Best Mac for Video Editing

Choose the Mac for video editing to work in Premiere Pro and Final Cut without lags.

Defining the best computer for video editing and multimedia from the Apple line is not easy. Numerous variants need to be analyzed, each of them can have different hardware pieces, additionally, several received updates this year.

Regardless of your position and degree of financial freedom, I’ve gathered top 6 Macs that are good for basic and experienced video post production.

Look through these laptops and choose the one for your budget and video editing.

Apple regularly updates its older versions, so the new iMac for video editing is nearly flawless, even comes close to what the Pro can do. The clear screen with awesome color rendition and high contrast ratio is worth a lot.

It almost fully reproduces the DCI-P3 color space used in the movies. The built-in Retina Display works at 60 MHz.

Being 1K bigger in size, it is an ideal 4K video editing computer, allowing you to change frames in full definition without hiding the controls. Its heart is the cutting-edge six-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost capability above 4GHz that can process nearly everything at high speed.

Dedicated AMD Radeon Pro graphics processor with 4-8 GB of video memory will handle any rendering software easy. Other cool features are the 8GB of RAM and a large ultrafast 512GB SSD storage. Memory can be extended too.

Considering Apple's brand industrial design, updated fillings, price-quality relationship, I can recommend this device as the best iMac for video editing.

Read more about the best monitor for video editing.

In case your job requires combining portability with the capability to handle complex video processing, Apple MacBook Pro is your choice. The 16-inch versions are advisable for their discrete video cards: video editing in 4K or photo editing in RAW is ensured by the 16-core GPU graphics processor.

It alternates with the integrated Intel UHD graphics processor when performance can be reduced. Video editing on MacBook flaws smoothly on the high definition Retina screen that is very sharp with incredible colors. Additional monitor can be joined easily, too.

It includes a branded track and touchpad to flip through the software timeline. You will also like optimized stereo speakers. It combines 16GB of RAM with a 512GB SSD drive.

The installed battery can run for about 10 hours, offering superior performance by laptop standards. The sturdy case protects the 10-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores from overheating and throttling.

The 16-inch version would be the best MacBook Pro for video editing for those who need to balance portability with decent image and power.

The basic version of this desktop has a 24″ display, 8GB of RAM, a Apple M1 chip, 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, 7-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, and 256GB ultrafast SSD storage. The display is of 4K type and stands out with high brightness levels (the rates defined by Apple equal 500 nits). Besides, it supports 1 billion colors and can automatically scale text in icons and app windows so that users can clearly see them.

The design has undergone no upgrades since 2017. Of course, there have appeared different variants of processors, storage, and memory, but they are all fitted in an identical case. There are silver and clean lines that make this product easily recognizable. The front side is very neat – no buttons, LEDs, or ports.

Though this computer can be hardly called a gaming machine, it is suitable for all average tasks. If you are specifically searching for a desktop with a small screen, this one is a nice option. If you want something bigger, its 27-inch relative is worth checking out.

MacBook Pro 13-inch has an outstanding True Tone Retina screen, famous for clear and natural picture, powerful speakers, and 2 fast Thunderbolt inputs.

Apple M2 Chip received 8GB of RAM. Besides, it is fitted with the best processor for video editing with 8 cores, 10-core GPU, and up to 24GB of unified memory. This should answer the “Is the 13 inch MacBook Pro good for video editing” question, though 4K processing may be troublesome.

Another highlight of the model is its 13.3-inch Retina display with 500 nits of brightness and P3 wide color for vibrant images and incredible detail. Thanks to a well-designed cooling system, the 13-inch MacBook Pro won’t get heated even under intense load.

If work is mostly done not at home, you will benefit from Macbook Pro video editing with this mobile and portable but powerful machine that has 20-hour battery duration and a weight of 1.4 kg.

MacBook can be equipped with M1 Pro or M1 Max and can demonstrate amazing performance rates even when you perform resource-demanding tasks, e.g., Ultra HD movie editing. If your work typically consists of intensive processes, you should opt for the Pro Mac chip. It perfectly copes with 4K video rendering 13.4x faster than the Mac Pro.

Thanks to a 10-core CPU, the machine handles regular tasks 3.7x faster and 32-core GPU guarantees 13x faster performance if you work in graphics-intensive apps or play AAA games.

The model is reasonably priced and also appeals to users with its small weight (1.2 pounds). However, a small screen may be a serious shortcoming for some people. Of course, if you are going to pair it with an external monitor, there won’t appear any problems. If not, you may have to strain your eyes a lot.

As you bask in the power of the MacBook M1 Pro and M1 Max, remember that their capabilities can be fully harnessed when paired with cutting-edge video editing software. Choosing the right software can complement your MacBook's prowess, facilitating a seamless and efficient editing workflow.

Since Apple has updated the frame and internal components, added the desirable features, using MacBook Air for video editing has become quite realistic for simple video color grading operations.

The laptop is quite light (2.7 pounds) with a familiar keyboard. The miniature body fits a 13.3-inch Retina screen. At 2560x1664 definition, it shows a sharp image with realistic colors.

The 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor can be overclocked to double its speed. The video editing won’t be flawless. Still, it handles simple editing and normal administrative work great.

The integrated Intel UHD 617 video card, 8GB of RAM, together with 128 or 256GB SSD ensure that. It has 2 USB-C ports plus an SD card slot, so transferring photos is convenient.

This laptop for video editing and has the benefit of working for up to 14 hours on a battery charge. For people with limited budget who search for a portable and inexpensive version of the MacBook, this is the best choice.

Video editing is a serious task for any OS. Certainly, this brand’s computers can do this job, but the difference is substantial between some vlog clips and a real movie.

Not working in the 4K format, you can afford to go around with a small laptop. For a specialist, the full-size desktop will forever remain superior in power.

For any video editing software, the processor plays the main role. My advice is to not go below the quad-core Intel Core i5 processor.

If you’re ready to invest, get a 6-8 core processor, because the expense greatly enhances performance. Being very limited in budget, you can still get a dual-core but performing complex jobs will be problematic.

Those working with footage consider accurate color rendition of the highest importance and Apple Retina displays gained the best reputation in this. iMac and MacBook Pro have it and it’s a huge boost.

Such a display is known for crisp definition, natural colors, and wide viewing cones. Such features help to display the footage accurately and clearly, with no distortions, which ensures higher-quality video editing.

The second most influential component is the video card. The software is mostly capable of rendering through a graphics processor.

AMD hardware has gained popularity, so a middle- or higher-class Mac means a discrete GPU. Certain Pro workstation laptops even have the AMD Fire Pro dual feature that concentrates on providing superior performance or combining integrated and discrete processors to optimize it.

The video editing process largely depends on the amount of RAM in your computer. The most time-consuming process is the export of the finished video.

If you need a Mac for video editing or a laptop for streaming Twitch, get a device with at least 8GB of RAM (16GB is required for 4K editing, 3D work, and 360 ° video editing).

The speed and capacity of the internal drive will provide instant access to the material. Get at least a standard SSD drive. Better yet, the branded hybrid SSD, which is usually installed in the best laptops for animation. Its speed is several times higher than usual, both during recording and reading.