Are you a content creator looking for a new laptop? Creating and editing videos involves plenty of hard work, just as “the Kiffness.” You need a machine that delivers the performance you need for fast rendering of your work, allowing you to get out to clients or onto your social media channels as fast as possible.
A machine with a powerful processor and GPU used to exist solely in the realm of desktops. Fortunately, we live in a digital era where tech makes leaps and bounds every year. Now we have laptops offering you the power of desktops in a compact package.
If you’re waiting for a flight at King Shaka, get some work done in the airport lounge with a powerful and portable machine you can trust to deliver results. Move seamlessly between your office and home working environments, with the freedom to set up your workspace wherever you want.
How do you know which one is the right choice for your content creation requirements with so many great machines available? We decided to make things easy for you by curating this list of candidates for the best laptop for video editing.
Best Laptops for Video Editing in South Africa
Video editing requires powerful machines, especially if you’re creating videos in 4K and 8K. We selected these laptops as the top choices capable of handling any editing requirements in your projects.
Gigabyte Aero 15
The Gigabyte Aero 15 brings you blazing performance from its Intel Core i7-11800H with RTX 3060 graphics processor and 16GB of RAM for easy multitasking and fast processing power. You get an ultra-quick rendering of your work and a 15.6” UHD expertly tuned, brilliant display for viewing the details in your finished videos.
The display features Samsung OLED panels for rich black levels and vibrant colours. You get X-Rite Certified and Pantone Validated colour accuracy with a 100% DCI-P3 colour garnet keeping consistency in your editing.
This model weighs 2-kilograms, with dimensions of 0.78 x 14 x 9.8-inches for a compact, slimline form factor that looks outstanding. The thin top and side bezels on the lid give a stylish look to the chassis, with the webcam mounted above the RGB backlit keyboard.
The sides of the Aero feature mini DisplayPort and HDMI on the left, with a USB 3.2 Type-A port, audio connector, and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet jack. There are two USB-A 3.2 Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports and an SD card slot.
The Aero is the best choice for professional content creators and editors demanding the best from their equipment.
MSI Stealth 15M
The ultra-low profile design of the MSI Stealth 15M makes it a great choice for a machine to move between your home and the office. This model weighs less than 2-kilograms, and it’s just over half an inch thick with thin screen bezels for a stealth slimline form factor.
You get a powerful Intel Core i7-11375H processor coupled with the Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU for outstanding performance and fast rendering times for your projects. There’s a 15.6-inch display featuring full-HD resolution in 1080p and a rapid 144Hz refresh rate.
You’ll find built-in ports for air cooling in the sides and rear of the chassis, with a backlit keypad and Wi-Fi 6 connection for fast internet speeds without depending on Ethernet. The sides of the device feature a microSD card slot, USB 3.1 Type-A port, and a headphone jack on the left.
The right side has two USB Type-C ports, one featuring Thunderbolt 4 support, and one DisplayPort-out), HDMI, and another USB Type-A port, and there’s a 720p webcam mounted into the top bezel of the lid.
Overall, the MSI Stealth 15M offers you a dependable, high-performance machine in a stealthy form factor that’s suitable to pull out at the office, the coffee shop, or the airport.
Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED offers you a unique screen setup enhancing content creators’ editing and design process. This laptop boasts a primary 15.6-inch display with a secondary 14-inch display underneath, allowing enough space to keep all the necessary tools easily accessible.
The primary display utilizes an HDR-capable OLED panel with a UHD resolution, allowing for sneak previews into the footage you’re editing. The secondary display maintains a level of sharpness while providing a handy home for video timelines or extra tools.
This workhorse comes kitted with a 32GB DDR4 memory feeding an Intel Core i9-10980HK processor. The Nvidia RTX 3070 dedicated GPU fast-tracks your multi-tasking efforts while providing amazing power and speed while editing.
Dell XPS 15
If you’re looking for a portable Windows-Based machine, the Dell XPS range is a great choice. This Dell XPS 15 model gives you a performance machine in a compact package. This machine comes equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti allowing it to handle the most creative works without breaking a sweat.
You get a brilliant display with a brushed aluminium chassis and clean white colours. The large keyboard is a pleasure to work on, and there’s excellent battery life. It’s a mid-tier machine ideal for the most demanding editing tasks.
Dell XPS 13
For those editors that travel between locations, the Dell XPS 13 is a great choice for editing on the move. You get Intel’s latest 11th generation processors and gorgeous light and thin design, making it easy to carry around between meetings or from the home to the office.
The 13” screen configures to 4K for viewing ultra-high-definition content, and you get a battery life that lasts for hours. The XPS retains the same slimline form factor, cool colours, and clean styling as its larger sibling, the XPS 15.
MacBook Pro 2019 (16-inch)
When it comes to the gold standard of editing tools – the MacBook Pro reigns supreme. While there are plenty of other brands offering machines that are every bit as powerful and functional as the MacBook, you just can’t beat the Apple reputation.
If you’re a MacBook fan, you’re going to love this MacBook Pro 2019 (16-inch) model with its gorgeous thin profile and slimline form factor. This machine comes packed with high-end components powered by an Intel processor and a professional AMD graphics card. You get a large brilliant Retina display with high resolution for high-performance video editing.
MacBook Pro 2020 (13-inch, M1)
While the 16-inch MacBook Pro is a content creator and editor’s dream, sometimes, you just can’t carry around a 16-inch laptop. If that’s the case, check out this 13-inch model. It’s small enough to fit into a MacBook Sleeve, offering you compact travel with the device.
The Apple M1 chip gives you impressive performance, on par with the latest generation Intel chips. You also have the capacity to edit in 4K and 8K, and you get a long battery life between charges.
Conclusion
Deciding on the right laptop for your video editing projects depends on factors like your budget, the kind of video editing you do, and where you do your editing.
Our selection of the best laptops for video editing in South Africa gives you our shortlist of top candidates for your next machine.
These laptops are suitable for beginner and advanced-level editing, offering you everything from entry-level models to professional configurations. Choose the one that’s right for you.
