10 Best Cheap Laptop For Video Editing 2025 in the United States

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air with the M4 chip is a lightweight and portable option that brings impressive power and efficiency for video editing in the budget category. Its 10-core CPU combined with an 8-core integrated GPU provides smooth performance for editing tasks, especially with Apple’s hardware-accelerated video processing for formats like ProRes and HEVC. The 16GB of unified memory is generous and helps run multiple apps smoothly, which is important when working on video projects. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display delivers bright visuals with sharp details and supports a billion colors, making it great for color-accurate editing on the go.

Battery life is excellent, lasting up to 18 hours, so you can work unplugged for extended periods. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports and MagSafe charging, offering flexibility for external drives and displays, although the storage at 256GB SSD is somewhat limited for large video files, so external drives will likely be necessary. The MacBook Air also benefits from tight integration with macOS and Apple software, providing a smooth editing experience with apps like Adobe Creative Cloud.

While its integrated graphics may not match dedicated GPUs found in more expensive machines, which might slow down very demanding rendering tasks, this MacBook Air is a strong contender for those prioritizing portability, display quality, and battery life on a budget. However, if extensive storage or top-tier graphics power is needed, additional investment might be required.

The Apple 2024 MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chip is a powerful machine, especially strong in processing and graphics performance thanks to its 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU. With 48GB of unified memory and a fast 1TB SSD, it easily handles demanding video editing tasks and large project files. Its 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display offers vibrant colors, exceptional brightness, and sharp resolution, ideal for detailed editing work.

Battery life is impressive, capable of lasting a full day even during heavy use, which is great for working on the go. The laptop includes a solid range of ports such as Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SD card slot, and headphone jack, providing good flexibility for connecting external devices and displays.

This MacBook Pro is not a budget-friendly option; its price is quite high compared to other laptops aimed at entry-level or budget-conscious editors. While the integrated graphics are very capable for most professional tasks, they may not match discrete GPU options for certain specialized effects or gaming. It is best suited for serious video editors who value excellent performance, a stunning display, and long battery life, but might be overkill if only basic editing features are needed.

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air with the M4 chip is a lightweight and powerful laptop featuring a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, providing smooth performance for video editing tasks. With 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD, it handles multitasking and storage of video files well, although 512GB might feel limiting if you work with very large projects. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports a wide range of colors and high brightness, making it a good screen for editing videos with accurate detail and vibrant visuals.

Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 hours, which is ideal for working on the go without needing frequent charging. Connectivity options include two Thunderbolt 4 ports and MagSafe charging, but the limited number of ports means you might need adapters for some peripherals. The M4 chip’s integrated graphics are efficient and suited for casual to moderate video editing, though dedicated graphics cards found in some other laptops may offer more power for heavy, professional-level editing involving complex effects or 3D work.

This MacBook Air also benefits from seamless integration with other Apple devices and useful features like the 12MP Center Stage camera and a high-quality audio system. While it isn’t the cheapest option on the market, its strong performance, excellent display, and portability make it a reliable and stylish choice for users seeking a capable laptop for everyday video editing without venturing into the high-end, more expensive workstation territory.