9 Best MacBook for Video Editing 2024
Digital video editing requires huge processing power, heavy graphics, and, most importantly, storage space. 
Now that 4K has become part of life, heavy video editing is needed for this task, which eats up huge space.
You might want to go for the highest processor speed, storage space, and RAM allocation when choosing the MacBook for video editing – just like with the MacBooks for music production.
Reviews: Top 7 Best MacBook for Video Editing in 2024
1. Apple MacBook Pro 28-core 2.5 2019 edition – #1 Pick
This 2019 edition heralded the successful return of the Pro featuring an expandable RAM and professional-grade features as compared to its predecessor. Featuring 12 GB RAM and 8 PCIe slots, this is one of the most customizable Macs, which promises exemplary performance for professional video editors.
What sets this MacBook apart from the others is the 28-core Xeon 3275M processor featuring a single 2.5 GHz Xeon processor. The included turbo boost is capable of achieving speeds of up to 4.4 GHz, thanks to the gigantic 66.5MB of the cache.
Whereas this edition gives you numerous customizable options, the factory shipped option comes equipped with 32GB RAM and 8GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon Pro graphics. The default configuration is by itself sufficient for all heavy-duty digital video editing tasks.
You get unlimited connectivity capability with this Mac thanks to the three high-speed USB ports, 4 Thunderbolt ports, and two HDMI ports, which allow you to transfer edited videos speedily and connect to the Ethernet.
The display provided by this unit supports 6 4K display outputs and 2 6K Apple Pro XDR displays, making it the ultimate choice for professional video editors.
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2. Apple MacBook Core i5 Pro 16” 2024 – #2 Pick
2024 13” MacBook Pro is an upgrade from the earlier version which features a longer battery life and a more comfortable keyboard design. Its portable design allows you to carry it around without compromising on performance if you are a video editor on the move. The CPU performance is sufficient to get all your video editing tasks done in a flash.
At the heart of this Mac is 16GB of RAM which power the Intel Core i5 processors. The graphics card features the Intel Iris Plus technology. You get 512GB of SSD memory with the purchase of this unit.
The MacBook Pro 16” integrates the Magic Keyboard with scissor switches design. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, this keyboard is more comfortable and superior as compared to the previous versions which utilized butterfly switches.
Despite the relatively small screen size, the screen gives you a resolution of 2560 by 1600 of retina display. At 16:10 display ratio, this unit features the revolutionary True Tone Display which is just what you need as a beginning or experienced video editor.
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3. Apple MacBook Pro 15” (2019) – #3 Pick
With this 2019 edition, you get a combination of portability, excellent battery life, and high video processing power.
This upgrade features 9th generation Intel processors, making it one of the fastest video editing powerhouses. You get a powerful battery life capable of lasting you for 11 hours and a sharp color display with the purchase of the MacBook Pro 15.
This Mac version is powered by 8 core i9 processors supported by an ultrafast SSD. The 8GB RAM memory space and a Radeon Pro 580X graphics card are just what you need for all your video editing tasks. The AMD graphics features the proprietary 5500M Radeon Pro version, which is sufficient for editing raw photos and videos in 4K high definition.
This MacBook Pro edition offers you 15.4” of the display, which is capable of supporting millions of colors and a resolution of 2880 by 1800 at 220 pixels per inch. The color rendition of this edition is unparalleled thanks to its integration of True Tone technology with P3 wide color capability.
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4. 2019 Apple iMac 27-inch Retina 5k Display
In addition to the larger 5K display, other features that make this iMac version the go-to choice for video editors is its incorporation of a 6-core i5 processor, a dedicated 4GB AMD Radeon graphics card, 8GB RAM memory and a staggering 1TB of memory space. With this buy, you are guaranteed of unrivaled color rendition and high contrast ratio.
The iMac 27” is as powerful as they come, thanks to its integration of 6 core 9th generation processors with a turbocharged speed of 4.6Ghz. The graphics card features 8GB of GDDR5 of Random Access Memory. This is upgradable to 32GB if you are looking to get more serious in your video editing endeavor.
The 5K Retina display which comes integrated into this unit offers you unparalleled beauty and one of the highest contrast ratios.
This unit’s display is capable of reproducing DCI-P3 color space, similar to what is used in movie production. The integrated Retina Display processes images at 60 MHz. At 5K display, the frame size is 1K bigger which allows changing frames in real-time without hiding the controls.
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5. Apple Mac Mini
This highly portable Mac features a revolutionary square design which makes it the smallest and most portable computer.
Weighing in at 2.9lbs, this unit is light enough to carry around. The Mini edition does not include a keyboard, mouse and display which makes it an ideal choice for video editors looking to plug their own accessories.
The entry-level model features a 3.6Ghz quad-core Coffee Lake Intel processor while the higher-end model has powered a 3.0Ghz 6-core 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor. Its performance rivals the 2018 MacBook Pro edition making it the go-to choice for video editors looking for high-speed performance and portability.
The base RAM allocation for all Mac Mini versions is 8GB of 2666Hz DDR4 memory, upgradeable to 64GB. The Mac Mini comes integrated with Intel UHD Graphics 630. Although this feature is not upgradeable, video editors may utilize e-GPU setups if accelerated graphics are needed. The Mac Mini comes in 256 and 512GB storage size but it is upgradeable to 2TB if you are a video editor dealing with numerous 4K videos.
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6. MacBook Pro 16”
This is arguably one of the most powerful Mac computers ever built. The 16” diagonal display supports resolutions of up to 3072 by 1920 which is capable of supporting millions of colors. At 226 pixels/inch, this MacBook is one of the best picks for video editors looking to make HD content in a flash.
The processor speed of this unit averages at 2.6Ghz for the 6 core i7 processors. This Mac edition can achieve speeds of up to 4.5Ghz with turbo boost. One of the biggest strengths of this edition is its 16GB DDR4 memory.
The installed AMD Radeon graphics offer you 4GB of GDDR6 memory, which should be sufficient to perform all your video editing tasks. With 512GB of SSD storage space, this Mac allows you to store your 4K videos with limited hassles.
This version comes equipped with a 16” screen with retina display with True Tone, which is one of the most sought out after versions by video editors. The backlit keyboard utilizes the scissors design, featuring concave and rubber dome configuration for improved comfort as you type.
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7. Apple MacBook Pro Core i7 2024
This Mac edition gives you configure to order options, allowing you to choose between the earlier and latest configurations.
Some the best-selling features of this unit include the retina display, scissor keyboard design and core i7 processor. This unit features several upgrades from the core i5 edition including an 8MB shared cache and a larger storage size.
The aluminum casing that houses this Mac version comes in three vibrant colors: gold, silver, and space grey. The screen features True Tone display but it contains higher graphics as compared to the Core i5 version.
This the Pro Core i7 features a 64-bit 10th generation core i7 processor with turbo boost 2.0. This feature allows you to increase boost the speed of active cores by up to 3.8Ghz. The hyper-threading feature in this unit enables you to achieve four real and four virtual cores. Additionally, it comes equipped with an 8GB upgradeable RAM.
The built in Retina display gives you 13.3” of backlit screen with IPS and True Tone technology, and a resolution of 2560 by 1600.
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Conclusion
This buying guide presents various options for both beginning and expert video editors, ranging from the most portable to the most powerful to the best-priced models.
In particular, the 2019 Apple iMac 27-inch Retina 5k Display stands out as the best overall choice thanks to its large 5K display, high RAM configuration, and user-friendly features.
