Performance: 4K 10-bit editing requirements
**4K 24fps (standard)**: 8GB VRAM, 6-core CPU, fast SSD. **4K 60fps (smooth)**: 16GB VRAM, 8-core CPU, PCIe 4.0 NVMe. **8K RAW editing**: 32GB VRAM, 16-core CPU, Thunderbolt 3 external SSD. **Platform impact**: PC = best price/performance. Mac = built-in optimization. iPad = limited to 4K, no RAW.
Software availability: Premiere Pro, DaVinci, Final Cut
**Premiere Pro**: Windows, Mac, iPad (limited). Industry standard. $55/month subscription. **DaVinci Resolve**: Windows, Mac, free version available. Growing in popularity. Excellent color grading. **Final Cut Pro**: Mac/iPad only. $300 one-time. Mac-exclusive advantage.
Windows PC for video editing
**Pros**: Cheapest option. Best GPU support (NVIDIA CUDA acceleration). Maximum customization. **Cons**: Driver issues can plague stability. Requires more tweaking. **Budget**: $800-1200 for solid 4K editing rig. $2000+ for 8K RAW. **Best for**: Budget-conscious editors, NVIDIA GPU acceleration.
Mac for video editing
**Pros**: Stable, optimized software. Apple Silicon (M1/M2) excellent for video. Final Cut Pro cheap ($300). **Cons**: Expensive ($1500-2500 for M2 Pro/Max). Upgradeable options limited. **Budget**: M2 MacBook Pro 16" with 16GB VRAM ($2000-2500). Best for 4K. **Best for**: Creative professionals, Final Cut Pro users, stability priority.
iPad for video editing
**Pros**: Portable, touchscreen intuitive, M2 chip powerful for mobile. **Cons**: Limited to 4K editing. No RAW support. Expensive ($1500+ for Pro). **Use case**: Mobile editing (on-set, travel). Not primary workflow. **Best for**: Travel creators, secondary editing device, not primary system.