The best laptops for video editing in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Our choose for the perfect video enhancing laptop computer ought to come as no shock: the 2024 MacBook Professional. Simply how good Apple’s {hardware} is for inventive endeavors can’t be understated — the corporate places a number of effort into guaranteeing its merchandise meet customers’ wants.

This model homes the corporate’s new M4 SoC (system on a chip), of which there are three variations: the bottom chip, the M4 Professional, and the M4 Max, with the final being probably the most highly effective. The know-how behind the {hardware} is considerably difficult, however all you have to know is that all of them allow higher efficiency. For instance, the M4 is 1.8 occasions sooner than a M1 MacBook Professional, and people numbers go up even larger on the M4 Max.

There are a number of explanation why this chipset is so good: the bottom SoC consists of a 10-core CPU (which is made up of 4 efficiency cores and 6 effectivity cores), “a sooner 10-core GPU”, and 16GB of RAM. The additional reminiscence permits for sooner apps in addition to higher multitasking capabilities. After all, we will not neglect the Neural Engine, which makes use of synthetic intelligence to spice up efficiency additional. The M4 Max additionally has a “highly effective Media Engine,” giving the MacBook Professional sooner video processing.

Additionally: I replaced my M1 MacBook Pro with a base model M4 – and it blew my $3,000 system away

Like older fashions, the MacBook Professional has a Liquid Retina XDR show, though there have been some modifications. The glass is now lined in a “matte-frosted layering, considerably decreasing glare”. Its brightness score has elevated to a most of 1,600 nits with HDR enabled. 

Different notable options embody Thunderbolt 5 ports for sooner switch speeds and charging, AI writing instruments courtesy of Apple Intelligence, plus a long-lasting battery.

Apple MacBook Professional 16 specs: Processor: Apple M4 | Show dimension: 14 or 
16 inches | Working system: Mac OS | Dimensions: 14 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches

We extremely suggest the HP ZBook Studio 16 G10 if cash isn’t any object. This factor is a beast. It sports activities a surprising 16-inch show that outputs a picture decision barely above 4K decision (3,840 x 2,400 pixels, to be actual). The corporate additionally affords professionals a ton of {hardware} choices to select from. The bottom unit has an Intel Core i5013600H vPro processor with an built-in graphics card, however you possibly can go for an i9-13900H vPro CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU.

Customization is a serious side of the ZBook Studio 16 G10. Movies can take a number of cupboard space. In case you wrestle with managing your information, equip the laptop computer with a 2TB SSD. Do you intend on enhancing full-length films and have tons of footage readily available? HP permits customers to pick out 64GB of RAM. That quantity of reminiscence could also be an excessive amount of for the common individual. Fortunately, the corporate additionally affords 16GB and 32GB of RAM.

What’s stunning in regards to the system is that regardless of all of the highly effective {hardware}, it is not a cumbersome laptop computer. Positive, 16 inches might be difficult to hold, however it’s slim and weighs just a little below 4 kilos.

Once more, this isn’t for folks on a price range. ZBook Studio 16 G10 costs hover round $3,000 and go up from there. However should you can afford it, you may personal among the finest video enhancing machines on the market.

HP ZBook Studio G10 Cell Workstation: Processor: Thirteenth-gen Intel Core i9-13900HX| Show dimension: 16 inches | Working system: Home windows 11 | Dimensions: 14.02 x 9.54 x 0.76 inches

Time has been type to the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630. It was a strong laptop computer when it first got here out, however the system was simply too costly to suggest. Nonetheless, the worth has dropped significantly, ensuing within the mannequin turning into one of many choices for video editors available on the market at present. 

Dell affords an superior all-rounder laptop computer. It comes outfitted with a surprising 16-inch, 2.5K decision show able to operating at a refresh price of 120Hz. As said in our evaluation, the display is so good you “will not even know the that means of the phrase ‘lag'”. The glass can be lined in an anti-glare coating permitting it to nonetheless be viewable below brilliant environments. It’s pretty massive so carrying the Inspiron 16 Plus might show just a little cumbersome.

Evaluation: Dell’s 16-inch Inspiron is a big-screen laptop done well, and it’s cheaper than you think

Inside its giant chassis is a Thirteenth-generation Intel i7-13700H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. These two make an amazing {hardware} pairing for video enhancing workloads. They ship all the mandatory processing and rendering energy to assist creators create movies. After all, the 16-inch show makes doing really easy. 

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 specs: Processor: Thirteenth Gen Intel Core i7-13620H | Show dimension: 16 inches | Working system: Home windows 11 | Dimensions: 14.05 x 9.92 x 0.67 inches

Measurement is not every little thing. Typically, you want a lightweight computer that may be simply taken on the highway. You’ll be able to journey with a 16-inch laptop computer; nonetheless, their giant dimension makes them troublesome to hold. As an alternative of these, we suggest shopping for a 14-inch laptop computer, and the perfect amongst them for video enhancing is the Acer Swift X 14.

Acer’s machine proves massive issues are available small packages. It sports activities a surprising 2.8K decision display that’s supported by a number of image-enhancing options. For instance, the Swift X 14 covers a number of coloration areas enabling vivid output. Video editors will definitely recognize the lightning-fast 120Hz refresh price. This ensures responsive onscreen animations and crisp imagery.

Evaluation: I tested Acer’s Swift X Laptop and its performance surprised me in 3 ways

Underneath the hood, the Swift X 14 homes some spectacular {hardware}. The Intel Core Extremely 7 155H processor is partnered up with the superior Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card and a pleasant 32GB of RAM. This setup ensures the machine can deal with nearly any powerful workload you possibly can throw at it. Plus, it is sufficient to supply a strong gaming expertise everytime you need to take a break. Remember the {hardware} is power-hungry, so it’s possible you’ll expertise fast battery drain.

Acer Swift X 14 (2024) specs: Processor: Intel Core Extremely 7 155H | Show dimension: 14.5 inches | Working system: Home windows 11 | Dimensions: 12.7 x 9 x 0.70 inches

LG’s Gram Professional 16 2-in-1 is a modern, ultraportable laptop computer. For starters, it measures lower than half an inch thick and weighs just a little over three kilos, enabling straightforward carrying. You will not have to fret in regards to the machine breaking as a result of the nano-magnesium alloy makes it exceptionally sturdy. The slim design, vibrant show, and darkish black chassis make for a surprising laptop computer. Only a few laptops look this good. That flashiness is unique to its kind issue.

The machine homes a high-quality 16-inch OLED display with a number of visible enhancers. It helps your complete RBG coloration scale, your complete P3 coloration gamut, and 94 % of the Adobe RBG scale. Plus, it has a refresh price of 120Hz for silky easy video output.

Evaluation: Our favorite lightweight laptop for work is not a MacBook or ThinkPad

The corporate features a free stylus with buy, which can be utilized for a extra pure enhancing expertise. Inside is an Intel Core Extremely 7 155H CPU able to dealing with absolutely anything you throw at it. The graphics card is an built-in Intel Arc. It might’ve been good if it was a devoted GPU from Nvidia, however with as much as 32GB of RAM, rendering video is not an issue. Observe that the LG Gram Professional 16 can run scorching due to its highly effective {hardware}.

LG Gram Professional 16 2-in-1 specs: Processor: Intel Core Extremely 7 155H | Show dimension: 16-inch WQXGA Plus OLED touchscreen | Working system: Home windows 11 | Dimensions: 14.06 x 9.99 x 0.49 inches

One of many first stuff you’ll discover when searching for a video enhancing laptop computer is that lots of them are actually costly. We have now a number of on this record over $3,000. This could come as no shock, as a great video enhancing laptop computer will need to have high-performing {hardware}, which normally interprets to excessive worth tags. Fortunately, there are some strong price range choices, too, just like the Acer Aspire 5.

I selected this mannequin due to its strong {hardware} pairing: a Thirteenth-Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 graphics card. This configuration just isn’t the best on the planet, however nonetheless respectable. Relaxation assured, this machine can deal with video enhancing workload, though it’s possible you’ll expertise some efficiency points. You would go for the Iris Xe GPU to drop the worth tag even decrease to round $500, however we do not suggest doing this. You’d be higher off spending extra money on superior {hardware}.

The display outputs a decision of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels with a refresh price of 60Hz. It is no 4K monster; nonetheless, no less than it is higher than 1080p. Plus, it comes with numerous ports, together with two USB-A inputs, HDMI, and an ethernet port.

Acer Aspire 5 specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-13620H | Show dimension: 14 inches | Working system: Home windows 11 | Dimensions: 9.30 x 14.21 x 0.70 inches

As beforehand established, gaming laptops lend themselves very properly to video enhancing. These machines usually have a number of the greatest {hardware} configurations available on the market, making a desktop resentful. Nonetheless, the primary drawback with gaming laptops is that you would be able to’t take them into the workplace. Their brilliant RGB lighting might be very distracting. Seeing a chance, Dell made a gaming laptop computer with the workplace employee in thoughts: the Alienware m16 R2.

In our evaluation of this laptop computer, we level out how the system strikes a great design steadiness between being aesthetically pleasing and sensible. It is slim, missing a cumbersome thermal shelf on the again, and is roofed in a predominantly darkish gray coloration scheme. Nonetheless, the system’s most vital design characteristic is its Stealth Mode, which might be activated by urgent F2. Doing so causes the RGB lights to show white immediately. It is a easy but useful characteristic “for once you’re in a public setting.”

Evaluation: Dell’s latest gaming laptop is an ultraportable machine I wouldn’t mind bringing to work

There’s extra to the m16 R2 in addition to its seems to be. It is a highly effective machine with an Intel Core Extremely 9 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, and 32GB of RAM. This configuration is superb for dealing with all types of workloads, from video enhancing in the course of the day to gaming in the course of the night. It is a extremely versatile laptop computer, one which comes extremely beneficial. If that is not sufficient, it sports activities a 2K decision show with a quick refresh price of 240Hz.

Alienware m16 R2 specs: Processor: Intel Core Extremely 9  | Show dimension: 16 inches | Working system: Home windows 11 | Dimensions: 14.33 x 9.81 x 0.93 inches