Whether you’re a professional video editor or an amateur creating content for social media, having a laptop that can handle demanding video editing tasks is crucial. You need a laptop that can provide a smooth experience when manipulating footage, play high-resolution videos smoothly, and render videos quickly. To help you make an informed buying decision, we’ve compiled a list of the best laptops for video editing, considering factors such as processing power, display quality, keyboard and touchpad quality, port selection, and more. In this article, we’ll guide you through the top laptops that can meet your video editing needs.
What to Look for in a Video Editing Laptop
The process of selecting the right laptop for video editing can be overwhelming, especially with the numerous options available in the market. To make an informed decision, you need to consider several key factors that will ensure your laptop can handle demanding video editing tasks efficiently.
Processing Power
On the top of your list should be a laptop with robust processing power. Video editing requires a significant amount of processing power to handle tasks such as rendering, color grading, and effects. Look for laptops with at least a quad-core processor, preferably one from Intel Core i7 or i9 series or AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 series.
Display Quality
Look for a laptop with a high-quality display that can accurately reproduce colors and provide a good viewing experience. A 4K or UHD display is ideal for video editing, as it will allow you to see your footage in high resolution and make precise edits.
Editing videos requires a display that can cover a wide color gamut, such as DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB. This will ensure that your videos look vibrant and accurate when played back on different devices. Additionally, consider a laptop with good brightness and contrast ratio to ensure your display remains visible in different lighting conditions.
Keyboard and Touchpad Quality
An excellent keyboard and touchpad are important for a comfortable and efficient video editing experience. Look for a laptop with a backlit keyboard that provides good travel and tactility, making it easy to type for extended periods.
The touchpad should be responsive and accurate, allowing you to navigate through your video editing software with ease. Consider a laptop with a precision touchpad that supports multi-touch gestures, making it easy to zoom, pan, and scroll through your footage.
Port Selection and Storage
Look for a laptop with a wide range of ports to connect your peripherals and external devices, such as USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and an SD card slot. This will ensure you can connect your external hard drives, monitors, and other devices easily.
A fast storage drive is also important for video editing, as it will help reduce loading times and improve overall performance. Consider a laptop with an NVMe SSD or a high-speed HDD, and ensure it has enough storage capacity to hold your video files and projects.
A good video editing laptop should provide a balance of processing power, display quality, keyboard and touchpad quality, and port selection and storage. By considering these factors, you can find a laptop that meets your video editing needs and helps you produce high-quality videos efficiently.
Top Recommendations
One of the most important decisions you’ll make when it comes to video editing is choosing the right laptop. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our top recommendations for the best video editing laptops of 2024.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023)
For professionals and serious enthusiasts, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) is an excellent choice. This top-tier model delivers an outstanding user experience and has ample processing power to handle even the most demanding workloads. Its Mini LED display’s high brightness and full coverage of the DCI P3 color space make it ideal for video editing, and the superb factory calibration means you can get straight to work without needing further tweaks.
Dell XPS 16 (2024)
Dell’s XPS 16 (2024) is a premium 16-inch mobile workstation that’s perfect for Windows users. It’s available with Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 CPUs, up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, and user-replaceable RAM and storage. The 4K+ OLED display option offers full DCI P3 coverage and is sharper but dimmer than the MacBook Pro’s display.
Benchmarks show that the Dell XPS 16 (2024) is a powerhouse when it comes to video editing. With a Geekbench 5 score of 9.6 and a Cinebench R23 score of 9.9, it’s clear that this laptop is capable of handling even the most demanding tasks. Additionally, its performance over time is exceptional, with a score of 10, indicating that it can maintain its performance even during extended periods of use.
Mid-Range Options
Once again, you don’t need to break the bank to get a reliable laptop for video editing. Mid-range options offer a great balance between performance and price.
HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024)
An excellent choice for those on a budget, the HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024) packs a punch with its Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 9 CPU and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 discrete GPU. This laptop’s 2.8K OLED display offers complete sRGB and DCI P3 coverage, making it perfect for producing SDR and HDR content. While it may not be as bright as some other options, it’s still a great choice for indoor settings. With a good keyboard, responsive touchpad, and plenty of ports, you’ll be well-equipped for your video editing needs.
Budget-Friendly Options
Despite the high-end laptops mentioned earlier, you don’t need to break the bank to get a decent video editing laptop. Here are some budget-friendly options that can still deliver a smooth video editing experience.
Options Under $1,000
For those on a tight budget, there are still some great options available. The Acer Predator Helios 300 (2024) is a great example, offering a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, all for under $900. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of the higher-end models, it’s a great value for the price.
Refurbished and Used Laptops
If you’re really strapped for cash, consider looking into refurbished or used laptops. You can often find last year’s models or slightly older laptops that still have plenty of power for video editing at a fraction of the cost. Just make sure to do your research and buy from a reputable seller to ensure you’re getting a good deal.
Bear in mind, even with a budget-friendly laptop, you’ll still want to prioritize factors like processing power, RAM, and storage to ensure a smooth video editing experience.
Comparison of Laptops
Keep in mind that each laptop has its unique strengths and weaknesses. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve broken down the key features of each laptop into a comparison table:
| Laptop Model | Display Quality | Processing Power | Port Selection and Storage | Price and Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) | Mini LED display with high brightness and full DCI P3 coverage | M3 Pro or Max SoC, up to 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU | Wide port selection, including USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI | Starting at $1,999 USD |
| Dell XPS 16 (2024) | 4K+ OLED display with full DCI P3 coverage | Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 CPUs, up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU | Limited port selection, including three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports and microSD card reader | Starting at $1,499 USD |
| HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024) | 2.8K OLED display with complete sRGB and DCI P3 coverage | Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 9 CPU, up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 discrete GPU | Plenty of ports, including two USB-A, two USB-C, and full HDMI 2.1 port | Starting at $999 USD |
Display Quality
An excellent display is crucial for video editing, as it directly affects the accuracy of your work. Look for laptops with high-brightness displays that can reproduce all the colors in your preferred color space.
Processing Power
To handle demanding video editing tasks, you’ll need a laptop with robust processing power. Consider laptops with at least a quad-core CPU and a dedicated GPU. Another important factor to consider is the laptop’s ability to maintain performance over time. Look for laptops with efficient cooling systems and power management features to ensure consistent performance.
Port Selection and Storage
Laptops with a wide range of ports, including USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI, will give you more flexibility when connecting peripherals and external displays. Additionally, consider laptops with user-replaceable RAM and storage for future upgrades. Power users will appreciate laptops with fast SSD storage and ample RAM to ensure smooth performance.
Price and Value
The price of a laptop can vary greatly depending on the configuration and features. Consider your budget and prioritize the features that matter most to you. For instance, if you’re willing to spend more, you can get a laptop with a more powerful CPU and GPU, as well as additional features like a 4K display or advanced cooling system. However, if you’re on a tighter budget, you may need to compromise on some features to get the best value for your money.
Conclusion
The best video editing laptops of 2024 offer a range of options to suit your specific needs and budget. Whether you’re a professional video editor or an amateur looking to create stunning content for social media, these laptops provide the processing power, display quality, and port selection you need to get the job done efficiently. From the top-tier Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) to the more affordable HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024), you’ll find a laptop that meets your video editing requirements. Consider your priorities, weigh the pros and cons, and choose the best laptop for your video editing needs.
