Over the last few years, VR has started to take off. What was once reserved for early adopters and enthusiasts is now on the edge of the mainstream. Now Sony is even releasing a headset for the popular PlayStation line of consoles, with the newest iteration, the PSVR 2, coming next month. More and more people are experiencing the thrill of virtual reality, with technology in the devices constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated.
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One problem many are facing is getting a powerful PC to use the headsets. If you want the best of what VR has to offer, you’ll need a build with the latest parts, something even hard to do with the recent chip shortages which have made obtaining the latest graphics cards a challenge. Luckily, laptops have become powerful enough to play VR.
For those looking for the best VR-ready laptop, here is a quick rundown of the top five!
Best VR-Compatible Gaming Laptops
| Best Laptops for VR | Screen Size | Refresh Rate | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alienware X15 R2 | 15.6 Inches | 165Hz | |
| Razer Blade 15 | 15.6 Inches | 360Hz | |
| Acer Nitro 5 | 15.6 Inches | 144Hz | |
| ROG Zephyrus S17 | 17.3 Inches | 300Hz | |
| MSI Katana GF66 | 15.6 Inches | 144Hz |
| Best Laptops for VR | Screen Size | Refresh Rate | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alienware X15 R2 | 15.6 Inches | 165Hz | |
| Razer Blade 15 | 15.6 Inches | 360Hz | |
| Acer Nitro 5 | 15.6 Inches | 144Hz | |
| ROG Zephyrus S17 | 17.3 Inches | 300Hz | |
| MSI Katana GF66 | 15.6 Inches | 144Hz |
While there is a hefty price tag on each, they all provide some of the best performance on the market, a necessity when running VR. There is also a lot of variety between refresh rates, screen sizes, and pricing, so you will easily find the perfect fit for you and your gaming needs. These laptops are also a good investment and will take care of your gaming needs for at least five years, so long as you take care of them properly.
If you are looking for a cost-effective option, the Acer Nitro 5 is your best bet. However, if you want to learn more about each option, here is a quick look:
Top Pick: Alienware X15 R2
Alienware has been a very respected name in gaming for some time, and the X15 R2 is their latest offering when it comes to laptops. The 15.6” display has QHD 1920×1080 resolution with a 165Hz refresh rate, providing an excellent image for when you aren’t using it for VR.
There is also a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card with 12GB of dedicated graphics RAM to ensure it can keep up with your VR experience. It also includes a DDR4 Memory clocked at 3200MHz and a 12th generation Intel 14-core Processor.
The power of this machine ensures that it can keep up with whatever you throw at it, thanks to the Fourteen cores on the Core i7-12700H processor. However, the battery life isn’t fantastic, making it hard to take on the go.
Pros
- Generous power for VR
- Vibrant and appealing QHD display
- RGB lighting
Cons
- Ports on the back are hard-to-reach
- RAM is soldered onto the motherboard
- Poor battery life
Runner-up: Razer Blade 15
The Razer cult seems to grow ever larger, and for a good reason, the company always provides premium products. Similar to the Alienware X15 R2, the Razer Blade 15 packs an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU.
However, what sets it apart is its 12th Gen Intel Core i7 14-Core CPU. The display is also much improved over our Alienware, with a QHD 360Hz display, though the screen size is the same size at 15.6 inches. Though the screen is impressive, when it comes to VR, it isn’t a necessity, which is why it is sitting in our runner-up spot.
With DDR5 4800MHz Memory, it can still easily handle whatever VR experience you throw at it. It also includes a next-gen Vapor Chamber Cooling to ensure your laptop stays cool when you are throwing triple-A games at it.
Pros
- Premium build
- Impressive 360Hz display
- 1080p webcam
Cons
- Slightly over-priced
- Gets pretty hot
- Poor battery life
Premium Option: ROG Zephyrus S17
The ROG Zephyrus S17 is easily the most pricey choice on the list, but if you don’t mind paying the price, it provides some of the best overall performance. It has a vivid 1440p G-Sync screen on the biggest screen on this list at 17.3”. With a 300 Hz refresh rate, all built into a sleek design, the screen will display just about anything beautifully.
It is also surprisingly quiet for the amount of power it packs, with a long battery life to boot. With its premium keyboard, touchpad, and speakers, it is easily the most complete and well-built choice on this list.
With 32 GB of RAM and a memory speed of 3200 MHz, it will easily handle your VR needs, but the price makes it an unnecessary luxury for most.
Pros
- 1440p G-Sync screen
- Excellent overall performance
- Premium build quality
- Quiet cooling
- Exceptional battery life
Cons
- Pricey
- Peak gaming performance slightly behind class-leading
- No high-refresh-rate screen option
Well-Rounded Option: MSI Katana GF66
The MSI Katana GF66 is the most well-rounded option on the list, providing all of the power of most of the other options, at a reasonable price. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i5 CPU, 16GB RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX GPU. Unlike all of the other options on the list, the Katana comes preinstalled with a Windows 11 Home operating system, while most others come with Windows 10.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX3060 graphics card with 6GB of dedicated gaming RAM ensures you can take this laptop through the wringer with both VR and standard gaming.
It is also built with a 15.6” IPS display with 1920 x 1080 native screen resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, adding to its excellent all-around performance that will provide everything you need.
Pros
- Well priced for what it offers
- 144Hz display
- Spacious 1TB SSD
Cons
- Overall poor display performance
- Less-than optimal CPU performance
- Poor battery life
Budget Option: Acer Nitro 5
The Acer Nitro 5 is the most cost-effective option on the list. This is especially impressive when looking at the specs. The laptop is equipped with an Intel 11th Gen. i9-11900H octa-core CPU and 16GB of ram, so even at its price, it will still handle VR quite well.
Like most laptops on the list, the Nitro 5 has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card with 6G dedicated memory. Even with its most manageable price, it is still powerful enough to handle most gaming experiences.
The main disadvantage of the lower price tag comes with the relatively weak display. However, if you are looking to use the laptop primarily for VR, this should suffice as you will be using the headset.
Pros
- Strong overall performance
- Good value for price
- Great battery life consider 17-inch display
Cons
- Poor display quality
- Poor build quality for price range
Last Words
There are plenty of options if you are looking for a capable laptop when it comes to VR. Luckily, the laptop market is filled with powerful options that are almost as capable as modern desktops, all built-in sleek portable designs. What was once made primarily for working on the go are now capable machines that are only slightly less powerful than their big brother home desktop counterparts.
If you are looking for a laptop designed specifically built for VR, these five options should provide a good range for just about any budget. For the price, the obvious option is the Acer Nitro 5. However, if the price isn’t an issue for you, the ROG Zephyrus S17 provides the most premium cost.
Ultimately, the choice will depend on you, your needs, and your budget. However, we feel that the Alienware X15 R2 provides the best performance-to-cost ratio.
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