While it’s no secret now that hit songs can be made on a laptop rather than a giant super computer, can it be done on a budget music production laptop? We’re here to tell you that it can. If you’re budding to start producing your tunes but don’t want to drop two or three grand to do so, you find yourself in the right place. Our first entry starts at £/$300, which feels like theft in computing terms, and our final entry just pierces the £/$1000 mark. Note also, many of the below laptops can be bought professionally refurbished, which drives the price down even further.
A laptop that is built for music production is a case of finding one with a strong processor and a good deal of RAM in the 8-16GB range. Portable and powerful, below are eight laptops that will have you dropping beats and bars in no time.
Samsung Chromebook Go
There are deals on this chap for less than £/$300, which is fairly mind-blowing. There’s a very notable tradeoff, however: you can’t run the famous DAWs on here, so no Logic, Cubase or Ableton Live. Before you scream ‘what on Earth is it doing on a best budget laptop for music production list then?’, hear us out. What it does offer is a new mode of music production that is attracting a new generation of tech-inclined beatmakers. Limited to music-making only available via the Google Play Store or the Chrome browser, some music producers have turned to software such as Audiotool, Spotify’s Soundtrap, or a more basic version of FL Studio — the latter in particular responsible for so many famous songs at this point. The fact you can make professional music without investing in a pricey DAW or a much more expensive laptop meant this had to be in consideration.
Acer Swift 3
If you’re seeking the best music production laptop on a budget, and you don’t mind if the laptop in question doesn’t exactly look like it belongs in a music studio, then say hi to the Acer Swift 3. Don’t judge too harshly on its minimalist chic, as it's largely marketed towards students. Especially when there are deals currently putting it at around £/$300. Performance-wise, it may leave you wondering if you should really splash out on Microsoft or Apple. That said, don’t expect the slickest HD screen compared to some of the others here or the most mind-blowing onboard sound. But with memory stretching up to 16GB, a choice of graphics cards and more, it will get the job done when you need it. If your plan is to spend small on a starter laptop now and upgrade further down the line, this could be a swift decision for you.
ASUS VivoBook Flip
At the time of writing, Currys in the UK have this particular item on sale at £249 ($318). Laptops at that type of price are normally fairly hideous, but as a name like VivoBook promises, this two-in-one number is very easy on the eye. And if you’re wondering whether to go for a tablet or a laptop, you get both in a sleep package with the ASUS Flip. It comfortably runs Windows 11 in full, and under the hood are all the specs you need for full-scale music production. Some have come to love the option of touchscreen for using their DAW, while others are not a fan, so we will leave that one up to you — a trackpad is included, if you fall into the latter category.
Dell Inspiron 15
Want one of the best affordable laptops for music production and fast? Give Dell a bell! One of the most recognisable names in the world of lower-priced computing, the Inspiron laptop range in particular has played an important role for many a music producer starting their careers in the humble origin of their bedroom. The Inspiron 15 in particular deserves its trusted reputation as it comes preloaded with 8GB of RAM, and can be upgraded when you require more. There isn’t a USB-C port, and many music devices are increasingly going for this connectivity, so you would need an external connector in that instance. Otherwise, everything you need to get you started with bedroom music production.
HP Envy Notebook
Hewlett-Packard makes an enviable entry to the best budget laptops for music production conversation with its HP Envy Notebook, a veritable all-rounder for laptop music-making. It's portable at just over 13”, and boasts a longer battery life than most of its rivals. Regarding power, the 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and a 13.3” full HD touch display ensure a delightful experience for making tunes and beyond. HP is known for offering fantastic deals for its laptops on the official website, so the mid-tier pricing is often pushed right down. Being another laptop and tablet in one, it's another device offering lots of ways to work for music artists and producers.
HP Victus 15
It’s wise to not only cast out your net for the best budget laptops for music production, but also the best gaming laptops also. Because both gaming and DAWs require similar amounts of heft and brute strength. If you see a device as a ‘gaming laptop’, smart money says it can handle most DAW sessions also. And with up to 16GB and up to 1TB SSD, that money is even smarter in the case of HP’s Victus 15. Just be sure to opt for a model with plenty of ports and connectivity, assuming you have plans for going beyond just one solitary MIDI keyboard. High power, great price.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
Don’t adjust your sets, because Microsoft is here also, and there are great deals to own one of their laptops for between £/$800-1000. And particularly thanks to the Surface Pro 9, one of the first tablet-meets-laptops to make the two-in-one concept go completely mainstream. And it would be downright silly to scoff at a tablet with a 12th Gen i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD drive. This Tardis-like power means it would take an outrageous DAW session before you run into any minor performance issues. Everything looks crisp and fantastic on its screen, and many producers enjoy editing sessions with their hands on the screen mouse-free. And if you’re travelling and don’t want to be weighed down, you can, of course, just take the tablet with you and leave the keyboard at home.
Apple MacBook Air M3
Perhaps you never dared dream an Apple laptop, let alone a MacBook, would ever make it onto a budget laptop list, let alone with music production in mind. But it is indeed possible to own a MacBook for under £/$1000. And, just to improve matters, this is one of the lightest laptops, being almost wafer thin (hence the ‘Air’ title). This model was once not quite powerful enough for music production, that is until MacBook Air supercharged itself thanks to the inclusion of Apple’s M3 chip. In other words, this MacBook will almost certainly cover the needs for most home producers now. 8GB-16GB and up to 2TB SSD will provide the coverage for most. Macbooks are a joy for music production and for almost all use cases, and you officially don’t need to be a millionaire to own one.
How much RAM do I really need for my music production laptop?
RAM and storage are pretty vital for your music production laptop — go too low, and the performance could be too poor for music-making. It will affect the speed and ease with which you can make music in a big way. If you’re working with loads of samples, audio bounces, project files and all the other tidbits of production, having plenty of RAM ensures this won’t affect performance. It’s good to future-proof your laptop, and with that in mind, don’t go below 8GB if at all possible. In an ideal world, go up to 16GB if you can manage, then you’re very well-covered.
Some laptops can have their RAM upgraded at a later date, although this applies to PCs only, just double check if the model you are looking at offers this option. Apple does not offer this, so choose your RAM wisely if you go for a Mac.
So, with all this information sat in your lap, it’s time to get out there and choose your laptop music-making adventure. Bon voyage!
Further Reading
Best Laptops for music production at any budget
Words By
Adam Protz
