Cute, low poly goat in an Unreal Engine game environment.

Gaming Giants: Top Laptops for Unreal Engine Development 2023

24 October 2023

In the realm of game development with Unreal Engine, the quest for the perfect laptop is paramount. We’ve herded together the top five laptops for Unreal Engine in 2023, and now we’re here to share the details of our expedition.

Key Considerations for Unreal Engine:

Before we embark on this journey, let’s make sure our backpacks are equipped with the essentials. When you’re on the hunt for a laptop for Unreal Engine, these are the specs to keep an eye on:

Processor (CPU): When you’re chasing Unreal Engine, a robust processor is like a trusty mountain goat, sure-footed and relentless. Aim for a quad-core Intel or AMD processor, clocking in at 2.5 GHz or faster, just like a nimble mountain dweller.
Graphics Card (GPU): Unreal Engine leads us through a visually stunning landscape, so don’t skimp on the graphics card. A DirectX 11 or 12 compatible GPU is your best companion. If you want a more majestic view, high-end GeForce or RTX A-series cards are the way to go.
Memory (RAM): In the development wilderness, more RAM is your comfort food. Aim for at least 8 GB, but if you desire the heights, leap for 16 GB or more.
Storage: Solid State Drives (SSDs) are your mountain goat’s sprint, outpacing traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). They reduce load times and provide better performance.
Operating System: Keep your laptop’s herd in line with the latest Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu versions, recommended for optimal compatibility and performance with Unreal Engine.

It’s worth noting that the requirements can vary depending on your specific game development project’s complexity. Always consult the official Unreal Engine documentation for the most accurate guidance.

Jump to a Laptop Review:

MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop
ASUS ROG Strix G15 Gaming Laptop
GIGABYTE AERO 17 YE5
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Gaming Laptop
Dell XPS 17 9720 Laptop

1. MSI Stealth 15M

Tech Specs:

CPU: Up to 11th Gen. Intel Core i7 U-Processor
OS: Windows 10 Home
Display: 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080), IPS-Level
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti With Max-Q Design, 6GB GDDR6
Memory: Up to DDR4-3200 2 Slots
Storage Capability: 1x M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen4)
Webcam: HD type (30fps@720p)
Keyboard: RGB Backlight Keyboard
Communication: 802.11 ax Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth v5.1

Release Date: The MSI Stealth 15M was released in 2021.

Design: MSI Stealth 15M, as the name suggests, knows how to blend in. With a minimalistic dark gray look, this 15.6-inch marvel is sleek and portable, measuring just 0.6 by 14.1 by 9.7 inches and weighing 3.7 pounds. Perfect for those on the move.

Performance: Sporting an Intel Core i7-11375H processor and a GeForce RTX 3060, it’s ready for high-frame-rate 1080p gaming in both AAA and esports titles. Its performance is as reliable as a mountain goat’s footing.

Display Quality: Equipped with a 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS-Level display, this goat is known for offering good color accuracy and wide viewing angles.

Keyboard and Trackpad Usability: The keyboard is a comfortable companion for long coding or gaming sessions. However, the trackpad’s performance remains a mystery in the reviews.

Battery Life: Like a mountain goat’s stamina, the battery life is decent but not exceptional, clocking in at around 5 hours and 46 minutes. Keep your charger close if you plan for long expeditions.

Unique Features: The Stealth 15M’s compact size for a gaming laptop makes it highly portable. But beware, it can get as hot as a summer’s day in the desert during extended gaming sessions.

2. ASUS ROG Strix G15

Tech Specs:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
OS: Windows 10 Home
Display: 15.6″ QHD (2560×1440) 240Hz
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti
Memory: 32GB DDR4-3200
Storage Capability: 1TB NVMe SSD
Webcam: 720p HD camera
Keyboard: Per-Key RGB
Communication: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + Bluetooth 5.1

Release Date: The ASUS ROG Strix G15 was released in 2022.

Design: The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has a fair design, favoring a lighter gray color scheme and fewer RGB elements. It’s more about power and performance than flashy aesthetics. It’s your reliable companion on the quest for digital glory.

Performance: Driven by an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and an RTX 3070Ti graphics chip, this laptop packs a punch. It’s your trusty steed on the battlefield of gaming and development.

Display Quality: With a punchy and fast QHD 240 Hz screen, it delivers vibrant visuals for your adventures. Good color accuracy and wide viewing angles are vital for your game development escapades.

Keyboard and Trackpad Usability: While the keyboard provides comfort during long coding sessions, details about the trackpad’s usability are a bit scarce in the reviews.

Battery Life: The laptop’s 90W battery ensures decent runtimes, but specific details on battery life aren’t available in the reviews.

Unique Features: The ASUS ROG Strix G15’s Manual profile in Armory Crate sets it apart, offering versatility in performance. Plus, its quad-speaker system delivers punchy audio to enhance your gaming experience.

3. GIGABYTE AERO 17 YE5

Tech Specs:

CPU: Intel Core i7-10875H Comet Lake H
OS: Windows 10 Pro
Display: 17.3″ UHD 4K HDR 400
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Memory: 32GB DDR4
Storage Capability: 512GB NVMe SSD
Webcam: 720p HD Camera
Keyboard: RGB Fusion per-key RGB backlit keyboard
Communication: Killer Wireless-AX 1650 (802.11ax, a/b/g/n/ac compatible) + Bluetooth 5

Release Date: The GIGABYTE AERO 17 YE5 was released in 2022.

Design: If you prefer a more professional aesthetic, the GIGABYTE AERO 17 YE5 has you covered. With its solid build quality, it’s not your flashy gaming laptop but an understated workhorse for your Unreal Engine endeavors.

Performance: Armed with an Intel Core i7-10875H Comet Lake H CPU and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q GPU, it’s ready for heavy lifting in the development studio. Performance is the name of the game.

Display Quality: This laptop shines with a 17.3-inch UHD 4K HDR 400 panel. Expect excellent color accuracy and wide viewing angles, crucial for your color-sensitive work.

Keyboard and Trackpad Usability: Details about keyboard and trackpad performance are not specified in the reviews, but the solid build suggests reliable input options.

Battery Life: Surprisingly, the AERO 17 YE5 boasts good battery life for a 4K laptop. Still, specific figures are missing in the reviews.

Unique Features: With its large 4K screen, perfect for detailed graphics work and multitasking, this laptop has something extra to offer. It also covers 100% of the Adobe RGB color gamut for color-accurate tasks.

4. LENOVO LEGION 5 PRO

Tech Specs:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7000 Series
OS: Windows 10 Home
Display: 16″ QHD+ (2560×1600) IPS
Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 40-Series
Memory: 32GB DDR4
Storage Capability: 1TB NVMe SSD
Webcam:HD 720p, with E-shutter, fixed focus
Keyboard:6-row, multimedia Fn keys, numeric keypad, 4-Zone RGB backlight
Communication: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + Bluetooth 5.1

Release Date: The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro was released in 2022.

Design: The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro blends strength and professionalism. It’s not a showy laptop but a reliable tool for both gaming and development.

Performance: Armed with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 mobile chips and Nvidia RTX 40-series graphics, it’s a performance powerhouse. Your in-game and development experiences will be smooth.

Display Quality: With a 16-inch, 2560×1600 (QHD+) IPS display, this laptop offers top-notch color accuracy and wide viewing angles.

Keyboard and Trackpad Usability: Specifics about the keyboard and trackpad aren’t available in the reviews, but given its intended audience, it’s designed for comfortable usage.

Battery Life: With an 80Wh battery, you can expect decent battery life. However, exact figures are elusive.

Unique Features: This laptop stands out with its high-refresh display featuring a fast response time and VRR support. The option for user-replaceable RAM and storage is a welcome feature.

5. Dell XPS 17 9720

Tech Specs:

CPU: Intel 12th Gen “Alder Lake”
OS: Windows 10 Home
Display: 17-inch 4K UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Display
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Memory: 64GB DDR4
Storage Capability: 1TB NVMe SSD
Webcam: 720p RGB-Ir camera with dual digital-array microphones
Keyboard: Full-size, backlit chiclet keyboard
Communication: Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2) + Bluetooth 5.1

Release Date: The Dell XPS 17 9720 was released on March 24, 2022.

Design: The Dell XPS 17 9720 retains its slim, classy design, but this time it’s packed with power. The exterior screams premium, and the build quality is top-notch.

Performance: Equipped with Intel’s latest 12th Gen “Alder Lake” CPUs and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, it’s a beast in terms of performance. Your Unreal Engine projects will run like a breeze.

Display Quality: The Dell XPS 17 9720 boasts a beautiful 4K touch-display option. It offers stunning color accuracy and wide viewing angles, meeting the high standards of content creators.

Keyboard and Trackpad Usability: While the keyboard is designed for comfort during long coding sessions, details about the trackpad’s performance are scarce in the reviews.

Battery Life: The laptop manages decent battery life, considering its powerful components and high-resolution display. You can expect about 9 hours of runtime, which is quite respectable.

Unique Features: The four Thunderbolt 4 ports make this laptop a connectivity powerhouse, and it also offers graphics options up to the GeForce RTX 3060. A pricey but premium choice for content creators.

Laptop Comparison Table:

Laptop	CPU	Display	Graphics	Memory	Storage Capability
MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop	Up to 11th Gen. Intel Core i7 U-Processor	15.6″ FHD (1920×1080), IPS-Level	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti With Max-Q Design, 6GB GDDR6	Up to DDR4-3200 2 Slots	1x M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen4)
ASUS ROG Strix G15 Gaming Laptop	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H	15.6″ FHD (1920×1080), IPS-Level, 144 Hz	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 4GB GDDR6	Up to DDR4-3200, Total slots: 2	Up to 1TB SSD (PCIe, NVMe, M.2)
GIGABYTE AERO 17 YE5	Intel Core i9-12900H	17.3-inch UHD 4K HDR 400 panel	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (16 GB GDDR6, 1395 MHz boost)	32 GB DDR5	1 TB SSD (2 X NVMe PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD slots)
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Gaming Laptop	AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX or Intel Core i7-13700HX	Up to 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) display	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 or RTX 4060, 8GB GDDR6	Up to 64GB DDR5	Up to 1TB SSD
Dell XPS 17 9720 Laptop	Intel Core i7-12700H or Intel Core i7-10750H	17-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) display	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU or Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 (Laptop, 65W)	Up to 64GB DDR5	Up to 1TB SSD

Conclusion

In the rugged terrain of 2023’s laptop offerings, these five contenders stand tall. Each laptop has its unique characteristics, just like the different species of mountain goats, so make your choice wisely. Remember, the path you choose depends on your individual needs, just as a mountain goat’s chosen trail depends on its unique preferences.

As you venture into the world of Unreal Engine and game development, consider your goals, your style, and your specific project requirements. Whether you favor the compact and speedy MSI Stealth 15M, the reliable and powerful ASUS ROG Strix G15, the professional and capable GIGABYTE AERO 17 YE5, the versatile and robust Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, or the premium and content creator-focused Dell XPS 17 9720, your laptop is your trusty companion on this tech adventure.

To ensure the best performance, always check the specific configurations and user experiences before making your decision. After all, in the world of tech, as in nature, it’s the fittest that thrive.

So, gear up, choose your laptop wisely, and may your Unreal Engine journey be as epic as a mountain goat’s ascent! Good luck on your adventures in the tech wilderness of 2023!

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