The best 17-inch laptop should offer strong performance, good value for money, and a large, high-end display, and our expert advice can help you find one that encompasses all three of these traits.

If you need the best laptop for work or you’re considering getting one of the best gaming laptops, you’ve probably already given some thought to how large a display you want. This means that you’ve probably settled on some big-screen goodness for your laptop of choice. 17-inch laptops offer more screen real estate than the competition, letting you enjoy your favorite TV shows and games on a larger display that you can still take with you on the go.

Naturally, 17-inch laptops can be more expensive than their more compact brethren (though this isn’t always the case), so be prepared to spend a bit more. Happily, this will often net you superior internal specs too; though if you’re shopping on a budget, you can always take a look at our ranking of the best cheap laptops, or check out our best laptop deals page instead.

Whatever your budget and hardware requirements are, we’ve got the big-screen laptop for you. And we’ve reviewed enough of them to know exactly which ones are worthy of being included on this list.

The quick list

If you want to get right to it and see the best 17-inch laptop in every category, check out our quick roundup of top picks below. Don’t worry, though; you can easily jump to a more detailed view of every pick along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best laptop deals no matter your budget.

Best overall

Best of the best

When it comes to laptops of this size, this offering from Dell is as good as it gets thanks to its outstanding design and incredible performance.

Read more below

Best budget

Best budget option

For a 17-inch laptop, this HP model is seriously affordable without compromising too much on performance and premium design.

Read more below

Best AMD

3. Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage

Best AMD choice

Alienware makes some of the best laptops around, and this AMD gem is as good as Alienware gets if you want a lot of screen real estate. 

Read more below

Best foldable

4. Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

Best foldable 17-inch

Foldable laptops haven’t quite caught on yet, but it’s already clear that 17 inches is the ideal side, and this is the best example of the form factor yet.

Read more below

Best thin and light

Best thin and light

The Blade 17 is one of Razer’s best laptops, thanks to its incredibly thin form factor for a gaming laptop without having to sacrifice performance.

Read more below

Best current-gen

Best RTX 4000 17-inch

The MSI GT77 Titan is simply the best 17-inch laptop for RTX 4000-series performance, if you’re willing to splurge on next-generation internals.

Read more below

Best 17-inch laptops in 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar

We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best 17-inch laptops in our list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best 17-inch laptop overall

(Image credit: Future)

The best 17-inch laptop overall

Specifications

CPU: Up to 14th Generation Intel Core i9

Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080

RAM: Up to 64GB DDR5-4800MHz

Screen: Up to 17.0″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400p) InfinityEdge, Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 17.0″ UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit

Storage: Up to 8TB M.2 PCIe NVMe

Reasons to buy

+

Amazing performance

+

Fantastic design

+

Large, vibrant display

Reasons to avoid

–

Higher configurations get expensive quickly

–

Webcam is only 720p

Buy it if:

✅ You want the latest components: The XPS 17 delivers outstanding performance thanks to a mix of the latest Intel chips and Nvidia graphics cards.

✅You want to do creative work: With touchscreen availability and a selection of powerhouse GPUs to choose from, the newest XPS 13 is great for tasks like video editing.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You want maximum bang for your buck: The Dell XPS 17 performs excellently, but the higher-end configurations are expensive.

❌ You want a portable machine: Weighing in well over 2kg and measuring over 14 inches across, this is not a laptop you’ll want to lug around daily.

Dell’s XPS laptops are frequently found at the top of our assorted laptop rankings, and the latest XPS 17 is no exception. This is the pinnacle of what a 17-inch laptop should be: a clean, stylish design, a gorgeous UHD+ display, and a selection of powerful internal components.

The Dell XPS 17 (2024) can pack up to an Intel Core i9 processor and a mighty RTX 4080 graphics card, which combined with the large screen make it a great choice for creative workers who need a lot of oomph for tasks like video editing or 3D rendering. For those of us who just want a big-screen office laptop, there are plenty of cheaper, less powerful configurations available too.

In our review, we found that the XPS 17 blasted through our tests and lived up to its promise of having a great display, with color accuracy and sharpness that truly impressed. It can get a bit pricey once you start to look at the high-end models (and the webcam only being 720p feels like a missed opportunity), but other than that, this is as close to perfect as a 17-inch laptop can get.

Read our full Dell XPS 17 (2024) review

The best budget 17-inch laptop

2. HP Laptop 17

The best budget 17-inch laptop

Specifications

CPU: Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 5000-series

Graphics: Integrated Intel Iris Xe or AMD Radeon graphics

RAM: Up to 16GB DDR4

Screen: Up to 17.3″ FHD (1080p), 250 nits

Storage: Up to 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe

Reasons to buy

+

Enough power for creative workflows

+

Gorgeous, light and slim chassis

Reasons to avoid

–

Port selection could be better

Buy it if:

✅ You want reliable performance: Though the HP Laptop 17 may not have the latest and most powerful specs, it boasts reliable performance for creative workflows.

✅ You want a thin and light laptop: Not only does the HP Laptop 17 sport a gorgeous design but it has a thin and light chassis perfect for carrying around.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You need a great port selection: Though the HP Laptop 17 has many positives, its lackluster port selection is not one of them.

The HP Laptop 17 doesn’t rock the most powerful components or the flashiest design, but it does deliver reliable performance in a surprisingly thin and lightweight chassis – and it’s one of the cheapest 17-inch laptops you can buy right now.

With up to an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics, this laptop doesn’t come with top-of-the-line specs, but for remote work or just general office use, it’s more than capable of handling most people’s needs. With 16GB DDR4 RAM, you’ll be able to multitask like a champ – no worries about opening a dozen Chrome tabs here. You’ll also get 256GB PCIe storage with an extra 1TB HDD for extra capacity to keep all your necessary files handy.

While we haven’t reviewed this particular laptop just yet, we’ve tested plenty of HP devices with similar specs over the years, so we’re confident that you’ll get your money’s worth with this device – just as long as you keep your expectations in check.

The best AMD 17-inch laptop

(Image credit: Future / Alex Cox)

The best AMD-powered gaming laptop

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 – 9

Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (discrete), AMD Radeon 680M (integrated)

RAM: 16GB – 32GB

Screen: 17.3” 360Hz 1080p – 120Hz 4K

Storage: 512GB – 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+

Pin-sharp design with clever cooling

+

Fantastic performance

+

Excellent, generous screen

Reasons to avoid

–

AMD Advantage spec is quite pricey

–

Slightly limited battery when gaming

–

Heavy, bulky chassis

Buy it if:

✅ You’re a hardcore PC gamer: This has both the looks and the performance to suit those who need the full experience on the move.

✅ You have a small desk: The ports of the Alienware m17 are brilliantly laid out – compact gaming is far easier without cables getting in the way.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You value portability: Although the m17 isn’t over-heavy it’s most at home in the home. 

❌ You’re concerned about your budget: If you’re willing to sacrifice just a little, you can spec this lower – or buy a completely different gaming-friendly laptop.

AMD’s ‘Advantage’ program has seen some excellent laptops in recent years, and the Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage is no exception. It’s a high-end gaming laptop that wows in virtually every area: a big, beautiful 4K 120Hz screen, powerful AMD components, and the classic Alienware aesthetic.

We can’t stress enough how great that display is; thanks to Dolby Vision support, your games and movies look absolutely incredible, and the high refresh rate is perfect for playing twitchy shooters like Valorant where speed is everything.

The familiar clamshell design of Alienware laptops is not only visually appealing but also ensures efficient ventilation, which is crucial for high-performance gaming sessions. While it’s somewhat hefty and bulky, with a reasonable battery life of around six hours, it’s expected for a desktop replacement gaming laptop, and users familiar with this category will understand the trade-offs involved.

Read our full Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage review

The best foldable 17-inch laptop

(Image credit: Future)

The best foldable 17-inch laptop

Specifications

CPU: Up to 12th-gen Intel Core i7

Graphics: Intel Iris Xe

RAM: 16GB LPDDR5

Screen: 17.3” 2560 x 1920p FOLED, 4:3, 500 nits

Storage: 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+

Feels sturdy and durable

+

OLED display is truly gorgeous

+

Bluetooth keyboard feels good to use

Reasons to avoid

–

Seriously expensive

–

Somewhat heavy

–

No stylus support

Buy it if:

✅ You want to show off: Anyone who sees you using it in the office or a cafe is going to be mesmerized; if you’ve got the cash and want to be seen, this is the laptop for you.

✅ You value flexibility: Do you want a big tablet? A small laptop? A book with a screen? You’ve got it.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re a digital artist: No official stylus support. Boo! This product would’ve been incredible for creatives if it packed a garaged smartpen.

❌ You’re not loaded: It’s too expensive. End of story.

Alright, this is a niche one, but we’d be remiss not to include it here. The Asus ZenBook 17 Fold OLED is arguably not even a laptop – it’s like the world’s most luxurious tablet, a huge 17-inch touch panel with a magnetic Bluetooth keyboard.

Foldable laptops like this are still a rare breed, but they’ve come a long way since the first Lenovo ThinkBook X1 Fold we reviewed more than two years ago, with the newest generations of devices like the ZenBook 17 Fold sporting up to a 12th-gen Intel Core i7. The OLED panel is also a major improvement, with a gorgeous, high-resolution display with incredible color reproduction.

Unfortunately, there’s no stylus support – a major knock against a device that seems tailor-made for that kind of touch interface. And yes, the asking price is absolutely ludicrous, making it very clear that this isn’t a product for the everyday laptop user – that’s the main reason we had to knock two stars off this otherwise incredible product.

If you’ve got cash in your pocket and want to impress with your tech, though, the ZenBook 17 Fold OLED is guaranteed to draw attention.

Read our full Asus ZenBook 17 Fold OLED review

The best thin and light 17-inch gaming laptop

(Image credit: Future)

A stunning 17-inch laptop ideal for gamers and creatives

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-12800H – i9-12900H

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 – 3080 Ti

RAM: up to 32GB 4800MHz

Screen: up to 17.3″ 144Hz UHD

Storage: 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+

Outstanding performance

+

Beautiful, modern design

+

Fantastic keyboard layout and size

Reasons to avoid

–

Incredibly expensive

–

Disappointing battery life

Buy it if:

✅ You want a ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ laptop: Is it for gaming? Is it for creative applications? Or perhaps a powerful, portable workstation? The Razer Blade 17 can do it all.

✅ You value style as much as substance: The Razer Blade 17 is fairly hefty, but its modern design and minimal ‘gamer’ accents allow it to blend into the office.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re on a budget: The Razer Blade 17 can cost an eyewatering sum of cash if you opt for the top-line spec model.

❌ You need long battery life: The Razer Blade 17 shouldn’t be on the top of any list if your main concern is battery life.

If you’re looking for an absolute beast of a gaming laptop, you might be interested in Razer’s 17-inch powerhouse. The Blade series has always offered premium quality and performance, and the Blade 17 delivers on that promise; this isn’t just a powerful gaming system, it’s got the specs to pull double duty as a creative workstation too.

In our tests, the Razer Blade 17 (2022) chewed through everyday tasks, powering through gaming benchmarks and demanding creative workloads like Adobe Photoshop and Blender. Setting quality to Ultra resulted in a clean 78fps in Cyberpunk 2077.

Of course, as anyone who’s bought a Razer product before should know, it’s pretty expensive. Only invest if you absolutely need all that power – or you’ve got money to burn and want the best of the best.

Read our full Razer Blade 17 (2022) review

The best RTX 4000-series 17-inch laptop

(Image credit: Future)

The best RTX 4000-series 17-inch laptop

Specifications

CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i9

Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 – 4090

RAM: 64GB – 128GB DDR5

Screen: 17.3-inch IPS, 4K 144Hz Mini LED, HDR 1000, 100% DCI-P3

Storage: 2TB – 4TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+

Out of this world performance

+

Surprisingly OK battery life

+

Mini DisplayPort output

Reasons to avoid

–

Very expensive

–

Enormous and heavy

–

Sounds like a tiny jet engine

Buy it if:

✅ You want top-tier gaming performance: Equipped with an Intel Core i9-13980HX, Nvidia RTX 4090 mobile GPU, and DLSS 3, this setup effortlessly handles any game.

✅ You want extensive customization: Offering per-key, lid-logo, and accent RGB lighting, you can tailor the gaming aesthetic with sparkling lights to your personal taste.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You want something affordable: This laptop’s high cost makes it inaccessible for most readers. 

❌ You want portability: This laptop’s size and weight make it challenging to transport, don’t even bother.

The MSI GT77 Titan (2023) stands out as a top contender in the realm of powerful gaming laptops, especially with its impressive 17-inch screen. This massive display boasts a stunning 4K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, making PC games look and perform exceptionally. 

Under the hood, it’s equipped with a 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4080 12GB Laptop GPU, outperforming competitors like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i in GPU benchmarks during our tests.

While the laptop’s size, weighing over seven pounds, and its audible cooling system underscore its status as a stationary desktop replacement, these aspects are offset by its remarkable performance and fast charging capability. 

With a reasonable battery life of about four and a half hours for a gaming laptop, and additional features like a Mini DisplayPort output, the MSI GT77 Titan (2023) is a formidable choice. Although its size and cost are considerations, for those not constrained by budget, this laptop is an excellent investment for unparalleled gaming power, especially given its expansive 17-inch screen.

Read the full MSI GT77 Titan (2023) review

How to choose the best 17-inch laptop for you

When you’re looking for the best 17-inch laptop, you really do need to ask what you’re looking to do with your device. Not all 17-inch laptops are created equal, and whether its for gaming or work, you’ll find all kinds of big-screen devices to suit your needs.

15-inch laptops vs 17-inch laptops

Deciding between a 15-inch and 17-inch laptop has probably never been harder. Just a few years ago, only 17-inch laptops came with the kind of power to handle the most demanding tasks. But, since components have gotten smaller and more powerful over the years, you don’t have to stick with the largest laptops anymore to get great performance. 

You can find portables in both sizes with robust CPUs, GPUs, and plenty of storage space. However, the two sizes do come with their own advantages.

If portability is a factor for you, a 15-inch laptop is always going to be smaller, lighter, and easier to carry around. And, unlike the smaller 13-inch models, it can still come with plenty of power. But, a 17-inch laptop will still have that bigger screen. And, even though a smaller laptop can come equipped with a powerful GPU, its thermal solutions won’t be as well implemented as that of these larger portables.

What is the best resolution for a 17-inch laptop

Picking the best resolution for your 17-inch laptop will come down to a few things. Though plenty of the best ones come with a standard 1080p resolution which is more than enough for most people, your needs might be a little different. 

If you’re hoping to do some photo or video editing, you probably want to get a higher resolution so you can see what you’re working on in its intended resolution. And, if you’re getting one to game on and you like to play immersive story-driven or open-world games, you’ll appreciate getting a laptop with 1440p or 4k. Of course, it’s only worth getting that higher resolution if your portable’s components can keep up. That means having a solid discrete GPU to run your favorite apps or games at those higher resolutions.

Higher resolution also means more screen real estate. So, if you’re a multitasker looking to keep multiple tabs open and visible at once, a QHD or higher resolution will only help. 

However, if you’re getting one of the more budget options whether it’s for productivity or gaming, particularly competitive gaming, a 1080p resolution will more than suffice.

How we tested the best 17-inch laptops

We’ve seen our fair share of laptops of all shapes and sizes, but we always have a few standard ways we measure them before we pass judgment on if they’re a worthwhile investment. We’ve used these laptops throughout the day to get accurate readings on battery life and performance, but also factor in aspects like price and overall design.

When we review laptops, we also run benchmark tests to make sure the laptop’s hardware can handle the software you’ll run. Benchmark tests additionally give us a valid comparison to other laptops of its kind, therefore helping us decide the ranking and what laptops to recommend and which to skip. We’ve selected the best 17-inch laptop based on these results from a variety of other 17-inch portable computers.

Beyond performance, we consider every possible use for the laptop to ensure we recommend it in good faith. If you’re a laptop gamer, you want something that can handle your games and load them with minimal wait time — but if you travel frequently you probably don’t want a heavy laptop. We cover all aspects — pros, cons, and neutrals — to give you a well-rounded idea of what to expect from a laptop should you choose to buy it.