In This Article
Video editing is known to crash regular laptops. Cameras putting out higher resolution videos require a lot of computational power to process. With an old laptop without a dedicated graphics card, you can only process limited amounts of video. So, you need to get a laptop with high graphical prowess to handle editing projects. For this reason, we’ve concluded all the best laptops for video editing under 500 dollars.
| Picture | Details | |
|---|---|---|
Top choice  |
Dell G3 Gaming Laptop ✔Intel i5-8300H CPU ✔8GB RAM ✔256GB SSD Storage ✔15.6″ FHD Display ✔NVIDIA GTX 1050 4GB VRAM |
|
Runner UP  |
HP Pavilion x360 ✔Intel Core i5-1135G7 ✔8GB RAM ✔256GB SSD Storage ✔Full HD IPS Display ✔Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
|
 |
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 ✔Intel i5-1035G1 ✔12GB RAM ✔256GB SSD Storage ✔15.6-inch LED-backlit ✔Intel UHD Graphics |
|
 |
HP 15 Laptop ✔11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor ✔8GB RAM ✔256GB SSD Storage ✔15.6” Full HD IPS Display ✔Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
|
 |
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 – 2018 ✔8th Gen Intel Quad Core i5-8250U Processor ✔8GB RAM ✔1TB SATA hard drive ✔15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) Display ✔Intel Integrated 620 Graphics |
|
 |
Acer Aspire 5 ✔AMD Ryzen 3 3350U ✔4GB RAM ✔128GB NVMe solid-state drive storage ✔15.6 Full HD display ✔AMD Radeon Vega 6 Mobile Graphics |
|
 |
Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop (2021 Model) ✔Intel N4020 Dual-Core Processor ✔16GB RAM ✔256GB SSD Storage ✔15.6″ HD Display ✔Intel UHD Graphics 600 |
|
 |
HP Premium Laptop (2021 Model) ✔AMD Athlon Processor ✔16GB RAM ✔320GB SSD Storage ✔14″ HD Display ✔AMD Radeon Graphics |
|
 |
ASUS VivoBook F512 ✔AMD R5-3500U CPU ✔8GB RAM ✔256GB SSD Storage ✔15.6” FHD WideView NanoEdge Display ✔AMD Radeon Graphics |
|
 |
Dell Latitude E7470 ✔Intel Core i7-6600U 2. 6GHz Processor ✔16GB RAM ✔512GB SSD ✔14” QHD Touchscreen Display ✔Intel HD Graphics |
10 Best Laptops For Video Editing Under 500 USD
This section will tear down all the products and open their overall structure with main benefits to you. You can read the below reviews of the best laptops for video editing under 500 dollars. Select the one with the suitable components that you may like and make a payment. It’s super easy nowadays to get the best from the rest.
01. Dell G3 Gaming Laptop
| CPU | Intel i5-8300H CPU |
| Ram | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD Storage |
| Display | 15.6″ FHD Display |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1050 4GB VRAM |
| Battery Life | Up to 3 hours of battery life |
Dell G3 gaming laptop, as its name suggests, is an entirely different laptop from the other laptops by Dell. It’s a complete powerhouse packed up with some great accessories to power up your video editing work.
It consists of dual fans to stay calm under high-performance mode. More so, you’ll get to ignite the fast performance of an NVIDIA GTX 1050 that somehow decreases the production time of videos but adds some weight to the laptop.
Further, it contains an 8th Generation Intel Core i5 8300H processor with an 8 MB cache. Tearing down, it is a 4 core and 8 thread mobile-based chip with 2.30 GHz base clock frequency and 4.00 GHz boost clock frequency.
The processor supports up to 64 GB DDR4 RAM at 2666 MHz; however, you’ll only get 8 GB with the Dell G3. And, it features an upgradeable 256 GB (SSD) for faster data transfer and boots uptime.
The model G3 has a 15.6″ FHD (1920 × 1080) IPS anti-glare, LED-backlit display. It’s a great addition and a perfect combo with the GTX 1050. Since it’s a gaming laptop, so you can expect high-performance metrics while using your favorite video and photo editing applications.
Besides its fast operation, it still lags in some departments. The Dell G3 lacks a long-lasting battery, as it only lasts up to 3 hours under regular use. And, it may lower to 1.5 or 2 hours if you use it under any severe load. Also, the G3 does not have a USB-C port.
02. HP Pavilion x360
| CPU | Intel Core i5-1135G7 |
| Ram | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD Storage |
| Display | Full HD IPS Display |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Battery Life | Up to 9 hours of battery life |
Top second our list of best laptops for video editing under $500 is HP Pavilion x360. Hewlett Packard is the top tech supplier, also manufactures low cost and budget-friendly to leverage every customer with their excellent products.
That said, today, we have the HP Pavilion x360 on our desk to beat the heat and do competitive video editing. You need speed to run video editing software and produce hourly long videos, podcasts, and even YouTube shorts. For that, you’ll get 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 with a stellar performance that handles multitasking on the go.
More so, its 360 degrees Full HD (1920 × 1080) multitouch diagonal screen enables you to create presentation videos and doodles at your fingertips. This vibrant screen is also for extra smooth graphics with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics with boosted performance.
The HP Pavilion x360 includes NVMe M.2 256 GB PCIe that also provides a boost to your performance. Also, the model Envy boasts 8 GB DDR4 RAM to make sure you run Adobe Premiere at a pace.
Since it’s built for streaming, you’ll get a long battery of 8 hours and 15 minutes with supercharging. It means you can go from 0 to 50% in 45 minutes only.
With all these superfast accessories, the laptop lacks some great additions that I think don’t add additional production cost. First, it doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor; that’s an extra level of security. And, it also lacks a backlit keyboard.
The laptop also contains a plastic back, so it needs extra care since plastic tech accessories tend to be more fragile than other equipment.
Related Article: 10 Best Gaming Laptops under 200 Dollars [2022]
03. Lenovo IdeaPad 3
| CPU | Intel i5-1035G1 |
| Ram | 12GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD Storage |
| Display | 15.6-inch LED-backlit |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours of battery life |
Simple and straight! The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 became a sensation after its launch because of its low price and highly competitive components.
It comes with 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 3.9 GHz dual-core four-way performance that enables you to do multiprocessing. And, its 12 GB DD SDRAM makes this laptop the best video editing laptop under 500 USD. You can do multitasking like mixing audio and processing video with these beasts.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 includes a 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD, in which you can store lots of data and movie production without any fear. And, it also contains an energy-efficient LEC backlit to give you a premium feel while holding it in public.
The best part of this laptop is its battery. Like, you can’t expect a 20 hours battery in an under $500 video editing laptop. Being that said, you will get to experience 7 hours of battery backup with a stellar performance.
One thing we noticed is that it boasts a non-professional touchscreen for video editors. You can expect a better screen because it comes with a 15.6″ touchscreen at 1366 × 768 typical HD resolution. It only supports 720p, that’s not viable for high-class video or photo editing.
But, at this budget for a video editing laptop, you have to compromise over things foremost as it has excellent components but lacks to provide you with a great screen.
04. HP 15 Laptop
| CPU | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor |
| Ram | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD Storage |
| Display | 15.6” Full HD IPS Display |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 hours of battery life |
Still not satisfied with our top picks. Don’t worry; we have a long list. Now, we’ve another product by HP. The HP 15. However, it has some similarities with the HP Pavilion; still, it is one of the best laptops for video editing under $500.
It features 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 4.2 GHz for unlimited fast performance and multiprocessing. It’s a quad-core processor with eight physical cores and an 8 MB cache that can boost your freelance work.
Although you’ll get 8 GB RAM, its processor can support up to 64 GB RAM at 3200 MHz. Also, it provides excellent storage with a fast transfer rate with a 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD.
The HP 15 contains an integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics card that adds extra value to your video editing work. When it comes to similarities, you’ll experience the same battery life and fast charging.
The HP 15 is a lightweight laptop with a 6.5-millimeter micro-edge bezel display and an 82% screen-to-body ratio. This design lets you view and edit pixel by pixel from top to bottom because of a 15.6″ Full HD, IPS, micro-edge, and anti-glare display.
Similarities and drawbacks are the same as HP Pavilion for this item as it comes with a non-backlit silver color keyboard. You’ll find gray lettering on silver keys that make it unreadable in all conditions for most users. And, it’s almost the same price as the Pavilion with no touch screen, so why not get a touchscreen laptop for video editing?
You may also like: 10 Best Gaming Laptops Under 400 USD in 2022 (Budget Picks)
05. Dell Inspiron 15 5000 – 2018
| CPU | 8th Gen Intel Quad Core i5-8250U Processor |
| Ram | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 1TB SATA hard drive |
| Display | 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) Display |
| GPU | Intel Integrated 620 Graphics |
| Battery Life | Up to 4 hours of battery life |
Dell and HP are like the siblings of tech industries. They constantly provide the best tech gadgets in the market at a low cost. And, that’s why you’ll find lots of HP and Dell in our list as well. Now, we’ve Dell Inspiron 15 5000 from 2018.
It comes with a 15.6″ LED-backlit 1920 × 1080 to provide you maximum graphics show and let you edit your videos in high pixels.
Further, you’ll get an 8th Gen Intel Quad Core i5-8250U processor with a 1.6 GHz base clock and 3.4 GHz boost clock. According to some customers, it can beat a 17-7500U by an average margin of 26% due to its 6 MB cache and 8 physical threads. It’s a combo of 8th Gen CPU and Intel Integrated 620 graphics unit that can enhance your gaming experience as well.
Talking about the memory unit, you’ll get 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM at 240 MHz. We know it’s not high-frequency RAM, but you can’t expect more than 2400 in an older model like Dell Inspiron. You can upgrade it to 32 GB if you need more memory for multitasking. And, it features a 1 TB SATA HDD to store lots of files.
Lastly, we would conclude this product with its battery life. It has a low battery life of a maximum of 4 hours, and its touchpad is also sticky. It means your fingers would feel sticky when you move around the touchpad, making it a cheap laptop.
06. Acer Aspire 5
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 3 3350U |
| Ram | 4GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB NVMe solid-state drive storage |
| Display | 15.6 Full HD display |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Vega 6 Mobile Graphics |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours of battery life |
You can expect a powerful machine on a budget from Acer because they create the most powerful laptops for gaming with high-performance metrics.
That said, the Acer Aspire 5 A515 comes with AMD Ryzen 3 3550U processor. And, if you’re into tech, you may know AMD CPUs are best for heavy take-downs. The 3550U model consists of 4 cores and 4 physical threads to boost your notebook performance.
Moreover, it has a base clock frequency of 2.1 GHz and boosts clock speed up to 3.5 GHz for your high-demand applications.
It also includes AMD Radeon Vega 6 Mobile Graphics to provide you maximum resolutions and a higher frame rate with its 15.6″ FHD display with 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels.
A backlit keyboard adds class to this best laptop under 500 for video editing. And, the fingerprint scanner adds an extra layer of security to your files.
When it comes to memory, you’ll get 4 GB DDR4 RAM with a combo of 128 GB NVMe solid-state drive storage. It also includes a built-in Amazon Alexa so that you can control your smart home with your voice.
The no-one difficulty we noticed while reviewing it was its noisy and annoying fans. Of course, 4 GB RAM is relatively low for video editing, and since it’s one slot only, you may invest more to get higher gigabytes for multitasking. Also, it doesn’t contain a USB-C port, memory card slot, CAPSLOCK, and Numeric lock indicator that is very basic and help a lot.
Related Article: 10 Best Laptops for Crafting in 2022 – Crafters’ Top Picks
07. Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop (2021 Model)
| CPU | Intel N4020 Dual-Core Processor |
| Ram | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD Storage |
| Display | 15.6″ HD Display |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 600 |
| Battery Life | Up to 7.5 hours of battery life |
Kudos to the Dell because it is just an upgrade to the previous model, the Inspiron 15 5000. It comes at a great price point and includes stellar accessories that provide the maximum boost to your work.
This time, the Inspiron 15 comes with an Intel Celeron N4020 1.1 GHz dual-core processor with a 4 MB cache and a boost clock of 2.8 GHz.
It features a 15.6″ HD 1366 × 786 Anti-glare LED narrow border with a 16:9 aspect ratio. These pixels are enough for an entry-level video editor. Another thing, you’ll get 16 GB of high-bandwidth RAM to run multiple software programs smoothly. Dell also includes a 256 GB NVMe SSD for faster boot-ups and fast data transfer.
Don’t get confused with a pre-open box because the manufacturer upgrades the RAM and memory from 4 GB to 16 GB and HDD to SSD. Other than that, you’ll get to see Original Windows 10 Home 64 bit with a free upgrade to Windows 11 when available.
The Dell Inspiron 2021 contains integrated Intel UHD Graphics 60 graphics to provide solid image quality for video editing, movies, and low-end gaming.
08. HP Premium Laptop (2021 Model)
| CPU | AMD Athlon Processor |
| Ram | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 320GB SSD Storage |
| Display | 14″ HD Display |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Battery Life | Up to 9 hours of battery life |
The HP Premium 2021 comes with all the accessories and specifications you need to run high-end editing applications, making it the best editing laptop under 500 dollars.
You’ll get a 14″ HD (1366 × 786) touchscreen with a 6.5 mm thin silver bezel that adds a premium look to the model. It’s built to keep you productive and entertained from anywhere because it only weighs 3.2 pounds (1.45 kg).
When it comes to technical specifications, you’ll get AMD Athlon™ Silver 3050GE as its leading powerhouse, backed with AMD Radeon Graphics to boost your workflow. It’s a dual-core mobile-based CPU with 4 MB caches, 2 core, and 4 physical threads. It comes with a 2.3 GHz base clock, and It’s unlocked for boost clock up to 3.4 GHz.
Further, you’ll also get 1 Year Microsoft Office subscription for free with the newest model and a free upgrade to Windows 11.
The HP Premium 2021 boasts fast charging and battery timing up to 9.25 Hours under heavy use. All in all, you’ll get 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM for multitasking and 320 GB SSD (256 GB SSD + 64 GB eMMC) for faster data transfer.
It also includes 1 x SuperSpeed USB Type-C and 2 x USB Type-A ports.
One thing I noticed while reviewing the laptop is, it runs into technical difficulties after some use. So, you may have to change OS after purchasing to solve this issue.
You may also like: 10 Best Laptops for Silhouette Cameo 4 In 2022 [Top Picks]
09. ASUS VivoBook F512
| CPU | AMD R5-3500U CPU |
| Ram | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD Storage |
| Display | 15.6” FHD WideView NanoEdge Display |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Battery Life | Up to 3 hours of battery life |
First things first, the ASUS VivoBook F512 isn’t any ordinary video editing laptop because it carries the most powerful processor for a budget-friendly laptop.
It has AMD Ryzen 5 3500U CPU with 4 M cache and a 2.1 GHz base clock. However, it’s not factory unlocked for overclocking, but you can expect an overclock frequency up to 3.6 GHz. And, the brand pairs it with AMD Radeon Vega 8 which provides sufficient video memory for any video editing software.
The screen of this powerful laptop features a NanoEdge bezel with an 88% or 16:9 screen to body aspect ratio. The screen itself is a 15.6″ 1920 × 1080 FHD 4-way display with lots of saturated and unsaturated colors to provide you the best gaming experience.
Moreover, you’ll get 8 GB DDR4 RAM for multitasking, and it has a 16 GB RAM variant as well for a slightly higher price.
It comes with a 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, that’s a plus for someone who loves faster boot-ups. The ASUS VivoBook F512 also contains a backlit keyboard with a fingerprint sensor-activated via Windows Hello.
Another thing, you’ll get USB 3.2 Type-C for faster data transfer and HDMI to connect to bigger screens.
Of course, it’s a powerful budget video editing laptop, but it’ll be even more potent if it boasts higher frequency RAM. The other thing we noticed is, the brightness is only 200 nits. It means the screen is non-sunlight readable.
Related Article: Best Laptops for Internet Surfing (2022 Top Picks)
10. Dell Latitude E7470
| CPU | Intel Core i7-6600U 2. 6GHz Processor |
| Ram | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Display | 14” QHD Touchscreen Display |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics |
| Battery Life | Up to 2 hours of battery life |
Ah! We do not want to go, but I think here comes the end of today’s journey of the best laptop for video editing under $500. The first thing to clear about Dell Latitude E7470 is, it’s a refurbished laptop, meaning you’ll not get the original one, but a first copy or a second-hand laptop. More so, the Dell Latitude E7470 contains a 6TH Generation Intel Core i7-6600U processor with 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache.
It boasts 2 cores and 4 physical threads, a 2.60 GHz base frequency, and a 3.40 GHz max turbo frequency.
This laptop doesn’t contain an optical drive. However, you’ll get 16 GB DDR4 RAM at 2133 MHz. Its processor can adapt up to 32 GB RAM, but its mobo can’t take more than 16 GB. Similarly, it has a 512 GB SSD to power up your boot time and decrease file transfer time.
You’ll get a 14″ (2560×1440) QHD Touchscreen Display that’ll help you to edit videos on the go.
Besides refurbished condition, defective OS, and 90 days delivery time, you won’t find any issue while using this laptop for video editing under 500 USD.
Continue Reading: 10 Best Laptops for Medical Students in 2022 (Top Choices)
Requirements For The Best Laptops For Video Editing Under $500
When you opt for the best laptop for video editing, simply, you can’t just buy anything. Because video editing requires fast processing power, multitasking, and all in all, great storage to store RAW files to convert them into movies and action plays. So, to get the best laptops under 500, you also have narrowed a tiny budget, and you must consider these things before getting a laptop.
Processor
A fast processor is all you need to get started in the world of editing. You should opt for the latest processor because they utilize less energy, don’t heat up, and provide maximum power for multiprocessing. Gone are the days when the processor was only the brain of a computer. The CPU holds every power, like mobo compatibility, RAM frequency, and power slots compatibility.
A CPU with at least 4 cores, 4 M cache, and 4 threads are recommended to have in your best laptop. However, if it has more physical threads, you can also lower the selection to 2 cores. But bear in mind that your CPU must overclock.
Related Article: How To Test Motherboard Without CPU?
Random Access Memory (RAM):
Often, you will edit just one video directly through and then have several clips saved on your laptop that you will need at a later date. You may experience performance issues if you use a laptop without enough RAM because RAM is the sole reason behind multitasking. So, an excellent laptop for the money must have 8 GB RAM with at least 2122 MHz base frequency.
Screen Resolution
Whether you need a laptop for video editing, gaming, movies, or anything else, screen size and resolution are always central to consider. That said, the best laptop for photo and video editing must have a 1080p screen resolution, and it must be a 15.6″ screen.
Related Article: How To measure Laptop screen?
Why a large screen? Video editing is all about working hours and hours on your craft, and smaller screens could produce eye strain and fatigue that can kill your productivity. And, higher resolution means better pixels and excellent output as well.
You can consider;
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What are the requirements for a video editing laptop?
A video editing laptop must have 8 GB RAM and a 6TH Intel or AMD Athlon processor to process higher resolution videos faster.
Q. Which is the best budget laptop for YouTube video editing?
The ASUS VivoBook F512 remains one of the most popular laptops used by small YouTubers for editing their videos before posting them.
Q. How can I edit videos on my laptop for free?
Besides premier pro and Final Cut Pro X is the best video editing apps, you can still edit your videos for free on this software.
01. DaVinci Resolve
02. Movie Maker Online
03. Lightworks
04. VideoPad
FINAL VERDICT
You could find the best laptop for video editing in the market, but you consider us to guide you to pursue your career on a low budget. So, we helped you and reviewed all the best laptops for video editing under 500 dollars on the market with excellent specifications and robust body designs.
However, if you still don’t have any idea which one to go with, we advise you to go with Dell G3 Gaming Laptop. It comes with high-frequency RAM, a fast processor, and most importantly, a dedicated GTX 1050 graphics card. Lastly, thanks for being with us up to the end.
Read More:
