Creating outstanding, studio-grade music on the best devices that the computing world has to offer is essential to anyone in the music business. But while many used to be confined to a desktop setup, there are now more and more portable options available.
Laptops, in general, have grown in leaps and bounds with respect to RAM, battery power, and processing speeds. Finding the best laptop for music production can be just what you need to not only get the best sounds and quality in your music but to be able to take your music with you wherever you go.
In this article, we will go over what to look for in a laptop for music production, and we’ll take an in-depth look at some of the best laptops on the market.
Top Picks
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How to Choose the Best Laptop for Music Production
Operating System – Mac or Windows?
No, we’re not here to debate which operating system is better. Rather, when you’re looking for a great laptop for music production, you first need to decide which operating system you’re going to use.
This decision will usually boil down to which one you’re the most familiar with using, and which DAW you intend to use for producing your music. For instance, Logic Pro X is only available for Mac, while others are available on both platforms.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
As previously mentioned, choosing which DAW you want to use can go a long way into deciding which laptop to buy. The DAWs available have various minimum requirements that need to be met by the laptop. Once you know which DAW you’ll be using (and what operating systems they run on), it’ll be a lot easier to find just the right laptop.
Some of the most popular DAWs on the market are:
- FL Studio (Mac or Windows)
- Ableton Live (Mac or Windows)
- Logic Pro (Mac only)
- Pro Tools from Avid (Mac or Windows)
- Cubase (Mac or Windows)
RAM
The DAW you end up working with is going to hog up a lot of memory on its own, not to mention all the instruments and packages you’ll be downloading into your DAW. While some DJs can get away with a RAM of 8GB, the absolute minimum that we recommend you go with is 16GB. This is more than enough to run your music production software along with any other programs you decide to install and run.
Also, check to see if the laptop you’re looking at allows you to upgrade. Some may let you go up as high as 32GB, or even 64GB. Be sure to check the specs before you buy to find out how high that laptop will allow you to upgrade the RAM.
Disk Space
The disk space you end up choosing will most likely be determined by how much music your produce on a regular basis, so there isn’t anything by way of a minimum to offer. Whether or not you go primarily with solid state drives (SSD) for your main storage, or hard drives (HDD) is up to you and your preferences.
Most high-end laptops will have either a 256GB SSD or a 512GB SSD. HDDs offer the user a lot more storage, ranging anywhere between 500GB to 16TB of data storage available. These are good for storing back up files at home while you’re on the road.
You can also put all of your files on the HDDs, while only keeping what you need on your SSD for certain jobs.
Processing Power
Along with the amount of memory (RAM) available on your computer, processors help you handle multiple tasks at once. The more processing power and RAM you have, the more you’re able to do without frying the computer. You want something that’s going to give you at least 2.5 GHz of power, if not more.
The best processors to look for are Intel i5, Intel i7, or AMD A10. And make sure they’re quad-core processors, as dual-cores are not going to give you the power that you need for producing music.
Price
The price is also going to make a huge impact on your decision. Many laptops can be quite expensive, so we suggest only considering those that fit your budget. There are other laptops you can get that are much easier on the budget. It is possible to find a cheap laptop for music production.
8 Best Laptops for Music Production
Apple MacBook Pro 15” Retina with Touch Bar
One of The Best Choices for Music Production
Apple has been well-known for years as a leader in computer technology. The MacBook Pro 15″ with a brilliant 15.4 inches of Retina display and Touch Bar is no exception. This computer is usually the first choice when it comes to producing music.
You get to choose between the Intel Core i7 or i9 processor, either of which will give you more than enough processing speed to do what you need to do. You also have the option of a 256GB SSD or a 512GB SSD. It also comes with 16GB of RAM, upgradable to 32GB.
Pros:
- 10 hours of battery life
- Retina display
- Logic Pro X is Mac Only
- Can use any other DAW available
Cons:
- Very expensive
Razer Blade Stealth Graphics Model
The Most Powerful Laptop for Music Production
The Razer Blade Stealth may be small, but don’t underestimate its power based on that. With a quad-core Intel i7 processor it delivers 4.6 GHz in processing speed. Combined with 16GB of RAM, up to 11 hours of battery life, and 256GB of disk space, the possibilities are endless. This computer is an excellent choice for music production or gaming and has the power to do both.
Equally impressive is that all of that power is packed into a super thin, 13.3” frame, making it very portable for the DJ always on the go. You won’t find any other ultrabooks with this much power.
Pros:
- 11 hours of battery life
- 4.6 GHz in processing speed
- 16GB RAM
- Lightweight (under 3lbs)
Cons:
- Expensive
- Fan tends to run loud
Acer Predator Helios 300
A Budget Laptop for Gaming or Music Production
The first on our list to be only a bit more than $1,000, the Acer Predator Helios 300 still meets the minimum requirements for producing music. Packing a 6-core Intel Core i7 processor it delivers up to 4.6 GHz of processing speed. It also comes with 16GB of RAM and an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti, making it an excellent choice for gaming as well.
If you’re looking for a cheap laptop that meets all of your needs for producing quality music, you can’t get much better than this one.
Pros:
- Tons of power
- Affordable
- Quality graphics card
Cons:
- Slightly less battery life (7 hours)
- Tends to run hot
- Fans are loud
HP Spectre x360 13T Gemcut
2-in-1 Laptop with Unparalleled Audio Performance
If you are looking for a high-end convertible gadget, this one may draw your attention, as it features all the necessary characteristics to deliver the most powerful audio experience. That’s mainly thanks to exceptional Bang & Olufsen speakers, which made this one top-class laptop.
Equipped with cutting-edge 8th generation CPU, it passed the most stringent tests of durability and reliability and became one of the most trustworthy associates for all the sound designers seeking rich and solid audio experience. Extensive memory capacity allows you to perform the most demanding tasks without any obstacles. Excellent resolution promises superb and clear visual performance as well, supporting a wide spectrum of colors.
Being lightweight and portable, it will follow you wherever you are up to. The gadget is simply made to meet the demands of modern consumers who are constantly on the go.
Pros:
- Fantastic speed and networking
- Full HD IPS touchscreen panel
- Fingerprint reader
- Multiple connectivity options
- Active stylus pen included in the package
Cons:
- Occasional issues with screen flickering and freezing
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The Most Portable Option for Music Producers
The Surface Pro easily blows people away with how powerful it is, especially given that the battery life easily sits at 13.5 hours. And that’s even with standard video streaming. You get to choose between the Intel Core i5 or i7 processor; either way, it’ll perform well enough for your music production needs.
Although the RAM sits at 8GB, you won’t be able to tell unless you usually do a lot of heavy work. And at just 1.7lbs, this will hardly add any bulk to your mobile set up.
This is the most affordable laptop on this list and will work well if you’re on a very tight budget.
Pros:
- Power and performance
- Elegant display and super lightweight
- Long battery life
- Use a laptop or tablet
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Few connectivity options
- Not suited for serious music production
Dell XPS 15 7590
Powerful Laptop with Waves Maxxaudio for Ultimate Cinematic Sound
Coming from the company recognized for pushing the limits in manufacturing modern gadgets, this powerful laptop brings seamless visual and audio experience. The InfinityEdge display delivers virtually borderless experience and results in an expanded view.
Covering an extensive color palette, it brings the most delicate shades and nuances for an even better quality of the video. The anti-reflective screen and great brightness guarantee maximal experience even when outside. Multiple connectivity options allow you to pair it with a selection of other gadgets, eliminating all the limits and allowing you to perform any task.
Thanks to the slim and lightweight design, the product is easy to carry around wherever you are. Reliable battery life ensures many hours of work and fun, whatever you choose. Plus, the product is environmentally-friendly, with over 90% of it being recyclable.
Pros:
- Cutting-edge audio components
- Great memory and storage capacity
- Lengthy battery life
- Environmentally-friendly product
- Slim and lightweight design
Cons:
- The response rate is not the best one
- Disbalance between overall quality and the price
ASUS ROG Strix Scar II
One of the Most Stylish Laptops for Gaming or Music Production
For hardcore music producers and DJs who also need the perfect gaming laptop, look no further. The ROG Strix Scar II brings you superior power and performance, along with the most stylish features you’ll find for a high-end laptop. It has a 144 Hz narrow-bezel display with ultra-fast gray-to-gray response time. It also brings the best in video graphics with the GeForce RTX graphics card.
Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM gives you the right amount of power and speed, and the Hypercool Pro thermal system keeps the hard drive cool and dust free. Do what you want on this laptop without fearing it overheating.
Pros:
- Top of the line performance
- Gorgeous style and features
- Lots of connectivity available
- Excellent graphics
Cons:
- One of the pricier options available
- Sometimes fans can get loud
- Poor battery life
Huawei Matebook 13
Best Value for Music Producing
Don’t let the simple design of the Huawei Matebook fool you. It still packs a punch with an Intel Core i7 processor, boosting performance up to 40% over its predecessor. And it comes with the Nvidia GeForce MX150, making this a great laptop for video editing or casual gaming.
8GB of RAM allows for light to moderate music producing, and the precision touch screen makes it easy to navigate any of your programs or apps. Packed in a slim 13” frame and weighing only 2.86lbs, this laptop will be easy to take with you on the road.
Pros:
- Great performance
- Nvidia graphics card
- Decent price
- 1 year of Office 365 Personal
Cons:
- Only 8GB of RAM
- Limited connectivity
Summary
Finding the best laptop for music production can be difficult, especially considering the minimum requirements you may need to efficiently produce quality music. But that doesn’t mean you have to buy the most expensive one out there. The laptops provided here can give you a head start in your search, and a few of them are well under $1,000.
First decide how much you’re able to spend on a laptop, what operating system you’re comfortable using, and what DAW you plan to get. You also need to make sure that the laptop has enough RAM, disk space, and processing power.
Producing music is easier than ever now that you can take your work with you on the road. This article should help you make a well-informed decision to find the best laptop for your music.