Video editing is a demanding task that requires a powerful laptop with sufficient RAM, storage, and processing power to handle large files and complex editing software.
However, not everyone can afford a high-end laptop for video editing, which is why it’s important to find a budget-friendly option that still meets your needs.
With so many laptops on the market, it can be overwhelming to find the right one for video editing on a budget.
Laptops For Video Editing Budget
Video editing requires a powerful and efficient laptop that can handle the demands of editing software without breaking the bank. For those on a budget, finding a laptop that meets the requirements for video editing can be challenging.
However, there are several options available that offer powerful processors, ample storage, and high-quality displays without costing a fortune. With the right combination of specs and features, budget-friendly laptops can provide a smooth and seamless video editing experience.
In this article, we will explore some of the best laptops for video editing on a budget and their key features.
1. Alienware R2 Laptop
If you’re looking for a powerful laptop that can handle both gaming and video editing, the Alienware X17 R2 is definitely worth considering.
It boasts a stunning 17.3-inch FHD 480Hz 1ms display, an Intel Core i9-12900H processor, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8GB graphics card.
Display
The 17.3-inch FHD 480Hz 1ms display is one of the standout features of the Alienware X17 R2. It offers a refresh rate of 480Hz and a response time of 1 ms, which makes it ideal for gaming and video editing.
Additionally, it has ComfortView Plus, NVIDIA G-SYNC, and Advanced Optimus Display, which all help to reduce eye strain and provide a more immersive experience.
Processor
The 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor is incredibly powerful and can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease.
It has a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz and can turbo boost up to 5.0 GHz, making it one of the fastest processors on the market.
RAM and Storage
The Alienware X17 R2 comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, which is more than enough for most gaming and video editing tasks.
It also has a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, which provides lightning-fast storage speeds and ample storage space for all your files and programs.
Battery
The battery life on the Alienware X17 R2 is average for a gaming laptop, with a reported 6-7 hours of battery life under normal usage.
However, when gaming or video editing, the battery life will be significantly shorter.
Keyboard
The keyboard on the Alienware X17 R2 is comfortable to type on and has customizable RGB lighting, which can be adjusted to your liking.
Webcam
The laptop comes with a 720p HD webcam, which is decent for video conferencing and online meetings.
Screen Size
The 17.3-inch screen size is perfect for gaming and video editing, providing ample screen real estate for multiple windows and applications.
Ports
The Alienware X17 R2 has a good selection of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet, USB-A, and a headphone/microphone jack.
Pros
- Powerful processor
- Stunning display
- Ample storage space
- Customizable keyboard
- Good selection of ports
Cons
- Average battery life
- Bulky design
2. ASUS VivoBook Pro Laptop
The ASUS VivoBook Pro 15X is a great budget-friendly laptop for video editing. It boasts impressive specs, including a 144Hz 15.6” FHD display, AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX Mobile CPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB PCIe SSD.
Let’s dive into each of these specs to see why this laptop is a great choice for video editors on a budget.
Display
The 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 aspect ratio display has a 144Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for video editing.
It also has ultra-slim NanoEdge bezels, which maximize the screen-to-body ratio and provide a more immersive viewing experience.
Processor
The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX Mobile Processor is an 8-core/16-thread processor with a 16MB cache and up to 4.9 GHz max boost.
This means that it’s fast and can handle multiple tasks at once, making it great for video editing.
Storage and RAM
The VivoBook Pro 15X features a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 Performance SSD and 32GB DDR5 RAM.
This provides ample storage for large video files and ensures that the laptop runs smoothly when editing.
Battery
The battery life of the ASUS VivoBook Pro 15X is not its strongest suit, with a 63Wh battery that can last up to 7 hours on a single charge.
This may not be enough for some users, but it can be extended by reducing screen brightness and turning off unnecessary programs.
Keyboard
The backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader is comfortable to type on, and the anti-glare coating helps reduce eye strain during long editing sessions.
Webcam
The VivoBook Pro 15X has a 720p HD webcam, which is sufficient for video conferencing and calls.
Ports
The VivoBook Pro 15X comes with a variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.0b, RJ45 LAN port, and a memory card slot.
Pros
- AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX Processor
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU
- 32GB DDR5 RAM 1TB PCIe SSD
- 144Hz FHD display
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint reader
Cons
- Battery life could be longer
- No optical drive
3. Razer Blade 15 Laptop
The Razer Blade 15 Gaming and video editing budget Laptop is a high-performance machine designed for gamers and creative professionals who demand power and speed.
With its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU and 12th Gen Intel 14-Core i7 CPU, it is a top contender for video editing tasks as well.
Display
The Razer Blade 15 boasts a 15.6-inch FHD 360Hz display, providing gamers and content creators with crisp and clear visuals.
The high refresh rate of 360Hz ensures that there is no lag or delay in rendering frames during fast-paced video editing or gaming sessions.
Processor
The 12th Gen Intel 14-Core i7 CPU is a powerful processor that can handle the most demanding tasks with ease.
With up to 4.8GHz of Turbo Boost, the Razer Blade 15 provides unparalleled performance for video editing and gaming.
Storage and RAM
The laptop features a 1TB PCIe SSD and 16GB DDR5 RAM. This combination allows for lightning-fast boot times and quick application load times.
Battery
The Razer Blade 15 has a 65Wh battery that can last for up to 6 hours on a single charge, making it ideal for on-the-go use.
Keyboard
The keyboard on the Razer Blade 15 is backlit with Chroma RGB lighting, providing gamers and creatives with a unique and customizable typing experience.
Webcam
The laptop has a 720p HD webcam, which is adequate for video calls and online meetings.
Ports
The Razer Blade 15 features advanced connectivity options such as a built-in HDMI 2.1 port, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, and UHS-III SD card slot, making it easy to connect to external displays and other devices.
Pros
- 12th Gen Intel 14-Core i7 CPU
- RTX 3070 Ti GPU
- FHD 360Hz display
- Fast DDR5 RAM
- PCIe SSD storage
- 4 USB-C port and UHS-III
- SD card slot
Cons
- Average battery life of 6 hours
- No webcam cover for privacy
4. Dell Newest 2-in-1 Laptop
The Dell Newest Inspiron 7620 2-in-1 Laptop is a great option for those looking for a powerful machine to handle video editing tasks within a budget.
Let’s dive into the details of this laptop.
Display
The 16-inch FHD+ touch narrow border IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 offers clear and vibrant visuals with excellent colour reproduction.
The touch functionality is a bonus for creative tasks such as drawing and design work.
Processor
The laptop features the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P processor with 12 cores and 16 threads, making it powerful enough to handle video editing software with ease.
The Intel Iris Xe graphics also help in providing a smooth visual experience.
Storage and RAM
The 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 solid-state drive and 16GB DDR4 RAM allow for fast boot-up times and quick transfer of large files, a must-have feature for video editors.
Ports
The laptop is equipped with two USB 3.2 Type C Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, a headphone/microphone jack, and an SD card reader.
The Thunderbolt 4 ports offer high-speed data transfer and charging options.
Keyboard and Webcam
The backlit keyboard is comfortable to type on, even in low light. The FHD webcam provides clear and detailed videos for video conferencing and streaming purposes.
Battery
Unfortunately, the battery life is not the best, lasting only about 6-7 hours on a single charge. This may not be sufficient for those who need to work on the go for extended periods.
Pros
- 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor
- 16GB RAM 1TB SSD
- High-quality FHD
- Touch display
- Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Backlit keyboard
- FHD webcam
Cons
- Short battery life
5. MSI Creator Laptop
The MSI Creator 17 Professional Laptop is a powerhouse for video editors who require a high-performance laptop for their work.
Let’s dive into the details of its features.
Display
The 17.3″ UHD 120Hz 100% DCI-P3 display is perfect for video editing. With fast response time and vibrant colours, it ensures that you can see the details of your footage and make accurate adjustments.
Processor
The 11th Gen. Intel Core i7 processor with 8 cores and boosting up to 4.9 GHz is perfect for running demanding software like Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and DaVinci Resolve.
It ensures that you can work on multiple projects at the same time without any lag.
Storage and RAM
With a 512GB NVME SSD and 16GB RAM, you get ample storage space and memory for storing your footage and running demanding applications.
Battery
The 99Whr battery ensures that you can work on the go without worrying about running out of power. It provides enough juice to last through an entire day of work.
Keyboard and Webcam
The backlit keyboard is great for working in low-light environments. The webcam is decent but not exceptional, so you might want to consider an external camera for better quality.
Screen Size
The 17.3-inch screen is large enough to work on multiple projects simultaneously and provides a good viewing experience.
Ports
The Creator 17 features a wide range of I/O ports, including Thunderbolt 4 supporting power delivery and up to 40Gbps of data transfer, which is great for transferring large video files.
Pros
High-performance processor and graphics card, vibrant display with fast response time, a wide range of I/O ports, and long battery life.
Cons
The webcam quality is not exceptional, and the price might be high for those on a tight budget.
Conclusion
finding a laptop for video editing on a budget can be a challenging task, but it is not impossible. With the advancements in technology, there are several options available that can meet the demands of video editing without breaking the bank.
It is important to consider factors such as display quality, processing power, storage capacity, and portability when selecting a laptop for video editing. While higher-end models may offer the best performance, there are several budget-friendly options that can get the job done.
Ultimately, it is essential to strike a balance between price and performance to find a laptop that meets both your video editing needs and your budget.
MSI Creator 17 Professional Laptop, ASUS VivoBook Pro 15X Laptop, Alienware X17 R2 Laptop is perfect for video editing on a budget.
FAQs
Q: What should be the minimum specifications for a laptop for video editing on a budget?
A: A laptop with at least a quad-core processor, 8GB RAM, a dedicated graphics card, and SSD storage should be the minimum requirement for video editing on a budget.
Q: Is it necessary to have a dedicated graphics card for video editing?
A: Yes, a dedicated graphics card is essential for video editing as it takes the load off the CPU and provides better performance.
Q: Can I use a regular laptop for video editing?
A: While you can use a regular laptop for video editing, it may not provide the best performance. It’s recommended to have a laptop with at least a quad-core processor, a dedicated graphics card, and 8GB RAM for smooth video editing.
Q: What are some budget-friendly laptop brands for video editing?
A: Some budget-friendly laptop brands for video editing include Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI.
Q: Can I upgrade the components of a budget laptop for video editing?
A: It depends on the laptop model. Some laptops allow for component upgrades, such as RAM and storage, while others are not upgradeable. It’s important to research the laptop’s specifications and upgrade options before purchasing.