Video editing is best done on any computing device; whether it be your PC or your laptop, it is where you get the most done in terms of editing.
Yes, you can also choose to edit videos on your phone or your tablet with the help of a stylus, but truth be told, the applications that are designed for video editing on mobile phones and tablets are not so powerful.
They are good for editing simple videos, but when it comes to editing proper videos, you need a bigger screen and more tools and resources to handle the editing process, and in those cases, laptops or PCs are the best way to go about it.
So, in this article, I will discuss some of the best laptops that you can try out right now for editing different videos.
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Contents
How to choose the right Laptop for video editing?
There are a number of things to look for while getting a laptop that is useful for editing. The main thing that you need to look out for is a powerful chip that runs the entire system, along with a good graphics card.
This will allow you to edit the RAW files easily on your laptop without it hanging. Along with that, you should also consider the number of ports that are available on your laptop.
Laptops these days have a horrible trend of removing all the ports and making users buy accessories that have those ports. It is unnecessary and it leads to more expenditure from the user’s side.
The last thing that you should also look into is having a big and crisp display on your laptop. You need to be able to see all the colours and the contrast that is in your video and see it clearly.
That is one of the reasons why I don’t prefer editing on my mobile because the screen is too small, and my eyes start to hurt after a while.
With a bigger display, your eyes are a lot more comfortable with viewing, and you are able to watch your edits carefully, as well.
When do You Need a Laptop for video editing?
Well, this is more of a subjective question, as different users have different needs.
If you already have an existing laptop which has a good set of specs that is around five years old and has started to slow down a little, you can try inserting an SSD in it.
An SSD makes the booting time quicker for any old laptop, and the overall performance of the laptop improves quite drastically, helping to expand its longevity.
However, if you have a working laptop that is not up to the task of your work demand, and you are looking to be serious about video editing, then you might need to take a look at a new laptop.
There are a number of things that you need to consider while purchasing a laptop, and hopefully, with this article, you will be able to decide that for yourself.
Top 7 Laptops for video editing
So, with all that said, here are some of the best laptops that you can use for editing videos.
1. MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 is one of the most powerful and one of the most expensive laptops that you will see on this list. However, it is also one of the best laptops that you can buy right now for editing your videos.
MacBook Pro 16 offers a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina display that offers bright and crystal clear images to the users.
Along with it, it is powered by the M2 Pro chip, which has one of the highest benchmark scores for any chipset.
Price – MacBook Pro 16 is not cheap by any standards as it comes with a price tag of $2450 Dollars!
Available On – Amazon and other e-commerce sites
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Powered by M2 pro and M2 max chips ✅16-inch display ✅Loads of ports | ❌Expensive ❌The 2021 addition has more or less the same sets of features |
Who is the right user for MacBook Pro 16?
The 2023 MacBook Pro 16 comes with two different chipsets, the base model comes with the M2 Pro chip, and the higher upgrade comes with an M2 Max chipset which is supposed to be even more efficient and powerful than the M2 Pro.
Although these laptops are super expensive in their own ways, but they are still a powerhouse when it comes to editing videos. If you are editing 8K videos that have 3D elements in it, then you might want the M2 Max version.
Otherwise, the M2 Pro version is quite powerful in its own terms and should be sufficient for anyone who is serious about video editing.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
The MacBook Pro 16 are some of the best available laptops in the market right now. While they are expensive, they also boast a number of great features which are quite useful for anyone who is looking for a laptop for video editing.
The Liquid Retina display is crystal clear; the chipsets are a powerhouse, there are a number of different ports available for easy access, the battery life of these laptops are quite efficient, and the speaker systems are also pretty good, which it should be at this price point.
The MacBook Pro 16 are some of the more famous alternatives that a lot of video editors try out and if you have the budget for it, then you should buy it.
I will rate MacBook Pro 16 4/5 stars.
2. Razer Blade 18
If you thought MacBook Pro 16 was expensive, wait till you see this one. Raze Blade 18 is a gaming laptop that is jacked up with a huge amount of power that will allow you to easily edit your videos.
Unlike most gaming laptops, Raze Blade 18 actually has a really modern and simple design that makes it quite useful for people who don’t appreciate the over-the-top look of gaming laptops.
It also features a QHD 18-inch display that is one of the best screens that you might see on any laptop that is currently available in the market right now.
Price – Raze Blade 18 comes at a whopping price of $3800 Dollars!
Available On – Amazon and other e-commerce sites
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Great display ✅Powerful i9 processor ✅Loads of ports options | ❌Super expensive ❌Poor battery life ❌Small keyboard |
Who is the right user for Razer Blade 18?
Razer Blade 18 is designed for people who are looking for a gaming laptop that can also be used as a powerful laptop on its own.
It has a huge display that is able to produce great contrasting images and is able to create some of the best images that you might see on any laptop present in the market right now.
Along with it, the overall processing power of the laptop is also quite high, which can easily help video editors edit 8K videos or more.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
Razer Blade 18 is a laptop that has all the specs and the ports that you might need from a video editing laptop and more. However, the battery life of the laptop is considered poor, and the overall price of the laptop is quite high, as well.
If you are someone who wants a gaming laptop that is also able to edit their high-class videos, then this might be a good option for you to consider.
However, for others, this laptop might be a little too much to ask. So, for that reason, I will rate Razer Blade 18 3.5/5 stars.
3. ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 OLED
Asus Vivobook Pro 14 is a budget-friendly option that would be suitable for a lot of video editors who are looking to get some great specs in their laptop while also being under a budget.
This laptop provides you with an OLED display at a 90 Hz refresh rate, making it one of the best displays at this price range. Along with it, you also get an i7 processor, which should handle a lot of files for editing videos.
Price – You can get Asus Vivobook Pro 14 for $579 Dollars at a discounted price with deals and offers applied.
Available On – Amazon and other e-commerce sites
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Budget-friendly price ✅Number of useful ports ✅OLED display at 90 Hz ✅Good battery life | ❌Not so great speakers ❌Poor webcams |
Who is the right user for Asus Vivobook Pro 14?
As I mentioned above, Asus Vivobook Pro 14 is designed for people who are looking for an all-rounder video editing laptop that has the ports required but is also available at a budget-friendly price.
Sure, there are some trade-offs, such as an i7 chip over an i9 chip, and a smaller display from 16 and 18 inches, but at the end of the day, this laptop should be more than sufficient for people who are starting out as video editors.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
Asus Vivobook Pro 14 has one of the biggest names you will find for any laptop, but that doesn’t matter because the laptop works really well. It has a great battery life, a number of useful ports, a strong processor, and a great OLED display.
If you are looking for a budget laptop for editing your videos, then this is a good option for you. Just know that you will be trading off some performance issues compared to some other higher-end laptops that are mentioned in this list.
I will rate Asus Vivobook Pro 14 4/5 stars.
4. HP ZBook Studio G8
HP ZBook Studio G8 is also a really good laptop that you can use for editing your videos. The laptop comes with a great list of specs, and along with it, you also get some really advanced privacy settings as well, which are always a welcome addition.
The ZBook series has been designed as the best of the best, in terms of the overall list of features and in this department, the ZBook Studio G8 does deliver, as well.
Price – You can get the HP ZBook Studio G8 for a starting price of $969 Dollars at selected e-commerce websites and stores
Available On – Amazon and other e-commerce sites
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Strong build frame ✅Powerful i7 and i9 processors ✅SD card slot allotted | ❌Less number of ports ❌Wi-Fi 6, not 6e ❌Option of HDMI port or mini Display port |
Who is the right user for HP ZBook Studio G8?
HP ZBook Studio G8 is designed for people who are most likely in need of a secured laptop for their business-related work because of its top-end encryption and privacy tools.
Along with it, as I mentioned above, the ZBook series is designed for being the best of the best, when it comes to the overall list of features, and those features you do end up getting on the laptops as well.
The overall cost of the laptop can vary from $969 Dollars to $2529 Dollars, based on the version you purchase and from which site you use to purchase the product.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
The HP ZBook Studio G8 is a pretty powerful laptop device, and there is no denying that. You can easily choose to switch between the i7 and the i9 processor based on your needs.
This laptop also features a great 15-inch OLED screen, which should be pretty good for video editing. The battery life of the laptop has been alright; it is not something that will blow your mind.
You also get the option of getting backlight keyboards, if you are going to use this laptop for gaming.
So, it is a pretty good laptop, and I will rate it 3.5/5 stars.
5. MSI Creator Z16
MSI Creator Z16 just might be the slimmest laptop in this entire article, with a thickness of just 0.64 inches, which makes it one of the easier laptops to travel around as it weighs around 5 pounds.
The MSI Creator Z16 features a powerhouse of processing power, with an Intel i7 chip and Nvidia GeForce graphic cards installed inside it.
The overall built design of the laptop is also quite nice and feels sturdy on the hand, as well.
Price – You can the MSI Creator Z16 for around $1,750 Dollars at any e-commerce site.
Available On – Amazon and other e-commerce sites
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Great 120HZ QHD display ✅Powerful Intel i7 chip16:10 aspect ratio ✅Good for gaming | ❌Lack of ports ❌Not a great battery life ❌Expensive |
Who is the right user for MSI Creator Z16?
The MSI Creator Z16 is a pretty good laptop that people can use who are okay with losing some important ports, such as HDMI or Display port, as they help in connecting the laptop to a bigger display.
However, the MSI Creator Z16 features a great 16-inch 120Hz QHD Display, which should be quite sufficient for video editors, as well.
Along with it, you do get a great processor with Intel i7 chips and an Nvidia graphics card that will also aid in making the video editing process smoother.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
MSI Creator Z16 is a pretty solid laptop that you can buy if you have the budget for it. However, I feel it is a bit pricy and doesn’t offer that many great features when you compare it to something like the HP ZBook Studio G8.
The ZBook also offers a similar 16-inch OLED display, and it also has a powerful i7 processor installed, and you can get that laptop for around $700 Dollars less, depending on the version of the laptop you purchase.
So, in that way, I feel the MSI Creator Z16 is a bit pricy for what it is offering to its customers, and can take some notes from the ZBook Series.
For those reasons and more, I will rate MSI Creator Z16 3/5 stars.
6. Dell XPS 17 (2021)
Dell XPS 17 (2021) version is considered to be one of the best Windows-running laptops there is in the market, and it can be quite a powerful laptop for video editing as well.
The Dell XPS 17 can easily be configured to a powerful i9 processor CPU along with some great graphics cards, such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX series, making it quite useful in the gaming department, as well.
The overall laptop also features a stunning 17-inch FHD+ display that offers great 4K resolution and 16:10 resolution, as well.
Price – Dell XPS 17 starts at a starting price of $1,599 Dollars and goes upwards upto $2,921 Dollars
Available On – Amazon and other e-commerce sites
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Great display ✅Powerhouse performance ✅Great colour-accuracy | ❌Lacks important ports, such as HDMI, USB-A and Ethernet ❌No OLED screen ❌Poor webcam for this price |
Who is the right user for Dell XPS 17?
The Dell XPS 17 is a really good laptop for those who are willing to sacrifice on some ports for the excuse of getting a powerhouse of performance and a huge 17-inch display.
The colour accuracy of this laptop is considered to be one of the best there is in this market space, along with that, you can easily tune this laptop to the highest level of specs, making it a beast of a workstation.
The overall weight and size of the laptop aren’t too imposing, and it can be carried around in a regular laptop bag, as well, making it a good portable option, as well.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
As I mentioned above, the Dell XPS 17 is a powerhouse of workstations, and the laptop does deliver on a lot of aspects.
The display of the laptop is great; however, if you are paying for a laptop that costs in the area of $2K Dollars, you expect it to be at least an OLED panel.
Along with it, there are also limitations in the number of ports that are available on it, making it a bit difficult for being more accessible and versatile to use.
Still, the overall laptop is considered one of the best Windows laptops there is, and the specs sheet can easily confirm that.
I just hoped that it brought in an OLED panel and some ports, making it a great complete package to use.
For those reasons and more, I will rate the Dell XPS 17 4/5 stars.
FAQs
Let’s discuss some of the frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
What laptop can I use for video editing?
Well, this is a fairly subjective question as a lot of thought process does go into buying a new laptop, let alone buying a laptop for video editing.
There are a number of different things that you should look into while you are purchasing a new laptop, the most obvious being your budget. Video editing laptops can easily cost you from $500 Dollars to $3,000 Dollars!
If you are looking for a budget option, then ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 is a good option that you can try out, it has a good display, and along with that, it also comes with some powerful chipsets, as well.
However, if you can spend some more, then HP ZBook Studio G8 series is also a good option to try out.
What is the best laptop specs for video editing?
The laptop specs list needs to match with your workload; if your workload isn’t too heavy, then going for a high-end laptop won’t satisfy your needs, and you might be paying more.
However, if you are dealing with 8K footage or long 4K footage with some 3D elements in them, then obviously, you would be needing some of the best specs for editing a video.
The best specs that you should be looking at are a powerful chipset, such as M2 Max, M2 Pro, i9 or i7 processors, along with some great graphic cards, such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX series.
You also should look for a great 4K OLED panel and a laptop with a number of ports, allowing you a great level of accessibility.
Then obviously, there are other matters, such as battery life, sound system, web camera, etc. that you should also look into.
How many GB or RAM do I need for video editing?
As I mentioned above, if your workload isn’t too heavy, then an above-average specs list should be more than enough for your video editing purposes.
However, if you are working with big files, then you might be looking for something with 64 GB of RAM with 1 TB SSD, as this combination will help you a lot while you are trying to edit long-form videos.
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Conclusion
Well, there you have it. An article discussing some of the best laptops that you can try out for video editing. If you are a beginner or an amateur video editor, then you don’t need a super-powerful laptop.
You should be good enough with a laptop that has second generations of specs, as they also offer great usability while editing any video.
But if you are someone who is serious about video editing, then the above-mentioned laptops should be a good start for you.
As always, these have been my thoughts regarding this topic. What about you? Do you agree with my list? Or do you think that I missed out on some other great laptops for video editing?
Whatever your thoughts are, do let us know about them in the comments down below!
