DaVinci Resolve is an industry-standard piece of software for those looking to do video editing and color grading. However, the program also excels in audio post-production, visual effects, and even motion graphics.

Unsurprisingly, a program like that will have relatively high-performance demands. A computer that meets those requirements is essential for an efficient workflow. And if you want to work on the go, you need to find a laptop with the right specs. This article will take you through the best laptops for DaVinci Resolve, no matter the budget.

Why Hardware Matters for DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is heavy-duty software, and not for no reason. It’s an application that does a lot of video manipulation, sometimes for 4K or 8K video, and sometimes with some extremely professional plugins at work. With that in mind, it’s not a shock that its performance demands are high. However, it does the job arguably better than its competitors.

However, for most people, simply going out and buying the most powerful computer that exists isn’t an option. That’s why you have to carefully balance your budget with the performance that your workflow requires. That’s the tough part.

If the laptops that your budget can afford aren’t good enough, there are thankfully options like Vagon Cloud Computer, which allow you to access high-performance resources in the cloud to run hungry programs like DaVinci Resolve, even on low-end systems.

High-End Laptops for DaVinci Resolve

If you use Resolve for very complex projects, you’re going to need a whole lot of power. It’s easy to seek out the top laptops for video editing in DaVinci Resolve, but you’re going to need a budget that can handle the heavy price tags that these laptops come with.

MacBook Pro with M4 Max

Many creatives opt for Mac’s reliability and optimization, DaVinci Resolve users included. The latest MacBook Pro with the M4 Max chip costs a lot, but with 16 cores, a 40-core GPU, and 48GB of unified memory, you’re guaranteed a smooth ride.

Alienware X16

On the Windows side of life, Alienware is synonymous with power. This model gives you an Intel Core Ultra 9 chip, a Nvidia RTX 4090 (the best mobile GPU there is), and 32GB of RAM. Plus, it has a relatively understated design by Alienware standards.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18

If you like all the fancy lights and RGB that some gaming laptops have, this ROG laptop might be better suited for you. It comes with the most powerful mobile Intel i9 chip, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 4090 for lightning-fast GPU rendering. It has an 18-inch display though, so keep that in mind.

Mid-Tier Laptops for DaVinci Resolve

Maybe you don’t need the very best laptops created by man. Maybe all you need to see are laptops that run DaVinci Resolve smoothly. Well, this is the mid-tier, comprised of laptops hovering a few hundred dollars above the thousand-dollar mark, and you certainly won’t be disappointed with the performance of these systems.

MacBook Pro with M4

Switching out the M4 Max for a M4 gives you the chance to get a modern MacBook for a lot less. You’ll settle with a 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory, and 512GB of SSD storage on this model, but that is still plenty capable, especially for less than half the price.

MSI Katana 17

MSI is known for gaming laptops and that equates to the power needed for programs like DaVinci Resolve. This is still a powerful Windows laptop, with a 13th-gen i7, an RTX 4060, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

Asus TUF A16

Besides Asus’ ROG series, they also make gaming laptops under the military-grade TUF line. This model opts for power from an AMD Ryzen 9 and pairs that with an RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It’s also a lot more affordable than the other options on the list.

Low-Budget Laptops for DaVinci Resolve

$1,000 can be a lot of money for many people planning to work with DaVinci Resolve. In such cases, you might be looking for affordable laptops for DaVinci Resolve, especially if you’re a beginner (in which cases, there are tons of great DaVinci Resolve courses and classes to explore). There are certainly some options you can consider around the $700 mark, but heavier workflows might struggle.

HP Victus 15

Shockingly, for under $600, you can get the HP Victus 15: a smart-looking gaming laptop with sensible specs for the price. That’s a 12th-gen i5, a GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Those specs should handle DaVinci Resolve well enough, provided you’re not throwing too much at it.

Asus TUF A15

It’s another TUF laptop, and this time, it is the A15. This model is similar to the HP Victus above, with an RTX 3050 and a 512GB SSD. However, you’ll get only 8GB of RAM and you’ll switch out the i5 for an AMD Ryzen 7. You can always add extra RAM if you need to.

Acer Nitro V

This system is the most expensive of these affordable options, though still comes in well under $700. The culprit for that price tag is the RTX 4050. That comes bundled with an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. That’s not a bad spec sheet if you’re not editing blockbuster movies.

Vagon Cloud Computer: A Flexible Alternative to Hardware Upgrades

Vagon Cloud Computer is a cloud service that lets you access high-performance computing resources well over the recommended specs for DaVinci Resolve laptops. This gives you the ability to run DaVinci Resolve on cloud hardware that’s more than capable and stream it to your device, no matter how low-end it might be.

In addition to being able to use it from any device, Vagon Cloud Computer saves you from spending thousands of dollars on new hardware, especially if you don’t need it most of the time. That means that not only does it save you money too, but it makes your workflow more flexible.

Whether your laptop is ancient or you sometimes find yourself needing a lot more power for certain projects, Vagon Cloud Computer can help.

Choosing the Right Option for Your Needs

We’ve gone through some of the best laptops for color grading and rendering, but it can be hard to choose between them. However, you ultimately need to take a look at how much power your typical workflow needs—are you constantly pushing your computer to its limits or do you only handle basic projects? 

Your budget is very important too because even with a demanding workflow, if you don’t have the money for it, you just can’t get an appropriate laptop. It’s a fine balance between what you need and what you have available to spend, and in cases where your needs outweigh your budget, Vagon is a solid option.

Conclusion

DaVinci Resolve is very power-hungry software, especially compared to a CPU-centric competitor like Premiere Pro. As a result, it needs a solid GPU, CPU, and a good amount of RAM to operate at its best. You can’t compromise on the hardware.

However, many people are limited by their budgets, which is why I presented laptops ranging from more than $3,000 to less than $600. And for those who can’t afford that, Vagon Cloud Computer offers a lot of flexibility.

Understand your needs and figure out what kind of hardware will get the job done for you. The laptops included on the list are a fantastic place to start to supercharge your workflow.