What Laptop Specs Do I Need For Video Editing?

What laptop specs do i need for video editing
What laptop specs do i need for video editing

Video editing is not an easy task and required the most powerful laptop with a high-end graphics card that can show an amazing result. With the advancement of technology now you can edit your videos on a laptop easily by using different software. What laptop specs do I need for video editing?

Video editing is not an easy task and required the most powerful laptop with a high-end graphics card that can show an amazing result. With the advancement of technology now you can edit your videos on a laptop easily by using different software.

However, that doesn’t mean you can edit videos only on expensive laptops. You can get economical laptops as well but it depends on your requirements and editing software. You have always considered the editing app requirements before buying a laptop.

Complete list: What laptop specs do I need for video editing?

However, a bulky desktop computer setup is ideal for video editing at a large scale with heavy machinery. Meanwhile, you cannot carry it always along with you. In this situation, laptops are required and what specs they should have are most important to know.

Before purchasing a laptop you must consider a few things that average laptops will try to get done your work efficiently.

Average laptops do not have the high processing power or space issues sometimes and graphics-card for editing or handling videos. If you are a filmmaker and earn in video making and editing then you should buy a laptop with the specific machinery. The following factors can help you to pick the best laptop for video editing.

  1. Processor (CPU)

  2. Memory (RAM)

  3. Storage (ROM)

  4. Screen resolution (HD Display)

  5. Graphics card (GPU)

1. Software consideration

Video editing software has its own system requirements to run smoothly on a laptop and has different priorities. It’s better to consider first which software you are using before buying a laptop.

Machinery has an important role in the quality of video editing and saves time.

CPU, RAM, SSD, and most importantly GPU contribute a lot to the windows laptop for professional video editing.

2. Required processor for video editing

The central processing unit is a major part of computers and plays an important role in the functionality of the system. All your work done depends on the speed of the processor. Though, many users need to work on different applications at the same time so i5 Intel or i7 Intel is a better option for multitasking. But Intel core-i8 can be a great choice along with other specifications.

  • Minimum

Core i5 8th Generation or comparable AMD Ryzen is a good choice but the limited RAM or low storage won’t work out for video editing. You need a proper balance of the system’s units.

  • Recommendations

Intel 8-core CPU or AMD equivalent is the recommended option for video editors to run the software smoothly. There are different software for video editing like Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid, and FCPX can easily work on this processor.

  • Ideal

Intel Xeon or higher would be a great choice.

3. Required memory (RAM)

Video editing work can create temporary files on the system while motion graphics, needs a larger RAM to work fast. So more space will allow you to save the temporary files on real-time playback.

For this purpose, you must have extra random access memory if the existing one has not enough memory. You can utilize the big RAM by proportionating it and designating different tasks according to your preferences.

  • Minimum

Laptops usually come with 8GB RAM which 4 K files are enough for the video editing of 720-1080p files. It is not much but would work for you on your limited budget.

However, if you want to edit 4K files then it’s useless to think about 8GB RAM. You may have to upgrade your system to get more memory or buy a new laptop.

However, 16GB RAM can work sufficiently with the 4K file but is still not stable much if you run other background tasks. You may face issues to balance your usage or editing.

  • Recommended

The higher the RAM will be the greater result. With 32GB RAM, you can edit all types of videos including 4K files due to the optimal RAM capacity which offers you get an advantage over most of it.

  • Ideal

People who are pro video editors and have 8K files to edit can run their system on 64GB RAM; though the system would be expensive. You don’t need much RAM more than 32GB when you are editing 4K files. These 8K files are reserved for professionals so these won’t work on 32GB RAM even and slow down the process.

4. Screen resolution for video editing

Video editing needs accuracy about colors and your laptop screen should be able to produce the expected result on the screen. If you can afford it then 4K resolution works great for video editing. This will provide you with accurate color correction and shading to the videos on a 4K screen. You won’t be able to use it to make your laptop monitor and an external monitor perfectly match. But it will get you a lot closer to accurate colors overall, making your videos look better across a wider array of devices

  • Minimum

Though full HD 1080p can work well for 720-1080p video files you need some more resolution for 4K files.

  • Recommendations

Have you ever seen gaming laptops? You must notify the screen resolution is of higher pixels and screens have excellent performance with 4K (3840 x 2160).

If you want the colors of the video to not fade off or be incorrect with hues and brightness then a 4K screen resolution is good.

  • Ideal

If you can afford laptops with an 8K screen size then buy them but if you are not in the profession then you shouldn’t invest hugely in video editing.

5. Graphics card (GPU)

All the visualization occurs in the system because of the laptop graphics card which helps video data convert into pixels. There are several types of GPU available in the market for gaming laptops or professional heavy machines. They provide super lightning-fast graphics that are needed for video editing.

  • Minimum

Most of the average laptops have installed an integrated video card that is enough for small video files with low pixels.

  • Recommendations

The major companies produce graphics cards NVIDIA RTX and AMD Radeon Pro so make sure you have one installed on your laptop. This is the most needed part of any system that decides what to play on your screen. Other companies also produce sub-standard cards you can get a deal with.

6. Storage capacity (ROM)

“Storage isn’t that important because you’re probably editing all on external hard drives,” seconds videographer Joshua Flom. “I would say get a minimum of 1TB SSD, just so you can have proxy files or render files on your actual device.”

SSD stands for solid-state drive, a newer and faster version of a hard disk drive (HDD). If budget is a concern, a 512GB SSD might even be enough in terms of internal storage since external SSD storage is an affordable and easy way to enhance your laptop’s performance.

 However, most laptops only have a small SSD for the operating system and key apps and a much larger spinning disk HD for everything else.

If you dig a little deeper into SSDs, you’ll likely run into the acronyms PCIe and NVMe: good news if you’ll be handling more intense projects. These terms represent the latest interface and protocol for managing the data on your SSD quickly, and most high-end workstations, such as the Apple MacBook Pro, already use them. Along with other specs, storage is also desired for video editing so you have to choose a laptop with a larger hard drive. If you don’t have enough budget then trade-off between speed and size;

  • Minimum

The laptop’s hard drive should capacitate 256GB SSD to work properly while video editing.

  • Recommendations

It is recommended the laptop must have a 256GB NVMe PCIe SSD or more when you want it for video editing or you can also use the external hard drive.

SSDs are a bit expensive but they are worth the cost so 500GB or higher will be great. You will be able to keep video footage on your laptop without the external drive.

  • Ideal

For ideal and professional working on a laptop 1TB, NVMe PCIe SSD (RAID-0) is the choice of professional video editors when it’s a matter of speed. You can even export the footage to the external drive no need to invest in this expensive SSD. Because the speed is unnoticeable if you have it installed on your laptop.

7. Video editing vs hard drive speed

HDD is the main part of the system as they store all the data running on your laptop. For video editing or exporting from the laptop, you need a high-speed hard disk because slow speed can take a long time to perform the action.

There are 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.

With modern technology, SSDs are much faster and less prone to failure than HDDs or Fusion drives.

8. Size of the hard drive matters in video editing

The size of the hard drive matters a lot while editing videos because when you edit it on the desktop you have a workstation with external drives. The external hard drives are difficult to carry so you must have a big HDD installed on the laptop.

Consequently, a big hard drive means enough storage space to store data or dump footage onto your laptop from the camcorder to make space in it. You can easily edit your videos on the spot as well as on the laptop. But choosing the right one can be a bit tricky depending on your budget and the level of video editing performance you need.

Which video editing laptops work best for editing videos?

You can begin limiting your prospective choices now that you are more aware of what to look for in a laptop for video editing. By selecting some of our favorites, we’ve further simplified the process.

1. MacBook Pro

The MacBook Pro has long been Apple’s powerful laptop, but with the release of the M1 processor, an 8-core CPU with four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, it has reached a new level. What does that actually mean? It implies that this laptop is capable of doing a wide range of jobs, including those that require a lot of resources, like video editing.

Great battery life and Apple’s typical clean design make the MacBook Pro a no-brainer top pick for the best video editing laptop, which is why our reviewer called it “baby’s first content creation machine.”

NO 1

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MacBook Pro

Specifications:

  • CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU
  • Graphics: Integrated 8-core Apple GPU
  • Storage: 512GB-2TB SSD

2. Dell XPS 17

The XPS 17 Touch has a larger screen than its well-liked sister, the XPS 15, and has everything professional producers need to advance video production. With a 4K UHD+ screen and an amazing 3840 x 2400 resolution, the device delivers greater resolution than the MacBook Pro, and the 11th-generation Intel Core i9 processor makes it simple to produce ultra-high-definition recordings. Your project will run beautifully thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, which also has four Thunderbolt 3 connectors and an SD card reader. The only drawback? You’ll need to have a charger wire close by if you’re setting up shop with this high-powered machine because the battery life is somewhat brief but with the best video editing performance.

NO 2

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Dell XPS 17

Specifications:

  • CPU: Intel Core i9
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX(TM) 3060
  • Storage: 512GB-8TB

3. Acer Swift X

This laptop, the subsequent model in Acer’s high-performance Swift range, is intended for casual designers who need a machine that can easily handle their other job as well and is among the best video editing laptops. Editing and playback are incredibly smooth thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti graphics; it’s also a stylish computer for folks who want to do a little gaming in between work hours.

With a 14-inch FHD display that is 300 nits bright, 100% sRGB, and has thin bezels, editing is a full-visual experience. Dual microphones and two front-facing stereo speakers with DTS audio are also included. However, they can be a little tinny.

The keyboard arrangement can be a little bothersome at times; for instance, the page up and page down keys are very near to the arrow keys, making it simple to hit them by accident when you meant to press an arrow.

Although the battery life is stated to last up to 11, with moderate use and the battery-saving option turned on, you can typically get eight hours. Some people might miss having built-in SD and Ethernet connectors, but WiFi 6 keeps you connected and interfaces like USB Type C and HDMI make it simple to plug in devices, external hard drives, and other necessities.

NO 3

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Acer Swift X

Specifications:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800U
  • Display: FHD (1920 x 1080)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3050Ti

4. Dell G5 15 SE

Although the Dell G5 15 SE is advertised as a gaming laptop, this is only a catchall term for the fact that it boasts a potent processor and graphics card. Because this system relies on AMD’s hardware, it is rewarded. You can throw anything at it, including 4K video footage, and it will be able to handle it thanks to a strong processor and capable graphics card. Video editing won’t be an issue for it because it’s built for high-intensive jobs like gaming, and video editing projects and the battery can sustain prolonged sessions with resource-intensive programs.

NO 4

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Dell G5 15 SE

Specifications:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5600M
  • Display: FHD (1920×1080)

5. Razer Blade 17 Pro

The Razer is advertised as a gaming laptop, but among die-hard computer enthusiasts, it’s also regarded as a top-tier tool for video editing and to edit video. The Razer Blade 17 Pro, its most recent iteration, boasts significantly more power than before. The Intel 10th generation 8-core CPU boosts performance while the UHD 4K resolution and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 graphics card make meeting editing deadlines a breeze. No more burning your hands on the machine during a particularly intense editing session since the vapor chamber cooling keeps things operating smoothly as things heat up.

NO 5

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Razer Blade 17 Pro

Specifications:

  • CPU: 8-core 10th-generation Intel Core i7
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
  • Storage: up to 1TB PCle NVMe

6. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme Gen 3

This extremely portable Lenovo ThinkPad is a workhorse designed for lighter days of mobile video editing yet with enough power to get the job done with the best operating system. This touchscreen laptop has undergone military-grade testing to ensure it is up to standard in terms of endurance and performance if your profession requires you to go to some remote locations. This particular setup has an Intel Core i9 processor, 1TB of storage, and a 15.6-inch 4K UHD display with anti-glare technology. This one has strong security features as well: Consider a touch-based fingerprint reader, a Kensington lock slot, or even a camera privacy shutter. Designed for lighter days of traveling and video editing.

NO 6

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Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme Gen 3

Specifications:

  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650TI
  • Display: 4K UHD (3840×2160)
  • Screen size: 15.6 inches

7. Acer ConceptD 7

This purpose-built laptop is excellent for creators who need a lot of flexibility, video editing specifications display, great performance, and incredible graphics (particularly when it comes to colors). It can be folded into a whopping six distinct positions, and the screen that floats above the keyboard gives the appearance of a desktop computer with a laptop’s size. The screen is 4K UHD with a strong emphasis on color accuracy; it is PANTON certified and has 100% Adobe RBG Color Gamut for spot-on shades. It also doesn’t skimp on the display. This has a good battery life, lasting an average of 10 hours, allowing you to complete a lot of work in one sitting.

NO 7

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Acer ConceptD 7

Specifications:

  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
  • CPU: Intel i7-10750H
  • Screen size: 15.6 inches

Conclusion

No matter what the computer will be used for, buying one is a difficult task. Understanding a laptop’s specifications and what you need in a computer is essential to finding the best deal nowadays, as computers can have large price tags.

One of the most time-consuming tasks you can perform on a computer is video editing, and laptops enable you to complete even the most demanding tasks nearly anywhere. When buying a laptop for video editing, it is crucial to keep in mind that they are less adaptable than desktop computers, so it is worthwhile to take your time and spend more money upfront.

You should also notice that with the above-mentioned specifications, your laptop should have large battery power for long-life usage as a portable. To keep your laptop at balance while video editing you cannot always plug on the laptop, so a good battery can be helpful.

The other thing that matters a lot is the weight of a laptop as they are created for portability and let you work from anywhere and you may not tie to a place.

Select a lightweight laptop so it doesn’t bother you while carrying along. But remember lightweight laptop of fewer than 3 pounds would have 14 inches display and the GPU must not be discrete.

Before making a purchase, it is best to have a plan for how you will use the technology and understand what software it will need to run. By doing this, you can be sure that you receive the laptop that is best for you by reading leading digital publisher reviews and that there won’t be many problems in the future.

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