RTX 3080 Ti laptop buyer’s guide
The best RTX 3080 Ti laptops in 2022, our first look
The RTX 3080 Ti laptop is the new, most graphically advanced gaming laptop on the market. Whilst desktop RTX 3080 Tis were released a while ago now, the RTX 3080 Ti laptop is newly released as of 2022.
Below we will go list what we consider to be the best laptops currently available which come with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, categorized by use case and budget to give you different options based on your needs.
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RTX 3080 Ti laptop vs RTX 3080 laptop performance
Although the RTX 3080 Ti is technically the highest SKU of the Nvidia line of laptop graphics cards, unsuspecting buyers may be surprised to find that some RTX 3080 Ti laptops actually underperform the higher-end RTX 3080 models.
As is often the case with gaming laptops, the key information you need to look out for is the TGP (Total Graphics Power) of the graphics cards, as measured in Watts (W). There is massive variation in the performance of what is ostensibly the same graphics card depending on the power allotted to it, as measured by the TGP. The maximum TGP for RTX 3080 Ti cards is 175W, though only a few models and brands have announced models that go this high.
In each of our selections on this page, we will discuss the TGP of the RTX 3080 Ti laptop in question and what this means for its gaming performance.
Our Top Picks
The best RTX 3080 Ti laptop in 2022
In-depth Review
XMG Neo 15 E22 / Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (2022, i7-12700H)
XMG Neo 15 E22 / Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (2022, i7-12700H)
The XMG Neo 15 2022 version is one of the most powerful RTX 3080 Ti laptops out there, and if you’re based in the US you should be able to get the Eluktronics Mech-15 G3 with the same specifications. The core components of both laptops are the aforementioned RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, and a 12th gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor though we expect to see AMD CPU variants down the line too with better battery life though slightly worse in-game performance. With a massive 175W TGP, the RTX 3080 Ti in this laptop is one of the few full power versions available, ensuring the very best FPS performance in game for a relatively reasonable price, though to get the most out of it you’ll want to consider the external liquid cooling system: the XMG Oasis, which retails for around €200.
The use of the Oasis is a bit finicky, particularly emptying the laptop after each use, though its results in-game can’t be argued with. Obviously, this is not a particularly portable system and restricts its use to desktop-replacement scenarios, but the XMG Neo 15 still works well without it for gaming on the move, and it’s still our top pick even without the Oasis. The inclusion of a MUX Switch, which is easily toggled via the excellent onboard software, gives a substantial performance boost in games. Granular fan control and battery longevity settings are also available within the onboard software.
Onto the display, and many of its specs are the same quality as the previous iteration. Expect great contrast ratio, a nice high peak brightness of around 380 nits and good color accuracy, though the panel uniformity may be somewhat lacking. In terms of color gamut, you’ll get around 98% sRGB coverage for the 1440p version at least, making it good enough for color work in this space, and well above what you’ll need for gaming.
The refresh rate of the 1440p/QHD version however has been upped to a very impressive (for the resolution) 240Hz, which is high enough for competitive online gaming (for which we’d consider lowering the in-game resolution) as well as for slower-paced casual affairs. We’ve no information as of yet as to the grey-to-grey response time, as we’ve not been able to test the model, however the E21 165Hz iteration had a 7ms real result, so we assume this higher refresh rate model will be superior (otherwise expect to see some ghosting).
There are a lot of upgrade options for XMG machines, including up to 64GB of memory and 2x 2TB M.2 SSDs. The sizable optomechanical keyboard the laptops all come with as standard is excellent for both gaming and general typing, the trackpad is also responsive and of good build quality. General build quality is decent, though admittedly not as good as some of the more premium brands on this list, and we would like to have seen a sturdier lid ideally. The quality of the speakers could have been better and is the standard ‘gets loud but no bass’ that you see in many gaming laptops. You do get an SD reader though, and a good range of I/O ports.
In short, whilst not perfect, the XMG Neo 15 E22 is the best 15-inch RTX 3080 Ti laptop for gaming enthusiasts.
MSI GE76 Raider 12UHS
MSI GE76 Raider 12UHS
Those who opt for the highest specced Intel Core i9 models will get access to the new MSI phase change liquid metal cooling system: essentially a pad of metal covering the processor that is solid at room temperature, but which turns to liquid above 58°C. This allows the metal to better cover the surface area of the CPU and cooling solution, providing greater contact area for heat dissipation. It also means that the risk of leaks are much more minimal, and maintenance at room temperature even in the hottest climates is much easier.
The TGP of the RTX 3080 Ti is the max 175W version, which is a rare sight in RTX 3080 Ti laptops, and the cooling solution really helps to limit the thermal throttling on this beast, ensuring that the FPS you get is second to none (well, not far behind the XMG Neo 15 at least). Besides this, you get great upgrade options for the RAM and SSD slots, up to 64GB and 2x 2TB respectively. A good quality 1080p webcam (above the 720p you normally see) with a decent microphone, a full selection of ports including a full-sized SD card reader, a Wi-Fi 6e card, and half-decent speakers are all the additional features that you pay for with this quality machine, ones that you don’t often find in a gaming laptop.
The build quality of the GE76 is top-notch and the laptop generally looks a treat without being too over the top. The RGB light strip along the lower front side is a nice addition that can be turned off if you like. The battery life is about average for a laptop of this power, coming in at around 4-5 hours of non-strenuous general use outside of games on battery saver mode: not great but not bad either.
1080p, 1440p, and 4K displays are all available for the Raider at different refresh rates. We’d definitely avoid the 60Hz 4K option, but if you’re lucky enough to find the 120Hz 4K version on sale anywhere then this could be an excellent choice for someone looking for a machine that can do both creative workstation tasks and is quick enough to game on (though it doesn’t match our workstation pick below for this). The best choice for the majority of people would likely be the 1440p/QHD 240Hz option which both enjoys the benefits of a higher resolution but also a refresh rate that is high enough for even fast-paced competitive gaming. You can always turn down the resolution to 1080p in-game to ensure the maximum FPS. Those who are interested in hardcore competitive gaming at the expense of all else can also opt for the 360Hz 1080p/FHD screen. Response times differ depending on which display you choose, but the 240Hz 1080p option will perform at around 3.5-4ms grey-to-grey, which is one of the best you will find in a gaming laptop.
Everything considered, the MSI Raider GE76 12UHS is the most impressive premium RTX 3080 Ti laptop on the market.
ASUS Zephyrus Duo 16 (RTX 3070 Ti/3080 Ti)
ASUS Zephyrus Duo 16 (RTX 3070 Ti/3080 Ti)
ASUS’ high-end workstation laptop with RTX 3080 Ti is the ASUS Zephyrus Duo 16, which also comes packing a massively powerful AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX processor, up to 64GB of fast 4800MHz DDR5 RAM, and up to 4TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, with RAID 0 support to make read and write speeds even quicker.
With Dynamic boost, the TGP of the graphics card maxes out at 150W, which is not as powerful as some of the other selections on this page, meaning its gaming performance is not quite up there with the best, however it’s still a respectable power limit. In terms of workstation use, you will struggle to find a laptop with better multi-core performance than is given by the Ryzen 9 6980HX, which demolishes even the most demanding rendering or 3D modelling workloads. The inclusion of liquid cooling really helps to get the most out of this high-powered processor. Ultimately this just reinforces that this laptop is for serious workstation users only, given the very high price that it demands.
The most distinctive feature of the Asus Zephyrus Duo series is of course the secondary screen, placed between the keyboard and the main display, which lifts upwards. The new Duo 16 has a more seamless connection between the two displays now, with the mini screen lifting up close to the edge of the primary display. Once again this second display has touch screen functionality, and can be used to display alternative media whilst gaming (Discord or YouTube for instance) or different windows of your editing program (the timeline for example, allowing more screen space to watch the footage and to move and manipulate it via touch). Arguably buying a cheaper laptop plus a larger secondary screen separately could be for cash efficient, though this would take up more space to carry, plus would be less useful for the aforementioned editing workflows. Whether or not it will actually be useful though really depends on what you’re planning on doing with the laptop.
The inclusion of the second display does mean that the trackpad (which doubles as a numpad) is off to the side of the keyboard and that the keyboard is positioned closer to the user with no space to rest your hands on it, though there is an optional wrist rest included that you can attach to the front of the machine. This positioning can take a bit of getting used to but the actual quality of the keyboard is decent and it feels responsive. The trackpad is okay but we’d recommend using a mouse instead. Unlike the previous Duo, the Duo 16 now has a webcam included on the top of the display, which has InfraRed technology with Windows Hello support.
Besides the second display, the most unique thing about the ASUS Zephyrus Duo 16 is the new variable resolution and refresh rate option for the main panel that’s been introduce in 2022. If you pick this option you get a 4K 120Hz display that can switch to a 1080p 240Hz display using the onboard software: an ideal setup for those looking for a laptop capable of both graphical and video workflows at higher resolution and fast-paced competitive gaming.
In terms of response time, the previous version came with a 7ms response time with Overdrive enabled, which wasn’t great for a gaming laptop of this size, but not terrible either. We can expect this latest version to be at least as good, though hopefully better; we’ll have to wait for testing to find out. Color replication is around 98% sRGB, 75% Adobe RGB and the same for DCI-P3, meaning its suitable for color work in the sRGB space, but not much beyond that. Still, this is a unique 3080 Ti workstation and gaming laptop with features you won’t find anywhere else.
Razer Blade 14 (RTX 3080 Ti, 1440p, 165Hz)
Razer Blade 14 (RTX 3080 Ti, 1440p, 165Hz)
The newest Razer Blade 14 comes with options for a RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, a hugely powerful AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, and improved PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2 support for SSDs. The graphics card may be lower TGP due to the constraints imposed by the small size of the machine, but it does come with the full amount of 16GB VRAM this year, which should really help on those higher graphical settings and resolutions. The inclusion of a MUX Switch in this year’s model also really gives it an extra performance boost in games. This is still, by far, the most powerful 14-inch gaming laptop that money can buy.
Besides gaming, the Ryzen 6900HX processor really lets it hit hard in multi-core heavy workstation tasks, such as rendering and visual editing. The classic high quality display further improves its usefulness as a dual-use workstation machine: with the previous version having an excellent 100% sRGB gamut coverage and roughly 83% AdobeRGB coverage, we expect to see much the same in real world testing (Razer claim ‘up to’ 100% DCI-P3). Contrast and peak brightness are also good, enabling you to see details in the blacks and use the laptop in well-lit areas without a problem.
The RTX 3080 Ti specced option comes with a 1440p/QHD panel only with a 165Hz refresh and FreeSync Premium. Though we haven’t yet tested the real grey-to-grey response time of this display, if it’s the same as the 2021 version you can expect around 9ms, which will lead to some ghosting in faster titles but for a display this size is still pretty decent.
The build quality of this miniature machine is fantastic; though with its all-metal chassis it’s not the lightest out there, given its slimline dimensions it is still easily portable. Taking everything into account, this is a great RTX 3080 Ti laptop.
Final Word
This has been our guide to help you find the best RTX 3080 Ti laptop in 2022. If you want to see more gaming laptops besides those containing just this one graphics card, take a gander at our best gaming laptop guides for different price ranges under Custom Gaming PC > Gaming Laptop in the top toolbar menu. Also check out our main best gaming laptop page for the best Nvidia and AMD laptop models across all price ranges and brands.