Elden Ring was one of the biggest and best games to come out of 2022, earning plaudits from the vast majority of players, despite it being incredibly difficult to complete. Even two years on, the game is very much alive with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion now out, breathing new life into this classic RPG.
With the highly anticipated DLC available to download, now is the perfect time to ensure your gaming setup is optimized for the Land of Shadow. For gamers who enjoy playing on the go, investing in one of the best laptops for Elden Ring is the answer, which is where our comprehensive guide comes in.
Elden Ring is a huge game, resulting in some beefy system requirements that only a true gaming laptop can handle. For example, you need 12GB of RAM minimum, and at least 60GB of storage to download it. Don't panic though, because we've already taken these specs as well as price and reviews into account for this list, which also covers a range of different budgets and needs to suit a variety of preferences. Let's dive in...
Best laptops to play Elden Ring
- MSI Katana 15 - the best choice for most players
- ASUS TUF Gaming F15 - a slightly cheaper alternative to consider
- Dell G15 5530 - a top midrange option
- ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 - best to max. out Elden Ring's settings
- GIGABYTE AORUS 17X - a superb replacement for a desktop
1. MSI Katana 15
Best laptop for Elden Ring overall
Where to buy *
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
It's hard to find a laptop that betters the MSI Katana 15 in terms of price and its balance with performance. It has all the power needed for a game like Elden Ring, and it comes at a reasonable price. This makes it a pretty well-rounded option to consider for most people.
On the surface, specs like its 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H CPU and RTX 4070 graphics card stand out, as they allow for immense speeds, lots of processing power, and excellent visual performance. You can even Turbo Boost the CPU up to 4.7GHz to really get the most out of a game like Elden Ring or whatever task you throw at it.
On top of that, it boasts 16GB of DDR5 RAM to make it better equipped at multitasking, a large 1TB SSD which is ample storage for Elden Ring and other titles, plus it has a lovely Full HD screen with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. This will help keep Elden Ring looking smooth and crisp, which is exactly what's needed to experience everything the RPG has to offer at its best.
Reasons to buy:
- It's reasonably priced considering how powerful it is
- It comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM
- Plenty of ports for any external peripherals
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2. ASUS TUF Gaming F15
Best budget laptop for Elden Ring
Where to buy *
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
Finding something cheap enough to be considered 'budget' yet powerful enough to run Elden Ring isn't easy, but this ASUS TUF Gaming F15 laptop just about fits the bill.
Even though it's a bit cheaper, it does manage to exceed the minimum requirements in some areas. For example, the RTX 3050 Ti graphics card clears the minimum specs and then some, and its 16GB of RAM is enough to meet the recommended amount for the game. Its 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H processor is certainly no slouch either, and you get plenty of storage from its SSD to download Elden Ring and the latest DLC.
You get a decent screen for the price you pay too. It comes with a 15.6" Full HD display with a 144Hz refresh like the MSI laptop above. With the fairly strong graphics card behind it, you're practically guaranteed crisp and smooth visuals once again.
Reasons to buy:
- It's very cheap compared to rival gaming laptops
- It meets and often exceeds the minimum system requirements
- Comes with a lovely HD screen
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3. Dell G15 5530
Best midrange laptop for Elden Ring
Where to buy *
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
Toeing the line between being pricey and inexpensive is the Dell G15 5530, which is another top contender for the crown of being the best laptop for playing Elden Ring.
It earns this spot by having enough RAM, storage, processing, and graphical power to download, open, and run the game at a good level. However, where this laptop truly shines is through its additional features. For example, it comes with NVIDIA G-SYNC+DDS, a technology designed to help any device deliver fluid gameplay, thus helping it provide the most immersive experience possible.
Alongside that, the G15 5530 also comes with ComfortViewPlus. This may not help Elden Ring run smoother or quicker, but it will benefit your eyes by reducing strain. If you're someone who simply can't put a game like Elden Ring down, this is a huge boon.
Reasons to buy:
- G-SYNC+DDS helps this laptop provide a fluid visual experience
- The addition of ComfortViewPlus can help reduce eye strain
- It won't completely break the bank with its price tag
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4. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16
Best laptop to play Elden Ring at its best
Where to buy *
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
Owning a laptop that can run Elden Ring is one thing, but getting something that can handle the game at its maximum is another. It's an expensive category to be looking in, but if you can afford to look, then you might want to check out the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16.
It's nothing short of impressive under the hood, boasting a 14th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU and an insanely powerful RTX 4090 graphics card running at 175W Max TGP. You also get a ton of DDR5 RAM and 2TB of storage, giving you plenty of space to download Elden Ring, the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, and even something like Warzone multiple times over.
Its Mini LED screen is another highlight, featuring ROG Nebula HDR technology and the capacity to deliver 1100 nits brightness, 2000 dimming zones, QHD 240Hz/3ms performance, and 100% DCI-P3 color. It also has an advanced cooling system to halt any sort of overheating in the heat of battle, helping it truly stand out in the premier gaming laptop department.
Reasons to buy:
- It's powerful enough to run a game like Elden Ring at its absolute best
- It comes with a huge 2TB SSD
- ROG Nebula HDR technology gives you the highest-tier ASUS panel
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5. GIGABYTE AORUS 17X
Best large laptop for Elden Ring
Where to buy *
- Amazon - $3,499.00 / £2,999.99
- Walmart - $2,609.99
- Overclockers - £2,999.99
* prices are accurate at the time of last update
Finally, we have the 17.3" GIGABYTE AORUS 17X. Being larger, the laptop essentially removes the need to pair it with a monitor or TV to game on a bigger screen, and it can act as a desktop replacement in more ways than one.
Not only does it offer size, but this laptop has plenty of power behind it to match that of a top gaming PC. The 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor is incredibly punchy and up-to-date, as is the RTX 4090 graphics card alongside it. It also comes with 32GB of DDR5 RAM boasting speeds up to 5600 MHz, and 2TB of storage from its SSD.
Perhaps the biggest upside though is its display. As mentioned, it measures 17.3" and it has a thin bezel. The screen itself also pumps out a Quad HD picture, plus 100% DCI-P3 color and a refresh rate that can hit up to 240Hz. The only negative could be that it's on the heavier side, but considering it can act as a desktop replacement if needed, that's not really a major issue.
Reasons to buy:
- It has a graphics card that's capable of showcasing Elden Ring at its best on that big screen
- Provides Quad HD visuals with a smooth refresh rate of up to 240Hz
- Comes with plenty of RAM and storage
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That's it! We hope you find the right laptop in this guide for your needs and Elden Ring experience. Stay tuned for more guides like this at Gfinity.