If you need a laptop that can offer serious screen real estate while also packing in more power and a better cooling solution, a 17 inch laptop may be your best bet.
Bigger laptops are usually designed for gaming, but they can also be used by creatives and those who need a larger workspace for their work. These options are often more powerful than their 15-inch and 16-inch counterparts, but they are still lightweight enough to take on the go.
LG Gram 17
There are a lot of laptops on the market, but LG’s Gram 17 stands out for its screen size and light weight. It’s also MIL-STD-810G certified, which means you can use it to create military grade documents and videos on the go.
The 17-inch LG Gram is one of the brand’s most popular models and it’s a good option for anyone who wants a big screen without the bulk of a larger notebook. The laptop weighs less than two cups of coffee, and is a perfect travel companion for those who want a powerful work machine while staying mobile.
It features a 17-inch, 2k resolution display that’s driven by an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor. The chip is based on Intel’s Evo platform, which means it has been optimized for slimmer and lighter laptops. The i7 processor isn’t overkill for tasks like playing Facebook or using Google Chrome, but it will be helpful for those who want to create and edit video in Adobe Premiere Pro or crunch large spreadsheets in Excel.
On top of the i7 processor, the LG Gram 17 features Intel Iris Plus graphics and an impressive 1TB SSD. The system has 16GB of RAM, which is enough to handle most applications without a hitch, though it’s recommended you get at least a few extra gigabytes for better performance.
The IPS display on the LG Gram 17 is very nice, and it’s easy to see what’s going on in presentations. It has an anti-reflective coating, which makes it a lot easier to read and watch movies. The Gram 17 also supports variable refresh rate, which is a nice touch.
Battery life is also quite good on the Gram 17, thanks to an 80WHr battery that will give you eight hours of use on a heavy day. It comes with a power adapter that uses a pin-type connector, but it can be charged via USB-C.
The Gram 17 is also available in 14 and 16-inch variants. The 14-inch model comes with the same hardware and storage as the 17-inch version, but it’s a little lighter at 2.2lbs.
Asus ROG Zephyrus S17
The ROG Zephyrus S17 is a 17-inch gaming laptop from Asus that boasts a wide array of premium features. It is a powerful and expensive machine, but it is well worth the price.
The first thing to note about the S17 is its build quality. It is made out of heavy metal and has a rugged design. It also has a great keyboard, which pops up five degrees when opened and is an optical-mechanical design that feels good to use.
Another aspect of the S17 that I like is the cooling system. The fans are relatively quiet when compared to other 17-inch gaming laptops, and they only kick in during high-load games. The fan speed is low, too, which helps the device stay cool when plugged in to an external monitor.
As far as performance goes, the i9-9900K processor and GeForce RTX GPU are very fast and work well with most modern games. However, there are some minor issues that can cause stuttering in some games.
Our stress tests suggest that the Zephyrus S17’s engineering is quite solid, and it shows excellent sustained performance in CPU and CPU+GPU loads. The i9 and GeForce RTX both have average temperatures during these loads, and the CPU doesn’t overheat when the lid is opened.
Asus is known for its premium builds, and this one is no different. The chassis is crafted from thick pieces of metal that only bulge out when you press hard, and they don’t creak at all.
The lid has a diagonally bisected line that carries the ROG logo and name, while the bottom of the laptop is shaped with textured dots. The display is PANTONE validated and supports G-Sync.
The S17 is a great machine for gamers and content creators alike. It is an amazing performer with great battery life, a gorgeous display and six speakers that really deliver. But the best part is that it is super-portable, and its form factor allows Asus to pack in all of these features without compromising on quality. It’s definitely the best 17-inch laptop on the market.
Alienware m17 R5
Designed to be the ultimate gaming laptop, this machine is packed with powerful features and a stunning 4K display. It has the latest Intel Core i7 processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards that provide the power and performance needed to run demanding games at high settings and frame rates. It also has advanced cooling system that keeps the laptop cool and stable for prolonged gaming sessions.
The m17 R5 is a good 17 inch gaming laptop with an impressive display, great performance, and fantastic design. It has the option to choose between a 1080p 480Hz refresh rate or a 4K 120Hz display, and it can handle most triple-A titles without any trouble.
In addition, it has the latest AMD Ryzen processors and Radeon RX 6850M XT graphics. Its AMD Advantage software suite is optimized to get the most out of these components and give you a competitive edge in your gaming.
Aside from the amazing AMD hardware, the m17 R5 is also loaded with a ton of ports and connectivity options that make it a real desktop replacement. There are multiple USB Type-C ports, a full HDMI 2.1 port, a headphone jack, and a DC-in port.
One of the best things about this laptop is its price, which is a lot less than the other machines on this list. It is also a very sturdy and solidly built laptop that will last for years to come.
The m17 R5 also has an excellent keyboard that is designed to have the best travel distance and tactile feedback, making it easy to play long sessions of games. The m17 R5 is also one of the most stylish laptops on the market, with its brushed metal finish and a matte black color.
The m17 R5 is a great 17 inch gaming laptop that will perform well for most users. It is also a very affordable option for gamers who want to have an awesome gaming experience. It is available in a variety of configurations, including the Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU, and 8GB RAM.
MSI Creator Z17
The MSI Creator Z17 is a high-end work laptop that will appeal to creatives looking for a powerful machine. Its Intel Core i9-12900H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics card are excellent for demanding Adobe Suite and video editing. In addition, the 16:10 golden ratio display and touch screen make it easy to create detailed designs.
It also comes with a number of software tools for color critical tasks, including an MSI True Color app that lets you select from pre-defined color space presets like sRGB or DisplayP3, and the ability to adjust the display’s RGB gains. It also supports a variety of colorimeters to re-calibrate the display at home.
In our testing, the Z17 managed a score of 7,421 in PCMark 10 Complete, which is good for third place behind the Razer Blade 17 and the Gigabyte Aero 16. The laptop did well in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with ray tracing and DLSS turned off, and in Fortnite at 1200p and epic graphics.
As with previous MSI ‘Creator’ laptops, the Z17’s display isn’t as accurate as some of its competitors, particularly in the narrower AdobeRGB gamut. However, MSI has stepped up its game with the latest version of its colorimeter-based display calibration tool. It’s now compatible with three colorimeters and allows you to re-calibrate the display in both sRGB and DisplayP3 format, while providing the option to manually adjust the display’s RGB gains.
Another big upgrade is the inclusion of a HDMI 2.1 port, which was missing from the Z16. The addition of this connector makes the Z17 even more portable, while freeing up one of its three USB ports.
With a 12th-gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000-series graphics card and 2TB of storage, the Z17 is an excellent choice for creative professionals who need to do more than just edit. Its powerful hardware and impressive features are sure to appeal to gamers as well.
The battery life of the Creator Z17 is fine for everyday use, but heavy Adobe Suite work or gaming with high visual fidelity will eat through the 90WHr battery fast. Thankfully, MSI has provided some extra options within the MSI Center Pro app for tweaking various settings to preserve the battery.