As an avid Minecraft player and laptop enthusiast, I understand the importance of finding the best laptop for Minecraft to fully enjoy the blocky universe. Minecraft may seem like a simple game, but its procedurally generated worlds and resource-intensive mods can demand more from your laptop than you'd expect. Your choice of hardware can make all the difference between a smooth, immersive experience and a laggy nightmare.
When searching for the perfect laptop to run Minecraft, I have reviewed an extensive laptop spreadsheet of recent releases, comparing specs and reviews from both professionals and fellow Minecraft gamers. I've narrowed down the top laptops based on the unique requirements of Minecraft, considering factors like performance, display quality, battery life, and various price ranges. This guide is tailored to help you find the ideal machine to explore, build, and survive in the captivating world of Minecraft.
In this laptop buying guide, I'll address the importance of a powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, especially for those looking to run shader mods or participate in intense PvP battles. Additionally, we'll delve into the benefits of a high-quality display and ergonomic keyboard for those late-night building sessions and adventures with friends on popular Minecraft servers. By the end of this guide, you'll be well-equipped to select the best laptop for Minecraft, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the limitless creativity that the game offers.
Processor
If you’re looking for a laptop specifically for Minecraft, the processor you choose can make a huge difference. While Apple has released MacBooks with their own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M2 system-on-chip modules which offer exceptional single-core performance and battery life, Windows laptops have been using Intel and AMD processors for many years. AMD has managed to take 20% of the CPU market with the 6th generation Ryzen processors, but we’re still waiting for Intel’s 13th-gen processors to reach laptops. Both Intel and Apple have adopted a hybrid performance/efficiency core design (based on big.LITTLE). So if you need a good battery life, then Ryzen models might be the way to go.
Since Minecraft is available on multiple platforms, we can assume that you’re looking for a MacBook; however, I’ll include Windows laptops in my recommendations. Minecraft is a single-threaded game, so we need to focus on the performance of a single core; however, the game does use multiple threads for some tasks such as loading chunks and rendering.
If you’re not worried about battery life, then I’d recommend going for an H-series processor from any manufacturer since these processors tend to offer better performance than their P-series counterparts; however, if you’re looking for a more lightweight laptop with less heat emission – go for an U-series processor (Intel or AMD).
When it comes to comparing processors, there are plenty of benchmarks out there – PassMark and Cinebench are my favorites since they’re relatively easy to find and don’t require much technical knowledge to understand their scores.
Recommendations
- Minimum: Ryzen 5 5500U
- Recommended: Ryzen 5 5600H
- High-end: i7-12700H
If you’re looking for a gaming laptop under $1,000, expect a significant drop in performance due to thermal throttling; if that’s OK with you – go ahead and get one with an Nvidia GPU; otherwise, I’d stick with AMD or Intel integrated graphics.
Graphic Power
With so many laptops on the market today, picking the right graphics card for your Minecraft laptop can be confusing and overwhelming. Fortunately, we can simplify the process with some helpful tips.
GPU Technologies
Nvidia continues to dominate the laptop GPU market. Their most recent notebook cards are in the RTX 30 series, such as the RTX 3070 Ti. Additionally, Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for their RTX graphics cards. Now, an exact GPU wattage is determined by the laptop manufacturer (OEM). This results in a wide variance in graphics performance, even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.
Minimum Recommendation
For casual Minecraft players, you won't need too much graphical power. Integrated graphics should do just fine, as long as your laptop isn't too old.
Recommended Recommendation
For the best overall performance, you'll want to go with a gaming laptop with a dedicated graphics card. The Nvidia GTX 1650 is a great mid-range option that can handle most Minecraft graphics settings without breaking a sweat.
High-end Recommendation
If you're looking for a laptop that can handle the highest graphical settings, then you should look into an RTX 2070-based laptop. This will provide you with the best performance available and make sure your Minecraft experience is smooth and enjoyable.
When comparing GPUs, I recommend using 3DMark scores as they are an excellent proxy for in-game performance. Keep in mind that if you're looking for a budget gaming laptop, you might have to make some concessions in other areas such as RAM amount or processor performance.
So there you have it. If you keep these points in mind when searching for your next laptop, you'll be sure to find the perfect fit for your Minecraft needs.
RAM: Considerations
Choosing the right laptop RAM for Minecraft can be a daunting task, especially with the wide array of choices available on the market today. That's why we've broken down what you need to know about laptop RAM and how much RAM you need for playing Minecraft in this article.
What's Changed in the RAM Market
In recent years, the RAM market has seen some major changes. Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end – 32 GB or more. Latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5, though DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology.
How much memory is needed for Minecraft?
Minecraft is a very demanding game, and it's not uncommon to need 16 GB of RAM to play at high settings with a large world. However, 8 GB should be enough for most people, especially if you're playing on a low-end laptop. If you're looking for the best possible performance, consider getting a gaming laptop with DDR5 RAM. However, this is only necessary if you're looking for the best possible performance in resource-intensive games or if you're doing some serious video editing on your laptop. For everyone else, DDR4 will be more than enough.
Is DDR5 worth it?
It really depends on your needs and budget. DDR5 RAM is more expensive than DDR4 RAM, so if you're on a tight budget, you may want to opt for the latter. That said, DDR5 RAM does offer better performance than its predecessor, so if you're looking for the best possible performance in resource-intensive games or if you're doing some serious video editing on your laptop, then DDR5 is definitely worth considering.
ECC vs Non-ECC – What to Look For
ECC (Error Correcting Code) RAM is typically more expensive than non-ECC RAM but offers better reliability and error correction. That said, ECC RAM is not necessary for gaming or video editing and is mostly used in data centers. If you're looking for a gaming laptop that can last you for years to come, try to get one with upgradable RAM (some laptops have their memory soldered onto the motherboard).
Table of Recommended RAM Configurations Depending on Your Budget
| Cost | RAM |
|---|---|
| Low | 8 GB |
| Mid | 16 GB |
| High | 32 GB |
5 Best Laptops for Minecraft
1.ASUS Zenbook
ASUS Zenbook is a good value laptop for Minecraft gamers.- Excellent battery life
- Lightweight and compact design
- Fast processor for gaming
- Bright display with good quality
- Soldered RAM cannot be expanded
- Fan can be annoying at times
- Weak Wi-Fi
- Runs hot and blows hot air into the screen
Summary
ASUS ZenBook 14 UM425QA is a lightweight laptop with long battery life and fast processor. With its excellent price, this laptop is a good value for Minecraft gamers who want a powerful and portable device.
Reviews
Alternatives
HP
- Affordable gaming laptop
- Good entry-level gaming performance
- Mediocre display and webcam
- Bloatware pre-installed
2.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16
Minecraft laptop- Awesome processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
- Solid graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
- Solid display (16)
- First-class memory amount (64GB)
- No IPS Panel (inferior color reproduction)
Alternatives
HP Victus
- Easy serviceability, 2x SODIMM, 1x M.2 PCIe4 2280 SSD
- Attractive visual design for a budget model
- Subpar GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU for running Minecraft
- Buggy battery life and fan behavior
3.Dell G15
The Dell G15 offers smooth gaming performance, high CPU performance, and excellent battery life at an entry-level price, but is let down by its display.- High CPU performance
- Smooth gaming performance
- Excellent battery life
- Illuminated keyboard
- Dark display with poor contrast
- PWM flickering
- No Thunderbolt
- No frame to install a second SSD
Summary
The Dell G15 is a great entry-level gaming laptop that offers smooth performance and excellent battery life, thanks to its Ryzen 7 APU and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. However, the display is dark, has poor contrast, and suffers from PWM flickering.
Reviews
Alternatives
Lenovo ThinkPad P17
- Awesome graphics card (RTX A5000)
- Awesome display (17.3 IPS HDR Touch)
- Unexceptional processor (i9-11950H)
4.ASUS ROG Strix G15
ASUS ROG Strix G15 is a high-performing laptop perfect for gaming Minecraft.- High-performing CPU and GPU
- Good workmanship and sophisticated design
- User-friendly maintenance and good input devices
- Skimpy connectivity
- Coil whine in certain situations
Summary
ASUS ROG Strix G15 comes with an RTX 3070 GPU and Ryzen 5000 CPU that delivers exceptional gaming performance, especially with its 300 Hz display. The laptop has great workmanship, a sophisticated design, and user-friendly maintenance, but has limited connectivity and may have coil whine in certain situations.
Reviews
Alternatives
Sager NP8875D
- Very good processor (i9-13900HX)
- Fair graphics card (RTX 4060)
- Run-of-the-mill memory amount (32GB)
- No IPS Panel (limited viewing angles)
5.ASUS ROG Strix Scar
Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 is a powerful gaming laptop with a few flaws.- Powerful performance with high-end components
- Durable construction
- Excellent response times and color gamut coverage
- Fast Wi-Fi 6E
- Limited display angle
- No biometric login
- High heat and noise emissions under load
- SSD throttling during continuous reads
Summary
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 is a well-built laptop with top-tier components like Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900H and a 150 W Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti that make it a great performer for gamers. However, it suffers from issues with heat and noise emissions and SSD throttling, while the display angle is limited and battery backup is subpar.
Reviews
Alternatives
HP Omen 17
- QHD display with 165 Hz
- Advanced Optimus
- High noise level
- Clattery case
FAQs for Laptops
What laptop is best for playing Minecraft?
The laptop that is best for playing Minecraft depends on your budget and the graphical settings you want to play the game at. For example, if you are looking for a budget laptop that can run Minecraft on low settings, then we recommend the ASUS TUF A15 at $690. For mid-range laptops that can handle Minecraft on medium settings, we suggest the Dell G15 at $150 or the Dell G15 at $230. If you want to play Minecraft on its highest settings, then we recommend the GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4 at $600 or the ASUS ROG Strix Scar at $2,310.
What are the system requirements for Minecraft?
The system requirements for Minecraft are as follows: a CPU that runs at least Intel Core i3-3210 or AMD A8-7600 APU, 4 GB RAM, and 500 MB free storage space. The game also requires an Intel HD Graphics 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 graphics card with at least 1 GB of video RAM.
How to choose a laptop for Minecraft?
When choosing a laptop for Minecraft, consider the game’s system requirements and your budget. If you are on a tight budget, then an Intel Core i3 processor and 4 GB RAM should be enough to run the game on low settings. However, if you want to enjoy the full experience, then we recommend an Intel Core i5 processor and 8 GB RAM. Additionally, make sure to look for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card, such as an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 or higher.
What laptop can run Minecraft?
Any laptop that meets or exceeds the game’s system requirements can run Minecraft. In addition to the processor and RAM requirements, the game also requires an Intel HD Graphics 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 graphics card with at least 1 GB of video RAM and 500 MB of free storage space.
Is Ryzen 5 enough for Minecraft?
Yes, the Ryzen 5 is powerful enough to run Minecraft. However, we recommend at least 8 GB of RAM and a dedicated graphics card if you want to enjoy the game on its highest settings.
Can I play Minecraft on an Ultrabook?
Yes, you can play Minecraft on an Ultrabook if it meets or exceeds the system requirements for the game. Specifically, you need an Intel Core i3 processor or better, 4 GB RAM or more, and a dedicated graphics card with at least 1 GB of video RAM. Additionally, make sure that your Ultrabook has 500 MB of free storage space.
What is the minimum laptop spec for Minecraft?
The minimum laptop spec for Minecraft is an Intel Core i3 processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 MB of free storage space, and an Intel HD Graphics 4000 or AMD Radeon R5 graphics card with at least 1 GB of video RAM.
What is the best budget laptop for Minecraft?
For the best budget laptop for Minecraft, we recommend the ASUS TUF A15 at $690. This laptop is powerful enough to run the game on low settings and has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card with 2 GB of video RAM.
How much RAM is required for Minecraft?
The minimum amount of RAM required for Minecraft is 4 GB; however, we recommend 8 GB for a smoother experience and better performance when playing the game on its highest settings.
Is 500 GB SSD enough for Minecraft?
Yes, 500 GB SSD is enough for Minecraft. The game only requires 500 MB of free storage space so a 500 GB SSD will be more than enough.
Table of the Best Laptops for Minecraft
| Laptop | Price (approx) |
| ASUS Zenbook | $640 |
| Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16 | $700 |
| Dell G15 | $1,230 |
| ASUS ROG Strix G15 | $1,860 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Scar | $2,310 |
