

So we took an 8K project filmed on the Sony a1, compiled it into two identical 4K timelines with identical effects, scoured the settings to ensure everything was as similar as reasonably possible, and then ran both of these video editors through the same battery of tests. Pure performance, on the other hand, is measurable.

How quickly you can edit a video from start to finish in either Premiere Pro or Final Cut is largely a matter of personal preference and familiarity with each application's quirks.

Tests | Computers | Results | Key takeaways | Final thoughts But for all the head-to-head editing shootouts and 'why I switched' anecdotes from disgruntled Adobe and/or Apple users, what matters in the end is raw performance. They both have 'Pro' in the name, so according to Apple nomenclature rules they should both be excellent. But among video editors, especially the ones on YouTube, one scuffle comes up more than any other: Apple Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro? Crunchy peanut butter or smooth? (Smooth). There are some debates that stand the test of time.
