If you’re in the market for a new laptop, size is probably a major consideration, and for those who want more real estate for work, gaming, or both, a 17-inch machine is the way to go.
17-inch laptops give you a ton of screen real estate and horsepower to work with, while still being portable. We’ve rounded up what we consider to be the best 17-inch laptop right now, spanning a range of different needs.
TL;DR – These are the Best 17-inch Laptops:
1. Alienware Area-51m
Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop
[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FDellAlienware-Area-51m1588357334692.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FDellAlienware-Area-51m1588357334692_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225eac68dbe4b077244c9f0e7e%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbu3f%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Dell%20Alienware%20Area-51m%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Dell%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]
If you have the money, Alienware’s Area-51m is a gaming laptop of extraterrestrial proportions. It comes in both Intel Core i7 and i9 flavors, with up to 64GB of RAM depending on what your heart desires.
Meanwhile, you’ve got an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 with 8GB GDDR6 powering the show, with G-Sync to keep it all running smoothly. Both the CPU and GPU are also upgradeable, along with the RAM and storage, so you can consider yourself future-proofed. If you can move past the ostentatious design and the eye-watering price tag, this is a gamer’s dream.
2. HP Envy 17t
Best 17-inch laptop for those on a budget
[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FHPEnvy-17t1588357833173.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FHPEnvy-17t1588357833173_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225eac6acee4b077244c9f0e7f%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbu3j%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22HP%20Envy%2017t%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Amazon%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]
With great size comes… usually a great big price tag. But not with the HP Envy 17t, a solid performer that won’t break the bank. If you can afford the Intel Core i7 we’d recommend it, and there’s up to 16GB of RAM on offer alongside the Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU.
A stunning full HD 1080p display too, and for an extra cost, you can get it with a touchscreen. Don’t expect great performance for intense gaming or design work, but the Envy 17t delivers on value.
3. HP ZBook 17 G6
Best 17-inch work laptop
[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FHPZBook-17-G61588360611348.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FHPZBook-17-G61588360611348_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225eac75a7e4b077244c9f0e85%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbu3r%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22HP%20ZBook%2017%20G6%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Amazon%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]
If you like to work – and we mean really work – then look no further than the HP ZBook 17 G5, its powerful engine matched only by its eye-popping display. There’s plenty of customization here, but we’d recommend the Intel Core i9 if you can afford it, and there’s up to 128GB of RAM on offer. Graphics max out with the Nvidia Quadro P5200 GPU, netting you 16GB of video RAM.
But it’s the display we’re really gushing over: 4K IPS and absolutely stunning. If that’s more than you need, you can get the 1,600 x 900 display instead, but we’d recommend maxing out if you can. It’s just a shame about the sub-par battery, which will get you around 4 hours of use.
4. Razer Blade Pro
Best 17-inch laptop for video editing
[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FRazerBlade-Pro1588361111027.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FRazerBlade-Pro1588361111027_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225eac779be4b0fb49445c0c7b%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbu45%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Razer%20Blade%20Pro%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Amazon%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]
A strong performer with the beauty to match the brawn, the Razer Blade Pro impresses on all fronts. With an Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU (which can be brought up to an RTX 2080 if you’d prefer), this is a great machine if video editing or gaming is top of your priority list.
Meanwhile, the 17.3-inch full HD display runs at a silky smooth 144Hz, with 16GB of RAM that’s expandable to 64GB, and a 512GB SSD. Battery life is an average five to six hours, but expect to chop that in half if you’re gaming. It’s not cheap though, and the cost will run even higher if you want to soup up that graphics card.
5. MSI GT76 Titan DT
Best 17-inch desktop replacement
[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FMSIGT76-Titan-DT1588362479694.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FMSIGT76-Titan-DT1588362479694_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225eac7cf3e4b077244c9f0e89%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbu4o%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22MSI%20GT76%20Titan%20DT%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Amazon%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]
Just because you’re taking your computing portable, why should you compromise for less? Enter the MSI GT76 Titan, which will soon make you forget you’re using a laptop at all. It’s a beast, in both specs and design, but the aluminum body manages to feel classy and sturdy.
Whether it’s gaming, work, or 3D modeling, the Titan can bear the load. Inside you’ll get an Intel Core i9 hex-core processor, 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU with 8GB of video RAM. Talk about Phwoar!
You’ll also get a 1TB hard drive and 1TB of solid-state storage – plenty to work with – and did we mention the display? A 4K IPS screen, naturally. Battery life runs for up to five hours, which is respectable, but considering it weighs a whopping 10 lbs, it’s not a 17-inch laptop we’d recommend using on the go.
6. LG Gram 17
Most portable 17-inch laptop
[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FLGGram-171588362692688.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F05%2F01%2FLGGram-171588362692688_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225eac7dcae4b077244c9f0e8a%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbu4r%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22LG%20Gram%2017%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Amazon%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]
Look, 17 inches is a lot of space, but LG makes it feel considerably less with its Gram 17 laptop which measures just 2.95 pounds. The chassis is slight and LG wastes no space with the ultra-thin bezels.
But on top of that, the Gram 17 is a great performer behind a bright and gorgeous IPS display boasting a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution. There’s an Intel UHD 620 GPU and we recommend going with the Intel Core i7 processor for the best performance.
However, this isn’t a machine for heavy gaming. Rather, it’s an impressive all-rounder in an enticing design – the 12 hours of battery life is just the icing on the cake.
What to Look For in a 17-inch laptop
Buying a laptop of any sort requires detailed research, and we wouldn’t want you rushing into any decisions with foolish abandon. Here are some things to consider first.
Screen resolution: 17 inches means more screen real estate, but bigger also doesn’t necessarily mean better. We’d recommend that any laptop you buy has a resolution of at least 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) which is Full HD.
CPU: It’s easy to get tangled in numbers when comparing laptop specs, but when it comes to CPU (the processor) here’s what we recommend. First, don’t go lower than an Intel Core i5 processor if you must: this will give you enough power for all the essential tasking. Second, if you plan to use your machine for intense gaming, video editing, or other high-power productivity reasons, look for something with more cores, ideally a quad-core processor.
RAM: Again, the higher the number here, the more power you’re getting. Some laptops come with 4GB of RAM which is an acceptable baseline but won’t afford you much grunt. Really, you want 8GB at the very least and more if you plan to use your laptop for heavy tasks.
[widget path=”ign/modules/recirc” parameters=”title=More%20Expert%20Tech%20Roundups&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=tech-roundup&count=4&columnCount=4&theme=article”]
[poilib element=”accentDivider”]
Hugh Langley is a tech journalist who’s fascinated by wearables, health tech, the smart home, and more. You can find him tweeting (often nonsense) over at @hughlangley.
Source: IGN.com The Best 17-inch Laptops For Work and Play