Best Laptop for editing...? Hey all, long time, no see. I wanna pick your brains here. I'm currently using a desktop pc and want to switch to a laptop. What is the best LT to buy for...

Bolthead Loc: PA

Hey all, long time, no see.
I wanna pick your brains here. I'm currently using a desktop pc and want to switch to a laptop. What is the best LT to buy for specifically Photoshop and Lightroom editing? Thanks all in advance.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ii will be interesting to hear responses.
I'm using an off-the-shelf HP laptop that seems to work just fine.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Most laptop displays are worse as to color fidelity. Plan on calibration, at minimum, or using an external, desktop monitor.

sabfish

I don't think there is one "best laptop" for photo editing. Any reliable brand that has a reasonably fast processor (i5 or 7 Intel, AMD equivalent, or any of the new Mac's) plus at least a 1 TB SSD and at least 16 MB of memory (some will argue that should be 32 mb) should work fine. Some of the gaming computers (you don't need the fastest version) easily fulfill these requirements, but a gaming computer is not a necessity. I use a Dell G15 and it has been fine.

rwm283main Loc: Terryville, CT

First off, you should probably get a laptop with the operating system you are comfortable using, albeit a Mac or Windows, either one will work just fine if configured properly.
If your choice is Windows you might look into a gaming type computer. They are usually more robust, graphics card wise, than a conventional laptop. If you are presented with options you should choose a larger hard drive, at least 1 Tbyte and as much memory as you can afford.
If your choice is a Mac get a MacBook Pro, 16 inch, with the latest hardware (M3) and as much memory as you can afford. You won’t regret the extra cost.
This will be a great Christmas gift to yourself.
Good luck
Rich

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

sabfish wrote:

I don't think there is one "best laptop" for photo editing. Any reliable brand that has a reasonably fast processor (i5 or 7 Intel, AMD equivalent, or any of the new Mac's) plus at least a 1 TB SSD and at least 16 MB of memory (some will argue that should be 32 mb) should work fine. Some of the gaming computers (you don't need the fastest version) easily fulfill these requirements, but a gaming computer is not a necessity. I use a Dell G15 and it has been fine.

Plus, a separate video card with at least 6-8GB of VRAM!

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Bolthead wrote:

Hey all, long time, no see.
I wanna pick your brains here. I'm currently using a desktop pc and want to switch to a laptop. What is the best LT to buy for specifically Photoshop and Lightroom editing? Thanks all in advance.

The one with the fastest core processor and most RAM and best graphics card you can afford. You did ask for best, not good.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I’m shopping for the same thing. I’m not a Mac guy but the MacBook Pro gets high marks. On the PC laptop side, recommendations have consistently suggested 16-32 gb ram, 1 tb SSD, i7 or i9 processor, and discrete GPU with 4gb or more vram. Many photo editting programs make use of the GPU for processing and don’t do well with the likes of the Intel integrated graphics. Personally, I also restricted myself to laptops that have non-soldered ram in case I can upgrade (mainly if I see a 16 gb ram machine that appeals to me). I also like the OLED displays but they are power hungry, so not a priority. Personally, I’m drifting more and more to a Dell XPS 15. Good luck!

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Double click duplicate

sabfish

TriX wrote:

Plus, a separate video card with at least 6-8GB of VRAM!

Good catch. I should have included that.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

TriX wrote:

Plus, a separate video card with at least 6-8GB of VRAM!

"Ideally"?.?
I have no idea what my laptop video is or is not,
and really don't care.
It works.
Same with the desktop.

BebuLamar

Longshadow wrote:

"Ideally"?.?
I have no idea what my laptop video is or is not,
and really don't care.
It works.
Same with the desktop.

You're not an Adobe subscriber right? Latest Adobe PS requires powerful GPU.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar wrote:

You're not an Adobe subscriber right? Latest Adobe PS requires powerful GPU.

Correct, I am not.
Since that is a "requirement", I won't be subscribing either.
I don't need something that "good"....

williejoha

I use the Dell XPS 17”. That computer is a speed deamon. The LRc was slower than Molasses on my previous laptop.
WJH

photoman43

For good editing, you need a laptop that will accept a second monitor, like a 27inch monitor. That means it has a video card with at least one port to support a second monitor. And the video card will need enough power to utilize noise reduction and other processing features.

Aside from that the laptop should have 32 GB RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and the right ports for fast input and output of images. And the fastest processor you can afford.

For me the minimum screen size is 15 inches and 17 inches is better.

For windows laptops, I would start looking at the Lenovo ThinkPad extreme 1 series or the Lenovo Legion series of laptops. Here are two to check out.

ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 (16″ Intel) Mobile Workstation

ThinkPad P1 Gen 6 Intel (16″) Mobile Workstation