Best Mac for Video Editing [2024]

Acquiring a Mac for your video editing work can be somewhat tricky, especially when you're not sure about which is best to make your work superb. Yes, this is because All seem like the best option (which they are); still, given that needs differ from one user to other - not all Mac editions may be suitable for you. Yes, Apple keeps adding intuitive features and recent technology to make the newer releases fresh, effective, and powerful; it also adds a hefty price tag. But besides price, there are also other options to consider.

Read on to find why Mac is the best option for Video editing and also find which is the best Mac for video editing. 

• Part 1: Why Choose Mac For Video Editing
• Part 2: Best Macs For Video Editing In 2021
• Part 3: Best Video Editor on Mac - Wondershare Filmora

Part 1: Why Choose Mac for Video Editing

Mac Vs PC is an old-age debate. But it all comes down to personal preference, as some users are more inclined towards PCs than Macs. However, when it comes to Video Editing, even a reasonable PC lover will like Mac.

The reason:

video editing takes a lot of processing power and graphics. Especially, in the world where 4K video is the new normal - hallmarks like screen quality and size, portability, RAM, CPU, graphics, storage, battery life, ports, and peripherals are all critical.  And while a PC can include all these - most often or not - you will have to assemble the PC to make it suitable for you manually.

On the other hand, the Mac computers and Laptops come pre-loaded with all the hardware the video editors need to show their creativity. For instance, you can take the Apple iMac 27-inch Retina 5K Display:  the computer comes with  5120x2880 resolution with support for 1 billion colors. 8GB (two 4GB) of 2666MHz DDR4 memory; four SO‑DIMM slots, user accessible, 3.8GHz 8‑core 10th-generation Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz, AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT with 8GB of GDDR6 memory, i.e., put simply - enough for professional video editing.

 

Part 2: Best Macs for Video Editing in 2024

As stated, Macs are the best for Video Editing. But how do you decide which Mac is best for you? Well, fret not, as we compiled a list of the best Mac for video editing that will allow you to review all of them quickly and come to a conclusion to pick the one best suitable for you:

1. Apple iMac 27-inch Retina 5K Display (2020) [Best for Professionals]

The new iMac 27-inch Retina 5K Display may not have gotten the new look on the exterior, but it is completely changed on the inside. Available in different price ranges (depending on the specifications), the iMac 27-inch demands US$ 500 more than the usual rate if you want the nano-texture finish on the glass (suitable if your workspace is next to a window).

And while the iMac 27-inch is available with the base 10th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, if you are looking to edit 4K videos, it is best to go with the Core i7 or Core i9 models. Moreover, Apple finally decided to introduce SSDs to the iMac, which is a sign of relief for users looking for faster transfers and other benefits that come with solid-state drives.

Pros:

• You can opt for the "nano-texture" or glossy 5K display
• 1080 p camera
• Best-in-class computing and graphics performance
• Sleek, Apple-looking, and minimalist design

Cons:

• Too expensive, in fact.
• Keyboard can be uncomfortable
• No touchscreen models

Price: The top model of  iMac 27-inch Retina 5K Display can cost up to US$ 4500, but depending on the lower specifications, the least expensive model will cost you US $1,799.99.

2. Apple iMac 24-inch Retina 4.5K Display (2021)

Still, a bigger screen than the 21.4 inch iMac, the iMac 24-inch comes with the most talked-about M1 chip (7-Core and 8-Core) that is Apple’s own processor, and unlike the older models — it does not constitute the intel chip that is universal across other signature machines.

In all, be it the exterior or interior — 21.4 inch iMac is a radically new and transformed machine that is one of the most chosen options among the video editors.

Pros:

• Beautiful and sleek design
• Fantastic webcam capable to capture 1080p resolution videos and photos
• Great performance, the peak model suits video editors 

Cons:

• Lack of ports (base models take even more hit)
• Charging the mouse is inconvenient

Price: US$ 1300 for 256GB model, US$ 1900 for 512GB model, and US$ 2100 for 1TB model

3. Apple Mac mini (M1, 2020) [Best for Editing on a Budget]

While critics may disagree, the addition of the M1 chip enhanced the do-it-all desktop to a new level. Allowing up to 6X faster graphics and 3X faster performance, Mac Mini allows you to edit videos seamlessly and endlessly like never before.

Pros:

• Suitable pricing for the features offered
• Blazingly fast performance
• Wifi 6 available

Cons:

• Fewer ports
• No external GPU support

Price: US$ 699

4. MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019)  [Best for Editing on the Go]

With the immersive Retina display, super-fast processors, advanced graphics, the largest battery capacity ever in a laptop, MacBook Pro is by far the best laptop to choose if you want to edit the videos on go.

Pros:

• Blazingly faster performance
• Longer battery life
• Beautiful keyboard and bigger navigation pad
• Best speakers in the market when it comes to Laptops

Cons:

• Heavy to carry

Price: US$ 2399.00

5. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)

Smaller, sleeker, and lightweight, the MacBook Pro 13-inch is another suitable option for video-editors. And although smaller in size than the earlier mentions, MacBook Pro includes 16-core Neural Engine rendering 11X faster performance than most computers or laptops of other brands.

Pros:

• Excellent battery life
• Great display

Cons:

• Only two USB ports 

Price: US$ 1299.00

 

Part 3: Best Video Editor on Mac - Wondershare Filmora

Even the best pieces of hardware is incompetent without a reasonable software to complement it. And that is why Apple alone is not good enough to edit videos on Mac like the professionals. Plus, professionals are professionals for a reason: they utilize the best-in-trade tools to make their normal-looking video a compelling one. Software that comes to mind, especially for beginners, is Wondershare’s Filmora.

Key Features:

• Filmora has features designed exclusively to make the most of your Mac computer like the Touch Bar — Touch Bar which provides a faster way to preview your video and scrub through your timeline
• Editable pre-sets make this the easiest keyframing experience around 
• Motion Tracking
• Comes with a simple interface and preset options to add transitions, effects, filters, audio, and more to allow even the least tech-savvy users to edit the video.
• Tons of customizable options for the professionals to edit every aspect of the video to their liking.

 

Conclusion

As stated, Macs are designed to handle video-editing projects. Yes, it may be difficult to do on MacBook Air — but it too can handle small video-editing projects with ease. But if you are seriously considering Video-Editing or already a professional in the Video-editing industry — one of these is a must-have. You can choose one that best suits your needs and budget.