Best Laptop For Photo Booth

Which Photo Editing Laptop is Right for You?

Last Updated: October 25, 2019

It is safe to say that laptops are every photographer's best friend. With options like cloud storage, being able to edit and upload photos in the field comes handy. Choosing the best laptop for photography is, however, not the easiest task.

There are so many factors to consider and even then, there is the issue of understanding important terminologies. The fact that there are hundreds of laptops on the market doesn't make things easier.

This guide seeks to make your search easier by highlighting features to look for in a photography editing. It will also review the best models.

At a Glance: Our Top 5 Photo Editing Laptop Picks

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Benefits of Using a Laptop for Photography

Benefits of Using Laptops Built for Photography

Modern day laptops have made the craft of photography so much more convenient and easier to create quality content. This has promoted photo editing and other practical aspects that reinforce the convenience that photography desire.

Ability to Work on Several Projects at Once

One of the advantages that photography laptops have is that they allow professionals to work on several projects at the same time. This also allows them to provide services to many individuals. With a camera that takes pictures and downloadable photo-editing software, publishing images and delivering them instantaneously to clients is easier than ever.

Many Functions

Laptops offer way more photography functions compared to desktop computers. Such include superior screen resolution to present an accurate view of photos under refinement. It makes it easier for professionals to setup photos in all of the required components without interfering with other leading characteristics.

Improved display capabilities provide more clarity than desktops while lightweight construction allows individuals to complete projects on the go. Laptops have a fast processing ability, thanks to a central processor. This comes handy when working with D800 data on Adobe Photoshop. It's also crucial when carrying out multiple projects at the same time.

The massive storage capability of laptops makes them a preferred piece of equipment compared to desktop computers. They can keep large files safe, which is unlike desktops that often require external hard drives.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Photo Editing Laptop

Man working with his camera and laptop

There are many fine details that make a quality photograph, and all of them should be displayed properly. This calls for significant computing power. You will need a laptop with a fast CPU, the component responsible for processing speed. And while other components may be of important significance, the most important thing in a photography laptop is a processor.

That said, let's take a deeper look at the features of a photo editing laptop.

Storage Capacity and RAM

The speed for many post-production software is usually determined by the processor and RAM. We always recommend going for the highest possible RAM you can get, regardless of the intended purpose of the laptop. The minimum requirement for those who plan on serious work is 8GB. Anything below that will only cause compatibility issues and make it difficult to work with large files.

While today's DDR3 and DDR3L models are more or less universal, the emergence of DDR4 RAM packed laptops offers an added boost. If you can't afford an 8GB RAM laptop, you can buy one with 4GB RAM and upgrade it later.

As for the storage capacity, a 1TB hard drive should be the minimum if the laptop is for professional use. Lower hard disk capacity laptops come at a more affordable price and are a great option if you consider using cloud storage. Keep in mind that removing the hard disk can prove damaging for your laptop and void the warranty.

Everything You Need to Know About Processors

If you are on a budget, a mid-range dual core PC will suffice. Quad core laptops are, however, more sensible for someone who needs optimum performance. While photo editing software doesn't need as much power as video editing software, it's better to invest in a laptop that handles more than just the basics. This is especially true because technology is always evolving.

i5 vs i7

Intel i7 Many buyers think that the i7 is better than the i5. The truth is that not all i5 processers are slower than i7's. You have to take into account the year of manufacture of both i5 and i7 when determining performance.

With chip architectures being updated daily, an i7 processor manufactured four years ago is slower compared to an i5 produced last year.

When comparing chips made in the same year, it's important to remember that performance between the two processors may be marginal for the intended purpose.

Graphic Cards

The difference between workstation and gaming graphic cards isn't that huge, except when it comes to price. The gaming cards for AMD are known as AMD Radeon while NVIDIA cards are called Geforce. NVIDIA graphic cards almost always deliver greater performance compared to AMD cards.

Workstation graphic cards are designed to work with a variety of applications. Both workstation and gaming cards have exclusive technologies, benefits and drawbacks.

It's important that you balance the amount of money you are willing to spend and level of performance you need. Investing in a more expensive graphics card will be worth it in the long run if you spend most of your time editing photos.

Don't Forget About Cooling

While a cheap laptop will save you some money, it will have performance issues if it has a poor cooling system. It will work fine during the first few months but you'll soon start to notice some problems when running software programs.

Investing in a laptop with a great ventilation and cooling will save you the stress of having to deal with crashes due to overheating. Nothing is as annoying as your computer crashing when editing photos with Lightroom or Photoshop.

Budget and Purpose of Laptop

If photography is your profession, a mid-to-high budget laptop is what you should be looking for. High end photography laptops will save you the need to upgrade after a few years. Hobbyists will benefit best from low to mid end laptops that offer a comfortable balance between price and functionality. Businesses, students and freelancers have a budget that they need to stick to. A budget laptop for students will perform well.

Which is Better: Mac vs PC for Photo Editing

Many media professionals prefer Macintosh desktop and laptop computers. This is because Apple releases highly capable and adequate software with the operating system.

In addition, Mac devices are known for their good contrast and bright displays. This makes Mac laptops and desktops more expensive than PC's. That said, a PC laptop makes more economical sense if your budget is tight.

Should You Get a Laptop or Desktop for Photo Editing?

Laptop or Desktop?

If you're reading this, you already prefer to use a laptop for your work, but to make it clear, a laptop is always going to underperform compared to a desktop.

It's a matter of space; desktops have more room in their case, which allows for larger components that can draw more power from a cord.

Laptops, by comparison, have to be light and easy to transport, and they can only draw as much power as a battery will allow to be reasonably usable.

If you're weighing the pros and cons of either, it's recommended that you take stock of just how often you're going to use a laptop. If you do most of your computing in a home or office, a desktop for photography is recommended.

Our Top 5 Choices for the Best Laptop for Photography