11 Ideal laptops for Openshot in 2023

As an avid video editor and content creator, I understand the challenge of finding the best laptop for Openshot. Openshot, an open-source video editing application, is popular for its user-friendly interface and versatility. As a resourceful alternative to expensive commercial editors, it's crucial to find a laptop that can keep up with the software's demands without breaking the bank.

When searching for the best laptop for Openshot, it's essential to prioritize factors like processing power, RAM, and storage to ensure smooth performance while working on your projects. Equally important is a vibrant, high-resolution display that accurately represents colors and details, making it easier to perfect your edits. As a frequent contributor to Openshot forums and an active member of the video editing community, I know that finding a laptop with the right balance of performance, display quality, and budget can be quite challenging.

To help you with this task, I've gone through an extensive laptop spreadsheet, comparing specs, professional reviews, and user-generated feedback for the latest releases. After narrowing down the top laptops based on Openshot-specific requirements and various price ranges, I've compiled a list of recommendations for the best laptop for Openshot users. So, whether you're a beginner looking to explore video editing or a seasoned professional seeking an upgrade, this guide will provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.

Table of Contents

Processors Explored

The current laptop processor landscape is dominated by Intel's 12th generation CPUs, Apple's M1 ARM-based SOCs, and AMD's 6th gen Ryzen processors. Intel's and Apple's chips have adopted a hybrid performance/efficiency core design based on big.LITTLE architecture. Ryzen models are best for laptops that need a good battery life.

Since Openshot is a single-threaded application, we can ignore the CPU's core count and focus on its frequency instead. Openshot is not well-optimized for multi-core CPUs, so I'd recommend going for a single-core/thread performance laptop. If you're looking for a MacBook – Apple's processors are known for their excellent single-thread performance, so they're a good option if you're looking for a fast laptop with a long battery life.

I use Cinebench R23 to compare processors because it's one of the best ways to measure single-thread performance; however, it's not the only way – other tests such as PassMark and 3DMark could be used instead. Other considerations include the amount of RAM and storage space – these are essential for any video editor; however, if you're on a budget – don't worry about them too much since they're not as important as the processor and graphics card (if you need one).

To help you decide on the best processor for your needs, here are some recommendations based on the median laptop prices of each tier:

Minimum: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
Recommended: i3-10110U
High-end: i5-10210U

Graphics Power

The laptop graphics market is dominated by Nvidia, who recently released their RTX 40 series cards, but unfortunately these aren't yet available for laptops. Instead, the latest laptop graphics chips from Nvidia are in the RTX 30 series, such as the RTX 3070 Ti. Desktop GPUs are now a lot more power-hungry, and so the gap between notebook and desktop graphics cards has widened in the past few years. Nvidia has also discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards, so a laptop manufacturer (OEM) now has to decide the exact wattage for each GPU. That can result in a wide variance in graphics performance even for laptops with the same GPU chipset.

For basic video editing, you can get by with an integrated graphics chip, but if you're looking for better performance and effects, then you'll need a dedicated GPU. If you're only using the stock video effects that come with Premiere Pro and/or After Effects then you don't need a dedicated GPU.

To choose between an AMD and Nvidia GPU, it really depends on your budget and what you're planning to use it for. Generally, Nvidia graphics cards are more power-hungry, but they tend to perform better in many applications, especially when paired with an AMD Ryzen CPU (which has been known to perform well with Nvidia GPUs).

To determine how well a certain GPU will perform, we can use benchmark scores like 3DMark, although these scores are not always indicative of real-world performance.

When it comes to OpenShot video editing, it's best to look for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card (not just an "Advanced" or "Professional" version of the integrated chip). For OpenShot, you'll need at least 4GB of VRAM, which is best provided by the Iris Xe Graphics G7. For better performance, you should look at something like the Quadro T500 or the GeForce MX550.

GPU	Recommended Price Range
Iris Xe Graphics G7	Under $1,000
Quadro T500	$1,000 – $2,000
GeForce MX550	Over $2,000

RAM Considerations

Video editing and graphic design are memory intensive tasks that require a lot of RAM to run smoothly. This is especially true when using professional-grade software like Openshot. Unfortunately, not all laptops come with enough RAM to handle demanding tasks. So, when shopping for the right laptop for video editing or graphic design, you need to consider the amount of RAM that it comes with.

Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end – 32 GB or more. If you're looking for an entry-level laptop for your child or a secondary laptop, 16 GB should be sufficient for most tasks. However, if you're looking for a primary laptop that can handle video editing and other demanding tasks, 32 GB would be ideal.

The latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5, though DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology. DDR4 is still the most common type of RAM and is widely available at different speeds and capacities. DDR4 also supports ECC (Error-Correcting Code) which helps ensure data integrity, especially when working with high-quality RAW files.

The other factor to consider is the RAM's CL/TIMING CL benchmark which measures how quickly the RAM can access and transfer data. However, these benchmarks can be misleading and don't always reflect the actual performance of the RAM. That's why I don't use them in my laptop reviews.

Here's a handy table of recommended RAM configurations depending on your budget:

Budget	Recommended RAM
Entry-Level	8 GB
Mid-Range	16 GB
High-End	32 GB or more

Openshot FAQs

Q: What kind of laptop is best for Openshot video editing?

The best laptop for Openshot video editing would depend on your budget, but a laptop with a minimum of 16 GB of RAM, a dedicated graphics card, and a powerful processor would be ideal.

What are the minimum system requirements for Openshot?

The minimum system requirements for Openshot are a 64-bit operating system, 4GB of RAM, and a multi-core processor with 64-bit capabilities.

How much RAM do I need to run Openshot on my laptop?

To run Openshot on your laptop, we recommend a minimum of 8 GB of RAM. However, for optimal performance, we suggest 16 GB of RAM.

Can Openshot run on a budget laptop?

Yes, Openshot can run on a budget laptop, but you may experience lagging and slower rendering times. To ensure a smoother editing process, we recommend at least a medium range laptop with 16 GB of RAM and a dedicated graphics card.

What is the best laptop for video editing with Openshot?

The best laptop for video editing with Openshot depends on your budget and the level of performance you require. We recommend the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro and the GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4 for their powerful specifications and price range. If you have a high budget, the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 is the top recommendation.

Which processor is best for Openshot video editing?

For Openshot video editing, we recommend at least an i5-10210U processor or AMD Ryzen 3 3200U as a minimum requirement. However, we suggest using an i7 or i9 processor if you have a higher budget.

How to choose a laptop for Openshot video editing?

When choosing a laptop for Openshot video editing, you should prioritize a powerful processor, at least 16 GB of RAM, and a dedicated graphics card. Additionally, we recommend a laptop with a high-resolution display for accurate video playback and editing.

Is a dedicated graphics card necessary for Openshot?

A dedicated graphics card is not necessary for Openshot, but it does help speed up the rendering process and playback performance. We recommend at least an Iris Xe Graphics G7 graphics card as a minimum requirement.

What laptops can run Openshot smoothly?

Laptops with at least a medium range specification or higher can run Openshot smoothly. We recommend the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4, and the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 for their performance and efficiency.

Can I use Openshot on a Chromebook or MacBook?

Yes, you can use Openshot on a Chromebook or MacBook by installing Linux on the device or through virtualization software such as VirtualBox. However, we recommend using a Windows or Linux-based laptop for a smoother editing experience.

5 Best Laptops for Openshot

$700

1.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16

Openshot laptop

Pros

Solid processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
Exceptional graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
First-class display (16)
Great memory amount (64GB)

Cons

No IPS Panel (worse viewing angles)

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Alternatives

$730

ASUS ZenBook 13 UX325EA-EH71

Pros

Sleek and lightweight design
Powerful overall and gaming performance

Cons

Weak speakers
Display could be brighter

$960

2.Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 9i

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 9i is a stylish yet expensive laptop with good GPU performance and subpar keyboard and clickpad.

Pros

Lightweight and portable
Good GPU performance
Attractive and stylish design
Relatively bright touchscreen

Cons

Subpar keyboard and clickpad quality
No integrated SD reader, USB-A, or HDMI ports
RAM not user-upgradeable
Difficult end-user serviceability

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Tech specs

Summary

The IdeaPad Slim 9i from Lenovo is an attractive and portable laptop with a leather-clad Intel Evo design, strong GPU performance, and good battery life. However, it falls short in key aspects like keyboard and clickpad quality, and lacks an integrated SD reader, USB-A, or HDMI ports.

Reviews

Notebookcheck

84%/100

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 9i Laptop Review: Luxurious Looks, Terrible Touchpad