Best photo editing PCs in 2024

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID

Navigating the market for the best photo editing PC can be a daunting task, especially when you're looking for a system that can seamlessly handle top-tier photo editors and enhance your creative workflow. 

One of the key considerations in selecting the best photo editing laptop or computer is its ability to run best photo editors and best graphic design software. Top processor and RAM configurations will make applying effects and working with multiple layer groups or editing color levels in Adobe Lightroom faster and more accurate, while the best monitor for photo editing will make sure that the best photo editing PCs are accurately reflecting a photographer's vision for their work.

Our comprehensive review process has involved testing a wide range of Windows and Mac computers, evaluating each for their suitability in photography and photo editing applications. We've leveraged our extensive experience to help you find the best photo editing PC for your needs and budget, ensuring that your investment enhances every aspect of your photo editing projects.

The best photo editing PC in 2024

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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the entries on our best photo editing PC list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

Best photo editing PC overall

best MacBook and Macs Mac Studio on wooden desk

(Image credit: Future)
Move over Mac Pro

Specifications

CPU: Apple 12-core M2 Max or 24-core M2 Ultra
Graphics: Integrated 38-core to 76-core GPU
RAM: Up to 192GB unified memory
Storage: Up to 8TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Compact
+
Powerful

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey
-
Not upgradable

The Mac Studio is like a super-charged Mac mini for creative professionals. Apple's newest Mac, this is an impressively compact computer that comes packing some serious power thanks to the Apple M2 Max chip to start and configurable to the Apple M2 Ultra. 

The Mac Studio is a formidable machine when it comes to creative content, capable of loading up an incredibly detailed 3D scene that took up more memory than most discrete professional PC GPUs come with, making architectural renderings and poster production a snap. For photography work, the up to 192GB unified memory can open and handle entire project portfolios at once, speeding up workflows and fine tuning work.

The level of performance on offer here will be overkill for many people, but if you're looking for a workstation PC for heavy creative workloads, then the Mac Studio will be a great choice. It's expensive, but worth the investment.

Read the full Apple Mac Studio review

Best all-in-one PC for photo editing

One of the best photo editing PCs, the Apple iMac 24-inch, in an office

(Image credit: Future)
Apple continues its all-in-one winning streak

Specifications

CPU: Apple M3
Graphics: Up to 10-core GPU
RAM: Up to 24GB
Storage: Up to 2TB
Screen: 24-inch 4.5K Retina display

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent screen
+
Powerful new processor
+
Fantastic webcam

Reasons to avoid

-
Lack of ports remains
-
Memory limited to 24GB

If you think that the new iMacs couldn’t possibly be as good as they look, you’d be wrong. 

Not only are they an improvement on their 21.5-inch predecessor externally, touting a fresh new face that comes in several different colors. But they also come with fresh new specs, thanks to Apple’s new M1 chip that makes it much more powerful than the previous Intel iMacs. That means they're more than equipped to handle video and photo editing without slowing down the creative workflow. 

In fact, we’d go as far as to say that the new iMac (24-inch, 2021) is the best all-in-one for photo editing we’ve ever tested. It's certainly earned its place in our best Macs list. You’ll also be happy to know that you’re getting great value here, as you’re getting the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse included – in matching colors, we might add.

Read the full Apple iMac review

Best budget photo editing PC

Apple Mac Mini on wood desk

(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
Apple’s little PC gets a big upgrade

Specifications

CPU: Up to Apple M2 Pro
Graphics: Up to integrated 19-core GPU
RAM: Up to 32GB unified memory
Storage: 256GB – 8TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Powers through Photoshop and Lightroom
+
Compact design for carrying around
+
Impressive across content creation 
+
Affordable price for an Apple device

Reasons to avoid

-
Not upgradable
-
Slightly bigger than other mini PCs

Running Photoshop, Lightroom, and more, the Apple Mac mini M2 soars as a content creation machine. No wonder we awarded it a full five stars and handed it an Editor’s Choice badge. 

From iMacs to MacBooks, Apple’s always been a favorite of the creative community for its sleek designs and top-of-the-line performance across the range. Small and practical, the Mac mini, which is boasts a budget price for the sheer power you get, easily deserves its place in the line-up. 

Don’t let the compact design throw you off here. In our experience, whether you’re editing photos or videos, the M2-powered Mac mini never misses a beat. And yes, it’s ‘mini’ in lower-case, just to emphasize how dinky it is, But that size is relative to other Apple devices like the iMac and MacBook Pro series. Compared to a traditional mini PC, this one is a slightly chunkier, clocking in at 7.75 x 7.75 x 1.41, weighing 2.6lbs. .

Still, we found it more than portable, with broad connectivity options, including speedy and super-simple Thunderbolt 4 ports. Absolutely perfect if you’re looking for a powerful but small photo editing PC you can plug in anywhere on campus, at home, or in the studio. 

Read the full Apple Mac Mini M2 (2023) review

Best photo editing PC for business

Dell XPS Desktop (8960) on a table

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Built for business

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7- i9
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 / Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
RAM: Up to 64GB
Storage: Up to 4TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Sheer power for content creation
+
Ports, ports, and more ports
+
Stays cool and quiet

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Dull design

A plain and professional exterior design hides an impressively powerful photo editing PC with the Dell XPS Desktop (8960). But it won't come cheap. 

When it comes to size, we found this desktop hits the Goldilocks zone - neither too big or too small - which means you'll be able to fit it into just about any workspace, on or under the desk. Mind you, during transportation, we did feel the weight of this machine, so be careful when lifting the XPS desktop into position.  

Photo editing and batching exporting images is absolutely straight forward. We used Lightroom for this, and never saw any slowing down, even as our library of editing photos grew. Once we got beyond that drab exterior shell, we began to appreciate the real power on display here. If you're on the hunt for a desktop computer for photo editing and gaming, the Dell XPS Desktop (8960) has the mettle for both.

Connectivity is fair - you'll find two USB ports, a USB-C port, SD card reader, and a lone 3.5mm jack to the front, making them easily accessible. All in all, ideal for content creation. 

Read our full Dell XPS Desktop (8960) review

Best Windows photo editing PC

An HP Envy 34 on a desk in front of a plant

(Image credit: Future)
A serious iMac alternative for creative professionals

Specifications

CPU: 11th-gen Intel i5 – i9
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1650 – Nvidia RTX 3080
RAM: Up to 32GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
Display: 34-inch 5120 x 2160p IPS 500 nits 98% DCI-P3

Reasons to buy

+
Incredible design
+
Sharp 5K ultrawide display
+
16MP Webcam

Reasons to avoid

-
Underpowered mobile GPU
-
Best configurations is expensive

The HP Envy 34 all-in-one computer is undeniably powerful, offering an excellent iMac alternative to Windows users who want outstanding design, fantastic features, and great performance for a relatively affordable price. Our coveted five-star rating is rarely given, which should speak volumes about how impressive it is. That's despite the fact that it runs a last-gen Intel processor and a mobile GPU.

Among the many things we appreciate here are its movable 16MP webcam and excellent selection of ports. On test, however, it's its stunner of a display that hogs the spotlight. This height-adjustable, 34-inch, 5K 21:9 screen isn't just gorgeous; it's also bright with 500 nits of brightness and 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut, which makes it ideal for photographers.

Don't like upgrading to a new computer every couple of years? It's also expandable up to 4TB M.2 storage and 128GB DDR4 RAM so there's room to grow here.

Read our full HP Envy 34 All-in-One review

Best photo editing workstation PC

The open case of the Wired2Fire Apollo workstation

(Image credit: Future)
A customizable dream for content creators

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i9
Graphics: MSI NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM: 64GB
Storage: 2TB

Reasons to buy

+
Completely configurable
+
Well priced for a boutique system
+
Extremely high performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Needs more protective packaging

If you want a customizable workstation for photo editing, video editing, and other creative work, the Wired2Fire Apollo deserves a space on your list.  

Instead of plucking a machine off the shelf, the Apollo is a boutique system. Don't want to be stuck with a sub-par processor or an ancient GPU? This one lets you build your own photo editing PC. That might sound overwhelming, but it's really not. We found the entire process is simplified so even if you have no experience building computers for photo editing, you can find the one that matches your requirements. 

Our review model had  64GB of DDR5 RAM. As such, it absolutely tore through just about any creative work we did. If you're working across stills and videos, the Wired2Fire Apollo performs brilliantly. Admittedly, it's not cheap. But you're paying for power, and in our experience, it's not overpriced for what's on offer here to creators.  

Read our full Wired2Fire Apollo review

Best Surface computer for photo editing

Surface Studio 2 on a desk

(Image credit: Future)
The ultimate digital drafting table

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB
Screen: 28.125-inch, 4.5K

Reasons to buy

+
Brighter display
+
Higher contrast ratio
+
PCIe SSDs
+
Big performance improvements

Reasons to avoid

-
Still pricey
-
Arguably dated parts inside

It may not be designed to compete with other photo editing PCs - but in our experience, the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is one of the best digital drafting tables you can get. 

For fans of the original Surface Studio, we're delighted to say the Surface Studio 2 beats it in every way. Ok, it's true that the internal components are slightly outdated. If you wanted an all-round content creation machine, the Surface Studio can't measure up. But for digital media artists and designers, its gorgeous display, ability to handle video encoding, and render complex images and 3D graphics without breaking too much of a sweat make it one to check out. 

For connectivity, we found the keyboard and mouse inputs work well, and the included stylus is easy on the hand (and screen). The computer boasts a USB-C port - it's better than just a DisplayPort, but we were disappointed to see there's no USB-C 3.1 or Thunderbolt 3 ports - these would've made the Surface Studio 2 much more attractive to content creators. 

Read our full Microsoft Surface Studio 2 review

Best photo editing PC for creators and gamers

white gaming PC with a clear side panel

(Image credit: Future)
The Alienware Aurora R15 truly feels next-gen

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i5 - i9
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 / Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
RAM: Up to 64GB
Storage: Up to 4TB

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful chassis
+
Next-gen specs and performance
+
Much improved ventilation system
+
Can be carried around by one person

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive

The Alienware line of gaming PCs and laptops have a reputation for smooth performance and sleek design - which means a machine like the Alienware Aurora R15 will easily handle photo editing duties alongside more resource-intensive tasks. 

Incredible. That's how we'd described the performance of this computer. It crushed every kind of content creation project we threw at it without any issues at all. But then, we expected that - this is a petite desktop unit built for triple-A gaming. Photoshop is no problem. 

What we especially liked about the R15 is the ventilation and cooling system. Throughout our time with the PC, it consistently ran cool - and it's a major improvement on the flawed Aurora R13. A good port selection rounds out an excellent machine for photographers and artists who want something that can do it all. 

Read our full Alienware Aurora R15 review

Best photo editing PC for the office

black gaming PC with glass side

(Image credit: Future)
Tailor-made for the office

Specifications

CPU:
Graphics:
RAM:
Storage:

Reasons to buy

+
Great performance
+
Compact chassis
+
Great port selection
+
Excellent ventilation

Reasons to avoid

-
A bit pricey
-
Glass side panel is pointless

The Alienware Aurora R16 is something of an anomaly in the popular line-up. Instead of the bright lights and eye-catching designs, the R16 offers a much more professional - dare we say respectable - computer for photo editing. It's lightweight and tailor-made for the office or studio.  

We put this one through its paces editing photos and performance throughout was great. Photo editor apps ran smoothly, and workflows were just as smooth. Benchmark scores during our testing showed a highly capable PC - and we'd strongly recommend using a photography monitor with an excellent color gamut to really take advantage of this machine. 

 Port selection is excellent - it had everything you think you might need to get started, including four USB 3.2 Gen Type-A ports, three USB 3.2 Type-C ports. It does lack an SD card reader slot though. It may not be the cheapest PC for photo editing, but it can handle a whole lot more. 

Read our full Alienware Aurora R16 review

Best mini PC for photo editing

ACE MAGICIAN AM08 Pro

(Image credit: Future)
Great choice for intensive everyday photo editing

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9
Graphics: AMD Radeon 680M
RAM: 16GB (supports up to 64GB)
Storage: 512GB (supports up to 2TB)

Reasons to buy

+
Quiet
+
Expansive connectivity
+
Decent graphics performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Not the smallest mini PC

For a photo editing PC that combines a compact size with excellent connectivity, the the Acemagician AM08 Pro is a tough act to follow. 

Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9, we found performance in this mini PC was solid and consistent - but it never felt cutting-edge. That's true of many mini PCs, though. It's a very capable workhorse of a machine - editing photos won't put any real pressure on the AM08 Pro, and nor will video editing or light gaming. In fact, with an eye on the gaming crowd, the unit boasts an efficient cooling system to maintain efficiency during heavier workloads. 

Unlike many on the market, connectivity options are wide and welcome. Ports include four USB-A, seven USB-C, and two HDMI 2.0, with both Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. All that in such a small, and uniquely designed package is impressive.

Another reason why photographers and content creators may like the Acemagician unit is its support for a triple 4K display. That's an impressive amount of potential screen real-estate that, for creative projects, is usually essential. Bigger picture stuff. It's not the fastest or the most powerful, but for day-to-day tasks such as video or image editing in a small shell, the AM08 Pro is a mini powerhouse.

Read our full Acemagician AM08 Pro review

Best photo editing PC custom build

A Puget Systems custom workstation with its side panel open exposing its inernal components

(Image credit: Puget Systems)

11. Puget Systems workstation

For those who want things their way

Specifications

CPU: Up to Intel Xeon 3400 or AMD Threadripper 5000X-series
Graphics: Up to Nvidia RTX 4090
RAM: Up to 512GB DDR4
Storage: Up to 67TB SSD + HDD combined storage

Reasons to buy

+
Highly configurable
+
Professional workstation build quality

Reasons to avoid

-
 Can get very expensive

If none of the other PCs on this list suit your needs, then you need to give Puget Systems a call. A custom workstation builder, there is no one Puget System PC, but its systems are incredibly customizable and offer the Mac Pro its strongest competition of any Windows/Linux desktop.

We are finishing up our Puget System review, but we've been using this system for more than a month and a half as one of our primary workstation PCs in the office, and the high-RAM capacity make complex photo editing work a breeze.

Configurable with AMD Ryzen or Threadripper CPUs, or Intel Core or Xeon processors, you can truly sculpt a perfect photographers PC that exactly suits your needs, whether its a massive pool of memory or an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 for generative AI tools to complement your photographs.

Prices range from affordable to eye-wateringly high, but as far as a Windows alternative to the venerable Mac Pro, a Puget Systems custom build is it.

Best PC for photo editing: FAQs

Why do I need a photo editing computer?

Photo editing software is resource-hungry - so you need a computer that can keep pace, especially for more complex projects. 

Professional software like Adobe Photoshop, and the best Photoshop alternatives can force the computer to work hard. That leads to a lowering of performance, slowing down creative processes, and outputting images that don’t match the vision you had in your head - or what the client wanted. As a result, your work and your workflow suffers. 

For a PC for photo editing, we recommend minimum specs of 16GB RAM and 1TB of SSD storage - paired with the best photo cloud storage for backups.  

Photo editing: PC vs Mac

Below is an excerpt of “The Digital Darkroom: The Definitive Guide to Photo Editing” by James Abbott, published by Ilex Press (£17.70 on Amazon.co.uk). James talks briefly about the differences between Apple and Windows-based devices when it comes to photo editing.

"With two major systems available in Apple and Windows computers, which one is truly better for photo editing? All professional photographers use Macs, don’t they? And aren’t Macs simply much better at running photo editing software than Windows PCs? When Photoshop 1.0 was launched back in 1990 it was Mac-only software, and it wasn’t until 1993 with version 2.5 that it became available for Windows computers. Macs remained the favorite option for graphic designers, and this, alongside the fact that digital typography began on Macs, helped to create the idea that Macs were best for running Photoshop.

The reality is that running Adobe and Affinity Photo (ed: probably the most potent rival to Adobe's hegemony - read our Affinity Photo review) is identical on both Mac and Windows PCs. There really are no differences in performance, features or functionality, although faster and more powerful computers of both types are preferred. This means that you don’t have to switch from Windows to Apple when you first begin editing – you can use whichever system you prefer.

I used to use Macs, but once Apple made it difficult to upgrade components such as RAM and hard drives, I switched to a Windows PC because I knew I’d be able to upgrade all components when I wanted to. The switchover was seamless, and while I miss the clean simplicity of the macOS operating system, the versatility of the Windows PCs I’ve owned since I switched has been well worth it.

Just one more thing: with improvements in the processing power of both Android and iOS tablets, it’s now possible to edit images using these smart devices. The ability to use touch can provide a highly tactile approach to editing, and with Affinity Photo and different versions of Photoshop and Lightroom (read our Lightroom review) available for tablets, there’s huge scope for using these devices. 

From a workflow point of view, computers remain the best devices for image editing because of their greater processing power, larger screens and increased space for storing image files. Tablets, however, are a great option when travelling for image editing on the go.


How to choose the best photo editing PC

When choosing which photo editing PC is best for you, it's a good idea to have a clear idea how you'll be using the machine. Given the considerable variance in costs between some of the PCs featured in this list, it's important to get a solid grasp of the level of photo editing performance you require. 

If you're an amateur photographer who would love to simply spend a little more time editing shots taken in your spare time, then you're unlikely to need to shell out on some of the more powerful machines in this list.

Conversely, if you're a professional photographer who relies on being able to turn around a considerable number of photos during working hours in order to pay the bills, eyeing up the powerful models will prove a shrewder decision in the long run.

There are of course more subjective choices to be made too. Windows or Apple is the main one, of course, but there are also aesthetic choices like whether you want something that will sit unmoved in a defined office space, or whether you require something portable. 

When selecting your photo editing PC, look for those that offer a high amount of RAM and SSD storage. Memory and disk are really important, even more than picking a high-powered CPU and GPU (although they really help ease workflows, of course). Ideally, choose a computer offering a minimum of 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage for best results. 

How we test the best PC for photo editing

Our team of expert reviewers have tested a massive range of hardware for creatives - from the best laptops for graphic design to the best video editing PCs. So, we know how important it is to find a device that offers fluid performance and a smoother creative workflow.  

In our run down of the ten best PCs for photo editing, we've rigorously tested all computers using our standard reviewing process for laptops and desktops. This begins with looking at the built quality of all models, assessing its design and build to see how robust it feels, testing the functionality of all ports, switches and latches.

We looked at screen quality, testing brightness and tone, and the overall weight and size of the machine. We also considered the machine's compatibility with the leading photo editing software, and ran the rule on battery life and (key in the case of photo editing) processing speed.

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John Loeffler
Components Editor

John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY. 


Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.


You can find him online on Threads @johnloeffler.


Currently playing: Baldur's Gate 3 (just like everyone else).

With contributions from