Video editing is one of the most demanding tasks you can throw at a computer. Wrangling high-res footage, adding effects, and rendering final projects requires a perfect storm of high-end components – a powerful CPU and GPU, gobs of RAM, and lightning-fast storage. When it comes to Macs, you have some fantastic options purpose-built for creative professionals, but which one is the ultimate video editing machine?
While the Mac Pro and iMac Pro represent the pinnacle of Apple hardware, the sweet spot for most video editors will be the 27-inch iMac. With up to a 10-core CPU, 128GB RAM, 8TB SSD, and 16GB VRAM, it offers ample horsepower for even 8K editing without the stratospheric price of its Mac Pro bigger brother. The gorgeous built-in 5K Retina display provides a massive canvas to view your timeline with pixel-for-pixel accuracy.
But the iMac isn‘t your only option. Let‘s dive in and compare the entire 2024 Mac lineup to help you find the perfect rig to bring your video productions to life.
Choosing a Mac for Video Editing: What Specs Matter?
Before we get into the Macs themselves, it‘s important to understand what hardware is critical for video editing performance. While every component plays a part, pay closest attention to these core specs:
CPU: The processor is the heart of your editing rig. A higher core count (6, 8, 10+) will dramatically speed up tasks like rendering, compressing, and stabilizing footage. Look for Intel Core i7/i9 and Apple Silicon M1 Pro/Max/Ultra chips.
GPU: The graphics card drives your display and accelerates effects, color grading, and playback. Aim for a discrete AMD Radeon Pro or Apple M1 integrated GPU with at least 4GB VRAM for 4K editing, 8GB+ for 8K.
RAM: Video clips, timelines, and rendered previews are memory-intensive, especially at 4K and 8K resolutions. We recommend at least 32GB RAM, with 64GB being ideal.
Storage: Raw video files are massive, and editing them directly from an internal SSD will be significantly faster than an external drive. Aim for at least 1TB of internal SSD storage, with 2TB or more being preferable.
Display: A built-in or external high-res reference monitor is make-or-break for judging image quality, color, and sharpness. A 27"+ display with at least 4K resolution is optimal.
The Best Mac for Video Editing: 27-inch iMac
For the majority of video editors, we recommend the 27-inch iMac (2024) as the best balance of performance, display, and value. It ticks all the boxes an editing rig needs:
- Up to a 10-core Intel Core i9 CPU or rumored M2 Ultra chip
- Up to 128GB RAM and 8TB SSD storage
- Up to AMD Radeon Pro W6900X / 64-core M2 Ultra GPU with 16GB VRAM
- Stunning 27-inch 5K Retina display with wide color (P3)
- Ample ports including USB-C/Thunderbolt, USB-A, SD card, headphone jack
- Whisper-quiet cooling, 1080p webcam, and great built-in speakers
This combination of specs will chew through 4K and even 8K timelines with aplomb in apps like Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve. The 5K display means you can view 4K footage natively with extra room for your bins, scopes, and tools.
Configure yours with at least 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and a Radeon Pro / M2 Ultra GPU to future-proof for increasingly demanding projects. Upgrading to 64GB RAM and 2TB+ SSD is wise if you regularly work with tons of high-res assets.
The iMac‘s sleek all-in-one design makes it a pleasure to use, with a stunningly sharp and color-accurate display, plus great speakers and mics for previewing audio. And it stays whisper-quiet thanks to efficient thermal management.
Mac Studio: A Mighty Desktop Alternative
If you prefer a modular setup and don‘t mind bringing your own display, the Mac Studio (2024) is a video editing powerhouse in a shockingly compact package. It doesn‘t skimp on performance:
- Up to 20-core M2 Ultra CPU
- Up to 192GB unified memory and 8TB SSD
- Up to 64-core M2 Ultra GPU with 32GB unified memory
- 6 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-A ports, HDMI, 10Gb Ethernet, SDXC card
Even the base model with M2 Max is a capable 4K and 8K video editing machine. Step up to the M2 Ultra config and you‘re looking at workstation-class rendering speeds to shave hours off your projects.
Pair your Mac Studio with Apple‘s gorgeous new Studio Display (5K 27-inch) or Pro Display XDR (6K 32-inch) for the ultimate creator setup. You‘ll have plenty of ports to connect extra storage, an eGPU, control surfaces, or audio interfaces.
Best Portable Video Editing Rig: 16-inch MacBook Pro
Need to edit on location? The 16-inch MacBook Pro (2024) packs astounding performance into a sleek laptop that can keep up with the iMac and Mac Studio. Specs include:
- Up to 12-core M2 Max CPU
- Up to 96GB unified memory and 8TB SSD
- Up to 38-core M2 Max GPU with 64GB unified memory
- 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED, 1600 nits peak brightness
- 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, SDXC card, headphone jack, MagSafe 3 charging
- Up to 22 hours battery life, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, 6-speaker sound system
The M2 Max chip enables silky-smooth playback of 8K ProRes video in apps like Final Cut Pro. You can even grade 12K footage, making this a true mobile workstation for the most demanding projects.
The 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR display is a treat for the eyes, with mini-LED backlighting for vivid HDR, accurate color (P3 wide gamut), and an adaptive 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. It‘s like having a professional reference monitor to go.
Three Thunderbolt 4 ports provide ample connectivity for fast SSDs, multiple 4K displays, eGPUs and peripherals. And with all-day battery life, you can get plenty of editing done wherever your shoots take you.
Mac Pro & iMac Pro: Video Editing for Enterprise
For large post-production houses and studios with super-sized budgets, the Mac Pro and iMac Pro still reign supreme. With up to a 28-core Intel Xeon W CPU, 1.5TB RAM, 8TB SSD, and quad AMD Radeon Pro W6800X GPUs, they have the brawn to breeze through 12K editing.
The Mac Pro‘s modular tower design provides the ultimate customization and upgradeability. Mix and match the highest-end CPUs, GPUs, and hardware RAID storage to build your dream editing workstation. Pair it with a Pro Display XDR or two for the biggest possible canvas.
The iMac Pro‘s main draw is its spectacular 27-inch 5K Retina display, tightly integrated with powerhouse components. But its aging Intel chips are due for an Apple Silicon refresh to keep pace with the cheaper 27" iMac.
Unless you‘re a major production studio with cash to burn, the Mac Pro and iMac Pro are overkill in a world where the iMac and Mac Studio deliver outstanding performance for far less.
Enhance Your Mac Video Editing Setup
Whichever Mac you choose, consider complementing it with some choice accessories to speed up your editing workflow:
External SSDs: Offload footage to a fast Thunderbolt or USB-C SSD to free up internal space. Great for archives and backups too.
Reference monitor: An accurate, color-calibrated display is essential for mastering your videos. The Apple Studio Display and Pro Display XDR are top picks.
eGPU: Supercharge your graphics performance by connecting an external GPU box and card. Especially useful for upgrading older Macs.
Control surface: Shuttle clips and adjust color and audio with hands-on precision. Options from Blackmagic, Tangent, Loupedeck, and more.
Audio interface: Upgrade your audio editing capabilities with extra inputs, outputs, and pristine sound quality. Universal Audio, Focusrite, and Apogee make Mac-friendly models.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, the 27-inch iMac remains the leader of the pack for video editing on a Mac in 2024. Reliable, powerful, and easy on the eyes, it continues Apple‘s legacy of making creators‘ dreams a reality.
But the Mac Studio is a juggernaut for the most demanding workflows, while the 16-inch MacBook Pro proves you can take pro-grade editing power anywhere. And the Mac Pro will always be the aspirational pinnacle for the industry‘s top talents.
No matter which Mac matches your editing needs and budget, you‘ll be tapping into a rich ecosystem built to bring your video productions to life. So choose your weapon, fire up your favorite NLE, and make some movie magic. Happy editing!