Gaming Consoles No Longer the Only Option
The Xbox Series X may have been a powerhouse when it launched, but its custom chip is no longer the high-end offering it once was. With the rise of powerful gaming laptops, it's now possible to get more performance for your money than with the console. In this article, we'll explore five laptops that outperform the Xbox Series X, offering a more powerful and flexible gaming experience.
The MSI Thin 15: A Budget-Friendly Option
The MSI Thin 15 is the most affordable way to beat the Xbox Series X without breaking the bank. With an Intel Core i5-13420H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 laptop GPU, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and a 512GB SSD, this slim laptop packs a punch. The RTX 4060 laptop chip is key to the whole value argument here, offering DLSS 3 and DLSS 4 features like Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Frame Generation. This means a game running at high settings with DLSS enabled can hit higher, smoother frame rates than the silicon ray tracing performance.
The Acer Nitro V 16: A Step Up
The Acer Nitro V 16 takes things to the next level with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU, a current-generation chip that comfortably outperforms Series X graphics core. Driven by an Intel Core 7 240H processor, backed by 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB SSD, this laptop features a 16-inch WUXGA display with a 165Hz refresh rate and 400 nits of brightness. The RTX 5060 serves as a great starting point, matching and exceeding the Series X silicon for "better than console" performance, according to SlashGear.
The Lenovo LOQ 15: A Balanced Option
The Lenovo LOQ 15 takes the same RTX 5060 laptop GPU and pairs it with more storage and a fast 165Hz panel, making it a strong value-focused alternative to Acer with a lower price point. This laptop runs an AMD Ryzen 7 250 processor with 16GB of memory and a 1TB NVMe SSD, removing the storage anxiety that plagues cheaper and higher-priced gaming laptops. The 15.3-inch WUXGA IPS display at 165Hz keeps motion smooth, and the Ryzen 7 CPU gives the machine solid all-around performance beyond gaming.
The Maingear Super 16: A High-End Option
The Maingear Super 16 jumps into a different class of gaming laptop, rocking an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU that leaves Series X in the dust. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor with 24 cores, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a 2TB NVMe SSD, all housed in a metal chassis with a 16-inch 2560x1600 300Hz display. At $2,649, this is an investment for a massive jump in performance over Series X.
The Maingear Ultima 18: A Flagship Option
The Maingear Ultima 18 is a flagship laptop built around an Nvidia RTX 5080 laptop GPU and an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor. It comes with 32GB of DDR5 memory, a 2TB NVMe SSD, and an 18-inch 4K 240Hz G-Sync display, making it one of the most powerful gaming laptops money can buy without exceeding $5,000. At $3,699, it's the most expensive pick, but it's my daily driver and represents the sweet spot of high-end laptop gaming.
Conclusion
Gaming laptops have come a long way, and the Xbox Series X is no longer the only option for gamers. With the rise of powerful laptops, it's now possible to get more performance for your money than with the console. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly option or a high-end flagship, there's a laptop out there that can outperform the Xbox Series X.