Gaming laptops have come a long way, and the latest gaming laptops available in the market today can match the performance of a desktop gaming PC. Well, not the highest-end desktop gaming PC, but somewhere at the level of a higher-tier desktop gaming PC. The RTX 4090 laptop GPU is the latest and fastest mobile GPU today. Paired with Intel’s latest 13th gen processor or AMD’s Ryzen 7000 mobile CPU, you have a fast gaming and productivity machine. In this article, let’s explore some of the best RTX 4090 gaming laptops in the market. Shopping for a gaming laptop can be tricky since not all RTX 4090 laptops are similar in configuration. There are RTX 4090-powered laptops that you should avoid as well. So, if you are in the market for the latest and fastest gaming laptop, check them below.
The Best Gaming Laptops with RTX 4090 Laptop GPU
Below is a specs summary of all the RTX 4090 laptops listed here.
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 | MSI Titan GT77 HX 13VI | MSI Raider GE78 HX 13VI | Razer Blade 16 (2023) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i9-13980HX (24 cores) | Intel Core i9-13980HX (24 cores) | Intel Core i9-13980HX (24 cores) | Intel Core i9-13980HX (24 cores) | Intel Core i9-13950HX (24 cores) |
| GPU | RTX 4090 Laptop up to 2090 MHz, 175W | RTX 4090 Laptop up to 2090 MHz, 175W | RTX 4090 Laptop up to 2040 MHz, 175W | RTX 4090 Laptop up to 2040 MHz, 175W | RTX 4090 Laptop, 175W |
| Display | 18" IPS 2560x1600, 240Hz ROG Nebula | 16" Mini LED 2560x1600, 240Hz ROG Nebula DHR | 17.3" IPS Mini LED 3840x2160, 144Hz, HDR 1000 | 17" IPS 2560x1600, 240Hz | 16" Dual-Mode Mini LED UHD+ 120Hz or QHD+ 240Hz HDR1000 |
| Memory | 32GB DDR5-4800 | 32GB DDR5-4800 | 128GB DDR5 (up to) | 32GB DDR5 | 32GB DDR5-5600 |
| Storage | 2TB Gen4 M.2 | 2TB Gen4 M.2 | 4TB Gen4 M.2 | 2TB Gen4 M.2 | 2TB Gen4 M.2 |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4 | USB 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4 | USB 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4 | USB 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4 | USB 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4 |
| Network | 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E, BT 5.2 | 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E, BT 5.2 | 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E, BT 5.3 | 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E, BT 5.3 | WiFi 6E |
| Webcam | 720p | 720p | 720p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Dimensions | 399 x 294 x 23.1~30.8 mm 15.71" x 11.57" x 0.91"~1.21" | 354 x 264 x 22.6~30.4 mm 13.94" x 10.39" x 0.89"~1.20" | 397 x 330 x 23 mm 15.63" x 13" x 0.91" | 380 x 298 x 23 mm 14.96" x 11.73" x 0.91" | 355 x 244 x 22 mm 13.98"x 9.61"x 0.87" |
| Weight (approx.) | 3.1 kg (6.83 lbs) | 2.5 kg (5.51 lbs) | 3.3 kg (7.28 lbs) | 3.1 kg (6.83 lbs) | 2.45 kg (5.40 lbs) |
| Battery | 90 WHr | 90 WHr | 99 WHr | 99 WHr | 95.2 WHr |
| Availability (#ad) | Amazon | Amazon.com or here Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Note: The specifications or configurations listed above are subject to change. They were correct at the time the data was collected. Kindly double-check the laptop’s specs that you plan to get.
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) G834 RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop
First on my list is the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 with RTX 4090 laptop GPU. This machine is a powerhouse; it features an 18-inch QHD “ROG Nebula Display” with a 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. The display is also Pantone validated, has 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and supports Dolby Vision and NVIDIA G-Sync technology. Aside from the RTX 4090 laptop GPU (175W), it is powered by Intel’s Core i9-13980HX processor with a boost clock speed of up to 5.6GHz. The Core i9-13980HX is a 24-core CPU (8 P-cores and 16 E-cores) with 32 threads.
The ROG Strix Scar 18 has many connectivity options, including HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2.5G LAN, and even Thunderbolt 4. It also has WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity.
There are a few things that I would like to point out about this laptop. Depending on your need, these may or may not be a deal breaker. The keyboard is not mechanical; the screen brightness is rated up to 450 nits; no support for Gen5 SSD; all ports are on the sides, no ports on the rear; functions keys (F1-F12) are not backlit; and it is big and heavy.
Where to buy: (#ad)
Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 RTX 4090 gaming laptop is available on Amazon here.
MSI Titan GT77HX 13VI RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop
MSI’s flagship gaming laptop is the Titan GT77HX 13VI with RTX 4090 laptop GPU (175W) and Core i9-13980HX CPU. Among the gaming laptops in this list, this is the most over-the-top specced laptop with all the bells and whistles. Aside from the flagship CPU and GPU, it features a 17.3″ 4K UHD mini LED display with a refresh rate of 144Hz and supports HDR1000. There is a QHD variant, but I don’t see it listed yet. It also has a maximum memory capacity of up to 128GB DDR5, making it great for content creation and productivity.
It also comes with a 4TB Gen4 M.2 SSD, and there is a third M.2 slot that can support the upcoming Gen5 SSDs. MSI also uses a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard, which feels excellent to type on. The RGB lighting on this machine isn’t “screaming” compared to other gaming laptops. There’s also a fingerprint sensor for unlocking; it has several connectivity options, including an SD card reader and many more.
Among the gaming laptops listed here, the Titan GT77HX and the Raider GE78 have the most BIOS options available. You can overclock, tweak settings or fine-tune (almost) every aspect of the laptop.
Despite being one of the best RTX 4090 gaming laptops in this list, the GT77HX is not immune to faults or some of my nitpicks. The GT77HX is the heaviest laptop on this list, at 3.3 kg. It’s also the most expensive, especially the max-out config. The webcam is only 720p, and the surface can be a fingerprint magnet.
MSI Titan GT77HX RTX 4090 gaming laptop is available on Amazon here.
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) G634 RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop
If the 18-inch Strix Scar is too big for you, the next option is the ROG Strix Scar 16. The Strix Scar 16 G634 is like a smaller version of the Scar 18. It also features a Core i9-13980HX CPU, RTX 4090 laptop GPU (175W), DDR5 memory, two M.2 slots for SSD storage, etc. However, there are several differences that you should be aware of.
First, while the Strix Scar 16’s display is smaller, only 16″, it’s slightly better than the 18″ Strix Scar. The display on this model is a ROG Nebula HDR display offering a peak brightness of 1,110nits as advertised. Despite having a smaller display, this one is HDR1000 certified. It also has 100% DCI-P3, 240Hz refresh rate, and 3ms response time, mini LED, supports Dolby Vision and NVIDIA G-Sync, and has Pantone color validation.
Since the ROG Strix Scar 16 has a smaller body, there are a few things that you need to consider. Its performance is not on par with the Strix Scar 18. It’s close, but not neck-and-neck. It is because of the smaller body, thus a smaller heatsink area. It may run hotter than the 18-inch Strix Scar. There’s also no physical Numpad, although you can use the trackpad as a (digital) Numpad.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 RTX 4090 gaming laptop is available on Amazon here or another config here.
MSI Raider GE78 HX 13VI RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop
Aside from Asus’ ROG Strix Scar 18 and 16, MSI’s Raider GE78HX 13V is another gaming laptop for RGB aficionados. The Raider GE78 is not MSI’s flagship gaming laptop. So, it doesn’t have the bells and whistles, like the Cherry MX keyboard, fingerprint sensor, etc., found on the GT77HX. Nevertheless, it’s also powered by Intel’s Core i9-13980HX and NVIDIA RTX 4090 laptop GPU (175W).
The good thing about having fewer features is that the Raider GE78 HX is a (slightly) cheaper RTX 4090 gaming laptop than the Titan GT77 HX. Performance-wise, it performs similarly to other gaming laptops in this list that are powered with the same CPU and GPU config. It also has the same level of advanced BIOS options found on the GT77HX.
Basically, the Raider GE78 is a trimmed-down and cheaper version of the Titan GT77 HX, with a 2560×1600 240Hz IPS display. The bloatware is the only thing I am not a fan of MSI’s and even Asus’ or Razer’s laptops. Although some of these apps are useful, some are just unnecessary, depending on the use.
MSI Raider GE78 HX 13VI RTX 4090 gaming laptop is available on Amazon here.
Razer Blade 16 (2023) RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop
Last but not least is the Razer Blade 16 (2023). Unfortunately, the year is mandatory now to differentiate it from previous models or generations. Razer has been using the same “Blade” name for its gaming laptops for quite some time now. But the Blade 16 is the latest one that is powered by an Intel Core i9-13950HX CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU.
The Razer Blade 16 also features a dual-mode mini LED display. By dual mode, its 16″ IPS display can be used in 4K UHD+ 120Hz mode or FHD+ but with a faster 240Hz refresh rate. Gamers will have to option to switch between the two. The 4K mode may be suitable for content creation, productivity workloads, or watching (HDR) movies. And use the FHD+ 240Hz mode when gaming, especially fast-phase competitive gaming. Although, for me, it sounds like more of a gimmick than a real feature. With most 4K monitors/displays, you can adjust the resolution.
Razer is also using an ultra-compact GAN charger with the Blade 16. It is said to be 60% smaller than other 330W power adapters. It also has many connectivity options, including a UHS-II SD card reader. The design is also sleek and clean, similar to other Razer Blade laptops.
My only concern with Razer’s Blade laptops (in general) is quality. Some buyers are reporting poor quality control. Battery life is shorter due to the slightly smaller battery capacity, and it is also a fingerprint magnet.
Razer Blade 16 (2023) with RTX 4090 laptop GPU is available on Amazon here.
There you have it, guys! Currently, these are some of the best RTX 4090 gaming laptops in the market. All of these are excellent gaming machines. You only need to pick which gaming laptop suits your need, preference, and budget.
About NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU
You need to know a few things before buying any gaming laptop with an RTX 4090 laptop GPU. Buying a laptop is supposed to be easy, but NVIDIA made things a bit complicated due to their GPU naming scheme and different configs. Unfortunately, they didn’t make these things clear to the consumers.
RTX 4090 Laptop GPU is NOT Equal to RTX 4090 Desktop GPU
The GeForce RTX 4090 installed on all gaming laptops is not the same GPU chip used in the desktop RTX 4090. The RTX 4090 desktop GPU is based on an AD102 die with 16384 CUDA Cores, 128 RT Cores, 512 Tensor Cores, 24GB GDDR6X VRAM, and 450W TGP. Meanwhile, the RTX 4090 laptop GPU is based on an AD103 die, the same GPU die used on RTX 4080 desktop GPU. However, the RTX 4090 laptop GPU only has a boost clock speed of up to 2040 MHz, only 16GB GDDR6 VRAM, a slower memory clock (18 Gb/s), slower memory bandwidth (576 GB/s), and a TGP of 150W. The RTX 4090 laptop GPU is nowhere near the performance of some of the best RTX 4090 graphics cards.
Not All RTX 4090 Laptop GPUs Are The Same
Aside from the difference in specs, there are different RTX 4090 laptop GPU variants. Depending on the manufacturer, the RTX 4090 laptop GPU’s TGP can be configured from 80W up to 150W. So, an RTX 4090 laptop GPU with a TGP of 150W will outperform an RTX 4090 laptop GPU with only an 80W of TGP. In addition, an RTX 4080 laptop GPU with a fully unlocked TGP (~150W) may perform on par or even outperform an RTX 4090 laptop GPU with a lower TGP (below 100w).
The problem is some manufacturers do not disclose or make clear the TGP of the RTX 4090 on their gaming laptops. That’s why on this list, I only included the RTX 4090 gaming laptops with a TGP of 150W~175W. NVIDIA’s official specs are only up to 150W TGP. Still, manufacturers were able to overclock and unlock the RTX 4090 laptop GPU for up to 175W of power—more power results in more performance.
How Fast Is The RTX 4090 Laptop GPU?
Speaking of performance, just how fast is the RTX 4090 laptop GPU? When compared to a desktop GPU, the RTX 4090 laptop GPU performs somewhat similarly to an RTX 4070 Ti desktop GPU (give or take), depending on the configuration. It makes the RTX 4090 laptop GPU excellent for 1440p gaming and even capable of playing games at 4K. Although, you may need to enable DLSS and/or Frame Generation if you plan on playing at maximum graphics quality and effects.
See our GeForce RTX 4070 Ti graphics card review here.
Compared to the previous generation of laptop GPU, the RTX 4090 laptop GPU is almost 50% faster (on average) than the RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU in 1440p or nearly 60% faster in 4K resolution. That’s a huge performance difference. Not only that, the RTX 4090 laptop GPU supports DLSS 3 (Frame Generation) and has dual NVIDIA encoders with AV1 support. These two features are not available in the previous generations.
With these new features and computing power, these RTX 4090-powered laptops are not only excellent gaming machines, but they are also a productivity and content creation powerhouse.
