Should You Buy a Gaming Laptop or Creator Laptop in 2023?

Ben G Kaiser October 4, 2023
Video Thumbnail
Ben G Kaiser Logo

Ben G Kaiser

@bengkaiser

About

I'm Ben G Kaiser. I help creative professionals choose the right tech and tools for their field so that they can create free of technical constraints. When I first started my journey as a creative professional I struggled to understand the ins-and-outs of purchasing a laptop for my creative pursuits. I created this channel to cut through the technical noise and help you find the best machine for your needs. If you are a graphic designer, photographer, video editor, or any other creative professional you are in the right place. From lists featuring the best laptops of the year to the head-to-head battles between specific laptops, you are in the right place. This is Tech & Tool for Creative Professionals.

Video Description

💻 Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 ( https://geni.us/StrixScarRTX4090 - Commission Earned ) 💻 Lenovo Legion Pro 7i ( https://geni.us/LegionPro7iGen8DR - Commission Earned ) 💻 Asus Zenbook Pro 16X ( https://geni.us/ZenBookPro16X-RTX4080 - Commssion Earned ) 💥 SAVE an EXTRA 6% on your purchase "BENKAISER6" https://geni.us/Lenovo-US 💥 💥 Aura 2-Week Free Trial - https://www.Aura.com/BenKaiser #AuraPartner Whether you're a graphic designer, video editor, photographer, 3D modeling enthusiast, architect, or an After Effects user, this video is for you. We're here to help you decide whether to invest your budget in a creator-focused laptop like the Asus ZenBook Pro 16X or opt for a more powerful gaming laptop. Let's break down the pros and cons of each option to guide you in making the right choice. Performance and Form Factor Before we delve into the specifics, it's crucial to understand that as a creative professional, your laptop should pack some serious punch. The Asus ZenBook Pro 16X is a powerful machine equipped with an RTX 4080, an i9-13905H processor, and 32GB of RAM, all neatly packaged in a relatively lightweight design, considering its capabilities. However, it's not an Ultrabook, and for tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, Blender, and After Effects, you'll want a laptop with a dedicated GPU and a robust H-series processor. In contrast, gaming laptops tend to be bulkier and have a more gamer-centric aesthetic. For instance, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i boasts an i9-13900HX, an RTX 4070, and 32GB of RAM, providing impressive performance at a slightly lower price point. The Asus Republic of Gamers Strix Scar 17, on the other hand, is the heaviest and chunkiest of the three, sporting an RTX 4090 at a similar price to the ZenBook Pro 16X. So, if you prefer a sleek and premium design, the ZenBook is your pick, while those leaning toward maximum performance may opt for one of the gaming laptops. In conclusion, the best laptop for you depends on your priorities. If you value a sleek design, premium features like the ASUS Dial and haptic trackpad, and impressive battery life without compromising on performance, the ZenBook Pro 16X is a top contender. However, if you require maximum raw power for tasks like 8K video editing and don't mind a bulkier design, gaming laptops like the Strix Scar or Legion Pro 7i are excellent options. Be sure to check the links in the description for pricing details and consider your specific needs when making your purchase decision. Whichever laptop you choose, you're well-equipped to tackle your creative projects with confidence. Thanks for watching, and be sure to explore our channel for more videos to help you make informed tech decisions. 00:00 - Introduction 00:27 - Introduction to the laptops 00:56 - Performance considerations 01:23 - Laptop thickness and GPU requirement 01:52 - Comparison of three laptops 02:20 - Premium vs. chunkier design 02:46 - Links to laptops in the description 03:10 - Sponsor message: Aura 03:38 - Aura's online security features 04:02 - Port selection on the laptops 04:22 - Ports on the ZenBook, Legion Pro 7i, and Scar 04:46 - Ports on the back of the laptops 05:13 - Additional ports on the left side of the Pro 16X 05:32 - Comparison of ports 06:02 - Keyboard and trackpad differences 06:31 - ASUS dial and haptic trackpad on the Pro 16X 06:41 - Explanation of haptic trackpad 07:11 - Differences in trackpad mechanisms 07:31 - Build quality of gaming laptops 08:01 - Legion series build quality 08:29 - Webcam and audio samples from laptops 09:29 - Speaker samples 09:59 - Battery life considerations 10:25 - Battery life test results 10:53 - Performance section introduction 11:21 - Geekbench single and multi-core performance 11:45 - Cinebench R23 performance 12:14 - Photoshop performance 12:43 - After Effects performance 13:13 - Blender Classroom performance 13:32 - 3DS Max, Maya, Creo, and SolidWorks performance 14:02 - Premiere Pro playback dropped frames 15:51 - Premiere Pro export times 16:17 - DaVinci Resolve performance 17:10 - Screen considerations for creators 17:47 - Color accuracy, gamut, and brightness 19:04 - Conclusion and recommendations 19:24 - Closing remarks and links to more videos ----- DISCLAIMER: ALL LINKS IN DESCRIPTION ARE AFFILIATE LINKS if you make a purchase through the links provided, I will get a small commission but at no extra cost to you, but that is what keeps this channel alive and the helpful content coming your way. 🤘 😊

You May Also Like

Upgrade Your Creative Space

AI-recommended products based on this video

Loading...
MSI Stealth A18 AI+ A3XWIG-013CA 18" UHD+ mini LED 120Hz Gaming Laptop, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, RTX 5080, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD, Windows 11 Home

MSI Stealth A18 AI+ A3XWIG-013CA 18" UHD+ mini LED 120Hz Gaming Laptop, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, RTX 5080, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD, Windows 11 Home

(1)
$4,499.00
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
MSI Stealth 18 HX AI 18” 240Hz QHD+ Gaming Laptop: Intel Ultra 9-275HX, NVIDIA Geforce RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Win 11 Home :Midnight Black A2XWIG-045US

MSI Stealth 18 HX AI 18” 240Hz QHD+ Gaming Laptop: Intel Ultra 9-275HX, NVIDIA Geforce RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Win 11 Home :Midnight Black A2XWIG-045US

(12)
$3,999.00$3,587.85
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
Logitech G203 Wired Gaming Mouse, 8,000 DPI, Rainbow Optical Effect LIGHTSYNC RGB, 6 Programmable Buttons, On-Board Memory, Screen Mapping, PC/Mac Computer and Laptop Compatible - Black
Best Seller

Logitech G203 Wired Gaming Mouse, 8,000 DPI, Rainbow Optical Effect LIGHTSYNC RGB, 6 Programmable Buttons, On-Board Memory, Screen Mapping, PC/Mac Computer and Laptop Compatible - Black

(17,871)
$27.98$22.38
FREE delivery Tue, Oct 14 on your first order
500+ bought in past month
Loading...
Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

(21,223)
$44.98
FREE delivery Tue, Oct 14
1K+ bought in past month
Loading...
Metapen Air 8 Apple Pencil for iPad 2018-2025, 20H Battry Life, 2Min Fast Charging, Palm Rejection, Stylus Pen for iPad 11/10/9/8/7/6th, iPad Pro 12.9/11/13“M4, iPad Air 3/4/5/6/M2/M3, iPad mini 5/6

Metapen Air 8 Apple Pencil for iPad 2018-2025, 20H Battry Life, 2Min Fast Charging, Palm Rejection, Stylus Pen for iPad 11/10/9/8/7/6th, iPad Pro 12.9/11/13“M4, iPad Air 3/4/5/6/M2/M3, iPad mini 5/6

(1,985)
$14.22
FREE delivery Tue, Sep 9 on your first order
1K+ bought in past month
Loading...
240W 180W AC Charger Fit for Dell G15 G16 G7 G5 G3 Series 5500 5505 5510 5515 5511 5520 5521 5525 5530 5535 5587 5590 7500 7588 7590 7700 7790 7620 7630 3500 3579 3590 3779 LA240PM160 Gaming Laptop

240W 180W AC Charger Fit for Dell G15 G16 G7 G5 G3 Series 5500 5505 5510 5515 5511 5520 5521 5525 5530 5535 5587 5590 7500 7588 7590 7700 7790 7620 7630 3500 3579 3590 3779 LA240PM160 Gaming Laptop

(13)
$44.99$35.81
FREE delivery Sun, Aug 24
50+ bought in past month
Loading...
acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH, 15.6" FHD 1920x1080 Laptop, AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, Radeon Graphics, 8GB RAM, 128G SSD, Windows 11 in S Mode
Best Seller

acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH, 15.6" FHD 1920x1080 Laptop, AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, Radeon Graphics, 8GB RAM, 128G SSD, Windows 11 in S Mode

(3,603)
$529.99$489.99
FREE delivery Tue, Jun 17
500+ bought in past month
Loading...
65W 45W Laptop Charger for Acer Aspire 3 5 A515-55 A515-56 A515-46 A515-54 A515-54G A517-52 Swift Spin 1 3 5 SF113-31 SF114-32 Chromebook 11 R11 13 14 15 CB3 C720 C720P Power Adapter

65W 45W Laptop Charger for Acer Aspire 3 5 A515-55 A515-56 A515-46 A515-54 A515-54G A517-52 Swift Spin 1 3 5 SF113-31 SF114-32 Chromebook 11 R11 13 14 15 CB3 C720 C720P Power Adapter

(64)
$19.98
FREE delivery Sun, Jun 15 on your first order
Loading...
tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Sleeve for 15.6 Inch Acer Aspire 1/3/5 15 Slim Laptop, 15.6-16 Inch ASUS Strix G16/G15, HP Pavilion 15, Lenovo Ideapad 3 Laptop, 15.6 Inch Dell Samsung Notebook Ultrabook

tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Sleeve for 15.6 Inch Acer Aspire 1/3/5 15 Slim Laptop, 15.6-16 Inch ASUS Strix G16/G15, HP Pavilion 15, Lenovo Ideapad 3 Laptop, 15.6 Inch Dell Samsung Notebook Ultrabook

(3,132)
$37.59
FREE delivery Sat, Jun 21
Loading...
Mind Reader Monitor Stand, Height Adjustable, Ventilated Laptop Riser, Office, Metal, 36.8L x 23.5W x 14H cm, Black

Mind Reader Monitor Stand, Height Adjustable, Ventilated Laptop Riser, Office, Metal, 36.8L x 23.5W x 14H cm, Black

(95)
$46.30$46.13
FREE delivery Mon, Aug 11
Loading...
Laptop Stand for Desk, Adjustable Laptop Riser ABS+Silicone Foldable Portable Laptop Holder, Ventilated Cooling Notebook Stand for 10-15.6” Laptops,Tablet-Black

Laptop Stand for Desk, Adjustable Laptop Riser ABS+Silicone Foldable Portable Laptop Holder, Ventilated Cooling Notebook Stand for 10-15.6” Laptops,Tablet-Black

(11,679)
$14.99
FREE delivery Sat, Jun 14 on your first order
500+ bought in past month
Loading...
ZSCMALLS Portable Monitor, 15.6" FHD 1080P IPS Laptop Screen Extender with Adjustable Stand, USB-C HDMI Portable Screen, Portable Monitor for Laptop Mac PC Phone Xbox PS4/5 Switch

ZSCMALLS Portable Monitor, 15.6" FHD 1080P IPS Laptop Screen Extender with Adjustable Stand, USB-C HDMI Portable Screen, Portable Monitor for Laptop Mac PC Phone Xbox PS4/5 Switch

(748)
$105.59
FREE delivery Mon, Aug 11
100+ bought in past month
Loading...
Ingnok Portable Monitor, Ultra Slim 15.6 Inch FHD IPS Laptop Screen Extender with Adjustable Stand, USB C Compatible, Ideal for Travel and Office

Ingnok Portable Monitor, Ultra Slim 15.6 Inch FHD IPS Laptop Screen Extender with Adjustable Stand, USB C Compatible, Ideal for Travel and Office

(2,357)
$109.99
500+ bought in past month
Loading...
MSI Gaming Backlit RGB, Dedicated Hotkeys, Anti-Ghosting, Water Resistant Mechanical Feel Gaming Keyboard, Crisp Typing +12 Million Click Life Span, Steady Gaming Base Support (Vigor GK30 US)

MSI Gaming Backlit RGB, Dedicated Hotkeys, Anti-Ghosting, Water Resistant Mechanical Feel Gaming Keyboard, Crisp Typing +12 Million Click Life Span, Steady Gaming Base Support (Vigor GK30 US)

(919)
$35.99$28.79
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
100+ bought in past month
Loading...
BOSGAME B100 Mini PC, Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake-N100, 16GB DDR4, 512GB SSD, 4K Triple Display, USB3.2/WiFi 5/BT4.2/2.5GbE, Compact Desktop for Home Theater, Streaming, Office

BOSGAME B100 Mini PC, Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake-N100, 16GB DDR4, 512GB SSD, 4K Triple Display, USB3.2/WiFi 5/BT4.2/2.5GbE, Compact Desktop for Home Theater, Streaming, Office

(205)
$285.99
PrimeFREE delivery Sat, Jun 14
Loading...
BOSGAME E2 Mini PC Desktop Computers, AMD Ryzen 5 3550H, 16GB DDR4, 512GB PCIe SSD, 4K Triple Display, Type-C & USB3.2, RJ45 & Wi-Fi 5 & BT 5.0, Compact Silent PC for Office, Streaming, Home Theater

BOSGAME E2 Mini PC Desktop Computers, AMD Ryzen 5 3550H, 16GB DDR4, 512GB PCIe SSD, 4K Triple Display, Type-C & USB3.2, RJ45 & Wi-Fi 5 & BT 5.0, Compact Silent PC for Office, Streaming, Home Theater

(113)
$339.00
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
BOSGAME E4 Mini PC, Ryzen 5 3550H Mini Computers, 16GB DDR4 1TB PCIe SSD, Dual RJ45 LAN, 4K Triple Display, USB-C & USB 3.2, Wi-Fi 5 & BT 5.0, Desktop Computers for Office, Home, Streaming

BOSGAME E4 Mini PC, Ryzen 5 3550H Mini Computers, 16GB DDR4 1TB PCIe SSD, Dual RJ45 LAN, 4K Triple Display, USB-C & USB 3.2, Wi-Fi 5 & BT 5.0, Desktop Computers for Office, Home, Streaming

(188)
$399.00
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
BOSGAME E4 Mini PC, Ryzen 5 3550H Mini Computers, 16GB DDR4 512GB PCIe SSD, Dual RJ45 LAN, 4K Triple Display, USB-C & USB 3.2, Wi-Fi 5 & BT 5.0, Desktop Computers for Office, Home, Streaming

BOSGAME E4 Mini PC, Ryzen 5 3550H Mini Computers, 16GB DDR4 512GB PCIe SSD, Dual RJ45 LAN, 4K Triple Display, USB-C & USB 3.2, Wi-Fi 5 & BT 5.0, Desktop Computers for Office, Home, Streaming

(317)
$339.00
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3