Video editing is a task that requires access to a high quality display and enough processing power to handle large video files. Whether you're a creative working on professional-quality videos or want to start a YouTube channel, investing in the right laptop makes video editing a lot easier.
It's easy to get confused when you are not familiar with the performance data. We compared different laptops to choose the best computers to use for video editing. We've put together a few recommendations to help you find the right laptop for your video editing needs.
The best video editing laptops at a glance
The Best Video Editing Laptop: Dell XPS 15 (2020)
Why should you buy this: The Dell XPS 15 looks great, is incredibly well built, and can be configured with some of the best performing components.
Who is it for: Anyone who wants a fast Windows 10 laptop for video editing – and everything else.
What we thought of the Dell XPS 15::
Dell's XPS 15 clamshell laptop has been one of our favorite portable workhorses for several years. It's incredibly well built, with a solid aluminum body and carbon fiber keyboard deck that makes for comfortable long work sessions. The XPS 15 also offers some serious performance with up to 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10885H CPUs. This super fast processor with full power (45 watts) is the ultimate CPU for demanding tasks like coding videos and editing in real time. This chip is found in other laptops, but according to our tests, it's by far the fastest in the Dell system. The XPS 15 is also available with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU, which is supposed to help a lot with live editing and coding.
You can configure the XPS 15 from a base model with an i5-10300H entry-level CPU up to the aforementioned Core i9-10885H, up to 32 GB of fast DDR4-2933MHz RAM and up to 1 TB of very fast PCI-e Solid- State-Drive (SSD) storage and up to a beautiful 4K OLED display that offers remarkable contrast and vivid colors to showcase your video projects with real splendor. You get a machine that also has tons of high-speed connections, including a 40Gbps USB-C, full-speed Thunderbolt 3 support (USB-C dominates this laptop that eschewed older USB-A connections) along with a solid keyboard and touchpad with the option of a fingerprint scanner for secure login via Windows 10 Hello.
The best Macbook for video editing: Apple MacBook Pro 16
Why should you buy this: You've shopped into the Apple ecosystem, love MacBooks, and want one of the best video editing laptops money can buy.
Who is it for: Any Apple user who needs a powerful video editing workstation can take it anywhere.
What we thought of the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch::
While Adobe's Premiere line of video editing applications has become the industry standard, Apple's Final Cut Pro X is on the rise again. That means the Mac holds its place in the hearts of many creators – and videographers are no different. For high-end users, the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro is exactly what you've been waiting for.
The new Pro has even thinner frames and a larger 16-inch display with a resolution of 3,072 x 1,920 that squeezes in every nice pixel it can. While there are two main model options, the cheaper version offers a 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 processor of the 9th generation and an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU with 6 GB DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB SSD. You can improve on all of these options if you want, but this is still a great starting point for video editing.
We also like the four Thunderbolt 3 ports for connecting cameras, external storage drives, and monitors while working. The 2020 model really brings the "Pro" into the MacBook Pro, making it an easy recommendation for all video professionals.
The best gaming laptop for video editing: Razor Blade 15 2020
Why should you buy this: This laptop has the fastest GPU you can get to speed up video encoding and live editing.
Who is it for: Anyone who wants the fastest possible workflow without investing in a boring portable workstation.
What we thought of the Razer Blade 15 2020::
The previous 2019 Razer Blade was our favorite country mile gaming laptop. It was beautiful, built as well as any laptop on the market, and it could be configured for very fast gaming. The 2020 model offers valuable updates and a welcome range of customization options for both GPU and memory. And there's an interesting relationship between gaming and video editing – the GPU can speed up both tasks!
This particular model features a 10th generation Intel i7-10750H processor. One of the processors of your choice is the RTX 2070 Max-Q, which is available in either a 144 Hz version or a 4k OLED version, whichever is more convenient for you. The 4k OLED option may be superior if you do a lot of detail editing. Note, however, that this laptop can also be used for video connections to larger monitors if required. The design still features a compact aluminum frame that is surprisingly thin for its performance and includes a customizable backlight for your keyboard.
The ports on the Razer 15 2020 include Thunderbolt 3, USB-C and USB-A, and HDMI. It's Wi-Fi 6 ready too when you're ready to upgrade your router.
Best Laptop for Video Editing Under $ 1,000: Dell G3 15 Gaming Laptop (2020)
Why should you buy this: It offers a lot of electricity at a low cost.
Who is it for: Anyone who needs fast components to work through their video projects but has little money to spend.
What we thought of the Dell G3 15 gaming laptop::
Not everyone has the money to buy a powerful machine like the ones listed above. For these folks, there is one option that might not first come to mind: a budget gaming laptop. Yes, that's right, manufacturers often pack surprisingly powerful components into gaming laptops at surprisingly low rates – because not every gamer has tons of money to spend.
One of our favorites is the Dell G3 15 gaming laptop. It's not the most powerful notebook in the world, but it still offers a fast sixth generation Intel Core i7-10750H CPU with six cores and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU. These are fast-paced parts that keep everyone but the most demanding video projects running at full speed. It also includes 8 GB of RAM as well as 256 GB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage.
Ports on this model include USB-C and Thunderbolt 3, as well as a DisplayPort alternate mode. Dell is walking a tight line here to deliver as many of the latest specs as possible while keeping the price in the $ 700 range. The end result is very effective.
Best video editing laptop for color accuracy: Acer ConceptD 7
Why should you buy this: Acer built a laptop from the ground up for editing perfectionists.
Who is it for: Video editors, designers and photographers who place high demands on 2D or 3D creation and high expectations on color quality.
What we thought of the Acer ConceptD 7:
The ConceptD 7 is a laptop specially designed for developers who have high expectations and special requirements for their portable creation machines. It offers an Intel 6-core processor of the 9th generation with up to 4.5 GHz and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 with 8 G dedicated VRAM. The 15.6-inch screen offers 4K resolution for designers who want to get very close to their videos and brightness up to 400 nits. There's also up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB PCI-e NVMe SSD to store all of your greedy video files.
But it is the color quality that makes this laptop even brighter: It has a 100% Adobe color scale, a color accuracy of Delta E <2 and integrated color correction and Pantone color validation. Oh, and if you like to work in low light, the keyboard has a soft backlight that doesn't distract you from your work. You won't have any problems with a noisy fan either. The ConceptD 7's fan is quiet and discreet, so you can concentrate on the work ahead. It's a laptop for demanding 2D and 3D creation, and it doesn't get much better than that … for a price. Whether you are a photographer, graphic designer or digital artist – the ConceptD 7 is perfect for developers who travel a lot.
The ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro is also an advanced model on the go, offering an extremely portable 2-in-1 design for those who are even more on the go than usual. Regardless of the model, it's no surprise why so many developers rely on the ConceptD 7.
Editor's recommendations