Best RTX 2080 laptop 2023
If you want to know the best RTX 2080 laptop model for your needs, then look no further – we’ll be listing the best ones that are still available online, discussing the pros and cons of each.
As they’re an older model now, RTX 2080 laptops are a bit thin on the ground. You’ll find more than are listed below on the sites of online retailers, but they probably aren’t going to be worth the asking price. Read our ‘what to think about when buying an RTX 2080 laptop’ section below for information about what to expect and whether or not picking one up is the right choice for you.
Products at a Glance
Best RTX 2080 laptop 2023
- Intel i7-10875H CPU
- 300Hz display
- Superb build quality
- Looks great
- microSD card reader
- Battery life could be better
- Only available refurbished
- Heavy
This Alienware m15 R3 was one of the finest premium gaming laptops of the year when it originally released, though like most Alienware products, you had to pay quite a lot of money for the pleasure. Although now you’re not able to buy one of these machines brand new, you can pick up a refurbished/renewed version for a decent price.
This particular model comes with the RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card, plus Intel i7-10875H processor, which are the most powerful core components you’ll see of any of the laptops on this page.
Besides this you also get a very high 300Hz maximum refresh rate screen – ideal for those interested in fast-paced twitch shooters to maximise their competitive edge.
Like all Alienware machines it looks class and has great build quality, however at 5.5lbs also not the lightest (particularly for a 15.6″ machine), plus the battery life won’t last you more than 3-4 hours maximum.
Still, if you’re looking for a RTX 2080 SUPER laptop, this is one of the most powerful picks still available.
- Available for a reasonable price
- Decent build quality
- Reasonable weight for a 17-inch machine
- runs hot
This MSI GS75 Stealth is a 17-inch RTX 2080 laptop that comes packing with an Intel i7-9750H CPU and a 144Hz 1080p screen.
Although obviously it’s a larger laptop in its dimensions given its 17-inch screen, the 4.96lbs weight is pretty reasonable – being lighter than our top Alienware pick that’s only 15.6″.
The build quality overall is good, if not quite as good as the Alienware model, though you will find it runs a bit hotter. You’ll probably get around 4 hours battery life out of this machine with battery saving settings enabled.
The biggest attraction of this machine overall is that you can find it for less than $1,200 online, which is pretty good value for an RTX 2080 laptop of this size.
- A solid performer
- Looks good
- Good array of ports & Kensington lock
- Heavy
- Expensive given the price of newer alternatives
Our final RTX 2080 laptop pick is the Lenovo Legion Ultimate. Again this laptop comes with the Intel i7-9750H processor and a 144Hz 1080p screen.
This laptop performs about as well as the MSI machine above, though has nicer RGB lighting on our opinion, and comes with a slightly better array of ports (including three USB 3.1 Type-A sockets and one USB-C with Thunderbolt 3), plus a Kensington Lock for added security.
Another 17.3″ laptop, this one is unfortunately heavier than the MSI model listed above, and costs a fair bit more too (though this may change over time). As a result we can’t recommend it over the MSI Stealth, however if you don’t like the look of the other one then it’s still a solid pick.
What to think about when buying an RTX 2080 laptop
Is it worth buying an RTX 2080 laptop?
Generally speaking, you’ll probably be better off buying an RTX 3070 laptop than an older gen RTX 2080 model, as the performance of the GPU components will be approximately similar (give or take), but the later 30-seres machine will also come with a later model CPU plus DLSS 2.0 support – which will both enhance performance further.
That being said, if you can find and RTX 2080 / RTX 2080 SUPER laptop for substantially cheaper then it still could be well worth your time.
Limited availability
Unfortunately there aren’t many RTX 2080 laptop devices still available on most online retailers. Although you will find a decent range on Amazon, these only represent a fraction of the models that were available at the time they were originally released. Some of these will be new, but most will be renewed/refurbished.
Should I buy a renewed RTX 2080 laptop?
There’s nothing wrong with buying a refurbished laptop as long as it’s from a trusted retailer/seller and you’re happy with the terms of the warrantee at the point of purchase. You might not get quite the same longevity as you would out of a brand new model, however the price will be lower.
RTX 2080 laptop FAQs
Is a RTX 2080 good for a laptop?
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 was once a top-end graphics card but is now older tech. If you can find one for a good price though, it can still serve as a good upper-mid range performer in a gaming laptop, with the RTX 2080 SUPER being even better.
RTX 2080 vs RTX 2080 SUPER laptops
Nvidia RTX 2080 SUPER laptop GPUs are one SKU above the regular RTX 2080s – essentially the equivalent of the later Ti Nvidia laptop variants.
An RTX 2080 SUPER laptop will always be a more powerful performer than an RTX 2080 laptop, though will probably cost more money.
Our Verdict
In terms of the best RTX 2080 laptop on a performance/price basis then the MSI GS75 Stealth is our man pick, however the Alienware m15 R3 suggested above is the superior option in terms of both power and display, so you may want to consider this one instead (although it’s technically an RTX 2080 SUPER laptop).