Looking for the Best laptop for Blender? I’m happy to say you’ve come to the right place. To get started with Blender, you need a powerful laptop because 3D animation and modeling take care of many complex operations performed by the CPU (processor) and graphics that take care of the GPU (graphics card).
Do you use Blender 3D regularly and don’t like the “slow performance” of your current laptop, or are you a beginner who wants a laptop that can run smoothly? After spending 17 weeks researching and reviewing devices from big-name brands, we are here with expert-recommended options for 2021.
3D animation has taken the world by storm and there are many programs that can help with the same. Blender is one of them, it is a free and open-source 3D creation suite that is developed by hundreds of experts. Not only is it free, but it also has all the tools you will need for animation, rendering, compositing, simulation, montage, modeling, motion tracking, graphic design, and video editing.
Best Laptop for Blender (3D Editing and Animation)
You must have realized that Blender is powerful software and not all laptops can handle it. It requires a powerful laptop with a high-performance graphics card and a decent amount of RAM. Of course, you can’t use an average budget laptop for 3D modeling, as the task itself is resource-intensive.
9+ Best Laptop for Blender | Comparison Table 2021
Image | Title | Brand | Buy |
---|---|---|---|
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020: Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, 15.6" FHD 1080p 120Hz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, CNC Aluminum, Chroma RGB Lighting, Black | Razer | Check Price | |
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED UX582 Laptop, 15.6” OLED 4K UHD Touch Display, Intel Core i9-10980HK, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, GeForce RTX 3070, ScreenPad Plus, Windows 10 Pro, Celestial Blue, UX582LR-XS94T | ASUS | Check Price | |
GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED KD - 15.6" UHD 4k AMOLED IPS, Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 6GB GDDR6, 16GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, Win10 Pro, Creator Laptop (AERO 15 OLED KD-72US623SP) | GIGABYTE | Check Price | |
MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 15.6" FHD 144Hz 3ms Thin Bezel Gaming Laptop Intel Core i7-10750H RTX2070 16GB 512GB NVMe SSD Win 10 | MSI | Check Price | |
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, Intel i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU, 15.6" Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 6, RGB Keyboard, PH315-53-71HN | Acer | Check Price | |
Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) Display, AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti, Windows 10H, 82JW0012US, Phantom Blue | Lenovo | Check Price | |
HP 2-in-1 Convertible Chromebook, 14inch HD Touchscreen, Intel Quad-Core Pentium Silver N5030 Processor Up to 3.10GHz, 4GB Ram, 128GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics, Webcam, Chrome OS(Renewed (14inch/128GB) | HP | Check Price | |
HP Envy x360 15 Convertible, 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD Storage, 15.6-inch Full HD Display, Windows 10 Home, Long Battery Life, Business & Entertainment (15-ed1010nr, 2021) | HP | Check Price | |
Lenovo Ideapad L340 Gaming Laptop, 15.6 Inch FHD (1920 X 1080) IPS Display, Intel Core i5-9300H Processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB Nvme SSD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, Windows 10, 81LK00HDUS, Black | Lenovo | Check Price |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Best Laptop for Blender | 2021 Products Overview
1. Razer Blade 15 Best Laptop for Blender
- More Power. The 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor provides the ultimate level of performance with up to 5.0GHz Max Turbo and 6 cores
- Supercharger: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics is a blazing-fast supercharger for today’s most popular games
- More Frames: Incredible performance paired with the fast 120Hz 15.6 Full HD thin-bezel display helps edge out the win
- Thin and Compact: The CNC aluminum unibody frame houses incredible performance in the most compact footprint possible, while remaining remarkably durable and just 0.78 thin
- Ready To Connect: Fully loaded with ample connectivity including a webcam, wireless-AC, Bluetooth 5, 2X USB Type-A, 2X Type-C ports, and more
- Razer Blade 15 has won the game when it comes to the best laptops for Blender.
- At first glance, its stylish matte build with a backlit keyboard radiates that clean feel a designer would prefer in their laptop. Plus, the durable aluminum body of this 4.7 lbs lightweight laptop is quite sturdy too – you can expect a long use here.
- 15.6-inch display, Swift performance, Quite durable
- These two powerful units work together to make this laptop ideal for intensive tasks such as 3D rendering.
2. ASUS ZenBook Best Laptop 3D Editing and Animation
- ScreenPad Plus: 14 inch 4K matte touchscreen, giving your endless way to optimize your multitasking experience by extending the screen or split windows and apps on both displays
- 15.6 inch OLED 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) NanoEdge touchscreen glossy main display
- 10th generation Intel Core i9-10980HK Octa Core Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with 8GB VRAM – NVIDIA Studio Ready
- Detachable palm rest, laptop stand, backpack and ASUS active stylus pen included
- Fast storage and memory featuring 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD with 32GB DDR4 RAM
- Built-in IR camera for facial recognition sign in with Windows Hello
- Exclusive ErgoLift design for improved typing position, optimized cooling system and enhanced audio performance
- Extensive connectivity with HDMI, Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C, Gigabit-class Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
3. GIGABYTE AERO 15 Top Laptop for Blender software
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 6 GB GDDR6
- Boost Clock 1530 Mhz & Max Graphics Power of 105W
- NVIDIA DLSS for groundbreaking AI rendering
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H (2.3GHz~4.6GHz)
- 16GB Memory (64GB Max), 512 GB SSD
- 15.6 Thin Bezel UHD 4K 3840x2160 Samsung AMOLED Display
- VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black, 100% DCI-P3, X-Rite Certified, per unit factory calibrated & Pantone Validated Color Accuracy
- 9 I/O ports including Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) and UHS-II SD Card Reader
- Windforce Infinity Next-gen Cooling for Laptop
- 14.0(W) x 9.8(D) x 0.78(H) inch, 99W Battery, 4.4Ib
- Its 15.6-inch wide AMOLED display offers a 4K resolution of about 3840 x 2140 pixels. It reproduces colors and details accurately, which can sometimes be as vivid as reality.
- Gigabyte AERO 15 ranks amongst the top laptops for Blender users and creative professionals.
4. MSI GL65 Leopard Laptop for 3D Editing
- 15.6 FHD IPS-Level 144Hz 72%NTSC Thin Bezel close to 100%Srgb NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8G GDDR6
- Intel Core i7-10750H 2.6-5.0GHz Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201(2 x 2 ax)
- 512GB NVMe SSD 16GB (8G*2) DDR4 2666MHz 2 Sockets Max Memory 64GB
- USB 3.1 Gen2 Type C 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 3 Steel Series per-Key RGB with Anti-Ghost key+ silver lining 720p HD Webcam
- Win10 Multi-language Giant Speakers 3W x 2 6 cell (51Wh) Li-Ion 230W
- The MSI GL65 Leopard laptop is a real deal-maker with its 15-inch display, 8GB NVIDIA GPU. If you are a creative professional who works on 3D modeling, game development, rendering, and sculpting you will appreciate the performance of this laptop.
- Its premium black-colored body consists of quality materials like aluminum. And here’s where it gets awesome: it makes the laptop super-robust, allowing it to withstand impact.
- Additionally, the GL65 comes with a gaming keyboard that uses the RGB lighting system.
5. Acer Predator Helios 300: Best Laptop for Animation
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0GHz)
- Overclockable NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM, NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Dynamic Boost 2.0, NVIDIA GPU Boost
- 15.6 Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time & 300nit Brightness)
- 16GB DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory | 512GB NVMe SSD (2 x M.2 Slots | 1 Slot Open for Easy Upgrades) | 1 - Available Hard Drive Bay
- Killer Double Shot Pro: Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650i and Killer Ethernet E2600 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
- 4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard | DTS X: Ultra Audio | 4th Gen All-Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan
- Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
- Acer Predator Helios 300 displays a great balance between a powerful computer for running Blender
- On the outside, the Acer Predator 300 gives off an electric vibe with its sturdy, lightweight (4.17 lbs) and sharp-looking metal body
6. Lenovo Legion 5 15 Laptop for Blender software
- Escalate your game with up to 8 high-performance cores in the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD storage
- With NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics behind you, you can enjoy the depth and visual fidelity of real-time ray-tracing – RTX Gaming, Its On
- The 15.6 FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display on the Legion 5 gaming laptop delivers speed and color clarity for full-fidelity gaming
- Legion TrueStrike keyboard with 4-zone RGB backlight; 2 x 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio for Gamers
- Connectivity: Built-in 720p webcam with e-shutter, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 4 USB, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, RJ45 Ethernet
- With a top-notch GPU, super-vivid display, and a mouthwatering price tag, the Lenovo Legion 5 is our laptop for Blender animation.
- First up, it has a fantastic 15.6-inch FHD IPS display and 1920×1080 resolution that produces immersive visuals. Color accuracy, image clarity, brightness control – you’ll find all the controls right in place.
- Lenovo has also installed Dual Burn Support that optimizes CPU and GPU performances for better framerates. And though you can use it for a maximum of 5-hours, it’s still much better than its competitors on this list.
7. HP 2-in-1 Convertible Chromebook
- Intel Quad-Core Pentium Silver N5030 Processor Up to 3.10GHz, 4GB Ram, 128GB SSD
- 14inch Diagonal HD Multi-Touchscreen (1366 x 768), Intel UHD Graphics
- 2x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack,
- Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11a/b/g/n/ac(2x2) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 Combo, Micro SD Card Reader, B&O Audio, Dual speakers
- Google Chrome OS, HP Wide Vision 720P HD Camera with Integrated Dual Array Digital Microphones
- HP 2-in-1 Chromebook innovative flip-and-fold design makes it one of the best Chromebooks out there. Its ability to rotate a full 360-degrees
- It has a 14-inch large FHD IPS touchscreen, which is good for creating high-quality premium images and other Blender-related work.
- On the bright side, this laptop weighs merely 3.46 lbs making it super-portable for mobile working.
8. HP Envy x360 15 Convertible
- ADAPTS TO YOUR WAY OF CREATING - Your creations are brought to life with the 360 convertible hinge design of the HP Envy Laptop.
- VIBRANT DISPLAY - Seeing is believing with the 15.6-inch diagonal FHD (1980 x 1080 )multi-touch enabled, edge-to-edge display.
- UNPARALLELED PERFORMANCE - The 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 (1) processor lets you get work done quickly and efficiently.
- BOLD & BRILLIANT GRAPHICS - Intel Iris Xe Graphics (2) lets you marvel at crystal-clear imagery.
- MEMORY & STORAGE - Rejoice in more bandwidth with 8 GB of RAM and increased hard drive space thanks to 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage (3).
- LONG-LASTING POWER - The HP Envy laptop battery gives you up to 9 hours and 45 minutes of wireless streaming power (4).
- WINDOWS 10 & WARRANTY - Have peace of mind with Windows 10 Home (5), an operating system you can trust, and the HP Hardware 1-Year Limited Warranty.
- STAY CONNECTED - Video chats and internet connectivity are made simple with Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2x2) (6) and Bluetooth 5 combo (7) (Supporting Gigabit data rate) (8).
- REMOTE WORK-READY - The 360 hinge lets you use your laptop in 4 modes. Plus, control your privacy at the touch of a button with the all-in-one keyboard and securely log into your device from any angle using the Patented 3-D fingerprint technology (9).
- BUILT RESPONSIBLY - This laptop is ENERGY STAR certified (10) and EPEAT Silver registered (11).
9. Lenovo Ideapad L340
- A new dimension of gaming performance awaits - with 9th-generation Intel Core i5 processors, the IdeaPad L340 gaming has the power you need to outshoot, outrun, and outsmart anyone. Includes 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD
- Take it to the next level - With the latest NVIDIA GeForce Graphics behind you, you can tame the hottest titles with faster, smoother, and more power-efficient gameplay. Plus, the 15.6-Inch screen delivers a stunning full HD IPS Display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
- A portal to a new sound dimension - hardwired into every Idea Pad L340 gaming is advanced Dopoundsy audio technology. Take your mobile gaming experience to another dimension and have a real blast along the way
- Control your own fate - Game in quick Mode or work in quiet Mode. Its your call with a simple function setting that lets you shift gears between modes, instantly.
- Final product may vary slightly from image
- The Lenovo IdeaPad L340 is a knight showing off its polished chassis, powerful processor, and quality GPU.
- Lenovo Ideapad L340 doesn’t offer those premium vibes with its average build quality, it certainly makes a great beginner Blender laptop.
- The screen quality, long-lasting 9-hour battery, and heavy-duty performance are all plusses for art students.
How to Choose Laptop For Blender 3D | Definitive Buying Guide 2021
Blender, as you may or may not know, is free-to-use and open-source 3D animation software developed by hundreds of professionals to give you the experience of powerful FREE 3D computer graphics software.
Basically, Blender is what Linux (Ubuntu OS) is for Computer OS, and is being developed by several VFX experts, animators, graphic artists, enthusiasts, etc. Blender has become a beast in its own right and can run any 3D animation software for your money.
The programs used for 3D modeling with Blender use processors and graphics with high intensity, so you will need a powerful laptop so that when you work with these graphics-intensive programs, its performance is optimal and fluid, as well. , you will need a good GPU so that the workload on your CPU and RAM is significantly less.
Graphics card (GPU)
The more powerful the better, but a laptop with the latest generation of Nvidia graphics is more than enough to move any 3D modeling program like Blender.
Processor (CPU)
The more cores the better, so for this purpose, it is recommended to buy a laptop with Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processors.
Screen
A laptop with a high resolution (minimum Full HD) and a relatively large screen size work best for you. Many professionals use their laptops as their main computer but using an external monitor.
Good graphics quality, larger memory, and a good screen resolution with a size of 15.6 inches is ideal.
System requirements for Blender
Unlike other tables of system requirements, the System Requirements for Blender consists of 3 different settings: Minimum, Recommended, and Best.
Take a look at all three, but keep in mind that the best laptops for Blender mentioned below exceed these system requirements by a wide margin, to work more smoothly.
Minimum:
- 32-bit dual-core 2Ghz CPU with SSE2 support
- 4 GB RAM
- 1280 × 768 display
- Mouse, trackpad, or pen + tablet
- Graphics card with 1 GB of RAM, OpenGL 3.3
Recommended
- 64-bit 4-core CPU
- 16 GB RAM
- Full HD display
- Three-button mouse or pen + tablet
- Graphics card with 4 GB of RAM
Optimal
- 8-core 64-bit CPU
- 32GB RAM
- Full HD screens
- Three-button mouse and pen + tablet
- Graphics card with +12 GB of RAM
Optimal system requirements indicate that you need a 64-bit 8-core CPU, while the processor that most laptops have on this list is the 6-core Intel i7-8750H CPU, but it has 12 threads, which technically they act as virtual nuclei themselves.
If you’ve made it this far, I bet you enjoyed this article, and I’d be happy to hear if you picked your Blender laptop from this list.
In case you still have any kind of dilemma, feel free to leave your questions or thoughts in the comments section below. Please make the most of it!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the GPU in optimizing Blender’s performance?
The GPU is primarily responsible for speeding up 3D modeling and rendering performance while helping the processor. However, it becomes extremely important for Cycles production rendering and Eevee real-time rendering. According to us, a GPU with higher VRAM is preferred for better rendering performances. Although GTX cards would suffice, RTX opens OptiX API support and prepares the use of Blender for the future.
Should I go for a processor with a higher clock speed or a higher number of cores for 3D rendering?
Blender relies heavily on multithreaded performances and therefore it is necessary to opt for a chipset with a higher number of cores. However, you should look for processors that support HyperThreading technology for the Intel families and SMT for the AMD families to double the number of logical cores.
CPU- or graphics-intensive 3D sculpting?
3D sculpting is strictly a CPU-intensive task and requires decent multi-threaded performance. However, the CPU does not leave an impression if the device does not aggressively allocate RAM to handle cached data, especially for high-poly models and meshes.
Why do I need a lot of RAM to get great results from Blender?
Blender, especially the recent version, comes with a large memory footprint. Whether sculpting or mesh modeling, a considerable amount of RAM improves caching and data mirroring. This approach speeds up processes and reduces delays. Therefore, 16GB is a must-have minimum for mid-level professionals who consider Blender their creative suite of choice.
What is the main difference between Blender and Maya?
If you like large-scale 3D modeling and rendering, especially for studios, Maya is the go-to resource. However, Blender is the perfect solution for smaller companies and even exhibits a smaller learning curve.
What is the optimal storage configuration for Blender?
When it comes to tackling Blender’s storage requirements, you need to focus on cached data, archived files, and temporary files. Therefore, it is advisable to go for a minimum 2-drive configuration, including an SSD module and an HDD storage unit. If the laptop comes with another upgradeable slot for SSD storage, the “read and write” performance gets a proper boost.
Can I use gaming laptops for creative 3D tasks?
Gaming laptops can handle creative 3D tasks with ease. Most gaming laptops feature 9th generation H-series processors with at least 6 cores to rely on. Additionally, the featured GPU and existing VRAM help improve rendering outputs. Lastly, these devices feature innovative thermal designs, which can prevent overheating despite hours of professional indulgence.
The verdict
When buying a laptop for blending (3D editing and animation), make sure you choose the correct graphics card. The GPU will make a difference in the world when it comes to creating special effects. In addition to the GPU, a fast processor is also a must, as it will do all the math for you. These graphics cards and processors tend to be very expensive, so choose based on the size of your project.
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