Best Laptops for Film Editing in 2026

Top Best Laptop Recommendation for Professional Film Editing

In this guide, we walk you through what makes a laptop ideal for professional video editing. We focus on the specs that matter most, the real-world performance factors, and the features that support high-resolution, multi-layered editing projects.

As a film editor, your laptop is used as an editing suite, color lab, audio studio, and production desk all wrapped in one machine.

Editing 4K footage, adding VFX, color grading, syncing audio, or scrubbing through massive timeline sequences—these aren’t light tasks. You need high-performance hardware to keep up with modern editing platforms like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, and After Effects.

Film editing pushes your machine to the limit. You need a machine that delivers raw power, high-speed storage, visual accuracy, and robust cooling.

The Common Challenge: When Laptops Can’t Keep Up

Here’s what we hear from editors again and again:

  • “My timeline lags whenever I add effects.”
  • “Exporting takes forever and sometimes crashes.”
  • “Color grading feels off because my display isn’t accurate.”
  • “My laptop overheats after just an hour of rendering.”

These aren’t minor annoyances, they’re workflow killers. When you’re in the zone, your machine should accelerate your creativity, not bottleneck it.

The Editing Dilemma: Challenges You Face

Let’s break down the major challenges film editors encounter when choosing a laptop:

  • Processing power: Editing software is CPU- and GPU-intensive, especially with high-resolution footage, nested timelines, and effects rendering.
  • Real-time playback: You need a laptop that handles smooth playback, scrubbing, and multi-cam editing without freezing.
  • Color-accurate display: For color grading and previews, inaccurate or low-gamut displays distort your creative intent.
  • Thermal performance: Under load, some laptops throttle CPU and GPU speeds, slowing down exports or live previews.
  • Fast storage: Slow drives cause bottlenecks during file import, cache retrieval, and media scrubbing.
  • Battery and portability: While raw power is critical, film editors often work on the move, on set, in transit, or at remote locations. You need something mobile and long-lasting.

Our guide considers both desktop-replacement powerhouses for professional post-production work and lightweight, portable options for field editing or on-location cuts.

Each recommendation is based on a specific set of editing-critical benchmarks:

  • Processor (CPU): Multicore CPUs are essential for video exports, effects rendering, and multi-track workflows. Look for Intel Core i7/i9 H-series, AMD Ryzen 7/9, or Apple M2/M3/M4 Pro/Max chips.
  • Graphics (GPU): A strong GPU accelerates real-time previews and rendering. We recommend laptops with NVIDIA RTX 3060/3070/4060+ or Apple’s M-series Pro/Max GPUs.
  • RAM: For smooth multitasking and editing, 16GB is the bare minimum, but 32GB+ is recommended for serious workflows or 4K/6K projects.
  • Storage: SSD is non-negotiable. You’ll want at least 1TB of NVMe SSD, not just for file storage, but for cache, previews, and project files.
  • Display: A high-resolution screen with 100% DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB, 500+ nits brightness, and true color calibration is crucial. A 4K IPS or OLED panel is preferred.
  • Ports & I/O: You’ll need Thunderbolt, USB-C, HDMI, and SD card slots for peripherals, monitors, and media transfers.
  • Thermal Design: Efficient cooling systems ensure your machine doesn’t throttle during exports or long sessions.
  • Battery & Portability: While raw power eats battery, we look for options that balance power with portability, especially for editors working on-the-go.

These specs ensure you’re ready for timeline-intensive editing, color work, multi-layer effects, and export reliability, and are suitable for editing short films, documentaries, YouTube content, or cinematic features, from import to final export.

You can find brands such as Microsoft Surface, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, MacBook, MSI, Gigabyte in addition to Razor Blade.

Best Laptops for Film Editing:

Contents

Best Overall Laptops for Film Editing

ASUS ProArt P16 2026 AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 475 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 24GB GDDR7

Pro Art p16

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CPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 475
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 24GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inch OLED touchscreen
Display Resolution 3840 × 2400, 120Hz
RAM 64GB LPDDR5X onboard
Storage Space 2TB NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home or Pro
Ports USB4 Type C; USB C; USB A; HDMI 2.1; SD Express card reader; 3.5mm audio
Pros 4K OLED with wide color gamut; dedicated RTX graphics; SD card reader for creative media.
Cons high end RTX configurations increase price and power use.

Dell XPS 16 Creator Edition 20Core 6144GPU 32GB 1TB 3.2K OLED 2026

XPS 16 Creator Edition

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CPU 20 core NVIDIA RTX Spark N1X
GPU 6144 core NVIDIA Blackwell RTX GPU
Display Size 16 inch, 16:10 touchscreen
Display Resolution 3.2K OLED touch, 3200 × 2000, 20 to 120Hz, 400 nits
RAM 32GB LPDDR5X unified memory
Storage Space 1TB SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home, Copilot+ PC
Ports 3 × USB4 Type C with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery; HDMI 2.1b; headset combo port; SDXC card reader
Dimensions (L x W x H) 13.88 × 9.37 × 0.70 inches (width × depth × height)
Weight 4.45 lb minimum weight
Pros 3.2K OLED touchscreen; NVIDIA Blackwell GPU; unified memory suitable for local AI and creative workloads; Wi Fi 7. This profile includes 32GB of unified memory and 1TB SSD.
Cons Premium pricing; ARM based NVIDIA platform software compatibility should be checked

Lenovo Legion 7a 16 Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 RTX 5070 32GB 1TB 240Hz OLED

Lenovo Legion 7a Gen 11

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CPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, 12 cores, up to 5.2 GHz, NPU up to 55 TOPS
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inch, 16:10
Display Resolution 16 inch WQXGA OLED 2560 × 1600, 240Hz, 100% DCI P3, 500 nits typical, up to 1100 nits HDR peak, DisplayHDR True Black 1000, G SYNC
RAM 32GB LPDDR5X soldered
Storage Space 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD; two M.2 slots available
Operating System Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro
Ports 2 × USB A; 2 × USB C USB4 with DisplayPort 2.1; HDMI 2.1; card reader; 3.5 mm audio combo; Slim Tip power
Dimensions (L x W x H) 14.23 × 10.01 × 0.61 to 0.67 inches
Weight 3.97 lb (under 1.8 kg)
Pros High end Ryzen AI processor and RTX 5070; 240Hz OLED gaming display; light for a 16 inch gaming laptop.
Cons Soldered memory; expensive

Best Budget Laptops for Film Editing

Acer Nitro V 16 AI 16 inches 2560 x 1600 Pixels, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR7

Acer Nitro V 16 WUXGA 165Hz Gaming Laptop

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 7 356H
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inches
Display Resolution 2560 x 1600 Pixels; WQXGA IPS, up to 180Hz
RAM 16GB DDR5
Storage Space 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Operating System Windows 11
Ports USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, RJ45, audio combo jack
Dimensions (L x W x H) 14.2 x 10.5 x 1.1 inches
Weight 5.7 pounds
Pros Dedicated RTX GPU; high refresh display; memory and SSD upgrade potential
Cons Heavy; base 16GB RAM may limit professional workloads; fan noise under gaming

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI 16 inches 2560 x 1600 Pixels, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR7

acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI Gaming Laptop

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 7 356H
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inches
Display Resolution 2560 x 1600 Pixels; WQXGA OLED, 240Hz
RAM 16GB DDR5
Storage Space 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Operating System Windows 11
Ports Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, RJ45, audio combo jack
Dimensions (L x W x H) 14.2 x 10.5 x 0.9 inches
Weight 5.5 pounds
Pros OLED gaming display; dedicated RTX graphics; modern connectivity
Cons 16GB RAM may be limiting; heavy; fans audible under load

GIGABYTE GAMING A16 Ryzen 7 170 RTX 5060 16 inch WUXGA 165Hz

GIGABYTE Gaming A16 PRO

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CPU AMD Ryzen 7 170, 8 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.75 GHz
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inch, 16:10
Display Resolution WUXGA 1920 × 1200 IPS, 165Hz, 3ms, 45% sRGB, 300 nits typical
RAM Up to 64GB DDR5 4800MHz, 2 SO DIMM slots
Storage Space Up to 4TB PCIe NVMe SSD across 2 PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 slots
Operating System Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro
Ports HDMI 2.1, USB Type C with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0, USB Type A 3.2 Gen 1, USB Type A 2.0, RJ45 Ethernet, 3.5mm audio combo, DC in
Dimensions (L x W x H) 10.33 × 14.11 × 0.77 to 0.90 inches (depth × width × height)
Weight 4.85 lb (approximately 2.2 kg)
Pros Good entry point for 1080p class gaming; 165Hz panel; expandable RAM and two M.2 slots.
Cons Display color gamut is limited

Best Laptops for 4K Film Editing

ASUS ProArt P16 2026 AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 475 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 16GB GDDR7

Pro Art p16

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CPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 475
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 16GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inch OLED touchscreen
Display Resolution 3840 × 2400, 120Hz
RAM 64GB LPDDR5X onboard
Storage Space 2TB NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home or Pro
Ports USB4 Type C; USB C; USB A; HDMI 2.1; SD Express card reader; 3.5mm audio
Pros 4K OLED with wide color gamut; dedicated RTX graphics; SD card reader for creative media.
Cons

MSI Stealth 16 AI+ 16 inches 240Hz OLED 2560 x 1600 Pixels, 2TB Storage, 32GB RAM, Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU 16GB GDDR7

msi Stealth 16 AI+ 16” 240Hz QHD+ OLED Gaming Laptop

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 386H
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU 16GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inches
Display Resolution 2560 x 1600 Pixels
RAM 32GB LPDDR5x onboard
Storage Space 2TB NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11
Ports 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 2 x USB Type A, HDMI 2.1, RJ45 Ethernet, audio combo jack
Dimensions (L x W x H) 14.0 x 9.8 x 0.7 inches
Weight 4.4 pounds
Pros Slim aluminum chassis; high end discrete GPU; high refresh OLED; broad connectivity
Cons Premium price; soldered memory; thinner chassis may limit sustained power

HP HyperX OMEN MAX 16 Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus RTX 32GB 1TB 2026

HP HyperX OMEN Max 16

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, 24 cores, up to 5.5 GHz, NPU 13 TOPS
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 16GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inch, 16:10
Display Resolution 16 inch 2.5K OLED 2560 × 1600, up to 240Hz, 0.2ms, 500 nits SDR, up to 1100 nits HDR, 100% DCI P3, VESA True Black HDR 1000
RAM 32GB DDR5 6400 MT/s, 2 × 16GB
Storage Space 1TB PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro
Ports 2 × USB Type A; 2 × USB Type C with high speed data and DisplayPort; HDMI 2.1; RJ45 Ethernet; headset combo; power connector
Dimensions (L x W x H) Approx. 14.1 × 10.5 × 1.0 inches
Weight Approx. 6.0 lb
Pros high refresh display;
Cons

Best Laptops for Colour Grading and Cinematic Post Production

ASUS ProArt P16 2026 AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 475 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR7

Pro Art p16

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CPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 475
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inch OLED touchscreen
Display Resolution 3840 × 2400, 120Hz
RAM 32GB LPDDR5X onboard
Storage Space 1TB NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home or Pro
Ports USB4 Type C; USB C; USB A; HDMI 2.1; SD Express card reader; 3.5mm audio
Pros 4K OLED with wide color gamut; dedicated RTX graphics; SD card reader for creative media.
Cons Memory is onboard; high end RTX configurations increase price and power use.

Razer Blade 16 2026 Core Ultra 9 386H RTX 5090 64GB 2TB OLED 240Hz

Razer Blade 16 (2026) Thin Gaming Laptop

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, 16 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.9 GHz, with integrated NPU up to 50 TOPS
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 24GB GDDR7, up to 165W TGP including Dynamic Boost
Display Size 16 inches, 16:10
Display Resolution QHD+ 2560 × 1600 OLED, 240Hz, 0.2ms, 100% DCI P3, up to 1100 nits HDR, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000
RAM 64GB LPDDR5X 9600MHz onboard memory, not upgradeable
Storage Space 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD; two M.2 slots, supports up to 8TB total with compatible drives
Operating System Windows 11 Home
Ports 1 × Thunderbolt 5 USB C with DisplayPort and power delivery; 1 × Thunderbolt 4 USB C with DisplayPort and power delivery; 3 × USB A 3.2 Gen 2; HDMI 2.1; UHS II SD card reader; 3.5 mm headset combo jack; Kensington lock slot
Dimensions (L x W x H) 13.98 × 9.86 × 0.59 to 0.69 inches (depth × width × height)
Weight 4.71 lb (2.14 kg)
Pros 64GB high speed memory plus RTX 5090 suits demanding creative software, 3D work, local AI and gaming; premium 240Hz OLED display.
Cons Very high purchase cost; RAM cannot be expanded or replaced

Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition 16 Ultra 9 386H RTX 5070 64GB 1TB 3.2K OLED

Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition 16 3.2K OLED Touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 9 285H

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, 16 cores, up to 4.9 GHz, NPU up to 50 TOPS
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, 12GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inch, 16:10
Display Resolution 16 inch 3.2K OLED 3200 × 2000, 120Hz, up to 1600 nits HDR peak / 1000 nits typical, 100% P3 and sRGB, DisplayHDR 1000, touchscreen
RAM 64GB LPDDR5X 7467MHz soldered
Storage Space 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD; two M.2 slots available
Operating System Windows 11 Pro
Ports 2 × USB A 10Gbps; 2 × Thunderbolt 4 USB C; HDMI 2.1; SD card reader; 3.5 mm headset combo jack; Lenovo Slim Tip power
Dimensions (L x W x H) 14.20 × 9.80 × 0.68 inches
Weight 4.19 lb (starting weight)
Pros 64GB memory and RTX 5070 support demanding creator apps; color calibrated 3.2K OLED; high brightness and fast refresh.
Cons Memory cannot be upgraded

Best Portable Laptops for Film Editors

ASUS ProArt PX13 2026 AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR7

ASUS ProArt PX13 AI-Powered 2-in-1 Laptop, 13.3 OLED 2.8K Touchscreen

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CPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR7
Display Size 13.3 inch convertible OLED touchscreen
Display Resolution 2880 × 1800, 120Hz
RAM 32GB LPDDR5X onboard
Storage Space 1TB NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home or Pro
Ports USB4 Type C; USB C; USB A; HDMI 2.1; microSD card reader; 3.5mm audio
Pros Portable convertible design; OLED touchscreen; discrete graphics for mobile creative work.
Cons

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 2026 AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 475 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, 12GB GDDR7

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 AI Gaming Laptop 14 3K 120Hz OLED

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CPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 475
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, 12GB GDDR7
Display Size 14 inch OLED
Display Resolution 2880 × 1800, 120Hz
RAM 32GB LPDDR5X onboard
Storage Space 1TB NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home
Ports USB4 Type C; USB C; USB A; HDMI 2.1; microSD; 3.5mm audio
Pros Compact OLED gaming laptop; discrete RTX graphics; portable form factor.
Cons Memory is onboard

ASUS TUF Gaming A14 2026 AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR7

ASUS TUF Gaming A14 Copilot+ PC Gaming Laptop, 14 WQXGA---

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CPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 465
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR7
Display Size 14 inch IPS LCD
Display Resolution 2560 × 1600, 165Hz
RAM 32GB LPDDR5X onboard
Storage Space 1TB NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home
Ports USB C with DisplayPort; USB A; HDMI 2.1; RJ45 Ethernet on 16 inch models; 3.5mm audio
Pros High refresh display; replaceable storage and, on SO DIMM models, memory; discrete RTX graphics.
Cons Fan noise and battery use increase under gaming load

Best High Performance Laptops for Professional Film Editing

Razer Blade 18 2026 Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus RTX 5090 128GB 2TB Dual Mode

Razer Blade 18 (2026) Performance Gaming Laptop

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, 24 cores, 24 threads, up to 5.5 GHz, integrated NPU up to 13 TOPS
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 24GB GDDR7, up to 175W TGP including Dynamic Boost
Display Size 18 inches, 16:10
Display Resolution Dual mode IPS: UHD+ 3840 × 2400 at 240Hz or FHD+ 1920 × 1200 at 440Hz; 3ms, 600 nits, 100% DCI P3
RAM 128GB DDR5 6400MHz, 2 × 64GB SO DIMMs
Storage Space 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD; supports additional M.2 SSDs, with up to 8TB Gen4 plus up to 4TB Gen5 according to Razer support
Operating System Windows 11 Home
Ports 1 × Thunderbolt 5 USB C; 1 × Thunderbolt 4 USB C; 3 × USB A 3.2 Gen 2; HDMI 2.1; 2.5 Gb Ethernet; UHS II SD card reader; 3.5 mm headset combo jack; Kensington lock slot
Dimensions (L x W x H) 15.74 × 10.84 × 0.86 to 1.10 inches (depth × width × height)
Weight 7.06 lb (3.2 kg)
Pros 128GB RAM supports unusually large datasets, local development environments and demanding production work; RTX 5090 with 24GB VRAM; 2TB SSD.
Cons Very costly and heavy; full performance requires the large AC adapter.

MSI Titan 18 HX 18 inches 240Hz Mini LED 3840 x 2400 Pixels, 4TB Storage, 64GB RAM, Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU 24GB GDDR7

msi Titan 18 HX AI 18 240Hz MiniLED UHD+

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU 24GB GDDR7
Display Size 18 inches
Display Resolution 3840 x 2400 Pixels
RAM 64GB DDR5 RAM
Storage Space 4TB NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11
Ports Thunderbolt 4, USB Type A, HDMI 2.1, RJ45 Ethernet, SD card reader, audio combo jack
Dimensions (L x W x H) 16.1 x 12.0 x 1.3 inches
Weight 7.9 pounds
Pros Flagship GPU; 4K high refresh Mini LED; large screen; excellent for demanding gaming and rendering
Cons Very heavy; expensive; large power adapter; limited portability

HP HyperX OMEN MAX 16 Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus RTX 64GB 2TB 2026

HP HyperX OMEN Max

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CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, 24 cores, up to 5.5 GHz, NPU 13 TOPS
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 24GB GDDR7
Display Size 16 inch, 16:10
Display Resolution 16 inch 2.5K OLED 2560 × 1600, up to 240Hz, 0.2ms, 500 nits SDR, up to 1100 nits HDR, 100% DCI P3, VESA True Black HDR 1000
RAM 64GB DDR5 6400 MT/s, 2 × 32GB
Storage Space 2TB PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD
Operating System Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro
Ports 2 × USB Type A; 2 × USB Type C with high speed data and DisplayPort; HDMI 2.1; RJ45 Ethernet; headset combo; power connector
Dimensions (L x W x H) Approx. 14.1 × 10.5 × 1.0 inches
Weight Approx. 6.0 lb
Pros High power gaming platform with fully internal cooling design; high refresh display; replaceable DDR5 memory and PCIe SSD options.
Cons Heavy chassis and large power supply; battery runtime is limited under gaming

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