There are countless laptops for video editing, the list is just so long and it takes hours to go through all of them. That begs the question what are the best laptops for video editing you can count on?
To answer that question, I have reviewed many different laptops myself and made a list of the best laptops for video editing.
Video editing is a task that becomes increasingly demanding on your computer the longer you do it as an online course creator. It’s not just the video files themselves that can harbor hidden dangers for your computer – these days, it’s also the audio and visual effects you can use in your project.
Fortunately, some laptops specialize in video editing, making this process as easy as possible. And that’s what I’m about to discuss in this post.
In addition, I will include the features, pros, and cons of each laptop to make it easier for you to choose the right laptop for your video editing needs.
What Are The Best Laptops For Video Editing?
- Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch)
- Dell XPS 15 (2020)
- HP ZBook Fury 17 G8
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Acer ConceptD 7
- Alienware Area 51M
- 2021 Newest Dell XPS 17 Laptop 9710
- Asus ZenBook Pro 15
- Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch)
- Dell Precision 5540
- Razer Book 13 Laptop
- HP Spectre x360 (15-inch, 2019)
- MSI Creator 17
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
1. Overall Best Laptop For Video Editing
Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch)
As an online course creator, is portability more important for your laptop? Then the new Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch) is a great choice. It features an impressive performance by combining an Apple M1 Max processor with 64GB of memory while retaining its 4.3-pound frame.
It’s no question that a 16-inch screen is an attractive option for those who can afford to spend a lot of extra money and carry a bulkier and heavier chassis.
The excellent battery life of the Macbook Pro 2021 allows you to work on projects almost anywhere and stay connected while they travel.
At only about 5 pounds, it is a light laptop that can be carried around from meeting to meeting without being overly bulky or difficult to carry.
Features of Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch)
- CPU: Apple M1 Max
- GPU: Apple M1 Max
- RAM: 64GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 14.4-inch UHD (2400 x 1600)
- Dimension (HWD): 0.75 x 12.72 x 8.98 inches
- Weight: 4 pounds
Pros
- Seriously powerful components
- Exceptional battery life
- Impressive audio performance
- HDMI output and SD card reader
- High-quality 1080p webcam
- Gorgeous Mini-LED display
- High-quality keyboard, huge touchpad
Cons
- Configuration upticks are expensive
- Obtrusive camera notch
2. Best Windows-based Laptop For Video Editing
Dell XPS 15 (2020)
If you want a powerful laptop for video editing, you need to get the Dell XPS 15 2020. It’s not just an excellent choice for semi-pros or amateurs. But it’s one of the only laptops capable of handling the high-demand tasks associated with putting together a video.
The Dell XPS 15 is one of the best laptops for video editing. It comes with an i7-7700HQ processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD storage, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q GPU. Plus, this laptop is crazy beautiful which matters more than you may think.
Furthermore, it is interesting to know that the XPS 15 is still as light as ever at only 4.5 pounds. So if you’re out for a slim, portable killing machine for your video editing needs, this is one of the top-rated video editing laptops.
Features of Dell XPS 15
- CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7/Core i9
- GPU: Intel UHD 630/Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti
- RAM: 8GB/16GB/32GB
- Storage: 1TB HDD or 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch (1080p/4K/4K OLED)
- Size: 13.6 x 9.1 x 0.7-inches
- Weight: 4.5 pounds
Pros
- Great storage capacity
- Clear and super high-res display
- Great overall and graphics performance
- Excellent battery life for a 4K laptop
Cons
- It’s quite expensive
3. Best Workstation Laptop For Video Editing
HP ZBook Fury G7
The HP ZBook Fury G7 might be this year’s best laptop for video editing. It has a very nice screen and solid hardware inside, a decent set of ports, and backlit keys. This machine delivers the powerful performance and long-lasting battery life of a workstation that is ideal for video editing.
The HP ZBook is a laptop with an Intel Core i7, making it powerful enough to handle all the things you might want to do while on the go. It has 16 GB of RAM and a 1TB firecord hard drive. Meaning that it can deliver excellent performance without sacrificing storage space.
Also included is a solid-state drive slot for your storage needs and a DVD/RW optical drive. The laptop is built with all the extra features you need in a workhorse laptop.
This laptop also has support for dual displays, which means it can be used with a second monitor, giving you a bigger workspace to take your efficiency to the next level.
Features of HP ZBook Fury G7
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- GPU: Nvidia RTX A5000
- RAM: 64GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 17.3-inch UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Size: 15.7 x 10.5 x 1.1 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds
Pros
- Gorgeous 17.13-inch
- Excellent 4K touchscreen
- Mind-boggling CPU and GPU performance
- Integrated fingerprint reader
- Great storage capacity
Cons
- Overly expensive
4. Most Portable Laptop For Video Editing
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
The more demanding your video editing, the more powerful a laptop you’ll need. If you’re serious about getting the best results out of Premiere Creative Cloud, After Effects CC, or other Adobe video editing software (such as Photoshop and Illustrator) then the choice is clear.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio edition is designed to deliver exceptional results in all aspects of video editing. This powerful yet compact machine, which is packed with unique features, heralds a new kind of laptop for creative professionals who prefer pen input.
The processor behind the laptop is very fast and delivers smooth performance. Finally, its slim design makes it very mobile and easy to carry around when you are traveling to different places.
The upgraded 7th Gen Intel Core processor offers more power without compromising battery life, so you can work as productively as you do when you’re in the office.
Features of Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
- RAM: 32GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 14.4-inch UHD (2400 x 1600)
- Dimension (HWD): 0.75 x 12.72 x 8.98 inches
- Weight: 4 pounds
Pros
- Unique pull-forward touchscreen
- Excellent keyboard
- Groundbreaking haptic touchpad
- Robust digital stylus support, including magnetic holder
- 120Hz screen refresh rate
- Long battery life
Cons
- Comes with only two USB ports
- It is also a bit expensive
5. Best Acer Laptop For Video Editing
Acer ConceptD 7
If you’re after a powerful, stylish laptop that’s also very portable, then you’ll love the Acer ConceptD 7. This is a notebook PC with some of the fastest processing speeds on the market, housed in a slimline body that makes it perfect for taking with you anywhere.
It’s an ideal machine for video editing and computing. And its stylish metal chassis and Monsoon audio system ensure that it will look just as good as it performs.
Not only does this make it one of the best laptops for video editing on this list, but it also comes with a magnificent Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. This ensures rich – and true – colors in your videos.
This is a great Windows 10 alternative to a MacBook Pro, and it has a superior port variety as well.
Features of Acer ConceptD 7
- CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 – 2080
- RAM: 16GB – 32GB
- Screen: 15.6″ 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 IPS
- Storage: 1TB
Pros
- Very powerful
- Portable and slimline body
- Cheaper than MacBook Pro
- Good selection of ports
- Excellent storage capacity
Cons
- A bit expensive
6. Most Powerful Laptop For Video Editing
Alienware Area 51M
Here’s one of the best laptops for video editing: The Alienware Area-51m is a gaming laptop by Alienware. An overclockable 9th Gen Core i9 desktop CPU and the newest RTX 2080 GPU power this machine.
The Alienware Area 51m combines powerful hardware with exceptional build quality. It is the best workstation you can get for video editing, design, and 3D rendering.
You can use it for nearly any task thanks to its high-definition display. It’ll perform like a heavyweight when it comes to computing power. Because of its sleek design, bright backlit keyboard, and support for multiple high-performance USB devices.
In short, Area 51M should be on your shortlist if you need a laptop that’s designed to help you take your online course videos to the next level.
Features of Alienware Area 51M
- CPU: Intel 8th Gen Core i7/9th Gen Core i7/Core i9
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 2060/2070/2080
- RAM: 8GB/16GB/32GB/64GB
- Storage: 1TB HDD or 512GB/1TB/2TB SSD
- Display: 17.3-inch (1080p/4K)
- Size: 16.1 x 15.9 x 1.1~1.7 inches
- Weight: 8.5 pounds
Pros
- Lightning fast SSDs
- Excellent graphics and overall performance
- Offer stunning workstation aesthetic
Cons
- 8.5 pounds is a lot of weight
- It is also expensive
7. Most Expensive Video Editing Laptop On The List
2021 Newest Dell XPS 17 Laptop 9710
The Dell XPS 17 Laptop (9710) is a powerful laptop that’s ideal for video editing, with its premium components and awesome design. It is another incredible option that comes with upgrades so you can edit faster, as well as better graphics capabilities.
It also comes with a killer-looking display that’ll look awesome when scrolling through your video library. Even though it’s on the larger side, the weight shouldn’t be an issue.
With this powerful machine, the 1.9 GHz Intel Core i7-11800H processor and 32GB of RAM provide plenty of power to edit videos and multitask while not skimping on style.
Features of 2021 Newest Dell XPS 17 Laptop 9710
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM: 32GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 17-inch (3840 x 2400)
- Size: 0.77 x 14.7 x 9.8 inches
- Weight: 5.34 pounds
Pros
- Elegant design
- Gorgeous 17-inch 4K touchscreen
- Available Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics
- Large touchpad
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Cons
- Shorter battery life than expected
- Overly expensive
8. Most Innovative Laptop For Video Editing
Asus ZenBook Pro 15
Whether you’re a professional or an amateur online course creator, laptop quality is important to you.
You want something fast and easy to use so you can focus on what matters: creating amazing content. Asus ZenBook Pro 15 (UX580GE-XB71) has all the features creative pros are looking for.
This powerful laptop has tools built right in to take your productivity to the next level, including a backlit keyboard, Precision Touchpad, and 4K Ultra HD display.
While it’s a great choice for video editing, the high price might put off those who are looking for something more affordable. But it’s an investment well worth it for those who want a no-holds-barred laptop that can do anything.
Features of Asus ZenBook Pro 15
- CPU: Intel Core i7/Core i9
- GPU: Intel UHD 630or Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch (4K)
- Size: 14.4 x 9.9 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 4.2 pounds
Pros
- Beautiful, sophisticated design
- Excellent graphics and overall performance
- ScreenPad complements productivity tasks
- It also offers lightning-fast transfer speeds
Cons
- Battery life is only below average
9. Most Versatile Laptop For Video Editing
Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch)
Powerful, Innovative, and Stylish. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch) is another one of the best laptops for video editing on this list. The ‘Book 2’ offers faster performance with 16GB of RAM and the new 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and is the best portable laptop for video editing.
This is a perfect choice, whether you’re looking for a portable device or something powerful to play with. It boasts a stunning display, smooth performance, and lots of storage which means you’ll never run out of room for projects.
The Surface Book 2 is the most versatile laptop for editing video because it is both a powerful laptop and a portable tablet. Plus, it’s got Windows 10 in S Mode which works fast, is smooth, and is secure from malware.
Features of Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch)
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
- Display: 15-inch (3240 x 2160)
- Size: 13.5 x 9.9 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 4.2 pounds
Pros
- It comes with a detachable screen
- Enjoy a great pen experience
- It’s also an excellent versatile laptop
- Comes with a long battery life
Cons
- It does not have Thunderbolt 3 port
10. Best ISV-Certified Laptop For Video Editing
Dell Precision 5540
If you need a laptop that can handle the workload of video editing, check out Dell Precision 5540. It has two processors from Intel Core i5 and Intel Xeon E-2276M and has 16GB to 64GB of SDRAM.
Some video editing software that may be used with the laptop includes Final Cut Pro X, Photoshop CC, and Adobe Premiere Pro CC. Aesthetically, the keyboard is backlit by LED, and the computer comes in black color.
Thanks to its MIL-SPEC chassis, the Precision won’t get scratched up while you’re on the move. The laptop also comes with a 15.6-inch, 4K OLED panel, making it ideal for editing video.
Features of Dell Precision 5540
- CPU: Intel Core i5-9400H to Intel Xeon E-2276M
- GPU: Nvidia Quadro T1000 to Quadro T2000
- RAM: 16GB to 64GB
- Display: 15.6-inch, 1080p or 4K
- Storage: 256GB SSD to 2TB SSD
- Weight: 4.4 pounds
Pros
- Quite thin and light for a mobile workstation
- Excellent high-res 16:10 touchscreen
- Stiff aluminum and magnesium build
- Thunderbolt 4 ports, SD card slot included
- Great multithreaded performance for a thin workstation
Cons
- Quite pricey
- No OLED screen option
11. Best Budget Video Editing Laptop
Razer Book 13 Laptop
Your laptop is your second brain. It’s your creativity machine and a source of stress relief. Whether you’re posting to YouTube or creating your next online course videos the Razer Book 13 was made to do it all.
With its 13.4-inch 4K UHD touchscreen display, 16GB of storage, and an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, you will be able to get more work done than ever before.
Book 13 is an Ultrabook that is designed to meet all your video editing needs. Its graphics will work well with most video editing software and its 13-inch screen is great for editing or streaming live content.
The battery life is long, which is pretty good for video editing projects. And it is an unbelievable power-packed laptop you will be amazed at its performance.
Features of Razer Book 13 Laptop
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 16GB
- Display: 13.4-inch (1920 x 1080)
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Size: 0.6 x 11.6 x 7.8 inches
- Weight: 3.09 pounds
Pros
- Snappy performance with Intel “Tiger Lake” CPU
- Comes with a long battery life
- Slick metal design in a super-small body
- Comfortable keyboard with per-key RGB lighting
- Also comes with an excellent touchpad
- Full complement of ports
Cons
- Only 256GB of storage in base and midrange models
- It also feels a tad heftier than its lightest competitors
12. Best Small Convertible Laptop for Quick Video Edits
HP Spectre x360 (15-inch, 2019)
Offering excellent performance and a powerful set of features, the HP Spectre x360 (15-inch, 2019) is designed for users who demand not only a great-looking laptop but one that also performs.
The HP Spectre x360 (15-inch, 2019) delivers more than enough power and performance, while still providing a good amount of flexibility and endurance. Additionally, the price tag is easy on any budget.
However, while this laptop is a great tool for video editing, Its 15.16-inch screen is not really appealing. In my opinion, this might want to discourage those who love a vivid display of their machine screen.
Features of HP Spectre x360 (15-inch, 2019)
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- GPU: Nvidia MX150/GTX 1050 Ti
- RAM: 8GB/16GB
- Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch (4K)
- Size: 14.2 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
- Weight: 4.6 pounds
Pros
- It comes with a comfortable keyboard
- Offer excellent performance
- Long battery life
- The price tag is easy on any budget.
Cons
- The display isn’t as bright as the competitors
- It also comes with muddy speakers
13. Best 17-Inch Video Editing Laptop
MSI Creator 17
Meticulously designed with professional video editing experience in mind, the MSI Creator 17″ laptop has been architected to handle the intense demands of your profession.
The laptop is an excellent choice for online courses and tutorial video creators since it offers realistic and true-to-life colors. Thanks to its tiny LED display, which gives brilliant colors and dazzling pictures, your videos will never appear better than when viewed on this laptop.
Editing your course videos on the MSI Creator 17 will be a delightful task. And with its 10th-generation Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia’s powerful RTX series of graphics cards, it not only displays your videos beautifully but also runs video editing software exceptionally smoothly.
Features of MSI Creator 17
- CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i9 Processor
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER with Max-Q
- RAM: 64GB
- Display: 17.3″ UHD (3840×2160)
- Storage: 512GB – 2TB NVMe SSD
Pros
- Beautiful and appealing display
- Excellent and solid performance
- Offers great storage capacity
Cons
- It’s expensive
14. Best Lenovo Laptop For Video Editing
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
Looking for a laptop that’s ideal for video editing? There are a lot of models out there, but one, in particular, offers a truly uncompromising balance of performance and portability. It’s the ThinkPad X1 Extreme with its 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen display and 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme is a powerhouse designed for those who need to handle multiple tasks on the go. This laptop has an excellent display and impressive battery life as well.
It has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB GPU and can be configured with an Intel Core i9 8th Gen CPU and 64GB of RAM, making it a perfect pick for your video editing needs.
Features of Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
- CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti
- RAM: 8GB/16GB/32GB/64GB
- Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch (1080p/4K)
- Size: 14.2 x 9.7 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 4 pounds
Pros
- Excellent 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen
- It offers great storage capacity
- Integrated fingerprint reader
- It also supports dTPM encryption
Cons
- A bit expensive for basic-mid level video editing
15. Best Lightweight Laptop For Video Editing
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is a great laptop for video editing because of its top-of-the-line processor, SSD hard disk, and an ergonomic keyboard. With this laptop, editing and producing quality online course videos is a breeze.
It also has some of Intel and AMD’s most cutting-edge mobile technology and is available in a range of configurations, allowing it to run video editing applications with ease.
Boasting fast processing speeds, ample storage space, and a Full HD touchscreen display with eye comfort mode — it’s a great pick for sticking to your budget.
Features of Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
- CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 /AMD Ryzen 5 – 7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe / AMD Radeon
- RAM: 8GB – 32GB
- Display: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) touch
- Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD
- Battery Life: Up to 19 hours
- Weight: 2.11 ounces
Pros
- Thin, light, elegant design
- Exceptional typing comfort
- Vibrant PixelSense touchscreen
Cons
- Lacks ports
What Should You Look Out For When Choosing The Best Laptops For Video Editing?
While it majorly depends on your needs for a video editing laptop and budget, here are some of the most important things to consider before purchasing a laptop for your video editing projects:
- Storage
- Processor and memory Size
- Screen size and composition
- Operating system
- Laptop battery life
- A Solid State Drive
- The weight and build quality of the laptop
- The Keyboard, Touchpad, And Web Cam
FAQs
Are laptops for video editing affordable?
Truth be told, many of the laptops designed specifically for video editing are quite expensive. This is due to their combination of high-tech configuration and excellent design.
Nevertheless, you can still get a fantastic video editing laptop without blowing your budget. A good example is the powerful Dell XPS 15 (2020)
Which is better for video editing, a MacBook or Windows laptop?
While Apple claims that its machines are better at video editing, they cost more. For most people, it makes more sense to buy an affordable Windows laptop on Amazon than an expensive MacBook Pro.
However, if you’re looking for the best price-to-performance ratio in laptops for video editing, I will recommend you go for Windows.
Conclusion
Overall, my top pick from this list of the best laptops for video editing is Apple MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch). This powerful yet beautiful portable machine will let you seamlessly install and work with any of the most video editing software.
However, needless to say, Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch) is quite expensive. So it’s specifically for those who wouldn’t mind spending more than a reasonable amount of money on a video editing laptop.
With that being said, if you’re on a tight budget and your video editing needs are basic, especially if you’re an online course creator, I will recommend you go for Razer Book 13 Laptop.
Finally, while getting a laptop exclusively made for video editing is important, the software you will use also have a significant impact on your overall output. To help make the right choice, here is the best video editing software I will encourage you to take a look at.
I hope you found this article helpful. Thanks for reading.
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