Getting a laptop for your 3D printing setup is not as easy as it looks. You can find laptops ranging from $300-$3000, with various screen sizes, CPUs, GPUs, and RAM specs.
With so many choices, it’s easy for anyone to get confused when getting a new laptop for 3D printing and CAD modeling. But worry not, we’re here to guide you through this journey.
In this article, we’ve structured our recommendations to cater to your specific needs. Whether you’re a student, a high-end user, or on a budget, we have a laptop suggestion for you. In addition to these suggestions, we’ve also covered the different aspects to consider while selecting the best 3D printing laptop.
Let’s dive in!
| 3D Printing Laptop | Summary | CPU | GPU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim | Best on a budget | Intel Core i5-13420H | Intel UHD Graphics | $529 |
| MSI Cyborg 15 | Best for students | Core i7-12650H | RTX 4060 | $1089 |
| Razer Blade 15 | Best high-end | Intel Core i7-13800H | RTX 4070 | $2503 |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo | Best screen | Intel i9-13900H | RTX 4050 | $1899 |
| Macbook Air M2 | Best battery life | Apple M2 Chip | 10-core GPU | $999 |
Can You 3D Print With Just a Laptop?
Yes, it is possible to 3D print using a laptop. In terms of functionality, a laptop is similar enough to its desktop counterpart and has the added benefit of portability and taking up reduced space.
Most laptops are sufficient to design models, slice them, and send the sliced files directly to your 3D printer. All software that you can run on a desktop computer, you can use on the laptop.
However, a powerful laptop can greatly improve the performance of CAD and 3D printing software. A faster processor, dedicated graphics card, and more RAM contribute to faster rendering, smoother operation, and better overall performance.
But even a simple laptop with basic specs is sufficient to slice 3D models and transfer the G-code over to the 3D printer. So, you don’t need a high-end laptop for basic 3D printing purposes.
Let’s continue with the picks!
Our Picks for the Best Laptop for 3D Printing
After thorough research, we’ve compiled a list of the top five best laptops for 3D printing that you can buy in 2024. We have kept value-for-money in mind for students, a powerful spec sheet for professionals, and long battery life for on-the-go professionals. Take a look at these laptops and see which one suits your needs the best.
The Acer Aspire 5 lineup is a popular laptop series for budget-friendly users who want a laptop that gets most of the 3D printing tasks done and still has some power left over for slightly advanced purposes.
The Aspire 5 15 Slim laptop is available in several configurations based on screen size, RAM size, storage space, and graphics cards. The laptop starts at $379.99, with the most specced-out version going for $1,029.99.
The one we’re recommending uses an Intel i5, a 13th-generation H-series Octa-core processor aimed at power users. This chip delivers an excellent balance of computing power and efficiency, making the slicing process a breeze for your 3D models.
The 16GB RAM ensures that large files are handled smoothly by your print slicer. It also allows you to run multiple instances at once without extreme lag. Moreover, its 512GB SSD provides ample space for dealing with CAD, STL, and G-code files.
For $529.99, the Acer Aspire 5 Slim is relatively powerful yet light on the pocket. It has excellent raw specs, and the port connectivity, webcam quality, and wireless connectivity are above par. It’s a great laptop for users who are tight on a budget but still need a device that can help you 3D print for years to come.
Standout Features
- 16GB DDR5 RAM
- Touch Screen Display
- 1.7 KG Slim and lightweight design
Technical Details |
|
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-13420H |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6" FHD IPS Touch Screen |
What We Like
- Affordable pricing
- Powerful processor for the price
- Useful webcam features
Could Be Better
- No dedicated graphics card
- No USB type-C port
- Limited port connectivity options
MSI’s laptops are often gaming-oriented machines with lower prices than its competitors. The Cyborg 15 belongs to their thin series of laptops that are aimed at portability and performance.
This factor makes it excellent for students who need to carry the laptop between classes. Despite its portability, you get a powerful Intel Core i7-12650H processor that delivers top-notch computing performance. The RTX 4060 graphics card is a beast for graphic tasks and will elevate your CAD modeling assignments.
The laptop also features a 15.6″ 144Hz FHD display with an IPS panel. The IPS panel provides great visibility from all viewing angles, while the bigger display makes it easy to navigate and manipulate models in the CAD software.
You can get the laptop in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB RAM variants, with storage space of up to 2TB. We’d recommend getting the 32GB laptop if you can stretch the budget a little. It’ll allow you to work on larger CAD models and help with RAM-intensive software like AutoCAD and Solidworks.
Display brightness and webcam quality are two areas where the Cyborg 15 could improve. At 266 nits, the display is not bright enough for outdoor use, and the webcam video quality is grainy.
For students, though, the MSI Cyborg is a well-rounded package. For around $1000, you get a laptop with good computing and graphical performance. You can use it for 3D printing and CAD modeling, but also for light gaming and video editing.
Standout Features
- Flagship i7 processor
- 144Hz high-refresh-rate display
- Slim and portable design
Technical Details |
|
|---|---|
| CPU | Core i7-12650H |
| GPU | NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4060 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe |
| Display | 15.6" 144Hz FHD IPS |
What We Like
- Upgradable RAM and Storage options
- Value-for-money pricing
- Translucent design aesthetics
Could Be Better
- GPU performance capped at 45-watt
- Poor display for outdoors
- Misses RGB on the keyboard
Razer laptops are often seen as Macbooks, but for gaming. These laptops contain powerful hardware, impressive sound design, and high-quality aesthetics, giving you an optimal experience.
The Razer Blade 15 is the company’s flagship laptop, distinguished by its 15.6-inch screen size. It comes with the latest Intel 14th-generation i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card.
These powerful specs guarantee superior performance in your CAD modeling and slicing software. The RTX 4070 has 12GB of VRAM, which is more than enough for extensive 3D tasks like rendering your designs, running live simulations, or even editing videos.
There’s an extra M.2 slot to expand the laptop’s storage up to 4TB. For more demanding tasks, you can upgrade the RAM to 64 GB.
Both these upgrades can also help you with your 3D scanning workflow to capture and store large detailed models. The extra storage is useful for storing heavy 3D files, while the RAM improves the responsiveness of the 3D scanning software.
Considering its price of almost $2500, the Razer Blade 15 is not for everyone. Nonetheless, it is one of the best laptops in its class. It’s a powerful machine that’s portable, has an excellent display, and for serious 3D professionals it’s the best laptop for their CAD and 3D printing work.
Standout Features
- 13th gen Intel H-Series processors
- QHD 240Hz display
- Vapor Chamber Cooling design
Technical Details |
|
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13800H |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 2TB PCIe |
| Display | 15.6” QHD 240Hz |
What We Like
- Slim and lightweight to carry
- High-wattage graphics performance
- Smooth and high-quality screen
Could Be Better
- Quality control issues
- Poor battery life
What’s better than one screen? Two screens! The Asus Zenbook Pro Duo comes with a dual-screen display to give you plenty of flexibility with your creative projects. The primary 14.5’’ display is coupled with a second 12.7’’ inch screen that sits atop the keyboard.
The primary display features an OLED touchscreen which is excellent to look at. Both screens have a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach 550 nits in brightness.
This combination of screens can massively improve your workflow. For example, you can model your designs on the main screen and keep any reference tabs or drawings open on the second display.
In terms of computing hardware, the laptop comes with a 13th-generation i9 processor. You can combine this with either an RTX 4050 or an RTX 4060, depending on graphics performance you need. And with 32GB RAM, you have enough power to model large CAD files.
However, the dual screens consume a lot of power and significantly reduce the laptop’s battery life. Additionally, the cooling capabilities of this laptop can benefit from improvements.
Overall, however, the Zenbook Pro Duo is an excellent laptop for serious creators, especially those who are into 3D sculpting, modeling, and video creation. The dual screens let you multitask between your 3D modeling and 3D printing workflow and improve your productivity.
Standout Features
- Dual-screen OLED design
- ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus support
- Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics support
Technical Details |
|
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel i9-13900H |
| GPU | NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4050 |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 1TB |
| Display | 14.5” 120Hz, 12.7’’ 120 Hz Touch screens |
What We Like
- Excellent, high quality display
- Useful 2nd screen for creators
- Portable design
- Excellent build quality
Could Be Better
- Heats up quickly
- Poor battery life
The M-series Macbooks outperform their Intel counterparts in terms of performance and battery life. Among them, the Macbook Air M2 is a great option for those who value portability, long battery life, and good capabilities.
With up to 18 hours of battery life, you can easily take the Air M2 anywhere without worrying about recharging it. It’s excellent for working with your CAD models and 3D printers for a whole day and not having to recharge as often as other laptops.
Additionally, as an Apple Air device, the M2 Macbook has no fans. It runs completely silent and still manages to keep temperatures within working range. The camera quality is excellent, the build is top-notch, and has a premium feel.
However, this laptop is not for you if you’re a Solidworks user. There’s no support for Solidworks on Apple devices. Blender is another 3D design software that struggles to work on Apple devices. So, be mindful if you use these two applications in your workflow.
All things considered, the Macbook Air M2 is a solid device for those willing to pay the Apple premium. It can handle basic and intermediate CAD modeling well and is a breeze for 3D printing tasks.
Standout Features
- Up to 18 hours battery life
- Powerful 8-core M2 Chip
- Fanless, no-noise design
Technical Details |
|
|---|---|
| CPU | Apple M2 Chip |
| GPU | 10-core GPU |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Display | 13.6’’ Retina Display |
What We Like
- Bright and color-accurate display
- Excellent battery life
- Premium build quality and design
Could Be Better
- No future upgradability
- Limited port connectivity
Key Features in a Laptop for 3D Printing
Processing Power
Good processing power will help slice your models faster, render CAD models quicker, and improve the overall responsiveness of the system. A faster processor is always better, but especially if you want to do advanced work like CAD modeling and 3D printing.
Look for a higher number of cores and faster clock frequency. The Intel i5 and i7 series are some of the best value-for-money processors for 3D printing laptops. These processors have plenty of computing power for slicing and 3D modeling and come at a decent price. Go for 12th or 13th-generation processors to future-proof your laptop for another 3-5 years.
On the AMD side, you can choose the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 series processors. These are equivalent to Intel’s i5 and i7 chips and even outperform them in some multi-core performance aspects. They’re also less expensive and more power-efficient than Intel’s.
RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is crucial for handling large CAD models in the slicing software. The STL file you see is made up of thousands of tiny polygons. More polygons mean higher details, but they also strain the laptop’s computing resources.
A lower capacity and slow RAM will take a long time to process the CAD model and often cause the software to become unresponsive. You might even have to close the slicing software and any other programs you have running on the laptop.
To avoid such issues, ensure your laptop has at least 16GB of RAM. If you can get a 32GB RAM laptop, it’s even better. Check the RAM’s version and clock speed. The RAM should ideally be a DDR4 or DDR5 grade, with higher clock speeds giving you better performance.
When it comes to the MacBook, however, things work differently. MacOS requires less RAM, and you won’t need as much of it to get your tasks done. While 8GB RAM is good enough for basic 3D printing purposes, if you want to do CAD modeling or work with large design files, it’s a good idea to get a 16 GB RAM variant.
GPU
The discrete graphics card in a laptop is an added bonus over the built-in graphics unit of the processor. A GPU helps the laptop process graphics faster and render your CAD models without lag.
In terms of 3D printing, you don’t need a laptop with a dedicated GPU if you’re just slicing and printing models. It helps load high-detailed 3D models faster but isn’t crucial for the end result. However, if you are going to work on CAD modeling, running simulations, and rendering software, a dedicated GPU is a must.
The Nvidia RTX GPUs are some of the best graphics cards you can buy now. For lightweight 3D design, you can go with the previous generation RTX 3000 series graphics cards. However, if you work with large assemblies, carry out extensive CAD work, and play AAA games, get the RTX 4000 series cards.
You should also consider the VRAM specifications while selecting the GPU. Typically, a higher VRAM indicates faster processing and more capable GPUs. For basic 3D design tasks, 6GB of VRAM is sufficient. However, for more demanding tasks such as running multiple complex applications or CAD renders, we recommend going for 12GB of VRAM or more.
Screen Size
Screen size plays an important role in the overall portability of the laptop. A smaller-screen laptop is easy to carry around. However, it can also be more difficult to use and is harder on the eyes.
In contrast, a big laptop gives you plenty of screen real estate, but it can be heavy and difficult to take with you everywhere. Not to mention, you can expect to pay extra for it.
Most laptops have a 15.6-inch screen. This display size balances portability and workspace well. It’s also handy for CAD modeling, as you don’t have to constantly zoom in/out and pan your models. The Razer Blade 15 and the Zenbook Pro Duo both lead in this area.
The smaller 13-inch MacBook Air M2 has a good screen as well. However, the smaller size does not benefit CAD workflows or 3D printing applications. You’d be better off with the 15-inch version of the M2 Air, but this does increase your costs.
Battery Life
Good battery life allows you to work from anywhere, on the go. A bigger battery size also reduces the number of charge cycles of your laptop’s battery, thus extending its overall lifespan. However, when it comes to laptops for 3D printing, it’s difficult to expect a good battery life out of them.
Resource-intensive tasks like CAD modeling and slicing 3D files require plenty of computing resources. The processors need to run faster and consume more power, leading to shorter battery duration. Often you’ll also need to plug in the laptop to achieve optimal performance from its graphics cards.
If you prioritize battery performance, consider getting the Apple Macbook. The M2 chips deliver an excellent power-to-battery life ratio, giving you up to a day’s usage on the battery. You can easily get up to 6-8 hours of battery life even while performing heavy-duty tasks on the M2 Air. This is almost twice what you’d expect from a Windows laptop.
Do You Need a Powerful Laptop for 3D printing?
The answer is no if you only need to perform basic 3D printing tasks. A laptop with an i5 or Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, and no dedicated graphics card is sufficient for such tasks.
However, for complex designs, large STL files, and heavy-duty rendering tasks, you need a powerful laptop. It will significantly reduce processing times, resulting in a better user experience.
Is a Computer Strictly Necessary for 3D printing?
A computer offers the most efficient and smooth 3D printing workflow. You can design, slice, and send your 3D models directly from a single device to the 3D printer. This workflow is highly efficient and gives you the flexibility to perform other tasks.
However, you can also get away without a computer. With some clever workarounds, you can use mobile applications to slice basic 3D models and 3D print them.
For example, you can slice 3D prints on your iPad, or use a slicer for Android. Although these are not ideal ways to 3D print, they are still an alternative.
Conclusion
Choosing the right laptop that suits your needs will significantly improve your user experience and the tasks you can achieve. Consider its CPU, GPU, and RAM specs before making a purchase. A higher number is always better in these areas.
If you’re on a budget and need a basic laptop for 3D printing purposes, the Acer Aspire Slim 5 is a good option. It is reasonably priced at $500 and offers good processing specifications for 3D printing and general use.
The Razer Blade 15 and the MSI Cyborg 15 are excellent laptops for a power user. The Blade 15 is THE best laptop for 3D printing and will get you through heavy CAD modeling, rendering, and more. But, if you’re a student on a budget, the Cyborg 15 offers plenty for its price.
Which of these laptops would you use for 3D printing? Let us know in the comments below!
