10 Best Laptops for Pro Tools

To produce and record high-quality music, you need a powerful laptop model and highly compatible with supporting software like Pro Tools.

However, not many devices meet the needs of professional studio use. And if you’re having difficulty finding the right one, check out the suggestions below.

To choose the suitable models with Pro Tools for audio processing, I have spent a lot of time checking to give objective reviews.

Whether you are an amateur music producer or a professional, these laptops below can all meet your needs quite well.

Let’s find out right now!

1. Apple 2023 MacBook Pro

Apple 2023 MacBook Pro

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 14.2″
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Hard Disk: 512GB
  • CPU: Apple M3 chip
  • Graphics Card: Integrated

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What We Like

  • Enduring.
  • Vivid LED display.
  • Powerful dual-core processor.
  • Elegant unibody aluminum design.
  • Equipped with four Thunderbolt ports.

Thing To Consider

  • USB ports are not supported.

Product’s Highlight

The Apple 2023 MacBook Pro is the first laptop I used when I started my career as a music producer. After years of use, this laptop is still powerful enough to run Pro Tools and many other popular DAWs.

The power of this model comes from Apple M3 chip and 8GB RAM. Its 8-core processor maintains strong performance, even when handling the heaviest tasks.

In addition to the powerful processor, I chose and used this model for a long time because of its beautiful design and vivid display.

Right at the first contact, I was conquered by the high-end monolithic design, thinness, and lightness of this MacBook model. Meanwhile, the LED-backlit display provides a great workspace that only Apple has.

My only complaint about this laptop model is that it does not support USB ports. To connect to peripherals, you must use the Thunderbolt port or purchase an additional adapter.

2. BiTECOOL HaloBook

BiTECOOL HaloBook

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 15.6″
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Hard Disk: 512GB
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-5005U
  • Graphics Card: Integrated

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What We Like

  • Reasonable price.
  • Extended working hours.
  • Support multiple ports
  • Easily import and export data.
  • Compact, highly portable.

Thing To Consider

  • Uncomfortable typing experience.

Product’s Highlight

If Apple models have limited ports that make it challenging to work with Pro Tools, consider using BiTECOOL HaloBook.

It supports connectivity via USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Mini HD, Micro SD, DC, and 3.5mm jacks. I had no trouble importing or exporting multimedia files with this variety.

Although it supports several ports, it surprisingly does not come with a VGA connection. On the contrary, it is thinner and lighter with high mobility to help me get work done anywhere.

Yet, after using it for a while, I discovered some disadvantages of this model. Some of them are unstable typing and inconsistent processing performance.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 15.6″
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Hard Disk: 256GB
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 6600H
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050

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What We Like

  • Compact design.
  • Extended battery life.
  • There is support for fast charging.
  • New generation powerful processor.
  • Meet the needs of work and entertainment well.

Thing To Consider

  • Memory capacity is a bit limited.

Product’s Highlight

DAW software like Pro Tools consumes a lot of device resources. Therefore, the computer needs a powerful processor to run this software smoothly. And the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is such a model!

It has the latest AMD Ryzen 6600H processor, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and 256GB SSD storage. With the equipment, IdeaPad Gaming 3 always handles Pro Tools well.

I also tried playing some heavy games on the machine. And not too surprisingly, it still gives an excellent performance to meet my entertainment needs well.

In my experience, high-performance models will often have poor battery life.

Yet, this Lenovo laptop is an exception. This high-performance slim, lightweight model offers up to 8 hours of battery life, which is enough for my workday.

Overall, I am pretty satisfied with the performance and battery of this model. The only problem I think Lenovo can do better is improving memory capacity.

4. Asus TUF Dash 15

Asus TUF Dash 15

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 15.6″
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Hard Disk: 512GB
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-12650H
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

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What We Like

  • High mobility.
  • Long battery life.
  • Powerful Performance.
  • Slim and lightweight design.
  • Good resistance to impact, water, and dirt.

Thing To Consider

  • Noisy fan.

Product’s Highlight

In my first contact, the Asus TUF Dash 15 surprised me with its durable design.

It is pretty thin, but the frame is excellent. The Asus TUF is one of the few models I’ve used that has passed the US military-standard durability test.

But only a durable laptop model will not be able to serve my work well. And fortunately, the TUF Dash 15 is not such a laptop.

It is as powerful as any name on the list of best laptops for Pro Tools. During my work with the machine, I was delighted with the processing performance of the 12th-generation Intel Core CPU.

However, the strong performance also unintentionally heats the body with heavy tasks. The fan is pretty noisy when the cooling system operates at total capacity.

5. Apple 2021 MacBook Pro

Apple 2021 MacBook Pro

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 16″
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Hard Disk: 1TB
  • CPU: Apple M1 Pro chip
  • Graphics Card: Integrated

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What We Like

  • Loudspeaker.
  • Powerful processor.
  • Great working screen.
  • Long battery life up to 21 hours.
  • Compatible with many music applications.

Thing To Consider

  • High price.

Product’s Highlight

Apple has equipped the MacBook Pro with all the features needed to handle Pro Tools and similar DAW software well.

One of the manufacturer’s equipment I appreciate is powerful hardware. MacBook has an Apple M1 Pro chip that integrates a high-performance GPU and CPU. Its power is enough to run any music production software smoothly.

I always favor Apple products, especially the MacBook Pro, the proprietary operating system macOS.

The best music production software is available on this operating system. And I can easily download and work with audio processing software.

Also, the MacBook Pro owns many notable features, such as a beautiful display, large-capacity speakers, and long-lasting battery life.

MacBook Pro is currently the perfect choice for music production with all the advantages. Although the money you have to spend is not cheap, the experience I received was completely worth it.

6. Chuwi HeroBook Pro

Chuwi HeroBook Pro

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 14.1″
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Hard Disk: 128GB
  • CPU: Intel Celeron N4020
  • Graphics Card: Integrated

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What We Like

  • Good energy saving.
  • Various connectivity ports.
  • Smooth handling of basic tasks.
  • Good handling of Pro Tools software.
  • Good performance for everyday tasks.

Thing To Consider

  • Poor heat dissipation.

Product’s Highlight

To handle complex tasks with Pro Tools, a computer needs a powerful CPU and enough RAM. The requirements above make finding an affordable laptop for music production quite challenging.

After a long time of testing, I finally found the Chuwi HeroBook Pro, a good budget laptop model that meets the needs of Pro Tools.

Due to the relatively affordable price, neither Chuwi’s GPU nor CPU is too powerful. Yet, the device saves energy quite well, smoothly handling daily tasks.

Not taking the edge when it comes to performance, but when it comes to the number of ports, Chuwi comes out on top. It supports USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Micro HD, M.2, and other ports. The large number of ports above makes connecting to creative tools no longer too difficult.

Another commendable advantage of this good budget model is its compact design. However, just because the thickness of the machine is quite limited, the cooling capacity of the radiator is not too impressive.

7. Dell Inspiron 15

Dell Inspiron 15

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 15.6″
  • RAM: 32GB
  • Hard Disk: 1TB
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-1355U
  • Graphics Card: Integrated

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What We Like

  • Good multitasking.
  • Large Capacity SSD Hard Drive.
  • CPU meets the needs of daily use.
  • 32GB of RAM helps handle all tasks quickly.
  • Various connection ports.
  • Touchscreen Display

Thing To Consider

  • The display quality is not too excellent.

Product’s Highlight

During my work, I have to save large files. To save or access files quickly, I always prefer using devices with SSDs with large capacities like Dell Inspiron 15.

This laptop model has a hard drive of up to 1TB. With ample storage space, I easily save my work results. The machine also boots up quite quickly, retrieving information without delay when I use it.

In addition to the impressive solid-state drive, Dell also equips this model with many features that help with audio production. Some of them can be mentioned, such as diverse connectivity ports, powerful enough CPU, and 32GB RAM to help increase processing speed.

The unfortunate point of this model is that the screen’s display quality is not well done. Yet, this drawback is not too serious with my need to work with audio.

8. HP Ultral Light

HP Ultral Light

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 14″
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Hard Disk: 192GB
  • CPU: Intel Core N4120
  • Graphics Card: Integrated

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What We Like

  • Anti-glare screen.
  • Ready to work anywhere.
  • Compact, highly portable.
  • More than 11 hours of battery life.
  • Handle Pro Tools software strongly.

Thing To Consider

  • Limited workspace.

Product’s Highlight

If you’re a busy person on the go, you’ll probably need thin and light computers that perform well enough to be ready to work anywhere. And HP Ultral Light is such a laptop model.

It has a pretty neat design, and the usage time is more than 11 hours. I always carry HP Ultral Light on business trips because of these two advantages.

This dual-core model is powerful enough that I can use Pro Tools or other editing options anywhere.

However, HP Ultral Light’s compact design with only an 14” screen is also a drawback of this laptop model. The display area is not too spacious, making it difficult for me to work with Pro Tools.

9. HP 17 Touchscreen

HP 17 Touchscreen

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 17.3″
  • RAM: 32GB
  • Hard Disk: 1TB
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-1255U
  • Graphics Card: Integrated

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What We Like

  • Touchscreen.
  • Powerful CPU.
  • Memory capacity up to 1TB.
  • 32GB RAM supports multitasking.
  • Spacious workspace with high brightness.

Thing To Consider

  • Safe mode isn’t too helpful.

Product’s Highlight

HP 17 handles complex tasks quite well, both for work and play. Even multitasking can’t make this 32GB RAM laptop difficult.

Another advantage that makes the HP 17 the perfect model for multitasking is the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics technology.

While this device will not provide the image processing power I would like, it is suitable for my multitasking work habits.

Finally, I appreciate the HP’s 17.3-inch widescreen, high-brightness anti-glare IPS panel. HP has brought a model with the most impressive workspace, which significantly helps my music composition.

Another piece of equipment that HP provides for this model is safe mode. Yet, I do not appreciate this feature. Because when the computer is secure, it is almost impossible for me to download programs that are not in the Microsoft store.

10. MSI Katana 17

MSI Katana 17

Important Specifications

  • Screen Size: 17″
  • RAM: 32GB
  • Hard Disk: 1TB
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-13620H
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060

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What We Like

  • Memory 1TB SSD.
  • Support multiple ports
  • High-bandwidth 32GB RAM.
  • Powerful 10-core processor.
  • Satisfy the daily handling needs well.

Thing To Consider

  • The fan noise is quite loud.

Product’s Highlight

I pay attention to CPU and RAM when choosing a laptop for Pro Tools. And the 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 32GB RAM of the MSI Katana 17 satisfied me.

The high-bandwidth 6-core processor makes it smooth to handle Pro Tools and other business-friendly software. The 1TB SSD is impressive enough for me to expand the storage space for backups and data retrieval of multimedia files.

Finally, this model meets the daily processing needs well with various ports, including 4 USB ports, HDMI, and an ethernet port. I had almost no trouble connecting it to any peripherals during my work.

My only problem is that the fan noise is quite loud to handle heavy tasks. However, with its affordable price, this drawback is entirely acceptable.

Buying Guides

Avid Pro Tools Audio Interfaces

Here are some criteria I pay attention to when buying the right laptop with Pro Tools. You can refer to these criteria to choose for yourself the ideal products.

CPU

The more powerful the CPU, the smoother Pro Tools runs. For uninterrupted work experience, ensure your laptop has an Intel Core i5 or higher processor.

If the budget allows, prioritize models with Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs to handle the most complex tasks well.

RAM

High-bandwidth, large-capacity RAM will provide a smooth multitasking experience. I recommend using laptops with at least 8GB of RAM to avoid problems running music production programs. The lower amount of RAM will slow the laptop process, having many issues.

Warehouse

Pro Tools is software that takes up a lot of space. Besides, music production also requires you to store a lot of multimedia files.

For more accessible storage and retrieval of files, you can work with models with 512GB of memory. 1TB SSD memory is optimal for providing ample storage space and a short boot time.

Display

Doing work related to audio production, you will not have many strict requirements for the screen’s display quality. To have a spacious workspace suitable for multitasking, you should choose laptops with a minimum size of 14”.

Ports

To work with Pro Tools, you must connect your computer to various peripherals. Therefore, the number of connection ports is also an issue you need to consider when choosing a laptop.

A laptop model that meets essential music production needs to own three important ports: USB, HDMI, and Thunderbolt ports. Also, if you want to import and export audio files quickly, you prefer devices that support the SD port.

Mobility

The mobility of your laptop depends on your usage habits. If you’re a busy person on the go, you’ll love the slim, compact devices and excellent battery life.

Whereas if you simply work from home, you shouldn’t sacrifice performance to get a slim, light laptop.

FAQs

How much RAM do I need for Pro Tools?

4GB is the minimum amount of RAM for Pro Tools. However, 8GB of RAM is an excellent choice for the smoothest working experience.

Is Mac or Windows better for Pro Tools?

Pro Tools is significantly compatible with Mac. Some DAWs are more consistent with Apple’s proprietary operating system than Windows.

Do you need 32GB RAM for Pro Tools?

8GB of RAM is more than enough to run Pro Tools. The more RAM, the better the multitasking ability, including running Pro Tools.

Can I run Pro Tools on a laptop?

You can completely use Pro Tools on your laptop if your device meets the operating system and processor requirements.

How much CPU should Pro Tools use?

According to some tests, Pro Tools uses up to 50% CPU.

Conclusion

The Apple 2023 MacBook Pro has been a popular model for years with many producers. Up to now, it remains one of my favorite versions overall.

I am also quite impressed with the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 because of its powerful processing performance and multitasking.

The remaining models in our list are also worth checking out and testing. I believe that no matter what you choose from this list, you will be satisfied with the experience it brings.

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

Thank you for reading!