The best photo + video editing laptop in 2022 is the Apple M1 Pro, and it is affordable. This laptop checks all of the boxes. Whether you have been patiently waiting for the its release, or if you are brand new to the creative space and looking for your first laptop, this one’s for you.

The ability for your computer to do what you need it to do greatly impacts your workflow and ultimately your bottom line. While a large investment today may seem scary, there are so many benefits to a more efficient computer. The amount of time you save on each task quickly adds up when you think about processing thousands of photos each day. When you relate that time savings to less total time per project you land somewhere in the ballpark of better pay per hour.

There are so many factors that must be considered when picking out the perfect content creating/processing machine. The cheapest option will probably not perform the best and the most expensive option may not be feasible for those on a budget. We are looking for the best performance without breaking the bank. Apple comes through again, and delivers where it counts.

Performance That Matters

The best photo + video editing laptop comes with the hardware to back up the hype. This laptop offers options in every category for the most customizable configuration for your workload. However, it is worth noting that the baseline 14″ M1 Pro will be able to meet the demands of pretty much everyone. Only creators that deal heavily in large 4k, 6k, or 8k projects will need to take it to the Max.

If you are like me and fall into that first category, here is what you can expect with the baseline configuration 14-Inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro: 8 core CPU, 14 Core GPU, 16 Core Neural Engine along with 16 GB of unified memory and a 512 GB SSD all powered by a 67W(option to upgrade to 96W for $20) USB-C Power adapter!

The improvements continue to shine with the new Liquid Retina XDR Display with mini LED backlight. This is a half step between LED and OLED, allowing for an even higher contrast ratio of 1,000,000 to 1 and better overall color accuracy. When you are editing you want true to life colors for consistency in your portfolio.

Battery Life That Lasts

Considering all of the performance upgrades that were mentioned above, you might think that these laptops are real energy hogs, and you’d be wrong! They sip on battery, and continue to work for you every step of the way. The efficiency lies in the System on Chip architecture and the unified memory working synergistically with the rest of the computer. Apple has also solved the cooling issues by allowing more space for airflow, this cuts down on wasted energy usage to cool the unit.

Apple includes a 96W USB-C power adapter when you select a 10-core M1 Pro, which enables fast charging capabilities! This is one feature that has so many creators hyped and for good reason. This means you will be able to bring your laptop to a 50% charge within 30 minutes!

Say Hello To Some Old Friends

The best photo + video editing laptop in 2022 has brand new updates to the chassis and we are able to recognize some old features as well. The return of Magsafe as well as the HDMI port and SD reader slot! This has been something photographers have been missing for years and you can now say goodbye to the need for all those dongles. Actually I wouldn’t totally say goodbye to those pesky little guys just yet, you may need them in the future for any of the 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports still open and ready for accessories.

The return of the SD card reader is of the most importance for those of us that are using super fast SD cards in our cameras. Easy plug and play for backing up media and getting the card back in the camera and ready for the next opportunity.

The Bottom Line for the Best Photo + Video Editing Laptop

The best photo + video editing laptop in 2022 will cost you a total of $1,999.00 or the easier option of monthly payments at $166.58 over 12 months. This is a pretty reasonable option to get you using technology that wasn’t even available one year ago. If you don’t have a computer that you can create with right now, please reread that last sentence and understand how privileged you are!

This is a small price to pay when you consider that you will be able to use this work horse of a computer for years to come. It is so important when we consider what upgrades matter the most and when to go about upgrading them. If you can make one upgrade last for multiple years that allows you to focus on developing other areas of your business that may be lacking.

Chase Your Dreams

If the only obstacle holding you back in your pursuit of greatness is a laptop for editing photo + video, look no further. Run, don’t walk, and pick up one a 14 ” M1 Pro MBP. Your future self will thank you and be so grateful that you did.