Best Laptop for 4k Editing | Reviews & Top Picks

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Discover a list of the top 4k video editing laptops. Read in-depth reviews with pictures, videos and comparison charts to find the ideal laptop for your needs.

It is essential to have a laptop for 4k editing capabilities for those in the industry or who regularly work with raw HD or 4K video footage.

A high-resolution video requires a lot from your computer, and if it can’t handle it, then you’re going to have some issues. If you’re looking for one that meets the requirements of 4k videos, we’ve got some great choices below!

First off, let’s discuss what kind of hardware you’ll need to edit videos at this resolution. Though there are many different laptops out there that might be able to do the job, they won’t all be able to do so without difficulty. The first thing that comes to mind is the graphics card, which displays all those pixels. The Intel HD Graphics 620 should do just fine for many machines, but if you’re looking for something with more power behind it, look at the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or higher.

Without a powerful graphics card, your video will play back choppily, and you won’t be able to edit nearly as well. Now, while just about any laptop can handle 4k video editing with this easy requirement, there are still some other things you should look out for before purchasing your machine. The first is the processor since it will dictate how quickly you’re able to do everything. Look for a quad-core i5 or i7 chip to make the best decision.

Choosing a high-quality processor will allow you to edit videos quickly and do other activities without having to worry about things like slow rendering times, which is something you’ll want when working with 4k footage. While some laptops might meet these requirements, they don’t have what it takes to edit 4k videos well. Make sure you choose one that meets all of the following criteria:

• Intel HD Graphics 630 or better
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or higher
• 8+ GB of RAM
• Quad-core i5 processor or higher

Now that you know what you should be looking for let’s look at the best laptops for 4k video editing.

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Best Laptop for 4k Editing | Comparison Table

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Best Laptop for 4k Editing | Reviews

1. Dell XPS 15 laptop (Best Overall)

Related reading: Best Laptop Under $200 | Reviews and Buying Guide

2. LG LCD Laptop 16″ WGXGA (Best Value)

3. ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 Laptop

4. 2019 Apple MacBook Pro

5. Alienware m17 R4

6. GIGABYTE AERO 17 HDR XD

7. MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-229

8. ASUS ZenBook 15 Ultra-Slim Laptop

9. Dell XPS 13 9310 Touchscreen

10. MSI GF65 Thin 10UE-047

11. OEM Lenovo ThinkPad X1

12. Acer ConceptD3 Ezel CC314-72G-72SX Convertible Creator Laptop

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Video: How to use Free Windows 10 Video Editor

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Laptops vs. Desktops for video editing

Laptops have advanced tremendously, and over the years, it’s become increasingly easier to edit videos on them. Picking a laptop is about how much you need, portability vs. size & weight, power, and price point. Desktops are better for custom builds and starting fresh. Laptops tend to be more expensive than making your desktop computer, with all of its components being brand new.

Desktops are more stable because they don’t often move. In contrast, laptops are constantly being moved around, which can cause damage to the laptop’s internal hardware because of being bumped or knocked over, but it also means that laptops are more portable.

Let’s break down the five things to consider when choosing a laptop over a desktop computer

Performance

People need to consider how much they are willing to pay for a laptop that will be powerful enough for their needs. When weighing the pros and cons, people should consider how much it costs to buy a computer compared to building a desktop computer. For example, if you’re purchasing the components together instead of piecemeal over time, the cost of a laptop is more expensive. Plus, desktops are way easier to upgrade, and their features are generally cheaper.

However, if you’re looking for a cheaper option and want to get some basics going while saving money, buying a less expensive laptop works too, depending on the specification. A decent video editing laptop must have a powerful processor and a graphics card. Most video editing software relies heavily on the GPU to process videos faster, which is why having a gaming laptop for video editing is recommended because they have more powerful GPUs.

That being said, if you’re starting, buying a cheaper laptop might be what you need until you can afford a more expensive one.

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Durability

People must consider how much they are willing to spend on a laptop that can handle the physical demands of video editing work. A 4k laptop for video editing should be able to last a long time and take a few knocks along the way. Most laptops aren’t as durable as desktop computers because they’re designed to be portable and moved around.

However, some laptops can handle everyday bumps and bruises. So, people should look for a sturdy laptop if their work involves traveling with it often or moving it around frequently.

Laptops are also prone to overheat, so you should check that their notebook has enough room for airflow, cooling vents to keep the device cool during video editing. If it overheats, the system will automatically shut down and not function until it’s cooled down again.

It won’t last as long as a desktop computer if the laptop isn’t designed well for heat dissipation.

Portable

Most people who work on the go, whether it be for a home business or on the road traveling from one job to another, need a high-quality laptop that’s lightweight and portable.

A light video editing laptop also allows easy travel between locations where they have to set up shop. They can easily carry their computer from place to site and set up their workstation wherever they want.

On the other hand, a desktop computer takes up too much physical space and isn’t very portable. It’s cumbersome to go from one location to another with a desktop computer in tow, and it would be challenging to take it on business trips.

Mobility is vital for people who travel often or are freelancers that work out of their home office.

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Multiple screens

A lot of video editors like to work with multiple screens. Some video editing laptops come with two or more monitors, which provides the user with more screen space and makes it easier to edit their videos. You can hook up a desktop computer to several screens, but it usually isn’t as flexible as a laptop.

However, some laptops are designed to accommodate more than one monitor, so the user can have two or three screens hooked up to their computer at once. They might need special adapters for some laptop models to hook up multiple monitors because not all laptops have the necessary ports.

Usability

Most video editors will be sitting in front of their computers for hours on end while they work. So, the laptop must be comfortable to use for long periods. The screen should be easy to view without straining one’s eyesight, and it should have enough resolution so that the images are sharp and clear.

The keyboard should also provide a good typing experience. A responsive keyboard helps with productivity when editing videos. The keystrokes should be straightforward to distinguish from each other.

The trackpad should also be responsive because the user might not always use a mouse when editing videos on their laptop. So, there should be little or no lag when navigating around an application with their trackpad or touchscreen.

When deciding which to buy, you must consider your needs, price point, and projects. If you are frequently meeting clients at the project site, a laptop will be the obvious choice.

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The buying guide on how to choose the best 4k video editing laptop

Video editing requires a powerful computer and a hard drive with a lot of space to play back high-resolution videos smoothly. This guide will go over the best features and specs you must have for video editing.

CPU and Memory

A video editor needs a laptop to handle all the processing power required to edit high-resolution videos as quickly as possible. For this to happen, you need either a high-end laptop with good specifications or a good gaming laptop that has been optimized for video editing.

A powerful processor is necessary, as well as plenty of RAM so that your computer can process large data sets without slowing down too much.

You’ll want a CPU with high GHz. The higher the GHz, the faster your computer can process video files without slowing down or getting stuck. Because several applications will be running at once while you edit your videos, you must have a speedy processor to make sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. It’s recommended to look for at least an Intel Core i7 processor.

RAM is another important feature because it affects how quickly your laptop can access files. The more RAM, the faster your computer will process large video files and projects without running into snags.

While there are many different kinds of RAM, you should find a laptop with either 8GB or 16GB. However, if you must choose between one or the other, go with 16GB because it’s better than upgrading later (which will cost more money).

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SSD Storage

A video editor needs a laptop with enough storage space to save multiple video clips for editing. It must have at least one solid-state hard drive (SSD) that is big enough to support the resolution of the videos you’ll be working on.

Many laptops come with solid-state or hybrid drives, which are also good choices for video editors who want an efficient, high-performing machine.

Screen Size and Resolution

You’ll need a laptop with a large FHD monitor so that you can see the details in your video clips, as well as enough resolution so that everything looks sharp and clear. Video editors usually choose between two sizes:

– 14 inches for smaller, more lightweight laptops

– 15 to 17 inches if portability isn’t much of an issue

A larger monitor is recommended because it allows you to edit videos more efficiently. The pixels should be large enough, so you don’t see the individual squares when looking at your video clips.

A minimum of 1920 x 1080 resolution is recommended for working with 4k video editing, although 2560 x 1440 resolution is even better if it’s available on your monitor. You can also find ultra-wide monitors with 3440 x 1440 resolution, which will be a good choice for video editors who want to see more of the details in their videos.

Backlit keyboard

A backlit keyboard is helpful if you’re editing your videos in low-light locations, such as an office space or meeting room. This feature makes it easier to see what keys are under your fingers so that you can move around the screen without having to strain your eyes too much. You’ll be much more productive.

As a side note, while gaming laptops do make excellent video editors, they sometimes have a strange keyboard layout, so best to check first.

Ports and Connections

You can’t edit videos if you don’t have a way to transfer them from your camera or external hard drive onto the laptop. The best laptops for video editing should contain plenty of ports and connections so that you can plug in whatever device you need to use at a given time.

For example, USB 3.0 is an ideal port for transferring video files from a camcorder or camera to a laptop. It’s also a good idea to look for a computer with an HDMI output so that you can connect the computer directly to your TV without having to use an adapter or converter.

In addition, most modern laptops have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting online and uploading your content to a platform such as YouTube.

Screen type

There are two types of screens – IPS panel and TN (Twisted Nematic) panel.

Most gaming laptops possess TN panels because of the high response time, but the screen becomes blurred and ghost-like if not sat directly in front of it. So, think about your own work needs here. Does a colleague or client ever view the video while seated next to you? If so, one of you is likely to experience a change in color and contrast.

The solution is to opt for the IPS panel because it eliminates the distortion when viewed from different angles.

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Weight and size

If you need to move your laptop around quite frequently, it’s worth investing in one that’s lighter and slimmer. You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you are when you have a lightweight machine to work with.

The best laptops for video editing will weigh less than five pounds so that you can take them with you to business meetings or conferences. Modern laptops have been engineered to be slimmer without reducing screen or keyboard size.

Battery Life

If you plan to edit videos outdoors or away from home, it’s important to consider battery life. You’ll want your laptop to last between 3 and 5 hours so that you can keep editing even when you’re on the move.

Some manufacturers make claims about battery life that are slightly exaggerated, so it’s essential to read reviews online before deciding on the model you’re interested in. Video editing requires a lot of power, and so the battery must stand up to that test as it’s not always possible to plug into a mains power source.

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Audio

Good laptop audio is vital to the editing process.

The best laptops for editing video will have a stereo or surround sound so that you can hear your media playback properly. A computer with a headphone jack is needed to edit without disturbing other people, and you can listen to the playback without any distortion.

It’s also worth researching the sound during video calls, as it’s highly likely you’ll be liaising with your client during the project. Being able to hear them in any location will showcase your professionalism and reliability and is a must if you’re considering working from home. While a budget laptop can perform well, it’ll be worth investing in a high spec laptop, especially if you’re pitching to a high-end client.

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Conclusion

Laptops come in many different shapes and sizes, and your choice will depend on the particular features you need.

The best laptops for editing video contain a powerful processor, as well as an abundance of USB ports and enough RAM to handle whatever task comes their way. The screen should be clear and easy to see at all times without any distortion, and the volume should be high enough to hear without headphones.

However, there are certain features that are essential to any kind of video editing including a powerful processor, good battery life, fast Wi-Fi connectivity, plenty of USB ports and an HDMI output so that external devices can be connected with ease. These specs ensure smooth playback at all times, and will be instrumental when it comes to video editing.

In addition, the two main types of screen – IPS panel and TN (Twisted Nematic) panel both have their pros and cons for videographers. A high-resolution display with a powerful processor and ample RAM ensures smooth playback and ease of use.

So, if you’re looking for the best laptops for video editing, search no further!

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