A 17-inch laptop gives you a larger screen and keyboard, plus additional space for more powerful components. That makes this size a great choice for designers, gamers, and professionals who want a mobile laptop that provides impressive specs or excellent versatility.
To help you make your choice, we’ve collected the best 17-inch laptops for 2021, starting with our overall favorite, the Dell Inspiron 17 2000. With its modern components and discrete graphics, it’s ready for anything at a price that’s far from excessive.
You also can take a look at our list of the overall best laptops for 2021 for more buying options.
The best 17-inch laptops at a glance
Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1 (2020)
Why you should buy this: You want a large laptop that can still act like a tablet when you need it to.
Who’s it for: On-the-go professionals and fans of versatile laptops — and big screens.
Why we picked the Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1:
If you’re looking for the best of the best, we suggest starting with the brilliantly designed Inspiron 17 7000. This is one of the few laptop series to combine a full keyboard, including a numeric keypad, with a 2-in-1 design that lets it fold back into a tablet when necessary. That adds versatility, but both modes are well-designed, with a good typing experience as a 2-in-1 laptop and a responsive touchscreen as a tablet.
Dell offers a variety of spec customization options, but the base model starts with a 10th-generation intel Core i5-10210U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe NVMe solid-state drive (SSD). For graphics, options start with a GeForce MX250 GPU, and ports include USB-A 3.1, Thunderbolt 3/USB-C, DisplayPort, and HDMI 2.0. The battery won’t last all day, so you’ll want to have an outlet handy, but at nearly 6 pounds, this is not designed to be a portable machine. If you’re happy to set it up for use, though, the Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 is a fantastic 17-inch laptop.
Gigabyte Aorus 17X (2020)
Why you should buy this: You want a good gaming laptop that’s portable but has enough juice to handle your serious gaming needs.
Who’s it for: Gamers who want top-tier performance in an attractive chassis.
Why we picked the Gigabyte Aorus 17X (2020):
With their larger screens and more room for powerful components, it’s no surprise that many 17-inch laptops are focused on gaming. But which should you look at first? We love this 17-inch HD Gigabyte Aorus laptop, which sports extra RGB lighting for style and an OMRON mechanical keyboard for top performance — plus dual fans to help keep things cool under pressure.
Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core i7-10875H eight-core processor (upgradeable, if desired) and a GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max graphics card to handle any game you throw it. You also get 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an HDD storage option (SSD and HDD storage can vary, but there are three slots in total that can add up to a ton of space). The primary port out is HDMI 2.0 if you ever want to switch to a different screen, and the laptop also comes with USB-C, Thunderbolt 2, and USB-A connections.
The downside to the Gigabyte Aorus 17X is that all of this power boosts the price as well as the performance, so you’ll need to pay a premium for such a capable gaming machine.
MSI WS75 9TL-496
Why you should buy this: You want a lot of power in a mobile workstation but aren’t necessarily interested in gaming.
Who’s it for: Professionals with serious laptop requirements who will only settle for the best.
Why we picked the MSI WS75 9TL-496:
If you’re looking for a lot of power in a laptop that isn’t necessarily focused on gaming, then this MSI model has you covered. It offers an Intel Core i9-9880H processor, 32GB of RAM, and a Nvidia Quadro RTX 4000 GPU, all great specs for tackling larger projects that most laptops struggle to handle.
The laptop also includes 1 TB of NVMe SSD storage and a USB-C port in addition to several USB-A ports, plus HDMI and Thunderbolt 3. Battery life clocks in around seven hours for common activities. It’s a bit lighter than many of our picks at under 5 pounds, but it’s also one of the most expensive, so prepare your budget accordingly.
We highly recommend the MSI WS75 9TL-469 if you are looking for an effective mobile workstation that can handle more demanding tasks that you usually rely on a desktop to complete.
Dell Inspiron 17 3000
Why you should buy this: It’s a reliable 17-inch budget laptop that can get for around $500 depending on your spec choices.
Who’s it for: Those who want a larger screen and keyboard on a budget.
Why we picked the Dell Inspiron 17 3000:
Others may be looking for a large laptop that’s friendly for their wallet, in which case laptops that are priced at thousands of dollars may not be a starting point. Here, we advise looking at this Inspiron model, which starts around $500.
The base model includes a 10th-gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB HDD. Connections include USB-A 2.0, HDMI, USB-A 3.1, and an SD card reader. It also has an optical drive, something that more expensive models may skip out on, but that could be useful if you find yourself still occasionally working with physical media or burning CDs/DVDs. Some of these specs are upgradeable, but this will also lead to a significant jump in price — though no options will cost more than $1,000.
This mix of affordability and customization isn’t easy to find: If you have limited funds and need a large laptop, then the Dell Inspiron 17 3000 is for you.
LG Gram 17 (2021)
Why you should buy this: You want a highly portable laptop with a larger display for work or play.
Who’s it for: People who appreciate a larger screen but are carrying their laptop around all day and prefer a lightweight option.
Why we picked the LG Gram 17 (2021):
For laptop users who are always traveling, consider the LG Gram 17 for a lighter, extremely portable option than the laptops you’ve previously used. This device weighs in at less than 3 pounds. Don’t let that number fool you, though. Despite its weight, the laptop packs a powerful punch; It uses a durable nanocarbon and a “military-grade” magnesium metal frame.
The LG Gram 17 is powerful. This computer comes with the i7-1065G7, an 11th-gen Intel Core processor. On top of its high-functioning processing system, you can also note the 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage. Ports support USB-A 3.1, USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI. In addition, the laptop features top-notch security systems, like its biometric safety feature: the built-in fingerprint reader. The battery life can vary a bit for this 17-inch laptop. However, LG says you can expect about 17 hours on average, depending on how you’re using the device.
As we mentioned, this laptop’s durability ranks at a “military-grade” level. Its safety features are a standout in its field, as well. The lightweight LG Gram 17-inch can be transported easily and won’t get in your way while you’re on the move.
Dell XPS 17
Why you should buy this: It’s an excellent professional laptop with a larger display.
Who’s it for: Professionals, visual editors, and many others.
Why we picked the Dell XPS 17:
While we are fans of the more compact XPS 13, there’s also a lot to like about its larger cousin, the XPS 17, which retains many of the features that make the XPS line such as a versatile option for laptop buyers — on a larger scale for those who really need more display room for their work.
This laptop starts with the six-core 1oth-gen Intel i7-10750H processor and a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU, plus 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD for storage. Most of these specs can be upgraded if you want more power, allowing the XPS 17 to serve a variety of roles depending on what users have in mind. Ports including Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort.
While the XPS 17 does have a similar compact design to smaller XPSs, keep in mind that the larger display and greater weight (4.65 pounds) will make it more difficult to tote around. Find a compatible laptop bag, if necessary.
MSI GS75 Stealth
Why you should buy this: A powerful and versatile gaming laptop that can handle just about anything.
Who’s it for: Mobile VR gamers, gamers looking for a serious upgrade for their laptop
Why we picked the MSI GS75 Stealth:
Those interested in a high-end upgrade for their gaming laptop shouldn’t sleep on this MSI laptop, which includes a six-core Intel i7-8750H processor and a GeForce RTX 2080 GPU that will ensure your games play smoothly.
The model also includes 32GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. That 17-inch FHD display isn’t just large — it also supports a 144Hz refresh rate and 3-millisecond response time. Ports including USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI. You also don’t have to worry about MSI GS75 StealthMSI GS75 Stealth overheating too easily, thanks to its three fans, four exhaust ports, and seven copper heating pipes.
Just don’t expect the best kind of battery life with all that power: Keep your charging cable handy.
Alienware M17 R4
Why you should buy this: It’s a lightweight gaming laptop that can serve as much more.
Who’s it for: Gamers interested in a mobile solution.
Why we picked the Alienware M17 R4:
This Alienware model is a versatile middle-of-the-road option for gamers who prefer a robust laptop for gaming on the go, but are also interested in a model that can handle work or school tasks. The laptop is well-equipped for either, with a base model that starts with a 10th-gen Intel i7-10870H process and a GeForce RTX 3060 to handle all your graphical needs.
The FHD display also impresses, with support for up to a 360Hz refresh rate and built-in G-Sync support to help reduce tearing. RAM starts at 16GB and storage at a 256GB PCIe SSD, but you can also upgrade these specs depending on how much you are willing to spend and what sort of gaming you’d like to support. The Alienware M17 R4 also includes USB-A 3.2, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.1b, and mini DisplayPort 1.4 connection options.
Editors’ Recommendations
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