Selecting a Laptop for Animation purposes is very tricky because there’s no such laptop that is made merely for the use of animation. So picking the best laptop for 3d animation becomes a difficult task. Don’t worries we are here to escort you all and will help you find cheap laptops for animation.
Before buying the best laptop for animation and graphic design, you surely need to know the laptop you’re buying yourself have precise specifications and what is you need in the machine to make it good computer for 3d modelling.
It is prudent to highlight that for animation creation, hefty software like Motion Builder, 3ds Max, and Blender are required. These software’s are required High-end PC with a blazing-fast processor and ample RAM which able to create innovative animation and graphic images.
In this article, we summed up for you the top 12 best laptop for 3d animation and graphics designing and after going through the reviews, we can guarantee that you will find a cheap laptop that will be perfect for the animator.
FEATURES THAT MAKE PERFECT LAPTOP FOR ANIMATION
Best CPU in the Laptop for 3d Animation
CPU is a backbone of any Laptop and playing a vital role during the animation creation or any other project. Therefore, CPU feature should be clock speed because it refers to pushing your Laptop components harder and faster than the manufacturer designed them to go.
However, we’re not paying too much attention to CPU Clock speed when we buy a new Laptop. If you have a low clock speed CPU, the Laptop will become a very slow and you can’t create a 3d animation.
Measuring of CPU Clock speed rate is very easy; it is generally in GHz. For example, a CPU with a clock rate of 2.2 GHz can perform 2,200,000,000 clock cycles per second. It means the Laptop performs better than a low clock speed computer.
Usually, Intel Core i7 has 2.2 GHz CPU, which is the Best Laptop for drawing and animation because it will keep your Laptop CPU Cooler for a long time working. Furthermore watch the below-mentioned video to understand does CPU Clock speed actually matters?
RAM for Best Laptop for 3d Animation
RAM is also an essential factor in getting a laptop for 3d animation. So it depends on what you’re doing with Laptop. Mostly peoples are usage 4 GB RAM for office work. However, gaming and animation students are usage 8 GB RAM but some real serious project maybe 16GB RAM. Furthermore, engineers will have a hard time justifying 32GB unless they’re running a very busy server or doing 3D rendering.
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
If you want a laptop for 3d animation and graphics work then powerful GPU is essentially required because the GPU normally used to fast-up the Laptop for the creation and rendering the images, videos, and animations. It is a crucial component in the PC and is being used for displaying textures and Graphical Effects in the user interface.
When you have a graphics card, it puts less work on your CPU since the graphics card is handling the task. Your rendering time might even decrease from a couple of hours.
Storage/ Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Hard Disk Drive is traditionally used for storage purposes on computers; you can use them for long term storage of files, video, images, and animation that is not directly involved in your day-to-day workflow.
So you’ll render your animation project quickly because loading applications/reading/writing will be done within seconds. Furthermore, 350 GB Hard Drive space is enough for beginner students of 3d animation.
Display
1080 Pixel resolution with minimum 15-inch display is enough for animation and graphics design students because high resolution may be create some problems with animation software when you are scaling or rendering the project.
List of Top 12 Best Laptop for 3d Animation in 2020
| Preview | Product | Brand | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
  | GIGABYTE Aero 15X v8-BK4 15″ Ultra Slim Laptop | GIGABYTE | View Price |
  | Acer Predator Helios 300 | Acer | View Price |
  | Acer Aspire E5 | Acer | View Price |
  | Asus TUF Gaming Laptop | Asus | View Price |
  | ASUS ROG Zephyrus | Asus | View Price |
  | Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop | Acer | View Price |
  | Acer Aspire E 15 Laptop | Acer | View Price |
  | Apple MacBook Pro | Apple | View Price |
  | Razer Blade 15 | Razer | View Price |
  | Lenovo ThinkPad P71 | Lenovo | View Price |
  | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 | Microsoft | View Price |
  | MSI GS75 Stealth-093 | MSI | View Price |
1. GIGABYTE Aero – (Best Laptop for 3d Animation Students)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H (2.2GHz-4.1GHz)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- Display: 15.6 Inches Full HD Anti Glare
- Warranty: 2 years global warranty
- Operating System: Window 10 Pro
The GIGABYTE Laptop has a stunning design with the high tier graphics card, which is mostly used for animation purposes. The design is so modern and appealing, which strikes a balance between portability and power.
The ultra-slim best animation laptop comes with excellent features; you would feel amazed when you create animation. The GPU delivers ultimate performance with immersive virtual reality experience and smooth high-end resolution, it stays cool, and the CPU can get toasty.
It’s a powerful laptop built well and has a good battery life that allows you to work up to 10 hours without any problems. The screen color is exceptionally accurate, and thin bezels make the screen look amazing and provide you with ultimate visual experience and the graphics look even more enhanced on the large screen.
The RGB backlighting for the keyboard is terrific, and you can feel very hot and cool when you’re working on the Laptop. Overall this Laptop has fulfilled all requirements with an excellent reputation.
Features
- Thin Bezel Full HD display makes this laptop quite attractive.
- The front wide-angle display gives the best graphic experience.
- The system doesn’t get hot when you are rendering the animation.
- Full-Sized RGB Keyboard feels amazing and quite pleasant during typing.
- The TouchPad feels nice, and the click is satisfying to use.
2. Acer Predator Helios 300 – (Best Laptop for Drawing And Animation)
- Processor: Intel Core i7 9750H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- Display: 15.6 Inch Full HD
- Operating System: Window 10 Home 64 Bit
The second Laptop on our list is the Acer Predator Helios 300, which is another great laptop for 3d animation. It has a slim and sleek design with state of the art specs for animation rendering. The Intel Core i7 processor and graphic is top-notch.
The full HD Widescreen LED-backlit IPS display makes it a modern technology laptop. The contrast and color gamut are very effective and pleasing to the eyes as well as allows you to work on the Laptop conveniently.
The GPU is one of the best Graphics processors in the Laptop because it will enable animators to work smartly and without any issues. The Laptop comes with “Turbo” mode, which is activated by a button and you can create your own overclocking profiles. Furthermore, it is a fully customizable laptop, let you can set everything according to your need.
The Stereo speaker in the Laptop is a nice touch, it gives excellent audio experience to the user, and the virtual surround effect is surprisingly convincing. If you are animator, this Laptop will allow you to create your projects without any difficulties.
Features
- The Acer Predator Helios 300 is specially designed for animation and graphic design.
- The laptop is powered with the latest processor that is 9th generation Intel Core i7.
- The 16GB RAM and GTX 1660 Ti Graphics are of high technology.
- The sound effect is powerful, and you will be immersed in it.
- This model has an HDMI port and a Mini Display Port to allow you to connect two monitors.
- The Full HD IPS display is quite attractive.
3. Acer Aspire E5 – (Best Laptop for 3d Animation)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 8265U
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX250
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- Display: 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Another budget-friendly laptop for 3d animation is Acer Aspire E5. It comes with plenty of features and gives better performance compared to other Laptops in the market right now.
The Laptop is sturdy, robust, and portable, and lightweight as well. It comes with 8th generation core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphic which is an excellent start for animation. The keyboard, really nice having a separate number pad on the Laptop.
It has 15.6” Full HD IPS display with Acer Color Intelligence which keeps your eyes free from strain, and you can work on your project for a long time. It is good enough Laptop for commercial and domestic use.
The best thing about this Laptop is that it has great speakers, bringing you deeper bass and more volume. The Laptop has a good battery life of up to 9.5 hours, but it could have been better. If you are rendering an animation movie for a long time, there are chances that you run out of battery soon.
Features
- The screen is 15.6 inches wide with vibrant colors.
- The Memory speed is 3.9 GHz which is sufficient for animation rendering.
- It is a reliable laptop for rendering 3d animations.
- The Graphics Performance of this Laptop is outstanding.
- It has a beautiful and elegant design.
4. Asus TUF Gaming Laptop for Animation Student
- Processor: Hexa-core Intel Core i7-9750h
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- Display: 15.6 Inch Full HD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
The Asus TUF Gaming Laptop is an excellent laptop for running 3d animation software. The laptop has high-end features and specifications at a reasonable price. It’s reliable and powerful hardware allows you to run 3d animation software like Motion Builder, 3ds Max, and Blender easily.
The Laptop has Intel Core i7-9750h 9th generation Processor, which able to create multitask with ease. The storage capacity of this laptop is enough to store unlimited files, movies, and other projects.
Durable RGB keyboard has robust quality material; it can endure up to 20 million keystrokes without any problem. Furthermore, you can customize the Aura backlight colors and effects according to your desire.
The Laptop comes with a 16.5-inch wide display screen with a thinner bezel and compact design that can allow you to work conveniently. The ultra-slim design of the laptop makes it classy and modern.
Features
- The 15.6 inches Full HD display allows you to get a clear and more prominent view.
- The smooth and durable keyboard can bear 20 million key presses durability.
- The slim and sleek design makes it eye-catching.
- It comes with 3 USB ports.
- It is a perfect Laptop for the use of hefty software (like blender and Maya).
5. ASUS ROG Zephyrus – (Best Laptop For Animation and Gaming)
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9750H 9th Generation
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 1 TB
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Display: 15.6 inches Full HD
The Asus ROG Zephyrus is not a commonly seen laptop and is recommended for animators who need to run robust programs like Motion Builder, 3ds Max, and Blender. This Laptop is also used for gaming purposes. If you’re game developers who need high-end specifications and features for developing the games, it’s a perfect choice.
The Asus ROG Zephyrus built-in ultra-slim metal chassis that is lightweight and durable. The Laptop can run at high speed while you’re rendering the animation movies, you can buy it within a reasonable budget.
The audio quality is incredible with a surreal 3d feel, though this effect is evident only in a tranquil room. The Pantone validated IPS display is very smooth and color accurate. It is a suitable Laptop for 3d animation creation and also offers a great gaming experience.
The Laptop does get pretty warm, but it is one of the best performers on our list. It has all the essential features with modern technology that is required to run the 3d animation software smoothly.
Features
- The design of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus is slim and sleek.
- The Graphics processing specifications are excellent.
- The Color accuracy of the display is superb.
- The build quality is impressive with minimal flex.
- The lighted keyboard is nice and useful in low light situations.
- The display is sharp and vivid.
6. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop (Best Budget Laptop For 2D Animation)
- Processor: Intel Core i3 8145u 8th Generation (Up to 3.9GHz)
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 128 GB
- Display: 15.6 inches Full HD
- Operating System: Window 10
If you are looking budget laptop for 2d animation, then the first laptop on our list would be attractive for you. Although we are not recommended Core i3 processor but it has 3 GHz clock speed dual-core processor which is faster. It is sturdy and quite attractive laptop by Acer. This is the main reason for its popularity among low budget laptops.
The Intel UHD Graphics 620 processor allows multiple tasks to run simultaneously and handle several animations projects throughout the day without hassle. Other than processor the laptop has 15.6 inches full HD stunning IPS screen offers you a more immersive experience.
The look of this laptop is also stunning a brushed aluminium cover with matching plastic finish elsewhere look clean and classy. The keyboard is too tremendous and soft you would be glad to know rather you have large hands, the keys have a nice tactile and are responsive.
Overall, if you are looking best laptop for 2d animation creation with high-end features, then you would not find a better laptop than this.
Features
- 8th generation Intel i3 8145u processor (Up to 3.9GHz).
- Sleek and sophisticated design.
- The operating system pre-install on this laptop.
- Lightweight and slim.
- The laptop gives a high performance during work.
7. Acer Aspire E 15 Laptop – (Cheap Laptops For Animation)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX150
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256 GB
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Display: 15.6 Inches Full HD
- Warranty: One Year Limited Warranty
The Acer Aspire is a cheap laptop for 2d animation with essential features which able to run several animation software’s at the same time without any delay. The modern and futuristic design makes it look attractive and appealing. It is a killer laptop with a high-end processor and graphics card which make it one of the best laptop for 3d animation in the market right now.
The laptop equipped with a pretty loud speaker design limits audio distortion. The cooling system in the laptop is excellent; you stay quite cool unless playing a game or rendering the animation movies.
The keyboard is comfortable to type, and the backlight is a nice touch, which makes it an extraordinary laptop. Furthermore, the keyboard keys are soft and convenient to use, and you can perform all types of tasks without any lag. Overall, it looks better a laptop for 3d animation at this price.
Notwithstanding, the device comes with 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz) paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage capacity. Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX150 with 2GB graphics card and 15.6 Inches full HD display, these multiple features can be used for different purposes.
Features
- Easy to upgrades! All components allow you to upgrade as convenient.
- Audio quality is top-notch.
- The backlit keyboard lets you work on your project even at night.
- The Full HD widescreen LED IPS display gives the best graphic experience
- It comes NVIDIA GeForce MX150 series.
8. Apple MacBook Pro – (Best Laptop For Drawing and Animation)
- Processor: 8th-generation Intel Core i7 (2.2GHz)
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.4-inch LED-backlit Retina display
The Apple MacBook Pro is the best choice for the animators that are not bound by the budget. It is the first laptop on the list by apple, which is perfect for animation students because the rendering of animation movies and drawing in this laptop is made very easy compare to other devices.
It has a sophisticated and attractive design with 16 GB RAM that is enough for animators. The battery time up to 10 hours that is sufficient for working on animation projects for a long time.
According to perception, it is a most expensive laptop in the market right now because 2.2GHz clock speed makes it faster, so the laptop provides the desired speed without any interruption during rendering animation as well as running heavy software. So it becomes the ideal choice for 3d animation students
Apple MacBook Pro has 15.4-inch LED-backlit Retina display which is extremely capable with all 3d animation projects. You can also enjoy 4k video with retina built features. This model comes with two variant core i7 and core i9 with storage capacity 256GB and 512GB as well; you can buy it according to needs.
If you’re more concerned with your work and looking best laptop for 3d animation, which makes you system competent and secure, then it is one of the best choices.
Features:
- Retina display with True Tone technology.
- Allows you to do multitasking simultaneously.
- Classy and elegant design.
- The Ultra-thin laptop is easy to carry during traveling.
- It has a full power processor, which makes your work easy.
- Perfect for animation and gaming purposes.
9. Razer Blade 15 – (Best Laptop For Animators)
- Processor: 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 2070 RTX Max-Q
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- Display: 15.6 Inches
- Operating System: Window 10
- Warranty: One Year Limited
The Razer Blade is a famous brand in the market now and has consistently focused on products with high-quality graphics and performance. It comes with a solid black unibody aluminum case you can feel robust and appealing. The biometric feature is impressive, which fully ensures the privacy and security of your laptop. You can set up your face lock to unlock your laptop.
The laptop is equipped with high-end features including keyboard light, touchpad and much more. The 15.6-inch bezel display is excellent for clarity of sake and creates a better gameplay experience. The battery life is pretty impressive with these specs; you can do your work throughout the day without any lag.
It is one of the most popular laptops for 3d animation projects because the thermals performance of this laptop is top-notch and comes with latest generation Core i7 CPU with 16 GB RAM which can be increased according to user needs. Furthermore, 512 GB built-in storage can also be upgraded as per requirement and store your 3d projects for future utilizing.
The three thunderbolt USB ports make the connectivity of this laptop great; you can connect another desktop graphics card over the thunderbolt for a 3D performance boost. It is one of the favourite laptops on our list for 3D work.
Features
- The sound quality is excellent and got a touch screen.
- The aluminium chassis is solid and feels like a premium laptop.
- The screen is bright, vibrant, and the color balance is perfect.
- Thermal design power gives a compelling performance.
- Subtle and futuristic design.
10. Lenovo ThinkPad P71 – (Best PC for 3D Animation)
- Process: Intel 7th Gen Quad-Core i7-7700HQ 2.80GHz
- GPU: NVIDIA Quadro M620M
- RAM: 32 GB
- Storage: 2 TB
- Display: 17.3 Full HD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Warranty: 3 year manufacture warranty
The Lenovo ThinkPad P71 is designed to handle multiple tasks at a time and also allows us to access frequently used files and 3d projects quickly. It is a powerful laptop that comes with 4k display and superpower Intel Quad-Core i7-7700HQ 2.80GHz processor and NVIDIA Quadro M620M. A professional animator can easily imagine how powerful the graphic of this laptop.
Graphics Card will play a vital role while you are rendering the 3d projects, it will boost your laptop performance, and resultantly you can be done your job without any pause. It is the best laptop for 3d animation because it is easy to carry and handle advanced 3d modeling and engineering application in befitting manners.
This laptop has 17.3 inches full HD display, although the size of the screen comparatively large but it is worth; let you watch the fantastic view of movies and games. The design and shape of this laptop is elegant and classy so that one will be willingly come first to the queue of purchase.
The battery life is ranging between 8 to 10 hours, the cooling fan works great and keeps your laptop cool for long-hour working. Overall it is an excellent laptop for 3d modeling and rendering.
Features
- The 17.3 inches full HD displays screen helps you to enjoy the fantastic view of movies and games.
- It delivers excellent performance during 3d modeling and rendering.
- Allows you to do multitasking at the same time.
- The laptop is made with extraordinary technology.
- Thin and lightweight.
11. Microsoft Surface Pro 6 – (Best laptop For Cinema 4d)
- Processor: 8th Generation Intel Core
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- RAM: 128 GB
- Storage: 128 GB
- Display: 12.3 inches Full HD
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Warranty: One Year
If you’re looking budget laptop under 1000 dollars with high-end specifications, Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is the perfect option. The Surface Pro 6 stunning black cover schema is a lovely touch, and attractive features of this laptop are aesthetic and crisp.
Intel UHD 620 graphics chip able to render 3d movies without any lag and also play high-end graphical games on high settings. This device has robust processing speed in this price tag and should handle everything else with ease.
The 13.5 inches display comparatively small, but the deeper blacks and more vibrant color will certainly suffice to make movies more superb looking. They can make 3d rendering and modeling much easier. The keyboard of the Surface series is fantastic and not noisy at all.
The battery life can be stretched depending on what you’re doing with it. The incredibly fantastic performance with a sleek design makes the Surface Pro series go the number one choice. It is lightweight and easy to carry around the world also flips to act as a tablet for landing and takeoff. Therefore, this is the best laptop for 3d animation students.
Features
- The screen is super crisp and has a lot of contrast.
- This device is a lot smaller and lighter than Microsoft’s previous model.
- Stylish and economical design.
- It keeps entertaining for a long time.
- The performance is excellent.
12. MSI GS75 Stealth-093 – (Best Laptop For Maya)
- Processor: Intel Core i7 8750H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX2080 8G Max Q
- RAM: 32 GB
- Storage: 512 GB
- Display: 17. 3 inches
- Operating System: Window 10 Home
- Warranty: One Year
The MSI GS 75 is the most popular laptop in the market right now. The sleek MSI GS75 stealth 093 handles all 3d animation projects with ease. It’s power full Core i7 8750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX2080 8G Max Q GPU is perfect for multitasking who are looking for 3d animation that they can use. This device will give you everything you ever wanted in a slim animation laptop.
If you’re confused with all other laptops on our list, then you can go with this option because no doubt it is best laptop for 3d animation and also incredible for using hefty software and gaming purposes. Everything runs an incredibly fast event with the highest games settings.
The laptop has a widescreen of 17.3 inches terrific, and you love the 32 GB RAM that can be upgraded to 64 GB, which is enough for 3d rendering and modeling. The advanced cooling technology is fitted inside the laptop to cool down the CPU and GPU in the best manners while they run heavy gaming and software.
It has a sophisticated and sleek design and excellent CPU performance; you can unlock the creativity w.r.t animation and graphic design that you always want to portray. The customization and colors of the keyboard are a lovely bonus. The keyboard uses the steel series technology, which allows you to customize the colors and animate the keyboard as you like. It is unique and well designed.
All in all, this MSI laptop is high-end features and robust quality CPU that you can use for animation purposes. The design and size is perfect for traveling as well. However, the battery is not best, the battery will last about 3 hours only with light use, and the screen brightness turned down.
Features
- The keyboard RGB lighting is great for use in a dark room.
- Large IPS display perfect for movies and games.
- Large multi-gesture touchpad.
- Lightweight and thin easy to carry.
- The advanced cooling system helps to cool down your laptop and prevent from heating.
CONCLUSION
All details regarding the Best laptop for 3d animation buy in 2020 has delivered in the article with full loyalty to you. Hopefully, you feel better prepared to select the best laptop for 3d animation when needed. However, Razer Blade and MSI GS75 laptop are on the top of the list for 3d animation purposes.
The reviews researched well with enough pros and associated cons with their solutions. I want you to enjoy the experience of finding the right laptop for 3d animation. Go and make your cart filled up with the best product you like.
Happy Shopping!
FAQs
What Laptops are good for 3d modeling?
For 3D modeling, hefty software like Maya and unity would be required with at least 16 GB RAM and high-end graphic card NVIDIA 960 and better, SSD just to speed up the whole process, so 256 GB would be enough.
What laptops do animators use?
The animators must have at least an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 1 TB HDD or 256 GB SSD storage drive, and a decent graphics card ranging from 2GB to 4GB video memory. Because all the animation software like blender and Autodesk required these specs to make your animation journey even easier.
What is the best laptop for drawing and animation?
For the rendering of animation, Autodesk, Blender, 3D Maya, and Cinema 4D software are required, which need to have a decent graphics card such as GeForce GTX 1060 same tier for AMD or above.
For drawing, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator software nowadays are trendy and highly recommended to have a bare minimum of 8 GB RAM. However, 16 GB RAM and above would be better. Processor 5th generation Core i5 and above tier is ideal, and 256 GB SSD is enough.