Below, we will cover the best-performing budget and high-end options on the market right now.
What is the best laptop for streaming?
As you might see, its standout feature is a full-width, ROG ScreenPad Plus secondary display.
This intelligently doubles your workflow possibilities, allowing you to game, stream, and create more efficiently.
ASUS has implemented their secondary screen incredibly well.
This helps eliminates the gap between the main display and seamlessly melts the two screens together.
(Image credit: ASUS)
For live streaming on the move, this is a game-changer.
In terms of functionality, the second screen is no gimmick, either.
Besides having your programs or apps side by side, one-third splits or full-screen windows are entirely possible.
(Image credit: Dell)
We like that its both Nvidia G-Sync and FreeSync compatible and that it has a speedy 3ms response time.
Although it has a similar anti-glare finish, unfortunately, this one isnt touch-responsive.
In terms of image quality, the primary display on the Zephyrus looks wonderful.
(Image credit: Razer)
When in manual mode, its possible to give GeForce RTX 4090 an extra 20 watts of sustained power.
That allows you to bring the max TDP up to a ridiculous 165 watts.
Uniquely, the keyboard pushes to the front of the bed and comes with a trackpad to the side.
(Image credit: ASUS)
Finally, having a wide selection of ports is a dream come true for steamers.
Those wanting to expand the viewing experience even further will appreciate having a DisplayPort and an HDMI 2.0b.
As a result, its possible to host two more monitors on either side when the opportunity arises.
(Image credit: Lenovo)
Its unique, versatile, upgradeable, and perfect for all kinds of different situations.
Additionally, it comes with a raised maximum TDP and updated CryoTech cooling.
Aesthetically, the design of the unit closely resembles the previous iteration.
(Image credit: ASUS)
On the back of the chassis is a rim of RGB lighting with the majority of the ports inside.
The Dark Side of the Moon color scheme is also the same, with a sleek dark grey finish.
However, we did notice some slight flex to the lid and the keyboard.
(Image credit: MSI)
The display is a 15.6 IPS panel with a 2K QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution.
This has a mighty 240 Hz refresh rate and a 2ms response.
Thanks to the due to the QHD resolution, the visuals are incredibly sharp.
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Moreover, the screen has a slight matte finish to it, which helps to keep reflections down.
As for the colors, these are nothing short of spectacular.
To boost performance, Alienware has raised the maximum graphics power on this latest generation.
(Image credit: OMEN)
When combined with the CPU, it can now support a total TDP of 170W .
The result is an extremely powerful laptop.
Thanks to Alienwares Cryo-Technology and the use of Element 31 liquid metal.
(Image credit: ASUS)
The temperatures were also impressive.
During heavy usage, the GPU and CPU never came close to overheating.
Moreover, Element 31 is the industrys first thermal interface material in a traditional paste that encapsulates liquid metal.
Additionally, there are two M.2 slots capable of handling up to 4 TB of high-speed SSDs.
Overall, the Alienware M15 R7 is an incredible gaming/ steaming laptop that performs flawlessly.
Its not only fast and silent but also super attractive.
Nevertheless, its still robust with outstanding build quality all-round.
Although the unit is built like a tank, surprisingly, it only weighs 4.4 pounds.
Moreover, NVIDIA G-Sync synchronizes the graphics and monitor.
As a result, you’re free to expect smooth, tear-free images for a seamless playing experience.
Straight away, you will appreciate the vibrant IPS display that offers wide viewing angles.
In terms of specs, it features a wide color gamut covering 100% of the DCI-P3 space.
We found it could handle multiple programs and applications simultaneously without any lag.
This included multi-tasking OBS, Discord, and running the game itself all while live broadcasting to Twitch.
Low temps are crucial for any high-powered, streaming laptop.
Fortunately, the Blade 15 employs a custom vapor chamber and cutting-edge thermal materials.
As a result, it operates quietly and efficiently to dissipate excess heat.
We found it can heat up during heavy loads but nothing overly alarming.
The peak temperature during our testing was 86 degrees C (186.8F).
Just as you might expect with any Razer laptop, the Blade 15 Advanced integrates plenty of gamer-centric features.
It comes VR-ready, has Chroma RGB, as well as THX 7.1 spatial audio.
Finally, theres a decent number of input ports on the Blade 15.
This includes three USB ports, a headphone port, two USB-C ports, and an HDMI port.
Overall, if youre searching for the total package, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is a superb choice.
Its awesome for playing games, streaming on Twitch, or streaming QHD movies.
Compared to the more reserved ROG Zephyrus G15, the Scar 15 has a vastly more gamer-centric design.
Moreover, on the rear of the chassis is a swappable Armor Cap accent piece.
Although the chassis construction is mostly plastic, ASUS has opted for a metal lid.
This adds to the overall build quality of the unit and looks quite sleek with its trademark stamp.
The 15.6-inch, anti-glare display is virtually identical to the one on the Zephyrus G15.
Similarly, this has a WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
We also like that this is an IPS panel with strikingly accurate colors.
The performance is where the ROG Strix Scar 15 really shines.
During our testing, this resulted in a 15% boost in FPS between the two models.
After an initial spike in temps, the GPU remained below 81C.
As a result, you wont have to worry about overheating.
This could be a deal-breaker for some streamers, though; an external webcam is always an option.
The only real difference is that it comes with one USB 3.2 Gen 2 jot down-C instead of two.
TheLenovo Legion 5i Prois a solidly built gaming laptop that offers pro-level performance.
It carries an octa-core, sixteen-thread, Intel Core i7-12700H processor capable of a 4.7 GHz boost clock.
In addition to 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, and a high-resolution GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card.
Compared to smaller 15-inch options, the 16:10 aspect ratio is a welcome approach.
That gives you even more screen real estate to play on.
Having a larger 16 IPS display wouldnt be such a big deal if it didnt look drop-dead gorgeous.
Fortunately, the screen quality and colors are unbelievably good.
Most importantly, it excels for its impressive 550 nits of peak brightness and 1,300:1 contrast ratio.
As a result, its not very suitable for HDR movies or design workloads.
Performance-wise, the core components have more than enough power for streaming and gaming simultaneously.
Moreover, the 64 GB of high-bandwidth DDR5 RAM helps run multiple applications and web client tabs smoothly.
Its not going to let you down in this regard.
During our testing, the 5i Pro plays fast, even at QHD.
For RDR2 it managed 70-80 fps on ultra-configs easily.
Moreover, for less demanding games like Valorant, that jumped up to 165 fps on max prefs.
The temps were good but the fans do get a little loud, though not a huge problem.
Another selling point of the Legion 5 Pro is its TrueStrike RGB Keyboard.
This is a full-size keyboard with a dedicated section for the arrow keys.
As for the typing experience, we particularly like that soft-landing switches have a natural, tactile feel.
Whats nice is that you might synchronize the colors with the logo on the front of the chassis.
This is possible either with the Corsair IQ software or by tapping the FN and L keys.
We have to say, were a big fan of the shutter, especially for streaming purposes.
Simply close it up when youre done to prevent any live accidents.
Finally, the connectivity is decent.
Moreover, on the left, theres a USB 3.2 throw in-C port.
The design itself is sleek, streamlined, and light enough to fit into a backpack.
At 0.78, the thickness is also very competitive when compared to other leading laptop brands.
To offer a flexible viewing experience, the G15 employs a 180 ErgoLift hinge.
The hinge design also raises the rear of the laptop to give the keyboard a more ergonomic typing angle.
Opening the laptop reveals its 15.6-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440), 16:9 display.
The display has a high 240 Hz refresh rate and a rapid 3ms (G2G) response time.
For specs, youre looking at a 100% sRGB coverage and 350 nits of brightness.
The wide color gamut lets you see your games and media in the best possible way.
Compared to the previous generation, the TGP of the Zephyrus G15 (2022) is very similar.
The total GPU power comes in at 100W plus 20 watts of dynamic boost.
In terms of performance, this laptop has no problems running modern titles at its native QHD resolution.
When playing Halo Infinite we found that its runs at a very strong 92 fps on high controls.
This then hovered at around 124 fps on the less demanding campaign.
On a turbo load, we found that the GPU temperatures remained below 75C.
As a result, you wont have to worry about overheating.
Its worth pointing out a few extra features that we particularly like from this hardware.
For starters, the new G15 2022 model now includes a 720p webcam with Windows Hello support.
Additionally, the six Dolby Atmos surround speakers are some of the best youll find on a laptop.
Much like the Strix Scar, the GE66 design has plenty of gamer flair but doesnt go overboard.
Across the entire front bottom lip of the chassis is a Mystic light strip with panoramic aurora lighting.
This synchronizes beautifully with a SteelSeries RGB backlit keyboard.
Constructed from high-quality materials, the build quality feels noticeably robust.
Theres very little flex to the keyboard deck, and the lid doesnt have much flex either.
As a result, you might expect smooth on-screen visuals with very little motion blur.
On the plus side, the MSI Raider GE66 makes up for this with its excellent power and performance.
Using Dynamic Boost 2.0.
Moreover, Firestrike came in at 25006, which is one of the highest modern-day scores weve ever seen.
Due to this, we can highly recommend this laptop for gaming and streaming on Twitch.
When the system is not under a heavy load, the CPU has a resting core temperature of 51C.
This did however increase to up to 85C during our Firestrike test.
It carries a 10-core CPU with 16 integrated GPU cores and 16 gigs of DDR5 memory.
Additionally, it stands out for its premium features and incredible twenty-one-hour battery life.
This is partly due to having such small bevels (0.25) surrounding the edges of the screen.
Constructed from solid aluminum, the build quality is especially high.
While it might be on the heavier side (4.7 lbs.
), the quality is well worth the price.
If youre wondering what Liquid Retina XDR is, this is essentially Mini-LED technology with 10,000 local dimming zones.
As a result, it’s possible for you to expect an exceptional HDR experience.
The screen itself can reach 1600 nits of brightness and sustain full-screen brightness up to 1000 nits.
However, for the vast majority of the time, this screen performs at 500 nits.
Nonetheless, the screen looks bright and beautiful in both HDR and SDR situations.
If you plan to stream hi-res HDR movies on Netflix, this laptop is a great choice.
It may come as no surprise that the MacBook Pro is perfect for all your design work needs.
Programs boot up fast and many applications can run at once flawlessly.
Although this hardware wasnt necessarily built for gaming, its still capable of some light fun.
Diablo III, CS: GO and several others can run at 60-100 fps or better at high parameters.
We can confidently say the same about the microphone, which sounds very natural and clear.
Conveniently, it also disappears when you view things like videos in full-screen mode.
Overall, the MacBook Pro 16 is a well-made, professional product thats perfect for steaming and editing.
As the successor to the Omen 15, it comes with a slightly wider screen.
The build quality of the Omen is overall decent but we do think it could be better.
For instance, the hinges look to lack stability and almost seem to struggle with the increased screen size.
Due to this, any accidental knock on the screen can result in quite a bit of wobble.
This runs at 144 Hz but does suffer from a slower 7ms response time.
Competitive gamers and established Twitch streamers however might want to look towards a faster option.
Of course, that will come at a more premium price tag.
Even so, the specs on this laptop are not going to hold streamers back massively.
The 8-core, 16-thread CPU is more than sufficient to handle your FHD gameplay via the x264 encoder.
We can say the same about the RTX 3070 GPU running on NVENC for even greater visuals.
There are lots of games that will run perfectly at the displays native 1440p resolution at 60fps, too.
Though, for streaming, youll probably want to stick to Full-HD to avoid any drops in frame rates.
The keyboard is probably one of the most eye-catching things on HP Omen 16 (2022).
This is a full-size, 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard that includes a Numpad.
Due to being full-size, the key distancing is reasonable.
Moreover, the keypresses feel fast and snappy with nice elastic feedback.
We also like that theres a multi-format SD card reader for quick access to your files.
TheAsus TUF Dash F15is an affordable, lightweight gaming laptop that offers fantastic efficiency and battery life.
Moreover, at 0.88, the thickness is super-slim, allowing it to slide right into a backpack.
Compared to last years model, the new chassis design is 4.5% smaller than the previous generation.
Impressively, ASUS has increased the touchpad size by 26%.
We also like that the layout is well-spaced-out and easy to adapt to.
The keys themselves have very soft tactile feedback, making them a great choice for gaming.
As for the touchpad, this feels nice too.
Gestures work fine, the palm rejection works well, and there are no ghost touches.
Moreover, the low 3ms response time is also very competitive.
With this hardware, the laptop boots up very fast, and tasks can complete very quickly.
This includes 115W of core power + 25W of dynamic boost.
As for thermals, the five-heat-pipe setup from ASUS performs quite well.
After one hour of continuous Cinebench testing, peak time temperatures were around the 96C range.
Finally, we appreciate that the Tuff 15 has all the I/Os you could possibly want.
Then on the right side, you get a Kensington security lock and another USB-A port.
Can Laptops be Used for Streaming?
However, theres far more to streaming than downloading video.
Streaming also includes uploading data during video calls, hosting webinars, or broadcasting games.
Uploading streams only requires basic hardware, which most laptops are capable of.
However, when youre running intensive programs alongside the stream, the laptop will require more power.
The problem is that extra power will come at a higher price tag.
What Specs Do I Need for a Streaming Laptop?
Alternatively, 20-series GPUs have more than enough power for NVENC encoding.
To store the short-term data, RAM is necessary for a laptop to operate properly.
Moreover, additional storage is crucial if you plan on saving your content.
A 14 screen with a Full-HD resolution is perfectly appropriate as a minimum standard.
Streaming in 2K or 4K however will require a faster internet connection.
Features
The ideal streaming laptop should incorporate several important features that are necessary for streaming.
A high-quality webcam will allow you to broadcast live video in real time.
Additionally, a decent microphone and set of speakers will assist in capturing your voice and generating sound.
Having multiple USB ports will allow you to connect several devices.
Besides this, the latest Ethernet ports/ Bluetooth connectivity is important for the highest bitrate during the stream.
For a streaming laptop with mid-tier specs, youre looking at spending around $1,500.
