The one thing I want to focus on is – what are the minimum system requirements for Fortnite? Can your current laptop run Fortnite smoothly? What specs should I look for in a laptop? Am I going to need a top-of-the-line model with the latest graphics card or will I be able to play on an older laptop?
What are the best laptops for Fortnite – by every budget?
To answer all of that and more, I’ve done the research – best sellers, latest releases, reviews, benchmarks, and more. All of this information is necessary to make an informed decision about which gaming laptop you should buy. Let’s begin!
Fortnite is more popular than ever, but can your current laptop run it smoothly? What specs should I look for in a laptop? Am I going to need a top-of-the-line model with the latest graphics card or will I be able to play on an older laptop? What are the best laptops for Fortnite – by every budget?
Requirements for a Fortnite laptop
Major My processor recommendations for Fortnite
A processor is the brain of a computer, but what does that mean for gamers? That it’s one of the most important parts to invest in. You don’t want to have to wait for your PC to catch up with your mouse clicks, do you?
Requirements
Fortnite is not a demanding game, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for anything less than the best. I recommend at least an Intel Core i5 processor, and AMD Ryzen processors are also a good option.
If you want to eradicate FPS dips or you’re simply seeking an abundant framerate to take advantage of a high refresh rate screen (let’s say 144Hz) – you’ll need a high-end processor. In particular, I’d recommend the latest Intel’s 11th generation Core i7/i9 and AMD’s 5th generation Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9.
Recommendations
OK, so what should you look for in a processor? To put it simply, I’d recommend ditching anything lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U for an Intel Core i5-10300H. And if you’re feeling rich (and trust me, we’re all feeling rich these days), go for one of the newest models: Ryzen 7 4800H.
- Fortnite is not a demanding game, but still, invest in a fast processor
- ditching anything lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U for an Intel Core i5-10300H is a good start
- if you want a rich FPS or a high refresh rate display, get a high-end processor from Intel’s 11th generation Core i7/i9 or AMD’s 5th generation Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9.
Major Choosing a graphics card
If you’re a Fortnite player, you’ll want to make sure your graphics card can handle the game’s graphical requirements. The game is highly visual, so I’d expect you to want a graphics card that can deliver high framersates.
Minimum graphics (under $1000)
If you don’t have much money to spend on a laptop, I’d recommend sticking with integrated graphics. These are typically found in Intel processors and will only give you about 60 FPS on low settings. If you’re really tight on cash, then integrated is the way to go. It’s not the best solution for playing Fortnite, but it’s better than nothing.
Recommended graphics ($1000 – $1600)
If you have a little more to spend, I recommend the GTX 1650. It can manage to hit 60 FPS on medium settings. If you’re looking for something better, then I recommend the GTX 1660 Ti which can give you 60 FPS on ultra settings.
Best graphics ($1600 and up)
If you have the money, I recommend the RTX 2070. It can provide 130 FPS on ultra settings which is plenty for Fortnite. The only downside is that it’ll be more expensive than other cards.
Major Deciding on a memory
I’m sure you’ve already figured out that Fortnite isn’t like any other game. The problem is – there’s no “easy” way to tell how much RAM it needs. Why? It depends on the game settings, which could be pretty high or low, and what kind of graphics card you have.
Minimum (8 GB)
However, I still think it’s important to mention the minimum memory size for Fortnite – 8GB. It’s not too bad if you’re just playing Fortnite alone with low graphics settings, but it will become problematic when other games or applications are running in the background. You should also know that an 8GB laptop is barely usable for streaming, so if you plan on doing that, consider getting a higher-end model with more RAM.
Recommended (16 GB)
My personal recommendation would be 16GB of RAM – I find it to be a perfect balance between cost and performance for Fortnite players who are running their games at higher resolutions or playing competitively. This amount will let you run most games without any trouble while letting you multitask with no problems whatsoever.
Best (32 GB)
If you’re really looking for the best experience with this game, my advice would be to get a laptop with 32GB of RAM – but make sure your budget can afford it! This will give you plenty of headroom when playing Fortnite alone or in multiplayer mode.
8GB is barely usable for streaming, 16GB is a good balance between cost and performance, 32GB is a good start if you’re looking for the best experience with this game.
Optional requirements for a Fortnite laptop
Optional What’s the best display for playing Fortnite?
Do you want to be the best Fortnite player in the world? Then it’s time to get your act together. It starts with the display. Here are some key facts about what to look for in a display:
Resolution
There are two options for resolution – Full HD and 4K. The former is most common, and most players won’t notice a difference in framerate or input latency at these resolutions. A competitive shooter like Fortnite will show better performance on FHD, but 4K has its merits too.
It’s up to you, but I’d recommend FHD if you want high FPS without breaking the bank.
Refresh rate
A high refresh rate is often paired with IPS panels. These displays are more expensive than TN panels, but they’re worth it if you’re playing competitive games like Fortnite. It will result in lower input latency and better responsiveness. It’s up to you whether or not it’s worth it – but if you do decide to go for one of these displays, make sure your GPU can handle it too!
Response time
If you’re not playing competitive games – response time doesn’t matter much at all. But if you are – go for a low response time! You don’t want a slow display because this will have a negative impact on your gaming performance and general experience.
- there are two options for resolution – FHD and 4K
- if you’re playing competitive games, get a high refresh rate display with an IPS panel
- if you’re not playing competitive games, response time doesn’t matter much at all
Optional Picking a good storage
Laptops are not cheap these days, but don’t worry, it’s still possible to find one with a big enough SSD. Here’s the rundown on what storage size is best for Fortnite players.
What size should I get?
That depends on your preferences. Do you want the most bang for your buck or do you need all the space in the world? You can’t have both, but there are some workarounds – for example, if you know that you’ll be streaming Fortnite on Twitch, getting a laptop with a small SSD and external hard drive will work just fine.
So first things first – if you’re on a budget, an entry-level 256 GB SSD will be more than enough. If you can afford it, 512 GB should do the trick. And if money is no object – 1 TB of space should keep you satisfied for quite some time.
How much will it cost?
When picking out laptops that are affordable yet offer enough storage space, look for models with at least 128 GB of solid state storage. For models with 256 GB of storage, expect to pay $500-$600. For models with 512 GB of storage, expect to pay $700-$800. For models with 1 TB of storage, expect to pay $900-$1000.
- 256 GB is more than enough if you’re on a budget (if you can afford it, 512 GB should do the trick)
- 1 TB of space should keep you satisfied for quite some time (if money is no object)
5 Best Laptops for Fortnite
HP Pavilion 16 PC
Pros and cons
- Good processor (i7-10750H)
- Solid graphics card (GTX 1660 Ti)
- Bulky (4.8 lbs)
Alternatives
Dell Inspiron 3000
- Awesome memory amount (32GB)
- Large 1TB SSD
- Average processor (i7-1165G7)
- Not the best graphics card (Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs)
Acer Swift 3 Thin
- Exceptional processor (Ryzen 7 5700U)
- Fair display (14 IPS)
- Run-of-the-mill graphics card (Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 40005000))
- Middle-of-the-road memory amount (8GB)
Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6
Pros and cons
- Excellent processor (Ryzen 7 5800U)
- Great graphics card (RTX 3050 Ti)
- Middle-of-the-road memory amount (16GB)
Alternatives
HP Pavillion 15z Full
- Terrific processor (Ryzen 7 5700U)
- Adequate display (15.6 IPS)
- Garden-variety graphics card (Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 40005000))
HP Envy x360
- Excellent display (13.3 OLED Touch)
- Featherweight (2.9 lbs)
- Unexceptional processor (i7-1195G7)
- Substandard graphics card (Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs)
ASUS ROG Strix G15
Pros and cons
- Awesome processor (Ryzen 9 5900HX)
- Splendid graphics card (Radeon RX 6800M)
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Strix
- Exceptional processor (Ryzen 9 5900HX)
- Decent display (17.3 144Hz IPS G-Sync)
- So-so graphics card (RTX 3050 Ti)
HP Omen 16 I
- Exceptional processor (i7-11800H)
- Adequate graphics card (RTX 3060)
- Bulky (5.1 lbs)
Eluktronics MECH-15
Pros and cons
- Exceptional graphics card (RTX 3080)
- Good display (15.6 165Hz IPS)
- Unremarkable processor (i7-11800H)
Alternatives
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen
- Great processor (i9-11950H)
- Splendid graphics card (RTX 3080)
Eluktronics Prometheus XVII
Pros and cons
- Adequate display (17.3 165Hz IPS Touch)
- Excellent memory amount (64GB)
- So-so processor (i7-11800H)
Table of Best Laptops for Fortnite
Laptop | Price (approx) |
HP Pavilion 16 PC | $740 |
Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6 | $920 |
ASUS ROG Strix G15 | $1870 |
Eluktronics MECH-15 | $3200 |
Eluktronics Prometheus XVII | $3600 |