If you are looking into 2019 with a thought to buying a new VR laptop then you have come to the right post where we are going to look into what makes a laptop VR ready and which are the top 10 amazing laptops that are VR ready.
The VR headsets like Oculus Rift has lowered its graphics card specifications but most of the time if you want to get smooth gameplay it is better to go with the NVIDIA GTX 1060 card and above.
There have been a few graphics cards like the NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti that has been added in the minimum PC specs of the Oculus Rift, but you are going to not get smooth gameplay with all the titles as they can be a possible glitch.
There are a lot of other factors that you would want to consider apart from the graphics card, but let’s be real, the graphics card is a really important and you can compromise on the other factors like the memory space and the aesthetics.
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Which Graphics card is the best for my laptop?
Now the Oculus Rift does support NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti and NVIDIA GTX 1050 but these graphics cards just meet the requirement. You can try gaming with these but you can come across some issues with some graphics demanding games.
If you really want to have smooth gameplay then go for the NVIDIA GTX 1060 card in laptops and you would be good to go.
You can even go for the NVIDIA GTX 1070 and the NVIDIA GTX 1080 graphics card as they are just going to give you better gameplay in comparison to the other graphics cards.
Basically, the 1070 and the GTX 1080 can handle anything that comes their way. So, if you want the best of the best then you can go for laptops mentioned below that have these graphics card.
Although if you are strictly on a tight budget and want something that would not go above $1500 then you should check out our post on affordable VR Ready laptops where we talk about all the budget laptops you can get with great features.
Things to consider before buying a VR Ready Laptop
1. Graphics Card- You buy a laptop just once so make sure that the specifications of the graphics card is all that you need because you can expand your memory but there is no way you can change the graphics card in a laptop.
You can do so in a PC but there is no such option in a laptop. You need to be well aware of this so when you make a purchase, you do so of the right laptop as there is no way you can update the graphics in the future.
Now, there are a lot of different laptops with a different graphics card but the more powerful the graphics card of your laptop is, the higher is the price of the laptop itself.
Not to mention, the more powerful your graphics card is, the better is your gameplay and it would be easier for the laptop to give you a smooth VR experience.
The only constraint here is your budget as you need to spend a few hundred dollars more but it is definitely worth the investment.
2. RAM- Most of the VR headsets work with 8 GB RAM and above, hence you can get any laptop that comes with these specifications.
A laptop that comes with a graphics card that is VR compatible usually has an 8 GB RAM so this specification is not something you would have to worry about.
Although you should keep in mind that this is the minimum specs you need in order to run a VR ready game without any issues on your laptop.
Most of the laptops come with 8GB RAM so this should not be an issue, also in many cases you can expand the RAM as well. This is an aspect that you can improve later, just make sure you start off with a minimum of 8GB RAM.
3. Overheating issues- This is something that annoys me a lot. Overheating is very common with gaming laptops, however, there are a few laptops that heat up a LOT making it difficult to continue with gaming.
So make sure that the laptop you choose does not overheat to an extent where it is difficult to continue with your gaming session.
Most of the laptops that we recommend in the list do not overheat to that extent and if you want to choose the right one then you should have your pick from the list mentioned below.
4. Processor- Now there are some specifications for every VR headset when it comes to the processor, so make sure your laptop meets the desired specs.
All the laptops mentioned in the list below definitely do come with a processor that can handle any VR headset so you do not need to worry about that.
Although, do a double check when you are purchasing a laptop on your own. You can always return or exchange but it is better to be safe than sorry.
VR Ready Laptops 2019
In this list, we would include some budget VR ready laptops as well as we want to include everyone’s needs. However, do check out all the laptops in the list before making a buying decision.
Do let us know which one is your favorite laptop from the list in the comments down below.
1. GigaByte Aero
This laptop from Gigabyte is probably the best when it comes to VR gaming. The laptop has a sturdy chassis with a pretty basic look making it perfect for working and gaming.
The laptop is slim and light in weight, unlike most of the typical powerful gaming laptops. You can easily carry this around making these laptops versatile.
The laptop is on the higher price end but it is definitely worth it especially once you get to know about all the features that you are going to get on this laptop.
Now, the laptops include a powerful NVIDIA GTX 1070 graphics card and with this, you can play graphics demanding games easily on high settings. For a laptop that weighs only 1.5 kg, the Gigabyte Aero does a pretty good job of running most of the games with ease.
The laptop is thin but you do not have any overheating issue which is a boom to almost any gamer and the battery life is excellent as well.
The battery life can last 7 hours while gaming so it would be more when you are simply using the laptop to browse the internet or get some work done.
Overall, the Gigabyte Aero Laptop is pretty powerful and it rightly tops our list as it is one of the best when it comes to the hardware combinations.
If you are investing on this laptop then you might not need to upgrade any specifications as it has all that you need to have an amazing VR gameplay.
2. Razer Blade 15
Well, Razer Blade has several laptops that are VR ready and something that really stands out about this company is the visuals.
The laptops look great, feel great and have an amazing chassis. You are not going to be disappointed with the design of the laptop including with the display.
The laptop is thin and lightweight making it really portable. If you are interested in having a
The laptop comes with an NVIDIA GTX 10 series which makes it VR ready. You have some amazing specifications on the laptop which include 16GB RAM which is perfect to run a grpahics demanding game.
Apart from that, the fan noise on this laptop is not as bad as on the other gaming laptops and this does not come with a serious overheating issue.
The battery life of the laptop is not that amazing but it is not bad either. When compared to other gaming laptops in the list Razer Blade 15 does pretty well by lasting for about 6-7 hours.
The best laptop when it comes to battery life is Gigabyte Aero and that is the reason, the laptop tops our list. This laptop from Razer does come very close on all the other features except the battery life making it our second best laptop in the list.
3. MSI GS65 Stealth
This laptop from MSI has a pretty standard MSI design and logo with a good enough chassis. The chassis is better in GigaByteand Razer Blade 15 so let’s get that out of the way.
MSI could have done a little better with the chassis material, but overall it is not a deal breaker. You do have some really great features on this laptop making it one of the best for playing those graphics demanding VR games.
The laptop is pretty amazing with the NVIDIA GTX 10 series. You can easily play all the VR games on this laptop. This laptop is powerful enough to play the graphics demanding games with ease.
Coming to the overheating issue, then the laptop does heat up and it’s manageable but it can be better. The Gigabyte is way better when it comes to this aspect.
The battery life on this laptop is between the Gigabyte Aero and the Razer Blade. The battery lasts for about 8 hours which is pretty amazing for a gaming laptop.
So, overall, this lightweight gaming laptop is indeed amazing and if you are looking for something specifically from the MSI range then you should definitely consider this laptop.
4. Acer Predator Helios 300 (Budget Model)
This is the budget model that we would probably recommend any day to someone who is looking for a VR ready laptop.
Now the laptop may be run as smoothly as the other three mentioned above but if you are tight on the budget then this one would work just fine with a few compromises on a few features.
The laptop is light in weight as well making it portable and easy to carry around. Usually, we think that if a laptop is powerful then you need to compromise the weight because the battery that powers it is usually huge making the laptop heavy but that is not the case with the Acer Predator Helios.
The battery lasts for around 6.5 hours when idle and can go up to 4 hours while watching videos and gaming.
The battery life is pretty amazing for a gaming laptop and with the new NVIDIA GTX 1060 graphics card, you can easily run games on ultra settings including the graphics demanding games like The Witcher and Tomb Raider.
The laptop with a 16 GB RAM and NVIDIA GTX 1060 will be able to run all the VR games smoothly without any issues. The gaming laptop is really a beast and it is worth the money for all the features that it offers.
If you want a gaming laptop that can be used to play all the titles on the Rift and the Vive on some average screen resolution settings then this is one of the best laptop investments.
Imagine playing almost every game title without having to feel the pain of lag during gameplay. If you are up for a smart investment which you take you a step ahead on gaming then Acer predator is definitely worth the purchase.
5. Alienware 15
The Alienware laptops have really upped their game after slimming down their laptops.
The new Alienware 15 laptop is pretty impressive with all the new features that make it powerful and lighter(relative to the older Alienware 15 version).
If you want to go for the more powerful laptops then you can easily pick the Alienware 17, which is a beast when it comes to VR gaming.
The NVIDIA GTX 1060 can easily run games on ultra setting and maximum display resolution for lighter games for the Alienware 15.
In the case of lighter games the frame rate is around 100 fps and in the case of the demanding games it is around 60 fps which are pretty good, however, you might want to play on the high settings in the case of the graphics demanding games.
The Alienware laptops have pretty good battery life and the one on the Alienware 15 can easily last for 7 hours when Idle.
While watching movies and videos online, it could last for 5 hours and the battery time would g down while playing games depending on the settings.
The laptop is powerful and compact and has a lower price tag than the previous Alienware laptops.
The Alienware 15 laptop has much better specs, performance and price /feature balance than the Alienware 13 laptops and that is one of the reasons you should consider buying this laptop.
Alienware couldn’t get a better laptop than the one right here, it is an ace when it comes to gaming and would play all the Rift and Vive titles with ease.
If you want to have smooth gameplay without having the frame rates to fall down then you should definitely go for the laptops from Alienware.
6. Asus ROG Zephyrus
Moving on to another good laptop, the Asus ROG Zephyrus is something you should look out for. If you want a laptop from the Republic of Gamers then this might be the one for you.
The games run smoothly on this laptop making it a good one on the list, however, there is a lot of things that you should consider before investing in the laptop.
The laptop itself is well made and really slim, you are going to love the aesthetics of the laptop as it looks pretty well made and the chassis is strong and sturdy.
The laptop comes with the NVIDIA GTX 1070 graphics card which can easily take any game you throw at it. You can easily pair up the laptop with an Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive.
The overheating on this laptop is way less in comparison to the MSI laptop and even the Razer Blade. So, if you are looking for a laptop that would be easy to use without warming up your hands during long term use then this laptop is more preferable.
The battery life on this laptop is a little bit disappointing. The laptop battery lasts around 4 hours during light usage and during gameplay, the battery life is just going to reduce due to the load.
So, this laptop is only recommended if you really love the Asus ROG series and have some serious issue with the overheating otherwise, you might want to rethink this one as your choice.
You can easily go for the other laptops in the list as they have some better features to offer at a good price.
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