They say it’s easier to buy a new car than a new laptop.
Why? Because you can test drive a new car, but you can’t test use a new laptop!
While it is true that you don’t get to test use a laptop, you can make an informed decision for buying one based on other users’ reviews and experiences.
In this post, we have prepared a full guide that will help you make the right decision in buying the best budget laptop for video editing to take your video editing to the next level.
Read more: Best Cameras for Live Streaming
And if you’re not ultra tech-savvy, don’t worry. You’ll likely pick a couple of things up from this post that will help you out, and maybe even come in handy to impress your gamer (and non-gamer) friends.
Here is a quick look at the pros and cons of the featured laptops. For details, continue reading.
Key things to consider before making a purchase
1. RAM
Your computer’s short-term memory, RAM, holds all the data your computer’s already using before you power it off. Now, video editing is the most intensive thing you can do on a computer, whether you’re opting for a Mac or PC.
This is why most people make the mistake of assuming that, for video editing, you should definitely opt for 64 GB RAM. After all, bigger numbers are better, right? Um, not really.
What’s best is that you get the most value for your money, and that is not the case with 64 GB. Frankly, it’s overkill. Because after 16 GB, you don’t get an appreciable amount of improvement in cutting down your video rendering time. So, opting for 8 or 16 GB is the best option.
However, if you want to go for slightly better performance (even though it’s not the greatest return on your investment), you can opt for 32 GB for 4K video editing, that is, if you plan to do a number of other things while you are rendering your videos.
Otherwise, 16 GB is more than enough for your computer to quickly render your videos.
Personally, even though RAM is important, a powerful processor is what makes or breaks your video editing performance.
2. Processor
The processor is the ‘brain’ of your computer that performs all the calculations. These logical decisions help it to run all the tasks on your computer. Since your CPU does the bulk of your work, it is always better to invest in having a great CPU.
This is especially true when it comes to performing hefty tasks like video editing and rendering. So, your best bet would be to buy an advanced 6-core or 8-core processor. This one-time investment would be huge in making a difference in your work life and in ensuring that everything works smoothly when you edit your videos.
3. Discrete graphics
Modern games have amazing graphics. In a virtual world that imitates life, you don’t just play a game, you become a part of the gaming world. And that key computer part that makes this awesome experience happen is the graphics card.
A graphics card is bigger than a conventional ‘card’; it is usually about 10 inches in size. And on top of the graphics card is the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) which is its main functional element. GPU is this little chip that performs super complex computations at an incredible speed and produces shiny graphics on the screen that are loved by everyone.
Now the question is, do you really need a graphics card for video editing?
Yes, it’s definitely better if you get one. Why? One word: specialization.
While your CPU does everything it can to run all your computer programs, the GPU is specially designed to take care of the graphics part. With a good GPU, you can have great displays in full resolution, add special effects and perform color grading all with smooth video playback. No delay, no drop frames. How great is that!
And since it takes the burden off of your CPU in terms of task allocation, it can also greatly speed up video rendering time.
Of course, with all its benefits, getting a high-end GPU is quite a pricey option. But if you work with complex video editing, it’s definitely worth it in the long run.
4. Display
For video editing, you need to choose a display that has excellent clarity when it comes to displaying individual colors.
So which display should you go for? TN or IPS? While TN is a lot less expensive, is it suitable for video editing?
Our take — IPS is the clear winner. Here’s why.
First, there’s the viewing angle. An IPS screen has a certified 178 degrees viewing angle, meaning that you can look at it from any direction with absolute superior clarity. This is not the case with a TN screen, because if you’re not looking at it straight ahead, everything on the screen would appear washed out.
Second, the color representation on IPS is manyfold stronger than TN. With an IPS panel display, you get darker darks and pronounced lights, making an overall more vibrant color experience. And it is crucial to have accurate and clear-cut colors for video editing.
5. Storage
When it comes to storage, you want to go for SSD (solid-state drive) over a conventional hard drive. Hard drives are the most cost-effective way to store large amounts of data, but they are also the slowest.
Since SSD uses flash memory technology with no moving parts, it is much faster than disk-based memory. Though SSDs comes with a higher cost, thankfully flash memory technology is evolving quickly and prices continue to drop while storage sizes are on the rise. This makes SSDs an increasingly viable alternative to hard drives.
If you want to go more in-depth about SSD vs hard drive storage, check out this video.
Now that you know the basics of laptop specifications for buying your next budget laptop for video editing, let’s get on with our picks.
The best budget laptops for video editing
1. Dell 15 7000
For a video editing laptop under $1000, the Dell 15 7000 is a pretty decent option. Comfortable keypads and touchpads are Dell’s specialty, and it is true for Dell 15 7000 as well. The laptop has a 15-inch display which is great for content consumption and also for 1080p video editing. It comes with a Core i6 processor and NVidia’s GeForce 1050Ti GPU (different models slightly differ in price and features).
Here’s a quick overview of what’s great and not-so-great about the Dell 15 7000
Pros
- It offers adaptive thermals that adjust the cooling in accordance with the position of laptop. It changes itself to your lap or your desk.
- Dell 15 7000 has wide viewing angles which can be great for video editing.
- The keyboard includes a numeric keyboard which makes it quite comfortable to work with.
- The laptop has a 360-degree hinge. For situations where you need the display to be in front of you but don’t intend to use the keyboard, this feature enables you to turn it into a tent, set it up as an easel, or transform it into a tablet.
- Just above the screen of the Inspiron 15 7000, we have a webcam with a useful built-in privacy shutter.
Cons
- The camera lacks the feature of IR sensors that is required for face recognition to work with your Windows account.
- The built-in speakers lack in some functions such as low-end bass and thump.
- Battery life is directly impacted by the 4k display.
For an in-depth look at the laptop’s specifications, here’s a review of Dell Inspiron 15 7000
2. Asus ZenBook 13
Incredibly lightweight with a 13.3 inch screen and metallic finish, Asus ZenBook 13 is sleek and stylish. If you never liked bezels, you’ll love the fact that Asus ZenBook 13 has none!
8th generation inbuilt Core i7 processor with 8 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD makes for comfortable video editing. It works really well when it comes to using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere. However, you might feel that the performance gets glitchy with 4K or multilayer editing. Nonetheless, it is one of the best cheap laptops for editing YouTube videos.
Pros
- Exceptionally portable. It is 16.9 mm thick and weighs slightly over a kg. Plus, it has smooth edges which make it easier to hold and carry.
- The nano-edge 13.3 inch full HD LED display screen boasts decent color accuracy and strong viewing angles.
- Good collection of ports despite its small form size —USB 3.0 type-A port, a USB 2.0 type B, type-C, a full-size HDMI port, and a headphone microphone combo, as well as a micro SD card slot.
- Incredibly comfortable typing position thanks to the ErgoLift hinge. With the hinge, your laptop is set at an angle relative to the surface which facilitates typing as well as air flow to keep things cool.
- 3D infrared camera for face recognition that works quite well.
- Awesome trackpad with a smooth glass surface and a robust base of windows precision drivers.
Cons
- The ErgoLift hinge does not have a sturdy build and can feel quite slippery at times. Also, the angle may be great for typing, but the key travel is too short. This at times requires you to press the keys a little too firmly.
- The illuminated numeric pads aren’t quite as responsive as the rest of the touchpad.
Want to have a good look at the Asus ZenBook 13? Check it out with The Verge:
Read more: Our line-up of the 6 Best Free GoPro Editing Software
3. Lenovo Yoga 720
Talk about a cheap laptop for video editing and you’ll have Lenovo Yoga 720 as a strong contender. It comes in different variations and might differ in features depending on the version. We will have a look at Lenovo Yoga 720 2-in-1 13.3″ FHD IPS Touch-Screen Ultrabook.
You might be wondering what Lenovo Yoga 720 has to offer. Let’s find out!
Pros
- It offers a brightly backlit keyboard and has Core i5-7200U, with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD.
- The Windows Precision touchpad is responsive and fast.
- Lenovo yoga comes with a good collection of ports — USB type-C port, Two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI and a micro SD card reader.
- Overall, it has excellent build quality with fine edges and great hardware design.
Cons
- The laptop is too heavy, it does not come across as one of the most travel-friendly laptops and can strain your arm quite a bit.
- The fan can give you trouble and might get really noisy at times
Still on the fence about it? Maybe this in-depth review of Lenovo Yoga 720 will help you decide.
It is not easy to find cheap video editing laptops. But even on a budget, you can get pretty decent specifications to complete your video editing projects and make a mark on the world.
Now that we’ve rounded up our choices for best laptop for video editing 2022, let us know in the comments which one do you think you are going to go for. And if you’ve already worked with one, share your thoughts and help others decide!
Read more: How to Start a Career in Animation