Looking for a laptop that can replace your home or office desktop? Then believe me you need to check a hell lot of things on a laptop to make it your perfect desktop replacement. For instance, purchasing a laptop and calling it a desktop replacement would be a shame if it doesn’t have any upgrading options. Isn’t it? Likewise, there are a lot of other things to take care while buying desktop replacement laptops.
To help you out, we picked some of the best desktop replacement laptops by taking care of all the things, so that you don’t have to!
So what type of desktop replacement laptop are you looking for? The one that can let you play all the latest games and do all the demanding tasks like video editing, CAD and 3D modeling with ease? No problem! We have got you covered.
Or
Are you a casual user who is looking for something on budget to replace your aging desktop? Don’t worry! We have got you covered too.
Best Desktop Replacement Laptops – Top Picks
| Product | CPU | GPU | Upgradable |
|---|---|---|
| MSI GE75 Raider-287 | i7-9750H | RTX 2060 | Yes |
| Alienware m17 R2 17 Inch Gaming Laptop (Best for Gaming) | i7-9750H | RTX 2070 | Yes |
| MSI GT76 TITAN 17.3″ 4K Laptop (Best for Video Editing) | i9-9900K | RTX 2080 | Yes |
| ASUS ROG Strix Hero III (Best desktop replacement laptop overall) | i7-9750H | RTX 2060 | Yes |
| MSI WS65 15.6″ Workstation Laptop (Best for CAD) | i7-9880H | Quadro RTX 3000 | Yes |
| Dell G5 15″ Gaming Laptop (Newest Model) | i5-9300H | GTX 1650 | Yes |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 (Best Under $1000) | i7-9750H | GTX 1660 Ti | Yes |
| HP Omen 17 Gaming Laptop | i7-9750H | RTX 2060 | Yes |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Ultra-portable Desktop Replacement Laptop) | i7-9750H | AMD Radeon Pro 5300M | Yes |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701 17″ Gaming Laptop (Thin & Light) | i7-9750H | RTX 2070 | Yes |
Alienware Area 51m – The Best Desktop Replacement Laptop of 2022
Hands down, the best desktop replacement laptop right now. The Alienware Area 51m not only comes with the newest and most robust hardware but also gives users complete freedom to upgrade the internals, just like desktops. That said, it is the first-ever laptop whose CPU and GPU can be upgraded. Yes, you read that right! Unlike other laptops with only RAM and storage drive upgrade options, the Alienware Area 51m gives full access to its internals allowing users to upgrade or replace almost everything inside.
Apart from that, it also packs in a desktop grade hardware inside. It is powered by the desktop Intel CPUs and overclockable Nvidia RTX GPUs making it truly unique in the segment.
Being the only laptop with such features, of course, it doesn’t come cheap. Its price starts from $1,949.99 and can go up to $5000, depending upon the options you choose. The entry-level variant offers an Intel Core i7-9700 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSHD. You can configure it with up to newest and most powerful Intel Core i9-9900K processor and overclockable Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU with RAM up to 64GB and add up to 3 x RAID 0 SSDs.
So, Alienware Area 51m laptop checks almost all the boxes of things for which the desktops have been praised over laptops. Hence, it is our top pick right now so if you are looking for a laptop that packs in a desktop level performance and also offers the ease of upgradability that desktops provide, then Alienware Area 51m is the one you should go with.
There’s another laptop which we would like to give a special mention here, and it’s ASUS ROG Mothership. No, it doesn’t have upgradeable CPU and GPU like the Alienware Area 51, but its form-factor and design is what makes it truly stand out and one of the best desktop replacement laptops right now.
It has an all-in-one type design that has all the hardware components on the back of its huge 17.3-inch screen, and its keyboard detaches from the screen, which gives a true desktop-like feeling. For those worried about heating issues with this design, well, that’s not a problem. In fact, because of its such distinct design, it can dissipate heat in a much efficient way than the standard clamshell laptops. Thus it bolsters an overclocked Intel Core i9-9980HK processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU with 64GB of RAM and 1.5TB SSD for storage.
So, it’s a complete bonkers machine, which can be the perfect desktop replacement laptop for those who don’t want to lose the PC feel. However, it’s not for everyone. The reason being, its hefty price tag, which will set you back $6,500! But there’s absolutely nothing like it in the market right now, and you are getting a laptop (a.k.a. portable desktop) that can give even costliest desktops a good run for the money.
Now, we know that not everybody requires powerful hardware that Alienware Area 51 and ASUS ROG Mothership provides. Also, not everybody has a budget to buy such expensive machines. So, below are our other recommendations in different price ranges that include some of the best mid-range desktop replacement laptops that also pack a lot of power and will suit the requirements of a wide array of users.
1. MSI GE75 Raider-287
MSI emerges as a global leader when it comes to designing gaming laptops and satisfying the gaming libido among the gamers. This one laptop single-handedly can cover up for the desktops and provide gamers with an experience like never before. Large screen, powerful dedicated graphics, high-speed processor and what not? MSI GE75 is a laptop of modern days, and it is here to stay.
Under the hood, the laptop runs on an Intel Core i7 9th generation processor that can run all applications and latest games without any problems. The processor has the requisite count, speed and bands to process all the queued files with great ease. The newest Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB dedicated graphics is yet another attractive aspect of this laptop, which makes it a perfect match for all the passionate gamers. This dedicated NVIDIA graphic when combines with its fast 17.3-inch 144Hz screen produces an immersive output.
The laptop comes with a very enigmatic combination of 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD which will leverage gaming fanatics with a lifetime experience. This laptop is going to make people forget the ease desktop computers provided with; the extremely fast processing and unimaginable video output will make people forget all worries and enjoy games.
Hardware Specifications of MSI GE75 Raider-287 (VR Ready):
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-core 2.26 GHz CPU (Turbo boost up to 4.5 GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB DDR5 Graphics |
| Display | 17.3 Inch Full HD 144Hz Display with 100% sRGB Color Gamut |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours |
| Weight | 5.7 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 32GB | Storage upgradable |
If you think the price tag of above mentioned MSI gaming laptop is a little bit steep for you, then the MSI GF65 offers similar performance in a smaller form-factor and at a much lower price. The MSI GF65 offers Intel Core i7-9750H and new Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti GPU with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage for about $1000! Of course, the RAM and storage drives are accessible for easy upgrades. However, its build quality isn’t as great as the GE75 Raider, and it has red backlit keyboard unlike RGB on the GE75 Raider. The display on MSI GF65 is also a slower 15-inch panel with refresh-rate of 120Hz at 3ms. But overall, it’s still an excellent value for the price so those who want a power-packed affordable machine which is also portable at the same time, the MSI GF65 is another great laptop that can be the replacement for your desktop. | Check Price on Amazon
2. Alienware m17 R2 17 Inch Gaming Laptop
DELL crushed a lot of competitors in the gaming sector when it launched Alienware almost a decade ago; in the contemporary times, there are better gaming laptops, but Alienware continues to enjoy a fan base of a loyal audience. Alienware introduced people to the real fun of gaming, and it is soon going to replace all the desktop computers.
Designed for gaming, Alienware m17 R2 has everything a gaming laptop needs. A high-speed multi-core processor, dedicated graphics card, huge RAM and impressive storage amount. Under the hood, 9th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, a 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD are combined to give one of the most appreciated combinations in the world of specifications. An Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card and bright (300 nits) 17.3-inch Full HD screen with 144Hz refresh-rate will make people forget the old desktop computers in one go, and both these features add a real-world performance value to the laptop.
Moreover, if you want more thrust, the Alienware m17 R2 can also be configured with the most powerful Intel Core i9-9980HK processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 GPU. The performance this specification delivers will leave people awestruck. Moreover, it weighs just 5.8 pounds! So, even though it’s such a heavily specced 17-inch laptop, it’s still portable enough to carry in a backpack and travel easily. However, if you are looking for an even lightweight machine, then its smaller brother Alienware m15 is a lot more compact laptop with almost similar specs options.
There’s so much for everyone to accomplish with these laptops in the gaming world. One can rely on Alienware laptops and participate in global gaming competitions and never be disappointed.
As we always say – “A gaming laptop can be used as every day all-around performer, but not vice versa!”
Hardware Specifications of Alienware m17 R2 (VR Ready):
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-Core 2.6GHz, 12MB Cache (Turbo boost up to 4.5 GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM |
| Storage | 1 TB SSD (2 x 512GB RAID 0) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB DDR6 Graphics |
| Display | 17.3 Inch Full HD 144Hz IPS Anti-Glare Display with up to 300-nits brightness |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
| Battery Life | 4 hours |
| Weight | 5.8 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 32GB | SSD upgradable |
If you don’t want to pay premium price tag of Alienware laptops and want the same experience for a lesser price then Dell G7 laptop is another excellent option which comes with similar (if not better) hardware specifications. It comes with 17-inch full HD display 144Hz display and on the hardware front its boasts the newest 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 (Max-Q) GPU. The 17-inch models start from $1,099.99 while more portable yet equally capable 15-inch models start from just $899.99 | See it on Dell
3. MSI GT76 TITAN 17.3″ 4K Laptop For Power Users
Yet another amazing gaming laptop from the house of MSI, the enterprise aims to lead the gaming sector like no other hence launching a series of gaming laptops with almost un-achievable efficiency.
The MSI GT76 is not just any other gaming laptop but a very classic and impressive one because it is equipped with a 4K display. Apart from gaming, this laptop could do wonders for YouTubers and videographers. With that said, the MSI GT76 will be the perfect replacement for any video editing rig as it has ultra high-end hardware inside and also gigantic 17.3 inch 4K display with 100% sRGB color gamut.
Speaking of the configuration, this laptop is equipped with 64GB of RAM, Intel Core i9-9900K processor and Nvidia’s RTX 2080 graphics card. The processor on this laptop is the one you find on high-end desktops and it has total 8 cores and each of them can execute 16 threads at a time, which means that this laptop would render 4K videos blazingly fast and it will just fly over all the modern games.
On the storage front, the laptop comes with 1TB of NVMe SSD and 1TB of HDD which provides ample room to store all your favorite games or raw video footages (if you are a youtuber/videographer) on the laptop without having to require an external storage device. This laptop also provides all the connectivity ports and slots so this laptop comes with a perfect blend of power, performance, aesthetics, build, and display quality. All these features make MSI GT76 TITAN one of the best desktop replacement laptop of 2022.
Hardware Specifications of MSI GT76 TITAN DT-039 (VR Ready) – The Best Desktop Replacement Laptop for Video Editing:
| Processor | Intel Core i9-9900K Octa-Core 3.6GHz, 16MB Cache (Turbo boost up to 5.0 GHz) |
| RAM | 64GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD + 1TB 7200RPM HDD |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 8GB DDR6 Graphics |
| Display | 17.3 Inch UHD 4K IPS-Level Display with 100% Adobe sRGB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro 64-bit |
| Battery Life | 3 hours |
| Weight | 9.9 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 128GB | Storage upgradable | CPU overclockable |
The MSI GT76 TITAN is also available with the newest 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9700K processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 GPU. It costs around $2000, and for the price, you also get the 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. However, unlike 4K display on the variant mentioned above, this particular model has the 17.3-inch full HD display with 144Hz refresh-rate which is also excellent for gaming and other works that require color-accuracy. If you don’t want the power of i9, then this particular variant of MSI GT76 TITAN also offers a lot of power at a much lower price. | Check Price on Amazon
RELATED – Our Top Choices of Laptops For Video Editing
4. ASUS ROG Strix Hero III 17 inch Gaming Laptop
ASUS ROG Strix Hero line up of laptops are well-renowned among the professional gamers and power users for its powerful performance and excellent thermal efficiency. That said, our current contender is its 3rd generation the ROG Strix Hero III which is a global best-seller and comes with very powerful innards and all other requisite features that will prove it to be the best desktop replacement laptop.
Speaking about the specifications, the laptop comes with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor which is paired with mammoth 16GB of RAM to produce multitasking and gaming experience like never before. Be it assassin creed, need for speed or PUBG, all games are going to run smoothly on this extremely powerful gaming laptop. The display on this beast is also quite exceptional. Although it is not 4K, it is a 17.3 Inch full HD IPS panel with 144Hz refresh-rate which delivers incredibly smooth and tear-free gameplay. For those who want smaller laptop, the ASUS ROG Strix Hero III is also available in a 15-inch size which offers similar specs in a smaller and lighter body. However, you get a 15.6-inch full HD IPS 240Hz display with it which is a step ahead for gaming.
The pros do not end here, this laptop is also equipped with ample storage inside and on the graphics front it bolsters one of the flagship GPU available in the market today – The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070! So, this is the most favorable laptop for extreme desktop users. Well, maybe not for those who need a DVD drive, but apart from that it has all other ports and slots including fastest USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 3) port which can handle multiple 4K monitors without any problem, thanks to its extremely powerful GPU.
Hardware Specifications of ASUS ROG Strix Hero III 17″:
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-Core 2.6GHz, 12MB Cache (Turbo boost up to 4.5 GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB DDR6 Graphics |
| Display | 17.3 Inch Full HD IPS Display with 144Hz refresh-rate |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Battery Life | 3.5 hours |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 64GB | Storage upgradable |
If you are on a budget and looking for something around $1000, then the recently launched ASUS TUF A15 Gaming Laptop is an excellent value for money option. It comes with the newest AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor, which has 8-cores and can turbo boost up to 4.2 GHz. The powerful processor is accompanied by a very capable Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. Moreover, its RAM and storage drive slots are also easily accessible to upgrade the hardware of the laptop. It has a 15.6-inch full HD 144Hz refresh-rate display, which is great for work and gaming. Plus, it features a full RGB keyboard that is comfortable to type. Apart from that, it has a large 90Whr battery, which makes the ASUS TUF A15 last up to 8 hours on a single charge. | $1,399.00 from Amazon
5. MSI WS65 15.6″ Mobile Workstation Laptop
Desktop computers have been highly popular at workplaces; the comfort of accessing desktop computer can certainly not be replaced but the speed, mobility, and efficiency are the factors laptops continue to win the battle of identity.
MSI WS65 wants to be a part of the party where desktops are being replaced by mean machines. Laptops are slimmer, easily accessible, agile and highly reliable in adverse situations. And, that makes this workstation laptop the best choice for architects. It has an Intel Core i9 octa-core processor paired with 32GB of RAM and alongside it has powerful Nvidia Quadro graphics which makes it a massively powerful laptop. This laptop can run all CAD and 3D modeling software like AutoCAD, SOLIDWORKS, TurboCAD etc. without any problems.
MSI WS65 is also slim and lightweight than most of the other workstation laptops in the same price range so you can also carry this laptop to different construction sites and have desktop like performance anywhere. As far as storage on the laptop is concerned, the MSI WS65 provides 1TB SSD storage which will empower people like never before to store all their entertaining materials and make the most of leisure timings. People have always been looking for such a laptop that was technically sound and also provided with quality entertainment opportunities. Hence, the MSI WS65 laptop is the best workstation replacement laptop and it is going to win hearts and leverage people with the requisite speed and entertainment.
Hardware Specifications of MSI WS65 15 Inch Workstation Laptop:
| Processor | Intel Core i9-9880H Octa-Core 2.30GHz, 16MB Cache (Turbo boost up to 4.8 GHz) |
| RAM | 32GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Graphics | Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 6GB DDR5 Graphics |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD Anti-Glare Display with 72% NTSC and 100% Adobe sRGB Color Gamut |
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit OS |
| Battery Life | 3 hours |
| Weight | 4.1 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 64GB | Storage upgradable |
If you don’t mind lugging a little bit of weight for the sake of saving a couple of hundred bucks, then Lenovo ThinkPad P53 is another excellent option for those looking for the mobile workstation for CAD. It starts from $1,199.00 and can be configured with up to Intel Xeon E-2276M processor and Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 GPU which should be more than enough for most users. In case if you need more power, its bigger sibling the Lenovo Thinkpad P73 offers up to Intel Xeon E-2276M six-core processor and Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 GPU with 16GB Graphics memory. That’s the best possible specs you can get on a workstation laptop right now. However, that config will run you over $4000 and P73 being a 17-inch laptop weighs around 7 pounds making it slightly cumbersome to carry around.
RELATED – Top 10 Best Workstation Laptops of 2022 for CAD & 3D Modeling
6. Dell G5 15″ Gaming Laptop With 9th Gen Intel Processor
Alienware continues to be the most popular gaming laptop despite not having the best specifications available because of the branding, whereas other gaming laptops like Dell G5 are not looked upon as proficient gaming laptops. Common people who cannot afford to shell out a huge amount of money to own an Alienware can own the DELL G series gaming laptops and be equally happy because the power, quality, and experience it provides are no less.
The Dell G5 laptop has a full HD 15.6-inch IPS display which is anti-glare to make it eye-friendly and suitable for prolonged usage. It is powered by the latest 9th generation Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with turbo up to 4.1GHz, and it has 8GB of RAM which can be upgraded up to 32GB. The graphics on this laptop are backed by Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 which is also one of the best GPUs you can get at this price point. You can play the newest and most intense gaming titles on this laptop by scaling down settings a bit.
Apart from gaming, this laptop is also a great productivity machine. It comes with a very good keyboard with soft-touch keys, and the key travels a decent distance to provide a pleasant typing experience. Even the ports selection on this laptop is perfect. It has all the ports and slots that you have on the desktop; however, it misses out on the optical drive.
With 1TB of mammoth hard drive storage and 256GB SSD, the Dell G5 has enough room for everyone in a family. Therefore, it could be a perfect home desktop replacement laptop because it is capable enough to do everything that a home computer can be utilized for be it gaming or just web surfing or family pictures and videos editing. Best of all, it costs under $1000 which if you ask me it is an excellent deal.
Hardware Specifications of Dell G5 15:
| Processor | Intel Core i5-9300H Quad Core 2.40GHz Processor (Turbo up to 4.1GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM |
| Storage | 1TB 5400RPM HDD + 256GB SSD |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB DDR5 Graphics |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display (300-nits) with 1920×1080 Resolution |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home 64-bit OS |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours |
| Weight | 5.9 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 32GB | Storage Upgradable |
If you are looking for a 17-inch laptop in the similar price range, then Dell G7 17-inch gaming laptop is also a great option. It comes with the 9th Gen Intel Core i7 six-core processor paired with Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti which are very capable specs for gaming or any other demanding tasks. | Check Price on Amazon
Acer Aspire 5 – The Best Budget Desktop Replacement Laptop
If you are looking for the best desktop replacement laptop that costs around $500, then Acer Aspire 5 is the best option right now. It offers an Intel Core i5-10210U processor with 8GB RAM, 512GB of SSD and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU which makes it a complete all-around performing laptop. The internals of the laptop is also easily accessible to upgrade or replace its RAM and storage drives. Moreover, it comes with a 15.6 inch full HD IPS display, a backlit keyboard, and its battery can last up to 9 hours on a single charge! What more could you ask for this price? | Check Price on Amazon
You may like to check out – Our Top Picks of Laptops Under $500 Right Now
7. Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop Best Under $1000
Acer Predator Helios 300 is the best gaming laptop under $1000 right now and because of the hardware that it packs in and its affordable price tag, it’s worth to be placed among the best desktop replacement laptops. First things first, this is not a 17-inch laptop so if you’re looking for a laptop with the large display then probably this laptop is not for you. The Acer Predator Helios 300 has an impressive 15.6 inch full HD 144Hz IPS display which is decently color-accurate and bright panel. Playing games on this laptop is really an immersive experience, thanks to its powerful hardware, built-in stereo speakers and of course the display.
As far as performance is concerned, the Acer Predator Helios 300 offers a lot more than you’ll ask for the price. It is powered by a six-core Intel core i7 coffee lake processor which is paired with massive 16GB of RAM and when the performance of processor meets its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU, it produces an extreme thrust of power to handle anything you throw at it. No matter what game or software you try to run on this laptop, it will handle all of them without any problems.
The only thing where this laptop lacks is storage department. This laptop has 512GB SSD inside which is the only storage drive provided on this laptop. It’s not spacious enough for the laptop which will be replacing a desktop but it has an empty storage drive bay inside which can be accessed easily to install another HDD or SSD. Although this will cost you some extra cash, I think it’s totally worth it because there are no other laptops with better specifications than the Acer Predator Helios 300 in $1000 price range.
Even after upgrading the storage of this laptop, the total cost will still remain under $1,100 which is not at all a bad deal for a desktop replacement laptop. isn’t it?
Read full review of Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
Hardware Specifications of Acer Predator Helios 300 – The Best Desktop Replacement Laptop Under $1000:
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa Core 2.6GHz Processor (Turbo up to 4.5GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB DDR5 VRAM |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD 144Hz refresh-rate Widescreen IPS Display |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home 64-bit OS |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 hours |
| Weight | 5.0 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 32GB | Empty storage bay to add HDD or SSD |
The Acer Predator Helios 300 with all similar hardware specs is also available in 17-inch size, so if you are looking for a large screen laptop, then you can get its 17-inch variant. | See it on Amazon
8. HP Omen 17t Gaming Laptop
HP Omen series laptops has acquired a lot of fame among the professional gamers. Its laptops are jam-packed with powerful hardware and they are designed to deliver the performance to accomplish anything. The Omen 17 is the recent updation in the Omen family and it is one of the best designed and performing laptop you can buy right now.
There are no questions on the performance of this laptop as it has the newest 9th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card inside but on looking upon its design, you’ll know that it is also one of the best designed gaming laptop. Its lid is made from aluminum and finished in the combination of carbon fibre and brushed black aluminum texture with Omen logo in the middle. Rest of the body is still the plastic though, but it is a very well built machine overall. The strongness of the laptop reflects in the weight of the laptop which is 7 pounds. The laptop is not the thinnest or the lightest laptop in any sense but it delivers the performance without any throttling issues. While there are gaming laptops that are slimmer and even powerful than this one like Razer Blade 17 and many others but they also costs an arm and a leg.
Apart from performance and design, this laptop also has all the ports and slots that you’ll need. It has 3 – USB 3.1 ports, Ethernet, HDMI, a mini display port and also USB Type-C port. It doesn’t come with an optical drive, but that’s totally fine as CDs and DVDs are almost obsolete now. As far as storage on the laptop is concerned, this laptop has 512GB of SSD which is more than enough to store all your favorite music, movies, games and work files.
The HP Omen 17 has got everything to make you forget your old desktop. The combination of powerful hardware and beautiful and strong chassis gives you convenience of using this laptop from your desk or from the remote areas! So overall, this is also a very good desktop replacement laptop with premium build quality and powerful performance.
Hardware Specifications of HP Omen 17 – The Best Desktop Replacement Laptop Under $1500:
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa Core 2.6GHz Processor (Turbo up to 4.5GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB DDR6 Graphics |
| Display | 17.3 Inch Full HD 144Hz WLED-backlit IPS Anti-Glare Display |
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit OS |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours |
| Weight | 7.0 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 32GB | Storage Upgradable |
The recently launched Lenovo Legion Y740 17″ is a great alternative if you want a laptop with current gen specs. You can get it with the Intel Core i7-9750H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU for $1,699. That’s steep, but it comes with a 17-inch full HD 144Hz display which is more brighter and colorful than the one on the above mentioned HP Omen 17. Moreover, the whole package is packed inside a svelte looking all-metal chassis which weighs around 6 pounds making it easy to carry in a backpack. | Check Price on Lenovo
RELATED – Our Top 10 Choices of Gaming Laptops Under $1500 – Good Enough to Replace Desktops!
9. Apple MacBook Pro 16
Not everybody here wants a Windows laptop. Right? So, for those of you who are looking for a MacBook that can replace your desktop (or iMac), then the recently launched MacBook Pro 16 is the best performance-oriented MacBook you can buy right now.
It looks similar to the other MacBook Pro laptops, but it has a slightly bigger footprint as it has an all-new 16-inch true tone retina display with small bezels. It houses a touch bar on the top of the keyboard with Touch ID, and its controversial keyboard is finally fixed now with scissor mechanism keys that deliver a pleasant satisfactory typing experience.
As far as performance is concerned, the MacBook Pro 16 can be bought either with the 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor or Intel Core i9 processor with up to 64GB RAM, mammoth 8TB SSD storage and either AMD Radeon Pro 5300M or 5500M GPU with up to 8GB DDR6 Graphics. So, it packs a lot of punch inside, and that generates a lot of heat too. But, Apple has re-engineered the thermal management system on MacBook Pro 16, so unlike its predecessor, its CPU can run at higher clock speeds for an extended period.
Apart from that, the MacBook Pro 16 features the best sounding speakers on any laptop right now, and it also has a studio-quality microphone built-in, which music enthusiasts and creators will love. Plus, it has a large 100Whr battery to keep this beast juiced up to 11 hours. However, MacBook Pro 16 has just 4 USB Type-C ports, and you’ll have to use dongles to connect your peripherals with the laptop. Well, that’s going to remind you of the desktop every single time, but on an overall note, the MacBook Pro 16 is a power-house.
It packs desktop-grade hardware inside a portable thin and light chassis, which is also thermally efficient, and that’s what makes the MacBook Pro 16 one of the best ultraportable desktop replacement laptop right now and the only option if you are a Mac user.
Hardware Specifications of Apple MacBook Pro 16 – The Best Portable Desktop Replacement Laptop:
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa Core 2.2GHz Processor (Turbo up to 4.1GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Pro 5300M 4GB DDR6 Graphics |
| Display | 16-inch True Tone Retina Display with 3072 x 1920 Resolution |
| Operating System | macOS Catalina |
| Battery Life | Up to 11 hours |
| Weight | 4.3 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | None |
For those who are looking for a Windows alternative to the Apple MacBook Pro 16, we think the Razer Blade Pro 17 is as close as it gets in this comparison. It has a slightly large display; 17.3-inches in size, and it’s available in full HD and UHD resolution with varied refresh-rates. It is powered by an Intel Core i7-9750H processor paired with 16GB of RAM, and you can get it with up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics and up to 1TB of PCIe NVMe SSD. Performance-wise, it is on par with MacBook Pro, but it weighs 6 pounds, which makes it slightly cumbersome. Nonetheless, it’s still a great option with high-end hardware in a comparatively lightweight chassis and a large and beautiful 17-inch display. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper compared to MacBook Pro 16. | Check Price on Amazon
10. ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701 Best Thin & Light Option
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is one of the lightest 17-inch desktop replacement laptop that you can buy right now. It is a crazy slim 17-inch gaming laptop which packs inside enough performance to replace your home/office desktop. It packs all the newest and greatest specs inside which will definitely satisfy the core laptop users.
It has the newest 9th generation hexa core Intel Core i7 processor inside which is paired with 16GB of RAM (upgradable) to handle all your multitasking with ease. For storage it provides 1TB of SSD which should be more than enough for most users, but for those who need more, there’s also an option to expand its storage further.
This laptop will be able to run all the AAA titles as it has got the most powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card. Moreover, its thermal efficiency is also excellent. Its keyboard is placed down and when you open its lid it slightly lifts up from the back for better airflow. Overall performance of this laptop is very smooth. It can run some of the most demanding softwares and apps without any lag or stutters.
So, who’s this laptop for?
~ For anybody who needs some heavy duty hardware that can go into a backpack.
You can take this laptop to the classroom (if you’re a student) because of its small dimensions and long battery life or do some graphics designing work in a coffee shop and when you’re home, you can enjoy gaming on this laptop with the comfort of your desk and chair.
Hardware Specifications of ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701 – Thinnest & Lightest 17-inch Desktop Replacement Laptop:
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa Core 2.6GHz Processor (Turbo up to 4.5GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB DDR6 VRAM |
| Display | 17.3-Inch Full HD Pantone Calibrated 144Hz Refresh-Rate 3ms Display |
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit OS |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 hours |
| Weight | 5.7 lbs |
| Upgrading Options | RAM – Up to 32GB | Storage Upgradable |
For budget conscious buyers, the recently launched MSI GS66 is also great option which packs in the same DNA but comes with slightly less powerful yet very capable hardware for about half the price of the above mentioned ASUS ROG Zephyrus S laptop. It boasts the newest 10th generation hexa-core Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. The specifications on this laptop are pretty standard but what makes it stand out from the segment is its size. The laptop is just 0.7″ thick and weighs just 4.6lbs and you’ll be surprised to know that, this thin and light gaming laptop comes with Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 (Max-Q) GPU inside. So, you get full fledged desktop performance inside the laptop which is mobile and easy to carry around.
Best thing – You can upgrade the RAM and storage on this laptop! What else do you want?
These are our top choices of desktop replacement laptops right now. We update this list as soon as our team finds any new laptop that’s powerful and capable enough to replace any of the aforementioned best desktop replacement laptops.
Got a question? Feel free to ask them in the comments section below.
That’s a great list!
So I’m looking for a gaming laptop. It doesn’t need to be mobile at all, needs a 17 inch screen and should (ideally) be as quiet as possible, though that is not essential. I’m planning on spending around $2500 on it. Any suggestions on your part would be more than welcome!
Well, there are a lot of good laptops that are coming to my mind right now, but if you want the newest model with best specs for the price, then I think the recently launched 2020 Dell G7 17 is a great option.
Hi I want a laptop to do homework, do normal things like watch YouTube, Netflix, etc. and play games like fortnite what would be the best choice?
I have a hybrid desktop, Lenovo screen and a dell PC. What would be the best choice? I want to run my games (simple ones like minecraft but with heavy modifications) and I need a good graphics card and a i7 core.
Hi, I would recommend you to go with Dell Inspiron i5767 17 inch laptop from our list. It has i7 processor and AMD Radeon R7 M445 dedicated graphics and it would be able to suffice your requirements. However, if you tell me your budget, I can provide more specific laptop suggestions for you.
Hi, the next laptop I buy will be my only computer.
The budget is under 1200-1300 USD.
I do photo editing and video editing as well and this will also be my laptop to carry to college, so battery life is also important to me
Plus, some gaming capability would be great.
Look at the lower specced variants of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 with Ryzen 5 or 7. I think it will suffice your requirements.