Videographers and photographers on the move need a laptop that can keep up with quick deadlines and handle any task from color grading to 4K video editing. For professionals who need a laptop that doesn’t compromise on processing power, color accuracy, or battery life, the Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Pro) is our undisputed recommendation. But if you prefer Windows, or if you want a laptop that you can repair and upgrade in the future, the Dell XPS 15 9530 is the best option right now due to its processing power and OLED screen. And the more-budget-friendly 15-inch M2 MacBook Air has a superb display for a laptop of its price, as well as a processor that’s easily capable of editing 1080p footage.
Our pick
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is faster than any other laptop we’ve tested for photo or video editing, and it has truly impressive battery life, to boot.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Apple M3 Pro | Screen resolution: | 3456×2234 |
| Graphics: | 18-core (integrated) | Weight: | 4.7 pounds |
| Memory: | 18 GB | Tested battery life: | 15 hours |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
The Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M3 Pro) pairs a color-accurate screen with an incredibly fast laptop processor, and it delivered battery life of 15 hours in our testing. The large, 16.2-inch display offers bright images and has great contrast, so you’ll be able to see every detail in your photos or videos. And when it comes to editing, the MacBook Pro crunches through video with the power of a desktop computer. However, the laptop is a bit heavy, at 4.7 pounds, and it lacks a USB-A port, so you may still need to carry a dongle for now.
Also great
The Dell XPS 15 has a vivid 3.5K display and the processing power to edit any kind of footage on the go. It’s also more repairable and upgradable than the MacBook Pro.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Intel Core i7-13700H | Screen: | 3456×2160 |
| Graphics: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | Weight: | 4.2 pounds |
| Memory: | 32 GB | Tested battery life: | 8 hours |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
For people who want a Windows laptop, we recommend the Dell XPS 15 9530. Among the Windows laptops we tested, it’s the one that makes the fewest compromises, giving you a nearly 4K screen, a speedy processor and graphics card, and a comfortable keyboard. The XPS 15’s RAM and storage are upgradable, too, so you’re not stuck with the same specs if you want to upgrade your system down the line.
Budget pick
The MacBook Air is a staple of many modern office desks (or home offices, these days), but it’s a surprisingly capable video-editing laptop, especially for lighter loads and 1080p footage.
Recommended configuration
| Processor: | Eight-core Apple M3 CPU | Storage: | 256 GB SSD |
| Graphics: | Ten-core Apple M3 GPU | Screen: | 2880×1864 IPS |
| Memory: | 16 GB |
Apple’s 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is now even faster than the previous M2 model, making it not just a budget option, but a possible first choice for many photographers and videographers who don’t have intensive processing needs. The M3 Air is much lighter than our top pick, so if you’re a creative pro who uses minimal editing or computer-generated effects in your work, and you carry around your laptop a lot, the 1.4-pound difference might help save your back. The M3 Air’s 15.3-inch display has a resolution of 2880×1864 and a brightness of 500 nits, so it’s bright enough to use outdoors. It nearly matches the MacBook Pro in color accuracy, and it charges on a much smaller power brick. Pros tend to gravitate toward the MacBook Pro for obvious reasons, but Apple’s chips are now so good that it’s possible you don’t need to look any further than the MacBook Air.
