Finding the best laptop for photo editing doesn't necessarily mean choosing the most expensive model on the market. You don’t need a powerful computer to make basic edits to photos – such as cropping, resizing and applying simple filters. And making small changes to images captured with one of the best camera phones or downloaded from the web won't particularly slow down any modern computer, either.
The Dell Inspiron 7000 i7559 15.6″ UHD (3840×2160) 4K TouchScreen Gaming Laptop. The Dell Inspiron 7000 i7559 is a 15.6″ laptop with high resolution (UHD) display.For someone who is a professional photo editor, being able to edit stills on a high-resolution display is great to have, and that means s/he is going to enjoy working with the Dell.
But having lots of computing power comes in handy when it’s time to take your photography to another level, and make use of some of the complex functions and advanced plugins in professional-grade tools such as Adobe's Creative Cloud suite. Perhaps you’ve bought a powerful new camera and have started working with massive uncompressed images at ultra-high resolutions. The extreme file sizes you’ll be working with will need as much computer power as possible.
What laptop is best for photo editing?
Right now, we think the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is the best laptop for photo editing you can get. However, if you're not a professional photographer we'd recommend the cheaper 14-inch HP Pavilion (number one in this list) or DELL Inspiron 13 7000 (number three). But the right laptop for you depends on your budget and skill level. So what specs should you look for?
Well, crucially you’ll want a laptop with a good screen. Thankfully even the most affordable laptops now use screens with IPS technology, which means brighter, bolder images, wider viewing angles and better colour reproduction.
You definitely need to look for 4GB of memory, as well; plus at least an Intel Core i3 processor (preferably Core i5 or i7). You want plenty of on-board storage, too. Many laptops now have solid state drives (SSDs) but these tend to have lower capacity than traditional hard drives. Either way, we don't recommend less than 256GB.
If you're going to be pro editing your photos, you want a top notch processor as well as 8GB of memory plus some fairly capacious storage. Again, no less than 256GB. But like a lot of creative kit, some of these machines don't come cheap, so if you're in the market for a shiny new device, it's worth keeping your eye out for upcoming best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Read on for our pick of the best photo editing laptops out there at the moment.
The best laptops for photo editing right now
01. HP Pavilion 14-inch Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i3, Core i5 or Core i7 | Display: 14-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 / Nvidia GeForce MX 130 / 150 | Memory: 8GB-16GB | Storage: 128GB - 512GB SSD | Ports: 3 x USB 3, 1 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort | Size: 22.5 x 32.6 x 1.8cm; W x D x H) | Weight: 1.6kg | OS: Windows 10 Home
HP’s all-rounder Pavilion laptop is a perfect choice for beginner photographers as it has all the computing hardware you’ll need to run photo editing software really well.
There’s an entry-level Core i3 version, but if your budget can stretch a bit further to the next tier, we’d absolutely recommend it for a significantly better photo editing experience. The Core i5 version has a much faster quad-core processor, which will provide a noticeable speed-up when applying modifications and adjustments to your image, and the IPS-backlist 14-inch display has a superior FHD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution.
The Pavilion 14 also has a great looking silver design, and 128GB of solid-state storage comes as standard, with 8GB of memory. While this is more than enough to get by, once you start working with higher resolution images, you’ll probably want an upgrade and additional storage.
02. Lenovo ThinkPad P1
The best laptop for professional photographers
CPU: Intel Core i5, Core i7 or Core i9 or Xeon | Graphics: Nvidia Quadro P1000 / P2000 | Storage: 256 - 4TB SSD | Size: 36.1 x 24.8 x 1.8cm; W x D x H) | Weight: 1.7kg | OS: Windows 10 Pro
The newly launched Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is one of the best laptops we’ve ever used, with some features that make it an absolute dream for any kind of graphics work, including image manipulation and photo editing. It’s a real powerhouse, with graphics and processor performance that can go head-to-head against any desktop computer. It does all this while still being remarkably small - the chassis measures just 18.4mm thick and it weighs just 1.7kg, dimensions far closer to an Ultrabook or mini laptop than you’d expect from a computer that offers this much performance. It can be configured with a four or six-core Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processor, an Nvidia Quadro P1000 or P2000 graphics card, up to 64GB of memory and up to 4TB of internal solid-state storage.
That alone would be enough to earn it a recommendation, but we’ve saved the best feature for last. The ThinkPad P1 can be configured with a fantastic 15-inch 4K colour-accurate display that supports 100 per cent of the AdobeRGB colour space, something you don’t find on many other laptops. Even your older photos will look better than ever on this screen, with colours leaping out at you in ways that simply aren’t possible with a standard screen.
While the ThinkPad P1’s high-end performance is met with equally sky-high pricing for the six-core version, the lower-tier model is still a relative powerhouse for photo editing, and you can always upgrade the screen when purchasing to the brilliant 4K version for a fairly small additional sum.
03. DELL Inspiron 13 7000
CPU: Intel Core i5 or Core i7 | Display: 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Memory: 8GB-16GB | Storage: 256 - 512GB SSD | Ports: 2 x USB 3, 1 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1x SD card reader | Size: 36.1 x 24.8 x 1.8cm; W x D x H) | Weight: 1.7kg | OS: Windows 10 Home
Dell’s Inspiron 13 is a 2-in-1 laptop, meaning it can fold down into tablet format, so you can work with photos using your finger or a stylus via a 10-point touch-sensitive screen, in addition to being able to use it as a standard laptop.
If this idea of a dual-model laptop appeals to you, you’ll be pleased to hear it also packs in some great performance too, with an eighth-generation Intel Core i5 processor. This will ensure any photo editing software you use with it will run smoothly, offering enough power for fluid manipulation of even high-resolution images, whether that’s using the trackpad in laptop mode, or with your fingers in tablet mode.
Perhaps surprisingly, given its good performance, great screen and bevvy of features, it’s far from the most expensive laptop option for photo editing.
04. Apple MacBook Pro 15'
CPU: 4 or 6-core Intel Core i7 | Display: 15.6-inch Retina Display) | Memory: 16GB - 32GB | Storage: 256GB - 4TB SSD | Ports: 4 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), | Size: 34.9 x 24.1 x 1.6cm; W x D x H) | Weight: 1.8kg | OS: MacOS
Given the choice of the 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models for photo editing, we’d recommend the larger screen size for editing photos on, thanks to the increased desktop space that make it easier to scroll around and make adjustments to images on. That’s despite the higher price of the larger MacBook Pro.
The MacBook Pro is undoubtedly a gorgeous computer, especially the more recent Space Grey colour scheme. The TrueTone Retina display on Macs looks fantastic too and Apple’s TrackPad is one of the best you can find on laptops, which will make a big difference when making fiddly edits.
MacOS works fantastically well with images too. If you have an iPhone for photography and use iCloud Photo Library, every one of your photos will be uploaded from your phone into iCloud, then downloaded straight to your Mac automatically. They’ll already be on the laptop, ready for you to edit and manipulate in Apple’s own Photos app, or in another image editing program of your choice.
Six-core eight-generation Intel processors are a new option in the 2018 version, which will make a real speed difference with the most complex of visual edits and plug-ins in Adobe Photoshop, particularly when working with high resolution imagery.
One word of caution, with 256GB of storage and 8GB of memory as standard, which is rather modest for a laptop that costs this much, you might want to upgrade the specification when purchasing, as Apple laptops cannot be upgraded by the user.
Read the full review:Apple MacBook Pro review
05. Acer Swift 3 14”
If you're after a convertible, this is the best
CPU: 2 or 4 -core Intel Core i5 or Core i7 | Display: 14-inch Retina Display) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 | Memory: 8GB - 16GB | Storage: 256GB - 4TB SSD | Size: 33.8 x 23.4 x 1.8cm; W x D x H) | Weight: 1.6kg
Coming decked in an all-aluminium chassis and a range of colours, the appearance of Acer’s new laptop range has divided opinion. But what’s clear is that you get a great specification for your money, making this one of the best laptops for photo editing.
With a quad-core Intel processor and 8GB of memory as standard, even the mid-range model comes in at less than half the price of Apple’s MacBook Pros but can deliver roughly the same processing power. And the rest of the specification doesn’t skimp either – the 14-inch display uses IPS backlighting technology for wider viewing angles and brighter colours, and supports FHD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution.
Best Mac Photo Editor Free
They keyboard is great to work on too, making this a fantastic choice for anyone who wants the power to do serious photography work, without breaking the bank. And if you want a 4K screen, a laptop with that option is available too, again for less than competitors are asking.
Apple MacBook
One of the most portable laptops there is
CPU: dualcore Intel M3, Core i5 or Core i7 | Display: 12-inch Retina Display) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | Memory: 8GB - 16GB | Ports: 1 x USB-C, | Weight: 0.9kg
If you think you’d prefer using a Mac and the macOS software ecosystem for photo editing, but your budget won’t quite stretch to the expensive MacBook Pro, Apple’s super-svelte and portable MacBook might be a good alternative, especially if you’re not planning on particularly complex image manipulation.
It weighs under 1kg, and measures 1.3cm at its thickest point, which is about small enough to fit into a bag and not notice it. It has a great 12-inch Retina display, which photos will look lovely on, a large trackpad for editing and 256GB of storage in the entry-level model, which will be more than enough to get by.
If you’re opting for the cheaper entry-level MacBook model, as with all Macs, it’s worth considering a few choice upgrades before purchase to smooth out performance. For photo editing, choosing 16GB of memory will make the biggest difference, and an upgrade from the base model’s Core M3 processor and a Core i5 or Core i7 will give it some extra oomph.
Today's best laptops for photo editing deals
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Photos capture the precious moments of our lives. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to take high-quality pictures on the first try – it’s not often that you actually want a random passerby or a misplaced finger to feature in your photos. And you know that good lighting would really enrich the colors in your pictures. And then there are the photographs that tend to fade and yellow with time. To fix these problems, you need Movavi Photo Editor for Mac – a simple program that’s equally good both for beginners and professionals.
Don’t waste your time trying to figure out how to use complicated desktop applications for photo processing. Download our easy-to-use photo editing software for Mac: it will enhance your images faster than many other image editing apps!
Erase Unwanted Objects
Enhance Image Quality
Restore Old Photos
Retouch Portraits
Erase Unwanted Objects with Photo Editor for Mac
Get Rid of Excess Stuff in Your Photos
No need to avoid shooting photos in crowded places. Take photographs wherever you want and then just remove unwanted objects, random people, trash, or bad graffiti from your digital images with Movavi’s photo software. The Object Removal tool uses great care to cover all those little flaws in just a couple of minutes!
Download Movavi Photo Editor and check out all the features of the program.
Enhance Image Quality
Make Your Photos Come Alive
Is overcast weather dulling down your photographs? Don’t panic! Mac Photo Editor will automatically amp up the brightness and contrast in your image at the touch of the Magic Enhance button. You can also change the settings manually to achieve the desired effect. See how the image adjustment works by dragging the slider under the picture.
Magic Enhance
Looking for a way to restore photos taken decades ago?
Movavi Photo Editor with its advanced image editing tools quickly removes fold lines, stains, and other small defects from old photographs that you’ve scanned. You can also automatically add color to your black-and-white photos. The program uses a smart fill algorithm to analyze and repair parts of the image that have suffered from aging. Just click the Restore button and wait for the image editor to do the photo processing for you!
Retouch portraits
Improve Your Look in an Instant
Professional photo retouching can be easy and fun. What’s more, it’s affordable with our user-friendly photo editor for Mac. Try new makeup or dye your hair. Remove skin blemishes or slim down your face. Get a Hollywood smile with the Teeth whitening tool. The only limit is your imagination!
Try All the Features of Movavi's picture editor for Mac OS
White Balance
Adjust the lighting in images. Make the photos in your library look natural.
Effects
Apply a range of creative and subtle filters to create different looks.
Photo Editor App Download For Laptop
Text
Insert captions and titles, add decorative elements.
Sharpness & Details
Adjust clarity in blurred images and bring out textures.
Retouching
Remove blemishes, smooth out wrinkles, get rid of shine, and correct red-eye.
Crop, Rotate, Resize
Improve composition, straighten the horizon, shrink images for the Web.
Color Correction
Make your colors richer while keeping skin tones natural-looking.
Makeup
Airbrush digital eyeshadow, mascara, and lipstick onto your portraits.
Inserting
Combine images and image elements to make collages.
Noise Reduction
Use presets to reduce digital noise in low-light photos.
Reshaping
Alter face shapes and silhouettes, sculpt noses, enlarge eyes.
Change Out Backgrounds
Replace the background, make it transparent, or set any color as the new background.
Looking for a quick and easy way to edit pictures? Install Movavi Photo Editor on any Apple personal computer compatible with Mac OS versions 10.7–10.13, for example, OS X Lion, OS X Yosemite, OS X El Capitan, macOS Sierra. The app is so easy to learn that you don’t even have to know the basics about how to edit photos on Mac. You can get to work on your MacBook Pro or Mac mini right away.
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Photo Editor
Photo Editor
PHOTO EDITOR + PHOTO MANAGER
Edit your favorite photos and quickly organize images
PHOTO EDITOR + PHOTO MANAGER
Edit your favorite photos and quickly organize images
PHOTO EDITOR + PHOTO MANAGER + SLIDESHOW MAKER
Edit photos, organize images, and create great slideshows
PHOTO EDITOR + PHOTO MANAGER + SLIDESHOW MAKER
Edit photos, organize images, and create great slideshows
Photo Editor
Photo Editor
PHOTO EDITOR + PHOTO MANAGER
Edit your favorite photos and quickly organize images
PHOTO EDITOR + PHOTO MANAGER
Best Photo Editor App For Android
Edit your favorite photos and quickly organize images
PHOTO EDITOR + PHOTO MANAGER + SLIDESHOW MAKER
Edit photos, organize images, and create great slideshows
PHOTO EDITOR + PHOTO MANAGER + SLIDESHOW MAKER
Edit photos, organize images, and create great slideshows
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