wirecast ciberlink VyprVPN NordVPN

This article may contain affiliate links. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

9 Best Laptops for Video Editing in 2020

Of course, a powerful desktop computer designated for video editing is a perfect tool for filmmakers. However, if you have plenty of business trips it’s always better to keep all your materials and projects with you. In such case, a decent laptop for video editing is a great alternative.

TOP PICKS

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST LAPTOP FOR VIDEO EDITING

The choice of the best laptop for video editing can be tricky. No one wants to experience pixilated images or get annoyed by the crashing program. We’ll try to help you select a top-notch laptop that will make your video editing a sheer pleasure.

SCREEN

Obviously, screen quality is important. When possible, go for a 4k. Good laptop for video editing should have a screen that is sharp enough for tasks like color correction and shading.

MEMORY

Another important feature to take into consideration is memory. Editing or work with motion graphics always requires space to save plenty of temporary files. Thus, if your laptop has enough RAM you won’t have problems with storage or speed.

As 4K footage becomes more and more common, you should focus on it when choosing a laptop for video editing. So, the best option is to pick up a laptop with no less than 8GB of memory. Anyway, you can always upgrade it as most of the laptops allow this. Still, if your budget isn’t restricted and you can afford something more powerful then choose a laptop with 16GB of RAM.

STORAGE

Storage is the next thing to consider after RAM. The principle of choice is the same here – the more storage you have the better. Start with not less than 256GB but try to get as much as you can afford. If you have 500GB storage, for example, or higher you will be able to edit small projects even without an external hard drive.

GRAPHICS CARD

When it comes to a graphics card there are two brands to choose from: NVIDIA and AMD Graphics. Both of them have made quite a name and offer products of great quality. Thus, it’s impossible to say which one is better. The choice here depends on the laptop model and your own preferences.

Nevertheless, there are some basic points you should know about GPU of your future laptop. It’s always important to pay attention at the recommendations from the chosen NLE software concerning a graphics card.

Generally, you’d want to go for GTX 1050 and higher.

PROCESSOR

In most cases, the more cores your CPU has the better. Nowadays, even those processors which are designed to use less power, such as Intel’s mobile Core U-series, have four cores.

By the way, you can always test your processor using Cinebench benchmark, a test which shows how fast your laptop is when rendering a 3D image. Note that all results above 700 mean that a laptop will cope with video-editing tasks.

BATTERY LIFE

It’s not a secret that video editing consumes lots of power. Thus, it’s good to have a laptop with a long battery life. Still, it isn’t the most crucial feature you should be looking for. There’s a high chance that you will keep your laptop plugged-in almost all the time during the video-editing process.

WEIGHT

One of the reasons we buy a laptop instead of a desktop computer is portability. But not every portable thing is easy to carry. Sure, an ideal laptop is lightweight and it can be a reality. The only thing you should remember is that laptops which weigh less than 3 pounds won’t have a discrete GPU and their displays won’t be larger than 14 inches.

Another thing which should be taken into account is size. Of course, a thin laptop looks very stylish. But don’t forget to check whether it has all the necessary ports.

COMFORT

Finally, just check whether the best laptop for video editing you have found is comfortable in use namely for you. Does its keyboard is convenient in use? Is its display big enough for your editing tasks? Though this may sound not as serious as processor or GPU characteristics but it does affect the whole process of editing.

9 BEST LAPTOPS FOR VIDEO EDITING

HP ZBOOK X2

The Best Laptop For 4K Video Editing
HP ZBOOK X2 laptop

This detachable PC comes with a full-sized Bluetooth keyboard. You can also use it as a tablet for work in Adobe apps due to its HP Quick Keys, which allow changing the brush size and hardness. Note that HP ZBOOK x2 has also got Thunderbolt 3 ports

HP ZBOOK x2 has 4K multi-touch display with anti-glare effect for comfortable work under the sunrays. What is more, this laptop is not afraid of overheating as there is a built-in dual-fan active cooling system, which protects its NVIDIA graphics card and Intel quad-core processor from the excessive heat.

Pros:

  • Stylish
  • High build quality
  • Detachable
  • Excellent keyboard
  • 4K touchscreen
  • 32GB of RAM

Cons:

  • Graphics performance could be better
  • Poor battery life
  • Expensive
  • Bulky
Check Price

MACBOOK PRO 15 WITH TOUCH BAR

Great Laptop For Both Photo And Video Editing
MACBOOK PRO 15 WITH TOUCH BAR laptop

Need lots of storage? MacBook Pro 15 is provided with a 256/512GB SSD and has 16GB of memory. Besides, it comes with either a a 6-core 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor or 8-core i9 which guarantees fast performance. This laptop is also equipped with Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and Taptic Engine for haptic feedback. As well as HP ZBOOK x2 it has Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Pros:

  • Small and light
  • Excellent screen quality
  • Durable build
  • Two-sided power
  • Touch ID
  • 512GB SSD
  • 16GB of RAM

Cons:

  • Too small up and down keys
  • Poor battery life
  • Pricey
  • No SD card slot
Check Price

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2

Great Choice For The Money
MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 laptop

If MacBook Pro 15 and HP ZBOOK x2 are too expensive for you and you need a budget laptop to save your earnings then Microsoft Surface Book 2 is one of the options to choose from. A 7th generation Intel Dual Core i5 Processor will guarantee fast performance while 256GB of storage will take care of plentiful temporary files.

Sure, 8GB RAM isn’t the best thing you can find in today’s laptops but it’s quite enough for decent video editing. (Note that there is an option of 16GB RAM as well but get ready to pay much more for it). By the way, Microsoft Surface Book 2 is provided with a vibrant PixelSense touchscreen and four versatile modes of use.

Pros:

  • 4 versatile modes of use
  • Great touchscreen
  • Powerful GPU
  • Xbox wireless support
  • Long battery life
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Fast performance

Cons:

  • Poor multi-monitor support
  • No Thunderbolt port
  • Heavy as a laptop
  • Screen wobbling in a laptop mode
Check Price

RAZER BLADE 15 (2019)

A High-End Laptop For Editing And Gaming

More often than not, the best laptop for video editing can also be a great gaming machine. That’s the case with the Razer Blade 15 as it’s built for gamers, but ideal for videographers that need a beastly PC for AV work.

There are several configurations available but we’ll definitely suggest going for RTX 2060 and 144Hz. While everything on this PC is top-notch, the highlight would have to be the graphics card which is the NVIDIA RTX 2060. It comes with 8GB of GDDR6 as well while the machine has 16GB of RAM and a large 512GB solid-state drive. Whether you are editing 4K movies or playing your favorite FPS game in Ultra mode, this laptop can handle it all, and the vapor chamber cooling system will keep things running smoothly.

Color accuracy is key for editors, and while your resolution on the 15.6-inch panel is capped at FHD, it’s color calibrated from the factory. That display has a refresh rate of 144Hz, and the laptop has plenty of pop thanks to the 9th gen Intel Core i7-9750H. Other features to note include Razer’s Chroma Keyboard, x3 USB 3.1 ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, and the Razer Synapse 3 system.

If you’re a video editor that needs a multipurpose machine for gaming, the Razer Blade 15 is your best choice. You won’t find another laptop that’s built this well with the same specifications, and while it’s expensive, you get what you pay for. That said, if you don’t need Chroma lighting or other gaming-centric features, there are more affordable options on our list.

Pros:

  • Excellent build quality
  • NVIDIA RTX 2060
  • 16GB of RAM
  • Snappy solid-state drive

Cons:

  • Battery life
  • It’s expensive
Check Price

ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300

The Best Laptop For The Price
ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300 laptop

Acer’s Predator lineup is a brand gamers will be familiar with, and the Helios 300 is a fine choice for video editing as well. That’s due in part to the specifications although the price tag is what initially drew us to this PC.

This is another portable gaming rig with a dedicated card in the GTX 1660 Ti which has 6GB of VRAM. It’s not on the level of the Razer Blade 15 when it comes to graphics, but everything else is top of the line. It has a 15.6-inch FHD display with a refresh rate of 144Hz and also has 16GB of memory under the hood. The hard drive is smaller at 256GB, but still solid-state so you’ll have plenty of speed.

All the usual boxes are checked when it comes to connectivity with the Helios 300. Bluetooth and dual-band Wi-Fi are present and accounted for along with a USB Type-C port and Gigabit Wi-Fi. There are also three 3.1 ports, HDMI 2.0 Port and Mini Display Port 1.4. Cooling is excellent as well with dual all-metal AeroBlade 3D fans.

Like most laptops built with gaming in mind, the battery life could be better on this one (up to 6 hours), and it can get a little warm regardless of those fans. It’s also heavy at a bit over 5 pounds, but that’s due to all the tech under the hood and the overall design. Overall, it’s a great laptop for editors that don’t want to spend a fortune and need a sturdy machine for home use.

Pros:

  • The price tag
  • Great trackpad
  • Excellent display
  • GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

Cons:

  • Can get warm
  • It’s heavy
  • Poor battery life
Check Price

DELL XPS 15 7590

An Excellent Alternative From Dell
DELL XPS 15 7590 laptop

Despite its pretty steep price tag, the OLED powered Dell XPS 15 is arguably one of the best tools for video editing. Even if some people argue that OLED displays are not the best option for video editing, this particular unit boasts a gorgeous (as in high contrast/color accurate) screen in 4K/UHD resolution made by Samsung. On top of that, you’ll get Intel’s latest I9 CPU, while the heavy lifting (for video editing) is taken care of by an Nvidia GTX 1650 discrete graphics chip.

What more do you want now, seriously? That’s an easy one: a more affordable price tag, but if we’re talking about tools aimed at professionals, we all know that quality and premium options don’t come cheap. Basically, the Dell XPS 15 in its 4th generation makes for the ultimate laptop if you’re into the content-creation racket.

Pros:

  • High-end OLED UHD display
  • Lots of customization options
  • Powerful hardware including Intel’s latest I9 CPU
  • Excellent keyboard for typing
  • Fantastic touchpad
  • Crazy thin bezels
  • Stiff display hinge
  • Lots of ports
  • SD card slot available
  • Stays cool under heavy loads
  • Decent autonomy (over 7 hours battery life)

Cons:

  • Expensive
Check Price

MSI GS65 STEALTH-002

The Best Video Editing Laptop For 4K
MSI GS65 STEALTH-002 laptop

MSI is a brand that tends to pop up when we’re looking for powerful laptops, and the GS65 Stealth-002 is one powerful PC. While the price tag may rule it out for some, it’s well worth your time if you’re dealing with 4K or VR content.

The popular Intel Core i7-8750H makes another appearance in the Stealth-002, and you’ll get the GeForce RTX 2070 under the hood along with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. That’s hard to top, especially when you factor in the 32GB of DDR4 memory. You’ll never have an issue with multitasking on the GS65, and storage won’t be a problem with a 512GB NVMe solid-state drive.

Flagship features on this laptop include a large glass touchpad, SteelSeries RGB keyboard, and a ThunderBolt 3 port. This beast has an excellent cooling system as well with a total of three fans and six copper heat pipes. Battery life varies depending on how hard you run this one, but the fact it has a 15.6-inch FHD panel without helps so you can squeeze 7-8 hours out of the GS65 in a pinch.

The MSI GS65 is the most expensive laptop on our list, but its graphics capabilities are considerably better than the rest. It’s not the type of machine you’ll need to upgrade anytime soon, and it’s an excellent choice for gamers as well for obvious reasons.

Pros:

  • SteelSeries RGB keyboard
  • 32GB of RAM
  • The GeForce RTX 2070
  • Great cooling system

Cons:

  • The price tag
  • Can get noisy
Check Price

ASUS ZENBOOK 15

The Most Durable Video Editing Laptop
ASUS ZENBOOK 15 laptop

Durability is something manufacturers like to tout, but an aluminum chassis will only do so much. If you’re looking for an extra layer of protection but want something sleek and portable, the ZenBook 15 could be your next laptop.

There’s a lot we love about the ZenBook 15, and it all starts with the display. While still in the FHD class, it’s 15.6 inches with a 92% screen-to-body ratio. A GTX 1060 Max-Q is responsible for the graphics while 16GB of DDR4 let you multitask with ease. A speedy Core i7-8565U and 512GB solid-state drive round things out for the key tech specs along with an IR camera and Bluetooth 5.0.

A big bonus of this machine is the MIL-STD-810G certification. In short, it means this laptop can handle rain, sand, vibrations, and drops that would shatter other machines. It’s not something you see with laptops often, especially ones that look like the ZenBook 15. Other standout features include a USB-C port, Gigabit Wi-Fi, and a solid audio system.

While the ASUS ZenBook 15 is in the Ultrabook class, it’s ideal for editors on the go that work in extreme locations… or are just clumsy. The battery life is excellent, but the trackpad and a few other issues cause this one to drop some spots on our list. Thankfully, most have been addressed with updates, but this is another PC you’ll want to check carefully out of the box.

Pros:

  • Military-grade protection
  • 16GB of DDR4
  • GTX 1060 MaxQ
  • Battery life

Cons:

  • Quality control
Check Price

LENOVO LEGION Y740

Built For The Future
LENOVO LEGION Y740 laptop

The Lenovo Legion Y740 is a gaming laptop at its core, but due to the powerful hardware inside, it also does a great job with video-editing. Since we’re talking Legion-tier gear, the Y740 is far from being cheap, posing as a true powerhouse both in terms of screen real estate (17.3’’) and hardware options. This particular model comes loaded with a high-quality full HD 1080p IPS display with G-SYNC technology, and it’s powered by an Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, working in tandem with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU, which means all your video-editing problems are going to be solved without drama in the shortest amount of time.

On top of that, you’ll get 16 GB of RAM and a fast 512GB NVMe SSD. So yeah, hardware-wise, this baby has it where it counts, offering impressive gaming performance as well as top-tier video editing capabilities, as these two domains are pretty close in regard to hardware requirements.

Pros:

  • High-quality display
  • Hexa-core I7 8750H CPU
  • Good connectivity options
  • Decent battery life for a gaming laptop
  • Corsair iCUE ambient system lighting
  • Snappy keyboard
  • Great for both work and fun (read gaming)

Cons:

  • Not exactly easy to carry around
Check Price

CONCLUSION

The rule of successful laptop purchase is simple – write the list of options and features you need first and foremost taking into account our pieces of advice. Your next step isn’t difficult too, – find the best laptop for your video editing among the items given on the list above.

Understood
This website is using cookies. If you continue to use this site without changing your settings, you consent to our cookies policyMore details