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 M4 chips, which are much faster. For photo editing laptops specifically, we recommend going current-gen to get the best bang for your buck.

Yonash maintains that speed, portability, and battery are the most important specs when shopping for photo editing laptops, but out of those three, processing speed 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.

What are the best laptops for photo editing?After all of our research, testing, and expert interviews, we found that the M4 MacBook Air will be the best photo editing laptop for most people (and if you want to splurge a bit, go for the Pro). 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.

Our Pick

The M4 chip is fast and powerful Runs very quietly Better FaceTime camera More affordable than ever before Refresh rate is capped at 60Hz Runs a bit hot when performing heavier tasks Read our full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M4).

Apple’s latest MacBook Air isn’t the biggest upgrade over the M3, but it still packs in a better processor, some new features, and a much more competitive price point, placing it firmly as the MacBook with the most overall value and our top pick for photo editors, no matter they’re level of experience. If you need a decently powered laptop for your daily life but don’t want something as overkill as the newest MacBook Pro, the M4 Air will be a great fit for you. And if you already own a MacBook Air model that precedes the M3, we think the M4 is well worth the upgrade.

The latest take on the compact MacBook Air features a powerhouse of a CPU in Apple’s most current M4 chip. It’s 24 percent faster than the M3 Air, according to Mashable testing data, and in the top five speediest laptops we’ve ever tested. It runs near-silently, but does get a little bit hot under pressure thanks to the chip’s “almost overkill” amount of horsepower, said Senior Editor Stan Schroeder in his review of the laptop. Still, you shouldn’t have issues running photo editing software like the Adobe Suite and beyond.

Also new in the M4 MacBook Air is support for two external monitors while not in clamshell mode, as well as an upgraded 12MP camera. Unfortunately, the display’s refresh rate is capped at 60Hz — hopefully, we get an upgrade in the near future to at least 120Hz. Still, this is a huge workflow upgrade, especially for busy photo editors who are taking on multiple projects at once.

Perhaps the most attractive feature of the M4 Air, though, is the new price. The 13-inch version of the laptop starts at just $999, and the 15-inch version starts at $1,099. That’s $200 cheaper than the M3 Air was at launch. At a time when most tech device prices are going up, it’s nice to see a price decrease from a large company like Apple. This doesn’t happen often, so take advantage of the deal while you can.

Longest MacBook Pro battery life High-quality webcam Speaker system sounds amazing Extra Thunderbolt 4 port More base RAM Top-tier processor No Face ID Pricey for most people Read our full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M4).

The most recent M4 MacBook Pro is for the people who want all the top-of-the-line specs with zero compromises. While Qualcomm Snapdragon processors have been catching up (and sometimes beating) Apple’s M3 chips recently, the M4 once again puts Apple back on top. With Apple’s speediest and most powerful processor to date, the new Pro is game to tackle any task, including demanding photo editing projects. Just be ready to drop $1,599, at the very least. We can’t say it’s the best value when it comes to MacBooks (that goes to our top pick, the M4 Air), but if you’re an editing professional who needs the absolute best, then the M4 Pro is certainly the MacBook that can do the most.

The M4 version of the MacBook Pro is by far the fastest and most powerful laptop that Apple has released to date, so of course it’s on our list. Turns out, it’s yet another stunner of a computer, receiving high marks from Former Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon. She wrote that the M4 Pro is “everything we hoped for and more,” highlighting the machine’s performance, battery life, and audio as some of the best improvements.

“The M4 chip is a monster that must be haunting Windows PCs’ dreams,” Gedeon said of the new processor. During her testing period, the MacBook Pro blew the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip out of the water when it came to performance benchmarks, and that’s really saying something, because those newer Qualcomm processors are some of the best out there. That’s good news for photo editors who’re taking on multiple projects at once — you’re going to need the horsepower. “The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro continues to have angelic audio that sounds like it’s been tuned by a choir of heavenly beings,” Gedeon also wrote, maintaining the high bar that MacBook speakers have set in the past.

The M4 MacBook Pro also received high marks for its battery life, which lasts around 17 hours (the best we’ve ever seen in a MacBook), and the webcam, which got a nice bump in quality from 1080p to 12 MP. As for negatives, there aren’t many. We think the lack of Face ID is a glaring oversight — let’s put that notch to use, please — and that the price tag is a little bit high. Still, if you’re keen on splurging, we say it’s worth the price of admission. If you want something that’s a touch more affordable, try the M4 MacBook Air, which is our top pick overall for most photo editors.

Pull-forward design is convenient and unique Build quality is great Haptic touchpad with adaptive touch mode 120Hz refresh rate Built-in Surface Slim Pen 2 storage and charging Great speakers Surface Slim Pen 2 sold separately Price is a little over the top Very heavy Read Mashable’s full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.

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.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a special laptop that photo editors and artists, like graphic designers, will love. 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 may 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.

Colorful and clear anti-glare display Good performance Nice metallic finish Runs cool and quiet Additional ‘Chromebook Plus’ software features Not very durable Touchpad and keyboard take some getting used to Short battery life Read Mashable’s full review of the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch.

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.

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.

Two gorgeous OLED displays Can transform into several modes Great at multitasking Nice detachable keyboard Decent battery life Muffled audio Webcam isn’t very impressive Read Mashable’s full review of the Asus Zenbook Duo laptop.

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.

“Single-display laptops are now canceled,” 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.

Durable and sturdy construction Nice amount of storage and RAM Rich and colorful display Keyboard feels great High-fidelity speakers We didn’t love the oddly placed ports Read Mashable’s full review of the HP Spectre x360 14.

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.

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. 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.

You can’t judge a laptop by its appearance or advertised specs alone. As such, Mashable utilizes a rigorous hands-on testing process to review and recommend the best laptops to our readers, drawing upon takeaways from real-world usage and the results of industry-standard benchmarks. We record the findings of our testing in a rubric, and each laptop gets scored on a five-point scale on the basis of performance, design/build quality, battery life, and value. Read our full laptop testing methodology.

Performance: The laptops we review get put to work as our primary computers. This includes trying any unique software or use cases they support. We also subject all of our loaners to a multi-app/tab stress test and Primate Labs’ Geekbench 6, which measures CPU performance in common tasks. Gaming laptops get put through additional graphical benchmarking.

Design/build quality: As we’re using a laptop, we zero in on certain components to evaluate its build quality. These include the display, keyboard, touchpad, webcam, speakers, and ports. We also assess its overall aesthetic and portability.

Battery life: To gauge a laptop’s stamina, we conduct a battery rundown test that involves playing a looped 1080p version of Tears of Steel, a short open-source Blender movie, at 50 percent brightness and 50 percent volume. Ideally, we hope to get at least 16.5 hours of battery life from a MacBook and at least nine hours of battery life from a Windows laptop.

Value: We determine the ultimate value of a laptop by comparing its performance, design/build quality, and battery life to other laptops with similar pricing, specs, release dates, and use cases. We consider any accessories it comes with, any upgrades from its predecessor(s), and its future-proofing.

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.