Are you a skilled Vlogger or video editor looking for the best laptops for video editing under 500 dollars?
Am I right?
If I’m right, then you are in the right place.
2020 has passed, and it’s not easy to find the best budget laptop for video editing. Finding the cheapest video editing laptop for filmmaking, YouTube, or vlogging videos demands high-performance components in a video editing laptop.
This is because a video editing laptop must have significant parts like the latest CPU, Graphics card, and a good quality display screen.
However…
Video editing process demands a lot of processing power, and an essential aspect is the Graphics chip. It is something that helps a lot in rendering the videos rapidly.
If you don’t have a required GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), don’t expect a rapid speed while editing and rendering your videos. This component also plays a significant role in gaming laptops.
Right now in the market, there are tons of laptops available with dedicated graphics Chip at different prices.
And do you know people spent thousands of dollars on laptops just for the sake of video editing? They don’t know there are still available some best video editing laptops under 500 I mean low budget laptops. But the problem is, who will find those best inexpensive laptops for video editing.
But don’t worry, I have done for you!
Let me tell you,
I discussed with experts on budget video editing laptops. After that, I spent a few hours on the research, and then finally, I was able to find the 6 best laptops for video editing under 500 dollars that are perfect in 2021 to perform video editing activities.
And then I realized that a $500 laptop could not even edit your videos, but that machine can be used for casual gaming, photo editing, or as a drawing machine.
However…
During my study, I learned that there are certain things that a $500 video editing laptop must have in it.
Comparison Of Top 3 Best Under $500
Editor’s Choice
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
GPU: AMD Radeon Vega 8
RAM & Storage: 8GB & 256GB SSD
Display: 14″ FHD touch screen
Battery life: 5 hours
Weight: 3.3 pounds
Good Choice
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3000U
GPU: AMD Radeon Vega 3
RAM & Storage: 8GB & 256GB SSD
Display: 15.6″ diagonal HD 60Hz
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Weight: 3.7 pounds
Consider It
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i3
GPU: Intel UHD graphics
RAM & Storage: 8GB & 128GB SSD
Display: 15.6″ FHD IPS
Battery life: Up to 5 hours ( support fast charge)
Weight: 3.7 pounds
Things To Consider While Buying The Best Budget Laptops For Video Editing
When it comes to the most critical viewpoints of the best laptop for video editing under 500, you don’t know about the right amount of RAM, high-speed processor, and most importantly, the Graphics card, which is the mother component of any video editing, photo editing or gaming laptop. So here is the brief guide about those parts.
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Processor (CPU)
While rendering and editing, the processor helps speed up things and provides enough processing power—no matter which software you’re using for editing. However, there are two to three pieces of software that are very popular for video editing, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Vegas Pro.
And these applications require a Multi-Core CPU. Currently, two popular manufacturers provide processors: Intel and AMD. Both perform very well on these software. And luckily, all the laptops below in the list have powerful and latest Gen processors. They are capable of running these editors smoothly.
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Graphics card (GPU)
Your laptop must have a co-processor to process information quickly. As I mentioned above, there is no dedicated GPU, and to be honest, there is no need to have a dedicated graphics card for 1080p video editing. The integrated chip is enough to fulfill your requirements.
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RAM & Storage
It’s an essential part of any video editing machine. If you’ve got a low amount of RAM, you will undoubtedly face a lag during the editing. Is 4GB of RAM enough? Yes, it’s enough, but the RAM version must be DDR4. In 2021 the editing applications are updating day by day. They require more powerful components to enhance your editing experience.
Next in line is Storage, which is vital for your video editing computer.
There are two types of Storage.
SSD (Solid State Drive): However, it’s the latest technology compared to HDD. and always chooses SSD storage instead of HDD. Why? Because it provides speedy performance, for example, it boots up the Operating system within seconds. It helps to run the applications speedily. So make a wise decision. But all the laptops that I selected have SSD storage. However, this information will also help you in making a custom PC for video editing.
You will need an external hard drive to store high definition videos because, in 2021, cameras like DSLR and GoPro capture the videos in 4k resolution. So ultimately, the size will be huge.
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Display
Tiny screens are not reliable for video editing, and as a video editor, you know very well how important a big display screen is. 14 and 15.6 inches screens are standard in laptops. However, there is another feature which you’ve to keep in mind, and that is the screen resolution. Most of the laptops come with a 1080p resolution.
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Battery life
If you’re a Traveler or Vlogger and edit your videos while traveling, you need a laptop with decent battery life. So considering this point, I choose those laptops which offer a great battery life.
Now make a smart decision while buying the best laptop for video editing under 500 dollars.
Let’s get started!
6 Best Laptops For Video Editing Under 500 In 2021
Image | Product | Details | Price |
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Acer Aspire 5 |
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ASUS VivoBook 15 |
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2019 Newest HP |
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Lenovo IdeaPad 3 |
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HP 15.6-Inch |
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Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 |
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Acer Aspire 5 – Good Choice
With its high-performance specs, this machine performs very well during video editing and photo editing. It has everything you need in a budget video editing laptop under $500. And honestly, this device is compact and transportable for Vloggers and YouTubers.
It’s a lightweight laptop with a premium design that offers a decent battery backup at a cheap price tag. That’s why it’s the best computer for editing GoPro videos or whatever your camera captures.
Performance: What makes it the best laptop under 500 for video editing?
Don’t know??
Let me tell you. It’s processor AMD Ryzen 3 3200U and Graphics chip! But first, let’s discuss its CPU. It’s a Dual-Core Processor that boosted Up to 3.5GHz on demand. No matter how complicated your video editing activities are, it can catch all your everyday computing activities in terms of performance.
It features Vega 3 Graphics to provide better visuals on your videos. Both components are powerful enough to provide fast rendering speed and a lag-free experience.
Display: It comes with 15.6 inches Full HD IPS display that provides sharp and crisp visuals with Acer Color Intelligence. While the thin bezels add more value for display looks.
RAM & Storage: When it comes to RAM and Storage, it offers 4GB DDR4 RAM and 128GB super-fast SSD storage to quickly boot up the video editors.
I often suggest whenever you have to work on software and applications. Make sure you are using SSD storage for installing setup and the operating system.
As I mentioned above, it’s a lightweight and portable laptop that provides exceptional performance and a convenient device while traveling and moving from home to office. Now what would be the weight of the Acer aspire 5? Any guess??
No!
It’s just 3.9 pounds.
Alright, let’s talk about battery life. Acer offers 7.5 hours of battery life in this gadget. That is a tremendous under 500 budget. And the full-sized backlit keyboard is the best keyboard for photo editing and video editing that allows you to edit videos even in the club’s dark corner.
All in all, I would say it is the best laptop for video and photo editing under 500 dollars.
ASUS VivoBook 15 – Consider it
Next in the line is the Asus Vivobook 15 that comes with lovely looks and premium design at a cheap price tag. Asus offers excellent specs and extraordinary performance for under 500 dollars.
Look at the device. It doesn’t look like a $500 laptop for video editing purposes.
You know why? Because it looks like an best laptops under 800 dollars or above just because of its high-class finished slate-gray body. Well, it’s a durable machine for a video editor for 500 bucks.
Let’s check out the internals.
Performance: Asus Vivobook 15 is powered by the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i3 CPU boosted up to 3.4GHz. The CPU can handle all the latest video editors easily without any problem as it’s the latest Gen processor so that you will get high-speed rendering on Full HD videos. Moreover, it can handle most of the games.
The Intel UHD graphics provide an immersive experience for your editing activities.
Display: Alright, the display of this gadget that I love so much, you know why? It’s an almost frameless 15.6 inch full HD display. Check out the four-sided NanoEdge, which is a string that looks futuristic.
Moreover, you will get an 88% screen-to-body ratio for an immersive experience during video editing. That’s why I prefer 15.6 Full HD display screens for both video and photo editing.
RAM & Storage: Now come to the RAM performance. The laptop comes with a decent amount of 8GB DDR4 memory for next-level multitasking. It is something that helps prevent the applications from being crashed.
And 8GB RAM is enough to tackle those problems, so no matter which application you’re using for video editing. As for the Storage, it has 128GB SSD storage to store your high-resolution videos.
It’s a lightweight machine as compared to Acer aspire 5. So it’s easier to use it while traveling, Vlogging, and on the road. It is just 3.7 pounds.
When I researched this machine, I found that it gives up to 5 hours of battery life. However, this laptop’s significant feature is, It supports fast charging. So It charges 60 percent in just 49 minutes.
Overall it is the best laptop for video editing under $500 that offers remarkable features at a reasonable price point.
2019 Newest HP – Consider It
This laptop urged me to add to our Best Laptops For Video Editing list. That is because of its internals that meets our criteria and fulfills our needs quickly under 500 dollars. HP designed this machine to handle intensive tasks for those who have not enough money but want a high-class laptop.
So here it is. Although it’s a 20219 model, it’s still value for money. And the critical aspect is a lightweight video editing laptop. We will talk about it further. Let’s check out the components.
Performance: HP newest features 8th Gen Intel Core i3 processor. This kind of CPU can meet all the most demanding applications for editing purposes. The base clock speed is 2.1 GHz and boosted up to 3.9 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology. It’s a two cores processor that can run intensive software without any issue.
Onboard, the Intel UHD 620 Graphics provides a smooth experience during video editing. And you know what? These graphics let you play casual games easily. Moreover, it’s the best laptop for photoshop and illustrator.
Display: 14″ diagonal high-resolution LED-backlit touchscreen display for editing videos with extra functionality like it offers touchscreen display.
RAM & Storage: The device comes with 4GB DDR4 RAM and 128GB SSD storage. As I mentioned above, all laptops have SSD storage, which gives extra rendering speed while editing videos on any application.
It’s a convenient machine with just 3.2 pounds of weight. So it lets you put it in your backpack quickly. If you’re a student, that’s great. You can grab it without hassle.
When it comes to battery backlit, it gives 6 hours of battery life quickly, which is, I think, huge for editing videos, photos and watching Netflix.
Overall it is a cheap video editing laptop under 500 bucks if you’re looking for a lightweight and compact machine.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – Editor’s Choice
Boom,
This laptop is something that gives next-level experience on intensive duties at a low price. Honestly, you will not regret it if you go with it. From the outside, it has a sleek and modern design. The laptop has some significant aspects offered by Lenovo. It’s a durable laptop and doesn’t feel cheap, but it comes at an affordable price.
Performance: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U powers this laptop. Its powerful multi-core CPU to handle everyday tasks and is compatible with playing games on higher settings. So the CPU provides adequate performance, exactly what we expect for its price range.
AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphic chip can run every kind of heavy software, necessarily the video editing software and applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and whatever you use for video editing.
Display: While the 14-inch FHD display screen provides beautiful image clarity. The display looks sharp, and on the two sides, there are narrow bezels that provide a more immersive visual experience with more viewing angles. And the overall display quality is fantastic.
RAM & Storage: The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 comes with a decent amount of RAM and Storage at a low price. It offers 8GB DDR4 memory for multitasking and 256GB SSD storage to store your multimedia.
Next in the line is the weight. The device is just 3.3 pounds that means you carry the laptop and go wherever your life takes you. You know it’s more thinker and lightweight than the expensive laptops like the google PixelBook.
It gives 5 hours plus battery life in terms of battery life as we can expect for its price tag.
In the end, it is the best option in terms of performance, portable and battery life. Those who are looking for the best inexpensive laptop for video editing, check out this boy. Also, I would say if you want a lightweight notebook for school, office use, or family use. It could be the best option for you.
HP 15.6-Inch – Good Choice
It’s a budget laptop and best for every kind of video editing that comes under 500 dollars. Not only for video editing, but also a perfect machine for everyday computing duties.
In terms of productivity, creativity, and editing, it’s a chic, powerful computer that can easily handle the unique editing program. So this is one that would be the best option for editing purposes.
Performance: The laptop offers two different processors. Under 500 bucks, you will get an AMD Ryzen 3 3300U. It’s a Dual-Core which allows you to handle the most specific tasks. The base clock speed is 2.6 GHz, and the max boost clock speed is 3.5 GHz.
Now come to the graphic visuals AMD Radeon Vega 3 for reliable performance while editing.
Display: There is a 15.6-inch diagonal HD display screen with an 82 percent screen to body ratio with a 60Hz refresh rate. On two sides, there are narrow bezels that deliver cleaner and sharper visuals.
RAM & Storage: It comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD storage. These values are the same, which we mentioned above in the laptop. So there is no difference.
However, this laptop’s best part is that this laptop charges 50 percent in just 45 minutes. And you know no one has enough time to wait for charging. This device lets you backup the battery quickly.
Now the question is, what is battery life in hours? Well, it offers enormous battery life on a single charge, which is up to 10 hours.
The second thing you may be interested in is its 3.7 pounds weight, making its portable and handy laptop. Overall it is the Best Laptop For Video Editing Under 500 dollars.
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 – Value For Money
Are you looking for something that should be easily-affordable and according to your desires? We all know that today flexibility and easy carrying is everything.
So, let me get you to the most gorgeous and flexible, easy carrying device.
You haven’t heard about Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook, have you? Well, never mind! So, this device is something that would allow you to carry it anywhere, anytime. Its flexibility allows it to do that.
Again, what if I would offer you a tablet on the same device?
Oh! That would be a great offer. Yes, precisely, this device can also be converted into a tablet for efficient usage.
As you will be enjoying its features by just clicking on them because it is offering you a smooth and secure touch display. You’ll also love its clicky smart keyboard that’ll transport you into typing anything with astonishing speed.
Performance: It’s also having a powerful brain, Intel Core I3-10110U, which responds in zero seconds. Nothing is good without a good graphics quality, so it comes with the latest Intel integrated graphics and secure OS protection.
Display: Also, it’s wide display can show you nature through the edges. It comes with a 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen with few bezels on both sides. The display delivers clear and crisp images.
RAM & Storage: People want efficient storage to carry their data on the same device. This device is offering you a 64GB SSD fast memory that can store any data in Flex 5 machines. Yeah, precisely good things are always named as machines.
Lenovo offers this laptop at a low price that others won’t provide with great specs in that price range. You can have it in a graphite grey color that would be nice for making jealousy to your fellows.
Well, nothing comes without a little deception: I mean, the battery is not that worth holding, but it could be better for your daily usage as it runs out for 8 to 10 hours.
So overall, it is the best laptop for video editing under 500 bucks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best laptops for video editing under 500?
There are tons of laptops, but who knows which one is best for video editing under 500 dollars. But here in this article, I found the best laptops for video editing under 500 dollars after ample research on this topic. Check out the above list. If you want to know my choice, check out the Asus VivoBook 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3. These two laptops offer some cool components from other options.
Can I use a Chromebook for video editing?
No, I don’t recommend Chromebooks for video editing. Chromebooks are usually made to fulfill everyday needs. If you want to know more about Chromebooks, check out this article.
Can I play games on a 500 dollar laptop?
Yes, you can play casual games on a 500 dollar laptop. It is not recommended to play massive games. If you’re interested in a gaming laptop at a cheap price tag. I find the best gaming laptops under 600 dollars.
Conclusion
Now choosing the best video editing laptop under 500 dollars is your decision. The laptops listed above were picked after the in-depth analysis. You can like anyone without any doubt. Still, you’ve any questions, do let me know in the comment box.
I will update the article over time if I find the other best laptops for video editing.
Cheers.