The 5 Best Laptops For Music Production - Black Friday 2024

The best laptop for music production we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023). This exceptionally well-built device has plenty of processing power for even the most demanding music production workloads. It also provides a great user experience with its sharp display, spacious keyboard, and gigantic touchpad. Its excellent port selection makes it easy to plug in your production station, keyboard, audio interface, etc. There's even a high-output 3.5 mm headphone jack for hard-to-drive cans. Although this laptop has cooling fans, they never get loud, so you don't have to worry about your microphones picking up the noise. The main downside is that you're paying for graphical performance that you don't necessarily need in music production. If you want more screen space and don't mind paying more, get the larger Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023). It's the same device but with better-sounding speakers.

For Windows users, we recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024), also a premium workstation laptop that can handle intensive workloads. Unlike the MacBook Pro, this model is available with integrated graphics only, so you don't have to pay for performance you don't need. CPU options range from an Intel Core Ultra 5 to an Ultra 9, and you can get up to 64GB and 8TB of storage. You get plenty of space onits 16-inch screen to place your tools, making them easily accessible, as well as a large, easy-to-use haptic touchpad. Its outstanding port selection includes one USB-A, three USB-Cs (two with Thunderbolt 4 support), an HDMI 2.1, and an SD card reader. The downside is that the fans get somewhat loud under load, so you'll have to be careful where you place your microphone, as it may pick up the fan noise while recording.

Looking for the best laptop for DJing or music production but don't want to pay an arm and a leg for the MacBook Pro? Check out the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024). Although it isn't as powerful as the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) above, it's still fast enough to handle music production. Plus, as a fanless device, you don't need to worry about fan noise ruining your recordings. It has a large 15-inch Retina display (not Mini LED, sadly) and a gigantic haptic touchpad, and its build is just as premium and sturdy as its Pro siblings. One thing to note is the RAM isn't user-replaceable, so you'll want to get a model with enough upfront. Also, its port selection is limited to two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3s, so you'll likely need a dock. There's support for two external displays, but only with the laptop lid closed; this might be too limiting if you're used to working with multiple displays.

We recommend the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) for Windows users. Configurable with Intel's Meteor Lake CPUs, this premium 2-in-1 convertible offers plenty of performance for music production. You can get up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, and the storage is user-replaceable, so you can add more depending on your needs. Unlike the MacBook Air, this laptop has a cooling fan; it isn't super loud but is audible nonetheless. As for the user experience, it has an outstanding 2.8k OLED display, an excellent haptic touchpad, and a decent port selection with two Thunderbolt 4 ports. The battery lasts around 11 hours of light use, which is impressive for a Windows laptop. One thing to know: the OLED display flickers, so it may cause eye strain if you're sensitive to display flicker. You can get the laptop directly from HP if you have trouble finding it elsewhere.

If you want a more modest mid-range model, check out the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024), a 13-inch ultraportable. One significant trade-off at this price point is the build quality. With a mixture of recycled aluminum and plastic, the chassis has significantly more flex. Also, the finish is prone to scratching from everyday use, which is unfortunate for a device that prioritizes on-the-go use. Another minor complaint is the touchpad; it's plastic and doesn't track continuous inputs all that well, like when dragging and dropping items across a long distance.

This laptop offers a lot of great features, though. It's configurable with AMD's Zen 4 Ryzen CPUs that can handle moderately demanding workloads, and you get 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The RAM isn't user-replaceable, which may be an issue if you use a lot of different plug-ins and samples. For the display, you can choose between FHD+ or QHD+ IPS panels; they are bright and sharp. You also get a 1440p webcam with facial recognition support for quick logins and a wide port selection with four USBs and a true HDMI 2.1 port. Its battery life is great at around 10 hours of light use—you can charge the laptop via USB-C, so proprietary chargers are no issue here.

The best budget laptop for music production we've tested is the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023). Like our mid-range pick, this is a 16-inch model, but it isn't a 2-in-1, so you lose the tablet functionality. You still get a nice keyboard, a large touchpad, and decent performance from its AMD Ryzen CPU. Its fingerprint sensor allows you to log in quickly, and its battery lasts around eight hours of light use. Ports include three USB-As, a USB-C (not Thunderbolt 4 or USB4, sadly), and an HDMI.

As this is a budget model, there are a couple of compromises. First, the display only gets to about 250 cd/m² at full brightness, which is fine for most indoor settings but not for sunny environments or outdoors in broad daylight. Next, the USB-C port doesn't support video output, meaning you can only use the HDMI port to connect to an external monitor. Lastly, you can only get 8GB of memory. If you want 16GB, you must upgrade it via the empty SO-DIMM slot.

If you like the versatility of 2-in-1 tablets, consider the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024). Like previous Surface Pros, the design hasn't changed much, as it's still a tablet PC with a built-in kickstand and a detachable keyboard. In fact, you can even use the type cover keyboards made for the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) and the Surface Pro X. If you don't mind spending a bit more (the type cover is a separate purchase), Microsoft has released a new 'Flex' keyboard, which sports a new haptic touchpad and Bluetooth connectivity. The latter lets you use the keyboard even when detached from the tablet, giving you more freedom to position the device or the keyboard to your liking. There's also a new OLED display option, which we'll come back to in a bit.

The most significant change in this 2024 model is the new Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC. Though not the first Surface Pro to feature an ARM-based chip, Microsoft seems committed to making it work this time with its new Prism emulation. That said, because music production apps—and peripherals—are more specialized, compatibility might be an issue, so it's best to check that everything works first. Coming back to the display, you can choose between an IPS or OLED panel, but the display choice depends on the SoC. The Snapdragon X Plus model sports the IPS panel, while the faster X Elite model sports the OLED. The OLED will give you deeper blacks; however, its digitizer creates a 'screen door effect,' which some may find distracting. If that’s a dealbreaker, go for the X Plus model, but keep in mind that the X Plus chip is slower.