10 Best Laptops For Photo And Video Editing 2025 in the United States

The Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024) offers a strong package for photo and video editing, especially if you value portability and long battery life. Powered by a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor and 16GB of fast LPDDR5x RAM, it can handle most editing tasks smoothly, including AI-based features thanks to Windows 11 Copilot+. The 1TB SSD provides plenty of fast storage for large files, important for video projects.

Its 13.8-inch touchscreen with a sharp 2304 x 1536 resolution and HDR support delivers vibrant colors and good brightness, which helps when reviewing and editing photos or videos on the go. However, the integrated graphics card might limit performance with very demanding 3D effects or 4K video editing compared to laptops with dedicated graphics cards.

The laptop’s thin and lightweight aluminum body makes it easy to carry around, and the battery life of up to 20 hours means you can work unplugged for extended periods. This Surface Laptop is well-suited for creative professionals who prioritize mobility, excellent battery life, and AI-powered productivity over the raw graphical power needed for heavy video rendering.

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with the M4 chip is a compelling choice for photo and video editing, thanks to several standout features. The M4 chip, with its 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, provides excellent performance for multitasking and handling graphically intensive tasks like video editing. The 16GB of unified memory ensures smooth operation even with demanding applications, and the 256GB SSD offers quick access to your files, though storage might be on the lower side for large video projects.

The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display is a significant advantage for visual work, offering 1 billion colors, 2880-by-1864 resolution, and 500 nits brightness for accurate color representation and sharp details. The build quality is solid yet lightweight, weighing just 3.32 pounds, making it highly portable. With up to 18 hours of battery life, it supports long working sessions without frequent charging. Connectivity options include two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe charging port, a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, which is versatile but may require adapters for more traditional ports.

The 12MP Center Stage camera and high-quality audio system enhance the user experience, especially for video calls and media consumption. One potential drawback is the limited SSD storage, which might necessitate external storage solutions for extensive video files. Additionally, while the integrated graphics are powerful, those requiring even higher performance levels might prefer a dedicated GPU. This laptop is ideal for those who value portability, long battery life, and a high-quality display, making it suitable for photographers and video editors who are on the go.

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch with the new M4 chip is a strong contender for photo and video editing, especially for users who prefer macOS and value portability. Its 10-core CPU and 10-core integrated GPU offer smooth performance for editing tasks, enhanced by hardware-accelerated video processing including formats like ProRes and AV1. The 24GB of unified memory (RAM) is generous, helping apps run fluidly when working with large files or multiple programs at once. Storage at 512GB SSD is fast but might feel tight for heavy video projects, so external or cloud storage may be needed. The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display is a highlight, showing over a billion colors with sharp detail and good brightness (500 nits), ideal for accurate photo and video work. Connectivity is solid with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe charging port, and support for up to two 6K external displays, which professionals will appreciate. Battery life is impressive, offering up to 18 hours of video playback, making it great for on-the-go editing. The build is very lightweight (around 3.3 pounds) and slim, enhancing portability without sacrificing screen size.

The MacBook Air lacks a dedicated graphics card, relying on integrated GPU power, which may limit performance on very demanding 3D tasks or complex video effects compared to high-end laptops with discrete GPUs. The 512GB storage might require upgrades or external drives for bigger media libraries. This MacBook Air is highly suitable for photographers and video editors who prioritize portability, display quality, and all-day battery life, and who work mostly within the Apple ecosystem. Users needing the highest levels of raw graphics power or larger storage capacities may want to explore other options.