Choosing the best laptop for PRO Tools

In Video production


If you're a professional musician or audio engineer who uses Pro Tools, you need a powerful laptop that can handle the demands of your work.
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In this article, we'll take a look at some of the best laptops for Pro Tools, with detailed specifications and customer reviews to help you make an informed decision.

Pro Tools is a powerful digital audio workstation (DAW) used by musicians, audio engineers, and other professionals in the music and audio industries. To get the most out of Pro Tools, you need a laptop that can handle the demands of recording, editing, mixing, and mastering complex audio projects. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the best laptops for Pro Tools, with detailed specifications and customer reviews to help you make an informed decision.

Laptop Model Technical Specifications Pros Cons Amazon Link
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch 10th-gen Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics, 16-inch Retina display, up to 1TB SSD storage High-performance, Retina display, quality build Expensive https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-16-inch-512GB-Storage/dp/B08L5SHHTX
Dell XPS 15 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti graphics, 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen display, up to 1TB SSD storage Sleek design, 4K touchscreen display No Thunderbolt 3 port https://www.amazon.com/Dell-XPS-15-9500-Intel/dp/B08D7TRKR9
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 2060 graphics, 15.6-inch 4K OLED touchscreen display, secondary 14-inch 4K ScreenPad Plus display Innovative design, 4K OLED display, ScreenPad Plus Heavy, short battery life https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ZenBook-UX581-i7-9750H-Innovative/dp/B07WZGJYV5
HP Spectre x360 14 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 14-inch 4K OLED touchscreen display, up to 1TB SSD storage Slim design, long battery life Limited port selection https://www.amazon.com/HP-Touchscreen-Thunderbolt-Fingerprint-Accessory/dp/B08W8ZLCKD
Razer Blade 15 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics, 15.6-inch Full HD 144Hz display, up to 1TB SSD storage Quality build, high-performance Expensive https://www.amazon.com/Razer-Blade-Base-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B08XRSZHQ5
MSI GS66 Stealth 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics, 15.6-inch Full HD 240Hz display, up to 1TB SSD storage High-performance, efficient cooling system Mediocre battery life https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GS66-Stealth-10SFS-440-i7-10875H/dp/B08PZQZG4M
Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA Quadro RTX 2060 graphics, 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen display, up to 1TB SSD storage Innovative design, high-performance Heavy, expensive https://www.amazon.com/Acer-ConceptD-CP714-51-76ZK-Creator-i7-10750H/dp/B08D5K5J5B

 

Best Laptops for Pro Tools

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch

This laptop is a popular choice among music producers and sound engineers due to its powerful 10th-gen Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB of RAM, and dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics card. It also features a large 16-inch Retina display and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The laptop has received high praise from customers for its performance and build quality.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-16-inch-512GB-Storage/dp/B08L5SHHTX

Customer Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,051 reviews)

Dell XPS 15

This laptop features a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti graphics card. It also boasts a 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen display and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The laptop has received high praise from customers for its performance and sleek design.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dell-XPS-15-9500-Intel/dp/B08D7TRKR9

Customer Reviews: 4.6 out of 5 stars (653 reviews)

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581

This laptop features a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and NVIDIA RTX 2060 graphics card. It also boasts a 15.6-inch 4K OLED touchscreen display and a secondary 14-inch 4K ScreenPad Plus display. The laptop has received high praise from customers for its performance and innovative design.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ZenBook-UX581-i7-9750H-Innovative/dp/B07WZGJYV5

Customer Reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars (173 reviews)

HP Spectre x360 14

This laptop features an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. It also boasts a 14-inch 4K OLED touchscreen display and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The laptop has received high praise from customers for its performance and battery life.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/HP-Touchscreen-Thunderbolt-Fingerprint-Accessory/dp/B08W8ZLCKD

Customer Reviews: 4.4 out of 5 stars (120 reviews)

Razer Blade 15

This laptop features a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics card. It also boasts a 15.6-inch Full HD 144Hz display and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The laptop has received high praise from customers for its performance and build quality.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Razer-Blade-Base-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B08XRSZHQ5

Customer Reviews: 4.6 out of 5 stars (393 reviews)

MSI GS66 Stealth

This laptop features a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics card. It also boasts a 15.6-inch Full HD 240Hz display and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The laptop has received high praise from customers for its performance and cooling system.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GS66-Stealth-10SFS-440-i7-10875H/dp/B08PZQZG4M

Customer Reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars (53 reviews)

Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel

This laptop features a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and NVIDIA Quadro RTX 2060 graphics card. It also boasts a 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen display and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The laptop has received high praise from customers for its performance and unique design that allows the display to be positioned in multiple orientations.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Acer-ConceptD-CP714-51-76ZK-Creator-i7-10750H/dp/B08D5K5J5B

Customer Reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars (7 reviews)

All of these laptops are great choices for running Pro Tools and have received positive feedback from customers. It's important to consider your specific needs and budget when choosing the best laptop for your work in music production and sound engineering.

Factors to consider when choosing the best laptop for PRO Tools

Processor

The processor is the brain of your laptop, and it's essential for running Pro Tools smoothly. Look for a laptop with at least an Intel Core i5 processor or equivalent AMD processor. Ideally, you should choose a laptop with a quad-core processor, as this will give you the power you need to handle complex audio projects.

RAM

Pro Tools is a memory-intensive application, so you'll need plenty of RAM to ensure smooth performance. Look for a laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM, but preferably 16 GB or more. This will allow you to run multiple tracks and plugins without experiencing lag or crashes.

Storage

When it comes to storage, you'll need enough space to store your Pro Tools projects and associated files. Look for a laptop with at least 256 GB of SSD storage, but preferably 512 GB or more. An SSD will give you faster boot and load times, which can be crucial when working on time-sensitive projects.

Graphics Card

While a dedicated graphics card isn't strictly necessary for running Pro Tools, it can help with visual effects and other intensive tasks. Look for a laptop with at least an Intel Iris Xe Graphics or equivalent dedicated graphics card. This will give you the power you need to run high-quality audio plugins and visual effects.

Display

A high-quality display is important when working with audio projects, as it allows you to see details and colors accurately. Look for a laptop with at least a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution display. A larger display can be helpful when working with multiple tracks and plugins simultaneously.

Connectivity

You'll need to be able to connect your laptop to other devices and the internet easily. Look for a laptop with Wi-Fi 6 and a range of ports, including USB-C and Thunderbolt. These ports will allow you to connect to external hard drives, audio interfaces, and other peripherals.

Portability

If you're a professional musician or audio engineer, you may need to work on projects in different locations. Look for a laptop that's lightweight and has good battery life, so you can work on the go without being tethered to an outlet.

Conclusion

Choosing the right laptop for Pro Tools is essential for ensuring smooth performance and productivity. When shopping for a laptop, consider factors like processor, RAM, storage capacity, and graphics card. The laptops we've recommended - Apple MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 15, ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, HP Spectre x360, and Razer Blade 15 - all meet these requirements and have received high praise from customers.

Ultimately, the best laptop for Pro Tools will depend on your individual needs and budget. It's important to do your research and consider all factors before making a purchase. We hope this article has provided you with useful information and recommendations to help you make an informed decision.