Are you looking for the best laptop for game development? So, don’t worry; I’ll cover the top 5 laptops for game development in this article. As part of the broad game development field, your work may include everything from making assets to developing the game’s plot.
As a result, game production calls for powerful hardware because you’ll be playing and testing the game yourself. For this, you’ll need a robust and dependable laptop. I’m here to assist you in selecting the most fantastic laptop for game development.
Table of Contents
What type of computer do you need to develop games on?
You need one that can manage graphic power, has a smooth CPU, and is compatible with the many game development engines on the market. The general recommendation for running game development tools is 8 GB of RAM.
It would help if you considered factors like the battery life, the RAM processor storage, and the graphics card (NVIDIA is my preferred brand).
Are gaming laptops useful for the creation of games? They are, indeed.
Here are the top 5 laptops available right now for game development.
- Asus ZenBook Pro Duo – Powerful Work Computer
- HP Spectre x360 – Portable Game Development
- Microsoft Surface Book 3 – Long Battery Life
- Lenovo Legion Y540 – Good All-Around
- Dell XPS 15 – Ideal For Graphic Design
Best Laptops for Game Development in 2023
ZenBook Pro Duo by Asus
The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is a powerful business computer with gaming capabilities. This laptop’s excellent specs make it perfect for game production.
The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is the laptop to use if you’re working on a game that requires many high-quality assets and data.
You don’t need an ultra-powered laptop if you build low-graphics games that don’t demand intensive rendering from a strong GPU or the powerful processing capability of a high-end CPU.
But, consider investing in a high-performance laptop like the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo if you work for a renowned AAA firm or intend to work on challenging and resource-intensive 3D project ideas for games.
The laptop has a potent 9th-generation processor that makes it easy to run both the game and game development tools like Unity and Unreal engine concurrently. With this and its 32 GB of RAM, you can multitask and meet those annoying deadlines.
Because of its excellent specifications, this laptop is perfect for game creators since it enables you to create games for nearly any platform. Its touchscreen 4K display speeds up your work by enabling you to navigate the interface swiftly.
Of course, the touchpad also benefits game creators who put in extra hours since it lessens the strain of using a mouse. It is especially beneficial for those with carpal tunnel syndrome or who want to prevent developing it.
Because of its incredible specs and features, the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is one of the finest laptops for game development. High-end games need a lot of power, which this laptop provides enough despite its price.
Asus ZenBook Pro Duo Features:
- A 15.6-inch OLED 4K UHD screen on the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo lets you view content with razor-sharp clarity and vibrant colors.
- The laptop has an Intel Core i9 processor, which offers quad-core capability and a clock speed of up to 5GHz.
- The laptop has the most recent NVIDIA RTX 2060 graphics card, giving you fluid and lifelike gaming visuals.
- The ZenBook Pro Duo’s dual-screen setup enables you to multitask or increase your viewing area for more immersive gaming.
- You may set the laptop with up to 32GB of RAM, which makes multitasking simple.
- Thanks to the laptop’s up to 1TB of SSD storage. So you have plenty of room for your files and apps.
- The laptop has an Ergolift hinge, which raises the keyboard to make typing more comfortable.
- It has many ports, including USB-C, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 3.
Pros
Cons
HP Spectre X360
The ideal laptop for mobile programmers is the HP Spectre x360. It’s a laptop that excels at functionality and portability, a highly uncommon combination for a laptop.
Although it isn’t particularly inexpensive, its characteristics and features are worthwhile.
The laptop’s specifications include 32 GB RAM and a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, allowing you to efficiently multitask and run powerful game-creation tools.
Although it has an NVIDIA GeForce MX250 GPU, it is still functional enough to render game files that aren’t the highest quality.
It compensates for this shortcoming by needing to be more portable. Game developers can work on the fly since this laptop only weighs roughly 2.7 lbs.
In addition, you can fold the laptop at any angle, allowing you to use it as a tablet, making it incredibly handy to carry around.
The HP Spectre x360 is one of the greatest programming laptops for roving game developers who must continue working on their games while traveling the world.
HP Spectre X360 Features:
- The Spectre X360 offers outstanding performance and responsiveness because it uses the most recent 10th-generation Intel Core CPUs. Additionally, it has up to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of PCIe SSD storage, providing you with more than enough power and space to handle your most challenging jobs.
- The Spectre X360 has a narrow bezel display, a classy aluminum finish, and a slim design. There are two sizes of the laptop: 13.3 inches and 15.6 inches.
- Fast charging technology in the Spectre X360 enables the 30-minute charging of the laptop.
- With a battery life of up to 15 hours, the Spectre X360 enables you to work or play for extended periods without recharging.
- To connect to other devices, the Spectre X360 has some connectors, including two USB-C ports, two USB 3.1 ports, an HDMI port, and a micro card reader.
- In-built security features on the Spectre X360 include a fingerprint reader and a webcam shutter. For added security, it also contains a dedicated TPM 2.0 chip.
Pros
Cons
Microsoft Surface Book 3
With its 15.6-inch screen and 4K display, the HP Spectre x360 is a terrific laptop for developing a cape.
However, high-quality game files and assets in the Unreal Engine might not be able to be rendered or run efficiently on it.
Simply put, it lacks the power to render those files on its GPU.
Fortunately, the Microsoft Surface Book 3 is a solid substitute. The Intel Core i7-1035G7 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 are competent in managing resource-intensive assets and files despite the device’s high price.
Our only issue is that it only has 256 GB of SSD storage. You may need more storage for your files, but it may be sufficient for a game development file.
In conclusion, the Microsoft Surface Book 3 is fantastic.
Microsoft Surface Book 3 Features:
- The 8th Generation Intel Core CPU, which powers the Surface Book 3, offers up to 70% more performance than earlier models.
- You can work and save more with the Surface Book 3’s up to 32GB RAM and 1 TB of storage.
- This potent graphics card offers fluid performance and cutting-edge visuals for gaming and creative applications.
- For your creative endeavors, the high-resolution PixelSense display provides stunning detail.
- You may work or occupy yourself for an entire day or night with a battery life of up to 17.5 hours.
- Utilize the USB-C and USB-A connections to connect your preferred devices and gadgets.
- Use Windows Hello facial authentication to log in quickly and securely.
- Typing and navigation are made easier by the upgraded keyboard and precise touchpad.
Pros
Cons
Lenovo Legion Y540
The Lenovo Legion Y540 is the perfect laptop if you’re searching for one for game creation that strikes a solid balance between use and aesthetics.
This laptop looks great, and its specifications allow it to run various games and game production software.
As a result, it’s beneficial for multitasking, and using it can increase your productivity in general.
Making games is a severe endeavor that involves more than just having fun. With the Lenovo Legion Y540, you can maintain a professional demeanor.
While it doesn’t appear like a gaming laptop, it has some seriously great specs, including a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU.
The laptop also includes a dependable FHD display that makes examining how well your game performs.
Additionally, it has a sizable quantity of RAM, making multitasking simple.
We appreciate this laptop’s fantastic 1.5 TB of storage space. That is a 512 GB SSD and a 1 TB HDD combined. It allows the game development laptop to easily store many large assets and files, which is ideal if you intend to make a particularly ambitious game.
The Lenovo Legion Y540 is one of the most dependable gaming laptops, so you can expect it to perform admirably even while running the least-optimized games, as seen in the
Lenovo Legion Y540 Features:
- Intel Core i7 9th Generation processor
- 8GB RAM with a 32GB maximum
- A graphics card with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
- 144Hz refresh rate on a 15.6″ FHD IPS display
- Harman speakers for improved audio with Dolby Atmos
- A dedicated numeric keypad on a backlit keyboard
- Battery life of 6 hours or more
- Pre-installed Windows 10 Home
- Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 11. 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.4
Pros
Cons
Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 can be an excellent choice if you’re your team’s graphic designer while still participating in game development.
It includes a fantastic display that makes it easy to notice mistakes in your work and a potent GPU that significantly reduces rendering time and enhances overall performance.
It wouldn’t be unusual if you ended up handling both the graphic design and a little involvement in the game’s code, as it’s common for game developers to manage several roles in that environment.
As a result, you’ll require a laptop that can design video games and produce stunning graphics.
Due to its 4K display and potent GPU, which renders both the game and its assets, the Dell XPS 15 is perfect for this task. Its 16 GB of RAM is suitable for multitasking, and its 9th Gen Intel Core i7 CPUs are powerful enough to execute most programs.
Consequently, you won’t have latency or performance issues even when running many programs.
The Dell XPS 15 is a great choice, mainly if you work outside the video game industry.
Dell XPS 15 Features:
- 15.6-inch Infinity Edge 4K Ultra HD touch display with anti-reflective coating.
- 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor.
- Up to 16 GB of RAM.
- Up to 1 TB of storage.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics
- Windows 10 Pro operating system.
- Thunderbolt 3 port and USB 3.0 ports.
- Killer 1535 802.11ac 2×2 WiFi and Bluetooth.
- Backlit keyboard.
- Stereo speakers with MaxxAudio Pro.
Pros
Cons
Buying Guide | Best Laptop for Game Development
CPU
The processors, sometimes called the CPU, are the most crucial component of any computer.
It deals with how quickly and effectively your computer can run programs. For example, you frequently use resource-intensive programs like Unity and Unreal Engine to build and create games.
I advise utilizing a laptop with at least an Intel Core i5 CPU, but if you want your task to go more smoothly and quickly, we advise acquiring one with an Intel Core i7 processor.
Finally, an i9 would be the most fantastic option, but they are frequently costly, which is only viable if you have little money.
GPU
You will require a strong graphics card if you intend to create games. You will use the GPU to design the graphics for your games and test them out.
If you intend to develop games with 3D graphics, we advise purchasing a dedicated graphics card with at least 4 GB of VRAM. If you want the best game production experience, investing in an RTX GPU is a requirement if you’re ambitious.
RAM
When it comes to game production, you’ll be multitasking since you’ll be switching between many programs while playing your game.
Since you’ll be using it to test your game while running other programs in the background, you’ll require more RAM than a typical laptop.
In light of this, you will want at least 16 GB of RAM to fully design and build games.
On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget and only intend to make entry-level games, you should only use 8 GB of RAM.
Battery Life:
If you plan to take your laptop on the go, you’ll want a laptop with good battery life. Look for a laptop with at least 8 hours of battery life.
Display
The display is last but not least. You’ll need an excellent display to fully appreciate your game’s graphical potential. You should test every graphics setting, from the lowest to the highest, to see how well it will appear to other gamers.
For this, we advise purchasing a screen that is 15 inches or larger and has a high resolution, such as an FHD. But if you want to see how wonderful your game can appear at the top settings, you can choose 4K displays.
Conclusion
The Acer Nitro 5 is an excellent choice for game development. It has powerful components, excellent build quality, and a good cooling system that will help keep the laptop running at optimal temperatures while you work.
The laptop also has a large display that’s great for multitasking, and it’s equipped with various ports that allow you to connect multiple peripherals.
Finally, the laptop comes with a competitive price tag, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget.
To conclude, you need powerful gaming laptops for game development. You need better specs than your average gaming laptop since you’ll handle heavy game files, 3D and 2D assets, and much more!
You can choose the best laptop for game development by reading our list and the criteria for choosing laptops for game development.
FAQs
What Laptops Are Used by Game Developers?
The majority of game developers run and create their games on gaming laptops. They must do this because game designers must test the game on the most demanding graphics settings and debug problems as the game is being played. Since they will also be running many background programs and game creation software, this requires considerable hardware.
Can You Code On A Gaming Laptop?
Yes. The finest laptops for coding are often gaming laptops. These laptops have been performance-optimized, and they can execute unoptimized programs, which is very helpful in the early phases of development.
Which Laptops Support Unity?
Since Unity needs a laptop that supports DX10, DX11, and DX12 and a CPU with X64 architecture and SSE2 instruction set support, it can be run on most laptops. You’ll need at least 8 GB of RAM or more to effectively test out and create games in Unity because you’ll be developing games. If you need help choosing a laptop for game development, please look at any models on our list since they all meet these requirements.
What Laptops Are Used by Game Developers?
The majority of game developers run and create their games on gaming laptops. They must do this because game creators must test the game on the highest graphics settings to both run the game and debug them. Since they’ll be running many background programs and game development software in addition to the game, this demands considerable hardware.
Can You Code On A Gaming Laptop?
Yes. The finest laptops for coding are often gaming laptops. These laptops have been performance-optimized, and they can execute unoptimized programs, which is very helpful in the early phases of development.
Which Laptops Support Unity?
Since Unity needs a laptop that supports DX10, DX11, and DX12 and a CPU with X64 architecture and SSE2 instruction set support, it can be run on most laptops. You’ll need at least 8 GB of RAM or more to effectively test out and create games in Unity because you’ll be developing games.
How many cores are necessary for the creation of games?
It should be noted that while most recent games specify quad-core CPUs as the minimum requirement, this does not necessarily guarantee optimum performance.
Does game creation require an i7 processor?
Multitasking, intensive media editing and creative chores, high-end gaming, and other related workloads often benefit from a Core i7 processor. Since Core i7 processors are more powerful than Core i5 processors, they can handle demanding jobs better.
Is a powerful PC required for game development?
Depending on the nature of your project, you can get by with much, much less than the typical gaming PC. Many developers use laptops with integrated graphics and dual-core CPUs to complete their work. As blasphemous as it may sound, you don’t even need a computer.
What type of CPU is best for game development?
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is the most excellent option for pricing and performance if you like the Intel Core i9-13900K sound and are seeking a Ryzen substitute. The AMD Ryzen 9 is the best laptop for game development.
