Photo editing requires skills and the best laptop with the most powerful and sophisticated specs. We know how difficult it could be to find a laptop that could fit your editing needs.
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Thus, here’s a complete guide for you. We especially collated it for a photographer and other professionals who need powerful hardware for editing purposes.
1. Lenovo Yoga C740
This laptop for photo editing has a 360-degree flip-and-fold design like other Lenovo Yoga models. It’s quite sturdy on the hinges. In less than a minute, you can turn the laptop into a tablet.
The versatile design and touchscreen capability allow you to edit photos much faster. All you need is to get a touch pen accessory and you have an apt combination for photo editing.
With its sleek and aluminum finish, Yoga C740 has a professional vibe. Moreover, it has security features that would make you feel safe.
Its fingerprint scanner allows you to open the laptop with a flick of your finger. The webcam has a physical shutter to protect you against internet snooping.
The keyboard is soft and the touchpad is wide enough for easy navigation. Speakers are a Dolby Atmos-tuned. This makes the audio clear and crisp despite the compact design.
The screen display measures 14 inches powered by an ultra-HD graphic card. This photo editing laptop has a few ports, but these should not be a deal-breaker.
Do you know what's impressive? The laptop could last 10 hours of battery life! It could last a day of photo editing workload. Combined with its powerful Intel Core i5 processor, you’re in for a treat.
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Conclusion:
Lenovo Yoga C740 is a solid performer with an amazing cooling system even though it’s a mid-tier photo editing laptop. Although the screen is a bit dim, it still has a great display with ultra-high-definition.
Besides, the laptop has 8GB of RAM, an Intel processor, and 256 SSD for storage. You’ve got a powerhouse excellent for photo editing sessions.
2. Lenovo Ideapad
This laptop is an entry-level tier, good for photo editing. Its processor is a top performer among Ryzen versions.
Despite being one of the budget laptops, the performance is still good although not as great as premium laptops for photo editing software.
The screen display has a TN panel, which is great for gaming and editing workloads. However, it has the worst viewing angle. This means that at a certain angle, the colors might bleed and change.
Measuring at 14 inches, this photo editing laptop offers a Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. The bezel-less side creates a seamless design that looks stylish despite its all-plastic built.
The sRGB rate is quite low, which might be a deal-breaker for photo editing. You might find different levels of color saturation in some parts of the pictures.
One upside of Ideapad is its color options. But, in this list, the laptop is Abyss Blue, which is a cool color, to begin with.
The laptop is light and thin. You could carry it around without weighing you down. We know that portability is important for photographers.
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Conclusion:
Lenovo Ideapad is the best budget laptop for photo editing. However, its biggest drawbacks are lack of ports, not-so-good built, and average battery life. Still, the laptop helps you do some editing workloads. It has a TN panel display which has the highest refresh rate.
3. Asus VivoBook
Immerse yourself into your work such as photo editing, content creation, or in leisure activities such as gaming or web browsing.
You don’t need to limit what you can do because this photo editing laptop pushes boundaries aside.
With almost a bezel-free screen, you can enjoy editing photos, talking to your loved one through a webcam, or playing with your friends online. Plus, the integrated GPU allows you to see vivid colors.
Combined with the ASUS SonicMaster, audio quality is top-notch. You can modulate the sounds from the speaker through hardware and software adjustments.
The ergonomic design of the laptop keyboard allows you to lift it to your preferred angle. This makes typing of words more convenient than ever.
With the backlight on the keyboard, you can easily find letters, numbers, symbols, or functions in the dark.
If you’re always on the go, whether for work or leisure travel, Asus VivoBook won’t hold you down. It’s light and ultra-slim, making it easy to pack in your carry-on bag or backpack.
This laptop for photo editing under 1000 has long battery life. You don’t have to worry about interruption during work. This laptop will make you productive all day long.
Not only that. This model has different color schemes available. Express your unique personality through the sleek appearance of your Asus VivoBook.
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Conclusion:
Asus VivoBook is a high-performance laptop for photo editing, content creation, simple video editing, and even gaming. It is lightweight making it easy to carry. The frameless screen gives it an infinity look while you work or watch.
No more achy fingers and wrists because of its ergonomic designed keyboard. This photo editing and gaming laptop is definitely a great buy under $1000.
4. HP Envy x360 Convertible
Make your friends or colleagues envious of your HP laptop with Intel Core i7. This premium gadget looks sleek with its silver exterior. There’s another color option if you don’t want this color.
Its screen measures 15.6 inches, using WLED touchscreen technology. It is a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, which is pretty decent for photo editing purposes.
This is one of the most versatile photo editing laptops. You can prop it into tent-style or turn it into a tablet.
The laptop has a num pad, which is a great feature for Spreadsheet junkies. The keys have excellent spacing that is great for big or small hands.
This model has a manual switch for the webcam, which allows you to turn it off when not in use. You will feel safe from online snooping.
Ports include a Type-C version and an HDMI for screen extension in case you need to use a projector or another monitor. Besides, the laptop has an SD card reader that would make photo transfers more convenient.
The processor is a powerful 10th Generation Intel Core i7, packed with a Windows 10 Home. One of the best and fastest CPUs in the market, you’d be editing photos in a breeze.
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HP Envy has a surprisingly easy-to-use keyboard, fingerprint sensor, and a kill switch for the webcam. It’s incredibly fast given its price point. So far, this laptop for photo editing under 1000 is the most budget-friendly version with premium specifications.
5. Microsoft Surface Pro
This Microsoft laptop has a detachable, magnetic keyboard. This feature easily converts your laptop into a tablet. Together with a fully magnetic Surface Pen, you’ve got an extraordinary combination for editing photos.
The battery could last up to 9 hours, using a power-saving mode. This long battery life is great if you’re out or need to work in the office for a whole day.
The kickstand is a convenient way to prop your laptop/tablet into a table. This convenience would come in handy during a presentation with prospective clients.
Like any tablet, Microsoft Surface Pro 6 has a front and rear camera. The quality is pretty decent, perfect for daily video conferencing with your boss or clients.
The hard drive is a solid-state version, making boot up faster than usual. Plus, you get to save lots of pictures ready for editing.
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Conclusion:
This laptop for photo editing under 1000 is the best detachable version. Although it doesn’t have a great GPU performance, you can still perform basic and some advanced edits.
It is portable and looks sleek with its black appearance. Take note: the detachable keyboard is a separate purchase. Although buying it increases your purchase price, it is a necessary purchase.
Overall, Microsoft Surface Pro is an excellent buy. You get to have a 2-in1 laptop.
6. Asus ZenBook Ultra-Slim
Encased in pine-grey aluminum, Asus Zenbook is a sight to behold. It looks so sleek and minimalist. Another color option is a lilac mist.
The ergonomic lift of the keyboard is a nice feature. It makes typing on the keyboard more comfortable. The trackpad doubles as a Numpad, which would make a spreadsheet nerd happy.
The Zenbook is the lightest on this list, weighing 2.5 pounds. Combined with a nano-edge screen display, you would probably want to carry it wherever you go.
This laptop for photo editing looks pretty and boasts a durable build quality. Despite its alloy exterior, it has an excellent heating system. This Zenbook can withstand extreme temperatures and shocks.
The display resolution is good but the lighting is a little dim. The laptop has Thunderbolt ports, which are much faster than the usual USB ports. Audio quality is not as good as other laptops on this list.
One of its most amazing features is battery duration. It could last up to 13 hours for every charge. You could finish photo editing projects without worrying about sudden warnings on battery low.
The laptop is surprisingly comfortable and feels cool on your lap even after long hours of use. Moreover, you can play some games (although not those high-resolutions) with its new improved integrated GPU.
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Conclusion:
This Asus model is a sleek laptop with a minimalist appearance but powerful performance. The colors are vivid but the backlight screen is a bit dim. This could be a matter of preference.
With its extended battery life, you could work longer and edit more pictures. This laptop under 1000 would be an excellent choice.
7. Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop
Get your digital paper for just under $1000 and you get to draw and edit unlimited photos. With just a little over 1kg, Acer Spin is ultralight.
This laptop is a performer with its Intel Core i7. Combined with an 8Gb and SSD for boot-up, you have a powerful laptop at your fingertips.
The Acer screen display is at 13.5 inches, which is a comfortable measurement for a two-in-one laptop. The laptop has a Gorilla Glass panel, which looks sleek and smooth.
Using the stylus included, you can create a whiteboard, blackboard, or green board animation with ease. The stylus glides easily on top of the touchscreen display. Still, the glass creates enough friction to mimic drawing on paper.
Being a two-in-one laptop, hinges should be durable and sturdy. The Acer Spin 5 has this feature, except that the hinges could misalign from time to time. This isn’t a deal-breaker, though.
The battery life is somewhat average in performance. It could last up to 9 hours or 10 at the most. You could last a day of work without having to charge the laptop-tablet during an important presentation.
Thunderbolt 3 is another excellent feature of this laptop for photo editing. It is the fastest USB connection to date. Having this version on your laptop is an excellent addition.
Other features include a backlit keyboard, smooth trackpad, fingerprint sensor, speakers, built-in mic, and webcam.
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Conclusion:
Acer Spin is a premium laptop for photo editing under 1000 dollars. It’s lightweight with a durable metal body. Overall, performance is comparable with those expensive models.
Although the so-so battery life could be a drawback, it does not affect performance in general. Nine hours could be long but for some, it’s not. Still, this laptop is a great buy for its price.
8. Lenovo ThinkPad E595
This Lenovo Thinkpad is powered by a Ryzen quad-core processor (CPU). It looks so professional, encased in a black aluminum frame. This laptop for photo editing has an integrated GPU by Radeon Vega 8. This is much better than the Intel UHD 620.
Aside from this hardware, this photo editing laptop has a 15.6-inch monitor with a 1920 x 1080 pixels Full HD resolution. Display colors are somewhat average, having 54% of the sRGB.
Colors might not be as vivid as others are, but Thinkpad uses IPS technology on its screen. Colors don’t change at different viewing angles. Plus, this technology allows you to use the laptop outside.
Thinkpad has an expandable slot for an additional hard drive. This additional hard drive would be great for photo editors. You can save as many pictures as you want.
With more than 3 ports, file transfer is easy. You don’t need additional adapters to connect your gadget to the laptop.
Also, this laptop is slightly heavier than the others on this list. Still, it is lightweight to carry wherever you go. Unfortunately, you won’t find a fingerprint sensor or keyboard backlight. This photo editing laptop also doesn’t have a manual switch for its webcam.
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Conclusion:
Despite its shortcomings, the Lenovo Thinkpad e595 is a contender for budget-friendly and best laptops having a quad-core processor.
Its performance is solid combined with the power of an integrated graphics card. It is definitely worth your money if you want a laptop that could handle photo editing software such as photoshop.
9. Dell Inspiron 2 in 1
This laptop is mid-range with decent performance running on an Intel Core i5 CPU. Still, it could handle photo editing software such as photoshop.
Dell Inspiron has expandable storage. You can add a hard drive up to 1TB aside from the default solid-state drive storage.
Its screen display is 14 inches with a bezel-less frame on top, left, and right. The bottom part of the screen still has that ugly wide bezel. Plus, the laptop is a bit on the heavy side, weighing more than 3 pounds.
Dell Inspiron doesn’t have Thunderbolt 3 but it sure has several ports. You can use the USB to transfer files or Ethernet connectors with a drop-jaw feature.
The keyboard and touchpad are okayish with a slightly cramped feel because of the closer proximity of keys. Fast typer might not perform well in this budget laptop.
The laptop has an average battery life but could help you get the job done. It could perform multitasking to some extent.
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Conclusion:
Dell Inspiron looks old school with its design. In terms of performance, it is pretty decent and fast for some multitasking jobs. Plus, this laptop has expandable storage.
It could handle photo editing sessions. However, it might hinder long editing sessions due to its average battery life. Still, this laptop is recommended, budget-wise.
10. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
The latest ThinkPad x1 Carbon has improved this year. This particular version has the Intel Core i5 10th Gen, which is quite powerful and fast. You can perform multitasking and open several Chrome browsers.
For photographers, graphics are everything. Luckily, this laptop could handle editing tasks. You can also play some games but not those high-end ones.
The frames look so modern with their carbon fiber appearance, making the laptop stylish and smooth. Plus, the ThinkPad is ultralight and ultra-slim design, which is a must-have if you travel and bring your laptop around.
Thunderbolt is a must-have for photographers because you’d want the fastest way to transfer photo files from your expensive DSLR to your laptop. This ThinkPad model has two Thunderbolt ports.
Now, let’s talk about display resolution. The laptop has options for the standard 1920 x 1080 pixels and 4K resolution. Both offer vivid and clear colors but the 4k panel is at the high end.
As for the battery, ThinkPad lasts longer if you use the standard resolution compared to the 4K display. So, if you plan on using the laptop for work outside, we suggest sticking with the matte and standard option.
The laptop has the highest sRGB in this list. Topping at 94% with the standard 1920 x 1080 resolution, you can expect a pop of colors. Photo editing would be much more fun and exciting because you can see every crook and cranny.
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Conclusion:
Lenovo ThinkPad is one of the best laptops for photo editors in the market. It’s superlight and gorgeous. With its powerful processor and other hardware, you have a powerhouse in your bag.
This is definitely a recommended model, especially if you’re doing lots of photo editing.
Best Laptops For Photo Editing: 6 Buying Tips
Pick the Right Screen
The appropriate screen is one of the most important aspects when you’re choosing a laptop for photo editing. We recommend the standard 1920 x 1080 resolution plus an anti-glare or matte feature.
You can go for a high-end laptop with a 4k resolution. Out of the 10 best laptops on this list, Lenovo ThinkPad has this option. However, the battery life is shortened when you activate this feature.
The best laptops for photo editing have a screen size of at least 13 inches. A 15-inch screen is okay if you aren’t going to convert your laptop into tablet-style more often.
A touchscreen is not a mandatory feature. However, if you like to use a Stylus or a touch pen, it is definitely convenient to have a touch screen.
Understand Color Gamut
Color gamut is different from screen resolution. This is about how the naked eye sees colors. Of course, not all colors are visible on your eyes, but a tool could determine this color rating.
Usually, sRGB is the best standard for understanding how your monitor works in terms of color display. A higher rating would mean your laptop screen will display vivid colors that could dazzle and make you wow.
A laptop screen with the truest color display (close to 100% color gamut) is the best for photo editors. The printed photo is almost the same as the colors you see on the monitor.
Here’s a summary of the sRGB rating of laptops for photo editing in this list:
In this list, Asus Zenbook seems to be the best laptop with 100% sRGB while Microsoft Surface Pro 6 and HP Envy come in second. The third spots with 94% are Acer Spin 5 and Lenovo X1 Carbon.
Get a Powerhouse
In this factor, don’t cut corners. Photo editing software needs a powerful processor (CPU). Get the best laptop for photo editing that has at least 2.5GHz frequency and Core i5 (or its Ryzen equivalent).
If you could afford an Intel Core i7 9750h or higher, pick this laptop. More cores in photo editing mean finishing your work faster.
Also, remember to consider the GPU. Integrated chips are good but a dedicated graphics card would be excellent if you’re a power user. NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 would be great to have on a laptop. Mostly, you can find this GPU on a gaming laptop.
The best laptop for photo editing should have a dedicated graphics card. However, a dedicated GPU increases the cost. Unfortunately, the laptops on this list are all integrated versions.
Another factor is the RAM. The most common is 8GB, but if you open many applications at the same time during photo editing, the 8GB of RAM might not be sufficient. You can add a RAM later if you like but an extra slot is not common in laptops.
Either you replace the 8GB with 16GB later on or buy a laptop with 16GB of RAM or higher at the first purchase. Regardless, always check the RAM because it helps in making your laptop a powerhouse.
Invest in Assortment of Ports
The right assortment of ports on your laptop could make your photo editing sessions faster than usual. Pick the best laptop with a Thunderbolt port. Acer Spin 5, Asus Zenbook, and Lenovo ThinkPad have Thunderbolt ports.
It would also be good if the laptop has different types of USB ports, Ethernet, Wi-fi, and Bluetooth. All laptops in this list have these ports included. The only difference between these 10 is the Thunderbolt, which is a whole new world, especially for transferring files and photo editing.
An SD card slot is another port that you should consider. With this port, you don’t need to buy another accessory. But the lack of this slot is not a deal-breaker. You can always use a USB port to transfer files.
Big Storage is a Must
A solid-state drive is the latest in the market. It is a lot faster than a hard disk due to the use of electrical impulses to read and write data. No physical or mechanical components are present, which decreases the rate of failure.
A 128GB SSD is an entry-level for most laptops. However, if you could invest in higher storage space, such as 512GB or 1TB, you’d have a lot of MBs for your photos to edit.
Expandable storage is also great for a laptop. Take note, not all laptops have an additional slot for storage.
Flip-and-Fold Design Would be Great
This is not a requirement, but it would be great to have this as a feature for your laptop. Having a convertible laptop is important if you like to edit with a stylus pen. Plus, you can ready your portfolio for presentation anytime to prospective clients.
Choose the sturdiest from this list of the best laptops for photo editors. Nowadays, these laptops are manufactured with the highest quality to serve the different needs of customers.
HP Envy, Yoga C740, and Acer Spin 5 are convertible laptops. You can fold and flip the screen in 360 degrees.
FAQ
What laptop should I buy for photo editing?
The best laptop for photo editing has a powerful processor, sRGB of at least 90%, huge storage (probably 512GB), and Thunderbolt ports. The RAM is a minimum of 8GB. Choose 16GB of RAM if the price is still under $1000.
What is a good cheap laptop for Photoshop?
A cheap laptop for Photoshop doesn’t have to be low in specs. In this list, you can choose the cheapest and still get to edit photos without sacrificing the quality of output.
Which laptop is best under 1000?
All of these laptops for photo editing are the best. However, two of the laptops are below 50% sRGB. These are great for tasks that don’t entail color coordination. Examples would be browsing or just plain writing.
Do I need a 4k laptop for photo editing?
This is a matter of preference. If you are used to seeing vivid colors, a 4K laptop is the best for you. You might not find the performance of a 1920 x 1080 pixel Full HD resolution satisfying once you get used to 4K.
Final Words
Photo editing is all about seeing the right colors and buying the right laptop CPU. Thus, you must get the highest sRGB rating for the screen resolution. Then, your next criteria would be the CPU (recommended: Intel Core i7 9750h or maybe higher), GPU, RAM, ports, and storage in that order.
We hope you made an informed decision after reading this guide on a photo editing laptop. If our guide helps you, please share it with others, so they could find the best laptop.
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