10+ Best Laptops for Photo Editing in 2025 (June)

Ever felt like smashing your laptop because the colors on your print didn’t match the edited photo? Looks like it’s time for a new laptop. Luckily, there are many excellent laptops out there, tailored for creative tasks like photo editing.

But we understand how daunting it can be to navigate through so many options– so, we’ve done it for you. After diving deep into the options and testing the best ones, we have compiled a list of the best laptops for photo editing.

From photography to content creation, fashion designing, and more– we have laptop recommendations for all sorts of photo editing tasks. So, read on and find the best device to up your photo editing game!

• Save 40-70% on Adobe Creative Cloud. See our Adobe Creative Cloud Discounts guide.
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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.

What is the best laptop for photo editing in 2025?

After trying various excellent laptops, we have found the 2023 Apple MacBook Pro 16 M2 Max to be the best laptop for photo editing in 2025. It is fast– even when dealing with the heaviest of the software and photo projects– and offers generous capacity, all combined with a beautiful display that reproduces your work with impressive color accuracy.

Top 3 Photo Editing Laptops

02/20/2024 08:42 pm GMT

What are the Best Laptops for Photographers and Photo Editing in 2025?

Read detailed reviews of the best laptops for photo editing in 2025:

1. MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Max, 2023) — Best Photo Editing Laptop 2025 (Editor’s Choice)

The overall best laptop for photo editing 2025

Screen Size: 16.2Inchs | Resolution: ‎2048×1536 pixel | CPU: 12-Core | Storage: 1 TB | Memory: 64 GB | Graphics Card: Integrated 30-Core GPU

The Apple MacBook Pro 16.2″ (Early 2023) is gaining great traction as a laptop for photo editing– and for all the right reasons. This powerhouse is equipped with a 12-Core CPU and a 30-Core GPU, which means it can handle even the most demanding photo editing tasks with ease.

On top of that, the 64GB unified memory and 1TB SSD storage ensure that you can work on large files and run multiple applications simultaneously without any lag.

MacBook Pro 2023 is “a content creator’s dream machine” – ZNET

The M2 Max chip, with its high-bandwidth unified memory and immensely capable media engines, shatters the limits of graphics memory in a laptop. This means faster rendering times and the ability to work with higher-resolution images and more complex layers.

One of the key features that make this MacBook Pro ideal for photo editing is its Liquid Retina XDR display– arguably the best laptop display for photo editing that we have seen in a while. With a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, it offers crisp and vibrant visuals, ensuring that every detail of your work is visible.

The display also supports a wide color gamut, which is essential for accurate color reproduction. This means that your work shines in all its glory, and you can rest assured that the colors you see are the colors you get.

However, it’s worth noting that this MacBook Pro is quite bulky, weighing 8.5 pounds. This might be a drawback for professionals who are always on the move and need a lightweight device for photo editing. But the performance and features it offers far outweigh this minor inconvenience.

In sum, the Apple MacBook Pro 2023 is an exceptional laptop for photo editing. With its powerful performance, stunning display, and ample storage, it can help photographers, graphic designers, and other visual professionals overcome the challenges they face in their daily work.

PROS	CONS
➕ Powerful 12-Core CPU and 30-Core GPU	➖ Quite bulky
➕ Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
➕ 64GB unified memory and 1TB SSD storage
➕ M2 Max chip for faster rendering and higher-resolution images

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

2. Dell XPS 17 2023 — Best for Photo Editing Professionals

Best 17-inch laptop for photo editing professionals

Screen Size: 17Inches | Resolution: ‎3840 x 2400 pixels | CPU: Core i7 Family | Storage: 1TB | Memory: 36GB | Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB DDR6

Serious professionals don’t just need an impressive spec sheet but also a device that they can truly rely on. That’s where the Dell XPS 17 2023 comes into play. This powerhouse laptop is designed to handle the most demanding photo editing tasks– from retouching and enhancing photos to creating digital artwork and designing marketing materials.

The Dell XPS 17 2023 comes with an Intel 14-Core i7-12700H processor, which provides exceptional performance with up to 4.70 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology. This means you can run multiple applications simultaneously without experiencing any lag.

Additionally, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 6GB GDDR6 ensures that you can work on high-resolution images and videos with ease. The 17″ UHD+ 3840 x 2400 touchscreen display with anti-glare coating further ensures color accuracy and clarity, which is crucial for professionals working on visual content.

On top of that, the 36GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD provide ample storage and memory for large files and applications.

Similarly, the inclusion of four Thunderbolt 4 ports, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2 ensures fast and reliable connectivity.

However, being packed with such power, the Dell XPS 17 2023 is understandably heavy with a weight of 5.34 lbs. So, it might not be a suitable option for those traveling or working on the move.

Additionally, the battery life varies between four and six hours, depending on the usage, which might not be sufficient for a full day of work without access to a power source.

Still, the Dell XPS 17 2023 is an excellent choice for professionals in the creative industry who require a powerful and reliable laptop for their work. The combination of a high-performance processor, a powerful graphics card, and a stunning display make it an ideal choice for tasks like photo editing.

PROS	CONS
➕ Powerful processor and graphics card	➖ Relatively heavy
➕ Stunning UHD+ touchscreen display	➖ Battery life could be better
➕ Ample storage and memory
➕ Multiple connectivity options

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

3. MacBook Air 15.3-inch (M2, 2023) — Best Value for Money MacBook for Photo Editing

Best value for money MacBook for photo editing

Screen Size: 15.3 Inches | Resolution: 2,880 x 1,864 pixel | CPU: 8-core | Storage: 256GB | Memory: 8GB | Graphics Card: Integrated 10-core

The Apple MacBook Air 15.3-inch (M2, 2023) is another powerful laptop– specially engineered to cater to the specific needs of photographers, graphic designers, content creators, and other visual artists who require top-notch performance and display quality.

In terms of power, the MacBook Air features an M2 chip with an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, ensuring lightning-fast performance and enabling you to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

This is particularly beneficial for graphic designers and content creators working with large files and running multiple applications.

The spacious 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, with 500 nits of brightness and support for one billion colors, further ensures vibrant images and incredible detail– which is crucial for editing photos, designing graphics, and developing visual content.

It also has a 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, so face timing with your colleagues, collaborators, and clients is effective– and with friends and family is delightful.

The laptop also boasts up to 18 hours of battery life, thanks to the power-efficient performance of the Apple M2 chip. This means you can work all day without worrying about running out of battery, which is essential for freelancers and travel writers who are often on the move.

Additionally, this MacBook Air features a fanless design that runs completely silent, no matter the task, ensuring a quiet working environment. The starlight color further adds a touch of elegance to its design.

On the other hand, while the 256GB storage is adequate for most tasks, it might be insufficient for professionals who work with large files regularly. However, you can either go for the 512 GB storage model or invest in external storage or cloud services.

Additionally, the 8GB of unified memory may not be enough for extremely demanding tasks, but it should be sufficient for most photo editing and graphic design applications.

Overall, the MacBook Air 15.3-inch (M2, 2023) offers a perfect balance of performance, portability, and price, making it an excellent choice for professionals involved in photo editing, digital artwork creation, and visual content development.

PROS	CONS
➕ Powerful M2 chip for fast performance	➖ Limited storage capacity
➕ Vibrant Liquid Retina display	➖ 8GB unified memory may not be sufficient for extremely demanding tasks
➕ Long battery life
➕ Silent, fanless design
➕ Comes with AppleCare warranty

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

4. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 — Best 2 in 1 Laptop for Photo Editing

Best Windows laptop for photo editing 2025

Screen Size: 13 Inches | Resolution: ‎2880 x 1920 pixels | CPU: Intel Evo i7 | Storage: 1 TB | Memory: 32 GB | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Next on our list is the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – a device that harnesses the power of a laptop and the convenience of a tablet– making it the best 2-in-1 laptop for photo editing out there. But there is more to it.

Other than its flexible and versatile design, the Surface Pro 9 boasts impressive processing power– thanks to its Intel Evo 12th Gen Intel Core processors. So, you can throw any photo editing apps and projects at it, and Surface Pro 9 will handle it like a pro.

Despite such power, it boasts up to 15.5 hours of battery life, making it perfect for professionals who are always on the move. From cafes to trains, offices, classrooms, and so on– it allows you to create wherever the inspiration strikes.

On top of that, the virtually edge-to-edge 13” PixelSense touchscreen, designed for pen and Windows 11, makes it easier to retouch and enhance photos, create digital artwork, and develop visual content for social media.

And since we are on the subject of pen, one of the key features of the Surface Pro 9 is the Surface Slim Pen 2 storage and charging built right into the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard. This means you can easily switch between typing and drawing without having to worry about your pen running out of battery.

Additionally, the Thunderbolt 4 ports allow for full desktop productivity and local gaming, while the choice of vibrant new colors lets you mix and match with the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard to reflect your personal style.

However, it’s worth noting that the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard and accessories are sold separately and not included in the package. You need these accessories to unleash the full potential of the Surface Pro 9– but that significantly adds to the cost.

Apart from that, we also experienced minor issues with the taskbar icons disappearing and the screen going black and not waking up. But these seemed like isolated incidents. Just make sure to carefully check your warranty options.

To sum up, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is the best laptop-cum-tablet for professionals involved in photo editing and other visual tasks. It offers the perfect combination of flexibility, performance, and style. While it does have a few minor drawbacks, the overall package makes it a worthwhile investment.

PROS	CONS
➕ Versatile 2-in-1 design	➖ Keyboard and accessories sold separately
➕ Powerful Intel Evo platform	➖ Minor issues with taskbar icons and screen waking up
➕ Long battery life
➕ Surface Slim Pen 2 storage and charging
➕ Thunderbolt 4 ports

Latest Price on Amazon:

Basically, when you invest in the Microsoft Surface Pro 9– “What you do get is a powerful, lightweight, and portable computer.” – Ewan Spence, Senior Contributor at Forbes.

 

5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 8 — Best Budget Laptop for Photo Editing

Best Lenovo laptop for photo editing on a budget

Screen Size: 14 Inches | Resolution: ‎1920 x 1080 pixels  | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | Storage: 256GB | Memory: 16GB | Graphics: AMD Radeon R5

Finding a good laptop for photo editing on a budget is difficult– but not impossible! That being said, here is the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 – a versatile 2-in-1 laptop that is not only budget-friendly but also packed with features that make it an excellent choice for photo editing beginners.

For starters, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor and comes with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage. This provides ample space and power for your creative projects.

The 14-inch FHD display with IPS panel technology and AMD Radeon R5 graphics ensures vibrant and crisp visuals. At the same time, the narrow bezel on all four sides reduces clutter and maximizes your viewing area.

One of the standout features of the Flex 5 is its 360-degree hinge, which allows you to use the laptop in various modes– Laptop, Tent, Stand, or Tablet. This flexibility is particularly useful for artists and designers who may need to switch between modes for different tasks, such as sketching, presenting, or binge-watching.

Additionally, the Flex 5 comes with a built-in physical webcam shutter, ensuring privacy when needed.

However, it’s important to note that the digital pen, essential for drawing and note-taking, is sold separately. The laptop’s weight, at 3.31 pounds, may also be a consideration for those who need a more portable device. But that’s nothing a sturdy laptop bag can’t solve.

But all in all, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solid choice for visual professionals starting their journey in photo editing and digital art. It offers a good balance of performance, flexibility, and privacy features at an affordable price.

PROS	CONS
➕ Versatile 2-in-1 design	➖ Digital pen sold separately
➕ Ample memory and storage	➖ Potential WiFi issues
➕ Vibrant FHD display	➖ Slightly heavy for a portable device
➕ Built-in physical webcam shutter

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

6. Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED — Best Dual Touch Screen Laptop for Photo Editing

Best dual touchscreen laptop for photo editing

Screen Size: 14.5 Inches | Resolution: 2880 x 1800 pixel | CPU: Core i9 | Storage: 1TB | Memory: 32GB | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060

What’s better than a laptop for photo editing? A touchscreen laptop. And what’s even better– a photo editing laptop with two touchscreen displays! So, here’s the ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED– a dual-touchscreen powerhouse designed to boost the productivity of creative professionals in the realm of photo editing, designing, content creation, and more.

The Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED boasts a next-generation ScreenPad Plus, a 12.7-inch full-width secondary touchscreen with a re-engineered tilt mechanism for comfortable touch operation.

This feature is a lifesaver for photographers and graphic designers who can keep tools, archives, and source files organized on the ScreenPad Plus while working on the main screen.

Additionally, the main display is a 14.5-inch WQXGA+ (2880 x 1800) 120 Hz refresh rate NanoEdge touchscreen. It is also PANTONE Validated to ensure accurate color rendering, crucial for photo editing and digital artwork creation.

On top of that, the laptop is powered by the latest 13th generation Intel Core i9-13900H Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, making it capable of handling demanding tasks such as editing high-resolution photos, creating digital artwork, and designing marketing materials.

While the ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is packed with features, it does come with a hefty price tag, which may not be suitable for everyone’s budget.

Additionally, the laptop weighs 9.8 pounds, which might be a bit heavy for professionals who are always on the move. However, considering the power and features it offers, these drawbacks are justifiable trade-offs.

Simply put, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is an exceptional laptop that offers a unique dual-touchscreen experience. This, combined with powerful performance and a host of features, makes it an ideal choice for photographers, graphic designers, and other creative professionals.

PROS	CONS
➕ Next-generation ScreenPad Plus for enhanced workflow	➖ Expensive
➕ PANTONE Validated main display for accurate color rendering	➖ Relatively heavy
➕ Powerful Intel Core i9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU
➕ ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus support for precise control

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

7. Razer Blade 18 — Best Laptop for Photo and Video Editing

Best laptop for graphic design and photo editing

Screen Size: 18 Inches | Resolution: ‎2560 x 1600 pixels | CPU: i9 HX 13th Gen | Storage: 2TB | Memory: 32GB | Graphics: ‎NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

The Razer Blade 18, originally a gaming laptop, is also a highly recommended laptop for photo editing– thanks to its high refresh rates. But there is more to this brilliant laptop in terms of its photo editing capabilities.

For starters, the 18” QHD display featuring 100% DCI-P3 color space ensures accurate color reproduction, crucial for retouching and enhancing photos. The ultra-fast refresh rate of 240 Hz further provides silky-smooth video playback, which is a bonus for those who enjoy gaming in their downtime.

On top of that, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card not only powers through resource-intensive tasks but also optimizes system performance for peak efficiency. This means faster load times and seamless content creation, thanks to the insanely quick 32 GB, 5200 MHz RAM, and 2 TB storage.

And we know how powerful laptops like the Razer Blades tend to run hot under heavy workloads. Luckily, Razer has solved this issue with this model. But if we were you, we might still invest in a laptop cooling pad, just in case.

However, its keyboard lacks a number pad, which may be a minor inconvenience for some. But an external keyboard can fix it– or you just give it some time and you’ll get used to this design.

Summing it up, the Razer Blade 18 is ideal for professionals who need a powerful, portable device for photo editing, creating digital artwork, and developing visual content. With its stunning display, powerful graphics, and efficient cooling system, it’s the best gaming laptop for photo editing.

PROS	CONS
➕ High-resolution QHD+ display with 100% DCI-P3 color space	➖ Concerns about build quality
➕ Powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics	➖ Keyboard lacks a number pad
➕ 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor
➕ Ultra-fast 5200 MHz RAM and up to 8 TB storage
➕ Efficient cooling system

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

8. HP Spectre x360 — Best Value for Money

Best value for money photo editing laptop

Screen Size: 16 Inches | Resolution: ‎3840 x 2160 pixels | CPU: Core i7 Family | Storage: 512 GB | Memory: 16GB | Graphics: ‎Intel Iris Xe Graphics

The HP Spectre x360 is a versatile 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop that is not only a high-performance device but also a great companion for professionals like photographers, graphic designers, and content creators. Using this laptop for photo editing, we felt that it gave all the value for money– and more!

One of the key features of the HP Spectre x360 is its dazzling display. This 16-inch diagonal, 3K+ (3072 x 1920) multitouch-enabled, IPS display with edge-to-edge glass reproduces work with impeccable color accuracy and crisp details.

On top of that, the Low Blue Light makes it perfect for professionals who work long hours. Plus, for durability and longevity, the display boasts antireflection Corning Gorilla Glass NBT.

The high-speed 16GB RAM and 512GB PCIe NVME M.2 Solid State Drive further allow you to run multiple photo editing applications smoothly– while also ensuring fast bootup and data transfer. That makes this affordable device the best laptop for Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, and photo apps.

When it comes to power, the Intel Evo platform 12th Generation Core i7-12700H processor with Intel Iris Xe Graphics guarantees flawless performance. So, from resource-intensive tasks like photo editing to graphic designing, and content creation– it’s got it all covered.

But on the downside, the HP tilt pen included with the laptop does not have pressure or tilt sensitivity. This can be a significant limitation for professionals who require precise control over their digital artwork. However, this issue can be mitigated by using an external graphics tablet.

Overall, the HP Spectre x360 is an excellent photo editing laptop that gives great value for its money. Its powerful processor, high-speed RAM, and dazzling display make it a valuable tool for creating stunning visuals.

PROS	CONS
➕ Powerful Intel Evo platform 12th Generation Core i7-12700H processor	➖ Included HP tilt pen lacks pressure and tilt sensitivity
➕ High-speed 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD	➖ Relatively expensive compared to other laptops in the same category
➕ Dazzling 16-inch 3K+ multitouch-enabled display
➕ Versatile 2-in-1 design with touchscreen functionality

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

9. Acer Swift Edge 16 — Best Laptop for Editing Photos on the Move

best laptop for picture editing on the move

Screen Size: 16 Inches | Resolution: ‎3840 x 2160 pixels | CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 | Storage: 2TB | Memory: 16GB | Graphics: ‎‎AMD Radeon

The Acer Swift Edge 16 is an excellent laptop for photography professionals who often find themselves retouching and editing photos on the move. It stands out for its unique blend of power and portability. Here’s what we found after running photo editing apps and tasks on the Swift Edge 16.

To begin with the display quality, the Swift Edge 16 boasts a 16″ 4K OLED display with 400 nits brightness and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut support. This ensures vibrant color and clarity for retouching and enhancing photos.

On top of that, the Octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 6800U Processor, combined with 16 GB LPDDR5 4800MHz Memory and 1TB PCIe SSD, ensures smooth performance even when working on large files or multitasking.

The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics further allows for creating digital artwork and developing visual content for social media without any lag.

While the device is packed with features, it is incredibly lightweight at 2.58 lbs (1.17 kg), making it easy to carry anywhere. So, you can whip it out anywhere and anytime the inspiration strikes.

The Wi-Fi 6E further ensures high-speed file sharing and smooth 4K streaming. At the same time, the comprehensive I/O ports, including two USB-C ports and HDMI 2.1 support, ensure connectivity wherever you go.

But on the flip side, while its 16 GB is enough for most tasks, it is soldered and not upgradable– which may be a constraint for those working on extremely large files or requiring more RAM for intensive tasks.

Additionally, its battery life of up to 7.5 hours may not be sufficient for a full day of work without access to a power source.

However, these limitations are outweighed by the benefits of portability, performance, and display quality. The Acer Swift Edge 16 is still overall an ideal choice for creative professionals seeking a portable, powerful, and visually stunning laptop for photo editing and digital artwork creation.

PROS	CONS
➕ Stunning 4K OLED display with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut	➖ Non-upgradable 16GB RAM
➕ Lightweight and portable design	➖ Battery life may not be sufficient for a full day of work
➕ Powerful Octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 processor
➕ Comprehensive I/O ports for connectivity

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

10. MSI Creator M16 — Best Thermal Solution

Best gaming laptop for photo editing with efficient cooling

Screen Size: 16 Inches | Resolution: ‎2560 x 1600 pixels | CPU: Core i7 | Storage: 1TB | Memory: 32GB | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060

Heating issues are common with a powerful laptop– but the MSI Creator M16 flips the scene with its impeccable power and excellent thermal mechanism. This means that you can run heavy applications and photo projects for long hours without worry.

The MSI Creator M16 comes with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. This includes 6 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores, providing next-generation power to accelerate through multitasking and pro-level processing tasks.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, powered by the Ada architecture, further helps unleash the full glory of ray tracing. It simulates how light behaves in the real world, which is crucial for creating hyperrealistic visuals.

Additionally, the 16-inch 16:10 60Hz 100% DCI-P3 display delivers a more abundant color gamut. This means more vivid colors and details for editing. The 180° lay-flat design and ultra-thin bezels further maximize screen real estate, making it easy to share your inspiration with co-workers uninterruptedly.

However, we experienced some issues when using the trackpad. So, if you go for this one, you might want to invest in a reliable mouse as well. Also, its GPU may not be adequate for highly graphic-intensive tasks like gaming.

Overall, the MSI Creator M16, with its latest generation processor, powerful GPU, and high-quality display, provides the necessary tools to create stunning visuals. Despite immense power, this photo editing laptop smartly manages heating issues when running heavy apps and projects.

PROS	CONS
➕ Powerful 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor	➖ Trackpad issues
➕ NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU for hyperrealistic visuals	➖ Not suitable for gaming
➕ 16″ 16:10 60Hz 100% DCI-P3 display
➕ 180° lay-flat design and ultra-thin bezels

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

11. Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED — Best Customization Options

Best laptop for photo editing and graphic design

Screen Size: 16 Inches | Resolution: ‎2560 x 1600 pixels | CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Storage: 1TB | Memory: 32GB | Graphics: ‎NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

The ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 stands out as one of the best laptops for photography and photo editing due to its ASUS Dial– an intuitive physical controller that streamlines your creative workflow by giving you instant and precise fingertip control over parameters in your creative apps.

Let’s explore in detail why this ASUS device is an excellent photo editing laptop.

For starters, the ProArt StudioBook 16 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics. This combination ensures smooth and efficient performance even for the most demanding creative tasks.

On top of that, the 16-inch 2560×1600 120Hz display is PANTONE Validated with 100% Adobe RGB color space and Delta-E <2– offering exceptional color accuracy for highly detailed photorealistic visuals.

This is crucial for professionals who need accurate color reproduction for their work– whether it’s editing photos, designing graphics, or creating visual content.

Additionally, the laptop features a 1TB PCIe NVMe RAID0 SSD and 32GB DDR4 memory, which can be upgraded to a massive 64GB of high-speed RAM. This ensures fast storage and memory, allowing you to handle large files and run multiple applications simultaneously without any lag.

Apart from that, it allows you to change brush size and saturation, adjust layer opacity, and more, with over 70 functions available to help streamline your creative workflow. This means less time spent on tedious tasks and more time focusing on your creative vision.

While the ProArt StudioBook 16 offers many benefits, there are a few drawbacks to consider. First, the USB-C ports do not seem to negotiate their full-speed capabilities with some external SSDs or cfastExpress cards. This can be disappointing for those who require fast I/O speed for their creative workflow.

Overall, the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 with its excellent photo editing capabilities– combined with the ASUS Dial– this laptop powers your photo editing workflow to another level.

PROS	CONS
➕ ASUS Dial for streamlined workflow	➖ Potential I/O speed limitations with some external devices
➕ PANTONE Validated display with 100% Adobe RGB
➕ Powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics
➕ Upgradable RAM and fast storage

Latest Price on Amazon:

 

SOP for Selecting and Testing Best Laptops for Photo Editing

Selection Process

To select the best laptops for photo editing, we collaborated with a diverse group of professionals, including photographers, graphic designers, art directors, and content creators.

These professionals frequently engage in activities such as retouching and enhancing photos, creating digital artwork, designing marketing and advertising materials, and developing visual content for social media.

Here’s a breakdown of our selection process:

Step 1: Identifying Key Features

First, we identified the key features that are essential for photo editing tasks. These included a high-resolution display with accurate color reproduction, a powerful processor, sufficient RAM, a dedicated graphics card, and fast storage.

Step 2: Market Research

We conducted thorough market research to identify the latest laptops available that are suitable for photo editing. We considered popular brands and models that are commonly used and recommended by professionals in the industry.

Step 3: Consultation with Professionals

We consulted with professionals who regularly engage in photo editing and other related activities to understand their needs and preferences. For this, we asked them about the laptops they currently use, the features they find most useful, and any limitations or issues they have encountered.

Step 4: Creating a Shortlist

Based on the market research and consultation with professionals, we created a shortlist of laptops that met the criteria for photo editing tasks. We considered factors such as display quality, processor speed, RAM size, graphics card, storage capacity, and overall build quality.

Testing Process

After selecting a shortlist of laptops, we conducted a series of tests to evaluate their performance and suitability for photo editing tasks. These tests were designed to mimic real-world scenarios that professionals encounter in their daily work.

Step 1: Display Quality

We tested the display quality of each laptop by evaluating its color accuracy, brightness, contrast, and viewing angles. To do so, we used a colorimeter to measure the color accuracy and ensure it met the standards required for professional photo editing.

Step 2: Performance

We tested the performance of each laptop by running a series of benchmark tests that evaluated the processor speed, graphics performance, and overall system performance. For this, we used software such as PCMark, 3DMark, and Cinebench for these tests.

Step 3: Real-World Testing

We conducted real-world testing by asking professionals to use the laptops for their daily photo editing tasks. This included retouching and enhancing photos, creating digital artwork, and designing marketing materials. We asked them to evaluate the laptops based on their performance, ease of use, and overall experience.

Step 4: Battery Life

We tested the battery life of each laptop by running a series of tasks that mimicked real-world usage scenarios. This included editing photos, browsing the web, and running applications in the background.

Step 5: Heat and Noise

We monitored the heat and noise levels of each laptop during the testing process to ensure they did not become uncomfortably hot or noisy during prolonged use.

After completing the testing process, we evaluated the results and selected the best laptops for photo editing based on their performance, display quality, and overall user experience. We also considered the feedback from the professionals who participated in the real-world testing.

This comprehensive approach ensured that we selected laptops that are well-suited for the needs of professionals engaged in photo editing and related activities.

The Ultimate Buying Guide for Photo Editing Laptops in 2025

Whether you’re a photographer, graphic designer, or content creator, you know that having the right tools is crucial for your work. One of the most important tools in your arsenal? A powerful laptop that can handle all your photo editing needs.

We’ve collaborated with professionals like you– from fashion designers to real estate agents, and marketing professionals to freelancers– to create this comprehensive buying guide.

It’s designed to help you select the perfect laptop for tasks such as retouching and enhancing photos, creating digital artwork, designing marketing materials, and more.

Display Quality 🖥️

The quality of the display is paramount for any creative professional. You’ll want a laptop with a high-resolution display (at least 1920×1080 pixels) for detailed visuals. Additionally, look for a laptop with an IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel, like the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5, which offers better viewing angles and color reproduction.

Color accuracy is another crucial factor. A laptop with a wide color gamut, covering at least 100% of the sRGB color space is ideal for photo editing. If you work with more color-sensitive projects, consider a laptop that covers the Adobe RGB (like the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16) or DCI-P3 (like the Razer Blade 18) color spaces.

Performance 💪

The performance of your laptop is determined by its processor, RAM, and graphics card.

• Processor: Look for a laptop with at least an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor, as in the HP Spectre x360.

If you frequently work on large files or multitask with multiple applications, consider a laptop with a higher-end processor, such as an Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9, like in the ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED.

• RAM: Good RAM is crucial for multitasking and handling large files. We recommend a minimum of 16GB of RAM for photo editing, as in the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5.

However, if you work with very large files or use multiple applications simultaneously, 32GB of RAM (like in the Razer Blade 18) or more is advisable.

• Graphics Card: A dedicated graphics card, just like the one in the Acer Swift Edge 16, is essential for tasks such as creating digital artwork, developing visual content for social media, and editing photos for online portfolios or galleries.

Look for a laptop with at least an NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX series graphics card, or an AMD Radeon RX series graphics card.

Storage 🗃️

Fast and ample storage is crucial for managing your files and speeding up your workflow. Look for a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD) as it offers faster read and write speeds compared to a traditional hard disk drive (HDD).

While 256GB SSD is the minimum requirement, we recommend 512GB SSD for best results (like the HP Spectre x360).

But if you work with large files or have an extensive collection of photos and videos, consider a laptop with 1TB SSD (as the Acer Swift Edge 16 has) or more (like in the Razer Blade 18).

Portability and Battery Life 🚀

As a creative professional, you may need to work on the go or travel frequently. So, portability and battery life are important factors to consider.

Look for a laptop that is lightweight and has a slim design for easy portability (like the Apple MacBook Air 15.3-inch (M2, 2023) or Acer Swift Edge 16).

And while a laptop with a battery life of at least 8 hours is recommended, go for higher battery performance as they generally end up under-performing as compared to what the manufacturer claims.

In any case, we found the Apple MacBook Pro 16.2″ (Early 2023) to perform the best in terms of battery– lasting almost a whole day.

Connectivity and Ports 🔌

Having a variety of ports and connectivity options is essential for connecting your laptop to external devices such as monitors, graphics tablets, and storage devices.

Look for a laptop with multiple USB ports, an HDMI port, and a card reader. Additionally, a laptop with Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports is beneficial for fast data transfer and connecting to multiple devices simultaneously.

Additional Features 🎨

• Touchscreen and Stylus Support: A touchscreen display with stylus support can be beneficial for tasks such as creating digital artwork, designing graphics for websites, and editing event and wedding photos.
• Color Calibration: Some laptops come with built-in color calibration tools or support external color calibration devices. This is crucial for ensuring accurate color reproduction on your display.
• Build Quality: A laptop with a durable build quality is essential for professionals who travel frequently or work in different environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

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All You Know About Finding the Best Laptop to Edit Photos and Videos in 2025

Selecting the perfect laptop for photo editing involves considering various factors such as display quality, performance, storage, portability, and additional features. We hope our buying guide helps you make an informed decision and select a laptop that meets all your creative needs.

But if we have to put a finger on one, the Apple MacBook Pro 16.2″ (Early 2023) has proved itself to be the best laptop for photo editing. From processing power to speed, display, battery life, and so on– it excelled in all our tests. So, if you can pay its premium price– rest assured that it’ll be worth it.

And for our readers who are Windows users, we found the Dell XPS 17 2023 to be the Windows laptop for photo editing. It is powerful– both in terms of processing speed and graphics performance. And the UHD+ touchscreen display reflects your work with high color accuracy.

What do you think about these picks? Make sure to leave in the comments below!

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