What is the Best Video Editing Computer in 2020?

We all spend a lot of time behind the camera, which means we must also spend a lot of time at a desk. That's why we wanted to take a look out there to see what is the best video editing computer in 2020?

What to Look For in Your Video Editing Computer

There are so many, many, many options out there for video editing computers. And then there are even more than that. It can be extremely difficult to quantify what is the "best" computer. Especially with how quickly newer and better video editing computers come out these days. But there are some certain aspects that are important to keep in mind when looking for a new computer.

Type of Computer

For some users, a portable laptop is a MUST when deciding on an editing computer. For editors on the run, a powerful yet mobile option is the only choice. Some other editors would scoff at the idea of editing on anything but a fully dedicated video editing desktop. Each person's needs will be different, and therefore they need to weigh the options before making a decision.

How Heavy Editing Will You Be Doing?

Another factor is what and how intensive the editing will be. Youtubers that are only editing 1080 footage will have way more wiggle room when it comes down to RAM requirements and other specs. Whereas someone that is editing 8K long-form content will have a much more stringent need for top-of-the-line specs.

Personal Preference (Mac vs PC)

Of course another factor to consider is your preference for Mac vs PC or other personal factors. Your video editing computer will likely be used for more than just editing videos. Will you like using one brand or style for personal use more than another? Another thing to consider is screen size. How important is the additional real estate that a larger monitor brings? There is of course also the factor of cost when planning for your next video editing computer.

Top Video Editing Computers

We based our results on a number of factors and have ranked the top in each field. Our rankings include Best Overall, Best Budget, Most Balanced, Best PC, and Best Laptop.

	Best Overall	Best Budget	Most Balanced	Best PC	Best Laptop
Our Pick	Apple iMac Pro All-in-One	Apple Mac Mini 8th Gen	Alienware Aurora R9 9th Gen	Microsoft Surface Studio 2	Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
Cost	$4,999+	$799	$1,999	$3,499.99	$2,699.99
Runner Up	Apple iMac  27in	Lenovo IdeaCentre 520	Lenovo Yoga A940	Corsair One Pro i180	Razer Blade 15
Cost	$2,299	$649	$3,299	$3,999.99	$3,700+

Best Overall Video Editing Computer

It's hard to compete with the specs of the Apple iMac Pro. We felt this was too powerful not to rank number one. The caveat being, of course, that it will cost you a pretty penny. If budget isn't an issue, you'll be hard pressed to find a better video editing computer than the iMac Pro. Our runner up is another Mac: the 27in Apple iMac (2019). A much more budget-friendly Mac option offers many of the same features as number one on our list.

Best Budget Computer

The budget options we looked at had to also be feasible for video editing. So these video editing computers are certainly not the least expensive on the market. However, they are considered fairly inexpensive for video editing standards. Our pick for best budget video editing computer is the 2018 Mac Mini. A well-rounded feature set coupled with a relatively inexpensive price - especially for a Mac. Our runner up is the Lenovo IdeaCentre 520.

Most Balanced Video Editing Computer

For this category we were taking a look at not only features, but cost as well. We also took into consideration the usefulness for other applications other than video editing. Uses such as color correction, gaming, regular internet browsing, etc. We wanted to find the right computer that fulfilled video editing needs while also being useful for other common computing tasks. Our top choice for balanced video editing computer is the Alienware Aurora R9. Boasting some great hardware stats for editing, while being a useful option for general use, all at the right price has this computer up top. Our runner up option was the Lenovo Yoga A940. The Lenovo is just a bit too pricey, but still a great machine for what you get.

Best Editing PC

We may be a bit biased for Macs, so we thought it would be useful to include a category for PC computers as well. Our number one for video editing PCs is the Microsoft Surface Studio 2. Not the cheapest PC out there, but it is fully loaded. If you are not a Mac user, this is tough to beat, assuming it is within your budget. Our runner up for editing PCs is the Corsair One Pro i180. Again, another pricey option, but well worth it for the features.

Best Video Editing Laptop

And we also had to include an option for all the traveling vloggers out there. So our pick for best laptop is the Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019). This laptop has much of the same editing power as a desktop computer with up to 64GB RAM and an 8TB SSD drive. Our runner up pick is the Razer Blade 15. This is styled more for gamers, but again, this bleeds over pretty nicely to what video editors need. And Peter McKinnon also agrees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nStEj8xlLy8 A great option for portability, the Razer might have reached #1 if it wasn't for the much more expensive cost than the Macbook. Overall, it's a great choice for vloggers and other editors on the go.

Which Video Editing Computer are You Using in 2020?

We'd love to know which computer you are using! What recommendations do you have for video editing computers in 2020? Obviously there is a huge wealth of computers and information out there, so no list will be 100%, but we'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this list. Be sure to leave a comment below, and head over to Gear Focus to buy or sell your used video editing computer.