There’s more to the best video editing laptops than just being light and portable. They’re creative powerhouses that let you cut clips and make movies wherever inspiration strikes. You’ll need one of the best laptops for video editing if you want to work with raw 4K, 6K, 8K, or even 12K video or make effects. You can cut short clips on a cheap laptop, but it won’t have a fast processor, solid graphics, or a high-resolution screen. Another problem with a cheap laptop is that the battery will die quickly and the graphics will load slowly. If you’re a quick content creator, you don’t have time to waste.
If you’d rather work in Windows on a PC laptop, you’ll need a discrete GPU, which will cost more and drain the battery faster. You should really think about a few different PC laptop options if you don’t mind being plugged in all the time. If, on the other hand, you’re the type of person who always needs to be creating on the go, an Apple MacBook is your best bet. The engineers in Cupertino have somehow mastered performance and battery life. Below, we have mentioned the best video editing laptops.
Importance of a Video Editing Laptop
Professional video editors and content creators can’t do their jobs without a laptop that can edit videos. Here are some of the most important reasons why you need a laptop for video editing:
???? Performance: Video editing requires a lot of computer power, especially when working with high-resolution footage, complex effects, and rendering. A laptop for editing videos is made with a powerful processor, a lot of RAM, and a separate graphics card. This makes playback smooth, editing easy, and rendering go faster. This keeps the editing process running smoothly and quickly, saving time and making the team more productive.
???? Portability: A laptop is easier to move around than a desktop computer for video editing. Content creators often have to work on projects while traveling or in different places. With a laptop, they can edit videos and finish tasks anywhere, like on set, while traveling, or at a client’s place. Professionals who have to meet tight deadlines and work on multiple projects at the same time need to be able to move around and be flexible.
???? Compatibility with hardware: Video editing software can be resource-intensive and needs certain hardware specs to work well. Most laptops made for video editing meet or go above and beyond these requirements. This makes sure that editing software works well and is compatible with the laptop. This makes it possible for editors to use advanced features, effects, and plugins without slowdowns or problems with compatibility.
Best Video Editing Laptops Comparison Table
The best video editing laptops are shown in the table below. This detailed list shows the most important features, such as the speed of the processor, the amount of RAM, the storage options, the quality of the display, the graphics capabilities, the battery life, and the price. Whether performance, portability, or price is most important to you, this table will help you make an informed choice. Explore the wide range of laptops, including the newest models from top brands, to find the best one for your video editing needs.
Laptop Model | Display Type | Screen Size | Processor | Latest Offers |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2021) | OLED | 15.6-inch | Intel Core i7/i9 | Check Deal |
Acer Predator Triton 300 SE | IPS | 14-inch | Intel Core i7 | Check Deal |
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch) | Mini-LED | 14.2-inch | Apple M1 Pro/M1 Max | Check Deal |
Microsoft Surface Book 3 (15″) | PixelSense | 15-inch | Intel Core i7/i9 | Check Deal |
Razer Blade 15 | IPS | 15.6-inch | Intel Core i7/i9 | Check Deal |
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M3
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Apple M3 Chip |
Graphics | 10-core GPU |
Memory | Up to 24GB |
Storage | Up to 2TB |
Display | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display |
Operating System | 8-core CPU |
Battery Life | Up to 22 hours |
Weight | 3.4 pounds (1.55kg) |
Touch Bar and Touch ID | Touch ID |
Check Price |
The MacBook Pro’s Apple M3 chip gives you unbeatable performance. It has an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU that let you easily switch between tasks and work on professional projects. The battery life is up to 22 hours, the screen is a beautiful 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, and it works with top apps like Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365.
A cutting-edge user experience is guaranteed by the advanced camera and audio features as well as the many connectivity options, such as MagSafe, Thunderbolt, and HDMI. This MacBook Pro is a creative and productive powerhouse because it is safe, durable, and works well with other Apple products.
Pros
- Powerful Performance
- Extended Battery Life
- Versatile Connectivity
- Security and Durability
Cons
- High Price
- Limited External Display Support
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2021)
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i7-11800H or i9-11900H |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti or 3060 |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB or 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6-inch OLED 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home or Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 8 hours |
Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.05 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
The latest addition to the company’s luxury work laptop range, the Dell XPS 15 has been slimmed down and improved with a slimmer design and a new OLED screen option. Inside, the XPS still relies on powerful 11th Gen Intel silicon and discrete Nvidia graphics cards, and from the outside it looks and feels as good as ever. The wide design of the XPS 15 but this remains one of the best looking laptops out there.
The base and lid are aluminum, the keyboard deck is carbon fiber, and the XPS 15 comes in two color schemes, the silver and black we covered, or a white finish. The new device from Dell weighs between 1.8 kg and 1.96 kg depending on the specification and is 18 mm thick. Those are impressive numbers for a powerful 15.6-inch notebook. Still, it’s by far one of the strongest notebooks in this category and ideal for life on the go.
Pros
- Stunning OLED display
- Powerful performance
- Portable and sleek design
Cons
- Limited port selection
- Expensive price tag
Acer Predator Triton 300 SE
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i7-11375H or i5-11300H |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB or 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 14-inch Full HD IPS (1920 x 1080) |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home or Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
Weight | 3.75 lbs (1.7 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
Acer’s Predator Triton 300 SE from Acer chases after the hype Asus built up last year with the excellent Zephyrus G14. It’s similar in a few key respects: it’s a slick looking gaming laptop that borders on Ultrabook territory in terms of its sleek and relatively thin design. It sports a 14-inch 1080p display with a fast refresh rate and respectable graphics capabilities to top it off.
Asus’ latest G14 hasn’t reached us for review yet, so we’re not sure how it’ll compare to this one on all the important fronts. But Acer’s new model already has some clear advantages, such as a built-in webcam and the Thunderbolt 4 port. It also achieves commendable gaming performance with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, but don’t let the similarities fool you. Calling the new Triton 300 SE a Predator is a little misleading. Overall, it is one of the best video editing laptops that you can buy.
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Portable and lightweight
- Good value for money
Cons
- Average battery life
- Limited storage capacity
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch)
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max |
Graphics | Up to 32-core GPU |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB or 64GB unified memory |
Storage | 512GB or 1TB or 2TB or 4TB or 8TB SSD |
Display | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR (3024 x 1964) |
Operating System | macOS Monterey |
Battery Life | Up to 20 hours |
Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
Apple has gone slightly retro with the design of the 14-inch MacBook Pro. As soon as you unbox the MacBook Pro laptop, you see that this is a very different looking MacBook than what we’ve become accustomed to in recent years. The case is more boxy, matching the boxy design of the iPhone 13 and iPad mini. The MacBook Pro is engraved on the bottom of the laptop. Although it looks like a large laptop, it’s not that bulky.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro weighs around 1.6 kg. The MacBook Pro is available in two color options: Space Gray and Silver. The return of ports is the other major design change in the new MacBook Pro. You get three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SD cards slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the MagSafe connector is also making a comeback. The Type-C ports can be used to charge the MacBook, but they are not as fast as the MagSafe port. Easily one of the best video editing laptops available on the market.
Pros
- Powerful M1 Pro chip
- High-resolution Retina display
- Enhanced battery life
Cons
- Limited port variety
- Higher cost compared to some alternatives
Microsoft Surface Book 3 (15-inch)
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i7-1065G7 |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or Quadro RTX 3000 |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB DDR4 |
Storage | 256GB or 512GB or 1TB or 2TB SSD |
Display | 15-inch PixelSense (3240 x 2160) |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 17.5 hours |
Weight | 4.2 lbs (1.9 kg) |
Connectivity | USB-A, USB-C, Surface Connect, SD card reader |
Check Price |
The Surface Book 3 is a hybrid laptop/tablet computer, but it’s different from the hybrids you’re probably used to. Rather than slamming a rubberized keyboard onto the bottom or folding the display 360 degrees to become a tablet, the Surface Book 3 is made up of two powerful parts. First there is the main part of the tablet, which houses the display, CPU, memory and a battery. Then there’s the beefy keyboard dock, which hides an extra battery and dedicated GPU.
With this combination, you can use the Surface Book 3 as a tablet or laptop, or flip the screen to use it as a digital art workspace. The Surface Book 3’s pivot hinge is the most unique feature of the line. It curls up like a spine and only does so when the tablet screen is attached. This makes it feel a bit like the spine of a book, and the Surface Book 3 gets its name. It looks more stylish and makes the laptop more comfortable to carry, although it has been criticized for leaving a small gap above the keyboard where dust could get in. Thus, this product is one of the best video editing laptops available right now.
Pros
- Versatile 2-in-1 design
- High-quality display
- Good performance for creative work
Cons
- Expensive
- Limited graphics options
Razer Blade 15
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i7-11800H or i9-11900H |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or 3080 |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB or 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6-inch Full HD or 4K OLED |
Operating System | Windows 10 Home or Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 6 hours |
Weight | 4.4 lbs (2 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
The Razer Blade 15 is the latest update of Razer’s legendary gaming laptop and is undoubtedly one of the best gaming laptops to come out this year, although the price remains as high as ever. The price is as stunning as ever. While there are cheaper gaming laptops in this class, the Blade 15 is a premium kit for those looking for gamer eye candy to match this top-notch performance. Currently, this is one of the best video editing laptops that you can buy right now.
Despite all that performance and sleek design, it really does push the boundaries of sanity to charge as much as a high-end gaming desktop for the privilege, especially at the lower end of the configuration spectrum. This is an expensive laptop no matter what configuration you choose, and it’s really difficult to argue that the lower-end configurations are worth those prices. You really have to want a Razer Blade 15 to pay $2,500 for a laptop that’s configured more or less in the mid-range category.
Pros
- Powerful gaming performance
- Premium build quality
- Fast and responsive display
Cons
- Relatively shorter battery life
- Can get warm under heavy load
HP ZBook Studio G8
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i7-11850H or Xeon W-11855M |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or Quadro RTX A5000 |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB or 64GB DDR4 |
Storage | 256GB or 512GB or 1TB or 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6-inch 4K UHD DreamColor (3840 x 2160) |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
Weight | 4.4 lbs (2 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
The ZBook Studio G8 looks more like a traditional thin and light laptop than a workstation. This is intentional, as the laptop aims to appeal to both consumer-oriented power users and professionals looking for a highly mobile solution. Check out the ZBook Studio G8 and you’ll see a striking resemblance to an HP Specter from a few years ago. There’s an aggressive angle along each side, sharp bevels on various edges, and the back edge is a sharp wedge that adds some flair to the design.
The color is dubbed “Turbo Silver” and the overall aesthetic is sophisticated but striking. It’s a lot more attractive than the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2, which shares similar components but is a lot more boxy and dated. The ZBook Studio G8 more directly challenges the Dell XPS 15 in its look and feel, but the Dell is slimmer and just as attractive. So, if you want one of the best video editing laptops, we highly recommend this product.
Pros
- Impressive processing power
- Ample RAM and storage options
- High-quality display
Cons
- Heavier compared to some other models
- Expensive price point
Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 (UX582L)
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i9-10980HK |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 |
RAM | 32GB DDR4 |
Storage | 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6-inch 4K UHD OLED Touch (3840 x 2160) |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 7 hours |
Weight | 5.51 lbs (2.5 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 3, USB-A, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
The ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED is MIL-STD 810G certified, so it should stand up to the harsh and blustery conditions of a laptop bag. Still, it’s nice to get a bundled case, designed to keep pocket dust from contaminating the vents and multiple vents on either side of the case, and to protect the deep blue/grey case. This Celestial Blue finish will be familiar from a variety of other Asus laptops.
Like its “Duo” brethren, the ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED’s exterior gives no indication of the radically different screen layout inside. When you open a second screen, the ScreenPad Plus raises itself to sit at an angle designed for easier viewing than if the screen were flat. The ScreenPad Plus takes up more than half of the space normally available for the keyboard and touchpad.
Pros
- Dual-screen design for increased productivity
- Powerful performance
- Unique and innovative design
Cons
- Heavier and bulkier than traditional laptops
- Limited battery life
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i7-11800H or i9-11900H |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti or 3060 |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB or 64GB DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB or 1TB or 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6-inch 4K UHD OLED Touch (3840 x 2160) |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
Weight | 4.05 lbs (1.84 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
If you’re looking for a laptop with a modern, lightweight design, this isn’t it. In the grand tradition of Lenovo’s ThinkPad line, the latest iteration focuses on function over form. And while the Gen 4 is incredibly powerful and reliable, and its components are laid out exactly as they’re needed to function well, it’s still that iconic black rectangle that Lenovo fans have either loved or hated over the years. But that’s not a bad thing.
While the Lenovo aesthetic isn’t the flashiest, you’ll soon forget that as this laptop does a tremendous job of packing a larger screen and many impressive components into much the same chassis as the Gen 3. This is a win for anyone who was a fan of the previous generation’s dimensions. Of course, it also features the iconic “ThinkPad X1” logo on the lid and just the simple “ThinkPad” logo on the right side of the inner palm rest. The casing that surrounds the keyboard and trackpad has a soft, rubberized coating that’s comfortable to the touch. Still, it is one of the best video editing laptops that you can consider.
Pros
- Strong performance
- Durable and reliable build
- Good selection of ports
Cons
- Average battery life
- Higher weight compared to some competitors
Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i7-11800H or i9-11900H |
Graphics | NVIDIA Quadro RTX A3000 or A5000 |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB or 64GB DDR4 |
Storage | 512GB or 1TB or 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
Display | 15.6-inch 4K UHD OLED Touch (3840 x 2160) |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
Battery Life | Up to 9 hours |
Weight | 5.47 lbs (2.48 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
The Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 improves on the winning formula of the original ThinkPad P15 with improved performance and excellent battery life for the 1080p model. The laptop’s 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11950H CPU, Nvidia RTX A5000 GPU and 32GB of RAM make it an absolute workhorse of a workstation. If pure performance is your goal, it’ll be hard to beat the ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 after you screwed up the courage to hit the buy button with that daunting price tag above it.
The only concern for creatives will be the display, but if that’s crucial to you, consider the OLED panel option or perhaps an external display. The Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 isn’t a laptop you could ever forget to put in your laptop bag, as you’d immediately notice that the bag wasn’t stressed at the seams by this behemoth’s 6.2-pound weight. The matte black finish and overall design are very traditional ThinkPads — imagine a ThinkPad X1 stuck a quarter into the Zoltar machine and wished it was big. Thus, this product is one of the best video editing laptops available right now.
Pros
- Powerful workstation performance
- Excellent display options
- Robust build quality
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Limited battery life
MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Processor | Apple M1 Max |
Graphics | Up to 32-core GPU |
RAM | 16GB or 32GB or 64GB unified memory |
Storage | 1TB or 2TB or 4TB or 8TB SSD |
Display | 16-inch Retina display (3072 x 1920) |
Operating System | macOS Monterey |
Battery Life | Up to 11 hours |
Weight | 4.3 lbs (2 kg) |
Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, HDMI, SD card reader |
Check Price |
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is certainly a long name to remember, but there are many reasons why we are carefully considering which MacBook Pro model is our favorite among them. First, it has a larger screen than its 14-inch sibling, which is better for creatives, and second, the screen’s brightness reaches 1,600 nits. For comparison, the Dell XPS 17 from the same year only reaches 500, which is still considered above average for most laptops.
The screen is also a Liquid Retina XDR Mini LED, which achieves deep blacks and bright whites, which is ideal for video editing. The M1 chip series was upgraded when it was released, with the more powerful M1-Pro and M1-Max being launched. Although we admire the smaller 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, it cannot compete with the 16-inch refresh in terms of performance.
Pros
- Large and high-resolution display
- Powerful performance
- Long battery life
Cons
- Expensive
- Limited port variety
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Video Editing Laptop
There are a few important things to think about when choosing a laptop for editing videos. Here are some important things to remember:
???? Processor (CPU): The heart of the editing experience! A powerful multi-core processor, like an Intel Core i7 or i9 or an AMD Ryzen 7 or 9, will make your editing journey smoother.
???? Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): A dedicated graphics card lightens the CPU’s load and accelerates rendering and playback. Look for laptops with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX or AMD’s Radeon RX series GPUs for top-notch performance. More VRAM and CUDA cores/Stream processors enhance your editing power.
???? RAM: Editing demands ample RAM. Aim for at least 16GB, but for complex projects and multitasking, 32GB or more is ideal.
???? Storage: Fast and spacious storage is a must. A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a game-changer, speeding up boot times, application launches, and data transfers. Opt for a larger SSD for the OS and software, and additional storage (HDD or SSD) for video files.
???? Display: Precision matters. Choose a laptop with a high-quality display, at least 15 inches, and a resolution of 1920×1080 or 4K for accurate colors. Consider IPS or OLED screens with good color accuracy and a wide color gamut for pro-level editing.
FAQs
You’ll need 16-32GB of RAM for editing 4K Video Projects at 8bit color. If you’re working with lots of Effects or higher Bit-depths, though, consider 64GB for best performance.
It’s best to have a processor with at least four cores. This could be an Intel CPU from the 6th generation or later, or an AMD processor from the Ryzen 5 or 7th line. 16 GB RAM minimum for 4K videos. The video card should have at least 4 GB, be at least an Nvidia GTX 1650, and if possible, be newer, like an Nvidia RTX 2060 or 3060, or an AMD Radeon R5 or later.