Best Laptop for Editing Photo and Video
The best laptop for editing photo and video is the MacBook Pro M1 16″ without question. Apple’s new M1 chip is ultra fast and photo and video editors both have been raving about this laptop’s editing capabilities since its release.
If you aren’t interested in Apple products, the Dell XPS 15 is an excellent choice. It’s likely the best editing laptop that runs Windows and is more than fast enough and capable for virtually all photo and video editing.
If you’re not sure which laptop is right for you and you want more information, or if your looking for the best budget option, then read on.
Table of Contents
Best Laptop for Editing Photo and Video
When searching for the best laptop for editing photo and video there are a few qualities that you will absolutely need.
- Fast processing power
- Lots of RAM (or upgradable RAM)
- A relatively large storage drive
Fast processing power is a given. If we’re going to crown it the best laptop for editing photo and video, it better be lighting quick with virtually no lag. This is why Apple’s M1 chip is such a game changer.
The absolute minimum amount of RAM needed is going to be 16GB. It’s tempting to save money and go with 8GB of RAM, but unless you can upgrade the RAM yourself, purchasing a laptop with only 8GB of RAM is sure to cause headaches.
Finally, having a large storage drive allows you plenty of wiggle room to make sure the laptop can always operate at top speed. It’s always best practice to use an external hard drive, so theres not really a need for over 1TB of storage, but make sure you’re getting at least 512GB.
After considering processing power, RAM, and storage, the next qualities to consider are things like screen quality and graphics cards. For the laptops on this list though, they all check these two boxes. So, on to the best laptop for editing photo and video!
Best Overall
MacBook Pro M1 16"
Apple’s new MacBook Pro M1 has received outstanding reviews from photo and video editors alike.
Lightning fast, arguably the best display in the business, and outstanding quality across the board. If you’re an Apple person, or even open to trying out Apple products, this is the best laptop for editing photo and video.
Pros:
- Lightning fast M1 chip
- Excellent display
- 16″ and 14″ options
- 16GB to 64GB RAM
Cons:
- Upgrades are expensive
Dell XPS 15
Probably the best Windows laptop for photo and video editing available. The Dell XPS 15 is extremely fast and very capable of handling all photo and video editing programs.
Go with the 16GB RAM model (or more if you can stretch the budget) and you’ll have an excellent photo and video editing laptop.
Pros:
- Excellent display
- Very fast
- 8GB – 64GB RAM
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
- Average battery life
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is a great laptop overall. More of a ‘great at all things’ type laptop rather than a laptop dedicated to photo and video editing.
This is an excellent choice for those that need a laptop for more than just editing purposes since it’s powerful in all regards.
Pros:
- Excellent battery life
- Great for all laptop needs
- 16GB – 32GB RAM
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is loved by many photo and video editors thanks to its touch screen ability. It sacrifices quality in some other areas like non-editing performance and port availability however.
If you love the idea of working with a pen on a surface as opposed to using a trackpad, this could be the laptop for you.
Pros:
- Great touchscreen capabilities
- Excellent display
- High quality graphics card
- 16GB – 32GB RAM
Cons:
- Very limited ports
- Not great for every day usage
Best Budget Options
MacBook Air M1 13"
Coming in right around $1000, the MacBook Air M1 is the best value option by a long shot. It has the lightning fast Apple M1 chip and is actually the most affordable option on this list.
If you are looking to keep your cost to a minimum while still getting a high quality laptop, this MacBook Air M1 is it.
Pros:
- Apple’s M1 chip
- Excellent display
- Great battery life
- Most affordable on list
Cons:
- Lacking enough ports
- Base model only has 8GB RAM
- Extra $200 for 16GB RAM upgrade
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is a capable and affordable laptop. Although, it’s more of an office work type laptop first rather than a dedicated editing machine.
If you upgrade to 16GB of RAM, it should be able to handle all of your editing needs if you aren’t running a bunch of other programs as well.
Pros:
- Great display
- 8GB to 32GB RAM
- Affordable
Cons:
- Lacking ports
- Upgrades get expensive
- Base model only has 8GB RAM
Recommendations
If budget isn’t a concern and you’re open to using Apple products, purchase the MacBook Pro M1 16″ and don’t look back. You’ll be getting the best laptop for editing photo and video on the market without question. It’ll last you a decade and you’ll be extremely happy with your decision.
If you flat out refuse to use Apple products but still aren’t too concerned by a price tag, go with the Dell XPS 15. It’ll handle all your photo and video editing needs without a problem.
If your budget is a bit tighter, then the MacBook Air M1 is your answer. Even if you don’t want to use Apple products, I’d highly recommend the MacBook Air M1 for anyone on a tight budget. It’s the most affordable laptop on this list and is very capable.
Finally, check out our Gear page which has tons of articles featuring today’s best Real Estate Photography gear. Then check out our Beginners Guide for helpful articles and tips to ensure you’re taking the best real estate photos possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gaming Laptops Good For Photo and Video Editing?
Gaming laptops can be very good for photo and video editing since they both require the same features. A good graphics card, a large amount of RAM, and solid processing power are usually found in gaming laptops.
What Type of Laptop Is Best For Photo Editing?
Generally speaking, a laptop with a great graphics card and a minimum of 16GB RAM should be good for photo editing.