Top 10 Affordable VR-ready Laptops

Virtual reality technology has made considerable strides in the past few years, focusing primarily on gaming and gaining traction in areas like education and entertainment in general. With a VR headset and compatible PC/ laptop, you can fully immerse yourself in an entirely new world that makes you feel there. If you’re looking to get your hands on the affordable VR-ready laptops. So you can start experiencing this unique technology but don’t know where to start, we’ve got your back.

VR technology is getting very famous day by day and is being used in different working sectors for training and for fun as well. Thus, in the coming day, the demand for it is only going to increase. It means there is a probability that VR setups will get expensive as well.

Therefore, if you are on a budget, you will need an affordable gaming laptop. So that you can experience VR technology without going broke. 

In the article below, we will discuss some of the best affordable VR-ready laptops which will give you a satisfactory experience while still costing reasonability. 

Top 10 Affordable VR Ready Laptops 

ASUS ROG Strix GL502VM 

The ASUS ROG Strix GL502VM is our top pick for affordable VR-ready laptops. It has a 7th-generation Intel i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB graphics card. The graphics card can efficiently run most modern games at 1080p resolution at 60 FPS. It is impressive and comes in handy when using a VR application. 

The combination of CPU and GPU also makes it well suited for other demanding tasks such as video editing and streaming, making it an amazing laptop for adobe creative cloud. Not only that, but its large 15.6-inch IPS display with G-Sync allows you to see your gaming framerates in all their glory. 

Although slightly heavier than its competitors. Gamers will love its full keyboard with a number pad and comfortable palm rest that keeps hands cool during those long gaming sessions. Weight around 9 pounds, it is heavier than most laptops and not an option if you travel a lot. 

 However, if you just want to stay in one room working on your VR projects or playing games, its weight will not be that big of a problem for you. Moreover, you will get an 8 GB RAM along with a 1 TB HDD, making it a pretty efficient device for light gaming. 

Acer Aspire VX 15 

The Acer Aspire VX 15 is one of the best VR-ready laptops on our list. Making it one of the most powerful and best gaming laptop for VR under 1000 dollars. It’s powered by a 7th generation Intel Core i7-7300HQ processor and paired with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card with 4GB GDDR5 video memory. 

The combination guarantees smooth performance when playing games at high settings, even at high resolutions such as 1080p and 1440p. The only issue with Acer Aspire VX 15 is its battery life which lasts for about 6 hours regularly. It is not impressive but not a deal-breaker either. 

Furthermore, you will also get an 8 GB RAM and 128 GB SSD, along with a clear and sharp 15-inch display. The laptop weighs around 5.4 pounds making it somewhat portable but not a great option as your travel partner. 

Dell Inspiron Gaming Edition 7567 

In our opinion, gaming laptops are a luxury, not a necessity. It doesn’t matter whether they’re VR-ready. Most gamers will upgrade their gear before putting money into anything else. Dell’s Inspiron Gaming Edition 7567 comes equipped with an Intel Core i5 and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card. 

It’s one of our favorite budget-friendly options for getting into virtual reality on a shoestring budget. You will get a 500 GB SSD, along with 8 GB RAM, which runs the laptop pretty smoothly, allowing you to work without any delay. 

It’s a fantastic laptop for light gaming due to its decent configurations and 15-inch display. The only downside that this laptop has is its battery life. You can only enjoy working on this laptop for around 5 hours, which is on standby and under heavy load, the battery reduces more quickly. 

Thus, if charging is not a problem for you, considering its decent specifications and reliable performance, the laptop will not disappoint you in any way.   

Lenovo Ideapad Y700 

The Lenovo Ideapad Y700 is one of the most reliable and affordable gaming laptops for VR. It features an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. Plus, it has a 15.6-inch display and runs Windows 10 Home. 

We think it’s one of the best affordable VR-ready laptops out there for its design, specs, and price. It is a proper gaming laptop by Lenovo, which you can identify simply by looking at it. With a black body and red details, the laptop stands outs as a gaming laptop at first sight. 

Additionally, with around 8 hours of battery life, we are sure you will be able to enjoy your gaming sessions for quite a while. To make it more appealing, Lenovo made sure to provide you with a backlit keyboard. This means while staying within the budget, you will not only get an adequate performance. But also the aesthetics that every gamer wants. 

Asus ROG G752VS OC Edition 

The Asus ROG G752VS OC Edition has some of the best internals in a gaming laptop. It has an Intel Core i7-6700HQ quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPU. 

The screen is a 17.3-inch full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which provides high frame rates for VR headsets. Moreover, it features a backlit keyboard which makes it look more appealing. 

However, there’s no HDMI port to connect your VR headset directly to your PC. So you’ll need to use either DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort to connect your headset, which is disappointing.

Nevertheless, this 17-inch laptop with a backlit keyboard will provide you with a lag-free performance, along with a battery life of approximately 3 hours which is disappointing. For a laptop, battery life plays an essntial role, but you can always use it while connected to a charger.  

Acer Predator Helios 300

If you’re into VR gaming and have a limited budget, then look no further than Acer’s Predator Helios 300. It packs a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, boasts an immersive 15-inch Full HD display, and is VR Ready. 

All of that in a sleek package with some pretty potent speakers to boot! So, if you want to jump headfirst into virtual reality without spending an arm and a leg. There’s no better option than what we’ve got for you today: The Predator Helios 300.

With 4 hours of battery life on one charge, you will get 16 GB RAM, along with a 512 GB SSD. Considering the storage and memory, the laptop will always run smoothly even under decent gaming or workload, giving you a reliable performance. 

This means apart from the battery life, the overall performance of the laptop makes it a perfect option as one of the best affordable VR-ready laptops.  

MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro

If you’re looking for a VR-ready gaming laptop that looks as good as it performs, consider MSI’s GS63VR Stealth Pro. MSI is popular for making fantastic gaming laptops, and this model is no less. 

While it isn’t the cheapest, it offers an excellent bang-for-your-buck ratio, with sleek aesthetics and hardware. It features a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor combined with 16GB of RAM, which helps ensure that you don’t lose frame rate during VR sessions. 

It also makes general use more fluid and efficient. Moreover, this VR-ready gaming laptop has a built-in NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU. Specifically designed for virtual reality applications like those on SteamVR and HTC Viveport. Thus, it is a great option if you are considering trying out the VR technology by using a laptop. 

Gigabyte Aero 14K v8 

The Gigabyte Aero 14K v8 is a sleek and ultra-light gaming laptop VR Ready. It comes with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti that allows you to play all your favorite VR games without lagging. 

The Gigabyte Aero 14K v8 also features a 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 256GB Solid State Drive, and 8GB of RAM. Making it incredibly fast and reliable for your needs as a traveling gamer. 

At just 4 pounds, you’ll find it extremely easy to bring around without worrying about carrying too much weight in your bags. This makes it perfect for travel or those looking to game on the go. Additionally, what makes it better is its 10 hours long battery life. 

This means you can work on your VR applications, play games, or even have working sessions for hours without any disturbance. Making it a perfect option in the list of best affordable VR-ready laptops. 

MSI GE62 Apache Pro-001

It’s not just a pretty face, though. This is not the lightest laptop by MSI, weighing around 9 pounds which makes it hard to carry around, but for gaming, it is a great device. 

It’s also very reasonably priced at around $1000 (or even less if you shop online). Making it a pretty affordable VR-ready laptop option. The screen resolution is 1920x1080p with a 120Hz refresh rate to play your games smoothly. And it supports NVIDIA’s G-SYNC feature to ensure that you don’t suffer from screen tearing or lag. 

It has its own dedicated graphics card with up to 2GB VRAM. So it will give high performance in gaming while managing an average battery life of 4 hours on a full charge. You will also get 16 GB RAM memory, along with a 1 TB HDD. Thus, the performance will be pretty reliable throughout your gaming/ working sessions.  

MSI GT62VR Dominator Pro 4K 

MSI has been putting out some of our favorite VR-compatible laptops over the past few years. And with its latest release, it has easily created one of our new favorites. The MSI GT62VR Dominator Pro 4K is a pretty powerful machine at $1,500. And it easily outpaces similarly priced rigs for gaming performance.

With an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM (upgradeable to 32GB). You’ll be able to play most VR games at medium settings or better for extended periods. It also features a 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD combination for lightning-fast game load times and plenty of storage space.

The storage along with the memory ensures that the performance you will get will be high-end and will make its pricing worth your investment. Since it is a pretty powerful device, you can also use it as a laptop for 3D modeling or for other heavy working stuff.   

FAQs 

What Is A VR-Ready Computer? 

A VR-compatible computer is a PC that can handle an immersive virtual reality experience. Before you buy, though, it’s essential to know what qualifies as a VR-ready PC. In addition to having powerful components. It needs to have at least one HDMI port capable of transmitting a signal to a VR headset, such as Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. 

Most people don’t have time for all that, though. They want a high-performance machine without spending hundreds of dollars on graphics cards and other parts. However, if you are going to get a VR-Ready laptop look for a laptop with an HDMI port as well. And if you can’t find a decent one that suits your needs, you can always use an adapter instead to connect VR to your device.  

Can My Laptop Handle VR? 

Most gaming laptops have high-end components and can easily handle virtual reality. If you’re thinking about purchasing a gaming laptop for VR, it’s essential to look for one that has: at least 4GB of video memory; a processor that supports Virtualization Technology (Intel VT-x or AMD-V). And a graphics card that supports DirectX 12 or Vulkan. 

Keep in mind that higher framerates are better for most uses. But consider getting one instead if you have money to spend on a faster processor. Regardless of what VR-ready gaming laptops you are choosing, make sure it comes with an HDMI port so you can plug in your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One controller. 

What Does A Laptop Need For VR?

You need a dedicated GPU with a high-end processor to drive today’s virtual reality headsets. You’ll want at least 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage (for Windows and your programs). If possible, throw in an i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. 

Finally, to reduce blurring while you move around in virtual reality. Look for displays with refresh rates higher than 60Hz if you can afford it. That is pretty much everything that will allow you to have a decent experience. But keep in mind to adjust your needs according to your budget, as VR-ready laptops can get expensive. 

Conclusion 

Suppose you’re looking for something powerful while giving a smooth performance; the affordable VR-ready laptops that we have mentioned in our guide will not let you down. All the machines have one of Nvidia’s top-of-the-line GPUs, plenty of RAM and hard drive space, and an incredible display.

Thus, try out a few of the options above to understand what you need and which one suits you better, and then invest your money in it. Try to stay on devices that are affordable. So that you don’t have to invest a fortune but keep an eye out for powerful performance as well.