11 Best Laptops For DAW In 2022

As you are here, it is obvious that you are looking to buy the best laptop for DAW, our team has researched and approached several DJs and music producers who have been using DAW for many years. After meeting and talking to them, we have listed a list of the 10 best laptops for DAW in 2022.

The passion for music is growing rapidly in the world. There are hundreds of thousands of software that are used by different musicians. To turn your dream into reality, you must know what is the best software which you can use for your career. Along with this, you will also need a system for running that software. So, to avoid any problem at the beginning of your career or in near future, these are the necessary and most important things for you. 

Talking about the best DAW, we have talked to many experts and DAW users, and on their recommendations, we have listed some of the best apps having a strong reputation in the music industry. 

 Below is a complete list of the best DAW apps. 

This is a complete list of the best DAW apps. As we have mentioned earlier you need the best apps and systems ( pc and mac) to do your best. We have gone through the best DAW apps, now we will talk about the best laptops for DAW so that you can focus on your career instead of your laptop.

We know that it might be the most significant decision of your career, so directly jumping to the list of laptops kindly have a glance at the system requirement for different DAW software. As we know all the above Softwares are top quality and best known for music production or music recording. For this reason, they need a powerful laptop to run on

System Requirement for DAW

all laptops are not the same nor all software is, DAW software requires some decent level specs to run in your system. Don’t gamble your mind anymore, just choose the laptop that meets the below-defined requirements.

Minimum Requirements

Operating System (OS)Windows 7, or MacOS
CPUIntel core i5 ( up to 6th generation) or equivalent
Memory (RAM)At least 8 GB
Storage256GB SSD or 128GBSSD + 1TB HDD
BatteryBattery at least 6 hours
GPUIntegrated Graphics

If you are a student and are worried that they will be expensive and economic, then no need to get upset as you can find the best laptops with these basic requirements under your budget.

Recommended System Requirements

Operating SystemWindows 10, or MacOS
CPUIntel core i7,i9 ( up to 6th generation) or equivalent
Memory (RAM)At least 8 GB
Storage512GB/1TB SSD or 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
BatteryBattery at least 7 hours
GPUdedicated Graphics with 2GB VRAM

11 Best Laptops For DAW In 2022

1. OEM Lenovo ThinkPad E15

OEM Lenovo ThinkPad E15

SPECS

CPUIntel Quad Core i7-10510U
RAM32 GB SDRAM
Storage1 TB SSD
Operating systemWindows 10 Pro
GPUIntel UHD Graphics
Batteryup to 12.2 hours battery
Screen Size15.6-inch
Weight4.3 pounds
Resolution1920 x 1080 pixels
Dimension14.49 x 9.65 x 0.74 inches

PROS

  • Superb Battery Life
  • Multitasking system
  • Massive storage
  • Starts up in just 30 seconds.

CONS

  • Probable Heating issue 
  • Graphic lacks


2. HP 15

HP 15

SPECS

CPUi5-1035G1
RAM32GB
Storage1TB SSD
Operating systemWindows 10
GPUIntel UHD Graphics
GPU RAMIntegrated
Batteryup to 8 hours
Screen Size15.6 Inches
Weight4.23 lbs
Resolution1920 x 1080
Dimension14.11 x 9.53 x 0.71 inches

PROS

  • Expandable Memory/Storage
  • Portable
  • Decent Audio Quality
  • Good Battery life
  • Vast Connectivity Options

CONS

  • No Thunderbolt 3 Support


3. Apple MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro

SPECS

CPUNinth-generation 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
RAM16GB RAM DDR4
Storage512 GB SSD
Operating systemMac OS
GPUAMD Radeon Pro 5300M Intel UHD Graphics 630
GPU RAM4GB of GDDR6 memory 
Batteryup to 11 hours
Screen Size16.0-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display
Weight8.23 pounds
Resolution3072×1920 native resolution
Dimension9.68 x 14.09 x 0.64 inches

PROS

  • Decent Battery Life
  • Speedy Starts up in just 30 seconds.
  • Amazing Retina Display Screen
  • Eye-Catching amazing Design
  • Impressive Audio Quality
  • Portable

CONS

  • Fewer ports


4. LG Gram

LG Gram

SPECS

CPUi7-8565u
RAM16GB
Storage1TB (512GB x 2) Nvme SSD
Operating systemWindows 10 Home
GPUIntel UHD Graphics 620
GPU RAMIntegrated
Batteryup to 19.5hours
Screen Size17 Inches
Weight2.95 pounds
Resolution2560 X 1600
Dimension15 x 10.5 x 0.7 inches

PROS

  •  Portable & Lightweight
  • Thunderbolt 3 Support
  • Speedy SSD and Fast RAM
  • Decent Battery life
  • 17” Huge Display

CONS

  • Ultra Slim & Lightweight


5. Samsung Galaxy Book Flex

Samsung Galaxy Book Flex

SPECS

CPUi7-1065G7
RAM16GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
Operating systemWindows 10 Professional
GPUIntel® Iris Plus Graphics
GPU RAMIntegrated
BatteryUp to 20 hours
Screen Size15.6 inch
Weight3.35 pounds
Resolution1920 x 1080
Dimension15.7 x 11 x 3.31 inches

PROS

  •  All Day Brilliant Battery Life
  • Slim 360 Design
  • QLED Touch Screen Display
  • Bluetooth Pen
  • Fast Fingerprint Reader
  • Vast & Speedy SSD Storage
  • 10th Gen lightning speed Processor

CONS

  • Inconsistent Samsung Notes experience. Missing options


6. HP – Spectre x360 2-in-1

HP - Spectre x360 2-in-1

SPECS

CPUi7-8565U
RAM16GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
Operating systemWindows 10 Home
GPUNVIDIA GeForce MX150
GPU RAM2GB
Battery17.5 Hours
Screen Size15.6 inch
Weight0.77 lbs
Resolution3840 x 2160
Dimension14.2 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches

PROS

  • Amazing 4K IPS Display
  • Upgradable RAM
  • 15”6 Touch Screen with a Pen
  • Comes with a 3 years warranty.
  • Thunderbolt 3 Support
  • Ultra Lightweight 

CONS

  • Not suitable for long term use.


7. Huawei MateBook X Pro

Huawei MateBook X Pro

SPECS

CPUi7-8550U
RAM16 GB RAM
Storage512 GB SSD
Operating systemWindows 10 Home
GPUNVIDIA GeForce MX150
GPU RAM2 GB
Batteryup to 9 hours
Screen Size13.9 inches
Weight3 Lbs
Resolution3000 x 2000
Dimension11.97 x 0.57 x 8.54 inches

PROS

  • Amazing GPU & CPU
  • 3K TouchScreen Display
  • Ultra Thin & Light 
  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Innovative Pop-up Webcam
  • One Touch Power On

CONS

  • Fragile Gadget Need Extra Care


8. Apple MacBook Air with M1 chip

SPECS

CPUApple M1 chip; 8-core CPU
RAM8GB RAM
Storage256GB SSD
Operating systemMac OS
GPUApple 8-core GPU
Battery18 hours
Screen Size13.3 -inch
Weight1.25 kg
Resolution2560×1600
Dimension11.97 x 0.63 x 8.36 inches

PROS

  • Innovative M1 Chip (CPU/GPU) 
  • Lightweight & Portable 
  • Full Day Long Lasting Battery Life
  • Silent Gadget 
  • LED-backlit display

CONS

  • Camera Issue


9. MSI GL62M

MSI GL62M

SPECS

CPUi7-7700HQ
RAM8GB
Storage128GB SSD + 1TB HD
Operating systemWindows 10 Home
GPUGeForce GTX 1050Ti
GPU RAM4GB
Batteryup to 6 hours
Screen Size15.6 Inches
Weight5.29 lbs
Resolution1920×1080
Dimension15.07 x 10.23 x 1.06 inches

PROS

  • Upgradable Memory
  • SDD + Massive HDD
  • RED Backlit Keyboard
  • Vast Connectivity Options
  • High End Nvidia GPU

CONS

  • Fans are noisy and creates disturbance


10. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

SPECS

CPU10th generation Intel Core i5
RAM 8GB DDR4
Storage256GB SSD
Operating systemWindows 10 Home
GPUIntel Iris Plus Graphics
Batteryup to 11.5 hours
Screen Size13.5-inches
Weight1.5 kg
Resolution2256 x 1504
Dimension12.1 x 0.57 x 8.8

PROS

  • Ultra Lightweight
  • Superb Battery Backup
  • Elegant Design
  • 13.5 Inches Touch Screen
  • Wifi 6 Support

CONS

  • Less RAM


11. Dell Latitude E7470

Dell Latitude E7470

SPECS

CPUi5-6300U
RAM8GB
Storage256GB SSD
Operating systemWindows 10 Pro
GPUIntel HD Graphics 4400 graphics
GPU RAM2 MB
Batteryup to 5 hours
Screen Size14 Inches
Weight3.3 pounds
Resolution1366 x 768
Dimension15 x 19 x 5 inches

PROS

  • long lasting battery life
  • Bit less but speedy SSD 
  • Upgraded Gadget
  • Lightweight & Portable

CONS

  • Just 8 Gb RAM

Buyer Guide

Operating system

As far DAW is concerned some software works on macOS while others are on windows, But it depends upon your area of interest and which OS you will go with, we have listed laptops with both OS. If you are a macOS lover and user then must check out “10 best mac for music production

Processor (CPU)

For DAW software, you need a decent processor for better performance, otherwise, your system could get hung up during using any DAW software. 

As per minimum requirement, your laptop should have an intel i5 or equivalent processor of 6th generation or higher. But to get the most out of these softwares, experts suggest intel i7 or i9 with the latest generation which will give a flawless performance during intricate tasks like making beats

RAM

During audio production, maybe you are making beats, recording music, or mixing music tracks. You need an adequate memory to run your DAW besides running multiple online tabs, streaming online, and performing intricate tasks. 

if we talk about system memory requirement for DAW, most of the softwares require at least 4GB RAM which is not adequate sometimes that’s why experts and musician recommend at least 8GB for memory which is the minimum memory requirement among them but to get most out from any DAW software while music production they suggest to with 16GB RAM or higher.

Storage

Producing music means you require a huge space in your system for enormous music files, your DAW, and many other apps. Many musicians prefer 512GB SSD but according to computer experts they suggest you a 128GB / 256GB SSD along with a 1TB HDD, it means installing your respective DAW in SSD for quick access while other music libraries in huge HDD.  

Graphics card

Gaming, Modelling, Video editing, and Graphic designing are graphic intensive fields where your laptop needs a dedicated graphic card along with adequate VRAM. As far as music production is concerned, it is not a graphic-intensive field, so you don’t need a dedicated graphic card, your work can be done with an integrated graphic card but some DAW softwares demands to have a VRAM of 2G. 

Battery Life

Battery depends on your use, we always prefer a laptop with good battery backup, for DAW users we suggest a laptop with at least 6-7 hours so that his job is done without recharging it. We’ve listed all the above laptops with amazing battery backup. 

Weight

If you travel along with your laptop then weight matters so that without feeling any burden you can carry your laptop with you anywhere anytime. All the above laptops are portable and slim in design.

Frequently Ask Questions

Is Audacity a DAW?

Being an audio software, Audacity is used for storing, composing, recording, and mixing. With all these features, Audacity is a DAW. It is an open-source DAW that is available for all OS like Windows, Mac, and Linux. Moreover, Audacity is user-friendly and the best DAW for beginners.  

What is the cheapest Daw?

There are several cheap and inexpensive DAW which includes:

  • Acid Pro Xpress
  • Audacity
  • Giada
  • Garageband
  • Rosegarden

All of these are cheap or nearly free DAW. Moreover, all these are user-friendly and easy to use. 

What is the most expensive Daw?

If we talk about the most expensive DAW, then Pro Tools HD is at the top. It is the most expensive DAW app and because of this, it is out of reach of many artists, musicians, and producers. In addition to that, it is also more complex and difficult for users than other apps. This is the reason it is used by professionals and engineers only. Pro Tools HD is an industry-standard DAW and is available in professional studios. 

Best Daw for beginners?

There are different DAW for beginners which includes:

  • Cakewalk by BandLab
  • Reaper 
  • Logic Pro X
  • Ableton Live
  • FL Studio 20
  • PreSonus Studio One 4 

All these mentioned DAW are best for beginners. Some of them are free and some are paid but that does not mean that they are expensive rather they are very cheap and users can easily subscribe.

Which DAW is better?

It is quite difficult to say which one is better when you have too many choices. There are different apps of DAW with thousands of users and all of them have their different views. All these are used for multitasking like making beats, audio recording, composing, and mixing of audio and music depending on your laptop and choice. But still, we are mentioning different best and useful DAWs.

  • PreSonus Studio One
  • Ableton Live
  • Steinberg Cubase
  • Logic Pro
  • Cakewalk by BandLab

What is DAW? 

DAW is Digital Audio Workstation that is used for producing, composing, recording, mixing, editing, and storing audio and audio files. There are multiple DAWs used around the world. 

There are different free and paid DAWs with upgraded versions. Now here you can ask whether you should go with the free version or with a paid one? The answer is that you should choose the paid version because there are some drawbacks of the free version or you have limited access. On the other hand, if we talk about paid versions then it doesn’t mean that they are too expensive, or you can’t afford them. Many of them are limited versions which means that they can be easily purchased or subscribed to. 

Some DAWs are premium and are only used by professionals which means there is no need to go for them since you are a beginner and intermediate user. After that one can ask

In A Nutshell

Producing and composing music has become easier with the DAW. But it will be impossible if you do not buy a high-quality laptop. We have listed the 11 Best laptops for DAW (for both operating systems), above all are high-end laptops to run other software like pro tools and making beats, these will make your work easier. so go ahead and decide according to your budget, need, and area of interest.

Request

In case if you are still having any queries, please don’t hesitate to leave your questions or thoughts in the comment section below.

Your feedback can help other people make an informed buying decision, so make sure you leave a comment after buying a machine so that other people stuck in your shoes can make a decision easier! 

Or 

If you have better model suggestions for DAW, please let us know in the comment section!