Top Tech for Designers & Creatives in 2020
By: Jacob Cass
Tags: Tools, Gear

With 2019 now behind us, people are starting to look forward to 2020 and all of the tech the new year will bring. There is no better place to get a preview of what’s the come than at the Consumer Electronics Show that takes place in January in Las Vegas.

With this on the horizon, we wanted to do a little bit of forecasting and share what we think some of the biggest tech companies are going to be releasing in 2020 and share our pick for what each company’s best product was in 2019.

Revealed: Top Upcoming Tech for Designers & Creatives in 2020

We reveal what these top brands have in store for 2020!

Apple

Dell

Samsung

Intel

Sony

Nvidia

HP

AMG

LG

Microsoft

So hang on tight, and get ready to peek into the future!

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Apple

It seems like every year that Apple releases a new version of one of their products, consumers are already looking ahead to the next iteration. Let’s take a closer look at some of their biggest products.

iPhone 12

The iPhone 11 was only released a little more than three months ago, the rumor mill is swirling with what might be next. Rumors have pointed to everything from a screen with a faster refresh rate, a fourth camera lens, 5G connectivity to a time-of-flight sensor that would deliver more features for augmented reality.

A rumor making the rounds is the release of the SE 2, which would be a lower-cost phone with the size of the iPhone 6,7 and 8. There is also speculation that the company will introduce a smaller, lower-cost version of the iPhone 11.

iOS 14

The newest update to the Apple operating system, beyond adding updates for stability, will start to focus more on augmented reality as well as improvements to machine learning. This will lead to software developments that will either lead to the success or failure of the company’s plan for wearable tech in the future.

iPad, iWatch, and AirPods

With the debut of the iPadOS in 2019, Apple will presumably want to make updates within the next year to show support and that will likely come in the form of new iPad features like making the tablet more like a traditional PC by making improvements in areas such as multitasking.

As for Apple’s wearable tech division, its growth should continue in 2020. While releasing a new version of the AirPods may not happen after two releases this year, the Apple Watch will likely see an update to include sleep tracking which will require a longer battery life.

MacBook and iMac

The 16-inch MacBook Pro that was released in November hopefully indicates that a keyboard redesign is coming to their other laptop models. Look for updates to the MacBook Pro with a 13 or 14-inch model and an update to the MacBook Air that comes with a better keyboard.

The iMac Pro got an update two years ago and the iMac received one earlier this year. There hasn’t been a major redesign for quite some time and now might be the time to roll out a larger 5K iMac model. If anything, its beyond time for the iMac Pro to get an update.

Released in 2017, the iMac Pro is at the top of the line when it comes to the desktop computers that Apple offers. Designed specifically for professionals, the hardware inside can provide you with all the tools you’ll ever need. While it is expensive, this is a computer you’ll use for many years.

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19 Reviews

Apple iMac Pro (27-inch Retina 5K display, 3.2GHz 8-core Intel Xeon W, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Space…

27-Inch (diagonal) Retina 5K display

5120-By-2880 resolution with support for one billion colors

Stunning 5-mm-thin design

8-Core Xeon w Processor

Radeon Pro Vega 56 graphics with 8GB of HBM2 Memory

$3,953.76

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Dell

One of the biggest changes that are coming to laptops is the advent of dual-screen PCs. Dell has been filing patents for a dual-screen PC for years and has officially announced plans for some kind of dual-screen PC so it’s only a matter of time before they reveal it to the world.

While there are likely to be updates to Dell’s Inspiron line of laptops as well as their XPS premium line. Many people are looking forward to the new updates to Dell’s in-house gaming brand, Alienware. As the maker of high-end gaming laptops and PCs, gamers are anxiously waiting to know what they will be saving their money to put them ahead of their competition.

An amazing, all-around laptop, the Precision 15 5530 comes with the features that any creative would want in a laptop. Images pop with an Nvidia Quadro p100 chip and its 15.6-inch FullHD display makes any image look amazing. At just under four pounds, the laptop is light enough to take with you to work away from the office.

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2 Reviews

Dell Precision 5530 1920 X 1080 15.6" LCD Mobile Workstation with Intel Core i7–8850H Hexa-core 2.6…

Faster Memory speeds: accelerate workflows with enhanced 2666MHz Memory speeds up to 32GB.

Revolutionary thermals: this cooling System features dual fans, designed to improve airflow and keep your system cool under heavy workloads.

Simple office integration: Thunderbolt Type-C with x4 PCIe and HDMI 2.0 Ports keep you connected to everything you need.

$1,439.99

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Samsung

When it comes to CES, Samsung is one of the biggest presenters and after the show, there are many people astounded by the latest tech coming out or even the prototype technology that’s a ways off like a 75-inch modular television and while rumors point at the unveiling of their QLED TVs with zero bezels on them, we wanted to take a look at some of the products that might help creatives.

Notebooks and Monitors

Last year, Samsung debuted the Notebook Flash as well s the Notebook 9 Pro, so each of those will likely receive some attention or update this year. In the past year, Samsung has been doing some amazing things with monitors using QLED technology and that will more than likely take another giant step forward.

Smartphones & Wearable Tech

One area where Samsung is always on the cutting edge of the next big thing is in its line of smartphones and wearable tech. While Samsung releases many mid-range phones for the mass market, many people focus on the flagship of the line, the Galaxy S11 which is speculated to be released with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Rumors of a triple rear camera have circulated online as well.

The Galaxy Fold was a media darling when it was first announced and in 2020, the Galaxy Fold 2 should be on the horizon and rumors of the camera as well as a cheaper price than the original are starting to leak out. The next version of the Galaxy Watch will likely be announced in early 2020 with new updates to their voice assistant, Bixby, to make it a true competitor to Apple’s Siri and the Google Assistant. Updates to the tacking functionality for health apps to make it comparable to how well Apple’s Watch performs would be welcome by many

It isn’t hard to see why some consider the Galaxy Note series is one of the best smartphones available. With an included S Pen, it is perfect for any designer who needs to make a quick sketch on the road or prefers the functionality that Android offers, Note 10 is a great choice.

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568 Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Factory Unlocked Cell Phone with 256GB (U.S. Warranty), Aura Black/ Note10

Fast charging, long lasting intelligent power and super speed processing outlast whatever you throw at Note 10

S pen’s newest Evolution gives you the power of air gestures, a remote shutter and playlist button and handwriting to text, all in One Magic wand

With a full set of Pro lenses, super stabilization, live video bokeh and precision audio recording, Note 10 is a studio in your pocket

Note 10’s nearly bezel less Infinity display gives an immersive, cinematic quality to whatever you’re viewing

Internet usage time(lte) (hours) up to 14. Internet usage time(wi fi) (hours) up to 14. Audio playback time (hours, wireless) up to 60. Talk time (4G LTE) (hours) up to 38. Video playback time…

$749.99

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Intel

While Intel made a big splash at last year’s CES with the announcement of their first 10nm Ice Lake processors, which are based on their Sunny Cove architecture, even going as far as showing a laptop powered and running using the chip.

This year, while there will be a focus on their new 10-nanometer chips, there is likely to be news regarding the next wave of their 10nm processors as well as their 14nm processors in 2020. GPU manufacturers should be on notice in 2020 as Intel’s return to the graphics market is heralded by the release of their newest GPU built on a second-generation of Xe graphics. While the exact release date hasn’t been confirmed, the prospect of a new Intel GPU is something gamers and creatives should be excited about in 2020.

While it lacks a dedicated GPU, the 9500 is a cheaper alternative to other options from Intel but still offers users a mid-range performance that is fantastic from both creatives and gamers.

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1 Reviews

Intel Core i5–9500 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.GHz LGA1151 300 Series 65W

6 Cores /6 Threads

Up to 4.4 GHz

Compatible with Intel 300 Series chipset based motherboards

Bios update may be required for motherboard compatibility

Supports Intel Optane Memory

$288.99

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Sony

While last year at CES, Sony didn’t make much of a splash with new products outside of the Master Series Z9G TV as well as the debut of their 360 Reality Audio format. Last year, Sony’s WF-1000XM3 was the first pair of true noise-canceling earbuds from a major manufacturer to hit the market and consumers noticed.

While by the end of the year Apple released their noise-canceling earbuds with the AirPod Pro, fans of the earbuds should start hearing rumblings of the new version sometime next year but to keep them satisfied in the meantime, many insiders expect Sony to release the newest version of their wireless headphones, the 1000XM4 and the wish list from potential buyers is already beginning to take shape.

Home Entertainment

While it should be expected the Sony will release TVs with the latest technology and possibly 8K resolutions, the bulk of the attention this year will be focused on the PlayStation 5. Recently announced to be released Holiday 2020, more and more news will start to come out about the console with CES in January and E3 later on in the year, the possibilities of what it could do could be very interesting to creatives.

With top-quality sound along with excellent noise cancellation, the 1000XM3 headphones are by far the best Sony product released. With Google Assistant and Alexa connectivity as well as additions to the padding for additional comfort, you might find yourself wearing these all day.

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3,014 Reviews

Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM3: Wireless Bluetooth Over the Ear Headphones with Mic and…

DIGITAL NOISE CANCELING: Industry leading ANC lends a personalized, virtually soundproof experience

VOICE ASSISTANT: Alexa enabled for voice access to music, information and more. Activate with a simple touch

QUICK ATTENTION MODE: Cover the right ear cup to turn down your music for instant, easy conversation

SMART LISTENING: Adjusts the ambient sound to your activity to give you the best noise cancellation

TOUCH CONTROLS: Control music tracks and volume, activate your voice assistant and take phone calls

$278.00

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Nvidia

With the announcement coming from Intel of a new GPU, many insiders believe that Nvidia should have some kind of response to their competitor’s big news. However, while we don’t think Nvidia will be announcing anything unexpected this year. So those waiting for an announcement for the next generation of their GeForce graphics card may have to wait a while longer.

What we do think will happen is that the manufacturer’s long beta game streaming service, GeForce Now will have its official launch. This would make sense as the company had teased the official release of the service earlier this year. One area where consumers should start to see more focus is with the Nvidia Shield. Announced in 2019, the Shield is Nvidia’s foray into the streaming world for television and games and should receive an update at some point during the year.

If you’re not the type to settle for good enough when it comes to your technology, then the RTX 2080 Ti is the graphics card for you. The best graphics card you can buy without having to splurge on a professional option, the performance that the RTX 2080 Ti is only matched by its extraordinary price.

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3 Reviews

PNY GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB Blower Graphics Card

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB

NVIDIA CUDA Cores 4352, Clock speeds of 1350 MHz core and 1545 MHz boost

24/7 U.S. Based Technical Support

Blower Edition

NVIDIA Turing Architecture, combined with the all-new GeForce RTX platform, fuses together real-time ray tracing, artificial intelligence, and programmable shading.

$1,203.64

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HP

Last year saw HP release new and innovative products to their laptop and monitor lines with different Chromebook variations and crowd-pleasing options such as the Spectre x360 and the Spectre Folio with its unique leather design case. New monitors featured both QHD and FHD resolutions to give consumers the best image possible.

2020 should continue HP’s trend of innovative design should move even further. The company’s Omen line of gaming laptops and desktops should be something that creatives keep an eye on, especially if they are in the market for a new computer. Consumers should also keep an eye on the rumors of Xerox purchasing HP and what changes that could bring to the company’s product lineup.

Released in October 2019, the Spectre X360 is designed to take your work to an all-new level. Packed with a 10th-generation Intel Core processor and UHD graphics card, it has been built to make any image you put on it look incredible. The performance plus the design of the laptop will also turn a lot of heads.

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2019 HP Spectre x360 Laptop Computer: 10th Gen Intel Quad-Core i7 10510U up to 4.9GHz 16GB DDR4 RAM…

10th Gen Intel Core i7–10510U (1.8 GHz base frequency, up to 4.9 GHz base with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 8 MB cache, 4 cores)

15.6" diagonal 4K (3840 x 2160) IPS micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch-enabled edge-to-edge glass with Corning Gorilla Glass NBT, 340 nits, 72% NTSC Display; NVIDIA GeForce MX250 with 2GB dedicated…

16GB DDR4–2666 SDRAM Memory for full-power multitasking; 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD + 32GB Intel Optane Save files fast and store more data. With massive amounts of storage and advanced communication…

360° flip-and-fold design; Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5 Combo; 2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C with Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gb/s signaling rate, Power Delivery 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and…

Windows 10 Home 64-Bit, Dark Ash Silver, Sandblasted Anodized Finish

$1,462.04

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AMD

At last year’s conference, AMD made news with the announcement and reveal of their 7-nanometer GPU, the Radeon VII. If there is one company that uses the platform that CES provides to announce their latest and greatest developments, it is AMD and they have done so at their keynote speeches the last few years.

In 2020, the expectation is that the company will release a line of high-end GPU’s which will be of great interest to graphic designers and illustrators. While some insiders believe that the company may release a range of laptop-based CPUs and GPUs. This is all speculation though as rumors regarding what the company is confirmed to be released in 2020 are almost non-existent.

Supporting 16 threads thanks to its simultaneous multithreading which allows for amazingly fast workload productivity, the Ryzen 3700X is a great all-around CPU for a very affordable price. Ith eight-cores of power, you can get a top of the liner performer for a great price.

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343 Reviews

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core, 16-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Prism LED Cooler

The world’s most advanced processor in the desktop PC gaming segment

Can deliver ultra fast 100+ FPS performance in the world’s most popular games

8 Cores and 16 processing threads, bundled with the AMD Wraith Prism cooler with color controlled LED support

4.4 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 36 MB of game Cache, ddr 3200 support

For the advanced socket AM4 platform, can support PCIe 4.0 on x570 motherboards

$326.63

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LG

LG is a company that consumers and creatives should keep an eye on in 2020. While they are famously known for the new products that they announce at CES, including amazing innovations such as a rollable OLED TV that was featured last year and new smartphones that no one saw coming.

In 2020, many people believe that LG will release more of the same as in previous years with innovations in TV and their smartphone line. The exciting part is finding out what new products will be released that no one knows about yet.

Designed to be a thin and lightweight laptop, the Gram is packaged with a gorgeous 17-inch display and weighs under three pounds, making it easy to take on the go. An 8th-generation Intel Core processor and Intel UHD Graphics 620 card make this a great combination of design and power to help you with all types of work.

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110 Reviews

LG Gram 17Z990-R.AAS9U1 Thin and Light Laptop, 17" (2560 X 1600) IPS Display, Intel 8th Gen Core i7,…

8th Gen. Intel Core i7 Processor (i7–8565u)

17 inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS display

72Wh Lithium battery (Up to 19.5 hours)

16GB RAM & 1 TB (512GB x 2) NVMe SSD

Thunderbolt 3 interface

$1,499.00

Buy on Amazon

Microsoft

2019 was a great year for Microsoft that saw the release of some major products that have taken a foothold with consumers and given them another option to choose instead of Apple or Samsung. With their Surface product line, Microsoft has created a line of laptops and tablets that are praised by reviewers and consumers alike and we expect that to keep growing in 2020.

Surface

Microsoft’s flagship laptop and tablet division released quite a few new products to take on the products available from Apple. The Surface 3 is designed to compete with the MacBook Air while its the Surface Pro X that has many people talking. A direct competitor to Apple’s iPad Pro, and is offered with a detachable keyboard that contains the stylus. The biggest news for Microsoft though comes in the form of two new products coming in 2020

Surface Duo and Neo

Announced in the Fall of 2019, the Duo and Neo are two dual-screen, foldable devices that are designed to take on products such as the Galaxy Fold from Samsung. The first product in this line is the Neo. The Neo is a tablet that will have a 360-degree hinge connecting two 9-inch screens. Video of the product shows different uses including a flip-up keyboard to turn it into a laptop and other modes that might be very appealing to creatives.

The Duo is the phone version of this product line. With two 5.6-inch screens, you can either use each screen as a separate entity or fill both screens at once to get a larger view of what you are working on. Both products are scheduled for a Holiday 2020 release.

While it was originally released in 2017, the combination of form and function still makes the Surface Pro 2 our pick for the best Microsoft product in 2019. With an available 13 or 15-inch display, the 8th generation Intel Quad-Core processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card can make all of your design work look amazing.

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464 Reviews

Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5" (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1 TB)

Microsoft Surface Book 2 Features a 8th generation Intel Quad Core i7 Processor, 1 TB of storage, 16 GB RAM, and up to 17 hours of video playback

Enhanced Graphics performance with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 discrete GPU w/2GB GDDR5 Graphics Memory

The fastest Surface Book yet, with 2x more power; Bluetooth: BT4.1 LE

Vibrant PixelSense Display: Now available with an improved 13.5" touchscreen

Four versatile modes of use and new USB C port

$2,190.00

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2020: Upcoming Tech for Creatives

Wow! Are you excited about what’s coming out next year? With so many exciting advancements and innovations in technology, you could end up making it your best year ever. I hope our look forward to 2020 has put some things on the horizon for you and got your creative juices flowing.

Is there any new technology that you’re excited about getting your hands on? Let us know in the comments below!!