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If you’re wondering which laptops for music production are worth your money, stick around! After we run through each product, I’ll give you my personal take—Would I buy it, or would I skip it? No fluff, just my honest opinion. Let’s get into it!
Watch the video version: The Worst & Best Laptops for Music Production - Top Picks of 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Max:
The M4 Max chip in this beast offers insane performance for music production, with up to 16 cores and 40 GPU cores. Its 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is perfect for DAW workflows, giving you plenty of screen real estate. The 36GB of unified memory is overkill for most music tasks, but it future-proofs your setup for years to come. However, the fully upgraded version with 128GB RAM and 8TB SSD is probably excessive for music production needs.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. It’s incredibly powerful, but the high price and overkill specs make it hard to justify for most music producers.
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max:
This laptop is a powerhouse for music production, with its M3 Max chip offering excellent performance for audio processing. The 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display provides ample space for your DAW, and the 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate keeps everything smooth. Its battery life is impressive, lasting up to 22 hours for Apple TV app movie playback. The variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI, gives you plenty of connectivity options for your audio interfaces and other gear.
Would I buy it?
Yes. It offers the perfect balance of power, display quality, and portability for music production without going overboard on specs.
Dell XPS 17 (9730):
While not specifically designed for music production, this laptop packs some serious power with its Intel Core i7-13700H processor and up to 64GB of RAM. The 17-inch display gives you tons of space for your DAW, but it might be overkill for portability. Its quad-speaker setup with two woofers and two tweeters provides decent audio playback, but you’ll still want studio monitors or headphones for serious work. Unfortunately, the fans can get quite loud under heavy load, which could be distracting during recording sessions.
Would I buy it?
No. While powerful, it’s not optimized for music production, and the loud fans could be a dealbreaker for recording.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2:
This unique 2-in-1 laptop offers flexibility with its sliding screen design, which could be handy for touchscreen DAW control. Its quad Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos support provide surprisingly good audio playback for a laptop. However, the 14.4-inch display might feel cramped for complex DAW projects, and the base model’s specs are a bit underwhelming for serious music production. The addition of a USB-A port and microSD card reader is welcome, but an HDMI out would have been nice for connecting to external displays.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. Its unique design and good speakers are appealing, but the smaller screen and base specs might limit its usefulness for more demanding music production tasks.
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3:
This powerhouse is a game-changer for music production, with its M3 chip delivering a surprising 35% performance boost in Logic Pro compared to the M2. The 15-inch OLED display and improved speakers make it a joy to work on, providing ample screen real estate and impressive audio quality. It’s whisper-quiet, even under heavy loads, which is crucial for recording sessions. The long battery life means you can work on your tracks anywhere without worrying about finding an outlet.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because it offers unbeatable performance and portability for music producers, making it the ideal choice for both studio and on-the-go work.
HP Spectre x360 16 (2024):
This laptop looks stunning, but its performance falls short for serious music production tasks. The 2.8K OLED touch screen is gorgeous, but it’s overkill for most music software and might drain the battery faster. While it has a powerful discrete GPU, it doesn’t translate to better performance in audio applications. The quad-speaker setup sounds nice for casual listening, but it’s not accurate enough for professional mixing.
Would I buy it?
No, because its performance doesn’t justify the high price tag for music production, and there are better options available that offer more bang for your buck in this field.
Lenovo ThinkPad P52:
This beast of a machine packs a serious punch with its six-core Intel CPU and NVIDIA Quadro graphics, easily handling demanding music production software and large sample libraries. The classic ThinkPad keyboard is a joy to use during long composing sessions, with satisfying key travel and feedback. However, the built-in speakers are disappointing, lacking bass and overall quality, so you’ll definitely need external monitors. The fan noise is surprisingly quiet even under heavy loads, which is great for recording.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because its raw power and reliability make it an excellent choice for professional music production, despite the subpar built-in audio.
Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition:
This laptop is a powerhouse with its 10th Gen Intel i7 and NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000, capable of handling the most demanding music production tasks. The 4K OLED touch screen is absolutely stunning, perfect for detailed work in your DAW. However, it can get extremely hot under load, to the point where the keys become uncomfortable to touch. The fan noise is also a major concern, sounding like ‘a pair of GEnx Turbofan engines from a Boeing 787’ when pushed hard.
Would I buy it?
Maybe, because while its performance is top-notch for music production, the heat and noise issues could be problematic in a recording environment, so it’s a trade-off you’d need to consider carefully.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro:
This laptop is a powerhouse for music production, featuring Intel’s latest Meteor Lake Core Ultra 7 CPU for enhanced performance and impressive battery life. The stunning 14-inch OLED touchscreen display provides excellent visual clarity for your DAW interface. With up to 14 hours of video playback and over 11 hours of intensive use, you can work on your tracks all day without worrying about power. The build quality is top-notch, rivaling even Apple’s offerings, making it a solid choice for musicians on the go.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because it offers a perfect blend of performance, battery life, and build quality for music production tasks.
Asus ZenBook Pro Duo:
The dual-screen setup on this laptop is intriguing, with the ScreenPad Plus offering extra space for mixing panels or plugins. However, the audio quality from the built-in speakers is just average, which is disappointing for a music production laptop. The Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM provide decent power for running DAWs and virtual instruments. While the touchscreen functionality of the ScreenPad Plus is innovative, it may not be practical for all music production workflows.
Would I buy it?
No, because despite its unique dual-screen design, the average audio quality and potential workflow complications make it less suitable for serious music production.
HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024):
This gaming-focused laptop falls short in areas crucial for music production. The Core Ultra 7 processor and 16GB of RAM should handle DAWs well, but the emphasis on gaming performance may not translate to audio processing efficiency. The keyboard, while visually striking with its RGB lighting, isn’t the most comfortable for long music editing sessions. The speakers, despite HyperX tuning, deliver only average audio quality, which is a significant drawback for music producers.
Would I buy it?
No, because its gaming-centric design and features don’t align well with the specific needs of music production, and the subpar audio quality is a deal-breaker.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9:
This 2-in-1 device offers versatility with its tablet mode, which could be useful for mobile music creation. The 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM provide ample power for running demanding music production software. However, the reliance on USB-C ports only might require adapters for connecting some audio interfaces. The high-resolution screen is a plus, but you may need to adjust DPI scaling for comfortable use with some DAWs.
Would I buy it?
Maybe, because while it offers good performance and versatility, the potential need for adapters and scaling adjustments might be inconvenient for some music producers.
Dell XPS 13 (2022):
The Dell XPS 13 (2022) boasts a sleek design and a bright, colorful display, but its performance leaves much to be desired for music production. With an Intel Core i5-1230U processor and integrated graphics, it struggles with resource-intensive tasks, making it less than ideal for running multiple audio plugins or complex DAWs. The laptop’s thermal issues cause frustrating slowdowns and freezes, which could interrupt your creative flow during recording or mixing sessions. While its portability is impressive, the limited port selection and short battery life make it impractical for on-the-go music production.
Would I buy it?
No. The performance issues and thermal problems make it unsuitable for the demands of music production software.
Lenovo Yoga 7i:
The Lenovo Yoga 7i is a versatile 2-in-1 laptop that offers great value for music producers. Its 12-hour battery life ensures you can work on your tracks without constantly searching for an outlet. The spacious keyboard and responsive touchpad provide a comfortable experience during long production sessions. With its 13th Gen Intel Core processors and up to 32GB of RAM, it can handle most music production tasks with ease.
Would I buy it?
Yes. The combination of performance, battery life, and versatility make it a solid choice for music producers on a budget.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14:
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a powerhouse that’s perfect for music production. Its AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU provide ample power for running demanding audio software and virtual instruments. The 14-inch 120Hz OLED display with G-Sync support offers a visually pleasing experience when working with DAWs. The laptop’s excellent build quality and thermal management ensure consistent performance during long recording or mixing sessions.
Would I buy it?
Yes. Its combination of power, portability, and display quality makes it an excellent choice for serious music producers.
HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024):
The HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024) is an ultraportable laptop that falls short for music production needs. While its AMD Ryzen 7 processor offers decent performance for everyday tasks, it may struggle with more demanding audio processing workloads. The laptop’s 13.3-inch display, although sharp, might feel cramped when working with complex DAW interfaces. Its limited port selection could be problematic when connecting multiple audio interfaces or MIDI controllers.
Would I buy it?
No. Despite its portability, the Aero 13’s limitations in performance and connectivity make it less suitable for serious music production work.
Acer Swift X14:
This powerhouse is perfect for music production, featuring a robust Intel processor and ample RAM to handle complex projects. Its large 16.2′ display provides plenty of screen real estate for managing multiple plugins and tracks. The Swift X14 boasts a high-quality audio system with Dynaudio speakers and Nahimic software for fine-tuning your listening experience.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because it offers a great balance of performance and portability for music producers on the go.
ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023):
This budget-friendly option packs a punch with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of RAM, making it capable of handling most music production tasks. The 16-inch display provides ample space for your DAW interface, while the SSD ensures quick load times for your projects and samples. However, the speakers are a bit lackluster, so you’ll want to invest in a good pair of headphones or external monitors.
Would I buy it?
Yes, as it offers great value for money and sufficient power for most music production needs.
MSI Creator Z16:
This laptop is a beast for music production, boasting an Intel Core i9 processor and up to 64GB of RAM. Its Cooler Boost technology keeps the system running quietly, which is crucial for recording sessions. The 16-inch QHD+ touch display is gorgeous and provides plenty of space for your DAW.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because it offers top-tier performance and a great display, making it ideal for professional music producers.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme:
This laptop is a powerhouse with its hexa-core Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics, perfect for handling resource-intensive music production software. The 4K HDR display is stunning and provides excellent color accuracy for visual elements in your projects. Its impressive performance in video encoding tests suggests it’ll breeze through audio processing tasks.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because it offers exceptional performance and a high-quality display, making it a great choice for music producers who also work with video.
Thanks for watching, I hope this video helped you pick the laptops for music production for you. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Links to all of these products mentioned in this video will be in the description.
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