Good Laptops for Music Making

Good Laptops for Music Making

Powerful laptops make it a breeze to make music wherever you are. Gone are the days when bulky desktop setups tied you up to a single room. The right laptop can turn your ideas into polished tracks on the go. This article will help you choose from some of the stellar options of laptops for music making.

Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro 16"

The Apple MacBook Pro 16" stands out as the best laptop for music production. It has a powerful M3 Pro chip that handles complex music projects with ease. The large 16-inch screen gives you plenty of space to work with your digital audio workstation (DAW) and plugins. 


This MacBook Pro offers long battery life. It is useful for mobile recording or mixing sessions when you are on the move. It can run for up to 22 hours on a single charge. You can work on your music without constantly plugging in.


The Pro series is available in different screen sizes and configurations. Choose one that makes the most sense to you.

Pros

  • Highly configurable
  • Superb display
  • Futureproof

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Overkill for some

Apple MacBook Air

The MacBook Air can be a sensible option for those looking for the Apple Silicon at a reasonable rate. The M1 Air can be a reliable entry point if you are on a tighter budget. You can configure it with up to 16 GB of RAM. The M2 or M3 can support up to 24 GB of RAM. It is powerful enough for most music projects. All three silicons are housed in a sleek aluminum housing. 


The MacBook Air is very portable. It weighs just 1.24kg and is only 11.3mm thick. It makes it easy to carry to gigs or recording sessions.

Pros

  • Super silent
  • Versatile configuration options
  • Capable built-in speakers

Cons

  • Can struggle with large projects
  • Smaller screen

Dell XPS 17

The Dell XPS 17 is a very capable device for those in the Windows ecosystem. It can be useful if you use Windows-only music software or prefer the Windows operating system.


The laptop has a large 17-inch screen that can display plenty of detail. Its powerful Intel processors handle music production tasks well.


The XPS offers a build quality and performance similar to a MacBook. Also, you can choose different configurations to fit your requirements. 

Pros

  • Plenty of ports
  • Has enough power for demanding tasks

Cons

  • Shorter battery life
  • Large footprint

Asus VivoBook S15 S532EQ

Asus is known for its bang for bucks laptop. The S15 S532EQ brings a durable build and good configuration in an attractive package. It has a ScreenPad, which opens up new ways to navigate your laptop. 


You can configure this laptop with the latest silicon from Intel. It can easily handle your favorite DAW with plugins. The system has 4GB of RAM soldered, but you can upgrade the second slot to 16 GB to get extra oomph.

Pros

  • Super quiet operation
  • Well-designed keyboard and trackpad
  • Powerful configuration in a compact body

Cons

  • Dull display
  • Short battery life

Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 6

The Thinkbook 16 features a powerful Ryzen 7000 processor to drive all your music-making tasks. Pair it with a configurable RAM that supports up to 64GB, and you can mix without stuttering to your heart's content. The large 16-inch display means all your plugins and instruments are available at a glance. 


It carries both type C and A ports. Your existing hardware should work like a charm here. Lenovo adds nice touches like a 1080p camera and backlit keyboard to this workhorse. 

Pros

  • Plenty of ports
  • Aluminum lid
  • Powerful AMD chipset
  • Upgradeable RAM, WLAN, and SSD
  • Clear matte screen

Cons

  • Lacks faster USB 4.0

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

The Surface Pro 9 is one of the most portable full-fledged Windows machines. It is a tablet that can turn into a laptop with a detachable keyboard. The touch screen can be useful for music production. You can use it to adjust parameters or draw automation curves directly on the screen.


Don't be fooled by its small size! The Surface Pro 9 is powerful enough for serious music production. It uses Intel's 12th-generation processors with 16 GB of RAM. It can handle anything you throw at it.

Pros

  • Solid build
  • Ultra-portable
  • Use it as a laptop or a tablet
  • 120 Hz display

Cons

  • Lacks ports
  • Low storage

Things to Consider Before You Buy a Laptop for Making Music

Before you shell out all that cash for a new rig, here are some things you should consider. 

Processor

A powerful CPU helps run multiple plugins and virtual instruments without stutter. Go for the most powerful chipset that you can afford. It gives you an instant boost of power while making your rig futureproof. You are spoilt for choice with Apple, INTEL, AMD, and Snapdragon, all offering powerful solutions. 

RAM

Aim for at least 16GB of RAM for your laptop. When it comes to RAM, the more is always merrier. Go for 32GB or more if you regularly work with large projects.

Storage Space

NVMe or SSD hard drives give you blazing-fast speed. Don't make the mistake of using a slow HDD on your laptop. It can create a bottleneck! Just like RAM, go for the most storage that you can afford.

Screen Size

Larger screens make it easier to see all the information simultaneously without scrolling. 15-inch or larger screens are best for music production.

Ports

Get a laptop that works with your existing equipment without investing in dongles. Checking the ports for compatibility will save you from having to fork our extra cash for connectors. Type C or Thunderbolt ports offer blazing speed.

Operating System

Are you a MAC OS person or a Windows guy? There are staunch supporters for both sides! Choose an OS compatible with your existing devices.


The best laptop for you is the one that fits your needs. Get one that ticks all the boxes, and start making music! After recording your mix, try out our sample packs and vocal presets to add a professional sheen to your track.

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