Greatest laptops for video modifying 2025: Reviewed and ranked

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Enhancing movies can actually push your laptop computer to its limits, which is why it’s essential to get the proper {hardware}. Whereas a excessive performing machine isn’t at all times essential, selecting the correct specs could make a world of distinction. A gaming laptop computer would possibly seem to be a great match at first look (discrete graphics are at all times a plus), however most include decrease decision shows, which may hinder the modifying course of. Along with a strong CPU and GPU, you’ll additionally need a machine with a big selection of ports to accommodate exterior drives and equipment.

Why it is best to belief us: PCWorld has been masking PCs since 1983, and opinions greater than 70 notebooks a 12 months in our unending quest to seek out the perfect laptops. Our skilled reviewers consider each machine utilizing a mixture of efficiency benchmarks and rigorous usability requirements, with an eye fixed towards figuring out the perfect laptops for particular wants and at varied worth factors. We additionally edit plenty of movies ourselves.

Check out our prime picks for video modifying under, adopted by shopping for recommendation and extra particulars about our testing course of.

The very best laptops for video modifying

Asus ProArt P16 – Greatest laptop computer for video modifying

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Huge touchpad with digital scroll wheel

Attractive 4K OLED show

Extra connectivity than the competitors

Good battery life Cons

Chassis is mild, however doesn’t look outstanding

CPU efficiency falls behind the perfect

Can get scorching below load

Value When Reviewed: $2,299.99

Why we just like the Asus ProArt P16

The Asus ProArt P16 is an exceptional alternative for inventive professionals and prosumers due to its gorgeous 4K OLED show, various number of connectivity choices, and lengthy battery life. The 16-inch 3840×2400 show “boasts an unimaginable coloration gamut and deep distinction,” in accordance with our assessment. It additionally has a taller 16:10 side ratio, which is nice for multitasking and productiveness duties alike.

You’ll discover the next ports on this machine: two USB-C, two USB-A, one HDMI, a vital SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. One of many USB-C ports even helps USB 4.0, which is able to transmitting as much as 40 Gbps. This machine additionally lasted over 9 hours on a single cost. That’s a reasonably good outcome given the highly effective {hardware} inside.

Who can buy the Asus ProArt P16

Critical content material creators! The show alone is an “glorious alternative for a laptop computer aimed toward skilled creatives and shoppers,” in accordance with our assessment (which was written by a content material creator). The decision is nice when modifying excessive decision images. Though it might probably run scorching below heavier hundreds and the general look is on the boring aspect, it’s nonetheless value your consideration, particularly in the event you want the sharpness of a 4K show.

Learn our full Asus ProArt P16 assessment Samsung Galaxy Book4 Extremely – Greatest laptop computer for video modifying (in the event you do not want 4K)

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Incredible battery life

Stable GPU efficiency

Attractive OLED display that can be utilized open air

Nice audio

AI-powered Core Extremely inside Cons

Chargers hold getting larger

Nonetheless not an excellent keyboard

Value When Reviewed: $2999.99

Why we just like the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Extremely

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Extremely affords highly effective efficiency in addition to a stunning OLED show. Due to the Intel Core Extremely 9 185H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, it’s effectively outfitted to deal with any video modifying job you throw at it. Plus, the 16-inch OLED show has a decision of 2880×1800 and a refresh charge of 120Hz–so you possibly can count on a crisp-looking image with wealthy colours. Certain, it’s not 4K, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a incredible display for content material creation. Battery life is totally absurd, too. This machine lasted a whopping 18 hours and 54 minutes on a single cost. Wall outlet? Who's she?

Who can buy the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Extremely

Anybody searching for a strong, long-lasting laptop computer and doesn’t must edit 4K movies. Along with the gorgeous OLED show and the lengthy battery life, the audio can be fairly punchy, sounding nice up and down the audio vary. For those who change on the Dolby Atmos function, you’ll hear even richer sound. Although content material creators might not essentially want good audio (or doubtless use devoted headphones), it’s nonetheless a pleasant perk.

Various choice: The Lenovo Yoga Professional 9i ($1,699.99) is one other nice laptop computer to contemplate. It comes decked out with a 16-inch 3200×2000 165Hz refresh charge show, 32GB of RAM, and tons of ports (together with an SD card reader). In comparison with our present choose, the Yoga Professional 9i has a sharper display with a quicker refresh charge. That mentioned, it solely managed 9 hours on a single cost. It’s an appropriate outcome, nevertheless it’s nothing just like the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Extremely’s 18 hours and 54 minutes.

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Book4 Extremely assessment Asus ProArt PX13 – Greatest ultraportable laptop computer for video modifying

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Glorious multithreaded CPU efficiency

Stunning OLED show

Discrete Nvidia GPU for inventive duties

Weighs simply 3.04 kilos Cons

Decrease battery life than a Snapdragon X laptop computer

Followers will be loud

No Copilot+ PC AI options at launch

Value When Reviewed: $1,699

Why we just like the Asus ProArt PX13

The Asus ProArt PX13 is a creators laptop computer, full cease. It comes with the most recent AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage — in different phrases, it’s highly effective with a capital P. Along with the spectacular inside elements, it additionally has a 13.4-inch 1880p OLED show with touchscreen and stylus help in addition to a light-weight type issue. The truth is, it weighs simply 3.04 kilos, making it a incredible choice for individuals who are at all times on-the-go. Different cool options embody Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and a 1080p webcam.

Who can buy the Asus ProArt PX13

Anybody that wants a transportable powerhouse for inventive work, and doesn’t want a 4K show (or is keen to attach the laptop computer to a 4K monitor). For those who commute into the workplace, you possibly can simply toss this laptop computer right into a bag and be in your merry means. It additionally has plenty of connectivity choices, which is helpful for video editors that want to dump their work. The port choice contains two USB Sort-C, one USB Sort-A, one combo audio jack, one HDMI 2.1, one microSD reader, and one energy in. The ProArt PX13 additionally has a 360-degree hinge, which lets you use it like a tent or lie it flat on a floor.

Learn our full Asus ProArt PX13 assessment Acer Nitro V 16 – Greatest price range laptop computer for video modifying

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Stable efficiency

Aggressive worth

Devoted button for fast efficiency mode switching

Quick 165Hz show with good colours Cons

Totally plastic construct

Mushy keyboard

Weak battery life

Value When Reviewed: $1,099.99

Why we just like the Acer Nitro V 16

The Acer Nitro V 16 is an reasonably priced gaming laptop computer with aggressive {hardware} and an enormous, quick show. The 1920×1200 IPS show measures 16 inches with a refresh charge of 165Hz, which implies you possibly can count on smooth-looking visuals. It additionally comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, so it undoubtedly has sufficient horsepower to deal with extra demanding modifying duties. The battery life isn’t the perfect (4 hours on a single cost), however that’s not shocking on condition that it is a gaming laptop computer they usually’re identified for his or her power-sucking elements. For those who don’t thoughts staying parked at your desk, then the Acer Nitro V 16 is an effective choose for video editors wanting to avoid wasting money.

Who can buy the Acer Nitro V 16

Video editors searching for an reasonably priced laptop computer with discrete graphics. It’s a great worth, full cease. For slightly below a grand, you’re getting highly effective {hardware} in addition to a excessive refresh charge show. The battery life is shorter than we wish to see, however this will not be a deal-breaker for you, as long as you keep parked at a desk. The gamer aesthetic is on the flashier aspect, too. For those who can stay with these trade-offs, then you possibly can’t actually beat the price-to-performance worth.

Various choice: The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version ($1,099.99), which was our earlier Greatest Funds Laptop computer for Video Enhancing choose, continues to be a great choice to contemplate. For a couple of grand, you’re getting dependable graphics efficiency, a spacious keyboard, and lengthy battery life.

Learn our full Acer Nitro V 16 assessment Apple MacBook Professional (M3, Professional) – Greatest MacBook for video modifying

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Good efficiency

18GB of RAM

Runs quiet Cons

Low efficiency benefit over M2 Professional

Value When Reviewed: $1,999 – discontinued

Why we just like the Apple MacBook Professional (M3, Professional)

The Apple MacBook Professional (M3, Professional) will kick you within the tooth with its energy (in one of the best ways attainable). Inside, you’ll discover a 14-core GPU in addition to 18GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. That quantity of RAM will hold issues working good and {smooth} whereas the beefy GPU will chew proper via any intense edits, although intense video editors will need to improve to a mannequin with extra storage or put money into an exterior SSD for added capability. The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR show additionally has a ridiculously excessive decision of 3024×1964, so modifying needs to be a pleasant expertise. It even comes with three Thunderbolt 4 ports for fast knowledge transfers.

Who can buy the Apple MacBook Professional (M3, Professional)

Anybody who prefers Apple’s ecosystem. This configuration exhibits a 44 % enhance in efficiency (in accordance with Geekbench’s Compute Steel check) in comparison with the M3 (sans Professional) mannequin. You’ll additionally be capable to see each element of your photograph or video modifying work because of the attractive Liquid Retina XDR show. Battery life isn’t too shabby, both. The M3 Professional MacBook Professional will final you over ten hours on a single cost, which is greater than a full work day.

Various choice: For those who’re searching for a much bigger display, then it is best to try the MacBook Professional, M2 Professional. The Liquid Retina XDR show measures 16.2-inches and has a decision of 3456×2234, so visuals needs to be sharp as knives. The M2 Professional additionally comes loaded with a strong 19-core GPU.

Learn our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Professional, 2023) assessment

Latest laptop computer opinions

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a strong improve over the 2023 mannequin, that includes a quicker processor and a touchscreen show, with solely minor drawbacks that hardly impression the general efficiency.

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo: The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo doesn’t rating excessive marks in efficiency benchmarks, nevertheless it does obtain very good battery life.

Acer Aspire Go 15: The Acer Aspire Go 15 (2025) is one other merely utilitarian machine, however even in that regard it’s beginning to lag behind. Restricted reminiscence and disappointing battery life hold it from being very helpful, and nothing about it goes past acceptable. There aren’t many machines that may compete with it at MSRP, nevertheless it’s value ready for a far superior different to go on sale — they at all times do.

Acer Swift Go 14 AI: The Acer Swift Go 14 AI is a reliable Snapdragon-powered laptop computer with lengthy battery life, nevertheless it doesn’t stand out from the group.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Version: The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 is a sleeker, extra luxurious ThinkPad. Nevertheless, its efficiency and battery life are mid-pack.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 checks off loads bins, certain, however at full retail worth it’s costly. Personally, I’d watch for a sale.

For those who’re on a price range or simply wanting to avoid wasting cash, you might also need to try our every day roundup of the perfect laptop computer offers to scope out any reductions on content material creation notebooks.

How we examined

The PCWorld workforce places every Home windows laptop computer via a sequence of benchmarks that check GPU and CPU efficiency, battery life, and so forth. The thought is to push the laptop computer to its limits after which evaluate it towards others we’ve examined. Chromebooks, then again, undergo a sequence of web-based checks. It wouldn’t be honest or attainable to run the identical sorts of checks on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines.

Beneath, you’ll discover a breakdown of every check and the explanation why we run them. For a a lot deeper take a look at our assessment methodology, try how PCWorld checks laptops.

Home windows laptops

PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we decide how effectively the laptop computer handles lighter duties like internet looking, phrase processing, spreadsheets, and so forth.

HandBrake: HandBrake is extra intensive than PCMark 10. It principally measures how lengthy a laptop computer’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file.

Cinebench: Cinebench is a quick stress check of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a brief time frame.

3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D efficiency stays constant over time by working graphic-intensive clips.

Video rundown check: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video utilizing Home windows 10’s Motion pictures & TV app till the laptop computer dies.

FAQ 1. What ought to I search for in a laptop computer for video modifying?

The very first thing to search for in a laptop computer for video modifying is its CPU and GPU. The quicker your {hardware}, the quicker your edits.

In case your workload is primarily CPU-driven, we’d suggest springing for the Intel Core i7 or the Intel Core i9. HX is designed for uncooked horsepower, which id deal for gaming and content material creation, and the Extremely is constructed round energy effectivity. For a extra in-depth take a look at the distinction between the 2 processors, we’ve achieved an intensive evaluate and distinction piece that actually lays all of it out. For these on a strict price range, you will get by with an Intel Core i5, nevertheless it’s going to be slower.

You most likely received’t want a devoted graphics card on a regular basis video modifying, however in the event you work on movement graphics, then the additional firepower actually is useful. For many video modifying tasks, we’d recommend the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 or greater, although having any RTX GPU onboard may also help speed up some particular workloads. For many who desire AMD over Nvidia, we’d suggest the AMD Radeon RX 7600S or greater. Except you’re trying to play AAA video games on the aspect, you don’t actually need the perfect graphics card on the market. A mid-range GPU will serve most individuals.

One other factor to contemplate is storage measurement. A 4K video, for instance, would require extra cupboard space than a 1080p video. In different phrases, you’re going to want fairly a little bit of storage, in any other case your laptop computer would possibly get too slowed down. For many who work with 4K decision, it is best to go for at the least 1TB of SSD or greater. You can most likely get by with simply 512GB of SSD storage, however you’ll most likely must hold offloading information onto an exterior storage system.

RAM is essential too, because it determines how briskly your laptop computer will typically run. Video editors are likely to work with massive information, which might trigger your laptop computer to decelerate. That’s why we’d suggest at the least 16GB of RAM. Nevertheless, in the event you’re modifying 4K video, you’ll undoubtedly need 32GB of RAM or extra. Extra RAM reduces the probability of bottlenecks, which could be a actual ache within the neck whenever you’re in the course of an essential edit.

2. What sort of show ought to I get?

You’re going to need a show that’s each vibrant and coloration correct. For instance, a show that’s near 100% of the sRGB spectrum is good. Whereas a 4K show isn’t essential, we’d strongly suggest it for severe video modifying. A excessive decision show will produce sharper photographs, which helps cut back eye pressure, and can help you edit 4K video at full decision. A bigger display like a 15- or 17-inch is preferable as effectively, because it gives higher visibility for modifying.

3. What do the specialists suggest?

PCWorld video director Adam Patrick Murray stresses that a really perfect laptop computer for video modifying contains an SD card reader for grabbing video off of a digicam. He additionally recommends choosing a pocket book with a 4K, 60Hz panel over the ultra-fast 1080p panels usually discovered on gaming laptops that may in any other case be splendid for video modifying. You want a 4K panel to edit 4K movies effectively and blazing-fast refresh charges don’t imply something for video modifying like they do for gaming. If coloration accuracy issues to you—it won't in the event you’re solely creating informal movies on your private YouTube channel, for instance—then help for the total DCI-P3 coloration gamut can be a should together with Delta E .

You received’t usually discover these kinds of specs listed for (or supported by) gaming laptops, however devoted content material creation laptops ought to embody that data. That mentioned, in order for you the quickest attainable laptop computer for video modifying that may additionally fulfill your gaming proclivities, you possibly can at all times pair that burly gaming laptop computer with a color-accurate exterior monitor for creation duties.