Best Laptop for Video Editing Under $1000

Looking for the best laptop for video editing under $1000?

Selecting a laptop for the purposes of video editing is already a challenging task. You have to sift through multiple product pages filled with marketing jargon that doesn’t give you any real information.

Dedicating a budget of $1000 to this ordeal complicated things a bit more. Fortunately, we have curated a list of the very best budget video editing laptops under $1000 for your convenience.

This roundup takes into account all the important factors necessary for video editing such as GPU performance, storage, RAM, display, battery life, and most importantly, the budget of $1000.

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Let’s dive in.

The Best Laptops for Video Editing Under $1000 – Compared

How We Choose the Best Laptop for Video Editing Under $1000

The process of selecting the best laptop for video editing under $1000 starts with the obvious factor, the budget. We only selected laptops that strictly fell under this price mark at the time of writing.

Video editing prioritizes both the CPU and the GPU, but most modern video editing programs use GPU acceleration. Therefore, we selected laptops with dedicated modern Nvidia/AMD GPUs where possible.

Of course, the GPU performance has to be supplemented with the CPU performance and decent CPU clock speed, which is why we prioritized modern Intel/Ryzen CPUs in these laptops.

Video editing apps are very memory-intensive, which is why you need lots of RAM to keep it running smoothly. We selected laptops with 16GB of RAM where possible in the budget.

In addition to memory, professional video editors need storage space to save all their projects and videos. Our goal was to include at least 512GB of fast SSD storage in these laptops where it fit the budget.

We also laid a focus on the display, which is your main mode of interaction with your video editing project. While the resolution isn’t as important, we selected laptops with good quality panels only.

Finally, the price-to-performance ratio dictates the final decision in this regard. While all of these laptops fall under $1000, there are some that offer a better value for your money than others.

Keeping these factors in mind, we have curated a list of the very best video editing laptops you can buy under $1000. Let’s get started.

13 Best Laptops for video editing Reviews

1. Lenovo Legion 5 – Editor’s Choice – BEST SELLER

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 6 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 165Hz

The Editor’s Pick for this roundup comes our way from Lenovo with their Legion 5 gaming laptop. Not only is the Legion 5 an excellent laptop for budget gaming, but it is also a powerful laptop for video editing under $1000.

Under the hood, Lenovo has provided the amazing AMD Ryzen 7 5800H which is one of the most powerful mobile CPUs from the red side. Complementing the Ryzen 7 is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, one of the best budget GPUs in Nvidia’s lineup.

The RTX 3050 Ti comes with 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM which will prove helpful for video editing even in complex projects. This combination is quite powerful for most of your video editing needs.

Lenovo has provided a standard 1080p panel on the Legion 5, however, it can refresh up to 165 times per second, providing a smooth gaming experience. The high refresh rate panel does not provide an advantage in editing, but it is a nice addition nonetheless.

The Legion 5 faces competition from the likes of the Dell G15 and the HP OMEN 15 on the market. However, the Legion 5 seems to be the better value thanks to its lower price and better display technology.

The combination of 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage is ideal for a good video editing laptop at this price point. You are not losing anything substantial by choosing the Legion 5 in this price category.

Lenovo has priced this variant of the Legion 5 at exactly $1000 and it can fluctuate up and down a bit depending on the market trends. Therefore, you may find this laptop a bit more expensive than others.

The battery life is rated to be around 6 hours on a full charge, which is underwhelming even for a gaming laptop. You will need to keep this laptop plugged in over extended editing sessions.

Conclusively, the Lenovo Legion 5 is our pick for the best laptop for video editing under $1000. Its combination of excellent internal components and a great value makes it our default recommendation for budget video editing.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 9/10
• Battery: 6.5/10
• Display: 8.5/10
• Value for Money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

2. Apple MacBook Air M1 – Best Apple Laptop for Video Editing Under $1000

Size: 13.3 inch | CPU: Apple M1 8-Core SoC | GPU: Integrated 7-Core Apple GPU | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD| Battery: 18 Hours| Resolution: 2560×1600 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz

If you want to edit videos easily on Final Cut Pro or Apple iMovie, or you just love the macOS ecosystem then the Apple MacBook Air M1 is the best choice for this purpose.

Its base variant falls just under $1000 and has the same Apple M1 SoC as the Apple MacBook Pro M1.

Speaking of the SoC, the MacBook Air 2020 is powered by Apple’s first attempt at their custom silicon, the Apple M1. This chip is ridiculously more powerful and efficient when compared to the Intel MacBooks of the same year.

The added performance comes due to its integrated design and smaller node, making this laptop an excellent choice for editing videos.

Due to its integrated design, it contains the GPU as well as the CPU, in addition to onboard memory. The 7-Core Apple GPU is quite strong for video editing work. It is hard to quantify its performance since it is a custom design and there are not a lot of comparable SoCs out there.

The Apple MacBook Air M1’s base variant comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage. While the 8GB RAM should be plenty for most of your editing needs, it may struggle with bigger 4K video editing projects with multiple layers.

The 256GB SSD is also quite small and you will need to delete your older videos or files to make room for new ones.

Apple’s displays have been one of the best in the laptop space for years and the same holds true for this MacBook Air. The 2560×1600 resolution Retina display is bright, vivid, has a good dynamic range and viewing angles, and has a decent color accuracy for editing.

Some people might also consider going for the Dell XPS 13 or HP Spectre X360 instead of the MacBook Air. While the XPS 13 has similar specs, it falls behind in terms of portability and battery life. The MacBook Air is also quite superior in terms of performance when compared to the Spectre X360.

One of the best features of the MacBook Air is its immense battery life of 18 hours thanks to the efficient M1 SoC. This, paired with the lightweight 2.8-pound chassis, means that the MacBook Air is a perfect portable video editing machine.

Apple only provides two USB-C ports on the side of the laptop, so you will need a lot of dongles for everyday use. This is one of the minor grievances with this laptop.

The MacBook Air M1 is, without a doubt, the best Apple laptop for video editing under $1000. Its combination of excellent performance, good battery life, and lightweight body is unique in the laptop space and sets it apart from the rest.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 9/10
• Battery: 9.5/10
• Display: 9/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

3. Lenovo Ideapad L340 – Best Dolby Audio Laptop for Video Editing Under $1000

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i5-9300H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 9 Hours | Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz

What if you want something as affordable as possible while retaining the ability to perform video editing and enjoy great audio output? The Lenovo Ideapad L340 is the ideal pick for that as it is the best dolby audio laptop for video editing under $1000.

The Ideapad L340 is modest in its approach when it comes to internal specs. The Intel Core i5 9300H is a couple of generations old at this point, but it is still a respectable mobile CPU. It is good enough for basic productivity and multitasking.

Paired with the Core i5 is Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1650, an entry-level GPU from Nvidia’s Turing lineup. Sure, it is not the latest and greatest in the world of gaming, but it can still handle moderate 1080p video editing with ease.

This laptop is aimed at casual editing without a lot of complexity. The 8GB of RAM slightly limits your editing experience as well. You cannot expect to edit large 4K videos with a lot of effects and layers. On the plus side, Lenovo does provide a 512GB SSD for your storage needs which is ideal

Carrying on the theme of basics, Lenovo has provided a standard 1080p 60Hz screen. The laptop’s display itself is acceptable in quality as it gets plenty bright, has decent colors, and can perform admirably in video editing.

Lenovo claims a battery life of around 9 hours on a full charge for the Ideapad L340, which is modest at best. Surely you can’t expect this laptop to last all day if you plan to do video editing frequently.

There are some competing options on the market that can be seen as alternatives to the Ideapad L340. The Acer Aspire 7 and Dell Inspiron 15 offer slightly better specs than the Ideapad but lose out when it comes to the value proposition since the Ideapad is much cheaper.

All in all, the Lenovo Ideapad L340 is ideal for those buyers who are looking to maximize their value when buying a video editing machine. Its combination of a budget-oriented price tag and decent performance makes it a very attractive option.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 6.5/10
• Battery: 8/10
• Display: 6.5/10
• Value for Money: 9.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

4. ASUS TUF Dash 15 – Best Multipurpose Laptop

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 16 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

Another excellent offering comes our way from ASUS with the TUF Dash 15 gaming laptop. This option is an excellent choice for video editing as well since it has some high-end internal components for the price.

Speaking of internals, we have the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor that can clock all the way up to 4.8GHz. This processor is more than good enough for modern video editing, provided that the rendering work is assigned to a dedicated GPU.

The dedicated GPU in question is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, which is probably the very best GPU you can get in a laptop under $1000. It is no slouch either, as it packs 4GB of VRAM which is a great help in video editing. With this combination, you can tackle moderate 4K editing as well.

ASUS has also provided an excellent 144Hz FHD panel in the TUF Dash 15, which is quite helpful in gaming. Although the refresh rate will not help us much in video editing, the panel quality apart from the refresh rate is still top-notch.

You can expect the ASUS TUF Dash 15 to last around 16 hours on a full charge, which is very impressive for a gaming or editing laptop. With this battery, you can even use the TUF Dash 15 for a full day without worrying about charging. Even if the backlit keyboard is on.

Alternatives to the TUF Dash 15 on the market include the ASUS ROG Strix G15 and the Zephyrus G14, both of which are more expensive than the ASUS TUF option while offering similar specs. The ASUS TUF Dash 15 comes out on top thanks to its value.

All is not perfect, however, as the laptop only packs 8GB of RAM in this configuration which is a bit of an obstacle in video editing. Moreover, the laptop weighs around 4.41 pounds, making it one of the heavier laptops out there.

Overall, there are some flaws in the ASUS TUF Dash 15 as expected, but the overall package is more than good enough to cover those deficiencies. It earns our award for the best multipurpose laptop for video editing under $1000, thanks to its editing and gaming prowess.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8.5/10
• Battery: 8.5/10
• Display: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

5. Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 – Best Gaming Laptop

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 5 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 120Hz

Lenovo’s Ideapad Gaming 3 is another good laptop for video editing that you can buy with a budget of $1000. In fact, it will actually save some money from your budget as it falls under that price tag on a good day.

Armed with the capabilities of a Ryzen 5 5600H CPU, the Ideapad Gaming 3 is no slouch when it comes to performance. The modern Ryzen CPU is quite competent in both gaming and general productivity tasks, and it can keep pace with the dedicated RTX 3050 GPU when it comes to video editing.

The RTX 3050 may be the weakest GPU option from Nvidia’s RTX 3000 series, but don’t let that fool you. It is still a very capable processor that can get the job done without breaking the bank. However, you shouldn’t expect any multi-layer, complex, 4K editing with this combination.

Lenovo only provides 8GB of RAM in this variant which may further limit your editing prowess, however, the addition of a 512GB SSD is a promising feature.

Some consumers may prefer to go for other options such as the HP Pavilion 15 or the Legion Y540 from Lenovo, but the value proposition strictly favors the Ideapad Gaming 3 in this case. It even has better performance than the Pavilion at a cheaper price point.

The battery life is rated to be just 5 hours on a full charge, which is quite abysmal even for a gaming laptop. Safe to say, you will need to carry your charger around with you at all times if you plan to take this laptop on the go.

All in all, the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 is another attractive option for video editing under $1000. It has the performance to back it up, and its gaming prowess earns it the award of the best gaming laptop for video editing under $1000.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 7.5/10
• Battery: 6.5/10
• Display: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

6. Dell G15 5511 – Best Designed Laptop

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i5-11400H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 6 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 120Hz

The Dell G15 is a multifunctional laptop that can serve as a gaming laptop, a work laptop, and a video editing laptop in one. Its clean design earns it the award of the best designed laptop for video editing under $1000.

Dell has packed the G15 with the Core i5-11400H processor from Intel, paired with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics. This combination is quite potent for video editing at this price point, and unless you want to tackle some complicated 4K projects, this laptop will not let you down.

You can only get 8GB RAM in this variant which is a letdown, but the 512GB SSD is a plus point. The display is also quite decent and has a high refresh rate of 120Hz.

The Dell G15 faces some competition from the likes of the HP Victus and the ASUS TUF F15 in this price category. However, the G15 is more adept at video editing thanks to its better GPU and overall value proposition.

Battery life of the G15 is quite poor at 6 hours, and most other laptops in this category do perform better than that. Moreover, the G15 weighs a whopping 5.3 pounds, making it one of the heaviest laptops on the market.

These two factors make it quite unsuitable for portable video editing and gaming.

Still, the G15 is a great option for video editing in this budget and it is highly recommended for those consumers who want a clean, stealthy design that is not usually found in gaming laptops.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8/10
• Battery: 6/10
• Display: 8/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

7. MSI GF75 Thin – Best 17 Inch Laptop

Size: 17.3 inch | CPU: Intel Core i5-10300H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 7 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

MSI’s GF75 is quite a fan favorite in the gaming and video editing communities, and that is no surprise thanks to its excellent value proposition.

The combination of the Intel Core i5-10300H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti is decidedly mid-range in 2022, but don’t let that fool you. This is still a very capable setup for video editing and even gaming. You just have to temper your expectations a bit when editing with the MSI GF75.

One of the better features of the MSI GF75 is its 17-inch 1080p display, which is capable of refreshing at 144Hz. The 17-inch display size earns it the award of the best 17 inch laptop for video editing under $1000.

Some potential buyers may prefer competing options such as the MSI GF65 and the Lenovo Legion 5, but the GF75 offers better performance than the former and it is quite a bit cheaper than the latter, making it the sweet spot.

MSI claims a battery life of just 7 hours, which is below average even for a capable gaming laptop. The option of 8GB RAM in this variant stings a bit as well, but you do get a 512GB SSD to ease the pain a little.

The GF65 Thin does hold up to its name as it is only 0.85 inches thick, but it does weigh around 4.85 pounds. It may be thin, but it is not light by any means therefore it can’t be your portable video editing buddy.

Conclusively, the MSI GF75 will appeal to a lot of buyers thanks to its competent price point and decent internals. The 17-inch hd display is also preferred by some users for editing, and the GF75 provides that.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 7/10
• Battery: 6/10
• Display: 8/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

8. Acer Nitro 5 – Most Robust Laptop

Size: 17.3 inch | CPU: 4th Generation Intel Core i5-10300H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 7 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

The Nitro 5 from Acer is a fantastic value for a gaming laptop, and the same can be said for its video editing capabilities. It is actually a bit cheaper than the $1000 price mark, which can play in your favor if you are looking to maximize your bang-for-the-buck.

Under the hood, the Nitro 5 packs the Intel Core i5-9300H and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, which is an entry-level combination for video editing and gaming in 2022.

You should expect decent performance in editing when it comes to full hd resolution videos, but complex projects in higher resolutions may be a problem.

Acer has also provided a 144Hz 1080p panel in the Nitro 5 which will help in the gaming aspect, but so much in video editing.

Moreover, the 8GB RAM in this variant of the Nitro 5 is quite a limitation in video editing and maybe a point to consider in the purchase process.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 and the ASUS TUF F15 are similar options on the market that can also be considered, but the Acer Nitro 5 is a much better value due to its competent performance and lower price point.

Battery life is quite average, coming in at around 7 hours according to Acer’s ratings. The laptop also weighs around 5.07 pounds so it is certainly not an option for portability.

Overall, the Nitro 5 can get the job done without hurting your wallet too much. Its robust design and rugged chassis earns it the title of the most robust laptop for editing under $1000.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 7/10
• Battery: 6.5/10
• Display: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

9. HP Pavilion 15 – Best Dual Storage Laptop

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Battery: 5 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

HP’s Pavilion series is known more for its general productivity and office work capabilities, but this variant of the Pavilion 15 can be a competent laptop for video editing under $1000.

AMD’s Ryzen 5 4600H acts as the heart of the Pavilion, and performs its duties admirably in conjunction with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650. This GPU is very basic in the modern ecosystem so you have to temper your expectations a bit when it comes to editing complex 4K projects.

HP has installed a standard 1080p screen on the Pavilion 15, but it does have a high refresh rate capability of up to 144Hz. Furthermore, there are two storage drives in the Pavilion to maximize your storage space needs.

The combination of the SSD and HDD is quite unique and earns the HP Pavilion the title of the best dual storage laptop for video editing under $1000.

HP’s OMEN laptops are also a competitor to the Pavilion in this category, but the OMEN is focused more on gaming and is quite a bit more expensive. The Pavilion is a better value for video editing in this comparison.

One of the major downsides of the HP Pavilion 15 is its poor battery life of 5 hours. Couple this with the fact that this laptop weighs around 4.3 pounds, and the Pavilion is certainly not a good companion for traveling.

All things considered, you can get a decent video editing experience on the HP Pavilion 15. This laptop can function well as a dual-purpose laptop which you can use for editing as well as for office or school work.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 7/10
• Battery: 6.5/10
• Display: 7/10
• Value for Money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

10. ASUS ZenBook 14 – Best Thin Laptop

Size: 14 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U | GPU: Nvidia GeForce MX350 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 14 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz

If you are in the market for a basic laptop that can function as a video editing laptop as well, then the ASUS ZenBook 14 is the perfect pick for you. This laptop can be the ideal choice for office and school work, but it can also edit videos when you need it to.

Since this is an entry-level laptop, the specs are a bit underwhelming. The last-gen Ryzen 5 4500U processor is not as fast or flashy as it once used to be, and the Nvidia GeForce MX350 is quite a barebones GPU when it comes to mobile graphics.

However, for the purpose of basic video editing these components should be just fine. The 8GB RAM can prove a limitation under certain scenarios, but it is not something to worry about in this price category.

Some variants of the Dell XPS 13 can be found near this price point, and so can the Acer Swift 5. However, these laptops are still a bit more expensive than the ASUS option, so they lose out in terms of the overall price-to-performance ratio.

Battery life is one of the strong points of the ASUS ZenBook 14. With a battery backup of 14 hours, you can use this laptop throughout the entire day without worrying about charging. The screen is a bit basic, however, and it does not have a high refresh rate capability.

Overall, the ASUS ZenBook 14 is definitely the best thin laptop for video editing under $1000. You can use this laptop for your mundane tasks, and then also edit some videos on it when you need to.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 6.5/10
• Battery: 8.5/10
• Display: 6.5/10
• Value for Money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

11. Acer Swift 3 – Most Lightweight Laptop

Size: 14 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 16 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Since it uses an all-AMD setup, we can say that the Acer Swift 3 is the best laptop for video editing for those who are interested in an AMD GPU. This budget laptop does make a decent case for itself at this price point.

While the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is quite a powerful mobile CPU, its integrated AMD Radeon Graphics do leave a lot to be desired.

Video editing applications do not play well with integrated graphics at times, so not having a dedicated graphics card is a weakness for the Acer Swift 3.

Some people may prefer to look at the Acer Aspire 5 instead of the Acer Swift 3, but the Swift has the better processor and value proposition. The higher price of the Aspire makes it a tough sell when it comes to entry-level video editing laptops.

The highlight feature of the Acer Swift 3 is its incredible long battery life of 16 hours which does make it a great portable device. This is further complemented by the fact that the Swift 3 only weighs around 2.6 pounds.

This excellent portability earns it the award of the most lightweight laptop for video editing under $1000. However, the standard 60Hz display and 8GB RAM do hurt its overall standing in this roundup.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 6.5/10
• Battery: 9/10
• Display: 6.5/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

12. Lenovo Flex 5 – Best 2-in-1 Laptop

Size: 14 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U | GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD| Battery: 12 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Lenovo’s Flex 5 is a 14-inch convertible laptop with a 2-in-1 design that makes it unique among laptops of its class. This design can be handy for hassle free video editing as well.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor is a couple of generations old at this point, and its integrated AMD Radeon Graphics are not the sharpest in 2022. This combination is not the best and brightest for video editing, but the Lenovo Flex 5 compensates for it in other areas.

While the screen is just 1080p at 60Hz, the foldable mechanism makes it a lot more convenient in various scenarios. It also has touch and stylus support, which can prove helpful in video editing.

There aren’t many laptops like the Flex 5 on the market, but the HP Envy X360 and ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 do give the Flex a run for its money. However, the Flex 5 is the cheapest of the bunch so it comes out on top in terms of value.

Lenovo claims a battery timing of around 12 hours, which is quite good in laptops of this category. It also weighs around 3.64 pounds, making it moderately heavy among laptops already mentioned in this list.

Undoubtedly, the Lenovo Flex 5 is the best 2-in-1 laptop for video editing under $1000. It might not have the best specs, but it makes up for it well in other areas.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 6/10
• Battery: 8/10
• Display: 6.5/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7/10

13. Dell Inspiron 16 Plus – Best Display Laptop

Size: 16 inch | CPU: Intel Core i5-11400H | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 8 Hours| Resolution: 3072×1920 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Our final pick of the day comes our way from Dell with their Inspiron 16 Plus laptop. While the Inspiron series is synonymous with work and business laptops, this one is also quite competent when it comes to video editing.

Inside the Inspiron, the components are quite basic. The 11th Gen Core i5 processor is modern, but it is not the fastest in Intel’s lineup and the same can be said for its UHD integrated graphics. You can only expect basic video editing performance from this laptop.

The screen, however, is the highlight feature of the Inspiron. The 16-inch panel sports a resolution of 3072×1920 and is quite vivid and color accurate, although it is still only 60Hz.

Others may prefer to look at options like the Dell XPS 15 or LG Gram 16, but both of these laptops are much more expensive than the Inspiron for a similar setup.

The Inspiron 16 Plus has a battery timing of around 8 hours, which is deemed to be average for a laptop in this category. It is quite heavy though, weighing in at around 4.4 pounds.

While the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus has a lot of cool features, the display earns it the award of the best display laptop for video editing under $1000.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 6/10
• Battery: 7/10
• Display: 8.5/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 7/10

Best Video Editing Laptop under $1000 – Buyer’s Guide

Of course, there are a lot of factors that you need to consider while shopping for a video editing laptop. Nowadays, the product pages of laptops don’t offer a lot of useful information to help you make a decision.

Fortunately, we have laid out some important points any video editor should consider in their hunt for a video editing laptop. If you consider these factors, you should be able to get the perfect laptop for video editing under $1000.

The GPU

Most video editing software offer something called “GPU Hardware Acceleration” which is now becoming more and more commonplace. This option takes the burden off of the CPU and delegates it to the GPU, which is much more adept at video editing tasks such as rendering.

This is why a powerful GPU is absolutely crucial for any video editing laptop regardless of the budget. You should prioritize dedicated GPUs from the likes of Nvidia and AMD for this task.

With a budget of $1000, you should look for laptops that offer modern Nvidia GPUs such as the GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, RTX 3050, or GTX 1650 Ti. You can also buy a laptop with older generation Nvidia GPUs such as the GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q.

If you are on a really tight budget, some light video editing can also be done on weaker dedicated GPUs such as the Nvidia GeForce MX350 or integrated GPUs such as the Intel Iris Xe Graphics.

The Processor

Surely the second most important component in a video editing laptop is the processor or CPU. You should get a CPU that is able to keep up with the GPU in terms of rendering lengthy video projects and multitasking, allowing the GPU to reach its full potential.

Modern Intel and AMD Ryzen CPUs are very adept at this task, therefore it is easy to find a good CPU in a laptop under $1000.

You should prioritize laptops that offer 10th or 11th Gen Intel Core i5/i7 CPUs, or similar AMD Ryzen 5/7 CPUs from the 4000 or 5000 series. These processors are very powerful and efficient, and can therefore provide you with the best of both worlds.

Memory

Video editing is a memory-intensive process. Most video editing programs take up a lot of RAM and continue to increase their usage over time. They also increase their usage exponentially if you are editing a higher-resolution video such as 4K.

This is why you should opt for at least 16GB of RAM where possible. If it is not possible to get 16GB RAM in a laptop under $1000, then you can opt for 8GB RAM too. However, your editing capabilities will be limited with that amount of RAM.

You will only be able to edit simpler projects such as 1080p videos of modern length. Moreover, you will also have to keep your background tasks in check.

If you are stuck with 8GB of RAM, however, make sure to check if the laptop’s memory is user upgradeable so you can install another stick down the line.

Storage

When you are done editing your video, you will need to export it to your local storage. Doing so with multiple projects, again and again, requires a lot of storage space, therefore a video editing laptop should prioritize this aspect as well.

Look for laptops that offer at least 512GB of SSD storage. It is important to get an SSD on your laptop because it will significantly improve your general experience over a spinning hard drive.

You can also get a 256GB SSD if you are limited by your budget, but it will fill up quickly and you will have to delete older videos or other files to make room.

Some laptops offer SSD+HDD hybrid combinations which can be a great way to increase your storage space on the cheap. You can dump your older video files or extra files onto the hard drive to free up space on the SSD.

Battery Life

Just like with any laptop, battery life is a key feature that you need to consider before finalizing your decision. Video editing is a very resource-intensive process, therefore your battery life will drain quickly when you are using an editing program.

You should look for laptops that offer at least 6-8 hours of battery life on a full charge. This information is often publicly available on the product pages of laptops as well as in reviews.

It may be wise to opt for laptops that offer extremely long battery lives of 15+ hours, such as the Apple MacBook Air M1 if you are planning to edit videos on the go.

FAQs:

Is 8GB RAM laptop enough for video editing software?

8GB RAM can be enough for video editing software under certain conditions. You will have to manage your background tasks while editing video files, and you can only edit simpler projects such as 1080p videos of moderate length.

Is 256GB storage enough for video editing?

256GB storage can be enough for video editing if you only keep a few projects or videos on your laptop at one time. This storage will fill up quickly so you can’t store large amounts of other data on your laptop.

Is Core i5 good for video editing laptops?

A Core i5 CPU  is good enough for video editing if it belongs to a modern generation such as the 9th, 10th, or 11th Generation. There are many different Core i5 models, so it is best to research the capabilities of your selected model before buying.

Can you edit 4K video on a 1080p laptop?

You can definitely edit a 4K video on a 1080p laptop. You will not be able to see the finished product in 4K, but you can still export a video in 4K on a 1080p laptop and then watch it on a 4K screen.

Is a gaming laptop good for video editing?

A gaming laptop is very good for video editing. Gaming laptops have powerful GPUs and CPUs, lots of memory, and good cooling systems so they are great for this task. However, they are often very expensive, heavy, and have poor battery life.