This post was most recently updated on June 20th, 2023
The laptops for video editing under $500 are those which are capable of running a large number of video editing programs and applications without any issues. This is where it’s important to have some knowledge regarding the hardware you will be using as well as what you will be doing with it.
For example, if you plan on using your laptop for video editing then it’s going to need at least 8 GB of RAM, which is usually sufficient for most basic tasks such as cutting videos and adding effects. If you want more power then consider upgrading your processor or graphics card so that it can handle the extra load.
When shopping for the best laptops for video editing under $500, make sure to keep in mind how much processing power you really need. It’s very easy to get caught up on specs and convince yourself that you need more than you really do.
Video editing is a key skill for any digital media content creator. Many people think video editing needs to be expensive, but that’s not always true. You can edit high-quality videos on an affordable laptop.
Video editors require some specific features on their laptops. Here are the best recommendations for video editors who are looking for the best laptop under $500.
Can I use any laptop for video editing?
It is possible to edit video on any laptop, although some laptops are more suited to the job than others. If you are planning on doing lots of processing-intensive work, it might be worth investing in a laptop with a powerful graphics card and lots of RAM.
If you are on a tight budget, you can get by with 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5 processor for low-end editing tasks (YouTube videos, etc.). But if you want to edit 4K videos, do color correction, or use many effects and plugins, we recommend spending more money on your laptop.
- Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 3000 Series
- CPU: Intel i3-1005G1
- Battery time: 7.5 hours approx
- Display: 15.6-inch Display with Acer shiels technology of blue light
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Windows 10 S
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
- CPU: Intel with 2.4 GHz speed
- Battery time: 7 hours approx
- Display: 14 inches LED display
- Storage: 128 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
- Processor: AMD Dual-Core A6-9220 APU
- CPU: AMD with 2.6 GHz speed
- Battery time: 9 hours approx
- Display : 15.6-inch with1366 x 768 HD resolution
- Storage: 1 TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
Video editors are always in search of useful gadgets like laptops and mobiles. But it is a challenging task to select one from the vast market. Moreover, they don’t need to buy high-end laptops as they do not use them for any programming tasks.
13 Best Laptops For Video Editing under $500
Every laptop has its specifications that confuse the video editors to choose their best laptop. So here are our top picks for the best laptops for video editing under $500.
Acer Aspire 5 A515-55-35SE, 15.6″
- Specifications
- Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 3000 Series
- CPU: Intel i3-1005G1
- Battery time: 7.5 hours approx
- Display: 15.6-inch Display with Acer shiels technology of blue light
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Windows 10 S
Under $500, it is the best laptop for video editing, and it is one of our top picks. Acer Aspire 5 has terrific features that allow multiple features along with video editing. Many users may concern about its storage memory, but it has many rooms for video projects. So it’s not an issue.
Video editors demand bigger and powerful screen displays, so it has a 15.6 inches screen with blue light protection.
The Acer Aspire 5 is a great laptop for the home and office. It has all the ports you might need, plus a good-looking screen and a keyboard that’s comfortable to use. Best of all, it costs only $430—although you can find Acer Aspire 5 models for a few hundred dollars more with dedicated graphics, which are better for playing games.
The same goes for battery life: The $430 model lasts about 7.5 hours, which is very good for a laptop in this price range, but not quite as impressive as the last Acer Aspire E 15 we tested, which lasted 9 hours on our battery test (and came with an Intel processor).
Overall, though, there isn’t much to complain about here. The Acer Aspire 5 is a solid choice whether you’re looking to buy your first laptop or upgrade an old one.
The Acer Aspire 5 looks like any other entry-level laptop: It’s made entirely of plastic, with a matte finish on the lid and keyboard deck that hides fingerprints well. The exterior doesn’t feel flimsy by any means, but it lacks the premium design of some more expensive laptops.
Newest Lenovo Ideapad 3 14″ HD Display
- Specifications
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
- CPU: Intel with 2.4 GHz speed
- Battery time: 7 hours approx
- Display: 14 inches LED display
- Storage: 128 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
It is one of the best video editing laptops under $500 with 14 inches display. The display is the top priority of the video editors. So it has the FHD resolution and narrow bezels on both sides of the screen. It has a more authentic visual experience the many other laptops of this range.
Its powerful processor also makes it the top laptop as it allows the smooth usage of multiple tasks at once.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14″ Laptop is perfect for every need. With its beautiful design, immersive audio, and powerful processing, it’s portable productivity at its best. It’s safe to say that this eye-catching laptop will be turning heads wherever you take it.
This Lenovo IdeaPad 3 notebook features a spacious 256GB SSD drive to store your work files, photos and music library. It has an 8GB of RAM to ensure a smooth user experience and comes with Windows 10 Home preinstalled so you can get started right away.
The 14″ HD screen ensures that you get the most out of your viewing experience, with stunning clarity and a 16:9 aspect ratio for great visuals in both portrait and landscape modes. The integrated webcam and microphone let you talk to family members online or attend web conferences without sacrificing image quality.
This Lenovo IdeaPad 3 laptop also comes with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity so you can easily pair it with your other devices, including wireless speakers and headphones.
HP 2019 Newest Premium 15.6-inch HD Laptop
- Processor: AMD Dual-Core A6-9220 APU
- CPU: AMD with 2.6 GHz speed
- Battery time: 9 hours approx
- Display : 15.6-inch with1366 x 768 HD resolution
- Storage: 1 TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
When video editors require a laptop under $500, it’s the best choice with 15 inches screen. The Hp laptops’ newest model is robust and more durable than many other models. Videos editors are used to working for long hours, so it offers 9 hours battery time. Its battery capacity makes it a better choice for video editors and many other users as well.
If you are running a business requiring frequent video editing, it is the best choice because it has a portable body structure.
Windows 10 brings back the Start Menu from Windows 7 and introduces new features, like the Edge Web browser that lets you markup Web pages on your screen.
The BrightView glossy screen maintains the vivid colours in your photos and videos. Typical 1366 x 768 HD resolution. WLED backlight. AMD Dual-Core A6-9220 APU processor (2.6 GHz, up to 2.9 GHz)
Substantial high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once. 1TB hard drive for ample file storage space
Holds a sizeable collection of digital photos, music, HD videos and DVD-quality movies. 5400 rpm spindle speed for standard read/write times. AMD Radeon R4
Integrated graphics chipset with shared video memory provides solid image quality for Internet use, movies, basic photo editing and casual gaming. Built-in stereo speakers
DTS Sound creates a virtual surround sound experience for your music, movies, streaming Web content and games. Weighs 4 lbs. and measures 0.9″ thin
HP Stream 14inch Touchscreen Laptop
- Processor: Dual-Core Processor Up to 2.2 GHz
- CPU: AMD
- Battery time: 11 hours approx
- Display: 14-inches with1366 x 768
- Storage: 128 GB
- RAM: 4GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
Hp stream is a fantastic laptop under$500 for video editing due to its processor quality. It has a dual-core processor that allows multi-tasks at the same time. It has 4GB RAM, but unfortunately, it is not upgradeable.
This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high-performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
Windows 10 Home in S Mode: Experience the most secure Windows ever built, streamlined for security and superb performance. Add a Microsoft 365 subscription to your cart and get the best value for all the things you want to do with Office, 2TB of OneDrive cloud storage, and advanced security for all your devices.
AMD Dual-Core Processor A4-9120: Get reliable performance for everyday tasks with this laptop featuring an AMD Dual-Core processor and 4GB of memory; This laptop is powered by an AMD A4-9120 processor with a base speed of up to 2.2GHz; It has 4GB of DDR4 SDRAM system memory (expandable to 8GB) to give you efficient multitasking power
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15″ Laptop, 15.6″ HD (1366 x 768) Display
- Processor: 7th GenAMD Ryzen 3 3250U
- CPU: Intel core with 2.4GHz speed
- Battery time: up to 5 hours approx
- Display: 15. 6″ inches with 1366 x 768 resolution
- Storage: 1 TB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
Lenovo Ideapad 3 is a superb video editing laptop under $500 with its looks and fantastic performance. It is available in stylish and classy looks with a powerful processor. The processor features a great rendering time and perfect for multi-tasking at a time.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 Laptop, 15.6″ HD Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, 4GB RAM, 128GB Storage, AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics, Windows 10 in S Mode
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 Laptop is more than just your average run-of-the-mill laptop; it’s a triumph of engineering that can keep up with your fast-paced lifestyle. Its impressive processing power comes from the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U processor, which delivers lightning-fast speeds for all your tasks — whether you’re working on a school project or putting together a presentation for work. The 1TB HDD offers plenty of storage space to keep all your files safe and secure in one place. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 also features 64GB of eMMC flash memory that boots up in seconds so you can get started right away.
When it comes to performance, the IdeaPad 3 doesn’t disappoint either. It runs on Microsoft’s latest operating system — Windows 10 in S Mode — making it easy to navigate through apps and programs. Plus, its Wi-Fi 5 capability lets you seamlessly connect to the internet without any interruption or delay. It even has Bluetooth 4.2 technology so you can connect to your other Bluetooth devices wirelessly.
HP Chromebook 14-inch HD Laptop
- Processor: Celeron(R) N4000, Dual-Core processor
- CPU: Intel with 3.52 GHz speed
- Battery time: 13 to 14 hours approx
- Display: 14 inches with 1366 x 768 pixels resolution
- Storage: 1 TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Windows 10 S
Video editors usually demand high battery time laptops. So the Hp 15t laptop is one of the best laptops under $500 with the highest battery time among all other models. It has a super-resolution display that makes it an excellent device for video editors and prioritizes others. The processor has a dual-core powerful processor that allows the multi-tasks at a time.
This HP Chromebook gives you the best of Google, including Gmail, Maps and Docs. A long-lasting battery lets you work and play throughout the day while the Intel processor and 4GB of memory deliver fast, responsive performance.
The 14-inch display has a 1366 x 768 resolution with an anti-glare finish that reduces annoying reflections so you can enjoy your favorite movies and shows in crystal-clear clarity. The 32GB hard drive provides ample storage for your files and multimedia, while built-in Wi-Fi capability lets you connect to the internet from virtually anywhere.
The HP Chromebook is powered by an Intel Celeron N4000 1.1 GHz processor and 4GB of RAM so you can run multiple programs at once. The 32GB eMMC provides storage for documents, photos and other files.
Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
- Processor: MediaTek MT8173C Processor
- CPU: 2.1GHz speed
- Battery time:
- Display: 11.6-Inch HD with a resolution of 1366 x 768
- Storage: 1 TB
- RAM: 4GB
- Operating system: Chrome OS
It is one of the two in1 high-performance laptops under $500. It has a super performance that boosts up in seconds and easy to use. It has built-in virus detection software that makes it more compatible than the others. This self-protection system helps the battery to go longer than average. So it is also one of the best choices for video editors.
The Lenovo Chromebook C330 brings the best Chromebook features to you, housed in a sleek, stylish, and secure 360⁰ convertible laptop. Offering the latest multimedia in high-definition, this convertible Chromebook features a 10-point touchscreen LCD display for easy viewing in tent, tablet, stand, or laptop mode. Never slowing down and always up to date, the Lenovo Chromebook C330 offers the latest in digital security while delivering perfect day-to-day performance via powerful processing with integrated graphics, eMMC storage, and DDR3 memory—all with up to 10 hours of battery life.
Take it anywhere. Weighing just 2.64 lbs and measuring 0.77″ thin, the Lenovo Chromebook C330 is designed to be easier than ever to carry with its convertible laptop design and convenient YOGA Mode. The 11″ display also makes it perfect for multitasking and collaboration while on the go.
Stay protected with multiple layers of built-in virus protection. Built-in virus protection is ready from the moment you start your device out of the box. Browse confidently knowing that your files are protected from viruses and malware by Chrome OS’s built-in security features which include multiple layers of protection: sandboxing, data encryption on password protected networks and verified boot.
HP Pavilion x360 14″ Touch-Screen Laptop
- Processor: 10th Generation dual-core processor
- CPU: Intel Core-i3-1005G1 with 3.4GHZ
- Battery time: 7 hours approx
- Display: 14 inches with 1366 x 768 resolution and touch screen
- Storage: 1 TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
Hp pavilion is the best budget laptop for video editing. Video editors have a large file to store and shift, so they require high storage capacity. Many other laptops also offer 1TB storage but offer many other great features. Its screen has vibrant colors that make it perfect for video editors.
A laptop isn’t just a computer – it’s your entertainment hub, social network and workspace. It’s the main way you keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues and stay informed about what’s happening in the world. The HP Pavilion x360 14 is one of HP’s best-selling 2-in-1 laptops and it’s easy to see why. With a slim, elegant design, it delivers reliable performance, a great display and all-day battery life. Plus, you can keep all your photos, videos, music and documents in one convenient place so they’re easily accessible when you need them.
The HP Pavilion x360 14 is designed with a 360-degree hinge so you can adjust it to any position that fits your needs. Get into a comfortable position for writing or watching videos by folding the screen back into a tablet position or standing it up on its kickstand like a tent. When you’re ready to get back to work, flip the screen around so you can type on the full keyboard just like a traditional laptop.
No matter what position you choose for your HP Pavilion x360 14, the stunning full HD display will provide an impressive viewing experience for movies and video clips thanks to 1920 x 1080 resolution on an IPS BrightView display.
ASUS F512JA-AS34 VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop
- Processor: 10th Gen processor
- CPU: Intel Core i3-1005G1 with 3.4GHz speed
- Battery time: 8 hours approx
- Display: 15.6 inch HD display with 1920×1080 resolution
- Storage: 1TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop, 15.6” FHD Display, Intel i3-1005G1 CPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint, Windows 10 Home in S Mode, Slate Gray, F512JA-AS34
Looking for laptop that will keep up with your day? The ASUS VivoBook is the perfect choice for you featuring a new frameless four-sided NanoEdge display. With its breathtaking frameless design this laptop looks as good as it performs. It also includes a backlit keyboard that allows you to type comfortably even in dim lighting. Use the fingerprint sensor to log into your VivoBook in any mode with Windows Hello. And when you’re in a rush it only takes a single charge for this laptop to last all day!
The actual transfer speed of USB 3.0 3.1 (Gen 1 and 2) and/or Type-C will vary depending on many factors including the processing speed of the host device file attributes and other factors related to system configuration and your operating environment.
CHUWI HeroBook Pro 14.1 inch
- Processor: Dual Core Gemini lake N4000 processor
- CPU: Intel dual-core with the speed of2.6Ghz
- Battery time: 9 hours approx
- Display : 14.1 inch Full HD 1920×1080 resolution display
- Storage: 1TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Window 10
CHUWI HeroBook Pro is a powerful laptop for video editing that eats many other best laptops under $500. It has a dual-core powerful processor that allows the video editors to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. It has the best GPU that ensures better image and video quality. As for the speed and storage, it has the best SDD storage, so you can run multiple apps at a time without hanging.
CHUWI HeroBook Pro is a thinner and lighter laptop, so it is easily portable. Battery time is also useful in CHUWI HeroBook Pro, which is about 9 hours with fast charging technology.
Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 10 Home. Windows combines the best of both Windows 7 and 8.1 to appeal to and serve well all types of users – PC beginners and experts, business and creative professionals, touch-screen tablet owners, and everyone in between.
Powered by Intel Celeron Gemini Lake N4020 processor. This processor has 2 cores with 4 threads and a frequency of 1.10 GHz, which can be boosted up to 2.8 GHz when necessary thanks to its turbo boost technology, in addition, it uses a 14nm manufacturing process that gives greater energy efficiency.
The 8GB RAM will give you enough space for your documents and pictures without slowing down the computer. In addition, it includes an M.2 NVMe SSD of up to 256GB so you can save your most important files in the fastest way possible.
14 inch 1080p FHD IPS Screen: The 14-inch FHD IPS screen offers a 1920 x 1080 resolution good experience for watching videos and browsing the Web. The 14-inch screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution delivers excellent detail, making it perfect for Web surfing, movie streaming, or homework
HP EliteBook 840 G3 Laptop 14″ HD Display
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6500U
- CPU: Intel with 2.40 GHz speed
- Battery time: 8 hours approx
- Display: 14.0″ FHD screen with 1920×1080 resolution
- Storage: 1TB
- RAM: 16 GB
- Operating system: Windo 10s
HP elite book 840 is a powerful laptop device under $500. It has all the powerful features that support a profitable video editing business. It offers a vibrant screen display that makes it the best choice for video editors.
Its processor and storage capacity is also too good that it all together provides fast file loading and processing. Its processor allows the background apps to work effectively, along with video editing apps. HP EliteBook 840 has 16 GB RAM that makes it perfect for heavy projects as well. so it is the best choice for video editors.
HP EliteBook 840 G3 Laptop 14 HD Display, Intel Core i5-6300U 2.4Ghz, 256GB SSD, 16GB DDR4 RAM, Webcam, WiFi, Windows 10 Pro
The HP EliteBook 840 thin and light notebook allows users to be ultra-productive in and out of the office. Work with confidence thanks to proven technologies, security, performance and management features that will meet all your enterprise needs.
2021 Newest Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Series 3593 Laptop
- Processor: 10th Gen dual-core processor
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G1
- Battery time: 6 hours approx
- Display: 15.6″ HD with 1366 x 768 resolution
- Storage: 1TB
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Window 10s
If you are a video editor and a fan of Dell laptops, it is the best option for you under $500. It is a backlit touchscreen with a powerful processor of the 10th generation. It offers effective working at multiple tasks as video editors require large storage space, so it has 1TB storage and fast loading and processing speed. So it is a recommended laptop under budget for video editors.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Series 3593 Laptop is equipped with a 51 Wh battery. It also has a 15.6-inch HD display, which delivers crisp and clear visuals so that you can enjoy your favourite movies or videos. You can upgrade your storage with the help of the 512 GB SSD drive that gives you plenty of room to store all your important data, documents, and software.
This laptop comes with the 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor. It has a base speed of 1.0 GHz along with an 8 MB cache memory, which enables you to perform all your computing tasks at seamless speeds. This laptop features 16 GB of RAM that allows you to multitask between multiple applications, so that you can get more things done in less time.
Windows 10 Home is the operating system that comes preinstalled in this laptop. It is designed with features like Cortana and Windows Hello, and comes with apps like Groove Music and Movies & TV, which make your computing experience fun and personalised.
Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop
- Processor: MediaTek MTK8173C Processor
- CPU: MediaTek with 2.4 GHz speed
- Display: 14 Inches with 1920X1080 resolutions display
- Storage: 1TB
- RAM: 64 GB
- Operating system: Chrome OS
The Lenovo Chromebook S330 brings the best Chromebook has to offer—in a sleek, stylish, and secure laptop in Business Black. Bringing the latest multimedia in high definition, this Chromebook features a 14-inch FHD display that is near-edgeless, for effortless enjoyment of your favourite multimedia content.
Never slowing down and always up to date, the Lenovo Chromebook S330 offers the latest in digital security while delivering perfect day-to-day performance via powerful processing with integrated graphics, eMMC storage, and DDR3 memory—all with up to 10 hours of battery life.
This streamlined Chromebook delivers excellent value without sacrificing performance. It’s ideal for everyday casual use, whether browsing the web or working on school assignments. Plus, at just over 3 lbs, this notebook computer is ultraportable.
Designed for portability, this convertible laptop weighs just over 3 pounds and is slim at less than one inch thick. The light design makes it easy to carry everywhere you go!
At 14 inches wide, this notebook computer features a near-edgeless display that’s perfect for streaming video and more. The anti-glare screen makes viewing a breeze in any lighting conditions!
The Chromebook has a fantastic processor that allows the powerful loading of multiple tasks simultaneously. Many video editors may refer it to others who want to purchase the best laptop for under $500.
Buying guide for best video editing laptops Under $500
It is a challenging task to choose the best laptop for video editing under $500. But it is not impossible to find out the best laptop if you have the proper guide. It would be best to consider few things while purchasing the best laptop for video editing, specifically when your budget is $500. So here are some points that you need to consider.
RAM
Storage is the first thing that video editors require. So don’t go for the RAM less than 8GB. It helps video editors to run their software effectively.
GPU
Graphics are the backbone of video editing. Always go for eh laptop that offers a good GPU. It also depends on your video editing software. But you need to check the GPU of the laptop before purchasing.
Processors
Video editors require multi-core processors to focus on video, audio, and many other things simultaneously. Probably core i5 and above processors are suitable for video editors.
Hard drive or storage
Video editors require at least 256 Gb hard drive storage, so they effectively load the software. You can buy more than this if you can afford it but make sure it is not less than this range.
Conclusion
Summing it all up, purchasing a laptop doesn’t mean that you just through the money, but you need to choose the best laptop according to your budget. Buying the best laptop for video editing under $500 is difficult, but I hope 13 top picks help you select your computer. All the laptops in this guide have their different specifications, and all are considerable. So choose wisely according to your requirements.
FAQs
Is 8GB RAM enough for video editing?
The requirement of RAM capacity depends on the projects of the video editors. 8GB RAM is good for the 1080p. You can run a bigger file, but then you need to close all the background files. For more significant projects, go for the higher RAMS, like 16GB or 32GB.
Is SSD or HDD better for video editing?
SSD is the storage of data over flash memory but at a slower speed than HDD data storage. HDD allows the programs’ 100 times fast loading speeds to effectively work on large files during video editing. So HDD is better than SDD.
Is i5 or i7 better for video editing?
I7 is always better than the i5 for video editing. But sometimes, i5 may give more value than i7. For video editing, i5 is also suitable, but it’s not as better as i7. However, both can effectively support video editing, so it depends on your budget and which one you prefer.
