7 Best Laptops for Interior Design in 2023

Interior design work, just like architecture, is much easier with a reliable and portable laptop. You don’t want the device to overheat under a heavy workload or render models for hours.

Contrary to common belief, you don’t necessarily need an expensive rig. Just consider the recommended system requirements of all the design software you use, and you should be fine. 

However, the more complex your design, the more powerful the laptop you need. 

As we looked for the best laptops for interior design, CPU and GPU performance were our top priorities. We also considered laptop display, amount of RAM, and ergonomic design, among other features.

Our extensive review process included the most popular 3D modeling software currently available. It wasn’t easy, but these seven rigs turned out to be the best laptops for interior designers. 

Wanna find out more? Let’s do it.

Minimum & Recommended System Requirements

Interior design requires professional software tools. Students can work with entry to mid-level laptops. Professional designers should rely on beefier rigs for future-proof reasons and handling more complex projects.

Top 7 Laptops for Interior Design

While there aren’t any laptops made just for interior design, in most cases, gaming laptops will do just fine because they have a dedicated graphics card. 

However, if you want to learn about the best picks for interior design — here they are!

1. Amazing Value & Performance: Sager 2023 NP8875D

Sager 2023 NP8875D

• CPU: 2.2 Ghz Intel Core i9-13900HX
• RAM: 32GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 17.3-inch QHD (2560 x 1440)
• GPU: 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$1,679.00

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If you want one of the best laptops for interior design — that still remains relatively affordable — Sager is a professional-level machine you’re looking for.

This Clevo laptop lists some serious specs. A 13th Gen. i9 and an RTX 4060 rank up high, performance-wise. This combo is meant for professional designers and will fly through complex projects, CAD tools, and 3D modeling.

Add to that 32GB of the latest DDR5 RAM, and there’s no chance of lags or annoying stutter while you work on your next masterpiece.

I also like what Sager did with the display. With combos like these, you’d expect either a color-accurate or a fast display. But no — Sager packed both color accuracy and a high refresh rate in a gorgeous 17.3” display. It’s crisp, vivid and great to work on.

Plus, the whole thing looks sleek and premium, even though it’s much more affordable than similar configurations. The polished, elegant chassis works great with a backlit and comfy keyboard with a spacious trackpad.

Like most powerful laptops, Sager tends to get hot every now and then, so make sure to get a good cooling pad.

And, at a little over 6 lbs, this machine is a bit on the heavier side, so just be aware of that.

But overall, for this price, you get premium specs and an amazing display that can handle any interior design project like a true pro.

2. Portable Powerhouse: ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14

ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14

• CPU: 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 14-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
• GPU: 8GB ‎AMD Radeon RX 6800
• Battery: Up to 10 hours

$1,409.90

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ASUS’ ROG lineup is well-known among gamers, but the Zephyrus also happens to be a great laptop for interior design. Super-powerful, portable and with a beautiful display, ROG Zephyrus 14 is a no-brainer for people on the go.

Zephyrus houses a strong Ryzen 9 processor and a newer, integrated Radeon Vega GPU. In benchmark tests, this laptop always scores pretty high, so when it comes to interior design software, it will perform outstandingly.

This is especially true when you consider Zephyrus’ DDR5 RAM, and 16 gigs of it. It’s a pretty solid number for interior design, but if you happen to work on ultra-large assemblies, I’d upgrade to 32GB.

The laptop comes with a gorgeous, hi-res, 14” WQXGA display. It’s super-bright at 500 nits and DCI-P3 approved, so very color-accurate. I think all the interior designers will appreciate the quality of this panel.

ROG Zephyrus is one of the few gaming laptops with beefed-up specs that manages to remain very portable. In my tests, I got around 10 hours of battery life, which is awesome. 

And the whole machine weighs 3.6 lbs — so if you’re a commuter, traveler, or just like to work from a cafe, this is your jam.

Similarly to Sager, Zephyrus does occasionally get hot, so a cooling pad is a must.

However, if you want power that you can easily carry around and not pay through the nose to get it, this laptop for interior design is an amazing choice.

3. Affordable Power: Acer Swift X

Acer Swift X

• CPU: 2GHz AMD Ryzen 7 5825U
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 8
• Battery: Up to 10 Hours

$807.00

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Swift X is one of Acer’s most popular budget laptops, and for a good reason. With a strong processor, light weight, and affordable price tag, Acer struck a chord with many people.

Under the hood, Swift X houses a newer Ryzen 7 and an integrated Radeon Vega GPU. For CPU-intensive interior design tasks, Swift will do great. However, if you work on loads of details that require rendering, I’d go for a dedicated GPU instead.

I also like that Acer opted for 16GB RAM in this budget model. Usually, laptop brands put in 8GB that you can upgrade, but that’s not the case here. 16GB RAM is the sweet spot for most tasks nowadays, though you could upgrade it and further boost performance.

Another selling point for Swift X is the display. It’s not the brightest display out there, but the hi-res, 14” panel is very color-accurate, with 100% sRGB.

Plus, the device is pretty portable. You get a very thin chassis that weighs around 3 lbs, so you can carry the laptop to an office, easy-peasy. And with a battery life of about 10 hours, Swift will last a full workday.

Granted, the design could have been better. The overall feel is a bit bland, but you get so many other goodies, right?

So, if you won’t judge a book by its cover, Acer Swift X is an excellent, practical laptop for interior design that will serve you a good number of years.

4. M2 Power and Efficiency: Apple MacBook Pro 16 M2

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M2

• CPU: 3.5GHz Apple M2 12-Core
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 16.2-inch Retina XDR (3456 x 2234)
• GPU: Integrated Apple 19-Core
• Battery: Up to 15 hours

$2,199.99

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Many interior designers, when choosing a laptop, won’t even think about anything else but a MacBook. The latest MacBook Pro 16 M2 makes a compelling case for purchase — with remarkable performance, a crazy-good battery, and a recognizable Apple display.

The newest M2 chip does an amazing job in benchmark tests. With a 19-core GPU, it works wonders with interior design software, 2D / 3D modeling, and rendering.

When you take into account the 16GB of DDR5 RAM, it’s clear why there are no lags, stutter, or crashes.

MacBook Pro comes with a gorgeous 16.2” Retina display that’s hi-res, color-accurate and super-bright. I find it very comfy on the eyes and great to look at during long work hours.

MacBooks are famous for their portability. The latest M2’s battery life is unreal: I legit get 14-15 hours of juice on a single charge. Insane.

Moreover, with 4.8 lbs of weight, this is one of the lighter 16” laptops out there, surpassed only by the likes of LG Gram.

Now, of course, MacBooks are pricey, but I think they’re worth it.

The bigger issue might be the (in)compatibility of your selected software with MacOS, so make sure to check that. Although the most popular interior design tools have long been optimized for Mac.

If you want one of the most trusted laptops for interior design and don’t mind spending a little more — the MacBook Pro M2 is a reliable, durable, great laptop that will serve you for years.

5. Workstation for Professionals: Lenovo ThinkPad P15

Lenovo ThinkPad P15

• CPU: 3.2GHz Intel Xeon W-11855M
• RAM: 64GB DDR4
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch UHD (3840×2160)
• GPU: 8GB NVIDIA RTX A4000
• Battery: Up to 8 Hours

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If you want a serious workstation for interior design that will last a looong time, then there’s really only one choice. Lenovo’s ThinkPad series comes with some of the best workstations, trusted across many industries.

The ThinkPad P15 packs amazing specs: the Intel Xeon processor and an RTX A4000 are professional-level internals aimed at truly complex projects and industry-grade work. This is not child’s play; we’re talking gigantic assemblies, super-detailed modeling, and my-regular-laptop-caught-fire rendering tasks. 

Add the whopping 64GB RAM to these, and you’ll see what I’m getting at.

P15 also comes with a high-quality 15.6” display with very high resolution (3840×2160) and great color accuracy. It’s amazing to work with and provides a great level of detail for interior design projects.

In terms of build quality, the ThinkPad series is some of the best there is. The chassis is military-grade, sturdy, and can withstand harsh environments, as well as everyday wear and tear.

I also love the keyboard. Smile-shaped keys feel very comfy to type on, and the travel distance is just perfect.

Like most workstations, the ThinkPad P15 is on the heavier side. At 6.2 lbs, it’s far from the worst — especially when you consider the beefed-up specs — but it’s worth noting if you’re traveling a lot.

And this is the most expensive laptop for interior design on this list. But, with some of the strongest specs on the market, a really good display, and strong build quality, the ThinkPad P15 is a great choice for serious players.

6. High-End Laptop for Complex Design: ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16

• CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i9-13980HX
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB SDD
• Display: 16-inch FHD (1920 x 1200)
• GPU: 8GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
• Battery: Up to 8 Hours

$1,699.99

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If you work on complex projects, a good gaming laptop comes in handy. For example, ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 is awesome for interior design because of its specs, display, and RAM.

Strix packs some of the latest and greatest specs on the market today: a 13th-gen. i9 HX processor and an RTX 4070. These are no ThinkPad P15, but make no mistake — they’re the next best thing and will zap through your interior design workload faster than you can say “IKEA”.

ASUS also inserted 16GB of DDR5 RAM. This is the next-level RAM that’s 50% faster than the previous generation, so it’ll work great. If you want, you can upgrade it at some point — but no rush.

Another thing I like about Strix is the display. It’s a gorgeous 16” panel with FHD resolution, a high refresh rate, and — similarly to ROG Zephyrus — great color accuracy. It is a great choice for color-sensitive tasks and long hours.

I also love the design. Strix is clearly a gamer, but it looks amazing with clean edges, RGB strips, and a very comfy, tactile keyboard.

Like most gaming laptops, Strix also suffers from low-ish battery life. I got around 7-8 hours of juice, which isn’t bad for a gaming laptop at all, but it’s just ok for productivity. If you’re out and about, make sure to bring a charger.

ROG Strix Scar is an amazing laptop for interior design that can tackle some of the most complex projects and deliver them on a gorgeous display.

7. Budget Option: HP Victus 15

HP Victus 15

• CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-12450H
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SDD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$699.99

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Say you want to save some money and get a budget laptop for interior design. In that case, HP Victus might just be the thing: affordable, reasonably powerful, and elegant.

Let’s start with the overall look. I love how HP made Victus compact and elegant. It’s a laptop I would easily take into an office or a studio, even though it’s a gamer.

With the elevated display, it’s easy to focus on the workspace. Whether you’re designing or gaming, the 15.6” display feels very immersive, crisp and vivid.

Under the hood, you’ll find a 12th Gen. i5 and a GTX 1650, coupled with 16GB RAM. This is a pretty strong mix for college students or young professionals; it can handle most light-to-mid CAD work and 3D modeling. 

The GPU is a bit of a bottleneck, so if you’re looking for a more capable laptop, I’d go for RTX 30- or even 40-series.

Portability’s not too bad. Victus weighs around 5 lbs, so it’s relatively easy to carry around. However, I only got about 4-5 hours of battery life. Ouch. So make sure you bring a charger to the office.

One of the biggest advantages of Victus is the price. HP Victus is an interior design laptop that gives a lot of value for money, all things considered, and makes an amazing budget choice.

Buying Guide for Laptops for Interior Design in 2023

Laptops for interior design share some common traits with the best laptops for AutoCAD. Processing power, a dedicated GPU, and an ample amount of RAM are usually most important for complex projects.

Utilize CPU Power for Your Designs

With Intel’s 12th and 13th generation of Core CPUs, you will have a high clock rate, which is essential for seamless workflow. If your software can use multiple cores and threads effectively,  then AMD Ryzen CPUs join the party.

Don’t look below Core i5 CPUs; if your budget allows it, go for Core i7 or i9 models. AMD Ryzen 7 and 9 CPUs are also very competent and will provide enough horsepower for CAD and other best 3D modeling software in 2023.

A Dedicated GPU for Rendering

Nvidia graphics cards have dedicated CUDA cores you can utilize for 3D rendering and real-time visualizations.

You will also need more VRAM (video RAM) for more complex projects. 

In most interior design software, you can work with integrated GPUs, but dedicated cards will help your cause. Consider at least Nvidia RTX 3060 or high-end options like 4080 and professionally grade NVIDIA Quadro or AMD Radeon Pro GPUs.

Some of the best laptops for CAD also come with higher-end graphics cards.

RAM for Multitasking and Large Projects

If you are looking for the best laptops for Revit, the recommended requirement is 16GB of RAM. While other interior design software might have lower standards, handling more complex projects or running other apps simultaneously will require a comfortable 16GB of RAM.

Professional users will want laptops with 32GB RAM or even more for complex assemblies.

A Bigger and High-Quality Display Will Help Design Work

While most designers will use external monitors to work on complex projects, having a bigger display can elevate your workflow. A new trend in the laptop industry is 16-inch screens with a 16:10 aspect ratio that grants more vertical space.

If portability is not your focus, go with 16’’ or 17.3’’ displays. Most laptops have IPS panels, which are a good choice for designers. If your budget allows it, you should consider OLED laptops. As for the resolution, higher pixel density is great for design software. 

Aside from size and at least Full HD, and preferably QHD resolution or higher, you should also look into the display’s Adobe RGB, sRGB, and DCI-P3 coverage, as color calibration can be crucial for design projects.

Balance Battery Life With Performance

If you use a dedicated graphics card for rendering, the laptop won’t last long without an outlet. That said, many competent laptops can help you work on the go. MacBook Pro is the obvious choice if you want the perfect combination of power and efficiency.

Consider Portability and Thickness

While you want your device to be a great performer, it doesn’t have to be bulky at the same time. A couple of lightweight options on our list also perform well. Laptops like Zephyrus 14 thrive in performance and are extremely portable.

For designers who will use the laptop as a desktop replacement, weight and thickness are unimportant. 

Get Enough Storage for Your Projects

Installing interior design software won’t take up much of your space, but storing 3D projects or sketches might, especially if you want to keep the archive on the primary machine.

Laptops for SketchUp or other interior design software can work with as low as 256GB. You will be fine with 512GB and additional cloud storage. 

However, having a larger SSD will benefit your system performance, and you can store more of your portfolio on the laptop. Even with 1TB, you should still consider quality cloud storage solutions. 

FAQs about Laptops for Interior Design

Verdict

Interior design blends an artistic approach with complex software solutions that thrive on high-performance computing.

Whether you’re a design student and need an affordable laptop or a professional who doesn’t care about the budget, the best laptop for interior design needs excellent CPU and GPU performance, a high-quality display, and preferably significant autonomy and portability.

While there is no one answer to all laptop questions, here is the quick recap:

• ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 is the best performer with a powerhouse i9-13900HX CPU and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU.
• If you focus on portability, Acer Swift X is both affordable and extremely mobile with 3.06 lbs and a 14’’ display.
• HP Victus 15 is the budget — and touchscreen — option for beginners and students. It still has a capable Core i5 CPU and comes with a dedicated GPU while being relatively cheap.

If you’re still on the edge, maybe check out our comprehensive laptop buying guide and resolve any lingering issues.

For more questions, hit us up in the comment section below, and we will gladly answer!