13 Things to Consider When Buying a MacBook for Designers

MacBook is the top choice of many designers thanks to its powerful performance, stable operating system and high-quality display. However, to choose a suitable MacBook, many factors need to be carefully considered. This article will help designers understand 13 important things to consider before deciding to buy a MacBook.

1. Why is MacBook the top choice for Designers?

MacBook is considered the top choice for Designers thanks to the perfect combination of powerful performance, sophisticated design and optimal software ecosystem.

The MacOS ecosystem optimized for design work:

MacOS is famous for its stability, smoothness and hardware optimization, especially suitable for high-performance graphic design tasks.

Professional design apps like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch all work great on MacOS.

Good optimization between software and hardware, which makes the design work smooth and stable.

Powerful, stable performance:

Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3) deliver superior performance, power efficiency, and smooth operation.

Ability to handle heavy graphics tasks such as photo, video, and 3D editing quickly and smoothly.

Apple Silicon chip helps reduce heat dissipation, and operates quietly.

Sharp Retina display, true color:

With a sharp Retina display, accurate color display and high resolution, MacBook brings a great visual experience, well meeting the needs of working with graphics and design. Moreover, macOS operating system is famous for its stability and high compatibility with professional design software such as Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch. 

The MacBook's Retina display delivers sharp, detailed images and accurate colors, which are important for design work.

The wide DCI-P3 color gamut ensures true color reproduction, meeting the demanding requirements of designers.

Apple's display technology has always been highly regarded for its color accuracy.

Luxurious design, high mobility:

MacBook has a thin, light, luxurious and durable design, easy to carry with you.

Long battery life lets you work comfortably without worrying about running out of battery.

Monolithic design, high aesthetics.

Long battery life, light weight and slim design also make MacBook an ideal companion for designers in creative work and flexible mobility. All of these factors make MacBook not only a working tool but also a worthy investment for design professionals.

2. Performance (CPU and GPU) - "Power" for all design tasks

MacBook has always been considered the top choice for designers thanks to its superior CPU and GPU performance, providing the "power" needed to handle all complex design tasks. With the ability to optimize hardware and software, MacBook not only ensures smooth processing speed but also supports graphic design applications, video editing or 3D modeling. This helps designers work more efficiently, save time and focus on creativity.

Choosing M1, M2, M3 chip: Comparison and review:

Current MacBooks use Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3), delivering superior performance over previous generations.

M1 & M2 : Suitable for 2D graphic design, photo editing and UI/UX Design.

M3 & M3 Pro : For professional designers, supporting multitasking and complex graphics processing.

M3 Max : Highest performance, ideal for 3D work, video rendering and motion graphics.

Choosing the right processor helps ensure your MacBook runs smoothly with design software.

Apple Silicon chips deliver high performance and power efficiency.

Each chip line has its own advantages in terms of core count, clock frequency, and GPU performance. Which chip generation to choose depends on the nature of your work.

When choosing M-series chips, pay attention to the number of CPU and GPU cores.

Importance of Integrated or Discrete GPU:

The Apple Silicon chip's integrated GPU is good for basic 2D and 3D graphics design needs.

If you work with heavy 3D tasks or do professional video editing, consider a MacBook Pro with a discrete GPU.

For professional 3D and video editing work, a discrete GPU is essential.

RAM: Capacity and speed:

16GB RAM is the minimum for designers.

32GB or 64GB of RAM will be needed for complex tasks.

For Apple Silicon Macbook lines, the RAM is soldered on the circuit board, so consider carefully before buying.

SSD hard drive: Read/write speed:

High-speed SSD hard drive helps software and files launch quickly.

Should choose SSD hard drive from 512GB or more.

Like Ram, SSDs are also soldered to the motherboard, which is important to note.

3. Screen - "Window" of creativity

With Retina Display technology, MacBook offers accurate color display, high resolution and wide viewing angle, helping designers easily work with small details and reproduce ideas in the most realistic way. Not only a working tool, MacBook screen is also considered as a "window" opening to the creative world, where every idea is conveyed vividly and inspiringly.

MacBooks are known for their sharp Retina displays, but designers need to pay attention to the following factors:

Resolution : The MacBook Pro has a higher resolution than the MacBook Air, which helps display better details.

Color coverage : Supports P3 color gamut and True Tone for realistic images, suitable for professional design.

Scanning frequency (ProMotion 120Hz) : Useful for designers working with motion, UI/UX or video editing.

High quality display ensures accurate colors and a better working experience.

Retina Resolution: Detailed and Sharp:

Retina display for extremely sharp and detailed images.

Color accuracy: DCI-P3 color gamut, Adobe RGB:

DCI-P3 color gamut ensures faithful color reproduction.

For some professional photographers, Adobe RGB is the go-to color gamut.

When working with professional photography, Adobe RGB color coverage is important.

Screen size: 13 inch, 14 inch, 16 inch:

13 inch suitable for portability.

14 inch and 16 inch provide spacious working space.

Choose screen size, depending on each person's work needs.

ProMotion Technology: 120Hz refresh rate:

ProMotion makes scrolling and swiping smoother.

The new Macbook Pro models are equipped with this technology.

4. Mobility - "Companion" anytime, anywhere

With its light weight, impressive thinness and long battery life, MacBook becomes the ideal "companion", allowing designers to easily carry and work anywhere. In addition, the macOS operating system optimizes the user experience, smoothly supporting professional design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or Sketch. Not only that, the sharp Retina screen and accurate color display are also important factors that help MacBook win the trust of the creative community.

Dimensions and weight:

Choose the size and weight that suits your travel needs.

Macbook Air models are highly portable.

Battery life:

MacBooks are known for their long battery life, keeping you working comfortably all day.

Apple Silicon chip, providing very good battery life.

Connection port:

Check the ports needed for your job (Thunderbolt/USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader, etc.).

Macbook Pro models will have more ports.

5. Keyboard and Touchpad - "Tools" for precise operation

The MacBook keyboard and touchpad are highly appreciated for their sensitivity and accuracy, helping to optimize operations during work. The keyboard with a smooth typing mechanism and good feedback not only brings a comfortable feeling when using but also minimizes errors during data entry. 

Meanwhile, the spacious touchpad, multi-touch support and integrated smart features help users perform operations quickly and smoothly. These are the important factors that make MacBook an ideal tool for professional designers, where every small detail contributes to making a difference in creative work.

Magic Keyboard: Comfortable typing experience:

Magic Keyboard provides a smooth and accurate typing experience.

Force Touch Touchpad: Multi-touch gestures and haptic feedback:

The Force Touch touchpad enables multi-touch gestures and haptic feedback, helping you work more efficiently.

Macbook's touchpad is always highly rated.

6. Upgradability and expansion - "Investment" for the future

With a sharp Retina display, accurate color reproduction, and superior performance from the Apple Silicon chip, the MacBook meets the high demands of creative work. Furthermore, although it does not support hardware upgrades like some other lines, the MacBook is highly appreciated for its stability and durability, helping users "invest" in the future without worrying about rapid obsolescence. These factors have made the MacBook an indispensable tool for professional designers.

RAM and Hard Drive: Upgradability:

For Apple Silicon chip Macbook lines, RAM and hard drive will be soldered on the circuit board. Therefore, you need to consider carefully when buying a machine.

You need to choose the configuration that suits your work needs, right when buying the machine.

Thunderbolt/USB-C port:

New generation connection ports, help transmit data at very high speed.

Compatibility with peripheral devices:

Make sure your MacBook is compatible with the peripherals you use regularly.

Nowadays, most peripheral devices use USB-C connection port.

7. Budget - "Cost" and investment value

Determine the appropriate budget:

Determine how much you can afford to spend on a MacBook.

Compare prices between versions and providers:

Check prices at reputable stores to get the best deal.

Check out our deals and promotions:

Take advantage of promotions to save money.

While the initial investment may be higher than other laptops, the long-term value that the MacBook brings, from durability, features to software support, makes it a worthy choice for those who are serious about design. It is not just a working tool but also an investment in creativity and productivity.

8. Design software - An indispensable "Tool"

Professional design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro or Sketch all work optimally on macOS, helping users maximize their creativity. In addition, the MacBook's high-resolution Retina display and accurate color display are important factors for jobs that require meticulous image quality. 

Compatibility with popular design software: Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch, etc.:

Make sure your MacBook is compatible with the design software you use.

Optimize performance for design software:

MacOS operating system, very well optimized for design software.

9. Choose the MacBook that suits your needs and style

Clearly define usage needs:

This helps you determine the right configuration.

Check out reviews and experiences from other users:

This helps you get a more objective view.

Buy at reputable stores:

Help Help you feel secure about product quality and warranty.

Apple offers several lines of MacBooks, each with its own advantages.

MacBook Air : Light, good battery life, suitable for designers working on light applications.

MacBook Pro 14-inch : High performance, sharp screen, suitable for professional designers who need powerful performance.

MacBook Pro 16-inch : Equipped with powerful GPU, large memory, ideal for heavy work such as film editing, 3D design.

Choosing the right MacBook line helps optimize work performance and balance the budget.

10. Determine usage needs

Each designer has different MacBook usage needs depending on their field and working style.

2D Graphic Design : Requires a MacBook with a color-accurate display, 16GB or more of RAM, and a powerful processor to run software like Photoshop, Illustrator.

3D Design & Motion Graphics : Need a MacBook model with a powerful GPU, high-performance processor and large RAM capacity to ensure smooth rendering.

UI/UX Design : Requires sharp screen, long battery life and good multitasking capabilities.

Video editing : Need a MacBook with a good GPU, large internal memory and high processing speed to support software like Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro.

Determining your needs correctly helps avoid choosing a MacBook that is not powerful enough or has unnecessary configurations.

11. RAM and internal memory (SSD) capacity

These two factors directly affect processing speed and data storage capacity.

8GB RAM : Only suitable for basic needs, not recommended for designers.

16GB RAM : Good response to 2D design software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma.

RAM 32GB – 64GB : Ideal for 3D design, film editing and heavy graphics processing.

About internal memory (SSD):

512GB : Enough for designers to work with light files and store on the cloud.

1TB or more : Necessary for those working with videos, large design files.

Choosing the right RAM and SSD helps optimize long-term performance.

12. Battery life and connectivity

Long battery life allows designers to work continuously without interruption.

MacBook Air can work up to 18 hours.

The 14-inch & 16-inch MacBook Pro have a battery life of about 12-14 hours depending on the task.

About the connection port:

MacBook Air : Only has USB-C port, need to buy additional adapter if using many peripherals.

MacBook Pro : Has more ports like HDMI, SD card reader, helps work more flexibly.

Checking the connection port before purchasing helps avoid problems when using peripherals.

13. Price and Upgradability

MacBooks are expensive, but it's worth the investment.

Standard version : Suitable for beginner designers, more affordable.

Premium version : For professional designers, ensuring long-term performance.

MacBooks don't allow for upgrading the RAM or SSD after purchase, so it's important to choose a configuration that will last you for years to avoid having to replace it early.

14 Conclusion

Choosing a MacBook for designers is not only based on the brand but also needs to consider many factors such as performance, screen, battery life and budget. When you understand the above 7 things, the decision to buy a MacBook will become easier and more suitable for creative needs.