Are struggling to find out the Best Laptops for Animation [2D, 3D, AR, VR] in 2021?
Whether it’s 2D, 3D, VR, or AR, some of the world’s most powerful laptops are wanted by animators around the globe.
It’s easy on the desktop as the size is not a problem. But in the case of notebooks capable of animating, a challenging mix of performance, mobility and durability must be looked for.
You won’t have to wait for hours before finishing your job or adding additional layers. However, it should not drag you with its weight or keep crashing now and then.
Choosing the right laptop for animators becomes an irritating process when we make all these demands available.
A high-end gaming laptop or a portable workstation is one of the easiest solutions. Still, many options must be abandoned even at the moment.
Therefore, it is more sensible to select a laptop with adequate power, cutting-edge graphical support with a great display, and overall reliability.
Minimum & Recommended System Requirements.
As said previously, we are searching for laptops that combine top-quality performance, stable hardware, and appropriate graphics to create animation and professional output.
Although a laptop with minimum system requirements can be used in animation, the process won’t be as smooth as recommended.
Because of the same reason, we have set a particular number of resources as standard, including 16 GB RAM and a powerful Intel Core i7 processor with nearly all the options.
Even better than updating your laptop every year, spending a little money on your first animation laptop.
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With our style intact, we have included products from different price ranges, categories of performance, and designated purposes.
So no matter who you are, you’ll discover the ideal laptop for your needs and budget here, whether you are a beginner or professional animator.
1. MSI GL65 Leopard – Best Overall.
MSI GL65 Leopard
Best for Animation
- Processor- 5 GHz
- RAM- 16 GB DDR4
- Memory Speed- 2.6 GHz
- Processor Brand- Intel
- Processor Count- 6
- Computer Memory Type- DDR4 SDRAM
- Flash Memory Size- 512
Finding the best-suited laptop for animation is no longer difficult, as you can put your trust in the MSI GL65 Leopard.
With an appropriate hardware combination, this device is a capable desktop-replacement that outperforms practically every modern device.
The Intel Core i7-10750H chipset is a solid asset whether working on 2D animation apps like Harmony and After Effects or implementing 3D software solutions like Blender, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and Maya.
This powerful processor enables you to precisely create keyframes or obtain the optimum shaded view for the assigned task.
Even though the GPU is not a limiting element, MSI includes a mighty RTX 2070, which can be helpful during heavy rendering.
Furthermore, this CPU finds the ideal balance between six cores and a fantastic turbo clock frequency of 5GHz, giving you an advantage in both single and multi-threaded workloads.
In addition, you’ll have access to 8GB of VRAM, which will provide you with an advantage when it comes to texture-intensive rendering.
In terms of storage, you’ll have access to a high-speed 512GB SSD module. The 16GB RAM module complements the i7 processor’s fastest potential clock speed, allowing you to manage several processes, pictures, and meshes with ease.
In addition, the existing solid-state drive will enable you to quickly recover completed animations and sequences when loading up the Windows 10 Home OS.
Animators appreciate high-quality displays, and the MSI GL65 Leopard delivers with its 15.6-inch IPS panel.
While the full resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels is standard, our experts were more impressed with the 72 percent NTSC color spectrum.
Furthermore, the color-accurate panel has a 144Hz screen refresh rate, which is a valuable tool for gamers and animation artists.
The MSI GL65 Leopard includes a slew of productivity-boosting features, including a beautiful backlit keyboard, Hi-Res acoustic setup, groundbreaking thermal design with 7 heat-dissipating pipes, and the intelligent Dragon Center for flawless resource allocation.
Nonetheless, the device is believed to be on the heavy side, and MSI provides purchasers with a 5.07-pound label.
In addition, you have access to USB 3.1 Type-C, Type-A, Wi-Fi 6 standard, and other necessary ports in terms of connectivity.
The MSI GL65 Leopard, on the other hand, does not provide the best-in-class battery backup, as the pre-existing module only lasts 4 hours under normal conditions.
As a result, if you’re looking for a desktop replacement for your animation-heavy workload, this is the laptop for you.
2. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Laptop for Animation.
Acer Predator
Best Runner
- Processor- 2.6 GHz core_i7
- RAM- 16 GB SDRAM
- Memory Speed- 2933 MHz
- Hard Drive- 512 GB SSD
- Processor Brand- Intel
- Processor Count- 6
- Computer Memory Type- DDR4 SDRAM
- Flash Memory Size- 512 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has everything you’d want in a laptop designed for high-end animation.
If you enjoy 3D animation, graphic design, drawing, or are a VFX ninja who frequently dabbles in cinematography or video editing, this machine is for you.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is marketed as a gaming laptop, but it is also excellent for animation.
Despite this, this laptop has some of the most impressive features you can buy for such a low price.
The same is powered by an Intel Core i7-10750H CPU with a base frequency of 2.6GHz. However, Turbo Boost may increase the clock speed to 5GHz, which is ideal for rendering.
Going a step further, the Helios 300 has 16GB of DDR4 RAM. When paired with 512GB of SSD storage, you can expect the fastest boot times and multi-layer editing.
The greater the quantity of RAM, the smoother the transition and rendering will be at all times. Nonetheless, we wish the laptop provided a greater amount of SSD-based storage.
One can also enjoy regular games like Fortnite, Overwatch, and Minecraft. Not only that, but it also allows you to study challenging courses such as game creation, Android development, web design, and others. What else do you require?
In terms of visual real estate, the Acer Predator Helios 300 features a 15.6-inch Full HD screen with 1920 x 1080.
In terms of dedicated graphics, a high-performance 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is provided, which is an excellent choice for content creators in general.
Furthermore, the laptop makes no concessions regarding connectivity since it includes high-speed Wireless & Bluetooth technology.
There are plenty of ports because you’re looking at a decently sized laptop. One USB 3.1 Type C port, one USB 3.0 port, and two USB 2.0 ports are included by Acer.
There’s also a complete HDMI port and an RGB illuminated keyboard with plenty of customization choices.
Last but not least, this powerhouse laptop just weighs 5.07 pounds. It does not specify how much battery backup it can supply, but it is likely to be less than an Ultrabook.
3. Apple MacBook Pro – Best with MacOS.
Apple MacBook Pro
Best for Animation
- Product Dimensions- 15 x 11.4 x 4.2 inches
- Item Weight- 6 pounds
- ASIN- B092CNLS29
- Item model number- MacBook Pro
Suppose you are an artist who uses applications that operate well with macOS. In that case, you may need to select any one of these MacBook devices as your ideal laptop.
In that case, the MacBook Pro 16 is an excellent buy for the money.
This high-performance laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-10750H processor running at 2.6GHz. Still, it can reach 4.5GHz when Turbo Boost is activated.
As you’ve seen, MacBook laptops are ideal for RAM management. As a result, the 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM is sufficient for even the most demanding animation program.
Add to that the capability of 512GB of whole SSD storage.
This means you won’t have to worry about external storage while still taking advantage of multitasking and resource-intensive applications.
Apple always brags about its displays, and content creators do as well. A 16-inch Retina display with incredible sharpness and color depth has been introduced in the Apple MacBook Pro.
You won’t miss any details while viewing or rendering with a quality of 3072 x 1920. On the graphics front, we can see a Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of VRAM.
The Apple MacBook Pro is one of the Apple gadgets that has totally switched to USB Type C. You will, however, receive four Thunderbolt 3-enabled ports that are used for charging, data transfer, and nearly any other purpose.
It also includes the Touch Bar and Touch ID, which provide ease and customization. At the end of the day, Apple anticipates a battery life of up to 10 hours in the Apple MacBook Pro while keeping the weight to just 4.3 pounds.
4. ASUS ROG Zephyrus S – Best Laptop for Animation.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus
Best for 2D, 3D
- Processor- 3.9 GHz apple_ci7
- RAM- 16 GB DDR4
- Memory Speed- 2666 MHz
- Hard Drive- 512 GB Hybrid Drive
- Computer Memory Type- DDR4 SDRAM
- Flash Memory Size- 512
Another gaming laptop, the ROG Zephyrus S, is an excellent alternative if you want a slim yet powerful computer that is ideal for animators who also enjoy photo editing, 3D rendering, and other tasks.
An Intel Core i7-8750H CPU with a Turbo Boost speed of up to 3.9GHz powers the device. This ensures a smoother animation process, even if you’re utilizing some of the most challenging software available.
Because there is a greater emphasis on design, there will undoubtedly be some lower sections.
For example, the device only has 16GB of DDR4 RAM. You receive 512GB of SSD storage on the plus side, which is plenty for quickly launching software packages and speedier boot-up times.
Although not as powerful as the first option, this combination of RAM and storage would be sufficient to keep your animation projects fresh.
Another gaming-related function of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S is helpful if you are an animator. It has a 15.6-inch full HD display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution.
What matters most is the 144Hz refresh rate, which allows you to make those quick changes. The 8GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is more than capable of completing all tasks with dedicated graphics.
THANKS TO ITS SLIM AND THIN DESIGN, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S is one of the most stylish performance-oriented gadgets available today.
When it comes to performance and quality, a backlit keyboard and tuned fans make all the difference.
In keeping with the small form, the laptop weighs only 4.6 pounds and has a battery life of up to 2 hours, which we think is adequate for a gaming laptop.
Overall, you are receiving a quality experience for the money you are paying.
5. Razer Blade 15 – Best from Razer.
Razer Blade 15
- Processor- 4.1 GHz core_i7
- RAM- 16 GB
- Hard Drive- 1 GB Flash Memory
- Processor Brand- Intel
- Processor Count- 6
- Flash Memory Size- 512
For various reasons, this Blade 15 version is renowned as the world’s smallest gaming laptop. The main reason is that it packs a lot of power into a small chassis without adding much bulk.
For the same reason, we believe it is an excellent laptop for high-performance jobs such as animation, music creation, data science, machine learning, and so on.
The Razer Blade 15 is powered by an Intel Core i7-8750H processor with a maximum clock speed of 4.1GHz. This essentially means that animation programs will work smoothly.
Multitasking is essential for any animator, and the Razer Blade 15 has taken this into consideration.
You receive 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is more than enough to run resource-intensive software like Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Revit, and MS Excel.
Not only that, but it can effortlessly manage other scholarly and practical pastimes such as online browsing.
When it comes to storage, Razer provides 256GB of whole SSD storage, which is adequate. However, you may want to consider purchasing a portable SSD for project storage.
Despite being the lightest gaming laptop available, the Razer Blade 15 boasts a large enough full HD screen of 15.6 inches.
Furthermore, we feel that limiting the resolution to 1920 x 1080 will result in greater battery life in the end. Nonetheless, thanks to the bundled NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, you can access 6GB of dedicated graphics.
Accuracy is one of several things you can anticipate from the laptop, despite its small size. Because it is a gaming laptop with a responsive trackpad, an excellent keyboard, and extensive connectivity.
You get one Thunderbolt 3 USB Type C port, two USB 3.0 ports, a full HDMI port, and a dedicated power port, for example.
To make things even smaller, the laptop weighs only 4.56 pounds, which is a godsend for most animators. Razer, on the other hand, makes no guarantees on battery life.
6. Microsoft Surface Book 2 – Best 2-in-1.
Microsoft Surface Book
Best laptop for animation
- Processor- 3.6 GHz core_i5_8250u
- RAM- 128 GB DDR3
- Memory Speed- 1866 MHz
- Number of USB 3.0 Ports- 2
- Average Battery Life- 17 Hours
You get the standard 16GB of DDR4 RAM on the memory front, which should be enough for most users.
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 has 256GB of whole SSD storage, much like the prior model. However, in this case, you get the additional advantage of lightweight and portability. You can also choose a variant with more storage if you are willing to pay a greater fee.
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is one of the only laptops available today with a 4K display for animators.
The 15-inch display has a quality of 3260 x 2160, which ensures that everything is crisp and clear. Touchscreen functionality adds a lot of value.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 includes 6GB of GDDR5 video RAM to keep things on track at all times. Most animation software can make use of these resources.
The Microsoft Surface Book’s design is just as crucial as its connectivity. In addition to using the device like a laptop, it can also be converted into a tablet. Most designers’ lives would be made more accessible by support for Microsoft peripherals.
Despite the robust performance we witnessed, Microsoft forecasts up to 10 hours of battery life when streaming. That is unrealistic if you are rendering. On the plus side, the laptop only weighs 2.38 pounds, which we consider to be first class.
7. MSI GS65 Stealth – Best Laptop for Animation.
MSI GS65
- Processor- 2.6 GHz apple_ci7
- RAM- 16 GB DDR4
- Memory Speed- 2666 MHz
- Card Description- Dedicated
- Graphics Card Ram Size- 6 GB
MSI has been producing some of the greatest premium gaming laptops on the market, and the MSI GS65 Stealth is one of the best.
As it turns out, this laptop offers enough power for 3D animation and CAD-related tasks while remaining compact enough for portability.
First and foremost, the Intel Core i7-8750H processor is clocked at 3.9GHz, which isn’t particularly fast but meets most requirements. And this isn’t the laptop’s best feature.
When it comes to memory size, the choices are nearly identical to those made previously. For regular multitasking, you get 16GB of DDR4 RAM.
In addition, the laptop includes 512GB of SSD storage, making it easier for users who like to store their projects on the PC itself.
This means you can avoid spending money on a portable HDD or SSD. And, on any given day, things move at a breakneck pace.
The MSI GS65 Stealth display is likely its most stunning feature. If your animation job necessitates color sensitivity, the 15.6-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 is ideal.
The panel also has a higher refresh rate of 144Hz.
When coupled with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, which has 6GB of VRAM, the visual quality of everything on the laptop is superb.
The MSI GS65 Stealth’s connectivity is quite extensive, and it also supports Thunderbolt 3.
However, we believe that other characteristics such as an excellent keyboard and a fast network are essential when working online. Also, because you’re working with a VR-ready laptop, testing will be a breeze.
After all, you can’t expect the battery to last a whole day. However, given that you have a 4.14lb laptop, it can’t be a difficult decision.
8. GIGABYTE Aero 15X – Best Display Quality.
GIGABYTE Aero
Best laptop
- Processor- 8032
- RAM- 16 GB DDR4
- Memory Speed- 4.1 GHz
- Processor Brand- Intel
- Processor Count- 6
- Flash Memory Size- 512 GB
The GIGABYTE Aero 15X is unquestionably one of the top choices for animators looking for a slimmer design without sacrificing performance.
This ultra-thin gaming laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-8750H processor with an essential clock speed of 2.2GHz and a Turbo Boost speed of up to 4.1GHz.
It should also be noted that the laptop has skillfully done cooling and airflow control.
Despite its slimmer form, the Aero 15X comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM. In most animation programs, this would be too much to get the task done.
The PC also includes 512GB of SSD storage to keep things running as quickly as possible. Both of these factors are important when it comes to achieving maximum speed, among other things.
The GIGABYTE Aero 15X display is most likely its best feature. It’s a 15.6-inch display with a narrow bezel and a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. As a result, your animation programs and games might be speedy.
In addition, it has a complete resolution of 1920 x 1080. Finally, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 boasts an ample 8GB VRAM to handle any graphics-intensive workloads in terms of dedicated graphics.
As previously said, the GIGABYTE Aero 15X is an ultra-thin laptop. However, this hasn’t stopped the business from integrating appealing features like a lighted keyboard and expanded connections.
In addition, Thunderbolt 3 is supported by the computer’s USB Type C connectors. The I/O portion even has an SD card reader.
Last but not least, the laptop promises to have a peak battery life of up to 10 hours even though it weighs only 4.41 pounds.
9. Dell Inspiron i7559 – Best Dell Laptop.
Dell Inspiron
- Processor- 3.5 GHz core_i7_6700hq
- RAM- 16 GB DDR3
- Memory Speed- 3.5 GHz
- Hard Drive- 1 TB SATA
- Processor Brand- Intel
- Processor Count- 4
- Computer Memory Type- SDRAM
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money but want a good laptop for animation, the Dell Inspiron i7559 is an excellent option.
Finally, you’re getting a suitable device from Dell’s Inspiron line-up which can power through everything.
The device is powered by an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor with a base clock of 2.6GHz and a Turbo Boost speed of up to 3.5GHz.
The Dell Inspiron i7559 falls short of the other devices we’ve reviewed when it comes to RAM and storage.
You receive 8GB of DDR3 RAM, which can be expanded to up to 16GB. In addition, Dell has integrated a hybrid HDD with a storage capacity of 1TB. In fact, there is an 8GB SSD cache.
It’s also one of the few laptops on the list that has a 4K display. If your job needs you to create content with extreme precision, the 15.6-inch 4K touch-enabled display with a high resolution of 3840 x 2160 is ideal.
The laptop is outfitted with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM to power the graphics side of things. Of course, for the most part, these are low-level visuals.
The Dell Inspiron i7559-5012GRY excels at connectivity. There are plenty of ports, including three USB 3.0 connections and one complete HDMI port.
It also has a built-in SD card reader, which would be helpful for many multimedia creators. It’s also worth noting that this is a Microsoft Signature laptop, which means it comes with a slew of helpful software from the manufacturer.
Last but not least, the laptop’s battery life is estimated to be up to 10 hours. However, at 6.07 pounds, it’s a bit of a hefty bundle.
Frequently Asked Question
Is it essential to have dedicated graphics on a laptop for animators?
Yes. Animation applications use a lot of resources and are pretty graphically heavy. Therefore, it is advantageous to have dedicated graphics since visual performance can be improved. You may also use these cards for playtesting games.
What advantages does a 144Hz screen provide the animator?
A faster screen refresh rate ensures a more responsive overall experience. This will come in handy when you’re inside a complex interface and want the smoothest experience possible. It will also let you test games at a higher quality if you are designing them.
Is SSD storage required?
Whole SSD storage is a must-have in most laptops, in our opinion. But, at the end of the day, we’re looking for a quick and easy experience. SSD storage provides faster read and writes rates, allowing for shorter rendering times, among other benefits.
Are gaming laptops in general large?
When compared to Ultrabooks, the majority of gaming laptops are more significant in size. However, this has been done to improve airflow and performance. Therefore, when picking a computer for animation, we feel that performance should be your main priority.
How much money should I spend on a laptop?
You may have various requirements depending on the intensity of the animation software you are using. As a result, you must choose a laptop that can meet all of your needs rather than one that may hinder your productivity.
Conclusion:
We hope that this list of the best laptops for animators has assisted you in selecting the suitable laptop for your needs.
Many of the machines, as you may have seen, are gaming laptops. This is an intriguing fact because the parameters required for gaming software can also be used for animation software.
Having said that, if you want the benefits of portability as well as performance, you can choose devices like the Surface Book 2 and Razer Blade 15.
At the end of the day, it’s great if your budget does not limit your options because smooth performance is crucial when you’re a professional animator.
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