5 best laptops for creative freelancers on a budget, UAE 2025

From editing to client calls — power, portability, and flair

Last updated:
Lakshana N Palat, Assistant Features Editor
6 MIN READ
There are plenty of budget-friendly laptops that offer impressive specs, solid build quality, and the power to handle your daily task
There are plenty of budget-friendly laptops that offer impressive specs, solid build quality, and the power to handle your daily task
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For creative freelancers in the UAE, finding the perfect laptop that balances performance, portability, and affordability can be a challenge. Whether you're designing graphics, editing videos, or managing multiple projects, your laptop is your creative hub. But with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to find one that meets your needs without breaking the bank.

Luckily, there are plenty of budget-friendly laptops that offer impressive specs, solid build quality, and the power to handle your daily tasks. From vibrant displays for precise design work to long-lasting battery life for working on the go, these laptops offer excellent value without compromising on performance. In this guide, we’ll explore the best laptops available in the UAE for creative freelancers in 2025, so you can work smarter, not harder, while staying within your budget. Get ready to elevate your creative work without emptying your wallet.

For our list, we scoured through Amazon's top-rated and reviewed products. Shop with Amazon Prime for free, fast delivery and get your laptop delivered in time. 

1) Best Overall: Lenovo - 2023 - IdeaPad 3i - Essential Laptop Computer

Pros:

  • Super lightweight and slim—great for working from anywhere

  • Crisp display and narrow bezels for immersive visuals

  • Excellent audio and mic setup for video calls

  • Versatile ports, including USB-C and HDMI

  • Quiet, efficient performance for everyday creative tasks

Cons:

  • Not ideal for heavy-duty video editing or 3D rendering

  • Touchpad control might feel basic for design-heavy tasks

  • No backlit keyboard in some variants

  • Limited upgradeability (RAM is partially soldered)

If you're a creative freelancer always on the move, whether you're hopping between coffee shops, co-working spaces, or client meetings—the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i (2023) might just be your perfect work companion. Slim at just 19.9 mm (that’s under 0.8 inches!) and impressively lightweight, this laptop makes portability feel effortless. But don’t let the sleek design fool you—inside, it packs a serious punch with 12th Gen Intel Core i5 U-series processors and Intel Iris Xe graphics, offering smooth performance for multitasking, light photo editing, and video calls.

The 15.6" FHD IPS display is a visual treat, with wide viewing angles and sharper colour contrast—ideal for design work or editing on the fly. Add to that the ultra-slim 4-sided bezels, and you get a larger canvas without the bulk. Virtual meetings are clearer, too, owing to the HD webcam with a privacy shutter, dual mics, and Dolby Audio speakers that make every call sound more professional, especially with Smart Noise Cancelling to mute out the background buzz.

For freelancers who juggle multiple devices, the full-function USB-C port, HDMI, and multiple USB-A ports offer seamless connectivity. Bonus: it even comes with a free 3-month Xbox Game Pass, for when you need a creative break.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh129.17 for 12 months with select banks. 

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year accidental damage protection for Dh199, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty for Dh242.

2) Best All-Rounder: HP 2024 Newest Laptop for Business and Student

Pros:

  • Great performance for everyday creative tasks at a budget price

  • Responsive 15.6” touchscreen adds functionality and ease

  • Generous 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for smooth multitasking and fast storage

  • Comes with Microsoft Office lifetime license

  • Modern ports + Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make it highly versatile

  • Good webcam and mic setup for client or team meetings

Cons:

  • Screen resolution is HD (not Full HD), which may feel limiting for detailed visual work

  • Basic integrated graphics aren’t suited for high-end video editing or animation

  • Touchscreen is useful but not stylus-optimized

  • Design is simple, not as sleek as higher-end creative laptops

If you're a creative freelancer looking for an affordable all-rounder that handles everyday design tasks, writing, video calls, and light editing without breaking a sweat—or your budget—the HP 2024 Newest 15.6” Touchscreen Laptop deserves a spot on your shortlist. Packed with a 6-core Intel i3-1215U processor, 16GB RAM, and a fast 512GB SSD, this laptop offers a surprising level of performance for the price. It's ideal for those juggling multiple browser tabs, editing tools like Canva or Lightroom, and hopping into back-to-back client calls.

The 15.6-inch HD touchscreen is a nice bonus, offering a more interactive experience for sketching ideas, navigating your apps, or simply scrolling through your portfolio. Paired with Intel UHD Graphics, the display provides decent clarity for basic visual work. And if you're constantly jumping between workspaces, the lightweight body, full-sized keyboard with numeric pad, and long battery life make it a solid daily carry.

You also get Windows 11 Home and a lifetime Microsoft Office license included—huge perks for freelancers who need Word, Excel, or PowerPoint regularly. The laptop also features a privacy-shutter webcam, dual array mics, and modern connectivity ports like USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and Bluetooth, so you're ready for video calls, presentations, or plugging into a second screen anytime.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh116.58 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year accidental damage protection for Dh143, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty for Dh182.

3) Best Portable Device: Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop

Pros:

  • Good performance for everyday tasks and light creative work

  • Vibrant 15.6" Full HD IPS display

  • Slim and lightweight – easy to carry

  • Decent battery life (~7.5 hours)

  • Plenty of ports including USB-C and HDMI

Cons:

  • Basic plastic build and slightly dated design

  • Keyboard feel is average

  • Not ideal for heavy design or video editing task

​For creative freelancers seeking a budget-friendly laptop that balances performance and portability, the Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop presents a compelling option. Equipped with up-to-date components, it efficiently handles everyday tasks such as graphic design projects, content creation, and virtual meetings. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display offers vibrant visuals and wide viewing angles, enhancing the experience during design work and media consumption. Its slim and lightweight design ensures easy mobility, catering to professionals who are often on the move. User reviews generally highlight the Aspire 5's affordability and reliable performance for everyday tasks. However, some users have noted areas where corners were cut, such as the battery life not matching the advertised 10 hours, and the 720p webcam being a potential deal-breaker for some professionals. In summary, the Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop is a solid choice for creative freelancers who need a capable and portable device. While it may not rival premium models in build quality or high-end performance, it effectively supports a range of creative tasks and offers good value for its cost.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh175.80 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year accidental damage protection for Dh238, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty for Dh303.

4) Best 2-in-1 Laptop: Dell Inspiron 7440 2-in-1 Laptop

Pros:

  • 2-in-1 versatility for sketching, presenting, and working anywhere

  • Crisp and colourful Full HD touchscreen with narrow bezels

  • Strong everyday performance with Intel’s latest chips

  • Premium design that’s both durable and lightweight

  • Ideal for hybrid working and flexible creative tasks

Cons:

  • On the higher side of the mid-range budget

  • Not built for heavy-duty video rendering or 3D modelling

For creative freelancers who need their tech to keep up with a fast-paced, hybrid workflow, the Dell Inspiron 7440 2-in-1 offers the ideal mix of power, portability, and versatility. Whether you're sketching design ideas, editing visuals, or flipping through presentation slides with clients, this convertible laptop adapts to your style with ease. Thanks to its 360-degree hinge, it shifts fluidly between laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes—making it just as comfortable on your desk as it is on your lap during a client meeting or coffee shop session.

Under the hood, it’s powered by Intel’s latest processors, giving it enough muscle to handle multitasking, creative apps like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator (light to moderate usage), and everyday productivity without slowing you down. The 14-inch Full HD touchscreen is crisp and responsive, ideal for hands-on work like drawing or photo editing, and the narrow bezels give it a modern, immersive feel.

The build is slim, sturdy, and easy to carry—great for freelancers always on the move. It also packs in plenty of thoughtful extras like a fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard, and a solid range of ports for easy connectivity.

5) Best Value: ASUS Vivobook 15 Laptop

Pros:

  • Affordable without compromising on performance for basic creative tasks

  • 15.6-inch Full HD display offers clear and vibrant visuals

  • Lightweight design, easy to carry for freelancers on the go

  • Plenty of connectivity options including USB-C and HDMI

Cons:

  • Build quality feels a bit plastic and less premium

  • Limited performance for heavy design work or video editing

  • Average battery life, requiring frequent charging on the go

The ASUS Vivobook 15 is a solid choice for creative freelancers on a budget who still want solid performance for everyday tasks and light creative work. With its 15.6-inch Full HD display, the Vivobook provides vibrant visuals with decent color accuracy—ideal for photo editing, content creation, and streaming. Powered by a capable Intel processor, this laptop can handle multitasking, casual design work, and video calls without breaking a sweat. At just 1.8kg, it’s easy to carry between meetings, and the full-sized keyboard ensures comfortable typing during long editing sessions. Plus, its impressive selection of ports, including USB-C and HDMI, makes it versatile for connecting external devices like monitors and storage drives.

Bonus: Buy with zero per cent installments and pay Dh141.58 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year accidental damage protection for Dh190, and two-year damage protection and one-year extended warranty for Dh284.

Our recommendations are independently chosen by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission, as we are part of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.

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