Best Laptop for Adobe Illustrator CC in 2023

As a seasoned user of Adobe Illustrator CC, I know that finding the best laptop for Illustrator CC can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it's essential to focus on the unique requirements that this powerful vector graphics application demands. In this guide, I'll help you navigate the sea of laptops, ensuring you get the ideal device to unleash your creativity and streamline your workflow.

Illustrator CC is a resource-intensive application that requires a laptop with a strong processor, ample RAM, and a dedicated graphics card. These components will ensure smooth performance when working with complex vector graphics, intricate illustrations, and large files. Additionally, a high-quality display with accurate color reproduction is crucial for any creative professional working with Adobe Illustrator CC.

In order to find the best laptop for Illustrator CC, I have meticulously reviewed an extensive laptop spreadsheet of recent releases, comparing specs and reviews from both professional and user-generated sources. By considering topic-specific requirements, such as performance, display quality, and price ranges, I have narrowed down the top laptops tailored to meet the needs of Adobe Illustrator CC users. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the laptop selection process and help you find the perfect device for your creative endeavors.

Table of Contents

Picking a good processor

It's not just about speed – CPU is crucial for CPU-intensive tasks such as photo editing, Adobe Illustrator, and video encoding. And if you're anything like me, you're looking for the perfect balance of price and performance.

Requirements

First things first: Adobe Illustrator needs a powerful processor to do its job. And we're talking about a strong one – Ryzen 7 5800H. That said, we can't be too picky with Adobe Illustrator as it's not an overly demanding application (by today's standards). But still, some might find the new Intel processors (i7-8559U) better suited for their budget.

If you want to squeeze out every last drop of performance from your laptop, go for the newest AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS or Intel Core i9-9900KH (or higher).

Recommendations

Ryzen 7 4800HS and Ryzen 7 5800H are best laptops for those who want to stay within their budget and prioritize performance over cost. For those who care less about price and more about power, Ryzen 9 5900HS or Intel Core i9-9900KH are a good match.

Intel Core i7-8559U is my go-to recommendation for those who have an underpowered laptop but would like to extend its lifespan with a newer CPU from Intel.

TL;DR

when it comes to Illustrator, CPU is important
AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS and AMD Ryzen 7 5800H are best laptops for those who want to stay within their budget and prioritize performance over cost
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS or Intel Core i9-9900KH are a good match for those who care less about price and more about power
Intel Core i7-8559U is my go-to recommendation for those who have an underpowered laptop but would like to extend its lifespan with a newer CPU from Intel.

The best graphics card for playing Adobe Illustrator in 2021

Minimum (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile)

We need a GPU with at least the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile GPU in order to use Illustrator without experiencing performance issues. These graphics cards are usually found in less expensive laptops which typically do not come with the highest performing processors.
If you're on a tight budget, these graphics cards are acceptable for basic work with simple shapes. However, you may see some lag when opening more complex files with numerous layers or an increased number of objects. This is because integrated graphics are shared between tasks, meaning that any one task will take longer to complete if it's running alongside another task. For example, if you're opening a file while browsing the internet, both tasks will take longer to complete due to the limitations of the shared integrated graphics chip.
If you can't afford a laptop with certified Quadro/FirePro chips or want higher performance – it's worth looking into buying a high-end consumer card (RTX 2070). This should be able to handle more complex files at acceptable speeds for most work environments.

Recommended (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Laptop GPU

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Laptop GPU is better than other consumer grade options because it offers an increased speed for rendering without sacrificing stability or other features. This makes it suitable for more demanding tasks such as 3D design or working with large assemblies of multiple parts in 3D space – without needing to sacrifice speed or accuracy. It also means that this card should have no problem handling more complex files such as those containing many layers and objects – with improved speeds and stability.
To put this into perspective: most entry-level models come with integrated Intel HD Graphics 620/630 which offer worse performance than NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile GPUs (especially in terms of stability). However, this card would outperform these CPUs and might even be comparable to high-end models such as RTX 2080 MaxQ Mobile and A5000 chips (see below).

Best (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile GPU)

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile GPU offers even better performance than the previous model mentioned by delivering improvements in rendering time and making it perfect for those who use Adobe Illustrator on a regular basis – such as designers or illustrators who need accurate representations of their work as well as those who deal with large assemblies of different parts in 3D space such as engineers and architects.
Additionally, if you do not need speed improvements

TL;DR

when it comes to Illustrator, the more expensive the graphics card, the better the performance
when choosing a graphics card, look for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Laptop GPUs

My memory recommendations for Adobe Illustrator

Minimum (8 GB)

A laptop with 8 GB RAM is suitable for Adobe Illustrator, but it will be sluggish and less responsive.

If you're looking for a budget laptop that does the job, then 8 GB is the way to go. The sweet spot for cost-effective laptops is $600 – $1200, which means that you'll have enough money left over to invest in other components like CPU or SSD.

Otherwise, I recommend investing in a laptop with 16 GB of RAM – especially if you can't go above that price range. It'll cost around $650 – $2200, which is more than an 8 GB laptop, but not by much.

8 GB laptops are getting rarer these days as the industry moves towards higher RAM capacities. And since laptops are continuously getting cheaper (although not as cheap as they used to be), investing in a 16GB RAM capacity will save you money in the long run.

Recommended (16 GB)

If you're looking for a professional workstation for your business, I recommend investing in a 16 GB laptop. The benefits are clear: 16 GB falls within the best price range for professional laptops at around $650 – $2200 and will also come with future-proofing potential because it's not likely to bottleneck your machine anytime soon.

However, if you want to game on your laptop too and can't afford 32 GB of RAM – it's probably not worth upgrading just for Adobe Illustrator. Games typically use less than 4GB of RAM even when running on ultra-high settings so there's no need to upgrade just for that purpose.

It's worth noting that if you're considering a bulkier laptop that can be easily upgraded, then there's no need to sweat about getting 16GB because those laptops often come with more than one slot for extra RAM upgrades later on down the line. In those cases, there's nothing stopping you from upgrading from 16GB to 32GB later on down the line without having to buy a whole new computer.

Best (32 GB)

I highly recommend going for 32 GB of RAM if you're going over $2000 and want a professional workstation with a future-proof potential and/or don't want to worry about upgrading down the line because there's always an upgrade option at any time without having to buy a whole new computer.

In 2021, most high-end laptops have been moving towards 32GB as standard with prices

TL;DR

a laptop with 8 GB RAM is suitable for Adobe Illustrator, but it will be sluggish and less responsive
a 16 GB RAM capacity is recommended for a professional workstation with a future-proof potential and/or don't want to worry about upgrading down the line because there's always an upgrade option at any time without having to buy a whole new computer. In 2021, most high-end laptops have been moving towards 32GB as standard with prices

Deciding on a storage

Different types of SSDs

The laptop industry has seen a lot of changes in the past few years. We've gone from HDD to SSD, now even to PCIe storage devices (that's an article for another day). And that's not all – manufacturers also offer different types of SSDs. There are the more common SATA SSDs, which are slower but cheaper. NVMe SSDs are faster and pricier.

And then there's the PCIe NVMe, which is even faster than NVMe and has better performance with high queue depths (for example, with databases). PCIe NVMe is the way to go if you're doing video editing or any other application that demands tons of throughput. It's worth noting that some laptops come with both SATA and PCIe drives – so you can just pick your needs accordingly.

Getting the right size

We need enough space for Adobe Illustrator to run on our laptop, so that means it should be at least 1 TB. But if you're not sure what size to get, 256 GB should be more than enough for any casual Adobe Illustrator user. If you do need more space though, 512 GB would be a good balance between price and capacity – it'll cost you anywhere between $650-2,340. You can also get a laptop with both SATA and PCIe drives – which is best for those looking for more performance while keeping costs low on the storage side of things.

TL;DR

get a laptop with PCIe NVMe storage for video editing or high performance applications
SSDs are faster and pricier than HDDs
SATA SSDs are slower but cheaper than NVMe SSDs

The best display for Adobe Illustrator in 2021

With Adobe Illustrator, there are a few display qualities that matter. The first one is contrast. A good screen for drawing should have a high contrast ratio of 1,000:1 or more. This means that the blacks should be black and the whites should be white.

Key display qualities for Adobe Illustrator

Next, you need to pay attention to viewing angles and brightness. A good laptop screen should have a wide viewing angle and a decent brightness level. You can compare these by using a site like Laptop Mag's Best Laptops for Designers list.

Important things to consider when buying the best laptop for Adobe Illustrator

The next step is to consider color accuracy. Adobe Illustrator does not need to cover a wide color gamut, but it needs accurate colors nonetheless. Fortunately, this is pretty easy – just check if the screen has an sRGB color space coverage of at least 90%. Finally, do not forget about the resolution. The minimum resolution for a modern day design laptop is Full HD (1920×1080). But if you're going with something smaller than 15", then I would recommend going with FHD+ (2560×1440).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which laptop is best for Adobe Illustrator CC?

The best laptop for Adobe Illustrator CC in 2023 would be the Dell XPS 17 9720. It offers top-of-the-line performance and a stunning display, making it ideal for professional graphic design work.

What are the recommended specs for a laptop to run Adobe Illustrator CC?

For smooth performance in Adobe Illustrator CC, we recommend a laptop with at least a GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, an FHD IPS display with high contrast, 16 GB of RAM, a Ryzen 7 4800HS processor, and a 256 GB SSD.

Can Adobe Illustrator CC be run on a laptop?

Yes, Adobe Illustrator CC can be run on a laptop. In fact, many graphic designers and illustrators prefer using laptops for their portable nature and flexibility.

Is a dedicated graphics card necessary for Adobe Illustrator CC?

While a dedicated graphics card is not essential for Adobe Illustrator CC, it does provide a significant performance boost, especially when working with complex vector graphics or 3D artwork. Therefore, we recommend laptops with at least a GTX 1660 Ti graphics card for a smooth experience.

How much RAM is required for Adobe Illustrator CC on a laptop?

The minimum recommended RAM for Adobe Illustrator CC on a laptop is 8 GB. However, for optimal performance and multitasking capabilities, we suggest going for a laptop with at least 16 GB of RAM.

Which processor is best for Adobe Illustrator CC on a laptop?

The Ryzen 7 4800HS processor is the ideal choice for running Adobe Illustrator CC on a laptop. Its high core count and excellent single-core performance ensure smooth and efficient operation.

What storage capacity is recommended for Adobe Illustrator CC on a laptop?

For Adobe Illustrator CC, we recommend a laptop with a minimum of a 256 GB SSD. However, if you work with large files or require additional storage for other software and projects, opting for a laptop with a 512 GB SSD or even a 1 TB HDD would be more suitable.

Can a budget laptop handle Adobe Illustrator CC?

Yes, a budget laptop can handle Adobe Illustrator CC, but it may struggle with more complex projects or resource-intensive tasks. To ensure a smoother experience, we recommend choosing a budget laptop with at least the minimum recommended specs mentioned earlier.

Are touchscreen laptops suitable for Adobe Illustrator CC?

Touchscreen laptops can be suitable for Adobe Illustrator CC, especially for tasks that involve precise drawing or sketching. However, it is not a necessary feature and can be a personal preference. As long as the laptop meets the minimum recommended specifications, it will handle Adobe Illustrator CC effectively.

What are the minimum system requirements for Adobe Illustrator CC on a laptop?

The minimum system requirements for Adobe Illustrator CC on a laptop are as follows:

Graphics: GTX 1660 Ti
Display: FHD, TN
Memory: 8 GB
Processor: Ryzen 7 4700U
Storage: 1 TB HDD

Please note that while these are the minimum requirements, it is highly recommended to go for a laptop with better specs to ensure optimal performance and an enjoyable user experience.

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Table of Best Laptops for {topic}

Laptop	Price (approx)

5 Best Laptops for Adobe Illustrator CC

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$680

1.acer Nitro 5

Adobe Illustrator CC laptop

Pros

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

Cons

No IPS Panel (inferior color reproduction)

View on Amazon

Alternatives

$730

HP Victus 15t

Pros

Excellent price
Good gaming performance

Cons

Weak GPU yields unsatisfactory frame rates
Screen only so-so despite 144Hz refresh rate

$1,160

2.ASUS TUF Dash F15

ASUS TUF Dash F15: Affordable and Powerful Laptop for All-Purpose and Gaming Needs.

Pros

Lightweight and well built
Good FHD 300Hz and QHD screen options
More powerful than previous generation
Good battery life and USB-C charging support

Cons

Quirks affecting everyday ergonomics
Ports squeezed together on the left edge
Be cautious of the FHD 144Hz screen option

View on Amazon

Summary

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 is a well-built and lightweight laptop that offers a balance of performance and affordability. With a more powerful processor and good screen options, it's a great option for those on a lower budget. However, be cautious of the FHD 144Hz screen option.

Reviews

Ultrabookreview

Asus TUF Dash F15 review