Choosing a good laptop on general can be a hard task especially if you are on a budget. And it doesn’t become easier if you are looking for one that can suit your editing needs considering that the market is saturated with different laptops from cheap low-end devices to high-end devices that can cost you an arm and a leg.
However, this is not to say that you cannot get a good laptop for your editing needs. You definitely can, and that’s why we have reviewed some of the best laptops for video editing that you can get under $1,000. Whether you are a newbie in the editing space or a professional that is simply looking to upgrade, you have definitely come to the right place.
In this guide, we will help you choose the best laptop regardless of your editing skills or type of content that you need to edit. Let’s take a look.
1. Apple MacBook Air
Intro
This is one of the best MacBook that you can get for video editing under $1,000 given that most people find the Apple brand expensive.
Pros
This 13-inch laptop from Apple is packed with better battery life, faster storage and improved performance in certain areas. It has the 5th generation Intel Core i5, 8GB memory, and a 1.8GHZ processor speed. It is one of the most powerful iterations of the MacBook Air and has more ports compared to other MacBook devices.
It comes with a full-sized SD card slot and weighs about 1.35kg making it lightweight and quite portable especially for those who commute a lot. This means that you can carry it around without feeling burdened by the weight. While it may not be the fastest MacBook ever designed, you can be sure that you won’t be disappointed and you can use other applications as you do your video edits.
This laptop is durable and reliable and has great specs for video editors who are keen on using Apple laptops and don’t want to break the bank. It comes in three different capacities and styles which can all be upgraded especially when you need more space as an editor.
Cons
It does not have a retina display.
2. Lenovo Yoga 720 Laptop
Intro
If you’re a die-hard fan of Windows laptop and want a laptop that is both durable and reliable for editing, you can’t go wrong with the Yoga 720 from Lenovo.
Pros
Packed with the 7th Generation Intel Core i7 and a 2.8GHz, the performance of this laptop is top-notch thanks to the powerful quad-core processor it has. It is a 2-in-1 laptop meaning you can use it as a laptop and as a tablet. In addition, it has a 360-degree flip and folds design that can allow you to use it in four different positions.
The laptop measures 15.6-inches and has a screen resolution of 1920 by 1080 that is ideal for editing your videos in HD. The screen is also a touchscreen, and it has the IPS technology that allows you to enjoy a wider viewing angle and bolder colors as you edit your videos. This means that the resulting product will have a great image and video quality.
It has an 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD storage which provides enough space for editors especially if you have lots of footage. It comes with a standard Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card that enables you to experiment with effects that can be found in other premium laptops such as Apple and Microsoft. It has a backlit keyboard, and the casing is made from aluminum.
Cons
It doesn’t have an HDMI port.
3. HP Pavilion Laptop
Intro
HP is a famous brand in the market when it comes to laptops, and it has created a name for itself for making quality laptops that are durable and reliable, and it’s, therefore, no doubt that we have the HP Pavilion laptop in our review.
Pros
One thing that makes HP stand out is that their laptops can be found in any market across the globe. But what even makes this particular device attractive to most buyers is the fact that it is quite affordable and doesn’t compromise on the essential features needed for editing. The specs of this laptop are far much better compared to other laptops in its range.
It has a large screen that is convenient when editing and even though it may not be ideal for a professional, it has a 7th Generation Intel Core i3 that makes it excellent at multitasking. It also has an 8Gb RAM that is similar to that found in most high-end devices as well as a spacious 1TB storage space. It has a 10-finger multi-touch screen, an inbuilt DVD drive and a digital media card that can be formatted.
The design is quite light and thing and has different options for use for most editors and has 1336 by 768 resolution.
Cons
The frame is plastic, and the keyboard isn’t that great.
4. ASUS ZenBook Laptop
Intro
This ultra-slim laptop from ASUS is another amazing laptop that you can buy for your editing needs without breaking the bank.
Pros
The IPS technology on this ASUS laptop means you get to enjoy bold colors when editing as well as a wide viewing angle which is important when editing. It has an excellent battery life of up to 12 hours meaning you can work comfortably outside the office without worrying about charging your laptop.
Seeing that it has a sleek design and measures 3.1 lbs., it is quite portable, and you can easily move around while carrying it in your backpack or laptop bag. It comes with the Windows 10 pre-installed and features the 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor. It has an 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, and 1TB HDD. This means you never really have to worry about storage space.
The keyboard is backlit which means you can work with it in the darkness comfortably. It also has an SD card reader and an HDMI/USB connectivity for when you need to display your videos on a large screen or monitor. It has better colors thanks to the 100% sRGB, 74% Adobe RGB and 72% NTSC which enhance the quality of your videos. To make sure that your documents are always secure, this ASUS laptop has a fingerprint sensor for maximum security.
Cons
It has a relatively noisy fan, and the touchpad isn’t as excellent as you’d need it to be.
5. Dell Inspiron i7-7700
Intro
Dell has some of the best laptops that are ideal for gaming but also for editing thanks to the amazing specs that it has.
Pros
This Dell laptop is both suitable for editing as well as gaming. The finishing of this laptop has a premium look and comes with a LED-backlit display and a full HD (1920 by 1080) anti-glare screen that allows you enjoy amazing views from each angle. The laptop has the 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and uses the Windows 10 operating system.
It has the 4GB of NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics card and a 16GB RAM. It has an SSD storage space of 256GB and HDD storage of 1TB which is ideal for all your video filed. The laptop’s system is also kept cool especially when you are operating multiple applications thanks to the dual fan feature. This means that you’ll be able to enjoy the uninterrupted working experience.
It has two speakers that work well to give you the best sound quality that you can enjoy from such a device and has up to 10-hours of battery life with one single charge.
Cons
It is quite heavy, and the fans can become noisy.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a laptop to invest in as an editor that is under $1,000, the above list should help you narrow down your list of what laptops to consider. While some laptops in our review are best for beginners and intermediate editors, some are suitable for professional editors. But your budget isn’t the only thing you should consider. Factor in the specs of the laptop as this will enable you to choose a quality laptop without any regrets.
