If you’re ready to take the big leap again from 144Hz to 240Hz, then you’ll find plenty of laptops for that endeavor, assuming you prefer laptops to desktops. The difference in smoothness is quite big since it’s nearly double, and 240Hz gaming laptops might just amaze you even more.
Of course, the improvement in smoothness and responsiveness will not be as dramatic as the jump from 60Hz to 144Hz; but every bit of advantage helps, especially when you’re after more framerate for gaming. Refresh rate is particularly important in esports, after all.
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240Hz gaming laptops offer a good balance between smoothness, resolution, and cost. The next option would be 360Hz and sadly, those are mostly limited to 1080p displays which are starting to become outdated in the enthusiast gaming community.
So give your eyes a treat with these following 240Hz gaming laptops as you embrace the new beginnings and developments of 2023.
MSI Raider GE77HX 12UHS-082
PROS
- Top-of-the-line laptop CPU and GPU
- Generous RAM
- DDR5 RAM
- Can double as a productivity device
- Gorgeous laptop design
- RGB lighting at the front
- 17-inch screen
CONS
- Pricey
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i9-12900HX
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
- RAM / Memory: 32GB
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 17.3″ QHD 240Hz
Who needs a Razer Blade when you have one of these? The MSI Raider GE77HX is MSI’s top-of-the-line gaming laptop model. You’ll find the specs a bit overkill for QHD or 1440p, but that’s somewhat necessary if you want to max out the 240Hz refresh rate in certain games; you will want a framerate of around 200+ FPS after all if you want to reap the benefits of 240Hz.
The difference between this model compared to other big brands is the aesthetics. It’s filled with some impeccable MSI goodies, the most notable of which is the RGB lighting at the front of the chassis. Beyond that, it’s just an overall sexy laptop with a competitive price.
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE Gaming/Creator Laptop
PROS
- Top-of-the-line laptop CPU and GPU
- Generous RAM
- DDR5 RAM
- Minimalist, metallic design
- Comes with a bag and other bundles
- Reaonably priced
CONS
- WQXGA resolution is a bit square instead of widescreen
- Uninspiring design
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel i9-12900H
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
- RAM / Memory: 32GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD
- Display: 16″ WQXGA 240Hz G-SYNC
Turns out you can save a lot in the high-end category if you’re not afraid of opting for some of the more budget-oriented brands and models. The Acer Predator Triton 500 SE is hard to beat when it comes to component power.
It’s a proper 240Hz gaming laptop with a top-of-the-line CPU and GPU. It’s also significantly cheaper compared to the MSI Raider though if you were to compare the two side-by-side personally, you might notice where Acer cut costs with the Predator Triton. Regardless, if you don’t value looks and the chassis’ appearance, this one is a solid contender.
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
PROS
- Top-of-the-line Intel CPU for laptops
- Great QHD graphics card
- Beautiful laptop design
- RGB lighting at the front
- Reasonably priced
- Not bulky
CONS
- Aggressive gamer design might not be for everyone
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i9 12900H
- GPU / Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- RAM / Memory: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 15.6” 240Hz IPS QHD
17 or 16-inch laptops might be a bit too bulky for some people. That’s why you might want to opt for something smaller, like the ROG Strix Scar 15. As the name implies, it’s only 15 inches diagonally. The screen is smaller, sadly, but still has plenty of visual real-estate for QHD resolution to flex itself at 240Hz.
The price is also more manageable though be prepared to sacrifice some visual meters in the most graphic-intensive titles to achieve 200+ FPS. Make no mistake though, the RTX 3070 Ti is more than enough for 240Hz at QHD, but of course, it’s not the best or most ideal.
Corsair Voyager a1600
PROS
- Top-of-the-line AMD hardware for laptops
- Great for multitasking and productivity tasks
- Cherry MX switch keyboard
- Generous RAM
- DDR5 RAM
- Sleek and minimalist design
CONS
- Early adopter tech
- Screen is a bit square
- Pricey without its discount
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: AMD Ryzen R9 6900HS
- GPU / Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 6800M
- RAM / Memory: 32GB DDR5
- Storage: 2 TB
- Display: 16″ 2560×1600 240Hz IPS Screen
If you do find yourself wanting to support AMD instead of Intel and Nvidia, then the Corsair Voyager a1600 lets you do just that. It’s one of Corsair’s newest products so you’ll be an early adopter of this tech in case you decide to go with it.
However, given Corsair’s reputation for quality and sturdy products, you likely can’t go wrong. The design is sleek and stealthy, as is the keyboard with its Cherry MX ultra-low profile keys. For gaming, it trades blows with the RTX 3070 Ti, sometimes more, but don’t expect it to have stellar or ideal ray tracing performance. That’s not that big of an issue considering the small number of games that utilize Nvidia’s proprietary tech to its fullest.
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE Gaming/Creator Laptop (RTX 3060)
PROS
- 12th Gen i7 processor at this price point
- DDR5 RAM
- Metallic chassis at mid-range price point
- Decent cooling
- Affordable for this kind of refresh rate
CONS
- Screen is a bit square
- RTX 3060 isn't ideal for maxing out 240Hz in the latest games (very minor issue)
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel i7-12700H
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM / Memory: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 512GB Gen 4×4 SSD
- Display: 16″ WQXGA 240Hz G-SYNC
So that Acer Predator Triton 500 SE from earlier? It actually has a mid-range budget option that’s perfect for those who still want a 240Hz display while keeping the expense under control. The laptop comes in at a sub-$1,200 price point which is a good deal.
The catch is that it only comes equipped with an RTX 3060, which will struggle maxing out 240Hz unless you’re playing eSports titles. This isn’t a big drawback, by the way, especially given the price. It also uses the same chassis as the Predator Triton; so you get somewhat of a premium feel with this budget mid-range laptop.
Why Refresh Rate Is Important For Work & Gaming
So what’s exactly the deal with higher refresh rates? Will you even notice the difference? Well, most people do, otherwise, manufacturers won’t be selling higher refresh rate products.
In layman’s terms, a screen’s refresh rate corresponds to the maximum framerate it can display, i.e. 240Hz screens can display 240 frames-per-second (FPS). Higher framerates result in smoother and more responsive animations. In gaming, this can help in winning; and in work, it can help alleviate eyestrain and feelings of sluggishness when dragging the cursor.
You will need decent hardware (for gaming) if you want high framerates for maxing out that refresh rate. But for most people, simply going past 60Hz refresh rates is already game-changing enough, regardless of whether they jumped to 144Hz or 240Hz right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do you need good hardware for 240Hz?
Generally, yes. For gaming, if you want to max out that refresh rate or even see its difference compared to lower refresh rates then having good hardware (CPU + GPU) is needed. -
If there a big difference between 144Hz and 240Hz?
It's not as big of a difference compared to going from 60Hz to 144Hz, but it's apparent depending on your sensitivity to visuals and animation.