Virtual reality is still in its early phase, yet it gives gamers a whole new gaming experience. This technology is making games more realistic and enjoyable. Imagine driving a rally vehicle and feeling as if the experience is real.
What about having a virtual exploration of the galaxy in unfamiliar territory? Imagine being a part of the view, scenery, and experiences in your favorite games. That is what VR gaming offers.
Don’t be left behind as gamers worldwide are enjoying the thrill of VR gaming. However, this breathtaking VR experience requires a new set of next-level PCs and hardware.
In this article, we will explore some of the best VR-ready laptops suitable for every budget in 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of the key features and specifications to help you make an informed decision. Here are the 5 best VR-ready laptops you can buy today:
- Best Overall: Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
- Most Versatile: MSI Stealth GS77
- Best Performance: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
- Best for Speed: ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
- Best Budget Option: ASUS TUF Gaming F15
Best Overall: Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
- The latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
- Ray tracing cores, Tensor Cores, and streaming multiprocessors
- 32GB LPDDR5 memory
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 1TB SSD storage
This laptop is fast becoming a favorite among VR enthusiasts. It isn’t ludicrously costly, yet it has a great punch. Predator Triton 500 SE has a fantastic, understated screen and can run any program. You only need a good-quality VR headset to enjoy your favorite VR games.
Don’t let the design of this laptop fool you into ignoring the beast that lies underneath. Its gunmetal gray aluminum covering has no details except for a telltale bog exhaust at the back and a predator logo on its lid. It is also very thin for easier portability.
This laptop also comes with a varied selection of ports. It has Thunderbolt connectors on all sides and pairs of USB-A. Other connectors include 2.5 Ethernet on its right side, an audio jack, HDMI 2.1 port, a fully-fledged SD card reader, and a Kensington lock. The Predator Triton 500 SE also offers Bluetooth 5.2, a high-speed wire connection, and Wi-Fi 6E.
Predator Triton 500 SE also comes with a mesmerizing 16:10 1600p panel display with 500 nits brightness. The screens display vibrant colors covering 100% GBs with a 240Hz refresh rate.
Predator Triton 500 SE uses the powerful and fast Alder Lake processors, the RTX 3080 Ti. It has a fast NVMe drive that exploits the PCIe4.0 speeds and a 32 GB DDR5RAM for running VR games smoothly without any issues.
Acer changed this laptop’s keyboard due to its irregular layout. The new format lacks a numeric keypad, and it is centrally positioned. However, the column keys to the right of the Enter key and the Arrow keys remain unchanged.
It is also very easy and comfortable to type on this new keyboard design. Moreover, it has a blue backlight, but you can use Predator Sense to customize it to your preferred color. The most notable disadvantage is that the battery of this laptop drains very fast, as it only lasts for 4 hours and 30 minutes. Therefore, it is advisable to have it plugged in during gaming.
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Specs
| CPU | Intel Core i9-12900H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5, 4800 MHz |
| Screen | 16”, 2560×1600, 240 Hz |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Battery Life | 4:30h |
Most Versatile: MSI Stealth GS77
- 12th Gen. Intel Core i9 processor
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU
- 17.3” 4K UHD display
- Thunderbolt 4 and DDR5-4800 memor
Since you will not be playing VR games all the time, opting for a laptop whose hardware can be leveraged for other tasks is sensible. The MSI Stealth GS77 has a fantastic 4K screen. Its battery lasts long, making it suitable for gaming and other heavy-duty and portable tasks.
Although its price might be an issue for most people, it is worth every dollar if you can buy it. Unlike the slim GS76, the MSI Stealth GS77 comes with some structural improvements and re-designs. Although it is now quite bigger, it has retained its Svelte aluminum chassis with minimal accents.
Its MSI logo can only be exposed if the light hits it at the perfect angle. Additionally, its beefed-up hardware is also attested by the presence of a rear grille.
Its port section arrangement is also similar to the GS76. At the rear, it has HDMI 2.1 port, AC Adapter, and 2.5G Ethernet. It also has two 3.2 USB Gen 2, a physical webcam shutter switch, and an audio jack. On its right side are 2 USB-C ports and an SD card reader.
Its keyboard is also a very user-friendly component. It has soft and quiet keys, which are perfect for typing. It also features individual backlighting that makes every key visible in the dark. MSI Stealth GS77 has a 17-inch diagonal screen that is big enough to make everything vivid and sharper than a 1080p panel. Its brightness reaches 450 nits, making portable gaming easier even in dimmer areas.
Its webcam, situated on top of the screen, is better than other laptops. Although it isn’t suitable for professional streaming, it is good enough for business meetings and study sessions due to its 1080p output.
MSI Stealth GS77’s 3080 Ti has 105W TDP, and its DDR5 RAM runs at JEDEC speeds. The difference in speed is trivial compared to the Predator, but it still guarantees a breathtaking VR experience. It’s also possible to upgrade this laptop by swapping or augmenting its RAM and 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.
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Specs
| CPU | Intel Core i9-12900 |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR5, 4800 MHz |
| Screen Size | 17.3”, 120 Hz |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| Battery Life | 6:00h |
Best Performance: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor
- 15.6” 2560 x 1440 display with adaptive sync
- 4.2 lbs ultraportable form-factor
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
If you need a laptop for demanding VR titles, then Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is the best choice. Its graphic card and CPU combo rival high-end desktops. Furthermore, it supports portable gaming because its charge can last very long.
The designs for gaming laptops have improved in recent years, and we can attest that ASUS came up with a new design for the G15. This laptop has a stealthy back appearance. Part of its lid has diagonal dots that brighten whenever light sheds on them. This device is light and thin, making it suitable for a gaming laptop.
Despite being slim, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 has various connectivity options. This includes USB-C, USB-A, an SD Card Reader, an Ethernet jack, a slot for Kensington Lock, and audio jacks. Both sides of this laptop have a grill for dissipating heat. There is another grill under the screen and a massive vent at its bottom. However, this machine tends to get hot despite all these vents due to its high specs.
The keyboard of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is neutral. You don’t get the mushy or clicky feeling when pressing its keys. However, that won’t be a problem for gamers. Additionally, its touchpad is well-designed and highly responsive.
The G15 has an impressive audio and visual experience too. It comprises strategically placed two woofers and six speakers that deliver quality audio for the laptop. Its 1440p screen also displays vivid colors, and it has a quick response time. Since its screen can show 99% of the sRGB color gamut, you can use the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 for color correction.
The G15’s relevance will remain for several years because it has AMD’s fastest mobile processor, combined with an RTX 3080. The only disadvantage is that the G15 doesn’t have a webcam. This is complete proof that ASUS was specifically designed for gaming.
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Specs
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4, 3200MHz |
| Screen Size | 15.6”, 1440p, 165Hz |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Battery Life | 8:30h |
Best for Speed: ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU
- 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display
- 1TB SSD
- Thermal Grizzly Liquid Metal Thermal Compound (thermal system)
If you seriously fancy VR and competitive PC gaming, consider buying Strix Scar 15. This laptop comes with a fast 300Hz panel and enhanced specs for a great gaming experience. It has unique aesthetics and numerous ports to meet your gaming needs.
After making considerable design changes to last year’s model, ASUS didn’t upgrade the design for the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15. It still has a black exterior with a surplus sRGB. Due to its design, you cannot carry this device to your office.
Buyers can get the Strix Scar 15 with either a 1080p or 1440p. The former is less costly as it allows a 300Hz max refresh. Its screen has a 350 nits brightness and is not as vibrant as Triton. However, it has 96% of the sRGB color gamut, which is suitable for professional color grading or complete gaming immersion.
The Strix Scar 15 has various ports that are logically placed. Many ports are in the back, like the Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort passthrough, HDMI 2.1, and 2.5G Ethernet for connecting with the latest monitors.
You can find two 5 Gbps USB-A ports on its left, and on its right side, there is the ROG Keystone 2. This NFC device is capable of decrypting drives with sensitive data and sharing Armoury Crate profile data between two gadgets.
Its keyboard has been downgraded compared to the last generation. Despite that, the typing experience is comfortable and tactile. The laptop’s touchpad is also highly responsive, although most gamers prefer using the mouse.
A part of this laptop’s base is transparent, making some of its internal components visible. Moreover, the laptop is powered by an impressive Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and an RTX 3080 graphics card. The Strix Scar 15 allows gamers to achieve higher framerates on its 300Hz 1080p panel on most VR games. Unfortunately, its noisy fans can be a nuisance for most gamers.
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Specs
| CPU | Ryzen 9 5900HX |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5, 4800MHz |
| Screen Size | 15.6”, 1080p, 300Hz |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Battery Life | 5h |
Best Budget Option: ASUS TUF Gaming F15
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor
- 15.6” 144Hz Full HD display
- 1TB SSD
Despite being budget-friendly, the ASUS TUF laptops have continually improved in every generation, thereby impressing most users. The F15 includes a capable RTX graphics card and has a spacious SSD to accommodate your games and other files. While the screen quality may be wanting, ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a perfect budget-oriented VR-ready laptop.
This device has always maintained its gamer look with a sturdy hinge, a gray metallic lid, and numerous vents. Moreover, TUF has been stenciled on its surface. ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has a fake-brushed aluminum pattern to prevent fingerprints on its surface.
The F15 also comes with an assortment of port selections. It has a USB-A port, USB 3.2 Gen1, and Kensington Lock slot on its right side. At its left is a Thunderbolt 40-ready USB plug, two additional USB-A ports, a Gigabit LAN jack, power & audio inputs, and HDMI.
Besides being affordable, the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has a backlit keyboard. The keycaps for its WASD keys are also transparent, making it hard for users to miss them. However, users cannot change the backlighting color as it is limited to one. Its touchpad also has right and left mouse buttons that many gamers will love.
This laptop has a good 1080p, 144 Hz IPS panel. However, it is very fuzzy as it doesn’t provide enough protection from glare. Therefore, it’s quite challenging to use it in brightly lit places. Furthermore, its colors are very dull at 67% compared to other VR-enabled laptops. Despite this limitation, the F5 can still guarantee a smooth VR gaming experience and handle multithreaded tasks.
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Specs
| CPU | Tiger Lake Core i7-11800H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4, 3200MHz |
| Screen Size | 15.6”, 1080, 144Hz |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Battery Life | 8h |
How to Pick the Best VR-Ready Laptops: Step-by-Step
Not all laptops are designed to provide a high-quality VR experience. Some don’t even comply with 21st century technology standards. With a vast collection of VR-enabled laptops, picking the best one is pretty challenging. However, this can be easy if you consider these vital elements.
CPU
The best VR-ready laptop needs a capable processor. The majority of these devices use a quad-core processor. This is the minimum standard you will require to match the demands of VR headsets. The quad-core Intel i5-4590 processor is the reducible minimum for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift headsets. However, a more powerful CPU will provide a better VR gaming experience.
GPU
Since VR games are high-res visuals and hyper-realistic, there is a need to have a top-tier GPU to enjoy an exemplary experience. Nvidia GTX 970 is the minimum GPU needed for VR gaming. If you use this GPU, you can future-proof your laptop for Metaverse by upgrading it.
RAM
Virtual reality games feature life-like movements, so your laptop must have spacious RAM. The barest minimum needed to run VR applications is 8GB of random access memory. However, you will discover that most VR Ready laptops have at least 16GB RAM.
Operation System
Besides these vital elements, the laptop will require a suitable operating system to function smoothly. So far, modern Windows operating systems have proven effective in running VR games. Windows 10 remains an excellent option for VR gaming.
What to Know Before Buying a VR-Ready Laptop
Buying VR-enabled laptops is probably the best decision you will ever make. This move takes you from being a third party in the game into an active participant. VR is the future of gaming, and its potential is still being discovered.
Therefore, it’s better to dive in and enjoy the fun because it will improve your gaming life. Here are some facts you must know before buying a VR-ready laptop.
- VR headsets give you more focus and immersion in your games or work. They can cut you off from your surrounding environment effectively.
- Both VR headsets and VR-enabled laptops are portable. Therefore, your gaming experience won’t be limited to your home.
- VR headsets and VR-enabled laptops can give you much-needed privacy, especially for gaming.
- VR headsets are glare-proof, and that allows you to use them outdoors.
- Unlike other PC games, VR gaming provides freedom of movement and promotes better posture.
- VR gaming systems only need a small physical space.
Using the Best VR-Ready Laptop: What it’s Like
VR gaming laptops expose gamers to an out-of-this-world experience right in their homes. These systems enable users to explore a computer-generated environment and make the experience realistic. Once you’ve worn the headset and the game has started, you will believe you’re inhabiting the virtual world.
VR-ready laptops have improved gaming by enabling players to move in the virtual world and freely interact with virtual items and features. If you’re a gaming enthusiast, buying a VR-ready laptop should be your top priority this year.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©cybermagician/Shutterstock.com.
