If 1080p just doesn’t cut it for your gaming needs anymore, now’s the time to consider a 4K gaming laptop. You get the best of both worlds: a high-performance machine with stellar clarity and portability. So, let’s take a look at the best 4K gaming laptops you’re able to get your hands on right now.
Dell XPS 17 (2023)
ASUS VivoBook Pro 16X
MSI Titan GT77HX
Razer Blade 16
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
Best 4K Gaming Laptop Overall:Dell XPS 17
If you’re tired of wondering if your laptop will run the latest triple-A games, theDell XPS 17will put your worries to rest for the next few years.
When you have a 13th Intel CPU and a NVIDIA 40-series GPU, no game is outside your reach. You’ll need that extra powerful hardware, too, if you plan on running games at 4K, which looks fantastic on a 17-inch screen, by the way.
While the high-performance components are top-of-the-line, what really elevated the Dell XPS 17 to the top of our list were the options. Dell gives you an opportunity to choose the amount of RAM, storage, GPU, and CPU and whether you want 4K or downgrade to FHD+.
With an NVIDIA 40-series graphics card and 13th Intel processor, the Dell XPS 17 handles any game you throw at it. You can even customize some of the hardware to match your needs.
Best Budget 4K Gaming Laptop:ASUS VivoBook Pro 16X
Gaming in 4K, compared to 1080p, makes a world of difference. But laptops with 4K displays can get expensive, particularly if you need high-end hardware to run the latest games. If you’re looking for a relatively budget-friendly option, though, theASUS VivoBook Pro 16Xshould be right up your alley.
Having the latest hardware comes at a heftier cost, but the ASUS VivoBook Pro 16X handles 4K surprisingly well with its NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti and 32GB of RAM. It’s still a great graphics card, and since the display is limited to 60Hz, you aren’t pushing it beyond its limit while still maintaining a buttery smooth framerate.
Fitted with a 1TB SSD, the ASUS VivoBook Pro 16X also keeps up with the times. Loading high-resolution textures can be pretty taxing, which HDDs tend to struggle with these days.
The ASUS VivoBook Pro 16X is no slouch in the performance department, despite its last-gen hardware. Its 16-inch OLED display makes 4K look especially sharp, crisp, and vibrant.
Most Powerful 4K Gaming Laptop:MSI Titan GT77HX
If your budget is more like a blank check, theMSI Titan GT77HXcomes packaged with top-end hardware—the best of the best.
First off, the NVIDIA RTX 4090 is the best NVIDIA has to offer right now. Secondly, you have a 13th Gen Intel processor and 64GB of DDR5 RAM (with the option to double that). In other words, the MSI Titan GT77HX eats 4K resolution for breakfast.
Last, but not least, the MSI Titan GT77HX has a 2TB SSD, at minimum, all the way up to 16TB. Even at 2TB, you won’t run out of space for games anytime soon.
Best Portable 4K Gaming Laptop:Razer Blade 16
If carrying around a hulking gaming laptop isn’t in the cards for you, but you still want top-of-the-line hardware, theRazer Blade 16is undoubtedly the best option.
For starters, the Razer Blade 16 is 5.4 pounds, a much more manageable weight than most gaming laptops—but more importantly, it’s just under an inch thick when closed. That makes it infinitely easier to slip into a travel bag when you’re on the move. Just be sure to have aportable power bankfor backup!
Lastly, the Razer Blade 16 features an aluminum body, providing a great deal of durability that you definitely need to protect the high-end hardware underneath.
Laptops are portable by nature, but the Razer Blade 16’s very thin and durable form factor takes portability to a whole new level. You also get a surprising number of ports to use, including Thunderbolt 4.
Most Versatile 4K Gaming Laptop:ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED
Professional editors need time to relax, too, but having two rigs is expensive, and not everyone has the space for two PCs. TheASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLEDsplits the difference in a rather unique way.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED features not one but two displays—a 15.6-inch main display and the smaller 14-inch ScreenPad Plus. It’s a powerful multitasking tool for video and photo editing but also comes in handy when you need to quickly access popular software like Discord or to follow game guides.
Like the ASUS VivoBook Pro 16X, the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED uses last-generation hardware, but it’s wielding the NVIDIA 3070 Ti as opposed to the 3050 Ti. That makes it even more capable of running your favorite titles at a 4K resolution.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED blends productivity and gaming into one perfect machine. It features not one but two 4K displays, with the smaller one doubling as a touchscreen.
Q: Do I Need an SSD For My Gaming Laptop?
Not only are SSDs better for gaming than an HDD, but they also make your entire computer faster, too. In fact, if you have an older laptop with an aging HDD, consider reading our guide oninstalling an SSD in a laptop.
It’s becoming much more common for games—the Dead Space Remake, for example—to list an SSD as a requirement. Load times, textures, new areas—all of these load much quicker.
Oh, and don’t worry about degradation;SSDs last just as long as HDDs, if not longer.
Q: Do Gaming Laptops Work Well With Video Editing?
Yes, gaming laptops can double as video editing machines, with the added benefit of being portable!
It really just comes down to hardware requirements. Unlikephoto editing, which largely depends on your CPU performance,video editing softwaretakes advantage of everything—CPU, GPU, and RAM. You need all that horsepower for special effects, filters, and rendering.
Q: How Long Does a Gaming Laptop Last Before Needing Replaced, On Average?
Depending on the hardware under the hood, your gaming laptop will last anywhere between 3 and 6 years, on average. The more high-end the parts are, at the time of purchase, the longer it’ll last. If a high-performance laptop is the route you’re taking, there aremultiple features and specsyou need to keep in mind.
With that said, it’s also equally important to make a habit of maintaining your laptop, likecleaning the fans, screen, and ports andupdating the drivers.
