that combines an impressive feature set and a budget friendly price. What makes the Dell G3579 a good laptop for Photoshop and graphic design is its incredible performance, thanks to a quad core processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, 256GB Solid state druve and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1050 graphics card, the Dell G3579 is not only capable of running demanding titles at medium settings but can also tackle other intensive tasks, such as video editing. The Dell G3579 is also a great choice if you’re a student and need a budget laptop for AutoCAD.

While it’s not the brightest screen out there, the Dell G3579 has a stunning Full HD 15,6 inch IPS display, which provides decent color accuracy, good contrast, and good viewing angles.

Processor	Intel Core i5-8300H Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB, SSD
Graphics	Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce 1050 with 4GB of VRAM
Screen	15,6 inch, 1920X1080
Connectivity and Ports	2 – USB 3.1 ports 1 – USB 2.0 port 1 – HDMI port, Ethernet Card reader, Bluetooth 4.2
Battery	up to 6 hours battery life

• • • Asus VivoBook 15 F512DA-EB51

The Asus VivoBook 15 F512DA-EB51 is a budget-friendly business laptop with a professional sleek design. Powered by an AMD Quad Core R5-3500U  processor  and 8GB of RAM (upgradable up to 16GB), there is enough power to run all your resource hungry applications without lag. It also comes with a fast 256GB PCIe solid State drive.

The 15.6-inch display is awesome and offers good color accuracy for photo editing work. The screen is also scratch resistant and has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

As for the connectivity, the Asus VivoBook 15 F512DA-EB51 has plenty, including 4 USB ports and  HDMI port. Battery life is good, Asus claims up to 9 hours of use, but expect about 6-7 hours in real-life use.

Processor	AMD Quad Core R5-3500U Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB, SSD
Graphics	Dedicated, AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics,
Screen	15,6 inch, 1920X1080
Connectivity and Ports	1 – USB 3.1 Type C port 2 – USB 3.1 Ports 1- USB 2.0 port 1- HDMI Port Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1, Fingerprint Scanner
Battery	up to 9 hours battery life

The Lenovo Ideapad S340 is a stylish multimedia oriented laptop that doesn’t disappoint. Powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 clocked at 1.3 GHz, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256GB Solid State drive. As you can see from the specs, this laptop is clearly designed with professionals in mind, and it can also handle graphic design software such as Photoshop just fine, thanks to the powerful CPU, and the included Intel Iris Graphics.

The 15,6 inch IPS display has a resolution of 1920X1080 and provides good color accuracy and viewing angles for its price. The included battery, on the other hand, has a capacity of 52WHr only, battery life is quite average, at 8 hours max.

Processor	Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB, SSD
Graphics	Integrated, Intel Iris Plus G7 Graphics
Screen	15,6 inch, 1920X1080
Connectivity and Ports	1 – USB 3.1 port Type C 2- USB 3.1 port 1 – HDMI port, Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1,
Battery	up to 8.5 hours battery life

Best premium laptops for Photoshop and Photo Editing: Honorable mentions!

While this list consists mostly of budget and mid range laptops, we think it makes sense to include some of the high end laptops too, such as the macbook pro, which is very popular among designers and content creators in general. So, here are three premium laptops for Photoshop:

For Photoshop, both PC and Macs can be very powerful and highly capable, with each having its own list of advantages and drawbacks. If you want to upgrade to a mac, and if money is no object, check out the new Macbook Pro, with its upgraded 16 inch retina display.

In terms of specs, the new Macbook 16 comes with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, and a dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 5300M Graphics card. Not only you will be able to run Photoshop smoothly, but you can also use this laptop for other tasks, such as video editing. The Macbook pro comes with a bright and well calibrated 16 inch display, with a resolution of 3072 by 1920, and although the number of pixels per inch is lower than the 15 inch model, the color accuracy is very good, at 100% sRGB and 88% Adobe RGB.

In terms of ports, the Macbook Pro 16 comes with 4 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, which should be more than enough to connect to your other devices. Battery life is also good, and can reach up to 11 Hours.

Processor	Intel Core i7-9750H Processor
RAM	16GB
Storage	512GB, SSD
Graphics	Dedicated, AMD Radeon Pro 5300M
Screen	16 inch, 3072 x 1920, IPS
Connectivity and Ports	4 – Thunderbolt // USB 3.1 port Type C
Battery	up to 11 hours battery life

• Dell XPS 15 7590-7565SLV-PUS

The Dell XPS 15 is another great premium laptop for Photoshop, thanks to its powerful specs, and its excellent display. This laptop comes with a 9th gen Intel i7-9750H processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a dedicated NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 graphics chip.

The XPS 15 also comes with a 4K display, which offers accurate colors for professional image and video-editing. The display is also very bright, and you can use the laptop outdoors too. It’s also a great buy, if you’e looking for an easy to carry laptop: it’s so thin and light despite the 15 inch display.

Processor	Intel Core i7-9750H Processor
RAM	16GB
Storage	1TB, SSD
Graphics	Dedicated, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Screen	15,6 inch, 3840 x 2160, IPS
Connectivity and Ports	1 – USB 3.1 port Type C / Thunderbolt 3 2- USB 3.1 ports 1- HDMI port
Battery	up to 9 hours battery life

• Gigabyte AERO 15 Classic-SA-U73ADW

Gigabyte makes some of the best gaming and high end laptops, and the AERO 15 Classic-SA-U73ADW is no exception. This laptop comes with a 9th Gen i7-9750H Processor, 16Gb of RAL, a 256GB SSD, and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti. In terms of performance, the Aero 15 can run Photoshop with no hiccups, and you can even perform advanced effects and tasks.

However, the main reason why the Aero 15 is one of the best laptops for Photoshop is its display. Not only it comes with a 4K display, but it’s also a high end display, and it’s one of the few laptops that can produce 100% of the Adobe RGB color gamut, which can be critical if you’re a professional. this laptop is also Pantone Certified for color calibration.

Photoshop is an industry standard in image editing and graphic design, and for good reason. Are you a professional photographer, graphic designer or digital art student looking for an affordable laptop for Photoshop, then you have come to the right place!

Photoshop is a source for a hungry program, especially when it comes to RAM and CPU, and when it comes to a laptop budget, these are some of the basic principles that usually make up the price of a laptop. In this manual we try to answer some questions about the specifications a laptop needs to have in order to work properly with Photoshop (or another similar graphic design program). We’ve also compiled a list of the best low-budget Photoshop laptops for 2020.

What are the important specifications I can check when designing my laptop?

Before we go any further, let’s see what Adobe has to say about the Photoshop requirements for Windows : For Photoshop CC, Adobe recommends at least an Intel® Core 2 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor; 2 GHz or faster, 2 GB RAM (ideally 8 GB), free hard disk space, a 1024 x 768 display (1280×800 recommended) and 512 MB dedicated RAM.

We will look at each item individually to understand why it should be the focus of your attention and also why you shouldn’t spend money on other items.

Processor speed : It is the engine of your laptop and without doubt the most important part. For Photoshop or a similar design program, we will consider at least one laptop with Intel Core i3, and the faster the processor, the better. For basic tasks, such as surfing or typing, you don’t need a powerful processor. In fact, even a cheap chrome book is enough to type and surf. But when things get more demanding, like applying an effect to an image, you need a more powerful processor.

RAM:  Photoshop needs a lot of RAM. In general, you should always have as much RAM as you can afford in a laptop, because more RAM is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall performance and especially your work in Photoshop.  Often the use of Photoshop consumes up to 2 or 3 GB of RAM. So you need to choose a laptop of at least 8 GB or more. If you regularly process large files (more than 500 MB) and/or want to work on complex documents with multiple layers and effects, you should consider a system with even more than 8 GB RAM. In most laptops, the memory is updated and you can add more memory to the system if necessary. However, more and more models come with RAM soldered to the motherboard or without free RAM slots. So choose wisely!

Type of storage / capacity : The drive provides access to the operating system and installed programs, where image files and documents are stored, and for programs such as Photoshop, it provides additional memory resources (called virtual memory or scratch discs) when the installed RAM is insufficient. It is therefore very important to get a hard drive as fast as possible. SSDs offer the highest speed, but are very expensive. Traditional mechanical hard drives take up more space and are more affordable, but much slower than SSDs. You can read our article to learn more about the benefits of DSS.

If you need large amounts of storage space and/or your budget is limited, you should opt for a traditional hard drive and you can always upgrade to an additional hard drive at a later date. However, if you need a more responsive system and need to open documents immediately, choose a laptop with an SSD drive.

Display : The display of your laptop is very important. Here you can view the project you are working on and see all the changes you are making.  It is recommended to use at least a 14-inch laptop for photo editing, because if you don’t connect it to the external monitor, using Photoshop on the small screen is simply not practical. Screen resolution is another factor to consider and it is recommended that you purchase a notebook with at least a Full HD screen.  A growing number of notebooks are now equipped with in-plane switch panels (IPS) that offer a better user experience due to their wider viewing angle and superior color accuracy.  For most users, any laptop with a reasonable IPS panel will work with Photoshop, but not all IPS displays are the same and some produce more color than others, which can be crucial for professionals.

To get an idea of how each laptop works in terms of color rendering, we generally give a percentage of the sRGB color space. The color space, or color gamut, is a subset of the entire visible light spectrum (because it is currently impossible to reproduce the entire visible spectrum). sRGB, or red-green-blue standard, is an RGB color space used as a standard on all computers and on the Internet. However, there are also wider areas used in the computer industry, such as the RGB area developed by Adobe in 1998 and the P3 colour space.

For example, a display that can display 100% Adobe RGB is considered a high-end display and is suitable for professional users.

Do you need a special graphics card to run Photoshop?

Many users wonder if they can run Photoshop on a cheap laptop, and if Photoshop needs a special graphics card, here’s the answer. Although Photoshop does use the graphics card for performance and 3D enhancement, it should be noted that in most cases a built-in card is more than sufficient and Photoshop can handle it well. So, if you don’t edit video or do advanced photo editing in Photoshop, you don’t have to make it a priority to get a notepad with highlighted images.

In recent years Adobe has been working more and more on supporting GPU acceleration in Photoshop. Currently, however, only a small number of effects can use a graphics card. If you happen to use Photoshop or if your budget is limited (because adding a special graphics card increases the price of the laptop), you should be able to manage with the built-in graphics card. A special graphics card is essential if you are a professional, if you want better performance: Some Photoshop features require special images, such as B. Perspective distortion, 3D, bird’s eye view, brush resizing, and others require a GPU for acceleration, such as Lens Blur, Artboards, Camera Raw. …etc.

Now that you have an idea of what to look out for when buying a new Photoshop laptop and a bright room, let’s take a look at some of the best budget friendly Photoshop laptops we’ve selected for you! They all cost about $700, and we’ll update this list regularly. So if you have a laptop that you think we should add to the list, please discuss it with us in the comments.

Best budget books for Photoshop and Graphic Design

Now that you have an overview of the Photoshop system requirements and important factors to consider when looking for an affordable Photoshop laptop, let’s take a look at our list of some of the best affordable laptops you can use for graphic design. Most laptops on this list cost about $700 or less.

• Acer suction 5 A515-54-59W2

The new Acer Aspire 5 features many improvements over the previous generation and is equipped with an Intel Core 10 processor. Generation -i5-10210U, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB PCIe SSD. It’s an excellent backlit notebook for everyday use, for school, and of course an affordable notebook for Photoshop and bright spaces thanks to its 15.6 full HD IPS display.

The Aspire 5 also has quite a few ports and the chassis is considerably thinner than the E15. The Aspire 5 is of superior quality despite its lower price. Battery life is also long, and you can easily work 8 hours on a single charge.

Editor in Chief	Intel i5-10210U Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB, PCIe SSD
Graph	Integrated, Intel UHD 620
Screen	15.6 inches, 1920X1080.
Communications & Ports	1- USB type C 2 – USB 3.0 port 1- USB 2.0 port 1 – HDMI connection, Card reader, Bluetooth, backlit keyboard.
Battery	Battery life up to 9.5 hours

Equipped with an Intel Core i5 10-Gen processor, 8GB RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD, the MSI Modern 14 A10M-460 is a powerful, high-end business notebook. The included i5-10210U dual-core processor (2.5 GHz) is not only energy efficient, it also offers more than enough computing power for everyday use and even for complex or multitasking applications.

The MSI Modern 14 A10M-460 is also equipped with a 512GB NVMe SSD, which means the system responds faster and has virtually instant access to your files and applications, which is especially useful when using this notebook for Photoshop. If necessary, you can also increase the amount of RAM to 32 GB.

The MSI Modern 14 A10M-460 is also equipped with a beautiful 14-inch FUll HD mat display that provides almost 100% sRGB coverage. In addition, the build quality is superior to many similarly priced laptops and the input and output options are also good.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i5-10210U Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 SOLID STATE DRIVES
Graph	Built-in, Intel Iris Graphic 6100,
Screen	14 inches, 1920X1080.
Communications & Ports	2 – USB type C connector 2 – USB 3.0 Ports 1 – HDMI Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	Up to 8 hours battery life

With its attractive, slim and compact design, the Acer Swift 5 SF515 is a lightweight 15.6 laptop if you’re looking for a notebook for editing PSD files on the go. For about $700 you get an 8th generation i5-8265U processor. 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD. The Acer Swift 5 is a standard configuration in this price range, but what makes the Acer Swift 5 a good notebook for photo editing and graphic design is its beautiful 15.6 IPS display, as well as its first-class workmanship and design.

The Acer Swift 5 SF515 comes in an all-aluminum body and certainly looks and feels more expensive than it actually is. The 15.6-inch matte display offers high color accuracy for Photoshop and can generate links with almost 98% sRGB. According to Aser, battery life can last up to 12 hours.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB, SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE
Graph	Integrated, Intel UHD 620 graphics
Screen	15.6 inches, 1920X1080, IPS
Communications & Ports	1 – USB type C 2 – USB 3.0 Ports 1 – HDMI connection Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	Battery life up to 12 hours

• Acer-Spin 3 SP314-53N-53SH

Acer Spin 3 SP314-53N-53SH is a good choice if you are looking for an affordable 2-in-1 laptop to paint in Photoshop, thanks to its active pen and bright display. Acer Spin 3 is the 8th generation with an Intel i5-8265U processor. 8GB RAM and 256GB NVMe SSD PCIe.

According to Guru’s judgment, Acer Spin 3 is an excellent laptop for everyday use, photo editing and is also an ideal choice if you are looking for an affordable laptop, as it is also a 2-in-1 laptop.

The 14-inch screen has its own resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, is an IPS display and has excellent viewing angles. In terms of color accuracy, Spin 3 can produce about 80% of the sRGB color space. This is very respectable in this price range, as laptops with 100% AdobeRGB generally cost twice as much. The screen is also a touch screen and comes with the active pen.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB, SOLID-STATE DRIVE
Graph	Integrated, Intel UHD 620 graphics
Screen	14 inches, 1920X1080, IPS
Communications & Ports	1 – USB 3.1 connection 1 – USB 3.0 ports 1 – HDMI connection Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	Battery life up to 12 hours

• • • Asus Vivobook S15 S532FA-DH55

The Vivobook S15 S532FA-DH55 by Asus offers excellent value for money thanks to its slim design and smooth operation. The Vivobook S15 is the 8th generation of the Vivobook S15 with an Intel i5-10210U processor. 8 GB RAM and a fast 512 GB SSD. This notebook is perfect for working with image editing programs such as Photoshop, Gimp or Inkscape.

The Vivobook S15 is also equipped with a Full HD IPS display that provides a clear, colourful image. On the other hand, it’s not the brightest screen.

If you’re a student or you’re just looking for a versatile laptop to edit photos, the Asus Vivobook S15 is a great option.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i5-10210U Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	512GB, SSD
Graph	Integrated, Intel UHD 620 graphics
Screen	15.6 inches, 1920X1080, IPS
Communications & Ports	1 – USB 3.1 Type C 1 – USB 3.1 2- USB 2.0 port 1 – HDMI connection Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	Up to 8 hours battery life

i5-8250U) to 3.9 GHz, 8 GB DDR4, 128 GB PCIe SSD + 1 TB hard drive, 2 GB AMD Radeon 520 WiFi Bluetooth HDMI Win 10/>

The Dell Inspiron 17 3780 is an affordable 17-inch laptop that offers great value, especially if you’re looking for a replacement desktop computer and don’t care too much about size or appearance. This notebook is equipped with a Quad-Core i5-8265U processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB PCIe SSD and 1TB hard drive and a special AMD Radeon 520 graphics card. This notebook is perfect for editing in Photoshop or for everyday video editing. And even though the Radeon 520 is not the best graphics chip, it is still of great value and should offer performance like the MX 150.

But what makes the Inspiron 17 3780 a good laptop for Photoshop is the IPS screen: Above all, it is a huge 17-inch matte screen with a Full HD screen that provides extra workspace. In terms of color accuracy, it can represent 88% of the sRGB color scheme, which is quite good for this price. However, this laptop suffers from significant bleeding due to the backlight, and the edges are too large… not contract breakers.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i5-8265U Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	128GB, PCIe SSD +1TB HDD
Graph	Assigned, AMD Radeon 520.
Screen	17.3 inches, 1920X1080, IPS
Communications & Ports	-2x USB 3.1 – 1 USB 2.0 -1x HDMI, Ethernet -1x SD card reader, DVD/RW
Battery	Up to 6 hours battery life

With its stunning Full HD display, Intel’s 8th generation processor, the new Intel 8 Series is the perfect choice for a wide range of applications. With its new 3rd generation and fast 256GB PCIe SSD, the Lenovo Yoga 730 is a very convincing 2-in-1 laptop, but there are actually three main reasons why we recommend it to Photoshop users: It is relatively affordable, has a 3-port zipper and, most importantly, a 15-inch IPS display. In terms of colors, Yoga 730 can produce about 84% sRGB of color space, which is more than sufficient for most users.

If you want to draw or take notes in Photoshop, you can also buy an active pen as it is not included in the notebook. Despite the fact that Yoga has a 360 degree hinge, it’s not very practical to use it in tablet mode because it’s a 15 inch laptop that’s relatively heavy (4.4 pounds).

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i5-8250U Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB, SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE
Graph	Integrated, Intel UHD 620 graphics
Screen	15.6 inches, 1920X1080, IPS
Communications & Ports	1 – USB 3.1 connection (type C) // Lightning conductor 3 2 – USB 3.0 Ports 1 – HDMI connection Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1
Battery	Up to 9 hours battery life

Equipped with an 8th generation Quad-Core i5-8300H processor. With the 3rd generation, the Dell G3579-5965BLK-PUS is a reliable mid-range gaming notebook that combines an impressive set of features with a low price. What makes the Dell G3579 a great laptop for Photoshop and graphic design is its incredible performance. With a quad-core processor, 8GB of DDR4 memory, 256GB of medical-grade solid-state memory and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1050 graphics card, the Dell G3579 is not only capable of handling demanding mid-range credits, but can also handle other intensive tasks such as video editing. The Dell G3579 is also a good choice if you’re a student and need an affordable laptop for AutoCAD.

Although not the brightest screen, the Dell G3579 has an amazing 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display that offers good color accuracy, contrast and viewing angle.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i5-8300H Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB, SOLID-STATE DRIVE
Graph	NVIDIA GeForce 1050 Dedicated with 4GB VRAM
Screen	15.6 inches, 1920X1080.
Communications & Ports	2 – USB 3.1 ports 1 – USB 2.0 port 1 – HDMI, Ethernet connection Card reader, Bluetooth 4.2
Battery	Up to 6 hours battery life

• • • Asus VivoBuch 15 F512DA-EB51

Asus VivoBook 15 F512DA-EB51 is an affordable business notebook with a professional and elegant design. With AMD’s R5-3500U quad-core processor and 8GB of RAM (expandable up to 16GB), you have enough power to run all your resource-intensive applications without delay. It is also equipped with the fast 256GB PCIe SSD.

The 15.6-inch screen is amazing and offers good color accuracy when editing photos. The display is also scratch resistant and has its own resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

In terms of connectivity, the Asus VivoBook 15 F512DA-EB51 is equipped with a large number of ports, including 4 USB and HDMI ports. Battery life is good, Asus says it can be used for 9 hours, but in practice expect 6-7 hours.

Editor in Chief	AMD R5-3500U quad-core processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB, SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE
Graph	Dedicated, AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics,
Screen	15.6 inches, 1920X1080.
Communications & Ports	1 – USB 3.1 Type C connection 2 – USB 3.1 ports 1- USB 2.0 port 1- Card reader with HDMI port, Bluetooth 4.1, fingerprint scanner
Battery	Up to 9 hours battery life

The Lenovo Ideapad S340 is a stylish multimedia notebook that won’t let you down. Powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 core. Generation with a 1.3 GHz clock speed, 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB hard disk drive. As the specifications show, this notebook is clearly designed for professionals, and thanks to its powerful processor and integrated Intel Iris Graphics, it is also fully versed in graphic design tools such as Photoshop.

The 15.6-inch IPS display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and offers good colour accuracy and viewing angle for its price. On the other hand, the supplied battery has a capacity of only 52WHr, the battery life is quite average with a maximum of 8 hours.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB, SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE
Graph	Integrated, Intel Iris Plus G7 Graphics
Screen	15.6 inches, 1920X1080.
Communications & Ports	1 – USB connection type C 3.1 2- USB 3.1 port 1 – HDMI connection, 4. Card reader, Bluetooth 4.1,
Battery	Up to 8.5 hours battery life

Best high-end laptops for Photoshop and photo editing: Your Honor!

Although this list consists mainly of budget and middle class laptops, we think it makes sense to include some high-end laptops as well, such as the Macbook pro, which is very popular with designers and content makers in general. Here are three high-end laptops for Photoshop:

For Photoshop, both PC and Mac can be very powerful and powerful, each with its own list of advantages and disadvantages. If you want to switch to a Mac and money isn’t a problem, check out the new Macbook Pro with its redesigned 16″ retinal display.

In terms of specifications, the new Macbook 16 with an Intel Core i7-9750H processor is the 9th generation of the new Macbook. The system is equipped with a 512 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM and a special AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics card. Not only can you easily work with Photoshop, but you can also use this notebook for other tasks, such as B. Video editing, use. The Macbook pro has a bright and well-calibrated 16-inch screen with a resolution from 3072 to 1920, and while the number of pixels per inch is lower than the 15-inch model, color accuracy is very good at 100% sRGB and 88% Adobe RGB.

In terms of connections, the Macbook Pro 16 is equipped with 4 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, which should be more than enough to connect other devices. Battery life is also good and can last up to 11 hours.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i7-9750H Processor
RAM	16 GB
Storage	512GB, SSD
Graph	Dedicated, AMD Radeon Pro 5300M
Screen	16 inches, 3072 x 1920, IPS
Communications & Ports	4 – Thunderbolt // USB 3.1 port type C
Battery	Up to 11 hours battery life

• Dell XPS 15 7590-7565SLV-PUS

The Dell XPS 15 is another excellent high-end notebook for Photoshop, thanks to its powerful features and excellent display. This laptop is the 9th generation with an Intel i7-9750H processor. It features next-generation graphics, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD and a special NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 graphics chip.

The XPS 15 is also equipped with a 4K display that provides accurate colours for professional image and video editing. The screen is also very bright and you can use your laptop outside. It’s also a good choice if you’re looking for a laptop that’s easy to carry: It’s so thin and light despite the 15-inch screen.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i7-9750H Processor
RAM	16 GB
Storage	1TB, SOLID-STATE DRIVE
Graph	With the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Screen	15.6 inches, 3840 x 2160, IPS
Communications & Ports	1 – USB 3.1 Type C / Thunderbolt 3 connection 2- USB 3.1 Ports 1- HDMI connection
Battery	Up to 9 hours battery life

• Gigabyte AERO 15 Classic SA-U73ADW

A gigabyte is one of the best games and high-end laptops, and the AERO 15 Classic SA-U73ADW is no exception. This laptop is the 9th generation with an i7-9750H processor. 16GB RAL, 256GB SSD and a special NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti. In terms of performance, Aero 15 Photoshop can run with ease and you can even perform advanced effects and tasks.

But the main reason why Aero 15 is one of the best laptops for Photoshop is the screen. Not only does this notebook have a 4K display, but it is also one of the few notebooks that can produce 100% Adobe RGB color, which can be essential for a professional. This laptop is also Pantone certified for color calibration.

Editor in Chief	Intel Core i7-9750H Processor
RAM	16 GB
Storage	256 GB, SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE
Graph	With the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti
Screen	15.6 inches, 3840 x 2160, IPS
Communications & Ports	1 – USB 3.1 Type C / Thunderbolt 3 connection 3- USB 3.1 Ports 1- HDMI terminal, display terminal
Battery	Up to 9 hours battery life