10 Best Laptops for Adobe After Effects – Our Top Picks 2023

What’s the best laptops for Adobe After Effects? If you are in the market for one, you will want to make sure that you choose one with plenty of space and power to run many programs at once and keep up with your creative flow. 

There are dozens of great laptops out there, but each one has its own pros and cons. So, it is hard to know which device suits you best. Here are our top 10 picks, listed below in no particular order, that have what it takes to get the job done. 

No matter if you want the best laptop for adobe creative cloud, editing, gaming, or using software like adobe after effects, good performance should be your priority. All the best laptops for adobe after effects mentioned below will give you just that and will not disappoint you.

But before that, let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions so that you don’t have any confusion while looking at the products.  

Which Laptop Is Best For After Effects?

There’s a lot to consider when buying a laptop for video editing, such as screen size, memory, and build quality. But what about Adobe programs? How do you know which laptop will give you optimal performance with your favorite video editing software? 

To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite laptops from leading brands and laid out our top picks in several categories. We’ve also included important specs for each system so that it’s easy to compare different models side-by-side. 

How Much RAM Do You Need To Run After Effects?

How much RAM you need to run a program like Adobe After Effects depends on your specific needs. If you’re editing your projects at home, you don’t need as much RAM as someone managing multiple projects and media files while working in an office. 

Similarly, suppose you have a quad-core processor with 8GB of RAM but constantly switch between programs and open new documents that take up a lot of memory. In that case, your computer is likely running slowly even though it technically has enough RAM to handle everything. 

Is Lenovo Good For After Effects?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga is an outstanding laptop, and it’s perfect for use with software like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, etc. But is it a good fit for After Effects? 

It comes with an NVIDIA graphics card and an Intel i7 processor, so you can rest assured that your renders will be done quickly. 

It also has 16GB of RAM built-in, so you can open multiple files at once without slowing down your computer. Finally, its 1080p resolution isn’t ideal, but it’s still good enough to run your programs smoothly. This means that there are Lenovo laptops that will give you a satisfactory performance no matter what you need the device for.

10 Best Laptops For Adobe After Effects  

HP Pavilion 15

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel core i7
• Storage: 1 TB HDD
• RAM: 16 GB
• Battery life: 8 hours

HP Pavilion 15 (15-cx0061nr) is our top pick as it provides plenty of power, a good battery life, and a great display. It is available with Intel’s 8th Gen Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. 

But to stay on a budget, you can get a cheaper version which comes with 8 GB RAM and an Intel Core i5 processor. The device also has a 1TB HDD and an optional M2 SSD slot, making it one of the best laptops for Adobe After Effects on any budget. 

However, you can get a 512 GB SSD as well by paying some extra money. You can also get HP Pavilion 15 (15-cx0061nr) without dedicated graphics at a reduced price, but you won’t be able to install demanding programs such as Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, etc.

This is a pretty portable device as well weighing only 4.1 pounds. This means you can carry this upgradable device anywhere you go. Just keep the specifications you need in mind and get the version that suits your work the best. 

Dell Inspiron 15 7588

Specifications:

• Processor: 10th generation Intel Icelake processor
• Storage: 512 GB
• RAM: 8 GB
• Battery life: 5 hours

If you need a reliable laptop that won’t break your budget, we recommend checking out Dell’s Inspiron 15 7588. Its 10th generation Intel Icelake processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU can smoothly handle most professional video editing jobs.

Moreover, it comes with a 512 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM, which will provide you with a smooth performance. However, you can also get a 16GB of RAM version, which can be further upgraded to 32 GB, which is impressive.

Other noteworthy features include a 720p webcam with dual digital microphone arrays, an HDMI output, Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, three USB 3.0 ports, and a media card reader. You will also get a battery life of around 5 hours, which is fine; thus, you should not expect a lot from battery life.

Apart from that, its reliable performance makes it one of the best laptops for adobe after effects. Plus, you can upgrade it anytime you feel like the configurations are too low for the work you are performing.  

Acer Aspire E15 E5-575G-57D4

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5
• Storage: 256 GB
• RAM: 8 GB
• Battery life: 11 hours

The Acer Aspire E15 is easily one of our top picks. You feature a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display, Intel Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. However, you can also upgrade to 16GB of RAM if you need it, but you get a lot of bang for your buck with just 8 GB at such an affordable price point.

It’s not as powerful as some other laptops on our list, but if you need something that will get basic tasks done daily, it should be more than good enough and has more than enough power to handle video editing in either Windows or Windows macOS.

Additionally, it features an Nvidia GeForce 940MX GPU, which means you will get a reliable graphic quality that comes in handy while working on software like adobe after effects. Lastly, its 11-hour battery life will give you enough time to work efficiently without taking a charging break between your work. 

Lenovo Ideapad 100S-11IBY

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5
• Storage: 64 GB
• RAM: 4 GB
• Battery life: 10 hours

The Ideapad 100S-11IBY is a solid-budget laptop with everything you need for video editing. With its i5 processor, you can expect to breeze through your videos with no lag time, no errors, and quick rendering times.

The laptop packs 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space to boot. Moreover, it has a 15.6-inch HD screen coated in anti-glare material that helps reduce reflections from overhead lights, making it ideal for classrooms or other bright environments.

At just 2 pounds, it’s easy to carry anywhere you need to go without breaking your back. Plus, fortunately, this travel-friendly laptop comes with 10 hours of battery life. This means you can work on it while traveling without having to worry about charging it for a considerable period.

Toshiba Satellite C55-C5241

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5
• Storage: 1 TB HDD
• RAM: 8 GB
• Battery life: 5 hours

This is one of the reliable options while staying within a budget if you are looking for one of the best laptops for adobe after effects. It features a 7th generation i5-7200U processor and has 8GB DDR4 RAM. Plus, an integrated graphics card will allow you to run your projects without any hassle at all.

Besides that, there are 1TB HDD storage and a 15.6 display, which also adds to its portability factor as it is just 4.6 pounds in weight. This means the laptop can become your travel companion without any hurdles. 

Moreover, this laptop runs on Windows 10 operating system out of the box, so if you don’t want to use Mac OS X or Windows 10, you can choose Toshiba Satellite C55-C5241 right away! Talking about its battery life, you will find it disappointing that it only comes with 5 hours of battery life.

The laptop is not a high-end device, but if you just want a laptop for video editing and Adobe After Effects for light projects, this device will come in handy for you.

Asus Vivobook S406UA

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5
• Storage: 256 GB
• RAM: 8 GB
• Battery life: 5 hours

The Asus Vivobook S406UA is one of our favorites among the most lightweight and affordable laptops, but it’s not just a good deal because of its low price. It performs well in design and performance, and display, making it a great choice if you’re on a budget like any other laptop from the Asus brand. 

It weighs only 2.6 pounds which is impressive as you can throw it in your backpack and take it anywhere, and you won’t even know it’s there. Moreover, the Intel Core i5-8250U processor is powerful enough to handle most tasks you throw at it. 

However, the battery life is not the best, as you will get 5 hours with this device. And that is if you don’t burden it with work. It also has 8GB of RAM and comes with 256GB SSD storage. Its 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display delivers crisp, vibrant images thanks to its In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology and anti-glare finish. 

The decent quality makes it a reasonable option in our list of best laptops for Adobe After Effects. You can work quite efficiently on its vibrant screen while still getting a satisfactory performance on a budget. 

Apple MacBook Pro MF839LL/A

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5
• Storage: 512 GB
• RAM: 16 GB
• Battery life: 10 hours

The Apple MacBook Pro MF839LL/A 13.3 Laptop is one of our top picks for the best laptops for adobe after effects. This sleek laptop provides advanced performance and a stunning display while being lightweight and having excellent battery life.

You can use any popular video editing software, such as Adobe After Effects, with no problems. The resolution is 2560 x 1600 pixels, which means that you will see every detail in full definition, even on a larger screen, without any blurring or distortion.

You will find that you can easily fit in all your tools and plugins because of its 16 GB DDR3L SDRAM system memory and 512 GB Flash Storage drive capacity. Plus, the 10 hours of battery life makes everything better with this laptop.

HP Envy x360 15m 003cl

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i7
• Storage: 512 GB
• RAM: 16 GB
• Battery life: 12 hours

If you’re looking for a machine that will last but don’t want to break your budget, look no further than HP’s Envy x360. This is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops while staying on a budget which will provide you with a solid experience.  

It’s affordably priced, looks sharp, and has plenty of processing power. It also comes with a spill-resistant keyboard and can be folded into tablet mode when you need to use it on the go. When editing projects at home or on set, it includes an Intel Core i7 processor (2.8GHz) and 16GB of RAM, which helps cut down render times while giving you enough power to multitask without lagging.

You will also get a storage capacity of 512 GB SSD along with a solid battery life of 12 hours. This means the laptop does not lack in providing you with a top-notch performance. Plus, it features AMD Radeon GPU, which means you will also get outstanding graphic quality with excellent performance. 

Acer Aspire E5-573G P34G7210EMEA

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i7
• Storage: 1 TB HDD
• RAM: 8 GB
• Battery life: 7 hours

The Acer Aspire E5-573G-P34G7210EMEA is our pick as one of the best laptops for adobe after effects because it’s a well-rounded laptop with decent performance and a reasonable price. It comes with an Intel Core i7 6500U processor, which is plenty fast to handle editing on most projects.

Plus, it has 8GB of RAM, too, so it can run more than one application at once without slowing down. The 15.6-inch display runs at 1920×1080 pixels resolution, so you’ll have no trouble seeing everything clearly if you’re working with 4K or even 5K footage.

Additionally, it has 2MB cache memory and a 1TB hard drive for your storage needs enough space to store several years’ worth of work if necessary. Performance-wise the laptop is pretty remarkable; however, the battery life is adequate.

It gives you a total time of around 7 hours on standby mode; however, it reduces under the constant workload. Therefore, if battery life is not a big concern for you, this device might be a great option to look at. 

Microsoft Surface Book

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i7
• Storage: 128 GB
• RAM: 16 GB
• Battery life: 12 hours

The Microsoft Surface Book has the power to burn with its 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia graphics, and 16GB of RAM. But it’s not just a powerhouse. It’s also a gorgeous touch display that flips over to become a tablet. Coupled with one of our favorite keyboards around, it’s both powerful and versatile.

Plus, you will get a storage capacity of 128 GB SSD which can be upgraded up to 2 T, which is impressive. The 14-inch display has a 3,000 x 2,000 resolution (267 PPI), close to 4K in pixel density but still maintains an aspect ratio that works better on these larger laptop screens.

The result is beautiful visuals that won’t make you feel like working at an aquarium. Moreover, you will get a battery life of 12 hours; thus, there is not much to ask as you will be getting a top-notch performance as it is making it one of the best laptops for adobe after effects. 

Conclusion

If you’re looking to get your first or next laptop, a powerful and well-rounded laptop that works well with After Effects is essential. Thankfully, many laptops on today’s market offer excellent performance with AE and can be used for any other graphics-intensive software application.

It all comes down to what you want from your laptop: do you need a screen that folds back 180 degrees to lay in bed and work, or would you prefer something slimmer and more portable? It all depends on what’s important to you!

But no matter what happens in our roundup of some of the best laptops for designers, we hope we helped make things more transparent when deciding which one will be right for your needs.