No matter how good your photography skills are, slight adjustments and editing always help. Software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are the frontrunners among the best photo and video editing software.
And these are heavy-duty programs that require high-end hardware to run on. Fortunately, the best laptops for photo editing have that covered. Our research team made sure that the laptops we reviewed for this particular article fit the mold of the best photo editing laptop.
Along with CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage, we were particularly keen on features like color gamuts and screen resolutions. These things often go unnoticed but are very important for accurate color reproductions- which, as we all know, is important for the best photo editing results.
So, keeping all these features in mind, we found 10 top laptops for photo editing. On this list are some of the best laptops for Photoshop, some budget laptops for photo editing, and some premium ones for photo and video editing.
Best Photo Editing Laptops – Our Picks
1. Acer Predator Helios 300
Best Budget Laptop for Photo Editing and Gaming
Feature Highlights
- 11th generation Intel processor
- RTX 30 Series GPU
- 144Hz FHD display
- 90% sRGB color gamut
- Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro
- Alexa Show Mode
- Thunderbolt 4 & USB Type-C
Review
Your search for the best laptop for photography will lead you to a lot of gaming laptops. Although we only have this one, there are plenty of gaming laptops out there that will make good photo editing laptops, thanks to their beefed-up hardware.
Beefed-up hardware is also the reason the Predator Helios 300 is on our list. The chances of finding an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU and an 11th-generation CPU under $1300 are quite slim.
It also packs an impressive FHD display with a 90% sRGB color gamut and a 144Hz refresh rate. All traits of a top photo editing laptop. The battery life is a bit of a disappointment but expected from a gaming laptop.
Pros
- 2 extra PCIe M.2 storage expansion slots
- HDMI 2.1 with HDCP support
- Wide port selection
- Dedicated 6GB GDDR6 VRAM
- 4-Zone keyboard RGB
Cons
- Noisy fans
- Poor sound quality
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
- Battery Life: 6 Hours
Price: Around $1300 On Amazon | $1500 On Walmart | $1450 On Newegg
2. GIGABYTE Aero 17
Best Laptop for Photographers & Creators ‘24% OFF!’
Feature Highlights
- AI rendering with NVIDIA DLSS
- UHD 4K HDR display
- VESA DisplayHDR 400
- 100% Adobe RGB color gamut
- PANTONE validated color accuracy
- Fingerprint reader and full-size RGB keyboard
Review
Even though the Aero 17 divides opinions, we still rate it as one of the top laptops for photo editing. The battery life is poor, and by poor, we mean one of the worst we’ve ever seen on a GIGABYTE laptop, but the specs are so good that the battery life falls into their shadow.
The RTX 3070 GPU with 8GB of VRAM and the 11th generation i7 CPU are just too good for the price. So, you’re giving up on battery for a lot of rendering power, and we feel it’s a fair trade.
It’s a 17-inch laptop, so it’s not the most mobile anyway. It’s best if you develop a workstation around it.
Pros
- Massive 17-inch display
- Great price-to-performance ratio
- 8GB dedicated GPU RAM
- One of the best displays for photo and video editing
- Tiny 3-way bezels
Cons
- Unorthodox webcam position- bottom bezel
- Lousy hinges- not very durable
- Terrible battery
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Battery Life: 2 Hours
Price: Around $1900 On Amazon | $1900 On Newegg | $2000 On B&HPhotoVideo
3. ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481
Best Dual-Display Laptop for Photo Editing
Feature Highlights
- IR Camera for Windows Hello
- ErgoLift hinge design
- ScreenPad Plus
- PANTONE validated FHD display
- MIL-STD 810G durability
- Special ScreenPad Plus control center
Review
The ASUS ZenBook Duo is a laptop specifically made to carry out tasks like video and photo editing, drawing, sketching, writing, and more.
The dual-touchscreen display with active stylus support is the biggest attraction here. More than the hardware, it’s the utility and multi-tasking abilities that convinced us to include this laptop.
It only has 8GB of RAM and Intel UHD Graphics, so there are more powerful photo editing laptops out there, but none as stylish and unique as this. If you want, you can get the upgraded version at a significantly higher price, almost $1000 more.
Pros
- Unique design, beautiful color
- Great battery performance
- Stylus support
- Compact and lightweight design
- Comes with separate palm rest
Cons
- Underpowered RAM
- The touchpad will take some getting used to
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-10510U
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD
- Battery Life: 10 Hours
Price: Around $1500 On Amazon | $2080 On Walmart
4. Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Best 2-in-1 Budget Laptop for Photo Editing
Feature Highlights
- Intel EVO Platform
- Windows 11 optimization
- PixelSense touchscreen display
- Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports
- Impressive 120Hz display
Review
At the risk of offending Microsoft, we have to say that this is more of a tablet than a laptop. The 13-inch display, detachable keyboard, built-in kickstand, and limited I/O port selection is a trademarks of Microsoft tablets.
But, simultaneously they deserve praise for bringing the Intel EVO platform, giving an i7 option, and putting in the Pro Signature Keyboard. In short, even though it only has 8 gigs of RAM and Intel Iris GPU, the EVO platform takes good care of editing software.
Its 2880 x 1920 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate of the display stands out. Likewise, with its 103% sRGB color gamut and a 72%DCI-P3 gamut, the color accuracy is one of the best.
Pros
- Ultralight and easy to carry around
- HD front and back cameras
- Decent heat dispersion
- Haptic feedback improves the stylus-use experience
- Available in 2 stylish colors
Cons
- Stylus and keyboard sold separately
- Underpowered GPU
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Evo Platform Core i5-1135G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
- Battery Life: 10 Hours
Price: Around $1400 On Amazon | $1400 On BestBuy | $1400 On Newegg
5. Acer ConceptD 3 Pro
Best Laptop for Photographers
Feature Highlights
- 100% DCI-P3 color gamut
- PANTONE Validated
- NVIDIA Studio GPU
- Delta E<2 color accuracy
- 300 nits bright screen
Review
One of the best laptops for Photoshop and Lightroom, the Acer ConcpetD 3 massively overachieves for the hardware it has. It’s merely an i5 laptop, but the 16GB RAM and NVIDIA Quadro T1000 GPU cover the cracks and then some.
However, the takeaway is the FHD display with superb color reproduction. To complete the photo editing setup, it has plenty of ports to connect multiple displays and extra accessories you could ever need for photo editing, graphic design, and video editing.
Apart from the i5 chip, there’s not one thing that disappointed us about this laptop. And the price tag makes it all that more impressive.
Pros
- Durable metal chassis
- FHD back-lit IPS display
- Acer Bio-Protection
- ISV certification for Photoshop & Lightroom
- Full-sized backlit keyboard
- Ultra-fast Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO
Cons
- Heavy
- Not future proof
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i5-9300H
- GPU: NVIDIA Quadro T1000
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512 NVMe SSD
- Battery Life: 10 Hours
Price: Around $1430 On Amazon | $2015 On Newegg | $1500 On Walmart
6. HP Spectre X360 15t
HP’s Best 4K Laptop for Photo Editing
Feature Highlights
- 4K WLED display
- 98% Adobe RGB color gamut
- 2-in-1 convertible design
- Touchscreen with Stylus support
- HP TrueVision IR Camera
- HP Fast Charge
- Thunderbolt 3
Review
If you want to do a lot of photo editing and look cool while doing it, this is the laptop for you. The laptop’s build and design are sure to gain some attention from your friends. Thankfully, the laptop has the specs to match as well.
A 10th generation i7 chip, a 4K panel with one of the widest color gamuts, and an MX330 NVIDIA GPU. With a GPU that was specifically made for photo and video editing, this is the best laptop for Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro.
The HP SPectre X360 impresses in every major department. The only obvious problem we faced was when we used it in tablet mode. The gem-cut sharp corners make it uncomfortable to hold in tablet mode.
Pros
- Attractive gem cut design and Dark Ash color
- Covers 146% of the DCI-P3 color gamut
- Windows Hello login
- Bang & Olufsen speakers
- Fingerprint reader
Cons
- Bulky and heavy build
- Tiring to use as a Tablet
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-10510U
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX330
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Battery Life: 7 Hours
Price: Around $1800 On Amazon | $1950 On Newegg | $1510 On HP
7. LG Gram 17Z90P
Best Laptop for Photography, ‘$300 OFF!’
Feature Highlights
- 11th generation Intel chip
- Intel EVO Platform
- WQXGA Display
- 99% DCI-P3 color expression
- Thunderbolt 4, HDMI
- Amazon Alexa support
Review
LG’s Gram series has a reputation for having lightweight and highly portable laptops. You can question the portability of LG Gram 17Z90P because of the 17-inch screen, but it still is one of the lightest laptops- lighter than some smaller laptops even.
However, the lightweight does not affect the hardware specs. Using the lighter and faster Intel EVO chip, SSD storage, and LPDDR4X RAM, LG ensures performance, while sticking to a lightweight and durable housing.
Accompanying the powerful hardware is a best-in-class 80Wh battery that can match the battery timing of a MacBook.
All these features combine very well together and push the LG Gram 17Z90P into our top 5 picks for the best photo editing laptops.
Pros
- Blazing fast DDR4X RAM for creators
- Super lightweight
- Impressive battery life
- Massive 17-inch display
- Windows 11 compatible
Cons
- Underwhelming GPU
- No palm rejection
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 16GB DDR4X
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Battery Life: 16 Hours
Price: Around $1500 On Amazon | $1800 On BestBuy | $1600 On Newegg
8. Dell XPS 15 9510
Best Laptop for Editing Photos On The Go
Feature Highlights
- Infinity Edge display
- Anti-Glare 500 nits bright display
- Thunderbolt 4
- Killer Wi-Fi 6
- Carbon fiber palm rest
Review
This list would be incomplete without Dell’s best laptop for photography. The XPS series from Dell is one of the most versatile laptop series around, from any brand.
Subtle Plug: If you are into video editing as well, the Dell XPS 17 9710 is the best laptop for photo and video editing right now!
The XPS 15 is a 15-inch display version with slightly less powerful hardware and a significantly smaller price tag. That’s why we would recommend this over the XPS 17 if you’re only into photo editing.
Its FHD+ display, 16GB of RAM, and NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU make it one of the best laptops for Photoshop. It also covers 85% DCI-P3 color gamut and a majority of sRGB & Adobe colors. In short, if you are willing to spend a little over 2000 bucks, this is your best bet.
Pros
- Dedicated 4GB VRAM graphics card
- Great battery life
- Tiny 4-way bezels
- Ultra-wide touchpad
- 1-Year premium Dell support
Cons
- Limited ports selection
- Weighs almost 9 pounds
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
- Battery Life: 12 Hours
Price: Around $2000 On Amazon | $2935 On Newegg | $1900 On BestBuy
9. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)
Best Mac for Photo Editing
Feature Highlights
- 10-Core CPU
- 16-Core GPU
- Liquid Retina XDR Display
- 16-Core Apple Neural Engine
- Touch ID
- Thunderbolt 4, SDXC, and HDMI ports
Review
We feel like there isn’t much left that we can say about these incredible Apple machines. For as long as we can remember, Apple’s MacBooks have been the pick of the bunch for content creators.
Whether it’s graphics design, video editing, photo editing, music production, or anything else, the power levels that the fabled Apple M1 Chips bring are just the best.
The newer laptops are getting close to the performance levels, but that mostly results in costlier setups. For more or less the same price, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch(2021) is a well-rounded choice with an exceptional display, outstanding CPU + GPU combo, and a battery life that can last a whole day.
The classic Apple quirks are there, though. You’ll have to get used to the notch and probably have to buy at least two different dongles, but it’s still worth it.
Pros
- Superb battery life
- Power-efficient CPU and GPU
- 120Hz refresh rate and 1600 nits brightness
- Dead-silent fans
- Stays cool even under tremendous workload
Cons
- Expensive
- Notch looks weird
Tech Specs
- CPU: Apple M1 Pro Chip
- GPU: Apple 16-Core GPU Chip
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Battery Life: Up to 21 Hours
Price: Around $2700 On Amazon | $3500 On Newegg | $2700 On BestBuy
10. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Overall Best Laptop for Photo Editing
Feature Highlights
- Quad-Core Intel H Series chip
- 2nd generation NVIDIA RTX GPU
- Comes with Windows 11
- PixelSense touchscreen display
- Dolby Vision
- Thunderbolt 4
Review
Few Windows laptops can beat a MacBook while staying in a similar price bracket. But we found one that does- at least for photo editing. The Microsoft Studio Laptop is made for tasks like photo and video editing and other graphic-intensive work.
The RTX 30 Series and the Intel H Series chips are a lethal combo right now. Accompanying them is 32GBs of DDR4X RAM, which should tell you everything there is to know about the performance levels of this laptop.
If you feel these specs are a little too much for you, there is an i5 version as well. However, that might not be the best laptop for Lightroom users.
Pros
- FHD + display with a 120Hz refresh rate
- Sleek and Stylish design
- Unique hinge design
- Comes with a rechargeable Stylus
- External ports hub included in the box
Cons
- Heats up
- Underwhelming battery life
Tech Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
- RAM: 32GB DDR4X
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Battery Life: 10 Hours
Price: Around $2700 On Amazon | $2700 On Newegg | $2700 On Walmart
Best Photo Editing Laptops: What You Need to Consider
The hardware will dictate how good a laptop is for photo editing. We won’t start nit-picking every single detail and turn this guide into a half an hour read, but here are the must-have hardware basics if you want the best laptop for photo editing.
Display Screen
We’ll start with one of the most important features you need to look out for before you buy a laptop for photo and video editing. The display is where everything will be happening, and if it can’t create good visuals and force you to sit at optimal angles, it’s just not worth it.
In summary, buy a laptop that has an IPS panel and covers the majority of sRGB and Adobe color gamuts.
There’s also the size and resolution of the display. Although a 4K display is the peak resolution, a UHD or FHD display will do just fine. As long as you’re above FHD resolution (1920 x 1080) on a 15-inch screen, you’re good to go.
Storage & RAM
Next up is the base pillar of every top photo editing laptop. There’s no second opinion about which storage type you need. An HDD is just not good enough anymore. You need to have SSD storage to help out your processor and RAM in carrying out graphics-intensive photo editing.
As for storage space, a minimum of 256GB is needed so that you can actually install the editing software and still have enough leftover storage to store edited photos and videos.
The RAM is where you need to be careful. You need 16GB RAM, that’s well-established. However, you must look for a DDR4 or an LPDDR4X RAM. In comparison to the older DDR3 technology, the DDR4 and DDR4X RAMs are faster and more power-efficient.
CPU
Last but not least is the laptop’s CPU. This is where the magic happens so make sure you get the right one! If you’re going for the latest MacBook you only have the M1 chip so nothing to dwell on too much, just get it done.
However, if you want a Windows laptop for photo editing, that’s a whole different story. You got Cores and Generations to worry about. For photo editing, the best setup would be an 11th-generation core i7 processor, i9 is a tad overkill and gets a bit pricey as well.
The minimum has to be an Intel Core i5 CPU(9th or 10th generation).
Conclusion
And that concludes our buying guide for the best photo editing laptops. These 10 laptops for photo editing are the best laptops for Photoshop and other similar photo and video editing software.
All of these meet the recommended hardware specs, not minimum but recommended, to at least run Photoshop.
We hope you find your next laptop for photo editing out of our picks, or at least our buying guide helps you make the right decision. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
FAQs
Q. Do I need a powerful laptop for photo editing?
You can edit and slightly tweak photos on almost any laptop, but to run the best editing software apps, you will need a powerful laptop.Â
Widely regarded as the best photo editing software, Adobe Photoshop has a minimum requirement of an 8GB RAM 2GHz processor and 4GB storage space. These specs can be found on any $200 laptop.
But when you look at the recommended specs, the Adobe website lists 16GB of RAM, 16GB of storage(preferably SSD), and a GPU with DirectX 12 support. We would say that these are some powerful specs.
Q. What is the best laptop for Photoshop?
Our overall top pick is the Microsoft Surface Studio Laptop which runs every single photo editing software exceptionally well.
However if that seems a little expensive or you are just interested in running Photoshop, the Acer ConceptD3 and the HP Spectre X360 15t are our two top suggestions.
Acer ConceptD3 has ISV certification for all Adobe Photo & Video editing software. And HP Spectre X360 15t has one of the best color gamut ranges.
Q. How much RAM is needed for photo editing?
Any laptop with 8GB of RAM can run the top photo editing software, but that will put extra strain on the CPU which will affect the speed and performance of the laptop. That’s why it’s best to have at least 16GB of RAM for a seamless and flawless photo editing session.
Consider This: It takes around 1GB of RAM just to open software like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
Q. How much RAM do I need for Photoshop 2020?
If you want to enjoy the Photoshop experience in the best manner, you need to have 16GB of RAM, straight as that. Anything less than that, and you will face problems.
Q. Is a 13-inch laptop too small for photo editing?
Video and Photo editing are more about the resolution than the size of the display. Still, we would say that 13-inch is a bit too small. Another problem with a smaller display will be the color gamuts.
Unless you can get a 4K 13-inch display laptop, it’s better to look for a 14 or 15-inch laptop to get the best possible color reproduction and editing experience.Â
Q. Are Macs better for photo editing?
Retina displays and the ultra-powerful M1 Pro chips are just too good for photo and video editing. But that doesn’t necessarily make them the best. The kind of money you have to spend on a MacBook can get you a Windows laptop too, and a powerful one at that.
The advantage seems to be the upgradeability, ease of use, and slightly lower prices for Windows laptops. If you don’t like a particular component of your Windows laptop, there’s a high chance that you can change it. The same can’t be said about a MacBook, though.
