Best Laptop For Video Editing Under $500 – Review & Buying Guide

We often take for granted how affordable laptops have become in the past decade. Increasingly, you can’t imagine purchasing a budget device and still editing photos on it.

Fortunately, there might not be another need to spend lots of cash today because with a $500 laptop you can do more than just edit photos – it would be able to perform other high-end tasks too.

In researching affordable laptops for photo editing purposes, we found that software suites like Adobe Photoshop and GIMP have come a long way in optimizing their software.

As a result, you’ll be able to use low-configuration laptops as computers with powerful photo-editing capabilities. , we only suggest looking at laptops with dedicated graphics cards (AGP) when purchasing a Macbook or iMac.

Best Laptop For Video Editing Under $500 2022

In other words, models that are older than previous generations will work just fine as long as you don’t try using it for anything intensive like gaming or video rendering beyond basic photoshop functionality.

Related Post: Best Laptop For 4k Video Editing

It’s important to know that although it is technically “Photoshop”, there are in fact many online tools that can replace Photoshop for the casual person. Some of our favorites include * Photopea * Pixlr * and Crayon.

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

2020-Newest-Acer-Aspire-5-Slim-Laptop

Acer’s Aspire 5 A515-51 laptop is your fast, sleek, and stylish gateway to a versatile, mobile life.

It combines a modern design with the latest components for a 17.3-inch Full HD display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor, 4GB DDR4 Memory, and up to 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

With a weight of just 2.4Kg, this laptop offers the perfect balance of portability and performance, along with a range of features that help enhance the user experience.

Take the Acer Aspire 5 for a spin and you will immediately notice its truly powerful performance. The 9.5mm thin body is made of aluminum and crafted to be ultra-lightweight and durable.

The stylish backlit keyboard is easy to use in low light and provides an amazing touch experience.

This Aspire 5 includes an HDMI® port which supports a resolution of up to 1920x1080p to connect to a HD display. This laptop also includes a VGA port to connect to an analog monitor.

Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R19L is a laptop that everyone can use. It’s got the PC power you need to get through the day, and the design style to withstand the knocks everyday use can take.

It features a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor and a surprisingly beautiful 15-inch display. The durable chassis is reinforced with a metal rear cover, and the battery life is a strong 8 hours.

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R19L is as robust as possible for such a slim laptop. It’s got the PC power you need to get through the day, and the design to withstand the knocks everyday use can take.

Pros
  • Portable
  • Perfect in Looks
  • The mic is high quality
  • Color & Brightness
  • Wide Selection of ports
Cons
  • No Backlit keyboard
  • Slow with internet
  • Defective hardware issues

This versatile 2-in-1 can be used as a laptop, or flip the screen around to use it as a tablet. It’s lightweight too, making it easy to carry from room to room. The battery life is a strong 8 hours.

Check Latest Price

ASUS VivoBook 15

ASUS-VivoBook-15

ASUS VivoBook 15, is the new laptop that makes Windows up to 10 times faster.

Fast, responsive and secure, the ASUS VivoBook 15 is powered by the latest Intel® Core™ processor to give you a performance boost you’ve never experienced.

Enjoy the thrill of an automatic performance boost, enabled by the ASUS VivoBook 15’s all-new cooling system.

This feature is especially useful for CPU-intensive tasks, like gaming and video editing, which require continuous and heavy use of CPU, delivering a stable system performance.

A more stable system means more productive computing and more fun.

ASUS VivoBook 15 is a high-performance laptop that gives you all the tools you need to achieve your personal and professional goals. With its Ergolift hinge design, it delivers a more comfortable and ergonomic typing position.

It also comes with a fingerprint reader to keep your data safe and Windows Hello face sign-on to log you into your Windows account with a look.

The 15.6″ FHD display provides wider viewing angles, and with the ASUS Splendid technology, it gives you a vivid, brighter picture. The Intel Core i7 processor provides powerful performance and energy efficiency.

Pros
  • Slim and Lightweight.
  • Decent display panel.
  • Good performance.
  • Pricing.
Cons
  • No backlite keyboard. No indicator for Caps Lock.
  • Audio output could have been better.

You can even enjoy the smoothest gameplay with NVIDIA GeForce MX110 graphics. ASUS VivoBook 15 is the ideal laptop for work and play.

Check Latest Price

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14

Lenovo-IdeaPad-3-14

Powered by AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Mobile Processors with Radeon Graphics, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14 performs on-the-go tasks with ease.

Thanks to the AMD Radeon Vega 8 and R5 Graphics, you can enjoy smooth web browsing, while the built-in fingerprint reader lets you unlock your system in a flash.

The 14-inch Full HD display offers a crisp view of your photos, videos and games, while the narrow side bezels give you an uninterrupted and clutter-free screen.

With Dolby Audio Premium and two JBL speakers supporting Dolby Atmos® surround sound, you can immerse yourself in your favorite movies and music.

And with Q-control, you can easily swap between fast and powerful performance and battery-saving mode.

With up to 8GB of memory, the laptop is ideal for handling multiple tasks and will easily run your daily software. The 1TB hard drive provides you with ample space for your files, music and video collection.

With three USB ports, you can connect all your peripherals with the click of a button. If you’re using a mobile mouse and keyboard, you can choose to plug them into the side of the laptop and control them from ports on the underside.

Pros
  • USB-C port included
  • Sturdy chassis
  • Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
  • Integrated fingerprint scanner
  • Users can upgrade RAM (at their own risk)
Cons
  • Lackluster speakers
  • Dull display

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14-inch laptop is powered by the 7th generation Intel Core i3 processor for speed and efficiency.

It sports 9-hour battery life for all-day use without having to plug it in. The Full HD multitouch display makes watching your favorite shows enjoyable from your home office.

Check Latest Price

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13

Lenovo-Chromebook-Flex-5-13

Do more of what you love. The Lenovo Flex 5 13″ Chromebook is a 2-in-1 laptop that features a 360-degree watchband hinge that rotates in multiple directions, so you can flip your laptop display around for more viewing angles.

The 360-degree hinge means you can use it however you like to take notes with the digital pen, or flip your laptop screen around to watch a show, surf the web, play games, or do homework.

When work calls, make a statement. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a 360° convertible device, with a vivid 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen, powerful Intel® Core™ processor, fast-charging technology, and up to 10 hours of battery life — so you can get to the next meeting or take it to the beach.

With the Lenovo Spotlight, you can tweet, reply to emails and check on your calendar, right from your lock screen. The ultra-slim, lightweight and flexible design make this the go-anywhere Chromebook you’ve been looking for.

Lenovo has been a trusted worldwide technology company for years; they’ve built a reputation for durability, quality, and reliability. Now they’re bringing that reputation to the exciting world of Chromebooks with the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 11.

It’s thin, light and built to be mobile, so it’s perfect for work or school. Its durable design can be tossed in a bag and taken anywhere students need to go.

It’s lightweight and easy to hold for kids or adults. The Chromebook has a sleek look that’s fun and modern, and its touchscreen lets users interact with apps and games in new ways.

Pros
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • MicroSD card reader
  • Pleasing soft-touch plastic chassis
  • Digital stylus support
  • Long battery life
Cons
  • Dim 250-nit display
  • Uncomfortable touchpad
  • Cramped 64GB storage drive

It has a 360-degree hinge that lets users adjust the screen for multiple viewing angles, and its touchscreen let users interact with their Chromebook using the touch of a finger.

Check Latest Price

Acer Aspire 5 A5

Acer-Aspire-5-A515-56-50RS

If you’re going to work hard, you might as well work fast. Acer Aspire 5 A5-571-34C4 is a powerful laptop that gives you plenty of power and speed for everything you’re up to.

It’s slim and lightweight, so you can easily take it wherever you go.

With its AMD Ryzen™ 3 processor and ample storage, this laptop lets you move your files, launch your programs and access your favorite websites in a flash.

You can even play games or watch videos without slowing down.

And you’ll always have a clear view of the screen thanks to its narrow bezel. With Acer Color Intelligence, you can enjoy lifelike visuals on the vibrant 15.6″ Full HD display. Plus, you can always stay connected with 802.11ac wireless.

With a 1920 x 1080 display, 500GB storage drive, a customizable backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader for added security, the Aspire 5 is a home for everything you’ve been looking for in a PC.

Stay productive with the 6th gen Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB DDR4 onboard memory, and discrete graphics card with 2GB of video memory to handle your daily tasks.

The 128GB solid-state drive is both reliable and responsive, while the windowed 10.1″ display with IPS technology provides a great viewing experience.

With Windows 10 already installed, you’ll have the latest version of this popular operating system and one that’s designed to combine the best features of Windows 7 and Windows 8 for a familiar feel.

This notebook meets the new Windows 10 hardware requirements and is ready to run Windows 10 software.

Acer Aspire 5 A5 is a lightweight and portable laptop with powerful performance. Enjoy up to 13 hours of battery life that keeps going as long as you do.

Pros
  • Elegant design, fast processor, IPS display with high luminosity, well-matched combination of SSD and HDD, Nvidia GeForce MX150 with 2 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, good battery life, low power consumption, case does not get very hot, works quietly, two maintenance
  • Ample memory and storage including SSD, USB-C port, Great battery life
Cons
  • Dismal display

Acer’s Purified. Voice technology, features enhanced digital signal processing to cancel out background noise, improve speech accuracy and far-field pickup, which not only makes calls clearer but makes talking to Alexa easier than before.

Check Latest Price

New Microsoft Surface Pro 7

New-Microsoft-Surface-Pro-7

Editor’s Rating: The next generation of the Surface Pro gives you the power and performance of a laptop in the versatility of a tablet so you can work, create, study and play more naturally.

The new Surface Pro is more powerful than the MacBook Air, more portable than the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and has more battery life than both.

Its next-gen Intel Core i5/i7 processor runs 10 times faster than the previous generation, yet is still completely fanless.

The updated full HD display has ultra slim side and edges for a more comfortable and immersive experience. The new Surface Pro is so much more.

Step into the light with Surface Pro, the tablet that can replace your laptop. Now with the power of 7th Gen Intel Core processors, Surface Pro delivers up to 16 hours of battery life, faster SSD and more.

The 12.3-inch PixelSense display has extremely high contrast and low glare so you can work through the day without straining your eyes.

Surface Pro comes in four colors which look great together on your desk, and the new Surface Pro Type Cover has a smooth Alcantara® fabric finish.

Pros
  • Snappy Intel “Ice Lake” processor
  • Robust battery life
  • Sharp display
  • Well-implemented kickstand
  • Includes USB-C
Cons
  • Keyboard still sold separately
  • Just two ports, and no Thunderbolt support

Weighing in at 1.70 pounds and measuring a mere 0.33 inches thin, it’s the tablet that can replace your laptop.

This version comes with Intel Core m3, i5, or i7 processor, 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512GB SSD, and 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB of RAM. It comes with the Surface Pen and a microSD card slot.

Check Latest Price

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15

Lenovo-IdeaPad-3-15

The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U processor gives you all the power you need with its impressive power-efficient performance. It’s great for productivity and multitasking.

And it’s also one of the first AMD APUs with Vega 3 graphics, so you’ll get clear visuals and smooth performance while watching movies or surfing the web.

Lenovo’s IdeaPad 3 15 is a dream to use with its responsive touchscreen, narrow bezels and vivid HD display.

It’s powered by Windows 10 Home and offers 16GB of DDR4 memory so you can work, play and multitask with speed and ease.

Rapidly access tasks and files with the lightning-fast dual-drive storage – spacious 1TB hard disk drive and 8GB solid-state drive. And, with a fingerprint reader to simplify your security, you can access your content quickly and securely.

Be everywhere, do everything. Meet the new Ideapad 330, the amazingly thin and light laptop that’s built to go everywhere. It’s the first laptop with an optional physical webcam cover, so you can protect your privacy when you need to.

With striking looks and long battery life, it’s designed to keep up with you. Whatever you do. Great for homework and homework, it also makes an awesome video editing or graphic design machine.

With ultra-fast 4G LTE-A connectivity, you can work from almost anywhere. This great laptop is powered by Windows 10 and features up to 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processors, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics and a 256GB PCIe® NVMe™ SSD storage for fast and responsive performance.

What The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15-inch laptop with AMD Ryzen 3 3250U mobile processor and Radeon Vega 3 graphics keeps you in tune with your work and social life, with impressive performance, stunning visuals and hours of battery life.

Windows 10 Home and 5-hour battery life delivers the perfect mix of productivity and play.

AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, 2GHz mobile processor with Radeon Vega 3 graphics provide powerful mobile performance, with built-in visual enhancements that help you edit, browse, watch and play with ease.

Pros
  • Low price
  • Sufficient memory
Cons
  • No USB-C port
  • Wi-Fi 5, not 6

The high-definition, 15.6″ FHD IPS Truelife display with wide-angle views and vivid, crisp visuals is perfect for watching movies, editing photos, and streaming videos.

Check Latest Price

2021 Newest HP 14

2021 Newest HP 14

The HP 14 Touchscreen Laptop is powered by a 3rd Gen AMD A8-4555M Accelerated Processor and a dedicated Radeon HD 7500G graphics card that offers reliable high-performance graphics performance.

The included 14.0″ diagonal HD anti-glare LED-backlit display delivers the ultimate viewing experience, whether watching a movie, web surfing or video chatting with friends and family.

Its 8GB* of DDR3 memory lets you efficiently multitask and easily store thousands of songs, photos and documents.

With a massive 1TB hard drive you have plenty of space to store your digital albums, movies, photos, games and more.

A DVD SuperMulti drive allows you to play and burn CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, giving you the flexibility to play DVDs and Blu-ray Discs from around the world.

The HP Pavilion 14″ laptop features a sleek, durable design with a brushed aluminum finish and a diamond-cut keyboard.

The laptop offers a speedy solid-state drive for seamless performance and reliable multitasking, which allows you to store a large number of files, improving the reading speed of large files, ensuring daily use and the speed of opening large files, reducing the time of application and file loading.

HP 2021 Newest 16.9-inch Touchscreen Laptop Intel Core i3-7100U 2.4GHz 4GB 128GB 14″ HD WLED Display Bluetooth Webcam 802.11ac W10 Home Strong Battery 4000mAh 1Yr warranty.

Pros
  • Speedy performance
  • Impressive touchscreen
  • 2x RAM SODIMM slots, 1x M.2 NVMe slot
  • WIFI 6
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Not great for heavy Photoshop work
  • Lacks Thunderbolt connectivity

With an available hard drive bay, you can expand your storage capacity to up to 2TB of HDD storage. And, your laptop will stay powered for up to 7.6 hours of use on a single charge, so you can play longer and take your game to another level.

Check Latest Price

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the system requirements for Photoshop?

Adobe Photoshop requires a system with a 2GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 5GB of free hard drive space, and HD-ready screen resolution.

While these are the basic requirements to run this program, you should ideally have a new-generation desktop or laptop that has at least 8GBs of RAM, full solid-state drive storage (no spinning drives), and a decent graphics card for handling high-resolution images.

Can I edit photos on an Intel Core i3-powered computer?

The answer depends on which Intel processor you computer is using. As you know, Intel updates its processors every year, and these new generations can be faster or more powerful than previous ones.

For example, the 10th-generation i5 beats the 8th-generation i7 with it’s great performance and overclocking. However, your pc will do fine with a 6th-gen i3 providing it has at least 3 Gbs of ram.

Can I edit photos on a Chromebook?

Although Photoshop isn’t yet available for Chrome OS, Chromebooks are an incredible choice to edit photos since they come with so many compatible photo editors.

You can select Snapseed and Pixlr E for example. Also, there are lots of web based photo editors that you can Google for free.

Do sub-$500 laptops last?

Considering that these devices ship with newer-generation processors and SSD storage, you can keep using them for a couple of years for sure. After that, depending on your performance requirements, we can help you make an upgrade.

Do I need a 4K laptop for photo editing?

You don’t need a 4K laptop for photo editing. As long as you have a Full HD screen that measures 1920 x 1080, you don’t have to worry at all.

At the same time, if you deal with 4K images a lot, the extra space on the screen can help you handle things better.

Verdict

As you just saw, having an under-$500 can hinder your ability to get a decent laptop for photo editing, but you still might be able to get one that’s a good value for the money with some drawbacks.

For instance, if you can spend $700-$800 instead of $500, you can get a less expensive Windows PC with 10th-generation Intel processors and 8GB of RAM.

Leave a Comment