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There was a time wherein people who edit photos professionally could only get the job done with premium desktop PCs. Such devices are powerful and all, but it also means that you will only get to use them either inside your home or office. Fortunately, times have changed, and you can now find many laptops on the market that are capable of handling all the needs of an amateur or professional photo editor. Choosing the best laptop for photo editing should depend on many factors that can make a huge difference. Photographers and editors need the type of laptop that will offer a snappy and responsive experience when using programs like Adobe Photoshop. This includes a comprehensive mix of performance, adequate tools, design features, and efficiency. You should ensure that the laptop has a powerful processor, enough RAM, and a high-quality display with excellent graphics. Storage space is also crucial since many editors deal with large files, and SSDs are better than HDDs, especially if you want faster data transfer speeds. Since the portability of laptops makes them ideal to use in different places outside your bedroom, it would be best to make sure that you pick a laptop with long battery life. In this guide, we will go through some of the best laptops for photo editing, and we will also outline the pros and cons of each device, allowing you to choose what you think works best for you.
There’s no denying that Apple comes up with some pretty high-tech laptops, and it looks like their MacBook Pro lineup continues to get better and better as the years pass. When you’re a photo editor, a larger screen will always benefit you more, and it’s why we think that the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the best laptop you can spend your money on. Editing all your pictures will be a treat for your eyes because of the top-notch graphics you get from its 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display. All your content will look crisp and clear whether you’re in a bright or dark environment because of its 1,600-nit peak brightness and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Users can expect the laptop to have the most accurate colors possible because it can produce around one billion colors and has Wide Color (P3) and True Tone technology. What makes this laptop such a powerful tool for those who edit high-quality photos regularly is its ultra-powerful Apple M1 Pro chip. It features a 10-core CPU, a 16-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. If you have extra cash for upgrades, you can opt for a more advanced M1 Max chip with either a 24-core GPU or 32-core GPU. You can get 16GB or 32GB RAM with the M1 Pro models, while those who pick the M1 Max models can get up to 64GB RAM. Storing all your essential files, documents, and projects isn’t an issue for the MacBook Pro because options range from 512GB to 8TB of SSD storage. With all the customization options you get with the laptop, you can build a highly portable editing powerhouse. Well, if you can handle the expenses, of course. The laptop’s keyboard is still comfortable to use like its predecessors, but you don’t get a touch bar anymore. Its Force Touch trackpad is also as responsive as ever and allows you to enhance your productivity. Those who regularly hop on video calls for work will love the quality you get from the laptop’s upgraded 1080p FaceTime HD camera. Its built-in mic picks up your voice clearly, and you can play your audio loud and clear without the need for a Bluetooth speaker because of the laptop’s fantastic high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers. The latest MacBook Pro 16-inch model gives you a decent port selection because aside from three Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports, you also get an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, and a headphone jack. Apple also ditched their MacBook Type-C chargers and brought back the MagSafe charger. While many people tend to use their laptops while it’s plugged in, you might not have to worry about it with the MacBook Pro because you can get up to 15.5 hours of usage per charge.
Premium 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with 1,600-nit peak brightness and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratioPowerful powerformance from its M1 Pro chipLots of storage optionsExcellent keyboard and trackpad1080p FaceTime HD cameraFantastic mic and speakersDecent port selectionImpressive battery lifeApple brought back the MagSafe charger
Expensive, especially if you choose the larger storage optionsSome users prefer it to have the touchbar
Even if Apple creates laptops with powerful hardware and innovative technology, some photo editors might still prefer working on a laptop running on Windows. If you feel like you’re one of them, the best option you can go for is the Dell XPS 15. It’s not exactly cheap, but you undoubtedly get what you pay for. You can trust that the laptop can handle running heavy programs like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator because it has a 12 Gen Intel Core i7-12700H that packs a punch. You have flexibility with its RAM and storage because you can get 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of RAM and 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB of SSD storage. The laptop will display all your photos with the best detail and colors because it has a beautiful 15.6-inch UHD+ (3840×2400) InfinityEdge display. What makes it stand out compared to its competitors is how it has a touchscreen display, which will help increase your productivity while editing. You can expect decent graphics from the laptop, especially if you’re fond of gaming during your free time, because it has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card. The laptop has a backlit keyboard and touchpad that’s comfortable to use, and you can log into your device quickly and easily since it comes with a fingerprint reader. Its 720p HD webcam might not give you the best quality available, but it’s still enough for your work-related Zoom calls. The Dell XPS 15’s built-in speakers are impressive because it features Waves Nx 3D Audio. Users will have a fast network performance with this laptop since it supports Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6, and you can connect all the external accessories you want because it has Bluetooth 5.2 technology. The laptop has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, an SD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone/mic combo jack. Fortunately, Dell also included a free HDMI 2.0 and Type-C to Type-A adapter with the laptop. The Dell XPS 15 has an 86Whr battery, and a single charge could get you up to 9 hours of usage.
15.6-inch UHD+ touchscreen displayExcellent CPU and GPUModern and sturdy designDecent battery life for its specsFlexible RAM and storage options
PriceyKeyboard could be better720p webcam
You might’ve seen laptops created specifically for gamers, but there are also options available that are meant to be used by creative professionals. One example is the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16. ASUS wants the laptop to give creatives tons of benefits, and it’s why they include a complimentary three-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud upon purchase. They’ll even throw in a free backpack for you. The laptop features a 16-inch OLED display that is sharp enough to bring all your projects to life. Its color performance is spectacular because you get 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and the accuracy of its colors is Pantone validated. We know Photoshop can require lots of processing power from your laptop, but you don’t have to worry because this laptop comes with an Intel Core i7-12700H processor. Its graphics performance won’t let you down because it has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU that comes with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. The ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16’s 16GB RAM is pretty decent for someone who will use it for editing photos, and you will be happy about its 2TB of SSD storage. At first glance, you can immediately tell that there’s something unique about the laptop. It has the ASUS Dial right under the keyboard, and it’s a helpful tool you can use for different actions within Photoshop. Users can conveniently customize its function in the ProArt Creator Hub. You might also notice that there are three buttons on the bottom part of the touchpad, and these are specifically designed for special functions like orbit, rotate, pan, etc. The laptop doesn’t fall short in the connectivity department because you get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, an SD card reader, and an HDMI 2.1 port. You will get the fastest internet speeds possible because of its Wi-Fi 6, while its Bluetooth 5.2 technology ensures you won’t have trouble connecting headphones, speakers, etc. The ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 is a perfectly portable laptop you can bring with you if you have to work at the office or a cafe, and you shouldn’t underestimate its slim profile because its reliability and durability meet the MIL-STD 810H military standard.
Premium 16-inch OLED display100% DCI-P3 color gamutExcellent processor and graphics card2TB of SSD storageAmple portsUseful ASUS DialSlim yet durableCustomers get a free backpack and 3-month Adobe Creative Cloud subcription
Hefty price tagOLED display posts potential risk of permanent burn-in
If you have no limitations with your budget and want a laptop with all the advanced specs a creative professional could wish for, you can purchase the Gigabyte Aero 17. It’s a laptop that’s far from cheap, but you are guaranteed a speedy performance and breathtaking visuals. It features a 17.3-inch 4K UHD display with slim bezels and anti-glare capabilities. You won’t be disappointed by the brightness, contrast, and detail you get from its screen because of its VESA DisplayHDR 400, and its 100% Adobe RGB color gamut ensures you will see the most dynamic and vibrant colors. No need to worry if the colors you see are accurate or not because it’s Pantone validated and X-Rite Color Calibrated. All your heavy programs will run smoothly on the laptop because it features an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor. You get 16GB RAM, but you have the option to expand it to up to 64GB. The laptop is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, which has a maximum graphics power of 105W. It comes with 1TB NVMe SSD storage, which is easily upgradeable since you get two M.2 SSD slots. Gigabyte didn’t hold back when it came to adding ports to the Aero 17 because you’ll get three USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A) ports, one Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) port, one mini DisplayPort 1.4, an HDMI 2.1 port, a microphone input, a headphone output, a DC-in jack, an RJ-45 port, and an SD card reader. The laptop’s keyboard lighting is unique compared to its rivals because you get RGB lighting per key. It has an HD camera for video calls, and its dual 2W speakers support DTS:X Ultra. The Aero 17 features Windforce Infinity next-gen cooling, but some reported that it still gets hot during heavy workloads.
Large 17.3-inch 4K UHD displayVESA DisplayHDR 400 and 100% Adobe RGB color gamutPantone validated and X-Rite Color CalibratedOutstanding processing powerNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphicsExcellent port selection
Super expensiveNot the best heat management
Some of you might’ve assumed that the MacBook Air is meant for students who need a laptop for basic tasks, but as they upgraded its hardware over the years, it looks like it’s now powerful enough for on-the-go photo editing. The latest generation of the MacBook Air was released in 2022, and it now features Apple’s new M2 chip. The chip has an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. Apple lets customers choose if they want 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB of RAM, and you can also pick between a 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB model. The laptop has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, which feels larger than it is due to its slim bezels. It supports around 1 billion colors and comes with True Tone technology. The laptop has the signature backlit magic keyboard with Touch ID and an ambient light sensor, and its Force Touch trackpad still delivers pressure-sending capabilities and precise cursor control. The MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly future-proof since it supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology. It has a small notch for the 1080p FaceTime HD camera, similar to the notch found in the latest Pro models. The laptop has a four-speaker sound system with wide stereo sound and support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Users might need to invest in adapters or a USB hub if you choose this laptop because it only has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 (Type-C) ports and a headphone jack. It features the new MagSafe 3 charging port, and the charging cable you get will have the same color as your laptop. The battery life of the new MacBook Air is above average since one full charge can get you up to 14 hours of use. Before checking out, customers can pick between two power adapters: a 35W dual USB Type-C adapter or a 67W USB Type-C adapter. We would suggest the latter since it will guarantee faster charging speeds.
Slim and lightweightPowerful Apple M2 chipFlexible RAM and storage options13.6-inch Liquid Retina display1080p FaceTime HD cameraExcellent speakersImpressive battery lifeConvenient MagSafe charging
Gets pretty pricey when you choose higher RAM and storageNotch can be distractingNeeds way more portsCould have better heat managementMidnight color is prone to fingerprints
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