For those who are facing lag and stutter while operating Ableton, now might be the time to upgrade your computing machine. With that said, you’d be needing the best laptop for Ableton with some exceptional qualities.
Now, to run Ableton, you’d not only have to look at the portability but an immense speed and above-average graphics as well. In addition, what matters the most is the excess random access memory to avoid laggy or hanging issues at all costs.
So, now let’s come towards the real problem, which is where to find such a laptop? The market is already saturated and this is where you’d need our help.
After properly analyzing and researching the laptop industry, I’ve found out a list of top 7 laptops that are capable of running Ableton like it’s a random software.
Well, let’s take a look at them without any further ado:
Contents
- Top 7 Best Laptops for Ableton Rated for 2022
- 1. Newest Acer Aspire 5 – Best Laptop for Ableton 2022
- 2. HP Envy 17t – Best Laptop for Ableton Live 10:
- 3. Acer Swift 3 – Best Budget Laptop for Music Production 2022:
- 4. Dell Inspiron 17 – Best Laptop for Music Software:
- 5. ASUS ROG Zephyrus – Most Expensive Laptop for Ableton 2022:
- 6. LG Gram Laptop – With Long-Lasting Battery:
- 7. ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481 – With ScreenPad:
- Things to Consider Before Choosing the Best Laptop for Ableton:
Top 7 Best Laptops for Ableton Rated for 2022
# | Laptop Name | RAM | Display | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Newest Acer Aspire 5 | 8GB DDR4 | Full HD | |
2. | HP Envy 17t | 16GB DDR4 | Full HD | |
3. | Acer Swift 3 | 8GB LPDDR4 | Full HD | |
4. | Dell Inspiron 17 | 16GB DDR4 | Anti-Glare, Full HD | |
5. | ASUS ROG Zephyrus | 16GB DDR4 | 240 Hz Full HD | |
6. | LG Gram Laptop | 16GB DDR4 | UHD 4K | |
7. | ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481 | 8GB DDR3 | Full HD |
1. Newest Acer Aspire 5 – Best Laptop for Ableton 2022
Acer has released its newest laptop in 2020 which has a lot of capabilities and qualities. Having said that, Acer Aspire 5 literally rocks when it comes to offering high processing speed with normal graphics. Not only that, but the computing machine is compact and portable. Therefore, you can take it to different concerts, musical parties, or music studios to run and optimize Ableton as per your preferences. One of the main reasons, I’ve kept this laptop on the top of the list is that it offers exceptional features within an affordable price tag. Apart from that, you can also utilize this machine for multitasking which is in fact the whole point of choosing a powerful laptop for Ableton.
Listed below are some of the most important features offered by Acer Aspire 5:
Features You Should Know:
We’d be starting with the presence of AMD Ryzen 3 processor running at 3.2 GHz of speed. This CPU chipset is more than enough to run complex and heavy-duty programs like Ableton like a charm.
The display, on the other hand, is wide, fully pixelated, and full HD at the same time. Hence, it will retain your attention for a long time. Utilizing your precious time to edit different music files and beats on Ableton won’t be tiresome anymore.
One other extraordinary feature that I loved in Acer Aspire 5 is the inclusion of 8GB DDR4 ram. Everyone knows that what DDR4 type is capable of. It will enhance the overall speed of the laptop to a whole new level, allowing you to do multitasking easily.
An ergonomic keyboard with a perfectly positioned touchpad is what every musician wants from a computing machine and Acer Aspire 5 is offering it. You’d never have to face fatiguing issues while cutting and cropping different music files.
Finally, the battery timing is well up to the mark. That said, the best laptop for music software can work for 5 to 6 hours approximately while you are doing multitasking on it. It can give you much more time especially when the Internet is not connected to it.
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- Fast AMD Ryzen 3 processor.
- Widescreen display with full pixels.
- Ideal for running music softwares.
- 8GB DDR4 memory.
- 500GB HDD is enough to add large music projects.
- Portable and compact body.
- Well, fans are noisy.
- Battery might drain fast while multitasking.
Final Views:
The Newest Acer Aspire 5 is some serious upgradation from the brand that ensures running of softwares like Ableton and Photoshop easily. Better consider getting it before it’s too late.
2. HP Envy 17t – Best Laptop for Ableton Live 10:
Well, here comes a powerful workstation from HP that is already ruling the hearts of people related to different fields. Be it running any music software, Microsoft softwares, or Adobe ones, the laptop won’t lag even for a second. This is what Envy 17t is all about, i.e., power, portability, and excess amount of ram. From the design perspective, what I liked the most is that it’s extremely elegant. One can easily compare it to the likes of a Macbook and rightly so. One thing that you aren’t going to like very much about HP Envy is its expensive price tag. The powerful computing machine has a price tag of around $1500 which is something not everyone can afford.
Some notable features regarding the best laptop for Ableton Live 10 are as follows:
Features You Must Know:
First of all, Envy 17t has got a lot of random access memory. The 16 GB DDR4 ram included in the laptop makes sure that you can run almost 20 highly-functioning softwares and programs without any lag.
Up next is the processor which is also up to the mark. A core i7, 10th gen. CPU chipset is the latest addition to Intel family which offers superb speed and carries out multiple tasks at once.
The thing that fascinated me the most regarding one of the best laptops for Ableton is that it comes with Nvidia MX250 graphics card. It enhances the rendering speed and will allow you to save or export your music projects within a blink of an eye.
In the end, what I’d like to mention in HP’s portable laptop is the Windows 10 Pro operating system. It’s one of the easiest OS available in the market and has the capability to run different programs, games, and 3D softwares without any hassle.
- Compact and portable body.
- Ergonomic keyboard.
- Latest Intel Core i7, 10th gen. processor.
- Immense 16GB DDR4 ram.
- SSD + HDD combination for speedy storage options.
- Windows 10 Pro operating system.
- The price is too much.
- Battery drains at a much higher rate than expected.
Final Views:
I’d like to say that HP Envy 17t has literally made me fall in love. I loved the way it can manage to operate so many music softwares at once. So, my recommendation is to check it out if you have got around $1500 to spend.
3. Acer Swift 3 – Best Budget Laptop for Music Production 2022:
One thing that I can give guarantee you about Acer is that it’s never going to overburden a person with hefty price tags of the laptops it produces. I mean, if you take out the gaming laptops, the manufacturer offers pretty dope computing machine with a justified price tag. Take a look at Swift 3 for instance. It’s been powered by latest AMD processor and graphics and it barely costs $650. Isn’t it amazing? I’d definitely suggest it to the peeps who are a beginner to music applications such as Ableton and Audacity etc.
Some notable features being offered by one of the most affordable laptops in the market are as follows:
Key Features about Acer Swift 3:
Starting with the CPU first, Acer Swift 3 has got the backing of AMD Ryzen 7 chipset which has a better rendering and task managing speed than a typical core i5 processor. Not only that, but Radeon graphics from AMD are also included to make the rendering as fast as possible.
A large full HD display is also there to let you enjoy whatever you are doing on the laptop. It will keep your focus on the music project for a long time. The IPS technology would make you fall in love with Acer Swift 3 and I ain’t joking at all.
You’d be surprised to hear that with such an affordable price tag, Acer Swift 3 comes with built-in Alexa software. You can utilize multiple Alexa devices with it and can make it work with the voice commands only.
Finally, the ram is 8GB, but it’s the LPDDR4 type and thus offers blazingly fast speed. So, you can organize and run heavy music production softwares on it without any lag or stutter.
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- Alexa built-in laptop.
- Perfect for running Ableton music software.
- Portable and lightweight body.
- Backlit and ergonomic keyboard.
- Ultrafast Ryzen 7 CPU with Radeon graphics.
- Price is justified.
- Battery life is unimpressive.
- Laptop is too tiny.
Final Views:
Acer Swift 3 with some minor tweaks can still become a perfect computing machine to run almost all music production apps without any hassle. I’d suggest you to take a look at it especially if you are low on budget.
4. Dell Inspiron 17 – Best Laptop for Music Software:
To be honest, I’m not a fan of Dell as far as the laptops are concerned. That’s because laptops introduced by this brand have overheating issues most of the time and are noisy. However, I couldn’t resist myself from adding the Inspiron 17 to the list of best laptops for Ableton. Why? Because it’s a multitasking beast within a justified price tag. If you ignore the overheating issue, the laptop is extremely overpowered with respect to the specs it offers. I mean, if you have a $1000 to spend on a laptop that can run almost every music software, I’d be recommending you to get Dell Inspiron 17 without any other thought.
Let’s see what Dell has offered this time in its latest Inspiron 17 laptop:
Features You Need to Know:
One of the foremost features about Dell Inspiron is that it’s been backed by a powerful core i5, 10th gen. processor. The impressive processing speed is the main reason you can run almost any music software on it without any hassle.
I already told you above that you can rely on Dell especially if multitasking is your priority. That being said, Inspiron 17 has an upgraded 16GB DDR4 memory to ensure a fast multitasking experience without any hassle.
What matters a lot about the best laptop under $1000 is that it comes with an Anti-Glare LED backlit display. The pixels are full HD and you won’t be seeing any stutter or glare in the display while running different programs on it.
Storage options, at last, are also upgraded. A combo of 512GB SSD plus a 1TB HDD would take a lifetime to get full. No matter how large the music projects are, they can easily be accommodated in Dell Inspiron 17 without any hassle.
- Windows 10 operating system.
- Anti-glare display avoids eye strain.
- Upgraded 16GB DDR4 memory for better multitasking.
- Suitable for music producers.
- Justified price tag.
- Blazingly fast processing speed.
- Overheating and Dell are directly related to each other.
- Noisy fans.
Final Views:
Inspiron 17 is the latest Dell laptop that has somehow impressed me considering the price and specs it has got. So, I’d be referring it to you especially if you have around $1500 to spend.
5. ASUS ROG Zephyrus – Most Expensive Laptop for Ableton 2022:
Gamers especially the professional ones are very well aware of what a beast Asus Rog Zephyrus is. I mean, this laptop is hands down, the jack of all trades. You want to do high-end gaming? Zephyrus is there for you. You need to do coding? Zephyrus is available. You need to run heavy programs? Zephyrus has got it for you. I mean, there is literally nothing that this laptop can’t do and that’s the reason it’s been priced at more than $1500. Believe me, once invested in, you won’t need any other computing machine for many years to come.
Key Features about Asus Zephyrus:
The best laptop for Ableton comes with a combination of core i7, 9th gen. processor along with Nvidia RTX 2070 graphics card. I’m out of the words to describe how fast and reliable the laptop is.
On the other hand, a 16GB DDR4 memory won’t allow even a pinch of lag or stutter no matter if you are playing games, operating Ableton, or any other software.
In the end, what fascinated me the most is the 240Hz display of the laptop. I mean, it’s just… It’s just out of this world and I’m thankful to ASUS for introducing such a beast in the market.
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- Backlit RG keyboard.
- Latest Core i7, 9th gen. CPU chipset.
- Nvidia RTX 2070 graphics with ray tracing.
- Perfect all-rounder laptop for music production.
- Portable and compact.
- Extremely expensive.
- Not an ideal choice for beginners.
Final Views:
Asus Rog Zephyrus is indeed the best and the most expensive laptop for Ableton available on our list. Better get it only if you are a part-time gamer, music lover, and are somehow related to Adobe softwares at the same time.
6. LG Gram Laptop – With Long-Lasting Battery:
Although LG Gram is something meant for the business tycoons only, I’d refer it to professional musicians as well. Why? Because it’s been powered by a long-lasting battery that has a runtime of approximately 17 hours. Yeah, I’m not joking or anything but stating the facts only. The laptop has got an elegant design. Besides, it comes with an ergonomic shape to ensure a better working interface without any hassle.
Features About LG Gram You Need to Know:
The best laptop for Ableton Live 10 comes with an up to date core i7, 10th gen. processor. You can thus open almost any app or program on it within a blink of an eye.
A 17” UHD 4K display allows you to get immersed in the laptop while working. You can literally enjoy managing different music or animation projects on this laptop.
Last but not the least, an 80W lithium-ion battery being included within LG laptop ensures longevity. On one full charge, the battery can sustain for around 16 to 17 hours which is something quite exceptional.
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- Powerful laptop for musicians.
- UHD 4K display.
- Lithium-ion battery offers 17 hours runtime.
- Sophisticated and lightweight body.
- Expensive as usual.
- Integrated graphics card.
Final Views:
Get yourself a brand new LG Gram laptop if you are already frustrated with immense battery drainage especially when you are away from a power source.
7. ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481 – With ScreenPad:
Lastly, we’d be wrapping up this interesting section of reviews with Asus ZenBook Duo. What this laptop offers is portability, compactness, and a dual-screen interface. Yeah, you heard it right. An innovative ScreenPad is available just above the keyboard that can be utilized with a special PEN to design and manage different projects without any worries. Besides, the price tag is around $1300. It ain’t much expensive considering the specs it has got.
Features You Need to Know:
The best laptop for Ableton 9 has got a 10th gen. core i7 processor to ensure high processing speed.
Along with the ScreenPad is present a sophisticated PEN that gives you the freedom to design whatever you want without any hassle.
In the end, the laptop has got an 8GB DDR3 memory which isn’t that much. However, it can still manage to offer different multitasking activities without any hassle.
- Intuitive ScreenPad included.
- Perfect for running Ableton.
- Full HD NanoEdge display.
- Powerful CPU chipset.
- DDR3 ram variant ain’t much powerful.
- Not durable.
Final Views:
Get yourself the brand new ASUS ZenBook Duo only if you are a part-time sketcher along with being a professional musician.
Top 3 Picks:
The top 3 picks as per my perspective and customer feedback are as follows:
- Newest Acer Aspire 5 as it’s the best laptop for Ableton in 2022.
- Asus Rog Zephyrus as it’s the JACK of all trades.
- Dell Inspiron 17 if you don’t want to spend your $1000 on cheap laptops.
Things to Consider Before Choosing the Best Laptop for Ableton:
Music softwares such as Ableton can run easily on laptops that are upgraded with latest specs. If you are a newbie, then you can also learn about Ableton live here.
However, some aspects that you have to consider before choosing a music production laptop are as follows:
Portability is a Must:
The reason I haven’t listed most of the gaming laptops above is that almost all of them are bulky and not lightweight at all.
Keep in mind that a laptop that is meant to run music softwares has to be used in a concert, parties, or a music studio sooner or later.
Therefore, you should never ever go for a laptop that is heavy and bulky at the same time. Portability must be the first priority no matter if that laptop isn’t impressive specs-wise.
CPU Chipset:
As per the official Ableton requirements, you’d need a core i5, 3rd gen. processor to run the software.
However, you should not do the mistake of judging an application based on its official requirements only.
As per my experiments, Ableton works perfectly on 10th or 7th gen. core i5 to core i7 Intel chipsets. In case of AMD, a Ryzen 7 and above chipsets are perfect for the software.
So, that’s what you should choose rather than going for the cheap options available in the market. The more powerful CPU unit you get, the smoother Ableton will run and it’s a fact that you need to understand.
Ample Amount of RAM:
Forget about the DDR3 variants especially when we are talking about laptops that can run heavy programs and softwares.
An 8GB DDR4 ram is a standard for laptops to run apps like Ableton and Audacity like a charm.
Besides, you can also go with 16GB memory variants especially if you want to achieve a better multitasking interface.
Go for the SSD + HDD Combo:
I know that it’d be expensive, but it’s worth it. An SSD plus HDD combo is ideal for musicians who have to store and render large music files especially when they are in a hurry.
If you are extremely low on budget, then I’d recommend ignoring the HDD as a 512GB SSD would also do the job for you conveniently.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What laptop can run Ableton faster?
It’s the Asus Rog Zephyrus without a single doubt. The beast comes with 16GB DDR4 memory. Not only that, but the backing of a 10th gen. core i7 processor along with an RTX 2070 graphics card works like a charm. It can run Ableton just like ordinary music software.
2. Is 8GB ram enough for Ableton?
Well, not the DDR3 variant, but YES! The DDR4 variant is more than enough to run Ableton smoothly and without any lagging issue. Not only that, but this memory type can also help you to run multiple music production programs at once.
3. Can a Macbook Air run Ableton?
Yeah, it can. However, I haven’t included this laptop on my list due to one main reason and its battery drainage. Not only that, but the iOS operating system is not as easy to use as compared to a Windows OS. So, that’s that.
4. Which version of Ableton should I buy?
Depends upon how professional you are. I’d be recommending the older versions to beginners and newbies. However, professionals can choose the latest Ableton 10 Live if spending more ain’t a problem for them.
Summarizing Things Up:
Although Ableton isn’t as heavy as the likes of Adobe softwares, you might still need to upgrade your laptop if you want to run it smoothly. Check out the list I’ve mentioned above and hopefully, you’d be able to make a wise decision based on your preferences and budget.
Good Luck!
Many thanks for sharing this, I messed about with Ableton 4 many years ago, and was excellent. I don’t have a clue what’s required I look forward to more tips to get a decent setup. Many thanks, Bob
Thank you BoB!