Note: Our comparison table only shows our top 5 picks. You can find the other recommendations within this article.
Video editing is the new engineering and with rising salaries of video editors and animators many are getting attracted to this job. I know even a smartphone can be used for editing your videos but that certainly wouldn't be a professional way.
With booming growth of YouTube and movie industry almost everyone wants to learn professional video editing. If you're serious about video editing business then you will need a laptop with plenty of power and enough storage space.
First of all we recommend checking out our high performance laptops guide to find out the most powerful machines currently available. Serious video editing can be done only through with laptops like that combined with professional programs like Final Cut Pro, Sony Vegas Pro, Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Premiere, iMovie, Cyberlink PowerDirector, Magix Movie Pro, etc.
And to run programs like these you will require high-end processor, good GPU, enough Memory and of course plenty of storage space. In this guide we will be listing our picks for 10 of the best laptops for video editing.
What Is The Perfect Budget For Video Editing Laptop?
To be honest, there's no perfect budget for such laptop and it's totally up to the user and their budget. If you want a laptop for editing casual videos to upload on YouTube then a decent notebook worth $600 to $700 should do the job.
However, if you will be editing professionally then you certainly need to look at laptops that will cost you around $1000 to $1500. In short, as long as your device has specifications that are required by the program you will be using, you should be okay.
Anyways, in case your budget is extremely low you can also check our guide of best gaming laptops under $500.
What To Look For In A Laptop For Video Editing?
Well, power is everything in any kind of computer and to use high-end software like video editor you surely need a laptop with serious hardware like Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a good GPU from NVIDIA.
You can also look for unique features like backlit keyboard in case you prefer working in dark. Screen resolution is another important thing that matters a lot while editing and working on movies and videos.
We also recommend choosing a laptop with SSD as it will give you bonus performance while rendering your videos.
Our Top Picks For Best Video Editing Laptops
1. ASUS ROG Strix Scar III
Specs:
If you're looking for some serious video editing then this beast will surely satisfy you. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar III is a masterpiece when it comes to power, thanks to its specifications of Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 64 GB DDR4 RAM, 2TB SSD and a 2 TB HDD and Windows 10.
Although normally marketed as a lightweight gaming notebook that we highly recommend it to video editors and graphic designers. While many laptops for video editing feature Intel HD graphics, this one comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU.
Its 17.3-inch full HD IPS display with matte finishing and resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels is good for this price and it's truly a good value for money. On popular sites like NewEgg and Amazon, it has 4 stars rating from thousands of certified buyers.
Overall, it's a solid device for video editors, gamers, and college students that are in market for high-end notebook. While its battery life is average, it can last up to 3 or 4 hours under heavy use.
Keep in mind that this laptop has high-end specifications and a price to match. If you don't need this much power, you can consider one of the more budget-friendly choices on our list.
2. ASUS ZENBOOK PRO UX501VW
Specs:
ASUS is a well-known laptop brand whose laptops are primarily known for being among the most powerful ones. This ASUS ZenBook Pro is one of the latest models from ZenBook series of gaming laptops and features an impressive 15.6-inch 4k touchscreen display.
It comes with high-end specifications such as Intel i7-9750H processor, 1 TB SSD, 16 GB DDR4 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. For video editing, its GPU is very powerful and is will be able to handle your video editing programs with ease.
Processing tasks like video editing, playing games and music production is no challenge for the ZenBook Pro and it also includes a Thunderbolt 3 port for swift transfer. While its older model had pretty average specifications for budget price, this one is among the most premium laptops ever manufactured by ASUS.
Like most of the high-end gaming laptops, this one also comes with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. There's even a second 4K touchscreen that is used as an advanced programmable touchpad. With the right software, you can use this as a control surface for sophisticated video editing.
If you can afford it (and it certainly not cheap), this is a high-end laptop that will easily handle any video editing tasks you have.
3. DELL XPS 13 XPS9343-8182SLV
Specs:
The Dell XPS 13 is a living proof that video editing can be done on laptop. Many believe that they need a high-end desktop PC to do heavy tasks like video editing but that's not always true.
Thanks to advanced processors and graphic processing units, almost anything can be done on a laptop that you could do on a desktop. While many laptops that are owned by video editors boast a solid design and heat up pretty quickly but this Ultrabook by Dell clearly stands out of crowd.
We tested it for about 3 days before returning and barely found any cons or issues. Its hardware includes Intel Core i7-5550U processor, 256 GB SSD, 8 GB of RAM and Intel HD 5500 graphics which are good enough for handling all kinds of video editors.
Moreover, it comes with a backlit keyboard which is very helpful for gamers and writers who prefer being in dark rooms. Despite its slim and trim body, it features a 13-inch full HD touchscreen display with resolution of 3200 by 1800 pixels. Overall, it's a fantastic laptop for video editing tasks and comes with battery life that can last for up to 8 to 9 hours with ease.
4. DELL INSPIRON I7559-2512BLK
Specs:
If you're looking for an ultra-budget laptop for your video editing tasks then the Dell Inspiron i7559-2512BLK is surely your best bet. It's highly known budget gaming laptop and can be used for intensive tasks like graphic designing and video editing.
It might not be a premium looking laptop but surely performs like one. Its specifications are Intel Quad Core i7-6700HQ processor, NVIDIA GeForce 960M 4 GB GPU, 1 TB HDD plus 8 GB SSD and 8 GB SDRAM.
You can also upgrade it to 16 GB RAM while buying for additional $30. One of the latest features by Dell is its 15-inch Truelife full HD display which does exactly as its name suggests. Its keyboard might not be all modern but does its job smoothly and packs full size backlit keyboard along with a precision touchpad.
Its battery life is worth praising and can last for up to 8 hours while watching movies and browsing. Overall, it's among the most popular laptops we've reviewed and it provides excellent functions and specifications for such price.
5. DELL INSPIRON I5378-7171GRY
Specs:
If you need a high-end video editing laptop for under $700 then the Dell Inspiron i5378-7171GRY is a good choice. Dell Inspiron series is offering laptops with super latest specifications like 7th generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, 256 GB SSD and Intel HD 620 graphics.
With such portable design and looks along with top-notch specifications, it's worth every penny that you're spending on this laptop. It packs 13-inch full HD IPS display with resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels and Truelife touchscreen feature.
With just 3.4 lbs weight, it's surely a fantastic option for people on the go as well as college students. Best features of this notebook are certainly its impressive design and swift performance.
According to some reviews, it battery life might be an issue and doesn't perform as claimed by Dell. If we talk about its keyboard, it's not a full size keyboard but packs perfectly spaced keys for a great typing experience. Overall, it's the best ultrabook for video editing and we highly recommend it to first time users as well as students.
6. ASUS ROG G751JY-VS71
Specs:
The ASUS ROG G751JY-VS71 is a 17-inch gaming laptop that we also recommend for heavy tasks like video editing and animation. It surely is one of the most expensive laptops for video editing and we suggest it to people who have plenty of budget.
It features a very rare and premium design with incredibly stylish and sporty chassis giving it a unique look. It also packs outstanding specifications such as Intel Core i7-4720HQ processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M GPU, 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 1 TB HDD.
Surely its storage won't be an issue since 1 TB is more than enough but for better performance an additional SSD would have been appreciated. ASUS surely has spent a lot on its design and it also packs a backlit keyboard that was uniquely built for this particular laptop.
It's a very well-known device among gamers community since it provides a gaming experience that just can't be compared with any other gaming PC including laptops from Alienware and MSI. Overall, it has countless features and can be the best laptop for video editing.
7. Lenovo 330 17"
Specs:
The Lenovo 330 is a super slim convertible laptop that can also be an excellent choice for professional video editors. This 17.3" laptop has good specifications for video editing and is offered at a reasonable price. However, if you don't mind spending a bit more, we recommend upgrading the memory to 16GB of RAM.
This laptop's 17.3" HD display is very energy efficient. Normally these display drastically reduce battery life but the 330 has a respectable 5 hours of run time without a charger. So if you want a very portable device for your video editing tasks then this a choice you'll want to seriously consider.
Packed inside is an Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8 GB DDR4RAM, Intel HD 620 graphics and 1 TB HDD. The specifications are one of the reasons why it's one of our top picks for best video editing laptops. It's also a good option for multimedia users as you can easily flip it around and start watching your favorite movies and TV shows.
8. APPLE MACBOOK PRO 15 WITH TOUCH BAR
Specs:
Here comes the most expensive laptop for video editing in our guide and reason behind listing it in bottom is indeed its limited options and high price. With the latest Apple MacBook Pro model, Apple has once again manufactured a device that's ready to handle just about anything.
It might not be a super computer primarily built for animation developers but it can surely handle tasks like editing videos with ease. With just 3 lbs. of weight and battery life of 8 hours, it's an excellent machine for all the professionals out there looking to perform intensive tasks.
It features a 15-inch screen with Retina display that's incomparable with any other display in our laptop picks. Its hardware packs Intel Quad Core i7 processor, 4 x Thunderbolt 3 ports, Radeon Pro 555x Graphics, 256 GB SSD and 16 GB of DDR4 RAM.
We do not recommend this notebook to any gamers or even for some casual gaming since most of the high-end games are Windows based. However, for tasks like video editing it simply can't be compared and if you can afford a laptop that'll cost you over 2 grand then go for it.
9. MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK
Specs:
The Microsoft Surface Book is yet another one of the expensive laptops in our list of video editing laptops and this is a super slim convertible notebook that's only affordable for high class people.
Microsoft specially designed this laptop for artists, painters and for those who need a super-portable PC. It features a premium look and a 13-inch touchscreen display with PixelSense technology and resolution of 3000 x 2000 pixels.
It also comes with a surface pen that's mostly used by artists for their creativity. We do not recommend that you replace your current laptop with one as it has its own limitations and it surely can be a great secondary laptop.
Due to its slim design and silver color chassis, it's very attractive and gets a lot of attention in cafes and other public places. It has attracted many users worldwide due to its specifications that include 512 GB SSD, 16 GB DDR4 RAM and Intel Core i7 processor.
All in all, if you need something that's ultra-portable, fast and capable of running almost anything then this PC is a perfect choice.
10. LENOVO Y50 59441814
Specs:
The Lenovo Y50 is a powerhouse that comes with amazing specifications and 15-inch Ultra-HD touchscreen display for a decent price. Like most of the gaming laptops by Lenovo, this one is also built using the high quality material and features a stylish aluminum finishing.
Thanks to its 4k ultra-HD touchscreen display with resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, it can be an excellent choice for photo and video editing. It has speakers that are designed by JBL and also features Dolby Advanced Audio.
We highly suggest this notebook to gamers, video editors, graphic designers, college students and multimedia users. It's a hot-selling laptop that's available for such price and it has gotten pretty famous for its long lasting battery life.
It packs powerful hardware that includes 16 GB DDR3 RAM, Intel Quad-Core i7-4720 processor, 512 GB SSD, backlit AccuType keyboard and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M GPU. Moreover, its processor comes with Turbo Boost technology making it an excellent choice for video editors and animators.
Conclusion
So these are the best video editing laptops according to our experts, and I hope you understand that all kinds of high-end notebooks can be used for such intensive task.
Most of the professionals prefer working on desktop PC since it offers a lot more power compared to a laptop and that too for the lower price.
We have already listed our best picks with latest functions and hardware and if you still have doubts then feel free to get in touch with us.