The 4 Best Laptops For Video Editing - Fall 2024

The best laptop for editing videos we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023). This exceptionally well-built model delivers an outstanding user experience and has ample processing power to handle even the most demanding workloads. Its Mini LED display's high brightness lets you see your work clearly, even in well-lit settings, and it has full coverage of the DCI P3 color space. Plus, its superb factory calibration means you can get straight to work without further tweaks. You get a spacious keyboard, an easy-to-use haptic touchpad, and a wide port selection for peripherals and external displays.

Regarding the configuration, we recommend a model with an M3 Pro or Max SoC (the M3 Pro model starts at $1,999 USD). The base M3 chip can get the job done, but it'll quickly hit its limits in highly demanding workloads. Like all MacBooks, the biggest downside is that the RAM and storage aren't user-replaceable, and the upgrades aren't exactly cheap, so the laptop's total price can quickly get to an eye-watering level. If you want more screen space and don't mind a bulkier, heavier device, get the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023). It has better-sounding speakers but costs more.

For Windows users, we recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024), a 16-inch premium model. It's available with Intel Meteor Lake CPUs, up to a Core Ultra 9 185H, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 or 4070 discrete GPU. RAM and storage max out at 64GB and 8TB, respectively, and unlike the MacBook Pro, these components are user-replaceable. There are a few display options, though the only one with full DCI P3 coverage is the top-end 4k+OLED panel. You get tons of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4s, an HDMI 2.1, and an SD Express 7.0 card reader. Its main downside is that it gets hotter and louder than the MacBook Pro.

Our best mid-range pick is the HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024), a 14-inch laptop for gaming and workstation applications. This model is available with an Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 9 CPU and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 discrete GPU, all capable hardware for video editing. It sports an excellent 2.8K OLED display with full sRGB and DCI P3 coverage, making it suitable for producing SDR and HDR content. While the display's brightness is fine for most indoor settings, it doesn't get nearly as bright as the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) in HDR. Also, its glossy finish makes it a bit difficult to see if there's light shining directly on it.

Though not as premium as the MacBook Pro, this laptop still feels very well-built. The keyboard has good travel and tactility, and the touchpad is large and responsive. You get plenty of ports to connect peripherals and external displays, including two USB-As, two USB-Cs (one with Thunderbolt 4 support), and a full HDMI 2.1. Battery life is where it falls short, lasting only around six hours of light use. The laptop gets a little toasty when performing demanding tasks, though not to the point of causing discomfort.

Another worthy mention is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024). It's very similar to the HP OMEN Transcend 14, as it also sports a 120Hz OLED display with full DCI P3 coverage and is available with NVIDIA 40-series GPUs, up to an RTX 4070. The main difference is that it's an AMD Ryzen system. The Ryzen CPUs perform well, but some programs, like Adobe Premiere, work better on Intel/NVIDIA systems, so the choice really comes down to which apps you use. Also, this laptop gets hotter and louder under load.

The best budget laptop for video editing we've tested is the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023). When configured with a Ryzen 7 7735HS or Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and paired with an AMD Radeon RX 6700S or Radeon RX 7700S, it has plenty of processing power for intensive video editing tasks. RAM and storage max out at 32GB and 1TB, respectively—you can upgrade or add more later, as both are user-replaceable. As for the display, you can choose between an FHD+ or a QHD+ panel. We recommend the latter, as its increased sharpness will allow you to see finer details more clearly. It also has a higher peak brightness to combat glare and full DCI P3 coverage, whereas the FHD+ display only has 100% sRGB.

This laptop feels very well built for the price. It isn't overly bulky for a 16-inch device, but it's a 16-inch device nonetheless, so you'll need a fairly big bag to carry it. Port selection is great; you get two USB-As, two USB-Cs, an Ethernet, and a true HDMI 2.1 port. Unfortunately, there's no Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 support. Also, this laptop gets hot and loud under load, and there are no biometrics, like a fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera.

The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2024) is a great option if you prefer an ultraportable for the occasional video editing. It offers a premium user experience with an all-aluminum chassis, fantastic up-firing speakers, and a great haptic touchpad. Its Retina display has full DCI P3 coverage and gets bright enough to combat glare (although not as bright as the MacBook Pro's Mini LED screen), and like all Apple products, its factory calibration is superb. Apple's base M3 SoC performs well and has media encoders and decoders that further boost performance when editing videos. Plus, it doesn't need active cooling, so you'll never have to worry about fan noise.

Port selection is its main weak point; it only has two USB-C ports, and while there's support for two external displays, this is only possible with the lid closed. You can get up to 24GB of memory and 2TB of storage, which is fine for the occasional intensive workload but might not be enough for the power users out there. Also, these components aren't user-replaceable, and the price quickly adds up for additional RAM and storage. To save money, you can probably find a good deal on the older, albeit discontinued, M2 Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) through a marketplace, third-party seller, or Apple's refurbished section. The M3 version only offers marginally better performance, faster Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and support for two external monitors.