10 Best Video Editing Laptops 2026 in the United States

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 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 Apple 2024 MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chip is a powerful laptop designed to meet the intense demands of video editing. Its 16-core CPU combined with a 40-core GPU offers outstanding speed and graphics performance, ideal for rendering high-resolution videos and complex effects. With 48GB of unified memory, it handles large files and multitasking smoothly, while the 1TB SSD provides fast storage, though some editors might want more capacity depending on their project sizes. The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is one of its standout features, delivering ultra-bright colors and excellent contrast, which is crucial for color-accurate video work.

Battery life is impressive for such a high-performance machine, offering up to 21 hours of video streaming, so you can work longer without hunting for a charger. Connectivity options are robust, including three Thunderbolt 5 ports, an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and MagSafe charging, covering most needs for external drives, displays, and peripherals. However, this MacBook Pro comes at a premium price, and its integrated graphics, while very powerful for an integrated solution, may not match the raw power of some dedicated GPUs in other laptops.

Being a Mac, it is best suited for those already comfortable with or invested in the Apple ecosystem. This laptop represents a top choice for professional or serious video editors looking for a high-quality display, excellent performance, and long battery life in a portable package.