The best laptops for video editing in 2024: edit your footage easily, wherever you are

Best laptops for video editing
(Image credit: Future)

The best laptops for video editing mean that you'll never have to twiddle your thumbs waiting for a project to finish rendering again. But, with so many laptop variations out there, which ones are the best for your video editing needs? 

We've rounded up a selection of choices that include potent processor power, plenty of RAM memory, and good quality, high-res screens. These important features are essential for choosing the best laptops for video editing but be warned that the high performance you need won't come cheap. Working with high-resolution footage is both power- and memory-intensive, so you'll need to make sure that your machine is up to the task. 

Ben Andrews
Ben Andrews

Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or checking the performance of a laptop, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

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FeaturesPro-grade display and power★★★★★
DesignBuilt to last and great looking★★★★★
PerformanceVery capable even with heavy workloads★★★★★
ValueVery expensive★★★★
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FeaturesTop-notch processing power fronted by a great screen. Even the port selection is OK★★★★★
DesignSlim, sleek and well made★★★★★
PerformanceApple's M-series hardware delivers awesome performance, even in base spec★★★★★
ValueCheaper laptops will do the job, but this is the ultimate blend of performance and style★★★★
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FeaturesPacked with features, including unusual creator-focussed extras.★★★★★
DesignIt's not overtly stylish, but it is a pleasure to use, which we think matters more to creatives.★★★★★
PerformanceThere's plenty of fire power here, even if battery life does suffer as a result.★★★★
ValueThe price is high, but at least you do get a lot for your money.★★★★
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FeaturesAll the essentials are covered, providing you can live without a 4K display★★★★
DesignIt's comfortable to edit on, but it won't win any design awards★★★
PerformancePlenty of power, good battery life, and image quality is top notch★★★★★
ValueYou'll struggle to get better performance for the money★★★★★
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FeaturesHugely versatile if you want tablet functionality, but some dedicated laptop features are omitted★★★★
DesignClever design enables this to work equally well as a laptop or tablet, though the keyboard isn't great★★★★
PerformanceIt's no speed demon, but there's enough oomph for most★★★★
ValueGood value, providing you'll really make use of the tablet functionality★★★★
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FeaturesWe like the well-specced screen, UBS4 and advances speakers, but the port selection is poor, and there's no discreet GPU★★★
DesignSleek and well screwed together - this is a laptop that looks the part wherever you go★★★★★
PerformanceProcessing power is decent, but graphics performance is lacklustre★★★★
ValueWorth the money, providing portabilty is more important to you than outright power★★★★
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FeaturesAdequate for a compact laptop, providing you can live with the limited port selection★★★★
DesignIt's incredibly how Apple manages to cram so much performance into such a slim chassis★★★★★
PerformanceA surprisingly potent machine considering its svelte size★★★★
ValueGood value if portability matters most★★★★
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FeaturesA laptop and tablet in one, plus the crisp display even has stylus compatibility★★★★★
DesignTop class build with clever cooling and an impressive hinge system★★★★★
PerformanceSpeed is good but held back by old-generation processors★★★★
ValueYou'll need love the hybrid design to justify the high price, as cheaper laptops will outperform this★★★
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FeaturesThere's a decent spread of features for the money, including plenty of ports★★★★
DesignFunction over form, and the gamer-looks aren't particularly subtle★★★
PerformanceIt'll breeze through most workloads, and the large screen helps with video editing★★★★★
ValueExcellent value for the performance on offer, providing you're not after svelte styling★★★★★
Ben Andrews

Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.