The Best Mac Computer For Video Editing [2021]
The portable 2021 M1 MacBook Pro with M1 Max chip can not only edit up to 30 streams of 4K video but even 7 streams of 8K video which is as good as any professional video editing workstation out there.
The Best Mac Computer For Video Editing
Although at one time there was far less video editing software for Mac than Windows PCs, almost all of the best video editing software are also now compatible with macOS (although some are still being updated to work natively with the latest M1 and M2 Macs.
The 14 inch M1 MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max is around $500 cheaper and around 100g lighter than the 16 inch model but we strongly recommend going for the 16 inch M1 MacBook Pro screen estate for video editing.
Video editing is an intensive process, so you need a computer with a decent amount of power to avoid frustrating delays in GPU rendering and freezes while you're trying to work. For a long time that meant needing a discrete graphics card, but Apple's own integrated silicon performs so well that this is no longer the case. The M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips in particular have been optimised to handle video more efficiently.
The best Macs for video editing, including the best MacBooks for video editing, are popular with professional editors and videographers as well as with enthusiasts. Apple's introduction of its own silicon, starting with the M1 chip, has made them among the best computers that video editors can choose.
MacBooks combine fantastic performance with stunning, accurate displays and solid design with a premium feel. What is there for a video editor not to like? And for those that need even more power and aren't concerned about portability there are Mac PCs for video editing, such as the iMac and the Mac Studio.
There is a good reason why professionals and hobbyists choose Apple computers even though they are more expensive than other competitors. Buyers can trust the durability and stability of Apple computers. Each Apple device has powerful hardware, a compact design, excellent battery life, and some of the best displays you will find on any computer.
Apple releases new and exciting products every year, each of which can be a great choice for any kind of video editing. With all of these options, it can be hard to pick the best option but to us, the Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) is the best Mac for Video Editing in 2023.
While any Mac can handle video editing, no two Macs are the same. So before making your next purchase, there are some important technical aspects that you should consider to find the right Mac for your needs. These are a few of them:
Other improvements on this device include an updated webcam and microphone, which is useful if you spend time working from home. If you like editing videos or doing graphic design work on your computer, this Mac is certainly for you.
Another feature that is new to the MacBook Air is the P3 color gamut for a larger palette of colors with a 25% wider range than sRGB. This is important for video editors who need more accurate colors while editing videos.
The 2020 MacBook Air is the best entry-level device from the MacBook range of laptops. It offers a full-size keyboard and trackpad, dependable performance, and a reasonable price tag. It is one of the best devices for video editors.
Since it was launched before the Apple M1 processor made its debut, it rocks a 9th-generation Intel Core i7 or i9 processor if you select the top-end version at its core. It might be a bit on the older side but underestimate the Intel processors at your own risk. They can more than keep up while multitasking or if you are working on some resource-intensive video editing projects.
Are you searching for a budget-friendly laptop? This is a good pick for video editing. Considering the weight at 2.7 pounds, the Apple Macbook Air is lightweight and portable. It has an impressive thin design.
Featuring the brightness of 500 nits, the display is of 13.6 inches that goes well for video editing. Along with these features, the P3 wide color makes the laptop more impressive. With an efficient camera 1080p FaceTime HD, the laptop gives sharp visuals.
Because the Retina Display is integrated into the iMac, it runs at 60MHz rather than the 30MHz found on most 4K monitors. The 5K size is, itself, perfect for video editing because it enables you to edit 4K video at full size and see the controls around it.
We would generally say that the best Mac for more average video editors is the 27in iMac. It offers some great features that will be ideal for video editors, along with the 5K 27in Retina display, a fast processor, dedicated graphics card, and lots more.
The best iMacs are popular among photographers, videographers, and other creatives, because they have lovely screens, and do an amazing job of running resource-hungry editing software like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro. But which is the best iMac for you?
The latest M2 MacBooks (opens in new tab) are a real force to be reckoned with, but we think the MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch (opens in new tab) models with their M1 Pro and M1 Max hardware are still the best MacBooks for photo editing. They can be specced with a whopping 64GB RAM, while their ultra-bright Liquid Retina XDR displays are truly stunning. The 16-inch version is the pick of the pair, offering a more comfortable screen size than its smaller siblings.
Out of the current models we recommend the iMac 27-inch. It offers everything you need for editing 4K video without breaking the bank, and its components can be upgraded as your needs grow.
Having gone through everything a video editor needs from a computer, we decided on a list of recommended specifications to test each model of Mac against. These specs promise to give you a frustration-free experience with most video editing software.
If you see your computing needs significantly growing in the future, and have money to burn, the iMac Pro is a significant upgrade over the iMac 27-inch. This computer starts where the iMac leaves off, and can be configured way beyond what most video editors will ever need: 256 GB of RAM, a 4 TB SSD, a Xeon W processor, and 16 GB of video RAM. Even its space gray finish has a premium look.
Video editing is time-consuming. You need a computer that will minimize that time by eliminating bottlenecks and being reliable every time. Having enough RAM and the right graphics card will make the most difference.
Eventually, PCs reached a similar level of hardware and software support that could suit any creative work, but by then Apple was already firmly positioned as one of the best computers for video editing, graphic design, sound engineering, and more.
Video editing on Mac is a hardware-intensive exercise that relies heavily on processing power. From rendering 4K videos to making thousands of edits across feature-length material, having a quick machine can make all the difference. Unfortunately, making sense of Apple video editing specifications can be difficult at best.
The CPU should at least be a medium to high-end quad-core unit (not a dual core), ideally manufactured in the last five years. For 4K and 8K video editing on Mac, you may want to look at eight, twelve, or more CPU cores.
For many modern video editors, portability matters. The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops available for Apple video editing, with the top model offering a dedicated GPU that rivals the powerful desktops of yesteryear. SSD hard drives keep things moving quickly, while the four to eight core CPU units silently get to work in the background.
Think twice before investing in the most expensive video editing software for Mac. Despite the perception that Adobe suite is a must-have, there are some amazing alternatives out there that work well without breaking the bank.
CameraBag Pro is a lightweight video editing tool for Mac, once claiming the second spot for the Apple Mac App of the Year. It nicely fills the gap between a simple photo editor and complex video editor, resulting in slick software that perfectly meets the needs of most at-home users.
Capto is another cost-effective tool for your Apple video editing suite, allowing for a quick and easy way to capture screen recordings on your Mac. Capto is perfect for those who are creating tutorial videos or anything requiring on-screen annotations.
Final Cut Pro offers the most advanced organizing tools of any professional video editing application. Easily tag entire clips or clip ranges with metadata for searching, and create Smart Collections that automatically collect content according to a set of custom criteria. In the browser you can create and save custom column views and search for media using clip names, markers, and notes. Also quickly sort clips by proxy, optimized, or missing media types.
Work closer to reality than ever before with HDR video. Import, edit, grade, and deliver incredibly lifelike images with Final Cut Pro. Shoot on industry-standard cinema cameras, or in stunning Dolby Vision with the latest iPhone models. High-resolution scopes reflect HDR brightness levels as you edit, and tone mapping lets you easily convert HDR to Standard Dynamic Range output for broadcast. You can view beautiful HDR content on a variety of Mac computers that use the reserve brightness of the display to show an extended range of light levels.
View High Dynamic Range video the way it was meant to be seen. The amazing MacBook Pro display delivers up to 7.7 million pixels and 1000 nits of sustained brightness for HDR editing, grading, and delivery with Final Cut Pro. Or connect the gorgeous Pro Display XDR to your Mac for a full 6K HDR playback and finishing solution. 350c69d7ab