Anyone can get overwhelmed in a matter of minutes as they decide to hunt for a perfect budget laptop that can help them with video editing. Running video editing software in a laptop requires a certain amount of power, but that doesn’t mean that you can get your desired output by only purchasing a high-end laptop.
A well-suited budget one can easily provide the result you can get from a high-end or an exclusive gaming laptop. We have a list below containing some of the best budget laptops that come with the configurations one needs to edit videos seamlessly. Let’s get into it. But first, you need to get an idea about the things you need to look out for before choosing a laptop.
Features to Look For
If you’re willing to go all in and invest as much as you want, finding a decent laptop for video editing is simple. However, if you have budget limitations, it can be tough, since you will most likely end up with a laptop that lacks a GPU. This is not to suggest that GPUs are important for you to edit images, but as the workload grows, they could save you a lot of time and relieve the strain on your CPU.
It would be smart if you rely on a laptop with a reasonably powerful processor and a decent amount of RAM if having a laptop with a GPU is out of the question. This is because a part of the RAM is “borrowed” from machines without GPUs and used as a simulated GPU. Now let’s look at the aspects you need to focus on individually.
Processor
The processor is the computer’s ‘mind’ that does all the calculations. Such logical choices allow it to run all the tasks on your system. Because the majority of the job is handled by the Processor, it is definitely best to invest in getting a solid CPU.
If you want a simple video rendering system, getting a good processor is crucial. You want a processor that runs as fast as possible, with as many cores as you can get. This will mean that the rendering goes seamlessly and easily.
So, buying at least a specialized quad-core or octa-core processor will be your best choice. In making a difference in your working life and ensuring that it runs well while you edit your posts, this one-time commitment will be massive.
RAM
The short-term memory of your computer is RAM which houses all the data the computer uses until you’re done for the day and decides to shut it off. Video editing is a pretty intense activity for your computer to handle. That’s the reason a lot of people assume that the more RAM they can get, the better their laptop would perform. But that’s not certainly necessary.
Many people would go for a 64GB laptop, which is nothing but overkilling it. You need a strong processor to help you run the program smoothly. An 8GB RAM at the minimum can handle your intense video editing. But, we recommend you go for a 16GB. It’s the best value-for-money choice you can make.
Graphics/GPU
The GPU is the primary functional feature of a laptop. It can be found on top of the graphics card. This tiny chip, the GPU, executes super-complex computations at an amazing pace and creates colorful graphics on the computer that everybody enjoys.
The GPU is specifically built to take care of the graphics component, while the CPU does all it can to run all the computer programs. You would have fantastic high-resolution screens, incorporate special effects and do the color correction with a decent GPU, all with a smooth video replay.
With zero frame drops or delays. And because it takes the pressure off the CPU in terms of assigning tasks, video rendering time can also be significantly accelerated. So if you think a decent GPU is required exclusively for gaming, think again.
Display
For video editing, when it comes to viewing individual colors, you need to select a monitor that has excellent visibility. There’s the viewing perspective first. An IPS screen has an approved viewing angle of 178 degrees, ensuring you can look at it with utter supreme clarity from either point. For a TN screen, this is not the case, but if you don’t look at it straight ahead, everything on the screen will seem blurred out.
Second, the color representation is several times greater than TN on IPS. You get darker darks and pronounced lights with an IPS panel monitor, making the color experience more vivid overall. And providing correct and clear-cut colors for video editing is essential.
Storage
You want to go with an SSD (Solid State Drive) over a standard hard drive when it comes to storage. The most cost-effective way to store vast volumes of data is to use hard disks, but they are still the slowest.
It is much faster than disk-based memory, as SSD uses flash memory storage with no moving parts. While SSDs come with a higher cost, flash memory technology is advancing rapidly, luckily, and costs continue to decline as storage sizes are growing.
This makes SSDs an alternative to hard drives that is increasingly feasible. The file sizes would become very big if you intend to edit 4K images. You’ll want to make sure there’s enough space for you to store not just the original files, but also the edited versions.
Best Budget Laptops For Video Editing
Lenovo Ideapad L340 Gaming Laptop
In a number of categories, Lenovo’s Ideapad series of laptops appear to be outstanding budget rivals. They are reasonably well made, they perform quite well at everyday tasks, and they seem to provide service for a long time without any hiccups. The L340 is a gaming machine, but it’s also an excellent video editing tool due to its accuracy.
The Intel Core i5-9300H runs the screen, a Processor with a base frequency of 2.4 GHz, but can turbo up to 4.1 GHz if required, which is very amazing. Video editing won’t be a concern with quad-cores and eight threads. However, to assist with this, you also get Nvidia’s GeForce GTX1650.
Full HD displays are what we demand from our laptops as a minimum standard, and the Lenovo Ideapad L340 Screen offers just that. It has a full HD 15.6-inch IPS screen (1920×1080), giving you a magnificent view to edit videos or play games in all their glory in HD.
Since this screen is an IPS monitor, it ensures that you get the best viewing angles and colors from a regular LED panel than you can from a normal panel. Although it does not allow 4K, the next best option is FHD. The refresh rate is 60hz, which is basically the most common standard for displays.
Pros
- Advanced Dolby Audio
- Eye Care mode
- Good battery life
- Blue backlit keyboard
Cons
- No 4K video support
- Keys can feel a little loud
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop
For the talented artist out there, the laptop Acer Spin 3 can be a perfect pick. So, whether you are an illustrator, an editor, or a graphic artist, in this price range, this might be your best choice. It has a good 16GB DDR RAM i7 CPU, placing it in the sweet spot for output costs. Combine that with a 512 GB SSD that is blazingly fast. It can handle any editing software you may throw its way with some multitasking thrown in the mix.
The Spin 3, which is just 0.78 inches wide, is an ultra-slim gadget that can quickly be tucked into a flat bag without much trouble. Also, the lid has the comfort of a 360 hinge, meaning you can operate on the device by holding it in whatever position you want. A 14-inch Full HD IPS Widescreen monitor that provides an innovative user with multi-touch comfort is the best aspect of its layout.
Acer’s integrated keyboard gradually becomes easy to use. Compared to the keyboards in comparable notebooks, it seems a little outdated, with large keycaps and a display that reaches from edge to edge. The keys are black and stand out well against the silver backdrop. But the keys are comfortable enough to let you spend hours on the laptop to complete editing a perfect video.
Pros
- Touchscreen display with a rechargeable stylus
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint scanner
- 512GB SSD
- Effective cooling technology
Cons
- No USB Type-C
- Display quality could be better
PMSI GL62M 7RD-1407
The MSI GL62 M 7RD-1407 runs just below $1000 and is a spectacular laptop for video editors. It has a multitude of high-quality specifications that boost its video editing capability, given it’s a gaming laptop. For one thing, it has a strong i5-7300HQ Intel core processor for high-quality performance.
On top of that, the 8 GB DDR4 2400MHz Ram and 256 GB SSD M.2 SATA Hard Drive significantly improves the capability of this laptop to edit video without disruption.
MSI is one of the giants in the graphics card and motherboard business. Both of those factors increase the capacity of this laptop to edit images, as well.
The built-in Cooler Boost 4 is another wonderful attribute. Given that there is a tremendous amount of power on this laptop, it is vulnerable to overheating, which can restrict performance. No matter the game you are playing or the video you are editing, the Cooler Boost 4 stops the machine from overheating. Throttles for optimal efficiency are prevented when mixed with the seven heat pipes.
For a large number of colors for your frames, this laptop has an NTCS color range. This laptop is designed for versatility with solid construction quality. You’ll really love the sleek style and it’s very portable as well.
Pros
- Effective cooling system (Cool Boost 4)
- Backlit keyboard
- SSD works faster than HDD
- Large matte display
- Great performance for the price
Cons
- SSD capacity may be inadequate for
- Battery life could be better
Apple MacBook Air
The latest MacBook 13 has redefined sleekness, and if you don’t want to bear any extra weight, you can get this video editing laptop. Intel Core i3 CPU availability means quicker operation, and you can use all the advanced software for video editing. Then you get 8 GB of it when it comes to the RAM, which is pretty good and fits wonderfully with the strong processor.
For improved video editing and trimming, the 13.3-inch Retina monitor comes with True Tone technology and provides beautiful visuals. Due to the minimalistic bezels, the 13-inch screen would not appear any less.
The laptop’s battery life is remarkable and delivers a 12-hour runtime on a single charge. As it comes with stereo speakers with broader stereo sound for sharper audio, you can also use this laptop for music production as well as video editing.
The Force Touch Trackpad allows quick and easy video editing experience with numerous tools and apps that can make using this device more fun. The new MacBook Air has a 256 GB SSD, and by investing more bucks, you can also get the 512 GB version.
Pros
- Affordable MacOS
- Great battery life
- Backlit keyboard
- Retina display
- Loud stereo speakers
Cons
- No optical drive
- No USB Type-C
ASUS TUF FX505DT Gaming Laptop
There is no question that their top-of-the-line product for both video editing and gaming is the Republic of Gamers series of laptops by ASUS. But the TUF versions may be a decent choice for those who are looking for a budget laptop. They’re fairly small but come with a decent choice of components and outstanding standard of construction.
You can find a quad-core Ryzen 5 3550H processor in the TUF FX505DT to start with. When you’re editing videos on it, it’s a very decent CPU that can support its weight. It’s combined with Nvidia’s 4 GB GTX1650 graphics card, even if you’re editing higher quality content, to guarantee a seamless experience.
Another exceptional item the TUF comes with is the display. It’s not a typical monitor, with a full HD resolution IPS screen and a 120Hz refresh rate. This would be good for video editing, but if you want to play a game or two every once and a while, you can do so with ease.
The laptop also has 8 GB of DDR4 memory and a decent 256 GB NVMe SSD. It can run well with video editing applications, and you’re going to have fun doing them.⠀
Pros
- High-quality construction
- Ryzen 5 provides great performance for the price
- 120Hz refresh rate display
- Thin bezels
- RGB backlit keyboard
Cons
- Battery life could be better
- No G-sync support
Dell Inspiron 15
A 10th-generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 is fueling this performance-friendly computer. The CPU has a 1.3GHz clock speed, but as the user needs, it can go up to 3.9GHz. 10th Gen Intel processors deliver enhanced performance and intelligent battery consumption. So, if you need a laptop from the range that has an i7 CPU, you should consider the Dell Inspiron 15 5593.
For video editing apps, the 8 GB of DDR4 RAM is pretty good. You cannot assume superb multitasking. However, the dual setup with 256 GB SSD and 1 TB HDD is outstanding on the storage hand. The important ones can be saved on the boot drive and the HDD with other details.
Dell has included this computer with a good monitor which shouldn’t let you down. The top resolution of the 15.6-inch screen is 1920×1080. You can enjoy the most out of the anti-glare software and thinner bezels as an editor.
Although a full-size keyboard with a numeric keypad has been added by Dell, the construction quality is just sufficient. It is a monochrome-lighting backlit keyboard. The weight and dimensions of the Dell Inspiron 15 5593 are very ideal as a possible gaming laptop that you need to haul around.
Pros
- Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor with Turbo Boost
- 256GB SDD with 1TB HDD capacity
- MaxxAudio
- Backlit keyboard
- Anti-glare protection on display
Cons
- Battery life could be better
- No USB Type-C port
Final Thoughts
It can be a difficult challenge to find the right laptop that suits your budget. It is also more difficult to find one that is still skilled enough to edit videos of your choice. We have put together a list with some of the most credible candidates out there. We hope you can find a laptop that suits your needs.