Finding the best laptop for photo editing doesn't necessarily mean choosing the most expensive model on the market. You don’t need a powerful computer to make basic edits to photos – such as cropping, resizing and applying simple filters. And making small changes to images captured with one of the or downloaded from the web won't particularly slow down any modern computer, either. But having lots of computing power comes in handy when it’s time to take your photography to another level, and make use of some of the complex functions and advanced plugins in professional-grade tools such as Adobe's suite. Perhaps you’ve bought a powerful and have started working with massive uncompressed images at ultra-high resolutions.
The best laptops for photo editing can rival traditional desktop hardware in the speed stakes, and unlike laptops of old, many boast pixel-perfect displays with stunning color, as well as wide.
The extreme file sizes you’ll be working with will need as much computer power as possible. What laptop is best for photo editing?
Right now, we think the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is the best laptop for photo editing you can get. However, if you're not a professional photographer we'd recommend the cheaper 14-inch HP Pavilion (number one in this list) or DELL Inspiron 13 7000 (number three). But the right laptop for you depends on your budget and skill level. So what specs should you look for? Well, crucially you’ll want a laptop with a good screen. Thankfully even the most affordable laptops now use screens with IPS technology, which means brighter, bolder images, wider viewing angles and better colour reproduction.
You definitely need to look for 4GB of memory, as well; plus at least an Intel Core i3 processor (preferably Core i5 or i7). You want plenty of on-board storage, too. Many laptops now have solid state drives (SSDs) but these tend to have lower capacity than traditional hard drives. Either way, we don't recommend less than 256GB. If you're going to be pro editing your photos, you want a top notch processor as well as 8GB of memory plus some fairly capacious storage. Again, no less than 256GB.
But like a lot of creative kit, some of these machines don't come cheap, so if you're in the market for a shiny new device, it's worth keeping your eye out for upcoming. Read on for our pick of the best photo editing laptops out there at the moment. The best laptops for photo editing right now 01.
![Best mac laptop for photo and video editing Best mac laptop for photo and video editing](http://softwaretested.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/What-Is-The-Best-Mac-Laptop-For-You-1-1.jpg)
HP Pavilion 14-inch Laptop. Limited storage and memory HP’s all-rounder Pavilion laptop is a perfect choice for beginner photographers as it has all the computing hardware you’ll need to run photo editing software really well. There’s an entry-level Core i3 version, but if your budget can stretch a bit further to the next tier, we’d absolutely recommend it for a significantly better photo editing experience.
The Core i5 version has a much faster quad-core processor, which will provide a noticeable speed-up when applying modifications and adjustments to your image, and the IPS-backlist 14-inch display has a superior FHD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution. The Pavilion 14 also has a great looking silver design, and 128GB of solid-state storage comes as standard, with 8GB of memory.
While this is more than enough to get by, once you start working with higher resolution images, you’ll probably want an upgrade and additional storage. Lenovo ThinkPad P1. High-end model is very pricey The newly launched Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is one of the best laptops we’ve ever used, with some features that make it an absolute dream for any kind of graphics work, including image manipulation and photo editing. It’s a real powerhouse, with graphics and processor performance that can go head-to-head against any desktop computer. It does all this while still being remarkably small - the chassis measures just 18.4mm thick and it weighs just 1.7kg, dimensions far closer to an Ultrabook or mini laptop than you’d expect from a computer that offers this much performance. It can be configured with a four or six-core Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processor, an Nvidia Quadro P1000 or P2000 graphics card, up to 64GB of memory and up to 4TB of internal solid-state storage.
That alone would be enough to earn it a recommendation, but we’ve saved the best feature for last. The ThinkPad P1 can be configured with a fantastic 15-inch 4K colour-accurate display that supports 100 per cent of the AdobeRGB colour space, something you don’t find on many other laptops.
Even your older photos will look better than ever on this screen, with colours leaping out at you in ways that simply aren’t possible with a standard screen. While the ThinkPad P1’s high-end performance is met with equally sky-high pricing for the six-core version, the lower-tier model is still a relative powerhouse for photo editing, and you can always upgrade the screen when purchasing to the brilliant 4K version for a fairly small additional sum. DELL Inspiron 13 7000. Tablet mode not always needed Dell’s Inspiron 13 is a 2-in-1 laptop, meaning it can fold down into tablet format, so you can work with photos using your finger or a stylus via a 10-point touch-sensitive screen, in addition to being able to use it as a standard laptop. If this idea of a dual-model laptop appeals to you, you’ll be pleased to hear it also packs in some great performance too, with an eighth-generation Intel Core i5 processor. This will ensure any photo editing software you use with it will run smoothly, offering enough power for fluid manipulation of even high-resolution images, whether that’s using the trackpad in laptop mode, or with your fingers in tablet mode.
Perhaps surprisingly, given its good performance, great screen and bevvy of features, it’s far from the most expensive laptop option for photo editing. Apple MacBook Pro 15'. Limited memory Given the choice of the 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models for photo editing, we’d recommend the larger screen size for editing photos on, thanks to the increased desktop space that make it easier to scroll around and make adjustments to images on. That’s despite the higher price of the larger MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro is undoubtedly a gorgeous computer, especially the more recent Space Grey colour scheme. The TrueTone Retina display on Macs looks fantastic too and Apple’s TrackPad is one of the best you can find on laptops, which will make a big difference when making fiddly edits. MacOS works fantastically well with images too.
If you have an iPhone for photography and use iCloud Photo Library, every one of your photos will be uploaded from your phone into iCloud, then downloaded straight to your Mac automatically. They’ll already be on the laptop, ready for you to edit and manipulate in Apple’s own Photos app, or in another image editing program of your choice. Six-core eight-generation Intel processors are a new option in the 2018 version, which will make a real speed difference with the most complex of visual edits and plug-ins in Adobe Photoshop, particularly when working with high resolution imagery. One word of caution, with 256GB of storage and 8GB of memory as standard, which is rather modest for a laptop that costs this much, you might want to upgrade the specification when purchasing, as Apple laptops cannot be upgraded by the user. Read the full review: 05. Acer Swift 3 14”. Relatively thick frame Coming decked in an all-aluminium chassis and a range of colours, the appearance of Acer’s new laptop range has divided opinion.
But what’s clear is that you get a great specification for your money, making this one of the best laptops for photo editing. With a quad-core Intel processor and 8GB of memory as standard, even the mid-range model comes in at less than half the price of Apple’s MacBook Pros but can deliver roughly the same processing power. And the rest of the specification doesn’t skimp either – the 14-inch display uses IPS backlighting technology for wider viewing angles and brighter colours, and supports FHD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution.
They keyboard is great to work on too, making this a fantastic choice for anyone who wants the power to do serious photography work, without breaking the bank. And if you want a 4K screen, a laptop with that option is available too, again for less than competitors are asking. Apple MacBook. Single USB-C port If you think you’d prefer using a Mac and the macOS software ecosystem for photo editing, but your budget won’t quite stretch to the expensive MacBook Pro, Apple’s super-svelte and portable MacBook might be a good alternative, especially if you’re not planning on particularly complex image manipulation.
It weighs under 1kg, and measures 1.3cm at its thickest point, which is about small enough to fit into a bag and not notice it. It has a great 12-inch Retina display, which photos will look lovely on, a large trackpad for editing and 256GB of storage in the entry-level model, which will be more than enough to get. If you’re opting for the cheaper entry-level MacBook model, as with all Macs, it’s worth considering a few choice upgrades before purchase to smooth out performance. For photo editing, choosing 16GB of memory will make the biggest difference, and an upgrade from the base model’s Core M3 processor and a Core i5 or Core i7 will give it some extra oomph.
Here’s the thing about in today’s world: even your smartphone can edit videos. But here’s the rub: it can only edit a simple 1-minute video. If you’re a professional video editor and are looking to step up your game, then you have to get yourself the best laptop for video editing. The key points to consider when buying a laptop for video editing is the processing power, RAM, hard drive size and screen size. That’s why we’ve put together a chart below of the best laptops designed for photo editing. Top 10 Laptop for Video Editing Overview Chart Picture Name Screen Size Price Rating (1-5) Picture Name Screen Size Price Rating (1-5) 15.6' $$$ 5.0 17.3' $$$$ 4.8 13.3' $$$$ 4.7 17.3' $$ 4.6 15.4' $$$$$ 4.5 13.3' $ 4.4 15.6' $$ 4.4 17.3' $$$ 4.2 17.3' $$ 3.8 15.6' $$ 3.8 Windows vs Chrome OS. The first and foremost thing to note for video editors is that if you’re an Adobe user, then Chrome OS is definitely not an option for you; Adobe doesn’t exist on Chrome OS.
Windows, in turn, supports Adobe, which means it’s the best laptop for. Although there are a few options for video editing if you’re using Chrome OS: Magisto and WeVideo. Although neither Windows nor Chrome OS supports every SINGLE file type, with Windows you can download codecs to play on your laptop. For example, Chrome OS doesn’t play QuickTime.
Furthermore, Chrome OS doesn’t support.h264 files, which amounts to nearly 60% of all Web videos and many cameras record in it. Therefore, while Chrome OS will do fine for casual users, for professional video editors Windows laptop is a must.
The other excellent choice is of cause Apple iOS. Core i5 vs Core i7. Both Core i5 and Core i7 from Intel’s 4th Generation family support Hyper-Threading Technology. Hyper-Threading Technology increases laptop’s performance while multitasking. If you’re running several applications at the same time, for example, rendering a video and browsing the Internet, you get advantages from this feature.  While Core i5 can handle heavy work such as using several applications simultaneously without crashing, lagging or freezing, Core i7 works even faster. Core i7 is built for video editing and audio rendering, which demand a lot in terms of laptop’s performance.
 As of today, Core i7 are the best CPUs you can have as they provide the best in terms of power, speed, graphics and performance. So if you’re a professional video editor, Core i7 has all you need.
Top 3 Best Laptop for Video Editing Reviews ASUS ROG GL551JW-DS71 with its 15.6 inch screen is simply the best laptop for video editing available. With its Intel Core i7-4710HQ 2.5GHz processor, and graphics with Optimus Technology it’s perfect for video editing. Thanks to the Full HD display you can edit your videos at 1080p. Furthermore, with just one click, the NVIDIA GeForce Experience software optimizes the video editing process to give it the best performance and image quality possible. You should not worry about the battery life: the Optimus Technology automatically switches between discrete and integrated graphics to provide you with the exact performance you need any time you need it, thus extending your working time with video editing. As mentioned above, if you’re a professional video editor, Core i7 is all you need. So since ASUS ROG GL551JW-DS71 is armed with this processor, this is your best laptop for video editing.
Acer calls its Nitro a “beast,” and that’s an on-point description. Acer Aspire V17 Nitro is a beast that excels at every aspect of video editing. With a Core i7 processor and a large high-quality screen (17.3 inches), Acer is all about productivity, speed and power. Editing videos, let alone watching them, is simply a pleasant experience. If you like to edit your videos at night, this beast has a little surprise for you.
It has a red-lighted keyboard. Although it’s just a little thing, it makes the laptop enjoyable to use and work with. Acer Aspire V17 Nitro brings fascinating cinematic visuals for entertainment and work. Its Full HD IPS Display offers you bright colors and detailed imagery from all angles. Dell XPS 13 is incredibly lightweight and a portable. While being slim and compact, XPS 13 is free of containing materials like lead, mercury and some phthalates.
It is said to be the greenest XPS laptop ever. The laptop is equipped with Core i5, which is not the best option for video editing, but it’ll do just fine for non-professional video enthusiasts. The screen goes from edge to edge without a border, which still makes it a good choice for video editing. With its breath-taking UltraSharp QHD+ screen resolution (3200×1800) and 13.3 inch screen, the design and the esthetics of Dell XPS 13 are super stunning. Although it does have a negative thing. The 3200×1800 scaling is completely fine on the, but it appears to be blurry when you connect an external monitor.