Although photography can be a rewarding hobby or a profession, even the most skilled photographer will use editing software. We’re not going to discuss the photo editing software. Instead, we will be discussing the computers that power it. There are many actions that can be done with photo editing. Some of these actions can be performed on any computer with enough memory. Others require more processing power and RAM. You need to display the image accurately and with quality.
The computer you use for photo editing will depend on your level and expertise as well as your budget. The 12 best budget laptops to do photo editing in 2022 have been compiled by us. They come in a variety of price points, including below $1000, $800, $600 and $400.
Who Should Get This?
Photographers should have all the necessary tools. Digital photography is the most common method of digital photography. If you want to create the most stunning images, a computer is essential. There are many high-end laptops available that can help you create amazing photos. These laptops are affordable and great for photographers who want to save some money while still having the best editing tools. You might consider higher-end models if you are serious about professional photography or need the best in terms of capabilities. Although all models are capable and decent, they may not be the best value for money.
Best Laptop For Photo Editing On A Budget Below $1000
Best Laptop For Photo Editing On A Budget between $800 and $1,000 are the most expensive laptops. These laptops will be more expensive and more powerful than the average budget. These are the best choice for professional and high-level hobbyists who have a limited budget. Below is a table that will provide a quick overview of our choices for Best laptop for photo editing below $1000. Click on the row to read our full review.
1. Apple MacBook Air 2020 M1
- Screen Resolution: 2560 x 1600.
- Retina display extremely sharp.
- Produces accurate and rich colors.
- It covers all of the sRGB color gamut
- Amazing screen for photo editing.
- High performance M1 processor.
- Battery life of up to 18 hours.
- Construction of high-quality materials.
- Extraordinary portability.
- WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
- Limited connectivity.
- No touchscreen.
- Small hard drive.
Our Rating 9.8/10
Long-term, both tech and creative professionals believed that Apple was the best company for creative work. Windows has made the Windows side more competitive, but Apple retains a significant share of the creative market thanks to a combination advertising, tradition and brand excellence. The MacBook Air is a versatile laptop that can be used in many ways. The MacBook Air was the first laptop you saw if you were looking at an Apple laptop within the 800-1000 range.
This laptop is a great choice with a sharp 2560×1600 retina screen. This is a significant improvement over FHD and will let you edit your photos more precisely. The screen is bright and covers all of the sRGB spectrum, which is exactly what you want in a laptop that can be used for photo editing. The MacBook Air’s particular model features the M1 chip. This is an 8-core processor running at 3.2 GHz. This alone will give you plenty of performance for photo editing as well as heavy multitasking. It does have 8GB RAM, which is below the average laptop in this price range. However, iOS’s great harmonization shouldn’t make it any less powerful.
The 256GB SSD is the only available storage space on the MacBook Air, which is Apple’s smallest model. This will mean that you’ll need to rely more on external storage drives than with an internal drive. However, it still has enough space to store all your core files and apps. In addition to processing all video and images through the CPU, the MacBook Air does not have a dedicated GPU. While this will allow you to do photo editing and other light video work, it may limit your ability to do more complex video operations.
Apple’s connectivity issues are now a joke with a bitter punchline. Only two USB-C ports exist, with one serving as the power port. This is a problem if you are doing photo editing that requires a lot more connections and peripheral devices. This is not the main problem with this laptop.
The Macbook Air’s lighter side is the fact that it is extremely portable. The Macbook Air measures 13 inches in thickness and is 0.6 inches thick. It will fit into most bags and take up very little space. It weighs in at 2.8 pounds and has an aluminum case that ensures durability. Even better, you can use the battery for 18 hours without needing to charge it, provided you don’t do any intense tasks.
The MacBook Air is an excellent laptop for photo editing. The MacBook Air’s retina display is excellent and can produce rich and accurate colors, making it easy to do tasks such as sharpening photos and saturation. Although it is limited in storage and connectivity, you can still make up the difference. The Apple Macbook Air is a great option if you are looking for a low-cost photo editing laptop.
2. ASUS ZenBook Flip 13
Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080)
REASONS To BUY
- The best Windows laptop for photo editing below $1000.
- 2-in-1 functionality.
- Multitasking is possible with a decent performance.
- Extraordinary display.
- Touchscreen with stylus support.
- OLED panel bright with thin bezels.
- High-quality, vivid colors are produced.
- Coverage of 135% sRGB & 100% DCI-P3.
- Excellent build quality.
- Extremely portable.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Batteries can quickly run out of life with heavy or moderate use. No SD card reader. Non-media uses: Questionable performance at a price that is reasonable
Our Rating 9.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14 includes everything you need for photo editing. The display is comparable to that of the MacBook Air, but it’s also noticeably faster in nearly every category. This laptop is lightweight and portable, and it looks great in a meeting with MacBook Air-loving coworkers.
This laptop is a fantastic choice for photo editing because of its high quality display. It’s not often you can find a laptop with this level of display quality, especially if it costs less than $1000. Although the resolution is only 1080p it will still be very sharp on a 13-inch display.
The panel is where the real value lies. OLED panels are extremely bright and produce accurate colors. This display is professional-grade and has 133% of the sRGB coverage. It also covers 100% of DCI-P3’s color gamuts. The display has a touchscreen and is brighter than the original. You can edit photos with ease in tablet mode by using the ASUS Pen or 2-in-1 functionality.
It is obvious that ASUS has made the display the main selling point of this laptop. It’s not the most expensive display-forward machine, but it is affordable if you aren’t used to pricing them. With a speedy 4.7 GHz, the 11th generation i5 processor will handle any photo manipulation, even complex multilayer edits.
Although the memory is not as large as we would like in a media laptop this size, external backups can easily be added to the 512GB hard drive. Although the 8GB RAM isn’t bad, other laptops in this price range will be able do more heavy lifting if your goal is to experiment with video. It’s enough for photo editing.
At only 2.87 lbs (1.3 kg), the ZenBook is one of the most portable laptops in 2022. It measures 0.55 inches (13.9mm). You can easily store it in a smaller bag, and you won’t have any problems if you need to transport it for extended periods of time.
The ZenBook 13’s battery can last for up to 14 hours on one charge. However, increasing brightness or placing more demands on the powerful, but also power-hungry CPU could cause the battery to drain that much faster. It has USB-C fast charging which makes it much easier to top up during the day.
The USB-C charging port is one of three available ports for peripherals. Only one of these ports is a USB A port. An HDMI port is available for connecting to external monitors. However, if you edit your photos, there is no SD card reader.
The ASUS ZenBook Flip 13 laptop is a great budget option for photo editing. You get a stunning display with high levels of detail and accurate colors for less than $1000. This will make editing photos more enjoyable and precise. The laptop has a touch screen that can be used as a stylus and is extremely portable. This laptop is a great choice if you are looking for a Windows laptop that can do photo editing at a price under $1000.
3. Acer Spin 5
- Screen Resolution: QHD (2256 x 1504).
- REASONS to BUY.
- Included is an active stylus.
- 2-in-1 functionality.
- Sharp high-resolution screen.
- It covers all of the sRGB color gamut Multitasking is possible with plenty of power.
- High-quality construction.
- There are many options for connectivity.
- Battery life is long.
- Extremely portable.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
The 3:2 resolution feels like an unfinished business.
No media card reader.
Our Rating 9.6/10
Acer, a long-standing tech staple, has a wide range of products. However, the Spin 5 is perhaps the most versatile. The 13.5-inch 2-in-1 is the first in our lineup to feature a rechargeable stylus. This is great for illustrators and general use.
This display has a 2k resolution and an IPS panel. It can be viewed from all angles, allowing sharp images to be seen. It measures 2256×1504, with a 3:2 aspect ratio. This will be a higher resolution than FHD, but it will still give you a letterbox effect if there is a lot of HD content.
The Spin 5, like the Macbook Air covers 100% of sRGB, provides accurate colors and is essential for any photo editor. The extra screen space is great for portrait work and can give you a better experience when you are focusing on a smaller area.
The processor’s performance is a 10th Generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor, which is a four-core processor with integrated graphics processing capabilities and a maximum clock rate of 3.9 GHz. Although four cores is more than enough to do photo-editing, you will have to make sacrifices if your goal is lower. Although the fact that graphics are processed by the CPU is a little unfortunate, it doesn’t significantly affect photo editing capabilities.
A 512GB SSD hard drive will store and access files quickly and offer plenty of space for programs and files. External storage is still necessary, but a 512GB SSD gives you plenty of flexibility. You won’t have to manage file permissions every time you need it.
Connectivity-wise there are 4 USB ports. Two of these are USB-C and one is HDMI for larger displays. Although there is no media card port on the device, it should have enough USB ports to allow for external readers.
The Spin 5 is portable and comparable to the Macbook Air. It weighs in at 2.6 pounds and is only 0.6 inches thick. This makes it an ideal laptop for photo editors who are on the move. The battery life is approximately 15 hours. This is still a great laptop, even though it is slightly shorter than the Macbook Air. This laptop is a great value for money. This laptop is a great choice for photo editing. It has a bright, accurate display, a lightweight design, lots of performance and an active stylus.
The Best Laptops For Photo Editing Below $800
Laptops priced between $600-800 and $800 will be a good option for creative professionals, casual hobbyists, and those who need a backup to their computer while on the road. These laptops are more affordable than most, but they might not be able to handle more difficult tasks. Below is a table that will provide a quick overview of our choices for best laptop for photo editing below $800. Click on the row to read our full review.
1. Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro 16
- Screen Resolution: QHD (2560 x 1600).
- REASONS to BUY.
- Large 16-inch IPS display.
- Thin bezels.
- Construction of quality.
- Photo editing on a budget laptop of superior quality.
- The display displays 100% of the sRGB gamut.
- It is powerful enough to multitask and light video editing.
- Super sharp QHD screen.
- Battery life is long.
- There are many connectivity options, including an SD card reader.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Heavy and bulky. Sacrifice keyboard and mouse quality to improve performance in other areas
Our Rating 9.8/10
When it comes to media laptops, Lenovo laptops are often overlooked. It’s understandable. It’s understandable if you are a creative professional. You want something that is stylish and represents your brand. Lenovo’s most significant design innovations have been to make their brick-shaped laptops thinner every year.
However, you will know the value of a Lenovo laptop if you have used it. This is evident in the Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro 16. The ZenBook 13 is within striking distance, but it’s almost $200 less. The 16:10 QHD display (1660×1600) on the Ideapad 5 Pro 16 gives you incredible detail and more space than many laptops this price. 350 nits max brightness is 100 more than the average brightness for mid-range laptops. This allows you to see more detail in brightly lit areas.
Color fidelity is perhaps the most important aspect of photo editing. The Ideapad 5 Pro 16 covers all of the sRGB gamut. This is a rare find in the sub-$800 range. Recent trends in Lenovo favoring more efficient and cost-effective AMD processors have been noticed. This laptop’s Ryzen 5 5600H has a reasonable max clock speed of 4.2GHz. But, it also has six cores with 12 threads. This laptop will be able to perform multitasking and complex tasks better, as well as light video editing.
This laptop is not recommended for video editing, even though it has a higher core processor. 8GB is enough to edit photos and do any other work that supports your creative business like web design. It will be difficult to find a laptop with more than 512GB of storage that is display-forward and suitable for photo editing. However, an external hard drive is a necessity so it’s unlikely that there’s anything against it.
The Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro 16’s biggest problem is its portability. It’s 0.72 inches (18.2mm), thick, which is not thicker than many laptops in 2022. However, it weighs in at 4.4 pounds (2kg), which is close to gaming laptop territory. The battery life is the best part of the Ideapad 5 Pro 16. This averages out to a B. The battery life of the Ideapad 5 Pro 16 is consistent at 10-11 hours with light use. For most tasks, the Ideapad 5 Pro 16 can be used even with heavy usage. It will take 6-7 hours.
Connectivity-wise the laptop has two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports. There’s also a full-size SD Card reader, which is great if you are editing or shooting your own photos. The Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro 16 is a budget-friendly laptop for photo editing. The display is the best we have seen for a laptop below $800. This, combined with the performance and connectivity makes it the best budget laptop to do photo editing under $800.
2. ASUS VivoBook 15 OLED
- Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080).
REASONS to BUY. - Amazing OLED display.
- Construction of high-quality materials.
- Excellent color fidelity.
- Bright, sharp screen.
- It covers all of the sRGB color gamut.
- Extra RAM unlocks better multitasking potential.
- There are many connectivity options, including a microSD Card reader.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Particularly for VivoBooks, bulky. The screen brightness is inconsistent, despite a high maximum and wide range. Only FullHD resolution. Battery life is shorter
Our Rating 9.7/10
ASUS VivoBook 15OLED is one of many models in the VivoBook range. Chances are that one of the many VivoBooks you’re searching for will work. It’s always the question of which one. This question becomes more pertinent when you look at a very specific, often professional task such as photo editing.
Although photo editing isn’t difficult in terms of performance, it is still a demanding job. The biggest concern is display quality. While the VivoBook 15 excels in certain areas, there is still room for improvement in other areas. The VivoBook 15’s 390 nit maximum brightness makes it the most affordable budget laptop available in 2022. It is therefore suitable for many environments. The VivoBook 15’s 100% sRGB coverage gives you an excellent indication of how your images will look on all screens and platforms.
The bad news is that this VivoBook 15 only supports FHD (1920×1080). We wouldn’t blink if this were 2019. We wouldn’t be surprised if a gaming laptop or a work laptop costs only 1080p in 2022. However, it will still have the same value in other areas such as price and/or performance.
The VivoBook 15 isn’t the most expensive laptop, but it’s not the least expensive. Everything else about the VivoBook 15 makes it clear that it’s made for content creation. FHD can still be used, particularly if you are doing more complex editing like color balancing and lighting.
There are also noticeable differences in the screen brightness at the extreme ends. The VivoBook 15 delivers the best in terms of performance. With the additional boost of 12GB RAM (compared to 8GB on most laptops), the quad-core processor i5 will be able to handle all photo editing tasks. Even if you think the 512GB storage is sufficient, it’s still a good idea to have an external backup.
In terms of portability, the VivoBook 15 is similar to the Lenovo IdeaPad. It has a five hour battery life, depending on how much you use it. However, it is quite heavy. It is 3.97 lbs (1.8 kg) in weight and 0.7 inches thick (17.8mm). It can be carried around in a pinch but you may need to take it with your.
It also has three USB-A ports and one USB-C port. There is also an HDMI port and a microSD card reader. A full SD reader is more useful, but that’s not what the world is made of.
This laptop is a great budget option for photo editors. The FullHD screen is slightly smaller than the Ideapad 5 Pro. However, the OLED panel will add more contrast and life to the screen. It’s bright and has good multitasking performance. The screen also offers connectivity.
3. Acer Swift 3
- Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080).
- REASONS to BUY.
- Compact and lightweight design.
- A powerful processor and decent storage.
- For the price, a very powerful laptop.
- Photo editing requires good color accuracy and brightness.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Construction of high-quality materials.
- Battery life is long.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
No SD card reader. Limited connectivity. Lower resolution display
Our Rating 9.6/10
Acer Swift 3 is an excellent example of how small a laptop can be if the screen size is reduced by one inch. This 14-inch laptop has the obvious drawback of having less space for your photos. However, it will allow you to make sharper images and save more design money for more powerful components. A 14-inch screen combined with a 1920×1080 resolution puts the Acer Swift 3 at disadvantage. Even though the screen is smaller, it still falls behind QHD 15 and 16-inch screens by almost 30 pixels per inches. Fine detail editing will be difficult for several reasons.
We can expect a $700-800 laptop for content creation in 2022 to have a resolution higher than 1080p. You can do it. Anyone who doesn’t make a conscious decision to compensate in other areas will be at a disadvantage. With its 330 nit brightness, and 100% sRGB colour gamut, the Swift 3 scores a few more points. This allows for high brightness and precise colors.
The Acer Swift 3 performs well when connected to a larger screen. Even if you are only using static images, the integrated graphics of the 8-core Ryzen 7 can handle larger displays. Although video editing may be possible due to the high core count, it is still difficult with only 8GB RAM. You’ll probably need something with a dedicated GPU, especially for larger screens. You can use it to power larger displays, which will give you a powerful workstation with a decent 7/10 screen for taking it on the road.
Acer Swift 3 is also compact and lightweight at 0.63 inches (16mm thick) and 2.63 lbs (1.19 kg). It will not take up much space on your desk, and it can be easily carried around for work or class. The Swift 3’s battery life is one of the most impressive on the list. It can be used for up to 16 hours light and 8-10 hours moderately, easily surpassing the “full day on a single charger” standard that we love to use.
Our Swift 3 laptop is the only one that does not have an SD card reader. This seems like a very obvious oversight, but it’s also incredibly easy to overlook. Although adapters can be purchased for the USB ports but only two USB A and one USB C ports, this doesn’t leave much room for peripherals.
The Swift 3’s portability is not a problem. It was designed to power a computer and not be used as a content creator. The Swift X, which is even more powerful, demonstrates this point more clearly. The Swift 3 is currently working from the laptop to create something comparable that is more affordable. It will depend on the purpose of the product.
The Best Laptops For Photo Editing Below $600
Laptops priced between $400 and 600 are what we consider budget. While they can still perform most of the tasks you require, you may find them struggling to do complex photo-editing tasks. These are great for hobbyists and bloggers who need to fix up photos before sharing them with others. Below is a table that will provide a quick overview of our choices for best laptop for photo editing below $600. Click on the row to read our full review.
1. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
- Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080).
- REASONS to BUY.
- Great performance at a great price.
- Ideal for hobbyist photographers.
- Sharp touchscreen display.
- Ships equipped with a digital stylus.
- 2-in-1 functionality.
- Powerful six-core processor.
- 16GB RAM.
- Battery life is long.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Heavier. Only 63% of the sRGB gamut is covered by the display. Small hard drive. Lower maximum clock rate
Our Rating 9.6/10
This version of the Lenovo Flex 5 is more affordable than the other versions. It’s also a lot more portable than the more expensive models. The Flex 5 has a 14-inch display with 2-in-1 functionality. The Flex 5 features an FHD (1920×1080), IPS panel display that will have sharp, rich pictures and allow for direct interaction with them. The Flex 5 comes with a digital stylus that will make it easier to use the touchscreen.
All of the laptops we reviewed had excellent color reproduction. It’s almost impossible to find a laptop that has a professional-grade display once the price drops below $600. The Flex 5’s display can only reproduce 63% of the sRGB colors. This isn’t a terrible price, especially considering the fact that it’s so affordable. However, it makes it difficult for us to recommend this laptop as a professional choice. Consider one of our laptops in the sub-$800 range if you absolutely require a color-accurate screen (as you would for photo editing).
Let’s get back to the Flex 5. The Flex 5 has the AMD Ryzen5 4500U processor, which is one of the best available for this price. Although technically this is a processor from an older generation, it usually means a lower price and a higher performance. It has six cores and a clock speed of up to 3.0GHz. Although it’s slower than some current-gen models, the extra cores make multitasking much easier. You will have a lot more speed and multitasking capabilities with the 16GB RAM.
This laptop’s main area will be the hard drive. The SSD is faster than an HDD and will be more reliable, but the SSD is only 256GB. This will require more meticulous backups and file management. Other than that, the GPU is not available. However, the additional cores of the processor means that graphics processing tasks will be performed at a lower power level.
Connectivity-wise there are plenty of options for connecting external devices. There are two USB ports, one USB-C port and a media card reader. An HDMI port can be used to connect to larger displays. The Flex 5’s construction is approximately 0.8 inches thick and weighs only 3.6 lbs. Although it isn’t the most portable option, it’s still quite good for a Lenovo. It also has a remarkable battery life of up to 9 hours for light use. If you plan to edit photos at maximum brightness, it will take around 5-6 hours.
The Lenovo Flex 5 is a great laptop for photo editing, and it’s under $600. The display may not be able to produce accurate colors which is critical for photo editing but it is comparable to other laptops in the same price range. It also has everything you need for editing photos: lots of performance, large screen, 2-in-1 functionality and lots of connectivity, including an SD card reader. This laptop is a bargain at $199.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080).
REASONS to BUY. - Excellent price for the performance.
- This is one of the most powerful CPUs available in this price range.
- Compact and easily portable.
- Construction of quality.
- Good IPS panel with very thin bezels.
- Bright display.
- There are many connectivity options, including a media card reader.
- Battery life is long.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Small hard drive. Only 60% of the sRGB gamut is covered by the display. Spongy keyboard
Our Rating : 9.5/10
The core of Lenovo’s laptop range is the IdeaPad series. They are stable at any price point and a little less expensive than the equivalent of a competitor.NThis is evident in the IdeaPad 3. The IdeaPad 3 is solid in almost all metrics. While there are some flaws, these can be fixed by a more expensive model.
The display is a 14 inch FHD (1920×1080), IPS panel. It has been chosen for its sharp colors, wide viewing angles and excellent resolution. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a touchscreen. This may not be a problem for many people. The 14-inch screen is too small for a tablet device. If you have large images to work with, you may need to change to a larger size.
It’s difficult to find a sub-$600 laptop that is color accurate unless you buy a new laptop. The IdeaPad 3 has a coverage of approximately 60% of the sRGB gamut. Lenovo compensated for this with a decent brightness of 300 nits and an IPS panel.
The IdeaPad 3’s performance is excellent thanks to the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor, which is a 6-core processor that clocks at 4.0 GHz. Six cores are more than enough to do photo editing. They also provide fast performance for multitasking, productivity, and overall efficiency.
The RAM is also limited to 8GB, which is what we recommend. However, it isn’t as reliable as a minimum. It will do all you need but may not be as fast when multitasking, editing multiple layers, or doing other tasks.
Storage is the main problem you will face. Although it isn’t huge, the 256GB SSD in the IdeaPad 3 will allow you to write and transfer files quickly. This is enough space for basic operations. However, you will need an external storage device so it’s difficult to complain about it.
The CPU handles all graphics processing, including photo editing. You may need a faster option if you plan to do video, or a gaming laptop within the same price range. A built-in media card reader has been added by Lenovo to any laptop used for photo editing. There are two USB ports, one USB Type-C and one USB Type-A ports. A standard HDMI port is also included on the laptop, which can be useful if you need to see more detail in your photos.
If you are looking to take your Lenovo laptop with you on the move, you will find that the lower- and middle-tier Lenovo laptops are not as heavy. It measures approximately 0.8 inches in thickness and weighs 3.1 lbs. This and its small screen size makes it easy to fit in any backpack, briefcase or larger purse. Finally, the battery life is one of the best we’ve seen for budget laptops. It can last up to 10-11 hours of light usage. If you travel with your laptop a lot, it will last a full day without charging.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a powerful laptop that you can get for under $600. Although the display isn’t up to standard for professional photo editing, it is comparable to other laptops in this price range. Apart from that, this laptop is highly portable and has a lot of connectivity. It also has a long battery life.
3. Dell Inspiron 13
- Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080).
REASONS to BUY. - Features a touchscreen display.
- Sharp IPS panel.
- 2-in-1 functionality.
- Decent processor.
- Extremely portable.
- Good connectivity.
- Compact and thin design.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Older models have slower speeds. No dedicated GPU. Battery life is very poor. Smaller hard drive
Our Rating 9.3/10
Because the Inspiron is able to be consistent across multiple price points, it is why it appears most often on our lists. This particular model is quite old and may not be as fast, but it will still be able to handle most major tasks.You can make precise edits to your photos and close inspections with the 2-in-1 function. A 13-inch FHD (1920×1080), IPS panel display will look amazing on this screen. It also offers decent color accuracy. It is an AMD Ryzen5 2500U processor, which is a former-gen processor with four cores. The maximum clock rate is 3.6GHz. This is a good price for an older processor and the four cores will be able to handle all operations.
The 16GB RAM also allows for more complicated edits or will allow them to be done faster than on other similar laptops. The hard drive space available is limited again, as is the norm at this price. Although the SSD is faster, the 256GB drive has less storage space. It uses AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics for graphics processing. This is a processor integrated into your CPU that can slow down the entire laptop when you try to do graphically demanding tasks. This does not include photo editing. Photo editing is the process of manipulating one still image.
The Inspiron 13 includes all the connections you’d expect from a photo editor laptop, including an SD card reader. It also has two USB ports and one USBC port. This will allow for plenty of storage space for external devices. For better audio and visual setups, there’s an HDMI port as well as a headphone socket. It is surprisingly small at 0.6 inches and a mere 3 pounds. It is one of our most portable laptops and we would consider it an ultraportable model.
Battery life is only 6 hours, the main drawback. It’s sufficient for most commuters and a few hours outside work, but it’s not as long as we would like. The 2-in-1 functionality of the Dell Inspiron 13 and its touchscreen make it a great laptop for photo editing. The display and performance are not as good as our top picks. This laptop is the best option if you are looking for a 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop at a low price.
The Best Laptops For Photo Editing Below $400
Most laptops below $400 will have very limited performance. Many of these laptops will not have the required processing power to edit photos. They will only be able to make minor adjustments and view your images on larger displays. We’re confident that some of them will still work for more complex tasks. Below is a table that will provide a quick overview of our choices for best laptop for photo editing below $400. Click on the row to read our full review.
1. ASUS VivoBook Flip
- Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080).
REASONS to BUY. - Budget-friendly.
- Sharp IPS display.
- 2-in-1 functionality.
- Includes support for a stylus.
- Construction quality.
- Excellent connectivity, including an SD card reader.
- Portable and compact design.
- Superior processing power.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Only 4GB RAM. Smaller hard drive. Battery life is very poor
Our Rating 9.6/10
The VivoBook was on our list before, so it made sense to look at a lower-priced version for our budget-conscious lineup. Although the biggest problem with this model is its memory, it still offers a surprising amount processing power. This VivoBook Flip, like its more expensive sibling is a 2-in-1 device with a 14 inch touchscreen. The FHD (1920×1080 IPS panel display) is still available, so the image quality will not be compromised, even if the price drops.
It is an Intel Pentium Silver N5030 processor, which is quite old and not as fast than many of the processors of its generation. The processor has 4 cores which will give you a decent amount of work. It also has a max clock speed of 3.1GHz, which isn’t bad. You’ll be slower due to the 4GB RAM. This laptop has a 128GB SSD hard drive. Core system files will eat a lot of it. It’s going be a gamble as to how much room you have left for your photos once you have added your photo editing software.
There are not enough USB ports to connect external devices. Two USB-C ports are available, one for micro-USB and one for SD cards. This will still allow you to transfer files, but it will be more difficult. You will also need to use a special cable or adapter for connecting it to larger displays.
The smaller components do offer some portability. It is only 0.6 inches thick, and weighs in at 3.3 pounds. This makes it one the lightest and most portable options on our list. The battery life is shorter, however, this is slightly offset. ASUS has a lot to say about this battery, but it doesn’t seem like it lasts more than 6 hours with any type of usage.
The ASUS VivoBook Flip is a great laptop for photo editing, even if you’re on a tight budget. Although it’s not what professional editors would recommend, the VivoBook Flip offers excellent performance and excellent features for a reasonable price.
2. ASUS Chromebook Flip CR433
- Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080).
- LReasons to Buy.
- Portable and extremely compact.
- Great value for money.
- Sleek design.
- Responsive touchscreen.
- Web-centric performance.
- Good construction quality.
- 2-in-1 functionality.
- Excellent connectivity, including a microSD card reader.
- Many RAM.
- Battery life is long.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Weak multitasking capability. Very small hard drive. Access ports in a confusing configuration
Our Rating 9.5/10
Chromebooks are a great option for budget laptops. Chromebooks are a more affordable option for laptops that can be used as tablets or mobile devices. They use a lighter operating system and expect the user to rely more on cloud-based storage.
Although they won’t offer the same level of functionality as a full-sized PC, casual photographers will find them to be able to perform many of the essential tasks for a fraction of the cost. This dynamic is best illustrated by the ASUS Chromebook Flip C433. This budget was not enough to preserve the 2-in-1 functionality that we have seen in other ASUS products. The display is a 14 inch FHD with an IPS panel and has a screen resolution of 14 inches. It will deliver an image quality comparable to some of our more expensive laptops.
It is a tiny but powerful Intel Core m3-8100Y processor with 2 cores and a maximum clock rate of 3.6GHz. Although this processor will limit the number background apps that you can run, it will still be fast and responsive for focusing on one task, such as photo editing software. You will also get 8GB of RAM which is quite a lot for this laptop. This will allow you to perform more complicated tasks at a faster speed.
64GB is the maximum storage space available. This uses Chrome OS instead of Windows 10. You won’t get as much storage space from your OS or core programs, but it won’t be as bad. Connectivity-wise there are one USB port and two USB C ports. However, the charging port can be used by both. A micro-SD card adapter is also available, but most cameras use full-size SD cards. To get the most out of the adapters, you might have to be creative.
Chromebooks excel in portability. The Flip C433 measures 0.65 inches in thickness and weighs 3.3 pounds. This means it can be easily stuffed into any bag or carry case. You should expect a battery life of about 10 hours, which is enough to last you a full day. The ASUS Flip Chromebook C433 overall is a solid budget laptop for photo editing at this price point. This Chromebook will be more user-friendly than many of the laptops in our list. It also delivers more power and detail than any tablet or phone.
3. ASUS VivoBook 15
- Screen Resolution: FullHD (1920 x 1080).
REASONS to BUY. - Sharp, large display for editing photos.
- Overall performance is excellent for the price.
- RAM in good quantity..
- There are many connection points.
- Compact and easily portable.
WHY SHOULD BE AVOIDED
Smaller hard drive. Battery life is very poor. Weaker processor. No touchscreen. Quality of construction is poor
Our Rating 9.3/10
The ASUS VivoBook 2-in-1 laptop is very affordable and a great laptop. However, if you want to get the same or better performance at a cheaper price, then you should make it a regular laptop. The VivoBook 15 is a good example of this.
First, you will notice that the display is 15.6 inches FHD (1920×1080), which allows for more detail and better viewing. If you aren’t very good with a trackpad, a mouse may be necessary to fine tune the manipulation of your photos.
We had hoped that some money from the abandonment of the touchscreen and 2-in-1 functionality would be used to upgrade the processor. It is currently a 10th-generation Intel i3-1005G1 processor. It only has 2 cores which is a very low number for a laptop that’s expected to be used for media editing.
Although the clock speed is at a maximum of 3.0 GHz, it is not as fast as other 2-core processors. The 8GB RAM makes up some of the difference, but it will severely limit your ability to multitask or perform complex tasks.
The 128GB SSD hard drive will hold your storage. The SSD’s speed is essential because you will be moving files around and rewriting them all the time. This laptop has a surprising amount connection potential. The laptop has three USB ports: a USB Type C port, a microSD reader and an HDMI port. There’s many ways to connect external devices.. You can even find workarounds for a non-full-size SD card reader.
One problem with the VivoBook 15 is that it’s heavier and less well-constructed than more expensive laptops. It measures 0.8 inches in thickness and weighs 3.75 lbs. However, some of this is due to the larger screen. It has a battery life of 6 hours which is tied for second on this list.
The ASUS VivoBook will be the best choice if you aren’t sold on the touchscreen 2-in-1 idea. It is a great option for those who don’t want to pay the steep price tag for a laptop that functions. You’ll need something more if you are serious about photography as an ongoing pursuit. However, this laptop can be used to start.
Conclusion
These are the top 12 budget laptops for photo editing in 2022. You want a laptop that is affordable and can perform the tasks you require. Your skill level will determine how much you want to spend on hardware. We looked at display quality, then RAM and CPU to determine which laptops we chose. These are the most important drivers of performance. With very few exceptions, all the laptops in our list have between 4-6 processor cores and 8GB to 16GB RAM. You can also consider other factors: An FHD screen is the minimum you will need to work with and more hard drive storage is always a good idea.
