Unleash your creativity: Best laptops for video editing 2024

The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip is a standout choice for video editors seeking a reliable and powerful machine. With a robust 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, 18 GB of memory, and a 1 TB SSD, this laptop is more than capable of handling even the most demanding video editing tasks. Its sleek design, now available in the striking space black colour, not only exudes professionalism but also effectively repels fingerprints and smudges.

Video editors will be delighted by the vibrant 14-inch display, which offers sharp visuals with 600 nits of brightness and peaks at 1,600 nits for HDR content. Despite a slight decrease in colour gamut coverage compared to previous models, the display remains excellent for most creative tasks. The M3 Pro's battery life is truly impressive, often lasting an entire day on a single charge, providing the reassurance of uninterrupted editing on the go.

One notable feature is the improved 3nm chip architecture, which enhances power efficiency and contributes to longer battery life. However, the laptop can experience thermal throttling under heavy loads, such as editing 4K videos on extensive timelines. For editors working on large projects frequently, considering the 16-inch model might be beneficial due to better heat management.

The M3 Pro excels in clamshell mode, seamlessly powering an external display for a more ergonomic setup. Combined with accessories like the Logitech MX Keys S and MX Master 3S, it transforms into a highly efficient workstation. Continuous software updates from Adobe and Final Cut Pro have optimised performance, ensuring smoother workflows and faster rendering times.

For those upgrading from an Intel-based MacBook or seeking more power than the M1 or M2 models offer, the M3 Pro is a sound investment. It strikes a balance between performance, design, and portability, making it a superb choice for video editors.

The Dell Latitude 7440 is an excellent option for video editors looking for a powerful yet budget-friendly laptop. Priced under £1000 as a refurbished model, it offers exceptional value without compromising performance, making it suitable for new and experienced creatives. This laptop can easily handle 4 to 6K footage, allowing you to work without the limitations of a tight budget.

The Latitude 7440 features a stunning 14-inch QHD display with a 2560x1600 resolution, providing sharp, vibrant visuals crucial for detailed video editing work. The matte finish reduces glare, ensuring you can work comfortably even in bright environments. With an Intel Core i5 1345U processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, this laptop easily handles demanding video editing tasks. The soldered RAM ensures smooth performance, but upgrading the SSD is a breeze if you require more project storage space.

One of the key highlights of this model is its excellent portability. Weighing just over 1 kg, it's incredibly light, making it easy to carry around whether you're editing on the go or at home. Despite its size, the Latitude 7440 includes essential ports like HDMI, two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, and USB-A ports, allowing you to connect external drives, monitors, and other devices without additional adapters.

The Dell Latitude 7440 is an excellent choice for video editors seeking high performance at a reasonable price. It may serve as the perfect entry point into the world of video editing. Its blend of power, portability, and affordability makes it a valuable tool for unleashing creativity without straining your budget.

The ASUS Zenbook DUO 2024 offers an innovative approach to multitasking, making it a standout choice for video editing professionals. This laptop features a unique dual-screen setup with two 14-inch OLED displays, each boasting a resolution of up to 3K. This setup allows editors to extend their workspace, enabling them to manage timelines, preview footage, and use editing tools more efficiently than on a single screen.

The Zenbook DUO's dual screens are complemented by a detachable keyboard and trackpad that connect via Pogo pins, ensuring a seamless typing experience with zero latency. This flexible design allows users to configure their workspace according to their needs—whether using it as a traditional laptop, a dual-screen workstation, or even a more compact setup for on-the-go editing.

Under the hood, the Zenbook DUO is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 755H processor and 32GB of RAM, which deliver robust performance for demanding tasks. The laptop also features a whopping 2TB of SSD storage, ensuring ample space for especially large video files and quick access to data. The inclusion of Intel Arc graphics further enhances its capability, offering solid performance for video rendering and playback.

The laptop's build quality is solid, with a sturdy metal chassis that supports its innovative design. The OLED displays deliver vibrant colours and deep blacks – crucial for accurate colour grading and detailed editing work. Additionally, the 75Wh battery provides decent longevity, though it's advisable to keep it plugged in during intensive editing sessions due to the high power demand of dual screens.

Chris Duffill tried and tested the Zenbook DUO and had this to say about his experience: "The ASUS Zenbook DUO 2024 impressed me with its dual-screen setup, which was incredibly useful for managing multiple aspects of video editing simultaneously. Keeping my timeline on one screen while editing on the other transformed my workflow. Despite the extra-screen real estate, the laptop remains surprisingly portable and well-built, making it an excellent choice for both studio and on-the-go editing."

"The performance was top-notch, with the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor handling my video projects effortlessly. The OLED screens added a stunning visual quality, making colour correction tasks much easier. Overall, the Zenbook DUO is a powerful tool for any video editor looking to enhance their productivity and workspace."

You can read his full review here.

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (2024) is a seriously exceptional choice for video editors seeking a premium laptop that balances power, portability, and high-end display technology. This 16-inch model has been tailored to handle demanding creative workflows with its cutting-edge Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU. With these components, the Yoga Pro 9i delivers impressive performance for rendering, encoding, and editing large video files.

What sets the Yoga Pro 9i apart for video editing is its display. The laptop features a stunning 3.2K mini-LED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and excellent colour accuracy, making it ideal for precise colour grading and detailed visual work. The high brightness and dynamic range ensure that your projects look true to life, whether editing in a bright studio or on the go.

Another advantage of the Yoga Pro 9i is its portability. Despite its powerful hardware, it remains relatively light at under 5 pounds, allowing you to work from virtually anywhere without compromising performance. The battery life has been significantly improved over previous models, providing up to 9 hours of light use, which is remarkable for a laptop with such powerful components.

The laptop also includes a versatile range of ports, including two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and a full-size SD card reader, giving you the flexibility to connect all your essential peripherals and external drives. Lenovo's refined cooling system helps maintain optimal performance during long editing sessions, keeping the laptop cool and quiet.

For video editors at any level, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i offers a compelling combination of power, display quality, and portability, making it a top contender in the market and a worthy rival of the MacBook Pro 16.

The Apple MacBook Pro 2020 with the M3 Pro chip boasts an impressive array of features, making it an ideal choice for video editors in terms of power, efficiency, and portability. Unlike the Pro 14, this laptop has a 16-inch display, providing a sharp, bright visual experience perfect for detailed video editing work. The added screen real estate can significantly enhance productivity, especially when working on the go. With a 12-core CPU, an 18-core GPU, a generous 36GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD, it excels at handling intensive video editing tasks.

The MacBook Pro's standout feature is its exceptional battery life, lasting nearly 22 hours on a single charge. This allows for extended editing sessions without needing a power outlet, a significant advantage for on-the-go video editors. The new 3-nanometer chip technology also contributes to power efficiency and cooler operation under heavy loads, though some users may experience thermal throttling during demanding tasks.

Software updates have continually optimised the performance of the M3 Pro chip, ensuring that video editing applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve run smoothly and efficiently. The keyboard remains a pleasure to use, with its comfortable key depth and responsive Touch ID for added security.

Equipped with 36GB of RAM, double the typically recommended amount for video editing, the Apple MacBook Pro 2020 M3 Pro enables seamless handling of exceptionally demanding tasks, such as working with 4K videos. This significant upgrade sets a new standard for high-performance laptops.
Overall, the Apple MacBook Pro 2020 M3 Pro is a robust and reliable choice for video editors seeking a laptop that can handle demanding workflows while offering portability and long battery life.

Whether upgrading from an older model or switching from another brand, this MacBook Pro provides a strong balance of performance and usability.

The ASUS ProArt P16 is a top-tier laptop designed with creative professionals in mind. It features a 16-inch 4K OLED touchscreen, delivering vibrant colours with Pantone Validation, Dolby Vision, and 100% DCI-P3 coverage. Under the hood, it's powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 AI CPU, 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU. This combination makes it a formidable choice for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and graphic design. The laptop is not just about raw power; it also offers a suite of AI-driven tools, such as the StoryCube media hub and MuseTree, to enhance workflow efficiency.

Its sturdy build, with a matte Nano Black finish, resists smudges and fingerprints, while the array of ports, including an SD card reader and Wi-Fi 7 support, adds to its versatility. This laptop is an excellent option for those who require a portable yet powerful machine that can handle the rigours of creative work.

Chris Duffill had this to say about his testing experience: "As someone who has worked extensively in digital and print design, I was keen to see if the ASUS ProArt P16 could keep up with my creative needs. The 16-inch OLED screen blew me away with its colour accuracy and vibrancy, making it a pleasure to work on design projects. However, I found the stylus a bit awkward to use for long periods since the laptop doesn't fold into a full tablet mode."

"Video editing on the ProArt P16 was a breeze. The 64GB of RAM and RTX 4070 GPU handled 4K editing and rendering without breaking a sweat. The AI features, like StoryCube, really streamlined my workflow, making media organisation and idea generation more efficient. While I miss my dual-monitor setup, this laptop's power and portability make it a worthy substitute for on-the-go editing."

You can read his full review here.

For newcomers and experienced video editors, the Dell XPS 17 is a standout asset in their editing arsenal. Its portability and robust performance make it an excellent, worthwhile investment for those who know they'll be pursuing video editing for years to come. Its impressive 17-inch 4K touchscreen display delivers sharp visuals and resonant colours, essential for accuracy and immersion.

Equipped with the latest Intel 13th Gen processors and up to an Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, the XPS 17 ensures rugged performance for demanding software. This powerful combination handles complex tasks and high-resolution footage with ease, making it suitable for professionals and enthusiasts alike. The laptop boasts an impressive 36GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, ensuring ample memory and quick access speeds, perfect for handling large video files. This setup allows you to work efficiently without needing an external hard drive or compromising your workflow while on the go.

Another highlight is the XPS 17's build quality. Its sleek aluminium chassis houses a vapour chamber cooling system that maintains efficient thermal performance, even under heavy loads, allowing you to work on intensive projects without excessive noise or overheating issues. A full-size SD card reader and multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports add versatility for connecting various peripherals.

Though the laptop's battery life averages around eight to twelve hours, depending on usage, the overall performance and build make it a compelling choice for video editing. The 720p webcam and the high-quality speakers, while decent, are secondary to its core strengths in processing power and display quality. However, an external webcam can be purchased if needed, and it's unlikely that you'll choose to use the laptop's speakers over headphones or a home speaker system. Dell has made these small sacrifices to prioritise the high performance it offers in other areas.

Overall, the Dell XPS 17 offers an incredible, versatile package for video editors looking for a large screen, high-end performance, and premium build quality in a Windows laptop.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is a top contender for video editors seeking a powerful, portable workstation. Featuring a 14-inch OLED touchscreen with a stunning 3K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, this laptop provides vibrant colours and deep blacks essential for accurate video editing. Its lightweight aluminium alloy chassis and sleek design make it a stylish yet functional choice, weighing under 3 pounds and just under 15 mm thick.

Under the hood, the Zenbook 14 is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, ensuring smooth, professional-grade performance even with demanding tasks. This laptop excels in running video editing software like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro, offering impressive speed and responsiveness. The new Intel Arc integrated graphics support video editing and light gaming, making this laptop versatile for both professional and leisure activities.

The port selection includes two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. However, it lacks an SD card slot, which may be a drawback for some video editors. This can be easily resolved by purchasing a Type-C USB docking station. The backlit keyboard is comfortable for extended typing sessions despite having a slightly mushier feel than previous models. The trackpad is large, smooth, and responsive, enhancing the overall user experience.

This was tried and tested by Chris Duffill, who has this to say about his experience: "The Zenbook 14 OLED's display is breath-taking for video editing, with its vibrant colours and sharp resolution. I appreciated the lightweight design, making it easy for on-the-go editing. The Intel Core Ultra 7 processor handled my video editing software effortlessly, even with multiple applications running in the background. The new Arc graphics impressed me with their performance in light video editing tasks, although they're not meant for heavy gaming."

"The sound quality, enhanced by Dolby Atmos and Harman Kardon speakers, provided clear and powerful audio that was perfect for editing audio tracks within videos. However, I found the lack of an SD card slot inconvenient, requiring an external adapter to transfer footage from my camera. Despite this, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is a stellar choice for video editors needing a high-performing, portable laptop."

You can read his full review here.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is an innovative option for video editors who need more than just performance. It features a unique hinge design that lets the screen transition from standard laptop mode to "stage mode," where the display moves forward over the keyboard and finally to a full tablet mode, making it versatile for various workflows. This functionality is handy for editors who also dabble in digital art, allowing seamless transitions between editing video and sketching out storyboards.

The 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display offers a FHD resolution of 1024 x 1536, which delivers sharp visuals crucial for colour grading and video editing. The display also supports a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth playback when previewing high-frame-rate content. Additionally, the 3:2 aspect ratio provides extra vertical space, which is beneficial when working with multiple video timelines.

Powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and up to an NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 can handle demanding video editing tasks, including rendering and exporting large files. The device offers 32GB RAM and a fast NVMe SSD, ensuring quick file and software access.

The Surface Slim Pen 2, which magnetically attaches and charges under the laptop, enhances the workflow for creatives by offering precision and haptic feedback. The pen, combined with the device's Studio mode, makes making fine adjustments or annotations directly on the screen easier, improving productivity.

However, it is important to note that this laptop should not be bought solely for its specs, which are standard among most items on this list. Instead, if you know that its unique features, like the Surface Slim Pen 2 and Stage mode, will significantly enhance your productivity and workflow, then this laptop might just be the perfect workstation for you.