If you're like me and editing videos is a full-time job (see my Youtube channel) – then Adobe Premiere Pro CC might just be one of your favourite programs! It's certainly mine. And that means finding the best laptop for Adobe Premiere Pro CC is close to what I love most in life. I am willing to go through arduous lengths, even by my standards, to find the right hardware. The whole process can be frustrating. However, at some point, after weighing all the details, someone will emerge as victorious… as is often the case with professional film editor strugglers.
Welcome to my exhaustive guide. It took many hours of work with the sole purpose of simplifying the most important parts you need to know about when choosing a laptop for Premiere Pro.
The right processor
Your processor CPU determines how fast your video clips are processed. The higher the resolution of your video clip, the longer the processing takes. And as one might guess, higher capacity processors can reduce the time required for processing high-resolution clips.
Requirements
While the Premiere Pro requirements specify the requirement of a CPU of Intel 6th generation or higher, it’s important to note that working with the program requires a high amount of speed, so the fastest processor within your budget would be the best for you to go with.
Recommendations
Your processing technology choice also has to be taken with consideration of your other system specs, specifically your video card GPU (see below) can help determine your processor’s performance.
In terms of your budget, you’ll want to find a laptop with at least an Intel Core i5-1145G7 or Ryzen 7 5800U. You’ll be able to process high-resolution clips in a timely manner, even if it is not the absolute fastest.
For the best in terms of speed and performance, I would recommend either an Intel Core i9-11900H or AMD Ryzen 9 3900X. These will be able to process high-resolution clips quickly and efficiently, making it a worthwhile investment for any Premiere Pro CC user.
Graphics card
With Adobe Premiere Pro CC, you can use either macOS or Windows; however, I'd recommend going for a MacBook Pro if you're looking to use it for other tasks besides video editing. The GPU is critical for rendering and encoding video in real-time; however, it's not the only component that matters.
The best way to tell if your laptop has a good graphics card is to check its model number. If it ends with an "H", it's a good sign that it has a dedicated GPU; otherwise, it's integrated graphics (IGP). I use Cinebench R23 to compare different GPUs because it's one of the most popular benchmarks for video editing; however, there are other 3DMark scores available online that can be used as an alternative.
If you're looking for a gaming laptop – look beyond the GPU requirements of your favorite games and pay attention to the CPU clock rate and RAM allocation as these are more important than the graphics card in gaming performance (though not by much).
Desktop GPUs are now a lot more power-hungry; thus, the gap between power-limited notebook graphics and desktop graphics cards has widened in the past few years. Nvidia has discontinued Max-Q use for its RTX graphics cards. Now, an exact GPU wattage is determined by a laptop manufacturer (OEM). That results in a wide variance in graphics performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.
Here are my recommended GPUs:
- Minimum: GTX 1650
- Recommended: RTX 3060
- High-end: RTX 3070
Memory
As anyone who's used Adobe Premiere Pro can attest, it's a resource-hungry application. It can be especially demanding when working with 8K footage. So, you'll need a lot of RAM to ensure smooth performance.
The amount of RAM you need depends on your projects' complexity, your editing style, and your footage's resolution. For example, if you're working with 4K footage, you'll need at least 16 GB of RAM to ensure smooth playback and scrubbing through your timeline. If you're working with 8K footage, 32 GB would be ideal.
When choosing the right laptop for Adobe Premiere Pro, make sure it has enough memory slots so that you can upgrade it in the future if needed.
Minimum RAM Requirements for Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerful video editing application that requires a fair amount of RAM to run smoothly. The minimum amount of RAM that Adobe Premiere Pro CC requires is 8 GB. However, we recommend opting for at least 16 GB of RAM for optimal performance. If you're working with 8K footage or complex projects, 32 GB of RAM would be ideal.
How Much RAM Do You Need for Video Editing?
The amount of RAM you need for video editing depends on your project's complexity, your editing style, and your footage's resolution. For example, if you're working with 4K footage, you'll need at least 16 GB of RAM to ensure smooth playback and scrubbing through your timeline. If you're working with 8K footage, 32 GB would be ideal.
When choosing the right laptop for Adobe Premiere Pro, make sure it has enough memory slots so that you can upgrade it in the future if needed.
Is There a Need for DDR5?
Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end laptops – 32 GB or more. Latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5, though DDR5 is still expensive and needs time to mature as a technology.
Essential Needs
5 Best Laptops for Adobe Premiere Pro CC
$7101.HP Victus 15
Affordable gaming laptop with some trade-offs- Strong entry-level gaming
- Solid productivity performance
- Inexpensive for a gaming laptop
- Display and webcam could be better
- Too much pre-installed software
- Single-channel RAM in our review unit
Summary
The HP Victus 15 offers good gaming and productivity performance at a budget price, but the display and webcam could be better, and it comes with too much pre-installed software. Additionally, our review unit had only single-channel RAM.
Alternatives
$730HP Victus 15t
- Low price
- Strong entry-level gaming
- Weak GPU yields unsatisfactory frame rates
- Screen only so-so despite 144Hz refresh rate
$1,1402.MSI Summit E13
MSI Summit E13: A sleek and powerful laptop for Adobe Premiere Pro CC with a large battery and great performance.- Large battery with respectable runtimes
- Great CPU and GPU performance
- PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD support
- Sleek and luxurious design with 120 Hz native refresh rate
- Slow display response times with noticeable ghosting
- Relatively loud fans when under load
- High core temperatures when under load
- RAM is not removable and servicing requires breaking a factory seal sticker
Summary
MSI Summit E13 is a powerful laptop with a sleek and luxurious design, great CPU and GPU performance, and a large battery with respectable runtimes. Its display is bright with high contrast but has slow response times and noticeable ghosting.
Reviews
Alternatives
$1,350Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
- High quality 165 Hz 16:10 IPS display
- Relatively easy serviceability
- Low resolution webcam with no IR or privacy shutter
- Very warm CPUGPU temperatures when gaming
3.ASUS ROG Strix Scar
ASUS ROG Strix Scar packs a punch with Core i9-12900H and RTX 3070 Ti but disappoints with high emissions and low battery life.- Sturdy construction
- Fast Wi-Fi 6E
- Excellent response times and no PWM
- Wide color gamut coverage with Dolby Vision support
- Limited display angle
- No biometric login
- Heavy SSD throttling during continuous reads
- High heat and noise emissions under load
Summary
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 is a solid laptop for enthusiast gamers with its Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900H and 150 W Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, but it falls short in terms of thermal management and battery backup.
Reviews
Alternatives
$2,500Acer Predator Triton 500
- High performance capabilities
- Excellent, bright 240-Hz display
- Soldered-in RAM
- Inaccessible SSD
$3,1704.ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo: A High-End Laptop for Power Users and Gamers.- Sleek and innovative dual-screen design
- High-end gaming performance with powerful GPU and CPU
- Thin and portable for a laptop with these specs
- Expensive price tag, especially for the top-end model
- Keyboard and touchpad placement can be awkward
- Below-average battery life
Summary
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is a pricey but innovative laptop that is designed for high-performance applications. With its dual-screen setup, powerful components, and slim design, it's a great option for enthusiasts who are willing to pay a premium.
Reviews
Alternatives
$3,800ASUS ROG Strix Scar G733CX-XS97
- Excellent QHD panel with 240 Hz
- High and stable gaming performance
- Inconsistent SSD performance
- Additional premium for HX CPU isnt worth it
$5,8005.Dell XPS 15 9520
The Dell XPS 15 9520 with Alder Lake hardware is a solid multi-purpose premium laptop, but at a premium price.- Premium design and build quality
- Several excellent screen options, including OLED
- Configurable, upgradeable, and serviceable
- More powerful and efficient than previous generations
- Limited screen angle and other ergonomic quirks
- Miniaturized IO
- Still power-limited hardware implementation
- Outdated camera
Summary
The Dell XPS 15 9520 with 12th-gen Intel Alder Lake hardware is a well-built and portable laptop with an OLED display option, good battery life, and punchy audio. However, it still has a few ergonomic quirks, limited screen angle, and miniaturized IO. Additionally, it's pricey for what it offers.
Reviews
Alternatives
$7,500ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
- Sleek and thin design considering dual displays and high-end specs
- Innovative and refined dual-screen setup
- Expensive, especially as configured
- Awkward keyboard and touchpad layout
Table of the Best Laptops for Adobe Premiere Pro CC
| Laptop | Price (approx) |
| HP Victus 15 | $710 |
| MSI Summit E13 | $1,140 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Scar | $2,310 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo | $3,170 |
| Dell XPS 15 9520 | $5,800 |
