10 of the Best Computers for Easy Video Editing
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Unquestionably, planning a video editing project is a lot easier with a good computer. There are multiple options out there, and specifications may look like they are in a robotic language that only Elon Musk can decode.
So, we have put together a small list of the best computer options and a guide for you to narrow them down.
- Graphics – Apple M1 8 Core GPU
- RAM 16 GB – 4.5k retina display
- Storage – 1TB SSD (2TB Max)
- Graphics – AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT (16GB GDDR6 VRAM
- RAM 32GB DDR4 (2,666MHz) – 5K retina display
- 1TB SSD – 10‑core Intel Core i9 processor
- Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or 1070
- 16 or 32GB RAM – 1 or 2TB storage
- Power – Intel Core i7-7820HQ (7th generation)
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB GDDR6
- 8GB RAM – 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10400 Processor
- Storage – 256GB PCIe SSD (and additional 1TB HDD 7200RPM)
- Graphics – Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
- Up to 64 GB RAM – Up to 2 TB SSD + 2 TB HDD storage
- Power – Intel Core i9-10900K with 3.7GHz base
- Graphics – NVIDIA RTX A2000 Laptop GPU
- up to 64GB RAM – up to 2048GB storage
- High-resolution touch screen – Intel Core i7-11850H
- Excellent performance – Intel Iris Xe Graphics card
- 16GB RAM – 256GB PCIe M.2 SSD storage
- 1.34 kg / 2.95 lb – Intel Core i7-1165G7
- Graphics – AMD Vega 64 (16GB HBM2 RAM)
- 128GB DDR4 RAM – 2TB SSD storage
- Most powerful Mac ever – 3.0GHz Intel Xeon W
- Graphics – Integrated 8-core GPU
- RAM – 8GB Unified PDDR4X-4266 MHz SDRAM
- 256GB SSD Storage – Apple M1 (8-core)
- Graphics – AMD Radeon RX 6600M 8GB GDDR6
- Up to 16GB RAM – Up to 1TB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD storage
- Speedy performance – AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor
Interested in filmmaking in general? Learn more about the process of film creation.
The 10 best computers for video editing
1. iMac 24-inch
- Graphics – Apple M1 8 Core GPU
- RAM 16 GB – 4.5k retina display
- Storage – 1TB SSD (2TB Max)
Graphics: Apple M1 8 Core GPU
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 1TB SSD (2TB Max)
Power: Apple M1
Price: From £1,249
Pros:
- Powerful webcam (1080p HD)
- 4.5k retina display
- Stunning new design
- Amazing performance
Cons
- Maximum 16 GB (not upgradeable)
- Only supports one external monitor
- Need to charge the mouse
2. iMac 27-inch
- Graphics – AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT (16GB GDDR6 VRAM
- RAM 32GB DDR4 (2,666MHz) – 5K retina display
- 1TB SSD – 10‑core Intel Core i9 processor
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT (16GB GDDR6 VRAM)
RAM: 32GB DDR4 (2,666MHz)
Storage: 1TB SSD
Power: 10‑core Intel Core i9 processor
Price: From £1,799
Pros:
- Remarkable 5K retina display
- Same price as last year's model
Cons:
- Just two Thunderbolt ports
3. Microsoft Surface Studio 2
- Graphics – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or 1070
- 16 or 32GB RAM – 1 or 2TB storage
- Power – Intel Core i7-7820HQ (7th generation)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or 1070
RAM: 16 or 32GB
Storage: 1 or 2TB
Power: Intel Core i7-7820HQ (7th generation)
Price: starting at £3,500
Pros:
- Super-thin display that folds down
- Full-size SD card slot
- Surface Pen and Dial support
Cons:
- Price
- Power could be superior, considering the price
- Video out via USB-C, not a dedicated port
4. Lenovo Legion Tower 5i
- Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB GDDR6
- 8GB RAM – 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10400 Processor
- Storage – 256GB PCIe SSD (and additional 1TB HDD 7200RPM)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB GDDR6
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD (and additional 1TB HDD 7200RPM)
Power: 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10400 Processor
Price: starting at £949.99
Pros:
- Reliable 1080p Performance
- Also great for gaming
- Upgradable
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Entry-level model GPU lacks ray tracing & DLSS
- Low SSD storage
- Included keyboard and mouse are useless
5. HP Omen 30L
- Graphics – Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
- Up to 64 GB RAM – Up to 2 TB SSD + 2 TB HDD storage
- Power – Intel Core i9-10900K with 3.7GHz base
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
RAM: Up to 64 GB
Storage: Up to 2 TB SSD + 2 TB HDD
Power: Intel Core i9-10900K (3.7GHz base, 5.3GHz boost, 20MB cache)
Price: Starting at £1,799.99
Pros:
- Elegant design
- Runs quietly
- Standardized parts
- Excellent performance
Cons:
- Restricted cooling options
- Confusing configurations
- No front USB-C
- Needless software and accessories
6. Dell Precision 5560
- Graphics – NVIDIA RTX A2000 Laptop GPU
- up to 64GB RAM – up to 2048GB storage
- High-resolution touch screen – Intel Core i7-11850H
Graphics: NVIDIA RTX A2000 Laptop GPU
RAM: up to 64GB
Storage: up to 2048GB
Power: Intel Core i7-11850H
Price: Starting at £3,550.75
Pros:
- Slim but robust
- High-resolution touch screen
- Fast charge
- Thunderbolt 4 ports, SD card slot included
- Exceptional multithreaded performance for a thin workstation
Cons:
- Costly
- Limited ports (USB-A and HDMI dongle included)
- No OLED screen option
7. Razer Book 13
- Excellent performance – Intel Iris Xe Graphics card
- 16GB RAM – 256GB PCIe M.2 SSD storage
- 1.34 kg / 2.95 lb – Intel Core i7-1165G7
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB PCIe M.2 SSD
Power: Intel Core i7-1165G7
Price: Starting at £1199
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Excellent performance
- Sound quality
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not the best battery life
- Becomes a little bit hot
8. Apple iMac Pro
- Graphics – AMD Vega 64 (16GB HBM2 RAM)
- 128GB DDR4 RAM – 2TB SSD storage
- Most powerful Mac ever – 3.0GHz Intel Xeon W
Graphics: AMD Vega 64 (16GB HBM2 RAM)
RAM: 128GB DDR4
Storage: 2TB SSD
Power: 3.0GHz Intel Xeon W
Price: Starting at £4,899
Pros:
- Most powerful Mac ever
- Slim and beautiful design
Cons:
- Very pricey
- Non-user-upgradable
- Magic Mouse 2 is still frustrating
9. Apple Mac Mini
- Graphics – Integrated 8-core GPU
- RAM – 8GB Unified PDDR4X-4266 MHz SDRAM
- 256GB SSD Storage – Apple M1 (8-core)
Graphics: Integrated 8-core GPU
RAM: 8GB Unified PDDR4X-4266 MHz SDRAM
Storage: 256GB SSD
Power: Apple M1 (8-core)
Price: Starting at
Pros:
- Same beautiful design
- Great performance
- M1 hardware has potential
- The cheapest way to get a Mac
Cons:
- Can't use eGPUs
- Not upgradable
- Limited to 16GB memory
10. Lenovo Yoga AIO 7
- Graphics – AMD Radeon RX 6600M 8GB GDDR6
- Up to 16GB RAM – Up to 1TB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD storage
- Speedy performance – AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor
Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6600M 8GB GDDR6
RAM: Up to 16GB
Storage: Up to 1TB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD
Power: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor
Price: Starting at £699
Pros:
- Great value price
- Long battery life
- 4K display can rotate to portrait mode
- Speedy performance
- Full HD screen
Cons:
- Nothing special about the design
- No Thunderbolt
- No fingerprint scanner on select models
How to choose a computer for video editing
Now that you are familiar with some of the best options, it is time to narrow them down according to your personal preferences and budget.
Consider what software you like to work with
First, consider what type of software you like the most. There is no clear winner between Mac OS and Windows, it comes down to the gadgets you already own, the apps you prefer, and how much you intend to spend.
Select a powerful processor
Second, think about the processor (CPU). Essentially, this is the brain of your computer. The more powerful and updated your processor, the quicker your computer can conduct its tasks.
One other thing you must consider is RAM. If you do not have enough, it will cause lag, and if you have too much, it will just be a waste.
Find one with decent graphics card
Finally, it is also ideal to have a decent graphics card. There are other additional things you can consider.
For instance, a full-size SD card slot can also be worthwhile for transferring footage directly from your camera to your laptop.
Also, video editing apps are heavyweight in memory usage, so having them included is ideal. Clearly, unless you have won the lottery, all of this must be weighted by your budget.
Become a better video editor
Computer technology has tremendously developed. Still, nor Apple nor Dell (nor NASA) have developed one that will edit for you while you sit back and relax.
In that sense, learn how to become a better video editor.
What is the best computer for photo and video editing?
HP Omen 30L and iMac 24-inch.
What is the best desktop computer for video editing?
HP Omen 30L, iMac 24-inch and Microsoft Surface Studio 2.
What computer specs do I need for video editing?
CPU, RAM and a graphics card.
Is a laptop or desktop better for video editing?
Desktops are usually more powerful.
Rent editing PCs from local creators.
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