If you want a laptop for working or gaming on the go but don’t want to compromise on performance, one of your best options will be a model with one of Intel’s Core i9 processors.
When coupled with a high-end discrete mobile GPU, these laptops will not only get things done quickly, but can also stand tall as a terrific mobile gaming rig, making them phenomenal options for gamers and professionals alike.
There are plenty of awesome Core i9-equipped laptops out there, but overall, we think the Dell XPS 15 is the best one. With its impressive specs, killer display, premium design, and fair price tag, it’s a laptop you’re sure to love.
With that said, we have several other favorites as well, all of which we’ve listed below.
The quick list
The best overall Core i9 laptop
The Dell XPS 15, with Intel’s latest i9 CPU, RTX 4070 GPU, up to 64GB DDR5 RAM, and 8TB SSD, is a top Core i9 choice. It’s budget-friendly and stylish with Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C. The display offers FHD+ or 3.5K OLED options with vibrant colors, but no 4K choice currently.
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The best 17-inch Core i9 laptop
Razer’s Blade 18 is an upsized Blade 16, featuring Core i9-13950HX, RTX 40 series GPUs (including RTX 4090), up to 64GB DDR5 RAM, and up to 2TB SSD. 18-inch QHD+ 240Hz panel with thin bezels, vivid colors, and deep contrast. Ports include Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, SD Card Reader, and audio jack.
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The best for gaming
Razer’s Blade 16, with 13th Gen i9-13950HX and RTX 40 series GPUs, excels for gaming and creative work. Up to 32GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD. 16:10 QHD+ 240Hz display, mini-LED option. Stylish design, RGB lighting, and strong build. Ports: Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, SD Card Reader, audio jack.
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The best premium gaming laptop
Razer Blade 18, an upsized Blade 16, offers Core i9-13950HX, RTX 40 series GPUs, up to 64GB DDR5 RAM, and up to 2TB SSD. 18-inch QHD+ 240Hz panel with thin bezels. Stylish design, RGB lighting, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, SD Card Reader, audio jack.
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5. ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023)
The best mid-range gaming laptop
ASUS ROG Strix G16, a value-oriented Core i9 gaming laptop, packs i9-13980HX, RTX 4070, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB storage. Gamer-centric design, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, audio. FHD+ 165Hz display. Solid choice for performance on a budget.
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6. ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2023)
The best 13-inch Core i9 laptop
ASUS ROG Flow Z13, 13-inch Core i9 device, with i9-13900H, RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD. Unique 2-in-1 design. Starts at $1,750, extends to $2,500 for the ACRONYM model. 13-inch QHD+ 165Hz display, touchscreen. Compact and capable.
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The best Core i9 laptops in 2023
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Whether you’re looking for a premium workstation, a system that eats the latest games for breakfast, or something between, one of these Core i9 laptops will be a great fit for you.
The best overall Core i9 laptop
For most people in need of a Core i9 device, the latest model of the Dell XPS 15 will be the best choice. It comes with Intel’s latest 13th Gen i9-13900H CPU, a powerful RTX 4070 graphics card, up to 64GB of the latest and greatest DDR5 RAM, and up to a ridiculous 8TB of speedy SSD storage (keep in mind that most people won’t need more than 1 or 2TB at the most). While the 4070 isn’t as powerful as some of the more advanced discrete GPUs that other laptops on this list have, it offers fantastic bang-for-your-buck performance and value. That means the Dell XPS 15 is less taxing on your wallet compared to other Core i9-equipped laptops, which is always a plus.
In terms of design, the Dell XPS 15 is sleek and stylish, and both its keyboard and trackpad are a joy to use. The inclusion of dual Thunderbolt 4 ports alongside a USB-C slot is awesome, and while USB-A would have been nice to have, it would have made the laptop thicker. Note that Dell includes a USB-C to USB-A adapter that you can use if you have an accessory that requires the legacy port.
The display is where the Dell XPS 15 shines brightest (literally, but also quality-wise). You get a choice between a FHD+ or 3.5K OLED panel with up to 500 nits of peak brightness, with the latter option also offering touch support. The contrast on these panels is excellent, and both have a stunning color gamut that ensures whatever you’re watching, playing, or working on will look incredible. Disappointingly, the 4K option previous Dell XPS 15 models had isn’t available here, though that could change in the future.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 (9500) review: A near-perfect relaunch of the iconic powerhouse laptop
The best 17-inch Core i9 laptop
What if you took everything that makes the Dell XPS 15 great and scale it up to a 17-inch chassis? That’s basically what the Dell XPS 17 is, and if you like having a big screen to work with, we strongly recommend choosing it. Like the XPS 15, the latest XPS 17 comes with a Core i9-13900H, up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 8TB of SSD storage. Unlike its smaller sister device, however, the Dell XPS 17 can be configured with an RTX 4080 (you can still choose a 4070 if you’d like). This is one of the best discrete GPUs for both gaming and professional work, making the XPS 17 an elite “prosumer” system. Be aware that it costs more than the XPS 15 (even with the 4070) since it’s considerably larger, though.
Notably, the Dell XPS 17 features the same incredible design that the XPS 15 does, complete with a comfortable keyboard, reliable trackpad, and top-notch build quality. The laptop also stands out from its 17-inch peers by offering four Thunderbolt 4 ports, which is fantastic. There’s no USB-A, but that’s hardly a big deal, especially since Dell includes an adapter in the box.
Dell always nails it when it comes to displays, and things are no different with the Dell XPS 17. Both the FHD+ and 4K UHD options look incredible thanks to their narrow bezels, 500-nit peak brightness, and deep contrast. Both panels also have a rich and vivid color gamut.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 17 9710 review: 11th Gen Intel and RTX 3060 push this juggernaut laptop to new extremes
The best Core i9 gaming laptop
Razer’s Blade 15 is arguably the best gaming laptop available today overall, but if you’re after one with the latest and greatest Core i9, you’ll want to opt for the new Razer Blade 16 instead. The combo of a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13950HX with RTX 40 series GPUs like the 4060, 4070, 4080, or even a 4090 allows the Blade 16 to easily crush any game you throw at it, and it’ll do an incredible job with creative applications as well. Up to 32GB of DDR5 4800MHz memory and 2TB of SSD storage are available, too, and there’s room for user upgrades up to 64GB and 4TB, respectively.
Most configurations of the Blade 16 come with a 16:10 QHD+ screen with an excellent 240Hz refresh rate, but the most advanced ones feature a stunning mini-LED panel capable of swapping between UHD+ at 120Hz and FHD+ at 240Hz modes. Regardless of which one you opt for, you won’t be disappointed since both screens have gorgeous contrast, lots of brightness, and a superb color gamut.
The design of the Razer Blade 16 is excellent, too, as its lustrous finish and RGB lighting give it plenty of style. The laptop is built well, and the user experience is great overall. You also get a fantastic array of ports, including one Thunderbolt 4, one USB-C, three USB-A, one HDMI 2.1, one UHS-II SD Card Reader, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports would have been nice instead of one Thunderbolt 4 and one USB-C, but for most people, this won’t be an issue.
The best premium Core i9 gaming laptop
Much like how the Dell XPS 17 is essentially a larger Dell XPS 15, Razer’s new Blade 18 is best described as an upsized Razer Blade 16. It has most of the same specs available and even better ones in some areas, including a Core i9-13950HX, a range of RTX 40 series options that include the RTX 4090, up to 64GB of blazing-fast DDR5 RAM, and up to 2TB of SSD storage. Notably, the most powerful (and pricey) model trades the mighty i9-13950HX for an even beefier i9-13980HX chip.
The 18-inch QHD+ 240Hz panel is top notch, and between its thin bezels, incredible color gamut, and deep contrast, there’s a lot for gamers and professionals alike to love. The larger display also makes it easier to spot and appreciate visual details in games, though the bigger form factor does make the Blade 18 a bit less portable than the Blade 16. Also, there’s no dual mode mini-LED or 4K option, which is rather disappointing.
The Blade 18 sports the same design as other Blade devices, including the sleek surfaces, RGB lighting, and robust build quality. It offers the same array of ports that you get with the Blade 16, with the addition of an RJ45 2.5Gb Ethernet slot.
Read the full review: Razer Blade 18 review: Extreme portable gaming without compromising iconic aesthetics
The best mid-range Core i9 gaming laptop
What if you’re looking for a Core i9 gaming laptop, but want to save some money by opting for a mid-range GPU, less RAM and storage, and a more affordable display? Look no further than the 2023 edition of ASUS’ ROG Strix G16, which is one of the best ASUS laptops in terms of value. With it, you’ll get a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX, an RTX 4070, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a cool 1TB of storage. It also sports an impressive battery life of 8-9 hours, which has historically been pretty rare for gaming laptops.
Design-wise, the laptop unapologetically wears its gamer aesthetic on its sleeve with its sharp angular edges and bright RGB lighting. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on your preferences, but everyone will love the ROG Strix G16’s sturdy build quality. A suite of Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, and 3.5mm audio ports is here, too.
The main downside here is the laptop’s display. While the FHD+ 165Hz panel looks great, it’s not quite as vivid as the screens you’ll find on Razer devices. Also, the lack of an option for 1440p or higher refresh rates is a bummer, though displays like that would certainly push the price of the ROG Strix G16 above its $1,999 sweet spot. Ultimately, it’s still a good screen, and its drawbacks shouldn’t deter you if you want something that offers strong performance for less.
The best 13-inch Core i9 laptop
It’s exceedingly rare to find a Core i9 processor in a 13-inch device, and ASUS made some big waves by putting one in its ROG Flow Z13 last year. In 2023, this little monster has returned with fresh specs, bringing a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H, an RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a full 1TB of SSD storage to bear. Alternatively, there’s also a special ROG X ACRONYM collab version of the laptop available that features 32GB of DDR5 and a 4070, though the keyboard on it is a little difficult to use due to the weird symbols on it.
The RTX 4050 definitely isn’t as powerful as the other GPUs found in the laptops on this list, but keep in mind that this is a 13-inch convertible. Despite the 4050’s shortcomings, it transforms this 2-in-1 into what is essentially a Surface Pro for gaming. The use of the 4050 also means that the ROG Flow Z13 has the lowest starting price of any device in this roundup at $1,750 (opting for the 4070-equipped ACRONYM model will push the cost up to $2,500).
While the original Flow Z13 included a choice between two displays, the 2023 SKU has just one: a 13-inch QHD+ panel with a 165Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3, and 500 nits of peak brightness. It looks excellent and is great for gaming, and like the screens on most convertibles, it also supports touch.
The 2-in-1 design of the Flow Z13 is what makes it stand out the most, as it’s a one-of-a-kind in the gaming laptop market. The small screen size won’t be a good fit for everyone, but it’s still a niche worth considering if you want something that’s both extremely portable and remarkably capable.
Choosing the best Core i9 laptop in 2023
Laptops equipped with Core i9 processors are some of the most capable devices on the market, as together with plenty of high-performance RAM and a powerful GPU, these CPUs can handle anything you throw at it. This includes intensive multitasking, professional creative applications, and even today’s latest games. Thus, we highly recommend getting a Core i9 laptop if the best Core i7 laptops aren’t a good fit for you and you don’t mind the extra cost. Of these, our favorite is the Dell XPS 15, as it offers a stellar balance of strong performance, gorgeous display options, premium design quality, and price. It’s easily one of the best laptops ever made, and we can’t recommend it enough.
If you’d prefer something more hardcore that forgoes affordability for maximum horsepower, the Razer Blade 16 or 18 will be your best options. These are beastly laptops that feature the absolute best laptop hardware available today, and while they are very expensive, you also get what you pay for in spades.
Finally, don’t overlook the ASUS ROG Strix G16 or the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 if you’re looking for something less expensive. Both of these devices are some of the best Windows laptops in their respective niches; the ROG Strix G16 is perfect for gamers who want excellent performance for a mid-range price, while the ROG Flow Z13 is ideal for folks who want the power of a workstation in the chassis of an ultraportable.
