TOP 5 BEST VIDEO EDITING LAPTOPS OF 2025

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We tested the best laptops for video editing at home, in the studio, and on the move

The smoothest post-production is achieved with the best laptop for video editing. These are the best choices for all video editing tasks based on our assessment of more than 1800 laptops and MacBooks.

The Apple MacBook Pro 16in is the greatest laptop for video editing for most people; it’s a high-performance, dangerously fast device designed for creative pros, and we had a great time checking it out.

A fast processor, lots of RAM, color-accurate screens, and a GPU that handles graphics chores with ease are what I’m searching for in all of our best laptops for video editing.

We have reviewed the best video editing PCs, the best Mac and MacBook laptops for video editing, the best video editing monitors, and the best video editing software for additional content necessities.

Table of Contents

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1. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro)

✅ You require the most performance possible: This laptop boasts one of the most exquisite screens on any gadget and can manage 4K video editing, CAD, and gaming. Even 4K footage processed in Premiere Pro did not disturb its seamless performance, in our opinion. It can even handle professional animation and filming if it has an M4 Pro or M4 Max processor.



✅ All you want to do is edit videos; you don’t have to worry about the technical details because it just works. Upgrading hardware or changing out graphics cards annually won’t be a concern for you. After installing your programs on a gorgeous computer, you can begin creating content. The most recent model should last you years because even a MacBook Pro with an M2 or M3 chip is a good laptop for video editing.

Avoid purchasing it if…

You have a budget: Although the MacBook Pro is not inexpensive, particularly when compared to the M4 Max model, you do get a lot of (well-designed) laptop for your money. I would consider the M2 Pro or M3 Pro versions as a less expensive option, or perhaps a MacBook Air if you have less demanding editing requirements.



❌ The power is not necessary: The MacBook Pro is a powerful workstation that can compete with desktop models. You might not require a mobile workstation, even the minimal M4 model, depending on what you’re editing. It can effortlessly manage running office applications, Adobe, and twenty tabs in Chrome, but its purpose is not limited to occasional light editing.

What we believed

For us, this laptop is the best in its class, and it performs far better than its 4.7-pound weight. It functions, feels, and looks just like a MacBook Pro ought to. It is aesthetically pleasing, pleasantly sturdy, and performs at a level comparable to that of a mobile workstation. Editing 4K videos in Pro was a breeze. Additionally, it still has one of the best laptop screens available—bright, clear, colorful, color-accurate, and gorgeous from any aspect. It features True Tone technology and a wide color P3 for multimedia creators. But there is a price for that consistently high performance.

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2. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)

Purchase it if…

✅ You’re looking for an incredibly thin creative workstation: We discovered that the MacBook Air provided good editing capabilities in a portable, lightweight style. While editing four 4K 30fps streams at once with Final Cut Pro, we encountered no issues running office and gaming applications. We saw significant stuttering in the video playback when we increased it to, but only after I loaded four 4K 120fps clips.

✅ You wish to edit videos on a budget laptop: Since video editing requires powerful hardware, many of the finest alternatives are pricey. Given its power (and a battery that lasted 14 hours in our tests), the MacBook Air is reasonably priced. Using the still-powerful M2 or M3 versions can further reduce expenses, depending on workload.

Avoid purchasing it if…

❌ A professional-grade laptop is necessary for editing: Although the MacBook Air can handle jobs that are a little more complex, it falls far short of the MacBook Pro’s performance. The MBP is a better option if you work in advertising, cinema, or a similar field.


❌ You like a bigger screen: Although this is subjective, you might discover that the ultra-portable 13.6-inch screen isn’t as useful as you initially believed it to be, depending on how complicated your tasks are. If so, consider including a portable display in the mix or read our review of the MacBook Air 15in, which was full of praise.

What we believed

One of the most affordable laptops available that can handle video editing tasks is the Apple MacBook Air (M4). With Apple’s True Tone technology and a broad color P3 spectrum, the screen is stunning. The battery life is another noteworthy feature. In our own tests, we found that when used for simple web tasks, the battery might last 14 hours on a single charge. In Final Cut Pro, we edited four 4K video streams, and the sole instance of stuttering was when we were editing 4K 120FPS clips. Therefore, it’s perfect for everyone but not pros.

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3. Dell XPS 17 (9730)

Purchase it if…

✅ You want a big 4K screen: The Dell XPS 17’s screen was one of its best features. With a resolution of up to 4K, it is incredibly beautiful and colorful, and at 17 inches, it provides a wide canvas for post-production. For users working on edits, color accuracy, 188.8% sRGB, and 133.7% DCI-P3 gamut will be more than sufficient.

✅ You expect performance: During our assessment, we were quite delighted by the Dell XPS 17’s performance, which is one of its strengths. The specifications are excellent and include a dedicated GPU (you can select from the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 406, 4070, and 4080), an Intel Core i9-13900H, and the option to expand to 64GB RAM and 8TB storage.

Avoid purchasing it if…

❌ You require a laptop that is more portable: It’s a big machine with a 17-inch screen, but we also noticed that it was somewhat weighty. It’s hardly the kind of laptop you want to be carrying around all day, as it weighs 5.37 pounds. It essentially replaces a desktop.

❌ A good webcam is essential for meetings: Although it may not seem like much, this is the Dell XPS 17’s biggest issue. The webcam only records in 720p. It’s frustrating to see Dell cut corners here given what’s available elsewhere and the high-end appearance and feel. You might wish to acquire an external webcam if you have a lot of meetings.

What we believed

This is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a Windows computer and a strong candidate for the best laptop for video editing overall. It is heavy, to be sure, and the webcam isn’t very good. The stunning 4K UHD+ IPS panel display, which has a 16:10 aspect ratio and several features for color accuracy and coverage, is what really makes this stand out. It reaches 133.7% DCI-P3, 188.8% sRGB, and 0.24 Delta-E. It isn’t as bright as the MacBook Pro, which can handle 1600 nits, though. It’s hard not to be impressed by the laptop’s video editing capabilities, even with the basic setup.

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4. Razer Blade 14

Purchase it if…

✅ You’re looking for a powerful laptop for gaming and editing: This combines work and play in the best possible way. According to our observations, the Razer Blade 14 is equally content running video editing applications as it is tearing through contemporary games. Everything runs smoothly thanks to a Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, RTX 4070 GPU, and 32GB RAM. The 14-inch screen displays up to 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut with Calman verification.

✅ You’re looking for a small, thin device: We adore this 14-inch laptop’s design, which makes it wonderfully portable and thin. Although that reduces the keyboard’s size, we still found that typing was enjoyable, with nice key spacing that held up well even after several hours of use. It weighs a nice, manageable 4.05 pounds.

Avoid purchasing it if…

❌ A inexpensive laptop for video editing is necessary for gaming: It feels like a high-end machine. For the price, more powerful gaming laptops are available. However, most users will find the combination of portability, style, performance, and display to be worth it for video editing and gaming.

❌ You like a bigger screen: Even with the 16:10 aspect ratio, you could find the smaller screen difficult to use, much like the MacBook Air. That makes the laptop incredibly portable, but it might not have enough screen real estate for intricate timelines. For that, I suggest reading our review of the Razer Blade 16, which provided top-notch performance at a price.

What we believed

Our top choice for a device that can be used for both work and play is the Razer Blade 14. This lightweight, thin laptop has more power than you might think. You won’t have any problems using Premiere Pro here because the Blade 14 performed well in our 25GB File Copy, Handbrake, and CrossMark testing for creative work. Our preference for this laptop for video editing is not limited to that. For many video productions, the 14-inch 16:10 screen’s 100% DCI-P3 coverage is necessary. We only had about eight hours of battery life, which could be improved. Other than that, this laptop has many positive aspects.

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5. Dell Precision 5690

Purchase it if…

✅ You desire power: Our top-rated mobile workstation, the Dell Precision 5690, performed a wide range of tasks without any issues. The benchmarks indicate that it is perfect for engineering, managing big code bases, and working on CAD and CGI projects. It effortlessly handled all of the typical office chores, emails, and photo and video editing.

✅ You want an amazing OLED screen: This laptop’s top option has a gorgeous 16-inch UHD+ OLED screen with a respectable 400 nits brightness and 3840 x 2400 resolution. The 100% DCI-P3 color coverage makes this a great option for video editors. We concluded that the display significantly enhances video editing by the end of our review.

Avoid purchasing it if…

❌ You require a low-cost laptop for video editing: This laptop, like the majority of mobile workstations, is pricey, particularly if you choose to upgrade to the 64GB RAM and Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada GPU. For professionals, this makes it a more future-proof investment than other gadgets, and you pay for the excellent performance.

❌ You don’t require this much power: The Precision 5690 will provide you the kind of performance bump that most regular editors won’t require. There are more affordable laptops available if you’re only editing web videos or social media content. Professional editors, designers, architects, and data scientists that require the additional power would benefit most from this.

What we believed

For professionals that require dependability in their operations, this type of laptop meticulously strikes a balance between portability, performance, and accuracy. It is an incredibly powerful device that dominated every task we gave it, as you would anticipate from a genuine mobile workstation. The sharp 16-inch OLED panel with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, however, is what really makes editing videos here enjoyable. Although it weighs slightly more than 4 pounds, the build quality is solid, so if you travel frequently, be ready. Although ports aren’t as good as their competitors, if you’re a pro who demands excellence, it’s difficult to beat.

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There are a number of considerations to make while selecting the finest laptop for video editing. As previously said, it’s not always the case that the most costly and potent will be most suited for post-production. Although there are many excellent Windows laptops for video editing, people in the creative industries tend to favor Apple products, which is why the Apple MacBook Pro 16″ is so well-regarded. To find out which operating systems are supported, check the program you choose.

The majority of video editing software relies on the CPU; it keeps the engine running at the speeds that are most comfortable for the best video editors. Therefore, choose the best CPU within your price range.

Search for laptops with the best RAM because video editing tools use a lot of memory. Although technically it can function with just 8GB of RAM, you will need 16GB to perform successfully with heavyweight video editors like Adobe Premiere Pro.

Once you move past just cutting up footage and begin using overlays, transitions, and other fancy effects, a fast GPU will also be helpful. In the past, choosing the greatest GPU was not as crucial, but it is now increasingly common, particularly among creatives who utilize specialized video editors, the finest VFX software, and the best 3D modeling tools.

For the operating system and programs to load and run rapidly and have enough scratch space, the solid state disk should be fairly large. The resolution of your video output, however, will ultimately determine your final system requirements, with screen size being one of the most crucial factors.

Generally speaking, any laptop will work if you’re producing videos in 1080p or full HD. You will, however, want a “higher than Full HD” screen resolution on your system whenever you go to 2K or above; QHD and UHD are what we’re talking about for 2K and 4K video, respectively. It is advised that experts search for panels that are color accurate. Because of the exceptional color fidelity produced by these screens, the final export, whether for a large or small screen, will look exactly like the images on the screen.

Choosing a device that is expandable (so you can add more memory or an additional SSD if necessary), has a next business day warranty (or at least offers it as an option), and has plenty of connectivity is also a good idea because users will probably transfer files using external storage like the best portable SSDs or any of the best cloud storage services.

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