Video editing will expose any weak link in your setup. Doesn’t matter if you’re cutting YouTube content, running client work, or editing 4K footage for a docuseries—if your laptop can’t keep up, you’re losing time and probably patience. The goal is simple: smooth timeline scrubbing, fast exports, and accurate color. These five laptops hit the mark, each for a different type of creator.
Best Laptop for Professional Video Editors
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2025)
There’s a reason this one always sits at the top. The MacBook Pro 16 with the M4 Pro chip isn’t just fast—it’s tuned for creative workflows. Final Cut, Premiere, DaVinci Resolve—whatever your tool of choice, this laptop handles it with headroom to spare. The Mini LED display makes color grading feel precise, and full DCI-P3 coverage gives you confidence your final render will look the way you intended.
You also get Thunderbolt 5, an SD card slot, HDMI 2.1, and battery life that pushes past 17 hours. That’s rare for something this powerful. Whether you’re scrubbing multicam timelines or exporting 8K, this machine doesn’t flinch. It’s not cheap, but if editing is how you earn your living, you’re investing in something that removes the friction between you and your project.
Best Windows Laptop for Video Editing
Dell XPS 17 (2025, Intel i9 + RTX 4080)
This is the one that goes toe-to-toe with the MacBook Pro on the Windows side. The Dell XPS 17 feels like a desktop replacement disguised as a laptop. It’s built around a stunning 17-inch 4K display with near-perfect color accuracy—perfect for editors working in DaVinci or Premiere.
Inside, you’ve got options for the latest Intel Core i9 chips paired with an RTX 4080 GPU, which makes real-time playback and GPU-accelerated effects feel instant. It’s not exactly light, but it is portable enough to bring to shoots or client meetings. You’re getting a machine that doesn’t just keep up with your workflow—it pushes it forward.
Best Laptop for Editing on a Budget
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (Ryzen 9 + Radeon RX 7700S)
If you’re working with tight margins but still need a machine that can crunch through 4K footage, the TUF Gaming A16 is surprisingly capable. The Ryzen 9 CPU combined with Radeon graphics makes this thing feel way more expensive than it is. Premiere runs great, and even DaVinci Resolve—which favors NVIDIA GPUs—holds its own here.
The QHD+ display gives you more clarity than you’d expect in this price range, and the color accuracy is solid for the money. It’s not a featherweight and the fans do kick in under load, but for editors looking to stretch their budget without getting stuck in render purgatory, this one hits that sweet spot.
Best Laptop for Editing and Gaming
Razer Blade 16 (GeForce + RTX 4090, 2024)
If your workday blends into your playtime, the Razer Blade 16 is a real contender. It’s sleek, feels premium, and doesn’t scream “gamer laptop.” Under the hood, though, it’s all performance. The GeForce and RTX 4090 combo tears through timelines and games without hesitation.
The 16-inch QHD screen is sharp, bright, and hits 100% DCI-P3, which checks the box for color grading. It’s not the cheapest option, and the battery life isn’t amazing, but it’s one of the few machines that can handle 4K edits by day and AAA titles by night without compromise.
Best Ultraportable Laptop for Light Video Editing
Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4, 2025)
For lighter workloads, casual edits, or creators who value portability over raw horsepower, the new MacBook Air 15 is about as good as it gets. With the M4 chip, you can run Final Cut or Premiere without hiccups—just don’t expect it to breeze through complex multicam edits or massive renders.
It’s dead silent (fanless), lasts all day, and the Retina display still covers the DCI-P3 color space. For quick edits, rough cuts, or on-the-go tweaks, this laptop won’t get in your way. If you’re a creator who travels a lot and occasionally needs to work in the timeline, this is the one that won’t weigh you down—literally or creatively.
Final Thoughts: Which Laptop Is Right for Your Editing Setup?
Here’s the real talk—video editing isn’t just about specs. It’s about feel. Can you scrub without stuttering? Can you trust the color on your screen? Can you export fast and move on to the next project? That’s what matters.
If you’re all-in on editing full-time, the MacBook Pro 16 or Dell XPS 17 will carry your workflow for years. If you’re balancing editing with gaming or travel, the Razer Blade and MacBook Air make more sense. And if you’re just starting or running lean, that ASUS TUF punches way above its weight.
Pick based on what your projects demand. Then get back to creating.