One of the appeals of Fortnite is that it has comparatively low requirements in terms of graphics performance and will run on most machines. But a high-performance laptop can certainly give you an advantage over other players. We’ve compiled the best laptops for Fortnite, with Dell’s G7 15 topping the pile.
A gaming laptop won’t make you a better Fortnite player, but all of our picks will deliver high framerates with high detail. There’s a laptop for everyone, regardless of your budget, so let’s dive in.
More Fortnite guides
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The best laptop for Fortnite: Dell G7 15
Dell’s G7 15 is – when configured with an RTX 2060 – the
Pairing a Core i7-10750H and RTX 2060 gives the Dell G7 15 the grunt to play Fortnite at 1080p resolution and at least 60 frames per second with all graphics details set to Epic. In fact, my testing suggests you should see an average of around 85 frames per second, though the game can dip below 60 FPS for brief periods during heavy action.
I don’t recommend spending more money for the optional 144Hz screen. It’s attractive, I know, but keep in mind what my testing found – the game’s framerate will average in the mid-80s at maximum detail. You can drive the average framerate above 100 fps by sacrificing quality, but that will make the game much less attractive.
Over the Dell’s previous version of the G7, 16GB is the standard. That’s more than enough RAM for Fortnite and most other games, so you shouldn’t worry too much about memory. If you find a last-gen model, try to stick to 16GB if possible.
The reasons to recommend Dell’s G7 15 go beyond performance. It’s a good all-around laptop with a decent screen, reasonable battery life, and a decent keyboard. It’s not the best in these areas – but that’s the reality of buying a $1,300 gaming laptop. All of them make small compromises in favor of high performance at a low price. And unlike many of its peers, the Dell G7 15 looks sleek and modern. It’s particularly good for students, who need a gaming laptop that’s also not an absolute chore to carry.
The best budget laptop for Fortnite: Acer Nitro 5
Need a more affordable option? I recommend the Acer Nitro 5. There are several configurations available, ranging anywhere from $600 to $1,200. For around $800, I recommend the configuration with a i5-10300H and a GTX 1650 Ti. You can splurge a bit, though, and configure your model with a i7-9750H and an RTX 2060.
The Acer Nitro 5’s price is its defining characteristic. Older models sell for less than $700, while the latest model can be had for $750 at most retailers. That buys you a chunky but capable laptop with a “look at me” aesthetic. It’s not going to win any design awards, but it does the job.
Of course, performance is what matters most – especially at this price point. The Acer Nitro 5 can’t average 60 fps at 1080p resolution and Epic detail, but it can hit that if you bump the detail settings down to High. You might have a hard time telling the difference, anyway. The Intel Core i5 H-series processors available in the Acer Nitro 5 are more than capable of handling the game. You’ll have to settle for 8GB of RAM but, as I’ve already mentioned, that’s perfectly fine for Fortnite.
You make quite a few sacrifices to shave the budget down to $750. The Acer Nitro 5’s has an unremarkable display, a chunky chassis, modest battery life, and it looks as inexpensive as it is. You also won’t see upgrade features like a high-refresh display, impressive LED lighting, or a large hard drive. Indeed, the hard drive is the most serious pain point, because some models only have a 256GB SSD while others back that up with a larger mechanical disk drive. A single 256GB SSD is more than enough space for Fortnite alone, but you won’t be able to fit more than a handful of modern AAA games on a drive of that size.
In the end, though, it all comes down to performance for the price, and that’s where the Acer Nitro 5 shines. Fortnite is still a blast to play, and you don’t lose much visual detail even when compared to Dell G7 15.
The best god-tier laptop for Fortnite: Razer Blade 15
If you have money to burn and want Fortnite to look its best, check out the Razer Blade 15. It’s our favorite gaming laptop overall, and while it’s definitely overkill for Fortnite, it will deliver an absolutely awesome gaming experience.
You can purchase a base Razer Blade 15 with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 for barely more than the Dell G7 15, but I don’t recommend that. It costs more and won’t perform as well. You’re better off going for the Advanced model with the Nvidia RTX 2080 Max-Q. That will net you an average framerate of about 130 fps with details set to Epic, or 163 fps if you dial detail back to High.
The RTX 2080 models are going down in price, as Razer pushes ahead with its new RTX 30-series machines. Even the modest RTX 3060 will outperform the RTX 2080 Max-Q, but that performance gap doesn’t really matter for Fortnite.
A framerate that high is enough to use the high refresh rate of the standard 165Hz 1080p screen to its fullest. Gameplay will look incredibly smooth and your inputs will translate to on-screen response with lightning speed.
There are some screen upgrades, including the 360Hz 1080p display or the
At the heart of the machine is either an i7-10875H or i7-10750H depending on your configuration. Both of these processors are more than capable of handling Fortnite.
Not only is the Razer Blade 15 capable of delivering great performance, it’s also incredibly sleek and stylish. Gamer’s will appreciate the responsive keyboard, spacious touchpad, and excellent battery life. As you may have guessed, this machine is built for more than just gaming.
Razer gives you the best of both worlds: While it’s capable of handling more intense gaming, you can easily use it for streaming or work. Developers, video editors, and other tech professionals love the Blade 15 as much as gamers do.
The Razer Blade 15 easily compares to a Windows equivalent of a MacBook Pro 15. Razer Blade 15 comes in different color options including black, silver, or white.
Read our full Razer Blade 15 review
How to optimize Fortnite
You don’t need a new laptop to optimize Fortnite for the best player experience. You already have many options to do so on your current PC.
We tested the game with a complete performance guide, and we came up with a full list of tips and required hardware to get the best performance out of your game. As an example, you can add 10-20 FPS and won’t lose any quality.
