BEST LAPTOPS FOR ANIMATION: MY 7 BEST ANIMATION LAPTOPS TO GET THIS YEAR.
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Computer animation may be one of the most enjoyable and gratifying creative processes, and once you get into it, you’ll see whole new worlds open up in front of you. Animation combines aspects of storytelling, visual art, movement, music, and sound in a way that no other creative form can.
Computer animation can be the most aggravating of all digital efforts, and this is usually always owing to a computer that is incapable of handling the intense data processing required by animation. I’m amazed I don’t see a lot more animation portraying an animator bashing their head against the wall due to lags and delays, crashes, broken up and ragged movement in viewports, and very sluggish rendering.
Nonetheless, animation is ubiquitous, and the need for excellent professional animators, as well as commercial artists who can also animate, is skyrocketing. Fortunately, if you have a system capable of doing the job and a little imagination, you’ll be surprised at how simple digital animation can be.
That is why finding the best laptop for animation is so crucial, and why I have put together this guide.
What to Look for in the Best Laptops For Animation:
Resolution:
You’ll require a resolution of at least full HD, which is 1920 x 1080, to see as much information as possible on the screen. You’ll probably be looking at this screen for a long time, doing things like character shading and frame-by-frame motions, so you’ll need to be able to zoom in and out quickly.
Screen Size:
You want a screen that’s small enough to be portable yet big enough to use on its own when you don’t have access to an external monitor. While laptop screens can be as tiny as 11 inches, a minimum of 14 inches is recommended.
Graphics Card And Processor:
These two components work together to allow you to multitask in your animation software of choice while editing and seeing your scenes play back smoothly. The graphics card, also known as a video card, is responsible for the computer’s video processing, whereas the processor chip is in charge of the computer’s major operations. The more cores a CPU has, the more jobs it can perform.
RAM:
The quantity of RAM in your computer determines how effectively it can manage numerous programs and how quickly they can run. You’ll need at least 16GB of RAM because you’ll be generating effects and layers as well as playing back video material at varying rates.
External Ports:
It’s always good to have the option to put in an ethernet connection if you’re working on a sluggish WiFi network and have a lot of video to wrap up.
You’ll probably need at least one external monitor and, depending on the size of your data, at least one external disk to store or back up your work.
If these connections aren’t built into the laptop, you’ll need at least three or four USB-C ports for the adapters.
Cost of a laptop for animation:
The cost of a laptop for animation ranges from $760 to $2600.
Overall, the ideal laptop for animation requires a computer with sufficient RAM, as well as a CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) that are both fast and powerful enough to animate, view, and render your work.
Now, 2D animation will certainly demand less power, but 3D animation will undoubtedly want the most up-to-date, quickest CPUs, as well as enough of system and video RAM.
Let’s get down to business with my selection of the best laptops for animation. I’ve included laptops from a range of financial brackets, performance categories, and stated functions, all while maintaining my own style.
So, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned animator, you’ll find the right laptop to fit your demands and budget here.
BEST LAPTOPS FOR ANIMATION:
BEST MACBOOK -APPLE MACBOOK PRO:
If you’re an animator who works with macOS apps, you might want to consider one of those MacBook models as your ideal laptop. In that situation, the MacBook Pro 16 is an excellent value for your money. An Intel Core i7–10750H CPU, rated at 2.6GHz but capable of reaching 4.5GHz when Turbo Boost is activated, drives this high-performance laptop.
MacBook computers, as you may have heard, are ideal for memory management. As a result, the 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM is sufficient for even the most demanding animation program. Add the power of 512GB of full SSD storage to the mix. This means you won’t have to worry about external storage while still being able to multitask and do resource-intensive tasks.
Apple always raves about its screens, and content makers are no different. A 16-inch Retina display with incredible clarity and color coverage has been integrated in the Apple MacBook Pro. You won’t miss any details while previewing or rendering at a resolution of 3072 x 1920. I can also see a Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of VRAM on the graphics side.
The Apple MacBook Pro is one of the few Apple products that uses USB Type C exclusively. You will, however, receive four Thunderbolt 3-enabled ports, which may be utilized for charging, data transfer, and nearly any other purpose. Touch Bar and Touch ID are also included, adding ease and customizability. At the end of the day, Apple claims that the Apple MacBook Pro will last up to 10 hours on a single charge and this animation laptop only weighs 4.3 pounds.
BEST 17-INCH LAPTOP FOR ANIMATION -ACER NITRO 5:
My top recommendation for the best 17-inch laptop for animation is the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop, a rather powerful laptop that, owing to its strong graphics card, can handle complicated animation scenarios with plenty of lights, shadows, and textures. It also comes at a quite low cost.
You read that correctly: the Acer Nitro’s GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card is nothing like the MX250’s entry-level graphics card, so you’ll get a lot more out of it. In terms of sheer power, it’s on par with the 1060GTX and 2060RTX, both of which are much more costly versions featured in today’s performance laptops.
Aside from the GPU, the Acer Nitro 5 has a number of other impressive specs and features, including a Core i5 CPU, a fifteen-inch full HD screen, eight gigabytes of RAM, and a 256 GB solid state drive, among others. In other words, it’s one of the most cost-effective PCs you’ll ever come across.
BEST WINDOWS LAPTOP FOR ANIMATION -DELL XPS 15:
The Dell XPS 15 is a powerful laptop with a superb graphics card, RAM, and storage choices, packing up to a 9th generation Intel Core i9 CPU. This laptop comes with up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, which should be more than adequate for any of your animation demands.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card will aid your animating efforts while also allowing you to utilize the laptop for gaming in your spare time.
You’ll have no trouble preserving all of your hard work with storage up to 1 TB and a solid-state drive, and any program you need to run will start up as quickly as you need it to.
With all of that power and performance, though, you won’t find this in the budget range. You’ll need to set aside around $4,000 for this laptop.
If you compare it to Apple devices, the sleek design and performance place it on the same top end of the value range. If you’re searching for a powerful laptop, this is a great pick.
It’s essential to remember, however, that owning such a powerful device has a drawback: the battery life isn’t great. This means you won’t be able to work on it when out and about unless you have access to a power outlet to keep it charged.
BEST BUDGET FRIENDLY LAPTOP FOR ANIMATION -ACER ASPIRE E 15:
The Acer Aspire E 15 earns a spot on the best laptops for animation list thanks to its low price, making it ideal for students or young folks interested in animation and graphic design who don’t want to spend a lot of money to receive high-quality resolution results and remarkable editing techniques.
The 8th generation Intel Core i7 CPU in this laptop boosts the turbo boost frequency, allowing users to execute programs at quicker speeds and with greater efficiency while staying below safe temperature limits. This makes it ideal for animators to create high-quality graphic content quickly, particularly well-designed 2D drawings and models.
The integration of the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphic coprocessor improves it’s content even more, making it easier to use a variety of editing applications that are compatible with it, and doing so at a faster rate, producing high-quality results that are comparable to many high-priced laptops on the market.
This laptop, which has a sleek and smooth design and a 15.6-inch screen, features an LED-lit IPS display that helps expose high-quality videos and pictures with brighter and more brilliant colors, adding to why it is an excellent choice for animations.
The Acer Aspire E 15 may not be the ideal option if you’re searching for efficient storage, but at this price, it may be deemed enough for running all required functions and apps without any difficulties.
One of the best features of this laptop is its long-lasting battery, which lasts about 15 hours, making it ideal for users who spend hours creating animations or who are constantly on the go and need long-lasting batteries to use while traveling or visiting places where charging outlets may not be available.
If you’re a young animator who’s just begun working on new animations and graphics and want a laptop that’s light on your wallet while yet giving you all the capabilities you need for high-quality graphic design, the Acer Aspire E 15 is the laptop for you.
BEST 2-IN-1 LAPTOP FOR ANIMATION -MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2:
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a wonderful pick in the market if you’re searching for a perfect 2-in1 all-rounder animation laptop with enough horsepower for animators. Thanks to the integrated Intel Core i7–8650U CPU, which runs at 1.9GHz on Turbo Boost, this Surface Book delivers typical performance. Despite its slim form and light weight, the laptop is capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud Suite applications with ease.
On the memory front, you get 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which should be enough for most people. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 has 256GB of complete SSD storage, much like the prior model. However, you have the extra benefit of reduced weight and increased portability here. You may also choose for a variant with more storage if you are willing to spend a greater price.
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is also one of the rare laptops available today with a 4K display for animators. The 3260 x 2160 resolution of the 15-inch display ensures that everything is extremely clear, and touchscreen capability adds a lot of value. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 features 6GB of GDDR5 video RAM on the graphics side to keep things floating at all times. These materials may be used by almost all animation programs.
The Microsoft Surface Book’s design is just as essential as its connection. You can use the gadget as a tablet just as easily as you can use it as a laptop. Most artists’ lives would be made easier if Microsoft peripherals were supported.
Despite the high-powered performance I noted, Microsoft claims that users may get up to 10 hours of battery life when streaming. However, if you’re rendering, that’s unrealistic. On the plus side, the laptop only weighs 2.38 pounds, which is absolutely outstanding in my opinion.
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT LAPTOP FOR ANIMATION -GIGABYTE AERO 15X:
The Gigabyte Aero Ultra Slim Gaming PC has an incredibly small design without sacrificing speed, making it ideal for animators on the move.
The Intel Core i7 processor has a 2.2GHz base clock speed and a 4.1GHz turbo boost, a powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, 16 gigabytes of RAM, and 512 gigabytes of solid state drive, as well as innovative airflow management and ventilation that effectively prevents the computer from overheating.
What it all boils down to is that you’re getting a powerful laptop that can handle most animation jobs quickly. You can also enjoy fast applications and games, regardless of how graphics-intensive they are, thanks to the 15.6-inch display’s full HD resolution, 144GHz refresh rate, and slim bezels.
BEST FOR GAMERS -ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS S ULTRA SLIM GAMING PC LAPTOP:
On the surface, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus appears to be designed only for gaming. While this is true, the level of performance on offer here will work wonders if you utilize it as your everyday workhorse.
While the fans may get pretty noisy when the system is under severe pressure, they do a great job of cooling the system, which is something you’ll want to keep an eye on whether you’re gaming or working.
These fans are described as “anti-dust” and “self-cleaning,” and when combined with the 5mm vent that opens when the lid is raised, they can assist boost airflow by up to 22% over a standard design.
This laptop is rather alluring. With the ROG logo embossed on the rear, a brushed metal appearance, and ultra-thin bezels, this is clearly aimed for individuals who enjoy ‘gamer tech.’ Thankfully, the pattern isn’t overly garish, so you won’t feel self-conscious wearing it while working in a café.
This laptop offers a nice assortment of ports if you’re on the go. There’s a USB Type-C port as well as an HDMI 2.0b port that supports 4K displays, in addition to the standard ports.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Is it really necessary to have a dedicated graphics card for animation?
Yes, to put it succinctly. While an integrated GPU may be capable of handling the demands of 2D animation software, a dedicated GPU is better equipped to deploy more resources and deliver superior visuals and visual performance.
What are the perks of using a 144Hz display for animators?
Higher screen refresh rates result in a more responsive overall experience, which is beneficial when working with a complicated interface. It implies you’ll have a more pleasant experience. A 144Hz display also allows you to create and test games at considerably better resolutions.
Is it mandatory for me to get a solid-state drive (SSD)?
A solid state drive, or SSD, is useful for more than only animators. It enables each computer user to benefit from quicker and more convenient workflows, including faster load times, shorter application boot-ups, faster reading and writing speeds, and, of course, faster rendering times.
Is it necessary for me to invest $1,000 or more on an animation laptop?
Purchasing a laptop should be based on your personal requirements once again. There’s no need to acquire the latest gaming laptop if you’re only doing 2D animation, but if you’re performing 3D modeling and rendering, you’ll want to invest in a superior hardware configuration that can successfully fulfill your expectations, and these computers aren’t cheap.
Is the Microsoft Surface Pro suitable for animation?
Yes! This laptop is pricey, but it’s a worthwhile investment because it provides the finest performance and mobility. For example, the most recent Microsoft Surface Pro has a 10th-generation CPU, Intel Iris Plus GPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. In essence, it’s a fantastic mobile workstation. Here’s a more in-depth look at the Microsoft Surface Pro 7.
Is the MacBook Pro suitable for animation?
Yes, as well. MacBooks are well-known for their high performance and elegance, making them a favorite option among artists, designers, architects, and engineers.
Overall, if you’re searching for a laptop with outstanding design and aesthetics to help you get work done, the MacBook Pro could be the right choice. MacBooks are a top brand, but you’ll have to pay a hefty premium for the privilege.
CONCLUSION:
When it comes to choosing a new laptop for animation, there’s generally a lot of overlap with gaming computers.
Many of the same characteristics are required for both purposes, thus choosing a gaming machine is frequently the best option.
However, if you don’t plan on doing any gaming on the side, there are plenty of alternative models to choose from.
In general, choose a model with a dedicated graphics card for rendering and a powerful processor to avoid latency while running CPU-intensive apps.
Did I miss any? Share with us the laptop you’re currently for your animations.
Never had one? Tell us which one you plan on getting. Thanks for reading.
