Best Laptops to Code, Video Edit, and Study – The Ultimate Power Guide

faywrites
4 min readFeb 17, 2025

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It's hard to get a laptop to excel in all three: coding, video editing, and studying. You must have power to handle demanding jobs, efficiency so you can run multiple programs together, and consistency so it endures over a long period. This guide disregards the pricetag factor—only top-of-the-range laptops qualify here.

If you’re a programmer handling AI/ML, a video editor pushing 4K footage, or a student juggling everything, these laptops will effortlessly handle it all.

What Makes a Laptop Truly “Goated” for Power Users?

A top-tier laptop needs to check these boxes:

  1. Blazing-fast processor (Intel Core i9, Apple M-series, or AMD Ryzen 9)
    Massive RAM (32GB+ for editing/coding without lag)
  2. Insane GPU power (NVIDIA RTX 40-series, Apple M-series, or AMD Radeon)
  3. Fast storage (1TB+ SSD for booting up and quick file access)
  4. Next-gen display (High refresh rate, 4K resolution, or OLED for rich colors)
  5. Great battery life (8+ hours for mobility)
  6. Premium build quality (Because a beast laptop must feel luxurious)

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Best Laptop for Coding & AI/ML – The Developer's Dream

Apple MacBook Pro 16" (M3 Max) – The Unstoppable Machine.

Why it’s good?

Unrivaled performance, unmatched battery life, and an utterly bonkers mini-LED display.

Specs:

Chipset: Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU, 40-core GPU)

RAM: 64GB (expandable up to 128GB)

Storage: 1TB SSD (upgradable to 8TB)

Display: 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR (HDR, 120Hz ProMotion)

Battery Life: 17+ hours (yeah, it's ridiculous)

OS: macOS (excellent for UNIX-based dev, ML, and app development)

Pros:

• Unreal battery life—trumps any Windows laptop
• M3 Max can handle AI training, video rendering, and multitasking like a beast
• Mini-LED display is perfect for developers who stare at code for hours
• macOS is optimized for developers (Unix-based, smooth workflow, best terminal experience)

Cons:

• Limited gaming potential (Macs still suck for high-end gaming)

• Expensive (but worth it if you’re serious about coding)

Who should buy it?

For AI/ML devs, full-stack devs, iOS developers, or anyone who needs pure performance and doesn’t care about battery life.

Best Video Editing Laptop – The 4K Rendering Beast

ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (2024) – Double Screens, Crazy Power

Why it’s good?

It's a video editing MONSTER. Double screens, RTX GPU on steroids, and unparalleled performance.

Specs:

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX (16 cores, 5.4GHz max boost)

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (16GB VRAM)

RAM: 64GB DDR5 (expandable)

Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD

Display: 16” Mini LED (165Hz, 1100 nits, HDR1000) + 14” Secondary Touch Display

Battery Life: 6-7 hours (but let’s be real, you’ll be plugged in for editing)

Weight: 2.6 kg (hefty but manageable)

Pros:

• RTX 4090 is a game-changer for video rendering (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Blender)

• Dual screens for editing timelines, scripts, and multitasking

• Mini LED 165Hz HDR display—the best screen you’ll find on a Windows laptop.

• 64GB RAM ensures buttery smooth performance

Cons:

• Battery life takes a hit (but no laptop with an RTX 4090 lasts long unplugged.

• Pricey, but this is a long-term investment

Who should buy it?

Professional video editors, YouTubers, and VFX artists who need raw power and the best display tech.

Best Laptop for Studying – Power + Portability

Dell XPS 15 (2024) – The Ultra-Premium Workhorse

Why it’s good?

The ideal combination of portability, power, and aesthetics.

Specs:

Processor: Intel Core i9-13900H (14 cores, 5.4GHz)

GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 (8GB VRAM)

RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X

Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

Display: 15.6" OLED 3.5K (touchscreen, 120Hz)

Battery Life: 10+ hours

Weight: 1.9 kg

Pros:

• OLED touchscreen with incredibly vivid colors

• Thin & premium—perfectly fits in a backpack

• Long battery life for studying without a charger

• Excellent keyboard & trackpad for heavy typists

Cons:

• Not a gaming laptop (although does work great for work)

• Webcam is not the greatest

Who should buy it?

Students, professionals, and creators who want a laptop that appears premium, feels light, and offers best-in-class performance.

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Final Verdict: The GOAT laptop for You.

For AI/ML, software dev, and UNIX-based coding

MacBook Pro 16" (M3 Max)
For video editing, VFX, and 4K/8K rendering → ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16

For professionals and students who need a high-end but powerful machine

Dell XPS 15 (2024)

Both of these laptops are top-notch and will be able to take anything you throw at them. If you're serious about performance, opt for the one that suits your workflow the best.

Which one are you picking? Let me know!

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faywrites
faywrites

Written by faywrites

Coding, AI, and tech—simplified. Helping others learn through writing.

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