Looking for a budget friendly laptop for video editing

kara

Hey guys, I need a hand. I’m on the hunt for a new laptop that won’t wreck my wallet. Needs to be able to handle a heavy video editing workload, got some vlogging and some short film projects I’m working on. Always like to have a bunch of tabs open for research and also need to run Photoshop and Illustrator. I know I’m asking a lot but hey, thought I’d see if anyone here had any insight before I start googling reviews and going down rabbit holes.

I had a Acer laptop a couple of years back that couldn’t handle the heat (literally) and fried just when I’d almost finished a major project. Don’t want to repeat that nightmare. I’ve saved up a bit and willing to invest in order to avoid another meltdown, but need it to be budget-friendly cause rent and life and stuff.

I’m not stuck on any specific brand, although I’ve heard good things about Asus and Lenovo for this kinda thing. Any of you had a good experience with those, or would you recommend something else?

Oh, and another thing, I travel quite a bit, so a good battery life would definitely be a plus - any recommendations for that?

Let’s chat. I’m sure there are quite a few of you who’ve been in similar situations. All input welcomed and much appreciated. Cheers.

kath77

Hey there, your quest definitely sounds familiar. Been through the whole “laptop-hunt” rigmarole myself not too long back. Asus is actually a pretty solid choice, their VivoBook range ain’t too shabby, especially for video editing on a budget. But if you’re willing to stretch a tiny bit, check out the Dell XPS 15 - good balance of performance and bank account friendliness. Solid for multitasking and decent battery life for when you’re on the go. Just make sure whichever you go for has a good cooling system - had a friend’s laptop do the whole self-cremation thing, not pretty. Good luck!

rainn

Totally agree with the Dell XPS 15, it’s a powerhouse. But if you’re going full on into video editing, don’t overlook the importance of a good screen resolution and color accuracy. I was in the same boat, got myself a Lenovo Yoga a while back. The 4k display is a game changer. Even though it hit my wallet a bit more, totally worth it for the job. And yep, you don’t want your laptop to turn into a mini heater, so a good cooling system’s a must. Happy hunting, mate!

mopsy

Definitely seconding the Dell XPS 15 call, it’s a beast. But hey, does that Lenovo Yoga really stand up well under the video editing grind? Might be worth a look. I remember when I first got into 4K video editing, I opted for a MacBook Pro ’cos of the retina display. Cost me an arm and a leg, but you know what they say, you gotta pay to play! Anyway, cooling is super key. No one wants their laptop sounding like a jet engine. Thanks for the tips, I’ll keep them in mind for my next upgrade!