Best laptop for photoshop

[Sandy15A7]

I'd like to purchase a laptop that will work well with Photoshop and Lightroom. Do you have any suggestions on the best one to get? Thank you so much, Sandy

[Chuck Uebele]

If you decide on Windows, I would go with a gaming computer, as they  normally have good video cards. Avoid Intel graphic cards and integrated switchable graphic cards. Asus make food gaming computers.

[Guest]

This is worth a read

https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Adobe-Photoshop-139/Hardware-Recomm...

[davescm]

If buying new, as a minimum make sure it meets the recommended system requirements which are currently :

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/system-requirements.html

Don't just go for the bare minimum standards or you will find that fairly quickly it will not meet the standards of updates.

Dave

[Lumigraphics]

Maxed out 16" MacBook Pro.

[Conrad_C]

You might want to be more specific about what kinds of images you edit, and if you have a budget. Because some of the suggestions are very expensive, others are very large and heavy. What you need for Photoshop can vary depending on whether you edit web graphics or large print graphics, few layers or many layers…different answers change how much you need to spend and what options to order or upgrade.

[Sandy15A7]

Thank you all so much for your responses! I was primarily trying to choose between the HP Spectre 360 2 in 1 vs the MacBook Pro.

[davescm]

Hi

Be careful. I just looked up the specs of the HP Spectre 360 2 in 1 some versions do not meet the current system requirements of Photoshop. Photoshop now requires a GPU with 2GB dedicated VRAM . The HP laptop you mention is sold with NVidia GTX GPU, but it is also sold with integrated Intel UHD graphics. The latter shares main system RAM rather than having dedicated VRAM.

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/system-requirements.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html

I can't comment on the Macbook Pro (I use Windows) but no doubt someone will be along soon who can.

Dave

[Conrad_C]

The Photoshop system requirements are not sufficiently clear on graphics requirements. Photoshop does not require a discrete GPU; it runs on Windows and Mac desktops and laptops that have integrated graphics only (like mine). The Photoshop system requirements do mention a minimum of 2GB “GPU memory” and I think by not including the word “discrete” there, this accommodates integrated graphics. According to Intel, integrated graphics might have access to up to 2GB of system RAM or half the amount of system RAM, depending on the version of Intel integrated graphics. (For details, expand the topic What is the maximum amount of graphics memory or video memory my computer can use? on the Intel website.) That would meet the stated requirement.

The Mac situation has gotten complicated this week, because Apple has released the first generation of Macs based on Apple Silicon processors while still selling some Intel versions. The math for RAM/VRAM is different for Apple Silicon Macs and is not totally clear yet. Also, Adobe does not yet have native Apple Silicon versions of Photoshop and other applications available yet, only a beta of Photoshop with missing features. The Intel Mac version of Photoshop is said to run, but is not officially supported by Adobe. This makes the Intel version of the MacBook Pro a safer purchase for immediate use of Photoshop on a Mac laptop. But as soon as native versions of Adobe apps come out next year the Apple Silicon Macs should become strongly preferred because they are already performing beyond the expectations of reviewers so far. It’s just that the software isn’t all there yet.

Sandy15A7, I am a Mac user but if you are familiar with Windows, and need to be productive in Photoshop right away on a computer you want to keep for a few years, the HP might be a better immediate choice than a Mac. If you do, order it with 16GB RAM. The spec I saw looks similar to the Mac I use for Photoshop, an Intel Core i5 with 16GB RAM and integrated graphics. If it does have a discrete graphics option, that would be better but might eat into battery life somewhat.

[davescm]

I see the wording has been changed Conrad. Are you able to use 3D functions on the latest version with the integrated processor on your laptop Windows system? System requirements on older versions (e.g v19.x) refer to the minimum requirement of 512MB dedicated VRAM, with 2GB recommended, and also 3D functionality being disabled on GPUs without 512MB VRAM. 

I can't run a practical check here as my current PCs have dedicated GPUs.

Dave

[Conrad_C]

Below is a screen shot of the 3D workspace in Photoshop with controls active. The 3D figures were brought in from the discontinued Adobe Fuse application. In front is a system info window showing what graphics hardware is available, and how much VRAM. For my configuration, maximum integrated graphics VRAM is limited to 1536MB; the max would be less on a computer with less system RAM installed. According to the Photoshop system requirements, this should not work. But it works on many computers with sufficiently recent Intel integrated graphics.

These are some of the issues with how the system requirements are written. They don’t seem to acknowledge how integrated graphics have changed, nor do they seem to take into account how VRAM works for integrated graphics (like having less than the minimum 2GB VRAM available as shown, yet everything works).

A few years ago, discrete graphics were required for any GPU-accelerated feature. But as Intel integrated graphics have advanced, more Adobe applications including Premiere Pro and Lightroom Classic report GPU acceleration enabled for computers with integrated graphics only. That’s definitely not saying it’s as good as discrete graphics, far from it…but it means GPU-dependent features such as 3D, the Oil Paint filter, and scrubby zoom are available on computers with integrated graphics only.

[davescm]

Thanks for confirming Conrad. Those requirements seem messy given that your integrated graphics which according to the specs should not work, do. At the same time the feedback forum has a very long thread on folk with GPUs that appear to meet the requirements but are not being recognised.

If someone had an existing PC my advice would be try it and see. However if going out to buy new, either buy to meet the recommendations or check first with someone who has that specific CPU, GPU and motherboard combination. It could be a lot of money to risk disappointment.

Thanks again for testing. 

[Lumigraphics]

I would not go with integrated graphics on the current Intel and AMD chips. Discrete is much more future-proof, and ability to go above 16GB of RAM is huge. You are wasting your money otherwise.

[Wim Dimmendaal Netherland]

ik werk met een ASUS Zenbook en ben zeer tevreden

[Jhon5E95]

Im a 2d animation student and im looking for a budget laptop that could also run 3d apps like blender. Photoshop uses a lot of ram so my laptop lags very often when i use it with other apps. I've done a lot of research of laptops but found MSI GF63 from these reviews https://reviewlog.org/best-budget-laptop-for-photoshop/

[Elyse35789043n1x5]

When it comes to finding the perfect laptop for Photoshop and Lightroom, the MacBook Pro is a top contender. With its robust performance, high-resolution display, and seamless compatibility with Adobe software, it's an excellent choice for graphic design work. Plus, its sleek design and portability make it convenient for on-the-go editing sessions.

[Elyse35789043n1x5]

If you're interested in exploring other options, you might want to check out comprehensive lists like best laptops graphic design. They offer valuable insights and recommendations tailored specifically for graphic designers like yourself.