The Best Laptops for Designers and Creatives (UK): 12 Picks for Every Budget
The best laptops for graphic design, photo editing and video in the UK, from a £499 MacBook Air M1 to the MacBook Pro M5 Pro, plus Windows options.
Apple MacBook Air 13in M1 (8GB, 256GB)
A great-value MacBook for lighter design work.
- Low price for a MacBook
- Silent, fanless design
- Sharp Retina screen
Apple MacBook Air 13in M1 (Refurbished)
A refurbished M1 Air for even less.
- Even cheaper
- Same M1 performance
- Warranty included
Apple MacBook Neo 13in (A18 Pro, 8GB, 512GB)
Apple's newer budget MacBook.
- 512GB storage
- Modern Apple chip
- Light and portable
ASUS Vivobook Flip 14 Copilot+ PC (Refurbished)
A flip-around laptop you can draw on.
- 2-in-1 design
- Copilot+ AI features
- Good price
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro (Core Ultra 7, 16GB, 512GB)
A slim Windows laptop with a lovely screen.
- 16GB RAM
- Slim and light
- Core Ultra 7
Dell Pro 14 (Core Ultra 5, 16GB, 512GB)
A reliable business laptop for design teams.
- 16GB RAM
- Business build quality
- 512GB storage
Apple MacBook Air 13in M5 (16GB, 512GB)
The sweet spot for design work.
- 16GB RAM
- Fast M5 chip
- Silent and light
Apple MacBook Air 15in M5 (16GB, 512GB)
More screen space for design work.
- Large 15in screen
- 16GB RAM
- Still light
Apple MacBook Pro 14in M5 (16GB, 1TB)
A MacBook Pro with lots of storage.
- 1TB storage
- Bright Pro display
- Fan for sustained work
Apple MacBook Pro 14in M5 Pro (24GB, 1TB)
Serious power for video and 3D.
- M5 Pro chip
- 24GB RAM
- 1TB storage
MSI Vector 16 HX AI (Core Ultra 7, 16GB)
A powerful Windows laptop with dedicated graphics.
- Dedicated graphics
- Large 16in screen
- Fast processor
Apple MacBook Pro 16in M5 Pro (24GB, 1TB)
The biggest MacBook screen for pros.
- Huge 16in display
- M5 Pro power
- Long battery life
Design work needs a laptop with a sharp, accurate screen, plenty of memory and enough power for apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma and video editors.
We've picked 12 laptops from Laptops Direct, from a budget MacBook Air for students to powerful MacBook Pros and Windows creator laptops.
Ways to save
- Refurbished laptops can save hundreds of pounds and still come with a warranty
- Older Apple chips, like the M1, are still good for lighter design work
- See all laptops at Laptops Direct
The quick picks
- Best budget: Apple MacBook Air 13in M1, £499.97
- Best for students: Apple MacBook Neo 13in, from £719.97
- Best for most designers: Apple MacBook Air 13in M5 (16GB, 512GB), £1,198.97
- Best for heavy work: Apple MacBook Pro 14in M5 Pro, £2,199
- Best Windows option: Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro, £899.97
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What to look for in a laptop for design
- Memory (RAM). 16GB is the sweet spot for design work. 24GB or more helps with big files and video.
- Storage. Design files are big. 512GB is a good minimum, or use an external SSD.
- Screen. A bright, colour-accurate screen matters most for photo and print work.
- Mac or Windows. Most creative apps run on both. Choose the one you, or your workplace, already use.
- Graphics. For 3D and heavy video work, a laptop with a dedicated graphics card or a Pro chip helps.
So, which laptop should you buy?
Students and beginners: the MacBook Air M1 or MacBook Neo.
Most designers: a MacBook Air M5 with 16GB of RAM.
Video, 3D and big files: a MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip, or the MSI Vector 16 HX.
Common questions
How much RAM do I need for graphic design?
16GB is enough for most graphic design and photo editing. Choose 24GB or more for video editing, 3D or very large files.
Is a MacBook Air good enough for design?
Yes, for most graphic design, illustration and photo editing. For long video renders or 3D, a MacBook Pro keeps cool and fast for longer.
Is a refurbished laptop a good idea?
It can be a great way to save money. Buy from a trusted shop and check the warranty and condition grade.
Do I need a touchscreen or pen?
Not necessarily. Many designers use a separate drawing tablet. See our drawing tablets guide.
Related guides
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- We researched popular options sold by major UK retailers.
- We compared features, specifications and verified buyer reviews.
- We checked prices across several stores so you can see where it is cheapest.
Apple MacBook Air 13in M1 (8GB, 256GB)
The M1 MacBook Air is several years old, but it's still fast, silent and has a sharp Retina screen. It's a good choice for students and lighter design work.
✓What We Like
- Low price for a MacBook
- Silent, fanless design
- Sharp Retina screen
✕What to Keep in Mind
- 8GB RAM limits heavy work
- 256GB fills up quickly
Apple MacBook Air 13in M1 (Refurbished)
This refurbished M1 MacBook Air saves you money on an already good-value laptop. Check the condition grade and warranty on the product page.
✓What We Like
- Even cheaper
- Same M1 performance
- Warranty included
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Refurbished
- 8GB RAM
Apple MacBook Neo 13in (A18 Pro, 8GB, 512GB)
The MacBook Neo uses Apple's A18 Pro chip and comes with 512GB of storage. It's a good, affordable choice for students and everyday creative work.
✓What We Like
- 512GB storage
- Modern Apple chip
- Light and portable
✕What to Keep in Mind
- 8GB RAM
ASUS Vivobook Flip 14 Copilot+ PC (Refurbished)
This refurbished Vivobook Flip folds into a tablet, which is handy for sketching and presenting work. It's a Copilot+ PC with an Intel Core Ultra processor.
✓What We Like
- 2-in-1 design
- Copilot+ AI features
- Good price
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Refurbished
- Check pen support
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro (Core Ultra 7, 16GB, 512GB)
The Galaxy Book5 Pro is thin and light, with an Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It's a strong Windows choice for design work.
✓What We Like
- 16GB RAM
- Slim and light
- Core Ultra 7
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Not for heavy 3D work
Dell Pro 14 (Core Ultra 5, 16GB, 512GB)
The Dell Pro 14 is a dependable work laptop with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, good for design work in an office.
✓What We Like
- 16GB RAM
- Business build quality
- 512GB storage
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Plain design
Apple MacBook Air 13in M5 (16GB, 512GB)
With Apple's M5 chip, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, this MacBook Air handles Photoshop, Illustrator and Figma easily, while staying light and silent.
✓What We Like
- 16GB RAM
- Fast M5 chip
- Silent and light
✕What to Keep in Mind
- No fan for long, heavy renders
Apple MacBook Air 15in M5 (16GB, 512GB)
The 15in MacBook Air gives you a larger canvas for design, with the same M5 chip and 16GB of RAM.
✓What We Like
- Large 15in screen
- 16GB RAM
- Still light
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Costs more than the 13in
Apple MacBook Pro 14in M5 (16GB, 1TB)
This MacBook Pro has the M5 chip, 16GB of RAM and a big 1TB of storage, plus a brighter display and a fan for longer, heavy work.
✓What We Like
- 1TB storage
- Bright Pro display
- Fan for sustained work
✕What to Keep in Mind
- 16GB RAM for this price
Apple MacBook Pro 14in M5 Pro (24GB, 1TB)
The M5 Pro chip and 24GB of RAM make this MacBook Pro a great choice for video editing, motion graphics and big design files.
✓What We Like
- M5 Pro chip
- 24GB RAM
- 1TB storage
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Expensive
MSI Vector 16 HX AI (Core Ultra 7, 16GB)
The MSI Vector 16 HX is a gaming-style laptop with a fast Intel Core Ultra 7 and dedicated graphics, which helps with 3D, rendering and video work.
✓What We Like
- Dedicated graphics
- Large 16in screen
- Fast processor
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Heavier than a MacBook
- Shorter battery life
Apple MacBook Pro 16in M5 Pro (24GB, 1TB)
The 16in MacBook Pro gives you the most screen space, the M5 Pro chip and 24GB of RAM, ideal for professional video and design.
✓What We Like
- Huge 16in display
- M5 Pro power
- Long battery life
✕What to Keep in Mind
- Very expensive
- Larger and heavier
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