Is your current laptop slowing down your editing time? Considering buying a new laptop to accommodate your editing software and video footage? It’s essential to select a laptop, catered to you, that can handle any post-production projects, whether you’re new to editing, are experienced, or need something on a budget. We’ve got the 5 best laptops ready, so you’re prepared for your next purchase!
Whether you are editing a feature-length film or a 30 second commercial, picking the right laptop for the job is crucial. Video editing, especially on more professional software, can be very taxing on a laptop. While this is a big decision, and can be stressful, we’re here to help you narrow it down to 5 great choices, so you can get into post-production as soon as possible.
1 - Dell Inspiron 14 5000
~$730 USD
CPU: 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-8265U Processor
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
14 Inch Full HD Display (1920 x 1080)
While on the lower end of editing laptops, the Dell Inspiron 14 5000 should not be underestimated. It’s low price is great for new video editors, and clocking in at under 4 pounds, it is easy to take on the road.
2 - HP Envy 13
~$830 USD
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5-i7
RAM: 8GB - 16GB
Storage: 256GB- 512GB
15.4 Inch Full HD Display (1920 x 1080)
At just under a thousand dollars, and weighing less than 3 pounds, the HP Envy 13 is great first laptop with a Full HD display. While it’s not going to be editing 4K video, it’s still great for beginners, and has up to a half terabyte of storage, letting you worry about editing without the fear of running out of room.
3 - MSI GS65 Stealth
~$1220 USD
CPU: Intel Core i7 Processor
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB
17.3 Inch Full HD Display (1920 x 1080)
Originally intended as a gaming laptop, the MSI GS65 Stealth boasts a maximum 8 hour battery life with a Full HD Display. The Stealth is on the heavier side for laptops, clocking in at just under 5 pounds. While it was made as a gaming laptop, it’s Intel Core i7 Processor can easily get the job done editing 1080P footage.
4 - 15-Inch 2019 Macbook Pro
~$2230 USD
CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 9750H (six cores) or 2.3 GHz Intel Core i9 9980HK (eight cores)
RAM: 16GB-32GB
Storage: 256GB- 4TB
15.3 Inch Retina Display (2880 x 1800)
While certainly on the pricier side, Apple’s 15-Inch Macbook Pro is on the higher end of video-editing laptops. While it’s retina display is not quite 4K, it is able to edit 4K video. Clocking in at just over 4 pounds, it is great for editing on the go. Unfortunately, the Macbook Pro only has 2 USB-C ports, meaning other devices may need to be purchased for things such as SD cards.
5 - Acer ConceptD 7
~$2300 USD
CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-9750H processor Hexa-core 2.60 GHz
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB
15.6 Ultra HD Display (3840 x 2160)
With a 4K display, the Acer ConceptD 7 is perfect for experienced editors often working with 4K video, especially those doing extensive color-grading. At just over 4 and a half pounds, it is on the heavier side, and like the Macbook Pro, has no SD port. But when it comes to 4K editing, the Acer ConceptD 7 is hard to beat.