A photographer shouldn’t let a limited budget prevent them from taking and churning out outstanding pictures. Finding high-quality laptops for photo editing has become a tad difficult as there has been a constant stream of upgraded laptops in the market. However, we have made a list of the 15 best laptops for photo editing on budget in 2023.
We know that you definitely do not want to compromise the quality of your images, and hence, would prefer laptops with certain features. But, if you are on a budget, we have listed some of the best laptops to help with your photo editing without compromising your image qualities.
These laptops are powerful and come with impressionable features. Even more, they serve as great alternatives for photo editors who cannot afford expensive laptops now. Continue to read to learn more about these laptops.
Table of contents
- How to Choose the Best Laptop for Photo Editing
- Best Laptops for Photo Editing on Budget in 2023
- 1. Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2
- 2. Acer Nitro 5 AN515
- 3. HP Chromebook 14 FHD
- 4. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
- 5. Lenovo Yoga 910 Laptop
- 6. Acer Aspire 5
- 7. ASUS TUF Gaming F17
- 8. HP Pavilion 15 Gaming Laptop
- 9. Dell Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1
- 10. Asus ZenBook Pro
- 11. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
- 12. Asus Vivobook S 14
- 13. Lenovo Legion 5
- 14. Dell XPS 13
- 15. HP Spectre x360
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- References
- We Also Recommend
What are the best features for a laptop for photo editing?
When finding the best laptop for photo editing, there are a few key features to consider.
First, you’ll want to ensure the laptop has a good display. Look for a laptop with at least a 1080p resolution, ideally supporting HDR and wide color gamut displays. This will ensure that you can accurately view your photos while editing them.
Second, you’ll need to ensure the laptop has enough processing power. Look for laptops with an Intel Core i7 processor or higher and plenty of RAM (at least 8GB). This will ensure that your photo-editing software runs smoothly and quickly.
Finally, you should ensure the laptop has enough storage space for all your photos and projects. Solid-state drives are preferred as they offer faster read/write speeds than traditional hard drives. (lorazepam) Also look for laptops with USB ports to easily connect external hard drives if needed.
How Can I Choose the Best Laptop for Photo Editing?
There are several factors to take into account while selecting computers ideal for picture editing, including:
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
As the name suggests, a graphics processing unit (GPU) enables you to move around your workspace more freely and switch between applications. In that sense, tasks like opening several applications and uploading a ton of media ought to be commonplace for creatives like you.
As a result, you’ll need laptops with strong GPUs to provide uninterrupted delivery. In this area, NVIDIA, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, GT840M, and GTX 980M are all excellent examples of what you want to focus on.
Memory
You can upload media and move it about on your laptop more easily. However, this depends on the more space it has available. Because of this, you should get a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM.
Even while 8GB isn’t all that horrible, people whose professions necessitate extensive editing and uploading benefit more from bigger amounts of RAM. Naturally, machines with more memory can better fend against freezing and crashes.
Screen size and resolution
As a photo editor, you need laptops with larger screen sizes or displays to be productive. This is because larger screens allow you to focus more carefully on their computer screens to ensure clear and correct image quality.
Computers with a minimum resolution of 1920 x 1080p will be useful. However, it would be preferable if you could afford to get a screen with a higher resolution, such as 2560 x 1600p, 3200 x 1800p, or even 4K Ultra HD.
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Best Laptops for Photo Editing on Budget in 2023
1. Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2
The Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen is one of the best laptops for photo editing on budget. It is 18.9mm thick and weighs a very manageable 1.7kg. It has the perfect specifications required to either work from home or at work as a photo editor.
In an era of limited physical connection ports, Lenovo has provided the ThinkBook 15 with a welcome array of connectors. There are two brand-new Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB-A ports, a full-size SD card reader, a headphone/mic jack, LAN, and HDMI connectors.
Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 2 has battery life that lasts up to 6 hours if you go for the smaller 45Wh battery option and up to 8 hours for the larger 60Wh option.
The screen is also great to get top-quality viewing angles as well as reliable contrast and colour. Also, depending on the model you choose, for display, there are models equipped with a Full HD 1920×1080 display while there is also the entry-level TN-based LCD display.
however, as a photo editor, we would recommend you go for the former to avoid sub-par color and contrast.
Specifications
- Processor: up to 11th Gen. Intel Core i7
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- RAM: 8GB
- Screen: 15-inch IPS LCD, 1920 x 1080
Pros
- Lots of customizing options
- Subtle design
- Great port selection
Cons
- Bland design
- Gets pricey fast if specced up
2. Acer Nitro 5 AN515
The Acer Nitro 5 AN515 is extremely fast and with a fantastic screen – This laptop is useful for much more than just gaming. As a photo editor, this is one of the best laptops for photo editing on budget you should consider.
Specifications
- Display size: 15.60-inch
- Display resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Processor: Core i5
- RAM: 8GB
- OS: Windows 10
- Storage: 1TB
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050
- Weight: 2.70 kg
Pros
- The laptop’s DDR4 RAM can be expanded up to 32GB.
- Beyond high definition, the screen is extremely accurate when rendering colour
- NitroSense helps to keep the temperature on the watch
- Fast CPU
Cons
- It is not a lightweight setup.
- It has no memory card reader
- it has a bland outer design
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3. HP Chromebook 14 FHD
Also another one of the best laptops for photo editing on budget. Rather than running on Windows or MAC OS, the HP Chromebook 14 FHD runs on Google’s ChromeOS operating system. Just like a tablet or an android phone, it runs applications from the Google Play Store.
Specifications
- Display size: 14-inch
- Display resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080
- Processor: Celeron Dual Core
- RAM: from 4GB
- OS: Google’s ChromeOS
- Storage: from 32GB
- Weight: 2.16 kg
Pros
- Great screen
- Ultra-portable and long battery life
Cons
- Slow base CPU
- Limited RAM
4. Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Since its first release, the ARM-based M1 processor in the Apple MacBook Air has changed the game. It has a great performance, longer battery life, and uses less power than its forerunners.
Apple MacBook Air is best for its performance and power and it is also one of the best laptops for photo editors on budget.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Display size: 13.30-inch
- Display resolution: 2560×1600
- Processor: Apple M1
- RAM: 8-16 GB
- OS: Big macOS Sur
- Storage: 256 GB – 2 TB SSD
- Weight: 1.29 kg
Pros
- Great design
- P3 color gamut display
- Excellent performance
- Runs cool and quiet
- Great battery life
Cons
- Low-resolution webcam
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5. Lenovo Yoga 910 Laptop
Lenovo Yoga 910 Laptop has an astonishing selection of features, great performance, and a compelling graphics card.
As a photo editor, you will need a great deal of space for your editing software as well as for your photos. Yoga 91 comes with a 1 TB hard drive and this with other impressive features it comes with makes it one of the best budget laptops for photo editors.
Specifications
- Display size: 14.00-inch
- Display resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Processor: Core i7
- RAM: 8GB
- OS: Windows 10
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Weight: 1.20 kg
Pros
- It has a 2-in-1 design that makes it versatile
- Comes with a large storage capacity
- It has a snappy keyboard
- Has a very powerful graphics card for photo editing
- It is a 7th Gen Intel CPU
Cons
- Its webcam location or position is inconvenient
6. Acer Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5 comings with a relatively large screen enough for photo editing. If you are not too techy and are looking for something powerful, then this is one of the top budget laptops for photo editing you should consider.
Its Core i5-8265U processor with the 4 GB RAM it comes with and the of Nvidia GeForce MX150 allows for intensive editing. Check below for more specifications.
Specifications
- Display size: 15.60-inch
- Display resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Processor: Core i5
- RAM: 8GB
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Storage: 1TB
- Weight: 2.20 kg
Pros
- Fast storage
- High-resolution display
- Large screen
- Large storage space
- Powerful CPU
- Strong battery life
- Keyboard light
- USB 3.1 Type C port
Cons
- It has no dedicated graphics
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7. ASUS TUF Gaming F17
ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is a fully-loaded laptop that will spark your photographs the way you always wanted them to be. It is ready for some heavy use and real-world photographic needs. This trustworthy ally is one of the best laptops for photo editors on budget.
Specifications
- Display size: 17.30-inch
- Display resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Processor: Core i5
- RAM: Up to 32GB
- OS: Windows 10 Professional
- Storage: 1000 GB
- Weight: 2.60 kg
Pros
- Large screen size
- Beautiful design
- Astonishing expansion options for memory and storage
- Durable MIL-STD-810H military standard construction.
Cons
- The laptop’s refreshing rate goes from 144Hz to 60Hz when running solely on battery.
8. HP Pavilion 15 Gaming Laptop
With an AMD Radeon RX 550 Graphics card and an 8 GB RAM, this is one of the best laptops for photo editing and gaming on a budget. As a photo editor, you will need ample storage systems for your editing software and photos. Also, it comes with a keyboard light that makes it a perfect fit for working in low-light conditions.
Specifications
- Display size: 15.6 inches
- Display resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5 11300H
- RAM: Up to 16GB
- OS: Windows 11
- Storage: Up to 512GB
- Weight: 2.23 kg
Pros
- Bright screen
- Large screen
- Dedicated graphics card
- Impressionable configuration options
Cons
- Loud fan noise
- Screen brightness could be improved
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9. Dell Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1
Want a tablet and laptop in one? The Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1 provides exceptional adaptability and functionality for a fairly affordable price. Although it is a big tablet PC, the 14-inch Full HD screen can rotate to rest on the back of the device. The touch-sensitive screen can function as a simple graphics tablet using a pen, a highly uncommon trick in the low-cost market.
Aside from the screen size, if you prioritize portability, then this is one of the best laptops for editing on the budget you should go for.
Specifications
- Display size: 14-inch IPS LCD
- Display resolution: 1920×1080, touchscreen
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-10210U (4 cores, 1.6GHz base frequency)
- RAM: 8GB
- OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Weight: 2.42 kg
Pros
- Has a versatile flip-over screen
- Has a large storage
- It is a screen touch system
- It is pen-enabled
Cons
- For a photo editor, 14-inch screen size is not very ideal, especially for the photo editing software – photoshop.
10. Asus ZenBook Pro
Asus ZenBook Pro is an absolute colour-rendering budget laptop option for photo editors. This sleek, high-performance laptop comes with a metal gray cover with ring trim, an aluminium chassis, and polished edges on the sides.
As a professional editor, you need a laptop with a larger screen. The Nvidia graphics and the 3840×2160 resolution UHD this laptop comes with make it one of the best laptops for photo editors on a budget to consider.
Specifications
- Display size: 15.60-inch
- Display resolution: 3840×2160 pixels
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7
- RAM: 32GB
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Weight: 2.50 kg
Pros
- Has a great and beautiful all-metal body design
- It has a long battery life
- Great colours with 95% sRGB
- Impressionable NVIDIA graphic performance
Cons
- It has a glossy screen
- Its configuration is difficult to update
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11. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
If you are a beginner photo editor looking for a laptop option on a budget, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 may be a good option. The laptop comes with a stylus that helps images drawn on the screen directly, and it runs editing software
smoothly.
The lid of the laptop may be folded down to make a tablet. But since it only covers 74% of the sRGB colour space, the colour reproduction is less realistic. To achieve a satisfying outcome as a novice, you must carefully refine your colour choices. Check below for more specifications.
Specifications
- Display size: 13.3-inch
- Display resolution: (1920 x 1080) IPS touchscreen
- Processor: Intel Core i3-10110U (2C/4T, 2.1/4.1GHz, 4MB)
- RAM: 4GB
- OS: Chrome OS
- Storage: 64GB eMMC 5.1
- Weight: 1.35kg
Pros
- It is a touchscreen
- It comes at a low price.
- It is foldable – into a tablet
- It has a long battery life.
Cons
- Inaccurate colour reproduction
12. Asus Vivobook S 14
Asus Vivobook S 14 is a large-screen laptop with impressionable designs and features and a lightweight, colourful display. Also, the laptop has a large storage space and is second-disk-installation-enabled. This makes it one of the best budget laptops for photo editors on budget.
Although the laptop has a touchpad that is uncomfortable, it is one of the best choices for photographers who also double as photo editors.
Specifications
- Display size: 14.00-inch
- Display resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Processor: Core i5
- RAM: 8GB
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Weight: 1.30 kg
Pros
- Allows installation of a second disk
- Excellent color reproduction and AI noise reduction
- Great performance
- Large screen
- Impressionable designs
- It is lightweight.
Cons
- It has a short battery life
- The display is somewhat dim
- It comes with a touchpad that is not so comfortable
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13. Lenovo Legion 5
Lenovo Legion 5 is a Full HD screen laptop specially designed for professional photographers and photo editors. It comes in 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch options, with the former having a higher spec, an even more powerful Ryzen 7 processor, and 16GB RAM.
On the other hand, the latter comes with a larger screen best suitable for photo editing. However, it comes with 8GB RAM.
Specifications
- Display size: 15.60-inch
- Display resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800 H AMD Ryzen 7 5800 H
- RAM: 16GB RAM DDR4
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Weight: 2.4kg
Pros
- It is affordable
- It has a 100% sRGB colour space coverage
- It comes with a dedicated graphics card and 4GB memory of GPU
- Its processor has a clock speed of up to 4.2GHz
Cons
- It has a short battery life
- It is not lightweight.
14. Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13 is another great laptop option for photo editors. It comes with a tiny screen, a touch-sensitive screen, an excellent resolution similar to that of a MacBook, and great image quality.
Specifications
- Display size: 13.30-inch
- Display resolution: 3200×1800 pixels
- Processor: Core i5
- RAM: 8GB
- OS: Windows 10
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Weight: 1.29 kg
Pros
- It is portable
- It comes with a large screen
- It has great resolution and image quality
Cons
- It has short battery life.
15. HP Spectre x360
If you are looking for a powerful and affordable 2-in-1 laptop option for your photo editing, this has to be your option. It has an excellent cut design, a powerful processor, and a strong battery life.
It also comes with a large storage space making it one of the best laptops for photographers on a budget.
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Specifications
- Display size: 13.30-inch
- Display resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Processor: Core i7
- RAM: 8GB
- OS: Windows 10 Professional
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Weight: 1.26 kg
Pros
- It has a strong battery life
- It comes with an excellent processor
- Also, it is lightweight, sleek, and portable.
Cons
- It is not as much power as some of its rivals.
Conclusion
While there are other expensive laptop options with more features, a powerful yet, affordable laptop for photo editing can be an excellent alternative for photo editors who cannot afford expensive laptops now. We hope you found our list of the best laptops for photo editing on a budget helpful.
FAQs
A dedicated graphics card won’t always be required, especially if Photoshop is seldomly used. However, while searching for more than just a laptop that can “run Photoshop,” we must consider at least a dedicated graphics car4 with +2 GB of VRAM. Also, a laptop with up to 8GB RAM and large storage space.
How much RAM is needed for photo editing?
We recommend a minimum of 8GB RAM for smaller files. However, laptops with up to 16GB RAM and above will always be better and make work smoother.
A minimum of 8GB RAM for smaller files. However, laptops with up to 16GB RAM and above will always be better and make work smoother.
No
You do not need a graphics card for photo editing software like Photoshop. Your CPU’s integrated or built-in graphics card should be capable of handling the necessary Photo Editing operations with relative ease.
References
- justcreative.com
- gadgets360.com
- technadu.com
- cameragroove.com
- witandfolly.co
- digitalcameraworld.com
- fixthephoto.com
- techradar.com
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