Even though desktops are primarily used for gaming, laptops are quickly entering this region and showing off some great specs that will convince you to get one. On top of that, portability is a feature that has won gamers over as well.
But buying a gaming laptop takes a little more time because you need to look for more than just the specifications, but take a close look at the physicality as well. The built, the size, the keyboard, it all matters if the main purpose for purchase is gaming.
The best 4K laptops are a complete package that provide solid hardware and software, so you can use it for work too when required. And since these are laptops, you can take them over to a friend's place for some one-on-one gaming session. To make picking easier, down below you will find a list of some of the top models today.
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6.HIDevolution Gigabyte AERO 17 HDR
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DISPLAY | CPU | GPU | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alienware M15 | 6-inch FHD 1920×1080 | 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | |
 | Razer Blade Pro 17 | 17.3-inch UHD | 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 | |
 | MSI P65 Creator | 15.6-inch 4K UHD Display | 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H | GeForce RTX 2060 | |
 | ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 | 15.6-inch UHD 4K Touch | 8th Gen Intel Core i9-8950HK | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | |
 | Lenovo Yoga 720 | 15.6-inch 4K UHD IPS Touch-Screen | 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 | |
| HIDevolution Gigabyte AERO 17 HDR | 17.3-inch UHD HDR | 9th Generation Intel Core i7 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | ||
 | ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 | 15.6-inch 4K UHD | 7th Generation Intel Core i7-770HQ | NVIDIA GTX 1050 | |
 | Dell XPS 15 7590 | 15.6-inch 4K UHD | 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | |
 | ASUS ROG G703GI | 3-inch Full HD IPS | 8th-Gen Intel Core i7-8750H | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 | |
 | Gigabyte AERO 15 | 15.6-inch Samsung UHD 3840×2160 AMOLED display | 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750h | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti |
The Alienware M15 differs from most gaming laptops because it is thinner, slimmer, and has a lightweight design that allows you to take it wherever you want, unlike the bulky gaming laptops that you usually come across.
Even though it is lightweight, the construction is very tight and sturdy since it is made from magnesium alloy and steel, which keeps the laptop cool and gives it a strong structure.
The GPU is what makes a good gaming device, and here you get the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. This is well suited for full HD gaming and gives you a powerful performance so you can enjoy all your favorite games without any interruption.
Not just that, the high storage that you get from the 512GB SSD ensures that the load times are much faster. You do not have to wait for your games or other applications to load and can get your work done quickly.
Moreover, the 144 Hertz IPS alongside the 300 nit brightness and 72% color gamut altogether ensure that the graphics can be displayed at its finest on the screen for a seamless gaming experience.
The Razer Blade Pro 17 is a gaming laptop that is also known as a 'Zero-Compromise Powerhouse' because it packs a ton of powerful specifications as well as a unique design with its high-performance vapor chamber.
Normally, powerful gaming laptops come with heat pipes, but this one uses a vapor chamber instead that makes use of the entire surface area. It makes sure that the heat is dissipated equally so the computer stays cool, works efficiently, and can last longer.
This is important because laptops utilize a lot of power, which can heat it up and without the right dissipation mechanism, they cannot perform at their optimum.
It also boasts one of the most powerful GPUs in the market today, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which can be used for the most demanding games out there and has a very impressive performance overall that completely justifies its price tag.
Let us not forget the processor, where you get the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H. This alone tells us we are in for a treat with the speed and usability. But adding to this, the 2.6 GHz clock speed and 4.5GHz Turbo Boost together makes the laptop run at high speeds, which is just what you want from a gaming laptop.
If you're looking for a laptop for multi-tasking that can serve as your creative studio as well as a gaming device then the MSI P65 Creator would be a good fit.
It comes with a 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750h processor which is fast and makes sure that the computer does not lag when you're multitasking or working on 3-D applications.
The 4K UHD display is one that provides the most intense and vivid colors and brings pictures to life. If you work on video edits, a resolution like this can help you get better results.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 happens to be one of the top tier GPUs in the market today, and it can deliver great visuals even on a 4K screen.
Moreover, the 1TB Teton Glacier SSD ensures that the laptop is faster than its predecessors, so there are no halts or pauses in your gaming or work. And you get a lot of storage for both your games and media files without having to look for an external source.
The first thing we noticed about the ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 is that it comes with a unique touchpad which also doubles as a second screen.
The intelligent touchpad is designed for efficiencyso you can create all the shortcuts you need and can reach applications quicker than before. This ups your productivity. Now you can directly reach all the office applications, the audio player, calculators, and other destinations that are frequently used at one go.
This laptop is well known to be able to handle everything that you throw at it. The 8th Gen Core i9-8950HK processor makes sure that the laptop has a good speed and well suited for multitasking.
On the other hand, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti gives you possibly the finest graphics unit you can get on a budget laptop and still be able to play power demanding games.
Gaming laptops, and powerful laptops in general, do heat up while exercising all that power. This one comes with an efficient dual-fan cooling system that has three whole pipes to get rid of that heat really quick.
A laptop that can be used as a tablet, on a studio mode, and for gaming, the Lenovo Yoga 720 is an ultra-book that gives you a lot of flexibility and still packs good power.
It has the 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ with a quad-core and a 2.8 GHz speed. All of these numbers tell us that it has got a high-speed for a regular laptop, and a decent speed for a gaming laptop.
We call it decent because there are laptops that have higher power comparatively, but since this does cover another sector where you get portability, it is mainly suited for beginner gamers or those who like to play during their leisure only.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU is also a great for a mid-range laptop and can work with most of the latest and popular games.
A 4K multitouch screen is not just good for playing games, but the beautiful and lifelike colors also make it great for a graphic artist. Since it can be converted into a tablet and be worked on with a stylus, graphic artists get more control over what they do and can put their visions down in a better manner.
Most gaming laptops will either have models from the Nvidia GeForce GTX or the RTX. The latest models from these include the Nvidia RTX 2070 Super and 2080 Super.
On the other hand, there is AMD, where the Radeon RX 5000M series takes precedence. If you're on a budget, the RX 5500M is suitable, and if you are willing to splurge, the RX 5700M and RX 5600M have excellent performance.
Beginners can aim for GTX 1650 or the RX 5500M that provides mediocre levels of power. For a little upgrade you can go for the GTX 1660 Ti, which will have a little difference in pricing, but a very noticeable power change.
Regular gamers can go for GeForce RTX 2060 which lets you play on high settings, and works with virtual reality too. On par in AMD terms is the RX 5600M. This has a little less power than the RTX 2060, but it gets the job done.
Pro gamers, or those who like to really aim high, should look for RTX 2070, 2080, or 2080 Ti which come from the most powerful series that allows for a smooth experience with special effects or VR and for playing in 4K.
If you are looking for the best laptops for 4K gaming, we assume you are a pro gamer. In that case, you need all the power you can get. Definitely opt for a minimum of Core i7 which will provide more than enough juice to pair well with a good GPU.
Also make sure to check the generation, which can very easily be seen from the specs, or the starting digits that follow the Core i5/7/9. For example, if it says Core i7-9750H, it is a 9th generation. What is important to note here is that the processor is fixed, and not upgradeable like the GPU.
Whatever you buy, you are stuck with. This is why it is smart to get the current or latest generation to be updated.
The latest generation now is the 10th, but if it becomes too pricy, go for the 9th at the least. This way you can use this for a long time before new upgrades become a must.
Gaming requires a laptop to have a high RAM so it can run smoothly. For average usage, you can work with an 8 or 16GB RAM, which is what you will find with most GTX 1650, 2060, and higher models from here.
In case you cannot get the desired high RAM while buying, make sure to upgrade it later on.
Gaming requires the finest display money can buy. In other words, a large screen is good to have. Between 15 to 17 inches is recommended for a nice and wide view.
The most common refresh rate is 60Hertz, which is found with 1080p resolution displays. This is completely fine for playing all sorts of games, and works with 4K.
But if you want a higher rate, such as 144 Hertz, which a lot of laptops offer, you have to simultaneously match it with a powerful GPU as well.
For gaming, you should look for a high key travel, so that when you hit those buttons with utmost force amidst gaming, it does hit the frame. A minimum of 1.5mm is recommended, and 2mm is even better. Some high-end models also have mechanical keys which you can look into.
You should also look at the auction, which is the force required to press the keys. It should be between 65 grams and 70 grams for good control and resistance.
Look for anti-ghosting, that registers all keys when you smash them together. And n-key rollover where each separate key is registered independently, regardless of others being pressed. These simply perfect your gaming performance.
HP - Envy 13.3" 4K Ultra HD Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7-1065G7 - 8GB DDR4 Memory - Walmart Link
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020: Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core, NVIDIA GeForce RTX - Walmart Link
GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED KD - 15.6" UHD 4k AMOLED IPS, Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX - Walmart Link
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 Laptop, 15.6" 4K UHD NanoEdge Touch Display, Intel Core - Walmart Link
2020 HP Envy 13.3" 4K Ultra HD Touch-Screen Laptop 10th Gen Intel i7-1065G7 8GB DDR4 - Walmart Link
Dell XPS 15 laptop 15.6", 4K UHD InfinityEdge Touch, 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA - Walmart Link
GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED YD - 15.6" UHD 4k AMOLED IPS, Intel Core i9, NVIDIA GeForce RTX - Walmart Link
2.Razer Blade Pro 17 - Walmart Link
4.ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 - Walmart Link
6.HIDevolution Gigabyte AERO 17 HDR - Walmart Link
7.ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 - Walmart Link
8.Dell XPS 15 7590 - Walmart Link
HP - Envy 13.3" 4K Ultra HD Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7-1065G7 - 8GB DDR4 Memory - eBay Link
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020: Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core, NVIDIA GeForce RTX - eBay Link
GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED KD - 15.6" UHD 4k AMOLED IPS, Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX - eBay Link
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 Laptop, 15.6" 4K UHD NanoEdge Touch Display, Intel Core - eBay Link
2020 HP Envy 13.3" 4K Ultra HD Touch-Screen Laptop 10th Gen Intel i7-1065G7 8GB DDR4 - eBay Link
Dell XPS 15 laptop 15.6", 4K UHD InfinityEdge Touch, 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA - eBay Link
GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED YD - 15.6" UHD 4k AMOLED IPS, Intel Core i9, NVIDIA GeForce RTX - eBay Link
2.Razer Blade Pro 17 - eBay Link
4.ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 - eBay Link
6.HIDevolution Gigabyte AERO 17 HDR - eBay Link
7.ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 - eBay Link
8.Dell XPS 15 7590 - eBay Link
Buying the best 4K gaming laptops can be tricky because the preferences are quite different from when you would buy a regular good laptop.
For example, you need to have a great GPU, at least a mid-range if not more, and this actually takes more precedence over other features.
But do not overlook them completely either, they definitely need to be good in order to keep up. You also need to come to terms with the fact that the battery lives won't be pleasant.
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About Dror Wettenstein
Dror Wettenstein is a software engineer and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of TechTreeRepeat, a company that enables technical writers to publish their work faster and share it with readers across the globe. Dror has a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Irvine.
When he’s not working on software projects, Dror enjoys writing articles and essays on various topics. He also likes playing guitar and spending time with his wife and two young children.
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