Best Laptop for Pro Tools Buying Guide & Reviews 2024

Last Updated/Fact Checked on December 12, 2023 by Irslan

There are various consumer categories; laptops are included. Some are ordinary users; others use it for official purposes. And the particular class is the advanced machine users.

I will deliver you the best details on laptops here in this post, which will also understand the simple and advanced features for skilled users. And how would it impact the output of your laptop?

I’ve been researching on various laptops and screening the “Best Laptops for Pro Tools.” You can choose to buy the best laptop for professional use by reading the following detail.

They are both aware of fundamental problems and advanced issues and the basic and advanced features of these devices. These users purchase a laptop for their high-end use.

Some manufacturers sell the Best Laptop for Pro Tools on the market. They give you various features and configurations for the price range and brand name of these laptops.

Best Laptops for Pro Tools in 2024

Yes, in a studio – a dedicated PC/Mac with a complete hardware range is helpful to play with low buffer plugins that are CPU-intensive and last longer. 

But it’s not fair to underestimate laptops nowadays – because laptops have almost blurred the output gap between the desktop and themselves. And they are constantly getting better and better.

But they’re costly. What are your hopes for expenditure on a successful laptop music production: $1,500 or more? You know, you don’t have to invest too much to get a good laptop for Pro Tools, and I have also mentioned many budget laptops. However, you might need to exceed the budget to get the best laptops for Pro Tools.

I’ll break down all criteria for Pro Tools’ best laptops with a rule thumb in this post and conclude this paper with my best recommendations.

Below is all my recommendation for the Best Laptop for Pro Tools; you can try it out when you’re in a rush.

So, let’s start! 

Minimum & Recommended System Requirements

We have already told you that Pro Tools is a program with a hunger for resources. The minimum and recommended requirements will also be higher than your standard laptop specs.

	Minimum System Requirements	Recommended System Requirements
CPU	9th Gen Intel Core i5	9th Gen Intel Core i7
RAM	8GB	16GB
Storage	256GB SSD	512GB SSD
Display	14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
GPU	2GB NVIDIA GeForce MX250	4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Battery	Up to 4 hours	Up to 8 hours

Major requirements for a Pro Tools laptop

I will begin with the most important Pro Tools requirements. If you invest in these places, they’re certainly going to reward you for years and save your time.

A Powerful Processor

As you know, a processor plays a vital role in such tasks. But here’s a surprise: A single-core output is critical for Pro Tools than many-core/threads. 

Since it is not possible to “share” audio chains between the core CPU, the longer sample/synth will add more work to the single Core CPU.

At present, I am mixing with a laptop with an Intel Core i7-3630QM processor that can be compared to i7-6500U and i7-7500U. Despite two years later, it works well. 

On the other hand, it also has some limitations, especially at the end of the magnetic chain, which leads to a higher processor load, and I must begin to disable oversampling and decrease quality settings, which are not ideal.

A Large Memory

As I said, it’s always better to go for the higher specification. Here is another example: the minimum requirement of the Best Laptops for Pro Tools in the previous year was only 8 GB of RAM, but now, thanks to new features and software plugin, it has been increased to 16 GB.

You probably still saw some obsolete posts (there is still a recommendation with RAM of 8 GB), which is entirely inappropriate for today. Yes, you got it right! You got it right! This article was prepared for the Best Laptop for Pro Tools.

I do not suggest going for 16 GB of RAM unless you are on a tight budget. There’s nothing remarkable to be aware of, don’t get puzzled in either DDR3 or DDR4 – they’re doing almost the same thing. 

In other words, DDR4 has an excellent frequency, but this advantage is not very successful due to latency – you do not get too much difference.

Faster and a Lot of Storage

Undoubtedly, for the operating system, tech Pro tools, and VSTs, we would need an SSD (Solid State Drive).

However, the real question is, do we need an HDD? Oh, what is this question? You know better than me now. It all depends on your needs – how extensive is your sample library?

300GB and applications and VSTs already have to be reserved for the OS. It means that an SSD under 500GB cannot cope with everything alone; it needs daily HDD assistance.

A virtualization data storage system can significantly increase the entire storage speed and reliability – RAID. We could start an entirely new subject on the RAID setup, but it is not necessary in most cases.

Audio Interface and Display Output Ports

You will need numerous connections for connecting your audio interfaces, simple peripherals, and external displays. 

Basic peripheral relies on the available USB ports, and more than one USB 3.0 can be easily obtained on any modern laptop. It can also save your precious time when using USB sticks or external drives.

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The Asus game notebook ROG Strix G15 is valuable for smart design and Windows rather than macOS. This laptop is an excellent mix of high-performance, ergonomically designed hardware. The Intel Core i7-10750H processor is at the core of the beast with a clock speed of 2,6GHz.

As we enter, we see the trustworthy combination of 16GB of regular DDR4 RAM and 512GB of full-sensor storage. Not only that, you can upgrade the RAM to 32GB as well. 

We must also remember that the laptop has a unique refrigeration system. This machine does an incredible job without too much noise.

The bright and crisp 15.6-inch Full HD screen is enough to provide you with the best visual experience when dealing with multiple tracks. 

Although the ROG Strix G15’s stunning 240Hz refresh rate screen is designed for high-end gaming, you might enjoy a snap editing experience elsewhere.

In addition, there is no lack of graphics since the NVIDIA RTX 2070 is equipped with 8GB VRAM. So, even if you play a game, you can easily make it!

Versatile is not a good ROG Strix G15 connectivity adjective to use. You don’t have to purchase adapters with enough ports, including USB Type C, HDMI, and Ethernet, in total capacity.

The customizable RGB keys with good travel lead to long-term efficiency. The laptop weighs 5.28 lbs, but the company did not specify the battery backup. We can always hope that the system will run for a couple of good hours.

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You can better buy a laptop as powerful as the MSI P65 Creator, even on the go, as an audio engineer or a professional audio engineer. This notebook looks more like a structural wonder initially, but it is also worth noting the details board.

First, you can access the Intel Core i7-9750H processor, which can handle all digital audio workstations and related processes. 

But when more is being spent in Pro Tools, the featured CPU is good enough for MIDI synths, presets, audio mixing, and even editing, thanks to its exceptional 4.5GHz turbo boost frequency. 

Not only that, the Hexa-core processor can handle hardware scalability as a pro, without lags or stutters.

While audio developers, editors, and real-time mixers hardly need a graphics card as powerful as the RTX 2060, 4K video editing, viewpoint rendering, and high-end gaming can still be easy to use. 

The existing graphics cards come with 6GB VRAM, more than enough for challenging games such as PUBG, Fortnite, WOW, Civilization 6, or more.

However, the 32GB RAM allocation is the most meaningful for professionals. This attribute makes the P65 Creator the ideal laptop for live audio mixing in real-time. 

You can take advantage of the quick and sizeable 1TB solid-state drive when you enter the storage. Most notably, when it comes to Windows 10 OS, the SSD enables quicker bootups.

About the monitor, MSI produces a traditional 15.6-inch immovable, further strengthened by the cumulative resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. However, the P65 Creator does not thrash many display-centered bells and whistles apart from the 4K UHD panel. 

There is, however, an impressive line-up of productivity-centered specs, which includes the genius HD audio enhancement stereo speakers, an excellent fingerprint scanner, and an available webcam.

The backlit keyboard, the smooth trackpad, Type-A, Type-C, HDMI, Wi-Fi AC, Bluetooth 4.2 networking are all-powerful inclusions. 

Since the latest MSI P65 Creator is so qualified, one of the lightweight gadgets on the market, weighing nearly 4.20 pounds. Furthermore, the portability quotient is significantly enhanced with an excellent 8-hour battery backup.

Therefore, the MSI P65 Creator is a decent investment to be made if you’re professional music active with Avid Pro Tools or other Digital Audio workstations like FL Studio, Audacity, or more.

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Here’s another laptop that is the ideal partner for your Pro Tools. The Predator Helios 300 is a heavy computer and qualifies as a desktop replacement laptop compared to the previously listed laptops.

The Intel Core i7, which is 2.6 GHz, is more than sufficient to begin your simple Pro Tools tasks. The 16GB DDR4 RAM has been included in the Predator Helios 300 kit in keeping with the trend. 

It offers, among other items, a smooth multitasking experience. The 512GB of SSD capacity is also matched. On the concept hand, the laptop is not magical, to be precise. 

The price tag doesn’t make it look fancy. You have a 15.6-inch Full HD display screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution. We found a big NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 in the box, contrary to our expectations, and it comes with 6GB of VRAM.

The Predator Helios 300’s connectivity desk is very common to start with. The computer also packs a Type C port with charging capability, in addition to both USB 3 and 2.0 ports. Total HDMI and RJ45 ethernet ports are also available. The connection is perfect when you work off the network in your office.

But now, the laptop can deliver a battery backup of up to 6 hours, considering the hardware bonanza, which is easy to do when we think of only 5,07 pounds.

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Indeed, heavier laptops work well with stable configuration, though they are not suitable for travel. 

And that’s the next laptop, and it’s the most compact and lightweight laptop on our list with 2.98 lbs. I’m talking of Razer Blade Stealth, which is famous for its high-quality laptop and smartphones.

The Razer Blade Stealth offers a 13,3-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1800) touch display that is very bright and supports wide view angles.

Despite its high portability, it offers brilliant performance – the Intel Core i7-8550U, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage space is the perfect combination to run Pro Tools without hassle. 

I want to tell you that the I-8550U is a fantastic processor that is clockable to 4.0 GHz and consumes less power at the same time. It is why despite its high performance, this laptop still has decent battery life.

The best thing about this laptop is that there’s a Thunderbolt 3 port that’s a universal port that allows you to connect to the external monitor for multiple purposes and charge your laptop simultaneously. You’re also going to get even more ports – HDMI 2.0, 2x USB3.0, and 3.5mm head/microphone pair.

It also comes with a backlit adjustable keyboard, and you can choose to toggle between the 16.8 billion colors.

But remember, it’s a slim laptop, and you can’t install an extra hard drive. You can need an external hard drive to handle your extensive sample library.

The Razer Blade Stealth can be an ideal option if you’re looking for a versatile and compact laptop for Pro Tools.

However, if you search for built-in extensive storage options, this updated HP laptop offer can’t be refused, providing the same memory and storage processor. If you want to get these details on a regular laptop, you have many dollars to pay.

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If you can spend over $1,500 on your laptop, HP OMEN certainly needs your attention. What’s this laptop special about? Let’s find out! 

First, there is an i7-8750H processor, which is much superior to our previous laptop (i7-8550U), as the clock rate and the cache size are both enhanced. 

As stated earlier, the higher clock rate of the base core is often beneficial for Pro Tools instead of the multi-core processor. 

In addition, the 32GB of memory is also available, which is very useful for working with longer samples in Pro Tools and multitasking capability.

Lack of storage space is the only thing that hurts me. You only receive 512GB of NVMe SSD, but it is much faster, but we also need more data.

The excellent news, HP made it easy to update HDD, SSD, or RAM with the removal of the single screen. I bet that if you put an SSD like Crucial MX500 2TB, you will indeed become your ultimate setup of Pro Tools.

This laptop contains a wide variety of networking choices. You can receive the ports of input and output – 1x USB 3.1 (Type C), 3x USB 3.1 and 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x mini DisplayPort, 1x RJ45, 1x microphone/headphone combo jack, and 1x media card reader. Overall, this is a Pro Tools desktop replacement laptop.

Moreover, this versatile laptop comes with a dedicated GPU GTX 1070, which has 8GB of VRAM and can run topical games without any haste and handle vital graphics tasks.

In general, the HP Omen is a complete desktop replacement for Pro Tools since you are getting faster performance processors, significant memories, high graphics processing, and a wide variety of networking choices. 

This computer is also available in 17-inch and various specifications, which you can customize before purchase according to your requirements.

If you are searching for the Best Laptop for Pro Tools with less than $2,000, then trust me that HP OMEN is a solid device but requires just a change of room.

And then, this dreaded animal can easily handle the most extended sample of the most extensive library.

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As we have said, more than 16GB of RAM is necessary for a laptop for Best Pro Tools. So the Microsoft Surface Book 2 has only won a runner-up badge. 

But if we consider the memory capacity, it will work even better than our Best Laptop for Pro Tools (Dell XPS 15 9560). How?

The Microsoft Surface Book 2 has an Intel i7-8650U processor that is 4.20GHz higher than the Dell laptop clock rate. Moreover, the newest GTX 1060 graphics chip has an additional 2GB of VRAM.

The battery life is nearly beyond expectation from all laptops, and video playback lasts up to 17 hours.

As you know, Surface Books are standard for their detachable nature and can be used as a tablet, making it also very easy to carry and use.

As I said above, Pro Tools’ lack of memory size is the only reason to upgrade this laptop. Otherwise, it has greater functionality than the Dell XPS 15. Often, it is impossible to upgrade the memory in the future, which is the biggest issue with mobile laptops.

Overall, Microsoft Surface Book 2 is also a great Pro Tools laptop that offers more features than our laptop Dell XPS 15, but only memory.

Indeed the Pro Tools program works well with 16GB of RAM, which may be the best option for this laptop. But there is less future evidence than the Dell XPS 15 9560, and it is also costly.

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If you’re looking for a decent Windows MacBook rival, just look at the Razer Blade 15! It offers you many similar features, such as an incredibly thin and light design and the top components of the line. It also has a GPU, which is not a DAW prerequisite but is very useful for gaming or graphic design.

This laptop is powered by the Intel 6-core Core i7-10750H in the 10th generation. It’s less powerful than on the MacBook Pro but still strong enough to accomplish nearly any mission. 

Modern processors have become so efficient that no variations can be seen. As far as the GPU is concerned, you have many options depending on your use. 

You can either equip it with the mid-range but powerful GTX 1660 Ti or with RTX 2060, the lowest-end RTX card but still exceeds the GTX series. 

Finally, the RTX 2070 Max-Q is the most powerful GPU on our list. Your option would depend on your personal use and budget, but we suggest using the GTX 1660 Ti if you wish our recommendation. 

If you’re not going to use this exclusively as a gaming system, it is best to save money and use the GTX 1660 Ti. However, if you know a specific role that is very graphically complex, you can also opt to use the RTX series cards.

The storage also depends on which graphic card you get. You get a 256 GB NVMe SSD with the GTX 1660 Ti and 512 GB with the RTX series. 

On this basis alone, we will suggest one of the RTX series. Unlike MacBook, the storage can be upgraded so that the GTX model won’t be a significant problem.

Concerning the RAM, you have a rich 16 GB DDR4-2933MHz (8GB x 2). Fortunately, this is also a high-performance dual-channel memory. 

In addition, like the storage, the memory can also be upgraded to 64 GB. 16 GB should be more than enough for anyone who uses this laptop, but you can do so if you ever feel you need to upgrade your RAM to get any additional results. It also means your laptop will be more evident in the future.

The monitor is a Full HD 1920×1080 15.6″ Full HD, which is 100 percent of the color space of the SRGB. The highlight of this display is the high refresh rate of 144Hz, which makes your experience much more reliable. 

You also get an incredibly color-precise monitor that is helpful for people who want to use it for activities such as graphics or video editing. 

In addition, you can also upgrade the monitor to 4K and OLED with the RTX 2070 Max-Q. That means your display is much sharper and turns off the display when black pixels are shown, while your display produces deeper blacks, better colors, and therefore less energy. 

However, we do not recommend upgrading despite the apparent benefits because it costs much more while having little gain in audio production.

Many thin and light laptops miss critical ports, making them less usable. Fortunately, Razer has not forgotten this factor and has a powerful port mix. 

The above include Gigabyte Ethernet, 2 USB-C Thunderbolt ports, 3 USB-A ports, a microphone jack, and HDMI ports. As you can see, all appropriate ports were included, and your laptop was also relatively slim.

Other valuable features include an RGB keyboard with individual lit Razer Chroma program for total customization, making it one of the best RGB on any keyboard. Windows webcam Hello face recognition and an excellent unibody aluminum chassis.

This laptop is 0.78′′x9.25′′x13.98′′ and weighs approximately 4.7 pounds. This laptop is lightweight, but it weighs slightly more than a standard Ultrabook. 

However, the vital components used and the substantial aluminum construction that makes this laptop robust. 

The life span of this computer is pretty decent for a laptop with games as it takes around 6 to 7 hours, not even similar to the MacBook but still pretty respectful of a standard Windows thin and light game laptop.

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The Lenovo ThinkPad E595 is the final entry on our list. If you want a durable and reliable computer, ThinkPad E595 should be ideal for you. 

It is one of the Best Laptops for Pro Tools out there, in stark contrast to the MacBook that means that it lasts a lot of time.

You get a Ryzen Processor with the ThinkPad, meaning that all three of these laptops have CPUs from another maker. 

In recent years, Ryzen processors have gained a great deal of popularity because they provide excellent performance at an affordable price, which is why many choose to use them with Intel. 

A quad-core processor with up to 3.70 GHz clock speeds is the 3.70 GHz Ryzen 3500U. It is between i5 and i7 in the 10th generation of Intel, making it a great deal, as this laptop is not so costly. The Vega 8 graphics included should be more than adequate for any kind of mission.

In addition, the DDR4 RAM offers 8 GB fast and the 256 GB M.2 SSD with high read and write speeds for a snapper experience. 

While this is not a lot of capacity, we will let this slide consider how good storage and memory are and a brief design update. You will use this system for the first 2 or so years, then upgrade to a higher capacity version if you like.

Another essential feature of a laptop is the monitor. It’s the part with which you communicate so that a large screen can make a laptop or break it. 

Thankfully, the ThinkPad gives you a nice look 1080p IPS anti-blinding panels. You won’t be blown away by the quality, but audio production doesn’t need a big screen anyway. 

The display is luminous at 250 nits which, together with its anti-blindness cover, allows for even harsh sunlight.

Since the ThinkPad series focuses on efficiency, Lenovo has ensured that no essential features are excluded. Like the MacBook, modern laptops are a popular trend because they remove ports to diminish their computers. 

Thankfully, you get a wide range of ports with ThinkPad E595, including three USB-A ports, supporting either 3.1 Gen 1 or Gen 2, 1 USB-C Thunderbolt port, HDMI, SD Card Slot, Microphone Jack, or Ethernet. 

A significant benefit of having an extensive range of ports is that you can install external storage devices instead of updating inner ports. 

Any other features include a webcam and an excellent keyboard that is unfortunately not backlit. The exclusive security features of ThinkPad, like the Kensington® lock slot, are essential today.

Laptop dimensions are 14.50 x 9.90 x 0.80 inches, which is very lovely because of the number of ports you receive. It weighs 3 lbs, which is lightweight but not too expensive. 

The battery is said to last 13 hours, but you should expect it to take approximately 6-8 hours in the real world. The whole day is comfortable and up to the level of other Windows laptops, such as the Razer Blade.

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We know many people are looking for a laptop which is unbelievably light and small. Though it was a fantasy a couple of years ago, Asus did it. The ZenBook 15 is a kit that adds so much performance to the lesser size.

An Intel Core i7-10510U CPU powers all these performance-hungry arrangements with 1.8GHz clock speeds to achieve a Turbo speed of up to 4.9GHz.

The 16GB DDR4 RAM is on the computer for the majority of tasks. ASUS has a 512GB SSD storage to provide quicker bootup and data transfer rates. 

Despite its fundamental and lightweight nature, the laptop is performing superbly. It is all due to an efficient ASUS refrigeration system.

Even without attaching a secondary monitor, the ASUS Zenbook 15 will provide you with an immersive audio workstation experience. 

It is because of the 15.6-inch UHD screen with a top resolution of 3840 x 2160 and thin bezels. We are talking about a screen-to-body ratio of 92 percent. 

The laptop is ready for consistent results when put in the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max Q with 4GB VRAM.

The ASUS ZenBook 15 networking feature is different from the traditional lightweight laptops. The computer is equipped with USB Type C, Type A, HDMI ports, and a media card reader & it does not have the assistance of Thunderbolt 3, however. The backlit, full-size keyboard and Ergo-Lift style are some of the features we love in this kit.

Finally, the laptop claims to give a battery life of up to ten hours, although it has a minimum of 3.6 lbs. When you edit audio, it is a big stretch, but you should expect anything normal.

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As the name suggests, ASUS TUF FX505DT is a gaming laptop, but it is very cheap, to be precise. But if you’re planning to spend less than $700 on a Pro Tools laptop, remember what your laptop offers. First of all, this ASUS laptop has an AMD Ryzen 5 3550H clocked CPU at 2.1GHz.

Again, we see some sacrifices to save some money. For example, the 8GB DDR4 is hardly sufficient to run Pro Tools or Ultimate. 

However, it should be enough for Pro Tools first. Similarly, if ASUS had included any additional storage instead of 256GB SSD, it would have been excellent. Worse still, upgrading the laptop is not easy either.

The show feature of the ASUS TUF, however, meets the specifications. The 15.6″ full HD screen is large enough to fit Pro Tools modules and offers excellent details in the 1920 x 1080 resolution. 

In combination with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 and 4 GB of VRAM, the optical property of the laptop is up to speed.

Connection is a confusing component of the ASUS TUF FX505DT. The first thing we found was that there are not many USB Type C ports on the laptop. 

Simultaneously, if you’ve got legacy computers, you’d love what the standard USB ports and HDMI ports do. An Ethernet port for enhanced speeds is also available. The device also uses a dust-resistant cooling system.

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Conclusion

It is too hard to find the right laptop for Pro Tools. I have therefore checked for several days and listed the Best Laptop for Pro Tools above. It now depends on you how much pocket power you have and also on your use.

All of the laptops mentioned above are high-end. They are different specifications and settings. You just have to read the article carefully and know the basic and advanced features.

In my view, whether you are a novice or advanced user, the processing unit and graphics card of the laptop must first be concentrated. These two are the requisite tools for professional use.

Try to notice the laptop storage space and ram. And you will have a lot of data to store on your computer while you’re professional. Or you’re going to install some apps.

Other features on laptops are a touchscreen, a security fingerprint reader, RGB keyboard, camera, etc. If you have time, then list your wishes in written form on a website, and then try to find the Best Laptop for Pro Tools for your needs.