Freelancers are actively engaged in projects where clients are demanding for after effects services from freelancers. The demand is increasing and so more freelancers are interested in winning clients and charge them on an hourly basis. Apart from having the skills required, a freelancer must also be having the best laptop with great specifications. This article will help you in finding the best laptops for after effects and create a top list.
What Features To Look Into
A buyer must give priority to following features before buying a laptop will be used for performing After-Effects projects.
Processor / CPU
Processor plays critical role in performing video-editing and after-effects tasks. Its role enhances in a project which is created on high-resolution such as 1080p quality. Processor also has to be extraordinary powerful in large projects which requires lots of processing in no time. Otherwise, it will take forever to keep editing and adding the after-effects on the video with weak processor.
The powerful processor will have minimum four cores and 8 threads which improves its efficiency. As far as clock speed is concerned, it should be in between 1.8 GHz to 2. GHz.
Graphic Card
User cannot upgrade the graphic card on a laptop, whether it’s an integrated or dedicated one. Therefore, should go for a laptop with a powerful dedicated laptop. The graphic card is mainly responsible for processing the after-effects footage into the video file and making relevant adjustments accordingly, this requires lots of work on the processing side. If you have a weak graphic card on your laptop, it will be miserable for adding the after-effects into the main video or image.
RAM
RAM will help you in quick playback to see the all progress user made on the file. RAM helps you quick access the caching preview files when you push the button to playback. Therefore, user should be going for a laptop having minimum 8GB of RAM.
TOP 6 BEST LAPTOPS FOR AFTER EFFECTS IN 2021
We are going to share with you top 6 best laptops for after effects and good for freelancing projects.
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim
This laptop comes with 10th generation Intel Core i7 a powerful processor, the most important hardware for running after effects software. Its turbo boost allows the CPU to achieve 4.9GHz speed which is insanely higher. This powerful performance is essentially required for performing big projects on behalf of clients.
According to the official Adobe team, RAM is critical for a smooth playback experience while adding after-effects on software. The larger the RAM is, the more temporary data it can store to immediately play the media on software, otherwise, it will consume more time and productivity have to be compromised.
This laptop has 16GB RAM which is more than enough for meeting the system requirements of any after effects software.
It offers 512GB SSD storage which must be more than enough for any freelancer. The strong feature is offering storage in SSD and not HDD. SSD improves the overall performance and speed of data processing because it is the latest technology comparing to HDD.
It other useful features include Wi-Fi 6, USB Type-C, touch-screen display and Full HD Nano Edges. It also offers a built-in IR camera used for facial recognition and enhances the security of your laptop.
Let us inform you about the Wi-Fi 6 technology installed in this laptop. Wi-Fi 6 maximizes your internet connectivity speed from 3.5 Gbps to 9.6 Gbps. A single person can never even touch 100 Mbps but then how this much speed is beneficial for the user.
The answer is you can share your Internet by sharing the Wi-Fi password, more number of users can be connected to the same internet without compromising on speed. It means Wi-Fi technology gets more efficient when you are sharing.
Wi-Fi 6 also has other advantages over previous technology. It not improves the battery life but also increasing the data security and it is harder for hackers to get into your Wi-Fi by stealing the passwords. Its strong features make it one of the best laptops for after effects.
ASUS VivoBook 15
ASUS laptop comes once again in the list, totally recommendable for the users wants to apply their after skills. Its 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor can manage to run after effects software like “ Adobe After Effects ”. This laptop has more powerful processor because it’s from 10th generation which offers more threads and higher clocks, which improves its efficiency.
In every laptop, the user must spend more money on the processor than any other hardware, processor plays a most critical role in after-effects projects. Then, it offers 8GB RAM which is not much impressive but if the user does not have a budget to afford 16GB laptop, it is perfectly fine to work with 8GB RAM.
I want you to make sure about 8GB RAM is enough for beginning-level projects; you should not be expected to apply advanced features of after-effects on this laptop.
It comes with 512GB SSD which can store hundreds and thousands of freelancing projects were performed on this laptop. Mostly, these software require 10 to 20GB of unfilled space before installing and even after installing to run and perform smoothly, you can easily manage to keep the required space unfilled, 512GB offers you ample storage capacity already.
Acer Nitro 5
This is the most recommending laptops considering its value for money. Acer Nitro 5 will be the best laptop for after effects in its price range. It’s most powerful hardware is its processor which becomes full of tempting feature.
It offers Intel Core i5 Quad-Core processor AMD i5 which guarantees beast performance. It got 8 threads and turbo boost can speed it up to 4.5 GHz. You can hardly find such a powerful processor an affordable laptop price except for Nitro 5 offers.
RAM is the second most important hardware for after-effects software. Lots of things are depended upon the amount of RAM provided. Acer Nitro 5 offers 16GB DDR4 RAM which can store more temporary memory being used while adding after effects, this capacity of storing more temporary memory improves the user experience and allows smooth workflow.
16GB RAM can handle the workflow very well, whereas 8GB RAM is only recommendable for low-level performance.
Its GPU name is NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti, a powerful graphic processing unit. According to the official experts of Adobe, NVIDIA graphics card are better than AMD because they found it more reliable and powerful. CPU cannot perform while stand alone if not supported by powerful GPU.
Acer Nitro 5 offers both powerful hardware CPU and GPU. Its affordable price and powerful performance make it one of the best laptops for after effects.
It also comes with 512GB SSD and provides one more SSD slot to extend the memory. SSD is latest storage technology which consumes less time in seeking data and load the windows faster than other types of drives.
To fulfill the requirements of software like “Adobe After Effects”, you must leave 10-20GB empty space on the drive and can easily do that when already having big enough space in Acer Nitro 5.
Lenovo Legion 5
Lenovo Legion 5 shows beast performance in the support from AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor and 16GB DDR4 RAM. This processor easily meets system requirements for most of the concerned software and AMD Ryzen 4800H can also utilize the max performance of software like “Adobe After Effects” and utilizes all its features and not just the basic ones.
Its 16GB RAM improves the processor performance further and shares its load. These projects are used to continuously engaged in searching data which consumes time, larger RAM can help in accessing data and holding it in advance which saves the user time. A freelancer can meet the deadlines of the project only if having 16GB or higher RAM.
This is also a gaming laptop and can play latest games on Ultra settings while no compromise on FPS. A freelancer of after effects can play games for relaxing the mind, once the project has been finished.
This laptop takes graphic power from NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti which is extremely powerful GPU. The use of GPU has been increasing over the time for software like “Adobe After Effects”, but still the more reliance upon the CPU. User can also play 2021 released games at very ultra settings on this laptop.
LENOVO LEGION 5 comes in Phantom Black color which looks amazing and insanely attractive. Its 15.6-inches screen size enables the freelancer to easily add after effects and see all details in photos or videos frames, larger screens are better for such projects.
Its 512GB SSD would not make you think what to store and what not to store, just to keep check on free space. Mostly laptop users cannot fill this much space even downloading the data which they do not want. Plus, Its SSD technology loads the windows and software faster than HDD technology which improves user experience.
As far as its cons side is concerned, its battery life is not realistic considering it is a gaming laptop. It can only last up to five hours which requires lots of recharging for the user is used to working for longer hours. The second drawback includes lacks of backlit keyboard which can be productive in night time.
HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop
HP is the top selling brand in laptop industry and always comes with problem-solving machines. Its 17-inches screen size will contribute into much higher productivity for the freelancer, especially related to graphic designing and after effects projects.
More screen area improves user experience and enjoys the more pixel details to exactly get to know about what this will look like on bigger screens. This laptop offers 1080 resolution size which is more relevant on 17-inches screen, display clarity and depth increases.
Its 16GB RAM is what exactly required by mostly popular After Effects software like “Adobe After Effects”. Larger RAMs shares the workload with processor and enhances the hardware life, otherwise extreme usage in these projects on daily basis can hurt processor life. This laptop provides two more RAM slots, each slot with 8GBRAM. You can upgrade it up to 32GB RAM in this laptop.
Its processor is Intel Core i7-10750H, Hexa Core and processing speed is 2.6GHz. Its turbo boost can achieve 5GHz speed which is insanely higher. One can confidently confirm the beast power of this processor.
The third important hardware in any best laptop for after effects is “GPU”, it offers NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti which enables such shocking and realistic after effects also used by big entertainment brands in their movies and TV shows. This graphic card is also widely used for developing games in recent times.
This laptop comes with 256GB M.2 SSD which shaped like a gum and takes less physical space on laptop. 256GB is not satisfactory space mostly for gamers and one who get used to be storing ample data. It offers several USB ports including Type-C, user can store rest of its data on flash drives once the space is filled.
The laptop has some features which should be improved or better. Its battery life is 8.75 hours which we expect more from gaming laptop. The second weak feature is its bulk size and heavy-weight, its weight 6.75 pounds which requires consuming more energy while carrying it.
HP OMEN 15
HP’s laptop comes again in the list; HP OMEN 15 is definitely one of the best laptops for after effects. It’s 16GB DDR4 RAM and AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor are very tempting features for any freelancer engaged in projects related to After Effects.
This processor has 2.9GHz base clock which can go max at 4.3GHz by using turbo boost, this is called powerful performance. These days After Effects software requires more cores in CPU, this one comes with 8 cores to fully utilize the software performance and adding extreme graphics after effects.
Its 16GB RAM is highly effective for the projects involves multiple playbacks which needs to be edited in software. Larger RAMs also improves overall user experience and make the system faster. 16GB RAM is not minimum requirement but recommended requirement in laptop for after effects.
NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti can load extremely high graphics and supports realistic visuals. It also shares memory with CPU and reduces the burden from processor to make it more efficient. This GPU can be definitely become a great support for its processor as it is also a beast hardware.
You can enjoy 1TB M.2 SSD on this laptop, no way one can utilize its full space. You would be enjoying better user experience on SSD which seeks data in less time and also able to recognize the patterns of daily routine tasks which enables it to seek the same routine information immediately.
1ts 15.6-inches screen is good for both gaming and performing after effects projects. You do not have to feel frustrate like small screen users used to, enjoy the work on its bigger screen.
This laptop also have its drawbacks, the first one is its heavy-weight feature. The laptop weights 5.00 lbs which is above average and not make it portable one. The second drawback is only supports one storage drive and not expandable, though it is already offering 1TB. The third drawback is little pricey for GTX 1660 Ti, the price must be $50 less from original price.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are going to answer your most frequently asked questions on this topic.
– What is the Most Critical Specification on Laptop for performing After-Effects Job ?
There are three hardware which plays critical roles respectively. First of all, processor is responsible for solving the all logics involves behind the after-effects and how they fit into the complete footage or image, processor has to go through millions of alogrithms in seconds to process the input.
Secondly, graphic card is responsible for processing the all colors, shades and shadows included into the effects and it requires processing thousands of possibilities.
RAM helps the user to quick access the temporary memory and enables to playback the video and see the whole progress.
– What Other Features are Critical to Have on Laptop for After-Effects ?
User should go for a laptop having big screen size because they will enjoy more screen area to clearly see all details and then adding the after-effects.
Verdict
After-Effects is one of the heavy-duty tasks to perform on laptop and it requires the user to make carefully choose the laptop. Buyer should exactly know the system requirements and accordingly hunt the best laptop for after-effects job. Processor and Graphic card are going to be the most critical hardware to perform the video-editing and after-effects task.
