Finding a computer has become an increasingly difficult task. Chip shortages and supply chain madness over the past year have made reliable picks near impossible to find. Still, there are some out there if you are willing to put in the time to find them. If you need some help there are a few lists out there to find some available models.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Top 5 Picks has a list of five of the best video editing laptops you can (probably) buy in 2021. There are a bunch of options which hit different price points and capabilities so you can find one best suited to your needs.
1. Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop
Image Credit: Dell
Those on a budget should be looking for something like the Dell G5 15. It’s perhaps the best budget laptop for 2021. It has a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 with an NVIDIA 1650 Ti GPU. This model has 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. As for the display, it’s a fairly standard Full HD 15” screen with anti-glare coating.
One great thing to consider—even compared to “high-end” laptops – is that it has a standard array of ports. There are some conventional USBs, Thunderbolt, and an HDMI which you will likely want to make use of in video editing.
Battery is fine, but for video editing, you will be better served with a docked setup with an AC adapter. It also looks nice with a design that isn’t too over the top.
2. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Image Credit: Microsoft
Getting a little out of date these days yet still coming in as a solid pick is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, specifically the 15. This one looks real good and has solid hardware to match. It has been streamlined with a modern port layout and will actually include an AMD Ryzen 5 processor with 4 cores and 8 threads that will get the job done.
A nice Microsoft feature is the use of a 3:2 aspect ratio 15” touchscreen display which provides a bit more vertical real estate to get your editing done. The screen is great too, with a resolution of 3000 x 2000. Plus, since the bottom half matches this design there is a good amount of room around the keyboard.
Design is solid and beautiful. Microsoft’s Surface series has come through with a nice clean look that you will enjoy having. It’s not necessarily the lightest, but it is a good pick.
3. Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop
Image Credit: Razer Blade
Razer is known for good laptops for gaming which have some similar demands to video editing. The Blade 15 is among the best picks with its solid balance of performance, price, and style. It’s another Full HD 15.6” screen, but with a refresh rate of 240 Hz for smooth operation. It’s powered by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card and an Intel Core 9750H 6-core processor. These are good specs even for a desktop PC.
Filling in the rest of the specs are 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD for general speed and responsiveness across the system. The graphics focus will deliver good performance for video editors – and gaming when you aren’t working.
A distinct feature is an advanced cooling system which will maintain performance over time when under load. It’s a high-performance pick.
4. Apple 16” MacBook Pro
Image Credit: Apple
Apple users may already know what their pick is, since it’s the reliable 16” MacBook Pro. Apple has always made it clear that their bigger laptop is their best, and they backed it up with solid components. They also fixed the keyboard with a better design.
This version upgraded the screen to a larger 16” size with 500 nits of brightness and a 3072 x 1920 resolution. That makes the cut for Retina. Better cooling will help ensure performance during longer editing sessions. For core options you will want 512GB SSD along with an Intel Core i9 processor.
If you like Apple for any reason and you want to do some mobile video editing the 16” MacBook Pro is the obvious choice.
5. Dell XPS 15 Laptop
Image Credit: Dell
If there had to be a winner, the Dell XPS 15 takes the gold. It’s a good, reliable laptop series. It doesn’t have the flashy look to make it obvious, but it is loaded with top notch components and a good design.
It has a 15” display with up to 4K resolution, NVIDIA RTX 2060 graphics, and a 10th-gen Intel processor. For ports there is an HDMI 2.0 output and a couple Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports. It’s a contemporary layout that uses the latest tech.
For top-notch performance the Dell XPS 15 checks all the boxes and has a design to back it up.
Do you have a favorite laptop to add to the list?
[source: Top 5 Picks]
Order Links:
- Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop (Amazon)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (Amazon)
- Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop (B&H, Amazon)
- Apple 16” MacBook Pro (B&H, Amazon)
- Dell XPS 15 Laptop (B&H, Amazon)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
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