Our pick
Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021)
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is faster than any other laptop we’ve tested for photo or video editing, and it has truly impressive battery life, to boot.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Apple M1 Pro | Screen resolution: | 3456×2234 |
| Graphics: | 10-core (integrated) | Weight: | 4.7 pounds |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Tested battery life: | 15 hours |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
The Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) pairs a color-accurate screen with the fastest laptop processor we’ve tested, and it manages a 15-hour battery life. The large, 16.2-inch display offers bright images and has great contrast, so you’ll be able to see every detail in your photos or videos. And when it comes to editing, the MacBook Pro crunches through video with the power of a desktop computer: We found it to be roughly comparable in common video tasks to Apple’s latest desktop, the Mac Studio with an M1 Max chip. The laptop is a bit heavy at 4.7 pounds, however, and it lacks a USB-A port, so you may still need to carry a dongle for now.
Also great
Dell XPS 15 9520
The Dell XPS 15 has a vivid 3.5K display and the processing power to edit any kind of footage on the go. It’s also more repairable and upgradable than the MacBook Pro.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i7-12700H | Screen: | 3456×2160 |
| Graphics: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti | Weight: | 4.3 pounds |
| Memory: | 32 GB | Tested battery life: | 10.5 hours |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
For people who want a Windows laptop, we recommend the Dell XPS 15 9520. Among the Windows laptops we tested, it’s the one that makes the fewest compromises, giving you a nearly 4K screen, a speedy processor and graphics card, and a comfortable keyboard. The XPS 15’s RAM and storage are upgradable, too, so you’re not stuck with the same specs if you want to upgrade your system down the line.
Budget pick
Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
The MacBook Air is a staple of many modern office desks (or home offices in 2022), but it’s a surprisingly capable video-editing laptop, especially for lighter loads and 1080p footage.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $1,249.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Apple M1 | Screen: | 2560×1600 |
| Graphics: | Eight-core (integrated) | Weight: | 2.8 pounds |
| Memory: | 16 GB | Tested battery life: | 13 hours |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
You might have an Apple MacBook Air on your desk already and not even know that it can edit videos admirably. In our tests, armed with an M1 processor, the 13-inch, 2020 version of Apple’s office mainstay edited videos faster than many of the higher-priced Windows laptops we tried. The MacBook Air also has a sharp 2560×1600 screen, which is considered a 2K resolution. It’s far lighter than any other laptop we tested, and it charges from a tiny 30 W charging brick. If you’re an occasional video editor, or if you work in 1080p, you don’t need to look any further than the MacBook Air.
