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Running video editing software takes up a ton of your computer’s memory and processing speed, and not just any ordinary laptop is going to cut it. The search for the right one can actually be pretty similar to finding a laptop for gaming, since drive size, native resolution, cooling fans, and battery life are a huge part of finding the right machine for you and your needs.
If you’re looking for the best laptop for editing, it’s recommended to go for something with at least 16GB of RAM, though you can always upgrade to more. A nice big and full HD display is important too, and not just for precise color accuracy. Since there’s always so much other stuff on the screen during video editing, a bigger display will give you more room to enlarge your playback window and comfortably move things around. This is also where aspect ratio comes in, which simply refers to the ratio of the width and height of a screen (16:9 is the most common screen standard these days).
Screen quality is a common attribute that manufacturers tend to cut back on when offering more budget-friendly laptops, specifically color accuracy and palette, sharpness and brightness. If you’re only doing minor personal projects, this isn’t as big of a deal, and you may not need the most high-end detailed display. But for professional looking videos, these are vitally important, and a low-res screen without the ability to show a wide spectrum of color isn’t worth it to save some cash in the end.
If your setup is permanent in one place at home, you won’t really need to worry much about weight and durability. However, if you’ll be taking this with you while traveling or commuting, it’s worth taking a look at both of these things. A too-heavy laptop can become a real literal pain in transit, no matter how well it performs. Same goes for durability – if there’s a chance this’ll get knocked around, go for one with a tough screen and a body that can handle some minor dings and drops (or at least spring for a good protective case).
Another aspect that can be overlooked when getting distracted by the dazzling displays is noise, specifically from the fans and cooling systems inside. Keeping your laptop cool is crucial, as is dissipating the heat generated from heavy usage. But some fans are louder than others, or have an alternate way of preventing overheating altogether. It may not be top of the list when looking, but it’s worth considering especially in an office setting or where other people will be around.
Finally, saved video files can be massive, and that’s just from the projects you’re working on. Uploading and storing all the footage you’ve filmed from your camera onto your laptop means that your drive is going to fill up fast if there’s not a lot of space. One terabyte (TB) should be way more than enough for an average amateur editor, but for the professional filmmakers, an external drive is an extremely helpful addition.
