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10 Best Laptops For Professional Photo Editing 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0 score

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Pro, 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 48GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage; Space Black

13%OFF

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Pro, 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 48GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage; Space Black

Apple

10.0 score

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The 2024 Apple MacBook Pro is a powerful option for professional photo editing, featuring the M4 Pro chip with a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU. This performance ensures that even demanding software like Adobe Creative Cloud runs smoothly, making it an ideal choice for photographers who need speed and efficiency.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,237
Processor (CPU)
Display
Portability

Most important from
500 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The MacBook Pro is incredibly fast, making it perfect for demanding tasks.
Display
The display is stunning and brilliant, ideal for detailed editing work.
Portability
Battery life is impressive, allowing for extended use without frequent recharging.
#2
9.7 score

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) Gaming Laptop, 16” ROG Nebula Display 16:10 2.5K 240Hz/3ms, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 Ti GPU, Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX Processor, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Win11 Home

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) Gaming Laptop, 16” ROG Nebula Display 16:10 2.5K 240Hz/3ms, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 Ti GPU, Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX Processor, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Win11 Home

ASUS

9.7 score

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The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a powerful laptop equipped with a top-tier Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and a hefty 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM, making it capable of handling demanding photo editing software and multitasking smoothly. Its 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD offers plenty of fast storage for large photo files and quick access to your work. The dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card provides excellent performance, which can help with image rendering and software that uses GPU acceleration, although this level of GPU is more gaming-focused than strictly necessary for photo editing.

Rating
9.7
Processor (CPU)
RAM
Storage

Most important from
317 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The laptop delivers blazing fast performance with a powerful CPU and graphics card, easily handling demanding tasks and multitasking.
RAM
With 32GB RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, it offers ample memory and storage for large files and quick access.
Storage
With 32GB RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, it offers ample memory and storage for large files and quick access.
Graphics Card (GPU)
The laptop delivers blazing fast performance with a powerful CPU and graphics card, easily handling demanding tasks and multitasking.
Display Quality
The 16-inch 2.5K display is bright and clear with good contrast, though its 240Hz refresh rate caters more to gaming than photo editing.
Portability
Portability is limited due to its large size and weight of over 6 pounds, making it less ideal for frequent travel.
Connectivity
Connectivity is solid with multiple USB ports and the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard ensuring fast and reliable networking.
#3
9.1 score

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max, 14‑core CPU, 32‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 36GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Space Black

12%OFF

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max, 14‑core CPU, 32‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 36GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Space Black

Apple

9.1 score

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The 2024 Apple MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chip is a powerhouse tailored for professional photo editing. Its 14-core CPU and 32-core GPU provide exceptional speed and graphics performance, making it well-suited for handling large image files and complex editing software without lag. With 36GB of unified memory, multitasking and working with demanding apps like Adobe Creative Cloud become smooth and efficient. The 1TB SSD offers fast storage, though some professionals may eventually want more space or external drives for large photo libraries.

Rating
9.1
Processor (CPU)
RAM
Storage

Most important from
500 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The MacBook Pro delivers exceptional power and performance, effortlessly handling demanding apps like video editing and 3D modeling with low memory and CPU usage.
RAM
Upgrading RAM to 48GB is valued for future-proofing and ensuring smooth operation of intensive creative applications.
Storage
Storage of 1TB is often seen as the minimum baseline, with many opting for fast external Thunderbolt SSDs due to the high cost and limited internal space.
Display Quality
The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display provides stunning visuals, with a larger screen real estate that users prefer for detailed work despite the laptop's heft.
Portability
Though heavier than smaller models, the laptop strikes a good balance between portability and performance, making it suitable for both home use and travel.

Top 10 Best Laptops For Professional Photo Editing 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0  score
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Apple

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Pro, 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 48GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage; Space Black

Processor (CPU): Apple M4, 14-core
RAM: 48 GB
Storage: 512 GB
Graphics Card (GPU): Integrated, 20-core
Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR
Portability: 4.71 pounds
Connectivity: Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC slot

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13% OFF

Chosen by 1237 this week

#2
9.7  score
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ASUS

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) Gaming Laptop, 16” ROG Nebula Display 16:10 2.5K 240Hz/3ms, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 Ti GPU, Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX Processor, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Win11 Home

Processor (CPU): Intel Core Ultra 9, 5.4 GHz
RAM: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Display Quality: 16-inch 2.5K 240Hz 16:10
Portability: 6.02 pounds, relatively large
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, multiple USB ports

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#3
9.1  score
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Apple

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max, 14‑core CPU, 32‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 36GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Space Black

Processor (CPU): Apple M4 Max 14-core CPU
RAM: 36GB unified memory
Storage: 1TB SSD
Graphics Card (GPU): 32-core integrated GPU
Display Quality: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
Portability: 4.7 pounds
Connectivity: 3 Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe

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12% OFF
#4
8.8  score
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Apple

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max, 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 48GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Silver

Processor (CPU): Apple M4 Max 16-core CPU
RAM: 48GB unified memory
Storage: 1TB SSD
Graphics Card (GPU): Apple Integrated 40-core GPU
Display Quality: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
Portability: 4.7 pounds, 0.66 inches thick
Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC

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12% OFF
#5
8.8  score
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Microsoft

Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1 Laptop/Tablet (2024), 13" OLED Touchscreen Display, 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage | Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, Snapdragon X Elite (12 Core), Black

Processor (CPU): Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite 12-core 3.4GHz
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Graphics Card (GPU): Integrated
Display Quality: 13-inch OLED 2880x1920 pixels
Portability: 3.85 pounds, 14h battery life
Connectivity: 1 USB port

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27% OFF
#6
8.5  score
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Apple

Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 12MP Center Stage Camera, Touch ID; Midnight

Processor (CPU): Apple M4 chip 10-core CPU
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 256 GB
Graphics Card (GPU): 8-core integrated GPU
Display Quality: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina, 2560x1664
Portability: 2.73 lbs, 8.46x11.97x0.44 inches
Connectivity: 2 Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, Wi-Fi 6E

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25% OFF
#7
7.9  score
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Apple

Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 chip with 10‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage; Space Black

Processor (CPU): Apple M4, 10-core
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Graphics Card (GPU): 10-core GPU
Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR
Portability: 3.41 pounds
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, SDXC

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34% OFF
#8
7.0  score
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ASUS

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) Gaming Laptop, 16” FHD+ 16:10 165Hz/3ms Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 Laptop GPU, Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 14650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB Gen 4 SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Windows 11 Home

Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7 14650HX, 5.2 GHz
RAM: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060
Display Quality: 16-inch Full HD+ 165Hz
Portability: 10.85 lbs, 0.9 inches thick
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, USB 3.0 ports

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8% OFF
#9
7.0  score
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Dell

Dell 14 Plus Laptop DB14250-14-inch 16:10 2.5K (2560x1600) Display, Intel Core Ultra 9-288V, 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB SSD, Intel Arc Graphics, Backlit Copilot Key Keyboard - Previously Inspiron

Processor (CPU): 3.3 GHz Intel Core Ultra 9
RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 1 TB SSD
Graphics Card (GPU): Intel Arc Graphics
Display Quality: 2560x1600, 14", Anti Glare
Portability: 3.42 lbs, 8.9x12.36x0.67 in
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth, 2 USB 3.0

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25% OFF
#10
7.0  score
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Apple

Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID; Starlight

Processor (CPU): Apple M3
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 512 GB
Graphics Card (GPU): Integrated, 10-core
Display Quality: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina, 1 billion
Portability: 2.7 pounds, very thin
Connectivity: 2 Thunderbolt, headphone, Wi-Fi 6E

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Buying Guide for the Best Laptops For Professional Photo Editing

When choosing a laptop for professional photo editing, it's important to consider several key specifications to ensure that the device can handle the demands of high-resolution image processing and editing software. The right laptop will provide a balance of performance, display quality, and storage to help you work efficiently and effectively. Here are the key specs to focus on and how to choose the best fit for your needs.
Processor (CPU)The processor, or CPU, is the brain of your laptop and is crucial for running photo editing software smoothly. A powerful CPU will handle complex tasks and multitasking more efficiently. For photo editing, look for a laptop with at least a quad-core processor. Intel Core i7 or i9, and AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 are good choices. If you work with very large files or do a lot of batch processing, a higher-end CPU will save you time and frustration.
RAMRAM, or Random Access Memory, is important for multitasking and handling large files. More RAM allows your laptop to work with more data at once, which is essential for photo editing. For professional photo editing, a minimum of 16GB of RAM is recommended. If you work with extremely high-resolution images or use multiple programs simultaneously, 32GB or more may be beneficial.
StorageStorage is where your files and software are kept. For photo editing, you need fast and ample storage. Solid State Drives (SSDs) are much faster than traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and will significantly speed up your workflow. Look for a laptop with at least 512GB of SSD storage. If you have a large library of images, consider 1TB or more, or look for a laptop with expandable storage options.
Graphics Card (GPU)A dedicated graphics card (GPU) can greatly enhance the performance of photo editing software, especially when working with 3D effects or high-resolution images. While integrated graphics can handle basic tasks, a dedicated GPU like NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon will provide better performance. For professional photo editing, a mid-range to high-end GPU is recommended.
Display QualityThe display is one of the most important aspects of a laptop for photo editing. Look for a high-resolution screen (at least Full HD, but 4K is preferable) with accurate color reproduction. An IPS panel is recommended for better color accuracy and wider viewing angles. Additionally, consider a laptop with good color gamut coverage (sRGB, Adobe RGB) and brightness levels for more precise editing.
PortabilityPortability might be important if you need to edit photos on the go. Consider the weight and battery life of the laptop. Ultrabooks are lightweight and often have good battery life, but make sure they still meet the performance requirements for photo editing. If you primarily work from a fixed location, a heavier laptop with better specs might be a better choice.
ConnectivityHaving the right ports and connectivity options is important for transferring files and connecting peripherals. Look for laptops with multiple USB ports (including USB-C), an SD card reader, and HDMI or DisplayPort for connecting external monitors. Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports can also be beneficial for faster data transfer and connecting high-speed external storage devices.

FAQ