Best Laptops for Oculus Rift : Best Laptops for VR in 2019!

Oculus Rift is a set of virtual-reality (VR) goggles that will work with your gaming desktop or laptop. This head-mounted set simulates lifelike experiences with the help of advanced display technologies and motion tracking. Many people like to use a desktop for VR, but if you want a mobile gaming system you’re probably wondering if a laptop can run Oculus Rift properly. Well, the short answer is Yes! A lot of gaming laptops are “VR ready” and are able to run Oculus Rift just fine. In this article, we will help you find some of the best laptops for Oculus Rift that you can buy in 2019. But first, let’s check the system requirements for Oculus Rift.

What is Oculus Rift and how to choose a laptop for Oculus Rift and Oculus Rift S?

On May 21 2019, the original Oculus Rift was discontinued following the release of the new model, the Oculus Rift S. Luckily for us, the new device targets the same price range, around $400, and works on the same PC hardware as the old one. That means there might not be a better time to get your hands on a VR headset. After quite a few years of games and apps being developed, and better graphics card being released, today it’s cheaper than ever to try out the marvels of the VR experience. You might be a little nauseous at first, but it gets better!

Now to be able to run Oculus Rift and Oculus Rift S, let’s first check the system official requirements:

Please note that the specs above are for the newer Oculus Rift S model, the older one requires more ports: 3 x USB 3.0 ports, plus 1 x USB 2.0 port.

Is any “VR Ready” laptop good for Oculus Rift?

A whole lot of gaming laptops are now being released with the “VR ready” tag. Even though most VR suitable laptops are intended for gaming, there’s so much more than video games to the VR universe. You can enjoy specifically crafted apps and 360-degrees videos, or you might even be into neuroscientific research. It’s such a game-changing technology, we have to put in some brain power to get the best out of it. Anyway, what does “VR ready” really mean, when it comes down to the specs? Here are our recommendations when shopping for a laptop for Oculus Rift:

• Processor: The minimum recommended processor for VR is an Intel Core i5. Depending on your budget, you might want to get your hands on a higher chipset to assure a longer lifespan of your laptop. You have to consider carefully: once it’s done, there’s no easy replacement of the processor.
• RAM: 8 GB of RAM is the minimum amount recommended for VR gaming. Most gaming laptops come with free slots for upgrading your RAM, so you might want to check that and the maximum amount of RAM that you can upgrade to. This is an easier choice, though, as you can postpone the upgrading to whenever you see the need for it.
• Graphics card: to run the Oculus Rift S, you’ll need a PC with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480 graphics card, with 4 GB of VRAM. That’s the video RAM that’s part of a dedicated graphics card. Of course, the greater you choose, the better the VR experience will be. With the new 16-series by Nvidia, technology is moving towards advanced features like ray tracing, which allows for a highly realistic behavior of lights in videogames and virtual realities. Newer chips are guaranteed to make even the smallest laptops gaming and video editing powerhouses.

That’s it. The amount and type of storage is mostly up to your needs, although you might prefer a SSD over a traditional HDD, for performance and safety reasons. You’ll need one USB 3.0 port and a video output, then you’ll be ready to go. If at any point you’re unsure about your new laptop’s specs, you can dig in detail through the Support page of the Oculus website.

So, now that you have an idea what to look for in order to get the best laptop for Oculus Rift, let’s check some of the Best Laptops for Oculus Rift we selected for you!

Best Laptops for Oculus Rift  

Lenovo Legion Y7000 Gaming VR Ready Laptop

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First on our list, the Lenovo Legion Y7000 is a relatively affordable VR Ready gaming Laptop. It’s a 15.6” Full HD laptop, featuring an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 128 GB SSD coupled with a 1 TB HDD for extra storage space. The dedicated graphics card is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, which is still a great value in 2019. The Legion Y7000 is one of the best laptops for Oculus Rift you can get if you’re on a relatively tight budget.

The Legion Y7000 offers a good balance between performance and portability, being only 1.1” thin when it’s closed and weighting 5.2 lbs. The display is a nice IPS anti-glare one, with thin bezels on the sides. The white backlit keyboard comes with 1.7 mm of key travel, which is comfortable for gaming, when you’re not messing around with the Oculus Touch. This laptop is packed with three USB 3.0 ports, that’ll come in handy for plugging your devices. With the combined solution of SSD and HDD, you’re guaranteed to never run out of memory for your software!

OMEN by HP 2018 15-dc0045nr

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Our next choice is the OMEN by HP 2018 15-dc0045nr, a 15.6” Full HD machine. It features an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 32 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD, which is great for faster loading times. The dedicated graphics card is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, with 8 GB of VRAM.

Thanks to the high amount of RAM and good specs overall, the OMEN is a beast for playing videogames wherever you are, without renouncing any on the performance department. The IPS anti-glare display has a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which is the best for fast paced gaming. And that’s what most popular games are about today! Other than the USB 3.1 ports, this laptop also comes with a Type-C, which is the latest standard for connectivity. Considering its price, the OMEN has a lot to offer, both to the gamer as to the VR enthusiast.

Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL

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Another laptop that offers great performance for the price is the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL. It’s a 15.6” Full HD laptop, with a 144 Hz IPS display. This machine features a 9^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. The dedicated graphics card is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, one of the newer series, with 6 GB of VRAM.

Even though the storage space might be limited for a hardcore gamer, it’s easily upgraded through an external drive. You’ll get a laptop for playing even the latest AAA games at a decent framerate, with plenty of connectivity options for your VR headset. All in a half-metal body, with a futuristic looking blue backlit keyboard. This machine’s going to last! Moreover, the 300 nits bright display is suitable for occasionally operating outside, without squinting your eyes too much at the sunlight.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar II GL504GW-DS74

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Next, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar II GL504GW-DS74 allows for a change of pace when it comes to the chassis design. It’s so pleasing to the eye, being sleek and without any curvatures. This machine features an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. It comes with the great performing Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card, with 8 GB of VRAM.

Like other competitors, the Strix Scar II offers a 144 Hz, IPS display, with a popping 76% of screen-to-body ratio. The RGB backlit keyboard, inspired by desktop keyboards design, is no nice to look at on top of the black, military looking body. There’s more to it than just aesthetics, though. You’ll enjoy 1.88 mm of key travel and plenty of connectivity options for your VR headset and other devices, including a USB Type-C port.

Dell Alienware 17

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With the Dell Alienware 17, we wanted to please the wide view fans out there. This is a 17.3” Full HD gaming laptop, featuring an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The dedicated graphics card is the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Max Q, with 8 GB of VRAM. There is no need to talk about the capabilities of this laptop when it comes to gaming, and more specifically to VR and Oculus Rift. The Alienware 17 is officially certified by Oculus as one of the best laptops for Oculus Rift.

The Alienware series by Dell is arguably one of the best designed that you can find on the market. Despite being a 17” laptop, you’ll be surprised by how slim and light this model is, weighting less than 6 lbs. If you care for moving around a lot, without wanting to renounce to the view and performance, then this laptop might be the right one for you. You’ll enjoy a RGB customizable backlit keyboard and plenty of software options to tailor the performance to your gaming, or VR activities.

Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop

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With its minimalistic, matte black chassis design, the Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop might be one of our favorites to look at. It’s a 15.6” Full HD laptop, with a 144 Hz display, featuring an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 Gb of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. It comes with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Max Q graphics card, with 8 GB of VRAM.

Despite being so pricey, there’s so much you can enjoy out of the Blade 15. We’ll start from the beautiful edge to edge display, that’s perfect both for gaming as for work. The aluminum unibody allows for an even slimmer silhouette, making this laptop 0.7” thin. The backlit keyboard offers a customization across 16.8 million colors, key by key. Other than offering plenty of ports for your Oculus Rift and other devices, it’s also USB Type-C enabled.

MSI GS65 Stealth-002

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The MSI GS65 Stealth-002 is another marvel to look at, thanks to the matte black chassis design with gold finishes. It’s a 15.6” laptop, featuring a 144 Hz Full HD display with thin bezels on the sides. It’s packed with an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 32 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Like other competitors in this price range, it comes with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Max Q graphics card, with 8 GB of VRAM.

It’s no surprise that this model was a customer favorite from last year. The extra amount of RAM makes it such a performing powerhouse, you won’t feel the need to upgrade in many years. Like other premium gaming laptops, you’ll get to enjoy a RGB per key customizable keyboard and the USB Type-C connectivity. The cherry on the top is the silky glass touchpad, a large and very sensitive pad with more than ten gestures.

Lenovo Legion Y740 81HH0037US

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The Lenovo Legion Y740 81HH0037US is actually an “Oculus Rift Ready” PC that was officially certified by the Oculus! This is a premium 17.3 inch gaming laptop, featuring a Full HD display with 144 Hz of refresh rate that offers an immersive experience thanks to the Nvidia G-Sync technology, which links the graphics card directly to the display. This laptop comes with an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The dedicated graphics card is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080, with 8 GB of VRAM.

If you care for a large view when you’re not immersing in VR worlds, the Legion Y740 might be your ultimate investment. Like other models in this price range, you’ll get plenty of connectivity options, including the USB Type-C port, and a premium backlit keyboard. Moreover, you’ll enjoy the aggressive looking cooling system, with ports on the back of the device.

In short, the Legion Y740 offers plenty of value for its price, and it’s one of the best gaming laptops under 2500 dollars you can get right now!

Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-51-75L8

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Moving closer to the end of our list, we have the Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-51-75L8, which is a more powerful version of the Helios. This Acer take on the premium gaming laptop offers a 15.6” Full HD and IPS display, with 144 Hz of refresh rate and G-Sync enabled. It features an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Things get spicier with the ultimate Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max Q graphics card, with 8 GB of VRAM.

If you ever wish to upgrade the RAM, you can do so by using the second memory slot, up to a total of 32 GB. In the Predator fashion, you’ll get to customize your keyboard backlighting color based on three different zones. Needless to say, this laptop is a killer for gaming, and it’ll have your back as new, more demanding VR titles get released.

MSI GE75 Raider-023

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Last but not the least, we have the mighty MSI GE75 Raider-023. This 17.3 inch gaming laptop, features  an 8^th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD coupled with a 2 TB HDD. You’ll probably never get to the end of your memory storage! The dedicated graphics card is the premium Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080, with 8 GB of VRAM. The display has a refresh rate of 144 Hz and very thin bezels on the sides, which helps reduce the overall size of the device.

The high price of this laptop is worth the incredible amount of memory and top-notch specs overall. Like other MSI models, you’ll get a per key RGB customizable backlit keyboard and all the connectivity you need for a VR headset. As a special feature, the Raider-023 includes a premium audio system with four speakers, that you won’t ever find on a cheaper gaming laptop.