Here are some killer laptops that can double up as a mobile video editing workstation.
Laptops come in a whole manner of shapes and sizes but for video editing and other intensive workloads, it's all about the internals. Working with high definition (1080p) or even 4K content with gigabytes worth of data to process and effects to add and sample, you need a beefy machine with the best processor and discrete graphics. Anything but simply won't do, unless you'd somehow enjoy a sluggish performance.
Here's what you'll need to bear in mind when purchasing a laptop.
Looking at notebooks, it's easy to narrow down the search by filtering out models that sport at least an Intel Core i7 or Ryzen 7 of some kind. Then you need discrete graphics, which will need to come from NVIDIA's GTX line of mobile solutions. Pricing for a capable laptop with a GTX 1050 — considered the entry point in gaming laptops — will set you back around $1,000. Moving up to the GTX 1080 can send the cost upwards of $3,000 and above.
As long as it has a discrete GPU, the laptop will be able to handle video processing.
Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 is simply gorgeous. Dell's latest line of hardware is not only a joy to look at but also packs a punch where it counts. The 9560 can be kitted out with 16GB of RAM, SSD, GTX 1050 and an Intel Core i7 processor. That's ample enough power to get some video editing done and it's all in a thin chassis that truly can be used as a laptop.
As an added bonus, the display is a gorgeous 4K touchscreen panel, perfect for working with images and media. It's a little pricey, though with the 4K model coming in at around $1,600.
MSI GT83VR
The GT83VR from MSI is insane. For just under $4,500 you get a notebook that can outpace many gaming desktops out there all in a somewhat portable form factor. I'm talking two GTX 1080 GPUs in SLI configuration, and a powerful Intel Core i7-7920HQ processor. 16GB of RAM is a little on the low side for video editing, but luckily MSI has made it so you can expand installed memory up to 64GB.
The only drawback is the display isn't 4K, but it's possible to hook up an external monitor with available ports on the side of this monster. We reviewed the GT83VR last year, should you need another look at what this thing is capable of. Pricing for the GT83VR start at around the mid $3,000 range for a GTX 1070.
Surface Book 2
Microsoft's second-generation Surface Book is quite the 2-in-1. Executive Editor Daniel Rubino is a big fan of the portable PC, noting how it sports excellent build quality and features, offering a true gaming PC with outstanding performance. This also covers video editing and other intensive tasks, thanks to the Intel Core i7 processor and up to GTX 1060 NVIDIA GPU.
Pricing for the Surface Book 2 starts at around $1,200.
Razer Blade Pro
Razer arguably makes the closest thing to a genuine gaming ultrabook, and the Blade Pro is an incredible feat of engineering. It packs top-of-the-line gaming hardware into a slim, light chassis and then wraps it all up with Razer's Chroma lighting system. At 17 inches, it's also extremely portable and with a GTX 1060 or GTX 1080 GPU it really is a go anywhere gaming system, which can double up as a mobile video creation platform.
All this tech comes with a premium price, starting from $1,999.99.
Fancy building your own video editing desktop? We've got you covered.