kfoo Loc: Arkansas

What are the requirements to run Photoshop/Lightroom on an Apple laptop? What is the best configurations?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Read Adobe requirements on their site.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Adobe provides both minimum and recommended configurations.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/system-requirements.html

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

'Best' depends on your usage, but I would say that it would include the use of an M1 or M2 chip (M3 rumored). Those chips are fast and make LR/PS perform really fast. Compared to my 8 year old Win10 laptop they are probably more than 10 times as fast. Of course an old laptop isn't a good comparison, but the M1+ chips also have great battery life and are a pleasure to use.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I'm using a 2020 M1 MacBook Air with 16GB memory, 1TB storage, the "un-binned" (all cores are active) 8 cpu, 8 gpu, 16 neural engine core system on a chip processor, and a battery of external SSDs and conventional hard drives.

Lightroom and Photoshop are both very I/O intensive, meaning they want to move lots of data to and from disk as fast as possible. So for maximum performance, use a Thunderbolt 3 or 4/USB 4 external SSD capable of at least 3000 MBPS throughput.

M-series chips are very memory efficient, but they can run out of shared memory during intensive workloads. When that happens, they use the internal SSD for swap memory. If you are doing normal everyday computing tasks such as email, web browsing, word processing, and spreadsheets, you can get by with minimal memory and storage. But if you intend to use Photoshop or Lightroom with big files:

> Upgrade the unified memory FIRST. Consider 16GB adequate for most work.

> Upgrade the storage NEXT. Consider 512GB the minimum for the M1 and M2. Consider 1TB the minimum for M1/M2 Pro, Max, and Ultra machines.

> If you feel the need for speed and power, and budget allows, get a 14" or 16" MacBook Pro instead of the MacBook Airs. There is a wide range of options there. MaxTech's YouTube channel (and others) have tested many versions of M2 Pro and M2 Max machines with varying amounts of memory and storage.

> I would NOT buy the 13" M2 MacBook Pro. It is a weak value. The 15" M2 MacBook Air or the 14" M1 Pro MacBook Air are both better values, according to numerous testers and reviewers.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I use a portable storage with me.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

I recently switched from Windows PC to Apple, buying a Mac mini M2 Pro desktop, with 512GB SSD storage and 32GB RAM. I also added a 4TB external PCle NVMe M.2 SSD in a hub enclosure, attached with Thunderbolt 4 cable. After I copied my data and photos to the 4TB drive, I opened LR and asked it to import and add 53,000 photos to the catalog. It only took about 10 minutes to finish the task. I was absolutely blown away. It would have taken 2 days on PC. I hope OP has similar experience on new laptop!

Greg Biggs Loc: Billings, MT

Whatever the requirements are, exceed them. If they say 8 gigs of RAM do 16 instead. I know for myself, I’ve found my iMac needs the most I can give it.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Remember that these days Apple products are non-upgradeable. RAM is integrated on the chip. If you need more RAM you have to buy a new computer.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

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jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

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flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Good advice.