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Best Laptop for Photo and Video Editing

best laptop for photo and video editing

Introduction

Every content creation process includes editing images or videos. However, due to the resource demands of most editing programs, this can also be one of the most irritating aspects. This emphasizes the significance of selecting a suitable laptop for picture editing. While a powerful desktop is often used, it is not always the best option. This is particularly true if you’re a frequent jetsetter like us or just like working in an environment as comfortable as a local coffee shop.

Because of this, we decided to compile a list of the greatest laptops for digital photography editing. We’ll discuss laptops for every budget, covering a broad range of features and prices. When deciding on a laptop for picture editing, there are a few key considerations, all of which we will go over in depth below.

After that, we will detail the budget-friendly features to look for in the finest laptops designed for picture editing. This is based on our familiarity with several laptops for picture editing and expertise in computing.

What is the Best Laptop You Should buy for Photo and Video Editing?

The Acer Nitro 5 and the 14-inch MacBook Pro are the finest laptops for video production if you are ready to pay a significant amount. They include stunning, high-resolution screens driven by powerful CPUs and GPUs and can handle almost any video editing task you can toss at them. Both notebooks have lightweight metal cases that contribute to their portability.

The best laptops for video editing, around $1,000, can be found in the budget gaming laptop category. You can complete part of your demanding work with a computer like the Dell Inspiron 13, which has an AMD Radeon RX 5600M GPU and an exemplary display.

In contrast, the Razer Book 13 Laptop is among the finest laptops money can buy and is worth considering if you are not a gamer and want to devote all of your time and energy to video making regardless of the expense. The Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 graphics processing unit (GPU) on this machine is tailored to creative endeavours like video processing, and the vibrant 4K screen will let you see your hard work come alive.

Top 10 Best Laptops to Edit Your Photo and Video!

1. 2021 Apple MacBook Pro – Best Overall

Overview

With the release of the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021), the MacBook Pro has undergone a full change as a computer for creative types. This lightweight laptop’s stunning performance is thanks to the latest M1 Pro and M1 Max.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 14.2 Inches
Colour Silver
Hard Disk 512 TB
Graphics Co-Processor M1 Pro

Laptop Review

If you require the video processing capabilities of a 2021 Pro but don’t want the added size of the 16-inch version, the newest 14-inch MacBook Pro is the Mac you should acquire if you have 1) the funds for it and 2) the requirement for it but don’t require to spend as much money on it.

Because the two laptops are almost indistinguishable, the 2021 MacBook Pro’s revolutionary Liquid Retina XDR displays with a 120Hz refresh rate look stunning even on the 14-inch variant. Everything, even your favourite movies, will just have an improved appearance.

Oh, and the new M1 Pro processors and the more expensive M1 Max chips give even more performance than ever before while simultaneously providing battery life that lasts the whole day. Other significant changes include removing the Touch Bar, a feature that never lived up to expectations and was ultimately replaced with physical buttons labelled F1 through F12.

Additionally, Apple has increased the resolution of the built-in camera from 720p to 1080p. The new MacBook Pro 2021 looks and feels very much like a notebook designed for professionals. And, in terms of lightweight abilities, this one is much better than the 16-inch version.

In addition, Apple has reinstated support for charging through MagSafe, HDMI-out, and an SD card reader in the MacBook Pro. Because of this, you will not need to carry a USB-C adapter to utilize external memory or connect to a display. However, there is still no USB-A port, and it is becoming clearer that Apple has no intention of reintroducing this connectivity standard in the future.

Pros

Cons

2. Razer Book 13 Laptop – Best Runner’s Up

Overview

The Razer Book 13 is the sole non-gaming laptop in Razer’s range. It is a machine that achieves the top tier of ultrabooks in terms of engineering, functionality, and characteristics. This machine is elegant and small, reaching the very top of the standings for ultraportables.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 13.4 Inches
Colour Mercury White
Hard Disk 256 GB
Graphics Co-Processor Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Laptop Review

We think this new ultraportable is fantastic and deserves to be included among the Apple MacBook Air and the Dell XPS 13. With its sleek bezel-less screen, powerful Core i7 processor, and small form factor (despite housing USB Type-A, HDMI, and USB Type-C connectors), this laptop is hard to ignore.

On the left side of the Razer are the USB Type-A 3.1 connector, the Thunderbolt 4 port, and the headphone jack, whereas the right-hand side has the microSD card reader, the HDMI port, and then another Thunderbolt 4 port.

Whenever you pick up the metal-clad Razer for the first time, it feels solid and heavier than you would anticipate given its size, but it still won’t weigh down a briefcase. Everything about the construction seems sturdy and well-made.

The Razer Book 13 takes more inspiration from Apple’s iconic MacBook design than the Blade’s characteristic black-and-green colour theme. This ultraportable computer is small and stylish, being silver in colour. Despite being somewhat bulkier than the competition, it has one of the lowest footprints in its ultra-thin class, making it even more portable than Apple’s award-winning MacBook Air.

Regardless of its small size, the system’s display is quite impressive. Like the Dell, the Razer Book’s 13-inch display is squeezed into a chassis that would have previously required a 12.5- or even 11.6-inch display.

Pros

Cons

3. ASUS ZenBook Duo – Best Asus Laptop for Video Editing

Overview

Even while some of the distinctive design’s drawbacks have been kept in place, the 2021 model of the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 is an improvement over its predecessor thanks to its more compact form, updated components, and enhanced convenience features.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 14 Inches
Colour Blue
Hard Disk 512 GB
Graphics Co-Processor Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Laptop Review

The ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 is a laptop that will help you get things done comfortably and efficiently. The 14-inch main touchscreen in Full HD and the 4-inch secondary touchscreen in 4K work together to provide many options for optimizing and personalizing your workflow.

By simultaneously launching numerous apps with a single tap, Task Group ensures that you stay in the zone while working. In addition, ScreenPad Plus allows you to move applications or in-app toolbars onto the main display for extra screen real estate. Use the most user-friendly interface to jot down thoughts, draw diagrams, or edit images with pinpoint accuracy.

Combining the convenience of Quick Key’s one-tap automation with Handwriting’s intuitive text input, this keyboard is revolutionary. For simple transitions between the main screen and ScreenPad Plus, there are helpful shortcuts like the App Switcher, ViewMax, and Task Swap.

The innovative ScreenPad Plus auxiliary display allows for comfortable ergonomics and smooth workflows, making this device your powerful and stylish next-level companion for mobile productivity and creativity. There are several useful tools preinstalled that can significantly increase your efficiency.

The ZenBook Duo 14 is equipped with the newest 11th Generation Intel Core processors, allowing you to enjoy the advantages of tomorrow’s technology right now. With such a potent setup, the ZenBook Duo 14 can easily handle professional-level work, unlike the ZenBook Duo 13, such as editing many layers of video or photos or creating complex 3D models.

Pros

Cons

4. Acer Aspire 5 – Best for Everyday Video Editing

Overview

The 11th Generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU offers unrivalled speeds and intelligence, allowing users to have exceptional experiences in the realms of creation, work, and gaming. With Turbo Boost Technology, your high-demand applications can obtain up to 4.1 GHz of processing power.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 15.6 Inches
Colour Silver
Hard Disk 128 GB
Graphics Co-Processor Intel UHD Graphics

Laptop Review

It’s all about coming up with new ideas. Products manufactured by Acer are developed with you in mind, catering to your requirements and making powerful features easily accessible. The Aspire 5 fits demands for multitasking, despite its compact size since it packs a lot of power into a little space.

Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 ensures that you will always be connected to your network, whether participating in video chatting, streaming entertainment, or working in your home office. This feature works with your router to boost the network’s overall efficiency. The Acer Aspire 5 laptop has an ergonomic keyboard with a raised layout, making typing more pleasant.

You can transform this Acer Aspire 5 into a virtual meeting room by utilizing the Acer Purified software, which comes equipped with an HD camera, a webcam cover, and twin built-in microphones. Voice Technology will convey your communication in an understandable manner and works perfectly compared to the other Asus models Aspire E 15.

The highly capable 11th Generation Intel Core i3 CPU is an excellent choice for gaming, productivity, and work-related activities. Enjoy editing photos and videos on the vibrant 15.6-inch IPS display with Full HD resolution that Intel UHD Graphics powers.

Pros

Cons

5. Acer Nitro 5 – Best Photo Editing

Overview

With a 10th-generation Intel Core i5-10300H CPU, the Nitro 5 is a gaming powerhouse. NVIDIA’s newest graphics card, the GeForce RTX 3050 (4GB GDDR6 VRAM), has cutting-edge hardware in the form of Ray Tracing Cores, Tensor Cores, and streaming multiprocessors.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 15.6 Inches
Colour Black
Hard Disk 256 GB
Graphics Co-Processor NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050

Laptop Review

All gamers can benefit from the superior performance offered by Acer gaming laptops. The Nitro product range of gaming PCs and peripherals is perfect for casual gamers ready to step up their game and try something new. The stunning 15.6-inch Full High Definition (FHD) display on the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 might help you better picture victory.

This Acer Nitro laptop comes standard with 8 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), 256 gigabytes of storage space on a solid-state drive (SSD), and the possibility to expand both of these features as necessary. You can connect a display to the HDMI 2.0 connector, utilize USB charging even while the device is off, and plug in all of your favourite peripherals using the variety of USB Type-A and USB Type-C connections.

You’ll experience speedier matchmaking with Killer Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6, and you’ll never have to worry about losing your connection while playing a game. Impressive performance is possible with the Acer Nitro 5, thanks to the processing power provided by Intel Core i5. This is true whether competing against your friends or focusing on a new pastime.

The most recent graphics processing unit (GPU) from NVIDIA, the GeForce RTX 30 series, provides features such as 2nd Generation Ray Tracing Cores, 3rd Generation Tensor Cores, DLSS, Resizable BAR, and Microsoft DirectX 12 Ultimate, among many other features. Compared to the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming laptop, this is affordable and lightweight to save you all the trouble!

Pros

Cons

6. HP Envy 17t – Best for Content Creation

Overview

The HP ENVY 17t is a sleek and fast laptop with 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of solid-state storage. Its battery life is compromised by its impressively sharp UHD definition screen and Windows 10 operating system. As a result, although the battery life of this laptop isn’t the worst, it’s also not the finest.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 17.3 Inches
Colour Silver
Hard Disk 1 TB
Graphics Co-Processor Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Laptop Review

The HP ENVY 17t has a remarkably elegant appearance and an overall sense of being very durable. Some words that can be used to describe the outside of the laptop are “large,” “sturdy,” and “smooth.” More specifically, the laptop’s body is made of aluminium and has an anodized finish, which is great at hiding fingerprints.

For elucidation, a White Light Emitting Diode, or WLED, display is comparable to an LED display in general. It is only a marketing gimmick, and the fact that it is called a white LED display does not automatically mean that the visual quality is superior to that of an LED display.

When you open the lid of this laptop, the 17.3-inch display that goes all the way to the edge of the screen is the first thing that greets you. When we talk about displays that have an edge-to-edge design, we are referring to a form of display that does not have any extra bezels than the glass that covers the inner screen. You can breathe a sigh of relief since the privacy shutter protects you from the possibility of someone spying on you via your camera.

The HP ENVY 17t’s aluminium chassis should, in theory, let it last for far longer than its predecessors. The lid, which can open to a maximum of around 120 degrees, is securely in place by two hinges, which is impressive. Meanwhile, the hinges are very rigid, which means that the laptop’s lid cannot be opened with just one hand.

In addition, the “hp” logo in white is located on the bottom border of this laptop’s display, which further contributes to the splendour of the laptop. This one is much better than its predecessor, HP Envy 17, in terms of functionality and performance.

Pros

Cons

7. Dell Alienware M15 – Best Dell Laptop for Video Editing

Overview

The newest m15 R6’s configurable 240Hz QHD (2560 x 1440) high-performance benefits from NVIDIA® G-SYNC innovation, which matches the refresh rate of your display to the power of your graphics card to provide a smoother gaming experience during fast-paced action.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 15.6 Inches
Colour Dark Side of the Moon
Hard Disk 256 GB
Graphics Co-Processor Intel Iris Xe Graph

Laptop Review

The most recent M-Series gaming laptop, the Alienware m15 R6, measures 38.2 centimetres (15 inches) and has a QHD 240Hz display as an available configuration. The gaming will be uninterrupted, as will the outstanding visual performance, thanks to the quick refresh rate. The Alienware m15 R6 was designed to accommodate a wide range of configurations.

Improved visual quality is the fruit of that labour. The resolution is increased to QHD with a 240Hz setting, meaning there are nearly twice as many pixels as there are on an FHD panel. This very high refresh rate ensures that your games appear crisp and fluid.

The most recent iteration of the m15 R6 is equipped as standard with a stunningly quick refresh rate of 165Hz and a full high-definition (1920 x 1080) resolution, resulting in consistently stunning images and memorable gaming experiences.

This laptop will not only fulfil all of your gaming requirements but also go above and beyond those requirements by setting a new standard for display technology compared to the Dell G5 5500.

Pros

Cons

8. Dell Inspiron 13 – Best Compact Laptop

Overview

The Inspiron 13 can handle your computer demands as you return to class. An 11th-generation Intel Core CPU ensures lightning-fast response times and effortless switching between applications. With 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of solid-state drive storage, you can quickly navigate between all of your open programs.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 13.3 Inches
Colour Platinum Silver
Hard Disk 512 GB
Graphics Co-Processor NVIDIA GeForce MX450

Laptop Review

The 11th Generation, Intel Core i7-11370H Processor with a 12 MB cache and a maximum clock speed of 4.8 GHz, is included inside the Dell Inspiron 13 5310. This processor enables exceptional responsiveness and fluid multitasking.

With 16 gigabytes of DDR RAM and 512 gigabytes of solid-state storage, you can stay busy and switch between open programs effortlessly. Compared to the Dell Inspiron 13.3 Inches, this one offers 4.8 GHz and is much faster and more functional.

With a 54Whr battery, you can take advantage of an increased runtime of 11 hours and 16 minutes. Recharge your device with ExpressCharge using the portable 65-watt Type-C USB power converter. This adapter is convenient to carry.

A laptop is supposed to be very portable in addition to being thin and only weighing 2.78 pounds. The display is 13.3 inches. Even though it does not have a touch screen, the 16:10 QHD+ (2560 x 1600) Anti-Glare, Narrow Border Display produces amazing pictures.

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9. ASUS VivoBook 15 Laptop – Best Laptop for General Editing

Overview

The PC’s RAM was increased to 12 GB of DDR4 SDRAM to facilitate rapid switching between running programs; Improved startup and file transfers resulted from a new 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 15.6 Inches
Colour Slate Gray
Hard Disk 256 GB
Graphics Co-Processor Intel UHD Graphics

Laptop Review

The Asus VivoBook 15 is an excellent laptop with a stunning screen. A piece of art, that 4K OLED display. It’s a perfect option for anyone who gets headaches from staring at a computer screen for too long since it produces sharp, clear pictures. Compared to its main competitor, New HP 15.6 HD Touchscreen Laptop, this one boasts a 256 GB Hard Disk and is more powerful.

Photo editing programs like Adobe Lightroom and Bridge don’t tax the Ryzen 9 5900HX’s processing power. It includes a massive 1TB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage and 32GB of RAM. That’s enough space to store huge RAW photos and run many programs simultaneously.

If you spend a lot of time staring at a screen, you can get one with a high-quality display. The VivoBook also has a robust processor. Let’s pop the hood and have a peek around, shall we?

However, there are certain drawbacks that you should be aware of. Several issues include a mediocre webcam and a finicky fingerprint reader. However, the VivoBook Pro, as a whole, is a fantastic computer that any picture editor would be lucky to own.

Pros

Cons

10. 2021 Lenovo Legion 5 – Best Lenovo Laptop for Editing

Overview

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) is a gaming laptop in the lower middle of the price range. It is a better option than the more affordable Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021), although it is positioned behind the Legion 5 Pro and the Legion 7 in the range Lenovo offers.

Key Specifications

Screen Size 17.3 Inches
Colour Black
Hard Disk 2 TB
Graphics Co-Processor NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650

Laptop Review

When it comes to video editing, the Lenovo Legion 5 is an excellent choice. It is attainable with AMD Ryzen central processing units (CPUs) and a variety of NVIDIA and AMD graphics processing units (GPUs), all of which can produce fluid gaming at 1080p resolution.

The RTX 3050 and the 3050Ti are extremely comparable graphics cards that will provide you around or slightly over 60 frames per second (fps) while using medium or high settings, with the 3050Ti providing just a tiny improvement.

It has a lot of similarities with the IdeaPad Gaming 3 in terms of appearance, user experience, and configuration choices. However, it offers an extra QHD display option and GPUs such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M GPU. The Legion 5 has a MUX switch, in contrast to the IdeaPad Gaming 3, and its GPUs operate at a greater wattage, which enables it to have superior overall performance.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is the lowest-end GPU choice, and it is capable of providing a gaming experience at 1080p with 60 frames per second; however, you will need to play most games with low settings.

The Lenovo Legion 5 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H central processing unit (CPU), a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (95W) graphics processing unit (GPU), 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage space. If you require improved speed across many threads, you can update the central processing unit (CPU) to an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H.

Pros

Cons

Read more: Top 10 Best Drones to capture a perfect shot

Buyer’s Guide – Things You Need to Look for When Buying the Best Laptop for Video and Photo Editing

There is a solid reason why the MacBook is the computer of choice for many photographers. However, you shouldn’t rule out similarly priced laptop computers since they can give more bang for your money and have superior upgradability.

The model numbers on laptop processors are difficult, if not impossible, to understand. Pay attention to the ‘base frequency’ (speed, measured in gigahertz) and the number of processor cores (two, four, or six).

Although specialized graphics are beneficial for gaming, their use is not required in this context. Today’s processors can take their place and have pixel-pushing power sufficient for picture processing.

Any brand-new laptop has to include a solid-state drive (SSD). Don’t get trapped with a little capacity; 512GB is the very least you need if you’re working with a 4K video. Although, all of the alternatives in our purchasing guide offer one. Check out our guide for more information on the top internal SSDs.

In the past, the contrast and seeing angles of laptop displays were so poor that they were more of an eyesore than a treat for the eyes. The IPS display technology addresses this issue and is highly recommended, and you should not compromise with anything less.

Get a notebook with a minimum of Core i5 processor, 8 to 16 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), and 256 gigabytes to 512 gigabytes of solid-state storage if you want decent performance while editing video. That will be plenty for the majority of 1080p projects; but if you want to work in 4K or on large projects, you will want to consider upgrading to a computer with at least a Core i7 processor, 16 to 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB solid-state drive.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, several small and light laptops are strong enough to get the task done if your primary interest is a photo or video editing. Ensure that you work with the most suitable video editor for your requirements.

On the other hand, if you intend to operate in 4K and edit media files with a large bit – rate, you will need a powerful laptop equipped with a CPU that is capable of performing well, a rapid hard drive, a large amount of RAM, and a dedicated graphics card. Select your desired one from the 10 Best Laptops for Photo and Video Editing.

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