If you are a music enthusiast and love producing and recording your own music, a laptop that can do so must be your necessity. Since all of this is possible in a laptop today, there is no reason for you to go for a bulky computer.
Since music production and recording is not something that you can do on a regular laptop, you need one that is specially designed for these purposes. With such a laptop, you can begin music production at a serious level instead of just a hobby.
These laptops are also needed by DJs or any other musicians that need to travel a lot. Since they cannot carry huge computers or very heavy laptops with them everywhere they go, it is very essential for them to have sleek laptops that are efficient enough to carry out all music production and recording related tasks. If you are looking for one such laptop, then you have landed on the right page. We reviewed the 9 Best Laptops for Music Production & Recording in 2020, along with a Buyer’s Guide, so that by the end of this article you are well informed and are sure about the product that would suit you the best! Read ahead to find out more!
New Microsoft Surface Pro 7
This is one of the most versatile laptops by Microsoft, that can be used for a number of functions, including music production and recording. It can be used in 3 modes, that are laptop, studio and tablet mode, thus allowing the user to touch, write, type, draw, play and work.
Comparing it to its predecessor, Surface Pro 6, this is a faster laptop, that features the 10th gen intel core processor. It is an extremely thin and light body that comes in a matte black color, which makes it a very attractive model. Its display resolution is 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI) and it weighs just 1.70 pounds, which makes it very convenient for you to carry with yourself wherever you go, so that you can continue working on your music wherever you feel like. It features USB C and USB A ports, thus making connectivity absolutely easy.
It comes with an amazing battery life of 10.5 hours and has a quick charge function that takes just one hour to charge up 80% of the battery. Its size is 8 GB Ram, 256 GB. It comes with built-in studio mics and the type cover comes included with it in case you want to use it as a full laptop.
Features
- Versatile.
- Can be used for various function.
- $998.99.
- 3 modes: laptop mode, tablet mode, studio mode.
- Allows user to touch, write, type, draw, play and work.
- Fast speed.
- 10th gen intel core processor.
- 8 GB Ram, 256 GB.
- Ultra slim design.
- Matte black color.
- Lightweight.
- 1.70 pounds.
- Attractive.
- Display resolution: 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI).
- Convenient to carry.
- Easy connectivity.
- USB A and USB C ports available.
- Battery life: 10.5 hours.
- Quick charge function.
- Built-in studio mic.
- Type cover included.
Pros
- Sturdy frame.
- Extremely light weight.
- USB-C feels like a blessing!
- Excellent display.
Cons
- Sun glare is too powerful for the display brightness.
- Does not include surface pen, which needs to be bought separately.
Overall Ratings- 4.2/5 stars.
New Apple MacBook Pro
Apple products have always been the talk of the town and those who use them can’t seem to return to other options! This Macbook Pro comes in a Space Gray color and features Quad-core 8th-Generation Intel Core i5 Processor.
It comes with an amazing retina display and its capacity is 128 GB. It uses True Tone Technology and it offers the user some amazing graphics. It features a Touch Bar, which makes it extremely easy to perform tasks just with a tap, touch and hold, flick, slide. The Touch Bar automatically changes according to the app that is being used. It also features a Touch ID so that you can unlock it instantly with a single touch, and keep your Macbook protected at all times.
It features 3 built-in mics, that makes your music sound better, your movies more immersive and your Facetime calls clearer. It features a special Butterfly mechanism, which is responsible for providing amazing key stability along with comfort to the user. It allows the user to experience quite typing.
Features
- $1,199.00.
- Space Gray color.
- Capacity: 128 GB.
- Features Quad-core 8th-Generation Intel Core i5 Processor.
- True Tone Technology.
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645.
- Touch Bar for convenient use.
- Touch ID for instant unlocking and protection.
- Amazing retina display.
- Ultra-fast SSD.
- Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.
- Battery life: 10 hours.
- Apple T2 Security Chip.
- Features a Control Strip for customizing.
- Advanced security.
- 3 in-built mics.
- Provides quite typing.
- High key stability.
- Comfortable keys.
- Force Touch Trackpad.
Pros
- Extremely versatile.
- Lightweight.
- Material quality is amazing.
Cons
- Battery life is not as good as claimed.
Overall Ratings- 4.5/5 stars.
Samsung Notebook 9
Samsung, another trusted brand for electronics is here with an amazing laptop, the Samsung Notebook 9, which comes in a an attractive Ocean Blue color. It also includes an S pen, which further comes with 3 interchangeable tips that can be used for painting, writing or sketching, according to the user’s needs.
It features a handwriting recognition function which is able to notes into texts and your sketches into diagrams. This laptop comes in a convertible design that allows the user to use it as a laptop or as a tablet. It is scratch resistant and is touchscreen, which makes its usage even more convenient. Its battery life is an amazing 15 hours, along with a fast charging battery that is able to recharge very quickly so that you never have to stop your work.
It features Intel 8th Generation i7 Processor along with Gigabit Wi-Fi, which makes it an extremely efficient machine to work with. It is a multitasking device and features dual 5W speakers along with AKG amps that are responsible for giving a powerful sound quality so that you can enjoy your music and your movies to their maximum extent. The brightness of this laptop is 350nit.
Features
- Trusted brand.
- Ocean blue color.
- Includes yellow colored S pen.
- 3 interchangeable tips of s pen.
- Can be used for drawing, writing, painting.
- $1,007.39.
- Handwriting recognition function.
- Converts notes to text.
- Converts sketches to diagrams.
- Convertible design.
- Can be used as a laptop or a tablet.
- Scratch resistant.
- Touch screen.
- Battery life: 15 hours.
- Quick charging battery.
- Intel 8th Generation i7 Processor.
- Gigabit Wi-Fi.
- Multitasking.
- Dual 5W speakers.
- AKG amps.
- Brightness – 350nit.
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home.
- System Memory: 16 GB.
- Display: 15″ FHD LED.
- Storage: 512 GB PCle SSD.
- Lightweight 360˚ Design.
Pros
- Sleek design and easy to carry.
- Lightweight.
- Multitasking.
Cons
- Not for business use.
Overall Ratings– 4.5/5 stars.
Razer Blade Stealth 13
This is a $1,499.99 laptop by Razer, that comes in a classic black color and has an ultra-thin design. It is an extremely lightweight laptop, that is made with durable materials and features an anodized aluminum frame.
This laptop is compatible with Razer Core X external GPU and is also Thunderbolt 3 capable. It supports instant facial unlock by Windows Hello. It comes with an integrated webcam along with an IR sensor. It supports Bluetooth connectivity along with USB ports, which makes it a simple yet convenient device to use.
It features 16.8 million colors for customized RGB lighting, along with many preset profiles. It features Intel Core i7-1065G7 4 core processor, along with 1. 3GHz/3. 9GHz, and a matte display of 13.3″ FHD 60Hz.
Features
- $1,499.99.
- Classic black color.
- Ultra-thin design.
- Lightweight.
- Anodized aluminum frame.
- Uses durable materials.
- Compatible with Razer Core X external GPU.
- Thunderbolt 3 capable.
- Windows Hello facial unlock.
- Integrated webcam.
- IR sensor.
- Bluetooth connectivity.
- USB ports.
- 16.8 million colors for customized RGB lighting.
- Intel Core i7-1065G7 4 core processor.
- 1. 3GHz/3. 9GHz.
- Matte display of 13.3″ FHD 60Hz.
- Full Suite of Connectivity.
- Razer Chroma Keyboard.
- External Graphics Ready.
- CNC-machining.
Pros
- Speaker quality is amazing.
- Perfect size.
- Extremely clear display.
Cons
- CPU clocks are low.
Overall Ratings- 3.9/5 stars.
Dell XPS 13 7390 Laptop
This laptop by Dell features a 13. 3″ screen that has an 80. 7% screen-to-body ratio. It is an extremely trusted brand and is also the first choice for many.
This laptop offers the user with vibrant colors and a maximized color spectrum. The screen is anti-reflective, which has a superior 400-nit brightness, so that you can easily use this laptop outdoors, even when it is sunny. Instead of many pieces joined together, this laptop is constructed with one individual block of aluminum, which makes it an extremely durable product, as compared to other machines. It uses Gore thermal insulation, which is a completely new try, and which offers extremely thin thermal conductivity levels.
It features a micro SD card reader, and USB3. 0, 3. 1 Type-C for easy connectivity. Its sound quality is superior which has a deep bass along with a great volume. It produces a 3D sound, that has Waves MaxxAudio Pro.
Features
- Trusted brand.
- 13. 3″ screen.
- 80. 7% screen-to-body ratio.
- Vibrant colors.
- Maximized color spectrum.
- Anti-reflective screen.
- 400-nit brightness.
- Can be used outdoors.
- Made with one individual block of aluminum.
- Highly durable.
- Gore thermal insulation.
- Thin thermal conductivity levels.
- Micro SD card reader.
- USB3. 0, 3. 1 Type-C.
- Easy connectivity.
- Superior sound quality.
- Deep bass.
- Great volume.
- 3D sound.
- Waves MaxxAudio Pro.
- Smooth video streaming.
- Faster memory.
- More storage.
Pros
- Super lightweight.
- Extremely powerful.
- Stylish design.
Cons
- Too hot to use as a laptop.
- Excessive fan noise.
Overall Ratings- 3.9/5 stars.
HP ENVY 13 Inch Thin Laptop
This laptop by HP is $979.00 in price and is quite popular among people. It features an integrated fingerprint reader along with a webcam kill switch, which together work as the security features of the laptop.
It has a 13.3-Inch screen which features a Gorilla glass coating, which makes the screen extremely durable and makes it resistant to bumps and scratches. It has a 178-degree wide-viewing angles, which makes display lifelike and realistic. It offers Bios recovery and protection, under which the system is able to check the health of the PC itself and solve boot-up issues, along with securing the local storage. It features a backlit keyboard, along with geometric pattern speaker grill which make it a product that is meant to last.
It has 8th Generation intel(r) core(tm) i7-8565u, quad-core along with a 1.8 GHz Base frequency and uses an Intel Turbo Boost Technology. The memory and hardware drive of the system is 16 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM. Its battery life is 12 hours and 45 minutes for mixed usage, 9 hours and 45 minutes for video playback, and 5 hours and 45 minutes for wireless streaming.
Features
- $979.00.
- Trusted brand.
- Cutting edge security features.
- Integrated fingerprint reader.
- Webcam kill switch.
- 13.3-Inch screen.
- Corning Gorilla Glass NBT.
- Durable.
- Resistant to bumps.
- 178-degree wide-viewing angles.
- Lifelike display.
- Bios recovery and protection.
- Checks health of PC itself.
- Solves boot-up issues.
- Secures local storage.
- Backlit keyboard.
- Geometric pattern speaker grill.
- 8th Generation intel(r) core(tm) i7-8565u, quad-core.
- 1.8 GHz Base frequency.
- Intel Turbo Boost Technology.
- Memory and hardware drive: 16 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM.
- Faster solid-state drive.
- NVIDIA graphics & Pascal.
- Battery life is 12 hours and 45 minutes for mixed usage.
- 9 hours and 45 minutes for video playback.
- 5 hours and 45 minutes for wireless streaming.
Pros
- Fingerprint reader available.
- Provides sharp and clear colors.
- Amazing build quality.
Cons
- Battery does not last as expected.
- Cannot handle multitasking.
Overall Ratings– 4.0/5 stars.
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra Slim Laptop
Asus– another loved brand for electronics, and this laptop is no less than their other products. It features an 8th generation Intel Core i7-8565U processor and has a memory and hardware drive of 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD & 16GB RAM.
It is a durable product and is also very reliable since it undergoes a testing regime before reaching your hands. It offers a long battery life, so that you never have to stop or even pause your work. It features an ErgoLift design which is responsible for tilting the keyboard automatically to the most comfortable position for you to work, instead of you adjusting it. It provides the user with an improved audio performance, which is best for your music production and recording purposes.
It is a 13. 3” Full HD display that features NanoEdge and offers a 95% screen-to-body ratio, so that you are provided with the maximum screen area in a sleek designed laptop. You can change your touchpad into a numeric keypad with just a single touch and can use it for quick typing.
Features
- Well known and trusted brand.
- 8th generation Intel Core i7-8565U processor.
- Memory and hardware drive of 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD & 16GB RAM.
- Durable.
- Reliable.
- Undergoes testing regime.
- Long battery life.
- ErgoLift design.
- Keyboard adjusts its angle itself to offer you comfort.
- Improved audio performance.
- 13. 3” Full HD display.
- NanoEdge.
- 95% screen-to-body ratio.
- Provides maximum screen area.
- Touchpad can be converted to numeric keypad with a single touch.
- Weight: 2.6 lbs.
Pros
- High screen quality.
- Sleek design makes it convenient to use.
- Battery life is good.
Cons
- Poor trackpad.
Overall Ratings- 4.0/5 stars.
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
We reviewed another laptop by Dell, and this is the Dell Inspiron series. This laptop uses magnesium alloy for its construction which makes it an extremely lightweight product, which is also stable and rigid at the same time.
The system is protected from overheating with the help of the thinness dual-fans featured by it, along with the drop-hinge design. It features an extra breathing room, which makes it possible for the device to have a thin package. The laptop is able to adapt thermal profiles by detecting the surface it is placed on, whether your lap, hands, or on a table. It features a fingerprint reader along with a power button which offers total integration.
It features an FHD IPS display, which allows the user to view the screen from multiple angles, with the same superior image quality. It has a 15 6-Inch FHD IPS display, and offers 3GB GDDR5 graphics.
Features
- Magnesium alloy is used for construction.
- Lightweight.
- Stable.
- Rigid.
- Protected from overheating.
- Features thinness dual-fans.
- Drop-hinge design.
- Extra breathing room.
- Thin package.
- Adaptive thermals.
- Total integration.
- Fingerprint reader.
- FHD IPS display.
- Beautiful from every angle.
- Vibrant colors.
- 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive.
- Extremely fast response time.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 3GB GDDR5 graphics.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable.
- Plenty of USB ports offered.
- Good construction.
- Quick booting.
Cons
- Fan runs a lot.
- Needs more RAM.
Overall Ratings- 3.6/5 stars.
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop
This is a convertible laptop by Acer, that comes at a price of $749.99. It features 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8565U Processor and has a 14 inches Full HD that is an LED backlit IPS Multi Touch Convertible Display.
This laptop has a memory of 16GB DDR4, and its SSD is 512GB PCIe NVMe. It has an ultra-slim design that can easily be converted to a tablet or display mode,with its 360° Hinge. It features a fast CPU that gives a battery life of 12 hours. It can be used for various purposes, staring from drawing to taking notes. It also features Spin 3’s dual front facing speakers, which make it ideal for all your tasks related to music, and also makes it perfect for watching movies and videos.
The touch display has a 0.38″ thin bezel which offers a 78.9% screen-to-body ratio. It has a dual band Wi-Fi 5 which offers wireless speeds and also can be connected to more than one devices. It offers biometric security through its fingerprint reader, which makes your laptop totally safe from all kinds of unauthorized users.
Features
- $749.99.
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8565U Processor.
- 14 inches Full HD.
- LED backlit IPS Multi Touch Convertible Display..
- Memory: 16GB DDR4.
- SSD: 512GB PCIe NVMe.
- Ultra-slim design.
- 360° Hinge.
- Fast CPU.
- Battery life: 12 hours.
- Versatile functions.
- Spin 3’s dual front facing speakers.
- 0.38″ thin bezel.
- 78.9% screen-to-body ratio.
- Dual band Wi-Fi 5.
- High wireless speeds.
- Biometric security.
- Fingerprint reader.
Pros
- Fingerprint detector is reliable.
- Screen quality is good.
- Backlit offers a nice touch.
Cons
- Does not feature USB-C port.
Overall Ratings- 4.4/5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are laptops good for music production?
Yes, of course laptops are good for music production! These are the main devices used for music production today. You can perform a number of tasks on a laptop, like, create, record or mix the music tracks. So, yes laptops are the best for music production, if you select the right one.
Is dual core enough for music production?
A dual core offers two cores of processing power. Quad core processors offer four cores of processing power, and they are definitely better for music production than dual core. These might be costlier, but will make music production easier and efficient. Although, two cores are also enough for the purpose.
How many cores do I need for music production?
For music production, you will need a processor that has at least 2 cores( dual core processors), though 4 cores are even better.
How much memory do I need for music production?
The memory that you need for music production would depend on the size of your project. Approximately, an 8 GB RAM is needed by beginners for music production.
How do I use an external hard drive for music production?
To learn how to use an external hard drive for music production, check out this video.
Buyer’s Guide
You already know the top brands of laptops that are trusted and well rated. Now is the time for you to learn about the points to consider before buying a laptop for music production and recording.
Apart from the brand name, there are other things to keep in mind too. Like, the RAM offered by the laptop. This is the working memory of your laptop which denotes the space that is available for you to store data in your laptop. Hence, the more the storage space offered, the better, specially since music production would require you to save and work with some large files.
The operating system of the laptop should preferably be Windows or Mac OS, since these are the commonly used ones and are available on every PC.
Always go for trusted names so that you can repair your system in case something goes wrong.
Summary
If you are a music enthusiast or a DJ, you must already know most of these points and most of the best working laptops that can be used for music production and recording. Just have a quick glance at the products listed by us, and select the best one for yourself!
Thanks for reading this article! Please leave your comments below.
Don’t forget to read our article on the 7 Best Electronic Drum Sets of 2020.
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