The Ultimate 17 Inch Laptop Buying Guide for 2023: Top 11 Picks for Every Budget.

Are you on a quest to find the perfect laptop size that will fit all of your needs? Then look no further than the 17 inch laptops. These laptops are built to be big, bold, and beautiful, with large screens and powerful hardware that can handle even the most complex of tasks.

The 17 inch laptop is ideal for those who want to use their device for everything from work to gaming, video editing to streaming movies. Not only do they offer a lot of screen real estate, but they also provide plenty of space for an excellent keyboard and trackpad, making typing and navigation a breeze.

In this guide, we'll explore the pros and cons of owning a 17 inch laptop, discuss what to look for when purchasing one, and provide you with some top recommended models that you should consider if you're in the market for a new device. So, whether you're a student, a professional, or someone who just needs a big screen for their entertainment needs, a 17 inch laptop might just be the perfect choice for you.

The Intel Core i7 processor ensures your laptop has enough power to

When it comes to choosing a processor for your 17-inch laptop, you have several options available. Apple's latest silicon chips have been gaining popularity, but since they don't produce a 17-inch laptop, we will focus on AMD and Intel processors.

Firstly, determine your needs. Are you a gamer, a content creator, or a casual user? The processor you choose will depend on your requirements.

In terms of performance, 17-inch laptops differ from other laptop sizes due to their size and power requirements. They tend to have higher-end CPUs to cater to their needs, but they also need to balance battery life and heat management.

To assess the performance of a processor, there are several metrics you can look for. One of the most popular is Cinebench, which measures the processor's ability to render a 3D image. Other important factors include clock speed, core count, and power efficiency.

Below are our recommendations for different budget ranges:

Budget	Processor
Minimum	i5-1240P; Ryzen 5 6600U
Recommended	Ryzen 7 6800H; i7-12650H
High-end	i9-12900H; Ryzen 9 6900HX

Remember, when looking for a 17-inch laptop, make sure to consider all aspects of the device, not just the processor. Display quality, battery life, and overall build quality are equally important.

With a powerful graphics card, you can experience vibrant visuals

When it comes to gaming laptops, the graphics card is one of the most crucial components. While most laptops come with an integrated GPU, it's not enough for playing games at high settings and resolutions. Nvidia continues to dominate the laptop GPU market with its RTX series cards, but AMD's Radeon VII offers excellent value for money.

However, it's important to note that Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards. Now, an exact GPU wattage is determined by the laptop manufacturer, resulting in a wide variance in graphics performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.

If you're looking for a 17-inch gaming laptop, we recommend the following graphics cards:

Price Bracket	Recommended Graphics Cards
Minimum	RTX 3060
Recommended	RTX 3070; RX 6800M
High-end	RTX 3080

It's worth noting that not all laptops can accommodate multiple GPUs. If you want to run multiple graphics cards, make sure to check the laptop's specifications first.

To determine which GPU is best for your needs, we recommend using 3DMark benchmarks since they're more relevant than some synthetic tests like 3DMark Time Spy or Fire Strike, which don't always reflect actual gaming performance well enough (especially when comparing different generations of GPUs).

Lastly, keep in mind that a gaming laptop needs a good cooling system so that its processor and graphics card can reach their full potential without overheating. This is especially true if you're looking for a thin and light notebook since they often have less efficient cooling systems due to their smaller size and limited airflow within the chassis.

How Much RAM Do I Need in a 17-Inch Laptop?

With larger laptops having larger screens, higher resolutions and more powerful components, it makes sense that these systems would require more memory than your typical 13 inch laptop. While most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM, high-end systems come with 32 GB or more.

When it comes to gaming laptops, however, RAM isn't as important. Most gaming laptops come with 32 GB of memory from the factory, and that's enough for even the most demanding games. So, if you're looking for a laptop with a 17" display, you can get away with 8 GB or 16 GB. But if you want to future-proof your laptop, then 32 GB would be ideal.

When it comes to RAM types, the latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support both DDR4 and DDR5; however, DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology. So, in the end, there's no clear winner here, but DDR5 is faster and more future-proof than its predecessor; however, it comes at a price premium so I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to get it unless you're upgrading from an older laptop or you have the budget for it.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop that can last through years of use without slowing down, consider getting one with upgradable RAM (via SODIMM slots). This way, you'll be able to upgrade the RAM yourself in the future without having to buy an entirely new laptop!

RAM Recommendations

When it comes to the minimum RAM for a 17 inch laptop, we recommend 16 GB. This will give you enough performance for casual gaming and everyday tasks, but if you want to future-proof your laptop, 32 GB is the ideal choice.

For the high-end models, 32 GB or more should suffice. Keep in mind, though, that any additional RAM beyond that won't give you a performance boost, so you may be better off spending that money on something else.

Screen size	Minimum RAM	Recommended RAM
17 inches	16 GB	32 GB
18 inches	16 GB	32 GB

Get ready to take your laptop to new speeds with an SSD! Enjoy

When it comes to choosing an SSD for your 17-inch laptop, you are in luck. SSDs have taken over the market, making traditional HDDs and SATA SSDs a thing of the past. PCIe M.2 (usually NVMe) SSDs have become the standard, providing lightning-fast read and write speeds.

Storage capacity is the primary factor you need to consider when selecting an SSD. In the past, performance benchmarks were important, but nowadays, nearly all laptops come with a PCIe M.2 drive with an NVMe interface, and therefore, performance metrics can be ignored.

For a budget laptop that costs less than $900, a 500 GB SSD is an excellent starting point. However, as prices increase, so do storage capacity options. Mid-range laptops come with 1 TB SSDs, while high-end laptops costing around $2,000 or more feature 2 TB SSDs.

17.3" laptops are more likely to have a second drive or at least a free M.2 slot for future expansion, allowing for multiple drives. Additionally, some 17-inch laptops support the 2280 form factor, making it possible to upgrade with the same drives as a traditional desktop PC.

While most people won't require external drives, especially with a dual-drive setup, some jobs necessitate using a collection of external drives. For instance, external drives may be needed to store RAW photos, 10-bit footage, lossless audio samples, or backups of your projects. Fortunately, 17.3-inch laptops have ample ports, making it easy to connect additional drives.

We recommend at least 500 GB of storage for a 17-inch laptop. However, if you have the budget, go for a larger capacity SSD, such as a 1 TB or 2 TB drive, depending on your needs. Keep in mind that high-end laptops require an NVMe drive, so make sure to select one with the best performance.

Laptop Price Range	Average SSD Capacity
Below $900	500 GB
$900 to $2,000	1 TB
Above $2,000	2 TB

If you need to decide on an SSD for your 17-inch laptop, this guide provides the essential information and recommendations to assist you in making the right decision.

A Perfectly-Sized Display for Working and Entertaining

When it comes to laptop displays, there are a few things to consider before making a decision. First, let's talk about the different panel types available for 17 inch laptops. Currently, the standard is an IPS or IPS-level screen, with TN only found in the cheapest laptops. OLED is becoming increasingly prevalent, while mini LED backlighting may also be seen on professional laptops occasionally.

If you're into gaming, a high refresh rate panel (144Hz+) is a must-have. However, if you're a professional, an IPS panel with wide color coverage (100% sRGB or Adobe RGB) is recommended. When it comes to display resolution, Full HD is still the most common. QHD is found in premium gaming/business laptops, while 4K is most common in professional notebooks for creators.

There are several ways to check the quality of your display before buying a laptop. Contrast ratio, color gamut coverage, and viewing angles all give us an idea about how good the display is in terms of color accuracy and contrast ratio. For multimedia powerhouses, consider getting a laptop with G-Sync/FreeSync support to reduce input lag.

Below is a table of recommended laptop display specs for each price bracket:

Price Bracket	Panel Type	Brightness	Color Gamut
Budget	IPS/TN	280 nits	75% sRGB
Average	IPS	300 nits	90% sRGB
High-end	IPS/OLED	380 nits	100% sRGB

In conclusion, the display is one of the most important components in any laptop, especially if you're using it for work or entertainment. Consider the panel type, resolution, refresh rate, and color accuracy when making your decision. With the recommended specs for each price bracket, you can make an informed decision on which laptop display is right for you.

Battery life

When it comes to choosing the right battery for your 17 inch laptop, there are a few factors to consider. With advancements in battery technology, even budget laptops can achieve decent battery life of around 6 hours. However, more power-hungry components like a high-performance CPU, GPU, and a bright high refresh rate display can significantly impact battery runtime.

If you're considering a MacBook Pro, it's worth noting that while the latest models are equipped with a high-capacity battery, they still don't have the best battery life. With up to 10 hours of web browsing or 8 hours of video playback, the MacBook Pro is designed to be used plugged in most of the time. Therefore, if you're not too concerned about portability and would rather have a more powerful machine, you can afford to ignore battery life in your decision-making process.

When it comes to choosing a battery, don't assume that a higher capacity (mAh) will result in longer runtime. Comparing two batteries with the same capacity but different chemistries (LiPo vs Li-Ion), we'll find that LiPo batteries have shorter runtimes than their Li-Ion counterparts due to their lower energy density. It's best to check laptop reviews for runtime tests as they tend to be more reliable than manufacturer claims. Also, consider factors like wattage and size of the battery pack to give an idea of how long it'll last on a single charge.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop with high brightness and high refresh rate, it's important to note that these components will take a significant toll on battery runtime. Therefore, it's recommended to opt for a laptop with a high-capacity battery or consider an external battery pack.

When it comes to battery life expectations, a minimum of 3 hours is acceptable, while 5 hours is recommended. For those who need all-day battery life, high-end batteries can provide up to 9 hours of runtime on a single charge.

In terms of recommendations, we've compiled a list of recommended batteries organized by price. While individual reviews can provide more in-depth insights, the list is a good starting point for finding the right battery for your laptop.

Battery recommendations:

• Budget: Anker PowerCore 10000, RAVPower Portable Charger 20000mAh
• Mid-range: Zendure SuperTank, HyperJuice 130W
• High-end: MAXOAK Laptop Power Bank 185Wh, Omni 20+

5 Best Laptops for 17 inch

Table of the Best Laptops for 17 inch

Laptop	Price (approx)
MSI WE76 11UK
MSI GL76 Pulse
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4
Dell XPS 17 9720