10 Best Cheap Laptop For Video Editing 2026 in the United States

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) is a powerful laptop that can handle video editing tasks well, especially given its strong CPU and GPU setup. It comes with an Intel Core i7 14650HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card, providing good speed and smooth rendering performance for editing videos. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM is sufficient for multitasking and handling editing software without lag. Storage is generous with a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, offering fast file access and plenty of space for video projects. The 16-inch Full HD+ display with a 165Hz refresh rate delivers sharp and vibrant visuals, useful for detailed editing work, and its anti-glare feature helps reduce eye strain during long sessions.

On the downside, the battery life is quite short, lasting about 2 hours, which means you’ll likely need to stay near a power source during extended editing sessions. The laptop is fairly heavy at nearly 6 pounds, which could affect portability if you need to edit on the go. The cooling system is advanced, keeping the laptop quiet and cool, which is a plus when running demanding editing software. It also includes modern connectivity options like Wi-Fi 7 and multiple USB ports, supporting a range of external devices.

Although designed as a gaming laptop, it suits video editors who want strong performance without a very high price tag, though portability and battery life are trade-offs to consider.

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch with the M4 chip is a strong contender for video editing, especially if you value portability and battery life. Its 10-core CPU paired with a 10-core GPU, though integrated rather than a separate graphics card, delivers smooth performance for editing tasks and handling multiple apps. With 24GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage, it offers enough speed and space to manage video files reasonably well, though heavy projects might require external drives.

The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display is a highlight, showing video with sharp detail, vibrant colors, and good brightness—ideal for seeing your edits clearly. Battery life is excellent, up to 18 hours, which means you can edit on the go without constantly searching for a charger. The laptop includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack, supporting fast data transfers and connection to external displays or storage, though more ports might be missed by some users.

One drawback is the lack of a dedicated graphics card, which might limit performance with very demanding video effects or 3D rendering compared to more expensive laptops. While the MacBook Air is known for its sleek and lightweight design, it isn’t the cheapest option on the market, so calling it a 'cheap' laptop depends on your budget. If you’re looking for a reliable, easy-to-use machine with a great screen and strong all-around performance for standard video editing, this MacBook Air is a fitting choice. However, if top-tier graphics power or larger storage capacity without extra cost is a priority, exploring alternatives may be worthwhile.

The Apple 2025 MacBook Air with the M4 chip is a lightweight and portable option that brings impressive power and efficiency for video editing in the budget category. Its 10-core CPU combined with an 8-core integrated GPU provides smooth performance for editing tasks, especially with Apple’s hardware-accelerated video processing for formats like ProRes and HEVC. The 16GB of unified memory is generous and helps run multiple apps smoothly, which is important when working on video projects. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display delivers bright visuals with sharp details and supports a billion colors, making it great for color-accurate editing on the go.

Battery life is excellent, lasting up to 18 hours, so you can work unplugged for extended periods. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports and MagSafe charging, offering flexibility for external drives and displays, although the storage at 256GB SSD is somewhat limited for large video files, so external drives will likely be necessary. The MacBook Air also benefits from tight integration with macOS and Apple software, providing a smooth editing experience with apps like Adobe Creative Cloud.

While its integrated graphics may not match dedicated GPUs found in more expensive machines, which might slow down very demanding rendering tasks, this MacBook Air is a strong contender for those prioritizing portability, display quality, and battery life on a budget. However, if extensive storage or top-tier graphics power is needed, additional investment might be required.