Intel got the ball rolling back in 2018 with its Creator PC initiative, which was further boosted by Nvidia’s Studiocampaign the following year. Nvidia aimed to extend the company’s graphics technologies beyond its traditional gaming audience and into the creative industries.
As a result, all the main PC manufacturers, including market leaders such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo, now offer extensive portfolios of laptops and desktop PCs that are specifically aimed at creative users in fields such as graphic design, photography, video editing, and animation. The involvement of Nvidia, with its RTX ray-tracing graphics technology, has also attracted gaming specialists such as Razer and Gigabyte, whose expertise with high-end gaming graphics has allowed them to design some impressively powerful laptops for professional users.
Creative users are now spoilt for choice, with dozens of laptop and desktop systems now vying for their attention. Here, we’re focusing on “creator” laptops.
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The newest version of the Apple MacBook Pro elevates performance with Apple’s M2 Chip. This chip contains a zippy 8-core CPU, allowing you to get more work done without sacrificing in other areas.
For designers, it provides you with enhanced graphics performance. And best of all, with Unified Memory, you can run and toggle between multiple apps without a reduction in performance–a must for designers working on multiple projects concurrently.
Check out: Apple MacBook Pro review
Overall, the laptop’s performance continues to set the benchmark for creative professionals.
The ZBook is HP’s mobile workstation range, but there are several models within the range that are specifically designed for particular tasks and applications. The ZBook Fury – recently updated with this 8th generation (G8) model – is very much a top-of-the-range option, suitable for 3D graphics and visualization, game development, and 4K video editing.
HP’s website provides an almost dazzlingly wide range of customization options, including both 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch displays, but if you’re aiming for no-compromise performance then it makes sense to opt for the 17-inch model that we review here. It’s a bit of a beast, measuring 27mm thick, but it packs all the power of a high-end desktop graphics workstation.
There’s an entry-level model with i5 processor, integrated graphics, and 1080p display for around $2,300, but serious graphics and video work will require a few upgrades. You can expect to step up to $4,164.00 for a more powerful model with an 11th gen i7-11800H, Nvidia RTX A2000, full 4K display, 16GB memory, and 256GB solid-state storage.
And, as mentioned, there’s a wide range of further upgrades also available, including i9 and Xeon processors, and up to RTX A5000 graphics. The high-quality display doesn’t cut any corners either, providing HDR400, 120Hz refresh rate for clear, sharp graphics for game developers, and DCI-P3 colour for video editing.
Dell made quite an impact with its 17-inch Precision 5750 last year, combining impressive workstation levels of performance with a slim and (relatively) lightweight design that could go head-to-head with Apple’s revamped 16-inch MacBook Pro. As you might expect, the new Precision 5760 is this year’s follow-up, bringing new CPU and GPU upgrades, whilst still retaining the slimline profile of its predecessor – just 13.2mm thick.
There are three standard configurations on Dell’s website, although all three provide a wide range of customization options, so you can effectively build your own laptop to suit your needs. The entry-level model only costs around $2,000 but relies on an i5 processor with integrated graphics and a relatively modest 1080p display.
Creative users will therefore probably prefer the i7 model, which steps up to an 11th gen, 8-core i7 processor, Nvidia RTX A2000 graphics, 16GB memory, and 256GB solid-state drive. That costs $3,085.75 with a UHD touch-screen display with 3840x2400 resolution (266.4dpi), which supports HDR400, Adobe RGB, and 99% of the DCI-P3 colour standard for professional-level video editing work. There are also additional options for memory and storage upgrades, as well as a choice of i9 and Xeon processors, and RTX A300 graphics.
If you want to read a more in-depth analysis of the Dell Precision 5760, you can check out our full review.
Lenovo’s updated ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 isn’t as light as previous models in the range, but it provides an affordable mobile workstation for students and professional users in fields such as engineering and CAD.
The p15 Gen 2 measures 31mm at its thickest point and is probably more suited for indoor use on the desktop rather than outdoors. However, the low price and Lenovo’s wide range of customization options will still appeal to many users. There are a dozen “ready to ship” models available on Lenovo’s website, with prices starting at $1,709 with a 6-core, 11th generation Intel Core i5 processor, Nvidia T1200 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. That price includes a 15.6-inch display with 1080p resolution, which should be adequate for 2D graphics and simple video editing.
But you can upgrade to a 4K display for a little over $300 if you need it. Lenovo also provides a “Build your own ThinkPad” option which allows you to start with a clean slate and select all the core components yourself, including the Intel Core i7, i9, and Xeon processors and a variety of Nvidia graphics cards. There is also a high-end display option, which will set you back another $500 or so, which supports Dolby Vision and HDR500 and sports a 17-inch screen.
The Surface Book was Microsoft’s first attempt to lure creative users away from Apple, but the new Surface Laptop Studio for Business goes all-out to focus on graphics and design work.
Like other Surface models, the Laptop Studio has a convertible, 2-in-1 design that allows you to fold the screen flat so that you can use it either as a tablet or a conventional laptop. However, the screen also has an additional hinge that lets you tilt the screen like an easel; this is perfect for use with Microsoft’s Surface pen for illustration work.
The built quality is excellent, and the Laptop Studio feels very sturdy, despite its lightweight design and slimline profile. The 14.4-inch, touch-sensitive display is bright and sharp with 1600p resolution, and it is a delight to work with. However, Microsoft makes no mention of Adobe RGB or DCI-PE support, so you’ll probably still need an external display for high-end graphics or video work. And, to be fair, the Laptop Studio isn’t meant to act as a mobile workstation in the same league as some of its rivals, focusing on portability and ease of use rather than high-end performance.
Prices start at $1,700 for a model with an i5 processor and integrated Iris graphics. However, you’ll need to double that price for the top-of-the-range model that we tested which costs $3,399.99. Our testing model was outfitted with an 11th gen i7 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 TI graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. Connectivity is a little disappointing, though, with just two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone socket. So Microsoft is clearly hoping you’ll pay another $260 for the additional ports provided by its Surface Dock 2.
Last year’s Creator 17 model with 10th gen Intel processors is still available on MSI’s website, and a few online retailers, but if you want to get bang up to date then the new Creator Z17 provides a powerful mobile workstation with a stylish design that MSI describes as “tech meets aesthetics”.
Like Apple’s MacBook range, the Creator Z17 has a ‘unibody’ design carved out of metal. It measures just 19mm thick, and its ’lunar grey’ colouring is also designed to shimmer and change hue as the ambient light around it changes during the day. However, its 3.0Kg weight reminds you that this is a mobile workstation, rather than a stylish ultrabook.
There’s plenty of power hidden within that stylish design too. Prices for the Creator Z17 start at $3,050 for a model with a 14-core, 12th-gen i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU, 32GB memory, and 1TB memory. There are also upgrade options for an i9 processor and RTX 3080 graphics, but it’s a shame that all Z17 models share the same 2560x1600 display. To be fair, it’s an attractive, touch-sensitive display, with a 16:10 aspect ratio, smooth 165Hz refresh rate, and support for DCI-P3 for video editing work. It’s a shame, though, that there’s no option to upgrade to a 4K display, so high-end graphics and video work will require an external display.
Razer is well-known for its range of gaming gear and its popular Blade gaming laptops, but the recent move towards hybrid and remote working has encouraged it to move into the business and professional market too. Its new Razer Book laptops are an attractive convertible rival for Microsoft’s Surface range, although their integrated graphics are more suited for general office work rather than content creation.
However, there are several models in the recently updated Blade range that will appeal to creative users. Screen sizes vary from 14.0 to 17.0 inches, but the sweet spot for creative users is probably the 15.6-inch Blade 15 (which replaces last year’s Blade 15 Studio Edition).
Described as “the world’s thinnest gaming laptop,” the Blade 15 measures just 17mm thick and weighs a highly portable 2Kg. Prices start at $1,799.99 for a model with an i7 processor and 1080p display, while a QHD display (2560x1440) steps up the price.
The new top-of-the-range Blade 15 model pulls out all the stops, offering a 4K display with a super-smooth 144Hz refresh rate and DCI-P3 support for high-end video editing. That bumps the price up to a hefty $3,999.99, but the Blade 15 will earn its keep, powered by the latest 12th gen, 14-core Intel i9 processor, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, along with 32GB memory and 1TB solid-state drive. The only disappointment is that Razer doesn’t provide many customization options, so you simply have to select the handful of pre-configured models listed on its website.
Battery life varies enormously too, so you need to decide if you need a high-end laptop that can run at full speed for just a few hours or a less powerful laptop that can last through a whole day. And, of course, a laptop with a 16-inch or 17-inch display will be a lot bigger and heavier than a 13-inch or 14-inch model, so regular business travelers may prefer to opt for a more compact laptop when they’re on the road, with the option of using a larger, external display when they get back to the office.
A high-resolution display is also essential in order to view your work in detail, and many users will insist on a full 4K display for high-end video editing. Support for specific color standards is also essential for some industries – Adobe RGB for print and publishing, or DCI-P3 for video and broadcast.
Moreover, many “mobile workstations” are primarily intended to be used as a desktop replacement PC that is mainly used indoors and close to a power socket.
And, bizarrely, many of these powerful, expensive laptops still seem to think they can get away with a mere 720p webcam, which simply isn’t acceptable in these days of hybrid and remote working.
They also tend to have faster refresh rates, which makes them a great choice for working with motion graphics and video.
