Best Desktop Computer for Photography Editing in 2024
The best desktop computer for photography editing is the the Microsoft Surface Studio 2. The Surface Studio 2’s ability to be used as a digital drawing board is extremely attractive to those that love to go in-depth with their editing and it’s super powerful.
If you’re not sure which is the best desktop computer for photography editing for you, or you’re looking for some value options, then read on for reviews and recommendations.
Table of Contents
Best Desktop Computer for Photography Editing
Best Desktop Computer for Photography Editing: Top Options
Microsoft Surface Studio 2
The Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is our choice for the best desktop computer for photography editing and for very good reason.
The ability to use the monitor as a drawing board is a game changer for some types of photo editing, especially if you’re the type of editor that loves to be hands on. If I wasn’t so ingrained in the world of Apple, I would buy this computer in a second.
Pros
- Ability to use as a drawing board
- Great graphics
- Strong processing power
- 16GB – 32GB of RAM
Cons
- Expensive
Apple iMac 27"
The Apple iMac 27″ with 5k Retina Display has been a great desktop computer for photo editing since it was released in 2017.
Graphics. Processing power. Overall capabilities. This iMac has everything you need in one beautiful computer/monitor combo.
The feature that makes this iMac great is the ability to upgrade the RAM, unlike other Apple computers. This will be extremely helpful if you edit large files like most commercial photographers.
I personally use this computer in combination with my MacBook Pro and highly recommend it.
Pros
- Excellent graphics
- Upgradable RAM from 16GB to 128GB
- Great value for price
Cons
- New models no longer available
Apple iMac M1
Apple’s newest iMac with their super fast M1 chip. Much like the iMac 27″, this iMac M1 is great for photo editing for all the same reasons. The new M1 chip is lighting fast and a definite upgrade.
The only feature that holds it back is its inability to upgrade RAM. You can order it with extra RAM, but it will cost you.
Pros
- Excellent graphics
- New M1 chip
- Great processing power
- 16GB RAM available
Cons
- Factory upgrades are expensive
Best Desktop Computer for Photography Editing: Budget Options
Apple Mac Mini M2
Apple’s Mac Mini M2 is a fantastic option for anyone that wants to buy an Apple product.
You get the extremely fast and powerful M2 chip, excellent graphics, and a great value in terms of computing abilities and cost. All you need is a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Pros
- Small and compact
- Apple M2 chip
- Affordable and great value
- Up to 32GB RAM available
Cons
- Need to purchase monitor, keyboard, mouse
- No SD card reader
Acer Aspire TC
The Acer Aspire TC is a good budget options for those that either know they won’t need to edit large photos, or for those that are looking for an entry level type computer before upgrading.
It has nice graphics and comes in at a very attractive price point. If you plan to make this your workhorse photo editing computer though, it might be best to spend a bit more money.
Pros
- Very inexpensive
- Compact design
- Solid graphics
Cons
- Only 8GB of RAM
- Not great for editing large files
HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop
This HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop is a great choice because of it’s stellar graphics. It’s also highly customizable, although the price can really grow quickly if you make a lot of upgrades from the base model.
The best upgrade you can make will be changing the RAM from 8GB to 16 GB. That will give you the power needed to handle larger files.
Pros
- Excellent graphics
- Sleek design
- Affordable base model
- Up to 32GB RAM with upgrades
Cons
- Can be expensive with upgrades
Recommendations on the Best Desktop Computer for Photography Editing
The Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is really an amazing piece of technology and it’s our choice for the best desktop computer for photo editing. You’ll be more than happy with it’s photo editing abilities and you’ll feel like a true artist using it.
If you’re on a budget and even the iMac 27″ is out of reach, the HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop is a nice choice. You’ll need to upgrade the RAM to at least 16GB, but as long as you don’t go too wild on the upgrades, it’ll be an excellent affordable option.
Just remember, the best desktop computer for photography editing will have both great graphics and at least 16GB of RAM.
8GB of RAM is the absolute minimum needed, but if we’re going to call a computer the best desktop computer for photography editing, it’s going to need to grow with you and your business, and that really means 16GB of RAM is ideal.
Additional Resources
If you’re just getting started in real estate photography, check out our Beginners Guide. It’s full of helpful articles and tips that will guide you in the right direction as you begin your real estate photography journey.
You can check out our Gear section as well to see reviews and recommendations on the latest real estate photography gear.
If you’re more interested in other resources that can help your real estate photography business, check out our Business Resources page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of computer is best for photo editing?
Generally speaking, a computer with a great graphics card and a minimum of 16GB RAM should be good for photo editing.
Are Dell computers good for photo editing?
Dell computers can be good for photo editing, provided that they have the graphics and RAM capabilities necessary.
Is a gaming desktop good for photo editing?
Gaming desktops can be very good for photo editing since they both require the same features. A good graphics card, a large amount of RAM, and solid processing power are usually found in gaming desktops.
What computer do most photographers use?
Many photographers choose to use the Apple iMac 27″ with 5K Retina Display due to its amazing capabilities and excellent value.
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