You don't need a studio for video editing anymore. Anyone with the right computer can cut, color, and export like a pro. The challenge is finding a machine that can keep up. At PCMag, we’ve been testing laptops for more than 40 years, putting each one through rigorous, repeatable benchmarks to measure performance, display quality, battery life, overall usability, and of course, value. We don’t just look at specs. We evaluate how these machines actually handle demanding creative workloads. Our top overall pick for video editing right now is the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (2025), which sets the standard with exceptional performance, long battery life, and a stunning, accurate display. But it’s not the only option. Below, you’ll find our full list of top-tested picks for a range of needs and budgets, plus a detailed buying guide and side-by-side comparisons to help you choose the right laptop for your editing workflow.
Overview
-
Jump To Details
Best Video-Editing Laptop for Most PeopleApple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)
-
Jump To Details
Best Budget Video-Editing LaptopMSI Katana 15 HX
-
Jump To Details
Best Gaming Laptop for Video EditingRazer Blade 18 (2025)
-
Jump To Details
Best Laptop for 4K Video EditingMSI Raider 18 HX AI
-
Jump To Details
Best High-End Apple Laptop for Video EditingApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Max)
-
Jump To Details
Best Ultraportable Laptop for Video EditingAsus ProArt PX13
-
Jump To Details
Best Convertible for Quick EditsLG Gram Pro 2-in-1 16 (2025)
-
Jump To Details
Best Video-Editing Laptop for the Tightest BudgetsAcer Swift 16 AI
-
Jump To Details
Best Workstation Laptop for VideoLenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 8
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
-
Best Video-Editing Laptop for Most PeopleApple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Nailing a best pick for most people from this list of very capable video-editing laptops wasn't easy, but the Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5) rises to the top. The M5 chip is a huge leap forward for content creation, pairing a capable CPU with AI-accelerated graphics and an enhanced Liquid Retina XDR display. The result is a highly competent media machine that can also handle color-critical work and lasts for an impressively long time on a charge. Weighing just 3.4 pounds, this laptop can go anywhere, whether to an editing bay, a shoot on location, or a park bench. And it's much more reasonably priced than its M5 Max-powered 16-inch sibling.
Who It's For
Multitasking creators: The 14-inch MacBook Pro serves as a robust all-in-one studio that fits right in your messenger bag, making it the primary choice for building a brand across various media and creation tools. If you often feel the sting of slow export times when pushing out high-resolution video, the M5’s enhanced graphics silicon will see you breezing through renders while managing other tasks.
Mobile professionals: Some shoppers require a machine that can adapt to changing environments and lighting conditions without losing visual fidelity. If you struggle with screen glare and dim displays that make precise color grading a guessing game, the Liquid Retina XDR screen's 1,000-nit SDR performance provides the clarity needed to work anywhere.
Exacting power users: This is the ideal entry point if you need high-speed memory bandwidth and specialized processing without the extreme cost of a top-tier workstation. You may find that standard laptops choke when layering complex AI masking or spatial audio, but the GPU's integrated neural accelerators solve this bottleneck by offloading demanding tasks to that specialized hardware.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Dimensions (HWD) 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches Graphics Processor Apple M5 (10-core) Native Display Resolution 3024 by 1964 Operating System Apple macOS Tahoe Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Apple M5 (10-core) RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14.2 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 24:06 Variable Refresh Support ProMotion Weight 3.4 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2025, M5) Review -
-
Credit: Joseph Maldonado
Best Budget Video-Editing LaptopMSI Katana 15 HX
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
For an effective video-editing machine for right around a grand, the MSI Katana 15 HX is our favorite budget gaming machine that's ready-made for video work. An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 GPU provides entry-level hardware acceleration and smooth 60fps performance, and an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor generates the speed needed for everyday productivity and video timeline rendering. DLSS 4 resolution scaling and multi-frame generation provide a big boost over previous-generation RTX 40-series laptops in games, and you'll also enjoy the comfortable RGB keyboard, broad port selection, and adequate battery life. The biggest drawback? The 512GB SSD will fill up fast, so bring along an external drive.
Who It's For
Budget-conscious filmmakers: If you're a filmmaker or editor on a shoestring, you'll definitely appreciate how the Katana 15 HX delivers mainstream video editing performance at a budget price. The RTX 5050 may not be Nvidia's best GPU, but it can still deliver smooth playback, rendering, and timeline editing, reducing export delays and rendering stutter.
Gamers moonlighting as content creators: If you're a gamer who also wants to do some editing, you'll love how this Editors' Choice pick delivers smooth 60fps gaming with or without DLSS 4. The capable performance keeps you going, whether it's with the latest Steam game or the next video project, and the price makes it easier to overlook the constrained SSD storage and dim display.
Creative students: Students working on class projects or personal films will also appreciate the variety of ports and a capable Core i7-14650HX processor, letting you finish plenty of work on the go, but also making it simple to connect a bigger, brighter display for important editing work.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i7-14650HX RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 144 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 8:11 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 5.29 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More MSI Katana 15 HX Review -
-
Best Gaming Laptop for Video EditingRazer Blade 18 (2025)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Gamers might love the Razer Blade 18 for its unique dual-mode display, which includes a lower-resolution screen with wild refresh rates for competitive gaming. However, for our movie makers out there, the bigger deal is the 4K display mode, which provides the pixel density and color coverage required for professional-grade video work. It packs a top-tier Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, all crammed into the sleekest 18-inch chassis on the market, providing desktop-class performance without the bulk. User-accessible slots for up to 96GB of RAM and dual NVMe storage options ensure the system can handle increasingly complex 4K project files. It all adds up to make the Blade 18 a fantastic gaming laptop for video work, assuming you're ready to invest in a premium machine.
Who It's For
Pros who care about aesthetics: The Blade 18 is the ideal companion if you demand a massive screen without the bulk of a traditional media workstation. Instead of a flashy rig that feels out of place in professional settings, the refined all-metal profile maintains a sophisticated look while housing a high-performance interior. It's a giant canvas for timelines that you can tote when needed.
Hybrid gamer-editors: You might have lots of use for a machine that pivots from 4K color grading work to competitive high-refresh gaming. Instead of switching between multiple monitors for different resolutions, the dual-mode display allows you to toggle between crisp 4K at 240Hz for editing and 1200p at 440Hz for fast-twitch play.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.1 by 15.7 by 10.8 inches Graphics Memory 24 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RAM (as Tested) 64 Screen Refresh Rate 240 Screen Size 18 Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Secondary Drive Type SSD Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 5:43 Variable Refresh Support G-Sync Weight 7.06 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 -
-
Best Laptop for 4K Video EditingMSI Raider 18 HX AI
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
For a time, the MSI Raider 18 HX AI was our favorite gaming laptop for video editing. After some consideration, we're comfortable calling it the best machine for working with 4K content. Under the keys, an Intel Core Ultra 9 HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU deliver top-tier performance for video work (and gaming, too), handling demanding video rendering and editing tasks without stuttering. However, the laptop's real seller is its giant 18-inch 4K mini-LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. That 18-inch screen has exceptional HDR brightness and near-total color gamut coverage, which is crucial for accurate video editing. Features like AI tools, Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, and PCI Express 5.0 storage just sweeten it even more. That's why it's our favorite 4K laptop for editing.
Who It's For
High-resolution filmmakers: The Raider 18 HX AI provides the desktop-class muscle required for those managing massive amounts of raw 4K footage. No more slow export times that eat into valuable production schedules. The CPU and GPU together are a high-speed engine to slash through rendering tasks in record time.
Motion graphics specialists: As a CGI or graphics editor, you need a display that can accurately reveal the fine details and vibrant colors of complex visual effects and high-resolution compositions. This laptop's dazzling mini-LED screen produces the near-perfect color gamut coverage required for professional-grade results.
Technical power users: This laptop is the ultimate solution if you feel frustrated by connectivity bottlenecks when transferring massive project files. Thunderbolt 5 and Wi-Fi 7 provide the fastest possible throughput for modern peripherals and cloud backups, empowering you to use whatever external drives and monitors you like.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.26 by 15.9 by 12.1 inches Graphics Memory 16 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX RAM (as Tested) 64 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 18 Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Secondary Drive Type SSD Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 5:37 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 7.94 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More MSI Raider 18 HX AI Review -
-
Best High-End Apple Laptop for Video EditingApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Max)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Apple's MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Max) is the undisputed champ for video work. Thanks to the dominant M5 Max, which uses a new Fusion interconnect and "super cores" to provide a radical leap in capability, it's a thin and light workstation desktop replacement with muscle. With 40 cores of GPU oomph, it will make short work of any project. The laptop delivers more than 27 hours of battery life, empowering extensive heavy creative sessions away from a wall outlet. Optional nano-texture glass enhances the Liquid Retina XDR screen's visibility while maintaining broad color coverage, and Thunderbolt 5 and Wi-Fi 7 give you the highest possible data transfer speeds for massive video files.
Who It's For
High-end production leads: The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the definitive workstation designed for an ambitious vision, especially when cutting feature-length films. Instead of struggling with the agonizing lag of rendering complex visual effects like standard machines, you can enjoy watching the 40-core GPU chew through heavy layers and complex color grading effortlessly.
Remote video pros: This portable powerhouse can survive long shoot days in locations where power outlets are rare. The massive 27-plus-hour battery sustains productivity for long stretches, and the 4.7-pound frame ensures you never have to compromise power for portability.
High-bandwidth specialists: Thanks to Thunderbolt 5 and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, you can eliminate the bottleneck of slow file transfers with the market's highest throughput. If you need to offload terabytes of raw footage and manage massive data sets, both locally and in the cloud, the 16-inch MacBook Pro should be your first stop.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 4 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches Graphics Processor Apple M5 Max (40-core) Native Display Resolution 3456 by 2234 Operating System Apple macOS Tahoe Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Apple M5 Max (18-core) RAM (as Tested) 128 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16.2 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 27:18 Variable Refresh Support ProMotion Weight 4.7 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 6 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 -
-
Best Ultraportable Laptop for Video EditingAsus ProArt PX13
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Asus ProArt PX13 provides blazing-fast performance with a generous amount of memory, making it ideal for demanding creative applications like video editing. Its OLED display and unique DialPad touchpad controls make for faster and easier creative work. The laptop also features a discrete GeForce graphics chip for better-than-average GPU-acceleration moxie. As an ultraportable, this convertible laptop weighs just a hair more than 3 pounds, despite packing enough power for demanding creative apps.
Who It's For
Nomadic filmmakers: The ProArt PX13 is the ultimate companion if you're a digital storyteller who needs to cut high-resolution footage in remote locations without sacrificing power. Forget struggling with the bulk of traditional workstations when hiking to a remote shoot; this sleek, ultraportable chassis can easily slip into a camera bag.
Client-facing producers: With a sturdy 2-in-1 convertible hinge, this laptop can transition from a production desk to a boardroom table in a pitch meeting. Skip the awkwardness of sharing a screen and just flip the OLED display into stand mode to showcase vibrant, color-rich proofs, ensuring your audience sees every detail exactly as intended.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Convertible 2-in-1 Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.7 by 11.7 by 8.3 inches Graphics Memory 6 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 60 Screen Size 13.3 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 14:30 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.04 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Asus ProArt PX13 Review -
-
Credit: Joseph Maldonado
Best Convertible for Quick EditsLG Gram Pro 2-in-1 16 (2025)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 16 features a super-slim featherweight magnesium alloy chassis, making for a large 16-inch convertible that's surprisingly easy to carry around. With a remarkable battery life of nearly 18 hours, you can work for extended periods away from a power outlet, which is perfect for mobile video editing. The OLED display is vibrant and vivid, naturally including touch-screen and stylus support. However, the heart of this lightweight laptop is an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H and integrated Intel Arc 140T graphics, delivering the power to perform quick edits and revisions while traveling or working away from a desk.
Who It's For
On-set videographers: You will find that the 16-inch Gram Pro 2-in-1 is the perfect match for the videographer who needs speedy performance in the field, but doesn't want to lug a heavy workstation laptop. This system is thin, it's lightweight enough to carry, and it has an expansive and vivid 16-inch OLED display.
Traveling creators: If you're a video pro who spends much of your day in transit, you need a massive screen that doesn't feel like a lead weight in your carry-on. The Gram Pro 2-in-1 solves the common pain point of shoulder strain by packing a full-size 16-inch experience into an incredibly light magnesium chassis, so you have the screen real estate to manage complex video timelines for edits on the go.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Convertible 2-in-1 Dimensions (HWD) 0.5 by 14.1 by 9.9 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc 140T Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 255H RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16 Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Secondary Drive Type SSD Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 17:56 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.08 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 16 (2025) Review -
-
Best Video-Editing Laptop for the Tightest BudgetsAcer Swift 16 AI
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Acer's Swift 16 AI provides a fine mix of components at a reasonable price, combining a beautiful OLED touch screen with an Intel Arc Graphics 140V integrated GPU, making it an ideal choice for video editors or content creators who need a larger screen and potent performance. Despite the 16-inch size, it's still quite portable, with excellent battery life and a low carry weight. Plus, the port selection provides both full-size HDMI output and USB4 ports for speedy connectivity with all your video equipment.
Who It's For
Budget-strapped creators: The Swift 16 AI's stunning OLED touch screen ensures every frame looks exactly as intended. If you need a professional-grade display without the professional-grade debt, this laptop provides a premium visual experience that helps you produce high-quality content while keeping your production costs manageable.
Hybrid freelancers: If you're a versatile professional who needs to jump between client meetings and active editing sessions without feeling weighed down by heavy gear, then this laptop is for you. The Swift 16 AI addresses the physical strain of carrying traditional 16-inch workstations with a surprisingly lightweight metal design that fits comfortably into any commute.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Dimensions (HWD) 0.63 by 14.0 by 9.8 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics 140V Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Processor Speed 2.2 RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 20:12 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.37 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Acer Swift 16 AI Review -
-
Credit: Joseph Maldonado
Best Workstation Laptop for VideoLenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 8
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 8 is the definitive selection for color grading and professional video engineering. This workstation is professional grade from top to bottom, with an anti-glare 3.2K (3,200-by-2,000-pixel) Tandem OLED display, delivering an industry-leading 1,500 nits of peak HDR luminance and 100% DCI-P3 coverage. It pairs this with Nvidia RTX Pro Blackwell workstation graphics, dual Thunderbolt 5 interfaces capable of up to 120Gbps transfer rates, a built-in SD Express 7.0 card reader, and user-upgradable LPCAMM2 memory that's scalable to 64GB. It's not just an ace for color grading; this is a superb system for any video work, provided you're ready to invest in a laptop that's priced like a professional tool.
Who It's For
Professional video editors: Lenovo built the ThinkPad P1 Gen 8 for your video-editing work that requires a portable yet ISV-certified post-production workstation. Thanks to an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor and Nvidia RTX Pro 2000 GPU, this workstation delivers fluid multi-stream editing and stable timeline exports, eliminating project render crashes and display driver glitches so that you can get projects done when it matters most.
Enthusiast colorists: With a 16-inch 3.2K Tandem OLED panel with 100% DCI-P3 gamut coverage and 1,500 nits of peak HDR luminance, this machine is ideal if you're a perfectionist. You can evaluate true-to-life shadow detail and highlights directly on the laptop screen, thanks to absolute OLED black levels and high dynamic range precision. It also eliminates the risk of inaccurate color grades caused by standard IPS displays with poor contrast ratios.
Field producers: If you've ever tried to conduct real editing and color grading away from your usual office or editing bay, you know the hassle of bringing bulky power adapters, slow USB hubs, and external card dongles into the field. Thankfully, this system combines dual Thunderbolt 5 ports, an SD Express 7.0 card reader, and LPCAMM2 memory into a 4.06-pound chassis, giving you the power to offload raw footage quickly and edit untethered through full workdays, complete with 16-hour battery life.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 0.62 by 14 by 9.5 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia RTX Pro 2000 Native Display Resolution 3200 by 2000 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 255H RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 16:01 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support Yes Weight 4.06 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 8 Review -
Compare Specs
Our Pick | ||||||||||||
Rating |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
Best For | Best Video-Editing Laptop for Most People | Best Budget Video-Editing Laptop | Best Gaming Laptop for Video Editing | Best Laptop for 4K Video Editing | Best High-End Apple Laptop for Video Editing | Best Ultraportable Laptop for Video Editing | Best Convertible for Quick Edits | Best Video-Editing Laptop for the Tightest Budgets | Best Workstation Laptop for Video | Best Video-Editing Laptop for Most People | Best Budget Video-Editing Laptop | Best Gaming Laptop for Video Editing |
Class | Desktop Replacement | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming, Desktop Replacement | Workstation, Desktop Replacement | Convertible 2-in-1, Ultraportable | Convertible 2-in-1 | Desktop Replacement | Workstation | Desktop Replacement | Gaming | Gaming |
Processor | Apple M5 (10-core) | Intel Core i7-14650HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | Apple M5 (10-core) | Intel Core i7-14650HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
Processor Speed | 2.2 | |||||||||||
RAM (as Tested) | 32 | 16 | 64 | 64 | 128 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 64 |
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 | 512 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 512 | 2 |
Secondary Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | ||||||||
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
Optical Drive | ||||||||||||
Screen Size | 14.2 | 15.6 | 18 | 18 | 16.2 | 13.3 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14.2 | 15.6 | 18 |
Native Display Resolution | 3024 by 1964 | 1920 by 1080 | 3840 by 2400 | 3840 by 2400 | 3456 by 2234 | 2880 by 1800 | 2880 by 1800 | 2880 by 1800 | 3200 by 2000 | 3024 by 1964 | 1920 by 1080 | 3840 by 2400 |
Touch Screen | ||||||||||||
Panel Technology | Mini LED | IPS | IPS | IPS | Mini LED | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | Mini LED | IPS | IPS |
Variable Refresh Support | ProMotion | None | G-Sync | None | ProMotion | None | None | None | ProMotion | None | G-Sync | |
Screen Refresh Rate | 120 | 144 | 240 | 120 | 120 | 60 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 240 |
Graphics Processor | Apple M5 (10-core) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU | Apple M5 Max (40-core) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU | Intel Arc 140T | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Nvidia RTX Pro 2000 | Apple M5 (10-core) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU |
Graphics Memory | 8 | 24 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 24 | |||||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7 | Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches | 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches | 1.1 by 15.7 by 10.8 inches | 1.26 by 15.9 by 12.1 inches | 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches | 0.7 by 11.7 by 8.3 inches | 0.5 by 14.1 by 9.9 inches | 0.63 by 14.0 by 9.8 inches | 0.62 by 14 by 9.5 inches | 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches | 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches | 1.1 by 15.7 by 10.8 inches |
Weight | 3.4 | 5.29 | 7.06 | 7.94 | 4.7 | 3.04 | 3.08 | 3.37 | 4.06 | 3.4 | 5.29 | 7.06 |
Operating System | Apple macOS Tahoe | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Apple macOS Tahoe | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Apple macOS Tahoe | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 24:06 | 8:11 | 5:43 | 5:37 | 27:18 | 14:30 | 17:56 | 20:12 | 16:01 | 24:06 | 8:11 | 5:43 |
Buying Guide: The Best Laptops for Video Editing in 2026
When choosing a video-editing laptop, a few key features matter more than the rest. The display is critical, especially for advanced work like color correction and grading, where accuracy makes all the difference. A comfortable, responsive keyboard is just as important, since shortcuts are essential for speeding up common tasks like playback control and keyframe adjustments.
(Credit: Brian Westover)Likewise, some standard laptop features don't matter as much when buying a mobile video-editing station. High among them is long battery life, since video editing consumes so much power that your laptop will likely spend most of its time plugged in. If editing on the road is a must, you might want a spare power adapter, and to make sure your flight has in-seat power outlets before you buy a ticket. You probably won't get much use out of a touch screen or a convertible laptop that doubles as a tablet unless you're looking for a machine that you'll also use for web browsing and watching videos after the end of a long day of shooting and editing.
What CPU and Memory Should I Choose in a Laptop for Video Editing?
The CPU and memory are the two most essential laptop components for video editors. Modern video-editing apps generally benefit from potent multi-core, multi-threaded CPU performance, but the best processor choice depends on the app, codec, and workload. Some CPUs support traditional simultaneous multithreading (SMT) or Intel's Hyper-Threading (pre-Core Ultra series) on some or all of their cores, which doubles the effective number of threads that can be addressed at one time. Many newer models, though, use hybrid designs that combine different types of high-performance and efficiency-minded cores (like in the current Intel Core Ultra series), so a chip's "supported threads" count is no longer the best standalone guide. For serious video work, compare the current benchmark results and app-specific testing from our reviews rather than relying on a fixed minimum core-and-thread rule. (For a broader overview, check out our deep-dive guide on choosing a laptop CPU.)
For a bird's-eye view of how a higher processor core count increases performance, you'll want to check out how well the laptop you're considering fares on our Cinebench benchmark, which is listed in the performance section of each review. This test uses software from video-effects titan Maxon to spit out a proprietary score based on how quickly the PC can render a 3D image. Although multiple factors can influence the score, in general, the more cores the CPU has (and the faster they are), and the more addressable threads it supports, the faster the image renders. The principle is the same for video-editing software such as Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro, which are engineered to distribute compute tasks over multiple cores, just like Cinebench.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)In general, CPUs with the power-laptop-oriented H series from AMD or Intel (look for an "H" or "HX" in the CPU's model name) will be the best match for video editing. They contain more addressable cores and threads, higher voltages, and sometimes faster clock speeds than alternatives designed for thin-and-light laptops (the U series, which end in a "U" or on some older chips a "G," with the G followed by a number). AMD and Intel use the same conventions (except for the "G" in AMD's case) for their mobile CPUs.
As for main system memory, a decent rule of thumb is to aim for at least 16GB of RAM, which is a workable minimum for light editing and general laptop use. But 32GB is the sweet spot for serious video editing, especially with 4K footage or for heavy multitasking. If you're a pro working on more demanding projects, you'll benefit from going up to 64GB. Many consumer ultraportables still use soldered RAM, so memory capacity must be chosen at purchase time, and later upgrades may not be possible.
Additionally, memory prices have risen sharply, so you should choose your RAM capacity carefully. Read our guide on how much RAM you actually need for a more detailed discussion.
Should I Get a Hard Drive or an SSD (or Both)?
You'll want a fast boot drive to complete the trifecta of principal specs. This means configuring a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD), which can access data much faster than older spinning drives. Indeed, no modern video-editing laptop will have anything but an SSD for a boot drive. For everyday computing, the speed difference between an SSD and a spinning-platter hard drive is vast, since an SSD's primary strength is reducing boot times and speeding up app load times. These factors are essential for video editing (loading editing applications can take some time if you tend to edit under pressure), and an SSD will also offer noticeable speed gains on specialized tasks such as playing back multiple clips at once or working with 4K footage.
If you can't afford a single, roomy, multi-terabyte SSD for your editing rig, ideally, you want a spacious hard drive (for mass storage) in addition to a speedy SSD. However, since the cost of built-in SSDs skyrockets at capacities above 2TB, it could be more cost-effective to ensure your laptop has a Thunderbolt connection to connect to a fast external drive where you'll store most of your footage. A few larger workstations and gaming machines can house two drives (an SSD boot drive plus a roomy platter-based hard drive). If you're in the market for a big machine, this is an ideal setup for a video editor, with both speed and mass storage at your disposal, without external drive hassles. But practically speaking, internal hard drives on new laptops are almost a nonentity in new models; you're much more likely to see two SSDs than an SSD plus a hard drive.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)When assessing SSDs, know that almost all machines geared toward video editing have moved toward SSDs using the PCI Express bus (often associated with the term "NVMe," for a protocol that affords faster data transfers than ever). These are faster than drives that use the older SATA interface, which is far less common in midrange and high-end laptops than it used to be. (For more, see our favorite internal SSDs.)
Graphics Acceleration: For Video Editing, Do You Need a Dedicated GPU or Not?
Most non-gaming laptops come with graphics acceleration integrated into the CPU, not a separate graphics processing unit (GPU). If you play richly detailed, AAA-grade video games, this arrangement produces weak performance, but it's OK for many video-editing scenarios. Nearly all video-editing suites can make full use of more powerful processors, but the ability to leverage powerful graphics-processing hardware isn't as common.
You'll come across a few exceptions. For example, a discrete GPU can speed up video encoding in Final Cut Pro X. Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve editing suite has a video playback engine optimized for powerful GPUs. Still, it's best to save GPU-accelerated editing tasks for when you return to the studio and a more powerful desktop, if possible.
That said, if the laptop you're considering provides an entry-level discrete GPU for a reasonable premium (say, $200 or so), you have little reason not to spring for it and enjoy the added speed boost when you're rendering or exporting video, depending on the software you use. You can compare a laptop's graphics performance by glancing at its relative scores on our 3DMark benchmark tests. Of course, if you're a gamer on the side, you can leverage a GeForce or Radeon dedicated chip for both playtime and editing time.
Connectivity: What Ports Do I Need in a Video-Editing Laptop?
If you're already carrying dozens of pounds of camera and lighting equipment, the last thing you want is to add weight to your bag. Luckily, these days, many powerful laptops weigh less than 4 pounds, though the thinnest and lightest won't have discrete GPUs or displays larger than 14 inches. Still, you may be able to do without these features, especially if you've got a studio with a more powerful editing station where you do most of your cutting.
Recommended by Our Editors
If you're slimming down, try not to lose too many connections. We recommend at least one Thunderbolt port, which lets you connect to external displays via the DisplayPort standard, lightning-fast external drives, and any USB peripheral, such as external mice or keyboards, with the correct cabling or via an adapter. (Thunderbolt ports are physically and electrically compatible with USB Type-C ports.) Some laptops, including all MacBook Air and Pro models, include only Thunderbolt ports. The sweet spot is one or two Thunderbolt ports and one or two regular USB Type-A (rectangular) ports.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)A full-size SD card slot is handy for transferring footage directly from your camera to your computer, and all laptops should have an audio port for connecting headphones to use while editing on the plane or in a cafe.
Assessing the Display: What's the Best Screen Size and Resolution?
With most mainstream and better laptops offering at least full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) resolution, your primary screen consideration should be screen size, not pixel count. A screen between 16 and 18 inches will let you see more of your project timeline, but it comes at the expense of weight and heft. Meanwhile, a 12-inch display could have you squinting.
If you need to travel with your editing machine, the sweet spot is 13 or 14 inches. Many laptops squeeze a larger screen into a chassis that otherwise would hold a smaller display by slimming down the bezel, or border, around the screen. But an important note: Most laptops of this screen size will bounce you down to a U-series processor. You'll tend to find the most powerful CPUs in models at the 15-inch and larger sizes. That's because the bigger the laptop, the more thermal leeway it has to include more powerful components.
While full HD resolution is satisfactory for many editing tasks, you want a screen resolution to match if you shoot primarily in 4K. Combine a 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) screen, a six- or eight-core processor, and a discrete GPU, though, and you'll likely end up with relatively short battery life. So, if you settle on a 4K screen, make sure you'll be near a power outlet most of the time, and consider buying an external battery charger to use in a pinch.
At the other end of the spectrum, don't choose a resolution below full HD in a video-editing machine. New laptops with screens below full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) are uncommon, except in the lowest-cost machines. None of those will excel at video editing.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)If your video-editing tasks mainly involve arranging clips, mixing audio, and the like, you probably don't need to worry about the display's color capabilities. For more artistic or precision-minded jobs, though, such as shading and color correction, you'll want to pay attention to how many colors the screen can display and how it calibrates the color profile. Look for specs like DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB color-gamut support and automatic calibration features often rolled into a single marketing moniker, such as HP's DreamColor. OLED screens and those with HDR support also provide excellent color contrast and could be helpful. (See our favorite OLED-screen laptops.)
As mentioned earlier, you probably don't need to worry about whether the laptop has a touch screen. Video editing involves precision and repetition, which are best suited to keyboard shortcuts and mouse input, not touch input.
Editing Platform Basics: Mac or PC?
Video editors are among the creative professionals who are stereotypically more likely to use Macs rather than PCs. Whether or not that's you, if you're a veteran of the industry, you probably already have a preference, so we won't try to change your mind.
(Credit: Brian Westover)If you're OS-agnostic, however, you have many hardware choices if you choose a PC over a Mac laptop. The most significant advantage of going with Windows or Linux is the ability to buy a workstation-class laptop with a many-core Intel Xeon processor, something not available on Mac laptops. That said, if you are a proponent of a video editor that works natively on Apple Silicon, such as the latest Mac versions of Adobe Premiere Pro, that alone may be the deciding factor for you to get an M5-powered MacBook.
Another OS consideration is your specific software preference. For example, Final Cut Pro works only on Macs, although most other editing suites, from Premiere Pro to Avid Media Composer, are available on multiple platforms.
Ready to Buy the Right Laptop for Video Editing?
In this guide, we've selected a host of our top-rated video-editing models. We've earmarked some for content creators; some are mobile workstations, and a few are thin-and-light models. Any of them should be powerful enough for at least casual editing, and some are muscled-up enough for major editing tasks.
Ultimately, how much you'll have to budget depends on whether you're using your video-editing laptop only for quick work in the field or plan to bring it back to the studio, plug it in, and use it as your primary machine. If you're going with the former route, you'll also want to consider our best desktops when upgrading your main rig. If you're choosing the latter, you might want to familiarize yourself with our list of the best gaming laptops, one of which may offer the power (especially the heftier CPU) you need for marathon editing sessions on deadline night. Color-rich screens tend not to be their forte, but you'll likely find many of the features you need in a capable video-editing laptop.