The search for the 10 best laptop for photo editing has never been higher! Precisely why for this feature, we’re pulling back the curtain on the leading laptops designed specifically to help creatives put our striking images and compelling graphics!
Thanks to the rise of social media and digital marketing, more designers are putting a heavier premium on computers that make it easy for them to edit photos and curate experiences through communicative pictures. As the focus on visual media rises, the demand for pixel-perfect content has never been more apparent too!
sponsored message
- Save 40-70% on Adobe Creative Cloud. See our Adobe Creative Cloud Discounts guide.
- Get 10 Free Stock Images from Adobe Stock — Royalty-free photos, illustrations and videos
From entertainment to marketing purposes, images have never been more integral in completing a message. As such, it should come as no surprise why entrepreneurs and leaders are prioritizing equipment that allows them to become better storytellers.
All things considered, let’s take a look at the best laptops for photo editing!
10+ Best Laptops For Photo Editing in 2022
- 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 (2021) — The best laptop for photo editing in 2022 overall (Editor’s Choice)
- Dell XPS 15 — The best budget laptop for photo editing
- Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1 — The best value laptop for photo editing
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio — The best all-in-one laptop for photo editing
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 — The best professional laptop for photo editing
- ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 — The best dual-screen laptop for photo editing
- HP ZBook Studio G8 — The best portable laptop for photo editing
- Razer Blade 15 — The best photo editing laptop for gamers
- Microsoft Surface Pro 8 — The best hybrid laptop for photo editing
- HP Spectre x360 — The best laptop for photo editing with a beautiful display
- Asus ProArt Studio book 16 OLED — A good mobile workstation for creative people
- Dell XPS 17 (2021) — The best laptop for thin and lightweight design
Also, see our features on the best monitors for photo editing as well as how to get an Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop discount.
Also see our features on the best camera tripods, the best memory cards and the best studio lighting kits. Take your photography skills to new heights with these photography courses.
If you are looking for the best software for your laptops, please check our post on student software.
sponsored message
What is the Best Laptop for Photo Editing Overall?
When you’re scouring the internet for a new laptop for photo editing, it can be mind-numbing at all of the different options out there. Thankfully, we believe that the 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 (2021) from Apple is the best laptop for photo editing in 2022.
If you’d like a more, in-depth look at some of our top options, check out our comparison table below:
How to Choose the Best Laptop for Photo Editing
When it comes to choosing laptops perfect for editing photos, there are quite a few things you’d need to consider:
Screen size and resolution
Creatives whose jobs require them to stare a little more intently on their computer screens to ensure crisp and accurate image quality demand screens large enough for professionals to be efficient.
sponsored message
On that note, laptops that are at least 1920 x 1080p will help you get the job done. Still, if you can afford to snag screens with higher resolutions— 2560 x 1600p, 3200 x 1800p, or even 4K Ultra HD—then the better.
you can also visit our blog on The Best Cheap 4K Monitor Deals
GPU
As the name implies, a graphics processing unit (GPU) allows you to more freely go about your workspace, jumping from one application to another. In that regard, opening multiple applications and uploading a ton of media should be activities that come normally to creatives like you.
As such, you’ll need laptops with powerful GPUs to help you deliver without interruptions. NVIDIA, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, GT840M, and GTX 980M are all stellar examples of what you should prioritize in this department.
Memory
The freer your laptop is, the easier it is for you to upload media and transfer them around. As a result, you’ll want a laptop that’s packed with at least 16GB in the memory department.
While 8GB isn’t particularly bad, those whose jobs require intense editing and uploading benefit more from larger extents of memory. Naturally, devices that have more memory are also more able to combat computer crashes and freezing.
10+ Best Laptops For Photo Editing in 2022
1. 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 (2021) (Editor’s Choice)
The 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 is arguably one of the leading laptops for photo editors and creatives in general. Apple’s M1 technology has proven to be one of the most robust engines, allowing for powerful performances whatever the task.
From ensuring a smooth workflow to empowering designers to create crisper, more accurate, and compelling graphics, there isn’t a laptop as commercially successful as this one. And while the newer M1 Pro and M1 Max models are now available, the 2021 M1 version is still as robust and able.
For now, get this instead and save the rest of your money for future Macbook Pros with stronger, more worthy features.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Powerful performance | ➖ Expensive |
| ➕ Great battery life |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max chip for a massive leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Up to 10-core CPU delivers up to 2x faster performance to fly through pro workflows quicker than ever
- Up to 32-core GPU with up to 4x faster performance for graphics-intensive apps and games
- 16-core Neural Engine for up to 5x faster machine learning performance
- Longer battery life, up to 21 hours
2. Dell XPS 15
sponsored message
The best budget laptop for photo editing
One of the biggest things that naturally make the Dell XPS 15 a standout is its OLED Display and vibrant colors. Sporting an aluminum exterior and a sleek look, this piece isn’t just a simple laptop. Powered by the 1th Gen Intel Core H Series, there’s virtually nothing you can’t do with this device.
It’s a panel befitting of the XPS 15’s stylish and portable design that blends a machined aluminum exterior with a woven pattern on the inside.
On the deck are a gargantuan touchpad, spacious keyboard, and powerful speakers.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Sleek and slender design | ➖ Affordable |
| ➕ Bright display |
Latest Price on Amazon:
3. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1
The best value laptop for photo editing
CPU: M1 | GPU: M1 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB | Display: 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen display | Size: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.16 inches | Weight: 2.8 pounds
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M1 may be considered an entry laptop, but its M1 technology allows it to perform as strongly as possible. Robust enough for Adobe’s long list of energy-hungry applications, this pick is a crowd favorite for obvious reasons.
It’s thin, light, and much more affordable than Apple’s higher-priced options. What’s more, Macbooks, in general, are built to last, too, so expect this beast to be at its most optimum state for years.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Great performance | ➖ Still not cheap |
| ➕ Excellent value |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- All-Day Battery Life – Go longer than ever with up to 18 hours of battery life.
- Powerful Performance – Take on everything from professional-quality editing to action-packed gaming with ease. The Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance than the...
- Superfast Memory – 8GB of unified memory makes your entire system speedy and responsive. That way it can support tasks like memory-hogging multitab browsing and opening a huge graphic file quickly...
- Stunning Display – With a 13.3” Retina display, images come alive with new levels of realism. Text is sharp and clear, and colors are more vibrant.
- Why Mac – Easy to learn. Easy to set up. Astoundingly powerful. Intuitive. Packed with apps to use right out of the box. Mac is designed to let you work, play, and create like never before.
4. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
The best all-in-one laptop for photo editing
Longer battery life and a faster performance? Yes, please! With a powerful CPU, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is a 15-inch beauty that extends vivid colors and provides an attractive trackpad and keyboard.
Its touchscreen capability also makes it an easy favorite for artists who are drawn to using pens for editing and digital sketching. If you fancy working with a Windows 11, then this is your best bet.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Immersive display | ➖ Limited ports |
| ➕ Incredible battery life |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Aspect Ratio:3:2
- The most powerful Surface Laptop. Quad-core powered 11th Gen Intel Core H Series processors handle your most complex workloads.
- Design, animate, and render at top speed. Step up to the award-winning Ampere — NVIDIA's 2nd gen RTX architecture, enabling ray-traced graphics and cutting-edge AI features from NVIDIA GeForce RTX...
- Boundary-pushing design with sleek 14.4“ (5) touchscreen makes seamless transitions from laptop to entertainment-ready stage to portable creative canvas.
- Pair with Surface Slim Pen 2 for the best digital pen experience yet, featuring the feeling of pen on paper(7). Magnetically attach, store, and charge under the front of the keyboard.
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6
The best professional laptop for photo editing
CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU | GPU: Iris Xe | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Display: 14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel IPS (16:10) | Size: 12 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 3 pounds
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 is perfect for entrepreneurs who need both business features and creative applications.
Packing a robust 11th Gen Intel vPro, this pick has a terrific battery life and can last for more than 15 hours on a single charge. its 4k display is a great bonus too!
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Ergonomic keyboard | ➖ No SD card slot |
| ➕ Awesome battery life |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Processor Manufacturer: Intel
- Processor Type: Core i7
- Processor Model: i7-1165G7
- Processor Core: Quad-core (4 Core)
- Processor Speed: 2.80 GHz
6. ASUS ZenBook Duo 14
The best dual-screen laptop for photo editing
It’s not every day that creatives have the option to optimize a dual-screen laptop packed with an impressive 4k OLED panel.
That said, this is exactly what makes the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 incredibly gorgeous. While the keyboard location and touchpad call for some getting used to, a few creatives have given this device rave reviews.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Unique design | ➖ Heavy |
| ➕ Innovative dual screen |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Tilting ScreenPad Plus: 12.6 inch matte touchscreen, giving your endless way to optimize your multitasking experience by extending the screen or split windows and apps on both displays
- 14 inch Full HD NanoEdge touchscreen glossy main display
- Intel Evo Platform - perfect combination of performance, responsiveness and battery life. Amazing performance with the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. Vivid colors with Intel Iris Xe graphics....
- Intel Evo Platform with Latest 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Quad Core Processor (Up to 4.7 GHz, with IPU, 12M Cache)
- Fast storage and memory featuring 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
7. HP ZBook Studio G8
The best portable laptop for photo editing
Like Apple, HP is a reliable computer manufacturer and HP ZBook Studio G8 is proof of that. Loaded with an 11th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, 2TB of SSD storage, and sporting a beautiful 15-inch screen, this pick is a strong contender that’ll help you work with a host of your favorite Adobe applications.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Immersive OLED display | ➖ Expensive |
| ➕ Incredible performance |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Intel Core i7 2.50 GHz processor provides lightning fast speed and peak performance for the toughest of tasks and games
- With 32 GB of memory, users can run many programs without losing execution
- 15.6" display with 1920 x 1080 resolution showcases movies, games and photos with impressive clarity
- Experience lag-free and smooth performance with NVIDIA RTX A2000 Up to 4 GB graphic card
- With Windows 10 Pro edition, enjoy your favorite content all at once on a larger view edge browser. Share your thoughts with the world by writing directly on web pages.
8. Razer Blade 15
The best photo editing laptop for gamers
Although it’s mainly a gaming laptop, its 4k screen and impressive 300Hz refresh rate make it easy for you to go through images and edit files with pristine color accuracy.
Powered by the 8th gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6-Core processor, there’s a lot you can do with this one.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Sturdy build | ➖ Not for the budget-conscious |
| ➕ Slim bezels |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 15. 6” 144Hz Full HD edge-to-edge display (4. 9mm bezels), color calibrated
- Thin and compact, durable CNC aluminum anybody (0. 68” x 9. 25” x 13. 98”)
- 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6 core Processor. Battery - up to 6 hours
- NVidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q design VR Ready Graphics
- Innovative vapor chamber cooling System with gaming Mode power boost
9. Microsoft Surface Pro 8
The best hybrid laptop for photo editing
And with a price tag much more inviting than many of the options on this list, it’s understandable why this pick has been the go-to purchase for many users.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Plenty of ports | ➖ Battery life could be better |
| ➕ Beautiful display |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet, and every angle in between, with 13” touchscreen, iconic built-in Kickstand, and detachable Keyboard.
- Windows 11 brings your closer to what you love. Family, friends, obsessions, music, creations — Windows 11 is the one place for it all. With a fresh new feel and tools that make it easier to be...
- The first Surface Pro built on the Intel Evo platform. Do it all with the Intel Evo platform — performance, graphics, and battery life in a thin and light PC.
- The best pen experience on Pro with rechargeable Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro 8, for the natural feeling of pen on paper,(4) securely stored in Surface Pro Signature Keyboard.
- Type in comfort. Sleek and compact, Surface Signature Keyboard performs like a traditional laptop keyboard complete with a full function row and backlit keys.
10. HP Spectre x360
The best laptop for photo editing with a beautiful display
Of course, its Nvidia GPU and a six-core Intel Core i7 H-series CPU easily help you power through all the heavy applications you need to get the job done too.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Great design | ➖ Battery life is lacking |
| ➕ Immersive OLED display |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- NEWEST 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U (1.8 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 8 MB cache, 4 cores) + NVIDIA GeForce MX150 (2GB GDDR5 dedicated), Windows 10 Home 64...
- 16 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (2 x 8 GB), 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, HP Wide Vision FHD IR Camera with integrated dual array digital microphone
- 15.6" diagonal 4K IPS eDP micro-edge BrightView WLED-backlit (3840 x 2160), include HP Active Stylus, HP Sleeve
- Intel 802.11b/g/n/ac (2x2) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 Combo, Bang & Olufsen, dual speakers, HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support
- 1 Thunderbolt 3 (Data Transfer up to 40 Gb/s, DP1.2, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1 (Data Transfer up to 5 Gb/s, DP1.2, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (HP Sleep and Charge); 1...
11. Asus ProArt Studio book 16 OLED
A good mobile workstation for creative people
CPU: Ryzen 9 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 32 GB DDR4 SDRAM | Storage: 1 TB SSD | Display: 16 inches | Size: 14.25 x 10.39 x 0.78 inches | Weight: 5.29 lbs
You can turn your creative vision into reality with the Asus ProArt Studio book 16 OLED studio laptop. It pushes every boundary of your creative experience with a clear certified color-accurate 16-inch 4K OLED HDR 16:10 display that comes with a powerful AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor.
It has NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics and a huge amount of memory. It has advanced ultrafast storage with superb I/O connectivity. The ultra-precise fingertip control over your creative applications makes this Asus ProArt Studio book 16 the best creator laptop.
The build of the laptop is very good with the compliance of MIL-STD 810H compliance. This makes sure that the laptop is capable of withstanding knocks and drops. Creative people who need to travel a lot and work in the field will appreciate this level of protection. This laptop is best for photo editing.
A good top-notch screen is necessary for a laptop that is best for creative users such as photo and video editing.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Amazing 16-inch 4K OLED display | ➖ SD Express card reader |
| ➕ Good performance | |
| ➕ Cool operation | |
| ➕ Uses ASUS dial |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 16'' OLED (3840*2400) 16:10 display; 100% Adobe RGB; Pantone validated color accuracy; up to 400 nits; Delta E <2
- AMD R9 5900HX processor 3.3 GHz(16M Cache, up to 4.6GHz) with Windows 11 Professional
- NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3060 with 6GB GDDR6 VRAM - RTX Studio Ready
- Fast storage and memory(upgradable) featuring 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD and 32GB DDR4
- Change brush size, saturation and more with intuitive ASUS dial to streamline workflow. Function settings are customizable in ProArt Creator Hub, learn more on ASUS website for details
12. Dell XPS 17 (2021)
The best laptop for thin and light-weight design
CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 32 GB DDR5 | Storage: 1 TB SSD | Display: 17 Inches | Size: 9.76 x 14.74 x 0.77 inches | Weight: 5.34 pounds
The Dell XPS 17 is a powerful laptop with a thin and lightweight design.
The Dell XPS 17 is one of the best laptop for photo editing. It is for creative people who are constantly traveling around. It is a stylish laptop and will perfectly fit into a corporate setup.
This laptop shines when it comes to creative workloads. The 4k display provided for the laptop shines here. When you are working with Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, or any other creative software, you may save a lot of time. This is due to the CUDA cores in the RTX 3060 that is in this laptop.
The Dell XPS 17 gives an impressive look. The all-silver finish with a Dell logo at the back of the screen makes it even more attractive. The deck of the laptop has a soft finish makes the laptop much more comfortable to work with.
The 17-inch size of this laptop has more space for its keyboard deck as Dell utilizes the space by putting a standard keyboard that is surrounded by speakers.
The XPS configurations that come with the Creator edition come carefully selected to nourish your content creation skills, whether it is photography, graphic design, music production, or anything else. If you are looking to do the best of these things, then the NVIDIA GPU will help you to make it happen quicker and easier. However, the Premium price and the lack of legacy ports may stop shoppers from selecting this premium laptop.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Stupendous performance | ➖ Expensive |
| ➕ Good keyboard | |
| ➕ Beautiful touch-display option | |
| ➕ Four thunderbolts 4 ports |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 17.0-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflecitve 500-Nit Display
- 12th Generation Intel Core i9-12900HK (24MB Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores)
- 32GB 4800MHz DDR5; 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
- Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 1675 (AX211) 2x2 + Bluetooth 5.2 Wireless Card
- Windows 11 Pro, English
Related posts
Best Electronics for Designers
- Best webcams
- Best ring lights
- Best microphones
- Best video cameras
- Best YouTube cameras
- Best camera tripods
- Best cameras for Beginners
- Best 4K video cameras
- Best video cameras
10+ Best Laptops For Photo Editing in 2022
Overall, the 10 best laptops for photo editing are all superb picks, each made to help all types of creatives complete stellar images and striking content. At a time so heavily reliant on technology, it’s only fair to say that the gear we make use of allows us to be better storytellers and articulate purveyors of messages.
Whatever device you’re looking for in this segment, we hope our roundup of the best laptops for photo editors in 2022 has helped you streamline your search.
You can also visit our blog on photo editing software and best Student Software in 2022
Keep artsy and stay creative!