New Windows laptops and MacBooks with a fast processor and at least 16 GB of memory, so big sessions with virtual instruments and plugins play back without dropouts.
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89 models
Matching configuration: Snapdragon X2 Plus · Built-in · 16 GB · 256 GB · 13" 3K OLED
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Apple M5 · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14.2" 3K 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 13.4" 2.5K IPS 180Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 260 · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+ IPS 180Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Snapdragon X Plus · Built-in · 16 GB · 256 GB · 12" Full HD+
Full specsMatching configuration: Snapdragon X Plus · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 13" 3K 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" Full HD+
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" Full HD+
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+ IPS
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core i5-13420H · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 15.6" Full HD
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i5-14450HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" Full HD+ 165Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" Full HD+ IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+ IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 285H · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 250 · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" Full HD+ IPS
Full specsMatching configuration: Apple M5 Pro · Built-in · 24 GB · 1 TB · 14.2" 3K OLED
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 386H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 5 225H · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" Full HD+ IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core 7 240H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" 2.5K 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" Full HD+ IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 · Built-in · 24 GB · 1 TB · 14" Full HD+ OLED
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" Full HD+ IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core i5-13420H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 · 16 GB · 512 GB · 15.6" Full HD IPS 165Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 285H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14.5" 2.5K 165Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" 2.5K IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core i7-13700H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" 2.5K IPS
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 3K OLED
Full specsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+ IPS
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+ OLED
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" 2.5K OLED 240Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti · 32 GB · 1 TB · 18" WQXGA 300Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Apple M5 · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 13.6" 2.5K IPS
Full specsMatching configuration: Apple M5 · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 15.3" 3K IPS
Full specsMatching configuration: Apple M5 Pro · Built-in · 24 GB · 1 TB · 14.2" 3K 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Apple M6 · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14.2" 3K 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Apple M5 Pro · Built-in · 24 GB · 1 TB · 16.2" 3K 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" 2.5K 165Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i9-14900HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 18" Full HD+ 144Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 2.5K IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 18" 4K Mini-LED 240Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 9 270 · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core i5-13450HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" Full HD+ 165Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 386H · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i7-13620H · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" 2.5K 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i7-13850HX · NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Laptop · 64 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H · Built-in · 16 GB · 256 GB · 14" Full HD+
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 13.4" 2.5K 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+ 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 2.5K IPS 165Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i7-13620H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" Full HD+ IPS 165Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop · 32 GB · 2 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i7-14700HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 2.5K IPS 240Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Snapdragon X2 Elite · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 356H · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: NVIDIA RTX Spark N1X · NVIDIA Blackwell RTX 6144-core GPU · 64 GB · 2 TB · 16" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i5-13420H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 · 16 GB · 512 GB · 15.6" Full HD IPS 144Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" 3K OLED 120Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 250 · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 15.3" 2.5K OLED 165Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti · 16 GB · 1 TB · 16" 2.5K OLED 165Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core i9-14900HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" 2.5K IPS 240Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 2.5K OLED 240Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 250 · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 · 16 GB · 512 GB · 15.6" Full HD IPS 144Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i7-13650HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 · 16 GB · 1 TB · 15.6" Full HD IPS 144Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 4K OLED
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 365 · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14" Full HD+ IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 14" Full HD+ IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 365 · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14" Full HD+ IPS
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 15.3" 3K OLED 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 15.3" 3K OLED 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 170 · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 15.6" Full HD
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" Full HD+ OLED
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 14" 3K OLED 120Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Snapdragon X2 Plus · Built-in · 16 GB · 1 TB · 14" Full HD+ OLED
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Snapdragon X Plus · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 13.8" 2K
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Snapdragon X2 Plus · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 13.8" 2K
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Snapdragon X2 Plus · Built-in · 16 GB · 512 GB · 15" 2K
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 32 GB · 2 TB · 18" 2.5K IPS 240Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core 7 240H · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 · 16 GB · 1 TB · 17.3" Full HD 144Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core i9-14900HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 32 GB · 1 TB · 15.6" 2.5K 165Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti · 16 GB · 512 GB · 16" Full HD+ 144Hz
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti · 32 GB · 1 TB · 18" 4K 240Hz
Specs and configurationsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra 7 356H · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 3K OLED
Full specsMatching configuration: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H · Built-in · 32 GB · 1 TB · 16" 3K OLED
Specs and configurationsA music laptop is judged by what happens when a project gets big. Every laptop on this page runs Windows or macOS, has a fast processor and at least 16 GB of memory, and is sold new. That’s the baseline for running a full session with virtual instruments and effects without dropouts.
The processor carries the load. Every synth, sampler, compressor and reverb you add is calculated in real time by the CPU. When it can’t keep up, you hear clicks and pops, and you have to raise the buffer size, which makes playing live parts feel laggy. Strong single-core speed helps with low-latency recording; more cores help with big mixes. Apple’s M-series chips and recent Intel Core Ultra 7 and AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 chips all handle large sessions.
Memory sets how many sounds you can load. Sample libraries stream from storage but keep part of each instrument in RAM. 16 GB covers beat-making, electronic production and podcasting. Orchestral and film work with large libraries is where 32 GB or more earns its money, and on most thin laptops memory can’t be added later, so buy for the projects you plan to make.
Storage speed and size matter too. An SSD loads samples fast, but libraries are huge: a single orchestral collection can take hundreds of gigabytes. Choose 1 TB if you can, or plan for an external SSD.
Quiet is part of the spec. A laptop whose fans spin up during a vocal take ends up on the recording. Thin laptops without a dedicated graphics card, and fanless models like the MacBook Air, stay quiet. Gaming laptops are fast but often loud under load.
Count your ports. Audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards and controllers all want a connection. USB-C or Thunderbolt suits modern interfaces; a USB-A port saves you a dongle for older gear. Each laptop’s spec sheet lists its ports.
Pick the system your software runs on. Logic Pro is Mac only. FL Studio, Ableton Live, Cubase, Studio One, Reaper and Bitwig run on both Windows and macOS, so the choice comes down to your plugins, your interface drivers and what you like using.
Performing as well as producing? See laptops for DJing, which adds battery and weight limits for gigs.
A fast processor and at least 16 GB of memory are the core. The processor decides how many tracks, virtual instruments and effects play back before audio crackles; memory decides how many sample libraries you can load. Add a fast SSD with 1 TB or more if you use big orchestral or drum libraries.
Neither is better in general. Logic Pro and GarageBand are Mac only, and Apple's chips run audio work cool and quiet, which is why MacBooks are common in studios. FL Studio, Ableton Live, Cubase, Reaper and Bitwig run on both, and Windows laptops give you more ports and choice at every price. Check that your audio interface and plugins support your system.
For most producers, yes. Electronic music with synths and samples rarely needs more. Orchestral templates with large sampled instruments, or film scoring sessions with hundreds of tracks, are where 32 GB or 64 GB pays off.
No. Audio work runs on the processor. A dedicated graphics card adds weight and fan noise and only helps if you also edit video or play games.
Not for serious work. The main DAWs and plugins don't run on ChromeOS, which is why only Windows laptops and MacBooks are listed here.