In this guide, we look at the best laptops for Maya. While there is no one-size-fits-all laptop on the market, there are more than enough options for getting the most out of Maya.
Our recommendations can also run programs such as, Cinema 4D, 3ds Max, ZBrush, Blender, Modo and the like, smoothly.
The laptops on our list ship with the very best CPUs, RAM, graphics and storage you’d find on any good laptop for animation. With our top picks, you won’t have problems modelling, rendering, and texturing using Maya.
That said, let’s look at the best laptops for Maya animation money can buy now.
Best Laptops for Maya at a Glance
| No. | Item | |
| 1 | Razer Blade 15 (Editors’ Choice) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 | Gigabyte Aero 15X | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | Dell G7 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 4 | HP Omen 17 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 5 | MSI GS65 Stealth Thin | Check Price on Amazon |
| 6 | Lenovo Legion Y7000 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 7 | HP Pavilion Power | Check Price on Amazon |
| 8 | Acer Predator Helios 300 | Check Price on Amazon |
Maya System Requirements
Here are the system requirements for getting the most out of Maya.
- RAM: 8GB of RAM or higher (16GB or more preferred)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 or higher
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or better (Core i7 preferred)
- Hard Disk Space: 4GB or higher
- OS: Windows 7 or higher
Maya is also compatible with macOS, and Linux.
1. Razer Blade 15 (Editors’ Choice)
This is arguably one of the best laptops made by Razer. It is the best laptop for Maya and our Editors’ Choice.
Renowned for its impressive internals, the Blade 15 is made chiefly for tackling CPU-intensive computing like video animation, editing, and gaming. The laptop is fast, you won’t experience any lag while using Maya.
Tucked inside the 2019 Razer Blade 15 are an Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB SSD. The 16GB of RAM is upgradable to 64GB. The Blade 15 has a configuration with 256GB SSD. All configurations come equipped with 16GB of RAM.
The Razer Blade 15 nails it with respect to port selection with more ports than you will find on some of the best laptops for on the market. You’ll find one Thunderbolt 3 port, three USB 3.1 ports, HDMI, one mini DisplayPort, and a headphone jack.
At this point, it should go without saying that the 2019 Razer Blade (15-inch) can tackle our modelling, rendering, and texturing with ease, thanks to its fast Intel Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM. Its graphical performance is first-rate.
Razer has put a lot of effort into considerably improving the Blade 15’s power profile, and the result is clear.
You Might Like: The Best Laptops for Adobe Premiere Pro
PROS
- Very fast performance
- Improved battery performance
CONS
- Keyboard arrangement could be better
- High-priced
Razer Blade 15 (2019) Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch FHD matte,144 Hz,1920 x 1080, pixels
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 8GB – Max-Q design
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Storage: 512GB SSD (NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4) expandable to 2TB SSD
Size: 13.98 x 9.25 x 0.70 inches (355 x 235 x 17.8 mm)
Weight: 4.63 pounds (2.10 kg)
OS: Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
Battery: 80 Wh
2. Gigabyte Aero 15X
Equipped with 8th-gen Intel Core i7-8750H and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, the Gigabyte Aero 15X does not disappoint when dealing with animation using Maya and other video animation software that tax a laptop’s internals, and are graphically demanding as well as.
If display refresh rate is your number one concern, you will not be let down buying the Gigabyte Aero 15X as the manufacturer has ramped up its refresh rate from 60 Hz on the 2018 variant to 144 Hz.
The laptop sports an enormous 512GB solid-state drive (SSD) storage, and 16GB of RAM. This storage and RAM combination is more than enough to handle video animation tasks with ease. You have a fast SSD and ample storage.
For connectivity, you won’t have problems as the Gigabyte Aero 15X parades one USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, two USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, a USB-C port, an SD Card reader, Mini-DisplayPort and HDMI 2.0 ports. Lest we forget, a headphone jack is also present.
As far dimensions go, Aero 15X’s FHD, 15.6-inch IPS panel is a little larger than the 2018 model which has a 14-inch screen.
It is not the thinnest gaming laptop on the market, although it is quite thin at 0.74-inch. This is better than some gaming laptops with internals also suitable for animation using Maya, which have twice the Aero 15X’s thickness. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus GA502 (2.9 inches) and the Alienware Area 51m (1.7 inches) are notable examples.
The Gigabyte Aero 15X is highly recommended as one of the best laptops for Maya.
Recommended: Best Laptops for DaVinci Resolve
PROS
- Excellent 144Hz display
- New sleek design
- Excellent Battery life
- Lots of Ports
CONS
- Touchpad could be improved
Gigabyte Aero 15X Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz IPS, 1920 x 1080 Pixels
CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core i7-8750H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Storage: 512GB SSD
Size: 14.0 x 9.8 x 0.74 inches (355.6 x 248.9 x 18.8 mm)
Weight: 49 pounds (2.03 kg)
Battery: 94 Wh
3. Dell G7 17
The Dell G7 is a capable laptop for getting the most out of Maya. It packs tons of performance at a relatively reasonable price.
The laptop comes equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD plus 1TB HDD. Additionally, the laptop ships with Intel Core i7-9750H processors. This configuration is adequate for animation, specifically for modelling, rendering, texturing, and simulation using Maya.
It has a very good display, which is comparatively on the level of the Dell XPS 13 (2019), the Razer Blade Stealth (2019), and Apple MacBook Air (2018).
The Dell G7 is 7.28 pounds and has a 15.9 x 11.6 x 7.28-inch footprint. It looks sleek, but is quite heavy.
On the left of the Dell G7, there’s one Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 Gen 1 and a headphone/mic jack. The right side has a 2-in-1 SD card reader and another USB 3.1 Gen 1.
The back of the Dell G7 holds the rest of the goodies, like the power adapter, an HDMI port, another USB 3.1 Gen 1, Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet and a noble lock slot. It’s worth noting that you can charge any gadget via the USB 3.1 Gen 1 Ports even when the Dell G7 isn’t on.
The G7 has an RGB keyboard, with lightning that can be adjusted just like the 2019 Razer Blade Stealth’s keyboard.
A minor gripe: the Dell G7 gets warm after heavy use most times.
The Dell G7 ships with Windows 10 and some other software like Mobile Connect, Alienware Command Center, SmartByte Diagnostics, Digital Delivery, and more.
Dell sells the G7 with a 1-year limited warranty.
The final thing we’ll be looking at in our Dell G7 review is battery life. You may not get a full 5 hours from the battery, but you’ll definitely get at least 3 hours on a single charge.
The Dell G7 remains one of the best laptops for Maya.
PROS
- Good design
- Good display with high refresh rate
- Overall great performance
- Good price for its features and performance
CONS
- Audio could be improved
- Average battery life
Dell G7 17 Key Specifications
Display: 17.3-inches, FHD, IPS, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 144 Hz
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB)
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB M.2 PCIe-NVMe SSD + 1TB hard drive
Size: 15.9 x 11.6 x 7.28 inches (403.86 x 294.64 x 184.91 mm)
Weight: 7.28 pounds (3.30 kg)
OS: Windows 10 Home
4. HP Omen 17
The 2019 HP Omen 17 pairs an Intel Core i7-9750H processor with 256GB M.2 SSD and 16GB of RAM. As for graphics, it is equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 GPU.
The HP Omen 17 can take on any graphic-related task thrown at it without breaking a sweat. It isn’t just designed for gamers only, but also for those whose day-to-day tasks entail working with graphics-intensive, and CPU-taxing software like Maya.
You won’t have issues linking other accessories to the 2019 HP Omen 17 as this powerful laptop has a commendable number of ports: The right side features one RJ45 Ethernet port, HDMI, a Mini DisplayPort, one Thunderbolt 3 port, two USB 3.0 port, and one headphone and mic jacks.
The left side sports another USB 3.0 port, and an SD card slot.
Compared to the best laptops for Maya our editors have chosen, the HP Omen 17 is on the heavy side weighing 7.1 pounds (3.21kg).That said, it is not the heaviest laptop for Maya as the Lenovo Legion Y7000 Gaming Laptop weighs even more at 9.15 pounds (4.15 kg).
Overall, the HP Omen 17 is still one of the best laptops for Maya.
Don’t Miss: TN vs. IPS Displays in Laptops: Which is Should You Buy?
PROS
- Outstanding performance
- Pricing is reasonable
- Good keyboard
- Colourful display
CONS
- Average battery performance
HP Omen 17 Key Specifications
Display: 17.3-inch, 1920×1080 Pixels
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Size: 15.9 x 11.2 x 0.8 inches (403.86 x 284.48 x 20.32 mm)
Weight: 7.1 pounds (3.21kg)
OS: Windows 10 Home
Battery: 95.8 Wh
5. MSI GS65 Stealth Thin
The MSI GS65 is a powerful laptop with a portable build quality, premium design and impressive battery life. It has a black-and-gold colour which gives it a beautiful look.
It is kitted out with 32GB of Intel Core i7-8750H processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics. The manufacture was smart to put a 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage into the MSI GS65 Stealth Thin.
These features make the laptop a joy to edit your videos on and a great piece of hardware that any multimedia pro should be proud to carry around. The storage and RAM combo is more than enough for Maya and most animation software on the market right now.
The Blade Stealth is lightweight at 4.14 pounds (1.88 kg). Some of the best laptops for Maya we’ve recommended weigh even more. To put the GS65 Stealth Thin’s weight in perspective, the Dell G7 weighs in at 5.5 pounds (2.2 kg), and the Lenovo Legion Y7000 Gaming Laptop weighs 9.15 pounds (4.15 kg).
The ports on the GS65 Stealth are aplenty. On the right side, there are a USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3, one USB Type-A port, an HDMI port, a mini DisplayPort connection and a power connector. The left edge holds head and microphone jacks, two USB Type-A ports, and an Ethernet jack.
You’ll enjoy using the laptops keyboard as the keys are responsive with good travel. Worthy-of-note is the Stealth Thin’s keys which are individually backlit. You can tweek the colours and patterns to suit your needs as you would on the Razer Blade Stealth (2019).
As mentioned, the MSI GS65 has a solid battery life. The laptop lasts nearly 9 hours on a charge.
If money is no issue, the MSI GS65 Stealth is worth considering, and remains one of the best laptops for Maya.
You Might Like: The Best Laptops for Drone Video Editing
PROS
- Stylish design
- Solid performance
- Responsive keyboard
- Portable build
- Excellent battery life
CONS
- Can get warm
- Pricey
MSI GS65 Stealth Thin Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz, 1920 x 1080 pixels
CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
RAM: 32GB RAM
Storage: 1TB SSD
Size: 14.1 x 9.8 x 0.7 inches (358.14 x 248.92 x 17.78 mm)
Weight: 4.14 pounds (1.88 kg)
OS: Windows 10 Home
6. Lenovo Legion Y7000
Elegant design, beautiful display, superfast processors, and a solid overall performance are the hallmarks of the Legion Y7000
The Lenovo Legion Y7000 is very fast thanks to the combination of Intel Core i7-8750H processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 16GB of RAM, a combination of 1TB HDD and 256 SSD of storage it is shipped with.
The laptop is 9.15 pounds and has a 10.2 x 14.88 x 0.87-inch footprint.
Every port you could reasonably expect is on this powerful laptop. The back holds most of the ports including one USB 3.1 port, one USB Type-C port, one HDMI port, a Mini DisplayPort, power jack, a Kensington lock slot and an Ethernet port. The right edge has a single USB 3.1 port, while an audio connection and a USB 3.1 port are on the left side of the laptop.
As with most powerful gaming laptops, it will not last you through a full day of video animation and other CPU-intensive tasks without visiting a wall plug. You should get at least 5 hours per charge.
If you use the laptop for light tasks only, then the Lenovo Legion Y7000’s battery will last even longer on a single charge.
Still, we recommend moving with your power pack if you intend using the laptop for extended periods.
The biggest drawback here is the poor audio quality. Nonetheless, we don’t see this as a red flag.
Read Next: The Best Laptops for Drone Video Editing
PROS
- Colourful display
- Battery life is OK
- Sleek, stylish design
- Impressive graphics and processor
CONS
- Sound quality isn’t the best
Lenovo Legion Y7000 Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch FHD, 1920 x 1080 pixels
CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB HDD + 256 SSD
Size: 10.2 x 14.88 x 0.87 inches (259.08 x 377.95 x 22.10 mm)
Weight: 9.15 pounds (4.15 kg)
OS: Windows 10
7. HP Pavilion Power
The HP Pavilion Power is hugely powerful under the hood, and outwardly simple with a black chassis.
This iteration boasts an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti GPU with 16GB of memory and a reliable Intel Core i7 processor. This makes it one of the best laptops for Maya. The base model is outfitted with AMD Radeon RX 550 and 12GB memory.
For smooth running of Maya, we recommend the configuration with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050TI GPU.
The HP Pavilion Power is 4.87 pounds and has a 14.88 x 9.93 x 0.95-inch footprint.
We have no complaints with the selection of ports offered on the HP Pavilion Power. Like some of the best laptops for Maya on our list, you’ll find on the right, a USB Type-C port, one USB 3.0 port, HDMI, SD card reader, Ethernet, an AC adapter.
The left edge holds the rest of the goodies, like a 3.5mm audio jack, a Kensington Lock, and two USB 3.0 ports.
One of the biggest surprises from the HP Pavilion Power is its astoundingly remarkable longevity – by gaming laptop standards, that is. You’ll get around eight hours per charge.
The HP Pavilion Power is held back by what our editorial team perceive as a tiny weakness: the speakers are a bit of a letdown. They lack class-leading audio, but still manage to deliver clear sound.
By and large, we recommend the Pavilion Power as one of the best laptops for Maya.
Also Good: 4K (UHD) vs. 1080p (Full HD) Laptops: Which is Better?
PROS
- Excellent battery life
- Solid performance
- Impressive keyboard
CONS
- Trackpad ins’t very responsive
- Speakers aren’t the best
HP Pavilion Power Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch Full HD IPS, 1920 x 1080 pixels
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
RAM: 16GB DDR4 SDRAM
Storage: 1TB hard drive, 128GB SSD
Size: 14.88 x 9.93 x 0.95 inches (377.95 x 252.22 x 24.13 mm)
Weight: 4.87 pounds (2.20 kg)
OS: Windows 10
8. Acer Predator Helios 300
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has all the bells and whistles of a good gaming laptop.
It pairs a seventh-generation Intel Core i7-9750H processor with 256GB SSD storage and 16GB of RAM. We’re impressed with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU tucked inside the Acer Predator Helios 300 — this is surprising given the price of the laptop.
There are higher configurations with GeForce RTX 2060 graphics and 512GB SSD. You’ll also find models with GeForce RTX 2070 paired with 32GB of storage.
The display boasts thin side bezels which are thinner than what some laptops in the price range parade. The top and bottom bezels are not thin, sadly.
It’s worth mentioning that the Helios 300’s display is just not as good a display as you’ll find on the 2019 Dell XPS 13, the Razer Blade Stealth (2019), and the Asus Chromebook Flip C434.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 ships with Acer’s PredatorSense software suite which allows you to monitor and tweak temperature, fan, and other features.
Every port you could reasonably expect is on the Helios 300. The right edge holds a USB 3.0 port, a USB 3.1 Type-C port, HDMI, and a mini DisplayPort connection. The left side features two USB 3.0 ports, a headset jack, and an Ethernet jack.
Is the laptop a treasure trove of world firsts? No. That said, its internals are solid enough to tackle modelling, rendering, and texturing thanks to the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU. It is indeed one of best laptops for Maya.
Limited storage options aside, our only qualm with the Helios 300 is its battery life. This is expected. Even so, you should get no less than three full hours of life from it between charges – potentially even more if you don’t use it heavily.
We recommend the Acer Predator Helios 300 as one of the best laptops for Maya.
PROS
- Good refresh rate
- Solid performance
- Good battery life
- Excellent 144Hz display
CONS
- Limited storage options
- Battery life could be better
Acer Predator Helios 300 Key Specifications
Display: 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz IPS, 1920 x 1080 Pixels
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070, GeForce RTX 2060, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Size: 14.23 x 10.01 x 0.90 inches (361.4 x 254.3 x 22.9 mm)
Weight: 5.07 pounds (2.3 kg)
Battery: 3720 mAh
| No. | Item | |
| 1 | Razer Blade 15 (2019) (Editors’ Choice) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 | Gigabyte Aero 15X | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | Dell G7 17 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 4 | HP Omen 17 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 5 | MSI GS65 Stealth Thin | Check Price on Amazon |
| 6 | Lenovo Legion Y7000 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 7 | HP Pavilion Power | Check Price on Amazon |
| 8 | Acer Predator Helios 300 | Check Price on Amazon |
Bottom Line
We’ve reviewed the best laptops for Maya available on the market. These laptops can also blaze through most typical video animation tasks with ease. Our recommendations have the very best CPUs, RAM, graphics, and storage you’d find on any good laptop for animation.
These laptops are highly recommended.
