Best laptop for music production of 2024
The top picks for musician on the go
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1.Best overall2.Best Windows overall3.Best premium4.Best special edition5.Best portable Windows6.Best portable MacBook7.Best iPad alternative8.Best connectivity9.Best form-factor10.FAQs11.How we test
The best laptops for music production and DJs streamlines the workflow - powering through the recording and mixing process without missing a beat.
Our team of reviewers have tested thebest laptops for photo editingand thebest laptops for video editing, so when it comes to content creation, we know what makes a good laptop for musicians. In our experience, there’s little to beat theAppleMacBook Pro - we’ve recommended the highly portable 14in model, but you may find the 16in M2-powered MBP a better fit. For an alternative, check out theDellXPS 13, a similarly lightweight, portable laptop for music production.
You’ll also find plenty more options here depending on the music you’re creating. As part of our review process, we’re compared specs and benchmarked performance, as well as assessing the design, dimensions, special features and portability for creating the right sounds whenever inspiration strikes.
The best laptops for music production of 2024 in full:
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Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best laptop for music production finalists in our list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best laptop for music production overall
1. MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021)
Our expert review:
It’s no surprise that the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is the top choice for music production. As a creative powerhouse, it’s also one of the best laptops for video and photo editing.
This M1 Pro- or M1 Max-powered laptop takes the MacBook Pro to the ultimate level. It impresses with power, an equally breathtaking battery life, and an XDR display with 1600 nits of peak brightness and a wide color gamut. The SD card slot, an HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports (all of which can stay available thanks to MagSafe charging being back) are lovely little extras.
The mini-LED technology on this laptop is the same as the new iPad Pro, offering a massive 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
Read the fullMacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) review.
The best Windows laptop for music production
2. Dell XPS 13 (2022)
Our expert review:
The Dell XPS 13 (2022) has been a regular in our best laptops list for years, and it also earns a well-deserved spot in our best laptops for DJs list. The 2022 update came with a new color option, fewer ports, and some updated hardware.
However, it now rocks 12th-generationIntelCore i5 or i7 processors and a bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display, which means the Dell XPS 13 (2022) is a brilliant performer, while remaining thin and light. There’s a wide range of customization options as well.
Like most ultrabooks, the XPS 13’s speakers are not great, and the speaker placement doesn’t enhance the audio quality. The connectivity options are a bit limited too. The updated XPS 13 (2022) lost all ports except for two Thunderbolt 4 ports. While this was a controversial move, if you utilize a dock this won’t matter much regardless. Though, if you still are utilizing a lot of USB-A devices, you will need adapters to be able to plug them into this laptop.
Read the fullDell XPS 13 (2022) review.
The best premium laptop for music production
3. MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)
Our expert review:
The MacBook Pro 16-Inch is a monster of a computer, no matter what kind of creative you are. Its performance is only rivaled by its little brother, and though that beautiful screen is just a little bonus for audio creators, its size will give you a little extra screen real estate for your workflow.
Just as importantly, its impressive battery life will power you through an entire show. And, you won’t experience any performance throttling because it’s not plugged in. Additionally, it comes with plenty of ports — 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), HDMI, SDXC card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and MagSafe 3 — so you’ll be able to plug in all your audio peripherals as well.
The display is absolutely stunning. It supports one billion colors for smoother gradients and comes with the expected 120Hz refresh rate, making it the fastest MacBook Pro 16-inch display yet.
Read the fullMacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)review.
The best laptop for special music production features
4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition
Our expert review:
What makes the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition unique is as much outside the box as inside. It is still the same great laptop that the regular G14 is but includes a new color for the chassis and colorways for the keyboard. But, this collaboration with theYouTubeDJ is more than just a paint job.
The box it comes with can be used as a controller for mixing or as a synth pad that connects through USB-C to use with a dedicated app. Even if you already have your own dedicated controllers, the G14 Alan Walker Special Edition comes with two USB-C and two USB-A ports to connect them with. And, it comes with plenty of power to handle most music production sessions.
Read the fullAsus ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition review.
The best lightweight Windows laptop for music production
5. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Our expert review:
Both its 13-inch and 15-inch models rock powerful internals for music production, which means that the Surface Laptop 4 will see you through all your music-making needs. It even comes with a gorgeous 2496 x 1664 touch display so your eyes are just as entertained as your ears.
It’s battery life is decent too, enough to see you through a whole work day. It could use a few more ports, but that’s what a hub is for. Whether you’re producing someone’s music or making your own, this one’s one of the best.
The Surface Laptop 4 is just 0.57 inches thick and weighs 1.3kg (2.79 pounds), which makes it easy to carry around. Despite its sleekness, the laptop feels quite robust. The lid’s made of aluminum and has zero flex to it.
Read the fullMicrosoftSurface Laptop 4 review.
The best afforable MacBook for music production
6. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Our expert review:
The M1 silicon chip has been a real game-changer, and so has the first laptop to receive it. The company’s thinnest and lightest is more powerful than ever before, putting it on the list of the most exciting Apple laptops of recent years.
Thanks to its excellent performance and brilliant battery life – without raising the price to keep it (fairly) affordable still – the Macbook Air (M1 2020) is an excellent prospect for music producers. This MacBook is no longer just for casual users anymore.
The Macbook Air’s battery life is fantastic, you can expect between 14 to 18 hours of battery life. The laptop features a fanless design, so it runs without any noise, but this can lead to heat management issues and lowered performance when being used for long hours.
Read the fullMacBook Air (M1, 2020) review.
To ensure you’re getting the best deal, browse ourApple promo codesfor potential discounts.
The best iPad-like laptop for music production
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Our expert review:
The newest iteration of the award-winningMicrosoft SurfacePro line is a major improvement over the previousSurface Pro 7, which was still one of the best laptops for music production for those who wanted a more versatile iPad-style experience on a Windows device.
The Surface Pro 8 is even better in this regard, with a faster Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, better battery life thanks to Intel Evo certification, and upgraded RAM options to help keep your music production on track as your compositions get longer and more complex.
There is no more USB-A support though, so if you have any peripherals like Mics that use a USB-A, then you might have to get an adapter if you go with the Surface Pro 8.
Read the fullMicrosoft Surface Pro 8 review.
The best laptop for multiple music production peripherals
8. Dell XPS 15 OLED (2021)
Our expert review:
The Dell XPS 15OLED(2021) may be gorgeous to look at but it’s a powerhouse as well. It comes with more than enough processing power and RAM to handle most of your music production, and, if you’re willing to pay for a hard drive upgrade, you can keep all your files on the laptop itself.
It even comes with a decently powerful GPU, though it’s not going to stand up to thebest gaming laptopsout there. And, while its battery life could also be a little better, it’s an incredibly portable machine, making this a great option for taking on the road.
The Dell XPS 15 has several ports — a USB-C 3.2, a full-sized SD card reader, a 3.5mm headphone/mic jack, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a wedge-shaped lock slot, all of which will help connect your music production peripherals with ease.
Read the fullDell XPS 15 OLED (2021) review.
The best form-factor for music production
9. Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 UX582L
Our expert review:
Whether you’re recording, editing, or mixing a new track, the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 UX582L is about as functional a creative workstation as you’re going to find anywhere, thanks to its dual-OLED touchscreen displays that let you keep your tools handy while freeing up your workspace to keep you focused on the task at hand.
While it doesn’t have the latest 11th-gen Intel Core processors, the Core i7 and Core i9 are plenty powerful for nearly any task you want to throw at it, whether that’s mixing live audio or recording a new session in a studio.
The battery life on this one isn’t the best by any means, so make sure you have access to a power outlet while you’re working on the go, or you might find the music stopping rather abruptly when you least expect it.
To save money on Asus products, check out ourAsus voucher codes.
Read the fullAsus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 (UX582L) review.
Best laptops for music production: FAQs
Which laptop is best for music making?
The best laptop for music production is going to depend on what part of the process you specifically need to use it for. If you’re looking for something from initial audio recording to final mixing and publishing, than something like the MacBook Pro 16-inch is going to get you there.
But if you’re looking for some portable options for on the road recording and some light editing, the latest Dell XPS laptops will work nicely and thanks to excellent battery life can last long enough to get through a good sized recording session.
How to choose the best laptops for music production for you
There is definitely a difference between what a music production laptop needs and what specs will make the most difference in your music production.
Obviously, a graphics card is not that high up on the list, but you’re going to want the best processor you can get, specifically one with great single core performance. This tends to be the latest Intel Core processors, so the latest Core i7 and Core i9 processors will serve you well.
You’re also going to be loading up some heavy duty software and working with some rather large raw audio files, so RAM is going to be very important. The more the better, but anything less than 8GB simply won’t work at all and really the minimum you should aim for is 16GB RAM.
Storage will also come in handy, but if you need to save on cost, go for more RAM than more storage. You can always use an external SSD if you need to, but there’s no such thing as external working RAM.
How we test the best laptops for music production
When testing which laptops for music production are best, we take the same approach we do when conducting tests on all hardware.
For the core internal hardware, we run standard tests that stress the CPU and GPU with any hardware controls set to balanced for a consistent baseline across the various laptop manufacturers, including GeekBench 5, CineBench, PCMark 10, 3DMark, and Blender.
We also measure the frame rate of somePC gamingbenchmarks, like Total War: Three Kingdoms and Metro: Exodus, to see how well the CPU and GPU work together to quickly render complex 3D scenes, which is just as important for a creative workstation as it is for gaming.
For gaming laptops specifically, we also spend a lot of time gaming on them (strictly for work purposes, we swear), and getting a feel for the actual experience a potential buyer can expect from the laptop. In the case of the bestNvidialaptops, this also means testing game performance with and without Nvidia DLSS enabled.
For creative workstations, there are several other benchmarking tools that we use, including encoding a4Kvideo in Handbrake and applying different filters and effects in differentAdobeapps likePhotoshopandAfter Effectsto simulate its intended real-world use.
We also measure a laptop’s battery life, since laptops are meant to be mobile devices to some degree, and if a laptop’s battery dies out after three or four hours away from an outlet, that’s an important thing to know, especially when even laptops running powerful hardware like a discrete Nvidia GPU are able to get seven or eight hours of battery life nowadays.
Finally, we compare all this with a laptop’s MSRP and judge whether the price matches its performance. There are some very powerful laptops out there with great performance, but if they cost twice what their only slightly less powerful competitor does, then we make sure to let you know that.
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Steve is TechRadar Pro’s B2B Editor for Creative & Hardware. He began in tech journalism reviewing photo editors and video editing software at the magazine Web User, where he also covered technology news, features, and how-to guides. Today, he and his team of reviewers test out a range of creative software, hardware, and office furniture. Once upon a time, he wrote TV commercials and movie trailers. Relentless champion of the Oxford comma.
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