Best Mac Apps For Designers



BestiMac for Graphic DesignersiMore2020

  1. Best Mac Apps For Clothing Design
  2. Best Mac Apps For Web Designers

When it comes to graphic design, you want a powerful machine that would be able to handle anything you throw at it in terms of visuals. And graphic design is part of the creative community, which includes graphic design, along with other industries like music creation, writing, photo and video editing, and so much more. Macs are the computers of choice for the creative community, and we think the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display is the best option for serious graphic designers. That's because you get the best possible screen, great specs, and all for a reasonable price.

Best Overall: 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina Display

If you're looking for an iMac for graphic design, then you're going to want one with a stunning display to see all of your graphical work. With this iMac, you get a huge 27-inch Retina 5K display, which supports 500 nits of brightness and has a substantial 5120-by-2880 screen resolution with support for one billion colors and wide color. You also get high graphics with a Radeon Pro 570X 4GB video card for the base model, 575X 4GB for the middle tier, and 580X with 8GB for the high-end model. The high-end model is also configurable to Radeon Pro Vega 48 with 8GB of memory if you need it.

The best MacBook Pro alternatives have the great features of Apple's design, but at a lower cost. MacBook Pro may be most designers' laptop of choice, but it’s no longer alone in its prowess for design and performance – there are plenty of Windows machines that. Mar 06, 2020  Note: If you are a Chromebook user you should check out our separate article on best drawing apps for Chromebook. Best Drawing Programs for PC and Mac (2020) For an artist, a tool is a huge asset. And thus, choosing the right asset becomes.

The 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina Display has a 3.0GHz 6-core Intel i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB Fusion Drive. If the base stats aren't enough for you, the machine can always be configured for more memory or storage (including SSD), but the middle and high-end offerings offer more power and can also be configured.

Even though the iMac was last updated in March 2019, it's still a very capable machine that is perfect for graphic design work and more.

Pros:

  • Large 27-inch Retina 5K Display
  • Three base models to choose from
  • Reasonably priced for what you get

Cons:

  • Mar 07, 2017  While in principle, the design of prototypes must be a product of interaction designers, and the user-centered concept shall run through the whole product design progress.
  • Feb 05, 2019  Apps For Graphic Design. If there is one industry in particular that continues to benefit from ongoing software refinement its graphic design. Progress in this industry tends to well up from the user base as much as it trickles down from the programmers with the result being a continuous chain of upgrades, add-ons and entirely new graphic design apps for Android and iOS hitting the market on.
  • Different configurations can be pricey
  • Only starts with 8GB of RAM
  • New model could be coming very soon

Best Overall

27-inch iMac with 5K Retina Display

Get the most bang for your buck

The 27-inch iMac comes with a gorgeous 5K Retina display and has three base models that are configurable for your needs.

Best Entry Level: 21.5-inch iMac with 4K Retina Display

The iMac with 4K Retina display is less money than the 27-inch, and the 4K display should be good enough for a lot of graphic design work. However, you will need to keep in mind that the 4K Retina display is only available in the 21.5-inch size, which is slightly disappointing. Still, the 4K display has a nice 4096-by-2304 resolution with support for one billion colors, and it also has 500 nits of brightness and wide color.

The base model for the 4K iMac starts with a 3.6GHz quad-core Intel i3 processor that's configurable to 3.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz. You also start with 8GB of RAM (configurable up to 16GB or 32GB), 1TB hard drive (configurable to 1TB Fusion Drive or 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD), and Radeon Pro 555X with 2GB memory. You can get the higher level 4K iMac if you need a boost in processor power or video card.

Pros:

  • Affordable price
  • Beautiful 4k Retina display
  • Less than the 5K iMac
  • Two base choices that can be configured

Cons:

  • Only comes in 21.5-inch size
  • Starts with only 8GB of RAM
  • New model could be coming soon

Best Entry Level

21.5-inch iMac with 4K Retina Display

A great middle ground

The 4K Retina Display still looks fantastic and is highly affordable. It doesn't come in a 27-inch size, though.

Source: iMore

If you're on a budget and just need an iMac for the basics, then the Non-Retina 21.5-inch iMac is a good option to consider. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a 4K or 5K Retina Display, but it has a decent 1920-by-1080 resolution, which should suffice for basic graphic design.

On the inside, the Non-Retina 21.5-inch iMac has a 2.3GHz dual-core 7th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz. It starts with 8GB of RAM that you can configure up to 16GB, a 1TB hard drive that can be configured to a 1TB Fusion Drive or 256GB SSD, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640.

Pros:

  • The least expensive iMac
  • Good for basic graphic design

Best Mac Apps For Clothing Design

Cons:

  • Hasn't been updated since 2017
  • No 4K or 5K Retina Display

Best Value

21.5-inch iMac (Non-Retina)

The most affordable option

This is the cheapest iMac, but its 21.5-inch display is Non-Retina. But it should still be enough for basic graphic design.

Source: Craig A. Hunter

If the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina Display doesn't offer enough power for you, then you may want to consider the beastly iMac Pro. That is if you can afford it — this thing isn't cheap!

With the iMac Pro, you get a 27-inch 5K Retina Display, but it has an 8-core 3.2GHz Intel Zeon W processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz with a 19MB cache. You can configure it up to 18-cores if you really need it, but that's going to cost you a pretty penny. It also starts with Radeon Pro Vega 56 graphics card with 8GB memory that you can also configure up to Radeon Vega 64X with 16GB of memory. The base RAM in the iMac Pro is 32GB, but you can go all the way to 256GB RAM if you want to. And it comes with a 1TB SSD, configurable up to 4TB.

It may be more than what most people need, but if you need a serious machine to handle tons of rendering and other graphic-intensive tasks, the iMac Pro will do nicely.

Pros:

  • Packs in a ton of power
  • 27-inch 5K Retina Display
  • Comes in Space Gray color

Cons:

  • Very expensive
  • Not for most people
  • Hasn't been updated since 2017

Best Power

iMac Pro

More power!

The iMac Pro has enough power to handle pretty much anything. And it's the only iMac to come in Space Gray. But it'll cost you.

Source: Rene Ritchie / iMore

For those who need a Mac for graphic design, but want it to be portable, then we recommend taking a look at the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The 16-inch display has 3072-by-1920 native resolution at 226 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors, 500 nits of brightness, wide color and True Tone, making it perfect for graphic design.

Not only does the display look great, but you get power too. The base model 16-inch MacBook Pro gives you a 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz, and you can even upgrade it to 8-cores with a more powerful processor if need be. It also starts with a 512GB SSD that can go all the way up to 8TB, 16GB of RAM that's configurable up to 64GB, and you get AMD Radeon Pro 5300M 4GB graphics card that can also be upgraded if desired.

If you want a serious portable machine for graphic design, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the one to look into.

Pros:

  • Portable power
  • 16-inch display is gorgeous
  • Configurable to suit your needs

Best Portability

16-inch MacBook Pro

Portable power

It's no iMac, but the 16-inch MacBook Pro packs in a ton of power with a gorgeous display, and you can take it anywhere.

Bottom line

The 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina Display is the best iMac for graphic designers. With the large 27-inch screen and stunning 5K Retina display that it's capable of, you're getting the most capable machine for graphic design work at a reasonable price. Plus, it has three base configurations for you to customize if need be, so you can create the 5K iMac of your dreams.

And while we seem to be due for a refreshed iMac lineup, the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina Display was only released in March 2019, so it's still a very powerful machine. Even if you buy it now, it should run flawlessly.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Christine Romero-Chan has been using Macs for a little over a decade now. She has a strong understanding of what each Mac is capable of and their purpose and can give anyone a good recommendation. You can find her and various musings on Twitter, or check out her photography on Instagram.

Rene Ritchie Rene Ritchie has been covering the personal technology industry for a decade. An outspoken analyst and critic, he writes at iMore.com/vector, podcasts at applepodcasts.com/vector, and you can find his show at youtube.com/vector. Follow him @reneritchie on Twitter and Instagram.

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BestiPad for Graphic DesignersiMore2020

Graphic designers have a few choices when it comes to purchasing an Apple iPad. Our No. 1 choice is the fourth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which offers the largest display you can buy with the best internals. We've gathered other noteworthy models to help you choose the one that fits your needs best.

Best Overall: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2020)

Now in its fourth-generation, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2020) is Apple's largest and most feature-packed tablet to date. Featuring an all-screen design that's also shared with the 11-inch iPad Pro, this model supports the second-generation Apple Pencil and comes with an A12Z Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture and embedded M12 coprocessor.

Best mac apps for designers 2018

The Liquid Retina display features industry-leading color accuracy that generates smooth, distortion-free edges. Throw in True Tone, which automatically adjusts the white balance to make the screen look more natural, and it's clear this is the best choice for creatives.

The 2020 iPad Pro models are the first to include a LiDAR Scanner. Though not necessarily for graphic designers, the feature works with the device's pro cameras, motion sensors, and frameworks to measure depth. This combination makes iPad Pro great for augmented reality.

Do you need more reasons to select this tablet? The latest iPad Pro includes ProMotion technology that adjusts the display's refresh rate based on what you're doing. In doing so, it offers the most responsive performance possible, which is easy to recognize when illustrating or playing a game.

Two reasons not to consider this tablet: The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the most expensive Apple tablet to date, with prices ranging from $999 to $1,899, depending on your configuration. Also: A third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro is nearly the same and now at a discounted price (see below).

Pros:

  • Largest iPad available
  • Works with second-generation Apple Pencil

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Bulky
  • Not much different than the 2018 model

Best Overall

12.9-inch iPad Pro (2020)

The largest and best you can buy

When you want a lot of space and the best internals, this is the tablet to buy.

Source: Rene Ritchie / iMore

If you love everything about the 12.9-inch iPad Pro but its large size, there's the second-generation 11-inch iPad Pro. This tablet has the same internals as our top pick but within a smaller footprint. Inside, you'll find a blazing-fast A12Z Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture and Neural Engine.

Like the larger iPad, the 11-inch iPad Pro is expensive, ranging in price from $799 to $1,699. And like the larger model, the 11-inch iPad Pro (2020) isn't that much different than the previous model, which is now being offered at a discount (see below)

Pros:

  • Easy to travel
  • Same internals as the larger model
  • Includes Face ID, Apple Pencil support

Cons:

  • Still expensive
  • Again, not much different than the earlier model

Runner Up

11-inch iPad Pro (2020)

More portable choice

If you feel overwhelmed by the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but want the same specs, this is the iPad you should consider.

Source: iMore

Offering an A12 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture and Neural Engine, and embedded M12 coprocessor, the third-generation iPad Air packs a punch for much less than the iPad Pro lineup. Featuring a 10.5-inch display, the tablet is a terrific choice for creatives looking for a new tablet on a budget. The iPad Air supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, which makes it possible to sketch, draw, and design with ease.

On the downsize, the iPad Air maxes out at 256GB versus 1TB for the iPad Pro models. If you plan on saving lots of design work on your tablet. Plus, a 2020 model could arrive soon. These are crucial points to keep in mind.

Pros:

  • Good price
  • Screen with anti-reflective coating

Cons:

  • Limited internals versus Pro models
  • Only supports 1st generation Apple Pencil
  • Could soon be replaced

Best Value

iPad Air (2019)

Do you feel the Air?

Apple's newest iPad Air is packed full of features and enhancements and comes highly recommended.

Source: iMore

On the day Apple revealed the third-generation iPad Air, it also introduced the first new iPad mini since 2015. Weighing just 0.68 pounds, the iPad mini, includes nearly everything you can find on the latest iPad Air, but in a smaller body.

The 7.9-inch tablet has the same A12 chip for better performance, a True Tone display, first-generation Apple Pencil support, and also comes in 64GB and 256GB storage capacities.

Pros:

  • Much like the current iPad Air, but with a smaller display
  • Easier to carry than other models
  • Storage up to 256GB

Cons:

  • Pricey for its size
  • No Smart Connector support

Best for Portability

iPad mini (2019)

The small one

When convenience and portability matter, consider the 7.9-inch iPad mini.

Best Alternatives: 11-inch iPad Pro (2018) and 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018)

The third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro and first-generation 11-inch iPad are very similar to the newer models. Both, however, ship without a LiDAR Scanner and come with an A12X Bionic chip. Watch for discounts for this 2-year-old models.

Pros:

  • Nearly the same as 2020 models
  • Works with second-generation Apple Pencil

Best Alternatives

11-inch iPad Pro (2018) and 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018)

Nearly the best you can buy

Look for an impressive deal on either of these 2018 iPad Pro models. You'll save a lot of money and still get a terrific high-end tablet

Best Mac Apps For Web Designers

Bottom line

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2020) is Apple's largest and most feature-rich tablet to date. Because of this, it's our choice for best iPad for graphic designers. The all-display tablet includes an A12Z Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture and Neural Engine and embedded M12 coprocessor. It supports the second-generation Apple Pencil and includes a USB-C port.

Keep in mind, however, this tablet is going to cost you. However, because it's a 2020 model, it's going to stick around for a while. Regardless, happy drawing!

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Bryan M. Wolfe is a dad who loves technology, especially anything new from Apple. Penn State (go Nittany Lions) graduate here, also a huge fan of the New England Patriots. Thanks for reading. @bryanmwolfe

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