Best Laptops for Music Production in 2022

Gone are the days when people were using different instruments for music production. The most important thing you need in this world of advanced technology is a laptop to make a song.

You can’t use any laptop, but you need the best laptop for music production with the right software to create the right music for your listeners. Music production requires a lot of applications and software to edit and design the music.

You need a laptop with a fast processor, HD graphics, high RAM, high memory, and HD display to fulfill these requirements. Searching for the best laptops for music production is not an easy task as you have to perform immense research while considering all options.

To reduce your time and efforts, here we have compiled a brief list of the top 10 laptops for music production.

Things to consider before buying a good laptop for music production

When you are looking for a computer for music production and recording price tag is not enough. There are many things you should consider.

Many budget-friendly laptops are available on the market, but they give a limited performance with minimum specifications.

Before jumping out and spending your money on a system, we recommend looking for a laptop covering the essential “must-have” specifications. Here are some things you should consider before buying a music production laptop:

Processor

As the CPU is the heart of a computer. The performance of your system’s CPU matters. For audio and music production, get the fastest processor you can afford.

For most recording software, you’ll need a laptop with multi-dual or quad-core processors.

Operating System

You can use both Windows and macOS for music production, but going with MacOS is probably be the best option.

Many people in this industry prefer a Mac over a PC because they are more stable. However, if you’re confused between both, we recommend you read this guide by MacWorld, which describes the comparison of macOS High Sierra and Windows 10.

RAM

For music production and recording purpose, you need more RAM. This is important for handling your software. So, we recommend you go for a minimum of 8GB or more.

If you are going to buy a laptop for audio recording, make sure that you can add more RAM in the future if required.

Hard Drive

For music recording, make sure that you get the correct hard drive.

Always choose your hard drive wisely. For example, give preference to SSD storage instead of the hard disk drive to handle the demands of transferring audio data.

So, without any further ado, here we go…

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Top 10 Best Laptops for Music Production

Apple 16″ MacBook Pro, 512GB SSD – Best Mac for Music Production

Apple has been known for its high-quality products. Regarding content creation, Apple MacBook Pro is the first preference for all professionals, including music production. It offers high-end technology and features that make it one of the best laptops for music production.

It is a 15-inch thin and lightweight laptop that truly redefines the word portable. A retina display gives you more vibrant colors and brightness that doesn’t strain your eyes compared to other laptops. The laptop is sported with a 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 processor paired with the 16GB of RAM and 4GB dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics card, making it good enough for music production and recording.

For storage, the MacBook Pro comes with 512GB of SSD storage suitable for storing large media files or audio software. In addition, it offers 10 hours of battery life for extended usage without needing to be plugged in. If you have a large budget and like the usability of OSX, then MacBook Pro is the best ultrabook for music production you can get.

Hardware Specifications of Apple 15″ MacBook Pro, 256GB SSD
Processor	9th-Generation Intel Core i7 6-core Processor 2.6GHz
RAM	16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3
Storage	512GB SSD
Display	16″ FHD Retina (3072×1920) Display
Graphics	AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory and automatic graphics switching, Intel UHD Graphics 630
Operating System	macOS BigSur
Battery Life	Up to 10-hours
Weight	4.3 pounds

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ASUS TUF FX505DU Gaming Laptop

The ASUS TUF FX505DU comes in various screen sizes and hardware specifications. This ASUS model is a high-end and powerful laptop that can be pretty handy for music-making. This is a 15.6-inch laptop with a full HD display having a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It is not only suitable for music production. You can even use it for streaming, video editing, etc. It is also one of the best laptops for video production.

The laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H processor clocked at 2.2GHz. It also has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 8GB GDDR6 dedicated graphic card. It is also sported 16GB DDR4 RAM making it very snappy for demanding music projects. In addition, it comes with the combination of a 1TB hard disk drive and 256GB of SSD that make it one of the most powerful laptops.

It weighs only 4.8 pounds so, you can easily fit it into your backpack if you are a traveling gig musician. Overall, it is tough to beat this laptop in terms of hardware specifications and performance as it is one of the best 15-inch laptops for music production you can buy right now.

Hardware Specifications of ASUS TUF FX505DU Gaming Laptop
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 3750H Quad-core Processor (up to 3.9GHz)
RAM	16GB DDR4
Storage	256GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD
Display	15.6″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) Display
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 8GB GDDR6
Operating System	Windows 10 Home x64
Battery Life	Up to 10-hours
Weight	4.85 lbs

HP Spectre x360 15t – 2-in-1 Laptop

No list of laptops would be complete without mentioning at least one HP model. This HP Spectre x360 is a popular pick if you’re not buying Mac. This 15-inch 2-in-1 laptop with a beautiful and sleek design allows you to use it as a normal laptop or tablet.

The graphics on this laptop are equipped with NVidia GeForce GTX MX250 2GB graphics suitable for music recording, video editing, or light photoshopping. It sports the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, making it ideal for recording & producing music. The Spectre also comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, powerful enough to handle multitasking. For storage, the laptop comes with 1TB of fast SSD to store all your applications and software locally on the computer.

The only downside of this laptop is that it has limited USB ports, and you might need to get a USB hub. But, it might not be deal-breaking for everyone as there are all other ports and slots available. In addition, the Spectre truly shines in terms of battery life. Offering 12-hours of battery life, it is the perfect laptop for users looking for a  music production laptop.

Hardware Specifications of HP Spectre x360 15t 2-in-1 Laptop
Processor	10th Generation Intel Quad-Core i7-10510U Processor (Up to 4.9GHz)
RAM	16GB DDR4
Storage	1TB PCI NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	15.6″ FHD 4K UHD WLED-backlit (3840 x 2160) Touchscreen Display
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce MX330 Graphics
Operating System	Windows 10 Home 64
Battery Life	Up to 12-hours
Weight	4.83 lbs

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Asus ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop

This is another high-performing ASUS ultrabook on our list of best laptops for music production. Based on performance, this laptop gives an excellent performance as of previously mentioned ASUS laptop. We’ve already discussed that the Asus ZenBook comes in various models based on their hardware specifications. Although, all the models are capable and perfect for audio creation.

The Asus ZenBook 14 UX434F is a 15.6” gaming laptop packed with a 10th generation i7 processor, which is excellent for the price. Though featuring 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, this model offers two times less storage than the previously mentioned ASUS laptop. But we can’t ignore its robust features that give us a reason to include it on our list of top laptops for music production.

Apart from NVIDIA’s latest GeForce MX250 2GB graphics card, it comes with a bunch of other unique features like a backlit keyboard with ambient light control that also makes this laptop a gaming monster along with a pro-choice for music production and recording.

Hardware Specifications of Asus ZenBook 14 UX434F
Processor	10th-generation Intel Core i7-10510U Processor, Up to 4.9GHz
RAM	16GB DDR4
Storage	512GB SSD
Display	14″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) 4-way NanoEdge bezel Display
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce MX250 2GB graphics
Operating System	Windows 10 Pro
Battery Life	Up to 9-hours
Weight	2.78 lbs

 

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Razer Blade 15

If you are looking for a portable and powerful machine, no problem. Because Razer Blade 15 is the best lightweight and budget laptop for music production, it seems more suited for a gamer. This Razer Blade laptop comes with a 15.6-inch full HD display with a 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor, making it a serious gaming machine. In addition, it has a 1080p IPS display to get the audio recording works done.

The laptop has 16GB of RAM, a speedy type of RAM. It sports NVidia GeForce RTX 2070 with a Max-Q design and 8GB of memory. The laptop is backed by 512GB of SSD for storage to provide speed and capacity. The laptop comes with a single-zone backlit keyboard giving it a solid gaming look. The laptop also offers fast USB Type-C and USB 3.0 ports for quickly transferring applications and other data between your external drive and laptop.

With a battery that offers you up to 8 hours of usage, the Razer Blade 15 is an ideal budget laptop for music production and gaming purposes.

Hardware Specifications of Razer Blade 15 Laptop
Processor	10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H 8-Core Processor (Up to 5.1GHz)
RAM	16GB DDR4
Storage	512GB SSD
Display	15.6″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) IPS Display
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q Design VR Ready 8GB GDDR6
Operating System	Windows 10 Home
Battery Life	Up to 8-hours
Weight	4.48 lbs

Lenovo Legion Y540

Lenovo Legion Y540 is a rugged laptop for music production under $1500. It sports a 15.6-inch full HD display with an anti-glare coating for a better viewing experience. It comes with solid construction with a black body and white-backlit keyboard giving it a perfect look for a music production laptop.

The laptop is powered by the 9th Generation Intel Core i7 processor paired with a massive 24GB of RAM to handle your software easily. For storage, this laptop comes with 512GB of PCIe solid-state drive and a huge 1TB of a hard disk drive which is more than enough memory and storage space for the most crucial software packages.

It comes with 4GB of powerful NVidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card makes it perfect for handling multiple applications for music production and gaming.

Hardware Specifications of Lenovo Legion Y540 Laptop
Processor	9th Generation Intel Hexa-Core i7-9750H Processor (Up to 4.50GHz)
RAM	24GB DDR4
Storage	1TB HDD + 512GB PCIe SSD
Display	15.6″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) IPS Display
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5
Operating System	Windows 10 Home
Battery Life	Up to 5-hours
Weight	5.1 lbs

Dell XPS 7390 13-Inch

 

Dell XPS series is a famous laptop series for music production and video editing laptops. This newest Dell XPS 13-Inch model is a thin and lightweight ultrabook packed with a high-performance processor and graphics, making it one of the best music production laptops you can buy.

This is an ideal music production ultrabook for those people who have to travel more often. It comes with a 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and the latest Intel UHD graphics, making it a perfect gaming and music production machine. In addition, this Dell laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and a massive 512GB of SSD storage which would be suitable for music production.

Based on its overall specifications, including good battery life and lightweight, the Dell XPS 7390 is one of the best laptops for music production of 2022.

Hardware Specifications of Dell XPS7390 13-Inch Laptop
Processor	10th Generation Intel Core i7-10710u Processor (Up to 4.6GHz)
RAM	16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3
Storage	512GB PCIe SSD
Display	13.3″ 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge anti-glare touch display
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics
Operating System	Windows 10 Home
Battery Life	Up to 8-hours
Weight	2.8 lbs

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, Newest Version

 

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is specially designed with high-end features so you can effectively use it for music or audio creation. If you’re a professional music composer and prefer a Windows-based laptop over MacBook, then this ultraportable notebook is best for you. Here is a variance of Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 available with 512GB of SSD.

It is powered by the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor clocked at 1.8GHz. In addition, it sports 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage which is more than enough for seamless multitasking with reliable storage.

For the graphics, the laptop comes with Intel Iris Plus 640 graphics, which boosts the graphics handling performance of this laptop. If you have a large budget, then this would be the best ultrabook for music production you can buy.

Hardware Specifications of Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Processor	10th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor, 1.8GHz
RAM	16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3
Storage	512GB SSD
Display	13.5″ PixelSense (2256×1504) Display
Graphics	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Operating System	Windows 10 Home
Battery Life	Up to 11.5-hours
Weight	2.79 pounds

Lenovo IdeaPad L340

The Lenovo IdeaPad L340 is a powerful and pocket-friendly music production laptop with many high-end specifications. The latest 9th Generation powers the laptop Intel Core i7 clocked at 2.6GHz. With 8GB of RAM, the IdeaPad L340 delivers all the processing power needed for effortless multitasking. It comes with a 15-Inch full HD display having a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a 45% Color gamut.

It has Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 dedicated graphics, excellent for gaming and other high-end applications. In addition, it comes with powerful Dolby ATMOS speakers that deliver the loudest, most transparent audio possible from a thin and lightweight device, making it a complete package for music production.

Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad L340 is a perfect budget all-rounder laptop to get anyone started with music production.

Hardware Specifications of Lenovo IdeaPad L340
Processor	9th Generation IntelCore i7-9750h Processor (Up to 4.5GHz)
RAM	8GB DDR4
Storage	1TB HDD + 256GB NVMe SSD12GB SSD
Display	15.6-inch (1920 x 1080) full HD IPS Display
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5
Operating System	Windows 10 Home
Battery Life	Up to 9-hours
Weight	4.85 lbs

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Ultra-Slim Laptop for Music Production

 

If you are looking for a powerful and portable machine for audio creation and recording, then this Microsoft Surface Pro 7 would be a perfect choice for you. It is one of the best-in-class laptops to use in various modes so that you can type, draw, and work more naturally.

Powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor, clocked up to 1.8GHz, this laptop on the list can rightly be titled as a “Best Budget Music Production Laptop.” The Surface Pro 7 comes with a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 2736×1824. In addition, the laptop comes with Intel Iris Plus 640 graphics that make it suitable for editing 4K videos.

For connectivity, it is equipped with USB-C and USB-A ports that give you more reliability for connecting to displays, docking stations, and charging.

Although it is a budget-friendly laptop, it offers a long-lasting battery of 10.5 hours, making it one of the best laptops for music production you can buy for under $1500.

Hardware Specifications of Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Processor	10th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor, 1.8GHz
RAM	16GB 2133MHz LPDDR3
Storage	256GB SSD
Display	12.3″ PixelSense (2736 x 1824) Touchscreen Display
Graphics	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Operating System	Windows 10 Home
Battery Life	Up to 11.5-hours
Weight	2.79 pounds

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Final Thoughts

Picking one of the best laptops for music production would be unviable. It all depends upon your own experience and usage whether a machine is the best fit for you or not.

A premium display, HD graphics, and fast processor perfectly sum up what the best laptops for music productions should offer.

We think our short review of music production laptops will help you find the best machine.

If you still need any suggestions or guidance related to the laptops, feel free to ask and leave a comment below.

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