Video editing is a task that requires a decent amount of processing power, which means it needs a computer packed with high-end parts. Finding that in a laptop that costs under $1000 is no easy task, but lucky for you, we have put together a list of our four favorites below.
These laptops are all up to the task of video editing, and each is extremely budget-friendly. That may seem like it’s too good to be true, but the following models show that you can get high-quality editing laptops without breaking the bank.
Contents
Quick Summary
- If you want to stay in the Apple side of the computer isle, check out the Apple MacBook Air. It’s a great option in this price range, and will allow you to use the awesome software that’s only available on Mac.
- If you are looking for a 2-in-1, the Acer Spin 3 is a fantastic choice. It comes with a great stylus, has good specs, and makes a great video editing machine.
- If you’re looking for an AMD powered computer, check out the Acer Nitro 5. It features both an AMD CPU and Radeon GPU.
- If you want a video editing machine that’s also capable of playing games, the MSI GF63 could be the way to go. It features an i7 processor on top of an Nvidia GPU that enables you to both edit software and play your favorite games.
Who Should Buy This?
If you’re a YouTube content creator or any other kind of online video creator, these laptops would be great for you. They are extremely portable, giving you the ability to edit your videos on the go. That makes them especially useful for travel channels and vloggers.
These laptops also work great for video editing professionals who need a secondary or home computer. If you work as a video editor, and want a computer to take on the go, any of the laptops listed here would be a fantastic choice.
Best Laptop for Video Editing Under $1000: What to Consider in 2022
Processor
One of the main components that will be tested when editing videos is the CPU. The goal should be to get an Intel i7 or equivalent, but an i5 is still capable enough to get the job done as well.
GPU
While a dedicated GPU is not necessarily a must-have feature when it comes to video editing, having one will certainly make the job much easier. The more powerful GPU in the computer, the more quickly things will render and the smoother the overall experience will be.
RAM
The last thing that’s worth considering when picking up a budget editing laptop is the amount of memory your computer comes with. For video editing, you want to make sure you get at least 8GB of RAM for sufficient speed and overall computer performance. If you go with less than that, the computer will have more of a chance of slowing down when performing high-quality tasks.
Here you want to definitely prioritize the CPU over anything else. Having a powerful CPU will allow your video editing software to run nice and smooth. Right behind that is the memory, as it is also very important. Ensuring you have enough to run the program without any hiccups will give you a much more pleasant editing experience. Lastly is the GPU, not a must, but a nice speed addition if you have the budget for it.
Best Laptop for Video Editing Under $1000: Our Picks in 2022
1. Apple MacBook Air
Apple is the preferred system for many content creators. It has some fantastic free software options, as well as a lightweight operating system that makes less powerful systems feel quick and fluid. Given this, the lower end MacBook Air makes a nice video editing laptop.
Inside this laptop you get an i5 processor with 8GB of RAM. While that is what we would consider the bottom end for a video editing rig, the fact that it’s on a MacBook makes it quite capable. The integrated Intel HD Graphics are not doing much here, but the machine gets the job done. Perfect for Apple fans.
- CPU: Intel i5 processor
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 6000
- RAM: 8GB RAM
2. Acer Spin 3
A lot of people editing their own videos are creative types. If that’s you, the Acer Spin 3 is a 2-in-1 that’s more than capable of both drawing a masterpiece and editing your videos. It does not matter if you want to use Adobe Photoshop or Premiere, this laptop can do either one.
Inside the sleek-looking shell you get a quad-core Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. That is the perfect combination for a laptop used for video editing. The integrated Intel graphics are nothing special, but the powerful processor and adequate amount of RAM more than make up for it.
- CPU: Intel i7-8565U
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- RAM: 16GB
3. Acer Nitro 5
While Intel has been the king of the laptop processor market for awhile, AMD is starting to shift that trend. Their new Ryzen processors are extremely powerful, and they offer that power at an affordable price. They tend to have a decent amount of cores compared to their Intel counterparts as well/
Inside this Acer Nitro laptop you get an AMD Ryzen 5 CPU which gives you 4 cores of raw power. That then combines with the 8GB of RAM to give you a great video editing setup. This laptop also features a dedicated Radeon RX 560X GPU, which provides you with even more power than the Intel laptops integrated graphics. For the budget price of this laptop, it’s a great choice for those who don’t want to break the bank.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 560X
- RAM: 8GB
4. MSI GF63
Editing videos is great, but some people may want a more versatile machine. If that’s you, look no further than the MSI GF63. This machine can both edit videos and play the latest games with ease. MSI makes beautiful gaming laptops, and the GF63 fits that mold perfectly.
MSI put an i7-9750H processor in this laptop, giving you 6 cores of performance. That is the most cores on this list, and will help speed up your video editing and rendering. The 8GB of RAM is fine, but 16GB would have been better. The best thing here is the inclusion of the Nvidia GPU. It will help speed up your video editing software far beyond similar options on today’s market.
- CPU: Intel i7-9750H
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti
- RAM: 8GB
Useful Tips and Resources
If you’re going to edit videos, you want to make sure you have good video editing software. While there are a ton of options on the market, some just aren’t adequate for editing more than the most simple videos. Make sure you get software that is capable of editing the videos you need.
Another thing that’s vitally important when sitting at a desk editing videos all day is a proper computer chair. Getting an ergonomic chair can help with your posture and keeps you comfortable no matter how long you’re at your desk. While you can work in any chair, an ergonomic option is the best way to go in terms of comfort and support.
Final Words
Picking up a solid video editing laptop is a must for at-home editors or video creators. The four laptops we listed above are all great choices for anyone looking to edit their videos at home, in an office, or at the local coffee shop.
Have you ever edited videos while out in public? Let us know in the comments below!
