10 Best Video Editing Laptops 2026 in the United States

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air with the M4 chip is a strong choice for video editing if you value portability and smooth performance. Its 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU built into the M4 chip offer fast processing and good graphics power, making it capable of handling video editing tasks and multitasking without much lag. The 16GB of unified memory helps apps run smoothly, while the 512GB SSD storage provides decent space for video files, though heavy editors might need extra external storage. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is a highlight, delivering bright, sharp images with support for 1 billion colors—great for seeing your videos with rich detail and true-to-life colors. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 hours, which means you can edit videos on the go without worrying about finding a charger frequently.

On the downside, the MacBook Air has only two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack, so you might need adapters if you connect many devices or external drives. Also, while the integrated GPU is strong for an ultrathin laptop, it may not match the raw power of dedicated graphics cards found in some larger video-editing laptops. This model suits video editors who want a lightweight, elegant machine that works well with Apple’s ecosystem and can handle most editing tasks efficiently, especially for content creators who prioritize portability and battery life over extreme performance or expandability.

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a powerful laptop suited for video editors seeking top-tier performance and visual quality. It features a very fast Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and a strong NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, which handle demanding video editing software and rendering tasks efficiently. With 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a spacious 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, it offers ample memory and fast storage for large video files and smooth multitasking.

The 16-inch ROG Nebula display has a sharp 2.5K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, delivering crisp, smooth visuals with excellent contrast and reduced glare—ideal for detailed editing work and color accuracy. The laptop includes advanced cooling technology to maintain steady performance during long editing sessions and provides convenient port options along with Wi-Fi 7 for fast connectivity.

Weighing about 6 pounds, the laptop might be heavy for frequent carrying. Battery life can be limited on gaming-level specs like this, so staying near a power outlet during extended use is advisable. This makes the ASUS ROG Strix G16 a robust choice for video editors who want a high-performance machine capable of gaming and creative tasks, as long as portability and battery endurance are not the top priorities.

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air with the M4 chip is a strong choice if you're into video editing and want a lightweight, portable laptop. Its M4 chip, featuring a 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU, provides smooth multitasking and handles video editing software well, especially apps optimized for Apple Silicon like Adobe Creative Cloud. With 16GB of unified RAM, it can manage demanding tasks without slowing down, though some heavy projects might benefit from even more memory.

The 256GB SSD offers fast storage but might feel tight if you work with large video files regularly, so pairing this laptop with external drives could be necessary. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is a highlight — it’s bright, sharp, and supports 1 billion colors, which helps your footage look true to life during editing. Battery life is impressive, offering up to 18 hours of video streaming, meaning you can edit on the go without constantly hunting for a charger. The MacBook Air includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe charging port, offering good connectivity for external displays, fast drives, and other accessories.

The integrated GPU, while powerful for a thin-and-light laptop, may not match dedicated graphics cards found in some heavier video-editing laptops, possibly limiting performance in very graphics-intensive tasks. The 256GB storage could also limit how much footage you keep on the laptop itself. This MacBook Air suits video editors who prioritize portability, excellent display quality, and solid performance for most editing projects, especially if they are already invested in the Apple ecosystem. For very large projects or those needing top-tier graphics power, a higher-end model with more storage and a dedicated GPU might be better.