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10 Best Cheap Laptop For Video Editing 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

9.7 score

Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 12MP Center Stage Camera, Touch ID; Midnight

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air with the M4 chip is a lightweight and portable option that brings impressive power and efficiency for video editing in the budget category. Its 10-core CPU combined with an 8-core integrated GPU provides smooth performance for editing tasks, especially with Apple’s hardware-accelerated video processing for formats like ProRes and HEVC. The 16GB of unified memory is generous and helps run multiple apps smoothly, which is important when working on video projects. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display delivers bright visuals with sharp details and supports a billion colors, making it great for color-accurate editing on the go.

Rating
9.7
Chosen by1,485
Processor (CPU)
RAM
Display

Most important from
1181 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The M4 chip delivers a noticeable leap in performance, making video editing smoother and faster compared to previous models.
RAM
While the base model's memory might feel limited for heavy multitasking, the overall quality and speed remain impressive.
Display
The display impresses with bright, sharp visuals and excellent color accuracy, ideal for detailed video editing on the go.
Battery Life
Battery life stands out, supporting long editing sessions without needing to recharge frequently.
#2
9.4 score

Apple 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M4 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 12MP Center Stage Camera, Touch ID; Sky Blue

The 2025 Apple MacBook Air with the M4 chip is a robust option for a cheap laptop for video editing. It features a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, which is ideal for viewing and editing high-quality videos, thanks to its support for 1 billion colors and sharp resolution. The 16GB of unified memory and 256GB SSD storage offer ample space and speed for handling video editing software and files. The M4 chip’s 10-core GPU ensures smooth performance for video editing tasks and other graphics-demanding applications.

Rating
9.4
Processor (CPU)
Display
Battery Life

Most important from
524 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The M4 Air is significantly faster and costs less than the M3, making it a great upgrade.
Display
Perfect screen size and lightweight design make it excellent for on-the-go use.
Battery Life
Incredible battery life that lasts forever, enhancing long-term usability.
#3
9.1 score

Dell Inspiron Touchscreen Laptop, 15.6" Business & Student Laptop Computer, Windows 11 Pro Laptop 32GB RAM 1TB SSD, Intel i5-1155G7 Processor, Full HD IPS Display, Numeric Keypad, HDMI, Carbon Black

The Dell Inspiron Touchscreen Laptop is a budget-friendly option for those needing a laptop for video editing. It is powered by an Intel Quad-Core i5-1155G7 processor, which should provide sufficient performance for basic video editing tasks. Its 32GB RAM is more than adequate, ensuring smooth multitasking and rendering processes. The 1TB SSD offers ample storage space for storing large video files and fast read/write speeds, which is crucial for video editing efficiency.

Rating
9.1
Display
Ports and Connectivity

Most important from
578 reviews

Display
The touchscreen and 15.6-inch screen enhance usability and viewing experience.
Ports and Connectivity
Could benefit from having more USB ports.

Top 10 Best Cheap Laptop For Video Editing 2025 in the United States

Lenovo V-Series V15 Business Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 40GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Numeric Keypad, HDMI, RJ45, Webcam, Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Pro, Black

Processor (CPU): AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 8 cores, 4.5 GHz
Graphics Card (GPU): Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics
RAM: 40 GB DDR4, 3200 MHz
Storage: 1 TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Display: 15.6", 1920 x 1080 pixels
Ports and Connectivity: USB, USB-C, HDMI, RJ45, Wi-Fi 6
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Buying Guide for the Best Cheap Laptop For Video Editing

When choosing a laptop for video editing, it's important to focus on the specifications that will directly impact your editing experience. Video editing is a resource-intensive task, so you need a laptop that can handle large files, render videos quickly, and run editing software smoothly. Here are the key specs you should consider and how to choose the best fit for your needs.
Processor (CPU)The processor is the brain of your laptop and is crucial for video editing. It determines how quickly your laptop can process tasks. For video editing, you need a powerful CPU to handle rendering and playback smoothly. CPUs are generally divided into entry-level (e.g., Intel i3, AMD Ryzen 3), mid-range (e.g., Intel i5, AMD Ryzen 5), and high-end (e.g., Intel i7/i9, AMD Ryzen 7/9). For video editing, aim for at least a mid-range processor to ensure good performance. If you work with 4K videos or complex projects, a high-end processor is recommended.
Graphics Card (GPU)The graphics card is responsible for rendering images and videos. A dedicated GPU is important for video editing as it speeds up rendering times and improves playback performance. GPUs range from entry-level (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce MX series) to high-end (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce GTX/RTX series). For basic video editing, an entry-level GPU might suffice, but for more demanding tasks or 4K editing, a mid-range to high-end GPU is preferable.
RAMRAM (Random Access Memory) is where your laptop stores data that is actively being used. More RAM allows your laptop to handle larger files and run multiple applications simultaneously without slowing down. For video editing, 8GB of RAM is the minimum, but 16GB or more is recommended for smoother performance, especially when working with high-resolution videos or multitasking.
StorageStorage determines how much data you can save on your laptop. There are two main types: HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive). SSDs are faster and more reliable, which is important for video editing as it speeds up file access and software loading times. Aim for at least 256GB of SSD storage, but 512GB or more is ideal if you work with large video files. You can also consider a combination of SSD for the operating system and software, and an HDD for storing files.
DisplayThe display quality is important for video editing as it affects how accurately you can see colors and details. Look for a laptop with at least a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution. Higher resolutions like 4K (3840x2160) provide more detail but can be more expensive. Additionally, consider the color accuracy (sRGB or AdobeRGB coverage) and screen size. A larger screen (15 inches or more) can make editing easier, but it also makes the laptop less portable.
Battery LifeBattery life is important if you plan to edit videos on the go. Video editing is a power-intensive task, so look for a laptop with a long battery life to ensure you can work without constantly needing to recharge. However, keep in mind that powerful laptops with high-end specs may have shorter battery life due to their higher power consumption.
Ports and ConnectivityHaving a variety of ports and connectivity options is important for video editing. Look for laptops with multiple USB ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C ports are also beneficial for faster data transfer and connecting to external monitors or storage devices. Ensure the laptop has the necessary ports for your peripherals and workflow.

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