Blender is an open-source and free 3D graphics software used for creating animated films, visual effects, applications, and video games.
And it’s a very popular software making it the go-to program for a lot of professionals. So, it makes sense in choosing the best laptop that can handle Blender well.
In this article, we list the best laptops for Blender.
The Apple MacBook Pro is more than enough for demanding Blender projects.
Sleek, thin, and powerful. The MSI Stealth 15M is a powerful laptop with the solid build quality.
The MSI GF63 is a solid budget laptop for Blender that won’t break your wallet.
The Apple MacBook Pro is more than enough for demanding Blender projects.
Sleek, thin, and powerful. The MSI Stealth 15M is a powerful laptop with the solid build quality.
The MSI GF63 is a solid budget laptop for Blender that won’t break your wallet.
Last update on 2024-05-02 at 05:10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Blender System Requirements (Minimum, Recommended and Optimum)
Minimum
- 64-bit dual-core 2Ghz CPU with SSE2 support
- 4 GB RAM
- 1280×768 display
- Mouse, trackpad or pen+tablet
- Graphics card with 1 GB RAM, OpenGL 3.3
- Less than 10 years old
Recommended
- 64-bit quad-core CPU
- 16 GB RAM
- Full HD display
- Three-button mouse or pen+tablet
- Graphics card with 4 GB RAM
Optimum
- 64-bit eight core CPU
- 32 GB RAM
- Full HD displays
- Three button mouse and pen+tablet
- Graphics card with +12 GB RAM
What To Look For When Getting A Laptop For Blender
Blender can be demanding to very demanding depending on the project. Here are a few things to know when looking for a laptop for Blender.
CPU
Get the most powerful CPU within your budget. For Intel, you are looking at the i5s, i7s and i9s of the latest generations. For AMD, Ryzen 5s and 7s. Now, AMD processors give Intel CPUs a run for their money.
Since their AMD Ryzen 7 is almost on part with Intel’s Core i9. In other words, choose a high-end AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 laptop over an Intel one.
You can check out this guide to know the difference between high-performance Intel processors and low-performance ones.
There is also a guide for how to differentiate between the various AMD Ryzens.
How Much RAM Do You Need For Blender?
Is 16GB RAM enough for Blender? The recommended RAM is 16GB. Currently, 8GB is just not enough you will get more mileage and performance gains if you have 16GB of RAM.
In case you ever get a laptop that has 8GB RAM, make sure to upgrade it to 16GB.
What Is The Best Graphics Card For Blender?
Always go for the best graphics card your budget can cover. Also, consider the kind of project you will be working on. But, if you really had to choose, NVIDIA GTX 1650 and up are recommended.
Here Are the Best Blender Laptops
➕ Pros
- Well-made construction
- Great performance
- Great battery life
- Beautiful display
➖ Cons
- Pricey
- Not all animation software will be fully functional
- Only Thunderbolt ports
CPU: M1 Pro | Graphics: Integrated | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 16″ Retina Display | Storage: 512GB SSD
The Apple MacBook Pro is one of the top choices when looking for the best laptop for Blender.
A workstation laptop that has more than enough power for 3D modelling and rendering.
The MacBook Pro is also a pricey device which is understandable because of the benefits.
Apple has made the Apple MacBook Pro faster, better, and stronger. The keyboard has been changed and it’s better than before.
And the Apple MacBook Pro is more powerful and runs cooler. You will easily be able to multitask, render, animate, and run Blender without any issues.
When it comes to the display, the Apple MacBook Pro maintains its retina display and we all know what it looks like.
Sharp, bright, great viewing angles, and high colour accuracy.
Battery life is above average. You are looking at 11-12 hours under normal usage. And that’s a lot all made possible because of its large battery.
The build quality is exceptional thanks to its aluminium unibody design. A strong laptop that you can use for years on end.
If you are going to use the most popular open-source animation software, then the Apple MacBook Pro is the best laptop for Blender.
It is highly recommended because it has the hardware to do so.
One more thing. The Apple MacBook Pro has only Thunderbolt ports. So you need a dock to use the normal USB ports.
➕ Pros
- Excellent performance
- Sleek design
- Thin and light
- Decent battery life
➖ Cons
- Runs hot
- Loud fan
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz IPS | Storage: 512GB SSD
The MSI Stealth 15M is a powerful laptop. One of the best gaming laptops on the market. This makes it one of the best laptops for Blender.
Because the hardware is very powerful and meets the recommended system requirements for Blender.
Taking a look at the hardware. You have a high-performance Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 3060.
This is more than enough power for 3D modelling, rendering, and animation on Blender, and if you like to game you will get high FPS playing the latest games in high settings.
However, the performance comes at a price which is temperature because of its thin and light chassis.
The MSI Stealth 15M doesn’t run cool even with its improved thermal solution. Undervolting and thermal paste application is a must if you want to prevent overheating and thermal throttling.
When it comes to the display. It’s sharp, bright and has good colour accuracy. The refresh rate is also very high making your gaming experience a smooth one.
Since there won’t be screen tearing, stuttering, and ghosting.
Battery life is quite impressive. You can get 6-7 hours under consistent use. This will be less when gaming.
Overall, the MSI Stealth 15M is a high-performance laptop with great build quality and decent battery life. One of the best laptops for Blender.
➕ Pros
- Solid Build Quality
- Beautiful Sharp Display
- Great Performance
- Decent Battery Life
➖ Cons
- Fingerprint Magnet
- Runs Hot
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) 240Hz IPS | Storage: 512GB SSD
The Razer Blade 15 is one of the go-to laptops for gaming. The build quality on this laptop is top-notch. It is built with full aluminum chassis, making it have one of the best constructions.
The laptop has virtually no flex to it and it is robust. However, it is an absolute fingerprint magnet, so you will be cleaning it often.
Just like with all gaming laptops, the performance is great, having an Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 3060.
Capable hardware for gaming and can easily handle demanding games on the highest settings making it great for game development and design.
Razer Blade laptops are known for their exceptional displays and Blade 15 has a high colour accuracy, reproduction, saturation, and vibrancy. Also, it is bright.
Battery life is decent. You are looking at 5-6 hours under consistent use, which is pretty respectable for a gaming laptop.
The aluminium chassis and stunning display are the main selling points of the Razer Blade 15. Brightness could be better.
Overall, this machine certainly gets the job done with its performance and light form factor. Highly recommended if you want one of the best laptops for Blender.
➕ Pros
- Great Performance
- Thinner & Lighter Than Before
- Decent Display
- Good Thermal Management
➖ Cons
- Poor Battery Life
- Low Storage Space
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15 6″ FHD (1920*1080) 144Hz IPS-Level | Storage: 512GB SSD
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a great option for students, especially those who are looking for the best value laptop for Blender. The same applies to 3D modelling and rendering.
Acer made this model better than its predecessor. It’s now thinner, lighter, and runs cooler. Whereas, the previous model was bulky and overheated a lot.
Plus, the hardware is more powerful. You are looking an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB, and an NVIDIA RTX 3060. That pretty much makes it a powerful gaming laptop.
It will be able to take on demanding applications without breaking a sweat. And the improved thermal management makes it run at max performance without thermal throttling.
The storage space is decent – a 512GB SSD drive.
Acer has provided two NVME slots and an HDD slot. That means you can upgrade to 3TB of storage or more.
The display itself is pretty decent. A 15.6 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) with a 144Hz refresh rate. The standard refresh rate in gaming laptops is in its category.
The colour gamut is also decent and high enough to appreciate colour reproduction.
Battery life is poor. But, it is what it is. Housing powerful hardware and having a 58 Whr battery will definitely give you poor battery life.
Still, the Acer Predator Helios 300 provides tremendous horsepower whilst providing a lot of value. One of the best computers for Blender.
➕ Pros
- Great performance
- Solid build quality
- Bright display
- Runs cool
➖ Cons
- Short battery life
- Heavy
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15 6″ FHD (1920*1080) 144Hz IPS | Storage: 512GB SSD
The HP Omen is what you consider a solid value laptop this gaming laptop has the performance to run Blender without being so costly.
Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti, the processing power HP Omen delivers is a lot. So, in terms of performance, you won’t have any problems.
The HP Omen runs fairly cool for a laptop with powerful hardware. However, undervolting and applying thermal paste is recommended for the best performance.
Next is the impressive display. At 1080p resolution, you have a bright, sharp, and colour accurate display. There is also a Thunderbolt 3 port that allows you to hook it up to external high-resolution monitors.
The HP Omen is a well-made gaming laptop thanks to its aluminum and sturdy plastic construction. This won’t wear down easily.
Overall, the HP Omen is the best laptop for Blender because of its powerful hardware, solid build quality, and well-priced tag.
The only downside is its short battery life – 6 hours max. But to be honest, most powerful laptops have short battery lives.
➕ Pros
- Affordable
- Solid performance
- Lightweight
➖ Cons
- Storage space needs to be upgraded
- Not the best display
- Not the best battery life
CPU: Intel Core i5 | Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15 6″ FHD (1920*1080) IPS-Level | Storage: 256GB SSD
If you are on a really tight budget. Then the MSI GF63 is the best budget laptop to get for Blender. Powered by an Intel Core i5, GTX 1650, and 8GB RAM, this will get the job done. However, it’s highly recommended you upgrade the RAM and storage.
Just like the name implies, it is thin and light. This laptop weighs approximately 1.86 kg and it’s less than an inch thick. Light and thin enough to carry around.
The display is a 15.6 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS. Colour accuracy and reproduction is below average, so don’t expect the screen to look vibrant or for colours to pop. It is also not that bright.
Build quality is above average. MSI took the approach of making the display lid and keyboard brushed aluminium while the rest of the body is plastic. Because of this, the display lid has little to no flex on it.
Battery life is below average. This thing can last 3-4 hours under consistent use.
Because this is a budget laptop, there are a few compromises.
But looking at the performance and the upgradeability, this MSI GF63 is the best budget laptop for Blender.
A solid option if you are on a tight budget.
Final Thoughts
Blender can get demanding to run if you don’t have the right hardware. Fortunately, the list of laptops provided is more than enough to handle Blender.
That’s it for the best laptops for Blender.
