Best Laptops for Video Editing from HP®
If you want to create quality video content, you already know that you require a different level of power from your laptop than the average user.
To handle the software requirement, a good laptop for video editing needs certain specifications so you can work without worrying about your computer crashing.
Desktop or laptop? Which is best for video?
In the past, you would be looking for articles about the best desktop computers for video editing if you were planning to create videos on a computer. And you would need a desktop PC with a decent amount of high-speed RAM along with a high-powered processor.
Welcome to the new age of video editing computers! You can now find laptops - from notebook computers to heavy duty workstations - capable of providing you with the power you need at a reasonable price.
Customized or off-the-shelf?
Most computer companies, including HP®, don’t specifically built models just for editing video, but with the opportunity to customize your own device, you can get the best PC for video editing just the same.
We have powerful devices designed for gamers and smaller laptops for students or commuters, but it can take some footwork to find the best editing laptop. It may also require you to pick and choose some of the features that come with certain models so you can combine the aspects you like the most.
How much will it cost?
Because the computer you want may have to be customized, the cost of your video editing workstation will vary. You may also have a tough time finding exactly what you want in a standard machine, so building a customizable model can benefit you.
Our list below is mostly made up of customizable PCs, so you can put together the perfect laptop for your style of work.
Best laptops for video editing
HP® has a number of laptops that offer the power and graphics you need to accomplish your editing goals. They also have options in multiple price ranges in addition to customizable models, making it easy to find exactly what you need.
1. HP ELITEBOOK 630 G10 NOTEBOOK PC - CUSTOMIZABLE
In the realm of video editing, where performance and reliability are paramount, the HP EliteBook 630 G10 Notebook PC stands out as a top contender. Customizable to cater to the diverse needs of professionals, this laptop is a blend of power and precision, making it an ideal choice for video editors.
At the heart of this machine is the latest Intel® Core™ i3 processor, ensuring smooth and efficient handling of demanding video editing software. Coupled with 16 GB of DDR4-3200 memory, it offers seamless multitasking capabilities, essential for editing high-resolution videos and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
The EliteBook 630 G10 doesn't skimp on storage either. With a 512 GB NVMe SSD, it provides ample space and swift data access, significantly reducing loading and rendering times, which is crucial in a fast-paced editing workflow.
Video editors will appreciate the 13.3" diagonal FHD display. It offers a sharp, vibrant, and color-accurate visual experience, essential for precise editing. The anti-glare feature is a thoughtful addition, reducing eye strain during long editing sessions.
Graphics performance, often a critical aspect for video editing, is handled by the integrated Intel® UHD Graphics. This setup is more than capable of handling general video editing tasks, providing a smooth experience without the bulk of an external GPU.
The EliteBook 630 also prioritizes security with HP Wolf Security for Business, ensuring your projects and data remain protected from external threats. Moreover, the dual stereo speakers and dual array microphones enhance the audio experience, complementing the visual prowess of the laptop.
An added bonus is the commitment to sustainability, with the PC containing at least 50-percent post-consumer recycled plastic in the keycaps. It's not just a powerhouse; it's a choice towards a better future.
In conclusion, the HP EliteBook 630 G10 Notebook PC is a formidable ally for video editors. Its blend of performance, security, and sustainability, coupled with a crystal-clear display and ample storage, makes it a top recommendation for professionals in the field.
2. HP OMEN 16 GAMING LAPTOP
When it comes to high-performance laptops that cater to both hardcore gaming and creative work like video editing, the OMEN Gaming Laptop 16t-wf000 by HP® is a formidable contender. This laptop is not just a gaming device; it's a comprehensive tool for content creators, offering powerful specifications and features that make it an excellent choice for video editing.
At the core of its performance is the Intel® Core™ i7-13700HX processor, boasting up to 5.0 GHz speeds, 30 MB L3 cache, and 16 cores with 24 threads. This processing power, combined with the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Laptop GPU, provides not just gaming prowess but also the ability to handle demanding video editing tasks with ease.
The laptop comes equipped with 16 GB of DDR5-4800 SDRAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and efficient handling of large video files and complex editing software. The 512 GB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC M.2 SSD ensures quick boot times and speedy file accesses, further enhancing the editing workflow.
The OMEN 16t-wf000 shines in its display capabilities with a 16.1" diagonal FHD screen, offering a 165 Hz refresh rate and 7 ms response time. The IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare screen with Low Blue Light technology provides a comfortable viewing experience, crucial for long editing sessions.
Audio by Bang & Olufsen and DTS:X® Ultra technology ensures an immersive sound experience, enhancing both gaming and video editing. The HP True Vision 1080p FHD IR camera with integrated dual array digital microphones adds to its versatility, making it ideal for streaming or video conferencing.
This laptop doesn't just excel in performance; it also stands out in its commitment to sustainability. With features like ocean-bound plastic in speaker enclosures and bezels, a keyboard mechanism made from agricultural waste, and recycled materials in various components, it aligns with the eco-conscious choices of modern consumers.
In conclusion, the OMEN Gaming Laptop 16t-wf000 from HP® is more than just a gaming laptop. Its powerful specs, superior display, and audio capabilities, combined with a commitment to sustainability, make it an excellent choice for video editors seeking a machine that can keep up with their creative demands.
3. HP PROBOOK X360 435 CONVERTIBLE LAPTOP
The HP Pro x360 435 G10 Notebook PC is a highly versatile and customizable laptop that caters to the needs of professionals who require a balance of performance, portability, and flexibility. This laptop is especially suitable for business users who are often on the move but need a reliable device for their work demands.
Powered by an AMD Ryzen™ 3 Processor and equipped with 8 GB of DDR4 memory, the HP Pro x360 435 G10 offers sufficient power to handle everyday business applications smoothly. Whether it’s managing spreadsheets, presentations, or multitasking between various applications, this laptop is designed to keep up with the pace of business.
The standout feature of this laptop is its 13.3" FHD (1920x1080) Touchscreen display. The touchscreen functionality enhances user interaction, allowing for a more intuitive and efficient workflow. It's particularly useful for professionals who appreciate the flexibility of switching between traditional typing and a more hands-on approach.
With 512 GB of NVMe storage, users have ample space to store important documents, applications, and multimedia files, while enjoying fast data access speeds. This is particularly beneficial for those who work with large files and need quick retrieval and saving capabilities.
The HP Pro x360 435 G10 is not just about performance; it's also about durability and security. It has passed 19 MIL-STD tests, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of daily use. Security is also a top priority, with features like HP Wolf Security for Business, ensuring that your data and device are protected against threats.
In terms of design, the laptop is sleek and portable, starting at just 3.19 lb, making it easy to carry around for on-the-go professionals. The convertible design adds to its versatility, allowing it to be used in different modes – as a traditional laptop, a tablet, or in tent mode for presentations.
The inclusion of a 3-cell 42 WHr Long-Life Fast Charge Battery ensures that the laptop can last through a busy workday without needing constant recharging. This is crucial for professionals who often work remotely or travel frequently.
Finally, the commitment to sustainability is evident in the HP Pro x360 435 G10. It features low halogen materials and recyclable packaging, reflecting HP's dedication to reducing environmental impact.
Overall, the HP Pro x360 435 G10 Notebook PC is an excellent choice for professionals seeking a durable, secure, and versatile laptop that can adapt to different work styles and environments. Its combination of performance, flexibility, and sustainable design makes it a smart investment for any business user.
4. HP ZBOOK MOBILE WORKSTATION
The HP ZBook Studio 16 inch G10 Mobile Workstation PC is a powerhouse designed for creative professionals who demand top-tier performance and reliability. This laptop is particularly suited for tasks like 3D rendering, complex video editing, and data visualization, thanks to its high-end specifications and robust build.
The heart of this workstation is the 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 processor, capable of reaching up to 5.4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology. This processor, combined with 64 GB of DDR5-5600 MHz RAM, provides an unparalleled level of performance, allowing for smooth and efficient handling of even the most resource-intensive applications.
Storage is equally impressive, with a 2 TB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC SSD offering ample space and lightning-fast access speeds. This is crucial for professionals working with large files and complex projects, as it reduces loading and rendering times significantly.
The HP ZBook Studio 16 G10 doesn't just excel in performance; it also shines in its display capabilities. The 16" diagonal WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS display with anti-glare technology, boasting 400 nits brightness and 100% sRGB color gamut, provides a vibrant and accurate visual experience essential for precise editing and color grading.
Graphics are handled by the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4070 Laptop GPU, ensuring smooth and detailed rendering of graphics-intensive tasks. This GPU is not just for work; it's also capable of delivering an exceptional gaming experience, making this laptop versatile for both work and play.
The workstation comes equipped with a range of connectivity options, including Thunderbolt™ 4 with USB4™ Type-C® and SuperSpeed USB Type-A and Type-C® ports, ensuring easy connection to a variety of peripherals and devices.
Audio by Bang & Olufsen and a quad-speaker setup ensure an immersive audio experience, complementing the visual prowess of the laptop. The 720p HD IR camera and dual-array microphones enhance video conferencing and collaboration capabilities.
Security is a top priority, with features like HP Wolf Pro Security Edition and various BIOS safeguards ensuring your data and device are protected against threats. The spill-resistant, backlit HP RGB Z Command Keyboard adds both functionality and durability to the user experience.
Additionally, the HP ZBook Studio 16 G10 is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring Low Halogen materials and ENERGY STAR® certification, reflecting HP's commitment to environmental responsibility.
In summary, the HP ZBook Studio 16 inch G10 Mobile Workstation PC is an exceptional tool for professionals in creative fields. Its blend of high-end performance, stunning display, robust security, and thoughtful design makes it an ideal choice for those who need a reliable and powerful workstation for their creative endeavors.
Get the right components
But how do you decide what you need? To make that easier, we have laid out the components you should pay attention to. Once you have a handle on the most important specs for the type of editing you are doing, then you can decide which aspects are essential and budget accordingly.
A high-powered CPU
The processor you use and how well it runs is a major factor in whether your laptop will work for your editing purposes. For video, you’ll be running applications that tend to use all the cores of a multi-core CPU.
This often means that if you can find a processor with plenty of cores, your computer will run smoother and with minimal lag. Often gaming CPUs can do the job since many are designed for multi-core processing.
One of the fantastic things about Intel® is the way it has designed mobile processors in laptops to handle programs using less power (and therefore less heat). For most editing jobs, the Intel Core™ i7 and Core i9 processor should be more than enough to power your computer because they offer support for 6 cores.
You need to have an idea of the editing software you will use so you know how much processing power you will require. For Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Final Cut Pro, the more power you have, the better.
Target: 6 cores if possible, but 4 cores at a minimum
Consider your RAM and hard drive
When you’re working with video, you’ll have to save some large files on your hard drive on occasion. Your temporary memory, also known as RAM, can determine how quickly these files are pulled up and how fast they render.
Most laptops come with 8GB or 16GB of RAM, although there are some you can customize to have 32GB of RAM. While it can help to have this extra RAM, many editors choose to spend their money on higher CPU power, and 16GB is an affordable option for any major editing job you take on. Many laptops can be upgraded with more RAM later, too.
Target: at least 16GB of RAM
For storage, a solid-state drive (SSD) should be the first consideration for those who foresee themselves primarily using their laptops for video editing. An SSD accesses important data much faster than a spinning drive, and they are designed to help load applications or play multiple video clips at the same time.
If you plan to work with 4K footage at any point, an SSD can be essential to the performance of your computer. For those on a budget, you may need to compromise on the cost of a large SSD or a higher-quality CPU. For space above 1TB, prices can increase quickly, which is why an external hard drive is a good alternative for storing large video files.
Some gaming computers will offer the SSD and graphics cards that work well for video editing, so a gaming laptop could be a good solution for those who need a speedy storage option.
Target: 256GB to 1TB SSD, whatever your budget allows
Consider how it sounds and which ports you need
Good speakers can be an underrated feature if the video editing you’re doing requires adjusting the levels. If you plan to create music videos or videos heavy on narration, the audio quality will also make a difference in how it will perform on a variety of devices.
Ideally, you’ll want a laptop that allows you to connect a microphone if needed, as well. This can come in the form of an audio jack or a USB port, depending on the type of equipment you have.
How you plan to transfer your files can also be a consideration. Many cameras have a USB port so you can use your editing software to have it directly imported onto your timeline. However, having an SD or microSD slot can also be helpful if you need to put footage on your computer and you don’t want to carry around your heavy camera gear with you.
Target: Decent speakers, audio ports, access ports for your input preference
Look into graphics cards and displays
Depending on how crisp you want your video to look on your screen, the graphics card for video editing you choose won’t heavily affect the overall performance of your laptop or any applications you might need to use.
Most video editing software has not been created with certain graphics cards in mind like it has targeted certain CPUs.
However, this does depend on the software you plan to use. For Final Cut Pro X, a solid graphics card can be extremely useful for some of the new features. On the other hand, it may be worth it to focus your budget on other specs. If there happens to be an option to upgrade your graphics card for a reasonable price it’s worth it.
For many editing jobs, any graphics card included in a gaming laptop should be more than adequate. The NVIDIA® GeForce® MX130 or MX150 is what you are most likely to find when purchasing a new computer, although the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 1070, or 1080 is ideal if you can get it.
Target: Discrete GPU; AMD Radeon or NVIDIA GeForce GTX or MX
As for the display, size can matter but quality is just as important. Many editors will opt for a larger screen because you can access more of your editing timeline, but it can also make it less portable if you need to take your work on the road.
On the other hand, a 12-inch display is easy to take with you but it won’t be practical when you need a full view of your footage.
If you are shooting in 4K, that’s another consideration to take into account. Your screen resolution should match at 3840 x 2160 pixels so the image isn’t stretched. 4K isn’t yet the standard for video editing, but even if you don’t have a 4K screen, you should make sure to choose a screen that supports at least a High Definition (HD) resolution.
Target: 15 to 17-inch screen, Full HD at a minimum, UHD if your budget allows
Color settings aren’t usually something to be concerned about unless you are planning on some experimentation. However, precision is worth considering, so invest in a keyboard and mouse which can go a long way toward helping you to feel like you have proper control over your software.
In summary
Video editing can require some very particular specs, and it’s essential to have a basic idea of what a device can handle or whether you need some customization. With the variety that HP® offers, you’re likely to find a device that can create videos that you are proud to share with the world, whether you are a hobbyist or committed to professional video editing.
Related article: Best HP Desktops for Video Editing
