Which laptop is best for music-making?
Best laptops for music production 2021
The luxury of a laptop allows you to compose, mix, and record anywhere. Laptops, for people who like making music, are like portable studios.
If you’re new to buying laptops, you might find it challenging when looking for a laptop to make music. This is because the market is filled with so many options, making it a daunting task to find one that suits your workflow.
In this article, we’ve reviewed and handpicked the best machines for producing and mixing tracks. So here are the best laptops for making music in the market right now.
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
Top | New Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage, 2.6GHz Intel Core i7) - Space Gray | See Price |
Top | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB) | See Price |
Top | Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray (Latest Model) | See Price |
Top | ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop, 15.6” FHD, Intel i5-1035G1 CPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Backlit KB, Fingerprint, Windows 10, Slate Gray, F512JA-AS54 | See Price |
Top | Razer Blade Stealth 13.3" QHD+ Touchscreen Ultrabook Laptop - 8th Generation Intel Quad-Core i7-8550U - 16GB RAM - 256GB SSD - Windows 10 - CNC Aluminum - Black | See Price |
Top | Dell XPS 13 9380, 13.3" 4K UHD (3840X2160) Multi-Touch IPS Display, Intel Core i7-8565U, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, Fingerprint Reader, Silver (Renewed) | See Price |
Top | Asus ROG Strix Scar Edition GL703GE Gaming Laptop, 17.3” 120Hz Full HD 3ms, 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H Processor, GTX 1050 Ti 4GB, 16GB DDR4, 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Home, GL703GE-AS74 | See Price |
Top | Acer Swift 3 Thin & Light 13.5" 2256 x 1504 IPS Display, 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4, 8GB LPDDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Fingerprint Reader, Back-lit Keyboard, SF313-52-52VA | See Price |
Top | Samsung Notebook 9 Pro NP940X5N-X01US 15" FHD 2-in-1 Touch Screen Laptop, 8th Gen Intel Quad-Core i7-8550U Up To 4GHz, 16GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10, Built-in S Pen, Titan Silver | See Price |
The 10 best laptops for making music reviews
1. Apple MacBook Pro
When it comes to audio production, Apple laptops are among the best. While the MacBook Pro has been a standard in producing music, it still is one of the best laptops for making music.
The MacBook Pro features a powerful Intel processor with up to 9 cores. It also uses a solid slate drive to ensure you navigate through files very fast.
It boasts 64 GB of memory (depending on the model) making DAWs (digital audio workstations) processing seem like a light task. Plus, it can have a storage capacity of up to 8TB (again depending on the model).
- Ninth-generation 8-Core Intel Core i9 Processor
- Stunning 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- AMD Radeon Pro 5500M Graphics with GDDR6 memory
- Ultrafast SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers
- Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
- Up to 11 hours of battery life
- 802.11AC Wi-Fi
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
This lightweight and highly portable machine are one of the best Windows laptops for music production. You also can use it as a studio tablet or tablet which means you can move around with it.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 has a fast 8th Generation Intel Core processor. It’s equipped with a 12.3 inches PixelSense display to guarantee sharp images and vivid colors. Better yet, its battery can hold up to about 13.5 hours of video playback (for less demanding tasks) so you can produce music for longer.
- A best in class laptop with the versatility of a studio and tablet
- More power now with the new 8th Generation Intel Core processor
- Ultra slim and light, starting at just 1.7 pounds. Sensors : Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
- All day battery life, with upto 13.5 hours of video playback
- Pair with our signature type cover in luxurious Alcantara material and rich colors for a full keyboard experience
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
3. MacBook Air
MacBook Air is one of Apple’s lightest and thinnest MacBooks. It features a user-friendly keyboard, decent storage, and powerful internal components.
The MacBook Air (2020) has new 10th gen processors, and an Intel Core i7 CPU, depending on the version. It measures 13.3 inches and has 8GB to 16 GB RAM and 256GB to 2TB PCIe-based SSD. And since it’s an affordable option, it’s a great choice for DJs and musicians who are just starting out.
- Stunning 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology
- Backlit Magic Keyboard and Touch ID
- Tenth-generation Intel Core i3 processor
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Fast SSD storage
- 8GB of memory
- Stereo speakers with wider stereo sound
- Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
- Up to 11 hours of battery life
- Force Touch trackpad
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
4. ASUS VivoBook
At 3.7lbs in weight and only 0.8 inches thick, this notebook is slim and lightweight enough for traveling—it’s a powerful laptop designed with portability in mind.
It has several connectivity options coupled with USB Type-C and HDMI. That means you can connect accessories seamlessly and extend screen size with an external display.
The ASUS VivoBook is a reliable and affordable option for editing audio. You throw at it any DAW program and it will (most likely) be able to handle it. This compact notebook also features 8GB DDR4 memory, an 8th Gen Core i5 processor, and 1TB with 128SSD.
You can buy the 15.6-inch version if you need a wider monitor display. Plus, it includes a decent battery that can run up to 8 hours after charging.
- 15.6 inch Full HD (1920x1080) 4-way NanoEdge bezel display with a stunning 88% screen-to-body ratio
- Latest 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 CPU (6M Cache, up to 3.6 GHz)
- 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Ergonomic backlit keyboard with fingerprint sensor activated via Windows Hello
- Exclusive Ergolift design for an improved typing position
- Comprehensive connections including USB 3.2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 2.0, and HDMI; Gigabit Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
- Windows 10 Home
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
5. Razer Blade Stealth 13.3” QHD With Touchscreen
The Razer Stealth is a slim and powerful laptop for music production. This budget-friendly machine features 16GB RAM, a 500GB SSD and clocks up to 3.5GHz on its Intel i7 processors.
This laptop works with Windows 10 which is reputable for editing with software like Photoshop and Lightroom. Further, it comes with Dolby Digital speakers for better sound quality.
Its capacitive touchscreen is multi-touch and allows gestures, making it an ideal option for DJing and making music. The best part is that it’s equipped with a USB-C port, an HDMI port, and USB 3.0 ports. This ensures you can easily connect music-production accessories and gears to your laptop.
- Razer Blade Stealth 13.3 QHD+ Touchscreen Ultrabook (8th Generation Intel Quad Core i7-8550U, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
- The 13.3” Razer Blade Stealth is available in a black or gunmetal gray finish. The gunmetal variant features a tone-on-tone Razer logo for a sleek, solid and professional design
- Experience amazing color saturation with the QHD+ 3200 x 1800 touch enabled display. Images are bright and clearly visible with wide viewing angles of up to 178°
- The 7th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U processor gives the Razer Blade Stealth 1.8GHz of processing power and Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.0GHz
- This anti-ghosting keyboard registers simultaneous key presses with precision, providing a quick and comfortable typing experience
- Every Razer Blade Stealth is CNC-milled from a single block of aircraft-grade aluminum for maximum durability and a sleek, beautiful form
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
6. Dell XPS Thin and Light
This model from Dell is one of the best laptops for making music for a few reasons. The admirably fast Dell XPS has 7th gen Intel quad-core processor. At 15.6 inches, this laptop is on the slightly bigger side and has a Thunderbolt multi-use port and USB 3.0 slots.
The Dell XPS has 16 GB RAM and a terabyte of SSD storage. Generally speaking, it’s a versatile choice that can deal with even the most demanding DAW workloads.
- Worlds smallest 13-inch laptop; The smaller, thinner, lighter 4K Ultra HD XPS 13 is ready for take-off and also Star performances with the new 8th Gen Intel Core processors, more Cores mean increased performance.
- World's most innovative HD Webcam; we've miniaturized the HD Webcam to fit it into the top infinity edge border making the 13-inch laptop more gorgeous than ever.
- Next-gen Dell Cinema; colors burst, sound rumbles, streaming is Seamless and Dell has combined specialized hardware and software to make every scene more stunning.
- Recycle-friendly: 90% of the laptops Parts can be easily recycled or reused, and the white bamboo packaging trays are 100% recyclable.
- The XPS 13 is cut from a single block of aluminum, so it's more durable than a machine that's pieced together. Inspired by the aerospace industry, The carbon fiber and woven glass fiber of the palm rest allow for maximum strength and minimal weight. Corning Gorilla Glass 4 is tough, damage-resistant, durable and elegant, and better able to withstand damage from drops.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
7. Asus Rog Strix Scar III
The Asus Rog Strix Scar III is a powerful laptop so it is a great choice for studio contenders. With a base 16 GB RAM and Intel i7 processor, this laptop can handle any production task you throw at it.
This 15.6-inch full HD display machine also features NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB graphics and 1TB SSD storage. It’s a solid choice for serious producers.
- 8Th-gen Intel Core i7-8750H Processor. 6 Cores, Turbo up to 3.9GHz
- Powerful gaming performance with GTX 1050 Ti 4GB graphics
- 120Hz 17.3” Full HD Wide view display. Ultra-fast 3ms response time
- 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM | 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Windows 10 Home
- Asus Aura Sync customizable 4-zone RGB Gaming Keyboard scar Edition design with Kevlar pattern on palm rest
- Gigabit wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 | 2x2 802.11AC Wi-Fi with speeds up to 1.73Gbps
- Anti-dust cooling System | USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI 1.4, Mini DisplayPort (*usb transfer speed may vary. Learn more at Asus website)
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
8. Acer Swift 3
This is another affordable option for those who want to produce music on a budget. Acer Swift 3 has 8 GB RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, and runs on an AMD Ryzen octa-core processor.
Its 14-inch full display gets dark and bright enough to allow you to work in different lighting conditions. The best part of this machine is its battery which can operate up to 11 hours on a single charge.
- 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G4 Processor (Up to 3 7GHz) | 8GB LPDDR4 Memory | 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 13 5 Acer VertiView 2K 2256 x 1504 Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Display (3 2 aspect ratio) | Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201 802 11ax | Backlit Keyboard | Fingerprint Reader | Up to 16 Hours Battery Life
- 1 - USB 3 1 Type C port (up to 10 Gbps) DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 3 USB Charging DC-in 1 - USB 3 1 Gen 1 port (featuring power-off charging) 1 - USB 2 0 port & 1 - HDMI port
- Co-Engineered for Mobile Performance by Intel and Acer
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
9. Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
The Notebook 9 Pro is a thin laptop with more curvature. It features the latest Kaby Lake processors and lots of other decent specs for its price.
The 15-inch model has 16 GB RAM while the 13-inch model comes with 8GB. The 15-inch model’s AMD Radeon 450 ensures better graphics than Intel HD Graphics in the 13-inch model. Thankfully, both versions come with an S-Pen that you can use to add shade to what you’re working on.
- Brilliant Full HD 15” 1080p TOUCHSCREEN for hands-on control with 360-degree flip-and-fold ROTATING display
- Latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U Processor 1.8GHz base up to 4.00 GHz with TURBO BOOST
- 16GB DDR4 memory; 256GB SSD; AMD Radeon 540 graphics card with 2GB dedicated memory
- Built-in S Pen; HD Webcam; 1x USB Type-C; 2x USB 3.0; HDMI; MicroSD, TPM security
- Backlit Keyboard; 802.11ac (2x2) B, A, G, and N supported, Bluetooth v4.1
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
10. PCAudioLabs (MC Mobile M7s)
If you’re looking for a laptop that screams customizability then you might want to consider this one. PCAudioLabs builds systems, like this laptop, that are used to power DJ performances and to score films. Their products are liked by many commercial recording studios for this exact reason.
The MC Mobile M7s from PC Audio Labs is a top laptop for making music. It comprises tweaked features to suit your music production.
This laptop has an Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ that can handle the most-demanding DAW. It has upgradable M.2/PCIe storage.
https://pcaudiolabs.com/rok-box-mobile-series/
Conclusion
There are many great options for music production laptops but the best laptops for making music must check certain boxes. This means that not all-powerful machines are ideal for music production.
Hopefully, by utilizing the information in this article, you can find the best laptop for your music production and home studio. If you’re looking for more in-depth laptop reviews, check out this section of our blog.
