Best video editing Laptops of 2022

For those who need the best video editing laptops, no portable device will do. While you can spend a lot on the fastest laptop, that doesn't guarantee you'll have the best editing, color correction, and/or video rendering tools. You'll need powerful internals including a powerful graphics card and fast RAM.

However, if you are a professional, you will need to choose more expensive models to run complex programs like Adobe Premiere and DaVinci resolve.

There are still a few things you should check off your list. Displays with high contrast, high brightness and correct color space are essential (Rec. DCI-P3 and 709 are the most common standards for colorists and video editors. Your laptop should have a monitor that you can connect to. This is especially important when when you are on the road or off-road.

Make sure your laptop is compatible with all the applications you use for work during the day, including video conversion software, DVD burning software, and video editors.

These laptops were compared based on many factors such as their size, performance, RAM, storage capacity and expandability. We also looked at the systems boot speed, video resolution and connectivity.

We have compiled a list of the best laptops for video editing. This includes options for various budgets as well as some of the most powerful mobile workstations.

These are the best video editing laptops of 2022

The 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) is powered by either the 10-core M1 Pro SoC or the M1 Max SoC. (Image credit: Apple)

1. MacBook Pro 16-inch

Apple Video Editors: The Best Laptops for Video Editing

Specifications

CPU: Apple M1 Pro 10-core – M1 Max 10-core

Graphics: Integrated 16-core - 32-core GPU

RAM: 64 GB

Screen: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display

Storage: 8 TB maximum

The only problem with the 16-inch MacBook Pro  is its high price. If you want more power than the basic 16-inch model, there are cheaper options available. It's also slightly heavier at 4.7 pounds (or 2.1 kilograms), making it less portable than the 14-inch model. There are many other options.

If you're willing to spend more and carry the extra weight, the M1 chips offer much more than just performance. This amazing mini-LED XDR screen has 254 pixels per inch and a maximum brightness of up to 1600 nits. It is easy to use. The notebook also has 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports and an HDMI port. There is also a slot for an SDXC card and a MagSafe return port. This means that all Thunderbolt ports can be used even while charging. Battery life is exceptional, especially for a larger laptop.

The XPS 17 is a 4K capable laptop that also offers video editing capabilities.

2. Dell XPS 17 9710

Best overall: A large 4K UHD display in a small package with desktop-level performance.

Specifications

CPU: Intel I9-11900H – 8 cores

Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX3060 6GB, 3584 CUDA Cores

RAM: 32 GB

Screen: 4K UHD screen

Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD (M.2 2280)

It used to be difficult to edit 4K video on a laptop that had the same performance and UHD display as a desktop computer. But now it is possible. It includes an Intel i9-11900H processor and a powerful Nvidia RTX3060 graphics chip, 32 GB of memory and a fast and generous 1 TB SSD.

Looks amazing: The notebook has a silver aluminum lid and bottom and a black soft touch deck interior. The armrests are also covered with carbon fiber. The keyboard features Dell's signature backlit design. Expansion is enabled by four Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, which also provide power. It's ideal for connecting external SSDs or HDDs to complete your final video workload. You can also do it wirelessly via Wi-Fi to the cloud

This laptop has a UHD display, which is essential for 4K video editing. The thin screen wraps around what Dell calls a 4-sided InfinityEdge display. This allows you to have the largest possible screen without having to enlarge the rest of the laptop. Direct orders can take up to weeks. The firm warns of "unprecedented component shortages across the industry" and redirects users to the site

 3. HP Omen 15 gaming laptop

A portable, fast editing machine that is not too expensive, offers the best value for money

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX – 8 cores

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX3070, 5888 CUDA Cores. (Selected Version)

RAM: 16 GB

Screen: QHD 15.4" screen

Storage: 1TB SSD

Gaming laptops are ideal for video editing because modern games require a lot of resources in terms of CPU, RAM and GPU. It's pitched for gamers, but has a professional-looking matte black cover that can be taken to work. It has two video outputs, HDMI and MiniDisplay. This means you can connect it to many TVs and monitors.

It's half the price of most high-end workstation-class laptops. It features a top-of-the-line processor and GPU. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX has eight cores. Nvidia GeForce RTX3070 will give you extra speed for rendering video. Adobe Premiere now supports GPU encoding and decoding.

The 15.4-inch 2K (QHD) or four-inch high-definition display will allow video editors to get the most out of complex applications such as DaVinci Resolve. It also has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, which allows you to view video up to 2K with high detail.

It has great expandability. On the left, you'll find a Gigabit Ethernet connection along with an HDMI port and one USB-A port. There is also a charging and headphone port. One USB-C port, two USB A ports and a Mini DisplayPort are located on the right.

4. Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M1

Apple's best portable MacBook M1

Specifications

CPU: Apple M1 Pro 8-core – M1 Max 10-core

Graphics: Integrated GPU with 14-core or 32-core CPU

RAM: 16-32 GB (M1 Max), 16-64 GB (M1 Pro)

Display: 14.2" (M1 Pro)

Storage: 512GB SSD - 8TB SSD

Apple's latest update to the Pro series can be powered by either the 8-core M1 Pro chips or the 10-core M1 Max chips. These chips have six or eight power cores and two efficient cores. The new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips are twice as fast as the Intel Core i9 in the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019). The M1 silicon contains memory, so your choice of CPU determines how much RAM you can have. The M1 Pro has 32GB of RAM and the M1 Max has 64GB.

Apple calls its display Liquid Retina XDR. It measures 14.2 inches and can display a resolution of 3024 × 1964 at a refresh rate of 120 Hz. There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports, one HDMI port and an SDXC card slot for expansion. This comes at a high price as the new model is heavier and thicker. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro chip weighs 3.5 lb (1.6 kg).

Apple's benchmark performance figures are impressive when using several video editors. “Up to 9.2x faster 4K render in Final Cut Pro with M1 Pro and up to 13.4x faster with M1 Max. DaVinci Resolve Studio can render the effect faster than M1 Pro, up to 3.6x with M1 Max and up to 5x with M1 Max.

5. Dell Latitude 7424

The best video editing laptops for outdoor and rugged use

Specifications

CPU: Intel I7-8650U – 4 cores

Graphics: Radeon RX540

RAM: 16 GB

Screen: 14-inch FHD WVA (1920x1080) outdoor-readable screen

Storage: 512 GB SSD

You may need to edit video outdoors in dusty, wet or hazardous environments. A rugged laptop is a great choice. These laptops are made with thicker covers to withstand harsh environments such as military, construction and industrial.

This beast was designed by Dell to be out of the ordinary. It's drop-tested from 6 feet for shock resistance and has an IP 65 rating. This means it's protected against splashes, water condensation, and low-pressure water jets. Unfortunately, Jacques Costeau lovers won't use it underwater.

Its multi-touch Full HD display can be used in direct sunlight. You will need to connect the smaller screen to an external display. However, this is possible due to the large number of ports. It includes secondary HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort connectors as well as USB-C.

You can also use the online configurator to customize your machine with additional storage and ports, as you do with all Dell systems. You can store up to 3 removable M.2 SSDs. A secondary battery is required when you add a discrete AMD GPU to replace Intel HD graphics. If you don't need it, the default configuration comes with an internal 4G LTE modem. You can also add a fingerprint reader or smart card reader to the configuration.

This system does not support Adobe Premiere. Adobe lists 2 GB as the minimum video memory required for its NLVE. The system closely meets this specification.

This beast of a 17-inch 4K monitor packs all the power and functionality of a desktop computer, but is compact enough to fit in a laptop. (Image credit: Lenovo)

6. Lenovo ThinkPad P17 mobile workstation

The best video editing laptop for power users: A powerful mobile workstation

Specifications

CPU: Intel Xeon W-108555M – 6 cores / 12 threads

Graphics: Nvidia Quadro RTX4000 and 2304 CUDA cores

RAM: 64 GB

Display: 17.3″ UHD (3840×2160).

Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD

This is a mobile workstation. This system can be expanded to levels not possible with a regular laptop. For example, this system has four sockets. Most laptops only have one or two RAM slots. There are also two M.2 SSD slots.

Need to edit 4K video at 60fps using two 4K monitors Sure, no problem. The 3840 x 2160 resolution 17.3-inch anti-glare screen is crisp and sharp, making this beast capable of handling anything. We chose 64GB of RAM to double the recommended settings for Davinci Resolve, the top non-linear video editor.

This laptop is available with a variety of CPU options, including Xeon and Intel Core processors. You can also get Nvidia Quadro GPU options. A popular choice for video editing is to buy with two 2TB SSDs. OPAL encryption is also available. With Lenovo's online configurator, you can get away with it.

It has four USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, USB C ports, Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI 2.0 for expansion. It has its own outlet for power requirements.

Although its battery life may be short, have you ever seen its size? It can be moved. Can be carried in a backpack. However, if you want to edit 4K video on a 17-inch screen, this is the best choice.

7. Razer Blade 14

Best portable video editing laptop

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX – 8 cores

Graphics: Nvidia RTX3070

RAM: 16 GB

Screen: 14" QHDIPS, 165 Hz

Storage: SSD up to 512 GB

The Razer Blade14 is the perfect combination of performance and portability. It features a discrete NVIDIA RTX3070 GPU, the latest AMD processor and a 14-inch display. The package weighs less than four pounds (1.77 kg).

Although marketed as a gaming laptop, the CNC machined aluminum case looks professional and stylish. It features a stunning Quad-HD (QHD, sometimes called 2K) display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.

The combination of an AMD octa-core processor and an Nvidia GPU of this notebook provides enough power to work with the most complex non-linear video editors. RAM users cannot upgrade. The good news about SSDs is that they are easy to access and upgrade.

It has two USB 3.2 type A ports, two USB-C3.2 connectors with the possibility of charging and an HDMI port for connecting external monitors. Some users are annoyed that the USB-C connectors do not support Thunderbolt.

We should also mention that this system is affordable for those who are financially constrained. It comes with a 1080P display and an RTX3060. It is 0.66 inches light and can be carried in a backpack.

This 2 in 1 device is best for video editing with FHD display. (Image credit: HP)

8. HP Envy x360

Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Video Editing: This is the most affordable option

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U – 8 cores

Graphics: Radeon Vega 8 (APU)

RAM: 16 GB

Screen: 13.3" FHD WLED touch screen (1920 × 1080).

Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD

A "convertible laptop" (or 2-in-1 laptop) can help you edit video on the go. It can be used as a tablet to preview source material and explore transitions using the touch screen. Then load the non-linear video editor the next day and use the keyboard like a regular laptop. You can read more about the advantages of this form factor in our article.

The 15.6-inch Full HD 1080P WLED display on the HP Envy looks amazing and is perfect for video editing. You can connect the Envy to an external monitor via HDMI or DisplayPort via USBC. This laptop is not a replacement for a laptop with a 4K 17″ screen, but what you lose in extra large displays and 4K resolution, you make up for in battery life.

It features an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U octa-core processor with Vega graphics. This fast CPU makes up for the lack of a separate GPU. SSD storage is fast and allows you to easily work with large video editing programs. It has one USB-C port, which is USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps with power), one HDMI 2.0 port, and two USB 3.2 Type A ports. There's also a micro-SD card reader, a headphone jack, and USB ports 3.2 type A. Connectivity is provided by built-in Wi-Fi 6 (and Bluetooth 5). The sophisticated design, low price and excellent display of the HP Envy x360 make it one of the best options for video editors on the go.