Long ago, video editing tools escaped the edit bays of Hollywood, available now to anyone with the "right" laptop. The key question is, though: What kind of machine do you need to power through this most demanding of tasks? Here at PCMag, we've been reviewing PCs of every kind for more than 40 years, and our team evaluates laptops using rigorous, repeatable tests to assess CPU and graphics performance, screen quality, and battery life. (We also factor in design, usability, and, of course, value.) The 2024 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro is our current pick for the best overall laptop for video editing, a standard-setter with top-notch performance, long battery life, and a color-rich screen. We've got additional well-vetted picks for more specific video editing needs, a detailed spec comparison chart, and detailed shopping advice for buying the best video editing laptop for you.
Overview
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2025, M5)
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Best for Remote Workers, Note-Takers, and Document Marker-UppersHP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
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Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51-59MT)
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Best for Almost Unimaginable WorkloadsHP ZBook Fury 16 G11
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Alienware m18 R2
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Best For Creative Professionals in Media FieldsApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)
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Best For Content Creators on the High-EndAsus ProArt P16 (H7606)
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Best for a Bargain-Grade Barn BurnerAcer Swift X 14 (SFX14-72G)
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Best for Desktop-Replacement Bragging RightsDell XPS 16 (9640)
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2025, M5)
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.
What is the price of the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2025, M5) in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2025, M5)
Buy on Amazon ↗Learn More Apple Final Cut Pro Review -
Best for Remote Workers, Note-Takers, and Document Marker-UppersHP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
Pros & Cons
The latest iteration of HP's 14-inch, OLED-screened Spectre x360 holds onto its reign as a top-tier laptop/tablet hybrid, especially for frequent video callers.
What is the price of the HP Spectre x360 14 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
HP Spectre 2024 x360
Specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Intel Arc Graphics, 14" 2.8K OLED touchscreen.5970View on Amazon ↗Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Convertible 2-in-1 Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.67 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches Graphics Processor Intel Arc Graphics Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 155H RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 18:03 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support Dynamic Weight 3.19 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) Review -
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Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51-59MT)
Pros & Cons
The Acer Nitro V 15 isn't just a killer bargain gaming machine but also the best budget video editing laptop we recommend. Starting at just $699, it's way more affordable than most of the systems on this list but delivers decent 1080p gaming performance with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and Intel 13th Gen Core i5 processor. In gaming, that translates into better-than-60fps performance. However, for aspiring video pros, that GPU will mean quicker edits. On top of that, the Nitro V 15 has a wide selection of ports and long battery life, all while avoiding some of the worst design flaws found in other budget laptops.
What is the price of the Acer Nitro V 15 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51-59MT)
Buy on Amazon ↗Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.06 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches Graphics Memory 6 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i5-13420H RAM (as Tested) 8 Screen Refresh Rate 144 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 9:51 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.66 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Wireless Networking Bluetooth Learn More Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51-59MT) Review -
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Best for Almost Unimaginable WorkloadsHP ZBook Fury 16 G11
Pros & Cons
The HP ZBook Fury 16 G11 stands out as a laptop designed for professionals who require workstation-level performance without extreme power consumption. This mobile workstation features an exceptional HP DreamColor display, delivering 4K resolution and stunning color accuracy, making it perfect for video editing and other visual work. The RGB keyboard with per-key lighting allows easy customization, providing quick access to frequently used shortcuts while adding a personal touch. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra H-class processor and options for both Nvidia's GeForce RTX consumer and RTX Ada Generation professional GPUs, the EliteBook ensures smooth performance even when handling demanding visuals and complex video projects.
What is the price of the HP Zbook Fury 16 G11 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
HP ZBook Fury 16 G11
Buy on Amazon ↗Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 1.13 by 14.3 by 9.8 inches Graphics Memory 12 Graphics Processor Nvidia RTX 3500 Ada Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i9-14900HX RAM (as Tested) 64 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 8:22 Variable Refresh Support Dynamic Weight 5.3 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More HP ZBook Fury 16 G11 Review -
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Alienware m18 R2
Pros & Cons
For a killer video editing machine, it's hard to beat the big screen and high-end hardware on the Alienware m18 R2. Intel’s 14th Gen HX chips and Nvidia's top-tier GeForce RTX 4090 graphics deliver blistering performance that translates into quick editing and project rendering. An 18-inch QHD+ 165Hz display is superb for editing at better-than-FHD resolution. The slim design and premium build quality are excellent extras, and the battery life will even support video work away from a power outlet.
What is the price of the Alienware m18 R2 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Alienware m18 R2
Buy on Amazon ↗Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.05 by 16.2 by 12.6 inches Graphics Memory 16 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1600 Operating System Windows 11 Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i9-14900HX RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 165 Screen Size 18 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 6:45 Variable Refresh Support G-Sync Weight 8.9 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Alienware m18 R2 Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
Best For Creative Professionals in Media FieldsApple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)
Pros & Cons
For the best of Apple's superb MacBook line, the MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro) is the undeniable choice for content creation and video editing, thanks to the dominant performance of the M4 Pro chip, making it competitive with top-tier laptops from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia. In addition to stellar performance, it has more than 24 hours of battery life, optional nano-textured glass on the display for a better viewing experience, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity for a whole edit bay worth of gear. If you want the best premium video editing laptop, this is the one that's actually used by the most professionals.
What is the price of the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M4 Pro in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro)
Buy on Amazon ↗Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches Graphics Processor Apple M4 Pro (20-core) Native Display Resolution 3456 by 2234 Operating System Apple macOS Sequoia Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Apple M4 Pro (14-core) RAM (as Tested) 48 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16.2 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 25:52 Variable Refresh Support ProMotion Weight 4.7 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E -
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Best For Content Creators on the High-EndAsus ProArt P16 (H7606)
Pros & Cons
The Asus ProArt P16 (H7606) is the best laptop for color grading, making it an exceptional choice for video editing and content creation. Powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, it delivers impressive performance for demanding media tasks. The laptop features a captivating 4K OLED display that provides stunning visuals, along with AI-assisted features and the innovative Asus DialPad for precise edits and quick access to shortcuts. If your work involves photo and video editing, graphic design, or even film scoring, this is your ideal laptop.
What is the price of the Asus ProArt P16 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Asus ProArt P16 (H7606)
Buy on Amazon ↗Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Workstation Dimensions (HWD) 0.68 by 13.9 by 9.7 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 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 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 12:59 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.08 Wireless Networking 802.11be Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Learn More Asus ProArt P16 (H7606) Review -
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Best for a Bargain-Grade Barn BurnerAcer Swift X 14 (SFX14-72G)
Pros & Cons
It's rare to find a thin-and-light laptop for on-the-go video work, but the Acer Swift X 14 delivers an ultraportable design with excellent video editing capabilities. The lightweight design will go anywhere, but the Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series graphics inside will outperform most competitors in editing video. The OLED display levels up the color work, and the port selection provides excellent connectivity for any equipment you need. As ultraportable designs go, it's the best one you'll find for video work.
What is the price of the Acer Swift X 14 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Acer Swift X 14 (SFX14-72G)
Buy on Amazon ↗Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.7 by 12.7 by 9 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2880 x 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 155H RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14.5 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 10:57 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 3.43 Wireless Networking 802.11ax Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Learn More Acer Swift X 14 (SFX14-72G) Review -
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Best for Desktop-Replacement Bragging RightsDell XPS 16 (9640)
Pros & Cons
If display quality is your top concern, you just can't beat the Dell XPS 16 (9640). It packs a stunning 4K OLED touch screen into a mid-size laptop chassis and pairs it with superb performance. An Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and GeForce RTX 4070 GPU deliver enough juice to support demanding video editing tasks. However, hang onto the USB-A and HDMI adapter that comes in the box, because this laptop is USB-C-only.
What is the price of the Dell XPS 16 (9640) in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Dell XPS 16 (9640)
Buy on Amazon ↗Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Dimensions (HWD) 0.74 by 14.1 by 9.4 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU Laptop Class Desktop Replacement Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 Operating System Windows 11 Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 155H RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 90 Screen Size 16.3 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 18:40 Touch Screen Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.7 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Dell XPS 16 (9640) Review -
Compare Specs
Our Pick | ||||||||||||
Rating |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent | ||
Best For | Best for Remote Workers, Note-Takers, and Document Marker-Uppers | Best for Almost Unimaginable Workloads | Best For Creative Professionals in Media Fields | Best For Content Creators on the High-End | Best for a Bargain-Grade Barn Burner | Best for Desktop-Replacement Bragging Rights | Best for Remote Workers, Note-Takers, and Document Marker-Uppers | |||||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | 802.11be, Bluetooth 5.4 | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth | ||
Weight | 3.19 | 4.66 | 5.3 | 8.9 | 4.7 | 4.08 | 3.43 | 4.7 | 3.19 | 4.66 | ||
Variable Refresh Support | Dynamic | None | Dynamic | G-Sync | ProMotion | None | None | None | Dynamic | None | ||
Touch Screen | ||||||||||||
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 18:03 | 9:51 | 8:22 | 6:45 | 25:52 | 12:59 | 10:57 | 18:40 | 18:03 | 9:51 | ||
Screen Size | 14 | 15.6 | 16 | 18 | 16.2 | 16 | 14.5 | 16.3 | 14 | 15.6 | ||
Screen Refresh Rate | 120 | 144 | 120 | 165 | 120 | 60 | 120 | 90 | 120 | 144 | ||
RAM (as Tested) | 32 | 8 | 64 | 32 | 48 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 8 | ||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core i5-13420H | Intel Core i9-14900HX | Intel Core i9-14900HX | Apple M4 Pro (14-core) | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core i5-13420H | ||
Panel Technology | OLED | IPS | IPS | IPS | Mini LED | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | IPS | ||
Operating System | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 | Apple macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 | ||
Native Display Resolution | 2880 by 1800 | 1920 by 1080 | 3840 by 2400 | 2560 by 1600 | 3456 by 2234 | 3840 by 2400 | 2880 x 1800 | 3840 by 2400 | 2880 by 1800 | 1920 by 1080 | ||
Laptop Class | Desktop Replacement | |||||||||||
Graphics Processor | Intel Arc Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia RTX 3500 Ada | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU | Apple M4 Pro (20-core) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Intel Arc Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU | ||
Graphics Memory | 6 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | |||||
Dimensions (HWD) | 0.67 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches | 1.06 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches | 1.13 by 14.3 by 9.8 inches | 1.05 by 16.2 by 12.6 inches | 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches | 0.68 by 13.9 by 9.7 inches | 0.7 by 12.7 by 9 inches | 0.74 by 14.1 by 9.4 inches | 0.67 by 12.4 by 8.7 inches | 1.06 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches | ||
Class | Convertible 2-in-1, Ultraportable | Gaming | Workstation, Desktop Replacement | Gaming | Workstation, Desktop Replacement | Workstation | Ultraportable | Convertible 2-in-1, Ultraportable | Gaming | |||
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | ||
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 2 | 512 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 512 |
Buying Guide: The Best Laptops for Video Editing in the UAE and Saudi Arabia for 2026
When it comes to choosing your ideal video editing laptop, a few features and specifications that you should pay close attention to rise to the top. Display specs are especially important, especially if you plan on using your laptop for more advanced editing tasks such as shading and color correction. A comfortable keyboard is a must, too, since keyboard shortcuts help streamline many editing tasks, from starting and stopping playback to adding keyframes.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
Finally, note a few features common on laptops that you don't need to worry about when buying a mobile video-editing station. Chief among them is battery life, since video editing consumes so much power that your laptop will probably spend most of its time plugged in. If editing on the road is a must, you might want a spare power adapter for hotel rooms, and make sure your flight has in-seat power outlets before you buy a ticket. Neither will you 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.
The Key Engines of Editing: CPU and Memory
The two most important laptop components for video editors are the CPU and memory. Most applications are optimized to take advantage of modern multi-core CPUs, which usually means that the more cores you have, the better. Multithreading, which enables each core to handle two processing threads simultaneously, is also important. To find out more about the CPU in the laptop you're eyeing, look it up in Intel's product directory.
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 (and faster) cores the CPU has and the more addressable threads it supports, the quicker 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.
In general, Intel (and now, AMD) laptop CPUs in the power-laptop-oriented H series (look for an "H" toward the end of the CPU's model name) will be a better match for video editing than CPUs in the companies' respective "U" series. The U chips are designed for greater power efficiency in thinner laptops. For video editing, you want peak addressable cores and threads from your CPU.
As for main system memory, a good rule of thumb is that you should select a laptop with 16GB of RAM. For many consumer ultraportables, this is the limit, although you can now order creator-class laptops with 32GB or more. The cost is often prohibitive, however, and we think the money is better spent on a faster CPU, so we're calling 16GB the sweet spot.
Should I Get a Hard Drive or an SSD (or Both) in a Video Editing Laptop?
To complete the trifecta of principal specs, you'll want a fast boot drive. In essentially all cases these days, this means configuring a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD), which can access data much faster than older spinning drives. For everyday computing use, the speed difference between an SSD and a spinning-platter hard drive is vast, since an SSD's main skill is decreasing boot times and making apps load faster. These things are of some importance for video editing (loading editing applications can take some time, if you tend to edit under pressure), but an SSD will still offer noticeable speed gains on specialized tasks such as playing back multiple clips at once or working with 4K footage.
Ideally, you want a capacious hard drive in addition to a speedy SSD, but since the cost of built-in SSDs skyrockets at capacities above 1TB, it's more cost effective to make sure your laptop has a Thunderbolt 3 connection to enable a link to a fast external drive where you'll store most of your footage. That said, some larger workstation and gaming machines can offer two drives (an SSD boot drive, plus a roomy platter-based hard drive), and if you're in the market for a big machine, this is an ideal video editors' arrangement: both speed and mass storage at your disposal, without external-drive hassles.
When it comes to assessing SSDs, most machines relevant for 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 are less common in midrange and high-end laptops than they used to be. (See our favorite internal SSDs.)
Graphics Acceleration: Dedicated GPU or Not?
Most non-gaming laptops come with graphics-acceleration silicon that's part of the CPU, not a separate graphics processing chip (GPU). This arrangement offers weak performance if you're playing richly detailed, AAA-grade video games, but it's actually fine for many video-editing scenarios. Nearly all video-editing suites are designed to take advantage of more powerful processors, but the ability to leverage powerful graphics-processing hardware isn't as common.
There are a few exceptions. For example, a discrete GPU can speed up the video-encoding process in Final Cut Pro X, and Blackmagic's Davinci Resolve editing suite has a video-playback engine that's optimized for powerful GPUs. In fact, Davinci's Linux version offers support for as many as eight individual GPUs. Still, it's best to save GPU-accelerated editing tasks for when you get back to the studio.
That said, if the laptop you're considering offers an entry-level discrete GPU for a reasonable premium (say, $200 or so), there's little reason not to spring for it and enjoy the added speed boost when you're exporting video. You can get a comparative idea of a laptop's graphics performance by glancing at its scores on our 3DMark benchmark tests, as well as our game-simulating graphics trials from Unigine.
Connectivity: What Ports Do I Need in a Video Editing Laptop?
If you're already carrying around dozens of pounds of camera and lighting equipment, the last thing you want is to add weight to your bag. Luckily, many very powerful laptops weigh less than 3 pounds these days. The thinnest and lightest won't have discrete GPUs or displays larger than 14 inches, but 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.
If you're slimming down, however, try not to lose too many ports. We recommend at least one Thunderbolt 3 port, which lets you connect to external displays via the DisplayPort standard, lightning-fast external drives, and pretty much any USB peripheral, such as external mice or keyboards, with the right cabling or via an adapter. (Thunderbolt 3 ports are physically and electrically compatible with USB Type-C ports.) Some laptops, including all MacBook Pro models, only include Thunderbolt 3. The sweet spot is one or two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and one or two regular USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 ports.
A full-size SD card slot can also be useful for transferring footage directly from your camera to your laptop, 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 for a Video-Editing Laptop?
With most mainstream and better laptops these days offering at least full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) resolution, your main screen consideration should be screen size, not pixel count. A 15-inch or 17-inch display 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.
The sweet spot, therefore, if you need to travel with your editing machine is 13 or 14 inches. Many laptops manage to squeeze a 13-inch or 14-inch 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 is because, the bigger the laptop, the more thermal leeway the designer has for more powerful components.
While full HD resolution is fine for many editing tasks, if you shoot primarily in 4K, you want a screen resolution to match. Combine a 4K (that is, 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 rather short battery life. So, if you settle on a 4K screen, make sure it's feasible that you'll stick 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 any video-editing machine. That said, new laptops with screens less than that are uncommon except in the lowest-cost machines.
If your video-editing tasks mostly 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 that are often rolled into a single marketing moniker such as HP's DreamColor. OLED screens (an emerging category) and those with HDR support offer greater color contrast and could be helpful as well. (See our favorite OLED-screen laptops so far.)
As mentioned earlier, you probably don't need to worry about whether or not the laptop has a touch screen. Video editing involves precision and repetition, which are best suited to keyboard shortcuts and a mouse, not touch inputs. The one exception is the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar, a narrow, secondary touch screen perched forward of the keyboard, between it and the screen. It's designed with apps like Final Cut Pro and the Adobe Creative Suite in mind, and will pop up context-relevant shortcuts with supported software. It's essentially a function row for serious content creators that morphs according to the program in use.
Editing Platform Basics: Mac or PC?
Video editors are among the class of creative professionals that stereotypically prefer to use Macs instead of PCs. Whether or not you fit that stereotype, if you're a veteran of the industry, you probably already have a preference, so we're not going to try to change your mind.
If you're OS-agnostic, however, you have a vast array of hardware choices if you decide to choose a PC over a Mac laptop. The biggest advantage of going with Windows 10 or Linux is the possibility of buying a workstation-class laptop with a many-core Intel Xeon processor, something not available on any Mac portable.
Another OS consideration is video-editing software. Final Cut Pro only works on Macs, although most other editing suites, from Premiere Pro to Avid Media Composer, are available on multiple platforms. If you're wedded to one program or another, we'd expect that to play into your decision just as much as, if not more than, the OS itself or the hardware available.
So, Which Laptop Should I Buy for Video Editing?
We've selected 10 of our top-rated models for video editing below. Some are gaming laptops, others are mobile workstations, and there are even a few 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 only using your video-editing laptop for quick work in the field, or whether you plan to bring it back to the studio, plug it in, and use it as your primary machine. If you're going the former route, you'll also want to take a look at our best desktops when it comes time to upgrade your main rig. If you're choosing the latter, you might want to familiarize yourself with our list of best gaming laptops, one of which may offer the power—especially the heftier CPU—you need for marathon editing sessions on deadline night. Color-precise screens tend not to be their forte, but good gaming laptops tend to have many of the same traits you need in a good video editing laptop.