Let's face it – some video editing tools can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there is Movavi Video Editor – an affordable alternative to pricey video editing suites like Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro. Movavi Video Editor is a user-friendly tool that allows you to quickly and effortlessly create impressive videos with a few clicks.
But finding the best laptop for Movavi Video Editor can be a challenge. To help you with your search, I've created this guide to provide you with essential requirements and considerations. We'll go through specs, benchmarks, and performance data, and showcase the best laptops you can get for Movavi Video Editor. By the end of this guide, you'll have all the information you need to make an informed decision. So let's begin!
Processor Power
With the release of Apple’s ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M2 system-on-chip modules, and AMD's 6th generation Ryzen processors, it's become more important than ever to know what processor you should pick when getting a laptop.
Video editing is a resource-intensive task and you’ll need a powerful processor to ensure smooth playback of your projects. But how do you choose the right one?
If you're using Windows, then you have two options: AMD or Intel. AMD has managed to take 20% of the CPU market. Intel's and Apple's silicon chips have adopted a hybrid performance/efficiency core design (based on big.LITTLE). AMD Ryzen models are best if you need a good battery life in a PC laptop.
But there's more to consider than just performance. You also need to think about thermal performance; laptops have thermal limits, which means they can only dissipate so much heat before their performance starts to degrade due to thermal throttling. It’s worth taking a look at the wattage-to-performance ratio (watt/in-terms-of-video-editing).
To help you choose the right processor for video editing, we recommend you use Cinebench R23 because it's designed specifically for comparing different processors. However, other factors like RAM and SSD speed can also affect your performance.
Recommended Processors for Movavi Video Editor
Processor | Price |
---|---|
AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | $120 |
Intel Core i3-10110U | $220 |
Intel Core i5-10210U | $400 |
So if you’re on a budget, look for an ultrabook with an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U; if you want something more future-proof, go for a mid-range gaming laptop with an Intel Core i3-10110U; and if you want the best possible laptop for video editing, look for a high-end gaming laptop with an Intel Core i5-10210U.
Graphics Power
Choosing the right GPU for video editing tasks can be a difficult task, especially with Nvidia's RTX 40 series cards not yet available for laptops. The RTX 30 series (such as RTX 3070 Ti) are now the most powerful mobile GPUs available on laptops.
It is important to note that desktop GPUs are now more power-hungry than they used to be, making the gap between mobile and desktop graphics cards bigger than ever. Unfortunately, Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label, so the exact GPU wattage is determined by the laptop manufacturer, leading to wide variations in performance even between laptops with the same GPU chipset.
Video editing is a demanding task and requires a dedicated GPU. The GPU is critical for accelerating video encoding and decoding, especially with codecs like H.265 and H.264 that are more reliant on the GPU than others. Make sure to look for a laptop with at least Nvidia's Optimus technology for extended battery life when not using the dedicated chip.
I typically use 3DMark scores to compare different GPUs across different platforms (Windows vs macOS). However, these results don't always translate well in real-world applications such as video editing. For this reason, I'll also rely on other benchmarks such as PassMark Gpu test (which uses Cinebench R23) and Unigine Heaven/Valley results when available.
Finally, be prepared for higher laptop prices if you're looking for a gaming laptop, as these are known to carry hefty price tags.
Based on this information, here's a brief list of GPUs suitable for video editing and their expected laptop prices:
GPU | Laptop Price |
---|---|
Iris Xe Graphics G7 | Under $1000 |
Quadro T500 | $1000 – $1500 |
GeForce MX550 | Over $1500 |
RAM Matters
It's no secret that video editing requires plenty of memory. We've seen a huge jump in RAM capacities over the last few years, with most mid-range laptops coming with 16 GB of RAM and high-end – 32 GB or more.
These days, 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. RAM speed is not as important as it used to be. However, if you're looking for the best possible performance, then getting DDR5 or even DDR5X would be ideal. But that's not necessary for most people.
So, how much RAM do you need for video editing? The answer really depends on the type of projects you're working on. If you're just getting started, then 8 GB is the minimum, though you may find it insufficient for anything more than basic editing tasks. 16 GB is ideal for most people, and 32 GB is the sweet spot for professionals.
If you're looking for the best possible performance, then getting a laptop with upgradable RAM is ideal since that way you can add more memory down the line when your projects start requiring more resources. Other considerations include latency and frequency, which can have an impact on your computer's overall performance.
Here's what to expect depending on your budget:
Budget | Minimum RAM | Recommended RAM | High-end RAM |
---|---|---|---|
Low | 8 GB | 12 GB | 16 GB |
Medium | 8 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
High | 16 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB + DDR5 |
6 Best Laptops for Movavi Video Editor
MSI GF63 Thin 11SC-693
Pros and cons
- Affordable price
- Ample processing power
- Unimpressive display
- Limited gaming potential
Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC
Pros and cons
- Lightweight and ergonomic design for portability
- Bright, matte IPS display with wide color gamut for vivid editing
- Limited onboard memory
- No memory card reader
Alternatives
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro
- Numpad
- Backlit keyboard
- Middle-of-the-road processor (i5-11300H)
- Bulky (4.4 lbs)
ASUS ZenBook 13 UX325EA-EH71
Pros and cons
- Ultra-lightweight design for effortless transport.
- Powerful performance for efficient video editing.
- Weak speakers for poor audio quality.
- Poor display brightness distribution.
Alternatives
HP Victus 15t
- Affordable Price
- Variety of CPU Options
- Sub-Par Battery Life
- Lower Quality Display
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 9i
Pros and cons
- Lightweight and Portable Design
- Powerful GPU Performance
- No Built-in SD Reader or USB-A Ports
- Weak Key Feedback
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4
Pros and cons
- Superior display with 165Hz refresh rate and wide color gamut
- Lightning fast PCIe 4.0 SSD and additional M.2 slot
- High power usage when idle or at low load
- No card reader included
Alternatives
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
- Bright and vibrant 16:10 QHD 165Hz display
- Great performance across all tasks
- Bulky chassis with heavy power brick
- Limited storage size of 512GB SSD
ASUS ROG Strix Scar
Pros and cons
- Sturdy construction and fast Wi-Fi 6E for reliable editing
- Vivid colors for creative projects with Dolby Vision support
- Limited display angle
- High heat and noise emissions under load
Alternatives
Acer Predator Triton 500
- High performance capabilities
- Bright 240-Hz display
- Soldered-in RAM
- Inaccessible SSD
Table of the Best Laptops for Movavi Video Editor
Laptop | Price (approx) |
MSI GF63 Thin 11SC-693 | $550 |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC | $580 |
ASUS ZenBook 13 UX325EA-EH71 | $730 |
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 9i | $960 |
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4 | $1600 |
ASUS ROG Strix Scar | $2310 |