Best Budget Laptops for Designers in 2024

Finding the perfect blend of performance, affordability, and design prowess in a laptop is kind of a challenge nowadays. But don’t worry, as we’ve listed several top-notch laptops tailored specifically to cater to the creative needs of designers like you, all without breaking the bank. 

So, what are you waiting for? Come browse the finest selection of affordable laptops that can enable you to realize their ideas in style. 

List Best Budget Laptops for Designers in 2024

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook

For graphic designers who rely on cloud-based applications, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 5 comes out as a compelling choice, offering both affordability and quality. Its standout features include a detachable keyboard and tablet functionality, paired with a striking 1080p OLED display. These attributes cater to your needs, especially if you prioritize portability, flexibility, and vibrant image clarity in your creative endeavors.

The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 processor and comes equipped with 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth performance when utilizing web-based graphic design tools. This configuration enables you to work seamlessly without encountering lags or performance issues, thereby enhancing productivity and workflow efficiency.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 5 is its impressive battery life, boasting up to 16 hours of usage on a single charge. This extended battery longevity surpasses that of many other Chromebooks on the market, providing you with ample time for prolonged design sessions without the need for frequent recharging.

Although the initial price of the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 5 may have been higher than its predecessor, subsequent price reductions have significantly increased its value proposition. As a result, it now stands as an unmatched option for designers seeking a cost-effective and versatile device tailored specifically for cloud-based graphic design work.

Price:

$440.69

Specifications:

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2

Screen size: 13.3-inch

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 128GB

Dell Inspiron 13 5310

In comparison to other options on the market, the Dell 13 stands out with its 13.3-inch 16:10 QHD+ display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600, which provides a high-resolution canvas for design tasks, ensuring crisp visuals and ample screen real estate for detailed work. The anti-glare coating minimizes reflections, enhancing visibility, while the narrow border design maximizes the display area, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience.

The inclusion of an 11th generation Intel Core i7-11390H processor, coupled with 16GB of high-speed LPDDR4x memory, delivers robust computing power for running graphic design and video editing software smoothly. The processor’s high clock speed of up to 5.0 GHz accelerates tasks such as rendering and processing complex graphics, contributing to faster workflow and productivity.

With a 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive (SSD), the laptop offers ample storage space for design projects and multimedia files. SSDs provide faster data access and transfer speeds compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), facilitating quicker file loading times and seamless multitasking.

Using an NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics card with 2GB of GDDR6 memory enhances the laptop’s graphical performance, enabling designers to work with high-resolution images, 3D models, and video editing projects efficiently. The dedicated graphics memory ensures smooth rendering and playback, contributing to a more fluid and responsive design experience.

Also, the Intel Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity options ensure reliable wireless connectivity for accessing cloud-based design tools, sharing files, and collaborating with team members remotely.

In comparison to other options on the market, the Dell 13 stands out with its 8GB of RAM and solid-state drive (SSD), offering faster data write speeds and improved overall system responsiveness. Additionally, the AMD Ryzen processor provides commendable multitasking performance, making it suitable for handling various design tasks simultaneously. The inclusion of a touchscreen option adds an extra layer of versatility, allowing for intuitive interaction with design software and creative applications.

Price:

$1,239.99

Specifications:

Screen Size: 13.3 Inches

CPU Model: Core i7 Family

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Graphics Processor: NVIDIA GeForce MX450

Apple Macbook Air M1

The Apple Macbook Air M1 is a powerful and versatile laptop suitable for various tasks, from daily browsing and productivity to photo and video editing. 

This laptop comes with an M1 chip with an 8-core CPU (Central Processing Unit) running at 3.2 GHz and a 7-core GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). This is Apple’s first generation of in-house designed processors for Macs, known for their good performance and power efficiency.

It has 16GB of unified memory. Unlike traditional computers where memory and storage are separate, Apple M1 uses unified memory, which can improve performance. Along with it comes a 256GB solid state drive (SSD) for storage.

It boasts a 16-core Neural Engine which is a separate chip designed for machine learning tasks, accelerating features like image and speech recognition.

It has Wi-Fi 6 for fast wireless internet, Bluetooth 5 for connecting wireless devices, two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports for high-speed data transfer and connecting peripherals, and a headphone jack.

Price:

$1,163.94

Specifications:

Screen Size: 13.3 Inches

Storage: 256 GB

RAM: 16 GB

Operating System: Mac OS

Graphics Processor: M1

HP 14 Business Laptop Computer

The HP Laptop, equipped with the latest AMD Ryzen 3 3250U Processor and 16GB of high-bandwidth DDR4 memory, delivers strong processing power tailored for advanced multitasking, demanding computing tasks, smooth gaming, and seamless browsing with multiple tabs open. This configuration ensures optimal performance for everyday tasks, enhancing productivity and efficiency for users across various applications.

Featuring a spacious 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, the laptop offers ample storage capacity while delivering significantly faster data access and boot-up times compared to traditional HDDs. The SSD’s superior performance not only enhances overall system responsiveness but also contributes to a quieter and cooler computing experience.

In terms of design, the HP laptop boasts a slim and portable form factor, enabling users to work seamlessly from anywhere. The inclusion of a 3-cell 50Wh battery provides extended battery life, offering up to 9 hours and 15 minutes of video playback, ensuring uninterrupted productivity throughout the day. Every aspect of the laptop’s design is crafted for comfort and style, providing users with both the power and aesthetic appeal they need to accomplish their tasks effectively.

The laptop’s 14-inch FHD IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 delivers stunning visuals with impressive color accuracy and clarity. The anti-glare feature and energy-efficient LED widescreen enhance viewing comfort, making it suitable for various activities such as internet browsing, photo/video editing, streaming, and gaming. The inclusion of AMD Radeon Graphics elevates the visual experience, providing vibrant and lifelike colors with detailed graphics performance.

In terms of collaboration and connectivity, the laptop comes equipped with Windows 11 Home, offering enterprise-grade security features to protect user data, powerful management tools to boost productivity, and long battery life to sustain prolonged usage. The Intel Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth support Gigabit speed and smooth streaming of high-resolution videos, while the HP True Vision HD Camera and tuned stereo speakers ensure readiness for remote work, virtual meetings, and online classes.

Price:

$429.00

Specifications:

Screen Size: 14 Inches

CPU Model: Ryzen 3 3250U

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon graphics

CPU Speed: 2.6 GHz

Acer Aspire 3 A314-23P-R3QA

The Aspire 3 is meticulously designed to facilitate seamless travel while maintaining an appealing aesthetic. Its thin and lightweight construction ensures effortless portability, allowing users to move with ease without compromising on style.

Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen 5 7520U Processor with Radeon Graphics, the Aspire 3 offers ready-to-go performance suitable for the entire family. Whether it’s productivity tasks or multimedia entertainment, this laptop excels at delivering smooth and efficient performance, catering to diverse user needs.

The 14.0-inch Full HD IPS display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels presents visually stunning imagery with sharp details and crisp colors. This immersive viewing experience enhances multimedia enjoyment and productivity, providing users with a clear and vibrant display for their content.

Internally, the Aspire 3 is equipped with 8GB of LPDDR5 Onboard Memory and a spacious 512GB NVMe solid-state drive storage, ensuring ample space for storing files and media while facilitating swift data access and system responsiveness.

The inclusion of an HD front-facing camera utilizing Acer’s TNR (Temporal Noise Reduction) technology ensures high-quality imagery even in low-light conditions, enhancing the user’s video communication experience. Additionally, Acer PurifiedVoice technology with AI Noise Reduction filters out extraneous noise, ensuring clear communication during online meetings.

Wireless connectivity is optimized with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology and 1×1 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), providing users with a strong and consistent wireless signal for seamless internet access and connectivity.

Improved thermals are achieved through a 78% increase in fan surface area and an additional 17% thermal capacity. This enhanced thermal system allows for longer and more efficient work sessions without the need for constant charging, ensuring uninterrupted productivity for users on the go.

Price:

$415.00

Specifications:

Screen Size: 14 Inches

Hard Disk Size: 512 GB

CPU Model: Ryzen 5

RAM: 8 GB

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

ASUS Vivobook 16

The Asus Vivobook 16 boasts a 16-inch screen with a WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Additionally, it features ultra-slim NanoEdge bezels, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio to 86%, as certified by TÜV Rheinland. This ensures a visually immersive experience with minimal bezel distraction.

Powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5625U Mobile Processor clocked at 2.3GHz (with a maximum boost frequency of 4.3GHz), this laptop offers substantial processing power. The processor features 6 cores, 12 threads, and a sizable 16MB cache. Graphics performance is supported by integrated AMD Radeon graphics, suitable for everyday computing tasks and light gaming.

It is equipped with fast storage and memory options. It includes a 512GB PCIe G3 SSD for storage, providing quick data access and boot times. Additionally, it features 8GB of DDR4 RAM, enabling smooth multitasking and responsive performance. The laptop operates on Windows 11 Home Edition.

It meets the US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard, ensuring durability and reliability under various environmental conditions. This certification indicates resistance to shock, vibration, temperature extremes, and other factors commonly encountered in rugged environments.

With a sleek and lightweight design, the laptop weighs only 4.14 lbs and measures 0.70 inches slim. This slim and portable form factor makes it convenient for users who are frequently on the move.

Also, it features an ErgoSense Backlit Chiclet Keyboard with a Num-Key layout, providing comfortable typing even in low-light conditions. Additionally, it includes a fingerprint sensor that is compatible with Windows Hello, offering convenient and secure biometric authentication.

Price:

$389.99

Specifications:

Screen Size: 16 Inches

Storage: 512 GB

CPU Model: Ryzen 5

RAM: 8 GB

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Final Thoughts

You don’t buy a laptop every day, and they aren’t everyday devices. It’s important to understand your needs and you can take it from there. 

With this article, we’re pretty sure that you already have an idea regarding the brand or model of laptop you will purchase for your graphic design needs without hurting your wallet.