14 Ultimate laptops for XR Development with Unreal Engine

Creating interactive and immersive experiences using Unreal Engine XR can be both fun and challenging. But it also takes a powerful PC or laptop to run the software and simulate virtual environments. As a developer, you'd want to make sure you have the right laptop to match the level of productivity and graphics demands.

So what are the top laptops for Unreal Engine XR development? That's exactly what I'm going to answer in this post. By the end of it, you'll be fully equipped with the knowledge necessary to find the best laptop for Unreal Engine XR. I will also provide some practical recommendations that are tailored to different budgets.

So, if you're up for a journey into the hardware specs and a few carefully chosen laptop reviews, read on.

Processor Power

laptops

The CPU market has been changing rapidly with Apple's own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M2 system-on-chip modules offering exceptional single-core performance and battery life, while AMD has managed to take 20% of the CPU market with its 6th generation Ryzen processors, and we're still waiting for Intel's 13th-gen processors to reach laptops, where 12th generation is Intel's latest. Both Intel's and Apple's silicon chips adopted hybrid performance/efficiency core design (based on big.LITTLE). Ryzen models are best if you need a good battery life in a PC laptop.

Unreal Engine is available on Windows and macOS, so I'll include MacBooks in my recommendations; a PC laptop will do just fine if you're looking for a more affordable option. If you're looking for a gaming laptop – it's best to prioritize single-core performance since most games rely on it; however, you'll need at least 4 cores to avoid performance bottlenecks.

Clock speed is no longer the best indicator of how well an application will perform; instead, we should look at the CPU benchmarks such as PassMark or Cinebench R23 (or later). If you're looking for a budget option – don't expect high performance; instead, focus on getting the best price-to-performance ratio.

Here is a table of recommended processors and their average price tags:

Processor	Average Price
i3-1115G4	~$400
i5-10310U	~$500
i7-1180G7	~$1000

Powerful Graphics

With the latest iteration of Unreal Engine XR, game developers have more options than ever for creating immersive virtual worlds. From the Oculus Quest and Rift S to the HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality headsets, there are now countless possibilities when it comes to developing VR apps. But choosing the right graphics card for VR development isn't always easy.

Nvidia continues to dominate the laptop GPU market, with its RTX 30 series being the latest offerings. However, it's worth noting that Nvidia's new RTX 40 series cards are not yet available on laptops. They are expected to arrive in 2023, so keep an eye out. Additionally, due to desktop GPUs becoming more power-hungry in the past few years, the gap between power-limited notebook graphics and desktop graphics cards has widened. Lastly, Nvidia has also discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards, leaving it up to laptop manufacturers (OEMs) to determine the exact GPU wattage in their laptops. This means that there is a wide variance in graphics performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.

If you're looking for a MacBook, you can ignore this section since Apple has not yet released a laptop with an AMD graphics card that supports the latest APIs, thus you have to rely on integrated graphics. When it comes to VR development, the GPU is critical since it's used for both rendering and general-purpose computing (e.g. ray tracing). So, if you're looking for a high-end GPU, you'll need to buy a higher-end laptop such as a Razer Blade Pro; these laptops have better cooling systems and are more power efficient as they can deliver more power without overheating as quickly as lower-end laptops.

To compare GPUs across different vendors and generations, many rely on 3DMark, though this isn't ideal as it doesn't take into account the effect of CPU frequency scaling on performance. Instead, it's best to use real-world benchmarks such as those found in video review sites such as Unbox Therapy or Linus Tech Tips.

Now, if you're looking for a gaming laptop – don't expect it to be cheap; if your budget is limited – look for a mid-range gaming laptop with a Nvidia GTX 1650/AMD RX 560X. These will provide good performance at a reasonable price point while still being upgradeable to a faster graphics card down the line if your needs change.

Below is a list of recommended GPUs for VR development with Unreal Engine XR based on performance and battery life:

• Minimum: GeForce GTX 1650
• Recommended: GeForce RTX 3050
• High-end: GeForce RTX 2060

XR Laptop FAQs

What laptop specs do I need for Unreal Engine XR?

To effectively develop with Unreal Engine XR, you should have at least a Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1650 for the minimum. If you plan to push the engine to its full potential, a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a GeForce RTX 2060 will give you the best performance.

Is Core i7 enough for Unreal Engine XR development?

A Core i7 processor is enough for Unreal Engine XR development. It is recommended for users who are looking for the best performance out of the engine.

How to choose a laptop for Unreal Engine XR development?

When choosing a laptop for Unreal Engine XR development, you should consider the following factors: processor type and speed, RAM size, GPU type and power, and storage size. All of these components should be considered to get the most out of Unreal Engine XR.

What laptop is best for Unreal Engine XR development?

The best laptop for Unreal Engine XR development depends on your budget and desired performance. For a moderate budget of around $900, you could go for an HP Victus 15t which has a Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, and a GeForce RTX 3050. For those looking for something more powerful, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar at around $2,310 offers a Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM, and a GeForce RTX 2060.

What GPU do I need to develop with Unreal Engine XR?

The recommended GPU for Unreal Engine XR development is the GeForce RTX 2060. However, a GeForce GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 should be able to run the engine at lower settings and resolutions.

Is 16GB RAM enough for developing with Unreal Engine XR?

16GB of RAM should be enough for developing with Unreal Engine XR. However, more RAM can give you better performance and allow you to use more memory intensive applications at once.

How much storage is needed for Unreal Engine XR development?

Depending on your project, you might need up to 500GB SSD for storage space. We recommend at least 128GB for storing the Unreal Engine XR projects and other files.

Do I need an RTX card for Unreal Engine XR development?

An RTX card is not necessary for Unreal Engine XR development, but it can improve the overall performance of the engine and allow you to use features such as ray tracing.

Is 500 GB SSD enough for Unreal Engine XR development?

A 500GB SSD should be enough for most Unreal Engine XR development projects. If you plan to use more intensive applications or store large asset libraries, then you might need more storage space.

What hardware is recommended for Unreal Engine XR development?

The recommended hardware for Unreal Engine XR development includes a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, and a minimum of 128GB SSD storage. A larger budget can allow you to get higher-end components such as an RTX 3070 GPU and 32GB of RAM.

Optimal RAM.

Laptop RAM can make or break your development workflow with Unreal Engine XR, so it’s important to get the right configuration. Fortunately, in the past few years, the RAM market has seen a tremendous amount of development and improvements that have brought more options to the table at different price points.

Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end models often have 32 GB or more. Both Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, with DDR5 still being quite expensive and not yet mature as a technology.

For game development with Unreal Engine XR, it’s not particularly demanding, but it’s still a good idea to get as much RAM as you can afford. The minimum you should go for is 16 GB, and 32 GB would be ideal for most projects. When shopping for RAM, pay attention to its frequency and latency. While DDR5 is faster than DDR4, the difference in performance will be negligible when choosing between two laptops with the same amount of RAM – for example, 4 GB of DDR4 vs. DDR5.

Also consider the upgradability of the laptop you’re looking at; some laptops have easy access to RAM slots while others require disassembly of nearly the entire machine to upgrade the memory module.

Here are our recommended RAM configurations for various budgets:

Budget	Recommended RAM
Low	8 GB
Mid-range	16 GB
High-end	32 GB

If your budget allows, go for ECC memory, as this type of memory is less prone to errors and will improve stability and performance.

7 Best Laptops for Development with Unreal Engine XR

Table of the Best Laptops for Development with Unreal Engine XR

Laptop	Price (approx)
HP Victus 15	$710
HP Victus 15t	$900
Dell G15	$1,230
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro	$1,350
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4	$1,600
ASUS ROG Strix Scar	$2,310
Eluktronics MECH 17 GP2 Liquid Cooled	$4,200