A laptop with a good processor is more than enough to handle photo editing software. And photographers will appreciate the mobility that a laptop offers, allowing you to edit your images on the go. Here are some of the best laptops you may get for photo editing.
ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim
MacBook Pro M2 Max
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
MacBook Air M2 13-inch
Best Laptop for Photo Editing Overall:ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16
TheASUS ProArt StudioBook 16offers a multitude of amenities, along with top-notch performance, that make any professional editor’s life far easier.
The NVIDIA 40-series GPU is admittedly overkill but comes in handy when you’re going beyond simple photo editing—like graphics and 3D modeling—or you want to output at a higher resolution on an external monitor. It’s the 13th Gen Intel CPU that you’ll love the most, given its available cores and threads that easily handle multitasking.
The ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 also features an M.2 NVMe SSD, which ensures the entire system feels snappier. From loading software and fast booting to transferring large image files, you won’t feel much of a slowdown.
With a 40-series NVIDIA GPU and 13th Gen Intel CPU, the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 is the perfect editing companion. It even comes with a 1TB SSD for a snappier OS and faster transfer rates.
Best Budget Photo Editing Laptop:Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim
TheAcer Aspire 5 Slim Laptopis easily the safest option if you fall into one of two camps: you need to maximize your budget, or you need a lightweight laptop you’re able to bust out to finish a quick editing assignment.
Part of its success is the 8GB of RAM and hexa-core AMD Ryzen 5, which itself has integrated Radeon graphics. In short, this laptop is great for lightweight photo editing without causing the laptop to slow down.
To wrap a bow on everything, the Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop’s SSD ensures the system performs as smoothly as possible, with the added bonus of faster data transfer speeds than a traditional HDD.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop offers the easiest route to a competent photo editing machine. With a hexa-core AMD processor, 8GB of RAM, and an SSD, it’s a good start to your professional career.
Best MacBook for Photo Editing:Apple MacBook M2 Max
It’s no secret that Apple designs some of the best photo editing laptops on the market, and theApple MacBook Pro M2 Maxcontinues that legacy. Its M2 Max chipset—as well as the M2 Pro—is downright impressive in the performance department.
With multiple cores and threads, the Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max makes short work of any editing you throw at it. You don’t have to stop at photography, either; you’re able to branch out into video editing software or art programs, too!
What you’ll find particularly handy, especially as a photographer, is the battery. Even with regular use, the Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max has more than enough juice to handle a day’s worth of work. If you’re already sold on Apple, but the price makes you hesitate, theApple MacBook Pro M2 Prois the next best thing.
Over on Team Apple, the MacBook Pro M2 Max is an editing demon, thanks to its M2 Max chipset. Its 16-inch display is roomy while maintaining superb colors and clarity.
Most Versatile Photo Editing Laptop:Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Laptops really can’t beat the functionality and freedom of movement a tablet offers, especially if you have one foot in graphic design and another in photo editing. Well, theMicrosoft Surface Laptop Studiois the best of both worlds!
One moment, you’re making a few edits—the next, you’re in tablet mode, designing the next project. If you throw in a Surface Pen, the Surface Laptop Studio becomes a powerhouse in productivity. Even more so if you opt for the latest Surface Laptop Studio 2, but the first generation is still plenty powerful for photo editing and is much cheaper. you may also check out ourSurface Laptop Studio 2 reviewif you’re unsure which model to get.
You have a great deal of real estate to work with, too, given its 14.4-inch touchscreen. Compared to the12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is one of thebest tablet for students, that makes a considerable difference when it comes to editing.
Versatility is the name of the game the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio plays. Thanks to its 2-in-1 laptop and tablet design, it’s just as useful for photo editing as it design work.
Most Travel-Friendly Photo Editing Laptop:Apple MacBook Air
The Apple MacBook Pro isn’t exactly the easiest travel companion, given that it weighs nearly 5 lbs. It’d be a shame to miss out on the M2 chipset, though, so why not theApple MacBook Air M2?
Compared to its older brothers, the M2 Max and M2 Pro, the Apple MacBook Air M2 sits comfortably in third place. But you still gain the benefits of the chipset, just in a much smaller form factor, as well as its excellent efficiency.
At 2.7 lbs, the Apple MacBook Air M2 is lightweight—not to mention crazy thin and compact. And with its nearly all-day battery, it’s begging you to stuff it into a travel bag for some grand adventure!
Lightweight, powerful, and efficient, the Apple MacBook Air M2 is the ultimate travel companion. And with a battery that lasts up to 18 hours, you won’t have to rush to the nearest outlet during work hours.
Q: What Makes a Good Photo Editing Laptop?
If you frequently use programs like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Elements, and other photo editing software, your processor and RAM are footing the bill. Having a decent GPU is useful, too, but it’s your CPU, followed by the amount of RAM you have, that has the biggest impact.
In the event you’re using an aging laptop, or it’s struggling while you’re trying to work, we have a handy guide that helps tokeep your computer running smooth while editing photos.
Q: Should I Upgrade to an SSD from an HDD?
Absolutely. When it comes to data transfer speeds and bandwidth, even an average SSD outclasses traditional HDDs (hard disk drives). You’ll have a much easier time with large image files, especially. It also provides a meaningful boost to your system overall, like faster boot and load times.
If you can opt for an internal SSD, like an M.2 NVMe, take it over an HDD. You can also pick up an external SSD, but transfer speeds might be limited depending on what version your USBs are. For example, USB 3.0 and 3.1 are far superior to USB 2.0 when it comes to data transfer.
Q: Do I Need A Lot of RAM for Photo Editing?
Whenever you edit images, they’ll be stored in RAM, which means the more you have, the smoother your experience will be. With that said, how much RAM you need will depend on your workload.
If you only ever do touch-ups or rarely use more than a handful of layers, 8GB is serviceable as the bare minimum, but you’re pushing your limits. You’re better off having 16GB of RAM, so that your laptop doesn’t slow down should you need to open multiple applications simultaneously. For heavier workloads, you’ll want to double that to 32GM RAM to ensure your laptop runs smoothly.
