The debate of whether a Mac or a PC is the better computer for graphic design has been going on for a long time. Many designers will only use Macs for deep system-wide ecosystem integrations, while others swear by the upgradability and customization you get with a PC.
It’s a tough call. So, let’s consider whether you should use a Mac or a PC for graphic design and why either is the best option.
Hardware and Performance
The first factors to consider are hardware performance and the price range. You can match both computers and get an overview of how Macs and PCs compare against each other as of 2023.
Entry-Level PC: Under $1,000
PCs have many options under $1,000. Most PCs at that price point come with an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H or Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 dedicated graphics card.
Displays usually widely vary between PCs, but you will most commonly get an IPS display with sRGB color gamut. This is a decent display, but it won’t provide the same quality of images as the Mac’s popular liquid retina display. The IPS can suffer from “black crush,” where dark colors are not displayed accurately.
Where the display is lacking, the Ryzen 7 6800H processor makes up with more power. It handles running all the design software and programs you use, so you will need it to be fast. The Ryzen 7 6800H processor is an eight-core processor fit to handle your daily tasks and light editing. You should not expect long-lasting battery life with PCs at this price point. You will get, on average, three to four hours of editing and graphic design work.
Here are examples of PCs you can find under $1,000 with these specifications:
Entry-Level Mac: Under $1000
With a $1,000 budget, the 2020 MacBook M1 Air is an easy choice. Powered by theApple M1 chip, it offers an integrated seven-core or eight-core GPU, up to 16GB unified RAM, and storage options of up to 2TB SSD.
Macs are popular for their Retina display with a P3 wide color gamut. The 2020 MacBook M1 Air’s quad high-definition display of 2560 x 1600 resolution, you will get vibrant and accurate colors while working. However, the refresh rate of 60Hz is a drop-off to most PCs at that price range, with some featuring up to 120Hz.
The M1 will deliver a noiseless performance for most of your daily tasks. Yet, it is not as powerful with heavy work as the Ryzen 7 6800H and will have slower export times for video projects. Since the M1 is built for efficiency, its main selling point is the battery life, offering over 12 hours of uptime. It is ideal for on-the-go design work and better than the average PC.
Mid-to-High End PC: $1,500-$2,000
With a PC in this price range, you can expect a top-tier Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7 processor, which is even more powerful than the Ryzen 7 6800H. This will make editing and design tasks like rendering and exporting files much less problematic and faster. Expect at least 32GB RAM and an SSD of up to 1TB, allowing for a faster computer.
you’re able to also expect the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card (or an NVIDIA equivalent). This showcases significant performance improvements. You will be able to handle PRORes 4K image quality in faster times. For display hardware, a Full HD 144Hz or sometimes Quad HD (QHD) 165Hz display will deliver much sharper images. The high refresh rate reduces input lag and jittery animations when scrubbing through while editing videos and other visual work.
An example of a PC with these specifications would be the Dell XPS 15. The XPS 15 features a beautiful 2560 x 1600 IPS 165Hz OLED display fit for your design needs.
Mid-to-High End Mac: $1,500-$2,000
Here, your options range from a 14-inch MacBook Pro (2023) with an M2 Pro chip to a much larger M1 iMac (2021). Either way, you are getting an extremely powerful computer. The M2 Pro chip available on the MacBook boasts even better performance than the already impressive M1 Max. The MacBook Pro also has a Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion, which provides a smooth and responsive user experience with up to 17 hours of battery life.
For the iMac, starting at $1,299, you get the M1 chip instead, which is somewhat disappointing. The M1 is still a powerful chip but not nearly as powerful as the M2 Pro, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X processors typically beat the M1 in heavy load editing. What makes the M1 iMac worth it is a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color, which provides clear and accurate images. Note that at the time of writing, there isn’t an M2 iMac, but there are strong rumors that Apple will launch either an M2 iMac or brand-new M3 iMac towards the end of 2023.
Hardware Upgrading
Simply put, PCs are much easier to upgrade and customize. Their versatility allows you to truly create a computer that fits your exact needs at your exact budget. PCs are easier to customize and upgrade than Macs because they use standard components that are widely available. Instead, Macs use proprietary components only available from Apple, making them more difficult and expensive to customize and upgrade.
For instance, a designer could build an entire custom PC from scratch equipped with a monitor. The extensive customization options give you an edge over the limitations of Macs.
Software Compatibility
Previously, many popular design software packages, like Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and Sketch, launched exclusively for macOS. However, this is no longer the case, and the gap between the capabilities of PCs and Macs has closed, bringing mostmajor design tools you will useto PCs. As such, you should have no problem running whatever design software you like with any hardware choice you make.
Support is another important aspect when choosing between a Mac and a PC. Apple traditionally provides long-term support for older MacBooks, allowing them to receive updates for several years. Specifically,Rosetta 2ensures your design software will be compatible with a long list of older MacBooks, bridging the gap between Intel and Apple silicon Macs. Yet, expect some drop in performance. So, it’s important to check if there are Apple Silicon versions available for the software for the best performance and compatibility.
PCs generally have extended software support cycles that keep them up-to-date. The diverse PC market and its ease of upgrading also means you can upgrade your PC hardware options to meet future requirements.
User Experience
In terms of device compatibility, PCs have an advantage over Macs. PCs can be used with various devices, including Android phones and tablets. Macs, on the other hand, are often only compatible with Apple devices (though there are typically workarounds). Apple often uses proprietary technology to maintain its walled-garden approach.
Still, a seamless experience is sought after, and with device continuity, the Apple ecosystem has a reputation for seamless workflows and device integration withthe features of Apple Continuity. As much as that workflow is great to experience, with the popularity of cloud data storage and collaboration on most software like Adobe Cloud, continuing your work across multiple PCs is easy. These services facilitate collaboration and file sharing in multi-platform workflows, which is important to be able to design from anywhere.
Making the Right Choice for Your Designer Journey
With this information, choosing a Mac or PC for graphics design should be much easier. From an expert opinion, PCs are great if you prefer a computer that will let you use it how you want. On the other hand, Macs have a controlled workflow that is functional for what and only what you need.
