If you are looking for one of the best laptops for animation and video editing to work with raw video or to create animations, then you are in the right place. Here, I have provided a list of the best laptops for animation and video editing.

First, why do you need the best laptops for animation and video editing?

✅ If you want to trim small clips, you do not need a laptop with a fast processor, strong graphics, and a high-resolution display.

✅ In case you want to make video editing a hobby, you can go with a cheap gaming laptop with a decent amount of power.

✅ You also need a top-of-the-line video editing laptop with a sharper and brighter display.

Besides performance, you also have to consider the display and its resolution. The sRGB color gamut coverage and panel produced an average number of nits while choosing the best laptop for animation and video editing. So, in this article, I will share some information that helps you choose the best laptop for animation and video editing purposes.

Things to consider before choosing the Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

Before choosing the best video editing laptop, you need to consider a couple of things. The main thing is your budget. Based on how much you are willing to spend buying the best laptop for animation and video editing, I’ll suggest a few options. After that, the other factors that stand before purchasing the best laptop for animation and video editing are as follows.

1. Screen Resolution

For animation and editing videos, a 1080p resolution screen is sufficient. Choosing a laptop with a 4K resolution screen is the best option, but it might be expensive for you. And also, it may not be suitable for some video editing software. A good and bigger screen should be sharp enough to handle video editing like shading and color corrections.

2. Processor (CPU)

The processor is the essential part of powering a machine. Nowadays, many CPU cores like Intel’s Core U-series use less power with four cores in them. The more upgraded processor comes with more capacity to handle tab work smoothly. 

If the processor seems to be running slow, you can test it through the Cinebench benchmark test to check the processor’s speed while rendering a 3D image. A higher score is better, but over 700 doesn’t mean that the laptop can handle video editing.

For 2D animation, any modern Intel Core i5 CPU (8th Generation) or Ryzen 5 CPU (Ryzen 3rd Generation) is sufficient. For 3D animation, an Intel Core i7 or Core i9 with 6 to 8 cores is perfect.

Also, you might be able to afford a laptop with a higher clock speed for editing and animating. Focus on clock speed for getting a quick output. For rendering, try to afford as many cores as you can.

3. Graphics Card

There are two household names in the graphics card world, i.e., AMD and NVIDIA Graphics. Both companies offer high-quality products. 

For 2D Animation, any Graphics card like Intel HD/AMD Vega X series is fine. But, for 3D Animation, you should go with the NVIDIA GTX/RTX gaming graphics cards.

As a student, the NVIDIA 1050Ti series or AMD Radeon RX 540/550/560 series will be enough for a smooth viewport, small project & gaming purpose. 

In professional work, you should go for 10th generation NVIDIA GeForce Cards of RTX series like 1660Ti, 1070, 1080/2060/2070/2080 with lots of vRAM. 

You can go for the NVIDIA 1660Ti series if you have enough budget. It will handle many polygons, particles, and a viewport of lots of rigs with smooth framerates. 

4. RAM and Storage

For students, starting with animation and video editing, 8GB RAM is enough. After learning to move forward to larger projects like maps, portfolios, please upgrade it to 16GB RAM. You need at least 16 GB for bigger models, and 2GB is more than sufficient for any model with tons of details. As much as the RAM, the rendering will be fast.

Try to avoid HDDs and go with Solid State Drives (SSD) for storage. SATA III SSDs are good, but PCIe NVMe SSDs are best. It will reduce the spending time on a project by fast loading applications/reading/writing files. 

For students, a 256GB SSD is enough for working on small animation models. For professionals, 1TB HDD with 256GB SSD or 512GB with 1TB SSD disk is necessary. For 2D animation, you can use a 128GB SSD also.

5. Weight and Battery Life

Portability is one of the essential parameters before choosing a video editing laptop. A portable laptop shouldn’t feel so heavy that you are not able to carry it. Remember that the weight of a laptop with a larger screen of more than 14-inches should be less than three pounds.

Doing any animation and video editing consumes a lot of battery. To work for a long time, you need a laptop with long battery life as well. Otherwise, you have to keep it plugged in most of the time during animation or video editing.

6. Software

For 3D animation, you can go with visual effects software, any 3D applications such as Blender, Maya, and 3DS Max, including 3D games. For 2D animation, you can use software like Pencil 2D and Adobe After Effects in 2D that doesn’t use viewport and motion software.

List of Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

After considering the crucial things for animation and video editing, I suggest the best laptop for animation and video editing. In the world of animation, you need to start with a 64-bit system with 8GB RAM and an excellent non-integrated graphics card to run animation software. Try to go for the latest series of GPU and 10th generation of the GTX or RTX series of NVIDIA to minimize errors and lags. 

I have selected two to three laptops from reputed laptop manufacturing companies like Acer, Dell, ASUS, Lenovo, RAZER Blade, MSI, etc. So, check out the list of laptops for animation and video editing below. 

Acer Laptops – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

Acer laptops are well known as budget-oriented gaming laptops. These laptops are highly advanced. So, in the list, Acer laptops are on the top. Some of the best laptops for animation and video editing are as follows:

1. Acer Predator Helios 300

Acer Predator Helios 300 will blow your mind away with a fast 240Hz display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card, and an upgraded Intel core processor. There are several models of Helios 300 with different configurations in them. As per your budget, you can choose the better model. As it is a gaming laptop, it is highly capable of doing animation and video editing. With the different models, you can do the hard work too.

2. Acer Predator Helios 500

Acer Predator Helios 500 from Acer with an in-built 2TB hard drive provides enough space to save your clips and other media files. It has also included a 512GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, and 16GB of RAM to accelerate its visual effects. 

If it looks quite expensive, then you can go for the Helios 500 with an eight-core AMD Ryzen processor or six-core Intel Core i9. Eight cores are better than six cores to outperform and puts the Intel counterpart behind the AMD Ryzen in video editing.

3. Acer Nitro 5

If the Predator will be a little bit expensive, then the budget-oriented Acer laptop – Acer Nitro 5 with 1650 GTX Graphics is your best bet. It’s not an entry-level GPU like the 1050 GTX, but it’s closer to the 2060 RTX and 1660Ti. It’s not an RTX monster, but it shouldn’t let you down in slow rendering and offers you to deal with large scenes with decent FPS. It is because of different numbers of CUDA cores with the 2060 RTX.

By the time you read this article, and you are unable to find this model, then go for a 1050Ti laptop having at least a 9th-10th generation CPU with 8-16GB RAM.

DELL Laptops – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

Dell laptops are mostly used laptops in all types of work. With a decent price within your budget to a higher range, Dell covers all your needs. I’ve selected three models for animation and video editing.

1. Dell XPS 15

Dell XPS 15, having an Infinity Edge display, provides a sharp, crystal clear image. It offers Windows 10 along with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 card. Usually, it gets powered by 4GB of vRAM, but you can upgrade the RAM to make your video editing battery smooth.

2. Dell G5 15 SE (2020)

The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is one of the first gaming laptops from Dell to pack all-new AMD hardware, i.e., AMD R7 4800H CPU. It totally blows its competitors out pairing with a 15.6-inch display. The display has 108% of the sRGB color gamut for emitting 301 nits of brightness. It delivers 7 hours and 14 minutes of battery life. According to HandBrake Benchmark, the Dell G5 15 SE (2020) transcoded a 4K video to 1080p resolution in 6 minutes and 43 seconds. For beginners, it is the best video-editing laptop.

ASUS Laptops – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

ASUS Laptop delivers a wide range of exclusive usability features along with a diverse color choice. ASUS makes its laptops always considerably affordable.

1. ASUS Zen-Book Pro 15

With an upgrade, ASUS unpacks the Intel Core i9 processor and an Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti GPU. It delivers a lightweight, sexy chassis and Screen Pad. This Screen Pad is built into the touchpad for enhancing the multitasking features with 4K speed demons. 

You can use it as a Numpad, calculator, and music player. You can play games on the main display and follow the guide on the second one. You can enjoy the sexy design and 4K display with an eye-popping  141% of RGB color gamut.

2. ASUS ProArt StudioBook Pro 17

ProArt StudioBook Pro 17 is one of the slimmest laptops in the world. With NVIDIA Quadro graphics, it’s been a mighty powerhouse. Slim-bezel NanoEdge display provides an effective larger display for immersive visuals. The combination of cutting-edge design and powerhouse graphics makes ASUS ProArt StudioBook 17 a perfect laptop for animation and video editing.

RAZER Blade Laptops – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

Two RAZER Blade laptops are also listed down here as these come with powerful specs, which are enough to do animation and video editing.

1. RAZER Blade 15

Due to a downclock GPU and weaker Core i7, the Razer Blade has less power compared with MSI though both come with the 2080 RTX. You can go with either a model of 2080Max-Q or 2070Max-Q. Max-Q stands for reduced power. Normally 10-15% power is reduced, so Max-Q 2070/2080 RTX is still more powerful than 1650/2060RTX.

2. RAZER Blade 15 RTX

Sometimes, the best gaming laptops also have the best hardware for editing. Although the Razer Blade 15 RTX is tailor-made for gamers, it comes with high-quality hardware that helps to edit quality videos on this laptop. 

The 15.6-inch display is powered by 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750Hx and Nvidia GTX 2060 graphics card with 6GB GDDR6. It comes with 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a refresh rate of 144Hz. 

This powerhouse can easily handle 4K video editing and remain cool using its vapor chamber cooling system. Although it’s not designed for videographers, with the FHD resolution and color calibration, it’s definitely worth it.

Lenovo Laptops – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

Lenovo manufactures the most budget-friendly laptops. They try to provide the best things in the budget range so that you can benefit.

1. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme would be the first 15-inch laptop with a discrete graphics card. It’s powered by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB GPU and an 8th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU with 64GB of RAM. Literally, it’s a monster for animating and video editing. 

It is certified with 12 MIL-STD-810G standards to survive in high humidity, extreme temperatures, exposure to sand and dust, and water drops. The laptop takes 10.03 minutes to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution on the HandBrake benchmark. It also features a fingerprint reader, dTPM encryption, optional Smart Card reader, Intel vPro, and an optional IR camera to sign in using facial recognition.

2. Lenovo Yoga 720

Lenovo Yoga 720, a combo of a laptop and a foldover tablet deliver top-notch capabilities by  Apple, Microsoft, and Dell at an affordable price. The laptop has a Full HD 15-inch screen and is powered by the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics. This allows you to play the same as some other higher-priced devices. 

The hybrid has a lack of an HDMI port. The combination of adequate processing power and an accurate touch screen within a reasonable price creates a place on my list.

Alienware Laptops – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

Alienware laptops are too expensive and crafted with magnesium alloy for durability. The elite design with a four-zone, multi-color RGB keyboard delivers AlienFX control. Alienware is a gaming laptop with Hyper-efficient voltage regulation W/Cryo-TEC cooling.

1. Alienware Area 51m

The Alienware Area-51m is one of the best video editing laptops. Powered by an overclockable 9th Gen Core i9 desktop processor and the latest RTX 2080 GPU, this laptop has a 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 display. It can transcode a 4K video to 1080p resolution in 6 minutes – recorded on the HandBrake benchmark.

With the immense upgradable power, the laptop comes with an SSD at a 1.272 Gbps transfer rate. And it’s hiding a powerful pair of speakers behind a pair of glossy black vents.

2. Alienware m15 R3

The Alienware m15 R3 is powered by the powerful 10th Gen processor and Nvidia RTX GPU. It has a gorgeous 4K display that is capable of producing 149.7% on the DCI-P3 color gamut and emits a vibrant brightness of 369 nits and unleashes the powerful speakers. 

The m15 transcodes a 4K video to 1080p resolution in 8.38 minutes. The battery lasts for 4 hours and 38 minutes. Overall, the Alienware m15 R3 is a beast in terms of performance.

HP Laptops – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

HP is one of the old dependable brands. Many people are habituated with this American company’s HP laptops. Here are some of the best HP laptops for animation and video editing.

1. HP Spectre X360

The HP Spectre x360 has a 15.6-inch and 4K glossy display that fulfills the HandBrake benchmark in 10.45 minutes. However, it is colorful and sharp, but the screen has a distracting glare in dim light. The battery can last up to 8.09 hours on a charge.

2. HP Pavilion 15

When you are looking for a laptop for video editing on a pretty tight budget, HP released their Pavilion 15. It is a budget-friendly laptop with lots of features found in the higher-priced options. It has a nice and large 15.6-inch screen, including a good amount of storage. It’s a great laptop, to begin with, video editing.

3. HP ZBook X2

The HP ZBook x2 is expensive, but you will get enough tools for creativity. Powered by the Quadro GPU, the matte-finished 14-inch 4K display allows you to edit at any resolution and stylus. You can use a nearby Bluetooth keyboard and the shortcut keys for quick response. 

ZBook is one of the few matte-finished touch screens that have a chemical coating. With the stylus, it feels like writing on paper. The ZBook offers a Dream-Color display that shows 1 billion different colors.

MSI Laptops – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

MSI laptops are gaming laptops with powerful processors and great graphics. It has an immersive display with a neat portable package and perfect audio.

1. MSI GF75 Leopard 10SFX

MSI GF75 Leopard 10SFX is powered by the 10th Generation of Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2070 SUPER with an 8GB GDDR6 Graphics card. It has a 17.3″ FHD IPS-Level display with a 144Hz refresh rate. It provides a combo slot of SSD storage drive with a maximum of 8GB of RAM. As a powerful and fast laptop for doing animation and video editing with ease.

2. MSI GP65 Stealth 10 SFG-027

In the list, MSI GP65 Stealth 10 SFG-027 is one of the most powerful laptops for animation and video editing. It can handle every type of animation you do. It is powered by a 2080 RTX Super non-Max Q GPU and the latest Intel Core i9 processor. It doesn’t have more CUDA Cores, but the architecture is enhanced. 

You will feel the performance while using viewport Shaded w/ edges and w/ Shaded face mode on the more significant scenes. In the Substance Painter/Designer app, you will get the best performance ever. It will get software updates to be updated and faster. I recommend you go for a laptop with 2070RTX or higher to make sure it has a 17-inch screen.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

The Surface Book 2 is a great video editing laptop in terms of a reasonable and affordable price. It features a fantastic touch screen with a vibrant PixelSense. It is powered by a 7th generation Intel Dual Core i5 Processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can upgrade it to 16GB.

Apple MacBook Pro – Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

Apple Macbook Pro, with two different screen sizes and a six-core 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, is an excellent laptop for video editing. It comes with 32GB of memory for rendering and exporting video. With a true-tone Retina display, it looks brilliant. The Touch Bar design is handy while editing. Although it doesn’t have the most significant storage capacity, using Thunderbolt 3 ports, you can easily add an external hard disk for more space.

My suggestion in choosing Best Laptops for Animation and Video Editing

In my suggestion, choose a budget-friendly laptop for animation and video editing as a beginner. With the learning and professional career, choose a laptop with a good display, powerful graphics, and ample storage with RAM for rendering any animating and editing software. If you find it interesting, then share the content in WhatsApp groups, social media so that anyone can benefit from this article.

At last, I hope you will better understand the things you need to care about before choosing a laptop for animation and video editing. Also, the list of laptops may give you a better idea about a variety of notebooks – which is better for you. Suppose you use a laptop for video editing that isn’t listed, comment and let us know. Do explore our Tech Gadgets section for more such information.

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Somnath Sahu

Somnath is an Entrepreneur by his passion and love to write content related technology tips and tricks. He starts his day from turning on Laptop and offs his night by pressing “shut down” of his laptop.

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