When it comes to laptops, there are a few key things you need to look for if you’re planning on doing any graphic design work on it.
The screen is the most important factor – you’ll want a laptop with a high-resolution display so you can see your work in fine detail.
You’ll also want a laptop with a powerful processor and plenty of RAM to handle all the heavy lifting, and a solidified state drive will help to speed up load times.
Battery life is another important factor, as you’ll likely be spending long hours working on your designs, so you’ll want a laptop that won’t need to be tethered to a power outlet.
With all that in mind, here are the top 7 best laptops for graphic design under $800:

At A Glance
- Acer Aspire 5
- ASUS VivoBook S15
- HP Pavilion 15
- Dell Inspiron 15 5593
- Acer Swift 3
- Lenovo Ideapad S340
- Acer Spin 3
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If you are in the market for a laptop to use for graphic design or illustration and have a budget of $800 or less, these are some great options to consider.
All of these laptops provide excellent performance and will be able to handle even the most demanding software used by designers and illustrators.
Ultimately, your choice will come down to factors such as which operating system you prefer, the size and weight of the laptop, and the specific features that are most important to you. However, all of these laptops offer great value for the price and will help you take your design or illustration work to the next level.
Below I have broken them down in more detail to help you decide. Any image will take you to the official product page with more details.
1. Acer Aspire 5
For people who need a laptop for simple editing tasks like photoshop, content creation, and basic video editing, the Acer Aspire 5 is very reasonably priced.
Even though it is a mid-range laptop, its main feature is that it can be upgraded. The upgradeability is excellent, with two SODIMM RAM slots and two M.2 PCIe x4 slots that can accommodate the entire 80 mm-sized drives.
Pros
✅ Excellent battery life |
✅ Solid single- and multi-core performance |
✅ Decent 1080p display |
✅ Runs cool |
✅ Has free slot to add more HDD |
Cons
❌ Subpar webcam |
❌ Mediocre keyboard and trackpad |
❌ Low sRGB coverage (54% of sRGB) |
❌ Low mic quality |
2. ASUS VivoBook S15
The ASUS VivoBook S15 is an unconventional approach to everyday computing, with a distinctive color-blocking design that communicates to the world that you resist conventions. It includes the ground-breaking ASUS ScreenPadTM 2.0 to enhance multitasking and transform how you use your laptop. This laptop features a sleek design and is suitable for daily productivity needs. It effortlessly completes its tasks, and the cooling system performs an excellent job of keeping the laptop cool.
Pros
✅ Lightweight |
✅ Improved Screenpad |
✅ Excellent build quality |
✅ Well-rounded audio |
✅ Strong port selection |
Cons
❌ Needs more RAM |
❌ Fragile keyboard deck |
❌ Dim and dull display |
❌ Small battery capacity |
3. HP Pavilion 15
The primary use of this laptop is as a budget-friendly gaming laptop, but it can also be used for graphic design, of course! A reliable, attractive laptop with a great price is the HP Pavilion 15. On this laptop, even high-end games may be played with ease. Hence, doing basic video and photo editing is smooth. However, people who work on the go will be disappointed with the battery life.
4. Dell Inspiron 15 5593
This laptop has a good variety of ports and an excellent build quality. It most crucially provides storage and memory upgrades. It is capable of simple graphic creation and light gaming. Although it’s suitable for work and school, the battery and GPU still have numerous drawbacks.
Pros
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Cons
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
❌ |
5. Acer Swift 3
This laptop is a competent standard model with integrated graphics from Intel’s 10th generation that efficiently completes tasks. Although it is not a gaming laptop, it may be a productivity partner. The laptop can do relatively demanding activities without experiencing considerable strain.
Pros
✅ Ultra-lightweight |
✅ Enormous touchpad |
✅ Covers 98% sRGB |
✅ Multitasking muscle |
✅ Has a fingerprint sensor |
Cons
❌ RAM not upgradeable |
❌ Mediocre battery life |
❌ No SD card reader |
❌ Webcam is subpar |
6. Lenovo Ideapad S340
The Lenovo IdeaPad S340 is a lightweight notebook that is perfect for graphic design and illustration. It has a large 52.5Wh battery that provides 12 hours of online browsing time and more than 10 hours of movie playback.
The Intel Core U series processors are perfect for casual users who mainly browse, stream, and email. The 8GB of system RAM is comprised of a non-detachable 4GB DDR4 chip soldered to the motherboard and a removable 4GB DDR4 SODIMM card.
This limits upgrading options. However, the graphics and display quality are excellent for graphic design and illustration work. Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad S340 is a great choice for graphic designers and illustrators who need a portable notebook with great battery life.
Pros
✅ Good system performance |
✅ Good battery life |
✅ Keyboard has backlighting |
✅ FHD Display |
Cons
❌ Memory is not upgradeable |
❌ Display covers just 54% sRGB |
❌ Has thermal issues |
❌ No LSN Port |
7. Acer Spin 3
If you’re looking for an ultrabook that can double as a reliable for designing and drawing, the Acer Spin 3 is a great option to consider. This 2-in-1 laptop has a great stylus that gives you the freedom to explore different mediums for your creativity.
Whether you’re interested in traditional painting or drawing, or you want to create digital art, the Acer Spin 3 can help you bring your visions to life.
The only downside is that the Acer Spin 3’s battery life is shorter than average, so you’ll need to keep it plugged in while you work. However, its overall performance is still excellent for its price range, making it a great value for anyone looking for an affordable convertible laptop.
Pros
✅ Loud and clear audio |
✅ Good cooling system |
✅ Stylus included |
✅ Full HD Touch Screen |
Cons
❌ Lacks USB Type C |
❌ Mediocre battery |
❌ Build looks plastic and cheap |
❌ Dim display |
What To Look For When Choosing A Budget Laptop For Graphic Design And Illustration
When it comes to narrowing down this list and choosing a budget laptop for graphic design and illustration, here are the important factors I considered:
- First, it is important to make sure that the laptop has a powerful processor and enough RAM to handle the demands of graphic design software.
- Additionally, the laptop should have a high-quality graphics card that can render complex graphics quickly and smoothly.
- Another important consideration is the size and resolution of the laptop’s display. For graphic designers and illustrators who need to be able to see fine details, a higher resolution screen is essential.
- Finally, it is also important to make sure that the laptop has all the ports and connections that will be needed to use external monitors, printers, and other peripheral devices.