The Best Computer For Video Editing and Motion Design in 2023

You've just started video editing or looking forward to upgrading your current computer so it can bear the load of your renders? Check our advice to know which one will have enough RAM, CPU, and GPU and will suit perfectly for your goals. 

All of the options below will perform greatly and will suit most Windows and Mac users. So, what's the best computer for video editing in 2023?  

Requirements for Video Editing Computers

First of all, it should meet at least the minimum requirements to perform the video editing tasks.

The better specs you’ll find inside, the more expensive the computer will be - still, some accessible computers meet the minimum requirements, which are:

These are the optimal requirements for more complex video editing tasks:

There are a lot of choices on the market, and the performance of each computer will depend on the complexity of your video editing tasks, your footage, and the software you’re using. Let’s see what suits most to our requirements!

Best Computers for Video Editing

Apple Mac Studio

The most powerful computer Apple made, Mac Studio released in 2022 has everything video editors can possibly need and even more. Unlike most Mac options, provides vast upgrades and the ability to expand each specification.  

CPU: M1 Max 10-cores / M1 Ultra 20-cores
Graphics: 24-core GPU / 48-core GPU
RAM: 32 GB / 128 GB
SSD: 512 GB  / 8 TB 
Screen: None

Pros:

The quickest of Apple computers - Apple Mac Studio is a very strong device that will provide powerful and quick workflow without lagging. Easily can handle 8K footage, multiple streams, 3D modeling, games and heavy renders without overheating. Compactly takes place in the most minimalistic workspace.

Cons:

The only disadvantage of this device is the price. But clearly - if you need the strongest machine on the market to work with, Apple Mac Studio is your option.

P. S. You’ll have to buy the monitor separately.

Apple iMac 24-inch, 2021

Probably the second best solution for video and photo editors - Apple iMac 2021 includes all vital specs to perform complex editing tasks. The price and specifications of this computer make a perfect balance - it’s available to many editors and, at the same time, one of the strongest computers on the market.

CPU: 8‑core Apple M1 chip
Graphics: 7-core GPU / 8-core GPU
RAM: 8 GB / 16 GB 
SSD: up to 2 TB
Screen: 24-inch 4.5K Retina display

Pros:

An all-in-one device with an updated design, great performance, and a strong M1 chip. Can handle complex workflow and 4K footage. The price is more than adequate taking all the features of this strong device.

This would be the best choice for Final Cut Pro editors.

Cons:

Like in all Apple desktop devices, there are not enough ports. Perfect for video editing, unless you’re looking for editing 8K footage.

Additionally, this computer does not allow the upgrade of RAM - the maximum you can use is 16GB, which is not always enough for huge projects.

Apple iMac 27-inch, 2020

A very noticeable option, which would be more expensive than Apple iMac 24-inch, but will provide even better results after the upgrade.

CPU: Intel Core i5 – i9
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300 / Radeon Pro 5700 XT
RAM: 8 GB / 128 GB 
SSD: 256 GB / 8 TB SSD
Screen: 27-inch(diagonal) 5120 x 2880 Retina 5K display

Pros:

Powerful machine, convenient for video editing with a large Retina 5K display and great graphic card, allows to upgrade itself to the strongest machine on the market. The display delivers maximal color accuracy, which is a great plus to motion and graphic designers.

 Additionally, includes great built-in speakers that provide high-quality audio.

Cons:

27-inched iMac does not have enough ports, its design stuck in 2015, and the least pleasant - it does not have an M1 chip, which adds a lot to video editing productivity. Still, it has the i9 processor which is powerful enough to render demanding projects.

The price of the Apple iMac 27-inch is less accessible than other iMac options, still would be a great solution for various video editing tasks.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2

The most powerful Microsoft machine on the market, definitely deserves its place on the list. As iMacs usually prevail in any task, this computer could be a powerful alternative. With this 28-inch display, you would feel convenient doing daily editing tasks.

CPU: Intel Core i7
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB / GTX 1070 8 GB
RAM: 16 GB / 32 GB
SSD: 1 TB / 2 TB
Screen: 28-inch 4500x3000 resolution IPS display  

Pros:

A powerful device with a big display, includes 5 ports: 4 x USB 3.0 and 1 x USB-C. A plus to graphic editors - includes a flexible hinge to move the computer around and turn it into a drawing board, which may come in handy to Photoshop users. Additionally, allows switching color profiles from sRGB to DCI-P3 to achieve accurate color and saturation.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 has strong built-in speakers to provide great sound quality.

Cons:

The price of Microsoft Surface Studio is not easily accessible, but if you’re a Windows user and your tasks require intense video editing - this computer would be your best choice.  

Apple Mac Mini, 2020

Apple Mac Mini manages to be portable and handle complex editing tasks at the same time.

CPU: 8-core Apple M1 chip
Graphics: 8-core
RAM: 8 GB – 64 GB 
SSD: 256 GB / 2 TB
Screen: None  

Pros:

A great alternative to the iMac 24-inch and less expensive. It might be a small device, but it’s still one of the most powerful machines with an 8-core processor. 

Apple Mac Mini will allow you to perform the most complex tasks in a short time and be agile - its size and portability allow this device to be carried around like any laptop, which definitely adds to its pros. Additionally, its size influences its noise - while Apple Mac Mini pulls out intensive work, it remains quiet.

Would be a perfect choice if you already have a monitor, or desire to find a specific one.

Cons:

Additionally need to buy a monitor. Also, you wouldn’t be able to upgrade the machine.  

Corsair One Pro a200 

Corsair One Pro a200 is made a name for itself as a powerful and compact computer, which can greatly load video editing, amination, and games. It will be quiet and will take heavy loads.

CPU: 12-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
RAM: 32 GB
SSD: 1 TB / 2 TB
Screen: None

Pros:

A very powerful PC known as a gaming computer, but with the same success will handle your video editing software. Works quietly due to its cooling system with liquid-cooling radiators, which helps to keep CPU and GPU temperatures low.

You can be sure that this machinery will handle any task, whether it’s a 3D render or 8K footage with a lot of graphics.

Cons:

Corsair One Pro a200 is quite an expensive computer, but with all features included, it eventually costs well deserved. Apart from a PC, you’ll need to buy a monitor.Also this computer doesn’t have enough ports.

HP Envy 34 

HP Envy also could be a great alternative to Mac, taking to account its powerful processor and impressive upgrading potential.

CPU: Intel Core i7-11700
Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3060
RAM: 16 GB / 128 GB
SSD: 1 TB / 4 TB
Screen: 32.17 x 8.78 x 14.5in / 81.71 x 22.3 x 36.83 cm

Pros:

This device is powerful, has a great display, and has lots of ports.Another strong feature of HP Envy - it can quickly encode and render 4K footage with a high framerate. The price of this computer is also more accessible than on Macs, so it would be a great option for Windows users. 

If your projects don’t require heavy editing loads or your budget is limited, this would be your best option. You can always upgrade the PC to get better performance, but most tasks like editing YouTube videos or even 4K will be done perfectly.

Additionally, you can always upgrade the machine to make its performance even better.

Cons:

Not the strongest PC on the market, but it's totally balanced with its price and always can be upgraded further. Still, don’t expect it to render 8K.

Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 

Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 is a unique PC to handle your tasks and multiple 4K streams at once. Has great potential to be used for the most complex video editing and modeling tasks. This great computer will suit not just motion designers, but gamers due to the ability to upgrade the graphics card to GeForce RTX 3080.

CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 / AMD Radeon RX 6800
RAM: Up to 128 GB 
SSD: 512 GB / 2 TB SSD + 2 TB HDD
Screen: None

Pros:

Has a fast processor and a strong graphics card. Easily customizable with convenient port placement. Allows to upgrade CPU from Ryzen 5 to Ryzen 7 and 9, increasing the performance of demanding video editing tasks.

You can customize the RGB lighting of the PC to your own preference.

Cons:

This computer may be noisy on hard renders. Some people might be not into Alienware Aurora specific design. Also, can turn out expensive with further upgrades, which will be required due to the limited SSD storage.  

HP Omen 30L

HP Omen 30L can boast not just its glass transparent design, but also strong specifications that will totally cover the editor’s needs. With the further upgrades, this computer will be a promising device to handle complex effects and footage with high resolution.

CPU: Up to Intel Core i9 / AMD Ryzen 9
Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
RAM: 8 GB / 16 GB 
SSD: 1 TB / 4 TB
Screen: None

Pros:

Enough ports to add new specs. You can easily swap components to improve the PC, the price is suitable for many editors. It’s more accessible than the options above but will be almost as impressive as any of these computers. 

With its 7200 RPM, HP Omen 30L would be fast enough to process your video 4K without dropped frames. Additionally, it has a spacious SSD drive - one of the slots available for expansion which can increase the storage capacity to 4 TB.

Cons:

Single-cooling fan which makes the computer loud and distracting. Additionally, the manual RAM of HP Omen is 8 GB, which means rendering tasks can take more time.

To sum up

Hope this guide was useful! We’re more than confident, that at least one of these powerful computers will be a perfect solution to your editing tasks - as you can see, there are enough options that range by budget, performance variations, design, and particular specifications, which may be chosen individually.

You can always build your own computer, taking to account the minimum requirements for video editing activity listed above and your budget. Looking for a strong laptop? Check our guide to find the best laptop for animation in 2023.

Visit our blog to learn editing tips for After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro and Final Cut.