Video editing is a demanding activity that needs a decent amount of processing power, so whether you are a professional video editor for a corporation or an amateur editing movies for social media, having a laptop with high performance is very critical. Best laptops for video editing and rendering when editing video, a strong laptop will allow for a more seamless experience, smooth playback of high-resolution films with reduced frame drops, and faster rendering of videos.
You will also want to search for a laptop with a crisp, correct display, ideally one that can replicate all the hues in the color space in which you operate. The keyboard and touchpad quality, port choices, SSD speed, and even fan noise should all be taken into account for the optimum user experience.
We've put up a list of laptops appropriate for video editing to assist you in making purchases. Included on this list are gaming laptops and mobile workstations; yes, gaming laptops are equally as excellent for video editing. Most video editing software doesn't run on Chrome OS, therefore it will exclude any Chromebooks as they often lack a dedicated GPU.
4 Best Laptops For Video Editing And Rendering
1. Apple MacBook Pro 14
Of all the laptops we have tried, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024) is the finest for video editing. This remarkably well-built device can manage even the most rigorous video editing tasks and offers a great user experience. With complete DCI P3 color space coverage, its Mini LED display appears crisp, bright, and color-accurate. You also have a large port choice, including a full-size SD card reader and HDMI 2.1.
Although all versions can manage video editing, we advise one with an M4 Pro or Max SoC (the M4 Pro model starts at $1,999 USD), as the standard M4 processor will rapidly reach its limits in really complicated tasks. Among the other significant improvements and additions this M4 model offers include a brighter display (up to 1000 cd/m² in SDR while viewing video outside), a nano-texture display that further reduces glare, a 12 MP camera with Center Stage compatibility, and Thunderbolt 5 (Pro and Max variants).
Get the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2024) if you don't mind a heavier, more expensive computer and want greater screen area. It's the same machine but with improved speaker sound.
2. HP OMEN Transcend fourteen
A gaming/content creation laptop, the HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024) is our top mid-range choice. All suitable equipment for video editing, this model comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 9 CPU and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 discrete GPU. Its great 2.8k OLED screen with complete sRGB and DCI P3 coverage makes it ideal for generating SDR and HDR material.
Although the brightness of the screen is acceptable for most indoor environments, in HDR it does not become nearly as bright as the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024). Its shiny surface also doesn't manage reflections particularly well. Among the many connections you have to link external displays and devices are two USB-As, two USB-Cs (one Thunderbolt 4), and one HDMI 2.1. The battery life is also lacking; it lasts just around six hours of moderate use. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is another deserving mention.
Available with NVIDIA 40-series GPUs, up to an RTX 4070, it also has a 120Hz OLED screen with complete DCI P3 coverage, making it somewhat comparable to the HP OMEN Transcend 14. Its biggest distinction is that it runs on AMD Ryzen. Ryzen CPUs are good, however certain applications, like Adobe Premiere, run faster on Intel/NVIDIA machines, hence the decision truly depends on which software you employ. Under strain, this laptop also becomes hotter and noisier.
Read also: Best Laptops For Running Linux In 2025
3. ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) is the finest budget laptop for video editing we have tried. Its processing capability for demanding video editing jobs is great when set with a Ryzen 7 7735HS or Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and coupled with an AMD Radeon RX 6700S or Radeon RX 7700S. Storage and RAM top at 32GB and 1TB, respectively; both are user-replaceable, so you may add more later. Regarding the screen, you may select a QHD+ or an FHD+ panel.
Its greater peak brightness to fight glare and complete DCI P3 coverage (the FHD+ display only offers 100% sRGB), as well as its improved sharpness will let you see finer details more clearly, thus we advise the latter. Given the cost, this laptop seems rather well-made.
Though it's a 16-inch tablet, so you'll need a quite large bag to carry it, it's not too heavy for a 16-inch device. The port selection is excellent; you receive a genuine HDMI 2.1, an Ethernet, two USB-Cs, and two USB-As. Sadly, neither USB4 nor Thunderbolt 4 is supported. Under strain, this laptop also becomes hot and noisy; there are no biometrics such a fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera.
4. Apple MacBook Air 15
Should you want an ultraportable for the odd video editing, the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) is a fantastic choice. Superbly calibrated right out of the box, its Retina display fully covers the DCI P3 color spectrum. From a performance standpoint, most video editing chores are handled by the basic M3 SoC. In demanding tasks with several high-resolution streams, nevertheless, it will have problems that result in frame dips and stutters.
You're better off with a MacBook Pro with a more strong M3 Pro/Max SoC if your job is somewhat complicated. Remember, however, that this is a fanless system—good and bad since you won't have to concern about fan noise but there will be some thermal throttling. Another area of weakness in port selection is its two USB-C ports and lid-closed only two external display output capability.
Read also: Best Alternatives To Microsoft Surface Pro
Conclusion on Best Laptops For Video Editing And Rendering
Your unique needs, budget, and workflow needs will finally determine which laptop for video editing and rendering is ideal. A smooth and efficient experience depends on your investment in a machine with a strong CPU, dedicated GPU, plenty of RAM, and high-resolution display whether you are a professional director working with 4K+ pictures, a content creator editing for social media, or a student learning the ropes of video production. Laptops such as the Apple MacBook Pro (M-series), Dell XPS 15, ASUS ROG Zephyrus, the and MSI Creator series stand out for their speed, display quality, and security in handling demanding tasks. You can guarantee your laptop stays a powerful creative companion for years to come by giving processor power, graphics capabilities, storage speed, and heat management high priority. For optimal outcomes, be careful to match your selection with the program you use and the degree of intricacy of your tasks.
FAQ's: Best Laptops For Video Editing And Rendering
Which laptop is best for video editing?
- Dell's XPS 15 Starting the list, we suggest Dell XPS 15, a strong device with an elegant look.
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch.
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15.
- Razer Blade 17.
- Acer ConceptD 7.
Which processor is best for video editing?
What CPU works well for video editing? An Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 is advised for video editing since they provide multi-core decent performance, hence rapid operations like rendering and encoding. A Ryzen 9 or Intel i9 is preferable if your resolution is 4K or above.
How much does Premiere Pro cost?
When bought as a standalone program, Adobe Premiere Pro runs you 733.96 each month. For 1,915.14 per month, it's also included in the Creative Cloud All Apps subscription, which comprises 20+ additional Adobe applications like Photoshop and After Effects. With the first year costing 638.38 a month, students and instructors can receive a unique pricing on the All Apps plan.
