Best Laptop For Video Editing Under $700: Our 4 Picks

The best laptop for video editing can be hard to find because there are so many types of editing that you may need to do. Fortunately, there are plenty of laptops on the market today that can handle almost anything you throw at them.

We’ve looked through the marketplace to find a few options that we think will work for the widest range of people.

Comparison Table

	2020 HP 15 15.6″ HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop	ASUS VivoBook F512DA Laptop	2020 Dell Inspiron 15 15.6″ Touchscreen Laptop for Business Student	2020 Newest HP 17.3″ HD+ Screen Laptop Computer
System Memory	8 GB RAM	12 GB RAM	16 GB RAM	8 GB DDR4 RAM
Screen Size	15.6″	15.6″	15.6″	17.3″
Processor Model	10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1	AMD Ryzen 3 3200U	10th Gen Intel i3-1005G1	Intel Quad-Core i5-1035G1
Processor Speed	3.6 GHz	3.5 GHz	3.4 GHz	3.6 GHz
Operating System	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Pro	Win10 w/ Ghost Manta Accessories	Windows 10 Home in S mode
Battery Life	8 hours	at least 8 hours	6.5 hours	9.25 hours

4 Best Laptops for Video Editing

1. 2020 HP 15 15.6″ HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop – 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1

HP is a name that has provided some good and some bad laptops, but if you are looking for the best laptop for video editing under $700, it is worth giving the 2020 Newest HP 15.6″ Touchscreen Widescreen Premium Laptop a second look. There are a few things you should know before you make a final choice, but this is a good place to start.

Specs:

• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Item Weight: 4.49 pounds
• Package Dimensions: 19 x 12 x 3 inches
• Rear Webcam Resolution: 1 MP
• Processor Brand: Intel
• Processor Count: 4
• Computer Memory Type: DDR4 SDRAM
• Flash Memory Size: 16
• Hard Drive Interface: Solid State
• Hard Drive Rotational Speed: 5400 RPM
• Batteries: 1 Lithium ion (included)
• Standing screen display size: 15.6 Inches
• Max Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768 Pixels
• Memory Speed: 2666 MHz
• Graphics Coprocessor: Intel Graphics_coprocessor
• Chipset Brand: Intel
• Graphics Card Ram Size: 0.01 MB
• Wireless Type: Bluetooth, 802.11ac
• Number of USB 3.0 Ports: 3

Out of all of the laptops on this list, this will probably the option that you’ll have the hardest time finding out information about. Even so, everyone who does have it has said good things about it. It is a 15.6” machine with an Intel Core i5 – 7200U processor and Intel HD Graphics 620 graphics processor, meaning video editors will be able to see true to life images. The laptop will handle some video and photo editing with ease.

• Design

Overall, this is a laptop that looks very sleek and professional if you want it to, or you can jazz it up a little bit. It has a silver lid that holds stickers well. Everywhere other than the cover, you’ll see a jet black finish.

It is lightweight and comfortable to use, with strong hinges so you can open and close it repeatedly throughout the day. Another great feature of the design is that the battery is removable. If you are willing to part with some extra money and get another battery, you will have a batter that you can use over and over again, doubling the life of this one.

• Performance

There is some great performance on this laptop if you are willing to keep up with installations and updates, according to many users. It has built-in security in the processor and is able to support 4k resolution. You will also get 2TB of storage, which is a lot for video editors, though you may need to supplement after some time.

The Intel Core i5 CPU also uses the Turbo Boost Technology, which will help to maximize productivity. It comes standard with 8GB RAM and will be able to keep up with the most demanding CPU tasks.

• Ports & Connectivity

There are plenty of ports on this laptop, which is good for anyone who is shooting and editing videos for other people or even for themselves. It has two USB 3.1s for faster data transfer, 1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 RJ 45, and  Headphone-out, microphone-in combo jack.

You will also get 802.11ac WLAN for your wireless connections. Additionally, it has a multi-format SD digital media card reader, which is going to be one of the main priorities for those editing videos.

• Keyboard

If you use hotkeys or you type a lot, then you need a keyboard that is comfortable. While this one isn’t going to be the most comfortable on the list if you are going to write thousands of words, it is pretty good to use in an editing situation.

The soft touch helps to reduce hand strain when you keep hitting the same buttons over and over again. One reason we love it is that it has an integrated numeric pad and backlighting.

• Camera

If you want to use your webcam to talk to business associates or to chat with friends, it isn’t too bad. The microphone is actually one of the best on the list and it will come through clearly, which can help if you have to do voiceovers or want to talk to others while you are editing.

The image quality is what you can expect out of a webcam, so you won’t be shooting any videos on this one.

• Video

If you watch videos for work, or you just want to play back what you’ve done, this is going to be a great option for you. It has Intel HD Graphics 620, which has up to 4GB memory.

You will be able to get colorful, bright videos and edit pictures easily with tools like Photoshop. That same color vibrancy will transfer over to video editing tools as well. Overall, a really good option.

• Audio

For audio, it comes with HD audio stereo speakers. The sound is pleasing and will probably be good enough (with a good pair of headphones) to edit videos that have music over them. You will want to keep the volume down ever so slightly because if it gets over 70%, there does start to be some muffling and thumping on the bass notes.

• Battery

As mentioned above, the battery life isn’t great, but it isn’t bad either. It comes in at about 8 hours with regular usage. The battery itself is a  3-cell 31 WHr 2.8Ah lithium Li-on, which isn’t too hard to find. You can replace it because the battery comes out, which is an excellent feature you don’t always see on laptops anymore.

2. ASUS VivoBook F512DA Laptop, 15.6″ FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Upto 3.5GHz, 12GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, Vega 3, HDMI, Card Reader, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Windows 10 Pro

The Asus VivoBook F512DA laptop is a great option for video editors who are looking for a powerful machine that will handle all of the visuals that you can throw at them. With a few extra ports, it’s an extremely handy tool.

Specs:

• Brand: ASUS
• Hardware Platform: PC
• Operating System: Windows 10
• Item Weight: 4 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 14 x 0.8 inches
• Item Dimensions L x W x H: 9 x 14 x 0.8 inches
• Processor Brand: AMD
• Processor Count: 2
• Computer Memory Type: SODIMM
• Flash Memory Size: 256 GB
• Hard Drive Interface: Solid State
• Power Source: AC & Battery
• Batteries: 1 Lithium Metal battery (included)
• Standing screen display size: 15.6 Inches
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
• Max Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Memory Speed: 2400 MHz
• Graphics Coprocessor: AMD Radeon Vega 3
• Chipset Brand: AMD
• Wireless Type: 802.11ac
• Average Battery Life: 5 Hours

This is a good affordable laptop for video editing that will give you pretty much everything that you need and maybe even a little more that you weren’t sure you’d need. Be sure to pay attention to the ports, because there is plenty to like here.

• Design

If you are looking for a laptop that will set you apart in a sea of people, this might be one of your best options. There are many different color choices and each one is just as beautiful as the next. In particular, we like the blues because they don’t show as many fingerprints.

Additionally, this is the type of laptop that you can throw into a bag and not have to worry about. It is a bit heavier than some of the other choices on the list, coming in at 4 pounds. However, that weight comes from the build, not the size, as it measures thin, coming in at .63 by 14.1 by 9.2 inches. If this seems too big to you, there is a smaller version in 14-inches.

The chassis is an aluminum alloy, making it stronger and more luxe feeling than the other options. You should know that there are some thin bezels around the screen, which actually works to make video editing easier.

• Ports and Connectivity

If you are looking for an option with a ton of ports, this might be a good option.  On the left side, you will find a USB 3.0 port, a USB-C port, and an HDMI connection. On the right side, you will find two USB 2.0 ports and a microSD card reader. Unfortunately, there isn’t a Thunderbolt 3 port, which will make some people mad.

• Display

Unfortunately, this isn’t a touch screen. However, what you do get is a screen that shows a ton of brightness and all of the different values of color. You will even be able to see in the dark, which helps when you are editing videos that weren’t lit all that well.

• Keyboard & Touchpad

Overall, this is a comfortable keyboard experience. The full number pad is really what makes this stand out, especially if you have to take notes on specific video times.

The touchpad isn’t great and feels a bit cheap, but most video editors will supplement with a USB mouse anyway. One feature that we did love is the built-in fingerprint reader you can use with Windows Hello to ensure that all of your footage stays private.

• Performance

The laptop comes standard with a 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10210U processor, 8GB of memory, integrated Intel UHD Graphics, and a 512GB M.2 solid-state drive. For the money, you will be hard pressed to find anything better.

Everything runs really smoothly and you won’t experience stuttering if you try to listen to music while you are editing. While it isn’t the most powerful option out there, it is still pretty great.

• Battery Life

With a fully charged laptop and video editing, you often don’t get too much battery life. With this one, you will be able to use this laptop for at least 8 hours. Additionally, it charges pretty quickly so you will be able to get back to work.

• Heating & Cooling

There is nothing really good or bad to say about the cooling and heating system in this laptop. It doesn’t get too hot when you are working. However, if you are doing some heavy editing, the fans may get pretty loud.

Pros

Greatest value on the list; good, quick performance when you are trying to edit videos; stylish design; long battery life; good port options

Cons

More expensive than the other options on our list; only a single US configuration; no Thunderbolt 3 connector, which will make some editors mad

3. 2020 Dell Inspiron 15 15.6″ Touchscreen Laptop for Business Student, 10th Gen Intel i3-1005G1(Up to 3.4GHz,Beat i5-8250U), 16GB RAM, 1TB HDD + 128GB PCIe SSD, Win10 w/ Ghost Manta Accessories

Overall, the 2020 Dell Inspiron 15 is a great laptop for those who need to edit videos. It is also a super portable model, so you will be able to take it on jobs with you. You can rely on the performance, it is a pretty machine, and it has great customer support if you need it.

This is a great laptop for most video editors and it has a solid construction, so you will be able to move around with it. Dell is the type of name that a lot of people love but some people feel some trepidation, as they’ve been let down in the past.

You should know that for the solid construction, you will get a bit of a heavier laptop than the others on the list, as it comes in at 5.4 pounds. This isn’t too heavy for most people to carry around, but you should get a good bag. It is also a smaller bag, coming in at 14.9 x 10.25 x 0.94 inches.

• Design

If you want something that has a lot of heavy-handed design, you won’t find that here. It comes with a standard case that is silver with black accents. As with most Dell products, you can get a different color for an additional cost.

The Dell logo is in the middle of the top. The case itself is textured, which adds at least a little visual interest. When you open the laptop, it is a gray color that plays nicely with the other colors.

• Display

When you are editing, you will need a screen that displays things in a true-to-life way, and you will get that here. It has a 1920 x 1080 pixel and thicker bezels. The only thing to note is that this display does have issues with lighting, particularly extra dark scenes, so if you edit a lot of those videos, you may have some trouble.

• Ports

The Dell has quite a few ports that you will be able to use to upload and export content. On the left side, you will get a power port, Ethernet jack, HDMI out port, USB 3.0 port, and an SD card reader. On the right side, you get an audio jack (headphone and microphone combo jack), two USB 2.0 ports, and an optical drive.

• Keyboard & Touchpad

The keyboard on this Dell is a bit shallow and stiff. If you are a typer, you might need something that is easier on the hands. However, the palm rest is good, so if you will be using the same keys over and over again when you edit, this is a good choice.

Another benefit is that it has a full numeric pad, which is good for inputting timestamps and other data. The touchpad is also quite good, as it measures at 4.1 x 3.1 inches, which is larger than most.

• Audio

Most laptops don’t have audio that you can really remark on, it is usually fine. However, for video editing, you might want something that is a little bit better than ordinary. You will get that here. The Dell has a really great speaker system so that you will hear every sound precisely.

• Performance

This is a great performer, even for Dell. It comes with an Intel Core i5-8250U processor, which gets up to 3.4 GHz of performance. This is great for those who do heavy video editing and need something that will ramp up the speed.

It comes with 8 GB of RAM. The graphics chipset is good as well, so you will be able to render videos easily, but you won’t be able to play high-end titles on it. It has a 256GB SSD, so if you are going to store a lot of data, you may want to use an external hard drive.

• Battery Life

This laptop has a decent battery life for all of the power that it puts out, but not the best on this list. It lasts about 6.5 hours when you are editing videos.

• Overheating

One of the biggest issues with this laptop is that it will get really hot. If you want to sit with your laptop on your knees or even use a cushion to prop it up, you are going to have problems. You may want to get a computer pad that cools if you do this.

Pros

Great price; sturdy; comes in different colors options; great for mainstream usage; good for video editing

Cons

Overheats; the keyboard isn’t great; A bit bulky; Some loss of color vibrance in certain modes

4. 2020 Newest HP 17.3″ HD+ Screen Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1035G1 (Up to 3.60GHz, Beat i7-8550U), 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, Webcam, DVD-RW, HDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth, Win10, w/GM Accessories

The 2020 Newest HP 17.3” is a great widescreen laptop option for video editors. There are a few things that you will want to look at and consider before you make this your laptop for video editing, but it is a good option for anyone who needs a workhorse that doesn’t have a ton of frills.

Specs:

• Backlit Keyboard: No
• Screen Size: 17.3 inches
• Touch Screen: Yes
• Storage Type: SSD
• Total Storage Capacity: 256 gigabytes
• Solid State Drive Capacity: 256 gigabytes
• System Memory (RAM): 12 gigabytes
• Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 8
• Processor Speed (Base): 2.1 gigahertz
• Processor Model: AMD 2nd Generation Ryzen 5
• Processor Model Number: 3500U
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home in S mode
• Battery Life: 9.25 hours
• Battery Type: Lithium-ion

Out of all of the laptops on this list, you will probably find the least amount of information about this one. Even so, it is a great option with some serious power and capabilities.

It is a 17.3” machine with an Intel Core i5 – 7200U processor and Intel HD Graphics 620 graphics processor, meaning it will render your graphics pretty well and quickly. You will be able to edit smoothly.

• Design

Overall, this laptop is pretty sleek and professional. It has a silver lid with a jet black finish everywhere else. You won’t see any fingerprints, which we love. It has a lightweight feel but it still feels sturdy. The hinges, in particular, feel great.

Another thing about this design is that the battery is removable and replaceable, which can help if you need to really pull the hours out of it.

• Performance

This is a performer. It has built-in security and supports 4k resolution. You will also get 2TB of storage, which is great for video editors who need to store a lot of information inside.

The Intel Core i5 CPU also uses the Turbo Boost Technology, which will help to maximize productivity. The machine comes standard with 8GB of RAM, so it will keep up with the demands of editing.

• Ports & Connectivity

There are more than enough ports on this laptop, so you will be able to do quite a bit. It has two USB 3.1s for faster data transfer of your videos, 1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 RJ 45, and a headphone-out, microphone-in combo jack.

It also comes with 802.11ac WLAN for your wireless connections. Additionally, it has a multi-format SD digital media card reader.

• Keyboard

If you want a comfortable keyboard, you may want to look elsewhere. While it isn’t awful, it isn’t a great keyboard. It does have an integrated numeric pad and backlighting that will allow you to work in the dark. You should know that it has a “soft touch” feeling that some people aren’t a fan of, but you may like: they are harder to keep clean.

• Camera

If you want to use a webcam for client appointments or to collaborate, this one isn’t too bad. The microphone quality is pretty high. The image quality isn’t something you can screengrab or record, and there are certainly better options, but it isn’t awful.

• Video

If you watch videos, this is a good option. It has an Intel HD Graphics 620, which has up to 4GB memory. You will be able to get colorful, bright videos and edit pictures easily with tools like Photoshop.

• Audio

For audio, it is a good option. The HD speakers that come standard are please, as long as you don’t go above the 70% loudness threshold. Anything higher and you will get some muffling.

If you are willing to invest in some good headphones, you will be able to get some fantastic sound quality.

• Battery

The battery life isn’t great on this laptop, but if you are willing to invest some more money, you can buy a second 3-cell 31 WHr 2.8Ah lithium Li-o to pop in when the battery life runs out.

Pros

Great price; sturdy; good visuals; replaceable battery; amazing microphone

Cons

The keyboard isn’t great; a little boring looks wise

Conclusion

There are plenty of different options out there for laptops for video editing, but the ones on this list are among the best you can get. Be sure to look through each and make determinations that fit with your style of editing, your choices, and your budget.

Even if you don’t love any of these options, they will at least give you something to think about in terms of what you want.