Nowadays, you don’t need a whole production studio or an expensive PC with intricate software to edit videos. A powerful laptop that weighs just a few pounds is more than up to the task of creating and editing videos for you. Whether you’re a film student, a hardworking employee, a content creator, or splicing together the footage you took on your family celebration, you deserve the best laptop for video editing.
There are many things you have to consider when shopping for a laptop that meets your specific video editing needs. There are specs a video editing laptop has that regular laptops don’t. If this all sounds confusing or overwhelming for you, don’t worry! We’ve placed our 10 recommendations of the best laptops for video editing, as well as a buying guide reviewed by video editor Mau Regodon to help you choose the best one for you!
Quick List - Top Laptops for Video Editing
Dell
The Best Laptop for On-the-Go Video Editors
Razer
A Laptop With Desktop-Like Capabilities Designed for Power Users
MSI
Features Life-Like Visuals for Color Grading Enthusiasts
Asus
A Stunning Laptop That Offers Excellent Value for Money
A video editor and freelance producer who has worked for Solar Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Amplify, and Intake. Loves working on fun and informative video content for social media and TV.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
There are many advantages to buying a video editing laptop. The difference mainly lies with the performance and features of the laptop. It carries a much higher specification that is more capable of processing larger data. A video editing laptop also has a fast processor with a high-resolution display and also contains bigger storage with strong discrete graphics.
Laptops for video editing have a great central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU). They also boast a larger screen with an amazing screen resolution to help you scrutinize the details of your work. Opting for a laptop instead of a desktop also allows you to comfortably work anywhere.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying below.
Video editing requires a high-performing laptop to help things run smoothly. This means your laptop needs to have great specs to ensure that your program, encoding, and rendering will work better. Having an idea about the minimum specifications of the units you're interested in helps you narrow down your laptop options.
A great central processing unit (CPU) is needed to ensure that your applications are running smoothly. Getting laptops with a higher processor core ensures that your laptop can take on the programs you need to run for video editing as well as allow you to multitask across different applications. A 6-core CPU at minimum would ensure a smooth editing process with little to no lags.
Rendering edited videos can take time, and some of us just don't have the patience for it. With a graphics processing unit (GPU), it is faster and easier to render videos in HD formats. Suppose you are editing with DaVinci Resolve Studio. In that case, it might be handy to have an external GPU along with the single or integrated one on your laptop to run the program properly.
Video editing takes up a lot of storage space, especially if you like importing and editing 4k videos. Aside from investing in a hard drive, make sure that the laptop you're about to buy has decent storage space or allows you to upgrade it in case you may need to in the future. Go for a minimum of 512 GB solid-state drives for your internal storage.
The random-access memory or RAM is where your laptop stores its short-term memory. These are things you need to perform the task you're doing in real-time. Having at least 16 GB of RAM is necessary for video editing. If you want a more high-quality video, you'll need a bigger RAM.
Screen quality is essential in editing videos since you want to ensure that you can see every frame so that your colors are accurate. It always helps to have a bigger screen with better resolution. It is also ideal to find laptops with ultra-high-definition (UHD) display because it offers crisp images and high video resolutions.
Go for a video editing laptop with at least 1080p resolution for a high-definition display. Aside from that, you can also consider finding a laptop with an IPS display because they produce more accurate colors and have better viewing angles.
People choose laptops for their portability, and part of the appeal is that they don't need to be plugged in at all times, especially considering the extra weight the charger is when you have to pack it with you.
Finding a laptop with long battery life is essential in order for you to maximize the use of your laptop. Your laptop's battery affects your laptop's performance, and exhaustive editing will require a plugged-in laptop.
Before choosing a laptop, it is also essential to know the programs you’re going to use to know what specifications the program requires for it to run smoothly. The most common video editing software is Adobe Premiere Pro, which is used by both beginners and pros. It’s a program that can easily run on any laptop with specifications for video editing.
iMovie and Final Cut Pro are also popular editing software. iMovie is the best editor for beginners, while Final Cut Pro is the more refined and professional version of that. Both software programs were created by Apple to be used on Mac devices only, so if you prefer using them, buying a MacBook is the way to go.
Laptops are all about portability and efficiency. The dimensions and weight of your laptop need to be suited to your lifestyle and work life. Smaller laptops can weigh around 2.5 pounds, and the biggest would weigh more than 5 pounds. To know which laptop to get, consider if you want to carry it everywhere or if you would mostly sit in front of your desk.
The sizes of laptops range from 11 to 18 inches. Of course, smaller laptops are thinner and lighter, but they can also skimp on some specs. The best laptops that combine portability and great specs are those beginning at 13-14 inches.
The most popular video editing laptops are the 15-inch units because they come with a larger screen but can also easily be carried to places. However, if you will be using the laptop mainly in your workstation, you can go for one that measures 17-18 inches.
A laptop's port selection can vary from one to many, with the USB Type-C port being the most important of them all. Video editing takes a lot of back and forth between devices, especially when storing them in external hardware.
A critical port that you need to have on your laptop is a USB Type-C port, wherein you can easily connect a USB hub in case you need more ports in the future. Two other ports that are just as important are your HDMI, which allows your laptop to connect to a larger screen, and an Ethernet to connect directly to your wired connection.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Apple 16-inch Macbook Pro | ![]() | A Powerhouse Laptop for All Your Video-Editing Needs | |
2 | Dell XPS 15 Laptop | ![]() | Currently unavailable | The Best Laptop for On-the-Go Video Editors |
3 | Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition | ![]() | Currently unavailable | A Laptop With Desktop-Like Capabilities Designed for Power Users |
4 | MSI Creator 17 | ![]() | Currently unavailable | Features Life-Like Visuals for Color Grading Enthusiasts |
5 | Asus ZenBook 13 OLED |UM325 | ![]() | Currently unavailable | A Stunning Laptop That Offers Excellent Value for Money |
6 | GIGABYTE AERO 15 KC | ![]() | Currently unavailable | An Ultra-Fast Laptop for Video Content Creators |
7 | Apple MacBook Air | ![]() | A More Affordable Alternative for Apple Fans | |
8 | Microsoft Surface Book 3 | ![]() | Currently unavailable | A 2-in-1 Laptop and Tablet That Allows You to Create 4k Videos |
9 | Acer Nitro 5 |AN515-44-R7ZU | ![]() | Currently unavailable | A Mid-Range Laptop for Video Editing Beginners |
10 | Acer Swift Acer Swift 3 |SF314-43-R4CP | ![]() | A Lightweight Laptop That's Perfect for Light Editing |
Macbooks have always been a firm favorite when it comes to video editing, so it's no surprise that the Macbook Pro comes out on top. This newest and latest version boasts a 16-inch screen with a higher resolution, making it perfect for viewing the tiniest details.
This laptop also knows you want to churn out high-quality videos, so it comes with a great Intel processor, 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. You can even go up to 32GB of unified memory for the smoothest interaction you've ever had with a laptop.
You haven't even heard the best part yet. Besides coming preinstalled with one of the best editing software programs, iMovie, the Macbook Pro offers up to 8TB of SSD storage, allowing you to store multiple clips, finished videos, and dozens of home movies on your laptop.
This 4.5-pound Dell XPS 15 is a video editing laptop that knows you like to get things done on the go, especially because it's lightweight. It also sports 0.65% anti-reflective coating, ensuring there's less glare when you edit outdoors.
Performance-wise, it is one of the most recommended laptops because of its powerful processors and discrete graphics card. It is also possible to upgrade its screen, which already comes with 3840 x 2400 resolution, as well as its storage that can go up to 2TB to maximize your video editing experience.
This laptop comes highly recommended for its fast performance. It's a great option for editors who like to work on touchscreens with vivid details. Lastly, it also has a great studio-quality sound that delivers a theater-like experience, ensuring you the best cinematography and sound design.
Razer is a company known for using cutting-edge technologies to build its products, especially their laptops. Their Blade 15 Studio Edition is a perfect example of this because it comes with more power and cores.
With its powerful CPU and GPU coupled with its immense storage, this laptop can definitely challenge a good desktop unit. This laptop is designed for creative professionals with its innovative cooling, thin, and compact frame to take with you on the go.
Professional video editors would have fun with this unit, especially with its 4K touchscreen OLED. It also supports the DCI-P3 color gamut that can portray accurate colors when editing. Truly, this is a portable workstation that has everything you need when it comes to video editing!
This powerful laptop by MSI is equipped with 8-core processors, making it an excellent notebook for multitasking. Just with its processors, you are assured of a smooth workflow and a great video editing experience, with little to no lags during your work.
As video editors, we all know the hassle of the waiting time when it comes to rendering. The Creator 17 solves this for you as it is equipped with a GPU that allows you to render twice as fast. It also comes with a world-class Dynaudio sound system speaker, designed to be more distinct and powerful than most laptop speakers in the market.
But the best is yet to come. This laptop is the first to feature Mini LED Technology, wherein it uses micro-LEDs for backlighting. This means you get brilliant visuals that will truly emphasize the colors of your video. It assures life-like vividness for video editors, and this alone justifies its tagline, "Tech meets Aesthetic."
The Asus Zenbook 13 is a thin and light laptop that defies expectations. It has the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, an eight-core processor, and an AMD Radeon Graphics that won't fail you in the middle of a complex video editing task.
One of the biggest allures of this laptop is the OLED display with the best color accuracy. Additionally, the keyboard it comes with also has an ErgoLift Hinge that makes it comfortable for you to use even during long hours of editing.
You can now edit at coffee shops without the extra weight of a laptop charger because this product's battery can last for more than 17 hours, allowing you to work unplugged for a long time. The best thing is that you get all these specifications and features at a budget-friendly price!
At first glance, the Gigabyte Aero 15 looks like a gaming laptop with its colorful RGB and lightning-fast performance with an Intel Core i7, but if you take a closer look, you'll find that it is designed for creatives. It comes with a UHS-II SD card reader that makes its transfer rate up to 12 times faster than a traditional one.
This laptop is made specifically to raise the bar for graphics with a cutting-edge GPU and a color-accurate OLED screen. With this, editing is smoother, and you can quickly render and export a video, cutting your waiting time in half.
Aero 15 KC also boasts multiple ports, including HDMI, audio jack, USB ports, Thunderbolt 3, and an SD card slot. This is highly recommended for better connectivity with more of your devices. It also has a high-quality cooling system that will carry you through a day's workload of heavy video editing at peak performance.
Apple recently overhauled and improved the MacBook Air's specs to match its sibling, the MacBook Pro, despite having a less hefty price tag. The result is a super sleek and light laptop with an Apple M1 core and a 7-8 core GPU. You can also upgrade it to 8GB unified memory and 2TB unit storage.
This laptop's specifications make it a powerful unit that can handle 4k video edits on Final Cut Pro. It also supports the P3 color gamut, which means your screen will show accurate colors for editing, earning two thumbs from video-editing enthusiasts.
For such a thin laptop, it certainly packs a punch. This Macbook staple has indeed improved for the better and comes highly recommended for video editing. People who are always on the go will benefit the most from this lightweight laptop, especially since its battery life can last for up to 18 hours.
Microsoft's Surface line is known for having the best laptops in the market when it comes to graphics. Specifically, the Surface Book 3 uses Nvidia Geforce GTX 1660 Ti, a powerful GPU that enables you to create vivid 4k videos.
This 2-in-1 laptop can also be turned into a tablet whenever you need it, allowing you to edit anywhere and travel light. You also have the option of creating drawings with a Surface Pen that can be purchased separately.
This laptop is definitely the best option for graphic designers and editors who want a powerful GPU. It allows heavy graphics with accurate colors to play out on the screen, as well as lightning-fast transfer speeds and smooth multi-tasking across demanding applications.
Gaming laptops often come with a great processor to handle running games and their graphics, so it's no wonder that they are also great for video editing. Acer's Nitro 5 contains an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H that will surely help your video editing programs run smoothly.
The graphics in this laptop are crisp and vivid, with a 144Hz screen refresh rate. Not only that, this product delivers in terms of sound quality, too. With dual speakers, you're going to enjoy an immersive experience.
It also utilizes CoolBoost™ Technology, which uses multiple sensors and wind fans to cool down your system whenever you are doing various things at once. This laptop is perfect for video editing beginners considering its budget-friendly price, ability to edit videos at 4K, and strong performance.
The Acer Swift 3 gives you an immersive experience in your work with its ultra-fine 5.1mm bezel that offers up to 85.73% screen-to-body ratio. It is a powerful unit that can deliver peak performances with its multiple cooling modes and is ideal for light video editing.
This laptop is not only perfect for the go video-editors but is also very dependable with a battery life that lasts up to 12.5 hours of use after a full charge. It also contains multiple ports for convenient connectivity and fast data transfers.
One of the best things about this laptop is the smart technology experience it can give you with its embedded fingerprint reader that offers easy access and better security. You can also enable Wake on Voice and ask for the assistance of Cortana to help you stay on top of your video editing tasks, meeting schedules, and deadlines.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
The minimum capacity of RAM you should need for video editing is 8GB, and unless you're only performing low-end video editing, a laptop with a graphics card goes a long way for editing high-quality videos. For professional-quality video editing, it's best to have access to a laptop with excellent CPU performance, fast RAM, and high screen resolution.
Video editing software usually needs strong multi-core processors in order to ensure a smooth process with little lag and issues. Recent software usually relies more on the GPU power of a laptop. Gaming laptops typically have a powerful GPU and CPU that can run any video editing software. It helps that gaming laptops also come with high speed, huge memory, and fast processing power.
Laptops are convenient to use because they're light and portable and most importantly, they get the job done. You can level up your laptop experience with accessories that make your life easier. Check out the links below for more laptop accessories.
Author: Angelica Sy
Re-editor: Andi Sanchez
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Apple|16-inch Macbook Pro
No. 2: Dell|XPS 15 Laptop
No. 3: Razer|Blade 15 Studio Edition
No. 4: MSI|Creator 17
No. 5: Asus|ZenBook 13 OLED |UM325
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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