At the same time, you might be told that all gaming laptops have a bad case of thermal throttling. However, it is essential to know that most of these claims are just of the past, and gaming laptops have become significantly better over the year. In my experience, these laptops can easily rival desktops. So, if you are still looking for one, you should keep looking and go through this list as I will walk you through the best of the best.
Best RTX 2080 Laptops For Gamers – A Detailed Chart
Best RTX 2080 Laptop
It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that the RTX 2080 is a beastly GPU for gaming. Granted, it has become old now, but that does not mean that the performance has taken any hit. It is still one of the best-performing GPUs available in the market.
#1- Razer Blade 15 Advanced Gaming Laptop
Razer’s foray into the gaming laptop market took everyone by surprise. Everyone’s favorite peripheral maker started making laptops as well. The first few were a hit and miss, but it did not take them long enough to catch up, and when they did, it was brilliant.
8-core Intel Core i7 10875H. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q design. Equipped with 4K OLED panel with 100% DCI-P3 coverage and HDR 400. CNC aluminum unibody frame. Vacuum-sealed, liquid-filled copper vapor chamber.
The laptop is one of the best when it comes to overall performance. The performance in gaming is as impressive as you can hope for. Razer offers you a lot of customization options to choose from. The battery life is one of the most solid factors of this laptop.
The chassis is a magnet for both dust and fingerprints.
The Razer Blade 15 Advanced Gaming Laptop is a testament to that and Razer’s dedication of delivering fantastic hardware packed in gorgeous looks. The Blade 15 advanced is one of the best-looking laptops that has a stellar build quality. The gaming performance remains as impressive as it can get. Razer is also allowing you to customize your laptop the way you want in terms of specs, and the overall battery life is solid, which came as a surprise to me, considering how most gaming laptops this powerful suffer. At this point, the only downside for me was the fact that the chassis itself, being made out of brushed aluminum a dust and fingerprint magnet.
#2- ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 Gaming Laptop
Asus is known as one of the companies that love pushing the limits, and we love them for that. If you are looking for something that you know will not have any compromises, simply turn to Asus. Whether you are talking about graphic cards, motherboards, or gaming laptops, Asus will deliver. The Razer Blade 15 Advanced can be best summed as one of the best overall laptops in the market, thanks to how good it is when you are talking performance. I know at some points, it sounds too good to be true, but if you are in search of a laptop that delivers exceptionally well-balanced performance, this is it. The cooling is adequate, and the overall laptop performance is top-notch for what you are paying. The small issue with the chassis being prone to fingerprints is nothing to be taken seriously.
Equipped with RTX 2080 Super with ROG Boost. Liquid metal cooled Intel Core i9 10980HK. 17.3” FHD display with 300Hz refresh rate. 32GB DDR4 at 3,200 MHz combined with 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. ROG Aura Sync with RGB keyboard, logo, and Light Bar.
The performance is top of the line. The 300Hz display is an absolute treat to use. Lots of RAM and storage available. Solid and great looking build quality. The LED trim looks good.
The trackpad is pretty small for the size of the laptop. There is no webcam.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 Gaming Laptop is a testament to the statement above as it is one of the most feature-packed gaming laptops available in the market. For starters, it packs a Core i9 along with an RTX 2080 Super, which already makes it beat the competition by a fair degree. Not just that, the 300Hz display is gorgeous to use and, and the laptop itself is packed with blazing-fast storage and RAM. If you want more, this laptop delivers exceptionally designed chassis that is attractive and sturdy, as well, and last but not the least, there are tastefully done RGB all around the laptop. My only concerns here are that the laptop has a somewhat small touchpad, and there is a lack of webcam. But if you are okay with these, the Strix Scar 17 is your next laptop.
#3- MSI GE75 Raider Gaming Laptop
MSI is one of the brands that managed to reach the stage of gaming laptops a bit late. However, that does not mean they are bad. MSI has had a ton of experience outside the gaming laptops delivering fantastic gaming components. Simply enough, they knew what they were doing. In more ways than one, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 Gaming Laptop is a no-compromises laptop as it delivers exceptional performance, great looks, and top of the line cooling, to begin with. Granted, the lack of a webcam and a smaller than average trackpad might worry some. But if you look past these shortcomings, you are getting a laptop that delivers top of the line performance.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q design. Intel Core i9 10980HK. 32GB DDR4 at 2,666 MHz and 1TB NVMe SSD. SteelSeries keyboard with per-key RGB lighting. 17.3” FHD display with 300Hz refresh rate.
You are getting a great 1080p gaming performance. The design has received a refresh and looks great. 300Hz display is a treat to enjoy. You get a lot of ports. The speakers are loud.
The display lacks G-Sync. The battery is average at best.
The MSI GE75 Raider Gaming Laptop is just one laptop that proves MSI’s dedication towards not only gamers but also those who want the best of everything. The laptop delivers exceptional performance, and gaming looks incredible on a gorgeous screen that has razor-thin bezels. Not just that, MSI has understood our woes regarding the lack of ports in modern laptops and has given us more ports than we may want to use, and that is a good thing. You are also getting a speaker that is fairly loud and clear, even at max volumes. Once you move past the incredible things this laptop has to offer, we are welcomed by some issues. For starters, the laptop does not offer G-Sync despite going as high as 300Hz in refresh rate. The battery life is poor, and the lack of a good webcam is a problem.
#4- Omen by HP Gaming Laptop
HP is not new to laptops, for starters. The company has been making laptops for as long as anyone can remember, and it is safe to say that you will find at least a few HP laptops at someone’s house or an office. Which is a good thing. However, HP’s foray into gaming laptop in the form of Omen is what I am talking about today. For anyone who is looking for a good laptop that delivers on all fronts, the MSI GE75 Raider is something that you should be looking into. The performance is exceptional, and the laptop even has the looks to back itself up. The only gripes here refer to the lack of G-Sync or average battery life, but everything else is packed neatly into this powerful package that will deliver exceptional performance through and through, and you will not have to worry about anything else.
Desktop grade RTX 2080. 17.3-inch FHD 144Hz display with G-Sync support. Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-core processor. 16GB DDR4 at 2,666 Mhz, 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and 1TB SATA HDD. Thunderbolt 3 port.
The performance in gaming is top-notch. The G-Sync enabled display is a treat to use. Lot of ways to configure your laptop. Good speakers. Thunderbolt 3 port is great to have.
The cooling fans can be noisy. Keyboard backlighting isn’t as bright.
The Omen by HP Gaming Laptop is an aptly named gaming laptop that does not give much away when you are looking at its name. However, it is only when you start digging, you realize just how good of a laptop it is. For starters, it is one of the best performers all around with a desktop-sized RTX 2080. You are also getting a high refresh rate display with G-Sync enabled, and a lot of ways to configure the laptop out of the factory. The speakers are pretty good, and having macro keys along with a Thunderbolt 3 port is great. On the flip side, I would have wished a quieter cooling solution and better backlighting on the keyboard, but if you are okay with these shortcomings, the Omen delivers on all fronts you would want a gaming laptop to deliver on.
#5- ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo Gaming Laptop
Asus has a company that loves to push the limits, and we, as consumers and tech enthusiasts, are all for it. I understand that this might not bode well with everyone, but hey, if you are looking for an Asus laptop that delivers exceptional performance, you are at the right place. If you are looking for a gaming laptop that does not send a lot of compromises your way, then going for the Omen by HP Gaming Laptop makes a lot of sense. It is known for delivering exceptionally well-balanced performance for a great price, and you are not losing out on a lot of the greatness, either. If you want performance, this laptop is going to deliver that without costing an arm and a leg. Which is great considering how good it overall is.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super with ROG Boost. Intel Core i9 10980HK processor. 4K 15.6-inch screen and 14-inch secondary touch screen with 4K resolution. 32GB DDR4 at 3,200 MHz and 1TB PCIe NVME M.2 SSD. Thunderbolt 3.
The design is drop-dead gorgeous. Both of the displays are stunning. The overall performance, as well as performance in games, is incredible. The battery life is amazing. You are getting super-fast SSDs.
The laptop can get hot.
I am talking about the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo Gaming Laptop. The Zephyrus line up by Asus is reserved for the craziest possible laptops available, and that is not a bad thing by any measure. To be honest. Asus knows when to deliver and how to deliver. You are getting your hands on a laptop that offers you a design language that is ready for both work and play. Both displays are absolutely gorgeous and equally functional in their own right. The overall performance, along with gaming performance, remains satisfactory enough through and through. Additionally, despite having two really good displays, the battery life does not suffer at all, and if you want blazing-fast SSD, this is your laptop. All of this comes at a price, though, and the price is that the laptop runs relatively hotter. But if you have an adequate ambient temperature or proper cooling place, then you should not run into any problems.
#6- MSI GS66 Stealth Gaming Laptop
MSI is coming back again with a different offering this time. That is what I love about these companies is how they can offer the same product (gaming laptop) in this case, but still manage to offer pretty great variations, to begin with. If you want to get your hands on a no-compromise laptop, then look no further than the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo Gaming Laptop. The best thing about this laptop is that this is not only good for gaming but all your productivity tasks as well, which is what makes this laptop such a great choice. Granted, it can get hot under load, but if you are controlling the thermals and have placed the laptop in a proper location, things won’t become a problem.
15.6-inch FHD display with a 300Hz refresh rate. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q design. 32GB DDR4 at 2,666 MHz RAM and 1TB NVMe SSD. Intel Core i9 10980HK processor. Thunderbolt 3 port.
The build quality is one of the sturdiest and is also very portable. The 10th gen processor combined with an RTX 2080 Super is great. The 300Hz refresh rate display is a treat to use. You get access to a lot of ports, including Ethernet and Thunderbolt 3.
512GB storage in the base model is average at best and not enough for power users.
The MSI GS66 Stealth Gaming Laptop is a laptop that is made for both work and play. That can easily be noticed in the name of the laptop itself. The stealthy design is great for people who don’t want the extra attention, and the GS66 does a great job at being stealthy. However, that is not it. The laptop has one of the sturdiest builds, and at the same time, it is fairly light and portable. You are getting top of the line specs, as well, and the 300Hz refresh rate display is an absolute beast when it comes to a smoother gaming experience. MSI has done a great job with connectivity as well since you are getting plenty of ports, including ethernet along with Thunderbolt 3 port, which makes the whole experience a lot better for those who want to make sure they have their bases covered. As far as the downside is concerned, my only issue here is that in its base configuration, the GS66 Stealth does not offer a lot of storage, to begin with.
#7- Acer Predator Triton 500 Thin & Light Gaming
The last laptop on the list is from Acer, and it is safe to say that Acer is not new to giving us some great gaming laptops. Even if you are looking for something that is not for the gamers, Acer’s got you covered, but that is a topic for another debate. All in all, I am impressed by the MSI GS66 Stealth Gaming Laptop. It might look a little unassuming at first, but the moment you take it out of the box and power It on, you will start realizing the power it delivers on all fronts. By far, it is one of the most impressive gaming laptops from MSI.
8th generation Intel Core i7 8750H. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q design. 15.6-inch FHD display with 144Hz refresh rate and G-Sync support. 32GB DDR4 at 2,666 MHz, and 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD. Triple fan cooling solution.
One of the best looking designs which are also very sturdy. The powerful components are great for almost all the tasks. 300Hz refresh rate with G-Sync is a gamer’s dream. You get a pretty good selection of ports as well.
The battery life is average at best.
The Acer Predator Triton 500 Thin & Light Gaming is a thin and light gaming laptop, and while thin and light and gaming don’t fit well together, this one certainly is something that you should be looking at because it delivers. For starters, the entirety of the chassis is sleek and has a high-quality design that is made out of metal. The components that are you are getting with this laptop are of the highest quality, and you will have no issue breezing through AAA games, either. You are getting a 300Hz display that is also G-Sync capable. Acer has not shied away from the port selection as well as the Predator Triton 500 delivers good port selection that should keep most of us occupied. On the flip side, the only issue that I did run into was the short battery life, but aside from that, there is not much to complain about when it comes to a great gaming laptop.
Best RTX 2080 Gaming Laptops: What Other Specs Should I Look For?
Now that we have gone through all the top RTX 2080 laptops that are available in the market. The next step is to help the readers look at a buying guide that is going to help them achieve that. I know that buying a new gaming laptop can be overwhelming. If you are looking for a laptop that is not only small and unassuming when it comes to delivering top of the line performance but also when it comes to getting some work done, then the Acer Predator Triton 500 Thin & Light Gaming is for you. I know how the thin and light might scare some away because gaming laptops tend to run hotter, but after spending some time with this laptop, I can tell you that it is not the case. The laptop performs exceptionally well under all circumstances and remains under acceptable thermals as well. That is why I am going to cover all the necessary bases here. Suggested Readings:Best RTX 2080 Super GPUsBest RTX 2080 Ti GPUs
Difference Between RTX 2080 vs. RTX 2080 Max-Q vs. RTX 2080 Super
When looking at these laptops, you may have noticed a few different variations of the RTX 2080s that are available in each laptop. These variations are not just marketing wordplay, but there are actual differences in how they perform. For starters, if a laptop just has an RTX 2080, the chances are that this is a desktop variant of the RTX 2080, and will perform on par with what the desktop variant has to offer. As far as the RTX 2080 Max-Q design is concerned, this is Nvidia’s GPU design for laptop GPUs. These GPUs are underclocked just a bit, but they allow for the gaming laptops to be really thin and light. Most of the times, the performance can be neglected at the best. Last but not the least, you have the RTX 2080 Super; this is an entirely different GPU altogether as it performs at least 10% better than your standard RTX 2080 that is available. Which means that you are going to get better performance when you are comparing these to the rest of the GPUs in the RTX 2080 lineup.
Storage
The next thing that we have to look for is going to be storage. Back in the old days, storage was not as important of a thing as it has become. However, with games and other applications getting larger and larger in file size, you are going to need ample storage. Make sure that your gaming laptop has at least 1TB of storage, and not just that, make sure that it can be upgraded on your own rather than taking it to a professional because we need as much accessibility as possible.
RAM
RAM is another important factor that people look for whenever there is a talk about gaming laptops. There is no denying that having more RAM is important for games because if you are limited to not enough RAM, you might not have the same experience, in the first place. Therefore, the more RAM you have, the better. Most of the gaming laptops that I have here come with 32 gigs of RAM, which is more than enough for pretty much whatever task you have. However, when buying a gaming laptop, make sure that the RAM slots are exposed, and you can update the RAM on your own as it is going to be an important thing.
CPU
When buying a gaming laptop, one of the most crucial aspects that you will have to look for is going to be a good CPU. You cannot just get your hands on something that has an average CPU because that is not going to cut it. Therefore, having a good CPU is important. Thankfully, all the modern gaming laptops are equipped with at least an i7, and then some of the higher-end ones also bring Core i9s under the hood. Related Reading: 7 Best ASUS Gaming Laptops 2023 Updated – (For Gamers)
Laptop Sizes
I feel like that the laptop size is one thing that is often overlooked when we are talking about gaming laptops. True, not everyone is going to need to have such a huge laptop, but most gaming laptops are also available in thin and light designs, which will only make matters easier for everyone involved. If the size is essential to you, be sure that you look at the available options.
Refresh Rate & Response Rate
I am personally of the belief that both of these factors are incredibly important when you are looking to get your hands on a gaming laptop. At least for me, because I do own a high refresh rate, low response time monitor, and I cannot even imagine going back. Lucky for you, the laptops that I have mentioned in this list are all 144Hz and above, and almost all of them have a really low response rate, as well. Which means that you are not going to be left behind as far as the experience is concerned.
Resolution
Being a life-long PC gamer, I have realized that the resolution is not just a marketing tactic that people tell you about because if you are not getting a good overall resolution in a laptop or on your monitor, you might not have the same experience you want. Normally, you would want to go with a gaming laptop that has a 1080p panel but at the same time, with a high refresh rate. But you can also go for a 2160p panel with a lower refresh rate. The choice is yours entirely.
Battery Life
I have to be honest here with you whenever you are in the market for a good laptop or a gaming laptop, for that matter. Battery life is one thing that is a bit of a hit or a miss. There are situations where you get really good battery life, but at the same time, there are gaming laptops with average battery life. You will have to make the right decision, and you have to be careful about that as well, and that will allow you to get your hands on the best possible gaming laptop with great battery life.
Avoid Touch Screens
I know it might sound a bit odd to a lot of people since touch screens are the future, but when you are talking about gaming laptops, touch screens make little to no sense, and in most of the cases, I would avoid buying a gaming laptop with a touch screen. Not only does it add to the overall price of the laptop, but if you don’t have any other usage than gaming, then getting a laptop with touch screen makes very little sense.
Make Sure The Keyboard Is Comfortable
Last but not the least, when getting your hands on a gaming laptop, any gaming laptop, for that matter. You will have to be sure of the fact that the keyboard is comfortable enough. Most of the times, you are going to be using the keyboard that is supplied with your laptop, so it has to be comfortable. Not just that, in most cases, you will be using the laptop’s keyboard for other tasks as typing as well, and you don’t want to be left at the mercy of a keyboard that is simply mediocre and does not even let you type in comfort. Yes, you don’t. With so much to choose from, buying a gaming laptop, in all honesty, can be a tedious task, one that we all should religiously avoid if we are looking for a good experience. Thankfully, all the laptops that are on the list have been tried and tested and will deliver the performance you are looking for. These are not only meant for gaming, but if you do want a great performer overall, these will be great for that, as well. Just be sure that you are looking at the laptop that fits your needs, and I can guarantee that nothing else is going to come in the way.
Question 1: Is the RTX 2080 a good card?
The RTX 2080 is one of the most capable graphics cards available in the market as far as the performance is concerned in both games and other tasks.
Question 2: What are some good RTX 2080 laptops for gaming?
All the laptops that I have listed here are top tier for gaming. However, the ones that have RTX 2080 Super are the ideal choice because the performance is excellent on those laptops.
Question 3: Which is the best RTX 2080 laptop?
If you are looking for strictly gaming and nothing else, then the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 Gaming Laptop makes the most sense as it is one of best RTX 2080 laptops available for you to buy.
Question 4: Should I buy an RTX 2080 Laptop For AAA gaming titles?
If you are getting an RTX 2080 laptop for AAA titles, you would be more than happy as far as the overall performance is concerned since you won’t be running into any performance hiccups that could come in the way.
