The best laptops for video editing in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

Apple MacBook Pro 16 specs: Processor: Apple M3 Pro | Display size: 16 inches | Operating system: Mac OS | Dimensions: 14 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches

Our pick for the best video editing laptop should come as no surprise: It’s the 2023 release of the MacBook Pro 16. It really can’t be understated just how good Apple’s hardware is when comes to creative endeavors. The company puts so much effort toward ensuring its products meet the needs of its users.

For starters, the laptop comes equipped with an M3 SoC (system on a chip) The technology behind it is rather complicated, but all you need to know is it is 60% faster than the old M1 hardware. This is thanks in part to the new neural engine allowing the MacBook Pro to enable on-device machine learning. It also has a better media engine for HEVC and H.264 hardware acceleration plus support for ProRes RAW files. The MacBook Pro even has an AV1 decode engine so it can handle content from YouTube and Netflix.

Also: M3 MacBook Pro buying advice: Who it’s really for (and who should stick with M2 MacBook Air)

Of course, we can’t forget about the stunning Liquid Retina XDR display outputting a resolution of 3,024 x 1,964 pixels (or 3K for short). Screens sporting this tech have a high contrast ratio and brightness level for top-tier image fidelity. Other notable features include a 1080p webcam and a 22-hour battery life. We recommend opting for the model with the M3 Pro chip as offers great performance while not being eye-watering expensive. If you can afford it, then the MacBook with M3 Max chip is more your style.

Don’t just take our word for it. The for the MacBook Pro are overwhelmingly positive. Customers said they enjoy a lot of the same things we did, like the battery, the build quality, and the crystal-clear video.

Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED: Processor: Intel Core i9-13980HX | Display size: 16 inches | Operating system: Windows 11 | Dimensions: 14.02 x 10.67 x 0.80 inches

When shopping for a video editing laptop, it’s important to be aware of the display you’ll be receiving. After all, if you plan on spending hours staring at a screen, it should at least be pleasant to look at. It’s for this reason and several others that we recommend the Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED. As the name suggests, this device comes with a 16-inch OLED display outputting 3.2K (3,200 x 2,000 pixels) resolution. So right off the bat, you can tell the ProArt Studiobook can show off stunning imagery. But wait, there’s more, because the screen is supported by several imaging features, further improving its quality.

For starters, it covers the entire DCI-P3 gamut, ensuring bright and vivid colors plus it has a refresh rate of 120Hz. A high refresh rate means velvety smooth footage even when the video playback is running at a high speed. Having this present ensures all of the finer details can be seen. Under the hood, the ProArt Studiobook can house an Intel Core I9-13980HX CPU alongside an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU to process and handle heavy workloads. 

There are a few other features worth mentioning: Most notably, a dial underneath the keyboard for controlling app tools or zooming in. The hinge allows the laptop to open a full 180 degrees so you can directly interact with the touchscreen. 

Apple MacBook Air M2 specs: Processor: Apple M2 Chip | Display size: 15.3 inches | Operating system: Mac OS | Dimensions: 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches

For the best lightweight video editing laptop, we have yet another Apple computer — the 2023 version of the 15-inch MacBook Air. At a glance, this model looks similar to the old MacBook Air from 2022. It runs on a M2 chipset, sports a stunning Liquid retina display, and has the same 18-hour battery life. But there are numerous differences between the two.

The 15-inch model has a better-resolution display capable of outputting an image that is 2,880 by 1,864 pixels. Couple that with its ability to support a billion colors and you’re looking at an absolutely gorgeous screen. Additionally, it now has a six-speaker system whereas the older device was stuck with just four. The extra two drivers allow it to better deliver immersive Spatial Audio, perfect for when you need to make a video call or check the soundtrack on a clip you’re editing.

What’s more, the 15-inch MacBook Air is not too expensive, with prices starting at $1,299. If that’s too pricey, you can opt for the smaller 13-inch model instead. It offers similar hardware performance except the screen has a lower resolution.

Review: Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) review: Sleeker, faster – and more expensive

Dell XPS 16 (2024) specs: Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Display size: 16.3 inches | Operating system: Windows 11 | Dimensions: 14.10 x 9.50 x 0.74 inches

Dell’s XPS 16 is a fantastic laptop. We even have it labeled as one of the best Windows laptops we’ve tested so far, and for good reason. It has a lot of things going for it. You have an ultra-high quality 4K resolution display made all the better by its thin bezels. This gives the illusion that the screen is bigger than it actually is. It’s a small trick, but it’s quite effective. 

Internally, the device runs on the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, making it a member of the recently-released Meteor Lake series. This processor was put through benchmarking tests to learn how well it performed under heavy workloads. It did exceptionally well on the tests, earning itself a score of 12,972 on Cinebench R23. This puts the processor among the upper echelon of CPUs. Additionally, the Intel Core Ultra 7 is paired up with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 which is great for video rendering. Editors should strive to purchase computers with strong graphics cards that handle visually intensive content. And you can’t get better than something from the GeForce 40-series.

Things don’t stop there since the XPS 16 continued to impress us. The device has room-filling speakers supported by Dolby Atmos as well as a stylish yet energy-efficient design. 

There is a catch to the XPS 16. Having this much solid hardware makes the laptop expensive. Higher-end builds put it over $3,000, around the range of the MacBook Pro. Fortunately, you can customize it so you won’t have to pay as much.

Review: Dell XPS 16 (2024) review: Best Windows laptop I’ve tested so far this year

HP Spectre x360 specs: Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Display size: 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen | Operating system: Windows 11 | Dimensions: 12.35 x 8.68 x 0.67 inches

2-in-1 laptops lend themselves very well to video editing. You can directly interact with their touchscreens for precise actions. When you’re done, you can turn the screen right around and use the machine like any old laptop. There are many great choices out there on the market, but we have to give the crown to the 2024 Spectre x360 from HP. 

Just like earlier entries, the laptop has a solid display. This one sports a 2.8K OLED that I called it “eye candy” in my hands-on review. The moment you lift the screen, you are greeted by vibrant shades of color, deep shadows, plus high-level on-screen detail.

It’s not just the visual fidelity, of course. The quality is certainly nice, but it would be remiss of us not to mention the IMAX-enhanced sound system. HP’s Spectre x360 houses a pair of woofers next to some tweeters allowing it to cover a wide array of sounds. You won’t be experiencing tinny-sounding music here, no sir. Another interesting aspect is the 9MP webcam. Due to the lens, the Spectre x360 is capable of shooting video with a resolution of 3,488 x 2,616 pixels. That’s almost 4K resolution. It’s not quite there, but it’s still high quality nonetheless.

It’s a solid laptop for anyone, and is decently priced to boot.

Review: HP’s new Spectre x360 is already one of my favorite laptops of the year. Here’s why

Acer Aspire 5 specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-13620H | Display size: 14 inches | Operating system: Windows 11 | Dimensions: 9.30 x 14.21 x 0.70 inches

One of the things you’ll first notice when shopping for a video editing laptop is that a lot of them are really expensive. We have a few on this list over $3,000. This should come as no surprise, as a good video editing laptop must have high-performing hardware, and that comes at a cost. Luckily, there are some solid budget options too, like the Acer Aspire 5. 

I chose this model because of its solid hardware pairing: a 13th-Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 graphics card. This configuration is not the greatest in the world, but it is still respectable. Rest assured, this machine can handle video editing workload, although you may experience some performance issues. You could opt for the Iris Xe GPU to drop the price tag even lower to around $500, but we don’t recommend doing this. You would be much better off spending more money on superior hardware.

The screen outputs a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels with a refresh rate of 60Hz. It’s no 4K monster, however at least, it’s better than 1080p. Plus, it comes with a varied selection of ports, including two USB-A inputs, HDMI, and an ethernet port.

Also: The best cheap laptops, starting at $350

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 specs: Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX  | Display size: 17.3 inches | Operating system: Windows 11 Pro | Dimensions: 15.55 x 11.10 x 0.92 inches

Gaming laptops, much like 2-in-1 laptops, also lend themselves very well to video editing. These types of machines typically have some of the best hardware configurations on the market. We’re talking about the most powerful graphics card, top-tier processors, and a wide array of features that’ll make a desktop jealous. There are many wonderful options out there, but we recommend the ROG Strix SCAR 17 from ASUS; namely because it houses one of the GPUs on the market right now in the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090.

You better believe the Strix SCAR 17 has outrageous performance. One Amazon reviewer claims they’re able to play video games at over 90 frames per second in 2K resolution. They state the refresh rate is “lightning smooth” and they didn’t experience any sort of major performance drops. The reviews continue to laud this laptop for how good it is. Imagine putting this laptop to work on a video. 

The laptop won’t have any trouble keeping up with the demands of video editing software. Its Quad HD display can show off colors with a high degree of accuracy and the robust thermal management will keep the running cool.

If you’re going to buy the Strix Scar 17, you’re probably going to keep it at home. It’s bulky and pretty heavy too, clocking in at well over six pounds.

Also: The best gaming laptops