Best Laptop for Video Editing

Imagine finishing your video edit in half the time no lag, no crashes, just creative flow. If you’ve ever stared at a spinning wheel in the middle of your timeline and wondered if there’s a better way, you’re in the right place.

In this blogpost we’re digging into the best laptops for video editing, models that deliver performance, screen quality and real-world usability so you can spend less time waiting and more time creating.

I selected these laptops based on raw rendering power, display fidelity, portability and value for money.

Stick around until the end and I’ll walk you through a compact buying guide so you know exactly what specs matter for your editing workflow.

Best Value: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13

This laptop hits a sweet spot of power and portability lightweight yet loaded with 32 GB DDR5 memory, a 2 TB Gen 5 SSD and one of the sharpest 14-inch OLED screens around (2.8K resolution).

For video editors working on the go whether you’re cutting YouTube content, short films or 4K edits this machine delivers serious performance without being a lumbering desktop replacement.

The integrated graphics are supported by the ultra-fast storage and memory, making scrubbing timelines and loading assets feel fluid.

If your workflow involves multiple streams of 4K or even 6K, this is a “best value” pick because you get high build quality and specs without paying a premium gaming price.

A fantastic all-rounder for the pro editor who travels or values sleek design and real power.

Best Premium: MSI Creator Z16 Professional

Here we step up into powerhouse territory a 16-inch QHD+ (16:10) touch display with a 120 Hz refresh, paired with an Intel Core i9 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060.

For serious editors working in After Effects, DaVinci Resolve or multiple 8K timelines, this machine delivers real muscle.

The 2 TB NVMe SSD and 32 GB RAM give you headroom for demanding footage and lots of layers, while the Thunderbolt 4 ports and strong cooling help keep things efficient.

If you’re creating long-form content, motion graphics or simply want a no-compromise machine for video editing, this is your premium pick.

Yes, it costs more than the average laptop, but you’re buying a professional tool that will keep up with you for years.

Best Budget: Dell Precision 5000 5480

Budget doesn’t mean compromise here. With a 14-inch FHD+ display, Intel i7 13th Gen (14-core) and NVIDIA RTX A1000 discrete graphics, this workstation laptop gives editors a serious foundation for video workflows rendering, color grading and multi-layer timelines.

The 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM aren’t ultra-generous, so you might want to upgrade storage or memory later, but as a budget-entry workstation it's extremely solid.

For editors just starting, doing 1080p or moderate 4K work and looking for brand reliability, this is a smart pick.

Great value with pro-grade GPU, just be mindful of future upgrade needs.

Best Runner-Up: ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 (2023)

This one is tailor-made for creators: a 16-inch 3.2K OLED touch display with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, Pantone validation, stylus support and a top-tier Intel Core i9 + NVIDIA RTX 4070 combo.

If you’re editing high resolution footage, working with color-accurate deliverables or combining video production with illustration and motion graphics, this machine checks all the boxes.

The design is sleek but still built for creative workflows (with MIL-STD durability too).

If budget allows, this is a very smart choice for creators who don’t want to compromise on screen quality or power.

Best High End: Dell Alienware m17 R5 (2023)

When you demand the absolute best and editing is mission-critical, this 17.3-inch beast delivers. With an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 64 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD, you’re in the zone of ultra-high performance.

The massive display means real estate for timelines, scopes, color panels and multiple windows.

If you’re editing 8K, doing heavy VFX work or collaborating on the go and want the desktop-replacement experience, this is it.

Huge power, bigger size and heavier weight, but for serious editors this is a very tempting machine.

Best Affordable: Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)

Switching to macOS: this MacBook is slim, silent, super-efficient and surprisingly capable for many video editing workflows.

With the Apple M2 chip, 8-core CPU, and up to 10-core GPU, it’s ideal for 1080p and many 4K edits, especially if your workflow uses Final Cut Pro or optimized software.

The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display has excellent color and brightness. If you’re an editor who values portability, longer battery life and prefers macOS, this is a smart pick just know it’s less upgrade-friendly than some Windows machines.

Best Cheap: HP Victus 15 Gaming

Don’t let “gaming” fool you this is a budget cut that works for video editing too.

With a 15.6-inch FHD 144 Hz display, Ryzen 5 7535HS, 16 GB DDR5 RAM, 512 GB SSD and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050, it offers enough power to edit 1080p and moderate 4K footage while keeping costs low.

For beginners, YouTube creators on a budget or students editing clips and projects, this laptop gives you respectable editing capability without breaking the bank.

It’s not ultra-high end by any means, but for the money it delivers serious editing potential.

Buying Guide

When choosing a video-editing laptop you’ll want to focus on three major factors:

First, performance (CPU + GPU) because heavy timelines, effects and color grading demand real horsepower.

Second, display quality a high resolution screen with accurate colors and adequate size matters when you’re watching changes and working with fine detail.

Third, storage & memory fast SSDs and plenty of RAM keep your system responsive, allow smooth scrubbing and render timelines faster.

Bonus if the machine is portable enough for your workflow (battery, weight, ports). Keep those in mind and you’ll pick a machine that works, not just looks good on the spec sheet.

Conclusion

There you have it seven of the best laptops for video editing across budgets and workflows. Whether you’re going for best value, premium power, or just getting started, there’s a model here for you.

If I had to pick one all-rounder: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 is a fantastic balance.

For serious editing power, the MSI Creator Z16 or the Alienware m17 R5 are top tier. If you’re on a budget, the HP Victus 15 gives you real capability without spending a fortune.