Best Laptops for Music Production in 2020

Are you searching for quality laptops exclusively for music production? Well, put an end to the strenuous research!

Making a choice of a good laptop exclusively for music production may end up in strenuous activity.  But, a relevant guide ends up all hassles. We’ve taken into consideration the valuable Best Laptops for Music Production Reviews for preparing this guide.

When you are looking for the best Laptops for Music Production, keep in mind that it must be powerful enough for recording. Moreover, only some quality laptops will last for a more extended period. No one would like to own a laptop that is bulky or heavy and cannot be carried from one place to the other.

For music producers, the laptop becomes a centerpiece of music production. So, in this article, we have listed a bunch of laptops that will help you create, record, mix, and master tracks in your way.

Best Laptops for Music Production – April 2020 List

Each of these models has been chosen by us only after extensive research, based on specifications and customer reviews.

1. Apple MacBook Pro 16 Inch

Expand your view of music production with the MacBook Pro. The model is one of the best laptops for music production. It has a 16-inch retina display that comes with sharper pixel resolution. This laptop supports millions of colors.

You can harness the power of 6 or 8 core processors along with AMD Radeon Pro 5000 M series. The support of 8GB DDR5 memory is available as well. The optimized thermal architecture provides spectacular performance. 

Be ready to get the benefits of the 64GB 2666MHz memory along with 8TB storage. The all-day battery life ensures that the laptop is designed especially for pros.

With remarkable performance, you can accomplish all your necessities. The 9th Generation Intel Core 6 core i7 Processor lets it stand out. The ultra-fast SSD, along with a six-speaker system, ensures that you will get all the benefits in one system.

Specifications:

• CPU: 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB Storage
• Dimensions: 9.7 x 14.1 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 7.05 pounds
• OS: Catalina

PROS:

• Brightness is a remarkable property of these best laptops for music production 2020
• High-end screen quality
• Prolonged battery life
• The lightweight body makes it easy to be carried from place to place.

CONS:

• A lot of scratches when delivered.

2. Dell XPS 13 Laptop 

The stunning smallest 13-inch model is one of the best budget laptops for music production in 2020 and is performing remarkably well in the entertainment industry. It is around only 2.7 pounds and is developed with thinner XPS 13 that makes it related to taking off.

It is perfectly sized for airplane tables. The powerful 10th gen Intel quad-core processors increase the performance. It will run on multiple applications. The customized laptop hails with temperature and performance based on the preferences of the users.

You can choose the performance level between quiet, Ultra performance, and cooling modes. The Long battery life up to 19 hours provides a pleasant experience. The full HD model, when used with applications like Word or Excel, enhances productivity. 

With the UHD panel, you will get around 11 hours and 24 minutes of flexibility to use. The productivity apps enhance faster memory for more storage. So, with the system, you can resume the machine in seconds.

The 1TB solid-state drive storage ensures that you will get multitasking ability.  Stunning inside and outside features make the powerful laptop a top-notch one. The Quad-Core processor works along with the HD webcam that is located right at the top of the display.

What’s more? You will get the best and perfect camera, which is quite innovative and has precise specifications. The use of thermal redesign of XPS 13 7390 lets the laptop stay cool even under pressure.

Overall, this laptop ensures an elevated experience. It is combined with the beautiful design and exceptional User experience.

Moreover, the NextGen keyboard shows a cutting edge technology and is a better one when compared to standard keyboards. 

The display is in the ratio 16:10, which indicates the experience by removing distractions and expanding what you need the most.

Specifications: 

• CPU: 1.9 GHz Core i7 Family
• RAM: 16 GB
• Storage: 1TB PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD
• Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Weight: 5.49 pounds
• OS: Windows 10 Pro

PROS:

• Beautifully designed & reliable laptop
• The display is a remarkable one
• The laptop is powerful. The expensive models hail with high-grade Nvidia graphics cards.

CONS:

• No option available for holding two storage drives.
• Pricier option when compared to some other models. 

3. Razer Blade Stealth 13.3

If you have been searching for a high-quality laptop, especially for music production, your search ends here. These are the best budget laptops for music production and serve your musical needs.

The 8th generation Quad-Core i7 8550U design left the laptop stand out, and you will get the opportunity to deal with DAW and plugin processing. The availability of 16GB RAM is upgraded will definitely give you more productivity.

It also uses the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 RAM usage, which works fantastically well for producing music with the help of plugins. The touch screen display is, in fact, a remarkable one that will allow you to tweak your draw automation and audio plugin.

You will get the SSD storage that is standard along with 256 GB space. Later on, you can also upgrade it to 512 GB. This model comes with a 1TB version that produces excellent music. The external hard disc is also specific to serve your needs.

You can use an additional USB C port through which you can get access to the SSD or HDD to load the project. The most remarkable part is that USB C works in a pretty fast manner, along with enough space to load and save the samples.

The design and graphics card of the laptop ensures high productivity of music.

Specifications: 

• CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 4 Core
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB
• Dimensions: 8.3 x 12 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 3.13 pounds
• OS: Windows 10

PROS:

• The laptop offers solid performance and quality.
• It comes with the USB-C to offer powerful USB connections.

CONS:

• Pretty expensive.
• Little options are available for upgrades.

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

The laptop comes with a clean and elegant design. It is thin and light, with around only 2.79-pound weight. So, surface laptop three can be carried from one place to the other. 

The new best laptops for music production cheap come with improved speed and performance along with the latest gen processes. You will get the enhanced connectivity when compared to some other models. The availability of USB C and A ports ensure that you will get a better connection to the display and Docking stations.

The battery life is up to 11.5 hours that offer improved standby time. This model is developed only after testing on the full battery discharge.

The laptop is a perfect match for the people who are looking for bulk music production. It is a powerful statement in terms of its look and feels. Slick and light laptop improves performance, speed, and battery life. 

You will also get customized choices among two sizes and two elegant keyboard finishes. There are numerous colors available that vary by the online store configuration. So, now be ready to choose from any of the rich tones on tone color combinations. 

So, you can style the laptop according to your needs. It comes with a marvelous 13.5 inches screen or the new updated 15 inches touch screen. If you wish to create, catch up and chill out, surface laptop 3 is the best laptop for you. It makes use of the latest and processes that give the ability of multitasking performance all day long.

 It comes with the Intel Core i5 processor with 256 GB memory storage. The RAM is of 8GB specification to get started right away. With this laptop, that has password-free Windows Hello sign in, you can keep the content safe with the integrated OneDrive available here. You will get all the powerful features of Windows at your fingertips with this laptop. 

Specifications: 

• CPU: Intel Core i5
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB
• Dimensions: 13 x 3 x 10 inches
• Weight: 3.4 pounds
• OS: Windows 10 Home

PROS:

• Brightness is better when compared to the competitors. 
• Touch Screen works well over many years
• It is lightweight that makes it easy to carry
• Exceptional Screen quality
• Enhanced battery life
• Availability of face recognition

CONS:

• Two major flaws are there in this laptop. 1- backlight issue. Due to the “adaptive contrast” built-in, the brightness is really low. 2- if the nightlight is on, and you lock the laptop, after unlocking it, all of the sudden night light goes off. 

5. Asus Rog Strix Scar III Laptop

The streamlined focused design of this laptop makes it a good choice among the music production industry. There is the availability of RogStrix SCAR that parents the latest 9th gen Intel Core processor. 

With this laptop,  you will get the RTX graphics and ample additional power, which helps in content creation as well as multitasking. There are high-end benefits of the 40 hours refresh rate display along with Ultra-narrow bezel.

The latest Intel Core processor is of the grade i7 9750 processor. The 15.6 inches IPS type display makes it stand out. The availability of intelligent cooling thermal systems along with 12-volt fans highlights the overall performance of anti-dust technology and adjustable fan modes.

The support of aura sync system with logo RGB keyboard and light bar hyperthreading in this product enables 12 parallel Threads to work for accelerating the heavy multitasking. 

Content creators love this laptop because it can handle massive projects like 3D rendering, video, and audio editing, to name a few. Besides, you will get the options for live streaming at the same time.

Visual Fidelity of this laptop is enhanced with the availability of the high range GPU. You will get a realistic effect that can handle a range of workloads. Be ready to now use it with the professional speed that presents fast-paced FPS action. The intelligent cooling performance improves the overall experience of the user. The ultra-thin laptop that overcomes heat dissipation. Enjoy the full spectrum of colors and effects with the aura control panel that will let the personality shine. 

Keystones available here work in a versatile fashion to personalize the machine and protect the personal information. In addition,  you will get 16GB DDR4 RAM with a hard drive of 1TB 5400 RPM.

Specifications: 

• CPU: Intel Core i7 9750H
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 1TB
• Dimensions: 15.7 x 10.8 x 1 inches
• Weight: 3 pounds
• OS: Windows 10 Home

PROS:

• Perfectly developed for music production 
• Proposed battery life
• Value for money

CONS:

• the laptop tends to get overheated after a good 1-2 minutes. 

6. Samsung Notebook 9

Are you searching for a laptop that is thin and light yet does not sacrifice performance? If yes, Samsung Notebook 9 is a great laptop.

This 15 inches laptop is quite powerful and comes with the i7 processor. You will get the 256 GB magnificent SSD to drive along with 16GB RAM. Despite the slim built, it is dedicated to performing in a broad range of applications.

 940 MX built-in GPU enhances performance. The 256 GB SSD might seem to be small but is available for an upgraded 1TB version.

The best laptop for music production under $1500 is designed for the travelers who can use the USB C port to charge it at any time with the standard phone charger. 

A span of 20-minute minimum charges is enough to use up the battery to last for around 2.1 hours. It is a perfect match for music producers who can get plenty of performance with the USB 3.0 ports.

Specifications: 

• CPU: Intel Core i7 8565U
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 512GB
• Dimensions: 12.1x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Weight: 2.84 pounds
• OS: Windows 10

PROS:

• Extremely portable for music producers
• Ideal for the traveling
• Nice display with a high-end screen 
• Upgradable SSD to 1TB

CONS:

• RAM can be updated up to 16GB only. 
• A microSD slot instead of a full standard-sized SD card is a major drawback.

7. Microsoft Surface Pro 7

This laptop is fit for office or home use.  The Surface Pro 7 laptops help you to get all benefits of the laptop to Tablet. You will get better power than ever with the high-grade Intel Core processor.

The battery lasts all day long with the availability of improved graphics and standby time. You can get multitasking connections that are inclusive of both USB A and C ports. It is the next-gen laptop that offers the versatility of touch, write, draw, works, record, and plays more naturally when compared to its previous version of Surface Pro 6.

It falls under the category of Best Laptops for Music Production and is a more refined model that will give you plenty of ways to connect numerous devices with Docking stations. The standout design won’t weigh too much and will give you ample productivity. 

Specifications:

• CPU: 10th gen Intel Core i7
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 256GB
• Dimensions: 12.7x 9.1 x 1.9 inches
• Weight: 1.7 pounds
• OS: Windows 10 Home

PROS:

• Lightweight laptops become easy to carry.
• Top-notch screen quality
• Touch Screen is pretty fantastic
• Unmatchable camera quality
• Prolonged battery life
• Customizable brightness

CONS:

• Some customers have complained that it doesn’t have type C port and 8GB RAM

Buying Guide: Things You Need to Know About Best Music Production Laptops

There are numerous options available for choosing the best laptop for music production, but you’ve got to keep in mind a few points worth considering. 

Why Do You Need the Best Laptop for Music Production?

In fact, a regular laptop cannot serve the needs of music production. Running Garageband for music production uses a lot of CPU processing power. You should own a laptop that has at least a dual-core processor and will meet with the needs of most music production software. At the same time, keep in mind that the laptops that have quad-core processors are more powerful to serve the job better.

RAM plays a major role when it comes to music production. Not all laptops will have portable 8GB RAM. Moreover, some music production needs around 16 to 32GB RAM.

For this, only a laptop that is fit for music production can serve the purpose. Some music productions require sample-based instruments running with multi GB orchestral libraries and plugins.

It’s not easy to install more than 32 GB of RAM on a regular laptop. In addition, the Quad-Core processor has separate tools available for processing power. Though it will cost a bit more, these laptops will be really beneficial when it comes to recording music In bulk. 

So, one must purchase an additional laptop exclusively for music production with SSD size for recording music up to 500 GB that can let you rest assured about installing the operating system.

The Best Laptops for Music Production have specially designed chambers that make it portable to be carried from one region to the other. So, they are lightweight yet available with all specifications to meet the needs of music producers.

These laptops definitely have a variety of production tools and make high-quality tracks easily by using the same software that is used in studios. 

How to Pick the top-notch Laptop for Music Production?

If you wish to start with the home studio, it’s possible right now without needing the laptop to be super fancy expensive. Affordable laptops can handle the demands of DAW. It is good to remember that there are numerous factors that must be kept in mind while buying a laptop for music production.

Essential factors are processing speed, solid-state drive space, RAM, monitor size, to name a few. 

1. Processing speed

The speed of the CPU is an important factor. Always look for laptops that come with more processing courses and faster speed of the clock that usually ranges above 2.0GHz.

2. Solid-state drive

These days the updated models are available with the solid-state drive. So, if you have DAW and plugins installed on the SSD, it will be applicable to load much faster and become more responsive. You will need around 512GB storage space that will be available with any fantastic model. Moreover, this will give you the flexibility to organize your data in the way you want. Modern computers usually have a fast external drive that will help you to create panels for files according to your preferences. Consider purchasing a laptop that will have an external drive for tracking.

3. Random Access Memory

RAM gives enough flexibility in terms of possessing working memory for tracks, plugin, preset, and recordings. You will get everything done smoothly for music production. It is suggested to have 8GB RAM. If you want more, look for some other models that will have higher specifications with higher RAM.

3. Monitor size

The small monitors make the setup more portable. At the same time, it will force you to scroll and waste your time in the workflow. So, it’s better to have a medium-sized machine that will become an extra screen to help you see the work more clearly. A laptop that has a kind of external display port is the best one to serve your needs. Some of them also come with a larger secondary monitor.

FAQs:

1Q. What should be the size of my laptop for music production?

Ans: You can use a laptop of any size for music-making. But the screen size should be an optimal one for suiting your personal preferences.

Personally, I can recommend that I prefer a 15 inches laptop screen, which will have enough space to see the organized files. Sometimes, it becomes complicated to search for the files on the small screen. Even if you buy a 17 inches laptop, you will get enough space to see your files in one place. Professional musicians usually like to have laptop screens up to 13 inches. But, in my opinion, it is best to have a medium size 15 inches screen. 

2Q. Are gaming laptops good for music production?

Ans: Definitely, a laptop that is specifically for gaming usually has great hardware. As we all know that running games take a lot of processing power and space, it will be a good laptop for making music as well. If you’re on a budget, go for the best laptops for music production under 1000.

But the problem is that you will not get the necessary support and applications for music production. So, it’s better to choose a laptop specifically for music production besides having your gaming laptop.

3Q. What specs do I need to produce music?

Ans: There are no hard and fast rules for music production. However, you must go through the specifications to get additional support. Some old computers have enough processing space that will handle Complex amounts of music as well. So you don’t have to worry about the aspects while looking for a laptop for music production. The new-gen latest models are already supplied with necessary specifications. 

Final Words:

That there are thousands of different laptops that are capable of producing high-end music, but we urge you to take time in researching before choosing the laptop. You can accomplish your needs only with the model that can complete your demand to make the task a little easier. We have included a specification table for each laptop.

Through our extensive research, we’ve found that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is the highly-rated laptop that has scored 4.5/5 on Amazon. Customers have found this laptop as an excellent one. 

On the other hand, Samsung Notebook 9 is the cheapest on our list, which has marked a vivid presence due to its enormous range of specifications.

Now it’s time for you to go ahead with the buying decision for the Best Laptops for Music Production according to your choice.