Best video editing laptop 2024

Ditch the lag! Unleash your creativity and say goodbye to choppy edits and sluggish rendering. Video editing beasts await –  machines with processors that scream, graphics cards that crave pixels, and displays that will blow you away.  Forget coffee breaks waiting for renders – conquer your vision, frame by frame, in stunning 4K, 6K, or even 8K. This is your chance to own a champion that can keep up with your wildest editing dreams.

The most affordable video editing laptop on our list is the MacBook Air M2, which you can still snag for $999. Our top choice is the most expensive MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max with 128GB of RAM and 8TB of storage, costing you a whopping $7,199. 

If you prefer working within Windows on a PC laptop, it used to require a discrete GPU, which drove up the cost and devoured battery life. However, thanks to the launch of the Intel Core Ultra, with Integrated Arc GPU, this is no longer the case. You can pick up an MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo for $1,399 and edit videos to your heart's content for hours on end, unplugged. It's powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Intel Arc GPU, 32GB of RAM, and rounds things out with 1TB of SSD storage. 

Compiling this list took a great deal of time, and it will change, grow, and be updated as we review newer laptops. Let's jump into which laptops are the best for video editing. 

The Quick List

Don't have the patience to scroll through the whole list to find your next video editing laptop? No worries, here's a quick look at all the laptops on our best video editing laptops list complete with a link that will take you directly to a review.

1. MacBook Pro 16-inch (M2 Max, 2023)

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Forget the editing cave, wield the Infinity Gauntlet of video editing: the MacBook Pro M3 Max 16-inch. This powerhouse isn't just a laptop, it's a mobile weapon of mass creation. With Apple's M3 Max chip at its core, 36GB to a staggering 128GB of RAM, and up to 8TB of storage, it pulverizes the competition and even eclipses previous MacBook Pros.

Unmatched performance is just the start. The battery life stretches to a mind-blowing 18 hours and 5 minutes, so say goodbye to editing sessions cut short by a low battery. But the magic doesn't stop there. A gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display brings your work to life, while a dream-like keyboard ensures every edit feels effortless. This is a laptop miles ahead of anything else on the market.

Of course, with great power comes a hefty price tag. Starting at $3,999 and reaching a jaw-dropping $7,199 for the maxed-out configuration we tested, this MacBook Pro makes even seasoned reviewers flinch.

So, is it worth it? For professional video editors who demand the absolute best, absolutely. But for everyone else, the price might be a reality check. The MacBook Pro M3 Max 16-inch is the undisputed king, but be prepared to pay the royal ransom

See our full MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max, 2023) review.

MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo

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You can unleash your content creative genius with the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo. It's a fast machine packing an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU that features the game-changing integrated Intel Arc GPU, an NPU, and 32GB of RAM. You'll find yourself fearlessly editing on the stunning 16-inch OLED 3,840x2,400 display, boasting vibrant colors and impressive brightness. The comfortable keyboard ensures a smooth editing flow.

Unlike the previous-generation Intel-powered laptops, the Core Ultra packing Prestige can edit your 4K, 6K, and 8K videos for hours on end, unplugged. 

I edited 6K videos over a weekend of content creation and didn't realize I had been doing so unplugged. Not only didn't I need to be tethered to an outlet, but there wasn't the obvious drop in performance I have experienced for years when using a PC laptop unplugged for a couple of hours its CPU and discrete GPU would alow for. 

You will be happily surprised by the battery-sipping MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo. 

See our full MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo Review

MSI Creator Z16P

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Content creators, rejoice! The MSI Creator Z16P is a content-gobbling beast, packing a 12th Gen Intel CPU, an RTX 3080 Ti GPU, and a stunning 16:10, 165Hz touch display. This machine screams creativity, especially with its unique touchscreen advantage over MacBooks.

Unleash Your Inner DaVinci: Adobe Suite? Easy. Color grading in Resolve? A breeze. The Z16P devours creative tasks, letting you sculpt your vision without a hitch. Plus, it doubles as a decent gaming rig!

While easily portable for a workstation, the sleek Z16P comes with a hefty price tag. Be prepared to invest – literally, as this might require a loan!

The star of the show is the immersive, vibrant touch display. This unique feature unlocks creative possibilities unavailable on MacBooks, making it a tempting choice for certain workflows.

For creators seeking unrivaled power, a beautiful touch display, and portability (with deep pockets), the Z16P is a dream come true. But for the price-conscious, other options might be more wallet-friendly.

See our full MSI Creator Z16P review.

MacBook Pro M3 14-inch

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The MacBook Pro M3 14-inch offers familiar sleekness and portability thanks to a design that hasn't changed since Obama was in the office, weighing a mere 3.5 pounds and fitting seamlessly into your camera bag. But its true highlight lies inside power and portability in perfect harmony.

With an average of 17+ hours on or off the grid, this laptop caters to creators on the go, ensuring uninterrupted workflow wherever your travels take you.

Upgrade to the M3 Max chip for a 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, boosting performance even further. It also comes with 32GB RAM (expandable to a whopping 96GB!), ideal for demanding tasks.

The base model starts at $1,599 (M3 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD) while the M3 Max configuration sets you back $3,199. Though lacking a flashy design revamp, pure performance sets this MacBook Pro apart.

Whether you go with the base model or the pimped-out Max M3,  you can't go wrong with the MacBook Pro M3 14-inch as it combines portability and performance like few others. 

See our full Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3, 2023) review.

HP ZBook Studio G8

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The HP ZBook Studio G8 isn't just a laptop; it's a content creator's statement piece. This $4,727 beauty retains the G7's award-winning style but packs a serious punch with an 11th Gen Intel Core i9, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD, and an RTX 3070 GPU.

It's a Creative powerhouse that will allow you to conquer any project, from Adobe Suite to video editing, with seamless performance. This machine is built to handle even the most demanding tasks.

Stunning visuals will have you Immerse yourself in your work with the breathtaking OLED 4K touchscreen. Vivid colors and brightness bring your creations to life.

This MIL-SPEC tough laptop can handle the bumps and bruises of creative life on the go. The Price of Beauty: Be prepared to splurge. At $4,727, the ZBook Studio G8 is an investment, not just a purchase.

If you demand peak performance, stunning visuals, and rugged durability, the ZBook Studio G8 is a dream come true. But its hefty price tag might make you think twice.

See our full HP ZBook Studio G8 review.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1

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The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 isn't for the faint of wallet – originally $4,663, although you can find it for less now. However, unless you're a high-roller professional or a Fortune 500 baller, it's still probably prohibitively expensive.

Sure, it boasts a gorgeous 16-inch 4K display, a keyboard that sings to your fingers, and enough grunt (Core i9 processor, RTX A5500 GPU) to tackle any project, from editing Godzilla movies to building virtual spaceships. But here's the rub: Is the design as exciting as a beige office wall, and is the battery life? Let's say you'll be tethered to your desk more often than not.

Don't get me wrong, this is a powerhouse machine, one of the best workstations and video editing laptops I've tested. But the price tag and lackluster battery life leave a bit of a bitter taste. So, is it worth the splurge? If you're rolling in dough and need the absolute best, maybe. But for everyone else, there are plenty of other fish in the (more affordable) sea.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 review.

MacBook Air M2

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Apple makes a surprising appearance in the budget-friendly content creation category with the MacBook Air M2. Starting at $999 for the M2 chip with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, it presents a compelling option for creators on a tight budget. Its lightweight design and efficient M2 processor enable fast rendering times and all-day battery life, making it ideal for basic editing tasks. For users requiring more RAM, a 16GB upgrade is available for $200.

If you need a little more power the M3 Air is a strong choice as well, you are just starting at $1,099 for the base model and our recommendation to bump up to 16GB of RAM and perhaps to the 512GB storage tier will take you to $1,499. While we have already seen some discounts on the M3 Air, they aren't as deep as those that you'll find on the M2 Air, so if you are looking to keep it affordable the M2 is still likely the best choice for you.

See our full review of the MacBook Air M2 or MacBook Air M3.

How to choose the best video editing laptop

Choosing the best video editing laptop for you depends on several factors. One is your budget — how much are you willing to spend? And another is what you’ll be using it for — of course you’re video editing, but are you simply trimming small clips in 1080p? Or are you editing massive projects in 6K or 8K? Your answer will determine what kind of system you need.

If you want to get into video editing as a hobby, we recommend starting out with a cheap gaming laptop or a MacBook Air. It’ll offer you a decent amount of power and you’ll get a feel if you want to stick with video editing for the future. If you’re a professional that needs a top-of-the-line video editing laptop, the sky is basically the limit on pricing, so we need to hone in one your specific needs a little more.

In general video editing leans heavily on the CPU, so that is where you want to make sure you aren't skimping. Looking at one of the latest Intel Core Ultra, Apple M3, or AMD Ryzen 8000 series chips will be ideal, but if you need to step back a generation for the sake of affordability it's just going to be adding a little more time to your rendering. 

While you can get by without a dedicated GPU in a video editing laptop, it can dramatically cut render times depending on the software that you are using. If you are doing video editing for fun or just starting out, a few minutes longer to edit likely isn't a big deal, if this is a profesional undertaking for you that could be crucial. Laptops with discrete GPUs aren't cheap, so you can save a lot of money if this isn't a must-have for you.

Don't skimp on RAM or storage. You need at a minimum 16GB of RAM to edit video comfortably and professional users should be looking for 32GB or more. While external storage is great, ideally you want to be able to edit your projects on your laptop without needing to plug into an external SSD, which will mean at least 512GB for hobbyists and 1TB or more for professionals. 

How we test video editing laptops

There’s a number of tests that we run on video editing laptops to make sure they’re up to par with our standards, such as Geekbench, which measures the overall performance of the CPU, and the HandBrake video editing test, which determines how long a laptop takes to transcode a video from 4K to 1080p. Oftentimes times we also push systems by editing and rendering 6 and 8K videos down to 1080p. To test the GPU, we use synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited and 3DMark Fire Strike.

Performance isn’t the only thing you have to worry about when you’re looking to buy a video editing laptop. We also take into account the display, specifically the resolution, the sRGB color gamut coverage and average number of nits that its panel can produce. Considering that content is frequently consumed on phones with OLED screens or giant colorful TVs, you need to make sure you’re able to see what your users will be seeing when you’re editing videos.