12 Best laptops for UX Designers in 2023

As a UX designer, your work revolves around creating seamless, intuitive, and visually engaging user experiences. To accomplish this, you need a laptop that can handle the demands of both design and prototyping software, as well as provide the fidelity needed to accurately represent your creations. With countless options available, finding the best laptop for UX design can be a daunting task. That's where I come in, leveraging my extensive knowledge of laptops and experience in the field to help guide you through the selection process.

I've spent countless hours reviewing an extensive laptop spreadsheet of recent releases, comparing specs, and reading both professional and user-generated reviews. This has allowed me to narrow down the top laptops for UX designers, taking into consideration topic-specific requirements and various price ranges. When searching for the best laptop for UX design, it's important to prioritize factors such as color accuracy, performance, portability, and battery life, as these will greatly impact your work experience.

As a UX designer, you're likely familiar with tools like Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision, and may even participate in online design communities such as Dribbble or Behance. A laptop that can handle these programs without lag or stutter, while offering ample screen real estate and a comfortable keyboard, will make all the difference in your day-to-day work. With these considerations in mind, let's dive into the top laptop picks tailored specifically for UX designers like yourself.

Table of Contents

Picking a good processor

Choosing the right laptop processor for a UX designer isn't always an easy task. The laptop processor market is constantly changing, with Intel and Apple both releasing new system-on-chip modules with their own hybrid performance/efficiency core designs. AMD has also managed to take up 20% of the market with their 6th generation Ryzen processors.

If you're looking for a MacBook, you can skip the rest of this section – they are well-known for their excellent battery life and performance. However, if you're looking for a Windows laptop, there are a few things to consider.

The processor is one of the most important parts of a laptop for a UX designer, as we need to run multiple applications at once without any lag. I'd recommend going for an H-series processor if you need the best performance possible; these processors offer better performance but shorter battery life than U-series and P-series chips. To help me decide which processor is best for me, I use Cinebench R23 to compare different processors, since it's a popular benchmark for 3D modeling applications, which are popular among UX designers.

If you're on a budget and don't need the best performance possible, then look for a mid-range CPU that doesn't have an "H" in its model name. Meanwhile, if you're not worried about your battery life – go ahead and get an H-series chip – but don't expect outstanding battery life.

To summarize, here is a table of recommended processors, grouped by price bracket:

Minimum	Recommended	High-end
i5-10500H	i5-11400H	i9-11900H

The right graphics

Graphics cards are the soul of any laptop, and the difference between an average laptop and a gaming powerhouse depends on its GPU. In recent years, Nvidia has dominated the laptop graphics market with its RTX series GPUs. While they've recently released a few RTX 40 series cards, these are not yet available on laptops, and the RTX 30 series is currently the best available option.

So, what does this mean for UX designers who need a laptop with a dedicated GPU? The good news is that for most UI design tasks, a dedicated graphics card isn't required. Even basic animations can be done without one. However, if you're working with 3D models and plan to use ray tracing or DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), then a dedicated GPU will give you a better experience.

Fortunately, there are several options available in the market at different price points, so you don't have to break the bank to get a decent graphics card. To help you decide, I've created a table of recommended GPUs and their average laptop prices.

GPU	Price range
GeForce RTX 3050	$400-$800
GeForce RTX 2060	$800-$1,400
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q	$1,400-$2,000

For the minimum requirement, I would recommend going with the GeForce RTX 3050, which can be found in laptops ranging from $400-$800. If you want a bit more power and performance, then the GeForce RTX 2060 (found in laptops costing $800-$1,400) should suffice. Finally, for those looking for a high-end laptop with a powerful GPU, the GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q (found in laptops costing $1,400-$2,000) is the best option.

It's important to note that Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards. That means that exact GPU wattage is determined by a laptop manufacturer (OEM), which may result in varying performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset. To make sure you're getting the most out of your laptop, I recommend you compare GPUs using benchmarks such as 3DMark and real-world tests like Cinebench and Unigine Heaven/Valley. Additionally, make sure that your laptop has enough power delivery and cooling capacity to avoid throttling the GPU's performance due to thermal limitations.

Finally, if you're looking for a MacBook, you can skip this section entirely since Apple's integrated graphics are more than enough for UI design.

Choosing a memory

When it comes to choosing a laptop for UX design, RAM is a crucial factor to consider. In late 2022, most mid-range laptops will come with 16 GB of RAM as standard, while high-end laptops might offer up to 32 GB or more. Intel and AMD CPUs will also likely support both DDR4 and DDR5, though DDR5 is still an expensive technology and may take some time to mature in the market.

When it comes to making a decision, 8 GB of RAM is the bare minimum for any laptop intended for UX design, though we'd recommend 16 GB for the best experience. For anyone who regularly works with large files, such as 4K video, or for those who use several resource-intensive applications alongside their design tools, 32 GB of RAM should be the target.

It's worth noting that DDR5 isn't worth paying extra for, as the performance gain is minimal. For upgradability, look for a laptop with an upgradable RAM module (or two).

FAQ

What does a UX designer do?

A UX designer creates user experiences and interfaces that are both intuitive and efficient. They conduct user research, analyze the results, create prototypes, and test the designs with users to ensure their usability.

What skills do you need to be a UX designer?

In order to be a successful UX designer, you need skills in user research, interface design, prototyping, usability testing, project management, and communication.

How to become a UX designer?

Becoming a UX designer typically requires having a degree in a related field such as graphic design, psychology, or computer science. You can also build your portfolio with projects, attend workshops, and join a professional organization to increase your chances of success.

What qualifications do you need to be a UX designer?

Most UX designers have a degree in a related field such as graphic design, psychology, or computer science. Additionally, it's important to have an understanding of user research and interface design, as well as the ability to communicate effectively.

What does a UX designer salary look like?

The salary for a UX designer can vary depending on location and experience. According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for a UX designer in the United States is $79,481 per year.

What is the job outlook for UX designers?

The job outlook for UX designers is strong, with a projected growth rate of 13% over the next decade. This is due to the increasing demand for user-friendly products and digital experiences.

How to find a UX design job?

To find a UX design job, you can look on job boards, attend job fairs and career events, or join a professional organization that connects UX professionals to potential employers. Additionally, you can build your portfolio and create connections with other UX designers and recruiters.

How to choose a UX design course?

When choosing a UX design course, it's important to make sure the program covers topics such as user research, interface design, prototyping, usability testing, and project management. Additionally, you should look for a course with instructors who have experience in the field.

What type of laptop do UX designers need?

UX designers need laptops that are powerful enough to handle the design software and tools they use. Generally speaking, you'll need at least an Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a GeForce RTX 2060 or better for graphics.

What is the best laptop for UX designers?

The best laptop for UX designers depends on your budget and specific needs. In general, we recommend laptops such as the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 ($6,050), GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4 ($2,400), or ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 ($1,460) for maximum performance. For budget-friendly options, you can try the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro ($600) or GIGABYTE A5 K1 ($790).

6 Best Laptops for UX designer

$640

1.ASUS Zenbook

The ASUS Zenbook is a powerful and lightweight option for UX designers on a budget.

Pros

Excellent battery life
Compact and lightweight design
Fast processor
Sleek and stylish

Cons

Soldered RAM that cant be expanded
Weak Wi-Fi
Annoying fan behavior at times
High emissions under load

View on Amazon

Summary

The ASUS Zenbook is a lightweight and slim laptop that offers a surprising amount of power with its built-in Ryzen CPU. It has excellent battery life and a bright display, but the soldered RAM and weak Wi-Fi may be drawbacks for some.

Reviews

Notebookcheck

83%/100

Asus ZenBook 14 UM425U [5700U version]

Ultrabookreview

4.5/5

Asus ZenBook 14 UM425QA [5800H version]

Alternatives

$690

ASUS VivoBook 15 OLED

Pros

Portable design.
Display offers good color space coverage.

Cons

Battery life falls short.
Keyboard can be uncomfortable for long typing sessions.

$730

2.ASUS ZenBook 13 UX325EA-EH71

ASUS ZenBook 13 is a great performer for UX designers on a budget.

Pros

Sleek and lightweight design
Powerful performance
Long battery life
Comfortable keyboard

Cons

No headphone jack
Weak speakers
Display could be brighter and better distributed
PWM at 60 Hz below 90 brightness

View on Amazon