Are you looking for the best laptops for music production? You are at the right place. A powerful laptop is vital for a music producer or any creative person.
Music production entails working with powerful software like DAW, and thus power is what you need in a music production laptop.
For decades, Apple has been the leading brand as far as music production laptops are concerned.
However, things have changed now because other brands like Dell, HP, ASUS, Microsoft, and Samsung have also upped their game. You don’t have to stick to one brand because more brands are producing capable laptops for music production.
In this article, we have sourced and tested the best music production laptops from different brands, and now we are here to give our honest opinion and the things you need to look for when buying one.
A laptop is great and portable. However, if portability is not a problem for you, then you can go for a desktop computer that can work just as well.
If you are looking for the best budget laptop for music production we have previously covered Best Laptop for music production under 300$.
What are the Best laptops for producing music?
- Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop 9th Gen 15.6 Best Overall
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – Editors Choice
- Dell Inspiron 3583 – Best Laptop for Music Production under $300
- HP PAVILION 17.3″ FHD– Best Big Laptop For Music Production
- HP 14″ HD AMD 3020e Laptop Best laptop for music production under $500
- Acer Chromebook 314 – Alternative laptop for music production under $500
- Chuwi HeroBook Pro 14.1″ Laptop Best Music Production Laptop With A Sleek Look
- Dell Inspiron 13.3″ 5310 QHD Core i7 Laptop Best Portable Laptop for Music Production
- LG Gram 17Z90P Laptop IPS Ultra-Lightweight Best Big Yet Light Laptop
- Asus VivoBook L203MA Ultra-thin laptop Best Laptop for Music Production Beginners
- Acer Aspire 5 Slim Cheap Laptop for Music Production
Acer Nitro 5 – Best Laptop For Music Production
- Screen: 15.6 Inch size
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Processor: Core i5 fifth generation CPU
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 256 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics
- Backlit Keyboard
- Battery Life: 8 Hours
Acer Nitro 5 takes the lead in this list thanks to its powerful features best suited for music producers, and the good news is that it comes at a highly affordable budget.
Acer did not take it easy on the design of this laptop. They decided to give it a stylish look, something that makes you want to work from anywhere.
This gaming laptop has powerful speakers that produce great bass and a clear sound excellent for listening to music. It also has a backlit keyboard, so the darkness will not hinder you from handling important tasks.
Coming down to whether this Acer is suitable for music production. With a Core i5 fifth generation CPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM, storage of 256 SSD, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, you get your best fit for music production.
We loved all the mouth-watering specs this laptop has, making it easy for you to produce high-quality music, and you can even create videos.
The best thing is you can always expand the RAM and SSD if you want something more significant.
Pros
- Great design with a backlit keyboard
- Has Acer Boost Technology
- Has Acer Harmony and Waves MaxxAudio for a great sound experience
- Comes at a fair price
Cons
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – Editors Choice music production laptop
- Screen: 14 Inch size
- Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
- Processor: AMD Dual Core 3000 Series(Up to 2.6GHz)
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
- Sleek White look with a small modern Micro-edge Bezel
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 was our favorite laptop, and we love to think it’s because of its uniqueness.
The ROG Zephyrus G14 has an AMD Ryzen 8 4900HS CPU making it a powerful gaming laptop. With the CPU coupled with NVIDIA RTX 2060 graphics, you get nothing less than excellent high-quality visuals.
This monster laptop has powerful G14 speakers and a sleek design. The bezels are ultra-thin, and that’s where we have a problem.
This laptop doesn’t have a webcam, so if you need a laptop that has one, you should weigh your options first.
Getting down to performance, we are still baffled by how this brand managed to wedge all these illustrious combinations of features.
The RIG Zephyrus G14 has 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max Q Graphics, and 1TB NVMe SSD storage.
You don’t expect a mediocre performance with all these specs because this laptop is a powerhouse.
Pros
- High-end performance
- Sleek and sturdy build
- Great port choices
- Comfortable keyboard
- Light and compact
Cons
- Missing webcam
Dell Inspiron 3583 – Best Laptop for Music Production under $300
- Screen: 15.6 Inch size
- Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 CPU
- RAM: 4 GB to 16 GB
- Storage: 500 GB to 2 TB
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 610
The Dell Inspiron 3583 has an overall product dimension up to 14.96 by 10.16 by 0.79 inches, with a lightweight and easily portable build of 2 kgs only.
The screen display features a large 15.6-inch size and a lovely 1366 x 768 pixels resolution for clear and crisp visuals.
When it comes to processing, it features fast and powerful 8th-generation Intel Core processors and you get 3 options to choose from.
The first model comes with the 8th generation Intel Core i3 processor, the second one is the 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor, and the last one is powered by the 8 th generation Intel Core i7 processor.
These powerful processors unveil a fast clock speed of up to 2.1 GHz with a boost of up to 3.7 GHz enhancing your laptop’s performance.
Similarly to that, the RAM levels vary, with models harboring 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB RAM levels and further support upgrades.
You can successfully configure your 4GB Dell Inspiron 3583 to a 16 GB RAM laptop. Rendering music tracks and running multiple programs at the same time is therefore made efficient and faster.
Finally, you can choose when the internal storage is concerned, between 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB models. This allows massive space to store a large number of files and documents.
Pros
- Sleek lightweight design
- Quality processors
- Quality screen features
- Upgradable RAM
- Standard size for portability
Cons
- Low RAM levels
- Small-sized internal storage
- internal storage is not upgradeable
HP PAVILION 17.3″ FHD Laptop 2022 Version – Best Large Screen Laptop For Music Production
- Screen: 17.3 Inch size
- Resolution: 1920 X 1080 pixels
- Processor: Core i5 Quad-Core processor
- RAM: 4 GB to 16 GB
- Storage: 1 TB
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Here is another powerful laptop with a bigger display that guarantees you stability and a massive view of your projects.
HP Pavilion 17.3″ FHD has a Core i5 Quad-Core processor and powerful Intel Iris Xe Graphics that gives you flawless performance.
We love to call this laptop a monster because it has a massive storage of 1 TB SSD, so you don’t have any limitations as far as performance is concerned.
With all these features, music production has gone a notch higher. And the fun part is, even with all these specs, you don’t have to break the bank to purchase this great laptop.
Pros
- Great audio experience
- Large display
- It has a backlit keyboard
- High resolution offering crisp, clear images
Cons
- It doesn’t have a touchscreen
HP 14″ HD – Best laptop for music production under $500
Who doesn’t want a slim and sleek laptop? Even creatives do, but most slim laptops come with some flow.
But that’s not the case with this HP 14″ HD AMD laptop. The laptop is so slim, yet it carries powerful features to help you handle tasks easily and faster.
HP has been one of the leading brands producing high-quality laptops, and you can always find something for you under this brand’s umbrella.
If you’re a person who travels a lot or works remotely, we highly recommend this laptop. The HP 14″ HD AMD 3020E is lightweight and slim, making it easy to carry around.
The laptop has narrow bezels with a bright screen, making it easy to work on your projects even when under intense light.
With Solid State Drive storage, this laptop offers seamless performance even when working with heavy software. Another thing we truly love about this laptop is that you can switch the operating system from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro.
Pros
- Reliable performance for music production
- Great power for multitasking
- Long battery life
Cons
- The sound is not up to the bar
Acer Chromebook 314– Alternative Cheap Laptop for Music Production
Features: Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel Celeron N4000 Dual-Core Dimensions: 12.81 x 9.13 x 0.78 inches Screen 14 inches Resolution: 1280×720 pixels full HD RAM: 4 GB Storage: 64 GB Embedded MultiMediaCard Processor: 2.6 GHz celeron_n Battery Life: 12.5 Hours |
Acer Chromebook 314 is ours and takes the best overall for this category of music production devices. For its very friendly price range, it packs great features only found in more expensive laptops.
Just like the HP Stream Laptop Intel, it comes with a large 14-inch wide screen size with a nice antiglare coating to protect your eyes from direct light.
The resolution is crisp and clean thanks to the 1920×1080 pixels full HD IPS LED type display. This means that you will see all your work in high and clear detail.
A powerful Intel Celeron N4000 Dual-Core processor together with 4 GB RAM memory ensures the Laptop is fast and can easily multitask as you move across your different music production applications. Additionally, a dedicated Intel UHD Graphics 600 graphics card helps increase your laptop’s speed.
The sleek design and long battery life of up to 12.5 hours make the Acer Chromebook 314 easily portable if you like working out of the office or away from a power connection.
Dell Inspiron 3000 Touch Screen Laptop – Touch Screen Laptop For Music Production
If you want the best laptop for music production with a touch screen, then the Dell Inspiron 3000 will end your woes. This laptop carries excellent features, so we can confidently call it a mini powerhouse because you can do a lot with it.
Dell Inspiron 3000 has a 15.6-inch display and two types of storage; 1TB HDD and 128GB SSD.
We tested the 16 GB RAM model because we love massive RAMs, and we loved how well it worked with most DAWs.
The Inspiron 3000 has a beautiful compact design and is lightweight. You can mix, produce, and do other things with this laptop without any lag. If you’re the kind of person who loves multitasking, this is the laptop you need.
- Has Windows 11 given it a new look
- Powerful graphics and processor
- Comes with a 32GB USB
Chuwi HeroBook Pro 14.1″ Laptop – Best Music Production Laptop With A Sleek Look
You wouldn’t expect anything good from a laptop that costs less than $500. But with half the amount, you get this premium-looking laptop with unique specs.
The Hero Book Pro has a 14.1-inch display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 600, and an Intel Gemini Lake Processor. With these features, we got more than what we expected.
We must say that this laptop is excellent for a bedroom or home studio. If you’re looking for a computer desperately but are willing to upgrade, this might be a great start.
The keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience, and the laptop’s borderless design makes it gorgeous.
HeroBook has four speakers, so it’s great for someone who is looking forward to producing music and listening to music.
Pros
- High-quality speakers
- Increases productivity
- Great laptop for studying and business
Cons
- No HDMI port
Dell Inspiron 13.3″ 5310 QHD Core i7 Laptop – Best Portable Laptop
Dell Inspiron 5310 was designed for music producers and creatives who want portability and high performance on a laptop.
This laptop weighs just 3 lbs and has an extended battery life of 10 hours, meaning you can use it for 9 hours or without plugging it into a power source.
 Additionally, you don’t have to worry about reflections when working in a bright environment because this laptop has a non-reflective display with powerful sRGB colors.
The Inspiron 5310 has an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor coupled with the latest NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics, giving it the power to perform effectively.
Dell Inspiron 5310 has adaptive thermals that help the laptop cool down and reduce power consumption, so you get to work longer.
Pros
- It has a fingerprint sensor
- Backlit keyboard
- Great performance
- Wi-Fi 6
Cons
- Sometimes does overheat
Asus VivoBook Ultra-thin laptop Best Laptop for Music Production Beginners
When it comes to portability, the Asus VivoBook L203MA comes to mind, courtesy of a panel size of 11.2 by 7.5 by 0.66 inches. Additionally, the laptop is light in weight, weighing 3.2 pounds/ 1.4 Kg allowing easy mobility.
However, the screen harbors lower levels of screen resolution compared to other laptops in this category of 1366 by 768 pixels.
The VivoBook L203MA features the Intel Celeron N4000 processors, achieving up to 2.6GHz speeds. Processing is therefore made faster and more efficient for a legless experience while using the laptop.
However, low 4GB RAM may hinder the larger demanding files but you can successfully upgrade the RAM for more efficient functionality.
Moreover, since we are in the mood for an upgrade, you can feel free to boost the laptop’s 64GB internal storage, although some users could work well with the size.
Pros
- Fast processors
- Great for mobility and portability
- Upgradable RAM and internal storage
- Sleek and lovely design
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Low original internal storage and RAM levels
- Low-quality screen resolution
LG Gram 17Z90P Laptop IPS Ultra-Lightweight – Best Big Yet Light Laptop
If you are looking for a good laptop for music production with a large screen, then this LG Gram 17Z90P Laptop might be your best pick.
One thing people love about large screens is that you can multitask hassle-free without straining your eyes.
Not only that, music production entails working with complex apps with complex arrangements. This is where the big display becomes a vital factor.
Most people believe that big display laptops are bulky, but this LG Gram 17″ has proved them wrong. This laptop is lightweight, and it even weighs less than most small display laptops on this list.
The performance of Gram 17Z90P is also top-notch, all thanks to the brilliant choice of specs the engineers made.
With a RAM of 16GB, an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and massive storage of 2TB SSD, you expect nothing but top-notch performance.
Pros
- Superb performance
- Long battery life
- Large display
Cons
- The price is a little high
Acer Aspire 5 – Cheap laptop for Music Production
- CPU; Intel Core i5
- Storage; 512GB
- RAM; 8GB
- Screen size; 15.6 inches
- Screen resolution; 1920*1080 pixels
- OS; Windows
When it comes to a cheap compact laptop for music production, the Acer Aspire 5 A15 is a great choice for you. This is courtesy of impressive CPU, storage, and RAM levels.
The Intel Core i5 processor is the processor of choice in the Aspire 5 A15, and is quite fast, revealing speeds of up to 4.20GHz.
An additional 8GB of RAM then comes into the picture to add speed and efficiency. Therefore rendering is made easier while using multiple programs simultaneously is quick and efficient.
Internal storage is another vital feature in laptops, and the Aspire 5 A15 provides an impressive 512GB for a large storage area for files and documents.
Far from functionalities, the laptop’s 15.6-inch screen visuals are lovely and well-detailed. This is provided by a combination of a screen resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels and IPS technology. The display in turn is full High-definition with rich color production.
At just above $500, the Acer Aspire 5 A15 is most definitely a steal and will serve you right in your music production at a low budget.
Pros
- Powerful processor
- Budget-friendly
- Large internal storage
- Quality HD display
Cons
How to Choose the Best Laptop For Music Production
There are several factors you would have to consider when purchasing a laptop for music production.
Processor and Performance
Performance is the first thing you want to consider because music production requires power. A low-performance laptop will lag and frustrate you along the way because you’re going to work with powerful DAWs. You can only match the DAWs by getting a laptop with a powerful processor and bigger RAM.
RAM
The RAM also determines the performance of your laptop. With good RAM, you can work with apps efficiently and quickly at a fast rate. Sometimes music production entails lots of multitasking, so you need a laptop with a higher RAM.
Storage Space
You need more space to store your produced audio and other large files. A Laptop with low storage space will not make it possible. It’s good to go for a laptop with large storage so that you can always get space to store more projects.
We love to recommend laptops with SSDs because they tend to process data faster and have high performance. Although they might be higher priced than their HDD counterparts, you can never go wrong with one.
Connectivity
Another factor you need to consider is connectivity. Ensure that the laptop you intend to buy has all the necessary ports you need. Some of these ports are;
- USB
- HDMI
- Audio ports
Still, you have to check for the available wireless connections like WiFi and Bluetooth on the connectivity point. These features are essential because they streamline your work, and you can easily work with other devices.
Battery Life
Buy a laptop with a battery life of 8 hours minimum. You can also get one that goes up to 15 hours, so you can work longer without any stress of recharging the battery, especially if you travel
Weight
To some, weight doesn’t matter, but if you love working from anywhere or traveling a lot, then get yourself a lightweight laptop.
Conclusion
Music production is a massive task that high-performance laptops can only handle. The DAWs you’re going to use demand powerful processors and laptops that will not lag when a simple task is thrown at them.
The laptops on the list above are from different brands, and they possess various features so that you can choose according to your preferences. We hope you find one from this list that will enable you to work comfortably even on the most complex tasks.
Best Laptops For Music Production
- Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop 9th Gen 15.6 Best Overall
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – Editors Choice
- Dell Inspiron 3583 – Best Laptop for Music Production under $300
- HP PAVILION 17.3″ FHD– Best Big Laptop For Music Production
- HP 14″ HD AMD 3020e Laptop Best laptop for music production under $500
- Acer Chromebook 314 – Alternative laptop for music production under $500
- Chuwi HeroBook Pro 14.1″ Laptop Best Music Production Laptop With A Sleek Look
- Dell Inspiron 13.3″ 5310 QHD Core i7 Laptop Best Portable Laptop for Music Production
- LG Gram 17Z90P Laptop IPS Ultra-Lightweight Best Big Yet Light Laptop
- Asus VivoBook L203MA Ultra-thin laptop Best Laptop for Music Production Beginners
- Acer Aspire 5 Slim Cheap Laptop for Music Production
What laptops are recommended for music production?
Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop 9th Gen 15.6 is the Best Laptop for music production.