Our team of hardware reviewers benchmarked the best video editing Mac and MacBook laptops, and these are our top recommendations.
We're no strangers to testing post-production tools, from the best video editing laptops and the best video editing computers to charting our picks for the best MacBook and Macs to the best MacBook Pro.
The best Mac for video editing is the Apple iMac 24in, an incredible all-in-one desktop computer that's best-in-class. The best MacBook for video editing is the gloriously quick Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch. With both devices powered by the M-series chip, they offer a seamless video editing experience.
Check out our round-up for more of our favorite MacBooks and Macs for video editing. Our reviewers run extensive benchmarking tests and a range of creative apps, including the best video editing software.
Best video editing Mac and MacBook: Quick list
Best video editing MacBook overall
The Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch is our top pick for most people. Equipped with the M2 chip, this laptop is fast, portable, and beautifully designed.
Best video editing MacBook on a budget
Ultra-lightweight, slim, and affordable, the MacBook Air offers excellent performance in a cheap and compact package.
Best video editing MacBook Pro
If you want the fastest and the best, and you don't mind paying for it, then the M3 Max-powered MacBook Pro is a creator's dream.
Best video editing Mac
Arguably the best all-in-one desktop you can get, the iMac will breeze through most video editing projects - and does a lot more besides.
Best budget video editing Mac
The Mac mini, as the name suggests, is a space-saving desktop machine. Compact, it offers serious performance at an affordable price.
Best Mac workstation for video editing
If you need a machine for professional video editing, the Mac Studio is tailored to creators who demand workstation-level performance.
Best MacBook and Mac for video editing in 2024 in full
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Best MacBook for video editing overall
The best MacBook for video editing, really, is any laptop with an M-series chip, which will breeze through everything from office apps to complex video editing. But our pick overall goes to the MacBook Pro 16. This laptop boasts a beautiful d, and the powerful M2 Pro or M2 Ultra processors easily handle editing videos at a professional level.
The design is classic Apple - you can spot a MacBook a mile away and this version is no different. Almost identical to the previous edition, it's sleek, slim, silver, stunning. Port selection is good by Apple standards, with three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, and a slot for an SDXC memory card.
Performance proved excellent during our review process. The M2 Pro and Ultra processors are efficient, offering superb performance and a battery that actually lasts - almost 20 hours in our battery life tests (and just below Apple's stated 22-hour life-span). We especially like the fact that unlike other laptops, the MacBook Pro won't throttle performance when you're using battery. For video editors on the go, this will be a life-saver.
Yes, it's expensive - like all MacBook Pro laptops, this is an investment. And if you're already running a machine with the M1 Pro or M1 Max, there's no real need to upgrade just yet. But it's a great all-rounder Apple device that will chomp through most video editing projects. And that Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion is still the best display you can get on a laptop.
Read the full MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) review.
Best MacBook for video editing on a budget
If you're looking for the cheapest MacBook for video editing, you can still pick up an M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro. They may be older models, usually refurbished, but they're still excellent machines for the price. Check our our MacBook Pro 16-in (M1) review for more details.
But for a brand-new budget Apple machine, the MacBook Air M2 got an official price-cut after the release of the Air M3, making it the cheapest MacBook you can buy. And considering this is an ultra-lightweight device, it's still an impressive performer when it comes to content creation and video editing.
The build is light and thin, weighing just 2.7 pounds (1.24kg), but still finds space for two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the MagSafe 3 charging port. That's not world-class port selection and connectivity, but it's a fair trade-off for the dinky dimensions. The 13.6-inch, 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina display is well-designed for editing videos on a laptop, with a good 500 nits brightness, 107% sRGB and 75.9% DCI-P3.
Performance is good, too. We used Apple apps GarageBand and iMovie to make music and edit 4K movies - and the M2 chip didn't miss a beat. In fact, during our review, we didn't notice any real performance differences to the M2 MacBook Pro under similar workloads. Overall, an affordable choice for video editors working commuting, working across multiple locations, or just always on the go
Read our full Apple MacBook Air (M2 2022) review
Best MacBook Pro for video editing
Looking for the absolute top MacBook Pro for editing your videos? Then the 16-inch M3 Max (and M3 Pro)-powered laptop gets our recommendation.
This machine, gorgeously designed as you'd expect, is a beast in the performance stakes. That M3 Max chip proved highly impressive in our benchmark tests - quicker in every way to previous M-series processors. As a result, workflows became much faster. For example, when opening up and editing 4K videos in Adobe Premiere Pro, we found it remarkably fast, and when adding effects and using AI tools, these were displayed instantly. The laptop didn't even need to think about rendering the scenes.
It's super-expensive and it's probably overkill for most video editing projects. But if it's the best of the best you're after, this MacBook Pro offers top-dollar performance for a top-dollar price. Check out our Apple MacBook Air (M3) review for a cheaper, more portable alternative.
Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) review
Best video editing Mac overall
Now sporting the impressive M3 chip, the 24inch iMac isn't just the best Mac for video editing for most users - it's one of the best all-in-one desktops you can get. The design remains unchanged from the M1 version, and comes available in seven different colors to suit your set-up. It's slim, thin, stylish, and takes up very little space.
The screen boasts a 4.5K Retina resolution, 500 nits brightness, with good color space coverage for video editors - 100% sRGB and a little over 75% DCI-P3. Elsewhere, you'll find a 1080p FaceTime camera, so-called 'studio-quality' microphones, alongside a six-speaker setup for spatial audio, which sounds great.
In our benchmark tests, performance proved excellent. True, the iMac doesn't hit the heights of those sporting the M3 Pro and M3 Max processors, but overall, it was fast, efficient, and even had no issue playing games. Few other all-in-one systems can touch it.
The price is about comparable to a decent MacBook Pro, making it a good alternative if you'd prefer a desktop over a laptop. However, we did find the 24-inch screen, beautiful though it is, can feel a little cramped when working on complex projects - perhaps we've grown too used to 27- and 32-inch monitors these days.
Read our full Apple iMac 24-inch (M3) review
Best Mac for video editing on a budget
The Apple Mac mini is one of the cheapest Apple computers you can buy - and considering the sheer amount of power on offer, it's a pretty good deal.
Powered by the M2 chip, performance was excellent. Conducting tests similar to those we performed on the MacBook Pro 16-inch, we had no issues using music-maker Ableton Live 11 or editing 8K movies. When the chip under heavy graphical and computational loads during our benchmark tests, we found Apple's mini PC gamely came close to the MBP's own scores.
As the name suggests, the Mac mini is compact - it's not the smallest mini PC we've tested, but it still features a space-saving design that slots away nicely and leaves your desk clear. If it were as upgradeable and expandable as Windows PCs of this size, it would be perfect. Connectivity is also good, and located around the back you'll find four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a HDMI 2.0 port, two USB-A ports, a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. So, plenty of space for hooking up multiple monitors for video editing.
Read the full Apple Mac mini (M2) review.
Best Mac workstation for video editing
For professionals and anyone working with heavy workloads, the Apple Mac Studio is tailored to the likes of video editing and content creation. We were already fans of the original, but equipped with the M2 Ultra chip, the latest version is a veritable powerhouse - a true workstation for creators.
The design is nicely subtle, and effectively silent in operation. Performance was excellent, with clear improvements over the MacBook Pro (M2 Max) and the older M1 Ultra-powered Mac Studio. And the machine's Unified Memory architecture means the memory can be directly accessed by the GPU, so expect better performance for creative workloads.
While you can find PCs with more graphical prowess than what's on offer here, the workstation performance remains outstanding, particularly for creators. For an even higher-performing machine, see our Apple Mac Pro review - and expect even more from the latest M-series chips.
Read our full Apple Mac Studio (M2 Ultra) review.
Save money with Apple promo codes.
Best video editing Mac: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best video editing software for Mac?
Adobe Premiere Pro is our top pick. Like the Apple Mac itself, the program set an industry-standard in the creative sector, packing a mighty range of Hollywood-grade tools for post-production work. Apple Final Cut Pro, meanwhile, is an excellent choice if you want to stay within the Apple ecosystem without compromising on pro features. We’ve outlined the major differences between the two in our comparison guide Adobe Premiere Pro vs Apple Final Cut Pro.
Modern Macs also come with the free Apple iMovie preinstalled. It’s nowhere near as powerful as many editors on the market, but it is free and easy to use, making it one of the best video editing software for beginners. If you’re wavering between the two Apple video editors, we’ve compared both in our guide iMovie vs Final Cut Pro.
For more options on mobile devices, we've tested and reviewed the best video editing apps.
What is the best free video editing software for Mac and MacBooks?
Apple iMovie is a great free program for editing videos on Mac and MacBook - for the simple reason that it comes pre-installed on most modern Apple devices. It's very simple to use, completely free, and works across almost every device.
For more options, see our review of the best free video editing software.
How to choose the best video editing Macs for you
When selecting the best video editing Mac or MacBook for video editing, there are a number of considerations before making an investment.
Desktop or laptop
Both Mac and MacBook devices excel at video editing, so consider how and where you'll work. You'll find a wide range of MacBook laptops, from the Pro line-up to the lightweight Air models. Apple's desktop range is more limited, but very powerful.
Specs
You can find older MacBooks running Intel processors - and if you're looking for a budget video editing Mac for basic projects, these will be fine. However, we recommend opting for an M-series chip - even an M1 processor will perform well, with the M3 line being the most powerful. If you're using the best 3D modeling software, best VFX software, or engage in 4K editing, and 360° video editing, choose a device with good graphics and plenty of RAM for a seamless experience.
Ports
Depending on what peripherals you intend to use, you'll want to check for port selection and connectivity. Slim laptops tend to have fewer ports, especially with Apple devices, so look out for options such as a HDMI for connecting a monitor. For more Apple extras, we've reviewed the best MacBook Pro accessories, alongside the best monitors for MacBook Pro, and the best monitors for Mac mini.
Beyond video editing
With the right specs, you'll also have no trouble running the best graphic design software or visual effects apps, which are performance-driven programs. For this reason, you see a lot of crossover between video editing Macs and the best laptops for graphic design and best laptops for photographers.
How we test the best video editing Macs
Our team of expert reviewers have tested out a massive range of creative hardware, including the best monitors for video editing, the best photo editing PC, and the best graphic design laptops. We take the same rigorous approach for all our hands-on reviews.
When it comes to testing the best video editing Macs, we're looking lots of different aspects. To start with, we examined their RAM, CPU, and GPU to get an idea of how well they could run heavyweight video editors like Adobe Premiere and other graphic editing and 3D rendering apps.
We evaluated the storage options available, and how swiftly the SSD loads the operating system and applications. We examined the portability and designs of the different Apple products to gauge what type of video editing user they'd be best suited for. We also considered the prices of the products and the colors they come in, among other things.
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