All of the picks on our best video editing laptops list have their merits. There are a ton of options here because a laptop that’s great for editing video is also great for a host of other creative tasks. That’s good news, but it’s much more difficult than finding a more specialized machine if you do.
To edit well, you’ll need a color-accurate display with high brightness levels, and powerful components to ensure they can handle system-sucking applications like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe After Effects (or your best choice for video editing software ). If you’re looking for a complete portable workstation, all the options on this list will get the job done.
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is certainly a long name to remember, but there are many reasons why we specify which MacBook Pro model is our favorite laptop for video editing.
For starters, it has a larger screen than its 14-inch sibling, which is better for many creatives, and said display hits 1,600 nits of brightness. For context, the same year’s Dell XPS 17 only managed 500, which is still considered average for most laptops. The screen in question also happens to be a Liquid Retina XDR MiniLED, which allows for deep blacks and bright whites, perfect for video editing.
The M1-series chips were boosted after launch, bringing the more powerful M1-Pro and M1-Max to market, so while we like the smaller 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, it can’t compete with the performance of the 16-inch update.
Apple also seems to realize it’s neglecting the creative market, as this laptop reintroduces beloved ports like HDMI and a memory card slot, along with new features like ProMotion and HDR (high dynamic range). The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is not only one of the best laptops for video editing but also happens to be one of the most powerful laptops on the market.
The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is a slightly more compact alternative if you like the sound of the features available on the larger 16-inch model (see below) but are put off by its roomy size – after all, many of us Prefer having something ultra-portable these days.
Since the two devices are so similar, you still get a mini-LED screen that supports 1,600 nits of peak brightness and a P3 wide color gamut, as well as a choice between the M1 Pro or M1 Max Apple chip, which is the Thin, fanless laptop delivers obscene power. In fact, it made almost no noise in any of our tests, so you can really put it through its paces.
Essentially you’re getting the same performance and ports, just in a smaller form factor, which means you can still edit 8K video in Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro without having to worry about carrying dongles or adapters because both Both models have built-in SD card slot, an HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports.
The Dell XPS 17 (2021) is the ideal choice for those large, powerful workstation laptops that run Windows on macOS. With the 17-inch 4K display, you get 3,840 x 2,400 pixels for gaming, and a 16:10 aspect ratio, which many claims offer better productivity advantages than the traditional 16:9 format.
Its brightness can’t compete with any of the aforementioned MacBooks, but this beast does cover 100 percent of the Adobe RGB and 94 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it ideal for creatives who need precise color accuracies, such as Video editors and photographers.
We don’t use the word beast lightly here. The Dell XPS 17 can be configured with a Core i9 CPU and 64GB of RAM in some configurations, and while you don’t necessarily need a dedicated GPU, you’re getting an Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060, which should provide a boost in graphics-demanding applications… Heck, you can even install a game or two.
The latest MacBook Pro is a great video editing laptop, super powerful as it has the latest M2 chip, yet affordable, making it an attractive option (especially when the cost of living is so high in the case). It handles video editing without any trouble, and its battery life is excellent, too.
Our only complaint is that the 13-inch screen might not be large enough for detailed video editing work. Having a large screen is critical to this creative task, and you may find the lack of inches frustrating. However, if your priority is mobile, this may not be such an issue for you.
The Razer Blade 17 (2022) is the laptop you should buy if you need some serious power, because while many of the Windows-based models on this list offer middling components to appeal to a wider market, it packs enough raw power, considered one of the best laptops for video editing, especially in demanding professions.
To help the non-tech-savvy choose the right device, it has been awarded the Nvidia Studio Laptop badge, which identifies it as the perfect choice for those demanding creative industries and careers.
The trade-off is poor battery life, as this thing needs a lot of juice to run, but in exchange, you get a large 17.3-inch display and a choice of configurations to suit individual needs. There are models running RTX 3060 GPUs with 165Hz refresh rates and QHD resolutions, as well as powerful flagship laptops with RTX 3080 Ti and full 4K, 144Hz displays.
The Dell XPS 15 (2021) offers a similar deal to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models we mentioned, as it offers the same quality as the larger Dell XPS 17, just in a more compact package.
If you like the idea of what the 17-inch model can offer, this smaller offering is more convenient for those who need to be on the go, which is great for video editors or students who need to travel a lot.
Not only that, but you can configure it with an OLED InfinityEdge display for crisp blacks and vibrant colors, as well as a powerful 11th-gen Intel processor. You can only choose between an Nvidia RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti graphics card, although for low-demand work, you don’t always need a dedicated GPU, which means the base model with integrated Intel UHD is fine for those on a tighter budget An attractive option.
How should I choose the best laptop for video editing?
Video editing also requires a laptop with plenty of fast SSD storage, since video files can be quite large. Even if you’re using an external storage solution, you’ll want something that can open files quickly, or allow you to move them between your laptop and a backup drive.
In some cases, a dedicated graphics card can also help, especially when creating visual effects or using AI-enhanced applications in the case of many Nvidia Studio laptop products.
The best video editing laptops will also have high-resolution screens, so you can use them comfortably, and they’ll display your footage inaccurate colors. Some of the laptops on this list will actually come with professionally calibrated screens to ensure your footage looks its best.
High-quality built-in speakers are also a big bonus since the soundtrack to a video is just as important as the footage itself, so having great speakers allows you to listen to and edit your video’s soundtrack without investing in external speakers, though you might want to.
Do I need a dedicated graphics card for video editing?
Some laptops that include Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics cards can run Nvidia Studio drivers, which are specialized drivers that use AI to improve the performance of a variety of different creative applications. These GPUs are often expensive, so any laptop with the latest Nvidia hardware will likely be more expensive than one with an older GTX-series card or one running integrated graphics (meaning built into the processor).
When it comes to MacBooks, they no longer come with dedicated GPUs. In contrast, the M1, M1 Pro, or M1 Max chips have powerful integrated GPUs that work brilliantly and are capable of running all popular video editing applications.
Are Laptops Expensive for Video Editing?
You might notice from the list above that many companies that specialize in gaming laptops, such as Acer and Razer, also make laptops designed for creative professionals. These laptops use the same powerful hardware as high-end gaming rigs, but without some of the gaming-centric features (and fancy designs). Best of all, they include powerful graphics cards that can drastically reduce the time it takes to edit and render video.
With massive CPU and graphics power, they’ll chew through the best digital art software and encode video faster than any standard laptop, and you’ll find them included on this list too. Whether you’re a Mac enthusiast or a Windows wizard, we’ve got you covered.
Should I buy a MacBook or Windows laptop for video editing?
Part of it is personal taste. If you’re used to the Windows operating system, you might find that the macOS your MacBook runs on is a bit confusing about how things are done — and vice versa.
However, both Windows and macOS offer roughly the same video editing software packages. However, Final Cut Pro is a popular application that only works on MacBooks.
MacBooks have become very popular among video editors for their powerful performance and sleek design, but in recent years Windows laptops, such as the Dell XPS line, can easily rival Apple’s laptops in style and substance.
Windows laptops also benefit from being made by a wide range of manufacturers, so if you don’t like the design of a laptop from a certain brand, you can always choose another one. With MacBooks, only Apple makes them, so if you want a MacBook but don’t like Apple’s style, you’re out of luck.
You can choose Windows for video editing, but many video editors use Apple computers. The Apple MacBook offers a fanless design for the current-model MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and native support for applications like Final Cut Pro. Apple’s new 2021 MacBook Pro laptops are equipped with enhanced M1 chips (M1 Pro and M1 Max), which can provide excellent video editing performance even at ultra-high resolutions such as 8K.
