By When deciding on the best laptops for music production, there are a few things to consider. Music production may not be as demanding as video editing or 3D design, but it still necessitates specific tools, which means that not all of the best laptops will suffice.
The best laptop for music production should have a robust processor, for one, as you need a lot of power and speedy performance for running DAW (digital audio workstation) software like ProTools and Logic. While a powerful graphics card isn’t necessary, plenty of fast RAM is, as you need that to handle all those large audio tracks and plugins. And, having a lot of storage space is just as important so you can keep all those samples and audio files with you without carrying around extra hard drives.
For one thing, the best laptop for music production should have a powerful processor, as running DAW (digital audio workstation) software like ProTools and Logic requires a lot of power and quick performance. While a powerful graphics card isn’t required, you will need plenty of fast RAM to handle all of those large audio tracks and plugins. It’s also important to have a lot of storage space so you can keep all those samples and audio files with you without carrying around extra hard drives.
We compared these music production laptops in terms of internal hardware, performance, design, and portability. Among other things, we compared their battery life, display, connectivity ports, and pricing.
We’ve also reviewed the best video editing monitors, laptop stands, and USB flash drives.
1. MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021)
MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021)
Best laptop for music production overall
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Apple M1 Pro 8-core – M1 Max 10-coreGraphics: Integrated 14-core – 32-core GPURAM: Up to 64GBScreen: 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR displayStorage: Up to 8TB
REASONS TO BUY
- Brilliant performance
- Best screen on a laptop
REASONS TO AVOID
-For some, the screen may be too small. It’s no surprise that the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is the best choice for music production, given that it’s also the best choice for video editing and photo editing.
This M1 Pro or M1 Max-powered laptop elevates the MacBook Pro to new heights, with breathtaking power, equally astounding battery life, and an XDR display with 1600 nits of peak brightness and a wide color gamut. The SD card slot, HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports (all of which will remain available thanks to the return of MagSafe charging) are nice little extras.
The mini-LED technology on this laptop is the same as the one on the new iPad Pro, and it gives a massive 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
2. Dell XPS 13 (2020)
Dell XPS 13 (2020)
A powerful and light laptop for music production
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 10th generation Intel Core i5 – i7Graphics: Intel Iris PlusRAM: 8GB – 16GBScreen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – 4k (3840 x 2160)Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
- Gorgeous design
- Excellent battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
- Lackluster audio
- Expensive
For years, the Dell XPS 13 (2020) has been a regular on our best laptops list, and it also deserves a spot on our best laptops for DJs list. It retains everything we’ve come to love about Dell’s flagship 13-inch display, from the beautiful and light design to the powerful modern components that power it.
However, with 10th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and a bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display, the Dell XPS 13 (2020) is a fantastic performer while remaining thin and light. There are also numerous customization options.
The XPS 13’s speakers, like most ultrabooks, aren’t great, and the speaker placement doesn’t help the audio quality. The connectivity options are also limited, with only two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a microSD slot, and a headphone jack.
3. MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)
MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)
A top content creative laptop in a slightly larger package
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Apple M1 Pro 10-core – M1 Max 10-coreGraphics: Integrated 16-core – 32-core GPURAM: Up to 64GBScreen: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR displayStorage: Up to 8TB
REASONS TO BUY
- Extremely long battery life
- Plenty of ports
REASONS TO AVOID
-On the bigger side
No matter what kind of creative you are, the MacBook Pro 16-Inch is a beast of a computer. Its performance is only rivaled by its younger sibling, and while the beautiful screen is merely a bonus for audio creators, its size will provide you with some extra screen real estate for your workflow.
Moreover, its impressive battery life will get you through an entire show. You’ll also notice no performance throttling because it’s not plugged in. It also has plenty of ports — 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), HDMI, SDXC card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and MagSafe 3 — so you can plug in all your audio peripherals.
The show is absolutely breathtaking. It has a one billion color support for smoother gradients and a 120Hz refresh rate, making it the fastest MacBook Pro 16-inch display yet.
4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition
A powerful laptop for music production with a robust controller
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HSGraphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GBRAM: 16GB DDR4Screen: 14-inch, IPS, 2,560 x 1,440, 120HzStorage: 1TB Samsung M.2 SSD
REASONS TO BUY
- Great CPU performance
- Good battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
-Expensive
What distinguishes the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition is found both inside and outside the box. It’s the same great laptop as the regular G14, but with a new color for the chassis and color options for the keyboard. This collaboration with the YouTube DJ, on the other hand, is more than just a paint job.
The box that comes with it can be used as a mixing controller or as a synth pad that connects via USB-C to use with a dedicated app. Even if you already have dedicated controllers, the G14 Alan Walker Special Edition includes two USB-C and two USB-A ports for connecting them. It also has enough power to handle most music production sessions.
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