10 Best Laptops for Music Production

Arek Dvornechuck
12 min readAug 10, 2022

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10 Best Laptops for Music Production

If you are an editor or producer looking for a high-quality laptop for music production, then this article is definitely for you.

Music production is the process of generating, composing, and polishing recorded music for public display.

And the laptop is the heart and soul of any modern music production studio.

What is the best laptop for music production?

Before we proceed to my top picks, I just want you to know what the use of a laptop is in music composition.

You can now record anything on a laptop computer, whether it’s bass guitar, hip-hop, or a classical quartet.

Even if every laptop can be used to compose music at some level, the more serious your objectives, the more selective you must be when selecting a laptop for music creation.

You need a laptop that has an i7 quad-core processor with at least 2.2 GHz of RAM, which should be at least 4 GB.

And also an operating system that has at least 256 GB of internal storage (HDD or SSD). A 15-inch screen is a bare minimum.

Don’t worry, because all of those specs are on my list of laptops, and you can choose which device is best for you.

So without keeping you waiting, let’s move on to my top picks for the best laptops for music production.

10 Best Laptops for Music Production

  1. Razer Blade Stealth — Best overall
  2. ASUS ROG Zephyrus — For professionals
  3. Apple MacBook Pro — Most powerful
  4. Microsoft Surface Pro — For students
  5. Razer Blade 15 — Most portable
  6. Dell XPS 13 9310 — For production software
  7. ASUS ZenBook Duo — Best-value
  8. Acer Aspire 5 — Best-budget
  9. Dell XPS 15 7590 — Best for artists
  10. Microsoft Book 2 — Best for beginners

How to choose the best laptop for music production

When purchasing a laptop, there are a few things to keep in mind, especially for creatives and professionals.

How to choose the best laptop for music production?

You can find a “laptop purchase guide” in this article to assist you in making an educated decision.

  1. Processor
  2. Display
  3. Graphics
  4. RAM
  5. Storage

To assist you in understanding why these things should come first, here’s an additional explanation:

Processor

This is the most important part of the laptop that you need to consider before you buy one.

The processor, sometimes called the CPU (central processing unit), is the engine of every laptop and has the greatest impact on your productivity.

The processor is also responsible for all of the system’s fundamental operations, including processing user input from the keyboard and mouse and running programs.

So if you’re planning to buy a laptop for music production, you must deal with this.

Display

You need to consider this because, in music composition, you need to see clearly the graph and pitch of the music.

And also, low-display laptops will cause you to work less efficiently and not see small details clearly.

The IPS technology of the FHD displays on my list, on the other hand, gives better viewing angles.

Graphics

A laptop’s graphics are responsible for translating data into a signal that your monitor can understand, so you also need to consider that.

The graphics card is an essential component of any laptop or computer system because it converts processed data into a video signal that can then be shown on a monitor.

And the graphics card you use will make your picture look better and smoother.

RAM

The entire performance of a laptop is controlled by its CPU and RAM, so you also need to consider this.

Your laptop’s response speed improves as a result of having more RAM.

At the very least, you should acquire a laptop that has at least 16GB of RAM if you want to work better, especially in the music industry.

Storage

And lastly, storage is also one of the important criteria if you’re planning to buy a laptop.

Short-term data can be found in your computer’s memory, but long-term data can be found in the storage component of your computer.

And lastly, applications, operating systems, and files are stored indefinitely in your storage.

For complete information about it, here’s my list of the 10 best laptops for music production.

1. Razer Blade Stealth

If you’re a creative or professional that’s looking for the best overall laptop for music production, then check out this Razer Blade Stealth.

The best overall laptop for music production.

Its aluminum body and long battery life make it very thin, light, and strong.

Razer Blade Stealth

It also has a 120 Hz full HD display with a 100% sRGB color gamut, which allows for smooth images in applications.

Furthermore, with its single-zone RGB lighting with 16.8 million color options and a precision glass touchpad, this keyboard is also included.

Lastly, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, wireless AX, an HD webcam, and four array microphones are included.

The Razer Blade Stealth is a great choice for people who are looking for the finest overall laptop for mass production.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7–1165G7 4 Core
Display:
13.3" 1080p 120Hz
Graphics:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q
RAM:
16GB
Storage:
512GB SSD

Pros

  1. Excellent GTX graphics
  2. Compact design

Cons

  1. Expensive

Download Razer Blade Stealth on Amazon

2. ASUS ROG Zephyrus

For professionals that are searching for an excellent laptop that is suitable for their needs, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus is a must-have.

The best music production laptop for professionals.

With 16GB of high-bandwidth RAM, you’ll be able to run many programs and browser tabs continuously, whether you’re working on music, photos, or videos.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus

It also has no moving parts, which results in speedier start-up times and data access, as well as reduced heat output and battery consumption, making it ideal for devices with limited battery life.

With an eight-core CPU clock speed of up to 4.6 GHz, it’s a popular choice in high-end gaming laptops and for mass production.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus is an outstanding choice for professionals who are looking for a great laptop for music production.

In terms of laptop processing power, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is up there with the best of them.

Specifications

CPU: AMD 8-Core Ryzen 9 5900HS
Display:
‎15.6 Inches
Graphics:
NVIDIA RTX 3070
RAM:
16GB
Storage:
1TB SSD

Pros

  1. Excellent battery life
  2. Powerful speakers

Cons

  1. Costly

Download ASUS ROG Zephyrus on Amazon

3. Apple MacBook Pro

Next on my list is the Apple MacBook Pro, which is the most powerful laptop for music production.

The most powerful laptop for music production.

It has a massive CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance boost with the Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max chip.

Apple MacBook Pro

Up to a 10-core CPU provides up to 3.7x faster performance for professional operations like mass production.

A GPU with up to 32 cores and a 13x increase in speed is available for use with graphics-intensive software and games.

Also, its battery life is as long as 17 hours, so you don’t need to worry about draining your device.

The Apple MacBook Pro is one of the highest-quality laptops you can buy today.

So, if you’re looking for an impressive laptop for music production, then check out this Apple MacBook Pro.

Specifications

CPU: 8‑core
Display:
14-inch
Graphics:
14‑core
RAM:
16GB
Storage:
512GB SSD

Pros

  1. High-quality display
  2. Excellent battery life

Cons

  1. Limited port

Download Apple MacBook Pro on Amazon

4. Microsoft Surface Pro

Are you a student and wondering where to get a quality laptop that is suitable for your needs? — No further, because the Microsoft Surface Pro is for you.

The best music production laptop for students.

With its 8th Generation Intel Core CPU and all-day battery life, it may help you take your ideas to the next level.

Microsoft Surface Pro

The Microsoft Surface Pro is a nice choice because of the new 8th Generation Intel Core processor, which results in a powerful and high-quality laptop for music production.

On the other hand, the Tablet Mode Kickstand is closed, removing or folding back the Type Cover for a powerful Intel tablet that may be used as a stand-alone device.

For a complete keyboard experience, we recommend our Alcantara-covered type cover.

So, if you’re searching for the finest laptop for students who are looking for the best device for music production, then the Microsoft Surface Pro is an excellent choice.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i5
Display:
12.3 Inches
Graphics:
‎Intel UHD Graphics
RAM:
8GB RAM
Storage:
128GB

Pros

  1. Excellent Intel 10th Gen CPU
  2. USB-C port

Cons

  1. No Thunderbolt 3

Download Microsoft Surface Pro on Amazon

5. Razer Blade 15

For creatives or professionals that are searching for a portable laptop for music production, the Razer Blade 15 is a must-have.

The most portable laptop for music production.

The 10th-generation Intel Core i7–10750H CPU has a maximum turbo speed of 5.0 GHz and six cores, making it perfect for mass production.

Razer Blade 15

Modern video games and creative works like music composition greatly benefit from the lightning-fast performance of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics.

On the other hand, in the smallest feasible footprint, the CNC aluminum unibody frame houses an incredible amount of power while remaining incredibly durable and just 0.78" thick.

Additionally, the laptop has a webcam, wireless AC, Bluetooth 5, two USB Type-A connectors, and two USB Type-C ports.

The Razer Blade 15 is the best choice if you’re searching for the most portable laptop for music production.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7–10750H 6-Core
Display:
15.6" FHD 1080p 120Hz
Graphics:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
RAM:
16GB
Storage:
256GB SSD

Pros

  1. Great OLED display
  2. Longer battery life

Cons

  1. Expensive

Download Razer Blade 15 on Amazon

6. Dell XPS 13 9310

If you’re an editor or producer looking for the finest laptop for production software, then check out this Dell XPS 13 9310, which is an excellent choice.

The best laptop for production software.

Precision computing and music production are made easy with the 500-nit FHD+ touchscreen display (1920 x 1200).

Dell XPS 13 9310

If you’re looking for a tiny and light touchscreen laptop, 11th Gen Intel Core mobile processors make it possible.

Intel Iris Plus graphics outperform the competition in gaming, streaming, and creative applications.

Lastly, in order to get the best performance in the smallest possible form factor, you need two fans that are separated to diffuse heat out across a larger area.

The Dell XPS 13 9310 is one of the highly recommended laptops for music production, especially for production software.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7–1195G7
Display:
13.4 inches FHD+
Graphics:
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM:
16GB
Storage:
512GB SSD

Pros

  1. Excellent Integrated graphics
  2. Good battery life

Cons

  1. Limited port

Download Dell XPS 13 9310 on Amazon

7. ASUS ZenBook Duo

If you’re looking for a best-value laptop that is perfect for music production, then the ASUS ZenBook Duo is a must-have.

The best-value laptop for music production.

It has a 14-inch 4K matte touchscreen that lets you maximize your multitasking experience by expanding the screen or splitting windows.

ASUS ZenBook Duo

It also has a 15.6-inch OLED UHD Nano Edge touchscreen glossy primary display with a 1920x1080 resolution.

And a Core i9–11900H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6GB of VRAM for music creation.

The ASUS ZenBook Duo is an excellent choice for people who are searching for a high-end laptop for music producers.

So, if you’re looking for a costly but powerful laptop for producing music, then the ASUS ZenBook Duo is a great choice.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i9–11900H
Display:
15.6” OLED UHD Touch Display
Graphics:
GeForce RTX 3060
RAM:
32GB
Storage:
1TB SSD

Pros

  1. Great OLED displays
  2. Excellent performance

Cons

  1. No SD card slot

Download ASUS ZenBook Duo on Amazon

8. Acer Aspire 5

Next on my list is the Acer Aspire 5, which is the best-value but high-quality laptop for music production.

The best-budget laptop for music production.

However, it boasts an AMD Ryzen 3 3350U processor, which combines desktop-class performance and battery life in a small laptop for less than $500.

Acer Aspire 5

The Acer Aspire 5 is a great choice if you’re looking for the most affordable but quality laptop for music purposes.

On the other hand, its 5.0 GHz Max Turbo and 6 cores make the Intel Core i7–10750H processor from Intel’s 10th generation the ultimate workhorse.

In addition, the device’s 1 hard disk bay has 4GB DDR4 onboard memory and a 128GB NVMe solid-state drive storage for your data and media.

So, if you have a large enough budget and are still undecided about which laptop is best for mass production, take a look at the Acer Aspire 5.

Specifications

CPU: Ryzen 3 3350U
Display:
15.6" Full HD IPS Display
RAM:
4GB DDR4
Storage:
128GB NVMe SSD

Pros

  1. Great IPS display
  2. Elegant design‍

Cons

  1. Shorter battery life

Download Acer Aspire 5 on Amazon

9. Dell XPS 15 7590

For students who are looking for the finest laptop that is suitable for music production, the Dell XPS 15 7590 is a must-have.

The best music production laptop for artists.

On the screen, it has a 400-nit OLED Infinity Edge anti-reflective, 100% DCI-P3, and 4K UHD (3840x2160) resolution.

Dell XPS 15 7590

It also includes 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5 graphics for music production.

As a result, visuals appear smoother, and color gradients have more depth thanks to the 16 million colors.

Finally, Dell put the Infinity Edge display on the XPS 15, which makes the margins much smaller.

The Dell XPS 15 7590 is one of the highly recommended laptops for students who are doing music production.

Specifications

CPU: 6-Core i7–9750H
Display:
15.6 Inch 4K UHD Non-Touch
Graphics:
NVIDIA GTX 1650
RAM:
16GB
Storage:
512GB SSD

Pros

  1. Excellent performance
  2. Attractive design

Cons

  1. Below-average battery life

Download Dell XPS 15 7590 on Amazon

10. Microsoft Book 2

Last but not the least, is the Microsoft Book 2, which is the best music production laptop for beginners.

The best music production laptop for beginners.

Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 combines a laptop, a tablet, and a mobile studio all in one device.

Microsoft Book 2

It has a quad-core Intel processor, and the latest NVIDIA GeForce GPUs deliver the highest graphics performance yet for professional-grade software.

Using a backlit keyboard and a touchscreen-ready display, you’ll be able to get your thoughts down quickly.

The Microsoft Book 2 is a great choice for people who are just starting in music production.

So, if you want to start editing or composing music and you’re looking for the best laptop that is suitable for you, then the Microsoft Book 2 is a must-have.

Specifications

CPU: 7th Gen Intel Core i5–7300U
Display:
13.5“
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics
RAM:
8GB
Storage:
128GB

Pros

  1. Great battery life
  2. High-quality case

Cons

  1. Expensive

Download Microsoft Book 2 on Amazon

Conclusions

For an editor or producer, it is necessary to have the finest laptop for your industry, especially for music.

And I listed the possible laptops that I think this article will help you choose which best fits your needs.

What is the best laptop for music production?

All the laptops on my list are highly recommended for music production, but if you’re a professional, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus is an excellent choice.

Also, if you’re a beginner and you’re wondering about the best laptop that is suitable for you, then the Microsoft Book 2 is a must-have.

Furthermore, for artists that are looking for a high-quality laptop that is perfect for them, I recommend the Dell XPS 15 7590.

I also included the Acer Aspire 5 and the ASUS ZenBook Duo, which are the best budget and best-value laptops for mass production.

And lastly, the Razer Blade Stealth, which is the best overall laptop that is perfect for the music industry.

Now that I have given you my details and information, which do you think is the best laptop for music production? — Leave a comment below.

Originally published at https://www.ebaqdesign.com on August 10, 2022.

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