Best 4K Gaming Laptops to Buy in 2022 (UK Roundup)

Introduction

Over time, the 4K gaming market has grown in popularity to the point where higher resolution displays are in now in high demand, and hitting the mainstream. But the question remains, can you pick up a gaming laptop with a 4K screen that performs well in the latest titles?

The short answer is yes! We’ll be looking at our favourite gaming laptops geared towards the 4K resolution. The choices we’ve made feature a range of different components and suited to different budgets.

Is 4K Worth It?

The answer to whether or not 4K is worth it really depends on your needs as a consumer. If you want the higher resolution and greater visual fidelity that comes with it, 4K is likely the way to go. Conversely, if you want the highest possible frame rate in competitive titles, 4K is not going to be the greatest shout.

There is also an argument to be had for professional use-cases, such as rendering and video editing. Here, the extra resolution can be crucial to ensure the best quality work, as well as making the display better for multi-tasking.

If you want the highest fidelity gaming experience then 4K is the way to go, providing you have pockets deep enough to pay for the hardware. If you’re after something a bit more plug and play, where high-settings gaming across the board is little sweat, then go for a 1080p or 1440p design. Our advice is certainly to consider a 4K design, should you have the budget for it. You can always game at lower resolutions as you see fit, choosing to take advantage of the 4K display in specific titles and for day-to-day ‘generic’ laptop use.

The Gigabyte AERO 5 XE4 features a minimalist style with no RGB anywhere on the chassis or keyboard – helping it serve both the gaming and professional markets more easily.

Specs wise, the AERO 5 has one of Intel’s latest 12th Gen Core i7 processors, ideal for high performance metrics in both games and workstation applications. It also comes equipped with an RTX 3070Ti which provides enough power for playing most modern titles at 4K.

Specs List:

• CPU – Intel Core i7 12700H
• RAM – 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
• GPU – Nvidia RTX 3070Ti
• Storage – 1TB Gen4 M.2 SSD
• Refresh Rate – 60Hz
• Display – 15.6″ UHD OLED
• OS – Windows 11 Home
• Price – £2300

Buy the Gigabyte G5 on:

The MSI Raider range of laptops looks visually stunning. MSI’s signature RGB lightbar and per-key RGB backlighting on the keyboard gives a truly awesome aesthetic.

The Raider GE66 has an overclockable i9 12900HK, 32GB of powerful DDR5 memory, and one of Nvidia‘s tried and true RTX 3080 graphics cards. This provides pretty much all the raw horsepower you can fit into this form factor, great for those after the best of the best.

Specs List:

• CPU – Intel Core i9 12900HK
• RAM – 32GB DDR5 4800MHz
• GPU – Nvidia RTX 3080 8GB
• Storage – 2TB Gen4 M.2 SSD
• Refresh Rate – 120Hz
• Display – 15.6″ UHD
• OS – Windows 11 Home Advanced
• Price – £3299

Buy the MSI Raider GE66 on:

Although the AERO 15 features a slightly older CPU than some of the above options, you won’t be dropping any frames with the graphics card this laptop includes. Gigabyte have thrown in an RTX 3080 which comes with a whopping 16GB of GDDR6 video memory to keep tings ticker over.

This combines nicely with 32GB of DDR4 memory and two Gen4 SSDs. Gigabyte’s Aero 15 is an optimal performer in all areas.

Specs List:

• CPU – Intel Core i9 11980HK
• RAM – 32GB DDR4 3200MHz
• GPU – Nvidia RTX 3080 16GB
• Storage – 1TB + 512GB M.2 Gen4 SSDs
• Refresh Rate – 60Hz
• Display – 15.6″ UHD OLED
• OS – Windows 10 Pro
• Price – £3299.97

Buy the Gigabyte AERO 15 on:

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 has a sleek and minimalist look, synergising well with the per-key RGB lighting on the optical mechanical keyboard.

This 4K display also sits at a massive 17.3 inches, with plenty of screen real estate and viewing angles for your next 4K gaming session. The RTX 3080 and i7 CPU combo provide a good deal of power in a very sleek, slim form factor when compared to other options out there.

Specs List:

• CPU – Intel Core i7 11800H
• RAM – 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
• GPU – Nvidia RTX 3080 16GB
• Storage – 2TB Gen4 M.2 SSD
• Refresh Rate – 120Hz
• Display – 17.3″ UHD
• OS – Windows 10 Home
• Price – £3413

Buy the ROG Zephyrus S17 on:

Similar to the ROG Zephyrus, the MSI GS77 Stealth has a blacked-out minimalist look that contrasts well with a nice helping of RGB on the keyboard.

To top it all off, the specs on this gaming laptop are another level. 32GB of DDR5 memory, an i9 12900H and an RTX 3080Ti aren’t likest to disappoint. This GPU has incredible performance at 4K resolution and will be the driving force for great visuals within your games.

Specs List:

• CPU – Intel Core i9 12900H
• RAM – 32GB DDR5 4800MHz
• GPU – Nvidia RTX 3080Ti 16GB
• Storage – 2TB Gen4 M.2 SSD
• Refresh Rate – 120Hz
• Display – 17.3″ UHD
• OS – Windows 11 Home
• Price – £3999

Buy the MSI GS77 Stealth on:

The final entry on our list is so expensive that I’m not actually sure who should buy it – but it looks awesome. Gigabyte’s AERO 16 YE5 packs a spec list worthy of a large desktop – not a slimline 16″ notebook.

With an overclockable i9 12900HK, 32GB of DDR5 clocked at 4800MHz, an RTX 3080Ti 16GB and a 16 inch OLED panel, Gigabyte have created something truly special.

Specs List:

• CPU – Intel Core i9 12900HK
• RAM – 32GB DDR5 4800MHz
• GPU – Nvidia RTX 3080Ti 16GB
• Storage – 2x 1TB Gen4 M.2 SSDs
• Refresh Rate – 60Hz
• Display – 16″ UHD OLED
• OS – Windows 11 Pro
• Price – £4116.10

Buy the Gigabyte AERO 16 YE5 on: