Best Laptop for Video Editing Under $1000 Our Top 5 Picks
The process of video editing is heavily reliant on technology. To produce high-quality videos without sacrificing time, you need a laptop that is dependable and quick.
It’s hard to find a video editing laptop under $1000 that has all the features you need, but we’ve done the research for you.
We’ll make sure your laptop is powerful enough to handle video editing software and display your work clearly. Even if you are searching for best laptop for photo and video editing the following list will be great for you.
The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to find some great options.
Throughout this post, we’ll explore the best laptops for video editing under $1000.
Important Factors For Video Editing Laptops
We’ll discuss some of the most important factors you need to consider before we share our top 5 budget video laptop options.
In each of these categories, we’ll highlight our top picks.
1 – CPU Processor: Overall Performance
Video editing is an extremely demanding process that puts a lot of strain on your computer. Therefore, you should get a laptop with a powerful processor. A laptop’s processor is its most important component when it comes to video editing.
CPUs play a crucial role in rendering time, export time, and how smoothly your footage plays back.
In general, there are two types of processors: Intel and AMD Ryzen. Both laptops are great options for video editing. AMD processors are generally cheaper, but they still offer great performance. The Intel processors are more expensive, but they offer better performance and are more energy-efficient.
You should pay attention to the ‘H’ at the end of CPU specs, such as Ryzen 7 5800H vs. Ryzen 7 5700U, and know that it means something good. If you tend to scan over all the numbers and letters 🙂
2 – Storage: Amount of Space and Speed
When choosing a video editing laptop, storage is another important factor to consider. Make sure that you get a laptop with lots of storage space so you can store all of your video files.
The type of storage unit in your laptop is also important.
In terms of storage options, there are two options: SSDs and HDDs. Please check out my full article on the differences between an SSD and an HDD external drive, as well as some of my favorite models for 2022.
You should get at least 256GB of storage space. It is even better to have 512GB of storage space.
It is always possible to add an external hard drive or SSD later if you need more storage.
Make sure the laptop you choose has enough USB ports for all your external devices.
3 – RAM / Memory: How Many Programs At Once
RAM is another important factor to consider.
Every time you open an application on your computer, it will consume RAM. Make sure you have enough memory on your overall system so that running multiple programs at once doesn’t slow it down.
For video editing, you should get at least 16GB of RAM. This makes it possible to play 4K videos smoothly. However, it limits the number of RAM-intensive programs you can run simultaneously.
In this category, you may want to consider spending a little extra if you do a lot of multitasking while editing (like me!).
If you find an option that includes 32GB of RAM, you’ll be able to run multiple programs at once, such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and After Effects.
4-Editing Software of Choice
You should carefully consider which video editing software you will be using. If you are a dedicated Final Cut Pro editor, then you will need to narrow down your laptop choices to an Apple product since Final Cut Pro is only compatible on Mac products.
In the case of Premiere Pro and DiVinci Resolve, either Mac or PC products will work.
5- Graphics Processing Unit / Video Card: Quality of Visuals
The graphics card is another factor to consider. If you have a powerful graphics card, you won’t experience any lag or choppy editing during the editing process.
It’s an important factor to consider if you intend to edit 4K videos.
The GPU supports the CPU in video editing and motion graphics design. After the CPU receives a video task, it’s the GPU’s job to interpret it.
Additionally, a GPU keeps your system running smoothly when connected to multiple external monitors, so if you plan to connect a laptop to an external monitor, you should find one with a sufficient GPU.
6 – Price
Furthermore, when choosing any laptop, price must always be taken into account.
There are many budget-friendly video editing laptops under $1000 available today.
Here’s where we come in. We’ve selected the top 5 picks that meet these criteria for you.
This list may have a few items that cost more or less than $1000. It’s important to keep an eye on the prices since sales and newer versions of similar laptops can affect the prices.
Within each of these picks, you can also refine the options according to your needs. Among them are RAM, processor type, monitor size, and other specifications.
All of these selections will affect price, some more than others. Keep that in mind while shopping. You may have a preference for some over others. We recommend the following video editing software at the top of this post.
Let’s take a look at our top 5 picks in depth.
Best Laptop Overall: Lenovo Legion 5 Review
The Lenovo Legion is our top pick for the best video editing PC laptop under $1000. That’s best budget laptop for video editing. This is a great value for the money and a great choice all around..
Lenovo Legion has everything you need to edit video files smoothly and without lag.
Specifications:
Today’s Best Deal:
What We Love:
Top performance in video editing. The laptop performs at the highest level in terms of high-speed, smooth CPU performance. In fact, it’s faster than some desktop computers available on the market.
Good battery life. The battery lasts approximately 3-4 hours. It depends on how much work you do on the laptop.
Plenty of Ports. This is important for video editors who need to connect external monitors, hard drives, or other accessories to their laptops.
What We Don’t Love:
The size: The setup weighs just over 5 pounds and is quite bulky. Additionally, the charger pack is quite large and heavy. If you plan to edit on-the-go or travel, this setup is not ideal.
Reasons To Buy
Reasons To Avoid
Best Overall: Apple MacBook Air M1 Review
Apple’s new MacBook Air M-series is best laptop for 4k video editing . In terms of value, it is a bit beyond the $1000 budget, but not by much. Here are some reasons why we love it so much.
Specifications:
Today’s Best Deal
What We Love:
Performance. The 16GB of RAM is enough for all your major video editing programs, including Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci, and After Effects. Its also best laptop for sims 4 smooth gameplay.
Display. Those who have used Apple products know that the quality and resolution of the display is superior to that of any other PC.
To save costs, we included a 13-inch display model in this review. If you can afford to upgrade to a larger size model or purchase an external monitor, it may be worth considering.
Battery Life. This machine has an exceptional battery life. Even when using CPU-intensive functions, it should last for hours.
Speakers. The speakers on this PC are superior to all those on the list. You’ll love the sound output on this laptop if you care about audio.
Additionally, the MacBook has no fan, so it is completely silent.
What We Don’t Love:
Not enough ports. Even though the laptop is lightweight and sleek, there are not as many USB ports on it. It’s always possible to buy a USB port for more options if you want to spend more money.
Reasons To Buy
Reasons To Avoid
Over All Thoughts:
If you are able to afford an Apple laptop, we recommend it for your video editing needs. For video editing and creative work, mac products simply offer superior performance and video quality. It is an excellent entry level option for those looking for quality and performance at an affordable price.
However, we also understand the need to stay on budget. Next, let’s look at some great PC options.
Fastest Performance: Acer Nitro 5 Review
Though it doesn’t have the best display color or resolution on our list, it makes up for it with top performance for video editing. Also if you are Youtuber then It is best laptop for YouTube video editing.
Specifications:
Today’s Best Deal:
What We Love:
Performance. In terms of performance and speed, the Acer Nitro 5 is very impressive.
Cooling. Performance will slow down once the internal components reach a certain temperature. This is important because it indicates the device’s longevity. In general, the longer a laptop lasts, the better it keeps the internal temperature low.
What we don’t love:
Display. On this list, the color gamma and display resolution aren’t the best.
Its size. It weighs about 5 pounds and is a bit chunky. Battery chargers are bulky as well.
Reasons To Buy
Reasons To Avoid
Best Display & Size: Asus VivoBook Pro 15 OLED Review
The Asus VivoBook Pro 15 OLED is another great budget-friendly laptop on our list. A great contender to keep on your list, it’s lightweight, portable (3.5 lbs), and performs well.
Specifications:
Today’s Best Deal:
What We Love:
High quality display. It is an OLED display. Usually, laptops in this price range don’t have this feature. This screen offers stunning colors and visuals.
Performance. With an Intel i-series processor and 16GB of RAM, the VivoBook Pro 15 is capable of handling video editing tasks with ease.
What We Don’t Love:
The trackpad. Trackpads are placed directly in the center of laptops, but their placement when typing is left of center. It creates an odd placement for use.
Reasons To Buy
Reasons To Avoid
Best Price: HP Victus Review
We recommend the HP Victus as our second best video editing laptop under $1000. It’s an excellent choice for those who want a more portable laptop without sacrificing performance too much.
Specifications:
Today’s Best Deal:
What We Love:
The price. This laptop package is a great value for everything it includes. Pricing is also flexible depending on which model you choose.
Performance. HP Victus has the ability to edit 4k videos.
Plenty of Ports. A video editor who needs to connect the laptop to external monitors, hard drives, or more accessories will find this important.
What We Don’t Love:
The screen. It feels cheap and wobbles. Cropped aspect ratio. Overall, the light and color quality are not the best (for the base model). You can upgrade this if you wish.
Battery Life. Battery life isn’t great for heavy video editing work – approximately 1-2 hours.
Reasons To Buy
Reasons To Avoid
Frequently Asked Questions:
About Author
I’m William Faulkner, author of LaptopsU, a laptop & MacBook review blog. I’ve been writing about laptops & MacBook for over seven years now and I love it! In my reviews, I try to provide accurate information on the specs of each laptop & MacBook, as well as my opinion on how it performs.
I thrive on finding new laptops & MacBook to review and helping people make informed buying decisions. If you have any queries you can get in touch with me through following social media accounts.