10 Best Laptops for 3D Modeling & Rendering in 2023 (June)
The best laptops for 3D modeling and rendering in 2023 include some of the most powerful and value-for-money laptops that will add some serious firepower to your setup.
Our selection includes laptops for beginners, professionals, and everyone in between. We’ve considered features such as processing power, graphics capabilities, storage, price, and portability to help you find the perfect laptop for your needs.
So whether you plan to create 3D animations, CGI for films, VR/AR effects, games, or more, the devices we have enlisted will help you make the most of your talent and skill by offering a fast and smooth experience, even under the most intensive workloads.
Top 10 Best Laptops for 3D Modeling & Rendering in 2023
- Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M2 Pro) — The best overall (Editor’s Choice)
- HP Pavilion 15 — The best budget
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 — The best value
- Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15 — The best dual-screen
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M2 Max) — The most powerful
- Gigabyte AORUS 15 — Best for gaming
- Dell XPS 17 — The best large display
- Microsoft Surface Pro 9 — The best 2-in-1
- LG Gram 17 — The best 17-inch
- Apple MacBook Air — The best budget MacBook
Also, see our feature on the most powerful laptops, plus our articles on the best AutoCAD laptops and the best graphics card for AutoCAD.
What is the Best Laptop for 3D Modeling?
Based on our first hand review, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M2 Pro) is the best laptop for 3d modeling and rendering in 2023. But here are our top three choices.
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Best Large Screen
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Description:
This beast of a device has just the right amount of everything you need for designing & rendering. A powerful M2 Pro chip, a fantastic Liquid Retina display, and a battery life that can last your long work sessions. We can't recommend it enough! |
Description:
For the price, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 almost feels too good to be true. At under $800, it offers high-end gaming hardware such as an AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU for a fast rendering machine. For these very reasons, it's one of our personal favorites of all time! |
Description:
A large display isn’t a must-have, but one that will make working on creative tasks much easier and comfortable. And when it comes to laptops with a big screen, the Dell XPS 17 definitely stands out. |
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This beast of a device has just the right amount of everything you need for designing & rendering. A powerful M2 Pro chip, a fantastic Liquid Retina display, and a battery life that can last your long work sessions. We can't recommend it enough!
- Powerful
- Efficient
- Awesome battery life
- Expensive
For the price, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 almost feels too good to be true. At under $800, it offers high-end gaming hardware such as an AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU for a fast rendering machine. For these very reasons, it's one of our personal favorites of all time!
- Impressive refresh rate
- Attractive price point
- Incredible Audio
- Lacks SD card slots
- Subpar memory storage
A large display isn’t a must-have, but one that will make working on creative tasks much easier and comfortable. And when it comes to laptops with a big screen, the Dell XPS 17 definitely stands out.
- Immersive 17-inch touchscreen
- Plenty of ports
- Amazing performance
- Expensive
- Subpar webcam
10 Best Laptops for 3D Modeling & Rendering in 2023
If you are an architect, engineer, interior designer, construction manager, artist, or student, our list of the best laptops for 3D modeling and rendering will have you creating in no time. From AutoCAD to SolidWorks, Blender to Maya, these laptops will help you run every program with ease. Let’s dive in.
1. Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M2 Pro) (Editor’s Choice)
The best laptop for 3D modeling and rendering in 2023 overall
Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a 120Hz refresh rate; 3024-by-1964 resolution | Processor: Apple M2 Pro | Graphics: 16-core or 19-core Apple GPU | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB/1TB SSD
From artists to video editors and animators, the MacBook Pro is the preferred choice of most professionals, and for a good reason. It is the complete package, whether you want a great display, fast performance, and long battery life in a slim and lightweight package, the MacBook Pro does it all.
This device has a lot to love, but what amazed us the most is its stunning 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR with a 120Hz refresh rate and Extreme Dynamic Range. We believe the last feature is especially important for designers and animators who always need a display with incredible detail and true-to-life colors. Plus, with 1,600 nits of peak brightness, you can use it under any lighting condition and get great results.
The MacBook Pro is also faster than ever with a newer M2 Pro chip with up to 12 CPU cores, up to 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB RAM and M2 Max chip with 12 CPU cores, up to 38 GPU cores, and up to 96GB RAM to choose from.
As you would expect, this device is lightning quick regardless of the configuration you choose, and it certainly didn’t disappoint when we put it through the paces rendering complex animations and running demanding software all at once.
That isn’t all, with up to 18 hours of battery life, it easily lasted a day of mixed-use in our review.
Its unmatched ability to multitask, run demanding software, and render simultaneously makes it the best laptop for 3D modeling and rendering for us.
Pros |
Cons |
 Snappy performance |
 Pricey |
| Long-lasting battery life |
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| Improved Liquid Retina XDR with a 120Hz refresh rate |
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| Portable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- SUPERCHARGED BY M2 PRO OR M2 MAX — Take on demanding projects with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. M2 Pro has up to 12 CPU cores, up to 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB unified memory. M2 Max has 12 CPU...
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. And the MacBook Pro laptop delivers exceptional performance whether it’s running on...
- FULLY COMPATIBLE — All your pro apps run lightning fast — including Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Affinity Designer, Microsoft 365, and many of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps.
- BEAUTIFUL PRO DISPLAY — The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display features Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1000 nits of brightness for stunning HDR content, and pro reference modes for doing your best...
- ADVANCED CAMERA AND AUDIO — Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
2. HP Pavilion 15
The best budget laptop for 3D modeling and rendering
Display: 15.6-inch Full HD | Processor: Intel Processor U300 (up to 4.4 GHz, 8 MB L3 cache, 5 cores, 6 threads) | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8 GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM | Storage: 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
For creatives on a tight budget, finding the right laptop for 3D modeling at an affordable price is still a dream. Considering your need for an inexpensive yet high-performing laptop, we suggest the HP Pavilion 15.
We know that HP is an expert at offering great budget laptops. This HP Pavilion 15 is no exception, with a powerful Intel Processor U300 that comes with up to 4.4 GHz, 8 MB L3 cache, five cores, six threads, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage at a price tag that comes in slightly above $500.
Considering this laptop does not have high storage capacity and RAM, it is still a great choice for those looking for a laptop with basic rendering capabilities. If you are a young professional, this Pavilion 15 can be a great companion to kickstart your career.
As professional graphic designers, we find its 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare display a top-notch choice for working on 3D animations and graphic designs. We also adore the slim and lightweight profile, which makes the Pavilion 15 great for working on the go.
That being said, this laptop isn’t perfect. If you expect the GPU performance that NVIDIA GeForce offers, then this is not the ideal choice. However, it was fast enough for basic rendering and modeling tasks when we tested it. We highly recommend investing a bit extra in a more powerful device if you are a professional animator or need to render large animations.
Pros |
Cons |
| Budget-friendly |
Not an ideal choice for a professional animator |
| Bright display |
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| Elegant and lightweight design |
3. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
The best laptop for 3d modeling under $1000
Display: 15.6-inch Full HD IPS with a 120Hz refresh rate | Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 6600H | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD
If you spend a little over $100 on a 2022 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 over a 2022 HP Pavilion 15, it is totally worth the extra cost as you get a much bigger upgrade in performance and a far better display.
It is the most affordable entry point for high-end gaming hardware, including an AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, and 8GB of DDR5 RAM. The 2022 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 runs every animation software from Maya, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Blender, and AutoCAD efficiently and was also fun to multitask in our review.
The IdeaPad gaming 3 isn’t just the fastest laptop in its price range, but it also has an excellent 15.6-inch Full HD screen with a smooth 120Hz refresh that pairs very well with the gaming-focused hardware.
It also comes with Lenovo’s signature gaming keyboard, which we found incredibly comfortable to work on, and as it supports fast charging, it can charge 40% with just 15 minutes of power.
However, you might want to consider getting a variant with higher storage or buying an external hard drive if you have the money to spare, as it only comes with 256GB of SSD storage out of the box.
All things considered, we still think the 2022 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers the best price-to-features and price-to-value ratio out of any laptop under $1000. If you are a designer or animator looking to get a bargain deal, this is it.
Pros |
Cons |
| Unbeatable value |
Only 256GB of SSD storage |
| AMD Ryzen 5 6600H CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU on a budget |
Lacks an SD and microSD card slot |
| 120Hz refresh rate |
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| Supports fast charging |
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| Crisp audio |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Boost your gaming performance with the latest generation AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processors and a 15.6" FHD IPS screen with 120Hz refresh rate
- GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs deliver the ultimate performance for gamers and creators, powered by Ampere - NVIDIA’s 2nd gen RTX architecture - with new RT Cores, Tensor Cores, and streaming...
- The signature Lenovo gaming keyboard comes with all the best media control and number pad features stocked out of the box
- Excellent battery life lets you take this gaming laptop with you; use Rapid Charge to boost your battery by 40% in just 15 minutes
- Stay connected: this Windows gaming laptop offers built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, two USB-A ports, one USB-C (DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0), HDMI 2.0, RJ45, and an audio jack
4. Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15
The best dual-screen laptop for 3D modeling and rendering
Display: 15.6-inch, 4K (3840 x 2160) OLED primary display and 14-inch 4K ScreenPad Plus secondary display | Processor: 12th gen Intel i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD
At first glance, you will notice that the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 15 has two displays instead of one. And while it might seem overkill for some, we believe it is the perfect addition for those animators who love multitasking as it lets you keep all your favourite tools, shortcuts, and extra tabs open in the secondary display without having to add an external monitor or awkwardly switch through tabs to work on different apps.
The displays are designed with creatives in mind with a 15.6-inch OLED HDR primary display and 14-inch ScreenPad Plus secondary display, both touchscreen and stylus-compatible with 4K resolution and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut so you get professional results effortlessly. In addition, the secondary display automatically tilts up by 9.5 degrees, making viewing more comfortable.
And while dual displays are great, you need powerful hardware that can keep up, and the Zenbook Pro Duo 15 certainly delivers. Equipped with a 12th gen Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, it blazed past rendering tasks in a jiffy, and with 1TB of SSD storage, we found that it comes with more than sufficient storage for all your creative needs out of the box.
The addition of a second display does give it some bulk, so the keyboard and touchpad have been crammed into a small space, but even if you aren’t comfortable with large laptops or just clumsy in general, it comes with MIL-STD 810G military standard reliability and durability so it can easily survive a few bumps.
It does have an expensive price tag, but if you often find yourself running demanding software and rendering animations simultaneously, it is worth the investment as it offers an unparalleled multitasking experience that other laptops simply cannot match on their own.
Pros |
Cons |
| Dual 4K displays |
Expensive |
| Gorgeous design |
Poor battery life |
| Fast performance |
Awkwardly placed keyboard and touchpad |
| MIlitary grade durability |
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| Ergonomic keyboard |
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| Includes a 3-month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Professional-grade performance: With a 12th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, Zenbook Pro Duo 15 OLED is a true powerhouse
- Amazing visuals: this 15” touchscreen laptop has a 4K OLED HDR NanoEdge display. ASUS OLED laptop computers provide ultrasmooth visuals, professional-grade colors and better eye care.
- Extreme durability: Durable laptop that meets ultra-demanding military standards for durability, giving you protection and peace of mind wherever you go
- Enhanced productivity: the tilting ScreenPad Plus – a secondary 14 inch 4K touchscreen that automatically tilts up for comfortable viewing - gives you endless ways to optimize your multitasking...
- Ergonomic features: with the ASUS ErgoLift Stand, tilting ScreenPad Plus, LED NumberPad and the included detachable palm rest and ASUS active stylus pen, this ASUS laptop will give you a more...
5. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M2 Max)
The most powerful MacBook for 3D modeling and rendering
Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a 120Hz refresh rate; 3456-by-2234 resolution | Processor: Apple M2 Max | Graphics: 38-core Apple GPU | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD
The 14-inch MacBook Pro’s older sibling, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Max chip is the fastest MacBook you can get. With a top-of-the-line M2 Max chip with 12 CPU cores, Apple GPU with up to 38 GPU cores, and up to 96GB of RAM, this laptop is aimed at professionals who want no compromises and the best of the best hardware so that they can showcase their work in the best way possible.
When we tested it, we were convinced within minutes that this is one of the fastest laptops we have ever tested, not just the fastest MacBook. Besides being fast, it also has one of the longest battery life of any laptop, with pcmag.com claiming it lasted almost 27 hours on their battery test. This is even more impressive when the brand says it can last up to 22 hours on a single charge.
The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is worthy of the flagship moniker with superb contrast and life-like colors that will make your 3D animations pop. Other features include a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, and Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.
For us, it is hard to find any flaws in this device, if any, but considering it is the best MacBook ever made, it comes at a hefty price tag. Regardless, its excellent hardware, gorgeous Liquid Retina display, best-in-class battery life, and other features make it the perfect all-rounder for designers with a large budget.
Pros |
Cons |
| Mind-boggling power |
Very expensive |
| Massive upgrade in battery life |
M2 Pro is sufficient enough to get most tasks done |
| Eye-catching 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display |
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| Powerful sound |
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| Lightweight |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- SUPERCHARGED BY M2 PRO OR M2 MAX — Take on demanding projects with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. M2 Pro has 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB unified memory. M2 Max has 12 CPU cores, up to 38...
- UP TO 22 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. And the MacBook Pro laptop delivers exceptional performance whether it’s running on...
- FULLY COMPATIBLE — All your pro apps run lightning fast — including Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Affinity Designer, Microsoft 365, and many of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps.
- ADVANCED CAMERA AND AUDIO — Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
- CONNECT WHAT YOU WANT — MacBook Pro features a MagSafe charging port, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. And enjoy seamless wireless connectivity with...
6. Gigabyte AORUS 15
The best gaming laptop for 3D modeling and rendering
Display: 15.6-inch QHD (2560×1440) with a 165Hz refresh rate | Processor: 13th gen Intel i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 1TB SSD
Let’s be honest, laptops with 12th gen Intel processors and NVIDIA RTX 30 series GPUs are still considered as the “latest” laptops, but they are all set to be replaced by 13th gen Intel processors and NVIDIA RTX 40 series GPUs this year. And if you want to stay ahead of the curve, the 2023 Gigabyte AORUS 15 is one of the first laptops to come with the actual latest hardware.
You get to choose from 13th gen Intel i7 and i9 processors and the latest NVIDIA RTX 40 series GPUs, so you can rest assured that it can run even the most demanding 3D modeling and rendering tasks without breaking a sweat. With full ray tracing and Max-Q suite technologies that optimize the performance and battery life, we found it much easier and fun to work on compared to laptops with older graphic cards.
The cutting-edge 15.6-inch QHD (2560×1440) TÜV Rheinland-certified display with 100% DCI-P3 offers color-accurate visuals while the 165Hz refresh rate keeps things smooth and responsive at all times. There is also the option for a larger 17.3-inch QHD display with a 240Hz refresh rate if you want an even more zippy screen.
One important feature of the AORUS 15 that we think creatives will love is that it can simultaneously support up to three 4K monitors. All in all, if you want the most future-proof laptop right now, which isn’t the MacBook, the 2023 Gigabyte AORUS 15 is exactly what you are looking for.
Pros |
Cons |
| Latest 13th gen Intel CPU and RTX 40 series GPU |
Bulky |
| Highly responsive QHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate |
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| DTS:X Ultra Audio |
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| Decent battery life for a gaming laptop |
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| RGB keyboard |
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| Can support up to three 4K monitors at once |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6
- Intel 13th Gen Ready: i7-13700H Processor 5.0 GHz
- DDR5 Ready: DDR5 4800 8GB*2 (16GB), 1TB Storage (Gen4 M.2 SSD)
- Cutting-Edge Display: 15.6" 16:9 Thin Bezel QHD 2560x1440, 165Hz, up to 100% DCI-P3, TÜV Rheinland-certified
- Next Gen Interface: Windows 11 Home AD, Intel Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth V5.2
7. Dell XPS 17
The best laptop for 3D modeling and rendering with a large display
Display: 17-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) | Processor: 12th gen Intel i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD
If you are an avid designer who needs a laptop with a large display instead of two smaller ones, look no further than the Dell XPS 17. The standout feature of this device is its massive 17.0-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge touchscreen display that we found is perfect for anything from working on animations, creating art, watching movies, and playing games with its bright and vivid visuals.
Specs-wise, the XPS 17 is on par with other laptops in its price range with a 12th gen Intel i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, and plenty of RAM and storage onboard so that it can render 3D animations without any lag. Another great feature is its advanced thermal design, which we found keeps the laptop cool and silent even while rendering high-end animations.
There are also plenty of ports to play with, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a full-size SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack to name a few. But the best thing about this device is that despite having a 17-inch display, it feels and weighs as much as a 15-inch one, and with a durable build, it is perfect for animators who love working on the go.
Pros |
Cons |
| Impressive 17-inch touchscreen UHD+ display |
High price tag |
| Durable build quality |
720p webcam |
| Strong performance |
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| Plenty of ports |
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| Efficient cooling system |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 17.0-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflecitve 500-Nit Display
- 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H (24MB Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 14 cores)
- 16GB 4800MHz DDR5, Dual-channel; 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6
- Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 1675 (AX211) 2x2 + Bluetooth 5.2 Wireless Card
8. Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The best 2-in-1 laptop for 3D modeling and rendering
Display: 13-inch Pixelsense touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2880 x 1920 resolution | Processor: 12th gen Intel i5/i7, Microsoft SQ3 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD
Microsoft has combined its expertise in creating tablets and laptops to make the Microsoft Surface Pro 9. With it, you get the performance of a desktop in the compact form factor of a tablet. Its versatile design is especially useful for those who like being more hands-on when working on their projects but also love the convenience of using a keyboard and a mouse when needed.
Beyond its portable design, the Surface Pro 9 is a fairly capable device for 3D modeling and rendering with a 12th gen Intel i7 processor and 16GB RAM, although you will have to settle for an Intel Iris Xe GPU even if you go for the top model.
The main highlight of this device is undoubtedly the edge-to-edge 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen with a 2880 X 1920 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It is perfect for designers who love working with a high level of detail, as the screen produces visuals with rich colors, highlights, and a fantastic level of depth. The smoothness of the higher refresh rate is a great bonus for those who love working with a stylus.
One thing worth noting is that Microsoft’s Signature Keyboard and Surface Pen are sold separately, so you will only receive the tablet with its built-in kickstand and other accessories when you buy it. But if you have the money to spare on the extras, it is definitely a top choice for those who prioritize versatility and portability in their laptop.
Pros |
Cons |
| 2-in-1 functionality |
Limited ports |
| Vivid Pixelsense touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate |
Keyboard and stylus are sold separately |
| Built-in stylus garage |
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| Lots of fun colors to choose from |
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| Great battery life |
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| Compact and portable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Built on the Intel Evo platform with 12th Gen Intel Core processors.[2]
- Up to 15.5hours of battery life.[4]
- Adjust the angle with built-in Kickstand.
- Virtually edge-to-edge 13” PixelSense touchscreen designed for pen[1] and Windows 11.
- Surface Slim Pen 2[1] storage and charging built right into Surface Pro Signature Keyboard.[1,5]
9. LG Gram 17
The best 17-inch laptop on a budget for 3D modeling and rendering
Display: 17-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS | Processor: 12th gen Intel i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD
The LG Gram 17 is a great alternative to the expensive XPS 17. While it will still cost you over $1000, you will save a lot of money and also get similar performance for the price with the same 12th gen Intel i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage.
The only major difference in speed is that it has an NVIDIA RTX 2050 GPU instead of an NVIDIA RTX 3050, but it will be hard to even tell the difference unless you really try.
Another difference is that it has a WQXGA display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution instead of UHD (3840 x 2400), but it is still a high-resolution screen, and with DCI-P3 99% color gamut, we found that it is great for creative work.
We didn’t find any significant cons, but it has some advantages over the XPS 17, as it has a larger battery life, better audio, and military-grade durability to boast, while also being the slimmest and most lightweight 17-inch laptop available. Either way, both laptops are excellent for 3D modeling and rendering but if you don’t need a UHD display, we think the LG Gram 17 offers better value.
And if it is still too expensive for your budget, you can save a bit extra by getting the version with an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU, but you will have to bear with longer rendering times.
Pros |
Cons |
| Great value |
Not the best build quality |
| Very slim and lightweight for a 17-inch laptop |
Base variant comes with integrated graphics |
| All-day battery life |
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| Large 17-inch QHD+ display |
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| 12th gen Intel CPU |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 17" WQXGA IPS Display With DCI-P3 99%. A screen that can make your visions come to life with and a bold DCI-P3 99% color gamut* to add a realistic touch to graphics. (*DCI-P3 Typical 99%, Minimum 95%)
- Intel Platform Powered by 12th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor and NVIDIA Graphics. A powerful processor with NVIDIA graphics, built to carry you through work, studies, and surfing the web
- 16GB RAM.16GB of memory to a substantial clock speed of 5200 Mhz, we’re making it simple to do work and play with minimal buffering
- 1TB PCIe4 M.2 NVMe SSD. Supporting 1TB of storage, you have the power and speed to run multiple large applications while saving your important documents with ease
- Ultra-Lightweight. With an ultra-lightweight body, bring your laptop wherever you go since it’ll never weigh you down
10. Apple MacBook Air
The best MacBook on a budget for 3D modeling and rendering
Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina (2560×1664) LED-backlit with IPS technology | Processor: Apple M2 | Graphics: 8-core/10-core Apple GPU | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD
The 2022 MacBook Air is a massively overlooked but fairly capable device. We think it offers the best value for money out of all the Macs available today with a powerful M2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and up to 10-core Apple GPU at just above $1000.
We also love its 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, which makes it a favorite among pros and it isn’t surprising why considering it features over 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, True Tone technology, and support for 1 billion colors for a hyper-realistic viewing experience with sharp detail and life-like colors.
It also boasts up to 18 hours of battery life, a 1080p FaceTime camera, a four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, and a Touch ID to keep your important data secure. But most importantly, with the newer MacBook Pros getting most of the limelight, you can find a great deal on it right now, so there has never been a better time to buy a MacBook Air.
Pros |
Cons |
| Lightweight |
Tends to get warm after long use |
| Reliable battery life |
60Hz refresh rate |
| M2 chip easily handles rendering tasks |
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| Amazing keyboard |
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| Colorful 13.6-inch display with P3 wide color and True Tone technology |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- STRIKINGLY THIN DESIGN — The redesigned MacBook Air is more portable than ever and weighs just 2.7 pounds. It’s the incredibly capable laptop that lets you work, play or create just about anything...
- SUPERCHARGED BY M2 — Get more done faster with a next-generation 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU and up to 24GB of unified memory.
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day and into the night, thanks to the power-efficient performance of the Apple M2 chip.
- BIG, BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY — The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display features over 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color and support for 1 billion colors for vibrant images and incredible detail.
- ADVANCED CAMERA AND AUDIO — Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, three-mic array and four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
Best Laptop Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Laptop for 3D Modeling & Rendering in 2023
Display
The display is your canvas for 3D modeling and rendering, so go for a screen with a high resolution (at least 1080p) and good color accuracy. Look for displays with a wide color gamut and high brightness, as these will allow you to see your work in the best possible light.
You should also consider the size as a larger display, such as 17-inch, will make it easier to work but will also be bulkier than a 13-inch or 15-inch device.
Finally, consider the refresh rate, which refers to the number of times the screen refreshes every second to display a new image. It might not seem like much but a higher refresh rate, such as 120Hz and above, will offer a much more fluid and responsive experience while you work on animations as compared to a display with a 60Hz refresh rate.
Processor
3D modeling and rendering aren’t possible without a fast processor so look for CPUs with multiple cores and high clock speeds, such as Intel Core i5, i7, or i9 processors, or AMD Ryzen 5, 7, or 9 processors, preferably the latest generations.
RAM
When it comes to RAM, more is always better. Look for laptops with at least 8GB of RAM but preferably 16GB, as this will allow you to work with large 3D models and render them quickly. If you can afford it, go for 32GB or even 64GB of RAM for maximum performance.
GPU
The GPU (graphics processing unit) enables your laptop to handle complex 3D modeling and rendering graphics. Look for laptops with dedicated GPUs from Nvidia or AMD, as these will offer the best performance. Aim for at least an Nvidia GTX 1050 or an AMD Radeon RX 5600M, but if you can stretch your budget, go for a higher-end GPU such as the Nvidia RTX series.
Storage
Storage is another vital aspect when it comes to selecting a laptop. You can choose from the traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD), and NVMe SSD (Non-Volatile Memory Express SSDs), with each having its pros and cons.
HDDs are usually cheaper, but they come at a cost as they are slower and less durable than their SSD counterparts. On the other hand, an SSD is much faster but more expensive. NVMe is the quickest type of drive available right now. It is about 3-6 times as fast as SSDs and 5-10 times faster than HDDs.
A minimum of 512GB of storage is recommended if you work with sizeable 3D modeling files, but as it was with RAM, the more storage you have, the better. If you ever run short on storage, you can purchase an external HDD or SSD to store your files securely outside your laptop.
Besides this, if you are looking for an application that can create 2D textures, materials, filters, and 3D models, we strongly recommend you try Adobe Substance 3D or a Substance 3D alternative. This intuitive software is one of the best cross-platform programs for digital texturing and 3D modeling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the specs to be considered while buying a laptop for 3D Modeling?
The major specs to be considered while searching laptops for 3D modeling are:
RAM:
16 GB for optimal performance
Storage:
It should be a minimum of 512GB of storage
Display:
It should have a bright display of over 300 nits bright
CPU:
It should have the best processors such as Intel, AMD, and Apple’s proprietary M1 chips on MacBooks
Which is the best budget-friendly laptop for 3D modeling?
HP Pavilion 15 is the best budget-friendly laptop for 3D modeling.
Best Laptops for 3D Modeling & Rendering Summary
Whether you are a professional 3D artist or a student, choosing the right laptop is crucial for your productivity and success.
Investing in a high-performance laptop can help you achieve your goals and bring your creative vision to life. And with our article on the best laptops for 3D modeling and rendering, we hope we have helped you in your decision-making.
Which rendering laptop impressed you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
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If you prefer something different altogether, make sure to check out our article on the best drawing tablets for animation.
And once everything has been put together, the best animation courses are a great place to start if you want to learn new animation techniques.
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