Laptops are constantly pushing the boundaries when it comes to packing powerful hardware into a compact machine that can be used on the go. With components like the CPU and GPU getting smaller and more efficient, improving the displays is the logical step and the laptop industry has done so, by adding 4K displays. They could be your standard IPS panels or even OLED, but having a 4K display sitting at arm's distance is a truly immersive experience.

Some would argue against the need for such a high-resolution display on a laptop and while that argument may be valid, phones these days come with super high 2K resolution displays packed into just 6 to 7 inches. In terms of laptops, it is, of course, more challenging to drive 4K resolution compared to 2K or 1080p, depending on what you are using it for. Gaming at that resolution is going to be challenging, but media consumption and even editing will be a smooth and vibrant experience.

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Game ZXC’s Picks for the Best 4K Laptops

The MSI Prestige 16 AI EVO is the perfect combination of the latest hardware and software technologies, built with both the latest Intel chip and AI integration. The sleek and elegant-looking laptop is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7-155H CPU and Intel Arc graphics. It comes with 32GB of RAM and 2TB of NVMe high-speed storage. As the name suggests, it packs a 16-inch OLED panel with UHD+ (3840x2400) resolution and 100% DCI-P3 coverage.

The integrated NPU inside the Intel chip enables various AI features and functionality that enhance the user experience. The AI Engine essentially detects the use case and adjusts the settings to the best performance mode. This not only delivers optimum performance no matter the task, but also makes the laptop more efficient in terms of power consumption and battery life.

Even after all these optimizations, the MSI Prestige 16 AI EVO should not be your first choice if you are looking for a gaming laptop, though it will be able to run most games at low to medium settings. You will also be limited to only a 60Hz refresh rate. Besides gaming, this laptop is perfect for everything else, especially productivity on the go, thanks to the massive 99.9Wh battery and its lightweight construction, which puts it at just 1.5kgs.

Those looking for a great value gaming laptop with a UHD display and powerful components for playing modern AAA titles will find the MSI Raider GE68 HX checks all the right boxes. It is powered by the Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and the Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, accompanied by 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage. These top-tier specifications are a recipe for an excellent gaming experience that is delivered to you via the 16-inch UHD+ (3840x2400) 120Hz Mini-LED panel.

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The display comes with 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space and supports HDR. While it is in no way the highest refresh rate display on a gaming laptop, 120Hz is far superior to the standard 60Hz and, considering the specifications, somewhat expected. The CPU and GPU combo can more easily push 120Hz than 165Hz or 240Hz, depending on the game being played at full UHD resolution.

The audio on the MSI Raider GE68 HX is handled by a quad 2W speaker setup with Dynaudio. It uses a SteelSeries keyboard with per-key RGB lighting. All this is backed by a 99.9Wh battery, which is the maximum capacity allowed in a laptop, and it ships with a 280W power adapter. There are ample connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It should be noted that the Raider GE68 HX is not the most portable gaming laptop as it weighs close to 3kgs (2.7kg).

The Razer Blade 16 is a unique offering, as it comes with a dual-mode mini-LED display. The dual mode means you can switch between UHD+ (3840 X 2400) 120HZ and FHD+ (1920 X 1200) 240HZ, depending on your use case. This is perfect for the different scenarios you might want to use your laptop for. For productivity, you can switch to UHD+ mode, while for competitive gaming, you can use the high refresh rate FHD+ mode. Furthermore, the laptop is capable of handling most games even at UHD+ resolution.

As the name suggests, the Blade 16 comes with a 16-inch display that has 1000 nits peak brightness, HDR 1000 support, under 3ms response time, and factory calibrated with 100% DCI-P3 coverage. Besides the screen, the Razer Blade 16 (Dual Mode Display) is powered by the Core i9-14900HX CPU and the Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU. With this model of the Blade 16, you get 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage.

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This powerhouse of a laptop is backed by a 95.2Wh battery and comes with a 330W GaN charger. The Blade 16 enables an excellent productivity and gaming experience in a form factor that is sleek and elegant and does not scream “gaming laptop” like some of the other options on the market. While there is no dearth of connectivity options when it comes to I/O, it should be noted that there is no Ethernet port. However, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 are present here.

When it was originally launched in 2021, the ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 was the pinnacle of laptop technology with its dual displays, the primary being a 15.6-inch OLED UHD (3840 x 2160) touchscreen with 100% DCI-P3 coverage. While ASUS has continued with newer versions of the Zenbook Pro Duo, it does not include UHD displays, so you will have to manage with an older laptop if you want to go the UHD route.

The secondary display, which ASUS calls the ScreenPad Plus, is a 14-inch UHD touch panel that tilts up slightly as you open the laptop. This not only makes the secondary screen more visible, but also, opens up the laptop for better airflow. The Zenbook Pro Duo 15 is powered by the Core i9-12900H CPU and comes with 32GB RAM and 1TB PCIe storage. The graphics are handled by the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU. Even though these are older components, they are fairly powerful and should be able to deliver a decent gaming experience, if that’s what you are looking for.

Because of the secondary display, the keyboard has been pushed towards the bottom edge, which may not be the most comfortable position, but the Zenbook Pro Duo 15 ships with a wrist rest that gives some support to your hands when using the laptop on a desk. Also included is a stylus that can be used on either of the screens. You also don’t lose the trackpad here, as it is located to the right of the keyboard and can work as the number pad as well.

For a budget-friendly approach to the UHD laptop space, check out the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1. It is a 14-inch laptop, but comes with a 3840x2400 resolution at 60Hz. While this may seem a bit overkill on paper, the visual immersion offered by this 2-in-1 laptop is unmatched. It is using an OLED panel that has 400 nits brightness, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, VESA Certified DisplayHDR True Black 500, supports Dolby Vision, and of course, has touch input. Plus, the screen can be flipped all the way around for a tablet-like experience.

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You get 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, all of which is backed by a 75Wh battery. Despite its compact size and lightweight construction, Lenovo has managed to fit a four-speaker array with two 2W tweeters and two 2W woofers. It comes with a 2.5k webcam as well, so your video calls will look crystal clear.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 gets MIL STD-810H certification, which means it can survive drops from certain heights and is generally much more rugged than other laptops on the market. You get Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1, which are not the latest standards for wireless connectivity, but you will not feel any lag or latency here. The company sells the laptop in two stylish colors, Luna Grey and Cosmic Blue.

If you are on a tight budget but still want the UHD experience, an easy option is the Acer Swift Edge 16. At under $900, this laptop is perfect for media consumption and other non-intensive tasks. That’s not to say that it cannot perform well under pressure. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U CPU paired with the 16GB LPDDR5 RAM is an efficient pairing that can churn through your day-to-day tasks.

Coming to the display, the Acer Swift Edge 16 features a 16-inch (3840 x 2400) OLED panel with 400 nits brightness. The bezels around the screen are thin, which is the overall theme here, as the laptop is compact, thin, and weighs just 1.13 kgs. This portability does not compromise the user experience, as along with the crisp OLED display, there is a well-laid-out backlit keyboard and a large trackpad.

Don’t expect to have an immersive gaming experience, as the Acer Swift Edge 16 does not have a dedicated GPU, though this helps keep the size, weight, and price, down. Furthermore, the screen is only 60Hz. You do get a 1080p webcam, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity.

Considering the price, the Acer Swift Edge 16 is a great entry into the OLED UHD experience, without sacrificing portability.

Things to Consider When Looking for a 4K Laptop

Screen Size: 4K laptops are available as small as 14 inches and can go all the way up to 18 inches. Even on the larger screen sizes, 4K is extremely sharp, which does question the existence of 14-inch UHD displays. Those looking for an ultra-sharp, but very portable machine will find that form factor to be ideal. However, it should be noted that the higher the resolution, the more difficult it is to drive.

CPU and GPU: Depending on how you intend to use the laptop, the combination of the CPU and GPU will need to be scaled accordingly. If you plan on putting in long editing or gaming hours, having an Intel Core i7, Core i9, Core Ultra 7/9 CPUs, AMD Ryzen 7, or Ryzen 9 series will be ideal. Similarly, an Nvidia RTX 4070 or higher would be ideal if you intend on gaming at 4K. The more powerful the CPU and GPU, the more expensive the laptop will be.

Touchscreen: There are a few laptops that offer touchscreen functionality along with 4K or UHD resolution. Some even allow you to use the laptop as a tablet. This added functionality often comes with some compromises in performance or functionality. But, it does add another way of interfacing with the laptop and makes creating digital art much easier.

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FAQ

Q: Is 4K overkill on a laptop?

Generally, laptops are supposed to be efficient machines and pushing as many pixels as in 4K resolution is not the most efficient way to go. Especially at smaller screen sizes such as 14-inch and 15-inch, 4K can feel overkill. However, the other side of the argument is that the processors and graphics cards have become much more efficient at driving higher resolutions. It boils down to the use case as editors will benefit from the extra resolution.

Q: Is OLED better than UHD laptops?

OLED is the panel technology while UHD (Ultra-high-definition) refers to the resolution of the display. You can find OLED panels at different resolutions, including UHD which is 4K and 8K, as per current technology.