If we had a time machine, the 70s would be one of the music eras we would all like to revisit. Some of the best disco music we listen to today was also released in the 70s. But did you know that producers used tape recorders to edit music? Fast forward to the 21st century, and we have ditched these tape recorders and are relying on one of Man’s most impressive inventions: the laptop.
But with so many laptops on the market, which one is the best for editing music? Should you go for performance or storage? And is battery capacity important? Luckily, we have compiled a list of the six best laptops for editing music. Take a look to see which ones made the cut in 2023.
Top Picks: Best Laptops for Editing Music
- Apple 2021 MacBook Pro
- Apple M1 chip for a massive leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Up to 10-core CPU delivers up to 3.7x faster performance
- Up to 32-core GPU with up to 13x faster performance for graphics-intensive apps and games
- 16-core Neural Engine for up to 11x faster machine learning performance
- Longer battery life (up to 17 hours)
- ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15
- 15.6" OLED 4K UHD Touch Display
- Intel Core i7-10870H
- 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
- GeForce RTX 3070
- ScreenPad Plus
- Windows 10 Pro
- Dell XPS 17
- Intel Core i9-12900HK
- 32 GB RAM and SSD capacity
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU
- Win 11 Pro
- ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
- 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor
- GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU
- Thermal Grizzly liquid metal, Arc Flow fans, and 0dB Ambient Cooling
- 1TB of swift PCIe 4.0 SSD
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Touchscreen convertible display
- 12th gen Intel Core i7 CPU
- RTX 3050-Ti GPU
- Lightweight and portable
- HP Pavilion 15
- Windows 10 OS
- DDR4 SDRAM
- 2 GHz processor speed
- 16 GB memory
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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best Overall: MacBook Pro 14-inch with M1 Chip
- Apple M1 chip for a massive leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- Up to 10-core CPU delivers up to 3.7x faster performance
- Up to 32-core GPU with up to 13x faster performance for graphics-intensive apps and games
- 16-core Neural Engine for up to 11x faster machine learning performance
- Longer battery life (up to 17 hours)
Many tech enthusiasts and reviewers anticipate that manufacturers will release several flagship laptops in 2023. But until either one of them knocks the Apple 2021 MacBook Pro off its spot, it tops our list of the best laptops for editing music.
So, what makes this laptop great for editing music? One reason is the M1 Pro chip that Apple cannot stop writing about on its website. True to Apple’s word, the M1 chip offers at least twice the CPU performance of the latest laptop chips while using 75% less power.
The M1 chips have eight cores comprising four performance and four efficiency cores that guarantee high-performance yet power-saving processing. Besides its fast and efficient M1 chip, the MacBook Pro has a long-lasting battery.
In the past, Apple has been criticized for disregarding its devices’ batteries; this is not true with the MacBook Pro. Our testing revealed that the laptop offers 18 hours of usage. But, of course, it’s not all roses because you have to deal with the pesky small screen the Pro offers.
Moreover, remember we are talking about an Apple device, so save up in advance because this laptop will set you back almost $2,000. The MacBook Pro is an excellent laptop for your music editing projects if you can match the price.
Most Versatile: Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15
- 15.6" OLED 4K UHD Touch Display
- Intel Core i7-10870H
- 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
- GeForce RTX 3070
- ScreenPad Plus
- Windows 10 Pro
Have you ever seen a laptop with two screens? Well, the Asus ZenBook Pro is one laptop that will blow you away. Thanks to its double-screen feature, this laptop is versatile. You will find the second screen on the keyboard’s touchpad, allowing you to undertake several tasks on both screens concurrently.
The Asus ZenBook Pro is also reliable. The laptop’s Core i9 processor will take your music editing to the next level. You also shouldn’t worry about overheating issues that are common among less powerful laptops.
However, before you buy this laptop, you should know that it has several shortcomings that we can’t ignore. For example, the laptop has a poor battery life, which may limit how long you can use it outdoors. Additionally, though you may be excited about the screen on the touchpad, it can be awkward before you get used to it.
Lastly, the Asus ZenBook Pro is pricey, costing over $3,000. All in all, the laptop offers good value for money to those who can afford it.
Largest Screen Size: Dell XPS 17
- Intel Core i9-12900HK
- 32 GB RAM and SSD capacity
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU
- Win 11 Pro
Though it may seem a non-issue, screen size is essential when editing music. That said, the Dell XPS 17 stands out in this regard. The 17 in the name represents the number of inches you get with this laptop.
At first, the big screen in the Dell may seem unnecessary. But wait until you edit several files concurrently and require a broad field of view; then, you will appreciate the XPS’s screen size.
It gets better because the XPS’s performance makes the laptop ideal for editing. With an expandable RAM of up to 64GB and a Core i9 processor, the Dell XPS 17 can handle most, if not all, music editing software. In fact, it ranks slightly closer to the MacBook Pro when comparing both laptops’ performance.
However, this Dell also has its shortcomings. For one, it has fewer ports, which limits you when editing because you can only connect the laptop with a USB-C cable. It also lacks the HDMI 2.1 port, which is disappointing for a laptop of its stature and price.
The Dell XPS 17’s battery capacity is also quite underwhelming, considering the laptop’s specs and performance; it may not be ideal for long travels, unless you have a power backup.
Best Gaming Laptop for Music: Asus Rog Strix Scar 15
- 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor
- GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU
- Thermal Grizzly liquid metal, Arc Flow fans, and 0dB Ambient Cooling
- 1TB of swift PCIe 4.0 SSD
Do you have the Asus Rog gaming laptop? Before you buy another laptop to edit your music, wouldn’t it be more practical to use your current one? As expected, the Asus Rog Strix Scar 15 has a good processor, considering it handles most games well. Thanks to its Core i9 processor, you can use this laptop to edit music without the software lagging.
Additionally, the laptop has a high battery capacity, which is expected as it is a gaming laptop. The Asus Rog Strix Scar 15 should give you at least 10 hours of usage without charging. We cannot leave out the many ports you get from ethernet cables to the different types of USB ports.
But, of course, there is a catch. For one, this laptop is very heavy and inconvenient to carry around. All in all, if you already have this gaming laptop, you shouldn’t rush to buy another one because it can handle most music editing tasks.
Best Windows Laptop for Music: Surface Laptop Studio
- Touchscreen convertible display
- 12th gen Intel Core i7 CPU
- RTX 3050-Ti GPU
- Lightweight and portable
From the unboxing experience, the Surface Laptop Studio’s screen display favors music editing. Additionally, the laptop has a high battery capacity, which is ideal for music editing. The battery will give you 18 hours of usage time, enough to finish your editing if you don’t have a charger nearby.
A good laptop for music editing should also have quality built-in speakers. Microsoft ticked this box by fitting its laptops with Quad Omnisonic speakers, comprising stereo 2-way speakers and dual invisible woofers. The laptop also has Dolby Atmos technology for improved surround sound.
However, this laptop could use more ports. It limits anyone with multiple external devices, which are key to editing. Moreover, the laptop’s high retail price didn’t convince us enough to take it over other laptops with a similar price range. That said, buying this laptop comes down to one’s personal preference.
Best Budget Option: HP Pavilion 15
We have looked at the best overall, most versatile, and best Windows laptops for editing music. But are there laptops for those working with a budget? The HP Pavilion 15 offers the most affordable yet handy laptop for editing music. Priced lower than $1,000, most novice music engineers can afford it.
The HP Pavilion 15 has a 15.6-inch display, which offers a better working space than the standard 14-inch laptops. It also has a 2.0 GHz processor and 16GB RAM, sufficient for running most editing software.
However, you may need a more powerful laptop when running intense programs. Lastly, the HP Pavilion 15 has several ports: HDMI, USB 3.1, and USB 3.1 Type-C. These ports support connections to multiple devices like TVs, sounders, and mixers.
However, the HP Pavilion 15 isn’t perfect. We established the laptop cannot last 10 hours without charging. However, it comes with a fast charger, which many buyers consider a relief. The laptop is also fairly heavy, which reduces its portability.
All in all, buyers working with a limited budget should get the HP Pavilion 15 if they are willing to overlook the laptop’s weaknesses.
How to Pick the Best Laptop for Editing Music
It is often impossible to get a laptop that ticks all the boxes regarding music editing. Remember, the best-fit laptop will depend on individual preferences. However, it is advisable to account for the following factors when shopping for a laptop for editing music:
- Performance
- Ports
- Speakers
- Price
Let’s discuss them further.
Performance
At this point, you have probably realized that we have mentioned processors and chips in almost all laptops. That’s because they determine the laptop’s performance.
A laptop with a good processor, like a Core i9 or Core i7, will smoothly handle your music editing without hanging or overheating. Laptop performance also involves how fast the laptop can complete the editing, so it’s one thing you shouldn’t compromise.
Ports
It may seem like a minor issue that you could ignore, but having a laptop with many ports benefits you in several ways. For one, you can connect different devices, like your TV, using the HDMI cable to get a bigger screen for editing. It also eliminates the hassle of plugging and unplugging USB or HDMI cables whenever you need to connect a different device.
Speakers
Some people overlook the impact of good in-built speakers when shopping for music editing laptops. Instead, they rely on external speakers and receivers that often have upscaling technology.
However, quality speakers are necessary for a music editing laptop as you must listen to the music during editing to identify and rectify hitches. Good speakers also give you insight into how the final product will sound upon release.
Price
The rule of thumb is always to buy a laptop worth the price. For example, we have the MacBook Pro on our list, which most buyers consider pricey. However, the MacBook Pro has advanced specs that justify its price.
On the other hand, the Asus ZenBook is also expensive, with its price being attributable to its dual display. However, it may not offer the best value for money, considering it is pricier than the MacBook Pro while not matching the latter’s performance.
What to Know Before Buying a Laptop for Editing Music
Before purchasing a music editing laptop, ensure the processor can handle all your editing software. We recommend getting a laptop with a Core i7 or Core i9 processor. This doesn’t mean you cannot use Core i3 and i5 laptops to edit music; however, they may hang or overheat when running heavy software.
It is also advisable to account for a laptop’s battery capacity. You wouldn’t want a laptop that only gives you three to six hours of usage. The laptop should have sufficient battery power to handle your editing work outdoors or on the road.
Using a Music Editing Laptop: What it’s Like
As mentioned earlier, music editors previously used tape recorders to edit music files until the invention of computers. The invention of laptops further simplified music editing, as the machines were more portable and efficient. Technology companies also developed music editing software that supported fast and efficient audio and sound engineering.
Thus, though this review focuses on laptops for music editing, the machines are not used in isolation. You will likely need to install music editing software, especially for professional-standard tasks.
Most music editing programs are heavy and may overwork average laptops; the laptops we have reviewed have high processing power, new-gen cores, and high RAM. Therefore, you should replace your current laptop if it freezes or overheats when running music editing software.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©PrinceOfLove/Shutterstock.com.
