The best laptops for drawing and sketching all have touchscreens that can be used with a stylus. This adds up to a surprisingly natural and intuitive art experience. But which one should you choose?
To answer that question, we've asked our experts to road-test a range of the best devices, to pick out the very best laptops for drawing. They've both tested them scientifically, by running standard benchmark tests, as well as actually drawing on each device using different software, to find out what they're like to use in practice. And they've paid particular attention to the colour accuracy, resolution and responsiveness of the screens.
As a result, we've drawn up the curated list of laptops for drawing and sketching you see below. However, if you don't really need a keyboard, you may prefer to read our guide to the best drawing tablets instead. If you're looking for a brilliant standard laptop, see our list of the best laptops for graphic design.
This is our top pick for the best laptop for drawing because of its brilliant screen, generous battery life, and high performance, especially when you team it with a Surface Slim Pen 2. Read more below
Want to save cash? Offering excellent value for money, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 has a glorious screen, a handy USB-C port (great for connecting a stylus) and zippy performance. Read more below
More tablet than a laptop, the Surface Pro 9 still offers a fully-fledged Windows 11 experience but with added portability, and and you can add an optional keyboard. Read more below
Running a lot of resource-intensive software, or just want a super-quick machine? Then you'll appreciate the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, a high-performance laptop that combines powerful Intel and Nvidia hardware with a sleek design. Read more below
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) has truly stunning screen. This 3K OLED touchscreen display offers a 120Hz refresh rate, a 100% sRGB colour gamut and 1.07 billion colours. Read more below
The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a high-end 2-in-1 laptop that's great for drawing thanks for its responsive OLED touchscreen, powerful internal components, and included stylus. Read more below
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✅ You want a versatile drawing device: The 3-position design is perfect for digital artists.
✅ Touch and pen input are priorities: The 120Hz display with Surface Pen support is excellent.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need long battery life: The 5-6 hour battery life may not last through a full workday.
❌ You need maximum processing power: M3 MacBooks offer better performance at similar prices
The bottom line
🔎 Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels as a premium drawing device with its versatile design and gorgeous display, though battery life and price may give some artists pause. ★★★★
What you need to know: The Surface Laptop Studio 2 stands out as a versatile choice for artists, offering a three-position design that transforms from laptop to tablet. Our reviewer found its stunning 14.4-inch touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rate makes drawing feel incredibly natural and responsive. While it packs the latest 13th Gen Intel processors and NVIDIA RTX graphics options, it's more suited to digital art and design than demanding 3D work.
Design: Microsoft has created a beautifully engineered device here, with smooth chamfered corners and sleek edges. The innovative split-hinge design enables three distinct positions: laptop, stage (45-degree angle), and studio (flat tablet) modes. At slightly over 4 pounds, it's heavier than competitors, but the premium aluminum build quality and robust construction justify the weight.
Connectivity: Port selection on this laptop is adequate though not exceptional, with Thunderbolt 4 ports supporting external displays and high-speed data transfer. The Surface Connect port provides proprietary charging, while USB-A and 3.5mm headphone jack offer legacy support. Modern wireless standards include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1.
Display: The 14.4-inch touchscreen is a highlight, featuring a sharp 2400x1600 resolution with 201 PPI and 120Hz refresh rate. The 3:2 aspect ratio provides more vertical space for artwork, while the display offers excellent colour accuracy and brightness. Best of all, touch response with the Surface Pen is exceptional, making it ideal for digital artists.
Performance: Equipped with 13th Gen Intel Core processors and various NVIDIA GPU options (from RTX 4050 to 4060), the Studio 2 handles creative tasks well but falls short of M3 MacBook Pro performance. Our tests showed relatively modest Geekbench scores of 1296 single-core and 6008 multi-core.
Battery life: Despite Microsoft's claim of 16 hours, our testers found real-world usage delivered around 5-6 hours, which is disappointing if you want to draw on the go and can't access a power socket.
Price: This laptop starts at $1,999/£2,069, with higher-end configurations reaching nearly $3,000/£3,000. While expensive, it offers unique functionality for digital artists that few competitors can match.
Screen: 35.6 cm (14") Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 Touchscree
Storage: 128 GB Flash Memory
Reasons to buy
+
Fast and reliable performance
+
Large 14-inch FHD touchscreen
+
Sturdy aluminium frame
Reasons to avoid
-
Flash memory rather than SSD
Buy it if
✅ You're on a budget: This Chromebook offers great value for basic digital art needs.
✅ You're comfortable with ChromeOS: It works well with Android drawing apps and web-based tools.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need professional creative software: You can't run Windows or macOS apps on a Chromebook.
❌ You want a lightweight tablet: The 1.5kg weight is noticeable in tablet mode
The bottom line
🔎 Acer Chromebook Spin 514 offers impressive value for budget-conscious artists, with a quality touchscreen and solid performance, though software limitations may restrict professional users. ★★★★
What you need to know: If you're looking for an affordable 2-in-1 drawing device, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 offers impressive value. While ChromeOS limits your choice of software (you can't run the desktop version of Illustrator, for instance), our reviewer found its 14-inch Full HD touchscreen and versatile design make it ideal for digital sketching and note-taking. The AMD Ryzen 5 processor delivers snappy performance for ChromeOS apps and Android drawing applications.
Design: Built with a sturdy aluminum chassis, the Spin 514 feels more premium than its price suggests. At 1.5kg it's a bit heavy for extended use in tablet mode, but the robust hinges allow smooth transitions between laptop, tent, and tablet positions. The keyboard offers comfortable typing with slightly raised keys, while the touchscreen provides responsive input for drawing and navigation.
Connectivity: Port selection is comprehensive, featuring two USB-C ports, one USB 2.0 port, HDMI, a MicroSD slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. While the inclusion of older USB 2.0 makes the profile slightly thicker, it offers practical compatibility for artists connecting drawing tablets and other peripherals. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth provide reliable wireless connectivity.
Display: The 14-inch Full HD touchscreen is a standout feature, offering 1920 x 1080 resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Our reviewer found the display produces vibrant colours with sharp whites and good brightness levels, though you'll need to increase brightness for optimal use. The widescreen format provides ample space for drawing and running multiple apps.
Performance: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor with 8GB RAM handles ChromeOS tasks smoothly, achieving impressive benchmark scores (887ms in Kraken). While perfect for web-based creative apps and Android drawing applications, it can't run professional desktop creative software. The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics are sufficient for basic creative work but not for demanding 3D applications.
Battery life: This laptop delivers nearly 10 hours of continuous use, though this decreases with screen brightness turned up for drawing. Still, it's enough for a full day of creative work.
Price: Starting at $399/£379 for the Ryzen 3 model, with our recommended Ryzen 5 version at $579.99/£599.99. We reckon this is excellent value for artists on a budget who can work within ChromeOS limitations.
✅ You need a premium build: The design and materials of this laptop are top-notch.
✅ You already own Surface accessories: This will work with previous generation peripherals.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're on a budget: This laptop is expensive, especially for well-equipped models.
❌ You need maximum performance: Consider a dedicated laptop instead.
The bottom line
🔎 Surface Pro 9 delivers a premium 2-in-1 experience for artists with full software compatibility, though at a premium price. Avoid the SQ3 model for creative work. ★★★★
What you need to know: The Surface Pro 9 is Microsoft's premium 2-in-1 tablet that comes in two distinct variants. Our reviewer found the Intel models (i5/i7) are ideal for artists, offering full Windows software compatibility and enough power for creative work. The 13-inch PixelSense display with 120Hz refresh rate delivers smooth pen input and vibrant colours. However, the ARM-based SQ3 model, while offering better battery life and 5G connectivity, struggles with professional creative software, making it less suitable for artists.
Design: Built with premium materials and available in four attractive colours (Graphite, Sapphire, Forest, and Platinum), the Surface Pro 9 exemplifies refined engineering. The clever pen storage integrated into the keyboard cover shows thoughtful design for artists. While the bezels are slightly thicker than iPad Pro, they house an impressive 1080p camera with AI-powered features. The Alcantara keyboard cover provides a premium feel and comfortable typing experience.
Connectivity: The device offers modern connectivity options including Thunderbolt 4 ports on Intel models, though specific ports aren't detailed in the review. The SQ3 model includes 5G connectivity for on-the-go work.
Display: The 13-inch PixelSense screen impresses with 2,880 x 1,920 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio, perfect for digital art. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth pen input, while Dolby Vision IQ (on Intel models) provides excellent colour management. The touchscreen is responsive and accurate, making this laptop a good choice for detailed artwork.
Performance: Intel models (i5/i7) handle professional creative software like Photoshop, though slightly slower than dedicated laptops. The SQ3 variant, while offering excellent battery life (12 hours), struggles with demanding art applications: our reviewer couldn't run Rebelle 5, though lighter apps like ArtRage 6 worked fine.
Battery life: The SQ3 model leads with 12 hours of use, double that of the iPad Pro 2022. The Intel models' battery life isn't specified, but are likely shorter due to more powerful processors.
Price: Expensive, starting at $999/£1099 for Intel i5, $1599/£1599 for i7, and $1,299/£1,299 for SQ3. High-end Intel configurations with 32GB RAM and 1TB storage reach $2599/£2599.
✅ You need all-day battery: Nearly 13 hours of regular use is impressive for this class.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a tablet-style experience: The screen doesn't fold flat or detach.
❌ Audio quality is crucial: The quad-speaker setup is underwhelming.
The bottom line
🔎 Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra delivers outstanding performance and display quality for artists, though its form factor may not suit all drawing styles. ★★★★
What you need to know: The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra positions itself as a premium creative workstation, featuring a stunning 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rate. While not specifically designed as a drawing device, its powerful combination of Intel Core Ultra 9 and NVIDIA RTX 4070 makes it excellent for running creative applications and AI-powered tools like Adobe Firefly. In short, it's overkill if all you wish to do is draw; but if you need powerful Windows-based hardware for rendering and other demanding tasks, it's compelling.
Design: Samsung opts for a professional, albeit conservative design with an all-grey metal chassis. At under 2kg, it's relatively portable for its size, though the traditional laptop form factor lacks the versatility of convertible devices. The build quality is excellent, using recycled materials throughout without compromising durability.
Display: The 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen is a standout feature for artists, offering 2880 x 1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Colour accuracy is impressive, covering 94% sRGB, 93% AdobeRGB, and 84% P3 colour spaces. The 393-nit brightness ensures good visibility in most conditions. The screen supports touch input, though the inability to lay flat limits some drawing scenarios.
Performance: Equipped with Intel's Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA RTX 4070, the laptop handles creative workloads with ease. The GPU particularly shines in accelerating AI features in creative apps. Benchmark scores show strong performance: Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 7288 and GPU score of 66675 indicate excellent capability for creative work.
Connectivity: Port selection is comprehensive for artists, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB 3.2, HDMI 2.1, and a MicroSD slot. The ability to connect to Samsung smartphones and tablets as secondary displays adds versatility for creative workflows.
Battery life: Nearly 13 hours of regular use is impressive for a laptop with these specifications, though intensive drawing sessions will likely reduce this a lot.
Price: At approximately $3,000, it's a significant investment, competing directly with high-end MacBooks and professional mobile workstations.
✅ You want a lightweight drawing device: At just 1.28kg, it's extremely portable.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need a tablet-style experience: While it lays flat, it doesn't convert to a tablet.
❌ You want dedicated graphics: The Intel Arc Graphics may limit intensive creative work.
The bottom line
🔎 ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED offers an exceptional drawing experience in a lightweight package, with its stunning OLED display and included ASUS Pencil 2. ★★★★½
What you need to know: The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED combines a gorgeous 3K OLED touchscreen with the new Intel Core Ultra processor featuring AI acceleration. The included ASUS Pencil 2 and the ability to lay completely flat make it particularly suitable for digital artists who prefer a traditional laptop form factor.
Design: At just 1.49cm thick and weighing 1.28kg, it's incredibly portable. The Ponder Blue finish offers a professional look, while the solid build quality ensures stability during drawing sessions. The ability to lay completely flat is particularly useful for left-handed artists, as it prevents palm interference while drawing.
Display: This 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreen display offers a 120Hz refresh rate and excellent colour accuracy. Artists can also benefit from a 100% sRGB colour gamut, 1.07 billion colours on display; response time of 0.2ms, and while the brightness is just 500 nits, the OLED tech makes it feel much brighter and sharper than that in reality. In the words of our reviewer, "It's the finest laptop screen on sale right now, and it worked perfectly throughout my testing".
Performance: This is a capable and powerful laptop, thanks to the team of Intel's latest Core Ultra processors with integrated AI capabilities (NPU), offering performance comparable to some higher-end laptops. Improved integrated Intel Arc Graphics are very capable of handling gaming and creative tasks too.
Connectivity: Port selection is minimal but functional. You get 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A 3.2 port, an HDMI 2.1 port and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Battery life: Based on tests, you can expect up to 14 hours of video playback and over 11 hours of more intensive use from this laptop.
Price: Starting at £1,099.99 ($1,300), this offers good value compared to similarly-specified competitors, particularly considering the OLED display and included pen.
✅ You want a convertible device: The sturdy 360° hinge and included stylus make it perfect for digital artists.
✅ You need a vibrant display: The OLED touchscreen offers excellent colour accuracy and responsiveness.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need dedicated graphics: The integrated Intel Arc GPU may limit performance in demanding creative apps.
❌ You want a lightweight tablet: At 1.44kg, it's rather heavy for extended handheld use.
The bottom line
🔎 HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) excels as a premium convertible laptop with its stunning OLED display and included stylus, though the lack of discrete graphics may limit some creative workflows. ★★★★½
What you need to know: The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) stands out as a versatile 2-in-1 laptop with a focus on creative work. The responsive 14-inch OLED touchscreen features a crisp 2880 x 1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, while the included HP Rechargeable MPP2.0 Tilt Pen offers precise input for digital artists. Powered by Intel's latest Core Ultra 7 processor, it handles creative tasks well, though the integrated graphics may limit more demanding applications.
Design: HP has created an elegant device with thoughtful design touches, including cleverly angled corners housing ports and a robust dual-point hinge system that enables smooth transitions between laptop and tablet modes. The premium metal construction eliminates flex, while the compact 14-inch form factor balances portability with usability. The keyboard offers good typing experience despite limited key travel, and the large trackpad provides precise control.
Connectivity: Port selection is limited, featuring just two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB-A (10Gbps), and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The angled corner port placement is particularly clever for cable management, though. Wireless connectivity is future-proofed with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support.
Display: The 14-inch HDR OLED touchscreen is a standout feature, offering 100% P3 colour coverage and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The anti-reflective Gorilla Glass coating provides durability while maintaining clarity, and the screen's vibrant colours and deep blacks make it excellent for creative work.
Performance: Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and 32GB RAM, the Spectre handles productivity and creative tasks well. However, the reliance on integrated Intel Arc graphics may limit performance in graphics-intensive applications. Benchmark scores show strong CPU performance with a Geekbench 6 multicore score of 12,423.
Battery life: Our testing showing 8.5 hours of real-world usage, making it suitable for a full day of work when properly managed.
Price: Starting at $1,899, this laptop sits in the premium segment, but the high-quality construction, versatile design, and included stylus help justify the cost.
✅ You want dual screens: Two 14-inch OLEDs offer unique drawing and reference capabilities.
✅ You need a versatile setup: The detachable keyboard and flexible screen give artists a lot of choice.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need maximum GPU power: The integrated Intel Arc graphics may limit some creative applications.
❌ You require long battery life: Dual screen usage significantly reduces battery endurance
The bottom line
🔎 ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED (2024) revolutionises the digital art experience with its innovative dual-screen design, although you will pay a premium for this. ★★★★★
What you need to know: The ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED (2024) represents a significant innovation for digital artists, featuring two 14-inch OLED touchscreens that can be arranged vertically or side-by-side. The included ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus offers professional-grade sensitivity with interchangeable tips mimicking different pencil weights from 2H to B, making it ideal for digital art creation.
Design: ASUS has created a groundbreaking form factor that maintains a standard laptop profile until unfolded to reveal its dual-screen capability. The built-in stand enables flexible positioning of both screens, while the detachable keyboard provides freedom in workspace arrangement. At 1.65kg, it remains relatively portable despite its dual-screen design.
Connectivity: Port selection is comprehensive, featuring two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, with the keyboard functioning wirelessly when detached.
Display: Both 14-inch OLED touchscreens offer 2880x1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh rates, with excellent color reproduction (97% sRGB) and brightness (395 nits). The screens provide exceptional clarity and vibrancy, though some reflectivity may be noticed in bright conditions.
Performance: Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and 32GB RAM, the Zenbook Duo handles creative tasks well. However, the integrated Intel Arc graphics may limit performance in demanding applications. Benchmark scores show strong CPU performance with a Geekbench 6 multicore score of 11,259.
Battery life: Single-screen usage impressively delivers over 12 hours of battery life, though using both screens significantly reduces this duration. Artists should plan to work near power sources when using both displays.
Price: Starting at £1,699 and reaching around £2,000 for higher configurations, this is a premium device that commands a premium price, though the innovative dual-screen design helps justify the cost.
Huawei Matebook X Pro The Huawei Matebook X Pro is a powerful laptop that will deal with even the most demanding creative software too. It's lightweight, looks gorgeous and the OLED touchscreen is a delight. The only downsides are the lack of ports, the high price, and the fact that all that power might be overkill if you just want a laptop to draw.
We've done a lot of the legwork for you in my top picks, but there are a few things that are up to you to make the final call on. The most obvious one is budget; which is why we’ve included products at a variety of price points. For instance, the powerful Surface Laptop Studio is obviously a very different price point to the more affordable but less powerful Acer Spin Chromebook 514.
A touchscreen is obviously key when choosing a laptop for drawing so you can draw onto the screen, and artists will especially appreciate laptops that can be turned into a tablet fully by spinning or sliding them into place.
The right choice for you depends how much you'll use it for drawing compared to other tasks, and how portable you want your laptop to be. For example, the HP Spectre x360 has a lovely big 16-inch OLED screen; a great canvas for drawing. But that makes it physically larger than other options on our list.
How we tested the best laptops for drawing
All the laptops in this guide have been tested by a Creative Bloq hardware expert, and every laptop we include as a top choice for drawing has been tested using drawing and artworking software. We run different benchmark tests on each device we get depending on its intended use by its maker, but the laptops we've included in this particular guide have all been run through the following:
• Cinebench R23/2024 - this assesses the performance of a computer's CPU and GPU using real-world 3D rendering tasks
• Geekbench 5/6 - this tests the CPU's processing power, both by using a single core for a single task at a time as well as all the CPU's core to see its ability to multitask
• PCMark 10 - this test assesses a computer’s ability to run all everyday tasks from web browsing to digital content creation, testing app launch speeds, running drawing and animation software, performing 3D rendering, and it also tests its battery life
But perhaps more importantly than technical benchmarking, we evaluate machines in real-world situations, pushing them to the limit with multiple applications running to see how they perform in real project-like conditions. Power, speed, portability, and what a laptop looks and feels like are all criteria in our reviewing process.In addition, every laptop we recommend for drawing has to have a good screen that's comfortable to work on for extended periods.
We do much more than simply unpack a test unit, run some benchmarks and then pack it up again; we have lived and worked with all of the above computers, running them in real-life scenarios and completed projects relevant to the subject of this guide, otherwise, we wouldn't recommend these models to you. For more details, see our article on How we test.
FAQs
Why should I use a touchscreen laptop for drawing?
Generally speaking, when it comes to digital drawing, your options are using a graphics tablet with a laptop or PC, a tablet with a stylus or pen display, or a touchscreen laptop. Some artists may prefer the feeling of graphics tablets, but the technology isn’t perfect, and the need to coordinate your hand separately from your screen can be disruptive when you’re in the flow of things. They’re not as portable as all-in-one devices. They are, however, very affordable, and purpose-built to deliver precision.
The best tablets and pen displays with a stylus are generally the easiest devices for drawing, and are supremely portable - but they can get pretty pricey if you want something durable and robust, and they often lack the versatility to serve for functions other than drawing.
Touch screen laptops, on the other hand, are easily the most versatile for their price point when you consider the functionality they offer.
Do I need a hybrid laptop for drawing?
No, you don’t need a hybrid laptop for drawing, but it can certainly help. Also known as 2-in-1 laptops, these devices are growing in popularity thanks to how versatile they can be. And with touchscreen technology improving year on year, you’ll be hard-pressed to find such flexibility at such a low price point in any other kind of device.
Generally the ability to switch the laptop to tablet mode, getting the keyboard out of the way, provides better support and lets you draw in more situations. Take a look at our guide to the best 2-in-1 laptops for creatives for more details.
What are the cons of using a hybrid laptop for drawing?
There are, of course, cons to hybrid laptops. Although software is becoming more accessible and popular for drawing, you won’t get the same experience as you would on a pen display or tablet. If you specifically want a laptop for drawing, hybrid laptops are generally the way to go, though. Drawing on a regular touchscreen laptop can be a little awkward and uncomfortable due to the obstructive lower half of clamshell, and many laptop screens will move slightly under pen pressure if they don't have the support of an easel mount.
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Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Ecommerce Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, phones, laptops, TVs, monitors and various types of storage, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most.
