The best VR-ready laptops in 2022

Only the all-time VR-fix laptops are capable of handling virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift S and the HTC Vive Creation. And since we tested a bunch, we know which ones will power the VR headsets that’ll grant you all of your immersive experiences, including 360-degree games, apps and videos

The best laptops with the proper specifications such every bit Nvidia’s twenty-series GPUs or the company’s Max-Q GPUs, which essentially make fifty-fifty the smallest laptops a virtual reality powerhouse, will do the trick. We strongly suggest looking at our all-time gaming deals page to discover a gaming laptop for a skilful price.

• Some of the best cheap gaming laptops are VR-ready
• See our best PC games and best virtual tabletop software pages
• Check out the best cheap laptop deals
• How is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 so cheap!? Become up to $300 off

The era of RTX isn’t simply a refresh of our best gaming laptops, but a complete redesign of the best VR-fix systems. Nvidia’s relatively new RTX 30 chips intend to give the aforementioned graphics cards a much needed performance heave.

Check out our Oculus Rift S review and HTC Vive Cosmos review to see which popular VR-headset you prefer, and yous tin can also watch them confront-off. If y’all’re done with wires, bank check out our Oculus Quest 2 review. If yous’re thinking about getting a more expensive headset, see our Valve Index review.

Meet our recent Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (AMD, February 2022) review. Looking for something on the creative front end? — Check out our HP ZBook Fury 17 G8 review. If you’re looking to get into streaming, check out the best and worst of Elgato’s streaming tech.

What are the all-time VR-set up laptops?

The all-time VR-ready laptops can go pretty pricey, peculiarly when you look at the meridian of our list at the Alienware m17 R4. Armed with a desktop Intel Core i9 processor and one of Nvidia’s superpowered RTX GPUs, it absolutely demolished every exam we put in front of it with svelte ataraxy. It will likewise make a big dent in your wallet. But yous consider that this is the first future-proof gaming laptop, it seems a pocket-sized price to pay for a truly badass arrangement

The Razer Blade 15 lineup are consistently not bad VR-set laptops, especially for those who want something portable to carry around. The company’south latest offer is bachelor in a stunning white chassis that’southward certain to depict every center in the room. Simply as pretty as the exterior is, you’d be remiss to ignore the interior. Powered past an Intel Core i7 processor and i of Nvidia’south new RTX GPUs, the Blade fifteen is power personified.

If you’re looking for a VR-set up laptop for professional purposes, aka not gaming, then yous should consider picking up a workstation. MS’south WS65 9TM volition do the pull a fast one on. For the luxurious price of $3,499, the WS65 packs a powerful 9th-Gen Core i7 processor and Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 Max-Q GPU into a superslim, durable chassis. Elevation that off with solid battery life, and a gorgeous 15.vi-inch, 4K brandish that you can enjoy when you’re out of the headset.

The best VR-ready laptops y’all can purchase today

The quaternary iteration of the Alienware m17 is here and it’southward even better than the previous models. Sporting Intel’s new 10th Gen HK-Series processor and an Nvidia RTX 30 GPU, the Alienware m17 R4 is a formidable force in the gaming laptop arena. Not merely is the laptop powerful, just it’s got an intergalactic elegance that’s a bonafide headturner. Information technology’s also i of the lightest desktop replacements on the market.

The Alienware m17 R4 comes to the loonshit fully artsy with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU with 16GB of VRAM. And believe u.s.a., this laptop is not to be trifled with. We played Control at 1080p with the settings on high, including ray tracing. We floated and launched random furniture at enemies before shooting them with our Service Weapon, and the m17 served up a hearty 83 frames per 2d. The rate jumped to 91 fps on medium and 116 fps on high with ray tracing disabled.

See our full

Alienware m17 R4 review
.

Acer is known for making quality laptops at affordable prices, but its gaming laptops can get a little pricey and don’t offering all of the bells and whistles that other brands do. However, the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE sits in that cozy spot where the company offers its all-time quality components packed into a relatively affordable package.

For $ane,399, y’all get a powerful Intel Core i7-11375H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, decent bombardment life and a colorful 14-inch, 144Hz brandish wrapped upwardly in a sleek and sparse chassis. For the price alone, the Predator Triton 300 SE is easily one of the all-time VR-set up laptops that yous can buy.

See our full

Acer Predator Triton 300 SE review
.

Packed under the hood of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU with 6GB of VRAM that ripped and tore through Doom Eternal at 90 frames per 2nd (fps) at 1080p on Ultra settings as I hopscotched with my shotgun up in demons’ faces. This machine is also ready for some virtual reality, hitting 9.8 out of 11 on the SteamVR Performance Test, which is to a higher place the nine.2 category average.

Along with the Zephyrus G14’due south killer performance, what stands out near the laptop is its wild battery life. After the Zephyrus continuously surfed the web over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of effulgence, its battery died at 11 hours and 32 minutes. Withal, keep in mind that the Zephyrus G14 does not accept a Mini DisplayPort, so you’ll accept to purchase an adapter for a USB Type-C port.

See our full

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review
.

Are you thirsting for some Nvidia 30-serial badassery? Well, await no further than the make spankin’ new Alienware m15 R4. This baby has information technology all. Ability, beauty (on the inside and out) and a soft touch.

For a hefty $2,499, the Alienware m15 R4 will grace you with its intense Intel Core i7-10870H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, a poppin’ 15.6-inch, 4K OLED display and a punchy keyboard wrapped in a familiar but stylish design. The but real downside to this machine is its short battery life and… well, that $2,499 price tag.

Yous could say that Alienware didn’t practise much to innovate, and you’d be right. Simply like its predecessors, the Alienware m15 R4 is one of the all-time gaming laptops you lot can buy, as long as y’all don’t mind the poor endurance.

See our total

Alienware m15 R4 review
.

For a pricier $ii,499, the Zephyrus G15 offers astonishing performance from its AMD Ryzen ix 5900HS processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU. Information technology fifty-fifty boasts a similarly long-lasting battery life, a clicky keyboard, a 15.six-inch, 1440p display and a set of powerful speakers wrapped up in an even more than elegant Moonlight White design.

Whereas the G14 was a midrange beast, the Zephyrus G15 comes in at the top of the food chain with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU (with an 80-watt TDP) with 8GB of VRAM. This monster shrugged off Assassinator’south Creed Valhalla at Ultra, 1440p settings as I raided a small hamlet on the declension, trigger-happy through my enemies at 51 frames per 2nd.

Encounter our full

Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 (GA503Q) review
.

Nvidia has found a way to take the nigh powerful graphics bill of fare around, the RTX 3080, and work some Max-Q magic to fit information technology in the MSI GS66 Stealth’due south 0.7-inch slim chassis. MSI has stripped all the accent color from the design, leaving an elegant Core Black aluminum chassis. Fifty-fifty the dragon emblem, which is usually washed in a bright colour, has been toned downwards to a semi-gloss matte that yet manages to depict the heart.

The MSI GS66 Stealth is one of the latest gaming laptops to characteristic a display with a 2560 ten 1440p resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. We wait to see this configuration a lot as time goes on as this appears to exist the sweetness spot gamers are looking for. To ensure y’all tin can take your games on the road, MSI has outfitted the Stealth with a 99.ix watt hour bombardment, which allowed it to final 6 hours and 27 minutes.

See our total

MSI GS66 Stealth (2021) review
.

If I had to dream up the ultimate gaming laptop, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733 would be the closest manifestation of what my wild, gamer-axial imagination would create. A 17.three-inch display with a 360Hz refresh rate that shows off the might of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU made more powerful past an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor — that’s exactly what I’d conjure upward. Asus’ latest 17-inch brute turns these dreams into reality and materializes even more heady and unexpected qualities.

With its dream-similar features, from the laptop’due south dazzling RGB lite testify and commendable optical-mechanical keyboard switches, the Strix Scar 17 comes with a price tag that makes information technology a fantasy purchase for most. For those willing to empty their pockets, y’all’ll be treated to one of the all-time gaming laptops on the market place. Ane, however, without a webcam and poor battery life. Despite that, information technology’s one of the best VR-set up laptops around.

See our total

Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2021) review
.

Build a better laptop and the gamers volition beat a path to your door. With the latest version of the Blade 15 Avant-garde Model, Razer hasn’t made the perfect laptop, but it’due south getting awfully close. Packing a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, the Blade 15 serves up tons of power in its 4.6-pound, 0.vii-inch chassis.

Plus, you’ve got a display with a high refresh rate, good battery life and a few security features. It’s a tad pricey and the keyboard is a chip mushy, but if y’all’re in the market for a potent gaming powerhouse that has earned its fashion onto our best VR-fix laptops page, you lot’ll exist hard-pressed to outdo the Blade xv.

Meet our total

Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model (2021) review
.

Information technology’s the Raider’s fourth dimension now. As MSI puts its formidable Titan out to pasture, the GE76 Raider is here to fill that ginormous footprint. And it does a bully job for the most role. A smaller, thinner version of the Titan, the Raider proves it’southward every bit as powerful as its behemoth predecessor, bringing an Intel Cadre i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU to the party. Plus, you become incredibly fast transfer speeds, solid battery life and bully sound. And information technology’southward one of the kickoff gaming laptops to characteristic Wi-Fi 6.

But for $2,899, there are a few flaws to debate with, namely a mushy keyboard and a dim, dull display. Yet, that panel does have one of the highest refresh rates available. If you lot can overlook those slight imperfections, the MSI GE76 Raider deserves a place in your gaming battlestation as well as our all-time VR-ready laptops page.

See our full

MSI GE76 Raider UH10 review
.

As one might wait from the Metatron of mobile workstations, there are tradeoffs for this magnitude of muscle. Clocking in at a flat 7 pounds, this clunky beast wasn’t exactly designed for on-the-motility jetsetters, specially since y’all’ll merely get about 7 hours of bombardment life on a total charge, at most. That being said, if you plan on plunking the Fury 17 G8 down on a desk and only leaving it in place well-nigh of the time, at that place’due south enough to like about its best-in-grade trackpad, keyboard, Bang & Olufsen speakers, and raw, unbridled horsepower.

Is the HP ZBook Fury 17 G8 the all-time workstation on the marketplace? I suppose that depends on your budget and configuration, merely if your pockets are deep enough for an Intel Xeon processor and Nvidia RTX A5000 graphics (boy howdy!), this is about as hereafter-proof as laptops become right now. If you’re looking to do some professional work with VR, this easily is i of the best VR-ready laptops around.

Encounter our full

HP ZBook Fury 17 G8 review
.

How to choose the best VR-set laptops for you

Before yous get around to choosing the best VR-ready laptop for you. Consider the specs you’ll need in the gaming laptop y’all’re looking at.

Here are the VR minimum specs:

• Intel Cadre i5-6300HQ processor
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 980, 1050 Ti (due to Oculus’ Asynchronous SpaceWarp), 1060, 1070 or 1080 GPU. RTX 2060, 2070 and 2080 are the stronger alternatives. Hither’due south how to check your GPU.
• 8GB of RAM
• 4GB of VRAM. Here’s how to check your VRAM.
• Two USB three.0 ports
• HDMI 1.4
• 1920 x 1080 brandish
• Windows 8 or 10

The main thing you have to worry about when picking out a VR-prepare laptop is what kind of specs it has and if it has a mini DisplayPort. Annihilation apart from those features are negligible if you’re just focused on the VR portion, but you should exist mindful of the brandish, keyboard and size of the laptop, as yous’re likely to use information technology as a normal gaming laptop as well.

If you’re on a budget, consider looking at laptops with lower-end AMD GPUs, such as the Dell G5 15 SE (2020). Information technology won’t be ideal, only it’ll get your VR setup up and running. Of course, you can spring for a laptop with an RTX GPU, similar the Alienware m17 R4, which would admittedly kill it in VR, but that’due south going to price you. Overall, you have to effigy out your budget and what’s of import to you in a VR-ready laptop.

How nosotros test the all-time VR-ready laptops

Nosotros put each laptop through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they terminate upwardly in the hands of our reviewers. Nosotros evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers and heat direction.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to observe the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the laptop’due south display. For performance testing, nosotros run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 4.iii and 5.0 and 3DMark professional person graphics tests.

To determine real-earth performance, we job the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to indistinguishable a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Clay three benchmark with medium settings at 1080p resolution.

We also run oestrus tests by playing a 15-infinitesimal full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 10 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good consequence whereas gaming laptops and workstations that tin stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise.

These tests are complemented with extensive easily-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop’s materials to the feel of its touchpad.