The Best RTX 4090 Gaming Laptops

The RTX 4090 is considered the best when it comes to desktop GPUs. The RTX 4090 for laptops looks to repeat this trend but for mobile devices, it has eschewed in a new generation of very premium gaming laptops that carry a price tag to match Nvidia’s fastest Laptop-grade GPU. At the same time, gaming laptops that offer an RTX 4090 tend to also be the highest-end laptops for productivity, nearly always having a high-end or highest-end mobile CPU and supporting hardware baked in making it a great choice for gamers, professionals and enthusiasts alike.

What Makes An RTX 4090 Laptop Unique?

The answer is both straightforward and one that you can write a story about depending on what you wish to focus on. The RTX 4090 Laptop GPU is currently by far the fastest mobile GPU money can buy in any laptop SKU. It happens to offer not only best-in-class performance versus any competing GPU offerings, including lower-end RTX 4000 GPUs as well as the entire RTX 3000 series lineup but also significant efficiency gains versus the latter.

The Nvidia RTX 4090 Laptop GPU relative to the previous generation high-end Nvidia Laptop GPU offerings

To achieve this, it leverages its large gains on DLSS 3.0 (and more recently, DLSS 3.5), a smaller process node (5nm vs 8nm last generation), and a significantly larger die in terms of transistor count (smaller in actual size) and density while offering much more efficient performance than the competition from AMD as well as its last-generation GPUs.

How Fast Is An RTX 4090 Laptop GPU In Absolute Terms?

An RTX 4090 Laptop GPU has more in common with the RTX 4080 than the RTX 4090 when you look at desktop versions. It shares the same die and therefore the same die size and transistor count as the RTX 4080 desktop GPU. It does, however, have two crippling factors: it ships with slightly slower memory (18GBPS effective vs 22.4GBPS on the desktop chip), and significantly reduced total graphics power (TGP) relative to the desktop RTX 4080, capping out at 165W (150W default) versus the RTX 4080 that is rated for a TDP of 320W.

In real terms, the RTX 4090 mobile’s performance closely mimics an RTX 4070 desktop apart from the benefits of higher VRAM and can be compared to the RTX 3080 desktop in terms of raw rasterization potential before DLSS3 upscaling kicks in, swinging performance towards the RTX 4000 series thanks to its performance bias for the Ada Lovelace architecture.

Related

The Best Gaming Laptops under $1500

A list of some of the best laptops gamers can buy under $1500 to max out their gaming experience and productivity needs

Looking for other options? Check out Game Rant’s list of the best gaming laptops for 2023. Alternatively, if you are considering grabbing a gaming laptop for less, some of the best gaming laptops are on sale this holiday season with deep discounts in play.

Not all RTX 4090-based laptops perform the same way or cater to the same audience with some focusing on raw performance, others on form factor, and some on productivity-centric features, making this a difficult-to-navigate series of contenders. The team at GameRant takes a closer look at some of our best picks for gaming on a Laptop with an RTX 4090 in 2023 below:

Game Rant’s picks for the Best RTX 4090 Laptops for 2024

ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D

Best Overall RTX 4090 Laptop for Gaming

AMD’s X3D Leaves A Mark

The ROG Scar 17 X3D from Asus is a gaming and productivity laptop that features the first AMD mobile processor with 3D V-Cache, the Ryzen 9 7495HX3D. The laptop is also powered by an RTX 4090 mobile GPU that has a TGP of 175W. It comes with 32GB of DDR5-4800 RAM, 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD. It packs a 17.3-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS display with 240 Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. The ROG Scar 17 X3D sports a 90WHr battery, and it supports 100W charging via USB Type-C, along with charging through its massive 330W AC adapter. 

Brand

ASUS ROG

Storage

2TB

CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D

Operating System

Windows 11

Battery

90Whr

Camera

720P HD Camera

Display (Size, Resolution)

17.3, WQHD, 2560×1440

Weight

6.61 lbs

GPU

Nvidia RTX 4090

Speakers

2-speaker system

Pros

• Comes with the fastest laptop gaming CPU and GPU config (Ryzen 9 7945HX3D + RTX 4090)
• Offers a decent amount of RAM and SSD storage
• Has a decent 2K resolution display with a 240Hz refresh rate in tow
• Consumes less power than its Intel-based alternatives while gaming
• Priced better than most of its more premium-grade top-of-the-line alternatives
• Has a dedicated MUX switch on offer
• Has Per-key RGB on the keyboard with an extra RGB lighting layer under the chassis
• Uses liquid metal as part of its cooling mechanism

Cons

• It is less of a laptop and more of a desktop replacement
• Has not gone on sale to date, making it a full MSRP purchase for gamers
• Battery life is unimpressive
• No USB 4 or Thunderbolt ports on offer

The ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D happens to be one of the newer RTX 4090 gaming laptops in play thanks to its release in time to benefit from AMD’s newest X3D CPUs that happen to be the fastest gaming-grade CPUs on Laptops and PCs alike. While the 16-core, 32-thread AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D CPU is no slouch in productivity workloads and benchmarks, it shines particularly in gaming thanks to AMD’s 3D V-Cache tech allowing it to leverage an enlarged, superfast L3 cache.

It does quite well on the aesthetics front too, with the ROG logo prominently displayed in multiple areas of the laptop which offers a clean, professional look that exudes power. The AC adapter port along with the essentials one needs to set it up as a proper desktop replacement are all located at the back of the laptop.

The keyboard is a full-sized affair with a complete numpad on offer along with per-key RGB lighting for its chicklet keys with a comfortably large touchpad thrown into the mix. On the cooling end, while the Scar 17 X3D tends to run cooler thanks to its Zen 4-based CPU, ASUS has pulled out the stops to ensure it stays that way along with the RTX 4090, both of which get premium treatment thanks to Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme on the latter along with a dedicated vapor chamber in tow.

All in, the ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D is a complete package that has yet to see any major price cuts but remains one of, if not the fastest gaming laptops money can buy at a price tag that can arguably be called a bargain when compared to some of its more expensive peers in the RTX 4090 laptop category. It also comes with a complimentary 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription ($45 value) which should dull the blow slightly on one’s wallet after purchasing one of the fastest gaming laptops money can buy in 2024.

MSI Raider GE78 HX 17.3 Gaming Laptop

Best Overall Alternate RTX 4090 Laptop for Gaming

Top-End CPU Meets Top-End GPU

The MSI Raider GE78 HX 17.3-inch Gaming Laptop is one of the best all-around RTX 4090 PCs players can currently grab with the top-of-the-line Intel Core i9 processor, the RTX 4090. It also has an excellent display coupled with plenty of RAM and SSD space.

Brand

MSI

Storage

2TB NVME SSD

CPU

Intel Core i9-13980HX

Memory

32GB DDR5

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Battery

4-Cell 99 Whr Battery

Ports

USB Type-C, USB Type A, SD Card, HDMI, Ethernet

Camera

1080P 30FPS

Display (Size, Resolution)

2K (2560×1600) 17.3”, 240Hz

Weight

6.8 lbs

GPU

RTX 4090 16GB GDDR6 175W

Form

17.3”

Network

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2.5G Ethernet

Speakers

2x 2W Speakers, 4x 2W Woofers

Power

330W AC Power Adapter

Pros

• Has an excellent 2K, 240Hz ‘IPS-level’ display
• Has plenty of RAM and Storage thanks to 32GB in memory and 2TB in NVME storage
• Comes with a top-of-the-line Intel Core i9 processor and the highest-end laptop variant of the RTX 4090 currently available
• Offers Thunderbolt (USB 4) ports built into the laptop

Cons

• Still somewhat more expensive versus competing RTX 4090 laptops
• Runs loud with any workload/while gaming

The MSI Raider GE78 HX 17.3′ Gaming Laptop is an excellent RTX 4090 laptop that focuses on the core needs of gaming in 2023 while toeing the trusted Intel CPU line which has dominated the gaming laptop market to date. With a powerful 24-core Intel Core i9-13980HX coupled with an RTX 4090, the Raider is pretty much one of your best options if you are looking to game and multiplayer gaming is a focus thanks to the 2K 240Hz IPS-line display in tow.

As with most RTX 4090 laptops, the Raider GE78 does trade at a significant premium, even for its specs, with cheaper options available that also come close. It does however outdo them by using a faster CPU to drive performance and offers meaningful upgrades in the storage and memory areas even if it does run somewhat louder than most of its competition under load.

If users need even more power than a laptop RTX 4090 chip can offer (equivalent to desktop RTX 4070TI or slightly slower), the included singular Thunderbolt 4 show allow users to add a more powerful eGPU down the line, making it a more viable desktop replacement choice than its peers.

With an excellent keyboard and plenty of RGB lighting in tow, MSI’s Raider makes a compelling case for itself as a gaming laptop to consider for gamers looking for a well-rounded gaming device that does it all. It also happens to be trading at a sub-5 percent discount versus its earlier pricing that stuck to MSRP levels.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 (Core i9, RTX 4090)

Best Budget RTX 4090 Laptop for Gaming

Thin And Light RTX 4090 Laptop

$3000 $3500 Save $500

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is a no-compromise gaming laptop that also happens to trade at a significant discount currently while packing a 14 Core Intel Core i9 CPU that is perfect for gaming with Nvidia’s fastest mobile GPU, the RTX 4090.

With plenty of RAM, storage, and connectivity options on offer, the Zephyrus M16 also packs an impressive 2K 240Hz Mini LED Nebula display that can push as much as 1100 Nits during games, making for an excellent HDR gaming panel versus the competition.

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

CPU

Intel Core i9-13900H

GPU

GeForce RTX 4090 16GB

RAM

32GB DDR5 (16G x 2) 4800 MHz

Storage

2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

Battery

90WHr 4-cell Li-ion Battery

Display (Size, Resolution)

16″ 240Hz 3ms QHD+ Mini LED Display

Ports

Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2

Network

Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3

Dimensions

13.98″ x 9.69″ x 0.78″

Weight

4.63 lbs

Brand

ASUS

Model

GU604VY-XS97

Power

280W AC Adapter

Pros

• Has an excellent Mini-LED display that offers a 2K resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response times
• One of the cheapest RTX 4090 gaming laptops available when on sale
• Has plenty of RAM and storage under the hood
• Far thinner and lighter than its other RTX 4090-touting alternatives
• Runs relatively quieter than its competition

Cons

• The RTX 4090 in this SKU is limited to 120W power (145W with Dynamic boost) which makes it a slower gaming laptop compared to its peers
• Comes with a considerable amount of ASUS bloatware preinstalled

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers up a 14-core Intel Core i9 13th-generation CPU that isn’t the fastest laptop processor on the block but one that can handle its user’s gaming needs fairly well. It bundles this with a decent dual channel config of 32GB DDR5 RAM coupled with 2TB of PCI-E 4.0 storage in tow with room for more expansion if needed.

It offers a sub-150W (120W+25W boost) RTX 4090 that is slightly slower than its peers on this guide but makes up for it by offering one of the most portable gaming laptops in a category where every other alternative is essentially a desktop replacement. This essentially makes it one of the most powerful, yet portable gaming laptops on offer in the 16′ form factor. This advantage is further pressed thanks to it leveraging the ASUS Nebula HDR display which is a MINI LED panel offering a 2K resolution with 240 Hz refresh rates and a 3ms response time in tow.

While users might not like the slightly slower RTX 4090 on offer due to its power limitations coupled with ASUS adding on a significant amount of software bloat that becomes more visible given its slightly slower CPU than the other RTX-4090-touting ASUS offerings it draws comparisons against, others will find it a surprisingly refreshing take on a gaming laptop, bringing the RTX 4090 to a lower weight and dimensions class versus its competition and a price tag thanks to a sale at Best Buy that is considerably more digestible than its peers that oscillate closer to the $4000 mark late.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop

Best Mid-Range RTX 4090 Laptop for Gaming

16-Inch Powerhouse

$3602 $3700 Save $98

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop comes packed with features including a Mini-LED 2K display, the best Intel laptop CPU money can buy, and plenty of storage and RAM in a neat 16-inch package that still allows you to get the performance you need versus competing 17-inch laptops.

Brand

ASUS ROG

Storage

2TB (1+1TB in RAID 0 config)

CPU

Intel Core i9-13980HX

Memory

32GB DDR5

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

Battery

4 cell 90WHr Battery

Ports

USB-C, USB-A, Thunderbolt, Ethernet, Headphone Jack, HDMI 2.1

Camera

720P Camera

Display (Size, Resolution)

2K (2560 x 1600), Mini-LED, 240Hz

Weight

5.73 lbs

GPU

RTX 4090 Laptop GPU

Form

16”

Network

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5G Ethernet

Speakers

4 Speakers

Power

330W AC Adapter

Dimensions

13.94″ x 10.39″ x 0.89″

Pros

• Has an excellent 2K, 240Hz Mini LED display
• Has plenty of RAM and Storage thanks to 32GB in memory and 2TB in NVME storage
• Comes with a top-of-the-line Intel Core i9 processor and the highest-end laptop variant of the RTX 4090 currently available
• Offers upgraded cooling and one of the best liquid metal solutions available to allow gamers to be able to game longer with sustained high clocks

Cons

• The plastic chassis at this price point is a bit iffy especially since some of its direct competitors do come with more premium material
• Speakers and webcam are mid-range for a high-end gaming laptop

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop is a 16-inch gaming laptop that goes toe to toe with most of the 17.3′ gaming laptops that also sport the RTX 4090 without making any compromises when it comes to performance. Its crown jewel however is its impressive 2K, 240Hz MiniLED display that is brighter than most of its competitors while still pushing an impressive 240 frames a second with hardware that can push that kind of visual fidelity in tow.

Our main gripe with the Scar 16 is its use of a 720P webcam and sub-par speakers given that it is taking on much more premium laptops than itself in terms of price point, even considering its own pricing, and will be held to task for having anything but the best money can buy at those price points. That being said, the plastic chassis might not be for everyone given its competition uses better materials such as metal to form the laptop’s chassis.

It does however clock in at a relatively lower 5.7 lbs which should help with portability while keeping performance numbers in line with much larger laptops in terms of weight and form factor as it goes toe to toe with even 18-inch RTX 4090-touting laptops in 2023.

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop is an excellent alternative to some of the heavier RTX 4090 touting gaming laptops. It also happens to be available at a significant discount versus the competition thanks to aggressive pricing discounts with multiple retailers, making it an excellent, no-compromise mid-range gaming laptop.

Razer Blade 18 Gaming Laptop (RTX 4090)

Best Premium RTX 4090 Laptop for Gaming

Pushing Boundaries and Screen Sizes

The Razer Blade 18 Gaming Laptop is a laptop that pushes the boundaries of what people can genuinely call a gaming laptop (but in a good way). Razer has no qualms about it, calling it the ultimate desktop replacement with a feature-packed offering that also comes with some of the most premium pricing in the market.

Brand

Razer

Storage

2TB NVME (1+1TB SSD)

CPU

Intel Core i9-13950HX 24 Core Processor

Memory

32 GB DDR5 5600MHz

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Battery

91.7 WHr Li-Ion Battery

Ports

USB-A, USB-C, HDMI 2.1, SD Card, Ethernet

Camera

5MP Webcam (Windows Hello support)

Display (Size, Resolution)

2K (2560 x 1600), 18′ 240 Hz IPS

Weight

6.80 lbs​

GPU

RTX 4090 16GB GDDR6 175W

Form

18”

Network

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet 2.5G

Speakers

2 Speaker, 4 Woofer Array

Model

RZ09-0484UEH4-R3U1

Power

330W AC Power Adapter

Pros

• Excellent metal finish gives it an advantage versus comparable models thanks to its premium feel as it caters to the highest-end consumer markets
• The 18-inch screen is excellent and makes the Blade 18 stand out versus the competition thanks to added screen real estate
• Comes with a capable Intel Core i9 processor and the latest RTX 4090 GPU in tow
• Offers Thunderbolt USB 4 for future eGPU upgrades

Cons

• The thinner design does translate to weaker performance possibly due to thermal throttling versus some of its competitors
• Seems to skip a numpad despite having plenty of space to fit in a full keyboard

The Razer Blade 18 isn’t a typical gaming laptop. It is the pinnacle of what current cutting-edge technology looks like. It has the looks to match, going toe to toe, if not further than competing Apple MacBook Pros with ease in terms of its looks and design. There are reasons that the Blade is considered the Macbook equivalent for the PC market and a significant portion of them are the design choices that Razer has made along the way to ensure it is a fashion statement while hitting hard in the hardware department.

One small gripe with the Razer Blade 18 is the lack of a full keyboard, which seems to mainly be a purely aesthetic choice. At the same time, the 18-inch blade is much thinner and sleeker than its competition. Still, it does come at the cost of severe performance throttling thanks to thermal limitations that will make it significantly harder for you to get the best out of what is otherwise a very capable laptop.

The Razer Blade 18 has not seen a significant price movement in the last few weeks. This is primarily due to Razer’s price control, which tends to be tighter than most of its competition. However, it does still happen to be one of the thinnest gaming laptops in the somewhat niche 18-inch gaming laptop market while offering a large amount of power that gamers, enthusiasts, and power users can tap with ease – At the cost of $4500 apiece.

Note: The Razer Blade 18 comes with a limited-time $400 Razer Gift card offer above (exclusively for Razer.com purchases). While that isn’t a direct discount that some might hope for, it does allow gamers to pick up additional accessories for free or at a heavy discount, making it an appealing proposition to consider for one of the largest and most premium gaming laptops recommended by Game Rant.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Gaming Laptop (RTX 4090)

Best RTX 4090 Laptop For Productivity

Dual Screen Superiority

$3800 $4000 Save $200

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Gaming Laptop is a gaming laptop that can double as a very capable productivity-centric PC in the blink of an eye. Sporting dual screens including a 2K Mini-LED primary and a 4K-esque secondary screen, the Zephyrus Duo is an eye-catching Laptop, now with hardware to match thanks to a capable AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX processor and an Nvidia RTX 4090 in tow to power what is a behemoth by modern laptop standards

Brand

ASUS ROG

Storage

2TB PCI-E 4.0

CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX 16-Core CPU

Memory

32GB DDR5 4800MHz

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

Battery

90WHr 4 Cell Battery

Ports

USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, Headphone Jack

Camera

1080P, 30FPS

Display (Size, Resolution)

16′ 2K, Mini LED, 240Hz + 14′ (3840 x 1100) IPS-level

Weight

5.89 lb

GPU

RTX 4090 16GB GDDR6 175W

Form

16′

Network

Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2 + 2.5G Ethernet

Speakers

6 Speaker Array

Power

330W AC Adapter

Dimensions

13.98″ x 10.47″ x 0.81″

Pros

• Features an excellent Mini-LED display that outdoes its competition while offering 240Hz refresh rates in tow
• Offers an innovative design that has improved over the last few generations to add more utility
• Excellent audio thanks to its 6-speaker array out of the box
• Has suprisingly good thermals for a productivity-centric laptop

Cons

• Slightly underperforms versus its immediate competition
• Has somewhat limited battery life thanks to its dual display configuration
• Lacks Thunderbolt 4 connectivity

The Asus Zephyrus Duo 16 is not a laptop you see every day and with good reason: It is an expensive take on a gaming laptop that somewhat limits the clock speeds of its RTX 4090 to get there. That doesn’t mean it performs poorly, however, just that it isn’t the fastest RTX 4090 laptop kid on the block. The Zephyrus Duo 16 is a dual-screen laptop that focuses on multitasking and productivity as a core play despite its gaming-centric badging and delivers on its promise with quality audio, excellent displays, and a full keyboard in tow if you need it.

It does also take a small hit in battery life to do so while remaining in a 16-inch spec thanks to its dual screens and slightly smaller battery just like its lower clocks keep it from pushing the same graphics performance some of the beefier laptops can deliver. Do note that the bulk of laptops we currently consider capable RTX 4090 performers sit mostly in the 17 or 18-inch range and have much more capable thermals in tow to ensure they can run at higher clocks longer without throttling, unlike the Zephyrus.

The Zephyrus Duo 16 isn’t a performance disappointment; It has a very capable CPU and a GPU and delivers excellent performance versus the bulk of laptops it competes with. If you are looking for the fastest RTX 4090 laptop out there, the Zephyrus Duo 16 isn’t it. But then it never professed to be. It is, however, a capable contender that can outdo its competition when it comes to productivity tasks if you need a second screen while trying to skip lugging around a second monitor or display option, making it worthy of your consideration if you game and work on the go.

The Zephyrus Duo 16 is not everyone’s cup of tea, but recent price changes do make it considerably more approachable with designers and power users able to pick one up at a sub $4000 price tag, unlike its earlier, highly-scalped price tag which saw it briefly trade at over $5000 with ease. It makes it an excellent, creator-centric choice that can game, render, and do much more in a unique form factor that has uses well beyond a desktop.

RTX 4090 Laptop Price Trends: December 2023

While the RTX 4090’s mobile version has largely gone unnoticed compared to its desktop variant that has strong underlying institutional demand from various countries due to its AI potential, the RTX 4090 laptops are mostly in stock and unaffected by shortages or price gouging primarily given their status as cutting edge portable devices that would be hard to justify in most data centers.

At the same time, a shortage of the desktop RTX 4090s does mean that the onus of satisfying a lot of consumer demand falls squarely on the desktop RTX 4080 and 4070TI as well as the laptop RTX 4090s, all of which as a result have seen price points barely move since the last few weeks.

With rumors of Nvidia pushing out the newer RTX 4000 Super Series as early as Jan 2024, most gaming laptops should see price revisions as newer models come out accompanied by Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs and potentially AMD’s next-generation chips soon after. The RTX 4090 gaming laptops might be an outlier since there is no rumored upgrade to the RTX 4090 just yet and the current set of laptops might remain the ultimate mobile gaming options for the foreseeable future (with potential CPU upgrades down the line).

FAQ

Q: What is the fastest RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop Currently?

The fastest RTX 4090-based gaming laptop currently is the MSI Titan GT77 with the ROG Scar 18 pushing a close second thanks to its superior gaming performance.

Q: Is the RTX 4090 Laptop/Mobile The Same As An RTX 4090 Desktop?

No, the RTX 4090 Laptop/Mobile chip is comparable to a desktop RTX 4080 but comes with much more limited power in tow. It also is limited to 16GB of GDDR6 memory, unlike the desktop version that has 24GB of GDDR6X memory in play. Most laptops that feature an RTX 4090 are limited to 175W TGP (Total Graphics Power).