Top 10 Best Laptop For Music Production

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Almost a decade ago, music production was only possible in studios where the right equipment and hardware was available. Technology has significantly progressed in the last 10 years. The development of specialized hardware and software has now enabled us to produce music directly on our computer system. Nowadays, anyone can compose and produce music easily right from their laptops!

The real challenge here lies in finding the right laptop for music production. From the hardware specifications to the operating system, everything matters when you are looking for the perfect laptop for producing music. What you need to do is to find the right mix of specifications within your specific budget.

This guide will help you identify the key things that you need to consider before buying a laptop for music production. To help you better understand the things that go into a good music production laptop, here is a list of some of the best ones available in the market today.

HP Pavilion 17.3-inch IPS FHD Laptop

The HP Pavilion 17.3-inch IPS FHD Laptop is a device that comes with a lot of features. Some of these features include the Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, the Windows 10 Home 64-bit operating system, and the 16GB DDR4 SDRAM. This laptop also has a very sleek and stylish design, and comes equipped with a large 17.3-inch IPS display that is both powerful and accurate. The display offers excellent color reproduction and great clarity, making it perfect for watching movies or playing games.

In addition to the impressive display, this laptop also features fast and responsive performance. Thanks to the Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor and the 16GB DDR4 SDRAM, this laptop can easily handle demanding tasks and multitasking with ease. The HP Pavilion 17.3-inch IPS FHD Laptop also features great connectivity. It comes with a Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi card that provides a fast and stable internet connection. The laptop also has Bluetooth 4.2, which allows you to easily connect to other devices such as your smartphone or tablet.

Finally, the HP Laptop also comes with a very large 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive. This allows you to store all of your important files, games, and applications with ease. Overall, the HP Pavilion 17.3-inch IPS FHD Laptop is a great choice for anyone in the market for a powerful and stylish laptop that comes packed with features.

PROS:

  • 17.3 screen with clear resolution
  • 16GB memory
  • 1TB storage
  • Plenty of ports for connectivity
  • Backlit keyboard for comfortable typing in low light conditions

CONS:

  • No optical drive for loading or playing discs

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is a great device with many amazing features. One of the most impressive is its CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance which has been massively improved. This makes it a great choice for pro workflows as it flies through them quicker than ever before.

The battery life has also been increased, with up to 17 hours of usage time. In addition, the MacBook Pro 14-inch has a high-speed SSD storage that allows you to launch apps and open files instantly. The MacBook also features a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display that is sure to impress. It has a resolution of 1080p, making it perfect for video calls and watching movies.

In addition, the display has been designed with an advanced image signal processor, ensuring that your videos and photos look their best. It also features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera for sharp video calls. To top it all off, there is a six-speaker sound system, as well as a 1080p FaceTime HD camera for sharp video calls. Whether you are looking for an excellent laptop for professional use or just want a powerful device for your everyday tasks, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is definitely worth considering.

PROS:

  • Outstanding battery life
  • Superfast SSD storage
  • Vibrant Liquid Retina display
  • Impressive audio quality
  • M1 chip for massive performance gains
  • Great keyboard and touchpad
  • HDMI and SD card support

CONS:

  • Camera notch may be a concern for some users
  • Pricey compared to other laptops

ASUS ROG Zephyrus 15.6″ QHD Gaming Laptop

ASUS ROG Zephyrus 15.6″ QHD Gaming Laptop is a high-end gaming laptop that comes with many features that would be great for any gamer. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q Graphics Card would allow for some of the most intense gaming sessions, while also being able to handle other tasks such as video/auido editing and streaming.

The 16GB ram and 1TB PCIe SSD storage is also a great feature, as it would allow for plenty of space to store games, applications, and files. Additionally, the RGB backlit keyboard with numeric keypad would be great for gaming in the dark, and the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity would allow for a great connection to any gaming peripherals. Overall, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus 15.6″ QHD Gaming Laptop is a great choice for any gamer looking for a high-end gaming laptop with plenty of features.

PROS:

  • Great battery life
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Excellent performance and graphics capabilities
  • RGB backlit keyboard with numeric keypad
  • Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity
  • Multiple ports for convenience

CONS:

  • Some users may find the price to be a bit high compared to other laptops.
  • No webcam

Apple MacBook Air Laptop 2020

Apple MacBook Air Laptop 2020 is a great device that comes with many features. Some of these features include up to 18 hours of battery life, 8GB of unified memory, and a 13.3” Retina display. One of the best things about this laptop is that it is easy to learn and set up. You can also use it for a variety of tasks, such as working, playing, and creating.

The Apple MacBook Air Laptop 2020 also has great connectivity. It has two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports with support for charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 Gbps), and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps). This makes it easy to connect to a variety of devices and accessories.

Plus, the MacBook Air is environmentally friendly and built using 100% recycled aluminum. And if you need any help or technical support, you can take advantage of AppleCare to get the help you need. Overall, the MacBook Air is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a powerful, high-quality laptop.

PROS:

  • Long battery life
  • Powerful Performance
  • Retina Display
  • Comfortable trackpad and keyboard
  • High-quality materials
  • Compatible with a wide variety of apps and devices

CONS:

  • Lack of ports/connectivity options
  • Expensive compared to other laptops

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

Are you looking for a powerful laptop that can handle all your gaming needs? If so, the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop is perfect for you. It features a 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor and 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory, making it powerful enough to run even the most demanding games.

A laptop is also a great device for music editing because it is portable and easy to use. Laptops also have a lot of processing power, which is important for music editing. Plus, it has a 15.6-inch Full HD display with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics, allowing you to enjoy seamless visuals and crisp graphics.

And if that’s not enough, the Nitro 5 also comes with a LAN, Wireless, and Backlit keyboard. With all these great features, it’s easy to see why so many gamers choose the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop as their go-to gaming machine or video/audio editing machine.

PROS:

  • Great perfomance with the Intel Core i5-9300H Processor
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics card for great visuals
  • 8GB of memory to keep things running smoothly
  • 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD for quick boot times and plenty of storage
  • Acer Cool Boost technology keeps things cool during intense gaming sessions

CONS:

  • No optical drive
  • So-so speakers

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch

Apple has just announced their newest MacBook Pro 16-inch which is a massive leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance. The new Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max chip will be powering the laptop with up to 10-core CPU and up to 32-core GPU. This will make the MacBook Pro 16-inch one of the fastest and most powerful laptops on the market, allowing users to fly through their workflows in record time.

In addition to top-of-the-line performance capabilities, the new MacBook Pro also offers long battery life of up to 21 hours, giving you plenty of juice for extended workdays or travel. It also comes with up to 64GB of unified memory so everything runs smoothly and efficiently, plus up to 8TB of superfast SSD storage for quick app launches and file access.

The MacBook Pro 16-inch has a stunning 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display making it perfect for creative work, watching videos, or simply browsing the web. Additionally, it features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera for sharp video calls, and a six-speaker sound system for an immersive audio experience.

If you’re in the market for a powerful and versatile laptop that can keep up with your demanding workflows, then look no further than the new Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch. With its powerful hardware and features, you can be confident that this laptop will help you get more done in less time.

PROS:

  • 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
  • Great audio upgraded
  • Long battery life
  • Build quality is excellent
  • M1 Pro chip is extremely powerful
  • Plenty of ports

CONS:

  • High price tag
  • Heavier than older models

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Gaming Laptop

Lenovo has always been a reliable and affordable laptop maker, but with the IdeaPad 3 Gaming Laptop, they have outdone themselves. This laptop is perfect for gamers, music production and everyday users alike. The AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series mobile processor is at the heart of this laptop and makes it a powerhouse. This processor is able to handle intensive tasks and games with ease, making it a great choice for gamers. In addition, the 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage ensure that you have plenty of space for all of your files and games.

In addition, the 15.6″ FHD IPS display is perfect for viewing your music software and gives you the power you need to run the latest games smoothly. And with a large, spacious keyboard and multiple connectivity options, the IdeaPad 3 is truly a high-quality laptop for music production. So if you’re looking for a reliable and affordable laptop for music production, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Gaming Laptop is a great choice.

PROS:

  • Well-built and powerful,
  • Easy to carry and use
  • Multiple ports for connectivity
  • 120Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay
  • Nahimic audio for clear sound
  • Privacy shutter for webcam

CONS:

  • Not the best battery life
  • Webcam could be better

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15 inches

The Laptop has a 15-inch touchscreen display that is perfect for anyone who wants a larger screen. The display is also perfect for anyone who wants to use the pen input to interact with their laptop. With its thin and light design, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15” Touch-Screen is a highly portable device that is perfect for on-the-go use. Whether you are watching movies, working on projects, or taking notes in class, this laptop has everything you need to get things done with ease.

The device has an AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processor, which makes it perfect for multitasking. The device also has a built-in 720p HD camera that is perfect for video calls and also has built-in speakers that are backed by Dolby Atmos for an immersive sound experience.

Additionally, the device has dual far-field Studio Mics that make it easy to be heard clearly on calls. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 also comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11 and has a long battery life of up to 17.5 hours, so you can work or play all day without worrying about running out of power. Overall, the Surface Laptop 4 is a great choice for anyone looking for an elegant touch-screen laptop that gives them the freedom and flexibility to get things done.

PROS:

  • Sleek, elegant, and quiet design
  • AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processors
  • Superb picture quality and audio performance
  • Long battery life
  • Fast, accurate typing experience
  • USB-C and USB-A ports for compatibility with a range of accessories

CONS:

  • Webcam could be better
  • Expensive compared to other laptop options

ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop

The ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop is a great device for students. It comes with a 15.6 inch Full HD display, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. The laptop also has an ergonomic backlit keyboard with a fingerprint sensor that can be activated via Windows Hello. This makes it easy to log in quickly and securely, which is perfect for students who are often on the go.

Thanks to its powerful hardware and compact design, the ASUS VivoBook 15 is a great choice for students who need a reliable and versatile device for schoolwork and beyond. With its large display, ample storage, and fast processor, this laptop can handle anything you throw at it, whether you’re working on a school project or streaming your favorite show.

The laptop also has a comprehensive range of connections, including USB 3.2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, and USB 2.0. It also has an HDMI port for connecting to a larger display, making it perfect for presentations or watching movies. Additionally, the laptop features Gigabit Wi-Fi 5, providing fast and reliable wireless connectivity. Whether you’re working on campus or studying remotely, the ASUS VivoBook 15 has everything you need to stay connected and productive.

PROS:

  • Affordable
  • Sleek and stylish design
  • Lightweight and easy to carry around
  • Comes with a backlit keyboard and
  • Fingerprint sensor for easy and secure login
  • Comprehensive connectivity options
  • Full-size backlit keyboard

CONS:

  • Average battery life
  • Speaker qualitys could be better

HP 15 15.6″ HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop

This amazing notebook by HP is a good choice for anyone that is on a small budget. The HP 15 Touchscreen is solidly built that enhances durability. The 15.6” FHD display is fitting for anyone that is looking to use the notebook for longer periods of time. Coming on to the CPU, the HP 15 Touchscreen features a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor that is clocked at a speed of 3.6 GHz Core i5 Family.

Though it is not the best performing processor, it can easily take care of heavy-duty tasks such as those required by VSTs. The RAM on the notebook is an ample 16 GB DDR4 that will allow you to run multiple applications at the same time without lag seamlessly.

For the storage, the notebook has options available for a 512GB SSD drive (for higher speed). The notebook’s battery, on average, gives up to 7 hours of continuous use.

PROS:

An economical choice for a music production laptop Good battery time, especially if you consider the screen size Robust and durable

CONS:

Not as portable as the other options because of its greater weight and larger size

Recent Update:

  • Removed ASUS ZenBook 13, Acer Aspire E 15 and Asus GL504GW and added 9 new products. (30 Apr 2022)

Things to Look For The Best Laptop For Music Production

When you are out looking for the perfect laptop for you, there are numerous aspects that you need to look into. For instance, you need to know what applications will you be running on the laptop and how often will you be using it? Once you know your exact requirements, here is a list of things that you need to look for in a laptop.

Best Laptop For Music Production

1. Operating System

An operating system is an essential software that provides the computer with its basic functionalities. There are two primary operating systems that you can choose from Mac OS and Windows. While there are many others available in the market too but they are not as advanced or stable as these two.

macOS provides you with a stable and reliable environment to work in that has little to no customization options available. It is recommended for individuals that are not computer savvy and are looking for stability. However, remember here that a Mac OS laptop (known as the MacBook) is more expensive than other options available in the market.

Windows, on the other hand, is an immensely powerful operating system that needs to be tamed for stability. What do we mean by tamed? Well, Windows can be customized to fit your needs in countless ways. However, while making these changes, keep in mind that you need to put performance and stability over everything else.

A Windows laptop is also generally easier to upgrade than a MacBook as well. Individuals that love exploring newer domains and tampering with the environment that they work in are recommended to use laptops with Windows.

Read more: Top 10 The Main Differences Between a Mac and a PC

2. Build Quality

Numerous things come into the build quality of a laptop, and these include its weight, dimensions, and durability. Although these are all highly dependent on your personal preferences, there are certain guidelines that you need to follow:

  1. Ensure that the laptop is not made up of poor quality material. Make sure that the laptop is durable and light-weight, especially if you expect to carry it around a lot.
  2. Keep the ergonomics in mind. It is likely that you will be spending quite a lot of time using the laptop (music production is a lengthy task). This means that you need to be comfortable with the shape, size, and design of the laptop.
  3. The keyboard and trackpad are the next things you need to look for in the laptop. Try typing on it and check to see if you can comfortably type at a brisk speed. If all feels good to you, move on ahead to further inspect the laptop.

3. Hardware Specifications

The things that you need to look for in the hardware specifications for laptop.
The things that you need to look for in the hardware specifications for laptop.

This is perhaps the most important thing that you need to look for when you buy a laptop for music production. The performance of your laptop is directly linked with the hardware specifications such as the processing speed and RAM size. Here are the things that you need to look for in the hardware specifications for your laptop:

Hardware Specifications

CPU

The processor is the heart of the computer system – it is responsible for performing all the operations given to the computer. First, make a list of tasks that you will require your laptop to perform. For instance, if you are looking to run several virtual studio technology (VST) tools and applications, it is recommended that you choose the latest generation processor with a minimum of 2 cores (such as the Intel Core i5).

Amateur music producers that will be performing less processor-intensive tasks can carry out their work with slower processors such as the Intel Core i3. Keep in mind that you cannot upgrade the CPU on your laptop.

RAM

The Random Access Memory (RAM) is the portion of your computer system that stores the data currently in use. Unlike the CPU, you can easily (and economically) upgrade the RAM on your laptop.

To start off, we recommend at least a minimum of 4 GB RAM to carry out the music production tasks on your laptop. However, if you are looking to run multiple applications at the same time, a RAM size of 8 GB/16GB would be more suitable.

Storage

There are two types of storage: Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD).

  • This option is essentially a trade-off between speed and size. While HDD storage offers higher amounts of storage for lower prices, they have slow read/write speeds.
  • SSD storage, on the other hand, has much higher read/write speeds but offers less space than the HDD. If you are going to be storing all your media files on your laptop, we recommend that you use the HDD because high storage SSDs can be very expensive.

4. Battery Life

Everyone wants their laptop to have good battery time but when you are looking to buy a new laptop, ask yourself this: Will I be using the laptop at home? If you have your music studio setup at your home, then you will have your laptop plugged in at most times. This means that the battery life is irrelevant in this scenario.

However, if you are going to be taking your laptop out, it is recommended that you look for a laptop with a battery life of 4+ hours (of average use).

5. Screen Resolution

The size and resolution of the screen are the next things that you need to consider before buying a laptop. Today, you should look for a laptop that has at least an HD display (with a resolution of 1366 x 768) to ensure that the contents of the screen are clear and crisp. Moreover, the screen size (that also determines the overall size of the laptop) is also very important.

If you are looking to keep the laptop stationed at home for long-term work, we recommend higher screen sizes (such as 17.1” or 15.6”). However, if you are looking for portability (or if you intend to use the laptop only for storage purposes), then a small screen size of 13.3” is recommended.

Conclusion

Best Laptop For Music Production

Today, everything in the world has been made easier by computer systems. The machines allow you to perform repetitive and complicated tasks quickly and efficiently. Music production is an example of work that has been automated with the help of computer technologies. Today, even professional music producers make use of laptops to record and compose laptops.

While there are numerous aspects that go into a good laptop, we have to look at a specific set of attributes for laptops that are to be used for music production. These include processing power, memory size, portability, and battery life. At the same time, there is the ever lively argument of macOS vs. Windows – which one is the better platform for music production?

We recommend that individuals who are looking for a reliable and stable operating system go for the MacBook while computer geeks should opt for the more economical Windows notebooks. To further help you make a better decision, we reviewed some laptops in this article that highlight the different categories of laptop specifications.

5/5 - (4 votes)
Sadiq Tayyab
Sadiq Tayyab

Tech Savvy, Avid Reader, Phamacist by Profession and a Passionate Writer who loves to help people by his writing guides and tutorials. Need help on Computer or Smartphone, Shoot a question on twitter: @tayyabsa and don't forget to follow me!

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Kieron

I have been a fan of PC for many years but lately I’ve started to lose confidence with Windows, I am seriously thinking about getting a MacBook because in the long run I think that I will benefit, rather than having my laptop crashed on me periodically. Great article thanks for the info?

Solomen

You’re welcome. I have been using a Macbook for many years, and I think it is still one of the best laptops out there. One of the things that I really like about my Macbook is the durability. It’s also very light, so it’s easy to carry around with you wherever you go. Another thing that I really like about my Macbook Pro 2017 is the amazing screen. It is really bright and clear, which makes it perfect for writing, code, etc.

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