Best Budget Photo Editing Laptop

Any photographer, whether a pro or a hobbyist, needs a laptop. The fantastic content you just took will eventually need editing.

The laptop’s ability to run the editing program is more important than your editing prowess or editing knowledge.

Because of this, we will talk about the best laptop for cheap photo editing in today’s article.

Quick Recap Table

12 Best Budget Photo Editing Laptop

1.) Acer Predator Helios 300

The Acer Helios, which is one of my all-time favorite laptop lineups, comes in last but certainly not least.

A strong laptop with a gorgeous design! Given that it is made of incredibly durable materials and is available in black, this laptop should last for a very long time.

Even though it has a “aggressive” and “heavy” design, it only weighs 2 kg and is categorized as a portable laptop.

The 15-inch screen’s Full HD display boasts a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a 144 Hz refresh rate.

On the other hand, the keyboard is a very cozy full-size plus design with RGB lighting that will brighten your day.

Thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 and Intel Core i7-11800H processor, you’ll enjoy an extremely strong editing session.

Doesn’t end there; it also has 512GB of SSD storage and 16GB of RAM.

This Helios can only run for 6 hours because to the components’ high power requirements, which is respectable for a gaming laptop.

2.) Lenovo Legion 5

Lenovo is on the list once more, but this time with the Legion 5, a well-known gaming laptop.

Gaming laptops typically work best with editing software because of their robust components, plus a little gaming every now and again can’t harm, right?

The design is fantastic as usual. The prismatic Legion emblem is located on the top-left side, and it features thin bezels and a phantom blue hood.

Additionally, it has a dazzling RGB-colored keyboard.

The 15.6-inch full HD IPS display features 100% sRGB color accuracy, a 3 ms response time, and a 165Hz refresh rate.

Additionally, it supports AMD FreeSync Premium and Dolby Vision®.

An AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU with 8 cores and a base clock speed of 3.3 GHz and a maximum clock speed of 4.4 GHz powers the laptop.

This fast CPU is combined with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050Ti GPU, a 512GB NVMe SSD, and an enormous 16GB DDR4 RAM in Legion.

I can’t sugarcoat the battery life and I won’t lie about it. When you consider the potent performance this laptop provides, it’s not amazing, but then again, neither is the price.

It should be usable for a total of 5 to 6 hours. Given that it’s a gaming laptop rather than a productivity one, it makes sense.

3.) Apple MacBook Air

After that, I’ll show Apple enthusiasts the MacBook Air. The Air is a stylish laptop that shouts minimalism and luxury at the same time.

As to be anticipated from Apple, it is available in three colors: gold, silver, and grey.

It weighs only 2.8 pounds. Don’t be deceived by the thinness and diminutive size of the screen; it is composed of premium materials that make it incredibly durable and long-lasting.

On the other hand, using the keyboard is quite peaceful, and pressing the buttons there is an incredible sensation.

The 13-inch screen of the MacBook Air has a total resolution of 2500 x 1600 pixels. It has the well-known retina display from Apple.

Retina displays, which are IPS LCD and OLED displays with higher pixel densities, are featured on this laptop.

This laptop stands out from the competition because to its gorgeous display.

It is powered by Apple M1, another homegrown component that rocks the CPU industry.

The eight-core Apple M1 CPU is 3.5 times faster than the previous generation.

Everything you throw at it, including editing, simple activities, and even gaming, will be handled with ease.

It comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for memory and storage, but you can upgrade to a 512GB SSD for a greater cost.

Nevertheless, I think 256GB is enough. A MacBook Air that I had the chance to test effortlessly lasted 8 to 10 hours while using some demanding editing tools.

4.) Acer Aspire 5

Look no further, stop what you’re doing, don’t waste any time, and acquire the Acer Aspire 5 right away if you need a laptop that will fulfill your needs but are on a limited budget.

The Aspire 5 is a laptop that is very inexpensive and has performance that is on par with mid-range PCs.

Simply said, this laptop is a lifesaver for photographers who are still in school or only need a laptop for basic editing.

The Aspire 5 is the definition of simplicity. One of the reasons I adore it is that it’s neither extravagant nor flashy.

Its silver color, aluminum finish, and 3.97-pound weight make it the ideal travel companion.

It has a gorgeous 15.6-inch display with a maximum resolution of 1920x1080p, which features vivid colors and sharp, clear frames.

I can’t possibly lie about it or embellish it. Although the display falls short of the higher-end models offered by the competitors, it is still a fantastic deal.

The Asper 5 has a potent CPU, the AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Quad-Core, as well as superior graphics capabilities, while being primarily intended for students and on-the-go productivity.

Its major fault, the fact that it only has 4 GB of RAM available, prevents it from becoming the ideal laptop.

On the plus side, it can be upgraded, and I would suggest doing so because photo editing uses a lot of RAM.

It has a 128 GB NVME SSD, which may be enough for many people, but I would suggest extending it because it has that option.

A decent quantity of 10 to 8 hours of battery life is offered.

5.) Lenovo Ideapad 3i

Let’s start with the Ideapad from Lenovo, which delivers a price-point value that is essentially unbeatable.

Lenovo’s Ideapad 3i, a recently released laptop with several clever tricks up its sleeve, is now topping all the charts for budget and mid-range laptops.

Regardless of price, Lenovo has a reputation of making stunning notebooks, and the new IdeaPad 3 is no exception.

It doesn’t appear to be a cheap laptop thanks to its brushed aluminum lid and keyboard surround.

Considering that it barely weighs 2 kilograms, transporting is a breeze.

The sleek keyboard is well laid out, has a dedicated function row at the top, and has decently sized keys in addition to the unusual up and down arrows.

The display has a fundamental FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution. Nothing radically novel may be observed here.

It has an Intel Core i5-10210U Processor (4-Core, 1.6 GHz) under the hood, which can reach a maximum turbo frequency of 4.2 GHz.

Fast connectivity is provided by this CPU, which also prolongs battery life. It makes use of Intel UHD Graphics, an integrated GPU.

The star of the show in this case is without a doubt the RAM memory. It includes a sizable 20GB of DDR4 SDRAM.

On the other hand, the storage is superb and comes with a 512GB SSD.

Having said that, it won’t fall short in terms of performance when it comes to editing on a tight budget.

The battery life isn’t spectacular, but it’s also not terrible. It is just marginally satisfactory and, in some ways, reasonable given the cost.

6.) Asus ProArt Studiobook 16″

If you want a Windows laptop, the Asus ProArt Studiobook is the best laptop for picture editing.

The computer was designed with artists in mind. Large design applications like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere Pro can be run on it.

For this laptop, Lightroom and Luminar Neo are simple to use.

Creatives will appreciate the Asus ProArt’s special function. You may navigate among tools and features in applications like Photoshop using the Asus Dial.

It will require some training. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, though, it saves time. The ideal companion for Adobe users.

This laptop runs Windows quite well. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is a quick and dependable processor.

And the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card is impressive. Additionally, you have all the capability required to edit images on any software thanks to the 32 GB RAM.

The display looks fantastic and the operation is flawless.

The 16-inch OLED screen is sizable. It’s easy to work with that much screen real estate.

Additionally, the high pixel count (3840 x 2400) results in a stunning display. It is clear and precise.

And there is no eye tiredness even after working for hours.

The operating system of the ProArt Studiobook is Windows 11 Pro-64. Although the battery life is long, it is not exceptional.

There are numerous ports, including an HDMI port and two USB 3.1 connections. A combo jack for headphones and a microphone is also available.

However, the native camera can only record in 720p. If you attend a lot of meetings, an external webcam might be useful.

7.) Razer Blade 17

One of the top gaming laptops is the Razer Blade 17. Perhaps you’re not a gamer. But designers and picture editors might also benefit from a gaming laptop.

They are excellent computers for photo editing because of their processing capability. And the Razer Blade 17 performs and offers power.

Any professional photo- or video-editing program can be used with it.

A 12th-generation Intel Core-i7 processor powers the Razer Blade 17. Along with 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 3070 Ti graphics card.

Most modern computer games can be played with that amount of power. For Adobe editing programs, that means it has more than enough.

The Razer Blade with RTX 3080 Ti GPU is another option. You now have 32 GB of RAM. But the cost has nearly doubled.

The hard disk has a 1 TB capacity. For all of your editing suites, that is sufficient.

Additionally, you receive a large 17.3-inch LCD screen with amazing 4K screen resolution. You have lots of room to work with that.

It’s sufficient to have multiple programs running at once.

Excellent Vapor Chamber Cooling is present in it. There is no need to be concerned about the laptop overheating.

The Razer Blade includes desktop PC-like connectivity possibilities. Three USB-A ports and two USB-C ports are present.

There is an HDMI 2.1 port built-in. A UHS-II SD card slot is also present. Without using a middleman, you can upload photographs directly from your memory card to Lightroom.

That is a time-saving function for editing photos. A serious laptop is the Razer Blade 17. It might target hardcore gamers in its marketing.

But it offers everything an artist could ever need. You shouldn’t be concerned about power or performance, especially if you choose the 32 GM option.

One of the greatest laptops for photo editing is the Razor Blade 17. It’ll be a hit with videographers too.

8.) Apple MacBook Air M2

If you need a portable computer for photo editing, the MacBook Air M2 is the finest option.

Compared to the MacBook Pro, it is smaller. Even while it doesn’t perform as well, the MacBook Air still offers a great photo-editing experience.

It offers the slick, user-friendly UI you anticipate from Apple goods. Additionally, it provides all the tools you need for mobile photo editing.

You will have a fantastic user experience thanks to the combination of the 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU.

Compared to earlier laptops, 8 GB of RAM doesn’t seem like much.

However, 8 GB is still plenty to run Luminar Neo or Adobe Photoshop.

They might not be able to be used simultaneously. However, you can continue working on your photo editing.

There is merely a 13.6-inch screen. The smallest item on the list is that. But for the traveling photo editor, it’s the ideal laptop for that reason.

The screen is of excellent quality and displays colors accurately. Only 256 GB of hard disk space is available.

But keep in mind that the MacBook Air is not a notebook designed specifically for use as a workstation.

The webcam of the Macbook Air is native Full HD. And three mics are available for crystal-clear sound recording.

That’s fantastic for team Zoom meetings. The port is in good shape. Two Thunderbolt and two USB-C ports are available.

A 3.5mm headphone jack is also present. One of the greatest laptops for occasional picture editors or editors on the fly is the Macbook Air.

9.) Dell XPS 15

The Dell XPS 15 is an excellent notebook all-around. It works well for daily use.

However, if you choose one of the higher-spec models, the Dell XPS 15 makes an excellent laptop for photo editing.

It is accessible and simple to use. Additionally, it is powerful enough to serve as your mobile workstation for editing photos.

Dell is known for producing dependable PCs. And the XPS 15 maintains the trend, according to the hardware specifications.

The CPU is an Intel Core-i7-11800H from the 11th generation, which has eight cores for efficient usage.

A 24 MB Intel Smart Cache is also present, increasing the processor’s clock speed to 4.6 GHz.

There are various Dell XPS 15 models, each with a different set of specifications.

Options come in 16, 32, or 64 GB RAM configurations. And there are 1 to 4 TB of hard disk space options.

You can choose the choice that best meets your needs. The one with 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of internal storage is the one we chose, though.

You now have the capacity required for photo-editing software. However, it doesn’t significantly raise the cost.

An HD webcam is incorporated into the Dell XPS. Dual array microphones are also available for high-quality sound recording.

It includes two Thunderbolt 4 connectors and a USB 3.2 port.

An SD card reader is also present. For photographers, such feature is quite useful. Longer battery life is something we’d like to see.

However, you’ll still receive continuous labor for hours. The Dell XPS makes excellent photo editing equipment.

Additionally, there is something for both amateurs and professionals, depending on the choice you select.

10.) Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

The greatest touchscreen laptop for picture editing is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.

One of the best laptops for editors who want a hands-on workflow is this one.

However, the Microsoft Surface doesn’t use its touchscreen as a marketing ploy.

Professional editors can use it with the performance they expect from their laptops. For creatives, it’s a terrific hybrid laptop.

An Intel Core-i7 CPU from the 11th generation powers the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.

And 32 GB of RAM is included for quick and seamless operation. A strong hardware team is completed by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU.

There is 1 TB of inbuilt SSD storage in the laptop. Any editing program or digital art program will run without a hitch.

One of the main selling factors is the touchscreen with PixelFlow technology. It has a magnificent 14.4″ display.

Additionally, the touch action is responsive and fluid. There is no delay because of the brisk 120 Hz refresh rate.

The laptop comes with a Surface Slim Pen so you can start working right now.

The screen can be positioned to be in front of the keyboard. There are no ports incorporated into the main body of the laptop.

However, a surface dock with USB and HDMI connectors is included. Also included is a useful SD card slot.

In comparison to Macs, its battery life is terrible. But for active creatives, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the best laptop for picture editing.

11.) Acer Swift 3 Intel Evo Thin & Light Laptop

What is the finest laptop for cheap picture editing, a common question? The Acer Swift 3 is a fantastic response to that query.

It lacks the specifications of professional laptops. But the price is lower. Additionally, applications like Photoshop and Luminar Neo can still be used to edit photos.

The hardware network of the Acer Swift 3 is strong. You can use the Intel Core CPU and Intel Iris graphic processor quickly and easily.

Additionally, 8 GB of RAM is included for quick operation. The ability to edit huge 8K videos won’t be available. However, there is no issue with using photo editing software.

It can be used as a portable laptop because of the 13.5-inch screen. However, there is still ample room for comfortable photo editing.

A HD webcam and microphone are included. A lot of USB and other connectivity ports are also present. The finest inexpensive laptop for picture editing is the Acer Swift 3.

12.) ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 14”

Another hybrid laptop for creatives of all stripes is the Asus ZenBook.

The primary display is available for typical laptop functions. But the touchscreen is also available for greater creative control.

It gives photo editing a fresh perspective. Not everyone will enjoy it. But the Asus ZenBook will be adored by some editors.

When purchasing an Asus ZenBook, buyers have two alternatives. You have the choice between the 16 GB and 32 GB options.

The 32 GB RAM version, in our opinion, offers more value for the money.

It is more expensive. But the improved performance makes it worthwhile. Of course, novices might not require the additional power.

You get a fluid and lovely display thanks to the CPU and graphic processor. One TB of internal SSD storage is also available.

Some people might find it aggravating that there aren’t many ports.

The battery life is also decreased by the touchscreen. But for photo editing and other creative tasks, it’s a distinctive laptop option.

What to Consider When Buying an Editing Laptop: A Buyer’s Guide

While the laptop’s general quality should be taken into account, some aspects are more crucial than others when it comes to editing.

Processor

The CPU, which keeps the computer going, is essentially its beating heart.

You’ll require a powerful computer to operate programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, just like a photo editor.

Yes, a powerful processor is necessary in order to run those photo editing tools smoothly. You don’t want them to frequently crash or lag.

At least for me, understanding CPU can be challenging. Ask a computer-savvy friend or conduct some study before purchasing your laptop.

Purchasing a laptop with a weak CPU that cannot run the software you require will necessitate an upgrade, costing you money that could have been used elsewhere.

Ram

The quantity of RAM that is available should also be taken into account when editing photos.

If your computer has more RAM, you can edit photos more quickly.

A computer with greater RAM can handle more demanding tasks since it has more resources available to it.

The minimum amount of free space required for photo editing software is 8 GB.

But 16 GB or more is recommended. As a result, you’ll find that everything moves along more easily.

Additionally, it enables you to build considerably more layers.

Storage

Despite their appearance, images can use a lot of storage space.

This is something that photographers should be aware of, especially those with limited storage who are accustomed to often changing and removing the SD Cards.

Either an SSD or an HDD will be used for your laptop’s storage. Both of these have advantages.

Your laptop’s overall speed will increase significantly thanks to an SSD yet having less storage space available.

The HDD, on the other hand, is significantly slower but provides a lot of storage options, including 1 TB.

A 256GB SSD should be more than adequate, in my perspective. However, this is more of a personal choice issue.

Display

The display on your laptop should be excellent first and foremost. The screen that shows your content, no matter how attractive it may be, serves no purpose.

A good display should show the colors in the proper sequence, with the appropriate brightness, vibrance, etc.

It is not revolutionary, but it is possible that the greater the screen resolution, the bigger the screen.

If you edit videos, the refresh rates also come into play; once again, the smoother the video, the easier the editing process is.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Computer do Most Photographers Use?

Since every photographer has their own preferences and won’t buy a laptop just because another photographer has it, I am unable to properly respond to your question.

Photographers use all of the aforementioned computers, but if none of them appeal to you, just look for one made by a well-known company.

What are Some Good Photo Editing Softwares?

I think of Gimp as a “killer alternative” to Photoshop, perhaps with Photoshop just behind it.

What Should a Laptop Have for Photo Editing?

An enough GPU, whether integrated or dedicated, a sufficient amount of RAM, and storage are all essential components of a laptop that can run editing applications.

Last Words

The laptops on my list are all really affordable and worth considering.

Even while there are more expensive models that provide superior overall performance, the aforementioned laptops are still a fantastic value for photographers on a tight budget.

However, occasionally, even if you have the necessary equipment, you could not have the right idea.

In other words, you should be as imaginative as you can. It’s all about inventiveness; even the newest flagship won’t cut it if you don’t feed it.