Overview
Best overall
Apple MacBook Pro (M3)
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Best upgrade pick
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
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Best budget pick
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch
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Best for multiple screens
Asus ZenBook Duo laptop
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Best 2-in-1
HP Spectre x360 14
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Table of Contents
Shopping for a laptop is already hard enough due to the sheer number of options. But your task gets even more difficult when you need a laptop for a very specific purpose, like photo editing. This demands even more research and scrutiny on your part, which may sound like a tall order. Talk about analysis paralysis.
If you're in the market for a photo editing laptop and are having a hard time making the final decision, you're in luck, because we're here to help you choose something you'll love. In fact, not only have we tested all of the top powerhouse laptops, but we even brought in some backup — to give us some more insight into buying a laptop for photo editing, we reached out to Tommy Yonash, a Brooklyn-based documentary and portrait photographer, and Joseph Maldonado, a photographer for Mashable's parent company, Ziff Davis.
What makes a good photo editing laptop?
"Honestly, it comes down to three things for me," Yonash told us. When shopping for the best laptops for photo editing, he recommends prioritizing something with fast processing speeds, a great battery life, and something that's lightweight and portable so you can take it on the go. Maldonado agrees that speed is vital to having a good photo editing experience. "It just has to be able to process the images quickly," he said. "I don’t enjoy a laptop that slows down while bouncing between different photos."
Yonash told us that he uses a MacBook Pro for photo editing, as it's a great marriage of all three of those important specs. "I work between the M1 Pro and the M1 Air, both of which have held up great over the years, but the Pro has usually been my go-to for its better battery life," he added. While the M1 line of MacBook laptops can still be found pretty cheap at various retailers, Apple has since released the MacBook Pro and Air with the latest and greatest M3 chips, which are much faster. For photo editing laptops specifically, we recommend going current-gen to get the best bang for your buck.
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The best laptops for video editing, according to an experienced editorYonash maintains that speed, portability, and battery are the most important specs when shopping for photo editing laptops, but out of those three, processing speeds will always win out. "Since I don't do too much editing on the go, I would have to say speed or processing power is the number one most important feature," he told us. "Nothing kills editing flow like a laggy computer." Maldonado concurred on this point, but also added that a great display and plenty of storage are also a necessity. He said that a minimum of 1TB of SSD storage will serve you well.
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What are the best laptops for photo editing?
After all of our research, testing, and expert interviews, we found that the M3 MacBook Pro will be the best photo editing laptop for most people. We know that not everyone is an Apple die-hard, though, so we included laptops from beyond the Apple ecosystem as well. Below, our top picks for the most reliable photo editing laptops.
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Our Pick
Best overall
Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3).
Who it's for:
The latest iteration of the MacBook Pro is our pick for the best photo editing laptop for most people. It's great for running processor-heavy apps like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom concurrently thanks to the new M3 chip (upgradeable to the M3 Pro and M3 Max versions for even more speed). It also boasts an impressively long battery life, a high-quality audio system, and a beautiful 14-inch display that'll have your best photos looking even better.
Why we picked this:
The M3 MacBook Pro is the best MacBook model to date. In our review, Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon named the machine's performance and battery life as highlights — it was able to take on processor-intensive tasks with no issues for up to 17 hours per charge. Gedeon also says that this MacBook model "arguably has the best set of speakers on the laptop market," as well as a to-die-for display. The Liquid Retina XDR screen produces a vivid and accurate color gamut, and the 14-inch size feels like the perfect median compared to Apple's previous options.
Yes, the MacBook Pro M3 will run up a hefty bill as it stands, but we still recommend upgrading the device's RAM, because the base model just doesn't have enough (you'll thank us later). Photo editors should also strongly consider springing for the 1TB SSD over the base 512GB.
Port diversity is better than with past MacBooks, featuring two USB-C Thunderbolt ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. That should make it easy to connect an external monitor if you want one, a hard drive, and a pair of headphones. Note that the 14-inch MacBook Pro M3 only supports a single external monitor. If you'll be editing with two monitors (so, three displays total), then you'll need to go with the MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip.
The Good
The Bad
Details
Best upgrade pick
Read Mashable's full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Who it's for:
Artists of all kinds will appreciate the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2. The device's unique and convenient pull-forward design makes working on big photo projects more enjoyable, and need we say more than "beautiful 120Hz display?"
It's a heavy (and very expensive) device, but you get what you pay for when it comes to build quality, which should last you for years to come. If you have the budget for it, Windows-loving photo editors should definitely consider this outside-the-box laptop.
Why we picked this:
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a special laptop that photo editors and artists like graphic designers will love. Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon describes the device as "a digital easel and tablet" due to its convertible pull-forward design, and the 120Hz, 2,400-by-1,600-pixel display only sweetens the pot (that's somewhere between Full HD and 4K).
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels in build quality, too. We loved the dual-level base that helps keep the computer cool thanks to its vented lower level, as well as the wonderful trackpad and keyboard combo that just feels great to use. This makes the machine pretty heavy overall, but we think it's a worthwhile trade. The laptop also comes packed with an impressive speaker setup, as well as a built-in slot for Surface Slim Pen 2 storage and charging (the stylus is sold separately, which is annoying).
What we don't love, though, is the price tag. The over-$3,000 cost of admission many turn some away, but if you've got the budget (or if you find one on sale), we say go for it. You do get what you pay for, after all.
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Best budget pick
Read Mashable's full review of the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch.
Who it's for:
The HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is a budget laptop for those who prioritize visuals over everything else, which could be a match made in heaven for photo editors who don't need to do intensive edits. Aside from the detailed, bright, and vibrant display, this Chromebook also offers cool and quiet performance, plus some additional Chromebook Plus software features (including a three-month Photoshop trial) that really add to the overall package.
Why we picked this:
Who doesn't love a good display? Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel reviewed this laptop for Mashable, calling the display "distractingly nice," and naming it her favorite feature overall. "The colors are intense, with good contrast and rich blacks, and an anti-reflective panel preserves that quality at most viewing angles, even in direct sunlight. It also feels huge despite some moderately thick horizontal bezels. It really has no right looking as good as it does." Do we have your attention yet, photo editors?
The display isn't the only high point. This Chromebook also brings solid performance on a budget to the table, running cool and quiet during intense usage. You'll get some fun extras too, including the various Chromebook Plus software improvements like File Sync, offline use, new AI-assisted settings, and Google Magic Eraser. This laptop also supports programs like Adobe Photoshop and Express, as well as LumaFusion. Free three-month trials for both Adobe programs, as well as a one-time discount for LumaFusion come included when you purchase the Chromebook for yourself.
No budget laptop is perfect, though. We enjoyed the machine's metallic finish, but it's not very durable. The outside scratched easily during our testing period, which was disappointing. The audio system won't knock your socks off, and the webcam quality isn't great, but those aren't dealbreakers. And while we would've liked a longer battery life, seven hours isn't so bad.
The Good
The Bad
Details
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Best for multiple screens
Read Mashable's full review of the Asus Zenbook Duo laptop.
Who it's for:
Working with multiple monitors can be a huge advantage for photo editors, and the Asus Zenbook Duo offers dual displays and a detachable keyboard in a single laptop. The device's stacked screens allow you to work on more than one screen without giving up the convenience of a laptop, which saves a ton of space and maintains portability. Add in solid performance, and you've got a great option for jumping between photo editing apps without having to minimize a bunch of windows. It's truly a whole workspace shrunk down into one laptop.
If you prize a crisp OLED display, multitasking, and plenty of screen space in a photo editing laptop, then this is a worthy alternative to a MacBook or Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2. Plus, for early adopters who love innovative design, it just looks really cool.
Why we picked this:
“Single-display laptops are now canceled,” Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon wrote in her review of the Asus ZenBook Duo laptop. The portable workstation comes with two 1900 x 1200, 14-inch OLED screens stacked on top of one another, making it effortless to switch between two screens while you edit photos. More screen space means more multitasking, and luckily this machine has all the specs to make that happen, including up to 32GB of RAM.
The ZenBook Duo laptop comes with an included stylus (we're side-eyeing the Microsoft Laptop Studio 2 right now, as its stylus costs extra), and did we mention that one of the screens is touch-enabled? The laptop also brings a great variety of ports, which allows for even more screens — you can connect an external monitor using HDMI, USB-A, or a Thunderbolt cable.
If you're a multitasking photo editor (which you probably are), you'll find a lot to love about the Asus ZenBook Duo laptop.
The Good
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Details
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Best 2-in-1
Read Mashable's full review of the HP Spectre x360 14.
Who it's for:
Flexibility and efficiency are the name of the game with the HP Spectre x360 14, making it a great 2-in-1 laptop option for photo editors. The battery life is just OK, but this laptop really delivers when it comes to storage and a gorgeous OLED display. It's on the heavier and bulkier side, which is good news for those who want a more durable device, and the keyboard feels fantastic to type on.
Why we picked this:
The HP Spectre x360 14 is one of our favorite convertible laptops for many reasons. At the top of that list is the device's 120Hz OLED touchscreen display that performs just as great as it looks. Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon highlighted the screen in her review, saying that "the rich, colorful visuals that emanated from the screen were stunning." The internal specs are nothing to scoff at, either — the laptop comes with a high-end Intel Core Ultra processor, 16GB of RAM, and two terabytes of SSD storage (that's a lot of photos). And because the computer is a 2-in-1, you'll be able to switch from laptop to tablet mode whenever you please, which is super convenient for traveling photographers. You'll even get an included stylus.
The keyboard and trackpad feel great to use, and you'll also get a pair of crystal-clear speakers. The one downside (besides the weight) is the placement of the machine's ports, which sit on the corner of each side — it's just a bit awkward when connecting, but it's a small sacrifice to make.
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How we tested
Mashable staff or contributors hands-on tested every laptop featured in this shopping guide. We chose our top picks based on our hands-on impressions and editor reviews, as well as insight from experts in the photography field. The specs we paid special attention to while testing included:
Processor: The central processing unit, or CPU, is responsible for how fast your laptop can complete a given task. High-end CPUs will be able to handle multiple demanding tasks at once, whereas more budget-friendly options may be better solely for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing. For photo editing, you'll want something on the higher end, with Apple's M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips widely considered to be the top of the line.
Graphics processor: The graphics processing unit, or GPU, is responsible for rendering clear and detailed visuals. It's especially important for gaming and photo and video editing, so pay close attention to GPU specs while you shop.
RAM: A laptop's RAM is where active application data is temporarily stored to assist the CPU. Essentially, if you have more RAM, you'll be able to run more applications at the same time. For photo editing purposes, you don't want to go below 16GB of RAM, but 32GB to 64GB will serve professionals best. This will also get you faster file caching.
Storage: This is where your laptop saves long-term data like files and downloads. Keep in mind that SSD storage is faster than eMMC flash and regular hard drive storage. For a photo editing laptop, having a large amount of storage is vital — you'll want at least 1TB of SSD storage. Though, you should probably get at least one external hard drive, too.
Battery life: The more time you have to dedicate to charging, the less time you have to edit your photo content. Plus, intensive photo editing can drain your laptop battery life quicker than general use. Generally speaking, the more battery life, the better, but you'll want at least 10+ hours per charge (especially if you're working on bigger, time-consuming projects).
Display: Size is one thing, but a photo editing laptop's display is important in another way: color science. Get a device that can generate an accurate range of colors so your final product will end up looking the way you intended. Apple's vivid displays are great in this regard, but most current laptop models are up to snuff, so don't stress over it too much.
Portability: Smaller laptops will be easiest to take on the go, but they're usually less powerful than their larger counterparts and have tinier displays. For busy photo editors, you'll need something that can travel without sacrificing power and display quality. Generally, 14- to 16-inch laptops should do you just fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
In general, the more RAM you have, the faster and more responsive your laptop will be when jumping between large batches of photos. It will also assist in running multiple applications simultaneously. So, if you find yourself using programs like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom at the same time, you'll want a decent amount of RAM. For most people, 16GB of RAM will be enough, but the "sweet spot" would be somewhere between 32GB and 64GB, especially for professional photo editors.
Both of the photographers we interviewed told us that the display on your photo editing laptop is very important.
"While editing, I exclusively keep everything to the main display, brightness all the way up, and the 'True Tone' feature off," Yonash told us. "Since most of my work stays in the digital space, I want to focus on what looks the best in a neutral setting. However, once I finish my main editing, I usually will view my exports in different viewing environments and toggle between different settings, since not everyone has their brightness all the way up all the time. Typically what this means is airdropping the exports to my phone and making sure everything looks good there."
Maldonado follows a similar process, reiterating that your images should look consistent across multiple devices to ensure that your work is shown in the best possible light at all times. "I need to make sure the color tone matches how I see it on my phone," Maldonado says. "That's going to be the main source that everyone will see my images on."
Aside from the visual and technical aspects of the display, it's also good to consider its size, especially if you're going to be taking it on the go. Anywhere between 14- and 16-inch displays will allow you to get a clear view of your work without being cumbersome.
Both Yonash and Maldonado agreed that Apple MacBook laptops are the photo editing laptop of choice for most photographers and editors. "Ever since Apple invested in their M-Series chips, I think Macs are really great photo editing laptops and have earned a lot of respect within the photo community for being reliable, fast, and lightweight while also being powerhouses at many other tasks," Yonash said. "I've been using Macs for photo editing for roughly 10 years and it's hard to think of using anything else!"
Our own photographer said something similar. "For me, Apple is still the best and my go-to for editing laptops or a creative workspace," Maldonado added. "I’ve tried many Windows-based laptops, but I can’t seem to stay hooked on them." Now, that's not to say that there aren't any good Windows-based photo editing laptops (we recommended a few in this very guide), but it does show that there's a clear consensus in the photography community that Apple is the top of the line.
Yonash said that port selection is an often overlooked but very important aspect to consider when making your choice. You'll want a laptop with a variety of ports so that you don't have to buy a bunch of converters on top of an already expensive machine. "My M1 MacBook Air only has 2 USB-C ports, forcing me to use a dongle anytime I need to edit, considering I need to charge my computer while also connecting an external hard drive and card. Nothing against dongles, but it's nice when I don't have to think about that," he said.
Look for laptops that make it easy to connect external monitors to your device without unplugging your power cord. Specifically, that means you'll want multiple USB-C and/or Thunderbolt ports. Laptops with built-in card readers can also be helpful for photographers.
Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, pets, fitness, sleep, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.
When he's not writing or testing products, you can find Dylan playing lots of video games, working out, spending time with loved ones (especially his dog, Stevie), or watching reality TV. Follow him on X at @iamdylanhaas, or send him an email at [emailprotected].
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