Apple offers an impressive lineup of video-editing Macs. Right from the portable MacBooks to the powerful Macs, there are dozens of options to choose from. Whether you’re a studio-quality editor or a first-time video editor, there’s an Apple machine designed just for you. However, with so many options, it can be quite difficult to pick the best Mac that can handle your workflow. But, you need not break a sweat as we’re here to help you pick the best option. In this article, we’ve listed the 5 best Macs for video editing that cater to everyone’s needs. Without further ado, let’s begin!
1. 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023): Fastest Mac for Creatives
| Type | Specs |
|---|---|
| Display | 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display |
| Processor | Apple M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU) Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU, 40-core GPU) |
| Graphics | Integrated 16-core GPU |
| RAM | 18 to 96GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXC card slot, HDMI port, headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port |
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the most up-to-date Pro machine from Apple and it’s a powerhouse for video editing tasks. The 2023 MacBook Pro is a well-thought fusion of a big, color-accurate screen paired with an incredibly powerful processor. The gorgeous 16.2-inch 120Hz ProMotion display with 1,600 nits of peak brightness produces life-like images with deep blacks and brighter whites. This allows you to see every detail in your videos and photos.
Additionally, you have the remarkably powerful M3 Pro or M3 Max chipset that can handle video editing tasks with ease. Popular video editing apps like DaVinci Resolve Studio, Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Premiere Pro have been amped up to unlock the full potential of Apple M3 and macOS. Furthermore, the built-in SD card slot lets you transfer photos and videos directly from your camera.
The bigger 16-inch display makes the best video editing Mac for creative workflows. In case you want a portable laptop for video editing, you can opt for the 14-inch model as well. If you don’t need this much power and want to save money, you can go for the M2 Pro variant.
Pros Cons Best-in-class M3 Pro & M3 Max capabilities Slightly bulky Excellent color accuracy Comes with a huge price tag Great selection of ports Big screen experience
2. Mac mini M2 Pro: Best Portable Mac for Editing Videos
| Type | Specs |
|---|---|
| Display | None |
| Display support | Up to two external displays (M2) Up to three external displays (M2 Pro) |
| Processor | Apple M2 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU) Apple M2 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU) |
| Graphics | Integrated 10-core or 16-core GPU |
| RAM | 8 to 16GB (Configurable up to 24GB to 32GB) |
| Storage | up to 8TB with M2 Pro |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports (4x in M2 Pro), 2x USB, HDMI port, Ethernet port, 3.5mm headphone jack |
If portability and budget are your prime concerns, then the 2023 Mac Mini is the best Mac for editing photos and videos. With the M2 processing capabilities, Apple has taken the portable Mac mini to a whole new level. This modular machine sports a space-saving design. So, you can can pair it with any external monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other accessories for a full-fledged workstation.
The Mac Mini lets you choose your CPU power with an array of customization options. Of course, the M2 Pro variant is pretty expensive, but it also packs an astonishing amount of power. So, for a balance of power and price, the M2 Mac Mini is the best for video editing in budget.
The Mac mini can easily handle demanding apps like Adobe Premiere Pro, Cinema 4D, 3DS Max, and others. Additionally, there are 4x Thunderbolt 4 ports for connecting multiple external monitors, 2x USB-A, an HDMI 2.0 port, a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack too. The ports sit nicely at the back so you don’t end up having a cluttered workstation. All in all, the Mac mini is the best video editing computer for compact workspaces.
Pros Cons Space-saving design RAM tops out at up to 32GB Up to 4 Thunderbolt ports Cheapest Apple machine M2 Pro is powerful
3. Apple iMac M3: Best Mac for Video Editing on a Budget
| Type | Specs |
|---|---|
| Display | 24-inch 4.5K Retina display |
| Processor | Apple M3 (8-core CPU, 8 or 10-core GPU) |
| Graphics | Integrated 10-core GPU |
| RAM | up to 24GB |
| Storage | up to 8TB with M2 Pro |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt/ USB 4 ports (4x in M2 Pro), 2x USB 3, Ethernet port, 3.5mm headphone jack |
If you’ll be working for a single location and are looking for the best desktop Mac for editing videos, the 2023 iMac is worth checking out. What makes the iMac stand out is its expansive 24-inch 4.5K Retina display that offers ultra-clear details and shines with a 500 nits brightness. The M3 processor brings apt power to this display, making it ready for most video editors with mid-level creative work.
Because of the all-in-one design, you don’t have to deal with any unnecessary cables. Just plug it into a power source, connect the wireless mouse and keyboard, and you’re sorted. Sure, it isn’t the most powerful machine, but many professionals prefer an Apple computer over a laptop. Not to forget, the iMac 2023 is more affordable than the M3 MacBook Pros. To conclude, the M3 iMac makes a superb option for users who wish to grab the best all-in-one desktop computer for editing.
Pros Cons A stunning 4.5K display Lack of ports The power of M3 processor Sleek and good-looking design Refreshing color options
4. Mac Studio: Best Desktop Mac for Video Editing
| Type | Specs |
|---|---|
| Display | None |
| Display support | up to 5 display (M2 Max) up to 8 display (M2 Ultra) |
| Processor | Apple M2 Max (12-core CPU, 30-core GPU) Apple M2 Ultra (24-core CPU, 60-core GPU) |
| Graphics | Integrated 30-core or 60-core GPU |
| RAM | up to 192GB |
| Storage | up to 8TB |
| Ports | Back: 2x Thunderbolt/ USB 4 ports, 2x USB A, Ethernet port, HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack Front: 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXC card slot (UHS-II) |
If you’re a professional video editor looking for the best desktop Mac with unmatched power, the M2 Ultra Mac Studio is simply unbeatable. The Mac Studio is like an elder sibling of the Mac mini with a mighty chassis and some additional ports.
Under the hood, the latest Mac Studio has an M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip. If the M2 Max chip wasn’t already powerful enough, the M2 Ultra is basically two M2 Max chips combined for an insane amount of power. So, you can edit videos using Lightroom or Photoshop while opening multiple browser tabs or checking out a YouTube video. The M2 Ultra chip can handle it all without any lag, stutter, or other performance issues.
The M2 Max model lets you hook up to 5 external displays. Whereas, the M2 Ultra model lets you work with up to eight 4K@60Hz displays, six 6K@60Hz displays, or three 8K@60Hz displays. To sum up, the M2 Ultra Mac Studio is a pro-level option and a superb alternative to the expensive Apple Mac Pro. That said, it’s a worthy investment that will last you a long time.
Pros Cons Packs enormous power Overkill for non-professional or first-time video editors Supports up to 8 external displays Comes with a premium price tag Compact and sleek design Requires separate monitor, mouse, and keyboard It offers a silent performance
5. Apple Mac Pro: A Premium Video Editing Workstation
| Type | Specs |
|---|---|
| Display | None |
| Display support | up to 8 display |
| Processor | Apple M2 Ultra (24-core CPU, 60-core GPU) |
| Graphics | Configurable up to 76-core GPU |
| RAM | up to 192GB |
| Storage | up to 8TB |
| Ports | 8x Thunderbolt 4/ USB C ports, USB A, 2x Serial ATA ports. Additional connections: 2x USB-A, 2x HDMI, 2x Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack |
The Mac Pro with M2 Ultra is Apple’s most power-packed & customizable computer, designed for pro-grade users. With a 24-core CPU and up to 76-core GPU, the M2 Ultra Mac Pro lets you tackle the most demanding editing workflows with unbeatable speed and efficiency. So, studio editors can craft a feature-length film or edit super-long videos without any performance issues.
However, the Mac Pro doesn’t offer much speed or performance benefits over the Mac Studio. The only major advantage is that you can plug in expansion cards to enjoy additional storage. That said, you get this at a stupidly premium price tag of $6,999, which is $5000 more than the price of Mac Studio. So, unless you have a very niche use case that requires a massive workstation to unleash all the available power, you may not really need this Apple computer.
Pros Cons Incredibly powerful Can be an overkill for some users Unique design The most expensive Apple machine Pack a well-thought array of ports Offers various configurations
Those were the best MacBooks and Macs for video editors. We hope you’ve found this article useful and that it has helped you pick the video editing machine of your dreams. So, which video editing Mac are you planning to buy? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
The latest M3 Pro and M3 Max are amongst the most powerful and fastest Apple machines for video editing.
The optimal RAM depends on your work demands and what type of videos you wish to edit. For instance, if you have to edit HD videos, a 16GB RAM would suffice. On the flip side, if you have to work with longer and 4K videos, at least 32RAM is recommended.
If you’re a beginner who’s looking for the best video editing Mac on a budget, then the M1 MacBook Air is a decent option. You can edit your photos, social media videos, and other stuff. That said, be ready to deal with limited RAM, storage, and I/O ports. Overall, it’s a good machine for beginners, but we won’t recommend it for mid or high-level creatives.
Well, it depends on your needs, working style, and how much you’re willing to spend on a video editing machine. If you crave portability and the freedom to edit videos on the go, then a MacBook is more suitable. On the other hand, if you have a dedicated workspace iMacs and Macs are a great option, and they are more powerful than their laptop counterparts.
