Best Laptops for Sims 4

Updated: Feb 20, 2024 4:10 PM
best laptop sims 4 featured image that shows the top three best gaming laptop models

To find the best laptop for Sims 4 and other great computer games, you’ll need to determine the features that are right for your gaming and personal preferences. We recommend looking for laptops with enough performance and features to make for a smooth and reliable gameplay experience. Make sure to also consider size and weight, just in case you plan on playing Sims 4 and its expansion packs while at a coffee shop or at a friend’s house. Always look for a powerful graphics card, a decent processor, and a light and compact form factor. If you want to use your laptop like a tablet, you can also check out the best 2-in-1 gaming laptops.

The best laptop for Sims 4 you can buy today is the Lenovo Ideapad L340. This high-quality laptop computer boasts a powerful processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a large 512GB solid-state drive for storing game data and personal documents. Keep reading to learn more about the best gaming laptops available for purchase.

Best Laptops for Sims 4

 #1  Lenovo Ideapad L340 Laptop for Sims 4

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: Meets and exceeds Sims 4 laptop requirements with a powerful Intel processor, 512GB of storage space via a reliable solid-state drive, and a large and gorgeous 15.6” IPS display.

Pros
  • Plenty of space for game storage
  • NVIDIA GeForce graphics card
  • Large Full HD IPS display
Cons
  • Speakers are average, though there is a headphone jack
  • Not user upgradeable

The Lenovo Ideapad L340 is packed with gaming-related specs that make it the best laptop for Sims 4 and the best laptop for Sims 3, among other modern titles. The Intel Core i5 processor shines with gaming applications, and the 8GB of DDR4 RAM allows for competent multitasking. We also loved the NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, which really lets the graphics of Sims 4 pop, and the large 512GB solid-state drive, which offers reliable and fast storage. This dedicated graphics card, combined with the ultra settings, is sure to make a positive impact on your gaming performance.

Like most laptops, the integrated stereo speakers here are on the weaker side, though there is a headphone jack, and you can easily hook up another sound source via a pair of USB 3.0 ports. Additionally, all upgrades must be performed by a qualified technician, as this is not a user-upgradable laptop. When playtime is over and you have to get back to work, consider the best business laptop as well.

 #2  MSI GF63 9SCX-005 Laptop for Sims 4

Award: Honorable Mention

WHY WE LIKE IT: Perfect for losing yourself in the game, thanks to a frame-to-frame slim bezel design, with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and an ultra-powerful Intel Core i5 processor.

Pros
  • Slim bezel design for immersion
  • 8 GB of DDR4 RAM for multitasking
  • Powerful Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA graphics card
Cons
  • Keyboard is not backlit
  • 256GB SSD

The MSI GF63 9SCX-005 is truly impressive, thanks to a wide 15.6-inch display that features an ultra-slim bezel design, allowing you to use the entirety of the display for gaming and related applications. The specs are also on point, with a powerful Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and the iconic NVIDIA Geforce graphics card all coming standard. The battery life here is also decent, allowing for nearly eight hours of gaming before needing a recharge, making this a contender with the best battery life laptop.

The keyboard here is not backlit, which could impact playing Sims 4 in dark environments or during nighttime. Also, we appreciate that this laptop comes with a reliable and speedy solid-state drive, but it is on the smaller side at 256GB. You might also like to check out our best VR-ready laptops to take your gaming to the next level.

#3  Acer Predator Helios 300 Laptop for Sims 4

Award: Best Quality

WHY WE LIKE IT: High-quality design with a bevy of outstanding features, including a best-in-class Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card.

Pros
  • Great graphics card and plenty of RAM
  • Intel Core i7-12700H processor
  • 165Hz refresh rate perfect for gaming
Cons
  • 3ms response time could be better, but not a dealbreaker
  • Heavy at almost 6 pounds

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is so powerful that you’d swear you are using the best desktop computer to play Sims 4, and not a portable laptop. This computer features the ultra-powerful Intel Core i7-12700H processor, a 165Hz refresh rate, and the renowned NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, which boasts 6GB of its own RAM. This laptop is filled to the brim with 16GB of DDR5 RAM.

Though the refresh rate here is particularly friendly to modern games, at 165Hz, the response time is just 3ms, which is slightly lower than some computers but still speedy enough for a smooth Sims 4 experience. Additionally, the battery life maxes out at around six hours, which will fluctuate depending on how hard you are pushing the processor. Still, Acer is one of the best gaming laptop brands out there and worth checking out.

#4  Razer Blade 15 Laptop for Sims 4

Award: Best Durability

WHY WE LIKE IT: Highly durable design with an outer body made from sturdy aluminum alloy, with a thin and portable design, in addition to featuring a 4K OLED display with a speedy 1ms response time.

Pros
  • Speedy 1ms response time
  • 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor
  • Multitude of useful ports and connections
Cons
  • On the pricier side
  • Weighs around 9lb

The Razer Blade 15 is a durable laptop that you can throw in your backpack without worry of causing accidental damage, thanks to its sturdily built aluminum alloy outer frame. The specs are also superior, with a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10875H 8-core processor, a 4K OLED display with a 1ms response time, 16GB of DDR RAM, and 512GB of solid-state storage. We also loved the sheer number of useful ports available with this laptop, including Thunderbolt 3, USB, and HDMI, among others.

This is a solid computer with stellar components, and as such, it is pricier than many competitors. Also, we loved how thin this laptop is, at 0.78 inches, but it is on the heavier side, at nine pounds, which means you might need to invest in one of the best laptop bags to keep it protected.

#5 LG Gram 17 Laptop for Sims 4

Award: Best Battery

WHY WE LIKE IT: Massive high-resolution display with excellent viewing angles, up to 20 hours of battery life, and powerful internals like an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and Intel Iris Xe graphics.

Pros
  • Excellent overall performance for gaming and productivity
  • 17-inch display with a 2560×1600-pixel resolution
  • Plenty of connectivity options, including USB-C charging
Cons
  • More expensive than alternative options
  • Housing feels flimsy and cheaper

The LG Gram 17 offers powerful performance that is more than enough for playing Sims 4 on the go, thanks to its 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. Plus, with an impressive 17-inch screen, you’ll get an even more immersive gaming experience. The display boasts a high pixel resolution, non-reflective coating, and amazing color so you can experience your game in the best way possible. Of course, this laptop’s standout feature is its impressive battery, coming in at up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge.

When it comes to design and build quality, the LG Gram 17 laptop measures in at a mere 2.98 pounds of weight and 0.7 inches of thickness, placing it squarely in the ultraportable laptop category. The overall build feels a little flimsy, but the laptop actually meets MIL-STD-810 durability standards. All in all, if you’re looking for the best laptop for WOW and other games besides Sims 4, it’s a good option.

#6 Asus ROG Strix Scar III Laptop for Sims 4

WHY WE LIKE IT: Features an ultra-stable and responsive 240Hz refresh rate, with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a massive 1TB solid-state drive, and a pair of high-tech cooling fans complete with anti-dust technology.

Pros
  • Pair of high-tech cooling fans
  • Overclocked NVIDIA GeForce graphics card
  • 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 240Hz refresh rate
Cons
  • On the pricier side
  • Battery can get as little as 2 hours per charge

The Asus ROG Strix Scar III features an ultra-large solid-state drive that clocks in at a massive 1TB, which is enough for hundreds of games, movies, and other large pieces of data. The specs here are fantastic, with an overclocked NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 240Hz refresh rate. We also found the pair of high-tech cooling fans to be a great add-on, as they feature integrated thermal sensors and advanced technology that help eliminate dust buildup.

The built-in lithium battery is somewhat lacking, as it maxes out at six hours per charge, with all settings at their bare minimum, and only gets two hours of use per charge with the graphics card fully engaged. Also, this is a pricey laptop, likely due to the advanced specs and features. We think it’s also a good choice if you’re looking for the best laptop for Roblox.

#7 MacBook Air M2 Laptop for Sims 4 – Best Display

Award: Best Display

WHY WE LIKE IT: Sleek and attractive laptop with an absolutely stellar Liquid Retina display, powerful Apple M2 processor, and lightweight design that makes it easy to game on the go.

Pros
  • Stunning 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display
  • Features Apple’s powerful M2 chip
  • Lightweight and durable design
  • Long battery life at 17 hours
Cons
  • Much more expensive than other non-gaming laptops
  • Not great for more graphically-intense games

The Apple MacBook Air line has seen some serious upgrades in recent releases. First and foremost is the addition of the powerful M2 chip. After years of including Intel processors in their computers, Apple is now manufacturing their own chip in-house to great success. While MacBook Air models of old would struggle with casual games like Sims 4, the new models now excel thanks to the M2 processor. With the MacBook Air M2, you’ll be able to run the game on the highest settings without a problem. Of course, if you’re looking to play more graphically-intense games, you’ll need to consider something with a more powerful processor, like the best laptops for League of Legends.

This laptop also offers a sleek design with an aluminum unibody for added durability. However, its standout feature is the 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, which offers an IPS panel, stunning color accuracy, and plenty of brightness. You’ll also get upwards of 17 hours of battery life with this laptop, depending on which programs you’re running. Plus, with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, you’ll be able to use this laptop for your schoolwork or home office needs, too.

#8 Acer Aspire 5 Laptop for Sims 4

WHY WE LIKE IT: Value-friendly laptop with some decent features that include a 256GB solid-state drive, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a powerful 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor.

Pros
  • 15.6” wide-screen LED display
  • Backlit keyboard for night-playing
Cons
  • Could use more storage and RAM
  • No option to add another SSD
  • Speakers are weak

The Acer Aspire 5 is a relatively cheap laptop for Sims 4, with a robust feature set that contradicts its modest price point. This laptop has some beefy specs that go above and beyond the minimum requirements for Sims 4, such as a 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a speedy and reliable 256GB solid-state drive, and Intel UHD graphics. We also loved the 15.6” wide-screen LED display and the ergonomically designed keyboard, which is backlit for gaming in the dark.

Though this laptop does feature an empty slot for the purposes of adding a hard drive, it has to be an HDD and an SSD. Also, the built-in stereo speakers are on the weaker side, though the laptop’s light form factor, at four pounds, makes up for that. It’s worth your consideration, especially if you’re also looking for the best laptops for Minecraft.

#9 Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey Laptop for Sims 4

WHY WE LIKE IT: This lightweight gaming laptop has a 15.6” edge-to-edge display with a 1TB SSD hard drive, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti graphics card that has its own 4GB of GDDR6 RAM, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM.

Pros
  • Beefed-up graphics card
  • 16GB of DDR4 RAM and is upgradable
  • 512GB SSD
Cons
  • Over 7lb
  • Battery lasts around 5 hours per charge

The Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey offers excellent gameplay, thanks to its 15.6″ edge-to-edge display and beefed-up gaming-centric specs that can handle modern gaming applications with ease. This laptop includes a powerful Intel 11th Gen Core i7 11600H processor, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4 GB GDDR6 graphics card, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM. We also loved the 1TB of storage available with this laptop, which comes in the form of a speedy solid-state drive.

This laptop is relatively lightweight at four pounds, but the screen isn’t as immersive as models with larger screens. Additionally, the integrated lithium battery only lasts around five hours on a single charge. For a lighter model, check out our best thin and light gaming laptop buying guide.

#10 Acer Nitro 5 Laptop for Sims 4

WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-conscious laptop with a serious feature set that includes built-in Amazon Alexa support, a powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3050Ti graphics card, and a stable 12th Generation Intel Core i5 processor.

Pros
  • Integrated smart assistant support
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card
  • Open PCIe slot for easy upgrades
Cons
  • 256GB of storage
  • Speakers on the quiet side

The Acer Nitro 5 is the best budget laptop for Sims 4, thanks to a suite of gaming-centric specifications that include a powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3050Ti graphics card, a 12th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, for multitasking. This laptop also comes with Amazon Alexa built-in for issuing voice commands on the fly and boasts an open PCIe slot for easy user upgrades. This affordable price beats out the price range of the other models in this list, so if you’re looking for the cheapest laptops, consider this model so you know you’re getting quality for a good deal.

Though the open PCIe slot is great for adding more storage space, this laptop ships with only 512GB of space via a solid-state drive. Also, the integrated speakers are on the quiet side, so we’d recommend using headphones. For more versatile use, check out our best 2-in-1 gaming laptops buying guide.

How We Decided

To narrow down the above list, we took great care choosing only laptops that were perfectly suited for playing the Sims 4 and other popular computer games. We gave preference to laptops with powerful Intel processors and NVIDIA graphics cards. These internal components allow the Sims 4 and other games to run at their most advanced settings. Top-of-the-line dedicated graphics cards on modern laptops aren’t strictly necessary for a good gaming experience, but they’re a big contributor to smooth visuals and are nice to have.

When it comes to RAM, we preferred laptops with at least 8GB of DDR4 RAM, though bumping that up to 16GB can help with multi-tasking or playing more graphically-intense video games. We also awarded bonus points to computers that shipped with large and speed storage drives, with special preference given to laptops with solid-state drives. SSDs tend to perform better than HDD counterparts, especially when it comes to gaming.

We also took weight and form factor into consideration as we formed this list. Lightweight laptops are easier to carry around in a backpack for portable play. We also gave preference to laptops with long-lasting internal batteries. As such, you can play for longer periods of time without having to rush to a wall outlet to charge. Finally, we liked laptops that offered useful ports, including HDMI, USB-C, and Thunderbolt, for increased connectivity options. A comfortable keyboard and trackpad were also nice features to have for convenience. And if you are wondering if a Chromebook would work, check out our page comparing a Chromebook vs a laptop.

Best Laptops for Sims 4 Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

  1. Performance and Internal Specs

The Sims 4 won’t run on just any average laptop. At the same time, you don’t need a super powerful gaming laptop, either. You’ll need to find an option that meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements set by the game developer if you want a gaming experience free from lag or performance issues. Fortunately, the minimum requirements to play the game and its expansion packs are not too outrageous, and you should be able to find an option within a reasonable price range.

At a bare minimum, you’ll need to purchase a laptop for gaming with at least an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce 6600 graphics card. You’ll also need at least 25GB of free space on your storage drive, though if you plan on maintaining multiple saves, you’ll want more than that. We recommend playing on a laptop with at least a 256GB SSD, but 512GB or more is ideal for plenty of space for custom content and add-ons or other games. These specs will allow for a smooth gaming experience, but you may even want to go a step up in order to future-proof your laptop or if you want to play other, more graphically-intense games. However, if you need additional space, it is not uncommon for laptops to ship with a 1TB SSD for ample storage for most users.

A feature that is often overlooked by consumers is efficient cooling. As you play intensive games or do other demanding tasks, your laptop’s internal components will heat up, and in order for them not to shut down to prevent damage, you need to keep the device cool. This is why you will notice that laptops for gaming will usually be much thicker than their standard counterparts.

  1. Display Quality

What good is powerful laptop performance if you can’t see the game in action? Your laptop’s display is another important consideration to make. In the end, you’ll really want the graphics of Sims 4 to pop during gameplay. Part of this is making sure you have a good graphics card, but the other part is having a high-resolution display with accurate and stunning colors. At a bare minimum, purchase a laptop with a 1080p HD display. If you want an even better experience, purchase an option with 2K or 4K resolution. These higher-resolution options cost more, but they will also last a lot longer. Remember that if you want to run a popular game, like the Sims 4, on Ultra graphics settings, you will need a better GPU (graphics card) than the minimum the game requires. This is because you will need more video ram (VRAM) to handle higher-quality graphics.

Screen size is another thing you’ll want to consider. Playing on larger displays looks better, but it also adds to your laptop’s weight and overall footprint. For most gamers, the sweet spot for screen size tends to reside between 13 and 15 inches.

  1. Portability

As with any kind of laptop, you’ll want to think about portability with the top laptops for Sims 4. If you like to play while you commute or travel, then you’ll definitely want to favor portability. Look for options with a weight under five pounds. Ultraportable laptops are even more lightweight and thinner, but they also tend to cost much more. These can make good options for gamers who are always on the go.

You’ll also want to consider battery life and charge time. A laptop with longer battery life on a single charge will be much more portable than others since you won’t need to find a wall outlet nearly as often. In general, your laptop for gaming should offer at least 10-12 hours of battery life. The best options will offer 15 hours of battery life, and premium options can get upwards of 18 to 20 hours of battery life.

  1. Connectivity, Ports, and Additional Features

All gaming laptops benefit from a range of ports and other connection options. Look for laptops with both USB-A and USB-C ports that you can use to connect your gaming mouse or gaming keyboard when necessary. You should also consider options with a wide range of connectivity options, such as HDMI or Display ports, Thunderbolt ports, and a headphone jack. Some models will allow for charging the laptop using a USB Type C port, while others use an AC adapter.

Some additional features to consider may include things like a fingerprint reader, built-in voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, or an RGB-backlit keyboard for added visual aesthetics. You may also want to consider a laptop with a touch screen display, which can be more fun to control versus using a trackpad.

Best Laptops for Sims 4 Questions (FAQ)

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