Wait a minute.. 3D modeling on a laptop? Is that even possible?
It is! Most modern-day laptops are powerful enough to be capable of 3D modeling.
That’s because 3D modeling is one of the least intensive 3D work that you can do.
But that doesn’t mean you can use just about any laptop for 3D modeling. Your device needs to meet at least the minimum criteria for handling this task. Let’s look at what they are.
The Best Laptops for 3D Modeling: A Buyer’s Guide
Specification Requirements for a Laptop for 3D Modeling
At the very least, your laptop should meet the following criteria:
- Latest generation CPU (example: AMD Ryzen 9)
- Powerful GPU (Look for the Nvidia RTX Studio badge)
- 16 GB RAM
- 4 GB VRAM
- 512 GB SSD (or a mix of SSD and HDD)
- 4K resolution
- An efficient cooling system
7 Best Laptops for 3D Modeling
#1 Lenovo Legion 5
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 4 GB
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a great budget laptop for 3D modeling. With a 15.6” screen size, a 1080 IPS screen, a 512 GB SSD, and a 4 GB VRAM, the laptop offers immersive visuals and super fast refreshing speeds. The device comes with Legion Coldfront 3.0 which offers excellent heat control, allowing you to work on demanding tasks such as 3D modeling without overheating your laptop.
The build quality of the laptop is sturdy and durable. The keyboard is backlit, in case you like working at night. All in all, this device is a little powerhorse and will get the job done!
#2 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
RAM: 32 GB
VRAM: 8 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix 15 is one of the best laptops for 3D modeling and is great for professionals! It packs superior performance and great specs, which is reflected in its price tag. With a 15.6” screen and a 1440 IPS-type display, it delivers stunning visuals. It has an impressive refresh rate of 165 Hz. It has a 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM, and 8 GB VRAM – enough to turn your laptop into your primary workstation for your 3D modeling.
The device has an excellent cooling system with 4 fan outlets and exhausts on 3 sides, so you can work long hours without worrying about overheating. The RGB low-profile mechanical keyboard is also easy to type on. This laptop may be on the expensive side, but if 3D work is your job, it’s a great choice!
#3 Apple MacBook M2 Pro
CPU: M2 Pro
GPU: 19-core Apple GPU
RAM: 16 GB
Apple laptops have long since been known for their superior performance and battery life, so it’s no wonder that the MacBook Pro features on our list. The M2 Pro has 512 GB to 1 TB of storage and its specs can be upgraded easily. Its 16.2” liquid retina XDR display is stunning and will make all your 3D graphics pop, and the M2 Pro GPU is capable of handling any type of 3D modeling work you throw at it.
The MacBook M2 Pro is super fast, maintains its speed even when plugged in, and doesn’t overheat. In short, it’s one of the best performing laptops out there for 3D work. If you want a better version of the MacBook Pro, you can go for the M2 Max Chip version.
#4 HP Omen 16
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 4 GB
With a 12th gen Intel core i7-12700H processor, a GeForce RTX 3050, and 4 GB of VRAM, the HP Omen laptop packs a punch. It has a 16.1” screen with an immersive display. It has a 1TB SSD, 1080 IPS anti-glare display, and a fast refresh rate at 144 Hz. The laptop is equipped with a tempest cooling technology that has a 3-side hot air outlet and an enlarged cold air inlet, making it super efficient and preventing your device from overheating.
Equipped with powerful hardware, the latest Nvidia graphics card, and an excellent cooling system, this laptop is powerful enough to handle all your 3D modeling tasks. The device won’t lag and the RGB backlit keyboard means you can work even at night!
#5 Gigabyte Aero 5 XE4
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 8 GB
Loaded with the 12th gen Intel core i7 12700H processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 TI graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM, the Gigabyte Aero 5 XE4 is one of the best laptops for 3D modeling. Not only is the laptop sleek, it is powerful as well and has 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage.
The 15.6” screen size has a thin ultra-HD 2160 AMOLED display, which means the visuals will be stunning! Indeed, the monitor is capable of providing video output of up to 4K. It has a high contrast ratio that lets you experience the full gamut of colors in high detail, so your 3D models will look sharp. The device also has the newest WindForce Infinity cooling system with 5 heat pipes and 2 83-blade fans, so it won’t overheat even when you run energy intensive programs.
#6 MSI GE76 Raider
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 6 GB
The MSI GE76 Raider is a powerful laptop, making it ideal for 3D modeling. Equipped with the 12th gen Intel core i7 12700H processor, this device has 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB storage. The 17.3” thin bezel full high-definition display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 144 Hz. With the GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, you get excellent graphics that don’t log and can perform intensive 3D modeling tasks easily. It also has an RGB backlit keyboard and enough power to complete demanding 3D work.
#7 ASUS TUF Dash 15
CPU: Intel Core i7 12650H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 6 GB
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is manufactured with military grade toughness and is capable of being upgraded. It’s equipped with the 12th gen Intel Core i7 12650H processor with 10 cores and has a storage of 512 GB. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card means the graphics are super smooth and crisp. The device also has several features such as the MUX Switch Boost that lets the graphics card communicate directly with the display. This boosts performance while also decreasing latency.
The laptop has a 15.6” screen size with a full HD IPS-type display (1920 x 1080), with a fast refresh rate of 144 Hz, offering you swift visuals without any lag. The adaptive sync technology further makes the visuals smoother. The device has 84-blade arc flow fans with 4 fan outlets as well as anti-dust tunnels to keep your laptop cool and at peak performance mode for a long time. All in all, it is an excellent laptop that has the processing power needed for you to work on your demanding 3D modeling tasks.
With this, we come to the end of our review of 7 of the best laptops for 3D modeling. As a general rule of thumb, gaming laptops usually have a good graphics card as well as enough processing power needed for 3D modeling work. But make sure you read the specs and reviews carefully before making a decision!
Wait a minute.. 3D modeling on a laptop? Is that even possible?
It is! Most modern-day laptops are powerful enough to be capable of 3D modeling.
That’s because 3D modeling is one of the least intensive 3D work that you can do.
But that doesn’t mean you can use just about any laptop for 3D modeling. Your device needs to meet at least the minimum criteria for handling this task. Let’s look at what they are.
The Best Laptops for 3D Modeling: A Buyer’s Guide
Specification Requirements for a Laptop for 3D Modeling
At the very least, your laptop should meet the following criteria:
7 Best Laptops for 3D Modeling
#1 Lenovo Legion 5
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 4 GB
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a great budget laptop for 3D modeling. With a 15.6” screen size, a 1080 IPS screen, a 512 GB SSD, and a 4 GB VRAM, the laptop offers immersive visuals and super fast refreshing speeds. The device comes with Legion Coldfront 3.0 which offers excellent heat control, allowing you to work on demanding tasks such as 3D modeling without overheating your laptop.
The build quality of the laptop is sturdy and durable. The keyboard is backlit, in case you like working at night. All in all, this device is a little powerhorse and will get the job done!
#2 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
RAM: 32 GB
VRAM: 8 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix 15 is one of the best laptops for 3D modeling and is great for professionals! It packs superior performance and great specs, which is reflected in its price tag. With a 15.6” screen and a 1440 IPS-type display, it delivers stunning visuals. It has an impressive refresh rate of 165 Hz. It has a 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM, and 8 GB VRAM – enough to turn your laptop into your primary workstation for your 3D modeling.
The device has an excellent cooling system with 4 fan outlets and exhausts on 3 sides, so you can work long hours without worrying about overheating. The RGB low-profile mechanical keyboard is also easy to type on. This laptop may be on the expensive side, but if 3D work is your job, it’s a great choice!
#3 Apple MacBook M2 Pro
CPU: M2 Pro
GPU: 19-core Apple GPU
RAM: 16 GB
Apple laptops have long since been known for their superior performance and battery life, so it’s no wonder that the MacBook Pro features on our list. The M2 Pro has 512 GB to 1 TB of storage and its specs can be upgraded easily. Its 16.2” liquid retina XDR display is stunning and will make all your 3D graphics pop, and the M2 Pro GPU is capable of handling any type of 3D modeling work you throw at it.
The MacBook M2 Pro is super fast, maintains its speed even when plugged in, and doesn’t overheat. In short, it’s one of the best performing laptops out there for 3D work. If you want a better version of the MacBook Pro, you can go for the M2 Max Chip version.
#4 HP Omen 16
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 4 GB
With a 12th gen Intel core i7-12700H processor, a GeForce RTX 3050, and 4 GB of VRAM, the HP Omen laptop packs a punch. It has a 16.1” screen with an immersive display. It has a 1TB SSD, 1080 IPS anti-glare display, and a fast refresh rate at 144 Hz. The laptop is equipped with a tempest cooling technology that has a 3-side hot air outlet and an enlarged cold air inlet, making it super efficient and preventing your device from overheating.
Equipped with powerful hardware, the latest Nvidia graphics card, and an excellent cooling system, this laptop is powerful enough to handle all your 3D modeling tasks. The device won’t lag and the RGB backlit keyboard means you can work even at night!
#5 Gigabyte Aero 5 XE4
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 8 GB
Loaded with the 12th gen Intel core i7 12700H processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 TI graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM, the Gigabyte Aero 5 XE4 is one of the best laptops for 3D modeling. Not only is the laptop sleek, it is powerful as well and has 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage.
The 15.6” screen size has a thin ultra-HD 2160 AMOLED display, which means the visuals will be stunning! Indeed, the monitor is capable of providing video output of up to 4K. It has a high contrast ratio that lets you experience the full gamut of colors in high detail, so your 3D models will look sharp. The device also has the newest WindForce Infinity cooling system with 5 heat pipes and 2 83-blade fans, so it won’t overheat even when you run energy intensive programs.
#6 MSI GE76 Raider
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 6 GB
The MSI GE76 Raider is a powerful laptop, making it ideal for 3D modeling. Equipped with the 12th gen Intel core i7 12700H processor, this device has 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB storage. The 17.3” thin bezel full high-definition display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 144 Hz. With the GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, you get excellent graphics that don’t log and can perform intensive 3D modeling tasks easily. It also has an RGB backlit keyboard and enough power to complete demanding 3D work.
#7 ASUS TUF Dash 15
CPU: Intel Core i7 12650H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
RAM: 16 GB
VRAM: 6 GB
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is manufactured with military grade toughness and is capable of being upgraded. It’s equipped with the 12th gen Intel Core i7 12650H processor with 10 cores and has a storage of 512 GB. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card means the graphics are super smooth and crisp. The device also has several features such as the MUX Switch Boost that lets the graphics card communicate directly with the display. This boosts performance while also decreasing latency.
The laptop has a 15.6” screen size with a full HD IPS-type display (1920 x 1080), with a fast refresh rate of 144 Hz, offering you swift visuals without any lag. The adaptive sync technology further makes the visuals smoother. The device has 84-blade arc flow fans with 4 fan outlets as well as anti-dust tunnels to keep your laptop cool and at peak performance mode for a long time. All in all, it is an excellent laptop that has the processing power needed for you to work on your demanding 3D modeling tasks.
With this, we come to the end of our review of 7 of the best laptops for 3D modeling. As a general rule of thumb, gaming laptops usually have a good graphics card as well as enough processing power needed for 3D modeling work. But make sure you read the specs and reviews carefully before making a decision!