Best Music Production Laptop: Top Brand Review 2023

A reliable, fast, and reliable laptop is essential for music production. It is not easy to find the best music production laptop, as there are so many options. This article features the best ultrabooks and notebooks available for music production from Apple, MSI Razer, Dell, and other manufacturers.

Top-Ratest Best Laptops For Music Production

Asus ROG Strix Scar II

Best Windows Laptop for Music Production

We offer the very best laptops for music production. The Asus ROG Strix Scar II is a music-producing powerhouse because of many factors.

The most obvious of these is the visual aspect. It’s easy on the eyes. This is because the manufacturer used neon colors to significant effect.

This device is a workhorse with an Intel Core i7 8750H Hexa processor. To enhance multitasking capabilities, it has 16GB DDR4 RAM.

You have a remarkable 512GB PCIe SSD. You have ample storage to store your music, as well as any other files you may be using. It has a fast transfer speed which is a plus.

Pros

• It is simple to upgrade the hardware
• It is a stunning display
• It feels sturdy and solid.
• ASUS offers 1-year water and electric damage coverage
• Offers enhanced Wifi coverage

Cons

• The touchpad is very small

Apple Macbook Pro M1

The best Apple laptop for music production

Apple reinvented MacBook Pro laptops by introducing its M1 chip. This proprietary processor was released for the first time in November 2020. Apple’s M1 chip replaces Intel processors in MacBooks from 2006 and uses its own silicon (and an optimized operating system for it).

The M1 series processors are the future of the company and will be seen by a large number of DJs and performers basking in the light of the MacBook’s 2560×1600 resolution screen. These custom chips will make it possible to have a battery life of up 20 hours on the road or in the studio.

You should make sure to buy the maximum amount of memory and storage. If you have the best DJ software and your entire collection of tracks, clips, and (remix)mix sessions, you will need 16GB RAM and 2TB. (plus the USB-C ports can support multiple external controllers/interfaces).

You can also download new sounds instantly via Thunderbolt/USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6. The MacBook Pro is a market leader because it can wake up instantly and use its 16-core Neural engine to beat-match and synth-patching.

Rumors continue to swirl that a new MacBook Pro with the theoretical “M1X”, the processor will be available in the near future.

This may be important for those who prefer to wait to purchase the most recent Apple MacBook Pro models before making a major purchase. All other users can choose the current model without reservations.

Pros

• Battery life of 20 hours
• Architecture with high-bandwidth and low latency
• Hardware optimized operating system

Cons

• Expensive
• M1 is not supported by all hardware/software yet.
• Processor refresh imminent

Apple MacBook Pro 13”

Next stage of the evolution of laptop for music production.

The MacBook Pro is a compact, lightweight 13-inch model that was released in 2015. The MacBook Pro is equipped with a 7th-generation dual-core Intel i5 processor and an SSD. It can quickly load and manage multiple software packages.

This model comes with 8 gigs of RAM, which is not impressive. However, it can be upgraded up to 16. This review has been included due to public demand.

We feel that even though the RAM is lighter, it can still be an excellent option for people who want to digitally write down an idea before it vanishes into the ether. This is an excellent choice for studio owners who want to share projects, collaborate or edit from home.

The battery life lasts for 10 hours, which is great for managing your work schedule. This is the minimum requirement for most popular DAWs if you’re not a producer who produces a lot of samples and don’t intend to do any orchestral work.

The response of the butterfly spring keyboard is great. It can also be used as a virtual keyboard, even if you don’t have a remote or midi-keyboard.

Pros

• Weighs less that 2lbs
• Accelerated launching and import.
• Battery life is long.

Cons

• Premium Price
• Webcam is 720p
• Pulse 2.0 Score

Dell XPS 13 OLED (2021)

Still one of the best Windows-based music production laptops.

Another year brings another addition to the impressive Dell XPS lineup. The Dell XPS line is the best laptop for creative professionals who don’t want to sign up to Apple’s walled garden and the closest Windows laptop to an Apple MacBook Pro.

It has a solid reputation due to its elegant design, stunning screens, and powerful spec.

While the MBP range offers similar style, quality, and performance, the XPS range uses Windows as its operating system. You won’t find a better deal if you look at elite gaming laptops with high-spec specs.

The 2023 vintage includes an 11th-generation Intel Core i5/i7 processor and a 4K OLED display.

Although this may not be the most prominent feature a music producer will choose, it is a great option if you are looking for the best laptop to watch films or stare at the screen in wonder.

The 15-inch Dell XPS line is more expensive, but the Dell XPS13 (2020) is a compelling option.

Pros

• Incredible performance potentially
• Amazing battery life

Cons

• Aging design
• There are only two Thunderbolt3 ports

Apple MacBook Air M1

The M1 variant is now a major contender in music production

Although the MacBook Pro is the best laptop for music production, it can be very expensive, especially when you go all out.

A MacBook Air, which is less expensive than the MacBook Pro, will give you a taste of Apple’s world of music-making. This Macbook Air weighs in at 2.8 pounds. It’s also extremely thin, which is another plus.

The Pro and Air models both come with Apple’s high-bandwidth, low latency M1 processor-based architecture. It was first introduced in 2020. While their CPU and GPU are identical, there are some differences that could limit how you can operate.

For the RAM and processor-intensive tasks required by audio production, it used to be that anything under the Apple MacBook Pro line was not suitable for seriously producing music.

The 2023 Apple MacBook Air new M1 chip can put that to rest, at least for most home music producers. The MacBook Air’s slim design and weight make it a formidable machine for any workflow that involves traveling.

We could be a little harsh and say that it is slightly disappointing that there has not been a design revolution. MacBook Air looks almost the same as the Air range. A few more USB ports would also be excellent.

However, choosing Apple’s less expensive model does not mean you are missing out on the production performance it once had.

Pros

• A laptop as light as a book could be
• Cheaper than Pro range

Cons

• Only a mother would love a bezel

Dell Xps 15

There are many sizes of Dell Xps. I recommend 15 models. (When you see 13-15, 17 next to the laptop’s name, it is the screen size). They are stronger and can handle more intensive tasks much faster.

The Xps 15 has 16GB of memory. This means that you can store more content and access it quickly, whether creating music or recording multiple recordings at home.

You can also request more RAM storage. It’s extensible. Additionally, you get up to 512GB SSD storage for high-performance responsiveness and storage. This allows you to quickly and efficiently access your music production software.

This laptop’s battery life is excellent to allow you to produce long hours even if you don’t have access to an outlet or want to work without charging it.

Before purchasing, please double-check your Daw O.S requirements. As I mentioned, most are cross-platform (compatible with both Mac and PC), but some aren’t.

It might seem odd that PCs make it on this list of the top best laptops for music production. They are the most advanced in music production and are easy to extend, more supportable, and much cheaper.

Pros

• Doubles as a gaming PC
• Good value despite high pricing
• Display options available in 1080p or 4K
• Maximum 32GB RAM

Cons

• Intel Core i9, 2TB SSD can be expensive

 

Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition

Gamers can also be creative

If you think of a gaming laptop for music production, you might imagine bright colors, RGB lights, and plenty of power to light up a continent. The Razer Blade 15 Studios is a powerful yet lightweight laptop initially designed for gaming but focuses on creative endeavors.

The customizable RGB backlighting for the keys is one of the most excellent visual touches. But this studio beast demands your attention.

Pros

• Incredible power
• Apple-tier design flourishes

Cons

• Overkill for many

Apple MacBook Pro 16

If you can afford it, power, performance, and fantastic design are all possible.

MacBook Pro 16 is, without doubt, one of the most powerful and fastest music production laptops on the market. As you probably know, MacBook Pro 16 has a thin design and a 6-Core Intel Core i7 processor, which provides incredible speedy performance.

This 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD will enhance the music producers abilities to a whole new level.

The battery life is also longer, so you won’t have to charge your device as often, and it can still work for hours.

Mac is great for music production, but you can’t upgrade SSD if you need more storage. You also can’t upgrade RAM because it has been soldered and cannot be re-order after purchase.

You can only buy a new model with more storage and RAM, but that would be extremely expensive. This model will last you for several years and serves its purpose. If you need more storage space, you can check out other sizes.

Pros

• Apple’s flagship laptop range
• All the power that you will likely require

Cons

• Premium pricing

Asus Rog Strix Scar III Laptop

If you are serious about modern music production, this is the best laptop for you.

There are serious studio contenders at the top end of the gaming PC spectrum. This is evident in the Asus Rog Strix Scar. This is the best laptop for music production can handle any production task with an Intel i7 processor, 16 GB RAM, and a base spec.

The Scottish electronic producer Hudson Mohawke is a well-known fan. You can get a lightweight, highly capable computer that rivals many traditional desktop configurations once you get past the garish color scheme and ‘edgy gamer branding.

Pros

• Monstrous performance
• Potential for upgrading
• Cool under pressure

Cons

• It’s not the most discrete!

MSI GF63 Laptop

This gaming laptop for music production is a powerful tool for musicians.

MSI is a well-known brand in the gaming PC market. It makes sense that their flagship mid-range model has some solid internals.

Because of its slim form factor and cooling features, the MSI GF63 laptop is an excellent choice for anyone who uses their laptop to perform live or as a portable studio.

It’s a solid laptop packing a 2.4GHz i5 processor that is powerful enough to handle most tasks. It comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM and can store up to 64GB.

This makes it a great option for future upgrades. Your laptop can grow with you as your studio sessions or live sets increase in size.

Pros

• Performance in the right areas
• Upgradable RAM slots

Cons

• Battery life could be longer

Microsoft Surface Laptop Pro 7

The best laptop for music production for those wanting 2-in-1

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Pro series was Microsoft’s response to Apple’s dominance. The Surface Pro was up against a stronghold by Apple on creative professionals. With the Microsoft Surface Laptop Pro 7, it is getting closer to closing that gap.

Although a two-in-1 will not be as powerful as a dedicated PC/Mac, it’s a portable laptop for music production that’s almost perfect.

The price is the main problem. For a fully-equipped version with an Intel i7 processor, 16 GB RAM, and other features, it will cost you more than $2k.

It’s a great option as a premium device capable of handling music and all other aspects of life. It also boasts a full day of battery life that is unbeatable.

Pros

• It is breathtaking from an aesthetic perspective
• Desktop apps can be accessed from the touch screen

Cons

• There is not a lot of specification for the money.

Acer Aspire 5

Because it is a budget-friendly laptop, the Acer Aspire can be used to produce music. It’s fast and efficient, which will help you save a lot of money.

This well-priced favorite is a great value for money, with an AMD Ryzen7 dual-core processor running at 4.0GHz and 8GB RAM, as well as a 512GB PCIe SSD.

Although there are some issues with the price tag, they can be easily overcome. Five hours of battery life is average for this model. This means that you will run out of power quickly.

Many producers find the maximum of 7.5 hours to be too much for them. The money you save can be used to buy even more.

Pros

• Quick for the price
• Affordable
• Plenty of storage

Cons

• Battery life is very short
• RAM with a low base

Microsoft Surface Laptop Pro 8

Artists love 2-in-1 laptops because they allow them to be more tactile and can draw on the go. To get the most out of this convertible, you can add the Surface Slim Pen 2 or the detachable Signature keyboard.

This ultra-portable, fully-featured machine runs Windows 11 and is powered by the Intel Evo processor platform.

Although integrated systems may not be as powerful as those made with discrete components, they are still more versatile than standalone machines.

This machine can run everything from podcasting software to Pro Tools. The predecessor of the laptop, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, was the best laptop for college.

This 2-in-1 laptop has an improved battery life, up to 16 hours, and is a great academic and accounting tool for anyone who’s balancing a career or continuing education with music. Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 4 ports allow you to excel as you like.

This will keep you connected to managers, booking agents, social media, mixers, control surfaces, and any other information you may need to enhance your signal channel.

As always, make sure you get the best option and be prepared for some software glitches when upgrading to the latest operating system.

Pros

• Below 2 Pounds
• Battery life is improved
• Multifunctional
• 120Hz refresh rate

Cons

• Price increase

Things To Consider Before You Buy The Best Laptops for Music Production

Digital Audio Workstations system

DAW system requirements are an important part of your decision-making process.

Both are powerful and can produce great music on both O.S platforms. You don’t know that your DAW must be cross-platform (compatible with both operating systems).

You should also review the O.S requirements. This leads us to the reason why you need to know your O.S. and Daw System Requirements.

Here are the reasons:

• Some DAWs and music production software are not cross-platform compatible (Compatible with both Operating Systems).
• Some DAWs are compatible with both Mac and PC, others only support Mac and some can be used only on PC.

Don’t buy a laptop for music production without researching whether the DAW you choose supports your O.S.

CPU Cores/Processors

When it comes to music-making systems, CPUs are not often discussed. Most of the time, you just want one system and can start creating your hits.

Even if your knowledge of the CPU is limited or nonexistent, it’s essential to know the specific requirements. This will help you choose the best one for you and increase your system’s performance.

When choosing the best laptop for music production, the CPU is a crucial factor. This is the most critical factor in DAWs that have more significant projects. The more CPU cores you have, the better the performance of your music production software.

Which one should you choose? It would help if you considered multiple cores. The processor core itself processes data.

However, some factors affect the performance of your CPU, such as clock speed and temperature. We have already done an extensive research to find the best ones.

Here’s how to get the best music gaming experience with high-speed performance.

• Multiple cores (either quadcore or more).
• 2.2Ghz is acceptable, 2.5Ghz is better, > 3.0Ghz is higher performance

Notice: The processor’s speed is measured in gigahertz. The more gigahertz available, the faster you will get.

Be careful about what you choose. A faster CPU speed does not necessarily mean that it is better. It could make things worse.

A 2ghz quad-core (4 cores) will be slower than a 3-GHz dual-core (2 cores). Are you bored with all the technical stuff? Drop comments.

RAM

The Ram and the Processor work simultaneously; Ram works just like a hard drive but is faster. Also, Ram doesn’t store data for too long. It stores data; then, it passes it on to the CPU for processing.

You can save more information the more RAM you have. In that case, here is how much RAM you will need to be a music producer.

For large projects, a minimum of 8GB RAM is likely to suffice. 16GB is even better if you don’t work on large projects, and I mean extensive ones.

32GB is too large for most people and is likely a waste of resources. 32GB is sufficient if you use a lot of samplers plugins. Larger libraries. Rompler plugins. 32GB is enough if you’re using a lot of heavy-intensive plugins at once.

It is cool to be able to identify what you need to make an informed decision.

Hard Drive

Remember that I said Rams were like a hard drive but don’t store long-term information. This is why hard drives can be useful. They are used to store long-term bases and will likely need enough space to run a DAW.

There are two types. There are two types of drives: HDD (hard drive) and SSD (solid-state drive). While HDD is more efficient than an SSD, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use HDD. I do recommend using HDD.

Minimum of 256GB HDD (Okay, if you don’t move a lot of data).

Minimum 500GB HDD and minimum 256GB SSD (Better, high-speed performance).

Notice: You can use both HDD or SSD to install your DAW software. SSDs are faster for processing large files.

USB Port

You can use a USB to transfer data from and to your laptop. However, they can also power studio components. An audio interface can be used if you have concerns about line input—multiple Instruments, Mic, etc.

If you don’t care about midi components, your default USB ports should suffice. Most modern laptops have three or more.

Screen Size

An additional tip: Even if your screen is smaller than you need, it doesn’t matter how you start. You can always expand the screen with an external monitor of different sizes. The screen size is a measure of the space in which your DAW workspace is. This is what you want.

• 13 or 15 inches is a good size for a starting screen.
• 17 or 18 are sufficient if you need to stay on your laptop screen (not portable).

FAQs About Best Laptops For Music Production

Which Laptop Should I Buy For Music Making?

One of the laptops we have reviewed would be a great choice for music production. It is up to you to decide whether to use the Mac OS or Windows. We recommend the Apple MacBook Pro for Mac OS.

Which Mac Is Best For Music Production Laptop?

We recommend the Apple MacBook Pro laptop. To meet additional requirements, you can upgrade the hardware.

Which Windows Laptop Is Best For Music Making?

Our top choice for Windows laptop for music production is the Asus ROG Strix Scar II. It is also one of the best gaming laptops. There is plenty of room to upgrade hardware. It comes with powerful processors and plenty of RAM. It also comes with a lot of storage space.

Can 4GB RAM Be Enough To Produce Music?

It’s worth looking at the minimum RAM requirements for popular software programs when deciding how much RAM is needed for music production. The best digital audio workstations (DAWs), and music creation software (such Ableton 11) require at least 8GB RAM.

However, less powerful options may need half that amount, but it is still a good starting point for music production. For optimal music production, 16GB RAM is a good choice.

Is It Possible To Use Any Laptop For Music Production?

Every laptop, even those for children, can be used to produce music. Even though laptops weren’t as powerful, entire albums were still possible to be created in the past 10, 20, 30, and 40 years. Apple GarageBand is preloaded on entry-level MacBooks.

This program can be used to create music. Both Mac and Windows users can download Audacity, a free music editing software, for both production and editing.

It’s possible for your laptop to have slow RAM or storage space. If this happens, you might find it frustrating to try out the latest software. You may need to do smaller projects or choose older versions.

What Makes A Laptop Great For Music Production?

Because they are equipped with a powerful CPU and plenty of storage, the best laptops for music production can withstand heavy use. A large display screen with high resolution is a must for digital music production.

A laptop should not be overloaded with media or applications. If it is, you shouldn’t be surprised if there are delays and hiccups. Although USB-C ports can be used to access multiple inputs or outputs (I/O), more than one is necessary to facilitate configuration and reduce theoretical bottlenecks.

Conclusion

There are many laptops for music production. Fidlar recommends getting the best budget laptop for music production. However, it would be best if you avoid “cheap” options and Chromebooks. This will only lead to limitations and problems that can ruin your hobby or profession.

If you have any questions or anything we are missing, please let us know on this topic below!