Best video editing Macs (January 2023): MacBook, iMac, MacBook Air, Mac Pro and Mac Mini rated

BEST MACBOOK FOR VIDEO EDITING

1. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023)

The 16-inch MacBook Pro from Apple, equipped with M2 Pro and M2 Max CPUs, was just introduced. These chips demonstrate Apple’s comfort level with producing their own processors as well as the fact that they appear to be just getting started. The M2 processors, which are second-generation Apple Silicon chips, offer a performance boost of 40% on average over the M1 chips. These two chipset choices are quite strong and can easily handle the bulk of video editing duties.

The updated processor and ongoing great battery life make this laptop a worthy upgrade for people who demand the best, even if it still has the same appearance as it has for some time. The greatest laptop display is still Apple’s MacBook Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion.

2. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2023)

The fantastic brand-new M2 series processors are featured in the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022). These chips are 40% more performant than those in the M1 series and have the same initial price as the M1 series did when it was first introduced.

The MacBook Pro maintains the same form factor and color scheme as the prior 2020 M1 model. With a battery life of more than 15.5 hours, the M2 MacBook Pro 13-inch even outlasts the M1 series MacBook Pro.

3. 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021)

The only difference between the two most recent MacBook Pro versions is the size of the display. Both are the quickest MacBook Pros to date thanks to brand-new Apple M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra CPUs. Videographers will value the Liquid Retina XDR display’s mini-LED technology, full-screen brightness up to 1000 nits, peak brightness of 1600 nits, and P3 Wide color.

For adjustable refresh rates up to 120Hz, there is ProMotion technology. These are the first Apple laptops in a generation to include more than three USB Type-C Thunderbolt connectors. The models also have an SDXC card slot for attaching your preferred peripherals, an HDMI connector, and a MagSafe 3 port for charging.

If you edit 8K video, compose and test sophisticated code, or arrange elaborate musical compositions, this laptop offers more power than most people would ever need.

4. 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020)

If you want a MacBook Pro but are on a tight budget, you should get this model. The 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020), one of the first Apple silicon computers to be made available, has a lot going for it, starting with its Apple M1 system on a chip.

The finest results come from upgrading the storage and RAM to the highest capacities for video editing. If it makes a difference, this laptop is also the final model of the current MacBook Pro to have a Touch Bar. But be cautious of its few ports.

Because to the significant technological advancements it gained, this laptop still outperforms the early 2020 model it replaced. It is three times as rapid as a comparable Windows laptop and 2.8 times quicker than the previous generation.

5. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Particularly on the interior, the new MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro are practically similar. The Touch Bar is what you’re losing, and you’ll have a shorter battery life between charges. Also absent is Touch ID. Additionally, the brightness is lower, at 400 nits as opposed to 500 nits on the more costly model.

But if you want to edit films on a tight budget and none of those restrictions concern you, this is almost probably the best option. The laptop runs rather quietly thanks to its fanless construction, although it may struggle to regulate its temperature.

The best part is that it’s a model that frequently goes on sale. A side note: If you’re the kind of person who likes to have the most latest laptop available, know that the MacBook Air, M2, which has a brand-new look and several new functions, has been introduced.

BEST ALL-IN-ONE MAC FOR VIDEO EDITING

1. 24-inch iMac (2021)

The brand-new 24-inch iMac is renowned for its colorful options, including green, blue, pink, orange, purple, yellow, and conventional silver, continuing the trend that began with the iPad Air 4 in 2020. Similar specifications to the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the current MacBook Air may be found within this stunning computer.

This is terrible in many ways since there is a limit of 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. However, the model’s costs have remained affordable because to the well-known characteristics, making it a great option for novice video editors and people on a tight budget who prefer a desktop over a laptop.

This iMac (24-inch, 2021) is almost always an improvement over its 21.5-inch predecessor. For the same price, it offers a sleek, vibrant design, a higher-quality screen, and excellent performance.

2. Apple iMac (27-inch, 2020)

The 27-inch iMac, the final Mac all-in-one with an Intel CPU, is without a doubt among the greatest products the firm has produced to date. By raising the specifications, you may enhance the power and storage it delivers. The LED-backlit display may be customized with nano-textured glass and up to an AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT graphics card with 16GB of GDDR6 memory.

If you’re a serious editor, get the most RAM and storage you can, then think about upgrading to the fastest IntelCore i9 CPU. This model is anticipated to be replaced by an Apple silicon variant. You should think about it before buying something.

The studio-quality microphones and 1080p FaceTime HD camera are the ideal additions to ensure high-quality video chats for your work-from-home meetings.

BEST MAC WORKSTATION FOR VIDEO EDITING

1. Mac Studio

The emphasis on creatives is quite evident in this desktop computer from Apple. The Mac Studio resembles a Mac mini with a few extra details added and additional connectors on the front and rear. The M1 series chip, which includes the M1 Max and M1 Ultra processors, is installed within the Mac Studio. The M1 Ultra is effectively two M1 Max processors merged, and the M1 Max chip is already quite powerful.

It is extremely amazing that this machine can perform almost as well as the Mac Pro, the greatest Mac to date, but being much smaller.

2. Mac mini (M2)

Business customers have long given the Apple Mac mini, which has a compact form and can be connected to any display, some thought. Despite its compact form, you may customize it to increase the CPU. Overall, it’s a really excellent deal because it comes with four Thunderbolt 4 ports for connecting numerous displays.

The Mac mini also includes a 3.5mm headphone connector, two USB-A ports, a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port, and an HDMI 2.0 connection for additional networking choices. To prevent cables from being dispersed around the area, all ports are situated at the device’s rear.

3. Mac mini (M1, 2020)

Say hello to this Mac mini if you desire the internals found in the other Apple M1 laptops, such as the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 27-inch iMac, but wish to bring your own peripherals. This model, which was released in late 2020, is almost identical to the 2018 Intel-based variant that is still available.

Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, and Gigabit Ethernet are all included with this model. This first-generation Apple silicon device could be replaced in 2023 with with other first-generation Apple devices. Apple’s Mac Studio is one comparable product that was recently produced; depending on your budget, it could be worthwhile to examine.

The Mac mini (M1, 2020) is available only in silver, unlike the Mac mini 2018, which was available in space grey. It also does not come with a keyboard, mouse, or monitor, so you’ll need to purchase these separately.

4. Mac Pro (2019)

The third-generation Mac Pro is Apple’s most powerful and high-end computer, and its price reflects this. Even though it is strong and very configurable, it has been more than two years since Apple first made it available. Since then, fast and effective Apple silicon-based devices have appeared, demonstrating to the world where things are going with all Macs, including a potential 2023 Mac Pro.

However, if you’re in the market right now and have the funds to significantly enhance the features, you won’t be disappointed with this particular model. In addition, this actually is the most professional desktop Apple is offering now that the iMac Pro is no longer available.

The machine has a metal frame and is quite sturdy. It also has a lot of holes on the side that allow plenty of air to flow inside the enclosure to cool the electronics down.

BEST VIDEO EDITING MAC: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How to choose the best video editing Macs for you

You should first evaluate the kind of projects you already work on or want to work on before choosing the best video editing Mac for you. Depending on the kind of video you edit, the resolution, the output formats, and whether you’ll be working online or offline, the ideal Mac will differ.

Choosing between new Macs with the M-series CPU and an older model powered by Intel is one of the first choices to be made. When compared to executing your program on Intel CPUs, the latter has substantial advantages that significantly improve performance (and your productivity).

Depending on the type of video you deal with, you should take the storage into consideration. You’ll want a ton of storage if you edit 4K video regularly.

If you work on resource-intensive projects like 3D modeling and rendering, 4K editing, and 360° video editing, you’ll need more RAM and GPU.

With the correct specifications, you won’t have any problem running performance-driven apps like picture editors, VFX software, or graphic design tools either. Because of this, there is a lot of overlap between the finest laptops for graphic design and photography and Macs used for movie editing.

Make sure to consider the design and portability of the Mac. If you’ll be editing video on the go, then a MacBook will serve you well, but if you’ll be working from a single location, then a powerful Mac desktop will be apt.

What is the best video editing software for Mac?

These applications may be quite resource-intensive, requiring actual power to operate them without lag, delay, or other performance-related difficulties. This is true whether you are using cheap video editing software or expensive, high-end editing tools. Thankfully, current Macs are more than capable. So selecting the tool that best suits your workflow is a key factor in determining the best video editing software for Macs.

The greatest video editor, in our opinion, is Adobe Premiere Pro. Like Macs, it establishes a benchmark for the creative business and comes equipped with a powerful array of Hollywood-caliber tools for post-production work. Meanwhile, Apple Final Cut Pro is a great option if you want to stick with the Apple environment without sacrificing professional functionality. In this comparison article comparing Adobe Premiere Pro with Apple Final Cut Pro, we have described the key distinctions between the two.

Additionally, the free Apple iMovie program is pre-installed on modern Macs. One of the finest video editing programs for beginners, although being far from as sophisticated as many editors on the market, is free and simple to use. If you’re torn between the two Apple video editors, iMovie and Final Cut Pro, we’ve compared them both.

We’ve evaluated the top Adobe Premiere Pro alternatives for Mac in order to further assist you in discovering your perfect video editing application.

How we test the best video editing Macs

The top Macs for video editing have been put through a variety of tests. In order to gauge how effectively they might run demanding video editors like Adobe Premiere and other visual editing and 3D rendering software, we first looked at their RAM, CPU, and GPU.

We assessed the various storage options and the SSD’s speed in launching the operating system and programs. We looked at the looks and mobility of the various Apple devices to see what kind of video editor they would be most suited for. Along with other factors, we also took into account the product costs and the colors that they are available in.