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

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#1

Winner

Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 12MP Center Stage Camera, Touch ID; Midnight

Rating
9.7
Chosen by1,411
Processor (CPU)
RAM
Display

Most important from
967 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The M4 chip delivers a noticeable leap in performance, making video editing smoother and faster compared to previous models.
RAM
While the base model's memory might feel limited for heavy multitasking, the overall quality and speed remain impressive.
Display
The display impresses with bright, sharp visuals and excellent color accuracy, ideal for detailed video editing on the go.
Battery Life
Battery life stands out, supporting long editing sessions without needing to recharge frequently.

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.

Rating
9.7
Chosen by1,411
Processor (CPU)
RAM
Display

Most important from
967 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The M4 chip delivers a noticeable leap in performance, making video editing smoother and faster compared to previous models.
RAM
While the base model's memory might feel limited for heavy multitasking, the overall quality and speed remain impressive.
Display
The display impresses with bright, sharp visuals and excellent color accuracy, ideal for detailed video editing on the go.
Battery Life
Battery life stands out, supporting long editing sessions without needing to recharge frequently.
#2

ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop, 165Hz Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060, Intel Core i7-13650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JV-AS74

Rating
9.4
Processor (CPU)
Graphics Card (GPU)
Display

Most important from
1986 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The Intel Core i7-13650HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo is a beast, making multitasking a breeze whether gaming, streaming, or video editing.
Graphics Card (GPU)
The Intel Core i7-13650HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo is a beast, making multitasking a breeze whether gaming, streaming, or video editing.
Display
The 16-inch FHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate offers buttery smooth, vibrant, and crisp visuals, perfect for fast-paced games and detailed video work.
Battery Life
The battery life is much better than expected for a gaming laptop, especially during non-gaming tasks.

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a powerful gaming laptop that shows promise for video editing, thanks to its robust specifications. It features a high-performance Intel Core i7-13650HX processor, which will handle video rendering tasks efficiently. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU further enhances its capability for graphics-related tasks, making it suitable for users who work with video effects or high-resolution footage. With 16GB of DDR5 RAM, multitasking becomes seamless, allowing you to run editing software alongside other applications without slowdowns. The 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD provides ample storage space for your projects and ensures quick load times, which is crucial when working with large video files.

On the display side, the 16-inch FHD panel with a 165Hz refresh rate offers vibrant colors and smooth visuals, although it does not have 4K resolution, which may be a limitation for some video professionals looking for finer detail. The laptop is equipped with advanced cooling features to maintain performance during long editing sessions, which is a significant plus.

However, one downside to consider is its weight of 5.51 pounds, which makes it less portable compared to lighter alternatives. Battery life is also a critical factor for video editing, and while the specs don’t explicitly mention this, gaming laptops typically have shorter battery life when under load. Lastly, the gaming-centric design and features may not appeal to all video editors who prefer a more understated look.

Rating
9.4
Processor (CPU)
Graphics Card (GPU)
Display

Most important from
1986 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The Intel Core i7-13650HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo is a beast, making multitasking a breeze whether gaming, streaming, or video editing.
Graphics Card (GPU)
The Intel Core i7-13650HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo is a beast, making multitasking a breeze whether gaming, streaming, or video editing.
Display
The 16-inch FHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate offers buttery smooth, vibrant, and crisp visuals, perfect for fast-paced games and detailed video work.
Battery Life
The battery life is much better than expected for a gaming laptop, especially during non-gaming tasks.
#3

Dell Inspiron Touchscreen Laptop, 15.6" Business & Student Laptop Computer, Windows 11 Pro Laptop 32GB RAM 1TB SSD, Intel i5-1155G7 Processor, Full HD IPS Display, Numeric Keypad, HDMI, Carbon Black

Rating
9.2
Display
Ports and Connectivity

Most important from
553 reviews

Display
The touchscreen and 15.6-inch screen enhance usability and viewing experience.
Ports and Connectivity
Could benefit from having more USB ports.

The Dell Inspiron Touchscreen Laptop is a budget-friendly option for those needing a laptop for video editing. It is powered by an Intel Quad-Core i5-1155G7 processor, which should provide sufficient performance for basic video editing tasks. Its 32GB RAM is more than adequate, ensuring smooth multitasking and rendering processes. The 1TB SSD offers ample storage space for storing large video files and fast read/write speeds, which is crucial for video editing efficiency.

The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, with its anti-glare and touchscreen features, provides a decent visual experience, although the 220 nits brightness might be low for some users who work in brighter environments. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics is a downside for intensive video editing as it may struggle with more demanding tasks compared to a dedicated GPU.

The laptop includes a good range of ports (USB, HDMI, headphone/mic jack, SD card reader) and connectivity options (Wi-Fi 5 & Bluetooth), which is beneficial for connecting external devices and peripherals. The Windows 11 Pro operating system is robust, and the inclusion of a numeric keypad is a plus for those who need it for data entry or shortcuts. This Dell Inspiron model is a strong contender for budget video editing with its ample RAM and SSD, though the lack of a dedicated graphics card may be a limitation for more serious video editing needs.

Rating
9.2
Display
Ports and Connectivity

Most important from
553 reviews

Display
The touchscreen and 15.6-inch screen enhance usability and viewing experience.
Ports and Connectivity
Could benefit from having more USB ports.

Buying Guide for the Best Cheap Laptop For Video Editing

When choosing a laptop for video editing, it's important to focus on the specifications that will directly impact your editing experience. Video editing is a resource-intensive task, so you need a laptop that can handle large files, render videos quickly, and run editing software smoothly. Here are the key specs you should consider and how to choose the best fit for your needs.
Processor (CPU)The processor is the brain of your laptop and is crucial for video editing. It determines how quickly your laptop can process tasks. For video editing, you need a powerful CPU to handle rendering and playback smoothly. CPUs are generally divided into entry-level (e.g., Intel i3, AMD Ryzen 3), mid-range (e.g., Intel i5, AMD Ryzen 5), and high-end (e.g., Intel i7/i9, AMD Ryzen 7/9). For video editing, aim for at least a mid-range processor to ensure good performance. If you work with 4K videos or complex projects, a high-end processor is recommended.
Graphics Card (GPU)The graphics card is responsible for rendering images and videos. A dedicated GPU is important for video editing as it speeds up rendering times and improves playback performance. GPUs range from entry-level (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce MX series) to high-end (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce GTX/RTX series). For basic video editing, an entry-level GPU might suffice, but for more demanding tasks or 4K editing, a mid-range to high-end GPU is preferable.
RAMRAM (Random Access Memory) is where your laptop stores data that is actively being used. More RAM allows your laptop to handle larger files and run multiple applications simultaneously without slowing down. For video editing, 8GB of RAM is the minimum, but 16GB or more is recommended for smoother performance, especially when working with high-resolution videos or multitasking.
StorageStorage determines how much data you can save on your laptop. There are two main types: HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive). SSDs are faster and more reliable, which is important for video editing as it speeds up file access and software loading times. Aim for at least 256GB of SSD storage, but 512GB or more is ideal if you work with large video files. You can also consider a combination of SSD for the operating system and software, and an HDD for storing files.
DisplayThe display quality is important for video editing as it affects how accurately you can see colors and details. Look for a laptop with at least a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution. Higher resolutions like 4K (3840x2160) provide more detail but can be more expensive. Additionally, consider the color accuracy (sRGB or AdobeRGB coverage) and screen size. A larger screen (15 inches or more) can make editing easier, but it also makes the laptop less portable.
Battery LifeBattery life is important if you plan to edit videos on the go. Video editing is a power-intensive task, so look for a laptop with a long battery life to ensure you can work without constantly needing to recharge. However, keep in mind that powerful laptops with high-end specs may have shorter battery life due to their higher power consumption.
Ports and ConnectivityHaving a variety of ports and connectivity options is important for video editing. Look for laptops with multiple USB ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C ports are also beneficial for faster data transfer and connecting to external monitors or storage devices. Ensure the laptop has the necessary ports for your peripherals and workflow.

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