A good Laptop for Photo Editing requires powerful specifications only found on expensive high-end laptops. Luckily, it is possible to get budget laptops that offer reliable and powerful performance without necessarily spending too much.
You only need to clearly understand the most important factors to consider when choosing a good photo editing laptop.
The best option will be perfect for both professional and beginner photographers and graphic designers. These laptops balance their reliable performance and affordable price range.
In this post, we will explain the most important factors to consider when choosing the best photo editing laptop and a comparison of the best budget options available.
These laptops will work with photo editing applications with ease and minimal lag. Most of the laptops will range between $500 and $700. If you are looking for a cheap laptop for general tasks, check out our laptops under $300 and $400.
8 Best Budget Laptops for Photo Editing
- Acer Aspire 5: Best Budget laptop for photoshop
- Lenovo Flex 14.2 Inch: Best Windows laptop for photo editing
- Acer Nitro 5: Best laptop for photo editing under $700
- Lenovo 2022 IdeaPad 3i – Best Affordable
- HP Pavilion: Best HP laptop for photo editing
- HP 15.6” Touchscreen: Best Budget laptop for photo editing
- Dell Inspiron 15: Best laptop for video and photo editing
- Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen2: Best laptop for photo editing under $1000
Acer Aspire 5: Best Budget laptop for photoshop
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1920×1080 Pixels HD
- Brightness: 267 nits
- Color Gamut: 57% sRGB
- CPU: Core i5
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage Space: 128 GB SSD
- Battery Life: 5 to 7.5 hours
The Acer Aspire 5 is the best laptop for Photoshop under $500. This is a great deal because you can get features found in premium laptops for just a fraction of the price.
This laptop features a 15.6-inch IPS screen display size with a 1920 x 1080 pixel HD display. Screen brightness stands at 267 nits, which is good for indoors but may be problematic outside.
The display is relatively average with a low 57% sRGB color gamut. This is, however, slightly higher compared to the more expensive Lenovo 2022 IdeaPad 3i.
For its price range, it is the best option you can get, first because of its fast processor. Most laptops in this price range feature a dual-core processor, meaning they have 2 processors. They are fast but are a joke compared to the Acer Aspire 5.
This is because, instead of 2 processors, it features quad-core processors, meaning it has 4 processors. This makes it fast and reliable even with heavy programs.
Although its 4 GB of RAM may seem lower than most laptops, it makes this up with a top-quality AMD Radeon graphics card. This makes it even possible to easily run some games.
4GB RAM is, however, still good for Photoshop and illustrators. One card up its sleeve is that this laptop comes with an empty RAM slot on its motherboard, making it upgradable to up to 8 GB of RAM.
The laptop’s body is sturdy and durable with a sleek aluminum-finished top and hard plastic bottom. Acer Aspire 5 offers a great user experience with a large space provided on the surface to place your arms when typing.
Additionally, the ergonomic keyboard is very similar to one on a MacBook Pro. The design makes it super comfortable to use with keys well spaced out and backlit. It also has a NumPad if you use numbers a lot.
One downside of this laptop is that the 128 GB hard drive space is low and may not be enough. However, this laptop’s upgradability is one of the things that have got it to this review. It has an extra slot where you can upgrade to a 1 TB volume.
Pros
- Affordable Price
- Large Screen with HD resolution
- Good Processor
Cons
- Low RAM
- Low storage space
- Short Battery Life
Lenovo Flex 14.2 Inch Convertible Laptop
- Screen Size: 14 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 × 1080 pixels
- Hard Disk Size: 512 GB
- Processor: Ryzen 5 5500U
- RAM: 16 GB
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Integrated GPU
- Backlit Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader
- Battery Life: 10 hours
The Lenovo Flex 14.2-inch is an ultra-thin, lightweight laptop that is ideal for you if you like moving around a lot. You don’t have to miss your deadlines anymore; work from anywhere with this portable convertible laptop without stress.
One feature that drew us to love this laptop more is the TrueBlock Privacy shutter that prevents stalkers from getting your information by covering the webcam. When it comes to battery life, this laptop has a 10-hour battery life, and it takes only 1 hour and 15 minutes for the battery to get fully charged.
Another amazing feature for artists is the AMD Ryzen processing and an active digital pen that allows you to draw and do all you desire as an artist. It has a 14-inch screen, and 1920 × 1080 allows you to explore your artistic prowess without straining because the working area is just ideal.
Pros
- Has a good keyboard deck
- The webcam has a slider shutter
- Has a long battery life
- Affordable Price
- Backlit Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader
Cons
- The fun gets too loud sometimes
- Overheats on the underside after long hours
Acer Nitro 5
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels (FHD)
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
- Windows 11 Home
- Storage: 512 GB
- Backlit Keyboard
If you are looking for a laptop created with gamers in mind, the Acer Nitro 5 is a great pick. It comes with a similar processor to the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2, which is the Intel Core i7.
Although this is ideal for photography and photo edits, the 8 GB RAM might lag if you play very complex games or try to use it for animation or video editing.
The screen is large and comfortable at 15.6 inches in size, with slim bezels around it that give it a slim and sleek modern look.
Additionally, the high 144 Hz screen refresh rate and ergonomically designed backlit keyboard make for a comfortable gaming and designing experience.
You will view your work on the 1920 x 1080 pixels FHD resolution, which is further enhanced by a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU.
A 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage option is available but comes with the older Intel Core i5 processor and Windows 10, which is still good. However, if you upgrade to 11, you will have to download the relevant drivers too.
You might not notice the difference, but this is slightly better than the Intel Iris Xe, the Iris GPU on the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2.
Pros
- Powerful processor and GPU
- Ergonomically designed backlit keyboard
- Large screen with 1920 x 1080 pixels FHD resolution
- 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage option available
Cons
- Expensive
- Not touch screen
- 8 GB RAM will lag a little
- No 4K resolution
HP Pavilion
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Hard Disk Size: 256 GB
- CPU Model: Core i5
- RAM: 8 GB
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Graphics Coprocessor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
- Battery life: 8 hours
- Unique acid backlit keyboard
Just like gamers, most graphic designers and photographers love high-performance laptops with fast speeds and high-quality screens.
HP Pavilion takes the lead in our list because of its speed. With a speed of 2.4 GHz, an Intel Core i5 processor, and a massive 8 GB of RAM, this laptop is just a perfect match for your Photoshop projects.
When it comes to storage, this HP Pavilion has SSD storage of 256GB, fast enough to run any Photoshop software. However, if you feel the storage is low, you can add an external high storage capacity.
Another upside of this laptop is its screen specifications. It has a high-quality 15.6-inch full HD IPS screen that displays your images at their best.
Pros
- High performance
- Top-quality display
- Comes with a dedicated graphics card
- Unique Acid Backlit keyboard and responsive touchpad
- Upgradable RAM to 16 GB DDR
Cons
- The keyboard backlit is not customizable
- Storage is a bit low
HP 15.6” Touch Screen Laptop
- Screen: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1366×768 HD Touchscreen
- Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Connectivity: USB Type-C, HDMI
- OS: Windows 10
- 10 hours of battery life
If you are looking for a laptop with a big screen, then this HP Touchscreen Premium laptop is ideal for you. The laptop has many features that enable you to work and store all your projects without stress.
Powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and a storage of 512 GB SSD, you can now edit your images effortlessly. The only downside is its 1.0 GHz speed. However, you can boost the speed to 3.6 GHz using Turbo Boost technology.
What we love the most about this laptop is that it generates clear and bright images, all thanks to the Intel UHD Graphics and the 1366×768 resolutions.
As an artist/graphic designer, you need a big working area, and this HP display of 15.6 inches is just the perfect match for your artistic needs. It also has a touchscreen and finger multi-touch support for a better experience.
When it comes to connectivity, this laptop comes with several USB connection ports, and you can connect it to multiple cloud services and mobile devices.
Pros
- Great performance
- Lightweight
- Good display for graphics
- Compatible with multiple devices
Cons
- Low-resolution screen
- No backlit keyboard
- Average battery life
- No fingerprint security feature
Lenovo 2022 IdeaPad 3i
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1920×1080 Pixels HD IPS display
- CPU: Core i5
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage Space: 512 GB SSD
- Battery Life: 7 to 12 hours
The Lenovonovo 2022 IdeaPad 3i takes the spot for the best value-for-money laptop. This laptop packs up great features for a very fair price,, and yes, it will run Photoshop without problems.
First of all,, the laptop has a slim and sleek,, smooth metallic finish body and is only 14.14 x 9.31 x 0.78 inches in size. This small size combined with 7 to 12 hours of battery life depending on usagemakes this laptop easily portable if you like working outside the office.
However, it is important to note that this laptop is slightly heavier than an average modern 15-inch laptop. It weighs in at 1.7 kg,, which does not take away from its portability.
The lower side features a plastic finish like most standard laptops and a fan action almost in the middle for cooling. You will have 2 speakers from either bottom side of the laptop,, which is ok by me.
Although a hands-on mouse is preferable over the mouse pad when using Photoshop, we cannotforget to compliment Lenovo for the large and comfortable area to place your hands provided on the front of the laptop.
One problem,, however, is that, is that the mouse pad is so far off-center to the left instead of in in the spot-on center. But it is still a nice, sensitive trackpad that will not give you lots of problems.
The ergonomic keyboard design is great. First, it is a full keyboard with a NumPad section, which is great if you deal with lots of numbers.
Just like previous Lenovo laptops, it is well set up with comfortable space in between keys, making for a great user experience.
The screen size is large enough at 15.6 inches, larger than the recommended 13 inches, plus Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, making it a perfect pick for Photoshop users.
The technology used to develop the display also matters when it comes to clarity. You can either have an IPS display or an LCD backlit screen. IPS screens are better and offer a more crisp and clear display.
Despite the traditional rigid approach on the overall laptop, the screen is very classy looking with thin bezels around the large screen. This gives the illusion of an even larger screen than it is.
This laptop comes with a Core i5 processor and 8 GB of RAM. This means that multitasking on normal day-to-day tasks will not be a problem.
These features make it possible to perform Photoshop editing tasks and can even perform basic 4K video editing. It will easily run some basic games but will have problems running more CPU-intensive and complex games.
When it comes to connectivity, Lenovo has maintained port quality as per their earlier laptop devices despite upgrades on other similarly priced laptops.
You have a USB-C port but not Thunderbolt 4. You will have 2 USB ports on the right and left plus a card reader slot on one side and an HDMI port on the other. An audio jack is also featured on the side.
Pros
- Ergonomic backlit keyboard
- RAM upgradeable to 8 GB only
- 15.6 inches screen size, LCD with anti-glare and 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution
- Secure fingerprint reader
- Offers fast data transfer thanks to a Type-C and HDMI port
Cons
- Poor webcam quality
- The screen is not touch-sensitive
Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen2
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Processor: Intel 10-Core i7-1255U
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Security: Fingerprint
- Windows 11 Pro
- Battery Life: 6 hours
The Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 is our pick for the best budget laptop for Photoshop. It features a slim and sleek body build, with thin bezels meant to make the large 16-inch screen seem even bigger.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 comes in different versions, making it easy to get confused. However, the main difference among the 4 versions is the RAM and storage space.
8 or 16 GB of RAM is perfect for photo editing. If you want to do both photo and video editing, consider the 1 TB storage and 40 GB RAM option.
All of them will come with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, which is ideal for many editing tasks. For security, the laptop comes with fingerprint recognition capability.
The cheapest option will go for slightly below $750 and will still pack perfect specifications for professional photo editing.
Pros
- Wide range of options to choose from
- Powerful processor and large RAM
- Affordable price range
- Finger Print support
- Premium 1 TB storage and 40 GB RAM premium option available
Cons
- Not touch screen
- The 8 GB RAM option will lag a little
Dell XPS 15
- Screen Size: 15.6-inch
- Resolution: 3456 x 2160 Pixels
- Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H
- RAM: 32 GB
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 4070
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
The Dell XPS 15 is one of those laptops that was made with designers in mind. It features a modern and sleek look that gives it a futuristic feel as you work on it.
As a premium-level laptop, it features some powerful features that will run Photoshop without unnecessary lags and breakdowns.
It features a large 16-inch screen size with a clean and clear 3456 x 2160 pixel resolution. This 4K display will allow you to view your work in rich, vivid colors, which can influence your output.
Processing power is more than you will need for Photoshop with a powerful Intel Core i7-13700H processor, 32 GB RAM, and Nvidia RTX 4070 Graphic Processing Unit, or GPU.
The Dell XPS 15 is unfortunately a premium tablet and will not come cheap. However, you will be blown away by the powerful features that will make it possible to use it for diverse professional tasks such as animation.
Pros
- Slick design
- Powerful processor and RAM
- Large storage space
- Large OLED display with 4k Resolution
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the best keyboard
- More Power than you need
Choosing the Best Budget Laptop for Photo Editing
When choosing the best one for your editing needs, you will need to consider the below specifications. Processing Power,
Processing Power
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) and RAM on a laptop play an important role when working with photo editing software such as GIMP, Photoshop, and Affinity Photo. The processor will influence how fast your laptop operates, while the RAM will help you multitask.
For the best experience even on a budget, consider an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor. They offer a great price even with fast processing. If you need a lightweight laptop for simpler tasks like streaming, an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 is ideal.
RAM and Storage
For streaming and fast file retrieval, choose a laptop with a large RAM, at least 8 GB RAM and above. An SSD storage hard drive will offer fast file retrieval, improving your user experience. Choose a large size, either 256 or 512 GB and above.
Screen Quality
The kind of display on a laptop can influence the overall user experience. You do not need to have a 4K kind of display to produce great work in Photoshop. However, it would not hurt if you got one.
For optimal performance, a display anywhere from 1366 x 768 to 1920 x 1080 pixels is recommended. However, the minimum resolution we recommend is Full HD (1920×1080) resolution as a minimum.
An IPS panel type offers better color accuracy and viewing angles. For color accuracy, choose a 100% sRGB or higher color gamut.
Another important factor to consider is the screen. A small-sized screen is difficult or even sometimes impossible to use with Photoshop. We recommend 13 inches and above for a great experience with Photoshop.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
The GPU refers to the method or chipsets that help display graphics on the screen. A graphics card adds more power that enables certain tools to function. Some laptops come with inbuilt graphics processors.
NVIDIA and AMD are trusted brands when it comes to graphics cards. However, a basic graphics card will work well, and you do not have to go for a complex one, especially if on a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is RAM Important When Choosing a Cheap Laptop?
RAM and processing power will determine how fast your laptop is. Low RAM will limit the ability of the laptop to multitask or run various programs like Photoshop.
Which is the best OS for Photoshop, Mac or PC?
For the longest time debate has been going on about which one of the 2 MAC or PC is best for Photoshop and Graphic Design in general.
This article does not finally put this discussion to rest. Ultimately the best between the 2 is a matter of personal preference for graphic designers and artists. So this is up to you. I prefer a PC over a MAC.How much RAM should a laptop have for photo editing?
For the best experience, you will need 8 to 16 GB RAM and above. For the processor, an Intel Core i5 or i7 or similar is best. Finally, you will need a dedicated graphics processing unit, or GPU, of at least 3 GB.