Whether you're streaming TV shows or working with multiple spreadsheets, 17-inch laptops are the ultimate productivity machines. And while they've historically been criticized for being large and clunky, the recent trend toward thin bezels has reduced the overall footprint of these machines.
Yes, we still recommend 13- and 15-inch laptops if you want something portable, but if you want to maximize productivity or duplicate a theater-like experience, go with the biggest display you can find. 17-inch laptops are also great for content creators because of their vast canvases.
The 2.95-pound LG Gram 17 weighs less than most 15-inch machines. Combine that lightness with a relatively compact design (enabled by the laptop's slim display bezels), and the Gram 17 is one surprisingly travel-friendly laptop. Oh, and you can use it for an entire day without even dropping into the battery-saver mode.
You'd expect one of the best 17-inch laptops to flaunt a gorgeous display, and Gram doesn't disappoint with its bright and vivid panel. To conclude, the Gram 17 gets you a superlight, relatively compact chassis, all-day battery life and a gorgeous display — no wonder it's the best 17-inch laptop.
Don't have a budget and need the most powerful gaming rig out there? Consider the MSI GT76 Titan, a massive machine that packs crazy fast performance and eye-opening specs, including up to 128GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage. But it's not all about raw power. The GT76 Titan has an attractive design and its 4K panel is bright and vivid. You also get a comfortable RGB keyboard, even if it isn't mechanical.
The Acer Aspire 5 is a chameleon. The laptop's sophisticated looks are perfect for an office environment, while its dedicated MX150 GPU will satisfy casual gamers. But no matter what you're doing, the 17.3-inch, 1080p display will provide a vivid and detailed image. You also get a spacious, comfortable keyboard and strong performance, thanks to the Aspire 5's Core i7 CPU.
Another perk is its dual storage drives: a 1TB HDD stores files while the primary 256GB SSD does the heavy lifting. Although the Aspire 5's speakers and webcam fall flat, the Aspire 5 undoubtedly deserves the title of best mid-range 17-inch laptop.
My goodness, the display on the HP Envy 17 is truly something to behold. This 4K panel is about as colorful as it gets. With its large surface area, the captivating viewing experience can't be overstated. The Envy 17 clearly has the best 17-inch display of any laptop, but it also flaunts powerful speakers and a Core i7 CPU. The Envy 17 has been updated with an 8th Gen CPU and a GeForce MX150 GPU since we reviewed it, so expect even better performance.
The price-to-performance ratio of HP's Omen 17 is absurd. For some configurations, you get a 17-inch, 144-hz display, an Intel Core i7-9750H CPU and a GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with 8GB of VRAM. You also get a decent keyboard for the price, and a bright 1080p panel.
For gamers on a budget, the Asus TUF Gaming FX705 offers plenty of power and a beautiful 144Hz display, all without breaking the bank. You get a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and respectable GTX 1060 graphics. Unlike some of Asus' pricier Zephyrus laptops, the FX705 actually has a really good keyboard that will keep up with your fingers as you blast away enemies playing first-person shooters.
Feel the power. The Dell Precision 7730 isn't for everyone — it's massive, expensive and lasts only a few hours on a charge — and yet, it has everything you could ask for in a mobile workstation. This monster's Core i9-8950HK CPU and 32GB of RAM provide outstanding performance, and its 4K display is one of the most colorful panels we've ever tested.
In addition, the Precision 7730 is outfitted with a Quadro P5200 GPU, which can run even the most graphics-intensive programs and games. Throw in a super-comfortable keyboard, and it's easy to see why the Precision 7730 is the best 17-inch workstation.
What to look for in a 17-inch laptop
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- Specs: 1080p / Core i5 / 8GB are best bets. You can spend a lot of time delving into specs, but here are the key components to think about when buying a 17-inch laptop. If you just want really good mainstream performance, go for a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a 1080p screen.
- Screen Resolution: If possible, get a display with a 1920 x 1080 (aka 1080p, or full HD) or higher resolution.
- CPU: An Intel Core i5 provides good mainstream performance. Some budget systems will come with Core i3, Celeron or Pentium CPUs, which are good for basic tasks, but not heavy multitasking. Get a Core i7 or a quad-core processor (serial number ends in HQ or HK) for gaming or high-end productivity tasks such as video editing and 3D modeling.
- RAM: 8GB is ideal for most, but power users will want 12GB or 16GB. 4GB is acceptable for budget systems. Secondary laptops and Chromebooks may have less.
Storage: Unless you're a gamer or a power user, 256GB of internal storage is probably enough. If possible, get an SSD (solid-state drive) rather than a hard drive, because it's going to make your computer a lot faster. - Graphics: Gamers and creative professionals need to do some research and figure out which discrete GPU from Nvidia or AMD is good enough to run their favorite software. Everyone else will be happy with the built-in Intel HD Graphics that come with the CPU.
