9 Best Laptop for After Effects 2024

Do you have a hard time looking to become a successful video editor? Is the biggest problem in your way your gadget? If you are facing such conditions and are looking for the best laptops for After Effects, you are just on the right page on the internet. 

This blog will show you the best video editing laptops that will make your way to success easy. By reading this guide, you will spend money on the right laptop for your work. We have researched a bundle of notebooks and compared them based on various factors. 

After complete analysis, we have enlisted the 9 best laptops for After Effects 2022. This list is useful when looking for the best video editing gadget to carry. But, first, let’s look at the following overview of all the laptops on the list.


Our 9 Picks | Best Laptop for After Effects


Apple MacBook Air

Our Best Pick

Picture of Apple MacBook Air which is selected as the best laptop for After Effects.
Picture of Apple MacBook Air which is selected as the best laptop for After Effects.

When picking the best device for After Effects usage or any other video editing software, you can’t ignore this masterpiece by Apple Inc. It is the best pick from the complete collection because of its advanced features. You will find this Apple MacBook Air in almost every collection of the best video editing laptops. Here is a brief description of those amazing features that make it a good laptop. 

Superb display

One of the best features of this laptop is its 13 inches dazzling display.

According to many editors, the main problem behind failure in Adobe After Effects jobs is the small-sized display. 

Therefore, this video editing laptop has been assembled with a decent screen size to make the process easier for everyone. With its 2500×1600 resolution on such a widescreen, you can analyze your video properly and edit it with the expected outcomes. 

Powerful performance

When it comes to using a heavy-duty program on a laptop or desktop device, you must have seen some glitches in your work. The main reason behind this is the slow processing that makes it hard for an editor to work properly. 

This MacBook Air has resolved this issue with its fast and powerful processor. As reported by many users, it has been found to have a fast processing speed compared to other devices of the same specifications. In short, you will be able to get a quick and real-time display of all your activities on your screen. 

Extended Battery Life

Have you ever experienced a low battery problem while working on your video editing project? If yes, this laptop will resolve this problem for you because of its 18 hours of battery life. The company has launched this laptop with an excellent battery that will keep your laptop running for quite some time. 

In simple words, you can say that it will allow you to complete your project in one go. You don’t need to worry about your gadget’s battery even if you have to travel from place to place. 

ProcessorApple’s M1 Chip
RAM8GB RAM
Storage256GB SSD
GraphicsApple’s 7-core graphics
Display13” Retina Display
Operating SystemmacOS
Battery LifeUp to 18 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.8 lbs (1.27 KG)
Pros
  • All-day long exceptional battery life
  • Highly secure laptop
  • Excellent multitasker
  • Super speedy performance
  • Premium quality display
Cons
  • Greatly lacks ports
  • Webcam is not good

ASUS ZenBook 13

Our Second Choice

ASUS ZenBook 13 - Our Second Choice
ASUS ZenBook 13 - Our Second Choice

Whether you want a portable laptop that is easy to carry or a device that won’t hurt your eyesight, you must try this product. It is one of the best products launched by ASUS for graphic and video editors. The main reason it is the best laptop for After Effects is its display feature and its Intel core i7 processor. Here is a quick overview of all the features that make it one of the best video editing laptops. 

Eye care display

When looking for a high-end laptop or gadget for your video editing career, you must have an eye on the display feature. It is because you might be worried about your eyesight since, being a video editor, you have to work with a laptop for multiple hours. 

Too much display time might not be good for your eyesight. Therefore, we have this gadget in the list of best laptops for After Effects for your eyes protection. It has reduced 70% of the harmful blue light from the display to keep you safe. In addition, its NanoEdge Bezel Display will keep you safe and give you a perfect look at your projects on the screen. 

Fast processing

ASUS ZenBook 13 has an excellent processing speed. With 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and an Intel Core i7 processor, this device has speedy processing capabilities.

This laptop can be used as an editing laptop without any worries. It will keep working smoothly because of the quality graphics card assembled in this laptop. So, you can use this laptop for Adobe After Effects without any worries. 

Instant charging

No doubt, it is not considered a good sign when your laptop is getting recharged in a short time. The reason is that a user will experience instant discharging of the battery after this. What if you are guaranteed that your laptop’s instant-charged battery will not get discharged instantly? 

It would be great, Right? This ASUS ZenBook 13 is considered the best because the battery will get charged in a short time. Its 67Wh battery will be charged fully within an hour, and you can use it for almost 10 to 13 hours without any issue. In addition, it will not show any glitches like slow processing if you have taken care of its processor while using it for the long term. 

Processor11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7
RAM16GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
GraphicsIntel Iris Xe Graphics
Display13.3″ OLED Full HD (1920 x 1080) Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 13 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.45 lbs (1.1 KG)
Pros
  • Sharp & crisp screen
  • Compact & lightweight
  • High-quality speakers
  • IR face recognition
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • No headphone jack
  • No option for 4K display or touch screen

Lenovo Yoga C740

Our Budget Pick

Lenovo Yoga C740 - Our Budget Pick
Lenovo Yoga C740 - Our Budget Pick

Being a video editor, you may face a situation when you need to look at your work precisely. Hence, you will have a greater look at your work by converting this laptop into a tablet and bringing it closer to your face due to its 2-in-1 design.

Great for designing

We might be right if we say that the Lenovo Yoga C740 is one of the top-rated laptops at a much more affordable price. The reason is its 360-degree rotation that makes this a good laptop for designing. You can easily turn the screen face towards you or your friend sitting opposite you within a minute. 

With its 8GB DDR4 RAM, it is considered one of the fastest budget devices available on the market for graphic designers. Hence, if you’re a video editor looking for a budget laptop, the Yoga C740 is a great pick! 

Touchscreen feature

While editing a video or picture using a program like Adobe Photoshop, you may be looking to touch the screen and do it properly. In such a case, you will find its touchscreen feature highly useful. With its sensitive screen, you can change your design or video or click on any feature shown on your screen. 

You can also use its backlit keyboard for inserting your data or editing without a touchscreen. You will find this Intel core i5 device best and responsive to your actions in both sections. 

Advanced features

Lenovo has assembled this budget-friendly laptop with advanced features and some ordinary but beyond expectation features. For example, you will get a quality webcam that makes it easy to conduct a meeting or participate in any event. 

Along with this, you will get advanced functions related to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other functions. In turn, this device is perfect for designing and other tasks like business management.

Processor10th Gen Intel Core-i5-10210U
RAM8GB RAM
Storage256GB SSD
GraphicsIntel UHD Graphics
Display14.0″ (1920 x 1080) FHD Touch-Screen Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 13 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 3.09 lbs (1.4 KG)
Pros
  • Touchscreen & convertible
  • Sleek & lightweight
  • Decent battery life
  • Budget-friendly
Cons
  • No HDMI port
  • No SD card reader

HP Spectre x360

HP Spectre x360
HP Spectre x360

HP has one of the finest and most powerful collections of laptops available on the market. That is why you will find many of its products in the best video editing laptops list. You will find the HP Spectre x360 one of the best choices for you when looking for the best laptop for After Effects. By reading the upcoming lines, you will know why we have ranked this device in this list of laptops. 

Fast Processing 

One factor that makes the work hard for a professional video editor is slow processing. It happens often when you are running After Effects or Adobe Photoshop on your laptop for a long time. 

This product by HP has been assembled with extraordinary features that will make your work smooth and faster. It has a processor that can work at speeds up to 3.9 GHz. In simple words, you will get an instant display of your editing activities on your device’s screen. Due to its fast processing feature, this device is also considered the best, with highly efficient outcomes in the video editing field. 

Secure Device

We all know that when we are working on a laptop or using it for personal use, one of the most important things is privacy. Everyone around the globe wants to be secure while using this handy device. Therefore, it is common to have situations where you may leave your video editing laptop in some space. 

In such a case, you might be worried about the valuable data available on your device. However, the manufacturers have made this device with extensive security features to protect you from such unexpected conditions. In addition, you can utilize its high storage capacity hard disk to store your data and keep it safe using a fingerprint lock feature.  

Extensive Features

Along with an extended security feature and a quality processor for fast processing, this laptop by HP has been launched with extensive features. For example, when working on a video editing project using Adobe After Effects, you might be looking to hear the audio properly. 

This is where you will find this device’s audio performance the best for you. It will provide you with high stereo audio to check whether you are on the right track or not. Similarly, its impressive 4K UHD panel provides you with amazing results. All in all, it is one of the best laptops for After Effects.

Processor10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7
RAM16GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
GraphicsIntel Iris Plus Graphics
Display13.3″ 4K UHD OLED touch screen (3840 x 2160) display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 13 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.77 lbs (1.26 KG)
Pros
  • Ultra HD, 4K support display
  • High-quality and stylish look
  • Ultra-fast 10th gen processor
  • Upgradeable SSD
  • Hinges are strong
Cons
  • RAM is not upgradeable
  • No Thunderbolt 4 ports

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

If you love to work with a laptop with a perfect design and lightweight, you are at the right place to explore a product with such functions. Some video editors love to have gadgets that give them a perfect look. The Microsoft Surface is one of those models that will fulfill the requirements of this dimension due to its delicate design. 

Elegant Design

The designers have done a lot of hard work in its manufacturing that can be estimated by looking at the design and working of the laptop. Therefore, it is a good choice for getting some elegant and smoothly working devices. Moreover, because of its design, you can easily open this device with one finger. 

The backlit keyboard of the device has been made thin to keep you comfortable even if you have kept it on your legs. Moreover, its 13.5 inches screen with quality display features will give you a perfect view from all angles. In turn, you can say that it would be a fantastic device for using software like Adobe After Effects. 

Portable Device

When working as a video editor in this era of technology, you might have to visit some places or conduct meetings with your customers. It all happens when you want to be professional and social at the same time. 

You might find it hard to carry your heavyweight laptop in such a condition. This video editing laptop has been made very light and easy to carry, making it highly travel-friendly.

Noise Free Working

The video editing field is not one in which you can copy other people, but you have to be creative. What if you are distracted from your task again and again? You will lose attention, and your work will not be up to the mark. 

If you are worried about this issue, you will find Microsoft Surface a great choice. This product will not make an excessive sound unless you continuously use it for hours. In this way, you can keep doing your work without facing any distractions. It will also enable you to work smoothly and calmly even if you have been dealing with multitasking projects. 

Processor11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7
RAM8GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
GraphicsIntel Iris Xe Graphics
Display13.5” (2256 x 1504) 10-point multi-touch Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 12 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.84 lbs (1.28 KG)
Pros
  • Easy to carry anywhere
  • Light & portable
  • Thin & elegant design
  • Superb performance
  • Stunning display
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • Lacks ports

Razer Blade 15

Razer Blade 15

If you are looking for a smoothly working personal or professional laptop, we recommend trying this product. It is one of the most underrated laptops available, manufactured by Razer. Razer Blade 15 has the best features for video editors with its fast processing and quality display. Here are the elements we have enlisted with other best laptops for the same task. 

Quick Processing 

Undoubtedly, it is almost the property of every laptop that is considered the best for video editors or After Effects usage. But you will get this laptop with a few extensive features in this regard too. It has an Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, making its processing faster than other laptops. 

With its 5.0 GHz processing speed, it will never let you wait to have a smooth display on the screen. It will allow you to work without any issues of lag or slow display. Using this device, you can complete your work of a few days within a couple of hours if you have a firm grip on the editing field. 

Easy to carry 

 An editor doesn’t need to stay in the same place for the project. However, you might need to move to some specific outlets or points to meet your clients or freshen up. Hence you will also find the need to take your laptop with you.

Razer Blade 15 has been assembled with lightweight components to make this task easy for you. In simple terms, you can carry this gadget anywhere without any issues. 

Customizable Keyboard

 Being a video editor, you may be looking to get some calm space to check your work’s final copy. But, in turn, you may have to get some dark space where nothing can change the outlook of your video. The main problem that you are getting is your keyboard’s backlight or display. 

With its customizable keyboard, you can customize all the settings to adjust your keyboard’s backlight. For example, you can either turn on the background lights or keep them turned off. Similarly, you can mute the button’s sound if you want to per your project’s requirements. 

Processor10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H
RAM16GB RAM
Storage512GB SSD
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
Display15.6″ 4K OLED Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 6 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 4.7 lbs (2.1 KG)
Pros
  • 4K OLED display
  • Upgradeable RAM
  • Extra SSD slot
  • Robust build
  • High-quality camera and graphics
Cons
  • Average port selection

Acer Nitro 5

Acer Nitro 5
Acer Nitro 5

Acer is one of the most demanding manufacturers of laptops around the globe. With a core i7 processor, this device is one of the best laptops for video editing under the budget offered by this company.

Large Screen Size

 While researching the best laptops for After Effects, the Nitro 5 is a masterpiece offered by Acer for designers that love to interact with a large display. This laptop has a 17.3 inches screen with a great color scheme that makes it simple to accomplish your task. 

Finding a laptop with a big screen is desired by many editors. The main reason is that an editor finds it pretty simple and easy to work on a large screen without hurting his eyes. 

Sensitive Keyboard

Many people think that designing is the only work with a mouse or keypad. But it is not right because you have to deal with the keyboard to insert text like subtitles and others. So it would be best if you had a keyboard with superior sensitivity to type anything on your project in such a case. 

This laptop has a keyboard with extensive sensitivity that makes it better for an editor to use. You can easily click on this input device without getting tired. It will sense your movement and make changes in the text or design according to your desires within a few seconds. 

Expandable RAM

It is always excellent to have upgradeable RAM. This device has become more popular because of this feature too. You will find two slots for RAM with a capacity of 32GB. 

In simple words, if you think that your laptop has become slow after months of work, you can move towards the outlet and ask the concerned person to extend the RAM. So, you can easily replace the RAM or enhance the RAM capacity of your device. 

Processor11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H
RAM16GB RAM
Storage1TB SSD
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti
Display17.3″ FHD 144Hz IPS Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 3 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 5.95 lb (2.69 KG)
Pros
  • Great value
  • Large screen
  • Top-notch GPU & CPU
  • 144Hz display
  • 4.6 GHz processing speed
Cons
  • Bad battery life
  • Difficult to carry due to heavyweight

LG Gram 16

LG Gram 16
LG Gram 16

Are you looking for the latest laptop to deal with your video editing projects? This is where you will get this LG laptop with all the features you need to use while working with Adobe After Effects. It is one of the best laptops for After Effects if you have a handsome budget up your sleeves. 

Quality Display

 If you have been working as a video editor, you must know that it is not enough to get a wide-screen laptop. But it is also important to have a quality display for better and smooth working. This is where you will find this laptop one of your best choices. 

With its 16 inches screen, the designers have assembled this product with an IPS display. It will ensure that you are getting high-quality visuals with the best and most extensive resolution power. In simple words, you will find this gadget best with a powerful combination of specs.

Long Battery Life

 Whether you are working with a new laptop or an older one, you must be looking for extensive battery life. The main reason is that we don’t want to stick with the charging spot to get our device charged again and again. 

But when it comes to success in the Adobe After Effects editing field, you must keep this factor in mind. You should pay attention to this factor because it will decide whether you will keep working with this video editing laptop or not. This device by LG has an extremely long battery life, meaning you can complete a project on a single charge. 

Processor11th Generation Intel core i7-1165G7
RAM16GB RAM
Storage1TB SSD
GraphicsIntel Xe Graphics
Display16″ (2560×1600) IPS Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 17 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 2.62 lbs (1.88 KG)
Pros
  • Superb battery life
  • Featherlight & Slim
  • Fast multitasking
  • Great portability
  • Fantastic display
Cons
  • Glossy display
  • Non-expandable RAM

HP Envy x360

HP Envy x360
HP Envy x360

Are you looking for the best 2-in-1 laptop for your professional work? Here we have enlisted one of those products that will work for you in this dimension. It is one of the best devices produced by HP under the ENVY series for those in search of a laptop for video editing or other use. 

Flip Laptop 

The main feature of this laptop is the flipping feature that enables the user to use it as a tablet. Yes, you can use this gadget like a laptop and a tablet. You only need to flip the screen and use its touchscreen working mode to type on it or make any design. 

This feature is also beneficial for you when participating in a meeting. Its webcam will allow you to show yourself to the participants properly and get a prominent look. 

Budget-Friendly Device

 You might not have seen such a lower-priced laptop for a video editing professional. The reason is that almost every high-end device has a higher price tag, making it hard for a beginner to purchase and get to work. 

This HP laptop has a low price tag, making it feasible for everyone. You can get this product and start working with Adobe After Effects. It will not show you glitches like slow processing with 16GB RAM and 512 GB SSD. 

ProcessorRyzen 5 5500U 6-Core Processor
RAM16GB RAM
Storage512GB SDD
GraphicsAMD Radeon Graphics
Display15.6″ Full HD Micro-edge Touchscreen (1920 x 1080) Display
Operating SystemWindows 10
Battery LifeUp to 8 hours (Battery life varies with use)
WeightApproximately 4.1 lbs (1.86 KG)
Pros
  • Fast processing
  • Appealing design
  • Stylus pen
  • 2-in-1 laptop
Cons
  • Has some weight to it

Conclusion

In concluding our search for the best laptop for video editing, we think that the Apple MacBook Air is fantastic under budget and has a dazzling display; hence we have selected it as our best pick.

The ASUS ZenBook 13 is another laptop slightly over the 1000$ price mark with a sharp and crisp display. Furthermore, the Ultrabook is compact and easy to carry around; therefore, if you aren’t a fan of Macs, the ZenBook 13 is worth considering.

Lastly, if your budget is slightly tight and you still want a machine that does the job, look no further than the Lenovo Yoga C740.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 16GB RAM enough for After Effects?

Adobe After Effects is a professional computer program that works as motion graphics and compositing software. It allows for editing video footage in 2D or 3D space, adding pre-rendered elements such as particles and animated text, and creating complex visual effects using plugins (some made by Adobe). Many people ask whether 16GB RAM is enough for Adobe After Effects because it is such a resource-intensive program.

A simple answer to this question would be yes. However, a more detailed explanation would have to consider what someone will do with After Effects. Someone working on simple video projects or compositing tasks, such as adding some simple visual effects onto a video clip, would be fine with 16GB RAM. However, if someone were working on a project that included 3D, several effects, and pre-rendered elements, they would probably need more than 16GB of RAM.

Is MacBook pro good for After Effects?

The Apple MacBook Pro is a great laptop for After Effects, with a fantastic display and enough RAM to handle even the most demanding professional projects.

Is After Effects hard to learn?

It is not too hard to learn how to use After Effects. It requires a reasonable amount of time and effort, but you should try it. It is a really interesting program with many benefits, and it may be good to learn how to use the program in case you need it.


Thank you for Reading!

Muhammad Rafay
Muhammad Rafay is the co-founder of Tech Chatter, a website that publishes buying guides related to laptops and technology. He's passionate about helping people make informed decisions about the products they buy.