The best photo-editing laptops aren’t just for shooters who need to do some editing. A computer with a fast processor, lots of RAM, and a large storage drive are also ideal for home-based work; these slimline marvels will almost definitely outperform that dusty old desktop tower in your office! Adding a high-quality screen with consistent colour and contrast will not only bring images to life but will also help reduce eye strain and tiredness. Although the editing will produce DSLR-like results, the camera quality on the laptop is superb.
1. MacBook Pro 16
The MacBook Pro 16 with M2 Max is an incredible beast of a laptop, tearing through whatever picture editing you can throw at it and still being ready for more. It easily handles Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom while allowing you to continue working on other projects.
2. MacBook Pro 14
Apple’s in-house silicon remains to stretch the envelope, and the M2 Pro challenges the limits of what a 14-inch laptop can do. Everything from opening apps to transferring large image and video files is incredibly fast on the M2 Pro. The M2 Pro handles Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere with ease, scarcely slowing down as you push to do more.
3. Razer Blade 17
The Razer Blade 17 is an elevated computer that is ideal for gamers and creative types, but it is not inexpensive. Although the expense will be prohibitive for many individuals, there is no denying this laptop’s powers.
4. Surface Pro 9
The Surface Pro 9 remains a gadget that defies categorization. It is a well-made and elegant device with a kickstand and hinge that continues to rule the 2-in-1 world. This is an excellent mobile productivity device if you get the Surface Type Cover and Surface Slim Pen (which you should). It is not the most capable gadget for picture editing, but it is ideal for editing on the go or rapidly setting up on shoots.
5. Macbook Air
The 2022 Macbook Air is a straight replacement for the 2020 Macbook Air. While it appears to be identical to its predecessor, it has been overhauled and is now driven by a more powerful M2 chip (rather than the M1 used in 2020). The standard M2 chip has an 8core CPU and an 8core GPU, which may be upgraded to a 10-core GPU for a fee. As usual, you get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, but photographers and other creatives will almost surely want at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
6. Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 lineup might be perplexing: there are numerous spec options to pick from, and pricing changes frequently. We believe the finest configuration for photographers comprises Dell’s greatest 4K+ (3840 x 2400) 16:10 screen with 500-nit brightness and touch sensitivity. The only downside is that only a few XPS 15 configurations include this display, and they are always at the higher end of the price range.
7. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
The Microsoft Surface Notebook Studio is possibly the most stylish touchscreen laptop aimed mainly at artists and other creative professionals. It has a hybrid design and can switch from laptop to tablet mode, but not via the usual 360-degree hinge.
8. Macbook M2 Pro
The 13-inch MacBook Pro has long been a popular option for anyone seeking a highly portable, exceptionally well-made laptop that performs admirably and has an excellent screen, particularly when compared to the more expensive 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks. However, some compromises are required.
9. ZenBook Duo
The ZenBook Duo’s main selling point is its massive touch-sensitive secondary screen above the keypad. Asus calls it the ScreenPad Plus, and it can be used as a genuine secondary monitor to show another programme in addition to the one on the main screen, or it can be divided into two or three columns, each with its open app. A screen extension feature enables you to expand a single programme across both screens.
10. Razer Blade 15
Razer’s brand focus is on the gaming industry, and the Blade 15 4K is essentially a gaming laptop, but the style doesn’t shout it as many gaming laptops do. Only the bright green Razer emblem on the front and the colour-changing backlit keyboard give away the game, but the latter can be turned off to keep things more civilised.
