Most laptop shoppers who are looking for a bargain laptop to use as a video editor will tell you that it’s hard to find a bargain that also has the power to handle large video files with ease.
Fortunately, the budget laptop market has exploded over the last few years, with many top-notch, yet affordable options now available. With the advice of this article, you can now find the best cheap laptops under $1000 that offer the best-in-class performance you are looking for.
4K video has become the standard format for many people, however, editing 4K video is a CPU intensive job and requires an editing machine capable of providing adequate storage space and an accurate color display.
When on a budget, there are many mid range laptops capable of running complex editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Black Magic Design’s DaVinci Resolve.
In this article, we have compiled a list of the best budget laptops for video editing that offer great performance without paying a lot of money.
✔️ Escalate your game with up to 8 high-performance cores in the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD storage
✔️ With NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics behind you, you can enjoy the depth and visual fidelity of real-time ray-tracing – RTX Gaming, It’s On
✔️ The 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display on the Legion 5 gaming laptop delivers speed and color clarity for full-fidelity gaming
✔️ Legion TrueStrike keyboard with 4-zone RGB backlight; 2 x 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio for Gamers
✔️ Connectivity: Built-in 720p webcam with e-shutter, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 4 USB, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, RJ45 Ethernet
✔️ 10th Generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 Processor (Up to 3. 9GHz) 16GB LPDDR4X Memory 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
✔️ 13.5″ Acer VertiView 2K 2256 x 1504 Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Touch Display (3:2 aspect ratio) Intel Iris Plus Graphics
✔️ Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201 802. 11ax Backlit Keyboard fingerprint reader up to 15 hours battery life
✔️ 2 – USB 3. 1 Type C port supporting USB 3. 1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps), DisplayPort over USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, USB Charging, DC-in, 2 – USB 3. 2 Gen 1 port (one featuring power-off charging) & 1 – HDMI 2. 0 port
✔️ Co-Engineered for Mobile Performance by Intel and Acer Rechargeable Acer Active Stylus with Wacom AES 1. 0
✔️ All-Day Battery Life – Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life.
✔️ Powerful Performance – Take on everything from professional-quality editing to action-packed gaming with ease. The Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance than the previous generation while using way less power.
✔️ Superfast Memory – 8GB of unified memory makes your entire system speedy and responsive. That way it can support tasks like memory-hogging multitab browsing and opening a huge graphic file quickly and easily.
✔️ Stunning Display – With a 13.3” Retina display, images come alive with new levels of realism. Text is sharp and clear, and colors are more vibrant.
✔️ Why Mac – Easy to learn. Easy to set up. Astoundingly powerful. Intuitive. Packed with apps to use right out of the box. Mac is designed to let you work, play, and create like never before.
✔️ Simply Compatible – All your existing apps work, including Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, and Google Drive. Plus you can use your favorite iPhone and iPad apps directly on macOS. Altogether you’ll have access to the biggest collection of apps ever for Mac. All available on the App Store.
✔️ Easy to Learn – If you already have an iPhone, MacBook Air feels familiar from the moment you turn it on. And it works perfectly with all your Apple devices. Use your iPad to extend the workspace of your Mac, answer texts and phone calls directly on your Mac, and more.
✔️ 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-glare LED Backlight Non-Touch Narrow Border WVA Display
✔️ 11th Generation Intel Core i7-11370H Processor (12MB Cache, up to 4.8GHz)
✔️ 8GB 3200MHz DDR4 , 512 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
✔️ NVIDIA GeForce MX450 with 2GB GDDR5 graphics memory
✔️ Intel Wi-Fi 6 2×2 (Gig+) + Bluetooth 5.1
✔️ Using Alexa on your PC is as easy as asking a question. Just ask and Alexa can check your calendar, create lists, play music, answer questions, read the news and more.
✔️ 13.3 inch OLED 400nits Full HD (1920 x 1080) Wide View 4-way NanoEdge bezel display
✔️ Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor 2.8 GHz (12M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 4 cores)
✔️ Comes with Windows 10 Home and a FREE upgrade to Windows 11 (when available1)
✔️ Fast storage and memory featuring 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
✔️ Built-in IR camera for facial recognition sign in with Windows Hello
✔️ 15.6″ FHD LED Display, 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity, Anti-glare Energy-efficient LED screen. No webcam
✔️ Intel 9th Gen Core i7-9750H Processor, Ultra-low-voltage platform. Hexa-core, twelve-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go.
✔️ [ Upgraded by CUE ] 8GB DDR4 RAM, plenty of high-bandwidth to smoothly run your games as well as multiple programs. 512G SSD Save files fast and store more data. With massive amounts of storage and advanced communication power, great for major gaming, multiple servers, backups, and more.
✔️ RGB Backlit Keyboard, features a highlighted WASD key group, broader space bar, allows you to enjoy comfortable and accurate typing, even in dim lighting. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4GB dedicated Graphics memory. Smart Amp Audio, Stereo Speaker System.
✔️ Windows 10 Home included. 3-cell Lithium-ion battery, 14.2″ x 10.8″ x 1.0″, 5.3 lbs. 3 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x 3.5-mm headphone/microphone combo jack, 1 x LAN, 1 x HDMI 2.0 output expands your viewing options. Wireless-AC and Bluetooth, Black
✔️ Intel Quad Core 10th Generation i5-10210U Processor 2.10GHz Base Frequency (6MB Cache, 8 Threads), up to 4.20GHz Turbo Frequency
✔️ 4GB LPDDR3 2133 MHz RAM Integrated memory, 128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive SSD for faster booting and less heat, You’ll experience incredibly long battery life up to 19 hours.
✔️ Your entertainment can go with you everywhere—starting at just 2.7 pounds, the smaller, thinner XPS 13 is ready for take-off, 13.3-inch FHD(1920×1080) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Touch Display Narrow Border Intel UHD Graphics with shared graphics memory, SD Card Reader, Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2 x 2) faster speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps and Bluetooth 5.1
✔️ Dell Black Backlit English Keyboard, The fingerprint reader integrated into the power button lets you log on with just a touch, built in 720P HD Webcam Front Camera with Digital Microphone, A new 4-element lens uses more elements than a typical webcam to deliver sharp video in all areas of the frame, Waves MaxxAudio Pro and Stereo Speakers
✔️ Windows 10 Home (64bit), Platinum Silver with Black carbon fiber palmrest, ENERGY STAR Qualified, 2x Thunderbolt 3 with PowerDelivery & Display Port, 1x USB-C 3.1, 1x MicroSD Card Reader
✔️ 15.6″ Full HD IPS Anti-glare Micro-edge WLED-backlit Touchscreen (1920 x 1080) Display
✔️ AMD Ryzen 5 4500U 2.30GHz Hexa-Core Processor up to 4.0GHz, AMD Radeon Graphics with Shared Graphics Memory
✔️ 8GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer
✔️ 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Combination Audio Jack, 1 x Multi-format SD Media Card Reader
✔️ HP Wide Vision HD Camera with Integrated Dual Array Digital Microphone, HP Audio Boost 2.0 with Bang & Olufsen Dual Speakers, Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint Reader, Wireless-AX and Bluetooth Combo, Windows 10 Home, 4.41 Pounds
✔️ Stunning 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology
✔️ Backlit Magic Keyboard and Touch ID
✔️ Tenth-generation Intel Core i3 processor
✔️ Intel Iris Plus Graphics
✔️ Fast SSD storage
✔️ 8GB of memory
✔️ Stereo speakers with wider stereo sound
✔️ Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
✔️ Up to 11 hours of battery life
✔️ Force Touch trackpad
✔️ A new dimension of gaming performance awaits – with 9th-generation Intel Core i5 processors, the IdeaPad L340 gaming has the power you need to outshoot, outrun, and outsmart anyone. Includes 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD
✔️ Take it to the next level – With the latest NVIDIA GeForce Graphics behind you, you can tame the hottest titles with faster, smoother, and more power-efficient gameplay. Plus, the 15.6-Inch screen delivers a stunning full HD IPS Display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
✔️ A portal to a new sound dimension – hardwired into every Idea Pad L340 gaming is advanced Dopoundsy audio technology. Take your mobile gaming experience to another dimension and have a real blast along the way
✔️ Control your own fate – Game in ‘quick’ Mode or work in ‘quiet’ Mode. It’s your call with a simple function setting that lets you shift gears between modes, instantly.
✔️ Final product may vary slightly from image
✔️ Power & performance – Maximize performance with an Intel Core i7 Processor, a solid state drive with up to 512GB of storage and an NVIDIA MX 250 graphics card.
✔️ Gigabit Wi-Fi – Seamlessly transfer, download or stream with an ultra-fast Gigabit Wi-Fi that delivers stunning high-speed connectivity.
✔️ Versatile Ports – Use ports and plug-ins like the USB-C input, 2 USB 3. 0 ports and an HDMI and SD card reader.
✔️ Refined design – An ultra-slim bezel, on a sleek aluminum chassis, lets you enjoy more on a durable glass screen.
✔️ Elevated entertainment – A full HD screen and high-definition Dolby Atoms speakers deliver entertainment the way it was intended.
✔️ 【Upgraded】Seal is opened for upgrade only, 1-Year warranty on Upgraded RAM/SSD from Snow Bell, and original 1-Year Manufacture warranty on remaining components. 【15.6″ FHD Micro-edge Display】1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity, Anti-Glare Energy-efficient Widescreen LED.
✔️ 【AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen 5-4600H Processor】Ultra-low-voltage platform. Hexa-core, twelve-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go.
✔️ 【16GB DDR4 RAM】Plenty of high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run your games as well as multiple programs. 【1TB HDD+256GB SSD】Save files fast and store more data. With plenty amounts of storage and advanced communication power, great for major gaming, multiple servers, backups, and more.
✔️ 【Backlit keyboard】with integrated numeric pad, Allows you to enjoy comfortable and accurate typing, even in dim lighting.【NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics】with shared video memory provide solid image quality for Internet use, movies, basic photo editing and casual gaming. Audio by B&O with dual speakers & 720p HD camera with Built-In Microphone.
✔️ 【Windows 10 Home included】3-cell Lithium-ion polymer Battery. 14.17″ x 10.12″ x 0.93”, 4.37 lbs. 2x USB 3.0 Type A Ports, 1x USB 3.0 Type C Port, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combo, 1x HDMI, 1x Multi-format SD media card reader. Wireless-AC + Bluetooth, Shadow Black, Bonus 32GB SnowBell USB Card.
✔️ Ultimate Performance. Uncompromised Battery Life: Speed up tasks with AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor with Zen 3 Core Architecture, available for ultrathin laptops, so you can save time and get back to creating
✔️ RTX, It’s On: The latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU (4GB GDDR6 VRAM) is powered by award-winning Ampere architecture with new Ray
✔️ Tracing Cores, Tensor Cores, and streaming multiprocessors supporting DirectX 12 Ultimate for incredible creativity
✔️ A True Visual Representation: Create your best content on the 14″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Widescreen LED-backlit 100% sRGB display with 300 nits brightness and 16:9 aspect ratio
✔️ Internal Specifications: 16GB LPDDR4X memory (maximum 16GB); 512GB NVMe SSD; 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz featuring 2×2 MU-MIMO technology; Bluetooth 5.2
✔️ Windows Hello with Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint reader and Windows Hello sign-in options help keep your Acer PC secure
✔️ Using Alexa on your PC is as easy as asking a question. Just ask and Alexa can check your calendar, create lists, play music, answer questions, read the news and more.
✔️ Made to Move: At just 3.06 lbs, this Acer Swift X laptop is ready to go where you go. The metal design is thin and lightweight, but packs a whole lot of battery power with fast charging capability
✔️ Hear It to Believe It: Stream music, play back videos, and hear it all with optimized bass response and distortion prevention from DTS Audio in the dual front-facing speakers
✔️ Ports For All Your Accessories: USB Type-C Port USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) DisplayPort over USB Type-C & USB Charging, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1 Power-off Charging), HDMI 2.0 with HDCP support, Headphone/Microphone-in Jack, DC-in for AC adapter
✔️ NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6 up to 1585MHz at 60W (75W with Dynamic Boost 2.0)
✔️ Intel Core i7-11370H processor (12M Cache, up to 4.8GHz)
✔️ 15.6” 144Hz IPS-Type Full HD (1920×1080) display with adaptive sync
✔️ 8GB DDR4 RAM | 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | Backlit Precision Gaming Keyboard
✔️ 0.8” thin, 4.4 lbs ultraportable form-factor
✔️ Comes with Windows 10 Home and a FREE upgrade to Windows 11 (when available1)
The Best Video Editing Laptop Features
Let’s start with our list, but first, a rough idea of what you should look for when shopping for a video editing laptop.
If you want to invest in a laptop to use for video editing, it is best to know beforehand that video editing is a huge resource-taxing process. If you are serious about making a career out of it, invest in a laptop that can at least 8GB of RAM, SSD storage, at least a Core i5 processor, dedicated graphics card, and a good color-calibrated screen with a minimum resolution of 1920 * 1080.
Video editing software is no longer only available for Macs, with some good video editing software for Windows available now. That said, the laptop you choose will depend on the type of video editing software you will be using.
Having an upgrade for your laptop will allow you to work with bigger files, like editing HD videos with multiple layers, applying filters to the video with all the available features, and editing with footage in 1080p HD.
For example, if you use Adobe Premiere Pro, you’ll have to invest in a high-end laptop with at least 8GB of RAM and a high-end graphics card, but if you’re using something like Shotcut elements or Premier doesnt require too much horsepower.
Considerations Before Buying
We know how you feel when you want to buy a laptop and the costs seem too high for you. You will be able to enjoy some great features with a low budget. A laptop for video editing under 1000 will be enough to meet your daily needs and all your demands.
High-Resolution Screen: Instead of worrying about what screen size is best for your desk or your desk space, let your eye make the call. The screen size should match your desk space as it will be taking up a considerable amount of your desk.
It’s important to consider how far you’ll be sitting from the screen as well as the size. Ideally, the size of the screen should be between 13 and 17 inches. You should buy a laptop with the best screen in its price segment.
If you are an editor who has never owned a laptop with a 4K display, you may want to just ask your boss to purchase one for you. These computers are still pretty pricey, but the extra cash is worth it if you are serious about your work.
Unless you edit videos exclusively in 4K, buying a laptop with a 4K display is not worth the price.
You might find these words overwhelming, but fear not! We at The Electronics Box have compiled the best video editing laptops with full HD and 4K display for different budgets.
Hard Disk Type: Latest advancements in storage technology are SSDs. They are state of the art, using the newest memory chips to store data, resulting in super-fast speeds that are tough to match.
The goal of every laptop, especially for professionals, is to have high-performance features. From portability to strength, there are many different factors that you should consider when choosing your laptop.
What is it that you do in your daily life that you need your laptop to be able to do for you? If you need to edit content, then you need to consider that an SSD drive that is at least 500GB is the right choice for you.
Tech wizards always use the latest technology, so why not do the same and go with the latest and greatest? This is what we recommend.
Processors: The processors we recommend for the best video editing laptops will help you gain speed and smoothness. From our research and advice, we recommend an i5 or an i7 processor.
Graphics Cards: A good graphic card is something we recommend and you should also look out for when buying your best video editing laptop. The chance to document and edit every moment in life in a creative manner makes people feel a little bit more independent.
Achieving better results with video editing can be achieved through hardware acceleration that’s present on newer generation Intel and AMD processors. This means that if you have an A-grade laptop with graphics, it would be worth it for you to invest in one.
New graphics cards such as Nvidia’s GeForce GTX and RTX series offer remarkable performance and reliability, and were engineered to be revolutionary. These cards also offer improvements such as efficiency and groundbreaking new ray-tracing features for gaming and video editing alike.
The popularity of this action is increasing, and one can witness that in the tons of people using social media to share their journey in that specific way. The budding filmmakers who desire to post their creations on YouTube need more gadgets to engage their creativity.
To be a pro video creator and editor, you’ll need to ensure you have higher end and more sophisticated laptops.
Keyboard Quality: I’d go as far as to say that keyboards are one of the most integral parts of a laptop. They tend to be very hardy and reliable. Sadly, most of the time, some keys on a keyboard will stop working and render your laptop useless. So it’s important to invest in a laptop with a good quality keyboard.
RAM: RAM is the most important part of your laptop, none of your programs will work without it. When trying to find a “suitable amount” of RAM, it all depends on what you will be using it for.
If you will be working on high-definition videos (1920 x 1080), your computer with a built-in 8 to 12 GB RAM would be enough to get you going. For more advanced video resolutions like 4K (and 8K), I would advise you to have 16GB or more RAM in your laptop.
Battery: You can search for a good battery that has a lot of battery life. It’ll have a lot of features that will be able to help you with a lot of tasks. Also, you can look for a fast charger to keep up with modern times.
Conclusion
Picking the one ‘best laptop for video editing’ would be impossible. It all depends on your preferences combined with your usage that determines the one best machine fit for your routine.
The multitude of choices to match different needs can be overwhelming, but it helps to know your audience so you can explore what type of laptop will be best for them.
We hope that our short reviews of each video editing laptop below will help you determine which laptop you should invest in, but if you still need further guidance in ascertaining which laptop you should invest in, feel free to ask us and leave a comment below.