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If your current laptop lags while playing Overwatch and you want to upgrade to a better machine, don’t worry. You’re at the right place.
Of course, you want a laptop for Overwatch that can run the game smoothly at high graphic settings. But you don’t want to spend extra money or get an underpowered laptop that can’t run the game even on low settings, right?
That is why we’ve reviewed lots of gaming laptops in terms of performance, display, portability, battery timing and other metrics that are important in a laptop for Overwatch.
Before we get to the reviews, we’ll go through the Overwatch system requirements and a few important things to know before buying a laptop for Overwatch.
Let’s get to it.
Table of Contents
Minimum & Recommended System Requirements
The game developers have already specified the minimum system requirements you need to run Overwatch. However, if you’re looking for a smooth gaming experience without any lags, then consider getting the one with the specs below.
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 11th Gen Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 5000 series | 12th Gen Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 6000 series |
| RAM | 8GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| Display | 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) |
| GPU | 2GB NVIDIA GeForce MX 550 | 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000 or AMD RX 6000 series |
Top 7 Laptops for Overwatch
It’s time to check out the best laptops for Overwatch — find out why we think they’re so great.
1. Best Budget Option for Overwatch: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- CPU: 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 5 6600H
- RAM: 8GB DDR5
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
- Battery: Up to 5 hours
If you’re looking for a great gaming laptop to play Overwatch with your friends, Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has got you covered.
The AMD Ryzen 5 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 offer better frame rates when playing Overwatch, even with Ultra or High settings at 1080p. So you’ll get a smooth gaming experience with awesome visuals.
You get 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage, which is what Blizzard recommends for Overwatch. However, if you want to play more demanding games in the future, you’ll need to upgrade.
Text and images look sharp on the FHD IPS display. The 120hz screen offers more frames per second — so you get smoother visuals. But you’ll notice its dim brightness, especially in the game’s darker areas.
Ideapad Gaming 3’s quad vents keep the laptop cool even during intensive activities (such as gaming) and prevent throttling.
The backlit keyboard has a good layout — don’t expect RGB colors, though. I like that the touchpad is quite spacious and smooth.
The laptop’s 5 hours of battery life is mediocre at best. But considering the price, I’d let it slide.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is an ideal choice for Overwatch fans on a tight budget. With its solid performance, sleek design, and decent visuals, it takes its rightful place among the best gaming laptops under 800.
Watch our Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 Review
This YouTube review was created by the Not Just Laptops team. The specs may slightly differ from the laptop in the article.
- What We Like
- Great budget option
- Solid performance
- Good graphics
- Minimum throttle
- Comfortable keyboard
- Spacious touchpad
- What We Don’t Like
- Low RAM and storage
- Short battery life
2. Play at Max Settings: MSI Thin
- CPU: 2GHz Intel Core i7-12650H
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
- Battery: Up to 7 hours
Despite being one of the cheapest MSI gaming laptops, MSI Thin manages to pack 12th Gen. Intel Core i7 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (with 6GB of VRAM).
Add 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage to that, and you have a powerful machine that can run Overwatch at max settings.
These specs make it a good laptop for League of Legends and other similar games. If you want to play more demanding games, you’ll probably need to upgrade the storage.
The 15.6” FHD screen can handle higher refresh rates, so you’ll get smooth and vibrant visuals while shooting your opponents. And the thin bezel makes it seem bigger — which is always good.
I like that its keys have a good depth and are easy to use. They also have red backlighting, which most people would find cool. I’m not a huge fan, though. Thankfully, you can lower their brightness (or turn it off).
MSI Thin also has a powerful battery that lets it run longer than MSI GV15, HP Victus, and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3.
The vents get noticeably warm while gaming. And even though the fans are quiet when the laptop sits idle, they get loud while gaming or with other CPU-intensive tasks.
I like the simple, all-black, aluminum-finish lid (with a red dragon at the center-top). Even though the interior is also aluminum, it’s got considerable flex to it. So overall, the build quality could be better.
Still, it’s a great gaming laptop, with an awesome performance, sleek design, and a good keyboard.
- What We Like
- Solid performance
- Sleek design
- Good keyboard
- Thin bezel
- Under $1000
- Good battery life
- What We Don’t Like
- Cooling fans get noisy
- Some flex
3. Best Overall: ASUS ROG Strix G16
- CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-13650HX
- RAM: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 512GB SDD
- Display: 16-inch FHD (1920 x 1200)
- GPU: 8GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
- Battery: Up to 8 Hours
ASUS ROG Strix G16 packs a lot of goodies for Overwatch players — which justifies its price.
The 13th Gen. Intel Core i7 packs a punch and slays most of the AAA games without breaking a sweat. So it’s a given that you can play Overwatch seamlessly at Ultra settings.
With 8GB of VRAM (the highest on the list), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ensures that you experience seamless gaming visuals without any lags.
Speaking of visuals, ROG Strix G16 has a solid FHD screen which is slightly wider (at 16-inch) than most laptops on the list.
The 16:10 aspect ratio and a faster refresh rate (165Hz) make sure you don’t miss while shooting your enemies.
You get faster loading times with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SDD. Still, you’ll need to upgrade if you’re looking to play more demanding games.
I was impressed with how comfortable the RGB backlit keyboard was — thanks to its good travel distance and clicky feedback. Such a nicely-built keyboard makes the gaming experience all the more rewarding.
You won’t hear the cooling fans; still, Strix has one of the best heat dissipation thanks to its tri-fan technology that directs the airflow towards the internals. Even during extended gaming sessions, the laptop remains cool.
And to top it all off, you get up to 8 hours of unplugged performance. So it’s safe to say, with a comfortable keyboard, solid performance, and stunning visuals, ROG Strix G16 offers a premium gaming experience.
- What We Like
- Best performance
- Solid GPU
- Comfortable keyboard
- Excellent cooling fans
- Sturdy build
- Great battery life
- What We Don’t Like
- Storage needs an upgrade
- Somewhat pricey
4. Cheapest Laptop for Overwatch: MSI GV15
- CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-11400H
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- Battery: Up to 5 hours
Short on cash? Don’t worry, we’ve got the cheapest laptop for Overwatch that has some pretty cool features.
MSI GV15, while cheap, packs 11th Gen. Intel Core i5 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (with 4GB VRAM) that let you play Overwatch at high refresh rates without stutter. And you won’t have any issues performing everyday tasks.
The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD are quite low, but you won’t have any issues running your favorite game. However, if you want to play other games, I’d add more RAM and storage.
Just like the MSI Thin GF63, the GV15 also has a black, brushed aluminum chassis with a red dragon sitting at the center of the lid. It’s also pretty thin and light, making it easier to carry around.
The thin-bezel FHD display has a fast refresh rate and, overall, doesn’t disappoint. Even though it’s not as color-accurate, you’ll enjoy the visuals while gaming or watching movies.
With just 5 hours of battery timing, you’d need to stay by a power switch, especially during longer Overwatch sessions.
MSI GV15 doesn’t hold back on performance — considering the price. The portable machine is a solid choice for budget gamers if you don’t mind the poor battery timing.
- What We Like
- Great budget option
- Solid performance
- Good GPU
- Portable
- Aluminum chassis
- Sleek design
- What We Don’t Like
- RAM and SSD need an upgrade
- Poor battery timing
5. Best 17-inch Model: Acer Nitro 17
- CPU: 2.5 AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
- RAM: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
- Battery: Up to 7 Hours
Prefer playing Overwatch on a bigger screen? The 17-inch Acer Nitro is a machine that delivers powerful processing and stunning visuals packed inside a sturdy chassis.
Nitro 17 combines AMD Ryzen 7 with 6GB GeForce RTX 4050, which can easily handle demanding games at higher refresh rates without lagging.
The large 1080p IPS display is bright, vibrant, and has a high refresh rate. That means smooth gaming visuals and gorgeous movie nights.
Nitro 17’s bigger screen is not its only highlight, though. The RGB-backlit keyboard is also comfortable to use while gaming.
On top of that, the 16GB of DDR5 RAM ensures fast boot and load times and thanks to the 1TB SDD, you won’t be short on storage any time soon.
Even though laptops with larger screens are fun, they’re heavy. Acer Nitro 17 has the same issue, i.e., it’s not portable. If you’re planning to take your laptop to school or if you travel a lot, you might want to look somewhere else.
I also found the cooling fans to be unimpressive. After a long Overwatch session, you’ll notice the laptop getting warm. And the fan makes a noticeable sound in performance mode.
It does have a good battery, though. You get a good 7 hours of performance before having to plug it in.
If you don’t mind the lack of portability, Nitro 17 presents a good package of impressive performance, a larger screen, and good battery life.
- What We Like
- Large screen
- Sturdy build
- Good performance
- Nice visuals
- 7 hours of battery life
- Ample storage
- What We Don’t Like
- Lacks portability
- Ok-ish cooling
6. Great Performance on Budget: HP Victus
- CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-12450H
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SDD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- Battery: Up to 5 hours
HP Victus is a sleek laptop for Overwatch that promises great productivity performance under $1000.
The 12th Gen. Intel Core i5 keeps it up to pace while performing everyday tasks. And even though the 4GB GeForce GTX 1650 is a bit dated, it can run Overwatch without a hiccup.
You can also play most contemporary games at lower settings (1080p) with good refresh rates — for a smooth gameplay.
16GB of RAM and 512GB SDD are acceptable for the price. But, trust me, you’ll be better off with an upgraded storage if you want to play more games.
The 15-inch 1080p display has a good refresh rate and the image quality is good enough for the price.
Victus 15’s keyboard is comfortable and the keys have a slight feedback. So it’s easy to type and play games. The touchpad is also pretty spacious and smooth.
I like the laptop’s simple, yet elegant, design that pretty much adjusts to any setting — be it an office or an eSports arena.
However, Victus 15 is on the heavier side and has a mediocre battery life, so it won’t make a great travel buddy.
At a slightly higher price than MSI GV15, you get better productivity performance with the Victus 15. So, if you want a good work/study laptop and play Overwatch on the side, HP Victus 15 presents a pretty solid deal.
- What We Like
- Great productivity performance
- Budget gaming laptop
- Sleek, laid-back design
- Good keyboard
- Spacious touchpad
- Nice display quality
- What We Don’t Like
- SSD needs an upgrade
- Low portability
7. Mid-Range Option from ASUS: ASUS TUF Gaming F15
- CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-12500H
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
- Battery: Up to 7 Hours
ASUS TUF is an excellent mid-range gaming laptop for Overwatch lovers. It’s a portable, clean laptop that does the job.
Despite being a mid-range option, the TUF Gaming F15 doesn’t hold back on gaming performance. The 12th Gen. i7 coupled with GeForce RTX 3050 (4GB of VRAM) can run the latest games without breaking a sweat.
The 16GB of RAM ensures fast loading times while the 512GB of SSD is enough to play Overwatch. But for other games, you’ll need additional space.
Its FHD display offers good color accuracy (compared to competitors) and has a high refresh rate. The display is pretty bright and offers a smooth, crisp gaming experience.
Thanks to its metal lid and thick plastic base, ASUS TUF F15 is a pretty sturdy laptop. And it still somehow manages to be lighter than its competitors.
TUF F15’s thoughtfully designed keyboard is easy to type on and I love the keys’ feedback. Apart from the cool RGB lights, the WASD keys stand out, which I am particularly pleased with.
The fans are good enough to keep it from getting too warm during intense gaming sessions. While they aren’t particularly quiet, they’re not too loud either.
This mid-range laptop also has an excellent battery that offers 7+ hours of unplugged performance, which adds to its portability.
ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a well-designed, portable machine, that packs a strong processor and well-thought-out keyboard for gamers.
- What We Like
- Solid performance
- Good visuals
- Gamer-friendly keyboard
- Sturdy build
- Portable
- Good battery timing
- What We Don’t Like
- Requires more storage
- Average cooling fans
Buying Guide for Gaming Laptops for Overwatch
Before we head to the laptop reviews, let’s discuss a few key considerations for buying a laptop for Overwatch. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive discussion, check out our detailed laptop buying guide.
Look for Solid Performance
Compared to contemporary titles, Overwatch isn’t particularly demanding. A laptop with an Intel Core i3 or an AMD Ryzen 3 5000 series processor can run the game without lagging. These processors aren’t high-end but they’re pretty good budget options that let you enjoy Overwatch and easily handle everyday tasks.
If you prefer to play Overwatch at max settings, get a machine with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 or an AMD Ryzen 5 6000 series processor. A better processor also helps run more demanding games and future-proofs the machine.
You’ll Need a Dedicated GPU
To play the game with smooth visuals at decent refresh rates, you’ll need a dedicated graphics card.
That does not mean you need an expensive, high-end GPU. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a solid entry-level option and doesn’t cost a fortune.
But if you want to run Overwatch at Ultra settings, get an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30- (with 4GB VRAM) or AMD RX 6000 series and you’re set. With such a powerful GPU at your disposal, you can even enjoy the latest games with stunning, seamless visuals.
Ample RAM & Storage are Important
To play Overwatch without any issues, 8GB RAM is recommended. In fact, having more RAM ensures the game runs smoothly and loads faster.
If you also plan to play more demanding games, get 16GB of RAM.
Look for an SSD storage — it’s faster and more reliable. Even though Overwatch only needs 50GB of storage, a 256GB laptop just won’t cut it.
You’ll need ample storage for other study/work-related files, games, movies, and more. The more, the better.
Having said that, if you’ve got an otherwise solid laptop, you can compromise on RAM and storage because you can easily upgrade them.
Get a High-Quality Display
You need a high-quality screen for a fun, immersive gaming experience. But what to look for?
For example, there are screens with different resolutions. QHD or UHD screens are a treat to look at but significantly increase the laptop price.
Also, if you prefer a bigger screen and have a few bucks to spare, you can get a 17-inch laptop. But you’ll need to compromise on portability since such a laptop will be harder to fit in your bag or carry around.
If you can’t decide, I’d recommend a laptop with a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display. These laptops have an optimal screen size, good image quality, are portable, and have a reasonable price tag.
Don’t Forget Cooling Fans
Gaming is a processor- and GPU-intensive activity that quickly heats your laptop. Such high temperatures not only cause throttling (that ruins the gaming experience) but also reduce the lifespan of your laptop.
That is why, if you’re looking for a gaming laptop, make sure you get one with an efficient cooling system that doesn’t create a lot of noise.
FAQs about Gaming Laptops for Overwatch
Why is Overwatch so laggy on my laptop?
Overwatch usually lags when the graphics settings are set too high. If your processor and GPU are having trouble running Overwatch at high settings, you’ll experience lower refresh rates. You can lower the graphics settings to avoid lagging.
Lags are also caused by compatibility issues. So try updating your drivers to resolve the issue.
Lastly, high latency can also cause lagging. In such cases, try using a better broadband connection or connect to a VPN server to reduce packet loss and lower latency.
Does Overwatch need high FPS?
Higher frames per second (fps) translate to smoother gameplay. You’ll get a more life-like experience. But how much is high?
While 30 to 45 fps is playable, it’s not really a fun experience for most gamers. 45 to 60 fps is much smoother. However, most gamers prefer 60+ fps for seamless gameplay.
Anything above 90 fps falls in the realm of professional gaming.
Is Overwatch low-end PC friendly?
Overwatch is not a demanding game. You can easily run it with an Intel Core i3 and an entry-level GPU. Although, you may need to lower graphics settings a bit for better performance.
But if you want to run the game, seamlessly at Ultra settings, you can buy a mid-range gaming laptop.
Verdict
Just to recap, you need a laptop with a solid processor, a good GPU, an efficient cooling system, and a sturdy build to play Overwatch. With such specs, you can also play many other games or do your study/work-related tasks.
If you’re still unsure:
- If you’ve got money to spare, ASUS ROG Strix G16 offers the best performance and battery life compared to other laptops on the list.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a great budget option that doesn’t compromise performance.
- Get the Acer Nitro 17 if you’re looking for a bigger screen.
We hope our list of the best laptops for Overwatch helped you narrow down a few options, or at least gave you a clear understanding of what to look for in a good gaming laptop.
So which one would you choose, as an Overwatch gamer? Let us know in the comments below.
