Best Laptop for Photo and Video Editing

April 3, 2023 Ramon A

Best Laptop for Photo & Video Editing: MacBook Pro

As a professional photographer and videographer for over 25 year, having a powerful and reliable laptop has been essential for editing my work. By far, my choice has been the MacBook Pro laptop, it’s the best laptop for photo and video editing. Thanks to its impressive processing power, high-quality display, and portable design.

At home, I use a custom desktop. But when I’m on the go, shooting tethered or traveling and need to get work done, the MacBook Pro, is the best laptop for photo and video editing. I use the 13-inch version for its portability and fast processing speed. There are many articles out there comparing laptops, but not many from actual working photographers like myself.

**Photo of Georgia P – Edited with Photoshop on a MacBook Pro laptop**

Is MacBook Pro good for photo and video editing?

Yes, the MacBook Pro is great for photo and video editing. It has a fast high-speed processor, currently they have the M2 and M2 Max chip. They also have a dedicated graphics card, which helps with my video editing. Additionally, the MacBook Pro’s Retina display provides realistic color accuracy and detail, making it easy to edit and view my work with precision.

All photos on this page were edited with my MacBook Pro and Photoshop.

Amanda modeling and edited with MacBook Pro — **Edited with MacBook Pro using Photoshop**

Which laptop is best for photo and video editing?

While there are many laptops available for photo and video editing, some of the options I found include:

MacBook Pro 14 inch: as previously mentioned, the MacBook Pro is my top choice, mainly due to its powerful processor, display, and portability.
Dell XPS 15: this laptop features a 4K OLED display. A good choice if you prefer a Windows based laptop.
HP Spectre x360: this laptop has a fast processor, and a long battery life.

In the past 10 years, I’ve used both window based and Apple laptops. And when it comes to the best laptop for photo and video editing, nothing has beat my MacBook Pro. Seriously, it’s that good and reliable.

Is the MacBook Air or Pro better for photo and video editing?

While the MacBook Air is a great option for general use and light photo and video editing, the MacBook Pro is the better choice for professionals like me who require more power and performance. My MacBook Pro 13 inch has never failed me, reliability is a big plus.

Photo of Emily Probst edited with MacBook Pro — **Photo of Emily Probst edited with MacBook Laptop using Photoshop**

Should I get an iPad or MacBook for photo editing?

While the iPad can be used for photo editing, it’s not the best option for photo/video professionals like me. The MacBook offers more power, performance, and flexibility. It’s not uncommon to be editing photos or video in a plane or hotel room. My MacBook Pro just does things better than any windows based laptop ever did.

Is a MacBook Pro good for Photoshop?

Yes, the MacBook Pro is an excellent choice to run Photoshop. I’ve been running it for years and haven’t had any problems. I also run Lightroom and Lightroom Classic and sometimes shoot tethered as well! Additionally, the MacBook Pro’s Retina display provides stunning color accuracy and detail, making it easy to edit and view your work with precision.

Currently I have Photoshop, Lightroom, Lightroom classic installed on my MacBook Pro as well as Premier Pro. In addition, I also have DaVinci Resolve installed on my MacBook Pro, which I prefer for video editing.

Celeste-photo-edited-with-macbook-pro — **Model Celeste during one of our shoots and edited with Photoshop on a MacBook Pro**

How much RAM do I need for photo and video editing?

The amount of RAM you need for photo and video editing depends on the size and complexity of your projects. Generally, 8GB of RAM is sufficient for light photo and video editing, while 16GB is recommended for more demanding tasks. I started with 8GB and moved up to 16GB.

But you can do fine with just 8GB for photo editing. Video is what takes up more memory, and of course the memory chip and how many cores it has.

Is MacBook Pro better than MacBook Air for Photoshop?

Yes, the MacBook Pro is better than the MacBook Air for Photoshop. My wife has the MacBook Air, and it does a good job with Photoshop. But where the MacBook Pro shines is in the speed. You can notice it right away.

Overall the best laptop for photo and video editing in my opinion and experience, is the MacBook Pro. Whether you get the older 13 inch, or the newer 14/16 inch versions, you won’t regret it. The photos on this page, including the one of Emily Probst as well as many of the images on this site of Megan Felix were edited on my MacBook Pro. On a later post, I’ll share my preference in desktop PC, which may surprise many of you!