Best Gaming Laptop for Returnal
Can you play Returnal on a laptop? We answer this question, plus suggest the best Returnal laptop for your needs
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- 01Best gaming laptop for Returnal @ 1080p
- 02Best gaming laptop for Returnal @ 1440p
XMG Neo 15 E22 / Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (2022, i7-12700H)
- 03Best gaming laptop for Returnal @ 4K
This guide will help you find the best gaming laptop for Returnal and help you answer the question can my laptop run Returnal? if you still want to try and keep hold of your existing rig.
Picking a laptop among hundreds of options is a difficult task. So, we have designed this brief guide to help you find the best gaming laptop capable of running Returnal. We will help you find the laptop fit for your desired requirements and budget, and help you realize whether playing Returnal on a laptop is a good decision or not for you.
The Returnal laptop requirements are discussed below and we’ve listed a few options for playing the game on different settings and resolutions.
Can my laptop run Returnal?
The developers have already released the official system requirements for playing Returnal; we have listed the requirements below for your convenience.
The problem with official system requirements is they can be deceiving, particularly for laptop users. Suppose you purchased a gaming laptop based on the minimum specs; you won’t get the desired performance, even on low settings. The recommended specs are a much better guide for an enjoyable gaming experience, so we’ve only listed these.
However, there is another consideration: official system specs are based on desktop components, and there’s a huge gap in the performance of desktop and laptop components. So, we recommend getting a gaming laptop with a slightly better config than the recommended specs to get the desired performance. See some examples below.
Returnal recommended system requirements (desktop)
- CPU: Intel i7-8700 (6 core 3.7 GHz) AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (8 core 3.7 GHz)
- RAM: 16 GB RAM
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super (8 GB) AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (12 GB)
- Storage: 60 GB available space
- Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)
Best Affordable Gaming Laptop for Returnal @ 1080p
ASUS ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (300Hz 1080p)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
GPU
AMD Radeon RX 6800M
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB SSD
Screen Size
15.6″
Max Refresh Rate
300Hz
You’re concerned about your budget and you only want to play Returnal at 1080p, we suggest picking up the ASUS ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition, a capable and budget-friendly option.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is an affordable gaming laptop with stellar performance and is frequently available at discounts on Best Buy.
This all-AMD laptop also packs a punch compared to the other gaming laptops in its price range. The laptop comes with an impressive 300Hz 1080p display, great for fast-paced shooters, and the GPU is approximately up there with an RTX 3070 in power. That being said, it won’t compete with Nvidia GPUs when it comes to Ray-Tracing. If you want something with a bit more punch/Ray-tracing support, read below.
Best High-End Gaming Laptop for Returnal @ 1440p/High-Performance 1080p
XMG Neo 15 E22 / Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (2022, i7-12700H)
CPU
Intel Core i7-12700H
Graphics
Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti (150W) / 3080 Ti (175W)
RAM
32GB
Storage
1TB SSD
Screen Size
15.6″
Max Refresh Rate
240Hz
Amazon UK
You can also enjoy playing Returnal at 1440p or QHD resolution, but it will cost you a bit more. The same goes for playing the game at 1080p on the highest graphical settings.
You need a laptop with better hardware, so we suggest picking up the XMG Neo 15 E22 (in Europe)/Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (in the US), the RTX 3070 Ti variant. It is one of the market’s most powerful RTX 3070 Ti gaming laptops. Its performance is even comparable to the RTX 3080 laptops.
In terms of display, you get a 1440p panel with a 240 Hz refresh rate, which is great for a fast-paced game like Returnal. However, the laptop may not always quite run at the smoothest frames at 1440p with maxed-out settings. If that’s what you want, consider the RTX 3080 Ti variant of the laptop.
Best Gaming Laptop for Returnal @ 4K
ASUS Zephyrus S17 (4K, 120Hz, RTX 3080)
CPU
Intel Core i9 11900H
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 (100-140W)
RAM
32GB
Storage
1TB SSD
Screen Size
17.3”
Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
Playing Returnal in 4K will be phenomenal, however, a 4K gaming laptop is incredibly costly, and you need to get the right one, otherwise, the small fortune you spend will go to waste. We recommend getting the RTX 3080 variant of the ASUS Zephyrus S17. It has a 120Hz 4K display, excellent for playing Returnal. The 120Hz refresh rate is a great choice for a 4K gaming laptop, although the 144Hz Razer Blade 17 with 4K display is also available but lacks the same high TGP hardware. Finally, you may also want to consider the high-TGP 120Hz MSI Raider.
Best Gaming Laptop for Returnal : Final Word
If the fates have been merciful, you’ll now know the answer to the question can my laptop run Returnal? If the old girl will struggle, then the various options for the best gaming laptop for Returnal listed above should see you right. If none of these tickle your fancy, do see our other gaming laptop guides in the mega menu above, organised by price and brand.
