Best All Rounder | Best Powerful | Best 17 inch | Best 2-in-1 | Best Battery Life | Best for Office Use | Best 17 inch for Office use |
Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i | Asus TUF Gaming F17 | Lenovo Yoga 7i | Acer Aspire Vero AV15 52 | HP Pavillion 15 | Asus Vivobook 17X |
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Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
Core i7 1255u | Core i7 12700H | Core i5 11400H | Core i7 1240P | Core i7 1255U | Core i7 1255u | Core i7 12700H |
Geforce MX 570 | RTX 3050ti | RTX 3050 | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
16GB RAM | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM | 16GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
512GB SSD | 512GB SSD | 512GB SSD | 256GB SSD | 1TB SSD | 512GB SSD | 1TB SSD |
You don’t want a slow or crappy laptop ruining your creative process. So you need to ensure that you buy the right laptop for photo editing for under $1000.
A laptop for photo editing needs to have certain features. Some of these features include amazing CPU and GPU performance.
So your laptop does not struggle or stutter when you work on complex projects in Photoshop or Premiere Pro, or it doesn’t take forever to render video.
Furthermore, your laptop needs to have a color-accurate display so that when you are color-grading a project, you get the colors right.
Some additional features, such as an SD Card reader, can also be a great addition for transferring photos from your DSLR or mirrorless camera.
So to save you from the headache of going down multiple Amazon listings and watching multiple laptop reviews, here is a compiled list of the best laptops for photo editing for under $1000.
And all of these laptops have all the features you need to do photo editing.
What is the Best Laptop for Photo Editing under $1000
The best laptop for Photo Editing under $1000 is the Dell Inspiron 15 5420. It has everything you need for photo editing, including great performance, a beautiful display, a satisfying keyboard, along with many other features.
Though if performance is all you need, then the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i is the best laptop for Photo Editing under $1000. And if you need a convertible laptop for photo editing for under $1000, then you can’t go wrong with the Yoga 7i.
Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Best All-Rounder Laptop for Photo Editing under $1000
CPU: Core i7 1255u | GPU: GeForce MX 570 2GB RAM | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Display: 14” 2240×1400 | Storage: 512GB SSD | Battery: 54Wh | OS: Windows 11
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 checks all the boxes for being the best laptop for photo editing for under $1000.
To start off, the Dell Inspiron 15 5420 is loaded with the right hardware. Though the i7 1255u may not be the strongest mobile CPU out there, it still packs a punch.
The Geforce MX 570 is a bit disappointing, considering many laptops in this price point provide something like an RTX 3050 that is much better. Though it is still better than using Intel Integrated graphics, it still manages to help you in occasional video rendering projects.
So in terms of raw performance, the Inspiron 14 5420 holds up quite well.
When it comes to doing color-sensitive photo editing, the Dell Inspiron 15 5420 again proves to be the perfect candidate for the best laptop for photo editing under $1000.
The 14-inch 2240x 1440 display is super crisp and colorful, covering the entire sRGB color gamut and 77% of Adobe RGB. If you are not doing intensive color grading work, you can use this display for media consumption, and you will have a great time.
The 16:10 aspect ratio also gives more than usual screen real estate, and you can even use the laptop outdoors as it gets quite bright at around 390nits.
Another small thing that saves you from the hassle of carrying a dongle is the built-in SD card reader. If you are traveling with this laptop and you are editing on the go, you can leave your SD card reader at home.
The Dell Inspiron 15 5420 falls short in design with its boring and uninspiring silver body with a simple Dell logo. I would have liked it if Dell had gone a little creative with the design and changed things up a bit. Though the design of the Inspiron 15 5420 will blend perfectly in a workplace environment, where carrying a gaming laptop would have turned heads.
The battery life is also passable, lasting around 6-7 hours on casual use. However, you might have to carry a charger with you if you plan to do some hardware-demanding work. Also, both the RAM and storage are upgradeable on this laptop, so that is great.
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i | Best Powerful Laptop for Photo Editing under $1000
CPU: Core i7 12700H | GPU: RTX 3050ti 4GB 85W | RAM: 8GB DDR4 | Display: 15” 1080×1080 120Hzz | Storage: 512GB SSD | Battery: 54Wh | OS: Windows 11
If performance is all you want, then you can’t go wrong with the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i.
The Ideapad Gaming 3i packs in a monstrous 14 cores thanks to the Core i7 12700h, which is the strongest processor you can find under $1000. You can throw the heaviest Photoshop or Illustrator project at it, and it will handle it like a champ.
What also makes the Ideapad Gaming 3i awesome is the RTX 3050ti, which is one of the higher TDP 85W variants, which can significantly help if you plan to do some video editing work too.
Of course, being a gaming laptop, you can also play games on it in medium settings in your spare time.
The good stuff doesn’t end there. Most gaming laptops cheap out on display. However, the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i is an exception.
The display gets quite bright at 340 nits, which means that you can use it outside on a sunny day with ease.
And the color accuracy is also amazing, covering 97% of the sRGB color space while covering 70% of Adobe RGB. And being a gaming laptop, the buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate makes using this laptop a delightful experience.
Packing in such hardware comes at the cost of horrible battery life. The Ideapad Gaming 3i struggles to last long, running out of battery after 5 hours of casual use.
Though, being a Lenovo laptop, the typing experience on this laptop is fun. The concave keys have enough spacing, and each keystroke ends with satisfying feedback.
It has small annoyances, such as a boring and lifeless webcam, and it also lacks an SD card reader, which means that you would have to carry a dongle with you. Also, the gamer aesthetic of the laptop may not be for everyone and can especially be weird if you usually work in a formal corporate environment.
But overall, the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 is a performance powerhouse, making it one of the best laptops for photo editing under $1000.
Lenovo Yoga 7i | Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Photo Editing under $1000
CPU: Core i5 1240p | GPU: Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 8GB/16GB DDR4 | Display: 16” 2560×1600 | Storage: 512GB SSD | Battery: 71Wh | OS: Windows 11
Creative individuals who like to draw and sketch occasionally may find the Lenovo Yoga 7i interesting. The Lenovo Yoga 7i is the perfect 2 in 1 laptop to buy for under $1000 for photo editing.
Apart from the flexible nature of the Yoga 7i, what makes the display great is it’s amazing color accuracy and punchy colors.
The display covers 98% of sRGB color space while covering 76% of Adobe RGB and 77% of DCI P3. Its vibrance is unmatched and is complimented by its 384 nits of peak brightness, allowing you to use this convertible laptop outside with ease.
And being a convertible, it supports stylus input, so you can get creative on Adobe Illustrator if you want, though you would have to buy the stylus separately.
Speaking of performance, the Yoga 7i is not the greatest out there. However, it will run Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator just fine without any hiccups.
The Core i5 1240P is a performance-focused CPU that can handle your creative workload with ease, though the lack of a dedicated GPU might be a problem if you decide to dive into Videography later.
The battery backup is decent, lasting around 7.5 hours on casual use, and the speakers sound great by outputting clear mids with noticeable bass. Also, it has an SD card slot which is great for transferring pictures off your camera.
For the most part, there isn’t much to hate about the Yoga 7i, which is one of the reasons why its the best convertible laptop for photo editing under $1000.
Though what we kind of hate about this laptop is its hefty weight, around 4.1 lbs (1.9kg), and it has soldered RAM, which can not be upgraded. So keep that in mind if you plan to buy this laptop.
If you are interested in the Yoga 7i, you can read our detailed review on it.
Acer Aspire Vero AV15 52 | Best Battery Life Laptop for photo editing under $1000
CPU: Core i7 1255u | GPU: Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Display: 15.6” 2240×1400 | Storage: 512GB SSD | Battery: 54Wh | OS: Windows 11
If you want to explore your creativity while also being environmentally friendly, then the Acer Aspire Vero might be for you.
The entire chassis of the Aspire Vero is made of PCR plastic. However, it doesn’t compromise the quality of the chassis, as the laptop feels mostly solid with a bit of flex on the keyboard deck.
When it comes to doing creative work, it doesn’t disappoint.
The color accuracy of the display is really good, covering 98% of sRGB space while covering 78% of Adobe RGB. This is a huge step up from last year’s bland display, though it still struggles to get bright, maxing out at around 280 nits.
The performance is also quite good thanks to the Core i7, which has ten cores, ready to take on any Photoshop or Illustrator workload. The 16GB RAM on the Aspire Vero is plenty, allowing you to work on complex projects, and the 1TB SSD is fast and big enough to hold all your projects. The Aspire Vero also has the best battery life out of all the laptops in our selections, lasting around 9 hours comfortably without any issues.
Our only complaints with this laptop are the lack of an SD card reader and its dim display. Also, it would have been great if the display had a 16:10 display.
Asus TUF F17 | Best 17-inch laptop for photo editing under $1000
CPU: Core i5 11400H | GPU: RTX 3050 4GB | RAM: 8GB DDR4 | Display: 17” 1920×1080 144Hz | Storage: 512GB SSD | Battery: 48Wh | OS: Windows 11
If screen real estate is all that matters to you, then the Asus TUF F17 is something you you should consider. The 17-inch display is big enough for any creative work.
However, the display does fall apart when it comes to color accuracy, covering only 60% of sRGB color space, and it also struggles to get bright, maxing out at around 270 nits. Though that shouldn’t be a problem as long as you don’t use the F17 outside.
The TUF F17 doesn’t have the latest Core i5, but the 11400H still packs enough power to take on any demanding workload in Photoshop or Illustrator. It also has upgradable RAM and SSD, so you can easily upgrade to something better in case you start to work on bigger projects, making it one of the best laptops for photo editing for under $1000.
The typing experience is also amazing on the TUF 17, with keys that have a long travel and give satisfying feedback on every stroke.
The weight of the TUF F17 makes it quite inconvenient to move it around. Weighing around 5.73 lbs (2.6kg), the TUF F17 is a heavy laptop. Furthermore, it has terrible battery life, barely lasting around 4 hours. Also, for those who care, it does not have an SD card reader.
So if all you care about is a big screen and great performance, the Asus TUF F17 might be worth buying for you.
MSI Katana GF66
CPU: Core i7 12650H | GPU: RTX 3050ti 4GB 60W | RAM: 16GB | Display: 15.6” 1920×1080 144Hz | Storage: 512GB SSD | Battery: 53.5Wh | OS: Windows 11
The MSI Katana GF66 is another powerful laptop that can be used for intensive photo editing workloads.
The 16GB RAM and the ten-core i7 make the GF66 a great laptop for photo editing for under $1000. You can open any complex project in Photoshop and Illustrator, and this laptop would take it without a sweat.
Furthermore, the RTX 3050ti can easily allow you to play games at medium settings in your free time or use it for video rendering workloads. It’s not the strongest GPU, but it’s far better than integrated graphics.
The keyboard is fine, it’s keys feel cramped, and the keys feel rather mushy and shallow. And the battery life is what you expect from a gaming laptop, barely lasting around 4 hours.
The Katana GF66 is one of those few gaming laptops that would blend well in an office environment thanks to its muted black chassis. So if you want a powerful laptop that doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb, then the Katana GF66 would be one of the best laptops for photo editing for under $1000.
Also, don’t plan to do color-sensitive work on the Katana GF66; the display is dim, maxing at around 225 nits. And the color accuracy is awful, covering only 60% of sRGB and 58% of Adobe RGB color space.
So if you only prioritize a stealthy laptop with amazing performance, the Katana GF66 would be a perfect pick for you.
HP Pavillion 15 | Best Office Laptop for Photo Editing under $1000
CPU: Core i7 1255u | GPU: Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Display: 15.6” 1920×1080 | Storage: 512GB SSD | Battery: 41Wh | OS: Windows 11
The Pavillion 15 by HP is a sleek and slim laptop, ideal for being used in an office environment thanks to its simple silver chassis. And it packs tons of power without being too heavy.
Though the i7 inside the Pavillion 15 is more efficiency focused, it packs in more than enough power to use Photoshop, Lightroom, or Illustrator.
And with 16GB RAM, you can comfortably work on bigger projects or multitask without issues.
Even if you find the included 16GB RAM and 512GB storage insufficient, you can easily upgrade both thanks to dual RAM slots and a replaceable M.2 drive slot.
Though it falls short with its mediocre battery life, lasting around 6 hours roughly, and it also lacks an SD card slot, so keep that in mind.
The display isn’t something to write home about either. Maxing out at around 250nits, the display struggles to get bright and makes things harder to see in a bright room.
And it barely covers the entire sRGB color at around 60%, let alone Adobe RGB color space.
And the webcam is not impressive. It’s serviceable, but it’s a place where HP cuts corners. The keyboard is where HP doesn’t compromise, and it shows. The keys deliver satisfying feedback with just the right amount of travel.
Asus VivoBook 17X | Best 17-inch Office Laptop for Photo Editing under $1000
CPU: Core i7 12700H | GPU: Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Display: 17” 1920×1080 | Storage: 1TB SSD | Battery: 50Wh | OS: Windows 11
Asus Vivobook 17X is the perfect laptop for someone who needs the best CPU performance with a big display for photo editing. The Core i7 12700h is 14 core monster that can shred through any workload you throw at it.
You simply can not worry about your laptop slowing down while working on a big project with this wild animal.
Even if you find that its 16GB RAM is limiting you or if you start running out of space on the 1TB drive, you can easily upgrade both of the things with ease.
Since it’s a 17-inch laptop, the keyboard deck is spacious and has plenty of room. This allowed Asus to have the keys well spread out, allowing you to hit every single one without issues. And the keys also provide pretty nice feedback with little travel to them.
Many budget laptops tend to cheap out on the screen, and unfortunately, Asus did the same.
Though the screen is quite big, it also struggles to get bright, maxing out at around 280 nits.
And as you might expect, the color accuracy is also bad out of the bunch, where the Vivobook only covers almost 50% of the sRGB color space. The battery life is also disappointing, where the laptop barely last around 4-5 hours.
However, the I/O on the laptop is the greatest out of all laptops in the collection. It features the latest HDMI 2.1, an SD card slot, and dual USB C 3.2 ports.
Suppose you need a proper performance package inside a simplistic chassis with all the latest I/O ports needed for photo editing. In that case, the Asus Vivobook is the best laptop for photo editing for under $1000.
FAQs
How much RAM is best for photo editing?
You need at least 16GB RAM or more to work on big and complex projects. However, if your photo editing workload is simple and doesn’t multitask a lot, you should be fine with just 8GB RAM.
How do I choose a laptop for editing?
There are two main things you should look out for when buying a laptop for photo editing. The laptop should have a powerful processor and color-accurate display. Along with plenty of RAM to keep your workflow smooth.
Also, things like an SD Card reader make life easier when transferring pictures from your mirrorless camera or DSLR.
What size laptop do I need to run Photoshop?
A 15-inch laptop or bigger is recommended for Photoshop as it would be easier to see stuff and work on projects. You can get a 14-inch laptop, though it may get annoying to work on a small display when working for the long term.
