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 15-inch with the M4 chip is a strong choice for video editors who want a lightweight and highly portable laptop with solid performance. Its 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, combined with 16GB of unified memory, allow smooth handling of video editing tasks and multitasking. The integrated graphics are powerful for integrated solutions, including hardware-accelerated video encoding and decoding, which helps with editing and exporting videos efficiently. The 512GB SSD offers decent storage but could fill up quickly if you work with large video files, so external drives might be necessary. The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display supports 1 billion colors and True Tone technology, providing sharp, vibrant visuals ideal for video work, although it’s not a touch screen. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 18 hours, so you can edit on the go without worrying about frequent charging.

For connectivity, it includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe charging port, offering fast data transfer and support for up to two external displays, which is useful if you want more screen space while editing. The macOS environment also supports popular video editing apps like Adobe Creative Cloud smoothly. The lack of a discrete graphics card means it might struggle with very heavy 3D rendering or ultra-high resolution workflows compared to some more expensive laptops, and the limited port variety means you might need adapters for some peripherals. This MacBook Air is well-suited for video editors who prioritize portability, a color-accurate display, and good battery life over maximum raw power or storage capacity.

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.