11 Best laptops to animate with Adobe Animate in 2023

As an avid animator and laptop enthusiast, I understand the importance of finding the best laptop for Adobe Animate. The right laptop can make all the difference in creating smooth animations and an enjoyable workflow. In this guide, I will share my expertise on the key factors to consider when searching for the perfect laptop to run Adobe Animate efficiently.

When working with Adobe Animate, performance is crucial to avoid lag, stuttering, and slow rendering times. To find the best laptop for Adobe Animate, I have meticulously reviewed an extensive spreadsheet of recent laptop releases, comparing specs and reviews from both professional and user-generated sources. I've narrowed down the top laptops based on the specific requirements of Adobe Animate users, such as powerful processors, dedicated graphics cards, and ample RAM. Additionally, I have considered the importance of color-accurate displays for precise color grading and high-quality output.

As an animator, I know firsthand that a laptop's portability and build quality can significantly impact the user experience. This buying guide will not only help you find the best laptop for Adobe Animate but also ensure that you invest in a device that suits your needs as a creative professional. So, whether you're a freelancer on the go or a full-time animator working from a studio, you'll find the ideal laptop to create stunning animations and bring your ideas to life.

Table of Contents

Processor Power

The state of the market.

For the last few years, Intel has dominated the computer CPU industry and was almost never challenged. All that has changed in 2018 with the AMD (formerly ATI) Radeon graphics unit: AMD grabbed 20% of the CPU market; their latest 6th generation of processors released in 2018 were successful enough to challenge Intel's dominance. So how did that happen? There were two reasons: First, AMD Ryzen processors offered strong value and performance – and they offer hybrid performance/efficiency cores as opposed to Intel's big.LITTLE cores. Second, Intel was looking toward the future of mobile computing with their newest chips. While Intel managed to achieve higher levels of power efficiency, AMD is able to deliver more performance for a comparable or even lower price.

Also, starting with Intel's 10th generation CPUs, we've seen support for multiple CPU cores in Animate; on top of that, since Animate 2017, Adobe has been taking advantage of multi-core CPUs using hyper-threading technology. This means that if your CPU supports Hyper-Threading, Animate will take advantage of it, making it perform significantly better than the same CPU without Hyper-Threading.

Meanwhile, Apple surprised us all with the release of their own mobile-oriented ARM-based system-on-chips (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M2) in 2017 with the launch of their first batch of MacBooks with Touch Bar. The A11 bionic chip brought a significant boost to single-core performance and battery life, although many experts have commented on the performance trade-offs. That being said, I have been an Apple guy for a very long time and I'm quite comfortable with them so I couldn't ignore the Apple brand nor the community behind it.

How Animate uses the CPU and how that affects my recommendations.

The actual number of logical processing cores (for example – 2 or 4) is a red herring when it comes to comparing computers – what matters is the physical hardware (single or dual cores). The biggest difference you will see between them is if you need to run other apps simultaneously while you animate (especially taxing on the CPU) – multiple core computers will be able to run many apps at once without any performance penalty; in contrast, on single core computers all the work will be done by one core so you'll experience a slowdown. Another big difference is if you're going to use the computer while it animates (for example, while scrubbing), especially in which you're using high resolution media: single core computers might skip frames or stutter. Note that most modern laptops allow users to configure the number of cores and amount of RAM on the computer: If you need an ultrabook laptop then expect to be trading off some performance for a better battery life (or vice versa).

Multiple cores and their importance in Animate (and other creative apps).

Most modern animation projects consist of elements created with a variety of third party software applications – we create vector graphics, build shapes from vectors and photos, model 3D objects and animate them using MotionBuilder or After Effects. We also use a lot of different plugins in Animate to help us with animation: making it quicker or easier to add details, deal with multiple layers/objects or use dynamics/particles.

Multiple cores are key when it comes to Animate performance, for this reason Adobe recommends that their customers have at least a 4-core laptop for maximum performance. The 4-cores we can see in Animate are those from a few different sources: the processor itself and any attached CPU cores from Intel or AMD; RAM (for example: 4-cores from RAM, 1-core from CPU); any Hyper-Threading cores; and any discrete or dedicated GPU cores (for example: 4-cores from GPU, 1-core from CPU).

It is possible for your RAM to be treated as a single core if Hyper-Threading is enabled – if your CPU has Hyper-Threading, you can set the max number of cores. That being said, even if your RAM is one core, the other 3-cores should be able to handle Animate without any problems. Hyper-Threading can also be especially beneficial if you're using Premiere Pro while doing heavy number-crunching on images with After Effects: instead of running two applications simultaneously (one as a background process), Hyper-Threading allows you to offload some of the image processing to the GPU to utilize the extra power while keeping CPU handling on par.

How I rank processors based on their performance in benchmarks.

In the end, a computer's performance boils down to its single/multi-core CPU score and RAM (using PassMark scores for CPUs and geekbench for RAM). After years of development

Graphics Cards

The laptop graphics card market has been dominated by Nvidia for many years, with the latest RTX 30 series cards offering a lot of performance in a power-limited form factor. Unfortunately, the RTX 40 series cards are not yet available on laptops. Furthermore, Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards, so laptop manufacturers (OEMs) now determine the exact GPU wattage which can lead to large variations in performance in laptops with the same GPU chipset.

If you're looking for a MacBook, the choice is easy – get a MacBook Pro and you'll be good to go. However, if you're considering a Windows laptop, you should consider the GPU, but it isn't always necessary. Adobe Animate is not as demanding as other applications such as Premiere Pro or Blender, and thus can be used without dedicated graphics. Therefore, you should focus on getting a more powerful processor instead. You can use industry-standard benchmarking tool 3DMark to compare different GPUs, though keep in mind that Adobe Animate relies heavily on the CPU.

However, if you do decide to opt for a dedicated GPU, the following table will give you a good idea of which GPUs are best suited for animation and their expected laptop prices/performance ratio:

Graphics Card	Approx. Laptop Price Range
GeForce GTX 1650	$600 – $800
GeForce RTX 3050	$900 – $1300
GeForce RTX 2060	$1400+

If you need to connect an external display, make sure your laptop has at least one HDMI port; DisplayPort is preferable if you need 4K 60Hz or 5K 60Hz display connectivity. Lastly, keep in mind that a dedicated GPU might be necessary if you are doing any type of VR or AR work with Adobe Animate.

Maximizing RAM

Adobe Animate is a multi-threaded application, so you'll need plenty of RAM to keep your workstation from stuttering. We'd recommend at least 16 GB of RAM if you're working with complex scenes or multiple projects open at once. However, RAM speed isn't a priority here – if you're on a budget, get DDR4-2666 instead of DDR5 because the difference is negligible for most projects.

If you're looking for an upgrade, check if your laptop has free SODIMM slots. If it does, you can buy some more memory modules and install them yourself (assuming your laptop has an upgradable BIOS).

To sum it up, here are our recommended RAM configurations depending on your budget:

Price Range	Recommended RAM
Budget	8 GB
Mid-range	16 GB
High-end	32 GB or more

Laptop FAQs

Q: What are the system requirements for Adobe Animate?

Adobe Animate has specific system requirements to ensure smooth performance. These requirements include a compatible operating system, a capable processor, sufficient memory, and a dedicated graphics card. Refer to the Adobe Animate website or documentation for the most up-to-date system requirements.

Which laptop is best for Adobe Animate?

The best laptop for Adobe Animate depends on your specific needs and budget. Consider the following factors: processor performance, memory capacity, graphics capabilities, display quality, and portability. We recommend laptops with at least a medium-level configuration for the best experience.

Can I run Adobe Animate on a low-end laptop?

While it is technically possible to run Adobe Animate on a low-end laptop, the experience may be subpar. Low-end laptops often lack the necessary processing power, memory, and graphics capabilities to handle the demands of Adobe Animate efficiently. It is recommended to use a laptop with at least a medium-level configuration for a smoother experience.

What are the minimum laptop specs for Adobe Animate?

The minimum laptop specs for Adobe Animate include an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U or an Intel Core i3-10110U processor, 8 GB of memory, and a GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. These specs will allow you to run Adobe Animate but may not provide the best performance for more complex projects.

Is a dedicated GPU necessary for Adobe Animate?

While Adobe Animate can technically run without a dedicated GPU, having a dedicated graphics card significantly improves performance, especially when working with complex animations and graphic effects. We highly recommend using a laptop with a dedicated graphics card, such as the GeForce RTX 3050 or higher, for a smoother and more responsive experience.

How much RAM do I need for Adobe Animate on a laptop?

For Adobe Animate on a laptop, a minimum of 8 GB of RAM is required. However, for better performance, especially when working on larger projects or with multiple applications simultaneously, we recommend opting for a laptop with 16 GB of RAM or more.

Can I use Adobe Animate on a touchscreen laptop?

Yes, Adobe Animate is compatible with touchscreen laptops. The touch capabilities can enhance the drawing and animation process, allowing for more intuitive control. However, it is important to note that Adobe Animate can be used effectively without a touchscreen as well.

Does Adobe Animate require a specific operating system for laptops?

Adobe Animate is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows and macOS. Make sure your laptop meets the minimum system requirements for the specific operating system you are using. Keep in mind that some features or optimizations may vary depending on the operating system.

What processor is recommended for Adobe Animate on a laptop?

For optimal performance, we recommend using a laptop with at least an Intel Core i5-10210U or higher processor for Adobe Animate. The processor's speed and core count directly impact the software's ability to handle complex animations and render graphics quickly.

Are there any laptops optimized for Adobe Animate performance?

While there aren't laptops specifically optimized for Adobe Animate, some laptops with high-performance components and features cater to creative professionals. These laptops often offer powerful processors, ample memory, and dedicated graphics cards to provide a seamless experience with Adobe Animate. Some examples include the Acer Predator Helios 16, HP Victus, ASUS TUF F15, ASUS ROG Strix Scar, and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16. These laptops offer varying price ranges, so choose one that fits your budget and requirements.

5 Best Laptops for Adobe Animate

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$680

1.acer Nitro 5

Adobe Animate laptop

Pros

Very good processor (Ryzen 7 6800H)
Splendid graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
Very good display (15.6)
Superb memory amount (32GB)

Cons

No IPS Panel (limited viewing angles)

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Alternatives

$610

HP Victus

Pros

Fair processor (i5-12450H)
Splendid display (15.6 IPS)

Cons

Mediocre graphics card (GTX 1650)
Bulky (5.06 lbs)

$880

2.HP Victus 15

HP Victus 15: Affordable Gaming with Decent Performance, but Limited Availability

Pros

Excellent price
Good gaming performance
Can double as a work laptop
Solid array of ports

Cons

Bad battery life
Rather plain design
Weak GPU yields unsatisfactory frame rates
Screen only so-so despite 144Hz refresh rate

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Summary

The HP Victus 15 offers a budget-friendly option for gaming, with respectable performance and an affordable price tag. While it may lack in battery life and design appeal, it delivers solid gaming potential at a modest cost.

Reviews

TechRadar

4/5

HP Victus 15

PCMag

3.0/5

HP Victus 15 Review