Best Mac for Video Editing (8 Options)

Whether you run a video production studio or are starting a YouTube channel as a hobby, you want to make sure you have the best Mac for video editing.

Video editing is a real stress test for any computer. Cutting together an epic two-hour video essay requires high-speed storage, lots of memory, processing power and GPU power. Apple Silicon offers all of this in abundance. The chips also have special integrated video processing hardware called the Media Engine.

Nowadays, every The Mac can edit 4K video. Which Mac is best for you depends on whether you want a desktop or laptop computer—and the size of your budget. Read on or watch our latest video.

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Best Mac for Video Editing (Cheap Options)

When you talk about a Mac made in the last few years, there is no single wrong answer. Since the Mac switched to Apple chips, every With a Mac you can edit videos as usual.

If you edit videos every day for work, you'll obviously want a Mac with more power. But seriously, don't be afraid to buy a basic Mac for your hobbyist YouTube channel.

Even the base MacBook Air, iMac and Mac mini models that get the M-series chips without the adjective can run through Final Cut Pro without a problem. (If you notice any stuttering, you can always go to the video preview and click Show > Quality: Better performance.)

MacBookAir

The MacBook Air is everyone's favorite laptop with all-day battery life and a super-thin design that weighs just 3 pounds. But as the saying goes, don't judge a MacBook by its case.

Even though it doesn't have a fan, it's a surprisingly powerful video editing machine. You'll barely notice it in your bag with your camera gear, and you can create a rough cut of a video before you even get home.

If you can't afford the latest model, at least get the M1 model, which is available at Walmart for $699. Any Intel MacBook Air will struggle with it.

Note, however, that the MacBook Airs M2 and M3 have an additional port on the side because charging can now be done through the MagSafe connector. With an additional port, you have room to connect an additional audio interface, external drive, and more directly to the computer. It's faster, more reliable, and less complicated than connecting a Thunderbolt dock.

Even the basic model with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage should be enough for editing a simple video. It's not the best for exporting an hour-long film with lots of moving graphics, but it's still enough in a pinch.

The larger 15-inch model gives you plenty of space to comfortably edit videos in Final Cut Pro and display the content in pixel-perfect 1080p resolution.

Mac mini

Of the entry-level Mac models, the Mac mini offers the best value for money. It's a modular device that you can combine with your own display, keyboard, mouse, or trackpad.

Unlike the all-in-one iMac and MacBook, you can make various compromises with your own display. You can get a cheaper display without Retina resolution, you can get an ultrawide or curved display, or one with a high refresh rate. Or you can save some money with a cheaper display, like this option from LG, which is my personal choice.

If you save on the peripherals, you can spend more on the Mac. I recommend upgrading to the Pro chip, which will give you more power. This will be useful when exporting your video.

There are also numerous ports on the back for numerous connections.