Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Minxy

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 17, 2012
341
428
I'm looking to buy the MacBook Pro 13" 2018 with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage. I want to use it for 4K video editing with Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere.

I don't have professional needs. I will be primarily making videos of 5-15 minutes that use one and occasionally two timelines of 4k video. An audio and music track and some extra audio effects on top. A few plugins like lower thirds, titles, labels and plugins and perhaps a couple more plugins that allow image manipulations.

The 13" MacBook Pro doesn't have a dedicated GPU so if i get it will I be able to view clips and move through the timeline without there being lag, and will it work fluidly? Whilst I'd prefer to increase the SSD will upgrading the processor to the i7 make any significant difference to performance?
 
Don't expect much from the upgrade to the i7. The GPU will be maybe 10% faster with benchmarks, since it is clocked slightly higher, but I don't think you'll see a big difference in real life application.

I'd say your choice is i5/16/512 or the base 15". Obviously the 15" would serve you better for your tasks with a dGPU, but you may have portability needs or something.
 
  • Like
Reactions: justinf77
I will be testing this out shortly once my 13" 16/512 comes in later this week. I currently have a base 15" 2018 that I know will chug through my basic 4k video editing needs of some phantom 4 pro footage. The question is if the 13" can do it just as well or at even 80% capacity. IF it can then I will stick with the 13" because of its size, portability and price. For a 16/512 model its still $200 less than a base model 15".
 
I'd say your choice is i5/16/512 or the base 15". Obviously the 15" would serve you better for your tasks with a dGPU, but you may have portability needs or something.

I should have underlined that I purposefully want the 13" because of its portability.

I will be testing this out shortly once my 13" 16/512 comes in later this week. I currently have a base 15" 2018 that I know will chug through my basic 4k video editing needs of some phantom 4 pro footage. The question is if the 13" can do it just as well or at even 80% capacity. IF it can then I will stick with the 13" because of its size, portability and price. For a 16/512 model its still $200 less than a base model 15".

Please definitely update us of your experience.
 
I should have underlined that I purposefully want the 13" because of its portability.

Hi Minxy
I'm doing the same type of editing as you - 3-5 minute films using 4K footage on a 2K timeline in FCPX, but am not a gamer or anything and want portability.
I currently have a MBP13 mid-2014.
Benchmarks mean nothing to me, and I just want to know if the MPB13 can handle it for non-pro use. I don't mind waiting for transcoding, but don't want to be sat around waiting for renders.
Did you buy that laptop in the end?
And have you been using it for 4K editing?
I'm looking at the same specs - i5/16GB RAM/512GB SSD
Cheers!
 
Last edited:
I'm very interested to see this as well, I would prefer the 13 for my laptop but once you push it to 16gb ram its so close to the base 15" laptop price wise that it seems pointless getting the 13, so much less bang for your buck
 
I will be testing this out shortly once my 13" 16/512 comes in later this week. I currently have a base 15" 2018 that I know will chug through my basic 4k video editing needs of some phantom 4 pro footage. The question is if the 13" can do it just as well or at even 80% capacity. IF it can then I will stick with the 13" because of its size, portability and price. For a 16/512 model its still $200 less than a base model 15".

Please post your results! Maybe a comparison vid would be awesome!
 
Is 16 GB enough? And 4K will take a lot of disk space. I'd get as much as possible.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.