Fastest laptop CPU 2021

Many creatives will find that owning one of the most powerful laptops available is vital to work easily with the heavy demands of modern design apps and programs. Multitasking, working with large files or high-resolution images or video, and demanding software demands significant power.

Fortunately, nowadays, the most powerful laptops offer the kind of power and performance once found only on desktop PCs, with bags of memory, multi-core processors and cutting-edge mobile graphics cards that can handle both gaming and design work. That means those in the design business can find a device that offers the performance they need, but also the portability needed to take to different locations such as presentations and meetings with clients.

On the other hand, a machine that lacks power can make fully featured design software painfully slow to use. But what makes a laptop "powerful" exactly? In very summarised terms, the most powerful laptops that can handle demanding design software have fast processors (CPUs), beefy graphics cards (or at least impressive integrated graphics) and at least 16GB of RAM. For more details on what to look for, see the frequent questions at the end of the article.

Below, we've selected our own picks of the most powerful laptops available now machines that will have no problem coping with demands of memory-hungry design software. If you're still unsure after reading this, then also take a look at our guide to the best computers for graphic design. And if you're a student, check out our selection of the best student laptops.

The most powerful laptops on sale today

The latest generation of MacBook Pro laptops is among the most powerful devices on the market. They can be completely configured to your exact needs, allowing you to customize your specifications for video editing, photography or audio mixing. Equipped with a choice between either an M1 Pro or M1 Max SoC (system-on-a-chip), that combines the CPU and GPU together, there's nothing you can throw at it that it won't run, and run well at that.

It's had a complete redesign since 2019. It's reintroduced built-in ports there are now three Thunderbolt 4 ports, one HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, and a MagSafe 3 port to give you plenty of options for your peripherals, and you don't need to carry around a cumbersome dongle.

That 14.3-inch 120 Hz mini-LED display is also one of the best we've ever seen on a laptop, giving you crisp, accurate colour and delivering up to 1,000 nits of sustained, full-screen brightness, and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. If you need multiple displays for your work then you can connect up to three Pro Display XDRs and a 4K TV with M1 Max, or two Pro Display XDRs if you opt for the M1 Pro.

For more details, read our MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) review.

We put the 14in MacBook Pro at number one over its larger sibling since the convenience of its more portable size will suit most people, and chances are that if your work requires a big screen, you'll be hooking it up to a separate screen anyway. But if you need a larger inbuilt screen and your laptop will spend more time in the office or at home than in a bag being lugged from place to place, then the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is a dream.

The screen's mini LED and P3 wide colour support, along with a higher 3456 x 2234 pixel ratio makes images look incredible. In fact, it's the best screen you can get in a laptop, offering incredible detail and lifelike colours, while the larger size makes working in design programs or editing software more comfortable than on smaller laptops.

Again, Apple thankfully also reintroduced most of the ports that were removed from the previous MacBook Pro model, including HDMI and a memory card slot, so you can plug in external monitors, or copy photos from a camera, without needing an adaptor. Another advantage of the larger laptop is incredible battery life up to almost 20 hours on a single charge, which makes this is a laptop you can use out in the field without worrying about needing a power supply.

As with the MacBook Pro 14 above, the latest MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) comes with a choice of Apple's own powerful M1 Pro or M1 Max chips. These ensure that macOS runs incredibly smoothly, and that software launches and loads rapidly.

See our MacBook Pro 16-inch review for more.

The most powerful laptops aren't all Macs, however. The Dell XPS 17 (2021) proves that macOS devices are far from the only option available for creatives who need an incredible portable workstation. And it also shows that a laptop with a big, big screen doesn't have to be bulky and impractical to carry.

While it's hiding some seriously impressive components and that giant 17-inch 4K display, the XPS 17 remains an impressively thin and light device, which means you can comfortably carry it around with you. This makes it an ideal powerful laptop for people who want to work out and about.

The battery life is also excellent for a laptop of this size and power, so you don't have to worry about finding a plug socket too often, and its price, while high, is fair for the hardware you're getting. You can configure it with a powerful Intel Core i9 processor, and even add an RTX 3060 graphics card to give it some serious power for more demanding applications (or even gaming if you like a machine that can do both).

Dell is well known for making top-quality laptops, and the XPS line is no different. If you're looking for a powerful and reliable laptop for your creative needs, and you don't much care for macOS, consider one of these beauties for yourself.

Gigabyte is likely another name more recognized for its gaming-optimized creations, but its range of creative workstation laptops have absolutely knocked it out of the park, with our favourite being the Gigabyte Aero 17.

It comes with plenty of ports, which means you can easily plug in your trusted peripherals without having to use a dongle, and its screen is one of the best we've seen in a laptop.Despite all those features and power under the hood, the Gigabyte Aero 17 offers much better value than many of the other devices on oiur list, considering the raw performance it offers. The only complaint we have is that its battery life isn't the best, so make sure you don't stray too far from a power outlet.

If you can look past the battery life though, you're getting an absolute beast of a workstation, equipped with the latest components and a glorious 4K OLED display, all features that will help tasks like video editing and 3D rendering, at a relatively affordable budget when compared to the competition.

The Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition is a brilliant laptop aimed at photographers, graphic designers and video editors in particular, with a choice of powerful graphics cards, along with a stunning, factory-calibrated 4K OLED display. Combined with the sleek design and excellent build quality, the Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition proves that the most powerful laptops in the world can also be some of the most stylish as well.

Razer is a name more recognized for PC gaming than portable workstations, but as gaming laptops need similarly powerful components to run the latest AAA titles, it's no wonder you see so many creatives buying them to run applications like Unreal Engine or Blender.

As Razer already makes some of the most powerful gaming laptops on the market, it makes sense that it would want to use its expertise and create an incredible workstation for content creators. this is a gorgeous, beastly machine that won't have any issues running anything you throw at it.

The battery life is decent, but nothing to shout about, and the price might be off-putting for anyone trying to find a bargain, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) is the first Apple Silicon of its class, sporting an M1 chip with a whopping 8-core CPU and an 8-Core GPU, making it more than twice as fast as the previous generation, and its fanless designs will ensure that you can work in blissful silence even if you're running demanding applications.

It can't compete against the new M1 Pro and M1 max SoC's, but this is still a very formidable machine, and its smaller size has additional benefits. if you're a photographer or video editor looking for a lightweight, quiet machine then this is ideal to toss into a bag and take on the go.

As you'd expect, the chip works perfectly with this Apple MacBook Pro, extending battery life by some way, as well as optimizing speed and power. Best of all, this is relatively affordable for a MacBook Pro device, with the M1 powered MacBook Pro undercutting the Dell XPS 13 (2020) by around $100/£100.

And since Apple is boasting that it's three times quicker than its Windows rivals, this new 13-inch device becomes a really fantastic option for creatives looking for a compact laptop that can handle huge workloads.

MSI is another brand known to dabble in both gaming laptops and mobile workstations, and as a result, the MSI Creator 17 is a creative workstation that's ideal for a range of different professions thanks to MSI's extensive history of building gaming laptops and computers that are capable of running even the most demanding of AAA games.

As a digital creative, you're not just looking for a powerful laptop that can chew through tasks with ease - you also want something with a brilliant display that can show off your work in style. That's why the MSI Creator 17 is equipped with a mini LED display that offers vibrant and accurate colors and 1000 nits of brightness.

It's also supremely powerful, with 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia RTX graphics cards. This makes it an incredibly powerful laptop for video editing and 3D modeling.

The Acer ConceptD 7 is a great choice for any creative looking for a powerful Windows device that was designed from the ground up to eat through any task you can throw at it, from rendering to 4K video editing.

It's got some seriously powerful hardware packaged up in a stylish design, configurable with a choice of powerful Intel processors, Nvidia graphics cards and bags of RAM, which means it's great for 3D animation and video editing.

Not only can it run just about every application you throw at it, but it looks incredibly stylish to boot, with a fancy all-white chassis that stands out against the sea of gray and black options currently dominating the market. It's pretty safe to say that Acer is giving Apple a run for its money with this design.

Perhaps its biggest selling point, however, is its stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. It's one of the nicest screens we've seen on a laptop, and it makes it a brilliant choice for people who want accurate colors and top-notch image quality alongside powerful components.

It's hard to imagine a roundup of the most powerful laptops on the market without something from the current generation of Dell XPS laptops, and one of our favourites is the Dell XPS 15. This is hands down one of the best and most powerful laptops released this year, not just for those in the creative industry, but also for people looking to have the best of everything with very little compromise.

It's equipped with the latest 11th generation of Intel processors, a powerful Nvidia RTX graphics card and plenty of RAM configurations to cater the device to your needs. You can get an OLED InfinityEdge display for crisps blacks and vivid color, 11th-generation Intel processors and the latest Nvidia RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti graphics cards, though Intel UHD is also an option for anyone looking to save some cash.

There are a few issues specific to users needs though, as you're losing the standard USB-A port from the previous generation of the laptop, which might make hooking up any peripherals like a graphics drawing tablet tricky for digital illustrators and sculptors, and many creative types like a larger display to work on. If you do want something larger, the Dell XPS 17 higher up this page is a great alternative.

The ROG Zephyrus G15 differs slightly from the devices released from other gaming brands, as this is a powerful gaming laptop first rather than something entirely designed for content creators. Those specifications are ideal for running creative applications though, equipped with the latest and most powerful AMD Ryzen and Nvidia RTX 3000 series, theyre incredibly powerful and able to see you through the most demanding games.

Gaming laptops make great creative workstations thanks to their powerful components and better-than-average display, so while they might be expensive, they tend to be around the same price (if not cheaper) than popular workstation laptops, allowing you to buy a device that has the best of both worlds.

Many ROG devices are packed with blingy, RGB lighting and 'gamer' look that might not appeal to everyone. While the Zephyrus G15 has gone for a more professional aesthetic, it's still pretty clear that gaming trends have had some influence, and you're not getting a built-in webcam, but if you can overlook those flaws then this could be the best choice for a powerful laptop.

The most powerful laptops: frequent questions

• The best laptop stands
• The best laptop bags money can buy
• The 5 best processors for designers and artists