Best Laptops for
Music Production - 2023

Why Choose a Laptop to Record and Produce Music?

If you’re a music enthusiast, composer, producer, or DJ, you know that having a reliable and powerful laptop is an absolute necessity in today’s digital music landscape.

Gone are the days when musicians were confined to traditional recording studios filled with bulky equipment. With advancements in technology, laptops have become the heart and soul of music production, offering the freedom and flexibility to create, record, edit, and mix music anywhere you go.

But not all laptops are created equal when it comes to handling the demanding requirements of music production. That’s where we come in. We understand the unique needs of musicians and producers and have curated a selection of the finest laptops specifically designed to cater to those needs.

Why do you need a specialized laptop for music production? Well, the answer lies in the intricate nature of the music production process. From running resource-intensive digital audio workstations (DAWs) to handling multiple tracks, plugins, and effects. a laptop with the correct spec in essential. Music production demands processing power, ample storage, low latency, and superior audio capabilities—all of which are crucial for a seamless and immersive creative experience.

Read on for our top rankings of the best laptops for recording and producing music.

The Best Laptops for Music Production 2023

	BEST OVERALL	BEST WINDOWS	BEST MACBOOK *	BEST CHROMEBOOK
PREVIEW
NAME	Macbook Pro (2021) M1	Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Nano G1	MacBook Air (2022) M2 *	ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5
SCREEN	14-inch Liquid Retina 2560×1664	13-inch 2160 x 1350	13.6-inch Liquid Retina 2560×1664	14-inch Touchscreen Full HD 1920×1080
CPU	M1 Pro	Intel i7	M2 Pro	Intel Core i3
RAM	16/32 GB	16 GB	8/24 GB	8 GB
STORAGE	512 GB - 8 TB	512 GB	256GB - 2TB	128 GB SSD
PURCHASE ONLINE	BUY ON AMAZON	BUY ON AMAZON	BUY ON AMAZON	BUY ON AMAZON

*Note - Why Two MacBooks Recommended?

You may be wondering why I picked MacBook Pro (2021) M1 as the best overall laptop for music production and the MacBook Air (2022) M2 as the best MacBook for music production. I must admit it wasn’t an easy decision to make, as both models have unique strengths and features that make them great choices for music production.

What makes MacBook Air M2 the best MacBook for music production is the latest and most advanced M2 chip, which offers even faster processing power and enhanced graphics performance. However, this comes at a considerable cost, as it is priced significantly higher than the MacBook Pro (2021) M1.

Although M2 has improved performance, one potential drawback is its small 13-inch screen size, which may not provide an optimal viewing experience when working on intricate audio tracks. As such, it may be necessary to invest in an external monitor for use.

On the other hand, the MacBook Pro M1 offers a great combination of performance and value for money with its powerful M1 chip and lightweight design. And while the M2 MacBook Air may offer slightly better performance, the difference is negligible for most music production needs. Plus, the 2021 MacBook Pro M1 is an excellent choice for those who want a high-performing laptop at a more affordable price point, thus making it the overall best.

Best overall - Macbook Pro (2021) M1

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SCREEN	14-inch Liquid Retina 2560×1664
CPU	M1 Pro
RAM	16 / 32 GB
STORAGE	512 GB - 8 TB

Apple is one of the most popular and recognized laptop brands. It is true that if we compare it with other brands, it is much more expensive, but its quality is also superior to that of the competition.

What makes this laptop the best option for music production is that it’s very robust, reliable, and has powerful performance. This 14-inch version with the M1 chip is even more powerful AND has additional connectors.

The chip is actually a combination of GPU and CPU. To save you the technical details: all the different parts of the system work better together. And with a battery life of around 14 hours, the chip is also more economical. It already looks like the best laptop for music production.

Of course, you’ll still be using external speakers to produce music, but if you’re working in your chair for a while or on the road on the tour bus, good-quality speakers are welcome. Additionally, there is a separate audio output that can handle high-impedance studio headphones.

REASONS TO BUY
Fast chip Good speakers Audio output suitable for high impedance

REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive

Best Windows laptop for Music Production 2023 -
Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Nano G1

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SCREEN	13-inch, 2160 x 1350
CPU	Intel i7
RAM	16 GB
STORAGE	512 GB

If you do more than music production and therefore prefer Windows, the best laptop for music production is Lenovo’s ThinkPad. It is a powerful, lightweight, and compact laptop with a beautiful design.

The workhorse of this computer is the Intel i7 processor, which keeps your software running fast. With the 16 GB of RAM, you can open large Ableton or Pro Tools sessions effortlessly. During long sessions, the active cooling system comes into play to keep performance at its peak. Remember, however, that the noise can interfere with recordings. The 13-inch screen is crisp and bright with a 2K resolution.

The operating system of this laptop is Windows 10 Pro. This is a very stable and secure release that definitely comes close to MacOS. The big advantage of Windows is that you have a lot more options and can troubleshoot more easily. Compared to previous Windows laptops, the blue screen is also less common. The big downside is that software like Logic Pro X and some big plugin developers only target MacOS.

Other than that, this laptop has two USB-C ports and an audio input. That’s enough for an interface, a hard drive, and your studio headphones.

REASONS TO BUY
Windows 10 Pro Lightweight Crisp and bright screen

REASONS TO AVOID
Noisier cooling system

Best MacBook for Music Production 2023 -
MacBook Air (2022) M2

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SCREEN	13.6-inch Liquid Retina 2560×1664
CPU	M2 Pro
RAM	8 / 24 GB
STORAGE	256 GB - 2 TB

The best MacBook for music production is the Apple MacBook Air M2. Its price is higher than that of some Windows computers with the same specifications, but its reliability is unmatched. Most music apps are made for MacOS because most musicians and producers now use Apple. All music software works smoothly on MacOS.

A second reason to choose this model is its updated M2 chip. Apple developed it, especially for its laptops, and it allows the whole system to work very efficiently. As a result, producers with 8 GB of RAM have little trouble recording and editing. Only with very elaborate projects with many tracks, effects, plugins, and programmed instruments can get things a bit slower.

Chip efficiency also impacts battery life. The manufacturer gives a battery life of 18 hours, which is quite high. In addition, this new version has the MagSafe charging port. The downside, only two USB-c ports are provided. At 1.24 kilograms, the laptop itself is very light. Therefore, you can easily slip it into your backpack or handbag.

And do you want to know more about the Retina Display? It has 5 million pixels, so it gives you razor-sharp text and images.

REASONS TO BUY
Efficient processor Lightweight Reliable

REASONS TO AVOID
Only two USB-C ports

Best Chromebook for Music Production 2023 -
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SCREEN	14-inch Touchscreen Full HD 1920×1080
CPU	Intel Core i3
RAM	8 GB
STORAGE	128 GB SSD

The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 ranks high as one of the best Chromebook laptops for Music Production in 2023. And can you guess why? With its premium build quality and top-of-the-line specifications, it is an excellent choice for music producers who require a reliable and high-performing device.

This Chromebook is equipped with an 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, which delivers outstanding performance and can handle multiple tasks with ease. Additionally, its Thunderbolt 4 port offers lightning-fast data transfer speeds, making it a convenient choice for those who frequently transfer large files.

The 14-inch touchscreen display and included stylus provides a versatile and user-friendly experience, making it easy to take notes or create music with precision. All in all, if you’re looking for the best Chromebook laptop for music production, the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 is an excellent choice that won’t disappoint.