Topic: Suggestions for best laptop for video editing

[Derp1]

I currently use an HP Omega 17 I purchased new in  2017. Been looking at a Lenovo (cheap) or Macbook pro m4 (not so cheap). While I have an old Mac desktop, is the processing worth the dough? I'm just sick of waiting around for video to process. Thanks for any help.

[RyanJ]

I can only go off of experience. But I bought a MB Pro with the M1 Pro Max chip and just maxed that thing out. I'd been running the same laptop since 2009 before that. Night and day difference in speed and FCP edits quick. Can have multiple 4K videos editing for a multicam no problem. For me, worth it. Especially if you do a lot of video editing.

[morst]

I currently use an HP Omega 17 I purchased new in  2017. Been looking at a Lenovo (cheap) or Macbook pro m4 (not so cheap). While I have an old Mac desktop, is the processing worth the dough? I'm just sick of waiting around for video to process. Thanks for any help.

The M1 smokes all the intel machines, and the Pro and Max versions probably smoke that.
M1, M2, M3 all have an unfixable security bug but M4 fixed that one.
If you're not using it as a crypto wallet, the M1-2-3 might be just fine though
https://www.zetter-zeroday.com/apple-chips/
I got the M1 mini when it came out, and was very happy with it, but wanted an upgrade so got the M4 mini when it came out.
Couple extra ports, maybe it's a little quicker for what I do but not really noticeable.
I got the smallest/cheapest M1/M4 minis for myself. The M4 is the cheapest mac ever so far.


Sorry I know mine are not laptops but it's the same box, just without the monitor trackpad and keyboard.

[Ronmac]

You don't mention the video editor software you use, and that may be relevant in choosing the best machine for the job.

I use Davinci Resolve V20 and my bog standard MacMini M1 does everything I ask of it. One caveat, I rarely use Fusion (motion graphics), the most demanding part of the software, and I know this machine will not be up to the task if I push it in that direction. My previous high spec Intel machine would sag if I threw any complex colour grading at it. The Mini M1 was a huge upgrade in function and rendering speed and continues to work well even though Resolve has become much more complex and power hungry.

I am about to upgrade within the next 6 months and have been watching a lot of YT videos showing the capability of the new M4 machines. Again, the lowest spec machine seems to smoke the competition, even those with much higher specs. nb. My concern and research has focused on Resolve, so another editor may be better served by something else.

Looking at specs and real world reviews of the current machines I "think" I have settled on an upgrade path(s).

Option 1: Go for the M4 Studio. Its higher Core and GPU count will allow me to take on much more intensive projects, including Fusion and likely last me another 8~10 years.

Option 2: Go for the standard M4 machine and a similarly spec M4 MacBook Air, allowing me to leave the Mini at home when I travel and still have a nice machine for all of my remote audio and most video editing tasks.

Pricing for option 2 will come in around the same as going with a MacBook Pro. I will leave it to you to confirm that, as pricing seems to differ depending on where in the world you live.

If I go for Option 1 I will keep my current M1 machine and use it as a backup/travel device. I take it out now in a Pelican 1500 case configured with a top lid mounted 18" USB-C monitor, the M1, mouse/keyboard, and a couple of 1TB portable SSDs. Going with a current M4 MacBook Air would be a considerable weight and size saving, so I am leaning in that direction.

Lots of options, and that is a good thing.

[fanofjam]

Option 1: Go for the M4 Studio. Its higher Core and GPU count will allow me to take on much more intensive projects, including Fusion and likely last me another 8~10 years.

It might last you 8-10 years, but one thing you positively know is that since it's an Apple it will be out-dated in 18 months or less.   

[beroti_music]

I've always did my HD edits on a 2010 desktop with a sandy bridge i7 processor (Intel).
Recently i've switched to my laptop since my deskop cannot run on the new windows. I use the desktop for audio editing and playback now.

My laptop is not the newest, but editing 4k videos has been going really great so far.

I use this:
Acer Aspire A715-74G
GeForce GTX 1050 graphic card
Intel i7- 9750H cpu @2.60 GHZ
32 GB RAM
fast SSD for windows
fast SSD for video edititing (this speeds up rendering a lot!)
SATA SSD for archiving 4k MKV files and for playback.

Rendering a 4k video in with no quality loss and a few effects (contrast, fades, color correction) takes less then real time.

I use vegas pro 22 for editing.

Hope this helps!

[grawk]

Option 1: Go for the M4 Studio. Its higher Core and GPU count will allow me to take on much more intensive projects, including Fusion and likely last me another 8~10 years.

It might last you 8-10 years, but one thing you positively know is that since it's an Apple it will be out-dated in 18 months or less.   

Show me a $1000 computer from 2021 that will outperform an m1 mini.

[Derp1]

Thank you all. Great feedback. I knew the Mac M4 was the right direction, just needed a nudge.

[BlueSky71]

I went M1>M2 mini. Things are insane. Get on that M4. I can't imagine better than a 2 for less money.

[beroti_music]

Apple will always be way too overpriced.
Intel and AMD make very good chips.
My 4 year old laptop (see post above) renders 4k footage in less then real time.
So for a 90 minute concert render time is about 70 minutes. Including basic edits like fades, color correction contrast.

My advice: only buy apple if you really want to. Don't do it if you're on a budget. There are cheaper options out there that are just as good.

[beroti_music]

Good video on the subject, although it's focus is mainly on laptop vs desktop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddPH4r1MXkc&t=41s

[fguidry]

I looked down this list until I hit my price point and the resulting Lenovo has been handling Resolve very well:

https://jarrods.tech/best-laptops-for-davinci-resolve/

Fran