Best budget laptop for 2D animation

As the most advanced animated laptop brand, Asus stands out from the others. The RGB LEDs of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 [2021] can be controlled and synchronized in a wide range of ways. In addition, it has a band of six color zones on its underside and two lighting zones under its display. As of its release, the Ryzen 9 5900HX has become one of the most popular components in Animation laptops. With an optical-mechanical input device, the RGB backlit keyboard is now different in layout and feel. Moreover, there is a weight of 5.51 pounds and dimensions of 13.94 x 1.07 x 10.2 inches.

Experience turbo-charged work and gaming on a machine designed for triple-digit frame rates. Gaming is ultrafast and fluid with GeForce RTX graphics. With an overclockable AMD CPU and ultra-fast DDR4 RAM, it can handle heavy workloads and multitasking. A brilliant 300Hz Full HD panel gives you crisp details. With it, you can see more shades of incompatible films and other media, covering the entire DCI-P3 color space. You can play your favorite games easily, and its both powerful and compact. Moreover, it provides a high screen-to-body ratio of 85% and has a fantastic gaming experience.

Furthermore, its memory is decent, with 16GB DDR4 RAM at excellent escorting speed. ROG Strix SCAR 15 delivers outstanding speed, power, and performance. A 300Hz FHD gaming panel powered by AMD Ryzen processors and powerful GeForce graphics bring the next frontier of speed and performance to pro esports. You can also connect a ROG G-SYNC monitor for silky smooth gaming or use the USB 3.2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4. In addition, youll have access to multiple Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, while HDMI 2.0b lets you view 4K content on a TV or monitor. In general laptops, Asus Strix G15 [2021] comes out to be the most powerful laptop for animation.

Like all other Razer laptops, the Blade 14 [2021] is stunningly beautiful, powerful, and expensive. As it weighs less than 4 pounds, the Razer Blade 14 suits users who prefer something more portable. Because of the inclusion of AMD Ryzen CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics, its no surprise that this system delivers superb gaming and productive performance. Unfortunately, there are a few too many compromises within Razer Blade 14s keyboard to fit its tiny body. It is absurdly difficult to work productively with the Tiny up and down arrow keys.

The laptop is driven by the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor, a class 9 chip from AMD with beast performance. The chipset is loaded with an octa-core CPU with a base clock speed of 3.3GHz, overclocked up to 4.6GHz. An illuminated Razer logo is featured on the lid of this thin black metal tablet. An RGB keyboard surrounded by two speakers can be found on the inside. As a result of the vents on the bottom, the overall sound is relatively low. Device dimensions are 12.6 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches, whereas its weight is 3.9 pounds. Thus, it will fit in almost any backpack or messenger bag without being too heavy.

The Razer Blade 14 has a Full HD 144Hz or QHD 165Hz screen, depending on which model you buy. Thanks to the 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, you can flawlessly handle creativity tasks, such as 4k video editing, Photoshop, AutoCAD, 3D modeling, photo editing, etc. It is relatively light on ports, however. There is a power port, a USB-A port, a USB-C port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack in the left corner. Lastly, there are three USB ports, one HDMI port, one USB-A port, and one USB-C port on the right. It also has 16GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB SSD storage to control the memory department. Overall, this is another powerful laptop, yet portable with a compact design. Anyone who is engaged in animation creation can utilize its power.

Acer has launched this device with more promising and upgraded features. This is the latest version of the previous Acer Helios series. The Predator Helios 300 is an average-sized 15.6-inch laptop, measuring 14.31 x 10.04 x 0.9 inches and weighing 5.07 pounds. With our review units 144Hz high-refresh-rate screen, our reviewer could play almost any type of game smoothly, including esports. Gaming users will appreciate the powerful performance, colorful display, and comfortably designed keyboard offered by the Predator Helios 300.

In this configuration, the Acer Predator Helios 300 comes with a 6GB Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU. There are eight cores of Intels Core i7-11800H processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB solid-state drive, as well as Windows 10 Home. A laptop with 16GB RAM feels adequate for anyone buying this only for animation, but if youre in a creative career, its a great option if you plan on working remotely since 16GB of RAM gives you the power to multitask. In addition, its battery life of 3 hours, 24 minutes [Acer claims you will get longer], puts it a bit ahead of the gaming laptop average of 3:21.

There are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports on the left, a Killer E2600 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, and an audio combo port. Bluetooth 5 and WiFi 6 provide wireless connectivity. Despite its thin and light design, there is a USB Type-C and Type-A port on the right edge and charging ports when the device is switched off. Furthermore, there are mini-DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0b video outputs. With priced under $1500, Acer Predator Helios 300 is an affordable laptop that is very well capable of handling 3D animation rendering.

The GIGABYTE AERO 15 will meet all your animation needs if you are a professional animator. Theres a lot of power in the Gigabyte Aero 15. In addition to the overclock-ready Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card, and almost absurd 16GB RAM, this model has an almost ridiculous amount of storage space. Yet, it appears surprisingly spacious and has significant dimensions, weight, and appearance for what it contains. The laptop accumulates the 15.6-inch 4K UHD AMOLED display at 3840 x 2160p resolution. As we know, AMOLED is a trademark that belongs to Samsung, manufacturing world-class panels.

It weighs approximately 4.40 lbs, ‎with 9.8 x 14 x 0.78 inches item dimension. Rather than plastic, the Aero 15s body panel is made of aluminum. Although plastic is arguably more practical for a performance laptop with a good cooling system, it offers an immediate impression of build quality. Gigabyte attempts to show us that a relatively light and portable computer can deliver significant performance. This laptop provides up to all-day battery life, according to Gigabyte. The laptop is powered by the 11th generation Intel Core i7-11800 processor, which makes it very fast.

This processor offers an octa-core CPU with a 2.3GHz base clock speed, going as high as 4.6GHz to maintain the heavy workload. With one Thunderbolt 3 port, 3 USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, and DisplayPort, the Aero 15 OLED comes with a good selection of ports. In addition to the thin-and-light design, there is an Ethernet port. The front division includes a multi-color RGB backlit keyboard, giving it an attractive look. Altogether, this is one of the cheapest 4K display laptops with a dominant RTX 3080 graphics card, perfectly fitting for animated work.

The premium model is the Dell XPS laptop, which comes with a lid clad in anodized aluminum and a platinum silver color. This design allows for an incredible screen-to-body ratio [93.7%] and a 17-inch screen in a 15-inch size body with a stunning 4-sided InfinityEdge display. It is, in fact, smaller than 34% of all laptops that are 15 inches long. As you look at the lid, you can see the Dell logo amidst the matte finish triumphantly glimmering in the middle of the surface.

Dell XPS 17 weighs 5.3 pounds and measures 14.7 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches, which stands out on the block. In the meantime, the display of the Dell XPS 17 is surrounded by Dells InfinityEdge design, offering a thin bezel and a virtually bezel-free display. Dell managed to fit into a 17-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. This is thanks to the thin bezels on display. Apart from that, it comes packed with fast 16GB DDR4 RAM with a frequency of 3200MHz, which is more than enough to handle multitasking on the machine. The read and write speeds of the storage are also remarkable as it comes with 512GB of NVMe PCIe SSD.

A laptop powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core processor brings powerful performance usually available only on desktops. This Intel Core i7-11800H offers eight cores and 16 threads of computing power so you can edit, capture, and share your creations more efficiently than ever before. The high-performance and portable design allow you to travel wherever your vision takes you. In addition, your most demanding workloads can be handled longer than ever with the latest NVIDIA RTX 3050 graphics. By concluding, if you want a powerful touchscreen laptop for 3D rendering, Dell XPS 17 comes out as a perfect contender. At the same time, it costs you very premium pricing.

These are good laptops to consider if youre looking for the best animation laptops. The Acer Swift 3 [SF314-43-R2YY] is an affordable, high-performance, mid-range laptop that is great for animations. A key feature is the high battery life and lightweight design of the Ryzen 7 5700U. The Swift 3 line of laptops features a sleek design with a silver bezel that blends seamlessly with the Acer logo. The machines exterior is made of aluminum and magnesium. The metallic finishes on the lid and the keys look nice when the lid is opened.

AMD Ryzen 5700U [octa-core] processor coupled with 8GB of memory and 512GB SSD storage powered the laptop. It is a strong performer when it comes to handling multiple tasks. This laptop will blow you away, thanks to its exceptionally long-lasting battery. If you charge your swift three fast, it can last for up to four hours after 30 minutes. The Acer logo is illuminated on the chin, and the bezels around the screen are skinny. In turn, it weighs just 2.65 pounds, considerably lighter than competing laptops of similar specs.

Moreover, it measures 12.71 x 8.53 x 0.63 inches, slightly larger than the previous model. The display, which is 14 inches and 1080p, is pretty dim and flat. Swift 3 SF314-43-R2YY keyboard is a nice size for comfortably typing. Its palm rest is small, and it has no numeric keypad; these are common characteristics of laptops with screens smaller than 14 inches. The silver Swift 3s 4.2 x 2.6-inch touchpad offers good scrolling and cursor control. Lastly, this laptop can be a good option unless you are not working in 3D rendering. It efficiently sustains basic multitasking and 2D animation creation.

When it comes to providing the best animation laptops, Lenovo is not to be outdone. With IdeaPad 3s 14-inch FHD [1920 x 1080] display, you can see more of the screen and less clutter with its four-side narrow bezels. Q-control adjusts performance using three modes that each provide different levels of noise reduction and cooling. Unlike some rock-bottom budget laptops that only have 4GB of memory, it comes with 8GB. In addition, the laptop features AMDs Ryzen 5 5500U processor, 256GB solid-state drive, and no touchscreen paired with AMD Radeon 7 Graphics.

Windows 10 Home can only access software in the Windows Store in S mode, meaning the operating system is Windows 10 Home in S mode. Thick bezels surround the screen. The webcams privacy shutter slides over when you hold your thumbnail against the top bezel. It feels dull and uncomfortable to type on the keyboard because it is flat and plasticky. The keyboard skips and doubles letters with a lot of frequency. Besides the HDMI port, there are wireless networking standards like WiFi 6 [2×2], Bluetooth 5.0, and USB and USB-C ports. Priced under $500, Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is recommended only to basic learners.

With an i7 processor, the Dell Inspiron 5510 is an affordable machine. Multitasking can be done simultaneously on this laptop. The Platinum Silver color on the exterior of Dells Inspiron 15 laptops makes for a classic, yet contemporary look, while contrasting clearly with the subtle white interior. The screen-to-body ratio is generous, and the compact body creates an enjoyable viewing experience. Overall, the performance is exceptionally smooth due to a combination of hardware components.

There is also a narrow border around the 15.6-inch screen, which has a LED backlight and 1920 x 1080 FHD [1920 x 1080] resolution. Regardless of whether the laptop is off or hibernated when it is opened, it will restart. As well as using Windows Hello to verify identities quickly, fingerprint readers can also be used for quick logins. The laptop uses the 11th generation Intel Core i7-11370H chipset. Its quad-core CPU provides a base clock speed of 3.3GHz, which goes up to 4.8GHz. On top of that, there is an Nvidia GeForce MX450 GPU with a dedicated 2GB GDDR5 VRAM to handle the graphics performance.

Furthermore, navigation is made easy by the large touchpad, the wide pitch of the keyboard, and the expanded keycaps. Again, the thin and trim device, with its 1.3mm key travel, creates an enjoyable typing experience. With the device, you can connect via WiFi 802.11ac. As well as Type A [USB 3.2 Gen 1], Type C [USB 3.2 Gen 2], Thunderbolt 4 [USB 3.1 Gen 1], HDMI, Multi Card Slot, Headphone, and Mic Combo Jack, there are four USB ports on the device. All in all, this is a cheaper alternative for the basic 3D workload.

Asus ProArt StudioBook Pro X W730 workstation features Intel CPUs, Nvidia Quadro GPUs, and a 17-inch display. Due to its size and high-end hardware, the StudioBook Pro X isnt as slim as some ultraportable computers. However, despite its somewhat compact size, the laptop remains relatively light and has narrow bezels around the entire screen. Interestingly, this notebook comes with a 16:10 display that is perfect for an animation laptop. It has excellent graphics and is ideal for animation. To enhance the look of the lid and palm rest, a textured pattern is used, made of metal alloys and plastic.

This Pro X model has a full keyboard with a standard layout, full-sized arrow keys, and a full-size number pad. There is no 4K UHD screen on this workstation, but it has a 16:10 1920 x 1200 pixel screen with 97% coverage of DCI-P3 color gamut, Delta E less than 2, and is pre-calibrated with Pantone certification. A taller 16:10 aspect ratio is more spacious and perfect for students who want to invest in a good laptop. In addition, this panel offers good brightness, contrast, and color coverage, making it a good choice for everyday use and animation. The laptop is powered by the Intel Xenon E-2276M processor, housing six cores and 12 processing threads. On top of that, it combines Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 with 16GB GDDR6 VRAM.

In StudioBook Pro X, multiple heat pipes, heat plates, and high-capacity fans are dispersed across the CPU/GPU and VRMs/MOSFETs. This is a powerful laptop for productivity tasks, and its specifications are more than powerful to run the 3D workload quite easily. Its aesthetics also makes it a professional laptop so that it can be carried to places like office and meetings. Altogether, this is a powerful workstation for professional users engaged in animation and works like a charm for other applications such as AutoCAD, Solidworks, game development, 3D modeling, 4K video editing, After Effects, Illustrator Maya, etc.

If you are looking for an affordable workstation laptop, Lenovo ThinkPad P17 is a decent option. Lenovo ThinkPad P17 has an enormous 17.3-inch display on the front. This is an FHD display meaning it has a total of 1920 × 1080 screen resolution. It has no high refresh rate support but comes with 300 nits of max brightness. Additionally, it offers color-accurate picture quality. There are thin bezels on the sides of the display, but that is not a big deal on this laptop. The workstation is powered by the Intel Core i7- 10750H processor. It is a 10th Gen 14 nm processor made for high-end laptops.

The provided chipset arrives with a Hexa-core CPU and 12 threads. With these powerful cores, it can produce up to 5.0GHz of clock speed. Furthermore, this processor is paired with an impressive cooling system that will help it run at full speed for a much longer time. On top of that, it has massive 32GB DDR4 RAMand a 1TB NVMe SSD drive pre-installed. Regarding the graphics, the Lenovo ThinkPad P17 comes with the Nvidia Quadro T2000 GPU with 4GB VRAM. As we know, graphics are more important than any other component for animations. That is why it brings an impressive graphics performance.

Moreover, the laptop features both WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 in terms of connectivity. Besides, you will get three USB A, two USB C with Thunderbolt 3, one standard USB C port. Moreover, it has an HDMI 2.0, an SD card reader, and an audio combo jack. You can charge this laptop through the USB C ports. In the meantime, this laptop weighs 7.7 pounds or 3.5 kilograms, which makes it a heavy workstation. Overall, Lenovo ThinkPad P17 is a perfect workstation laptop for animation and other high-performance professional applications, including Solidworks, AutoCAD, game development, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Can only animators use animated laptops?

Animated laptops are facilitated with comprehensive features like a speedy processor, great GPU, and memory. So, these features can be for everyone, and animated laptops are also used for gaming purposes because of their excellent response time and screen resolution.

How much RAM is ideal for animated laptops?

Well, you will find 4GB memory to 32GB on popular laptops. But, we recommend at least 8GB memory, but the ideal RAM size is 16GB for better performance. Hence, you should consider a laptop with 16GB RAM for lag-free animation work. Apart from that, some laptops allow you to upgrade memory later on, which is definitely a plus point.

Is a desktop better than a laptop?

If you want a portable device, we must recommend buying a laptop instead of a desktop. Thus, the desktop is reasonable and inexpensive compared to laptops, and you can manage your favorable features on both devices. Here is our coverage of the best pre-built gaming PC under $2000 that can fulfill all the demands you need for animation creation.

Final Verdict

Finally, you have a comprehensive list of the 10 best laptops for animation. You can buy any one of them to get unlimited benefits. All devices are served with a fantastic processor, fantastic graphics, solid memory, and other necessary components. It would help if you watched for several factors and some of them I have mentioned before.

Moreover, laptops with long battery life and video editing features are ideal to use for animation. In addition, you can watch Netflix or play games without any major problem because these laptops arrive with solid graphics, which is also necessary for animation tasks.