The best 4K monitors have stunning visuals with sharper and more detailed image quality than their 1080p and QHD rivals because of their higher pixel count. They also tend to have a higher brightness and better color accuracy with vivid colors and rich blacks, making them excellent for jobs like animation and graphic design or recreational activities like gaming and movies.

We’ve tested the best Macbooks and Windows laptops from popular brands this year and split them into categories like the best gaming and best 2-in-1 laptops to find the perfect option for every user. This time, we dove into the best 4K laptops at every price point that impressed us in our testing and deserve to be considered if you’re looking for amazing high-resolution visuals.

Best 4K laptops: Our highest performing picks

MSI’s Creator 16 AI Studio Laptop raises the performance bar with Intel’s latest 14th-gen Intel Ultra 9-185H with 64GB of RAM to run the most demanding tasks. Most buyers won’t use the 2TB SSD to its full capacity, but it’s still nice to have and can be upgraded with the microSD card reader if you need more space. Topping off the Creator 16 AI Studio Laptop is a top-of-the-range Nvidia RTX 4090 that can handle everything from animation apps to AAA gaming titles when paired with the show-stopper 16-inch UHD+ MiniLED Display.

Instead of traditional aluminum, the Creator 16 AI Studio Laptop uses a strong yet lightweight alloy called AZ91D that is resistant to fingerprints and contributes to its manageable 4.4-lb weight. Most rivals have average sound quality, and the Creator 16 AI Studio excels with four 2W speakers and a pair of 2W tweeters, providing excellent audio for media and gaming. It also has a versatile port selection with an HDMI 2.1, a USB-A, two USB-Cs, and an Ethernet port.

The best laptops don’t come cheap, and the MSI Creator 16 AI Studio Laptop justifies its cost by including the latest and most powerful components to handle anything in a versatile size. It’s worth it if you want the highest performance and a degree of future-proofing, but it might be overkill for buyers who’ll never use it to its full capabilities.

Razer is famous for pushing performance boundaries and knocked it out of the park with the innovative Blade 16, capable of switching between resolutions depending on the task at hand. Its 16-inch dual-mode LED display can operate at 4K UHD with a 120Hz refresh for movies and sports, then switch to FHD 1080 at 240Hz as an Esports monster. Performance doesn’t get any better with the top-of-the-range Nvidia RTX 4090 behind the scenes, and it will chomp up the most demanding games effortlessly.

It’s undoubtedly one of the best gaming laptops out there and can run animation apps, photo-editing software, and any other demanding software with Intel’s i9 13950HX and 32GB RAM. The 2TB SSD is decent and will handle large game installations and most media libraries. Considering its high performance, the Blade 16 keeps things fairly trim at 14 x 9.6 x 0.87 inches but isn’t the lightest at 5.4 lbs. The construction is top-notch, with a sturdy, anodized aluminum body and per-key RGB lighting, and it’s easy to connect to other devices with three USB-As, two USB-Cs, and an HDMI 2.1.

Elite gaming laptops like the Blade 16 don’t come cheap, and the mediocre battery life is a given, considering the high-resolution display and premium performance. It’s for buyers wanting uncompromising performance regardless of the cost and justifies its price with an unrivaled dual-mode display and outstanding all-around capabilities.

Dell’s Inspiron 16 2-in-1 offers the best value because of its unmatched versatility and competitive pricing. It comes in Dark River Blue or Platinum Silver with a stunning 16-inch 4K UHD OLED display, providing amazing visuals in laptop or tablet mode. There’s no compromise on build-quality ether with tough aluminum housing, and it’s one of the few laptops in its class to offer four 2-watt speakers. Connectivity is decent with two USB-As, two Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-Cs, 3.5mm audio, and an HDMI port limited to 1080p.

Performance is good enough for browsing, emails, and most business apps with an Intel i7-1360P CPU and 16GB of RAM, but it won’t do for gaming because of the Intel MX550 GPU. The 1TB SSD is standard at this price point and will do the job for most users.

The Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is the best option for casual buyers because it’s powerful enough to handle most tasks and has a stunning OLED display to enjoy movies and sports. Its versatile 2-in-1 design and great price combine to offer the best value when you’re shopping for a 4K laptop.

MSI’s Titan GT77 lives up to its name as a gaming giant able to run the most demanding titles on a massive 17.3-inch 4K UHD Mini LED display with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate. Its vivid colors and high brightness aren’t just for gaming and bring out the detail in movies, shows, and sports. The plastic construction is solid and feels justified, considering the laptop’s already considerable 3.3kg weight and 397 x 330 x 23mm size. Its classy design extends to the Cherry MX mechanical keyboard with per-key lighting that stands out with its tactile feel.

There’s no shortage of power, and Intel’s i9-13980HX, with 128GB of RAM and the top-of-the-range Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, allows it to handle anything you throw at it without breaking a sweat. Bulk is sometimes an advantage, and the Titan GT77’s enormous size houses three USB-A ports, two USB-Cs, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio, and an SD card reader. There’s also an HDMI and a mini DisplayPort to connect monitors or TVs.

Power comes at a price, and the Titan GT77’s audience is limited to those willing to fork out big bucks for the highest performance tier. It provides a degree of future-proofing because you won’t need to upgrade anytime soon, and it is a gaming monster, multimedia powerhouse, and business tool rolled into one thanks to its breathtaking display and unbelievable performance.

The 2-in-1 HP Spectre x360 can improve your productivity and save you money because it doubles as a massive tablet with its pristine 16-inch touchscreen. The OLED display offers deep black and rich colors to bring out the best in your content and includes Corning Gorilla Glass NBT for extra protection against bumps and scratches. It’s powered by the 4GB Intel Arc A370M GPU that offers great graphics for work and movies but isn’t the best for demanding games.

When it comes to power, Intel’s Core i7-1360P CPU and 16GB of RAM should handle everything from spreadsheets and browsing to productivity apps and should be enough for most users. The 2TB SSD is bigger than many higher-priced alternatives and can handle large media libraries and backups because of its impressive size. A sturdy aluminum body protects all the hardware and includes a handy stylus for jotting notes or sketching pictures.

HP’s Spectre x360 offers 2-in-1 versatility in a sturdy package with a stylus. It’s powerful enough to handle most daily tasks and has excellent visuals from the OLED display, although it isn’t the best for AAA gaming because of the standard graphics card.

Business people, non-gamers, and others who want a high-resolution big-screen display without a high-end graphics card might be better off with the HP Envy 17 laptop. Its 17.3-inch 4K UHD display makes it perfect for multitasking and switching between windows, and it’s just as good for watching movies or shows. The recycled aluminum construction gives it a sophisticated look and includes Bang & Olufsen speakers, three USB-As, an HDMI 2.1, two USB-Cs, and 3.5mm audio.

While it may be primarily designed for business, the Envy is suitable for most tasks with an Intel i7-13700H and 64GB RAM. The Intel Iris Xe graphics card isn’t the best for gaming, and an RTX 3050 is available as an optional extra if you’re willing to pay a few hundred more. You can fit countless documents and media files on the 1TB SSD, and it’s easily upgradable with the SD card reader or an external drive.

The HP Envy 17 is the perfect workstation replacement for buyers who need a massive display when they occasionally take their work on the road. Its bulk and mediocre battery life aren’t the best for all-day carry and on-the-go use, but they will be of little concern to those who enjoy all its benefits.

Chromebooks like Samsung’s Galaxy 2 are popular among students and buyers looking for a low-cost computing system. Its Intel i5-10210U processor and 8GB of RAM might not sound like much, but it’s enough for browsing productivity apps and other light tasks on the lightweight ChromeOS. The 256GB of memory is decent for the price and will be enough to store multiple app installation folders and countless spreadsheets and documents.

There’s nothing like it, and the distinct Fiesta Red stands out as a fun and unique option in a sea of monotony. The premium aluminum construction feels svelte and slim in hand with thin bezels around the 13.3-inch 4K UHD AMOLED touchscreen, which provides a secondary function as a tablet. A stylus is included for jotting notes or sketching, two USB-C ports for mice and keyboards, a 3.5mm audio in and out for headsets, and a MicroSD card reader.

The Galaxy 2 isn’t your average Chromebook and features premium build quality with a portable 13.3-inch touchscreen and decent performance for a low price. However, it’s strictly for lighter everyday tasks, and the app selection isn’t as comprehensive as its Windows rivals. The lack of USB-A ports might put off users with older printers or mice, but it makes up for its sophisticated style and eye-catching color.

Finding a good 4K laptop for the same low price as a 1080p alternative is challenging, but the extra cost is worth it if you’ll be sitting in front of it all day. The Asus Vivobook is one of the best options if you’re looking for a budget-friendly yet capable 4K laptop with enough power for most tasks. Its 16-inch 4K OLED display offers bright colors and sharp picture quality for recreational use, and the extended 16:10 aspect ratio provides more room for documents and spreadsheets.

The VivoBook 16X has decent performance for its price, with an Intel i7-12700H CPU and 16GB of RAM. Its Intel Iris Xe Graphics is fine for everything apart from gaming, and the 512GB SSD will get the job done to store work files. For a plastic laptop, it meets US MIL-STD 810H military-grade durability standards and includes three USB-A ports, a USB-C, an HDMI 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

This laptop is one of the most affordable 4K options with decent performance and a versatile 16-inch 4K display for work or play. It’s not perfect, and the drab plastic construction and 512GB SSD are forgivable for the price and won’t affect the stellar viewing experience.

The bottom line. Which 4K laptop is best?

The MSI Creator is the best 4K laptop because of its latest Intel 14-gen CPU and vivid display. Razer’s Blade 16 is the best premium option because of its unrivaled dual-mode 4K display, outstanding performance, and solid build quality. Anyone looking for the best value can try the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 because it has a 16-inch OLED display and adequate performance for most tasks at a competitive price.

How did we pick the best 4K laptops?

Our Pocket-lint team tests the latest laptops from major brands like Asus, HP, and Acer all year to see how they stack up and have hands-on experience with many options listed here. Laptops usually have a massive spec list, and we make it simpler to grade them by focusing on the display, performance, and value as the main factors when trying to find the best 4K options.

All the laptops mentioned have true 4K UHD resolution and come in various versatile sizes to suit different uses. We tried to add touch and non-touch options at every price point, so there’s one for everyone.

We lumped speed, storage space, and construction together for an overall performance score for this list. Many options are currently the best in their segments; even the more affordable models surpass their intended use.

Value is a given with every list we make, and this one was tough with so many premium options. The most expensive laptops listed here can justify their pricing by offering something unique to set them apart from most competitors, and there are some value-based options with incredible price-to-performance ratios.

FAQ

Q: Are 4K laptops worth it?

Yes, 4K laptops are worth it for the crisp picture and high resolution for movies, sports, and gaming. Noticing the extra pixels on smaller displays can be challenging, so we’ve tried to include options with larger screens that provide the most benefits.

Q: Can you get a 4K gaming laptop?

Yes, there are many 4K gaming laptops, like the Razer Blade 16 and MSI Titan GT77, that offer brilliant graphics and can handle the most demanding titles.

Q: Which laptops can output 4K?

Many 4K laptops, like the Gigabyte Aero 16 OLED and HP Envy 17, can output 4K, making them excellent for animation, graphics apps, and gaming.