Content creation, whether that's photo or video editing, 3D rendering, or streaming, requires a powerful PC. You see a lot of content creators on the internet nowadays, but making that work happen is challenging, and doing it efficiently means you need the hardware to get things done quickly. If you're trying to grow in this market, you're going to want a powerful PC that can keep up with the demanding workloads.
If you're just getting started, or you just want to dip your toes into some kind of content creation, you might not need a super-powerful laptop. Most of the top-tier laptops you can buy today can handle photo editing fairly well, and video editing, while it may take a while longer, is still doable at lower resolutions. This list features laptops meant for people who want to do this professionally. They all have very fast processors and graphics cards, which means they can handle high-resolution video editing and streaming, 3D rendering, and more without a problem. So, what are the best laptops for creators right now? Let's dive in.
Our top laptops for creators in 2023
Apple MacBook Pro (2023)
Power, efficiency, and a fantastic screen
The 2023 MacBook Pro offers an unmatched combination of performance and battery life that you can't find on any other laptop, in addition to having a spectacular screen and a premium design.
- Apple's M2 Pro and M2 Max processors offer incredible performance and battery life
- Stunning mini-LED displays with up to 1,600 nits of brightness
- Premium design and build quality
- 1080p webcam enhanced by the M2 Pro and M2 Max
- macOS may not run all the apps you're familiar with
- Expensive, especially with upgrades
- The base SSD configuration is slower than the others
The MacBook Pro has always been the go-to laptop for creators, and with the latest iterations based on the M2 Pro and Max processors, that's more true than ever.
Performance is very important with a creator laptop, and the CPU in the MacBook is a 12-core processor with eight performance cores and four efficient cores, delivering an unmatched combination of performance and battery life. You also get up to a 39-core GPU (on the M2 Max models) to accelerate those demanding workloads like 3D rendering and video editing. What's more, you can configure this laptop with up to a whopping 96GB of unified memory (RAM) and an 8TB SSD for storage.
The display also doesn't disappoint. The MacBook Pro features a 16-inch screen (though there's also a 14-inch model that's just as good), and it comes in a super-sharp 3456x2234 resolution with a smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate to make everything look even better. Apple also uses a mini-LED panel with hundreds of individual dimming zones, offering an experience that's close to an OLED panel, and it can go up to a whopping 1,600 nits of peak brightness. That display does have a notch, though, which houses the 1080p webcam, enhanced by the image signal processor inside the M2 chips.
Design-wise, the 2023 MacBook Pro is the same as the 2021 models, with its sleek and subdued design in Silver or Space Grey. It weighs 4.7 pounds in the base model, so it's not super light, but that makes sense here. Finally, for ports, there are three Thunderbolt 4 connections, HDMI 2.1, a headphone jack, a full-size SD card reader, and a MagSafe 3 connector. A very solid setup for any long-time Apple user, allowing you to plug in some peripherals without needing adapters.
The combination of performance, battery life, and display in the 2023 MacBook Pro is simply outstanding, and it's almost impossible not to recommend it if you want to get into content creation (and you can afford it).
Dell XPS 17 (2023)
Big screen, big performance
The Dell XPS 17 is a powerful clamshell laptop with 13th-gen Intel Core processors and up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, delivering terrific performance overall. It still manages to be somewhat compact, though.
- Powerful 13th-gen Intel processors and Nvidia RTX 40 series graphics
- Up to a 4K display with 100% Adobe RGB
- Relatively compact design
- Somewhat heavy
- Expensive, especially higher configurations
- 720p webcam
Dell's XPS lineup, particularly the XPS 17, is heavily associated with creators thanks to its giant screen and powerful components. The 2023 model continues that trend, packing in a ton of performance in a familiar design.
There's a pretty big bump in performance from the 2022 model, now featuring 13th-generation Intel Core processors up to a Core i9-13900H, with 14 cores and 20 threads. That's paired with up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics, which is a major step up from the RTX 3060 in last year's top-tier model. The laptop can also be configured with up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of SSD storage.
On the display front, nothing has really changed this year. The 17-inch panel comes in a 16:10 aspect ratio, and the base model comes in Full HD+ resolution. But the star of the show is the Ultra HD+ model, which also covers 100% of Adobe RGB, making this a perfect laptop for color-sensitive work. This model also supports touch. Above that display is a tiny 720p webcam, which is a big downside considering many other premium laptops have moved to 1080p. It does support Windows Hello, however.
The design should also feel pretty familiar, with a silver exterior and a black carbon fiber interior, just like previous models. The chassis is relatively compact, thanks to tiny bezels around the display, but it's still fairly heavy, starting at 5.1 pounds. As for ports, you can count on four Thunderbolt 4 ports, along with a headphone hack and a full-size SD card reader. Dell ships an adapter for USB Type-A and HDMI in the box, so you're not forced to buy a USB hub.
All of this makes for a fantastic laptop for creators, with all the performance and visual quality you could want. It's pricey, but the Dell XPS 17 is still one of the best on the market.
HP Spectre x360 16 (2023)
Powerful and versatile
The HP Spectre x360 16 is a convertible laptop, but it packs more power than a lot of other similar laptops. It comes with 13th-generation Intel processors and optional Intel Arc graphics, plus it has the option for a stunning OLED display.
- Sharp 16-inch display, plus an OLED option
- Versatile form factor with touch and pen support
- 13th-gen Intel processors and optional discrete graphics
- Not quite as powerful as other laptops on this list
A convertible laptop offers versatility that you can't get with a regular clamshell one, and if you want a convertible with power for content creation, then the HP Spectre x360 16 is for you.
The Spectre x360 16 lets you choose to focus on CPU or GPU performance. If you favor CPU performance, the base model has an Intel Core i7-13700H processor with 14 cores and 20 threads; if you want more GPU performance, then you can upgrade to a model with an Intel Core i7-1360P, which has 12 cores and 16 threads. This is a slightly slower processor, but it's paired with Intel Arc A370M discrete graphics, which will greatly increase GPU performance in tasks that need it. Of course, you can also configure the laptop with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage.
HP hasn't changed the display on the 2023 iteration, but it didn't need to. The base model comes with a very sharp 3072x1920 16-inch IPS panel, with a 16:10 aspect ratio. You can upgrade to an even sharper Ultra HD+ OLED display, which includes benefits like more vivid colors and deep blacks. HP also gives you one of the best webcams on a laptop — a 5MP sensor with Windows Hello support, promising great video calls.
Design-wise, the Spectre x360 16 is familiar, featuring a dual-tone look in both Nightfall Black and Nocturne Blue colorways. It's fairly heavy, starting at 4.74 pounds, but that makes sense for a large convertible. And for ports, you get a varied setup, including two Thunderbolt 4 connections, USB Type-A, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader.
All in all, the HP Spectre x360 16 is a laptop that looks and feels premium, and it has the specs to match that look. It's not quite as powerful as some of the laptops on this list, but still a great choice for anyone with a creative workload.
Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra
Beautifully vibrant and sharp screen
The Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is a premium laptop with a stunning 120Hz AMOLED display and powerful specs for content creators, including 13th-gen Intel Core processors and up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPUs.
- 16-inch AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate by default
- Powerful 13th-gen Intel processors and Nvidia 40 series GPUs
- Premium build quality and a compact design
- A little expensive
- No Windows Hello facial recognition
Samsung has only made its debut in the creator space this year, but the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is already a fantastic contender.
Performance-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 ultra is packing Intel's 13th-generation processors, specifically going up to a Core i9-13900H, featuring a total of 14 cores and 20 threads, plus boost speeds up to 5.4GHz. On top of that, the laptop includes Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 or RTX 4070 graphics, so any creative workload should be a breeze. This is rounded out by up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for a premium experience across the board.
Of course, the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 ultra also has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X, as Samsung calls it. It's a 16-inch panel with a very sharp resolution of 2880x1800 and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. AMOLED means you get true blacks and more vibrant colors, with Samsung touting 120% coverage of DCI-P3. Above that display, you'll find a 1080p webcam, though there's no Windows Hello facial recognition here. You'll have to use the built-in fingerprint reader for that.
The Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra is a departure from previous Samsung laptops in terms of design, ditching the magnesium chassis an aluminum chassis, which makes it feel a lot more premium and sturdy. The laptop comes in at 3.9 pounds of starting weight, which isn't exactly light, but it's also not heavy for a 16-inch aluminum laptop. Coming around to the ports, the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra has a very solid setup, too. It gives you two Thunderbolt 4 connections, USB Type-A, HDMI, a headphone jack, a microSD card reader. With a lot of premium laptops sacrificing ports these days, that's great to see.
It all comes together to make a great laptop for creative professionals, though it's not exactly cheap.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5
A powerful laptop for work environments
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 comes packing Intel's top-tier laptop processors and high-end RTX graphics. It all comes wrapped in a classic ThinkPad design, too.
- Up to a 4K factory-calibrated display with 100% Adobe RGB
- Powerful processors and Nvidia GPUs
- A lot of ports
- No longer packing the newest hardware around
- Higher-end configurations get expensive
- ThinkPad look may not be for everyone
Business and powerful laptops don't have to be mutually exclusive, and Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Extreme is the perfect example of that.
Performance-wise, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme is everything you'd want in a creator laptop. It comes with 45W Intel processors up to a Core i9-12900H, a CPU that includes 14 cores, 20 threads, and support for Intel's vPro technologies. Backing that up, you can configure it with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop graphics card with 16GB of memory. This isn't the latest hardware around anymore, but it's still plenty powerful. Aside from that, you can configure this machine with up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of SSD storage, though some GPUs will limit how much storage you can get.
For the display, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 packs a 16-inch panel and it has a 16:10 aspect ratio. The base configuration comes in Full HD+ resolution, but you can upgrade to up to an Ultra HD+ panel, which also covers 100% of Adobe RGB, making for a perfect laptop to do color-sensitive work. There's also a Quad HD+ configuration with a 165Hz refresh rate. As for the webcam, it's a 1080p sensor and it supports Windows Hello by default.
In terms of design, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 is everything you'd expect from a ThinkPad. It's a black laptop with red accents, including the iconic TrackPoint. Some models also include a carbon fiber pattern on the lid. Despite the powerful specs, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme starts at just 4.14 pounds, which is fairly light for this kind of laptop. Connectivity is also excellent, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader. You can even add 5G cellular connectivity, if you want it.
If you want all the configuration options available, Lenovo's website is the best to place to buy this laptop, but you can also find certain models at other retailers.
Razer Blade 16
Powerful performance isn't just for work
The Razer Blade 16 is one of the most powerful gaming laptops on the market, with a 24-core CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU, plus great display options for both gamers and creators.
- Up to a 24-core Intel processor and RTX 4090 graphics
- Sharp display with 100% coverage of DCI-P3
- Lots of ports
- Expensive
- Heavy
- More power than most will need
Razer has been making great laptops that bridge the gap between gaming and content creation for a while now, but with the Razer Blade 16, it's better than ever.
For starters, the processor inside the Razer Blade 16 is an incredibly powerful Core i9-13950HX. That gives you a whopping 24 cores and 32 threads. The laptop also comes with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, which can use up to a massive 175W of power. This is an extremely powerful laptop, and it can also be configured with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage.
The Razer Blade 16 also has a fantastic display that caters to both gamers and content creators. The base model has a Quad HD+ IPS panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, while also covering 100% of DCI-P3, so it's great for gaming and work. Razer also offers the option for a dual-mode mini-LED panel, which can dynamically change its resolution and refresh rate. For content creation, you can enable the 4K 60Hz mode for extra sharpness, and for gaming, you can enable a Full HD 240Hz mode, so your games look that much smoother. This laptop also has a 1080p webcam with Windows Hello support.
The Razer Blade 16 is much more powerful than its predecessors, and as a result, it is a bit bulkier. It starts at 5.4 pounds of weight, so it's harder to carry than the Blade 15 of years past, but it still has the clean design language Razer is known for, and the weight makes sense considering the specs. There's plenty of connectivity here, too. Two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 4), three USB Type-A connections, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader. You have plenty of options for connecting peripherals, with Thunderbolt 4 support giving you docking options if the included ports are somehow not enough.
The Razer Blade 16 isn't a cheap laptop, but it's hard to match this combination of performance, display, and connectivity.
Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14 OLED
More screens, more productivity
The Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14 OLED is a powerful, yet compact laptop with two whole screens, giving you even more room to work. It also has high-end specs, including 13th-generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia RTX 40 series graphics.
- 13th-generation Intel processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics
- Two displays make it easier to multitask or use controls in creative apps
- Main display covers 100% of DCI-P3 and has a 120Hz refresh rate
- Awkward touchpad position on the right side
- Not everyone needs two screens
If you want to get a little crazy with your laptop choice, the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14 OLED may just be the thing for you. This is a powerful laptop with two whole screens to boost your productivity.
Performance-wise, it's about what you'd expect. You can get up to a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13900H processor with 14 cores and 20 threads, paired with Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics. The PC has a total TDP up to 85W, so you get quite a bit of performance here for creative workloads. It also comes with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage.
What makes this one special, however, is the display — or rather, displays. The Zenbook Pro Duo 14 OLED has a primary 14.5-inch OLED display, coming in 2880x1800 resolution and boasting a 120Hz refresh rate, plus 100% coverage of DCI-P3. But if that's not enough, there's a second screen, a 12.7-inch panel with roughly half the height and 2880x864 resolution. This is an IPS panel, but it still covers 100% of DCI-P3, so colors should look great on both displays. Both displays also support touch and pen input, and you can use the smaller display to change specific controls in certain creative apps, such as using a color wheel in Photoshop or navigating a timeline in Premiere Pro.
Packing two screens in one laptop means some concessions have to be made, so instead of a normal touchpad, the Zenbook Pro Duo 14 OLED has a vertical touchpad on the right side of the keyboard. However, the laptop still manages to be decently light, weighing under four pounds. It has solid connectivity, too, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB Type-A, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. It's impressive how much Asus managed to cram into such a small laptop.
While it is a bit pricey, the high-end configuration of the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14 OLED has a lot to offer, and it's actually reasonable when you look at the specs.
Dell Precision 7680
Power over portability
The Dell Precision 7680 is a beastly mobile workstation with 13th-generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia RTX Ada Generation professional graphics. It also comes with a tall 16:10 display and even has the option for a stunning OLED panel.
- Up to 24-core Intel processors and Nvidia RTX Ada Generation graphics
- Up to 4K display with 100% DCI-P3
- Tons of connectivity
- Hardly portable
- Extremely expensive
If performance is the name of the game, mobile workstations are top-tier players, and the Dell Precision 7680 is one of the best examples of it.
Starting with 13th-generation Intel Core processors, up to a 24-core, 32-thread Core i9-13950HX, this is an incredibly powerful laptop, especially since you can pair it with up to an Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada Generation GPU, the most powerful mobile workstation GPU on the market, and a total of 16GB of video memory. If that's not crazy enough yet, the laptop also comes with up to a massive 128GB of RAM and up to a 4TB SSD for storage.
The display is a 16-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and the base model comes in Full HD+ resolution, so it's not overly impressive. However, you can upgrade up to an Ultra HD+ panel that not only covers 100% of DCI-P3, making it great for color-based work, but also has a 120Hz refresh rate to make everything on screen appear smoother. Above that display is a 1080p webcam, and you can optionally add Windows Hello support for extra convenience.
Portability is completely thrown out the window with this laptop, which starts at 5.75 pounds of weight and 22.3mm thick. It still looks fairly sleek, sporting a dual-tone design with a silver exterior and a black palm rest. And this large chassis fits a ton of ports, including three USB-C ports (two with Thunderbolt 4), two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, RJ45 Ethernet, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader. You can also add 5G cellular support for when you do work away from the office.
This is definitely not a laptop for everyone, but if you want powerful performance above all else, and you only plan on using it for work, the Dell Precision 7680 is for you.
Best creator laptops in 2023: Bottom line
While there are all kinds of factors that play into why you might prefer one laptop over another, every machine on this list has some great merits, and you're bound to love any one of them. The MacBook Pro is very hard to dethrone with its combination of incredible performance and battery life, which is still not found anywhere else in the computing space. It also has a very good display with lifelike colors, and it looks very sleek.
Apple MacBook Pro (2023)
The 2023 MacBook Pro offers an unmatched combination of performance and battery life that you can't find on any other laptop, in addition to having a spectacular screen and a premium design.
If I were buying a new laptop from this list, I'd probably go with the HP Spectre x360 16 thanks to that convertible form factor, which has a versatility that's very valuable to me. It also comes with fast Intel processors and the option for a stunning OLED display. This is also one of the cheaper laptops on the list, and if you want a machine with great performance that isn't overly expensive, this is a great choice.