Ben Madilynn
The best laptop for editing videos we’ve tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023). This exceptionally well-built model delivers an outstanding user experience and has ample processing power to handle even the most demanding workloads. Its Mini LED display’s high brightness lets you see your work clearly, even in well-lit settings, and it has full coverage of the DCI P3 color space. Plus, its superb factory calibration means you can get straight to work without further tweaks. You get a spacious keyboard, an easy-to-use haptic touchpad, and a wide port selection for peripherals and external displays.
Regarding the configuration, we recommend a model with an M3 Pro or Max SoC (the M3 Pro model starts at $1,999 USD). The base M3 chip can get the job done, but it’ll quickly hit its limits in highly demanding workloads. Like all MacBooks, the biggest downside is that the RAM and storage aren’t user-replaceable, and the upgrades aren’t exactly cheap, so the laptop’s total price can quickly get to an eye-watering level. If you want more screen space and don’t mind a bulkier, heavier device, get the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023). It has better-sounding speakers but costs more.
For Windows users, we recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 (2024), a 16-inch premium model. It’s available with Intel Meteor Lake CPUs, up to a Core Ultra 9 185H, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 or 4070 discrete GPU. RAM and storage max out at 64GB and 8TB, respectively, and unlike the MacBook Pro, these components are user-replaceable. There are a few display options, though the only one with full DCI P3 coverage is the top-end 4k+OLED panel. You get tons of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4s, an HDMI 2.1, and an SD Express 7.0 card reader. Its main downside is that it gets hotter and louder than the MacBook Pro.
